News Story not available This story has been published on: 2022-11-02. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. This story is no longer available on our site. As Gage County continues to dig itself out from recent snow storms, officials are evaluating how a similar situation could be handled more efficiently in the future. Contact: Crystal Feldman Crystal Feldman govpress@nc.gov Raleigh, N.C. Governor Pat McCrory submitted a formal request today to North Carolina's congressional delegation for more than $1 billion in federal assistance to help the state recover from Hurricane Matthew. Initial assessments estimate that Hurricane Matthew caused $2 billion in economic damage to the state.said Governor McCrory.In order to ensure that state resources can be maximized for recovery and mitigation at the state level, Governor McCrory has requested that Congress reduce the total amount of dollars the state will be required to reimburse or match for federal assistance programs by reducing the non-federal cost share from 25 percent to 10 percent.At the height of Hurricane Matthew, 800,000 people were without power, nearly 3,750 people were displaced from their homes, 635 roads were closed, 34 school systems were closed and tragically, 28 individuals lost their lives. Preliminary estimates indicate more than 30,000 businesses suffered physical or economic damage impacting 40,000 employees. In addition, counties impacted by the storm account for roughly two-thirds of the state's $8.1 billion in agricultural income.The largest portion of the governor's requested assistance is $810 million dedicated for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery to address housing, water/sewer and utility infrastructure, jobs and agriculture needs. Hurricane Matthew damaged or destroyed nearly 80,000 residential structures with a total loss of more than $777 million. Funds for housing will not only replace damaged or destroyed properties, but also address long-term resiliency efforts including elevation, retrofitting and repair.Other requested assistance includes $40 million for the Army Corps of Engineers to restore navigational channels to pre-Hurricane Matthew conditions. There is $41 million dedicated to repair 65 low, intermediate and high hazard dams damaged as a result of Hurricane Matthew to prevent future failure.To offset estimated costs to restore damaged roads, clear debris and reopen critical roadways, the governor requested Emergency Highway Funding to ensure North Carolina receives $22 million it is eligible for through the program.The governor's request also includes $64 million dedicated to address Hurricane Matthew damage to farm roads, fencing and debris removal through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Conservation Program. An additional $46 million is requested to address watershed protection for farmlands.To view the governor's request, click here Bank of Marin announced the names of 16 students from 12 North Bay high schools whose photography is featured in the banks 2017 community calendar. Photographs by Nils Waterfield of Justin-Siena High School and Angelica Vance of Napa High School were chosen to be included in the calendar. This marks the seventh year in a row that Bank of Marin has worked with photography teachers and students at North and East Bay high schools to select images for the calendar, said a news release. Students submitted more than 150 images, and judges at the bank made the final photo selections. We believe strongly in supporting and encouraging our local youth, said Russell A. Colombo, president and CEO of Bank of Marin. Our annual calendar allows us to showcase their talents and also to give back to the schools that help educate them. Bank of Marin will donate $100 to each participating high schools photography program for the purchase of supplies and equipment. The 2017 community calendars will be available for free at all Bank of Marin branches. The Napa County Historical Society has relocated its office and part of its library into office space at Tulocay Cemetery, 411 Coombsville Road. The new offices are in the Juarez building just inside Tulocays main gates, said Nancy Levenberg, the group's executive director. The Juarez building was the original cemetery office, she noted. The Historical Society will remain at Tulocay until earthquake repairs are completed on the Goodman Library on First Street. According to the city, repairs will begin in late 2016 or early 2017 and take nine months. In November, the Historical Society will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Thursday and by appointment. December hours will be announced. All regular services remain available including: research, house and business histories, a book store, tours, programs and scavenger hunts for school-age children. Levenberg said there is also a permanent exhibit in the works, honoring and commemorating Cayetano Juarez and the history of the cemetery. Donations, aid and volunteers welcomed. Campaign committee for Gov. McCrory says protests have been filed in 11 counties based on contributions from state Democratic Party to local political action committees Thomas Stark, a Durham County resident and general counsel for the North Carolina Republican Party, on Wednesday asked the Durham County Board of Elections to review more than 94,000 ballots that were not counted initially on election night. (CJ photo by Dan Way) By a 2-1 party-line vote that had racial undertones, the Durham County Board of Elections approved a challenge to its vote-tallying process that Thomas Stark, a lawyer and Durham County resident, believes might have been corrupted by software limitations in voting machines that couldn't accept the volume of votes cast in some precincts.Wednesday's probable cause vote cleared the way for a full hearing of the evidence at 11 a.m. Friday before the board.Meanwhile, the campaign committee for Gov. Pat McCrory announced by news release late Wednesday afternoon that protests are being filed in Durham and 10 other counties followingThe state Democratic Partythe release said.Russell Peck, Pat McCrory's campaign manager, was quoted as saying in the release.It is possible, though by no means certain, if a decision is made at Friday's hearing to conduct a recount of some Durham votes it could affect the governor's race between McCrory and Democratic Attorney General Roy Cooper, along with a few Council of State contests in which competing candidates are separated by thin vote margins.Peck said in the release.In Bladen County, the winner of the election for supervisor of the county's Soil and Water Conservation District filed a complaint after alleging that hundreds of absentee ballots could be fraudulent. McCrae Dowless noted that 71 write-in votes for "Franklin Graham" were cast by absentee vote on ballots that had handwriting that looked as if the same person had written on them.A protest was filed today in Halifax County, and additional protests are being filed by registered voters in Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Guilford, Nash, Northampton, Robeson, Vance, Wake, and Warren counties seekingStark, who is general counsel for the North Carolina Republican Party, said he filed his earlier challenge in Durham County as an individual after learning of voting problems in six precincts. He expressed surprise that he was being tasked with the burden of a probable cause hearing and a contested evidentiary hearing on Friday to seek a recount on questionable votes.Stark said. It would take less time to rerun the ballots to ensure their integrity than it is taking to prepare for and attend the set of hearings, he said.under state law without a hearing, Stark said of the county board.given questions about the machines, the late submission of Durham's early vote totals, and reports ofStark said. Bladen County votes are under scrutiny andaround the state.At Wednesday's hearing representatives of Election Systems & Software LLC testified that despite the issues encountered in Durham County, the process went forward without a hitch under prescribed backup plans, and there is no indication of any vote irregularities.Kathy Rogers, ES&S senior vice president of government relations, likened the voting machines limit of 65,535 votes to a cell phone, which can load only a set number of photos or videos.An affidavit from Brian Neesby, a business systems analyst at the State Board of Elections, was read into the record that corroborated the explanation of limits in the software.Stark said he would be hamstrung at the evidentiary hearing because he has not been able to view the sealed voting materials. That limits his ability to determine whether voting irregularities occurred.Stark said.He said he was reviewing that option, and whether there would be enough time before Friday's hearing to review the material if it were released.A statewide recount could be requested that would open those records to inspection.Stark said.At the conclusion of the 75-minute hearing, Republican Margaret Cox Griffin voted to proceed to Friday's hearing. Democrat Dawn Baxton refused to second Griffin's motion, and voted no.After a long pause, board chairman William Brian, a Republican, cast the deciding vote to hold the hearing. He said Durham County's precedent is to set a very low bar for challenging election results, and Stark met it.on Election Day, Stark said of the split vote following the hearing.On several occasions audience members laughed and jeered at Stark's testimony. That drew a warning from Brian:Brian said given thehe understood why Stark was challenging Durham's results.Brian said.Conversely, he said, many others in the communityBrian said after the hearing he was not accusing Stark of racial motivation, but addressing the "extreme outcry" from Durham residents who feel discriminated against.Brian said.State Rep. Graig Meyer, D-Orange, whose district includes parts of Durham, also raised a racial specter in speaking for the Cooper campaign.Meyer said.He said voters should have full confidence that Durham Countyand votes are being counted fairly. Stark has presented no evidence of impropriety, and if he has any he should release it immediately so the result of the election can be determined, Meyer said.Asked what harm a recount would create when the integrity of the vote is in question, Meyer said, "We don't believe that this is the time." The initial set of ballots should be counted and certified before a recount is considered, he said.All 100 North Carolina counties have scheduled canvasses Friday to check the accuracy of voting tallies. The election results are scheduled to be certified by the State Board of Elections Nov. 29 in Raleigh. The unemployment rate in Napa County was 3.8 percent in October, unchanged from a revised 3.8 percent in September, and below the year-ago estimate of 4.3 percent, the Employment Development Department reported on Friday. This compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 5.3 percent for California and 4.7 percent for the nation during the same period. Construction jobs in Napa County rose 4.5 percent, and leisure and hospitality jobs rose 8.3 percent compared to October 2015. Hiring within the city of Napa increased by 200 jobs year-over-year. Jobs in the information industry category showed the biggest decline year-over-year, going from 500 to 400 positions, Employment Development reported. The number of people looking for jobs in Napa County dropped 9.1 percent from a year earlier, the state reported. There were 3,300 local job seekers last October compared to 3,000 this October. At the same time, the total labor force in the county rose slightly, from 76,400 to 78,900 people. Napa County continues to have the fourth lowest unemployment rate for the state, officials said. People waged the Walt Ranch battle in the Napa County Board of Supervisors chamber and on the street. County supervisors on Friday opened what will be a multi-day hearing on the proposed vineyard project. Walt Ranch involves creating 209 acres of vineyard blocks amid 2,300 acres in the mountains between the city of Napa and Lake Berryessa. Opponents and supporters packed the Board chambers and spilled into overflow areas where they watched the proceedings on television. They had the chance to make their cases to supervisors. But opponents also took their case to the public. About 100 of them at noon stood in front of the county administration building holding up signs reading clean water and no chainsaw wine. Whats so bad about Walt Ranch? Elizabeth Bosch of Napa doesnt like the idea of removing thousands of oaks to make room for vineyards. You cant replace a watershed, she said as she held a sign with a picture of a chainsaw on it. Thats a wonderful, pristine watershed. Local resident Jim Wilson helped organize the rally. The goal is to increase awareness and sensitivity to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor so we can reflect on what were doing, on how our behavior impacts our environment, he said. He expressed hope the demonstration would influence the Board of Supervisors. He is hoping for strong moral and political leadership, Wilson said. A Register reporter during a Board of Supervisors meeting break approached a handful of people wearing tags proclaiming their support of Walt Ranch. Each politely declined to comment. Hall Brambletree Associates LLP applied to the county for the Walt Ranch vineyard project in 2007. Championing the project are Craig and Kathryn Hall of HALL Wines in St. Helena. County Planning, Building and Environmental Services Director David Morrison in August approved the needed erosion control plan for Walt Ranch. He said the project complies with the countys general plan and takes appropriate steps to mitigate environmental impacts. Appealing his decision to the Board of Supervisors are Napa Sierra Club, Living Rivers Council, Center for Biological Diversity and, in a joint appeal, Circle Oaks County Water District and Circle Oaks Homes Association. City of Napa Water General Manager Joy Eldredge in a 2014 letter to the county warned that water runoff from Walt Ranch vineyards containing nutrients and other materials could hurt water quality in Milliken Reservoir. Improving the reservoir water treatment plant to handle potential problems could cost $20 million. But on Friday, Eldredge praised a water monitoring plan the city and Walt Ranch agreed to last summer. Walt Ranch is to monitor water runoff at nine locations and take steps to deal with any problems that might arise. Its a rational approach, Eldredge said. It gathers data. I think thats where we need to be in the future. Mike Reynolds of Walt Ranch in a Nov. 7 letter to the county noted how the project has changed. The environmental impact report analyzed a version calling for 356 acres of vineyards and a total of 507 acres of disturbed land. Morrison approved 209 acres of vineyards and 316 acres of disturbed land. Although vineyard acreage has shrunk, costs for environmental mitigations and other expenses have not. Environmental review, engineering and entitlements alone have cost $5.2 million, Reynolds wrote. He calculated the expense to create 209 acres of Walt Ranch vineyard will be $269,000 an acre. Buying an existing vineyard in the Atlas Peak area would cost about $234,000 an acre. Costs in excess of this amount are, from an economic perspective, infeasible, in that a rational investor would not pay more than this amount, Reynolds wrote. Reynolds argued that the vineyard acreage shouldnt be reduced still further. Thomas Lippe on behalf of Living Rivers Council drew another conclusion from this financial information. Lippe characterized Walt Ranch officials as in essence saying a feasible alternative exists to creating a 209-acre vineyard. That is going out and buying vineyards that are already developed. Supervisors heard from consultant Annalee Sanborn, the project manager for the Walt Ranch environmental impact report completed for the county. She too stressed how the proposed Walt Ranch vineyard acreage has shrunk over the years. Part of the confusion and controversy could be a lack of understanding of how the project has evolved, Sanborn said. For example, she said, the number of trees to be cut down has been reduced from 28,000 to 14,000. The county had not previously mentioned this new figure at a public meeting. But the new figure failed to satisfy Wilson. Removing 14,000 oaks from Walt Ranch is indefensible, he said during the outdoor rally. One controversy is whether creating Walt Ranch vineyards will increase runoff from the property, possibly washing fish-harming sediments into creeks and and increasing landslides. The environmental impact report said the Walt Ranch project wont increase runoff. Among the stated reasons is that earthmoving equipment will dig into soils two feet to six feet deep before vineyards are planted. Thomas Smith of RiverSmith Engineering said this soil ripping will break up an impermeable layer of rock and allow for more water to seep into the ground. Appellants challenged whether this increased infiltration will be permanent. Smith acknowledged the controversy, but told supervisors he stands by his report. I stamped it and signed it with full confidence there is no offsite impacts to this land use change, Smith said. Lippe on behalf of Living Rivers Council said field tests involving the effects of deep soil ripping on infiltration has been done at only one Walt Ranch location. Now the county is looking at requiring tests at proposed vineyard block locations to be done after project approval. You just cant do it that way, Lippe said. The Board of Supervisors spent most of the all-day session simply taking all of this in. I want to underscore, we are here to listen to you, Board Chairman Alfredo Pedroza told the packed chamber as the hearing began. The Walt Ranch hearing is to continue when the Board of Supervisors meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday in its chamber at the county administration building, 1195 Third St. in downtown Napa. The Napa Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees got an earful Thursday night from parents about last weeks student walkout and protest prompted by the presidential election. Mothers and fathers criticized as well as praised district and school officials for how the demonstration played out, and what NVUSD did and did not do in response. Hundreds of students from Vintage, Napa, Valley Oak and New Tech high schools left their classes and walked off their campuses on Nov. 10. They marched to Memorial Stadium and held a rally, then some headed downtown. Parents addressing the school board accused school administrators of supporting, even organizing the walkout and rally, and shirking their responsibilities as educators. Regardless of which side youre on, said William Kastner, the school district dodged a huge bullet because students could have been injured during the protest. No injuries were reported from the event. Kastner and other parents complained school officials did nothing to keep students on campus. They made no attempt whatsoever to stop it from happening, he said. Another parent, Heidi Ahearne, accused teachers of encouraging students to leave school. Why are teachers teaching their political opinions? she asked the school board. Rachel Clark, who said she monitored the rally, said she saw a breakoff group leave the stadium and say foul things and behave inappropriately. Clark congratulated students at American Canyon High School for not leaving their campus while participating in their own protest. Instead, they rallied in the school quad starting just before lunchtime. Right on, said Clark. Good job! Other parents showed up Thursday to offer support for the student action and defend the response of NVUSD to the walkout. Thank you providing a safe space for students to voice their opinions, said Kendall Shomura, who identified himself as a former district teacher. Im proud of the way they spoke out. Shomura said he was glad schools did not obstruct the walkout. He was, however, upset that some parents had, according to him, spread lies and false rumors about district and students actions. He cited one example of social media posts erroneously claiming students had burned American flags during the protest. High school student leaders also addressed the school board, saying the protest was appropriate and not the work of the school district. Connor Harris, the school boards student representative, said the demonstration was not meant to bash any party, but to take a stand against hate. Another student, Vintage senior Kat Schulze, told angry parents they need look no further than her to find out who spearheaded the protest. I organized it along with other students, mostly seniors, she said. Im proud of the rally, said Schulze, who added the event was good for teenagers education. Meaningful learning doesnt always happen in a walled space, she said. Schulze emphasized the rally was not about the president-elect. This was not a protest against Republicans or Trump, she said. I support him as president. She said students wanted to oppose the hateful messages that arose during the campaign messages that she said were antithetical to her hometown. Love is what Napa stands for, she said. Board President Robb Felder responded to some of the criticism, starting with the accusation that the high schools promoted the demonstration. This was not a district organized event, said Felder. It was a student led, student organized event. He also informed parents that public schools have no legal authority to prevent students from leaving school. We do not have the right to force your student to stay on campus, said Felder. We wanted them to stay in the classroom, he added, but expressing their civil liberties is their choice. NVUSD Superintendent Patrick Sweeney said he was proud of the way his staff and school administrators responded to the protest. Sweeney also said there was a lesson to learn: the district currently has no protocol in place for handling student demonstrations. He said that will change soon, as officials intend to meet with local police and others to formulate such a protocol for schools to follow in the future. Another beautiful morning in Napa Valley. So why don't we awake with a relaxed feeling of peace and quite. Unfortunately the bad dream we thought we were having is reality. The "T" being was elected president of the United States of America. The country is not united, but divided in half. His rise to power parallels Hitler's rise in Nazi Germany. I understand there is a display at the Dachau, Germany concentration camp that shows how Hitler rose to power. If the "T" name is put in place of Hitler's you have the situation that is now upon America. It is frightening. The "T" being is despicable and will never be my President. He; 1. Is a Liar. 2. Is self-centered and narcissistic. 3. Stiffed his employees and contractors on jobs and money. 4. Hired undocumented workers. 5. Bilked students out of thousands of dollars at his uncertified "T" university. 6. Says one thing and then a short time later says another thing that is 180 degrees opposite. 7. Treats women as decorations to be used however he wants. 8. Wants a tax plan that will make the very rich even richer, as they were in Nazi Germany. The money follows the power; good or destructive. 9. Incites backers to attack opponents in a crowd. 10. Says we ought to torture captured prisoners of war. 11. Was in contact with Russia during campaign. What will happen to our defense secrets? 12. Etc., etc., etc. How did this happen? American corporations sent jobs overseas and left our tax-paying citizens to suffer so that the corporations would have even more bloated income. Our government, being bought and paid for by the corporations, did nothing to prevent this from happening. We must bring jobs back to America and accept only people from other countries who are deemed useful and come through established immigration channels. Anti-trust laws must be applied to corporations to strip the over-whelming power from the CEOs. Individuals who care foremost about our communities and country must run and be elected to office. Our high school students have started a call to arms against this "T" tyranny; our college students and every good citizen needs to follow suit. Remember how Mario Savio ignited the opposition, at U.C. Berkeley, to stop the Vietnam War. The stress of his efforts led to his early death. As our veterans, including my six brothers during and after WWII, have fought and died for our Constitution and ideals we must be prepared to do so too. I am here today, as an Eisenhower Republican and Bernie Sanders supporter, to stand against this tyranny with my entire mind and body; what about you? The "T" being, along with his associates, must be turned aside: the earlier the better. Richard Cady Napa Chamber seeks award nominations The St. Helena Chamber of Commerce is calling for nominations from the community for its annual Community Service awards. Since 1971, the Chamber has recognized citizens and businesses for their outstanding contributions to the community. Honorees will be chosen from nominations submitted by the public in the following categories: Business of the Year, Citizen of the Year, Employee of the Year and Nonprofit of the Year. Additionally, nominations are considered for Lifetime Achievement and/or Civic Pride. However, these categories are only honored when an extraordinary candidate meets the criteria. Nomination forms and criteria can be obtained via the Chambers website at sthelena.com/chamber. The deadline for nominations is Dec. 1. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will attend a plenary session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Istanbul on Monday, 21 November 2016 where he will deliver a speech. The event will be chaired by the President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Mr. Michael Turner. In the margins of the conference, Mr. Stoltenberg will have meetings with Turkish President, H.E. Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Minister of Defence, Mr. Fikri Isk. The speech will be streamed live on the NATO website and available free of charge on satellite. Still and video images of the event will also be available on the NATO website afterwards. Follow us on Twitter (@NATOPress, @jensstoltenberg and @dylanpwhite) ORANGE COUNTY, Florida An unborn twin died of injuries that she sustained in a vehicle crash that occurred near the intersection of State Roads 528 and 520 around 1:35 p.m. on Friday, November 18, 2016. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 52-year-old Adam Latham of Melbourne, Florida was driving a 2012 Kia westbound on State Road 520. Meanwhile, 23-year-old Jamie Lanford of Orlando, Florida was driving a 2013 Volkswagen eastbound on State Road 520. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Latham attempted to make a left turn to travel onto westbound State Road 528 and pulled into the direct path of the Volkswagen. The front of the Volkswagen struck the right side of the Kia which caused the Volkswagen to overturn. Lanford, who was pregnant with female twins, suffered minor injuries. However, one of the twins died after Lanford arrived at the hospital. Latham suffered minor injuries. Both drivers were wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash and FHP says that alcohol was not a factor in the crash. The crash remains under investigation and charges are pending. Attention: In the name of full disclosure, be advised that the paternal grandparents of the writer of this report were Syrian Christians who escaped the Muslim hordes in what is today Syria. They were allowed into New York City in 1917. Jihad is nothing new!While President Barack Obama and the majority of Democrats in Washington continue defending their decision to bring Syrian Muslims refugees - the majority of whom are Arab males - into United States cities, Christian women in Syria are joining an all-female special forces group with the goal of destroying the Islamic terrorist army Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).These young women are part of a growing number of females - mostly Christians - who are choosing to fight the extremist Muslim groups that have raped, enslaved and executed thousands of Christian women as well as Muslim women accused of blasphemy or other crime against Allah.One such paramilitary group that is commanded, trained and recruited by women is called The Female Protection Forces of the Land Between Two Rivers. It is described by its founders as being a small battalion of about 50 women who graduated from its training academy in the town of Al-Qahtaniyeh in northern Syria.The female fighters are all Christian women from different backgrounds who plan to show the world they won't quietly remain in their homes waiting for the Muslimwho have committed unspeakable atrocities in the name of Allah and his messenger Muhammad.The first fifty Christian women who graduated from the training academy told Middle East reporters that they are anxious to join the fight against the maniacal anti-Christian/anti-Jewish ISIS fighters. They told the news media that they wish to help uphold their religious values and protect their children's future.Christians make up only 10 percent of the Syrian population. As evil as Syria's President Bashar al-Assad is said to be, under his regime Christians were protected from the persecution of both Shi'ite and Sunni Muslims. However, Christians today are targeted for extermination by Islamists including ISIS, al-Qaida and Al Nusra Front.Of the thousands who have been forced from their homes in areas seized by the jihadists, most Christians have been ordered to either convert or pay an exorbitant fine for being a Christian, or endure torture or execution. Since ISIS began attacking, killing, and driving Syrian Christians away from their homeland, women and children who have fallen into the hands of the radical Muslims have become victims of sex slavery, several intelligence reports asserted said former police officer Laurence Belscher, who has provided training classes for women in police and security tactics.And it's not only Christian females taking up arms to fight the brutish terrorists. Yazidi women also found that in order to survive they had to pick up guns to fight the ISIS after the latter kidnapped and killed thousands of their community members, Belscher noted.The Syrian Christian women's battalion program includes military, academic, and fitness training. While the female fighters still lack combat experience, their group currently focuses on protecting the Christian community in Hasakeh, Syria. Unfortunately, the Obama administration and the Democrats who are quick to point out every injustice or perceived injustice endured by women - such as Hillary Clinton, Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Barbara Boxer - have failed to make any statements about these forgotten Christian women and children.In fact, the Obama administration, especially Attorney General Loretta Lynch, have admitted they are more concerned with words being used by Americans to describe Muslims than any other issue. Lynch even threatened to prosecute those American citizens who dared to voice their opinions about Muslim refugees who have abandoned their own wives and children.said Sid Franes, a former Marine and police homicide detective. The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] Farmers and exporters in Bhutan's Phuentsholing town, on the border with India, have been hit hard as the demonetisation of high-value currency by India has led to cardamom and potato sales dropping drastically. Indian traders have been struggling to arrange cash for making payments, following the November 8 move by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to crack down on black money, Bhutan's Kuensel News reported. According to the traders, sufficient cash is not available for the export-oriented businesses in Phuentsholing market. Traders from across the border said they get to withdraw only Rs 2,500 from ATMs in a day which is not enough. The trade has been severely affected in the export market as most of the transactions are cash based. The price of cardamom on Friday hit a record low of Nu 700/kg, which was between Nu 800 and 900 a week ago. Ngultrum is the currency of the Kingdom of Bhutan. One Bhutanese Ngultrum equals One Indian Rupee. Yeshey Wangchuk, an exporter, said the business has been badly affected by the demonetisation of 500 and 1,000 rupee notes by India. "Our buyers said they would be able to buy only after three months." Wangchuk said he has not been able to export any cardamom since the November 8 decision. According to another exporter in Phuentsholing, cardamom export has drastically gone down in Silliguri, which is a major market for Bhutan. "This has led to Bangladeshi importers taking advantage," he said. "If this continues the cardamom price will decline further." The exporter also said the business cannot continue if there is no cash in the market. Meanwhile, more than 100 truckloads of potatoes at the Food Corporation of Bhutan Ltd (FCBL) auction yard have been waiting to be unloaded in Phuentsholing. Many have been there for more than eight days and are still waiting for their turn to unload. Potato grower Yeshey Lham from Paro was into her ninth day of waiting on Friday. "Today (Thursday) we were able to unload the potatoes," she said. Yeshey Lham, who had 210 sacks of potatoes with her, said it could take a long time until the potatoes are auctioned. "It's a problem." The farmers are also expecting a Nu 20 increase on transportation for every sack of potatoes as a result of vehicle charges. Each sack of potatoes usually sells for Nu 100. Mithey, another potato grower from Jabana, had no idea when his 152 sacks of potatoes would be unloaded. "By this time we would have returned home," he said. "I have spent money waiting in Phuentsholing." Baiju Shah, an Indian trader, who buys produce from the farmers and then auctions it to other parties across the border, said buyers continue bringing Rs 500 and 1,000 notes which are no more legal tender, Kuensel reported. "It has become difficult to find Ngultrums and do business," he said, adding that there was no option but to accept those notes. Manindra Nath Roy, a buyer from Dhupguri, said it was difficult to find new notes. "I paid the buyers with old notes." Meanwhile, mineral exports to Bangladesh has also been affected. While Letter of Credits are being used for payments, transportation has been proving a challenge. Trucks from Phuentsholing and Samdrupjongkhar, on the border with India's Assam state, take minerals until Burimari, border area between India and Bangladesh. Although trucks are fuelled in Bhutan, Indian Rupees is needed for other logistics which is not available in the market, the daily said. --IANS py/rn ( 592 Words) 2016-11-19-14:56:04 (IANS) Shortly ahead of the star studded event, Big B took to Twitter to share glimpses of his meeting with Chris and his dummy run for the event. "The Global Citizen Concert tomorrow at BKC, and COLDPLAY and JAY z and many others. COME support poverty eradication," the 'PINK' star captioned the post. On a related not, the 'Gravity' hit maker also met Shah Rukh Khan, Shraddha Kapoor, Shankar Mahadevan and Farhan Akhtar at a formal dinner party earlier this week. (ANI) One army jawan was killed and three others injured when the vehicle they were travelling in was damaged after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by suspected ULFA terrorists went off Saturday morning at Digboi in Assam's Tinsukia district. The injured soldiers were shifted to a military hospital, said army sources. After the incident that took place at 7 a.m., the army launched a combing operation to nab the terrorists, said sources, adding that the search operation is still on. Earlier, Director General of Assam Police Mukesh Sahay told ANI that the army cordoned off the jungle in Pengri and launched an encounter. (ANI) Though the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh hiked the cane price by Rs 25 per quintal after a gap of three years, it failed to pressure the private sugar mills to pay the outstanding dues of over Rs 1337.42 crore of the last two seasons. The government announced the hike in the State Advisory Price(SAP) by Rs 25 in all the three categories and even put a condition that the mills would pay the farmers due in one installment, but there is no word about the pending dues of the last season amounting to Rs 1292.25 crore. Besides the private mills are also sitting on Rs 45.42 crore of the farmers pending of the 2014-15 season. Yesterday, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had said that his government will make all-out effort to get the dues of the cane farmers cleared by the private mills, but did not promise the time and date for its clearance. Besides, the CM did not elaborate how the mills would be paying the farmers their dues in one installment, when after the fresh season started from October 1 last, there was no payment made by the mills even after crushing of 338.38 lakh quintal of cane by 70 mills so far. As per the new rates of cane effective this season, common variety, that forms the bulk of cane produced, had not been revised for the last three years, was hiked to Rs 305 per quintal. The previous SAP hike was effected in 2012-13 from Rs 240 per quintal to Rs 280 per quintal. But the farmers and their organisations had been demanding increase to Rs 350 per quintal for selling cane to sugar mills over steep rise in farm input costs. As per the figures of the UP Sugar Mills Association(UPSMA), 92 private mills have paid Rs 14,807.27 crore or 91.97 per cent of the total dues and still Rs 1292.25 crore were pending of the farmers of the previous 2015-16 season. They also disclosed that the private mills were also yet to pay Rs 45.42 crore of the 2014-15 season too. The officials said in the current season, 70 mills at present function in the state, had crushed 338.36 lakh quintal of cane and had produced 31.63 lakh quintal of sugar at 9.35 per cent recovery rate. In the last season 117 mills in the state, including one of the corporation, 24 of the cooperative sectors and rest private had crushed 6456.65 lakh quintals of cane and produced 185.53 lakh quintal of sugar at 10.62 per cent recovery rate. Sugarcane is a major cash crop in UP and accounts for roughly Rs 30,000 crore worth of direct economy. There are over 4 million rural households in UP engaged in cane farming. UP and Maharashtra are India's top sugarcane and sugar producers and contribute 50 per cent to the country's annual production. The private mills dominate UP sugar sector with 92 of the total 117 mills. The cooperative sector comprises 24 mills, while UP State Sugarcane Corporation Limited (UPPSCL) controls one mill. For 2016-17, UP government has estimated cane acreage to increase marginally to 20.54 lakh hectares (LH) from 20.52 LH during 2015-16. The sugar production in the state is expected to be at par with the last year, when the state had clocked output of a little over 68.55 lakh tonnes. UNI MB SB 1304 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-1029381.Xml Australia's Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutes are conducting a series of programmes aimed at helping India upskill its vocational training leaders and support its target to train 400 million people by 2022. Over 120 Indian leaders from community colleges, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras, industrial training institutes and polytechnics are taking part in the programme named Australia India Vocational Education Leadership Training 2016. Training will be conducted by experts from Australian TAFE institutes through their national body - TAFE Directors Australia. The program is a collaborative effort between the Australian Government's Department of Education and Training and Indian Government's agencies such as the University Grants Commission, the Ministry of Skills and Entrepreneurship Development and the All India Council for Technical Education. Dr Amanda Day, Counsellor (Education and Research), Department of Education and Training, said the program was an important part of the Australia India skills relationship. "Australia and India have collaborated successfully for many years on skills," she said. "This workshop will leverage Australian expertise to support India's skilling requirement." The project also includes a one-week professional development for up to 20 Indian leaders in Australian TAFE institutes in February 2017.UNI SY SB 1345 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0093-1029423.Xml Tension prevailed at Rajah Serfoji Government Arts College here after the DMK booth agents caught seven persons on the alleged charges of attempting to cast bogus votes in favour of the AIADMK candidate when polling is underway in Thanjavur assembly constituency, this afternoon. DMK candidate for Thanjavur constituency Ms.Anjugam Bhoopathy claimed that seven persons, all of them native of Orathur village in Perambalur district were caught by her party men at the polling booths (numbers 188 and 189) before they could cast their votes. They were outsiders and their faces did not match with the photos found on their booth slips. All the seven persons were handed over to the police for necessary action, she said. Ms.Bhoopathy is pitted against M.Rengasamy of ruling AIADMK. Meanwhile, an AIADMK activist was held for distributing "coloured tokens" to the voters outside two polling booths in Then Palanzhi in Thirupparankundram assembly constituency in Madurai district, where the by-election is progressing. The AIADMK activist was identified as one Senthil. Though Senthil claimed that he was distributing tokens to the voters for availing refreshments, the DMK activists accused that it is meant for distribution of cash to voters. An Election Commission flying squad caught red-handed Senthil and seized about 200 tokens from him. He was handed over to Austinpatti police for further investigation. Election to Thanjavur and Aravakkurichi constituencies were cancelled by the Election Commission, when the State went for 14th assembly election on May 16, following large-scale complaints of bribing of voters. The by-poll to Tirupparankundram constituency was necessitated following the death of AIADMK MLA S.M.Seenivel. UNI GSM-GV CS 1357 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-1029478.Xml An ambush by suspected ULFA (I) and NSCN (K) militants, using IEDs, RPGs and automatic rifles, in Tinsukia district of eastern Assam today killed three army jawans and injured another four. The attack, which came as by-poll in adjoining Lakhimpur Lok Sabha constituency is being held today, has led frightened dwellers of about five villages in the area to flee their homes. Security forces have launched a massive combing operation in the area with Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal reiterating 'zero tolerance' towards militancy. Official sources confirmed that three jawans were killed in the ambush. They have been identified as havildar Sashipal Singh, NJ Harpat Singh and havildar Multan Singh. Reports from Tinsukia said two army vehicles came under attack in the wee hours today when the militants lobbed a grenade on the former's van and opened indiscriminate firing, killing three jawans and injuring four others. Security reinforcements were rushed to the area with police also joining the army in the combing operations. Empty cartridges, Rocket Propelled Grenades, water bottles and food bags have been recovered from the ambush site, police said. Police suspected the ambush was carried out by a team of about 15 militants of ULFA (I) and NSCN (K). Condemning the incident, chief minister Sonowal said in Guwahati the attackers will not be spared and has asked the director general of police to visit Pengeri immediately.Meanwhile, villagers of about five nearby villages have fled their homes and are taking shelter in schools since the morning, after sound of bomb blasts and gun shots woke them up. UNI SG RN1322 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0311-1029447.Xml The premium motorcycle sold through Motoroyale of the Pune basedKinetic Group has its presence in India from early this year. F3 800RC is a limited collector's edition byke with a worldwide salesrestricted to 250 units. Out of this nine would be sold in India andsix have already been book, Mr Ajinkya Firodia, Managing Director ofMV Augusta India told newsmen here at the launch of the company'sthird show room in the country, after Pune and Ahmedabad. The Augusta Motorcycles cost between Rs 16 lakh and Rs 42 lakh. Mr Firodia said the company since its inception in May thisyear had sold 70 vehicles and is expecting a market of around 600 ina year. He said Bengaluru was one of the most popular sales point forsuperbykes after New Delhi and Mumbai. He said over the next 8 months the Company would offer thevehicles in other major cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad. India is slowly emerging a major destination of superbykes withan annual market size of 14,000 and growing in double digit. By 2020the number was expected to touch 20,000. The motorcycles boast of in line 3 and in line 4 cylinder engineswhich have upto 200 BHP of power with advanced electronics,including 8 level traction control and ABS.UNI CNR MSP CS 1403 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0284-1029485.Xml Inaugurating the first Vishwas Punjabi Sahitya Sammelan lastevening, Mr Gadkari said that only culture has the power to overthrow the rude government regime. The first 'Vishwa Punjabi Sahitya Sammelan' began with participation of over 4,000 delegates from Punjab and countries such as Canada, USA and UK. 'Vishwa Punjabi Gaurav Awards' were given to prominent Punjabi personalities including the actors Dharmendra, Ujjal Dosanjh,Indian-origin Canadian MP Dr S P Oberoi, chairman of Apex Group ofcompanies S Tarlochan Singh, former Chairman of National MinoritiesCommission and retired IPS officer P S Pasricha for their contribution to Punjab, Punjabi language and culture. President of the literary fest Dr Surjit Singh Patar, a prominent poet and writer, said, "The relationship between Maharashtra and Punjab dates back to at least seven centuries. The history of thisrelationship began in the 14th century with the footsteps of Maharashtrian saint, Sant Namdev. For nearly two decades, the words of Sant Namdev echoed in the air of Punjab and dwelt in the hearts of Punjabi people, he added.UNI SP NV CJ 1500 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0171-1029583.Xml Police said Siddappa was standing in the queue for nearlythree hours for remitting banned Rs 500 notes when he collapsed. He was rushed to the Hospital but doctors declared him asbrought dead. Meanwhile in the State capital there is little decline in thesurge witnessed in front of Banks since November 9. With some moreATMs started functioning in the city people were relieved though thelimit is only Rs 2,000 is available for withdrawal per card. Bank officials are applying indelible inks on the fingers ofcustomers to prevent them from frequent visit so that others getopportunity to withdraw or deposit. Reports from other parts of the State also revealed about fewerqueues in front of the Banks.UNI MSP CNR CS 1533 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0284-1029663.Xml The opposition DMK in Tamil Nadu will stage aState-wide human chain agitation on November 24 demanding the stateand central Governments to put an end to the sufferings of the people,who were hit hard by the demonetisation of the Rs 500 and Rs 1000currencies. In a statement here, DMK President M Karunanidhi said the agitationwould be held in all the district headquarters between 1600 hrs and1700 hrs on that day. The stir would be headed by the respective district secretaries of theparty, he said and appealed to the party workers to participate inlarge numbers in the agitation. He also appealed to the people, traders, workers and farmers toparticipate in it. Mr Karunanidhi said people and traders were greatly affected by thedemonetisation move and traders were losing their businesses. People standing in long queues to exchange the scrapped noteshas become the order of the day. Despite opposition parties raising the issue in Parliament, PrimeMinister Narendra Modi has not come to the House to make astatement, Mr Karunanidhi said. At a time when several states were opposing the demonetisationmove, the Tamil Nadu government was yet to come out with astatement and has not taken any steps to put an end to the problemsfaced by the people. With a view to urge the state and central governments to takeurgent steps to put an end to the people's sufferings, the DMK hasdecided to observe the human chain agitation on November 24,Mr Karunanidhi further said.UNI GV CS 1627 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-1029776.Xml FAIRBANKS, Alaska People say they like hunting stories, but they seem to really want gear stories. Thats the feedback I got from readers last year when I neglected to mention what type of ammo people used in all but a couple of the 18 hunts I described. Sorry about that, folks. Point taken. To make up for it this year I made sure to ask every hunter what type of ammo was used and have compiled the results here. I even made a chart of the results online at newsminer.com. This isnt a scientific sample; its a self-selecting group of hunters who shot big moose and chose to send their pictures to the newspaper. But I think its interesting to see what hunters are using and if its changing over time. I was particularly interested in ammo choices this year after reading a column by Field & Stream gun writer David Petzal, who encouraged hunters to drop the size of their hunting ammunition in a column this year. Thanks to recent improvements to range-finding tools and bullet quality, ammo doesnt have to be as big as it used to be to kill effectively, Petzal wrote. Previous generations of hunters preferred heavier bullets because lower-quality bullets exploded on impact and didnt penetrate game animals. Hunters preferred faster ammunition because lacking todays range-finding lasers, they needed a flatter trajectory. Petzal predicted more ammo downsizing is in the future thanks to the popularity of the AR-15 and its imitators. It may be a bit down the road yet, but I think one of the results of the AR boom will be a generation of shooters that regards cartridges of .223 length and size as standard and anything bigger as freakish, he said in the January Field & Stream. The article is online at bit.ly/2eyLsED. But Petzal was writing for an audience of Lower 48 hunters who go after smaller game. I was interested to learn whether theres been any evidence of people picking smaller ammunition for a 1,500-pound bull moose. The official Alaska Department of Fish and Game website (online at bit.ly/2eyMNva) offers advice similar to Petzals. Some hunters use heavier ammunition than they need and arent able to shoot accurately because of heavy recoil, it warns. Only consider using a .300, .338 or larger magnum if you can shoot it as well as you can the .30-06, it states. But the members of this years 60-Inch Club certainly dont show any preference for lighter rounds. If anything, this years sample skewed toward the larger rounds. Four hunters used the .338 Winchester Magnum, making it the most popular. I was surprised to see that only two hunters used the famous and versatile .30-06. I went by the gun counter at Frontier Outfitters to take a photo of some of the most popular moose rounds. The staff was nice enough to open a half dozen ammo boxes for me, but were rightly skeptical of my ambitions to learn something about moose hunting trends from the 60-Inch Club. Manager Kurt OLeary said there havent been any obvious patterns in the types of ammunition moose hunters use. In general, hunters buy ammo that works with the rifle they already have, which can last for decades if taken care of. As much as Ive enjoyed learning about different cartridge sizes and styles this year, I shouldnt read too much into the results. Himachal Pradesh Government has geared up to tackle possible drought like situation in the state as dry weather continue prevailing in the state since September 15. Chief Secretary V C Pharka today convened a high level meeting here to take stock of all drinking water schemes and sewerage treatment plants of the state. Through video conferencing, he sought information from all the Chief Engineers and Superintending Engineers about the drinking water and sewerage schemes. He especially directed to ensure locking and fencing of all water storage tanks to ensure their safety. Emphasising on the quality of drinking water, he asked the concerned departments to ensure that no drinking water supply scheme get polluted due to sewerage or any other reasons as due to long dry spell there was possibility of water resources getting polluted. He directed the Irrigation and Public Health Department to take regular samples of all the water supply schemes and send the report to the government adding that any lapse in this regard would not be tolerated. He also directed to ensure that no sewerage connection was given from the main line. Mr Pharka informed that presently 9393 water supply schemes and 34605 hand pumps were catering to the drinking water requirement of the people. The I&PH Department had deployed 29000 employees for smooth water supply to each household. As many as 49 sewerage treatment plants were functional in different parts of the State, he added. Chief Engineer, I&PH Mandi Zone apprised the Chief Secretary that all water supply schemes were functioning smoothly and the water samples were being tested on regular basis at the district level laboratories set up at Mandi and Kullu. He also informed that the cases of jaundice reported in the district were not due to polluted water rather repo rted in the outsiders. Chief Engineer, Dharamshala Zone informed that 978 water supply schemes were functional in Kangra and Chamba districts and so far there were no reports of draught like situation from any part. He said the work of locking 75 percent water tanks and fencing of 65 per cent tanks had been completed in these districts. Chief Engineer, Hamirpur Zone apprised that 889 water supply schemes were catering to the water requirement of Una, Hamirpur and Bilaspur districts and the 10363 hand pumps had been installed in the water scarcity areas where as 52 more hand pumps were being installed. He said 7220 samples were sent to different laboratories for testing and the work of locking 60 percent water tanks and fencing of 33 per cent water tanks had been completed. He also informed that the proposal had been prepared for providing adequate water to NIT, Hamirpur. In Shimla district there were 1000 water storage tanks out of which locking of 618 and fencing of 378 tanks had been completed. The district has five district level and nine sub divisional level functional laboratories. It was informed that the locking of all 2864 water tanks functioning in Solan and Sirmaur districts had been done and fencing would be completed by the end of December, 2016. Two sewerage treatment plants at Paonta and Solan were also functioning smoothly. Mr Pharka directed the department to take regular samples of drinking water in Shimla town for testing and ensuring safe drinking water supply smoothly. He directed to prepare the proposal of Dubling and Lippa to Jangi water supply schemes at the earliest. It was informed in the meeting that the process of tenders has been completed for rupees three crore Spilo Irrigation scheme. Secretary, I&PH Anuradha Thakur told that the work on 128 drinking water supply schemes had been completed by spending Rs. 21 crore out of total 172 schemes on which 70 percent work was already completed and Rs. 25 crores were provided by the Government of India. The work on remaining schemes was pending as the Centre had not released the funds and the State Government had approved Rs. 25 crores separately to complete these schemes. UNI ML CJ GC1625 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-1029750.Xml Calling for compulsory flu vaccination of medical staff, the Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) today said that un-vaccinated healthcare workers are putting the patients at risk. Expressing concern over low vaccination rates among healthcare workers, President DAK Dr Nisar ul Hassan in a statement said mandatory flu shots for medical personnel would provide safe environment in hospitals to patient care. Despite the recommendations by a majority of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff are unvaccinated putting lives of patients at risk, he said adding healthcare workers imperil patients by snubbing flu shots. He said patients die in hospitals because they are treated by unimmunized healthcare workers. Unvaccinated staff has the potential to transmit flu to patients who are vulnerable to flu-related complications and death. During hospitalization, patients are 5-35 times more likely to acquire flu if exposed to infected healthcare workers, he said. Dr Hassan said studies have shown to decrease mortality among patients when healthcare workers were vaccinated. Vaccination of staff has shown to reduce flu-related deaths by 40 per cent, the DAK president said adding also, vaccine protects healthcare workers themselves from getting sick and prevents disruption of healthcare delivery system. There is a moral imperative for hospital staff to be immune and for healthcare institutions to ensure staff vaccination for patient safety. He said the patients entrust healthcare workers with their lives and the clinicians should not be the ones to make them sick. Mandatory policies are being increasingly adopted by healthcare institutions and public health authorities and that has increased vaccine coverage. The DAK President said in United States, compulsory vaccination increased coverage rates from 64 per cent in 2007 to 98 per cent in 2008 among the healthcare workers. '' With the flu season setting in, the best way to protect yourself and people around you is to get a flu shot,'' he added. Worldwide, three and five million cases of flu are recorded each year, with 250,000 to 500,000 deaths reported due to the fatal disease.UNI ABS RJ 1608 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0433-1029696.Xml The Governments of Haryana and Ontario (Canada) have agreed to constitute working groups to further promote agriculture cooperation, especially in the key areas of food processing, food safety, animal husbandry and dairying, cooperative sector and horticulture university, which is being set up in Haryana. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who held a meeting with a delegation of Government of Ontario, Canada led by Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Jeff Leal and Minister of International Trade Michael Chan here today, extended cooperation of the state in these areas. The delegation evinced keen interest in mutual cooperation in these areas and also agreed to lend its support in better management of paddy straw. It was informed that working groups would be constituted for exchanging technical support and cooperation and deliberate on the key areas between both the governments for boosting production and productivity in the state. Mr Khattar said that there is a large scope of joint ventures in agriculture and food processing in the state. Haryana surrounds national capital Delhi on three sides and there is a lot of scope to tap the market of fruits and vegetable in peri-urban areas with the best utilization of technologies. He said that besides, agriculture university, there are Centres of Excellence for fruits and vegetables in the state. As the majority of farmers have small land holdings, the cooperative is also a major sector where both the governments could collaborate with the active participation of people. He said that state government had already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Province of Ontario to further enhance and strengthen economic relations, facilitate knowledge transfer and encourage ongoing dialogue and cooperation and collaborations in various fields. He also sought suggestions for better management of Agriculture and allied sectors. Mr Jeff Leal said that there are cordial relations between Canada and India and we look forward to further strengthen the bond between Ontario and Haryana. The delegation also suggested for mutual cooperation for training of students and teachers at University level. UNI DB CJ RJ 1800 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-1029955.Xml A few days after the opposition parties, including AAP, took on Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar for prostrating himself before Prime Minister Narendra Modi with folded hands during a public meeting in Goa, Parsekar's son has hit back at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal through Facebook. In his post earlier on Saturday, Rishi Parsekar uploaded a viral news video of Kejriwal, in which he's seen trying to hold West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's hand during an anti-demonetisation rally in the national capital, in an attempt to show solidarity over the issue. "They said our Hon. Prime Minister. Narendra Modi ignored Goa CM Mr. Parsekar. Now whats your take on this?? Bhaisahab AAP karna kya chahte the? #AK #getalife," Parsekar said in his post, which accompanies the video cut from the newsfeed of a Hindi news channel. Parsekar's video, showing him with folded hands sitting by Prime Minister Modi on November 13, went viral and political parties including the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party accused the Chief Minister of humiliating the state. --IANS maya/lok/bg ( 186 Words) 2016-11-19-18:24:03 (IANS) The Government today refused to give a specific time frame for total replacement of the notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 by the new currency, saying that printing time of every currency note was different. ''I am not responding to the Congress. Printing time of different currencies can take different time,'' Commerce and Industry Minister and BJP leader Nirmala Sitharaman said, when asked about Former finance minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram's statement that it would take seven months to replace the equivalent of the banned Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency. She said the Opposition party was misleading the people by giving such statement. Ms Sitharaman said, ''Congress was creating fear and uncertainty among the masses, by making such a statement.'' She said the Government was responding on daily basis over the situation, arising after the denomination of high currency notes. The BJP leader said Congress has no weapon left and there was no weight in its arguments. The Commerce Minister hit out at the grand old party for creating ruckus in the Rajya Sabha over the issue. She said in Rajya Sabha, a debate had already started on the issue in the ongoing Winter session and the Finance Minister was listening to the debate for the whole day, but now they (Congress) are pressing for a new demand of calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the House. The proceedings of the Rajya Sabha have been stalled over the last two days over the Congress demand of the Prime Minister's presence and ruling BJP's demand for apology from Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad for his remarks that more people had died, waiting for hours at Banks and ATMs, than in terror attacks by Pakistan.UNI NY-NAZ CJ RJ 1821 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0099-1030017.Xml German Chancellor Angela Merkel promised on Saturday to increase investment in infrastructure in Europe's biggest economy in 2017, an election year, without resorting to new borrowing.Germany, which runs a budget surplus, has resisted pressure from European peers to spend more to help boost euro zone growth and last week the European Commission effectively urged Germany to loosen its purse strings next year.In her weekly podcast, Merkel - who is expected to announce on Sunday that she will run for a fourth term as chancellor next year - said her government would raise spending on roads, railways and broadband as well as on education.Despite the increase in spending next year, "there will be no new debts at the cost of future generations", Merkel said.She also said money spent on integrating migrants was "a good investment" as it would mean they would be able to use Germany's education system and then join the workforce.Fears about the integration of almost 900,000 migrants last year, many from war zones in the Middle East, have dented Merkel's popularity but her government argues that many will in the long run be a valuable part of the labour force.Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble has planned a balanced budget for the next four years.A document showed yesterday that Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) plan to divide surplus tax revenues between infrastructure investment, tax relief and spending more on foreign and security policy.Merkel also said she wanted to increase spending further on defence and on the NATO alliance. "Security plays an important part and that is not just the case since the election of a new president in the United States," she said.The German parliament debates the government's budget proposals next week. Last month, the government raised its growth forecast for this year to 1.8 per cent from 1.7 per cent.REUTERS PS AS1909 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0421-1030132.Xml In a step aimed at transforming the state to a food processing hub from a food growing one, Punjab government and the Government of Ontario province of Canada today mutually agreed to work in collaboration with each other for giving push to agriculture diversification and food processing industry. A decision to this effect was taken by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during a meeting with the high level delegation of Ontario province, led by Minister of Agriculture Jeff Leal, who called on him at his residence this morning. Meanwhile, the Guru Angad Dev Animal and Veterinary Sciences University (GADVASU) and University of Guelph (Ontario) signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in fields of LivestockAgriculture, Aquaculture, Food Processing and Veterinary Medicine in presence of Chief Minister, Cabinet Minister Adesh Pratap Singh and Ontarian Minister of Agriculture Jeff Leal. During the meeting both the governments agreed to mutually work to prepare a framework for the support and cooperation of both the states in field of Diversification of Agriculture, Food Processing,Dairy, Fishery and Piggery sector. It was decided that both the states would ensure the mutual trips of faculty, students and progressive farmers for better exchange of expertise in these fields. Likewise, it was also decided that University of Guelph (Ontario) and Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) would also explore the feasibility of better coordination in these fields. Taking part in deliberations, Mr Badal said that there was a huge scope of bilateral cooperation in these areas as both Punjab and Ontario had demonstrated their strength and dominance in agricultureand allied farming due to their vast experience and expertise. He said that as both were primarily agrarian economies with very strong agriculture base to mutually benefit from technology transfer,cooperation and support. The Chief Minister urged Mr Jeff Leal to carry forward the proposals mutually agreed upon by both of them to its logical end so that these should not merely confine to the papers. Underscoring the need for students and teachers exchange program, Mr Badal said that the modalities in this regard could be worked out and formulated mutually by both the governments. He also laid thrust on need of Farmers' Exchange Program for fast and easy transfer of technologies to the fields for introducing new and scientific farm practices to the Punjabi farmers. He invited theleaders of food processing industry of Canada to set up their ventures in the state adding that the Punjab government would provide fulsome support and cooperation to them. Taking part in deliberations, Mr Jeff Leal said there was tremendous potential for mutual cooperation in the other allied sectors of agriculture and animal husbandry. He also assured Mr Badal of every technical help in the arena of food technology, food processing, nutrition and Agri bio-technology.UNI DB RJ 1834 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-1030068.Xml Interacting with the media after inaugurating free health camp for the general public at Amarpur village in Palwal district today, Admiral Lanba said the Indian Navy does not have any submarine in that area. Replying to a question, he said the Indian Army had conducted surgical strike across the border after the Uri incident. He said that all Defence Forces of the country, including the Army, Navy and the Air Force, were fully capable of conducting surgical strikes. Answering another question, Admiral Lanba said the committee constituted for the implementation of 'One Rank One Pension' scheme had submitted a report to the Defence Ministry for consideration.UNI XC RJ 1854 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-1030102.Xml Punjab Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa today admitted that people are facing problem due to demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes and said they have taken up matter with the Centre. Addressing mediapersons at SGPC run Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University here, he said the demonetisation was a step in the right direction to curb corruption and black money. On reports of deaths and a suicide by a person today, Dhindsa said there are other reasons behind these and not demonetisation. On AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal's stand against demonetisation of old currency notes and announcing protest dharnas, Dhindsa said Delhi's CM stand had totally exposed him. He said on one hand, Mr Kejriwal is raising voice against corruption and now is opposing PM's bold step against corruption. The Minister said he had decided to contest from Lehra constituency four year back and his decision to shifting from Sunam to Lehra constituency was conveyed to the SAD leadership long time back. He claimed that SAD-BJP alliance would win Lehra constituency seat in upcoming Punjab Assembly election with thumping majority. When asked why the SAD was yet to meet President Pranab Mukherjee on the SYL issue even as the state Congress leaders led by PPCC president Capt Amarinder Singh met him, Dhindsa said the party have sought an appointment with the President and a SAD delegation will meet him whenever he gives time. He said Capt Amarinder Singh has no right to demand Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal resignation over SYL issue. On not informing forest department before returning land to old owners due to which large number of trees will cut, Dhindsa said it was a big task so it will take time to reach full contents of decision to all departments . On Aam Adami Pary president national president and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal 11-day Punjab's visit from November 20, Dhindsa said AAP had already exposed and people of Punjab will give it befitting reply in upcoming Punjab Assembly election. He said there will be no effect of Kejriwal's visit.UNI XC VK RSA 1956 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-1030207.Xml The victim drove himself to Billings Clinic after being stabbed at about 9:40 p.m. on Jan. 14 outside his apartment building on the 3100 block of Third Avenue South, according to court documents. Leggett admitted getting into an altercation with the victim, but denied stabbing him. The Assistant Manager of the Regional Office of State Bank of India Thangboi Lunkim has informed at least 53 Automated Teller Machines (ATM) have been recalibrated in Dimapur and is now dispensing the new Rs 2000 currency notes along with the 100-rupee notes. In a statement Mr. Lunkim said that the remaining ATMs, which are yet to be recalibrated, continue to dispense 100-rupee notes and said there was sufficient cash at hand with the delivery of 276 Crore by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to Nagaland on November 15. The Finance Department of the Nagaland Government had sought Rs 300 Crore from the RBI after the demonetization move on November 8. The Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur had also convened a meeting on Thursday to assess the situation. The SBI has also launched Cash@POS terminal in Dimapur in an effort to meet the financial needs of its customers on November 15. Lunkim also informed that the new Rs 2000 new notes of cash were dispensed to approximately 150,000 customers through 74 ATMs in Dimapur and Kohima on Friday. Indelible ink was also used in most of the branches while exchanging notes. Mini Mobile ATM services have also been extended to NAPTC at Chumukedima, Referral Hospital, Eden Hospital, Zion Hospital and ICAR Medziphema under Dimapur district. UNI AS KK -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0212-1030362.Xml President Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate an international agriculture fair 'CII Agro Tech 2016' in Chandigarh tomorrow. According to an official release, on the same day, he will also address the 15th anniversary celebrations of Indian School of Business at Mohali. Visiting Israel President Reuven Rivlin will be the Guest of Honour at the four-day agri event organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).The Agro Tech will occupy over 16000 sqm gross area at the Parade Ground, Chandigarh. Israel, Australia, The Netherlands have been Partner Country at Agro Tech 2016. It is expected that over 75,000 people including 35,000 farmers from all over India will take part in the event.In a statement issued by CII, Rumjhum Chatterjee, Chairperson, CII Northern Region, said, "Israel is the Partner country for the 12th edition of CII Agro Tech while Focus Countries are Canada & Germany. In addition CII Agro Tech will also feature strong participation from Europe and Asia, showcasing the latest technology and state-of-the-art equipment in the agriculture sector."Nearly 92 domestic and global players from 13 countries will be participating in the 12th edition of the fair, in which Israel is the partner country with Canada and Germany as focus countries and Great Britain as the guest country.A major highlight of the fair will be 'CII Agri Hackathon' in which 60 participants, including students and budding entrepreneurs, will compete to produce technology solutions for Indian agriculture. 'Kisan Goshtees' (farmer forums) will be an important part of the fair, exclusively designed to educate farmers on agri-related topics and acquaint them with business opportunities available.Agro Tech works as an ideal interaction platform between the Farm Producers and the Agro Industry. By creating linkages for value creation and value addition, the exhibition offers varied business opportunities to the technology holders as well as practical learning to the technology users.Agro Tech has been supported by the Ministries of Agriculture & Food Processing Industries. Punjab & Haryana have always participated as Host State. Other states like Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu have also been participating in it. UNI ADP CJ RJ 2004 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0429-1030270.Xml Amritsar is all set to host the 6th Ministerial Conference of the 'Heart of Asia-Istanbul process' to be held on December 3 and 4. Stating this after meeting Union Minister of State for External Affairs Gen (Retd) V K Singh with whom he discussed the modalities of the conference, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said the event would be held on December 3 and 4 in which more than 40 foreign ministers and dignitaries of the 'Heart of Asia' countries, supporting countries and international organisations would participate. He said that the conference would give further boost to the image of Punjab and go a long way in helping it to achieve a privileged position on the world map, especially in tourism and hospitality management sectors. He further said that it would be a perfect chance to showcase the rich and glorious cultural heritage of Punjab to the visiting dignitaries such as the newly inaugurated heritage street in which the buildings around Sri Darbar Sahib have been given heritage look, the plaza around Sri Darbar Sahib , Jallianwala Bagh besides other places including Sri Durgiana Mandir and Ramtirath. Mr Badal said that no stone would be left unturned to make the conference a grand success and the preparations have begun on a war footing to ensure that every aspect concerned with the mega event is perfectly taken care of. He also said that he would be personally conducting inspection of all the necessary arrangements on November 28 and any laxity would not be tolerated. The Deputy Chief Minister also mooted the idea of heritage walk around the heritage street for the dignitaries which was instantly agreed to by the Union Minister. During the course of the conference, various events would be held concentrating on the challenge of terrorism in the heart of Asia region, especially Afghanistan, countering extremism, exploring cultural and civilisational similarities, and Co-operation in educational sector. UNI DB RSA 2020 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-1030047.Xml As many as 19 soldiers were taken ill after food poisoning in Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand today.They were admitted to hospital.2/11 Gorkha Battalion Subedaar K S Rai told reporters that the jawans started in the morning from Army headquarters in Lucknow for Banbasa for their routine training. They stopped for lunch 40 kms from here in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh.Of the 150 soldiers who had lunch, 19 complained of nausea and headache. They were admitted to government hospital.The doctor treating the soldiers, Dr I A Khan said all the soldiers were out of danger.After first-aid, all the soldiers were discharged and have started for their destination.All the jawans were newly recruited and going to Banbasa in Champawat on Nepal-Uttarakhand border.Senior army officials also reached he hospital on hearing the news about the jawans getting sick.UNI XC-RSA 2311 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0104-1030411.Xml Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh today assured the Next of Kin of martyrs a job and ex-gratia from the Centre and the State as well. Interacting with the family of the Gurnam Singh who attained martyrdom in the border firing at Bobia post in Hiranagar sector, the Deputy Chief Minister said the sacrifices rendered by the martyrs will be remembered for times to come as they have sacrificed their lives for upholding the unity and integrity of the nation. "The government would provide all the necessary support to them including the provision of job to the next of the kin besides ensuring that the ex-gratia amount of Rs 5 lakh (from the Centre) and Rs 1 lakh from the state government is provided to them at the earliest," he added. He further said that the sacrifices of the soldiers and the countrymen will go into the annals of history as a major contribution of these martyrs to safeguard the country and the nation form the external aggression. He said the people should be indebted to them and the exemplary valor being displayed by them while warding off the external aggression and threats of the enemy. He also directed the officers for taking the necessary steps for renaming the Chowk at Ratnachek as 'Shaheed Gurnam Singh Chowk'. Interacting with the family members of the four-year old Rishabh, at Salamachek, who died after sustaining injuries due to the border firing in Ramgarh sector near Vijapur, the Deputy Chief Minister assured the family of the deceased of all possible support from the government. He said the government would provide the central and state ex-gratia relief to them as early as possible.UNI VBH JW RSA 2315 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0364-1030375.Xml The Puducherry administration has offered to sell by auction the dated securities for an amount of Rs. 125 crore with 15-year tenure. Finance secretary V Candavelou in a release here tonight said that Securities will be issued for a minimum nominal amount oft 10,000 and in multiples oft 10,000 thereafter. Auction will be conducted by Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai Office (Fort) on November 22. Interested persons, Firms, Companies, Corporate Bodies, Institutions, Provident Fund, Trusts, Regional Rural Banks, Co-op. Banks, etc., may submit a single consolidated Non-Competitive bid on behalf of all its constituents in electronic format on the Reserve Bank of India Core Banking Solution (E-Kuber) available in the website www.rbi.org.in on November 22 between 1030 hrs and 1130 hrs.UNI PAB JW RSA 2328 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0364-1030395.Xml An official here said that a team of 269 Engineer Regiment, headed by Captain Vikas Malik today conducted the operation in village and Laliyal and Gajansoo of Kanhchak sector, where Pakistan on October 24 shelled heavily and fired mortars and automatics. "The team carried out 40 such operations and disposed of mortar shells in Arnia sector, Ramgarh sector and RS Pura sector of Samba and Jammu districts," said an official. He said that the farmers scared of explosions, while working in the fields, approached the police and army following which the exercise was conducted. "In village Laliyal two mortars were defused, while in Gajansoo area one mortar was defused by the bomb disposal squad," he added. He further said that mortars, which did not explode after landing on this side of the border, got buried in the soil and with the help of hi-tech devices, they were located and defused on the spot. Meanwhile, panic gripped the villagers due to recovery of live mortars.UNI VBH JW RSA 2321 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0364-1030397.Xml Retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who has been asked to serve as Donald Trump's National Security Advisor, on his Twitter accountmaligned the Muslim faith, shared fake news and interacted with far right and anti-Semitic figures. A CNN review of Flynn's Twitter account found that the retired lieutenant general, who once served as head of the Defence Intelligence Agency, tweeted routinely with members of the so-called alt-right movement -- a far right ideological group whose members primarily use social media as platform to spread their message. On 15 different occasions, Flynn tagged in his tweets alt-right figure Mike Cernovich, who regularly tweets inflammatory and unfounded conspiracy theories. Flynn urged his followers to follow Cernovich, tweeting in October, "Follow Mike @Cernovich He has a terrific book, Gorilla Mindset. Well worth the read. @realDonaldTrump will win on 8 NOV!!!", the review said. Cernovich runs a website called Danger and Play, which has pushed conspiracy theories that the Orlando Pulse shooter did not act alone and that former presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman was part of a sex cult. Flynn has also shared Islamophobic tweets and sentiments, the CNN review noted. "In next 24 hours, I dare Arab and Persian world 'leaders' to step up to the plate and declare their Islamic ideology sick and must be healed," Flynn tweeted in July of this year following the terrorist attack in Nice, France. In February, Flynn made waves when he tweeted it was rational to fear Muslims. "Fear of Muslims is rational: please forward this to others: the truth fears no questions," Flynn said with a link to a video claiming Islamophobia was rational and that Islam wanted 80 per cent of humanity enslaved or exterminated. Days before the November 8 election, Flynn tweeted a false story claiming the New York Police Department had found evidence on former US Representative Anthony Weiner's laptop "to put Hillary (Clinton) and her crew away for life". In October, Flynn retweeted a false claim that UN Agenda 21, a sustainable development programme, would create a one world church where Christianity was prohibited and that choosing nationalism was the only way to stop Clinton. In July, Flynn linked a picture to a tweet that falsely claimed Clinton was "wearing hijab in solidarity with islamic terrorists". The picture was from a 2009 trip Clinton took to Pakistan as Secretary of State. --IANS ksk ( 405 Words) 2016-11-19-10:10:04 (IANS) A Massachusetts man was found guilty by a federal jury on Friday of back-dating drawings he relied on as evidence in his lawsuit against DreamWorks Animation that claimed he had invented the title character in the 2008 film "Kung Fu Panda."A federal jury in Boston convicted Jayme Gordon, 51, on four counts of wire fraud and three counts of perjury after prosecutors accused him of lying in a 2011 lawsuit against the Hollywood studio, the US Attorney's Office in Massachusetts said in a statement.Prosecutors charged that Gordon back-dated drawings of a high-kicking bear named Po in 2008 after seeing an early trailer for the film, and then used them to try to extract a 12 million dollar settlement from DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc.Some of the drawings Gordon relied on had been traced from a coloring book featuring Walt Disney Co characters from the 1994 film "The Lion King," prosecutors said.Gordon agreed to dismiss his lawsuit after DreamWorks, which also produced the "Madagascar" and "How to Train Your Dragon" films, discovered the tracing. By that time, though, the company had spent three million dollar defending itself against the litigation.Gordon faces 20 years in prison for the wire fraud charges and five years for the perjury charges.Gordon's attorney was not immediately available for comment. REUTERS PY RAI1214 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-1029332.Xml All hospitals in Syria's besieged rebel-held eastern Aleppo are out of service after days of heavy air strikes, its health directorate and the World Health Organisation (WHO) said , but a war monitor said some were still working."This destruction of infrastructure essential to life leaves the besieged, resolute people, including all children and elderly men and women, without any health facilities offering life-saving treatment ... leaving them to die," said Aleppo's health directorate in a statement sent to Reuters by an opposition official.Elizabeth Hoff, the WHO representative in Syria, said a UN-led group of aid agencies based over the border in Turkey "confirmed today that all hospitals in eastern Aleppo are out of service."However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said that some hospitals were still operating in the besieged parts of Aleppo but that many residents were frightened to use them because of heavy shelling.Medical sources, residents and rebels in eastern Aleppo say hospitals have been damaged by air strikes and helicopter barrel bombs in recent days, including direct hits on the buildings.Health and rescue workers have previously been able to bring damaged hospitals back into operation but a lack of supplies is making that harder.Intense air strikes have battered eastern Aleppo since Tuesday when the Syrian army and its allies resumed operations after a pause lasting weeks. They launched ground attacks against insurgent positions yesterday.Syrian state television said on Tuesday the air force had targeted "terrorist strongholds and supply depots" in Aleppo. Russia has said its air force is only conducting air strikes in other parts of Syria. The Damascus government describes all the rebels fighting it as terrorists.Both countries have denied deliberately targeting hospitals and other civilian infrastructure during the war, which began in 2011 and was joined by Russia's air force in September 2015.OFFENSIVEThe war pits President Bashar al-Assad backed by Russia, Iran and Shi'ite militias against a medley of Sunni rebels including groups supported by the United States, Turkey and Gulf monarchies, as well as jihadist groups.Aleppo, for years split between a rebel-held east and government-held western sector, has become the fiercest front. During the summer, pro-government forces managed to besiege the districts held by insurgents which are home to about 270,000 people, according to the United Nations.An army offensive backed by a major aerial bombardment from late September to late October killed hundreds, according to the United Nations, and tightened the siege, leaving eastern Aleppo with little food, medicine or fuel.A rebel counter-attack early this month involved shelling that killed dozens of civilians, the UN said, but it quickly petered out and the army and its allies, including Hezbollah and Iraqi militias, reversed all insurgent gains in about two weeks.Warplanes, artillery and helicopters continued bombarding eastern Aleppo today, hitting many of its densely populated residential districts, the Observatory said.REUTERS PS GC1728 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0421-1029898.Xml Montana education officials released the first draft of the state's plan to comply with a new federal education law on Thursday, detailing how the state will evaluate schools and intervene if they aren't making the cut. The Every Student Succeeds Act, passed last spring, was hailed as a step away from the much-reviled proficiency goals of No Child Left Behind and a return to more control of states and school districts. The law still requires that states administer standardized tests and requires them to identify struggling schools. It mandates states use four academic indicators for evaluating schools: academic achievement, academic progress, graduation rates and English language learner proficiency progress. It also lets states pick one or more additional indicators. Montana's plan includes school climate, defined as "the quality and character of school life," by the National School Climate Center, as the extra indicator. The plan says that the Office of Public Instruction will be developing a rubric for evaluating school improvement plans that will include a survey on school climate factors. School climate will hold less weight than other factors in determining an overall score for schools. A stakeholder group of more than 30 educators, administrators and public officials from around the state advised OPI on the preferred school climate. They were pretty clear in all of the discussion that thats what they pretty much unanimously wanted to see, said assistant superintendent of education services B.J. Granbery. We want them to feel like their voices were heard and we were paying attention to what they thought would be best. For academic achievement and progress goals, schools that score below statewide average scores for Smarter Balanced or ACT tests in math and English-language arts will be expected to make progress toward those averages. Schools that score above the average are expected to maintain or improve their scores. The state will identify the lowest 5 percent of Title I schools, which receive extra federal funding because they have a high proportion of students from low-income families, and all high schools with a graduation rate below 67 percent for comprehensive support, the largest-scale state intervention. ESSA defines the thresholds. Intervention isn't necessarily punitive. Schools typically are assigned more training and may receive extra funding. The plan bases recommended interventions off existing programs like Schools of Promise, which is designed to improve low-performing schools on Montana Indian reservations, and the Montana Striving Readers Project, which aims to improve literacy outcomes. State officials said they'll likely adjust the plan after reviewing comments from the public and the governor's office during a 30-day review period and submit the plan to the federal Department of Education before current Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau leaves office. We tried to go with a broad framework to allow people to weigh in, Granbery said. But it's unclear how Donald Trump's election as president will affect the ESSA rulemaking process, which is ongoing, or if it could push back submission deadlines for state plans. The current deadline for first drafts is in March. Incoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen has said that she believes the plan submission process is moving too fast. Speaking from Baltimore where she attended a meeting of the Council of Chief State School Officers, Arntzen said she hasn't had a chance to fully review the plan yet. "I know a lot of good work has gone into this," she said. "I don't know if three stakeholder meetings is enough ... I know that there will be amendments to this as the process continues." OPI has held four stakeholder meetings. States will have a chance to revise their plans after the first review by federal officials, and OPI officials said they believe Arntzen could pull the plan back after its expected December submission to make changes before the March deadline. Tens of thousands of protesters, undeterred by the arrests of opposition leaders, marched in Malaysia's capital today demanding that Prime Minister Najib Razak step down. Protesters clad in yellow shirts marched through the heart of Kuala Lumpur bringing traffic to a standstill in several tourist spots, wrapping up peacefully in front of the iconic Petronas Twin Towers after an initial plan to assemble at Independence Square was thwarted by police. Najib has faced criticism since the Wall Street Journal reported last year that around 700 million dollars from state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) was diverted into the personal bank account of the prime minister. Najib ran into further trouble when lawsuits filed by the US Justice Department in July said over 3.5 billion dollars was stolen from 1MDB, which was founded by Najib, and that some of those funds flowed into the accounts of "Malaysian Official 1", whom US and Malaysian officials have identified as Najib. The demonstration is unlikely to shake the prime minister, who has denied wrongdoing and weathered the crisis, consolidating power by cracking down on dissenters. Eleven activists and opposition leaders were arrested yesterday and at least two more were detained at the rally. The deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said there could be more arrests in the coming days. Maria Chin Abdullah, the chair of pro-democracy group Bersih that organised the rally, was detained under Malaysia's Security Offences (Special Measures) Act, or Sosma, her lawyers said. The law was introduced in 2012 to protect the country from security and extremist threats. Laurent Meillan, acting regional representative of the United Nations Human Rights Office in South-East Asia, said the use of Sosma was very concerning. "Security legislation should not be used against peaceful demonstrators. We call for the immediate and unconditional release of Maria Chin Abdullah and other activists," Meillan said. Another Bersih leader, Hishamuddin Rais, and artist Fahmi Reza were also arrested. "We are not here to bring down the country. We love this country! We are not here to tear down the government, we're here to strengthen it," Bersih deputy chair Shahrul Aman Shaari told the crowds gathered at the National Mosque. Najib has taken steps which critics say aim to limit discussion of the scandal, such as sacking a deputy prime minister, replacing the attorney-general, suspending newspapers and blocking websites. Najib retains significant support within UMNO and from the long-ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.'ARREST US ALL' Turnout was lower than a similar rally last year, with police saying that about 15,500 Bersih supporters took part, while news portal Malaysiakini estimated around 40,000. As many as 200,000 people showed up last year at one point. Police had said the rally is illegal and that they would not hesitate to use tear gas or water cannon if things got out of hand. State news agency Bernama said about 7,000 policemen would be on duty near the protest areas.Still, spirits were high among those that gathered, with drums heard along with speeches, songs and chants by participants calling for a clean Malaysia and people power. Former Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamad, Najib's fiercest critic, joined protesters in front of the Twin Towers. "Let him come and arrest us all. We will stand up for our leaders including Maria Chin who has been arrested for the wrong reasons," said 91-year-old Mahathir. Muhyiddin Yassin - the former deputy premier who was sacked and now leads a new party chaired by Mahathir - was also present, leading the crowds in chants of "Step down Najib!" "Our country is being governed by clowns and crooks. So I'm here to protest against our prime minister," said the artist Reza before being arrested. Azalina Othman Said, a minister in the Prime Minister's Department, today said it was unlawful for any party to try to unseat an elected government via street protests. Fears of clashes between Bersih and a pro-Najib group called Red Shirts mounted earlier this week after the latter threatened to target Bersih supporters, though no major clashes were reported today. The pro-Najib group also rallied today and police estimated that about 2,500 supporters of Najib turned up.Jamal Yunos, an UMNO member and leader of the Red Shirts, was arrested yesterday. He had warned of a repeat of racial riots in 1969 that killed hundreds in clashes between Malays and ethnic Chinese. Ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities formed the bulk of the Bersih rally, similar to last year.REUTERS PS BL1739 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0421-1029910.Xml All hospitals in Syria's besieged rebel-held eastern Aleppo are out of service after days of heavy air strikes, its health directorate and the World Health Organisation (WHO) said, though a war monitor said some were still working.White House national security adviser Susan Rice said the United States condemned "in the strongest terms" the latest air strikes against hospitals and urged Russia, an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, to take steps to halt the violence.Intense air strikes have battered the eastern part of the city since Tuesday, when the Syrian army and its allies resumed operations after a pause lasting weeks. They launched ground attacks against insurgent positions yesterday.The war monitor, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said at least 27 people, including children, had been killed in eastern Aleppo on Saturday by dozens of air strikes and barrel bombs and dozens of artillery rounds.Warplanes, artillery and helicopters continued bombarding eastern Aleppo on Saturday, hitting many of its densely populated residential districts, the Observatory said. There were intense clashes in the Bustan al-Basha district, it added."This destruction of infrastructure essential to life leaves the besieged, resolute people, including all children and elderly men and women, without any health facilities offering life-saving treatment ... leaving them to die," said Aleppo's health directorate in a statement sent to Reuters late on Friday by an opposition official.Elizabeth Hoff, the WHO representative in Syria, said on Saturday that a UN-led group of aid agencies based over the border in Turkey "confirmed today that all hospitals in eastern Aleppo are out of service".FEARThe monitoring group said some hospitals were still operating in besieged parts of Aleppo but said many residents were frightened to use them because of the heavy shelling.Medical sources, residents and rebels in eastern Aleppo say hospitals have been damaged by air strikes and helicopter barrel bombs in recent days, including direct hits on the buildings."The United States again joins our partners ... in demanding the immediate cessation of these bombardments and calling on Russia to immediately deescalate violence and facilitate humanitarian aid and access for the Syrian people," Rice said in a statement.Both Russia and Assad's government have denied deliberately targeting hospitals and other civilian infrastructure during the war, which began in 2011 and was joined by Russia's air force in September 2015.The charity Doctors Without Borders said in a message there had been more than 30 hits on hospitals in eastern Aleppo since early July. "Doctors are few and medical supplies are depleted, with no possibility of sending more supplies in," it said.Health and rescue workers have previously been able to bring damaged hospitals back into operation but a lack of supplies is making that harder.The Syrian war pits Assad and his allies Russia, Iran and Shi'ite militias against Sunni rebels including groups supported by the United States, Turkey and the Gulf monarchies and also jihadist groups.Aleppo, for years split between a rebel-held east and government-held western sector, has become the fiercest front. During the summer, pro-government forces managed to besiege the districts held by insurgents which are home to about 270,000 people, according to the United Nations.Syrian state television said on Tuesday the air force had targeted "terrorist strongholds and supply depots" in Aleppo. Russia has said its air force is only conducting air strikes in other parts of Syria. The Damascus government describes all the rebels fighting it as terrorists.An army offensive backed by a major aerial bombardment from late September to late October killed hundreds, according to the United Nations, and tightened the siege, leaving eastern Aleppo with little food, medicine or fuel.A rebel counter-attack early this month involved shelling that killed dozens of civilians, the U.N. said, but it quickly petered out and the army and its allies, including Hezbollah and Iraqi militias, reversed all insurgent gains in about two weeks.REUTERS JW PM2329 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-1030410.Xml Astronauts Jing Haipeng (L) and Chen Dong arrive in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 18, 2016. Chinese astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong who completed China's longest-ever manned space mission returned to Earth safely Friday afternoon, according to the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC). (Xinhua/Yang Zhiyuan) BEIJING, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Two astronauts who completed China's longest-ever manned space mission returned to Earth safely Friday afternoon. Zhang Youxia, commander-in-chief of China's manned space program, announced that the Tiangong-2 and Shenzhou-11 manned flight mission, which lasted over a month, was a "complete success." Zhang Gaoli, vice premier and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, delivered a congratulatory message from the CPC Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission at the command center of China's manned space program in Beijing. The completion of the Tiangong-2 and Shenzhou-11 mission "marked a major breakthrough" in China's manned space program, according to the congratulatory message. It said that under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, people of China's aerospace industry have implemented the innovation-driven development and civil-military integration strategies. Their efforts to forge ahead and overcome challenges, as well as their collaboration and sacrifice, demonstrate confidence in the path, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics, it said. Shenzhou-11's reentry module separated from the spacecraft's orbiting capsule at 1:11 p.m. Friday Beijing Time, and then separated from the propelling capsule, ending the 33-day mission and embarking on the journey back to Earth. The reentry module landed safely at the expected site in central Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at about 1:59 p.m. The ground search team reached the landing site immediately, and astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong opened the capsule's hatch by themselves. The two astronauts were reported by the ground team to be in good condition. The two astronauts arrived in Beijing Friday evening and will be quarantined and undergo medical check-ups. The mission of Shenzhou-11 marked China's sixth manned space flight. After its launch on Oct. 17, the spacecraft docked two days later with China's first space lab, Tiangong-2, where the two astronauts lived for 30 days. The mission transported personnel and materials between Earth and Tiangong-2, and tested meeting, docking and return processes. It conducted aerospace medical experiments, space science experiments and in-orbit maintenance. The two astronauts also conducted three experiments designed by middle school students from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, including raising silkworms in space. It was the third space mission for 50-year-old veteran Jing Haipeng, the commander of the crew, who also participated in the Shenzhou-7 and Shenzhou-9 missions. It was the first space mission for Chen Dong, 38. The mission is a key step toward China's aim of building a permanent manned space station. The core module of China's space station is expected to be launched around 2018, and the space station will enter into full service around 2022, with an initial designed life of more than 10 years. It will accommodate three to six astronauts, who will stay in space up to one year. Tiangong-2 will remain operative in orbit following Shenzhou-11's return to Earth and will wait to dock with Tianzhou-1, China's first cargo spacecraft. Tianzhou-1 will be launched in the first half of 2017 to verify refueling technology, a key technology for any space station. "The success of this mission demonstrates that China has acquired the capability to support long stays in space by astronauts," Huang Weifen, a deputy chief designer with the Astronaut Center of China, announced at a press conference Friday afternoon. Some new key technologies to support long-term manned space missions were tested in orbit, Huang said. For instance, a running exercise device -- crucial for long-term space lab missions -- was tested and will help guide future research and development. Remote medical consultation system linking the space lab and space center on earth, medical ultrasound, and plant cultivation were also tested during the mission. Growing plants has proven to be a good and effective means for psychological adjustment, she added. Moreover, the excellent performance by the astronauts verified the efficacy of China's astronaut recruitment and training systems, said Huang. Testing of the technology is crucial to supporting the health, life and work of astronauts in future space missions, and will help with the future design of space lab interfaces, astronaut tasks and in-orbit operations, she said. LONDON, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Top seed Andy Murray defeated Stan Wawrinka in straight sets to reach the semifinals of the ATP World Tour Finals at London's O2 Arena on Friday. Murray, fighting for the year-end first place in the world rankings, took 86 minutes to defeat the Swiss number one 6-4, 6-2. He also improved to 10 wins and 7 defeats against Wawarinka, although winning one game was enough to send him to the last four. The 29-year-old topped the group with a perfect record in the second group, beating Marin Cilic of Croatia in the first match and edged fifth seed Kei Nishikori of Japan in the second. Nishikori also reached the semifinals as the second place finisher in the group, making his match against Cilic later meaningless. Murray will fight for the final berth against fourth seed Milos Raonic of Canada and Nishikori meet Serbia's Novak Djokvic. Enditem BRUSSELS, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Friday called on the European Union to do more for defense and security under uncertain circumstances. He made the remarks in a speech delivered at an event hosted by the think tank the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF). Stressing the importance of the transatlantic bond, the NATO chief said, "Two World Wars -- and the Cold War -- have taught us that the security of Europe relies on the U.S., and that the U.S. has a profound strategic interest in a stable and secure Europe." He said the transatlantic bond should remain strong in these uncertain times, what with challenges posed by Russia and turmoil in North Africa and the Middle East. "Crucially, Europe must do more on defense and security...and an important part of that is closer cooperation between NATO and the European Union," Stoltenberg said. Calling for European allies to spend more on defense, he said, "We have heard that call many times, from many American leaders, from President Obama and from president-elect Trump." Stoltenberg also underlined the complementarity, rather than competition between the two, when it comes to European defense. "NATO nations and EU members simply cannot afford two sets of forces and capabilities," he added. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Stoltenberg would present concrete proposals to further strengthen NATO-EU cooperation next month. VIENTIANE, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Laos has again become a significant producer of opium, while drug use, in particular the use of amphetamine-type substances (ATS) known as yabaa, appears to be on the rise, a Lao official said at a recent meeting in capital Vientiane. So far, Laos have solved more than 2,400 cases relating to drug use and associated crimes with the arrest of over 3,500 suspects, Kou Chansina, Chairman of Lao National Commission for Drug Control and Supervision (LNCDC) said at the 11th High Level Illicit Drug Sector Working Group/Mini-Dublin Group Meeting held Thursday in Vientiane. In addition, the country have seized over three million yabaa (amphetamine) tablets, 230kg of heroin, 3,000kg of marijuana, 150kg of methamphetamine, vehicles, cash and other items belonging to drug dealers, reported local Vientiane Times on Friday. Significant quantities of opiates, ATS and precursors continue to be trafficked through Laos to neighboring countries from where they are either sold or re-exported to markets with higher purchasing power and demand, said the official. Lao Ministry of Public Security is working hard to combat drug use and crime, and the fight could not succeed without the cooperation of local sectors and regional countries as well as support from international organisations and diplomats. Drug-related problems are not solely the responsibility of the government and international organizations, but eliminating this scourge requires the vigilance and participation of every member of society, he said. Enditem ISLAMABAD, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan Navy has "detected and blocked" an Indian submarine from entering Pakistani territorial waters, a Navy's spokesman said Friday. "Pakistan Navy, making full use of its anti-submarine warfare skills, diverted the submarine, averting any possible danger," the spokesperson told the media. He said that India is "trying to station" its submarines in Pakistani waters. "This thriving encounter of detecting the Indian Navy submarine at High Seas and its continued surveillance not only speaks very high of Pakistan Navy's anti-submarine warfare capability but also reflects on the commitment and resolve of Pakistan Navy to defend its sea frontiers," he said. The development comes at a time when relationship between the two bitter neighbors is tense due the cross Line of Control (LoC) shelling in recent weeks. Forces of both the nuclear rivals routinely trade fire across LoC in the disputed Kashmir region and the working boundary since militants attacked an army base in the Indian-controlled Kashmir in September. The attack killed 19 Indian troopers. The Indian side blamed Pakistan-based militant group for the attack, but Islamabad rejected the accusation. Enditem BISHKEK, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev signed on Friday a law banning the religious marriage rites without official registration of a marriage in the registry office, the President's press service reported. The law was adopted to prevent marriages involving minors by banning the religious consecration of marriage rites with the participation of minors. The adopted law provides for criminal liability of persons including priests and parents for participating in the religious consecration of marriage with minors, in case of violation of requirements of the Family Code on the marriage age. The legal age of marriage in Kyrgyzstan is 18, although that can be lowered by special dispensation. Those who violate the law shall be punished to imprisonment from three to five years. The law aims to protect the rights of juveniles to life, health, education, development and attainment of the minimum age for marriage. Preventing marriages with minors will help to protect children from all possible forms of violence, including physical, mental and sexual abuse. The religious marriage rite called "nikah" is the actual entry into marriage in Islam. After pronouncing special sacred words by the bride and groom with the participation of Mosque representative, they can be regarded as husband and wife. The nikah should be performed in the presence of two witnesses. The law will come into force after 30 days from the date of publication. Enditem ABUJA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations (UN) has said it will scale up its intervention in Nigeria where a huge humanitarian crisis had sprung up due to the terrorist activities of Boko Haram. UN Secretary General's special envoy in West Africa Mohammed Ibn Chambas on Friday told reporters in Abuja the global organization was alert to the huge humanitarian crisis in the West African country. The envoy said UN will implore all its agencies to scale up support in combating Boko Haram and the consequence of their terrorist activities. "Let me emphasize that the UN is working hand in glove with the federal and state authorities and agencies. We do not pretend to be able to address all these needs alone, we acknowledge the work that is being done by the state and federal authorities. And we are mobilizing the international community to complement this effort of Nigeria and itself," said the envoy who had been in the country since early this week, together with his team to assess the situation in Nigeria's northeast region. According to him, just in terms of deployment of personnel alone, UN has moved up from 40 internationals who are in Borno State to more than 200 because of the task at hand. In scaling up its support, UN is fully committed to the welfare of the internally displaced people (IDP) in Nigeria, the envoy said. "We have deployed two helicopters which are now able to take food and other supplies to communities which we still cannot reach by road and they are operating on a daily basis," he said, adding that clinics and schools have also been provided by the UN in all the IDP camps. Since the beginning of 2016, 2.6 million conflict-affected people have been given access to UNICEF-supported preventative healthcare services and nearly 75,000 children have been treated for severe acute malnutrition in northeast Nigeria. The construction and rehabilitation of boreholes has provided nearly half a million people with improved access to safe water. Safe learning spaces, teacher training and educational supplies have helped over 72,000 children to restart their education and some 133,000 children have been provided with psychosocial support. The Borno State has been a stronghold of the extremist group Boko Haram and has been frequently raided in the past six years. In past months, the Nigerian government has launched several military operations to eliminate the terrorist threat. Boko Haram, which seeks to impose strict Islamic law in northern Nigeria, has been blamed for some 20,000 deaths and displacing of more than 2.6 million people since 2009. Enditem BUJUMBURA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Burundian Council of Ministers this week passed the bill on creating a commission mandated to analyze provisions of the 2005 constitution that need to be amended, the Burundian government spokesman said Friday. "During the meeting of the Council of Ministers held Wednesday, the Council passed the bill on the creation of a commission mandated to point out and analyze provisions of the 2005 constitution that need to be amended before submitting the draft constitution to the government for adoption," said Burundian Government Spokesman Philippe Nzobonariba while presenting minutes of the meeting of the Council of Ministers. He said that some provisions of the Burundian constitution adopted in a referendum on March 18, 2005 have become "stale and obsolete" and do not therefore reflect current realities. According to him, several stakeholders including leaders of political parties, the National Electoral Independent Commission (CENI), the National Independent Human Rights Commission (CNIDH) and the National Inter-Burundian Dialogue Commission (CNDI) have called for the amendment of the national constitution. "Leaders of political parties in a meeting held on Oct. 11, 2016 in the central province of Gitega under the auspices of the Home Affairs and Civic Education Ministry recommended the creation of a commission mandated to point out amendments of the national constitution," said Nzobonariba. He added that Articles 297, 298 and 300 of the Burundian constitution provide modalities of amending the constitution. Nzobonariba said, "The Burundian constitution also needs to be amended in order to harmonize it with laws of the East African Community (EAC) to which Burundi belongs." The Burundian constitution raised a misunderstanding right before the east African country's 2015 elections when Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza wanted to be re-elected for a third term. Some provisions of the Burundian constitution allowed him to run, but others did not allow him to do so. Nkurunziza was allowed to run the presidential election in 2015 after the country's Constitutional Court issued a ruling whereby it said that the 2005-2010 term should not be considered as a term because he was not "directly" elected by the population and instead by the parliament. Enditem An unsigned note printed on color paper hung taped on a church room wall an anonymous writer reaching out to an anonymous recipient, saying that everything would be all right. Stand back and there were hundreds more covering the other walls and windows. The Rev. Sarah Beck transferred them from hundreds of emails she received to create the encouraging mosaic. The notes spoke to the drop-ins at the Rainbow Coffee House, a weekly hangout for LGBT teens to have snacks, play games and share stories. Beck sent out a call for supportive notes last week, around Nov. 8. Most of the teens at the Rainbow are too young to vote, but the election left some feeling anxious. "It was a hard week, and there was some fear among lots of people," Beck said. A couple days after Beck solicited notes, words of comfort rolled in. They came from Sweden, Canada, Denmark, Texas and elsewhere. So Beck printed and hung them, and on Thursday teens started arriving for the weekly evening social. The Rainbow Coffee House started in January. Beck said she and a couple others wanted to have a place for LGBT teens to be themselves and, above all, feel safe. Anywhere from five to 25 teens have showed up each week since. Community The Rainbow is a small room at the end of a hallway at Grace United Methodist Church, 1935 Avenue B. It's a colorful room with low, warm light. On Thursday, soda and half-and-half sat iced in a bowl. Oranges and candy sat in others, and the coffee was hot. "Every Thursday, we try to start and end with circle time," said Rhiannon Schiller, volunteer coordinator. The Rainbow runs on volunteer labor and donated supplies. Circle time is introductory for visitors and a time for anyone to speak their mind about school, Rainbow Coffee House events and life. Teens can be candid. Above all, it's been both supported and successful, said Daniel Mehrens-Wallace, who chairs the leadership team. The Rainbow organizers met with Queer-Straight Alliance groups, as well as Billings high school and college students to conceive the project. Adult volunteers are screened and trained before becoming chaperones at the Rainbow. There are about 20 such volunteers so far. "I think the biggest struggle we've faced is trying to get the word out while keeping people safe," Mehrens-Wallace said. And over the past 11 months, the Rainbow hasn't faced much pushback. There were no angry congregation members, but there have been giving individuals, Beck said. Likewise, the Rainbow's aim isn't to fill the church's pews on Sunday. Schiller said she surveyed the kids about past experiences with churches, and many had negative responses. The Rainbow is just a friendly place to go on Thursdays. "For me, I'm happy that the kids come here and feel safe," Beck said, "when you think of a lot of ways the church has been a hurtful place." The institutions have long been exclusive of the LGBT community, though it's certainly no longer universal. Grace United Methodist works with other Billings churches that support the Rainbow. Hosting it at a church itself is a statement, Mehrens-Wallace said. Growing On Tuesday, the Pride Foundation awarded a grant to the Rainbow Coffee House. Beck said they'll try to host more events and spruce up the room a bit with the funds. On Saturday, the Rainbow will host a Day of Remembrance for transgender people who've been killed. They plan to light candles for each name of someone who was killed for his or her identity. It's at 5:30 p.m. and is open to the public. Beck hopes to keep the Rainbow running for as many Thursdays as possible. It's often a casual place to socialize, and the volunteers said that's because it's a place where identities don't need to be skewed. "I think a lot of them go the entire week pretending to be someone else," Mehrens-Wallace said. And that's what many of the color-paper notes on the walls say. Be yourself. You're loved. Some of the notes share personal stories. Beck said some of the teens at the Rainbow took down notes and took them home to keep. "Everyone on this earth needs you for who you are," one note said. VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Friday commissioned the upgraded Victoria Falls International Airport that was built with support from China. Mugabe said the renovation could turn the airport into a regional tourist hub if aggressively marketed. Completion of the airport project was also a major milestone in the country's development efforts, partnered by China which he described as "a great partner and friend." Expansion of the airport, which began in 2013, was done by China Jiangsu International and financed through a 150 million-dollar-loan from China Export Import Bank. The upgraded airport now handles 1.5 million passengers per year, up from 500,000 and boasts of modern passenger facilities, a new international terminal building, a new 4km runway, extended parking areas for aircraft, new control tower, new fire station, new road networks, a new state of the art international passenger terminal building and a refurbished domestic terminal. The new airport can now accommodate long haul flights from around the globe, which is expected to increase inflow of tourists to Zimbabwe. The airport is the gateway to Victoria Falls, a world heritage site and one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Mugabe commended China Jiangsu International for good work and pledged to engage the company for similar construction projects in the future. He added that Harare and other airports in the country need to be further expanded and upgraded. TEHRAN, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Friday that Israel's nuclear arsenal endangers the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and threatens security in the Middle East, Press TV reported. "The West's double standard policies on the nuclear program of the Zionist regime have adverse consequences for NPT and regional security," Reza Najafi said at a seasonal meeting of the IAEA's Board of Governors in Vienna, Austria. Israel's nuclear program has created serious security concerns for the international community at large, Najafi added. "The Zionist regime has regrettably continued to advance its nuclear and military program in recent years through disregard of the legitimate demand of the international community, the West's blind support and the blatant violation of all international rules and regulations," the Iranian envoy said. He pointed out that the Non-Aligned Movement member states have repeatedly censured Israel's military nuclear program and urged the IAEA to seriously and closely follow up on the issue. According to Najafi, the West must stop any type of cooperation with Israel and the delivery of nuclear substances and equipment to its regime. KAMPALA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Newborn HIV infections in Uganda have fallen by 85 percent in the last five years, a report has said. The report by the Uganda Aids Commission (UAC) on Thursday, a government department charged with fighting the scourge, showed that the infection figures fell to 3,500 babies in 2015 from 28,000 babies. Christine Ondoa, the Director General of UAC, said that the decline is attributed to political commitments. First Lady Janet Museveni spearheaded the nationwide campaign for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission (eMTCT). "The success that the country is registering is a clear example of some of the immediate approaches that we need to sustain in order to reach the 2030 global targets of ending AIDS," said Ondoa. "We need to continue re-engaging leadership for the response at all levels starting with everyone taking individual responsibility for their actions," she added. Ondoa said prevention is key to ending the HIV epidemic in the East African country. The number of new HIV infections in Uganda has dropped from about 140,000 in 2011 to 83,000 by December 2015, according to UAC statistics. Ondoa said the number of persons on Antiretroviral Treatment has increased from 329,000 in 2011 to 874,000 by June 2016 and the persons dying from AIDS reduced from 63,000 in 2011 to 28,000. Uganda will on Dec. 1 join the rest of the world to commemorate the World AIDS Day under the theme, "Joining hands to scale up HIV prevention." Uganda's HIV prevalence rate stands at 7.3 percent, according to the 2011 AIDS Indicator Survey. Enditem By Xinhua writers Zhang Xu, Tang Peipei MARRAKECH, Morocco, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Along the main corridor connecting venues of the Marrakech climate summit stands a foot-high sculpture, of a nurse caring a globe, made with trash jars, rusty nails and screws, entitled "Our mother Earth is sick." Similar pieces of artwork dot the site of the United Nations conference, where delegates were bickering over how to save the "sick mother." Although a broad consensus looked unlikely at the gathering, Marrakech has showcased a model of green ideas and moves, with its diligent actions through the whole process of the conference. REUSABLE STRUCTURES Located at the Bab Ighli, which was a gate to old Marrakech city, the whole conference site covers 25 hectares, of which 10 hectares hosts light structure. In keeping with the message of sustainability at the 22nd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP22), all the buildings at the site will be reused after the summit and distributed to local associations. The "Marrakech" hall, the main venue, is made of identical wooden elements without any trimming or architectural siding; a building of two symmetrical restaurants is constructed from sustainable materials; and an enormous canopy is formed into tensile tented structure, translucent and waterproof, which protects the aisles and corridors from hot climate conditions. Particularly, the predominant use of oriented structural board in pavilions and structures of exhibition corners ensured flexibility during construction, which will be easy to dismantle after the event. GREEN SERVICES The services during the conference are also in line with the green principle, echoing the historic December 2015 Paris Agreement, which took effect on Nov. 4 this year and has been ratified by 111 parties. Environmentally-friendly exterior lighting is facilitating optimal energy efficiency, while 90 solar panels and solar trees are contributing to the power generation. Most of the art decorations, display booths, posters and display walls are made of recycled or reusable materials, showing stunning pictures of global catastrophic impacts by climate change. On both sides of the main corridor, a set of three trash cans are placed about every 20 meters for three waste categories, namely "paper," "plastic" and "others." For transportation, around 50 Chinese electric buses are serving COP22, while arrays of French self-service bicycles wait outside the venues. NOT A SHOW As China's special representative on climate change affairs, Xie Zhenhua, stressed here, fighting climate change needs more actions than just making shows. What Morocco has been doing echoes the Chinese official's assertion. Its green campaign goes far beyond the 25-hectare site during the 12-day spotlight summit. No plastic bags are served at any mall, supermarket, convenience store, or street kiosk in Marrakech, which in fact has become a strategy in the entire country. A landmark bill was passed by the Moroccan parliament last October, and entered into force on July 1 this year to ban the production, import, sale and distribution of plastic bags across the country. The ban is part of a larger environmentally conscious effort across Morocco to go green, which, along with ambitious goals to crackdown on carbon emissions, has turned the country into a green leader among developing nations. Before the ban, Morocco was the world's second-largest plastic bag consumer after the United States, using about 3 billion such bags annually, or 900 for each Moroccan. However, earlier worries that consumers may need years to fully adapt to the ban turned out to be ill-founded. Where there is a will, there is a way. So is the human struggle against global warming. Enditem BAGHDAD, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Friday that the U.S. President-elect Donald Trump pledged to provide "strong and firm" support to the Iraqi government. "You are key partners to us and will find strong and firm support," a statement from Abadi's office quoted Trump as saying during an evening phone call between the two leaders. The statement said that Trump sent his congratulations to Iraq over its latest victories against Islamic State (IS) militants. The president-elect also invited Abadi to visit Washington shortly after the January inauguration, according to the statement. They reviewed the victories of the Iraqi forces in their fight against IS, stressing the importance of mobilizing all efforts to root out the ideology of terrorism, it said. On Nov. 9, Republican Donald Trump defeated his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president of the United States. Leading a coalition of more than 60 countries, the United States has been using airstrikes to fight IS militants in Syria and Iraq. Moreover, hundreds of U.S. military personnel are now deployed in Iraq to provide support to the government forces in battles to drive out IS militants from the city of Mosul, some 400 km north of the capital Baghdad. MARRAKECH, Morocco, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Fiji, the upcoming presidency of a United Nations climate conference, on Friday urged U.S. president-elect Donald Trump to act positively on climate change to avoid "catastrophe." Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama called on Trump to abandon the view that global warming was a 'hoax" and to take responsibility in combating climate change. "A global scientific consensus is that it (global warming) is very real," Bainimarama said. "We must act more decisively and avert catastrophe," the Fijian prime minister told the closing plenary of the 22nd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP22). While Fiji serves as the COP23 presidency, COP23 conferences will be hosted by Germany. Bainimarama invited the U.S. president-elect to visit Fiji and to see for himself the effects of climate change. "We in the Pacific, in common with the whole world, look to America for its leadership and for its engagement and assistance on climate change," he said. "As the second biggest carbon emitter on earth, the United States must take responsibility for contributing to our collective response to this crisis and show leadership at this critical stage," Bainimarama said. On his campaigning trail, Trump had said he would pull the United States out of the Paris Agreement on climate change and stop funding international climate actions. OSLO, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has emphasized the importance of reforms and targeted measures for the regions and industries directly affected by the economic situation in Norway, the government said on Friday. "I am happy that the IMF supports the government's politics. Norwegian economy is in a transition and the IMF points out the importance of reforms," Norway's Minister of Finance Siv Jensen was quoted as saying in a statement. "At the same time they also support targeted measures for the regions and industries that are particularly affected by the fall in oil prices," Jensen said. "I am also pleased that the IMF supports the need for bank regulations of host countries in order to ensure financial stability and equal conditions of competition between Norwegian banks and branches of foreign banks." "This is an important consideration for me in the further cooperation between the Nordic authorities," she added. The IMF conducted a review of Norwegian economy every year and the next report is coming in summer 2017. As part of the preparations, the IMF has had meetings with the Norwegian authorities. In a Concluding Statement describes the preliminary findings of its staff at the end of an official visit to Norway, the IMF said the country's economy is slowly recovering from the shock of low oil prices. After remaining largely flat last year, Norway's mainland gross domestic product (GDP) expanded at a slow pace in the first three quarters this year, aided by supportive monetary and fiscal policies, according to the IMF's Concluding Statement. "We project mainland growth to remain at about 1 percent this year, but to accelerate to 1.75 percent next year, supported by a pick-up in investment and export growth and improving consumer and business sentiment," it said. However, the outlook hinges on a smooth transition away from oil and is subject to downside risks, the IMF statement said, adding that weaker-than-expected growth in key advanced and emerging economies could derail the non-oil export recovery and the transition. Enditem DAMASCUS, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- At least 119 people have been killed over the past four days as a result of intense shelling in Syria's northern city of Aleppo, a monitor group said on Friday. Government shelling on rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo killed 65 people, including eight children, and wounded hundreds of others, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Rebel shelling on government-controlled areas killed 54 civilians, including seven children, the London-based watchdog added. The Observatory pointed out that as many as 5,100 people have been killed in Aleppo in the last two months, as a U.S.-Russian-sponsored truce failed to bring a prolonged peace in the city. Meanwhile, state news agency SANA reported that five people were killed on Friday by renewed rebel shelling on western Aleppo. For months, the Syrian government and Russia have been urging rebels to leave Aleppo, offering them safe passages to other rebel-held areas in the northwestern province of Idlib. The rebels, however, turned down all offers, which has resulted in intensified violence. LIMA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Over 300 protesters from social and student organizations on Friday staged a demonstration in downtown Lima against U.S. President Barack Obama, who is scheduled to attend the 24th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting here this weekend. Demonstrators gathered along Javier Prado Avenue -- several blocks away from the Lima Convention Center, where APEC meetings are being held all week. Protesters said the Obama administration and its proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a wide-ranging free-trade treaty widely believed to champion corporate profit-making over individual freedoms, goes against the interests of Peru and Latin America. Asked why they were there, a protestor said: "Because of Obama's arrival; because they have always deceived us. Obama is the TPP (and) we don't want the TPP here. We want respect for our environment." Obama is expected in Lima late Friday, as are other leaders from APEC's 21 member economies, for the Economic Leaders' meeting on weekend, under the banner: Quality Growth and Human Development. DOHA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Oil producers said Friday after a meeting in Doha that they are optimistic about reaching a deal at next Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) meeting in Vienna. Officials from eleven OPEC and non-OPEC member countries gathered today in an informal consultative meeting to discuss talks on output cut under the general terms of a proposal tabled in Algeria in September. Qatar's Energy Minister Mohammed Al-Sada told reporters after the meeting that it was held amid an atmosphere of optimism to reach an agreement. Al-Sada said that Friday's meeting came within the framework of meetings held periodically by countries inside and outside the OPEC to negotiate the stabilization of oil production. Talking about Iran and Iraq freezing oil production, he noted that the meeting touched on all issues related to fixing oil production. Iraq and Iran both want exemptions from any OPEC cuts in output. Energy ministers of the two countries bypassed today's talks. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said, after meeting OPEC counterparts here today, he thinks OPEC was moving closer to a deal. "We are moving in the direction of agreements...I am confident that by November 30, the OPEC and non-OPEC countries will agree," Novak said. Speaking to reporters, he said the meeting was "very positive" and the prospects of reaching a deal are acquiring a "realistic character," adding that he had a "constructive" meeting with his Saudi counterpart Khalid al-Falih. Novak confirmed that if an agreement is reached, Russia is ready to join and cap output. Libyan Energy Minister Musa Koni affirmed that all indicators confirm the trend towards freezing or reducing production. Koni said that there will be a meeting next week for the Committee of Experts to consider the issue of production quotas. In this regard, Algerian Energy Minister Nouredine Boutarfa stressed that there will be a fair distribution between producers. Mechanisms have been put in place to reach the level of production that was agreed upon in Algeria at 32.5 million barrels, Boutarfa added. OPEC agreed in Algeria in Sept. to cut oil production to 32.5 million barrels a day from current level of 33.24 million barrels a day to boost the market. However, disagreements persisted among producers on details of a plan to cut the output. The cartel will agree concrete levels of output by each country at its next formal meeting on Nov. 30 in Vienna. As I consider Gov. Steve Bullocks new energy plan, a Blueprint for Montanas Energy Future, Im brought back to another place and another time. I grew up along the banks of the Monongahela River in Glassport, Pennsylvania, about 8 meandering miles before the Mon joins with the Allegheny River to create the Ohio River in downtown Pittsburgh. My parents were steelworkers and my earliest memories are of picking up tarry pebbles alongside an oily river. The river ran black, with no signs of life. Air quality was horrible. It wasnt until the early 1970s when the city of Pittsburgh, in cooperation with the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health and others, embarked on an ambitious 20-year plan to clean the air and water. The challenges were immense, requiring contributions from virtually everyone. Today, the air is remarkably cleaner in Pittsburgh. The city experienced a true renaissance including a vibrant downtown, reclaimed waterfront, cleaner water, and far cleaner air which stands in stark contrast to the days when streetlights turned on during the day from pollution-darkened skies and when executives brought extra shirts to work because theirs were blackened by lunchtime! But we also learned in Pittsburgh that its achievements are always at risk, and that is the essential point: Vigilance remains Pittsburghs persistent but noble challenge, as it is for any city similarly engaged. Ensuring clean air and healthy spaces for the next generation should be the inherent mandate of any informed generation; you can never let up. Today I have the good fortune to live in Montana and I love my adopted home. Our environmental issues are certainly not Pittsburghs and in some ways, it makes it even more challenging. The affront to Montanans health is far subtler, but the evidence is clear. Rising temperatures, changes in rain patterns, and increasing wildfires lead to more particulate air pollution and more plant allergens. Adverse health impacts include increases in asthma and risk of premature chronic heart and lung disease. Children and the elderly are most vulnerable, but were all at risk. We should make no mistake getting out in front of the effects of declining air quality by embracing a progressive, balanced approach to ensuring the health of our children and elders while ensuring economic stability is inevitable now is the time. The governors new plan offers tools to face this significant challenge. I appreciate that transitioning to clean, renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, is complicated by not just our reliance on traditional fuels but also the historical economic dependence on extraction in Montana. We know that reliance on traditional fuel sources, such as coal, to produce electricity in the United States contributes to both air pollution and climate change, but we legitimately fear widespread industrial shift. I lived through the economic collapse of steel and coal and the degree to which my family, friends and their parents were impacted, but in the longer term, we survived and prospered in the broader perspective. Public consensus may never match scientific consensus. That is why transition with sensitivity is critical, but our higher obligation is to provide for the health of our families and neighbors. Only with visionary thinking, persistence, and bold action can we address climate change and maintain healthy air quality, and we all have a role to play. My career has been dedicated to improving population health through education and research so that we may effectively address the health impacts of climate change. Ive lived the problem and thus wanted to share this perspective so we may all engage in thoughtful reflection about how we work together to move forward with the shared commitment to our communitys health. The governors plan to guide Montanas energy future is exciting and innovative and full of potential. The plan deserves the support of those of us who value clean air and who wish to leave a better world for our young people. BELGRADE, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- National Bank of Serbia (NBS) on Friday "gave a preliminary approval for the establishment of Bank of China in Serbia," said a press release published Friday by NBS, adding the branch will serve as the regional hub for the Balkans region. The meeting of the executive board of the NBS was held here after its governor Jorgovanka Tabakovic attended a meeting between representatives of the Bank of China, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and China's ambassador to Serbia Li Manchang. According to the press release, first phase of the procedure of the establishment of the Bank of China in Belgrade has been completed by the adoption of the preliminary approval at the meeting of the executive board of the NBS, presided Friday by Tabakovic. The press release further explained that the Bank of China needs to complete the administrative procedure in order to start doing business in Serbia. "In the second phase of the procedure, the National Bank of Serbia will issue a working license to this bank based on request that the founder must submit within 60 days after getting the (today's) approval," said the press release. The Bank of China is among top five in the world when it comes to value of market transactions. MARRAKETCH, Morocco, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- A bitter row over the fate of a key fund aiming to help developing countries cope with adverse effects of climate change may prevent the Marrakech climate talks from ending as scheduled, delegates here warned Friday. Informal consultations have been extended into the night, forcing Moroccan Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar, president of the 22nd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP22), to postpone his plan to leave the southern Moroccan city. Speaking at a plenary session of the conference, Mezouar reiterated his appeal to all related parties to accelerate their talks so that the annual climate conference can conclude on Friday as scheduled. Mamadou Honadia, head of the Burkina Faso delegation, told Xinhua that negotiators have been trying to bridge their differences over the fate of the so-called Adaptation Fund, which was set up under the Kyodo Protocol. Developing countries are worried about the fate of the Adaptation Fund since the Kyodo Protocol will expire in 2020 and be replaced by the Paris Agreement, he said. "The Adaptation Fund is dedicated to financing adaptation concrete projects," Honadia said. "We don't want this fund to disappear." Developing countries demand a change in the wording related to the fund in a draft decision to be adopted by the conference, Honadia revealed, adding that the document must make it clear that the Adaptation Fund "shall" serve the Paris Agreement. An explanatory note released earlier Friday by Mezouar says that the fund "should" serve the Paris deal. Developed countries and developing countries have also been in disagreement over when the first conference of Parties to the Paris Agreement (CAM1) will resume and its agenda. Many developing countries which have not yet ratified the Paris Agreement, such as Burkina Faso, demand that CAM1 be suspended so that they could attend it as a signatory instead of as an observer, Honadia said. He said that developing countries hope CAM1 would have a balanced agenda and discuss all major issues under the Paris Agreement, including mitigation, adaption and technology transfer. The agenda under discussion mainly focuses on the implementation of nationally determined contributions and is thus in favor of developed countries, he added. "If the text is not well balanced, taking into consideration developed countries' positions and developing countries' positions, it will really be difficult," Honadia said. The two-week conference has brought together thousands of government officials as well as representatives from international organizations, the civil society and businesses. It aims to pave the way for the implementation of the Paris Agreement. The next UN climate conference, COP23, will be hosted in Bonn, Germany, but presided over by Fiji. On Friday, Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama reiterated his appeal for U.S. president Donald Trump to abandon the view that global warming was a 'hoax" and to take responsibility in combating climate change. "A global scientific consensus is that it (global warming) is very real," Bainimarama said. "We must act more decisively and avert catastrophe," he said, inviting the U.S. president-elect to visit Fiji and to see for himself the effects of climate change. "We in the Pacific, in common with the whole world, look to America for its leadership and for its engagement and assistance on climate change," Bainimarama said. "As the second biggest carbon emitter on earth, the United States must take responsibility for contributing to our collective response to this crisis and show leadership at this critical stage," Bainimarama said. On his campaign trail, Trump had said he would pull the United States out of the Paris Agreement on climate change and stop funding international climate actions. SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- A small plane crashed into a home south of San Francisco on Friday, killing one person. San Mateo County Fire Department said it received a report at 11:18 a.m. local time that a plane went down near the Half Moon Bay Airport, about 25 miles (40 km) south of San Francisco on the U.S. west coast. Fire crews responded to the scene at the edge of a residential neighborhood near the airport. While details were sketchy about the plane and people aboard or on the ground, authorities said one person was dead. As a coastal city of 6.4 square miles, or 17 square kilometers, Half Moon Bay is part of San Mateo County in northern California, with local industries including agriculture, fishing and tourism. WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The United States will not impose punitive duties on iron mechanical transfer drive components from China and Canada, the U.S. trade authority said on Friday. The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) said in a statement that the U.S. industry is "neither materially injured nor threatened with material injury by reason of imports of iron mechanical transfer drive components from Canada and China." "All six Commissioners voted in the negative," said the bipartisan trade panel in a final ruling. "As a result of the USITC's negative determinations, no antidumping or countervailing duty orders will be issued." The U.S. Commerce Department launched the anti-dumping and countervailing duties probes over Chinese and Canadian iron mechanical components in November 2015, requested by TB Wood's Incorporated based in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The Commerce made its final affirmative determination at the end of October, saying those products imported from China and Canada had been sold in the United States at dumping margins of 13.64 percent to 401.68 percent and 100.47 percent to 191.67 percent, respectively. Such products from China have received countervailable subsidies of 33.26 percent to 163.46 percent, the U.S. Department of Commerce claimed. However, according to the procedure of the U.S. trade protection, the U.S. Commerce Department's final decision comes into effect only if the USITC also makes affirmative final rulings. In 2014, imports of these products from China and Canada were estimated at 274.3 million U.S. dollars and 222.3 million dollars, respectively, according to U.S. official data. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has repeatedly urged the United States to abide by its commitment against protectionism and work with China and other countries to maintain a free, open and just international trade environment. Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks when visiting the headquarters of Ecuador's national emergency response system ECU-911 in Quito, Ecuador, Nov. 18, 2016. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng) QUITO, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday promised further support in disaster relief and reconstruction for the earthquake-hit Ecuador. "China will take an active part in Ecuador's post-quake rebuilding, and continue to provide support in housing, medical treatment, human resources and disaster prevention and reduction," Xi said in an address when visiting the headquarters of Ecuador's national emergency response system ECU-911. Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa accompanied Xi during the visit. Ecuador was hit by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake in April this year. Close to 700 people were killed in the earthquake, which also injured nearly 5,000 more and displaced 80,000. China was one of the first countries to supply humanitarian aid immediately after the quake. "(China) believes that the Ecuadorian people will surely overcome the disaster and rebuild your homes," the Chinese president said, noting that post-quake reconstruction is a top priority for the Latin American country. For his part, Correa thanked China for its support in Ecuador's post-quake relief and national development, adding that the Latin American country is willing to deepen win-win cooperation with the Chinese side. Earlier in the morning, the two presidents also watched a photo exhibition on Chinese aid to Ecuador's quake relief work, and inaugurated a joint laboratory at ECU-911 headquarters. Developed by Chinese companies, the ECU-911 played a vital role in relief work following the April quake, by effectively processing a massive amount of information and sending instructions without delay, thus saving numerous lives and preventing further damage. Currently, there are 16 ECU-911 centers across Ecuador. In a video call with staff of the ECU-911 center in Portoviejo in the quake-hit coastal province of Manabi, Xi conveyed greetings to Ecuadorian people affected by the earthquake on behalf of the Chinese government and its people. The Chinese government will continue to fight side by side with Ecuadorians, and together they will triumph in quake relief and reconstruction, he said. China provided Ecuador with cash support of two million U.S. dollars and humanitarian aid worth 9.2 million dollars after the strong quake. Chinese companies owning business in Ecuador also dispatched staff and resources to the affected regions to participate in the disaster relief and humanitarian aid. "I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Mr. President for your country's aid to Ecuador," said Pablo Cordova, a survivor from the April earthquake. Cordova was trapped in the debris of a Portoviejo hotel where he worked as a cleaner when the earthquake struck for 48 hours before being pulled out by ECU-911 staff. He now works at the ECU-911 Portoviejo center. "All this time, you have been with us," he told the Chinese president. On Friday morning, Xi and Correa also watched via live broadcast the foundation stone laying ceremony of a new hospital built with Chinese assistance in the earthquake-stricken Ecuadorian city of Chone, to replace the one that was seriously damaged in the April earthquake. They also inaugurated a hydroelectric plant built by China's Sinohydro Corporation. The Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant is the largest of its kind in Ecuador's history and the "fruition of the great cooperation between Ecuador and China", according to President Correa. "This is a historic day," the Ecuadorian president said. With an installed capacity of 1,500 megawatts, the plant is expected to help Ecuador transform from a power-hungry country into a clean energy exporter and greatly contribute to the country's economic development. The first four of the eight turbines in total at the plant were started on April 13, only three days before the quake. It remained intact during the quake and the power it generated helped with local disaster relief. In his address, Xi noted that the upgrading of the ECU-911, and rebuilding of the Chone hospital and the completion of the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant will effectively bolster Ecuador's disaster prevention and resistance capabilities, and improve its public infrastructure. According to Xi, enhanced cooperation between China and Ecuador is attributed to both sides' firm belief in their development prospects and full understandings of the development opportunities they provided for each other. On Thursday, China and Ecuador lifted their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, and pledged to implement major projects in oil and gas, mining, infrastructure, water conservancy, communication and finance, and explore cooperation in agriculture, petrochemical industry, ship building, metallurgy and paper making industries. China is willing to deepen cooperation with Ecuador, seek common development and together draft a new chapter in their comprehensive strategic partnership, said the Chinese president. Correa, meanwhile, agreed that cooperation between Ecuador and China has improved infrastructure in the Latin American country, boosted its clean energy development and bolstered the country's public security service. All these have benefited the Ecuadorian people, he said. Ecuador is the first leg of President Xi's three-nation Latin American tour which will also take him to Peru and Chile. This is his third visit to Latin America since he took the presidency in March 2013. He will also attend the 24th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting while in Lima, capital of Peru. Also on Friday morning, Xi laid a wreath at the monument to independence heroes in Quito. Xi arrived in Ecuador on Thursday for a state visit, the first trip to the country by a Chinese head of state in 36 years, and the first leg of his three-nation tour to the continent. The week-long trip will also take the Chinese president to Peru and Chile. In Peru, Xi will attend the 24th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting from Nov. 19 to 20 in the capital city of Lima. LOME, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The 13th Lome International Trade Fair (FIL) kicked off here on Friday with Egypt as special guest-country. Egypt is represented at the 2016 FIL by 15 enterprises specialized in agriculture as well as leather industries. The fair is taking place under the theme "agro-industry promotion as guarantee for development". It is paired up with international exhibition of cosmetics and beauty so as to boost the cosmetic market. At least 1100 exhibitors from 30 countries are expected to attend this year's FIL and should occupy a covered area of 18,000 square meters. Lome Center for Exhibition and Fair (CETEF) is in charge of the FIL organization. Johnson Kueku-Banka, general director of CETEF, sai at a recent meeting with media that private agro-industry sector bringing together agricultural producers and consumers is likely to be a major growth driver for agriculture sectors. "Togo has diverse favorable climatic conditions for a wide-range of crop production. However, it still imports important quantity of agricultural and food products that should be produced locally", he said. SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- A small plane crashed into a home south of San Francisco on Friday, with one dead and another wounded. San Mateo County Fire Department said it received a report at 11:18 a.m. local time that a plane went down near the Half Moon Bay Airport, about 25 miles, or 40 kilometers, south of San Francisco on the U.S. west coast. Fire crews responded to the scene at the edge of a residential neighborhood near the airport. While details were sketchy about people aboard the plane and on the ground, authorities said one person was dead and another was airlifted to a nearby hospital. U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesperson Ian Gregor said the plane, a single-engine Cessna 172, is registered to a flying club out of Sacramento, the state capital of California. Half Moon Bay, a coastal city of 17 square kilometers, is part of San Mateo County in northern California, with industries including agriculture, fishing and tourism. CANBERRA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- A third tourist in a week has died while exploring Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef. The 60-year old English man could not be revived after fellow divers found him unconscious on the sea floor. The man was on his second dive of the day from the boat Silver Sonic off the coast of Port Douglas, a popular tourist destination, 1700 km north of Queensland's capital of Brisbane. Col McKenzie, executive director of the Association of Marine Park Tourism, said that those on board the boat and emergency services did everything in their power to save the man's life. "They brought him back to the surface, got him on board the boat where they administered the oxygen and used a defibrillator," McKenzie told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Saturday. "They called it in to emergency services, a doctor was flown out to the Agincourt helicopter pad, and the doctor took part in that resuscitation event, but again, unsuccessful." McKenzie said that the Silver Sonic had operated for 11 years and taken 230,000 divers to the coral reef without any fatalities. "Accidents like this are a tragedy for the surviving family members, the crew and the passengers," he said. On Wednesday two French tourists in their mid-70s suffered heart attacks and died while snorkeling on the reef at Michaelmas Cay, 55 km southeast off the coast of Port Douglas. A cardiologist said that the French tourists were likely stung by Irukandji jellyfish, a jellyfish the size of a fingernail that is one of the most venomous creatures in the world. Daniel Gschwind, CEO of the Queensland Tourism Industry Council, said the sequence of events was incredibly tragic. "But we have to bear in mind every year 2 million people visit the Great Barrier Reef with commercial operators -- that's a great big number," Gschwind told the ABC. "Many of them or increasingly... are elderly, and as a generation are far more adventurous, so they end up in situations that carry a slightly increased risk from perhaps the normal circumstances in which they live. "Tragic as this is, we have to keep it in perspective both in terms of the numbers but also the circumstances under which we travel." A labourer works at a cold-rolling mill of the Wuhan Iron & Steel Group on the outskirts of Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei province August 22, 2006. (REUTERS/Alfred Cheng Jin/File Photo) WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The United States will not impose punitive duties on iron mechanical transfer drive components from China and Canada, the U.S. trade authority said on Friday. The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) said in a statement that the U.S. industry is "neither materially injured nor threatened with material injury by reason of imports of iron mechanical transfer drive components from Canada and China." "All six Commissioners voted in the negative," said the bipartisan trade panel in a final ruling. "As a result of the USITC's negative determinations, no antidumping or countervailing duty orders will be issued." The U.S. Commerce Department launched the anti-dumping and countervailing duties probes over Chinese and Canadian iron mechanical components in November 2015, requested by TB Wood's Incorporated based in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The Commerce made its final affirmative determination at the end of October, saying those products imported from China and Canada had been sold in the United States at dumping margins of 13.64 percent to 401.68 percent and 100.47 percent to 191.67 percent, respectively. Such products from China have received countervailable subsidies of 33.26 percent to 163.46 percent, the U.S. Department of Commerce claimed. However, according to the procedure of the U.S. trade protection, the U.S. Commerce Department's final decision comes into effect only if the USITC also makes affirmative final rulings. In 2014, imports of these products from China and Canada were estimated at 274.3 million U.S. dollars and 222.3 million dollars, respectively, according to U.S. official data. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has repeatedly urged the United States to abide by its commitment against protectionism and work with China and other countries to maintain a free, open and just international trade environment. NICOSIA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- People in Cyprus, when they want to say that something is too difficult to understand or learn say "This is Chinese!" Well, this could soon become a thing of the past as Chinese may soon be introduced in Cypriot primary and secondary schools or be learned privately. A seminar organized by Confucius Institute of University of Cyprus on Friday discussed how and why Chinese can be learned at schools as a foreign language, drawing a lively interest from teachers and even expatriate Chinese living in Cyprus. Xiaoming Zhu, the Deputy Director of the Confucius Institute at the Institute of Education (IOE), University College London (UCL) and a tutor of IOE's Mandarin Chinese course, discussed the issue of introducing Chinese into Cypriot schools. She talked about the ways this can be done and why it is useful to learn Chinese. She referred to the example of Britain, saying that the teaching and learning of Mandarin Chinese has developed from a rarely taught language to now a well-established Modern Foreign Language subject offered on curriculum in many state schools as well as independent schools in England. Of course, introducing Chinese in Cypriot schools requires first of all qualified teachers and this was a subject on which a lively discussion developed at the seminar. Wenying Yin, enlarged on the issue of training teachers of Chinese, based on her experience as the inspector of Chinese language teaching in the Paris school district and other school districts under the French Ministry of National Education. She stressed that it is quite possible to train people to teach Mandarin Chinese, pointing out that according to official French statistics 50,000 students are learning the language in French primary and secondary schools this year. She also presented the French experience, introducing the development of Chinese language teaching policy at the French Ministry of Education level, and analyzing how this policy has been successfully implemented at both the school district level and the individual school level. Xinsheng Zhang, Professor of Chinese and Director of the Centre for Modern Languages at Richmond, the American International University in London, dealt with practicalities. He talked on how Chinese is different from English and how differences between the two languages reflect different perspectives and thinking habits of these language users. During discussion about the characteristics of Chinese culture and their evolution and about modern China, it was pointed out that these subjects have come to the forefront because of China's rapid development, apart from the fact that China has a long history and a rich cultural heritage to be proud of. Elena, who took part in the seminar, said that for Cypriots, especially young people, who suffered the past years in the shadow of economic crises, learning Chinese language and culture could be more than an interest, but also a pragmatic choice for an ambitious career and a brighter future. JACKSON, Wyo. Mice, and the little brown pellets they leave behind, were one of the first things Clay Alderson and Claudia Rector had to battle when they first showed up three years ago at the Goosewing Ranger Station. The historic cluster of buildings 20 miles up Gros Ventre Road is where the retired couple planned to lay their heads for four months, and from the beginning they had plenty of company. "We lived with the mice," Rector said. "We'd sit on the couch and watch where the mice came from, and then we'd put hardware cloth over the holes. We quickly evicted them." There were plenty of other tasks to be done to make the main cabin a livable, inviting place: cleaning, painting and the odds and ends that inevitably come with keeping up an 80-year-old structure. "Our first year was pretty much just putting the building back on its feet," Rector said. Eligible but never nominated for the National Register of Historic Places, the main component of the Goosewing Ranger Station is a "51 kit" installed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934. Besides the main cabin the property includes a barn, a bunkhouse and several smaller outbuildings. All needed plenty of work, and now, three years into Alderson and Rector's seasonal tenure, they're all in nice shape. It's an incredible turnaround, considering that a decade ago the Goosewing was a candidate for being razed. The water system went dry, electricity went out, and the Bridger-Teton National Forest stopped regularly using the remote compound. Alderson, who lived in Jackson Hole off and on from 1959 to '75, got the idea of whipping the Goosewing back into shape when he was volunteering for the National Elk Refuge by helping staff the Jackson Hole/Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center. The Bridger-Teton found a way to make the partnership work and enlisted Alderson and Rector as full-time volunteers. They'd live at the property from June into October and provide passers-by with information about the Gros Ventre. Daily patrols are part of the gig, to make sure people are obeying the rules of the Bridger-Teton and have any necessary licenses. The shift technically spans Saturday to Monday, but frequently a day off isn't all that much different from a workday. It's a flexible lifestyle in a remote, beautiful place that they're plenty fond of. "We don't have a lot of decisions to make," Alderson said. "Get up early this morning or do I sleep in?" Rector beamed: "We've taken much too well to retirement." Time away from the Goosewing, typically November to May, is spent at a cabin near Tagish Lake in Canada's Yukon Territory. Comparatively, the Goosewing is bustling with people and activity. Days yearning for a larger dose of humanity are few and far between for Rector. "Maybe it's a reflection of our personalities, but we consider the deer to be our neighbors," she said. "There's a bird going over every minute and things happening. It's the way we've chosen to live." Weekly visits to Jackson and regular human visitors break up the days and weeks. And as the Goosewing has improved in stature, more and more people are coming to stay the night. Over the course of a couple of late-October weekdays visitors included the Wyoming Game and Fish Department's Aly Courtemanch and Jon Stephens and the Bridger-Teton's Kerry Murphy and David Wilkinson. Even though most of the major work on the Goosewing Ranger Station is done the retired duo has inventoried much of the property and compiled a long list of fixes that could bring it back to an even better state. "Old buildings have issues and you have just got to learn to work with them," Rector said. Windows need replacing, a weather station is being eyed for resurrection, and historic trash is strewn throughout the willows and bushes that surround the property. It needs to be picked up and sorted out. Next year, health permitting, Alderson and Rector will venture south from their Yukon outpost to check off the next round of repairs. ZAGREB, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Croatian police confirmed on Friday that Interpol has rejected its request of renewing an international arrest warrant for the chief of Hungary's MOL, who is accused in Croatia of bribery. The Interpol did not provide explanations for dropping of arrest warrant for Zsolt Hernadi, the chief executive and chairman of Hungarian oil and gas firm MOL, for trial, police said in a statement. Meanwhile, MOL welcomed Interpol's decision and said it confirmed there was no wrongdoing, the report quoted a MOL statement as saying. "Police will from now on use other bilateral and multilateral channels of communication to achieve international police cooperation," local media reported. Hernadi was accused in 2013 in Croatia for allegedly bribing former Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader 10 million euros (about 10.6 million U.S. dollars) to allow MOL to take over management of Croatia's energy firm INA. The Croatian government and MOL are the biggest shareholders in INA. At the request of Croatia, Interpol issued a red international arrest warrant for Hernadi, as well as a European arrest warrant. However Hernadi has remained out of reach of the Croatian judiciary by now. BUCHAREST, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Moldova's Central Election Commission (CEC) on Friday validated the results of the presidential runoff on Nov. 13 and declared Socialist candidate Igor Dodon the winner. According to CEC Chairman Alina Russu, 1.6 million voters cast ballots in the presidential runoff elections. The decision to instate Dodon, who won the most votes in the poll, is to be sent to the Constitutional Court within the next three days. The top court will have 10 days to confirm or reject the presidential elections' legality. In case the court validates the election result, the president-elect will take an oath in front of the Parliament and the Constitutional Court, not later than 45 days after the election. Under the Constitution, Moldovan President's mandate is four years. Moldova held the presidential runoff on Sunday, as none of the nine candidates competing in the presidential race received an absolute majority of votes in the first round of direct presidential elections on Oct. 30. Dodon and the common right-wing candidate Maia Sandu contested in the presidential run-off on Nov. 13. The presidential race marked the first time in 16 years that the country elected its leader by national vote instead of having parliament select the head of state. Landlocked between Romania and Ukraine, the former Soviet republic is still shrouded in the shadow of a corruption scandal in which about 1 billion U.S. dollars, or around 10 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), disappeared from its banking system at the end of 2014. The scandal sparked large-scale protests last year, eroding confidence in pro-European politicians that have led the country since 2009 and has partially contributed to the Socialists' gain in popularity. PRAGUE, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- According to the estimation of Czech experts and economists, the introduction of electronic records of sales (EET) system could only help slightly limit the grey economy. This depends a large extent upon whether the management approach taken by the financial administration on the system's operation could really play a role. Overall, according to the economists, EET could not fundamentally solve the grey economy, because the tax havens and offshore companies and other tax evasion methods will always exist. According to the data of Czech Statistics Office, the unreported incomes in the Czech Republic were estimated around 170 billion crowns (about 6.8 billion U.S. dollars) annually from 2013. The Czech Finance Ministry estimated that the implement of EET system will raise the public revenue by about 18 billion crowns. The introduction of EET system in the Czech Republic could reduce the grey economy in GDP. Whether the government will really have the intended effect and how big the reduction will be are to be discussed, only time will tell, said the manager of Mazars tax consultancy Gabriela Ivanco. She pointed out that according to recent statistics, the share of the grey economy in gross domestic product (GDP) of the Czech Republic is about 15 percent. The European Union's average is 18.6 percent. Czech chief economist Lukas Kovanda estimated the grey economy in the Czech Republic amounts to 13 percent of the GDP. He said that the share of the grey economy in GDP is relatively low in the EU and throughout Europe. According to analyst Frantiska Bostla, more than 600 billion crowns escaped regulatory oversight last year. He estimated that after the implement of EET system, the grey economy in Czech will remain at around 500 billion crowns. He pointed out that the tax havens, offshore companies are global problems. In these areas, the Czech Republic does not have effective tools. Tax consultant Starmanova believes that the mere recording of the cash flow does not have much impact on the scale of grey economy, but the fine for non-compliance of the EET system may have an impact on the total amount of grey economy. (1 U.S. dollar = 25 crowns) MARRAKECH, Morocco, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- A United Nations conference on climate change concluded here early Saturday after hours of negotiations that finally achieved compromise over the text on outcomes. Moroccan Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar, president of the 22nd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP22), hailed the momentum of strong support for climate action and sustainable development. The conference started just days after the entry into force of the December 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, which has so far been ratified by 111 parties. Seventy heads of state and government attended the high-level segment of COP22 and the first conference of Parties to the Paris Agreement (CAM1), an indication of "irreversible momentum" for climate action. Informal consultations over the text of outcome documents lasted well into Friday night, pushing the closing session into the wee hours of Saturday. Mamadou Honadia, head of the Burkina Faso delegation, told Xinhua that negotiators had been trying to bridge their differences over the fate of the so-called Adaptation Fund, which was set up under the Kyodo Protocol. Developing countries worried about the fate of the Adaptation Fund since the Kyodo Protocol will expire in 2020 and be replaced by the Paris Agreement, he said. "The Adaptation Fund is dedicated to financing adaptation concrete projects," Honadia said. "We don't want this fund to disappear." Developing countries demand a change in the wording related to the fund in a draft decision to be adopted by the conference, Honadia revealed, adding that the document must make it clear that the Adaptation Fund "shall" serve the Paris Agreement. An explanatory note released earlier Friday by Mezouar said that the fund "should" serve the Paris deal. Developed countries and developing countries had also differed over when the first conference of Parties to the Paris Agreement (CAM1) resume and over its agenda. Many developing countries that have not yet ratified the Paris Agreement, such as Burkina Faso, demand that CAM1 be "suspended" so that they could attend it as a signatory instead of as an observer, Honadia said. He said that developing countries hope CAM1 would have a balanced agenda and discuss all major issues under the Paris Agreement, including mitigation, adaption and technology transfer. The agenda under discussion mainly focuses on the implementation of nationally determined contributions and is thus in favor of developed countries, he added. The conference, which started on Nov. 7, brought together thousands of government officials as well as representatives from international organizations, the civil society and businesses. It aims to pave the way for the implementation of the Paris Agreement. MARRAKECH, Morocco, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- A United Nations conference on climate change concluded here early Saturday after hours of negotiations that finally achieved compromise over the text on outcomes. Moroccan Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar, president of the 22nd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP22), hailed the momentum of strong support for climate action and sustainable development. The conference started just days after the entry into force of the December 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, which has so far been ratified by 111 parties. Seventy heads of state and government attended the high-level segment of COP22 and the first conference of Parties to the Paris Agreement (CAM1), an indication of "irreversible momentum" for climate action. According to the outcome decision adopted in Marrakech, the work program under the Paris Agreement has to be completed before the end of 2018. Xie Zhenhua, China's special representative on climate change affairs, described the Marrakech conference as a success despite some difficulties. He said although most of the issues of concern to developing countries were covered in the outcome documents, arrangements for some areas, such as developed countries' climate efforts before 2020, and adaptation funding and capacity building for developing countries, did not go far enough. Informal consultations over the text of outcome documents lasted well into Friday night, pushing the closing session into the wee hours of Saturday. Mamadou Honadia, head of the Burkina Faso delegation, told Xinhua that negotiators had been trying to bridge their differences over the fate of the so-called Adaptation Fund, which was set up under the Kyodo Protocol. Developing countries worried about the fate of the Adaptation Fund since the Kyodo Protocol will expire in 2020 and be replaced by the Paris Agreement, he said. "The Adaptation Fund is dedicated to financing adaptation concrete projects," Honadia said. "We don't want this fund to disappear." Developing countries demand a change in the wording related to the fund in a draft decision to be adopted by the conference, Honadia revealed, adding that the document must make it clear that the Adaptation Fund "shall" serve the Paris Agreement. An explanatory note released earlier Friday by Mezouar said that the fund "should" serve the Paris deal. Developed countries and developing countries had also differed over when the first conference of Parties to the Paris Agreement (CAM1) resume, and over its agenda. Many developing countries that have not yet ratified the Paris Agreement, such as Burkina Faso, demand that CAM1 be "suspended" so that they could attend it as a signatory instead of as an observer, Honadia said. He said that developing countries hope CAM1 would have a balanced agenda and discuss all major issues under the Paris Agreement, including mitigation, adaption and technology transfer. The agenda under discussion mainly focuses on the implementation of nationally determined contributions and is thus in favor of developed countries, he added. The conference, which started on Nov. 7, brought together thousands of government officials as well as representatives from international organizations, the civil society and businesses. It aims to pave the way for the implementation of the Paris AgreementEnditem Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd R, front) and his wife Peng Liyuan (1st R, front) are received by Peruvian Second Vice President Mercedes Araoz (2nd L) at the airport in Lima, Peru, Nov. 18, 2016. Xi arrived in Peru Friday to attend the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting and pay his first state visit to Peru. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) LIMA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Peru Friday to attend the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting and pay his first state visit to the Latin American country. Prior to the trip, Xi had visited neighboring Ecuador. The APEC meeting is scheduled for Nov. 19-20 in Peru's capital Lima under the theme of "Quality Growth and Human Development." "My visit aims to strengthen friendship, expand common grounds, deepen cooperation and promote development," Xi said while delivering a written speech upon arrival at the airport in Lima. The president briefly reviewed the sound China-Peru relations in various areas over the past years, noting that the two countries enjoy broad prospects of cooperation. "China supports Peru in hosting the 24th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, and I'm looking forward to meeting with Peruvian leaders to have in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral relations and on major international, regional issues of common concern," he said. "I believe, with concerted efforts of both sides, my visit will achieve a complete success," he added. Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, were received by Peruvian Second Vice President Mercedes Araoz at the airport. Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, who is here to attend the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, also greeted President Xi at the airport. Before leaving Ecuador on Friday afternoon, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa held a grand seeing-off ceremony for Xi. In Lima, Xi will deliver a keynote speech at the APEC CEO Summit, hold dialogue with representatives of the APEC Business Advisory Council and meet leaders of some other APEC member economies. This year's APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting comes as the global economy is still struggling to recover, with flagging trade and investment, rising protectionism and fragmented trade rules. China, as the world's second largest economy, has called for safeguarding the global free trade system and opposing protectionism in any form. After attending the APEC meeting, Xi will pay his first state visit to Peru, only about two months after his Peruvian counterpart Pedro Pablo Kuczynski -- who was sworn in on July 28 -- made his first foreign visit to China. Xi will hold talks with Kuczynski, meet President of Peruvian Congress Luz Salgado and give a speech at the Congress. The two heads of state are also scheduled to attend the closing ceremony of the China-Latin America and Caribbean 2016 Year of Culture Exchange. This year marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, which have witnessed long-term friendly relations and wide-ranging cooperation. After Peru, Xi will travel to Chile, the final stop of his current three-nation tour of Latin America. It is Xi's third visit to Latin America as president since taking office in 2013. When addressing the Peruvian Congress, Xi is expected to expound on the thriving momentum of the comprehensive cooperative partnership China has forged with Latin America and the Caribbean, and make new proposals on propelling their cooperation. MOSCOW, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- The alignment of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative with the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) would make railway an efficient alternative to sea transport across Eurasia, a leading Russian business leader has said. The United Transport and Logistics Company (UTLC), a joint venture of the Russian Railways, the National Union of Belarus Railways and Kazakhstan's Temir Zholy railway company, is the operator of rail transit container service on the China-Europe route with a track gauge of 1,520 mm. "We are creating an alternative to Chinese manufacturers, offering them to deliver goods to the Kazakh border instead of ports, and providing the same well-organized service," UTLC President Alexei Grom said in a recent interview with Xinhua. "Railway route is more effective," Grom said. "Trains leave on schedule agreed between the railway administrations and reach the designated destinations in Europe three times as fast as by sea." While sea transport accounts for the bulk of the cargo turnover on the route from Asia to Europe, UTLC believes that customers should have a choice and thus provides them with very competitive conditions, he added. The Belt and Road Initiative, unveiled by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, brings together countries in Asia, Europe and even Africa, with the purpose of boosting infrastructure building, financial cooperation and cultural exchanges in the regions. In May 2015, top leaders of China and Russia agreed in Moscow to integrate the Silk Road Economic Belt with the framework of EAEU. Thanks to the joint efforts of Russian, Belarusian, Kazakh and Chinese railways operators, Grom voiced his confidence in an increase in cargo volumes this year. "China would shortly send its 1000th cargo train this year on the route to Europe," he said, adding that his company holds regular meetings with China Railway Corporation, its main partner in China. "When the world is experiencing major changes in the economy, finance, and the political arrangement of our lives, we, the closest neighbors, need to communicate more, to understand which benefits of the globalized world we may have," Grom said. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa in Quito, Ecuador, Nov. 17, 2016. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) QUITO, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The past two days have seen a fruitful visit to Ecuador by Chinese President Xi Jinping, the first Chinese head of state who have visited the Latin American nation in 36 years. Though the Chinese leader arrived in the country on Thursday afternoon and departed for Lima, capital city of Peru, the next day, he held talks with top leaders of the country, witnessed the signing of a number of cooperation agreements, met with the press, and visited the headquarters of Ecuador's national emergency response system. NEW ERA FOR BILATERAL TIES The most important achievement throughout this visit is that China and Ecuador agreed to lift their bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. The two countries established a strategic partnership in Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa's second official visit to Beijing last year. Ecuador is now a major destination for Chinese investment and financing in Latin America. In his talks with Correa, Xi noted that since 2015, mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides has seen rapid development in a wide range of areas, adding that bilateral ties have since been greatly enriched and have picked up momentum towards comprehensive development. The Chinese president said China-Ecuador relations have now entered a key phase where cooperation between the two countries is of greater importance to both sides. The two presidents agreed to make the elevation of bilateral ties a new starting point to deepen strategic mutual trust, seek greater achievements in mutually beneficial cooperation and boost the healthier and faster development of bilateral ties. Liu Yuqin, former Chinese ambassador to Ecuador, said the decision to elevate bilateral ties represents the positive response of the two countries' top leaders to the calls for more pragmatic and win-win cooperation in all fields. "The official endorsement has always been an essential element in boosting bilateral exchanges," Liu said. STRIVE FOR STRONGER ALL-ROUND COOPERATION According to a joint statement issued on Thursday, China and Ecuador have agreed to boost their cooperation in production capacity, as well as economic and trade areas. Seeking to boost production capacity and investment cooperation, the two countries pledged to implement major projects in oil and gas, mining, infrastructure, water conservancy, communication and finance, and explore cooperation in agriculture, petrochemical industry, ship building, metallurgy and paper making industries. China is willing to work with Ecuador in technology transfer so as to boost the country's industrialization and strengthen its capacity in self-driven development. The two sides also pledged to encourage their companies and financial institutions to discuss possible cooperation on the Pacific Refinery, a large petrochemical complex in Ecuador's northern province of Manabi, which is going to be a pillar of petrochemical industry in Ecuador and the whole region as well. On trade, Beijing and Quito agreed to seek a steady, sustainable and balanced trade growth, and vowed to make it more convenient for their own products to tap into the other's markets. China and Ecuador also agreed to enhance their cooperation in education, culture, health, sports, tourism and judiciary, bolster exchanges between media, artists and students of the two countries, increase the number of student exchanges, so as to boost understanding and friendship of the two peoples. Also in the statement, China and Ecuador agreed that pragmatic cooperation is an important part of their comprehensive strategic partnership. The two sides are also willing to further align their development strategies, and give full play to a series of cooperation mechanisms in such areas as production capacity, investment, trade, agriculture and technology. MORE AID FOR QUAKE-HIT ECUADOR On Friday, the top Chinese leader also visited ECU-911 headquarters, where he promised further support for earthquake-hit Ecuador in disaster relief and reconstruction. China provided Ecuador with cash support of two million U.S. dollars and humanitarian aid worth 9.2 million dollars after the fatal quake. Chinese companies owning business in Ecuador also dispatched staff and resources to the affected regions to participate in the disaster relief and humanitarian aid. "China will take an active part in Ecuador's post-quake rebuilding, and continue to provide support in housing, medical treatment, human resources and disaster prevention and reduction," Xi said in an address at the headquarters. Ecuador was hit by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake in April this year. Nearly 700 people were killed in the earthquake, which also injured about 5,000 more and displaced 80,000. China was one of the first countries to supply humanitarian aid immediately after the quake. Accompanying Xi during the tour, President Correa thanked China for its support in Ecuador's post-quake relief and national development, adding that the Latin American county is willing to deepen win-win cooperation with the Chinese side. Earlier in the morning, the two presidents also watched a photo exhibition on Chinese aid to Ecuador's quake relief work, and inaugurated a joint laboratory at ECU-911 headquarters. Developed by Chinese companies, the ECU-911 played a vital role in relief work following the April quake, by effectively processing a massive amount of information and sending timely instructions, thus saving numerous lives and preventing further damage. Currently, there are 16 ECU-911 centers across Ecuador. BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ECUADOR Earlier in the day, Xi and Correa also watched via live broadcast the foundation stone laying ceremony of a new hospital built with Chinese assistance in the earthquake-stricken Ecuadorian city of Chone, to replace the one that was seriously damaged in the April earthquake. They also inaugurated a hydroelectric plant built by China's Sinohydro Corporation. The Coca Codo Sinclair (CCS) hydroelectric plant is the largest of its kind in Ecuador's history and the "fruition of the great cooperation between Ecuador and China," according to President Correa. With an installed capacity of 1,500 megawatts, the plant is expected to help Ecuador transform from a power-hungry country into a clean energy exporter and greatly contribute to the country's economic development. The first four of the eight turbines in total at the plant were started on April 13, only three days before the quake. It remained intact during the quake and the power it generated helped with local disaster relief. In his address, Xi noted that the upgrading of the ECU-911, and rebuilding of the Chone hospital and the completion of the CCS hydroelectric plant will effectively bolster Ecuador's disaster prevention and resistance capabilities, and improve its public infrastructure. Correa, meanwhile, agreed that cooperation between Ecuador and China has improved infrastructure in his county, boosted its clean energy development and bolstered the country's public security service, saying that all these have benefited the Ecuadorian people. Ecuador is the first leg of President Xi's three-nation Latin American tour which also takes him to Peru and Chile. This is his third visit to Latin America since he assumed the presidency in March 2013. He will also attend the 24th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting while in Lima, capital of Peru. WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Donald Trump agreed Friday to pay 25 million U.S. dollars in settlements to close the legal cases against his Trump University. The settlement deal was confirmed by both the New York State Attorney General's office and a Trump spokesperson. "Today's 25 million U.S. dollars' settlement agreement is a stunning reversal by Donald Trump and a major victory for the over 6,000 victims of his fraudulent university," New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said. Trump University, a for-profit education institution founded by Trump and his partners, offered to teach students how to become successful in the real estate market, but came under fire for not delivering on its promise. Although the institute closed in 2011, lawsuits against it continued. CNN cited a Trump spokesperson as saying that Trump chose to settle in order to "devote his full attention to the important issues facing our great nation," but that there was "no doubt that Trump University would have prevailed." Schneiderman said every victim of Trump University will receive restitution, and the state of New York will receive one million dollars in fines. QUITO, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Ecuador marked a historic moment in bilateral ties, Ecuador's Deputy Foreign Minister Fernando Yepez has said. "The visit to Ecuador by China's president truly marks a historic moment in our relations, which have been characterized, above all in recent years, by their strategic nature, permanent and deep dialogue, cooperation of all types and mutual benefit," Yepez told Xinhua in an exclusive interview. Xi wrapped up his two-day state visit to Ecuador on Friday. The visit came after Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa's official trip to Beijing in January 2015. In a joint statement issued after Thursday's talks between the two presidents in Quito, China and Ecuador agreed to lift their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. The South American country believed that Xi's visit serves to strengthen bilateral cooperation, which "continues on its upward path in strategic projects, in the economic field, and in the trade field," said Yepez. "For Ecuador, China represents a friend, a strategic partner, a country with which we share fraternal ties of all kinds," he added. China played an active role in the reconstruction effort following a powerful earthquake that devastated towns along Ecuador's northern coast on April 16, killing 673 people and leading to 3.34 billion U.S. dollars in losses. "China's cooperation has been felt," said Yepez, noting that Beijing sent some 5,400 tents and 10,000 foldaway beds to accommodate those who were suddenly left homeless. Chinese financing, Yepez said, has been essential to the realization of emblematic development projects in Ecuador. Exploring China's markets for new export products is one of the topics Ecuador hopes to broach after Xi's visit. "We want to strengthen trade exchange by identifying market opportunities and better conditions for accessing the respective markets," Yepez said. China is Ecuador's leading source of financing, which has allowed the Latin American country to significantly improve infrastructure by building hydroelectric plants, irrigation and flood-control projects, and highways. Xi arrived in the Latin American nation on Thursday for a state visit, the first leg of his three-nation tour to the continent. Besides Ecuador, the week-long tour also takes the Chinese president to Peru and Chile. In Peru, Xi will attend the 24th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting from Saturday to Sunday in the capital city of Lima. A group of lawmakers will sponsor a bill at the Wyoming Legislature next year that proposes sweeping changes to the way nonviolent, first-time offenders are sentenced for their crimes. The goal is to prevent unnecessary incarceration the state's prison population increases each year and to truly reform and rehabilitate criminals, using research, data and best practices in the corrections world. The bill, which at 24 pages is unusually long for the Wyoming Legislature, is the result of three years of work for the Joint Judiciary Committee. Last year, when Judiciary Committee members asked the Legislature to consider the measure, members of another committee thats in charge of crafting the states budget killed it. They didnt believe Wyoming had the money to spend on the up-front costs required by the bill. For first-time, nonviolent offenders, the bill would allow the judges to halt court proceedings and place the accused on probation if the defendant agrees to it for three years for a misdemeanor crime and five years for a felony. Judges would have latitude to tailor the probation as they see fit, including requiring the accused to wear an electronic monitoring device, work, abide a curfew and complete treatment for drug, alcohol or behavioral problems. Its pretty wide-open the best tools for that individuals issues, said Sen. Leland Christensen, R-Alta, a chairman of the committee. The bill also changes parole revocation. If the violation is not a felony, the Wyoming Board of Parole may send the offender back to prison for 120 days for the first violation and 180 days for the second. Currently, people who violate parole are sent back to prison for an average of two and a half years, Christensen said. Research shows that when people commit a crime, they dont believe they will get caught, said Anthony Vibbard of the Wyoming Liberty Group, which supports the sentencing reform bill. The threat of prison doesnt necessarily deter criminals, he said. The bill changes how people can accumulate whats known as good time, or early release based on good behavior. The bill would now allow people to be awarded good time if they comply with their individual case plans for education attainment, drug and alcohol treatment, work and other goals. If theyre on parole, their supervisor can write a recommendation for good time, according to the bill. More effective The bill would change how people are punished for minor infractions of their parole or probation. A judge can send them to the county jail for two to three days instead of the current punishment, which can last years, in part due to legal proceedings. But research shows that the swift and certain approach is more effective in rehabilitating a criminal. This is a way to get an immediate consequence, a reminder to get bumped into the right direction, versus slammed for years, Christensen said. The bill will cost almost $3 million, but the Wyoming Department of Corrections estimates the state can potentially save $7.6 million a year, he said. Although long-term cost savings would be helpful to the state in the current economic downturn, the Wyoming Department of Corrections believes community safety and rehabilitation of prisoners is more important, Christensen said. Money is not the primary motivation on this bill, he said. Christensen and Judiciary Committee co-chairman Rep. Dave Miller visited Gov. Matt Mead last week and asked him to consider the bill as he puts together budget recommendations. If Mead recommends the Legislature budget for the sentencing changes, the bill's chances of success will increase, Christensen said. Vikki Renner of Casper supported the bill. Renner has a son serving time at the prison in Torrington. Shes involved in a recently assembled group of family members of prisoners who want to provide lawmakers input to help get the bill passed. They started in June. They live in areas ranging from Cody to Gillette and even in Utah, she said. Renner said she likes the emphasis on drug and alcohol treatment over warehousing people. She was teary as she described scenes from Torrington of small children hugging their parents. Children are hurt by being separated from their parents, she said. Reform is such a vital part of the corrections process, she said. Its something these guys have to work for. A lot of these guys, they want to be better citizens. A lot of their crimes were committed under the influence of drugs of alcohol. Thats not an excuse. But they were not in the right state of mind. Renners son committed a violent crime she declined to provide details and will not benefit from the sentencing reform bill. But she still supports it because she wants the public to start thinking about rehabilitation and reform in new ways, she said. People can and do change, she said. UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations (UN) Security Council on Friday "expressed deep alarm over the escalation of ethnic violence in South Sudan," and "strongly condemned all instances of attacks against civilians, ethnically targeted killings, hate speech, and incitements to violence." This was contained in a press statement issued by the 15-nation UN body after it was briefed by the special representative of the UN secretary-general, Ellen Loj, the UN special adviser on the prevention of genocide, Adama Dieng, and the chair of the South Sudan sanctions committee on the current situation in the world's youngest country. "The members of the Security Council expressed deep alarm over the escalation of ethnic violence in South Sudan reportedly carried out by the SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army), the SPLA in Opposition, as well as militias, and unidentified armed groups," the statement said. Dieng concluded a three-day trip to South Sudan earlier this week. He warned that the country risked spiraling into genocide if nothing was done to calm the situation. Ambassador Augostino Njoroge, deputy chairman of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), on Friday decried the flare-up of armed clashes, ethnic and political tensions, and lawlessness in parts of the war-torn country. He said that an increase in armed groups had led to a rise in killings and property damage. SHIJIAZHUANG, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- The local government of Shijiazhuang, capital of north China's Hebei Province, has apologized to the public for inconvenience caused by the city's anti-smog measures. In an open letter issued Friday, the government expressed its "sincere apology" to its citizens, adding that it hopes to have the understanding and cooperation of the public for a series of urgent measures it has taken amid acrid smog, particularly the odd-even license plate restrictions for driving cars. The city government said it faces a daunting task to clean up its foul air, adding that pollution has been severe since late September. It also explained the reasons behind the pollution, namely burning coal, construction in downtown areas and car emissions. Under unfavorable weather conditions, smog is inevitable, it said. "Out of concern for the health of the public, we decided to take the strictest anti-smog measures after careful consideration," read the letter. "These measures will inevitably cause some inconvenience, especially the odd-even car restriction." Shijiazhuang has been haunted by smog over the past few days, with authorities on Tuesday issuing an orange alert, the second most severe in a four-tier color-coded system. On Thursday night, it issued a notice demanding all car owners follow the odd-even car restriction until the end of the year. Previously it issued different restriction policies on Nov. 8, Nov. 10, Nov. 11 and Nov. 15. LIMA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Foreign relations and commerce ministers from the 21 APEC member economies met here on Thursday and Friday in an effort to renew their focus on globalization and international trade. The meeting took place against a divided backdrop as it considered a study into the feasibility of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) at a time when enthusiasm for global trade seems to have stalled, with the Brexit vote and the victory of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump seen as examples thereof.P However, a joint statement issued Friday defied these events, providing a resounding show of support for free trade and globalization although this included an acknowledgement that more needs to be done to ensure free trade benefits all people and not only elites. In opening remarks to the 2016 APEC Ministerial Meeting on Thursday, Peru's Second Vice-President Mercedes Araoz challenged the ministers to reaffirm the value of free trade. "You see what is going on in the world right now, this anti-globalization situation that we face. What is there for us in the global world? Is it worth it to integrate? Is it worth it to build up an agenda of integration or is it only for the big companies and not for us?The most important thing is that people are receiving the benefits," Araoz said. This theme was warmly received and driven home by Peru's Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism Eduardo Ferreyros, who said "we strongly believe that if we continue working on trade liberalization and facilitation, we will ... generate greater growth and ultimately set higher living standards for our people." The joint statement highlighted a number of priorities which will be presented to the leaders of the 21 APEC members during their Economic Leaders' Meeting on the weekend. These are strengthening regional economic integration and quality growth, support for the multilateral trading system, commitment to achieving the Bogor Goals that aim for free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region, sustaining global value chains, building green growth, strengthening comprehensive connectivity and working on building the FTAAP. The latter commitment was the most eagerly anticipated as a free-trade area of this magnitude would cover the Asia-Pacific region with 2.8 billion people, 57 percent of the world's gross domestic product and 49 percent of global trade. Ferreyros told a press conference that the ministerial meeting had struck a consensus on advancing the FTAAP and considered two examples, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The joint ministerial statement was clear that the FTAAP is currently desired by APEC members. "We reaffirm our commitment to advance the process in a comprehensive and systematic manner towards the eventual realization of the FTAAP as a major instrument to further APEC's regional economic integration agenda," read the statement. The ball will now roll on to the APEC leaders who will meet over the weekend, with the statement explaining that "we instruct APEC officials to further develop and implement the work programs ... in order to enhance economies' capabilities towards the realization of the FTAAP." The ministers were also clear in their common stance against protectionism, reaffirming a pledge to roll back protectionist and trade-distorting measures, which weaken trade and slow down the progress and recovery of the global economy. MARRAKECH, Morocco, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Marrakech climate talks kept the global fight against climate change on track by setting a two-year deadline to agree on the rules for implementing the historic Paris Agreement, despite fears that the next U.S. administration may withdraw from this endeavor. A major achievement of the talks is that the spirit of unity and flexibility demonstrated by all parties helped rebuild the international community's confidence in global cooperation on climate change, which has been overshadowed by uncertainty caused by the election victory of Donald Trump, delegates and civil society members say. In a proclamation of action issued Thursday, participants in the conference called for "the highest political commitment to combat climate change, as a matter of urgent priority." The proclamation reflected the determination of world governments to combat climate change through the implementation of the Paris Agreement, Xie Zhenhua, China's special representative on climate change affairs, told reporters Friday. The declaration "built the confidence of the international community in addressing the challenge of climate change," he said. "One of the good things that happened out of this COP (conference of parties) is that the U.S. elections did not dampen the spirit of parties who are committed to honoring the Paris Agreement and moving forward," said Meena Raman, secretary-general of Friends of Earth Malaysia, saying there was tremendous concern over what would happen if the Trump administration does not honor the agreement. "The proclamation was actually sending a positive signal that all the parties, regardless of the outcome, will continue to stay on the course. We don't know how the U.S. will act, but the rest of the world will continue," she said. There was a chorus of calls at the two-week gathering, which concluded in the southern Moroccan city early Saturday morning, for the next U.S. administration to stay inside the Paris Agreement. Many speakers, including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, have appealed to Trump to understand the reality of climate change and the "irreversible" trend of the transition of the global economy toward a green, low-emissions one. During his campaign, Trump denied climate change as a "hoax" and vowed to withdraw from the Paris Agreement and cancel funding for various climate initiatives. The conference "has demonstrated that the spirit of Paris is still alive and stronger than before," German Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks told reporters. "The transformation adopted in Paris toward a climate-friendly world is on its way and can no longer be stopped." After years of negotiations, at least 195 countries in December last year adopted the first-ever universal, legally binding global climate deal, dubbed the Paris Agreement, aimed at reducing global warming to below 2 degree Celsius. Another significant achievement of the Marrakech talks is that negotiators managed to agree on a two-year program to prepare the rulebook for the implementation of the Paris Agreement. A decision adopted late Friday night by negotiators after lengthy closed-door consultations requests that the program be carried out before the end of 2018. Xie described as "balanced" this document and another decision adopted by negotiators on the implementation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, saying they reflected positions of all parties. Despite these positive results, developing countries were disappointed about lack of substantive progress on such issues as climate funding and the enhancing of climate action by developed countries before 2020. Developing countries' concerns, such as funding, capacity building and enhanced climate efforts by rich nations, did not get adequate attention in the two decisions, Xie said. Negotiators agreed to keep the Adaptation Fund which was set up in 2010 under the Kyodo Protocol. Developing countries have been worried that the fund may no longer exist after the protocol is replaced by the Paris Agreement in 2020. As to long-term finance, however, developed countries only reaffirmed their promise to mobilize 100 billion U.S. dollars annually by 2020 to help developing countries combat climate change. "Developed parties recognize that they have to mobilize 100 billion of U.S. dollars to finance mitigation and adaptation projects and after 2020 they have to scale it up," Mamadou Honadia, head of the Burkina Faso delegation, told Xinhua. "We are not satisfied 100 percent." At the Marrakech climate conference, some 80 million dollars have been pledged by developed countries to the Adaptation Fund, compared to 56 billion to 73 billion dollars of the estimated annual adaptation finance needs of developing countries. A report presented to the conference by Britain and Australia calculated that it was already providing around 63 billion dollars a year to poor countries in the form of climate finance. But developing countries have contested this figure strenuously, accusing developed nations of double counting and considering loans as grants. "There is an attempt here to introduce a report by the UK (United Kingdom) and Australia, which prentends to show that they are on track. And all of us know that they are not on track," said Raman. "The numbers are being forged, the methodology is flawed, and the developed countries are way way short." NEW DELHI, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- At least three Indian soldiers have been killed and four others injured in an explosion in the northeastern state of Assam Saturday morning, a police official said. "The incident took place at around 6 a.m. (local time) in Digboi in the state's Tinsukia district when an Indian Army convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device blast triggered by suspected United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militants," he said on condition of anonymity. The improvised explosive device blast hit a vehicle in the Indian Army convoy, injuring seven soldiers, three of whom succumbed to their injuries in the hospital later in the day, where the four other injured have been admitted to, the official said. Local TV channels reported that an encounter is currently underway between Indian security forces and the militants, and that reinforcements have been rushed to the spot, while a massive search operation has also been launched. ULFA, which seeks to establish a sovereign Assam with an armed struggle, was banned by India in 1990, branded as a terrorist organization. In 2011, a pact for suspension of operations against ULFA was signed between the Indian government, the Assam government and the ULFA. LIMA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Leaders from the 21 members of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) will meet over the weekend in Lima, with the creation of the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP) high on the agenda. Advances toward the FTAAP have been made since the 2014 APEC meeting in Beijing when a roadmap was created for what would be an ambitious free-trade area which has around 2.8 billion people and accounts for nearly 49 percent of global trade and 57 percent of global GDP. Prior to the leaders' meeting over the weekend, representatives to APEC have been busy laying out their agenda, especially on the FTAAP. On Wednesday, Luis Quesada, this year's chair of APEC Senior Officials, told a press conference that "the most important part of this meeting has been the study of a free trade area in the Asia-Pacific region." The discussions are expected to help APEC members revise their commercial policies and overcome obstacles to opening-up in a world that is increasingly divided due to unbalanced benefits from free trade. Despite scepticism about a full commercial opening-up, Quesada remained optimistic that the opening-up process would continue to move forward. He also commended the creation of a roadmap to increase competitiveness in the service sector, among others. He said the service sector is an important focus of this year's APEC meetings as services such as e-commerce are becoming ever greater drivers of job growth and economic development. Another topic for APEC leaders at the meeting is the need to increase connectivity between APEC member economies. Quesada said the APEC schedule for achieving commercial opening-up goals is expected to be revised for members. The original APEC plan requires developing economies to meet the goals by 2020 and developed economies by 2010. Facing a rise of protectionism, "the region's soft approach to globalization and trade could be the best way forward. It offers incremental, yet significant change that is not just tolerated but actually welcomed by all peoples of society," said Alan Bollard, executive director of the APEC Secretariat. APEC, which does not work as a legally binding institution, has developed a lot of new ideas since its creation in 1989, with many of them adopted by its members, said Bollard. "We don't want one size to fit all, we want interconnectivity," he added. The benefits and costs of globalization are another issue to be discussed at the APEC meeting, according to him. "We have to take the anti-globalization sentiment quite seriously. It has happened in a number of regions and we have to assess what is driving that," said Bollard. Enditem JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Seven militants including a group commander loyal to the Islamic State (IS) outfit were killed after unmanned plane pounded their hideout in Kot district of the eastern Nangarhar province on Friday, spokesman for provincial government Attaullah Khogiani said Saturday. IS group commander Mullah Bazarg is among those killed in the air strike, the spokesman said. There were no casualties on civilians in the raid, Khogiani said. Nangarhar province with Jalalabad as its capital 120 km east of Kabul has been the scene of IS activities over the past two years. UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations (UN) Security Council on Friday "expressed deep alarm over the escalation of ethnic violence in South Sudan," and "strongly condemned all instances of attacks against civilians, ethnically targeted killings, hate speech, and incitements to violence." This was contained in a press statement issued by the 15-nation UN body after it was briefed by the special representative of the UN secretary-general, Ellen Loj, the UN special adviser on the prevention of genocide, Adama Dieng, and the chair of the South Sudan sanctions committee on the current situation in the world's youngest country. "The members of the Security Council expressed deep alarm over the escalation of ethnic violence in South Sudan reportedly carried out by the SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army), the SPLA in Opposition, as well as militias, and unidentified armed groups," the statement said. Dieng concluded a three-day trip to South Sudan earlier this week. He warned that the country risked spiraling into genocide if nothing was done to calm the situation. Ambassador Augostino Njoroge, deputy chairman of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), on Friday decried the flare-up of armed clashes, ethnic and political tensions, and lawlessness in parts of the war-torn country. He said that an increase in armed groups had led to a rise in killings and property damage. The Security Council "called on the government of South Sudan to immediately address increasing hate speech and ethnic violence, and to promote reconciliation among its people, including through a process of justice and accountability," said the statement. "The members of the Security Council underscored that the only way forward in South Sudan is through a genuine and inclusive political process, based on the framework provided by the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan which allows for all voices to participate in shaping the future of South Sudan," the statement said. "The members of the Security Council also underscored that all parties must commit themselves to peace and take meaningful steps to end violence and ceasefire violations," it said. The council members called upon the parties to immediately agree on the implementation of an effective cessation of hostilities in order to avoid an escalation of the conflict in the upcoming dry season and reiterated that there is no military solution to the conflict, the statement said. "The members of the Security Council signaled their readiness to consider taking additional measures in order to prevent a further escalation of violence and conflict, including potential sanctions that may be appropriate to respond to the situation," the statement said. South Sudan has been shattered by civil war which broke out in December 2013 after President Salva Kiir accused his sacked deputy Riek Machar of plotting a coup. Machar denied the accusation but then mobilized a rebel force. Tens of thousands have been killed, with over 2 million displaced and another 4.6 million left severely food insecure since then. A peace deal signed in August 2015 between rival leaders under UN pressure led to the establishment of a transitional unity government in April, but was devastated by renewed fighting that erupted in early July. The JMEC is overseeing the implementation of the August 2015 peace deal. RIYADH, Nov 19, (Xinhua)-- The Saudi-led coalition announced on Saturday a 48-hour cease-fire in Yemen, starting at noon local time (0900 GMT), Al Arabiya reported. The coalition, which has been fighting Houthi rebels in support of the Yemeni government since March 2015, stressed that the truce will be automatically renewed upon the commitment of Houthi militias to the cease-fire rules. The truce will allow the access of humanitarian aid to areas in the besieged areas, especially Taiz, Yemen's third-largest city. The coalition warned that its forces will respond to Houthi violations of the truce, while confirming the continuation of its air and maritime bans and inspections. This agreement came as part of UN efforts to end the bloody war in Yemen. Most of the previously announced truces had failed. Since March 2015, the coalition has been fighting both Houthi rebels and forces loyal to Yemen's former president Ali Abdullah Saleh in a bid to restore to power internationally backed President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who was overthrown by the Houthis in late 2014. Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd R, front) and his wife Peng Liyuan (1st R, front) are received by Peruvian Second Vice President Mercedes Araoz (2nd L) at the airport in Lima, Peru, Nov. 18, 2016. Xi arrived in Peru Friday to attend the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting and pay his first state visit to Peru. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) LIMA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Peru Friday to attend the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting and pay his first state visit to the Latin American country. Prior to the trip, Xi had visited neighboring Ecuador. The APEC meeting is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday in Peru's capital Lima under the theme of "Quality Growth and Human Development." "My visit aims to strengthen friendship, expand common grounds, deepen cooperation and promote development," Xi said while delivering a written speech upon arrival at the airport in Lima. "China supports Peru in hosting the 24th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, and I'm looking forward to meeting with Peruvian leaders to have in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral relations and on major international, regional issues of common concern," he said. NEW MOVES EXPECTED ON FTAAP In Lima, Xi will deliver a keynote speech at the APEC CEO Summit, hold dialogue with representatives of the APEC Business Advisory Council and meet leaders of some other APEC member economies. This year's APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting comes as the global economy is still struggling to recover, with flagging trade and investment, rising protectionism and fragmented trade rules. China, as the world's second largest economy, has called for safeguarding the global free trade system and opposing protectionism in any form. It also expects the APEC members to reach new consensus and take new action on the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) at the Lima meeting. The FTAAP process was launched at the 2014 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Beijing and a roadmap was endorsed. A "collective strategic study" on the FTAAP was conducted subsequently, as agreed by the APEC members, and the result should be reported to the economic leaders by the end of 2016. "China hopes that the Lima meeting can promote openness and inclusiveness, deepen practical cooperation and continue to implement the outcomes of the Beijing meeting," Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong has told reporters. Raul Salazar, APEC affairs director at the Peruvian Foreign Ministry, believes the FTAAP is necessary. "This step taken in Beijing ... has forced all the members to face the reality that this is necessary for a number of reasons. Peru holds the position that we need an Asia-Pacific free trade area. It would allow for APEC's work to be deepened and would see free trade agreements proliferate," he said. Founded in 1989, APEC, grouping 21 members, now accounts for 39 percent of the global population, 60 percent of the global economy and 46 percent of the global trade. Peru previously hosted the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in 2008. China, which greets its 25th anniversary of joining the influential forum this year, had also hosted the meeting twice -- in 2001 in Shanghai, and in 2014 in Beijing. MUTUAL VISIT IN TWO MONTHS After attending the APEC meeting, Xi will pay his first state visit to Peru, only about two months after his Peruvian counterpart, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, -- who was sworn in on July 28 -- made his first foreign visit to China. Xi will hold talks with Kuczynski, meet President of Peruvian Congress Luz Salgado and give a speech at the Congress. The two heads of state are also scheduled to attend the closing ceremony of the China-Latin America and Caribbean 2016 Year of Culture Exchange. This year marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, which have witnessed long-term friendly relations and wide-ranging cooperation. The two countries upgraded their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2013, and signed a bilateral free trade agreement as early as in April 2009, which took effect on March 1, 2010. China is now Peru's biggest trade partner, export market and source of imports in the world, while Peru is China's sixth largest trade partner in Latin America. Two-way trade between the two countries reached about 7.2 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of this year, up 10.7 percent year on year, according to Chinese official statistics. Both China and Peru are ancient civilizations and the two peoples have enjoyed a profound traditional friendship. The two countries have maintained close cultural and educational exchanges. To date, four Confucius Institutes have been established in Peru. Chinese Ambassador to Peru, Jia Guide, said that both China and Peru are important emerging economies and they are highly complementary on economic front. "We should make full use of the complementary advantages to strengthen strategic cooperation, vigorously promote investment and upgrade the free trade agreement. We should build our cooperation into a model for emerging economies and for South-South cooperation," Jia said. To 71-year-old Luis Raul, a Peruvian auto parts dealer who is married to a Chinese woman, President Xi's visit is like a relative coming to his home. "The visit will bring our two countries even closer. We Peruvian people will receive President Xi with the utmost cordiality, and we will receive Chinese people with open arms!" he said. THRIVING CHINA-LATIN AMERICA TIES After Peru, Xi will travel to Chile, the final stop of his current three-nation tour of Latin America. It is Xi's third visit to Latin America as president since he took office in 2013. When addressing the Peruvian Congress, Xi is expected to expound on the thriving momentum of the comprehensive cooperative partnership China has forged with Latin America and the Caribbean, and make new proposals on propelling their cooperation. An intergovernmental forum, known as the China-CELAC Forum, was set up on July 17, 2014 during President Xi's second LatAm visit to steer cooperation between China and the 33-member Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). Chinese official statistics show that the trade volume between China and Latin America rose more than 20-fold during the past decade to reach 236.5 billion dollars in 2015. Currently, China is the second largest trade partner and third largest investment source country of Latin America, while Latin America is China's seventh largest trade partner. Xi's state visits to Ecuador, Peru and Chile show that China is keen to further strengthen ties with Latin America, Venezuelan political analyst Vladimir Adrianza said. China represents both an "excellent" development model for regional countries and an attractive incentive, said Adrianza, who teaches at the Bolivarian Military University of Venezuela in Caracas. "A growing China-Latin America relationship can help promote multilateral and global development," he said. The University of Mary has been selected to lead the 2017 national March for Life rally in Washington, D.C. After attending the 2016 March for Life rally, a group of U-Mary students were caught in an East Coast blizzard that left them stranded overnight in a bus on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. They returned home after being stuck for 20 hours. Anne Dziak, of Chicago, is a University of Mary graduate and coordinator of the rally. Dziak said in a news release that the school is expecting about 500 students with eight or nine buses to head to Washington, D.C., in January. At the 2016 rally, the university bused 100 students, according to the release. The march is the nation's largest anti-abortion event held every year around the anniversary of the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortions in the United States. The march will take place Jan. 27. NANNING, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Police in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have confiscated 659 kilograms of ketamine in a recent crackdown on drugs. Police with the public security bureau of Hechi City also arrested eight drug dealers, while confiscating a vehicle and 200,000 yuan (29,039 U.S. dollars) from drug transactions. In September, police received a tip-off about several non-locals making drugs in a remote mountain village in Hechi. Two months of investigation showed that a couple provided drug manufacturing sites, while other suspects supplied money and drug-producing techniques. The final products were then sold in Hechi and neighboring areas. Further investigation is under way. BEIJING, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Imagine digging a hole from China's northwestern city of Xi'an all the way through earth. Where would you end up? The answer is Santiago, the capital city of Chile. Though it's about as far as one can get from China, Chile has generated a buzz across the Pacific as Chinese President Xi Jinping prepares to pay his state visit to the Latin American country. It was the first South American country to establish diplomatic ties with China, and Chile now hopes to strengthen its tourism industry by drawing affluent Chinese travelers. "We sincerely invite Chinese tourists to visit Chile," said Javiera Montes, undersecretary of Ministry of Economy, Development and Tourism in Chile. She made the remarks while giving a presentation on Chile's tourist attractions in mid-November in Shanghai. It was the first such event organized by the Chilean government in China. "We have the Andes and deserts. We also have over twenty thousand glaciers," she said. "Twenty percent of our territory is nature reserves. I believe all Chinese people can find what they love in Chile." Chilean officials hope President Xi's trip will increase awareness of Chile's diverse natural beauty. "I've lived in China for three years. Chinese tourists have shown a growing appetite for remote, exotic places in recent years. I believe many of them would be very interested in going on an adventure in Chile," said Cesar Suarez, trade commissioner of Chile in Shanghai. The long, narrow country between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean is a land of contrasts. A string of volcanoes and lakes dot its southern regions, while in the north there is the arid Atacama Desert, selected as one of the 10 must-see regions for 2015 by Lonely Planet. It is also rich in copper, a major export for Chile. Wu Yuanfeng, a businessman who often travels between Chile and China, recalled how stunned he was when he saw the sunset fall over the Atacama Desert. "The sunset lasted really long, surrounded by a splendid evening glow...The Atacama Desert is the world's driest desert. Its sand is the purest," he said. Yet for many Chinese visitors, the mysterious giant statues on Easter Island are all they know about the South American country. About 11,000 Chinese visited Chile in 2014, up from just 6,000 in 2008, according to official data from Chilean tourism authorities. The increase is striking, but still relatively tiny considering the fact that Chinese citizens made more than 100 million overseas trips the same year. To attract more Chinese visitors, Chile now waives visa application fees for Chinese tourists, and those who hold visas for the United States or Canada that are valid for more than six months can enjoy visa-free access to the country. With the loosening of visa requirements, Chile expects to see a 40-percent increase in the number of Chinese tourists every year. MORE THAN TOURISM To the Chilean government, the arrival of Chinese visitors means much more than higher tourism revenue. China and Chile have maintained a close trade relationship over the past decade. In 2005, Chile became the first state in Latin America to sign a free trade agreement with China. Since then, the bilateral trade volume has grown four-fold in ten years. China is now Chile's biggest trade partner. While copper has always been Chile's main raw material export, its non-copper exports have been on the rise, accounting for one-fifth of the country's total exports to China since 2014. Chile was the top supplier of fresh cranberries and cherries to China last year, and 77 percent of China's whole salmon and fresh plum imports come from Chile. Beef, lamb and wine imports are also gaining popularity. Rapid economic development in China over the past decades has created a strong middle class that isn't afraid to spend on food, fashion, and travel. "Tourism is a good way to promote trade," said Suarez. "So this time we decided to combine both." Chinese gourmets love trying out authentic local food during a journey abroad. When they return home, they often become voluntary spokespersons for the local treats, so more visitors means more business opportunities. "The best way to experience the world is to share food and wine with friends," Suarez said. "I believe President Xi's visit will not only strengthen bilateral ties, but also push mutual trade to a new level." QUITO, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Ecuadoran media on Friday focused on Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the Latin American country, which yielded fruitful results for bilateral ties. During Xi's visit, the two countries decided to raise bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, and signed several cooperation agreements, media outlets reported. Prior to Xi's arrival, Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa praised the visit as "the most important in the history" of Ecuador, and media outlets gave it due coverage. El Comercio daily ran the headline "Xi Jinping arrived in Ecuador to seal the comprehensive partnership," while El Telegrafo reported that "China and Ecuador took another step to strengthen bilateral ties." State news agency Andes also dedicated its front page to Xi's visit, reporting the accords signed, including China's pledge to further support in disaster relief and reconstruction for the areas devastated by a magnitude-7.8 earthquake in April. President Correa said the visit marks a new stage in the bilateral relationship, which in the past nine years has reached "an unprecedented level, and even serves as a model for the region." Ecuador is the first stop of Xi's three-country Latin America tour. He will travel on to Peru, where he will also participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting, and then to Chile. This is Xi's third visit to the region since he took office in March 2013. DUBAI, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai said Saturday that it has signed an agreement with the German state railway firm Deutsche Bahn AG to establish a specialized mobility and transport center. The center will focus on sharing expertise in the rail and transport sectors alike, said RTA in an e-mailed statement. It will run intensive training programs to qualify and improve managers and engineers in the rail and transport sectors at RTA, with special emphasis on rail technologies and systems, the statement said. Deutsche Bahn will also help establish a full-fledged training center at RTA for it to provide job training courses since the first quarter of 2017. "This agreement is a manifestation of the MoU signed between RTA and Deutsche Bahn last year, which provides for boosting cooperation and sharing expertise in the rail sector and transferring transport knowledge to Emirati employees at RTA," said Mattar Al-Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA. The government-controlled RTA operates the public transit in Dubai, while Berlin-based Deutsche Bahn has provided services to more than 130 countries worldwide and employs over 300,000 people. Tourists are seen taking photos of the Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Feb. 11, 2016. Despite being listed among the world's top three waterfalls and a main tourist attraction in sub-Saharan Africa, the Victoria Falls is not much visited by tourists across the world, partly due to poor air connectivity. (Xinhua/Xu Lingui) VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Friday commissioned the upgraded Victoria Falls International Airport that was built with support from China. Mugabe said the renovation could turn the airport into a regional tourist hub if aggressively marketed. Completion of the airport project was also a major milestone in the country's development efforts, partnered by China which he described as "a great partner and friend." Expansion of the airport, which began in 2013, was done by China Jiangsu International and financed through a 150 million-dollar-loan from China Export Import Bank. The upgraded airport now handles 1.5 million passengers per year, up from 500,000 and boasts of modern passenger facilities, a new international terminal building, a new 4km runway, extended parking areas for aircraft, new control tower, new fire station, new road networks, a new state of the art international passenger terminal building and a refurbished domestic terminal. The new airport can now accommodate long haul flights from around the globe, which is expected to increase inflow of tourists to Zimbabwe. The airport is the gateway to Victoria Falls, a world heritage site and one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Mugabe commended China Jiangsu International for good work and pledged to engage the company for similar construction projects in the future. He added that Harare and other airports in the country need to be further expanded and upgraded. GHAZNI, Afghanistan, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- A total of 16 people including 12 militants and four police personnel have been killed as clash erupted in Andar district of the eastern Afghanistan's Ghazni province Friday night, provincial police chief Aminullah Omarkhil said Saturday. The clash, according to the official, flared up in Mirazar area after Taliban insurgents stormed security checkpoints and police returned fire which lasted for hours. Taliban, after leaving 12 bodies behind, fled the scene and cleanup operations in the area are going on, said the official. Meanwhile, Zabihullah Majahid, who claims to speak for the Taliban, in contact with media confirmed the clash, saying over two dozen security personnel have been killed. A doctor at a hospital in Ghazni city said seven dead bodies and eight injured persons had been taken to hospital. File photo taken on July 18, 2013 shows the first direct cargo train leaving from Zhengzhou to Europe at the railway container center in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province. (Xinhua/Zhu Xiang) MOSCOW, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- The alignment of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative with the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) would make railway an efficient alternative to sea transport across Eurasia, a leading Russian business leader has said. The United Transport and Logistics Company (UTLC), a joint venture of the Russian Railways, the National Union of Belarus Railways and Kazakhstan's Temir Zholy railway company, is the operator of rail transit container service on the China-Europe route with a track gauge of 1,520 mm. "We are creating an alternative to Chinese manufacturers, offering them to deliver goods to the Kazakh border instead of ports, and providing the same well-organized service," UTLC President Alexei Grom said in a recent interview with Xinhua. "Railway route is more effective," Grom said. "Trains leave on schedule agreed between the railway administrations and reach the designated destinations in Europe three times as fast as by sea." While sea transport accounts for the bulk of the cargo turnover on the route from Asia to Europe, UTLC believes that customers should have a choice and thus provides them with very competitive conditions, he added. The Belt and Road Initiative, unveiled by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, brings together countries in Asia, Europe and even Africa, with the purpose of boosting infrastructure building, financial cooperation and cultural exchanges in the regions. In May 2015, top leaders of China and Russia agreed in Moscow to integrate the Silk Road Economic Belt with the framework of EAEU. Thanks to the joint efforts of Russian, Belarusian, Kazakh and Chinese railways operators, Grom voiced his confidence in an increase in cargo volumes this year. "China would shortly send its 1000th cargo train this year on the route to Europe," he said, adding that his company holds regular meetings with China Railway Corporation, its main partner in China. "When the world is experiencing major changes in the economy, finance, and the political arrangement of our lives, we, the closest neighbors, need to communicate more, to understand which benefits of the globalized world we may have," Grom said. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa meet journalists after their talks in Quito, Ecuador, Nov. 17, 2016. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) QUITO, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Ecuadoran counterpart, Rafael Correa, have decided to upgrade their countries's ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. The decision was announced in a joint statement issued by the two presidents after their meeting Thursday in Quito. Xi's state visit to Ecuador on Thursday and Friday is the first by a Chinese president since the two countries established diplomatic ties 36 years ago. "This visit has served to raise the level of our ties and formalize a comprehensive strategic partnership, the highest level of relations China has with any country in the world," Correa told a press conference after his meeting with Xi. On Thursday, the two heads of state also witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements in production capacity, investment, industrial parks, and technology. Correa said that the two foreign ministries will enhance cooperation to broaden consensus and consolidate political mutual trust. In the past nine years, relations have reached "unprecedented" levels on the basis of political trust and mutual help, pragmatic cooperation, cultural and talent exchanges and multilateral coordination, Correa said. Ecuadoran Foreign Minister Guillaume Long said Thursday that relations with China have benefited the Latin American country. "With this relationship, we are consolidating the transformation of our economy, helping to change our primary export model to one that can develop added-value products ... accelerating the process of industrialization and raising our capacity for independent development," he said. Alberto Acosta Burneo, editor-in-chief of the political and economic magazine Analisis Semanal, said that the new level of bilateral relations would strengthen cooperation in all areas, particularly economy and trade. "This visit opens great expectations to find new sources of financing and cooperation. The commercial ties with China are very important. It (China) is a very important supplier of many goods for us, which is very positive," Acosta Burneo told Xinhua. China has become Ecuador's third largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching 4.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2015, quadrupling in just 10 years. Chinese investment and financing in Ecuador have exceeded 10 billion dollars and have helped with hundreds of infrastructure projects, including highways and hydropower plants. This includes Coca Codo Sinclair, the country's largest hydropower plant in its northeast, which was inaugurated by the two presidents on Friday. Around 100 Chinese companies are operating in Ecuador in fields such as oil and gas, mining and energy. Fernando Casado, a researcher at the Institute of Higher National Studies, said that the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership marked an "important milestone." "Raising the strategic partnership ... is part of the view that bilateral relations are continuously improving and, without a doubt, highlights the importance and impact that Chinese cooperation has on Ecuador," he told Xinhua. Casado said that Xi's visit will leave a positive result for Ecuador. "Relations have not stopped improving since the start of the Correa government in 2007. Each year has seen a rise in exports," he said. According to the expert, China's presence in Ecuador is important because there is no ideological interference nor any type of additional conditions. PYONGYANG, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Kim Jong Un, the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), has guided a women gunners' firing contest, the official KCNA news agency reported Saturday. The contest was aimed to "estimate and confirm the combat capability of women gunners among MLRS (multiple launch rocket system) batteries for eliminating helicopter-borne enemy troops," according to the KCNA. While commending participants in the contest, Kim stressed the need to train women gunners into "indomitable fighters steadfast in their revolutionary spirit to help them do their shares in the great war for national reunification." The women gunners fully demonstrated their marksmanship of never missing targets in the firing contest, said the KCNA. "The training of artillery units should be conducted under the simulated conditions of actual battle," Kim reportedly said. He also instructed the Korean People's Army to boost combat readiness and bolster its artillery force, said the KCNA. Meanwhile, the DPRK held the 6th Congress of the Democratic Women's Union of Korea in Pyongyang on Thursday and Friday. Kim said the congress demonstrates the will and revolutionary spirit of DPRK women to advance toward the victory of Juche revolution. CHENGDU, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- In June, Luo Xi returned to his hometown of Chengdu from Ecuador, where a hydropower station he helped design finally started operating. For the previous six years, Luo had spent about 200 days each year in the Latin America country, helping with a project for his employer, Chengdu Engineering Corp. Ltd. under the state Power Construction Corp. of China. "There were tough days when we struggled to deal with suspicion toward us and lots of different ideas," Luo told Xinhua. "But we made it eventually." Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his visit to Ecuador on Friday. Xi arrived in the Ecuadorian capital of Quito Thursday afternoon for a state visit to the country as part of his third visit to Latin America since he took office in 2013. In a joint statement issued after the talks between the two presidents on Thursday, China and Ecuador agreed to lift their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Also in the statement, the two countries agreed to boost cooperation in production capacity, as well as economic and trade areas, and pledged to implement major projects in oil and gas, mining, infrastructure, water conservation, communications and finance, and explore cooperation in agriculture, the petrochemical industry, ship building, metallurgy and paper-making industries. For Luo Xi, the increase in visits between state leaders means more trust and cooperation between Chinese companies and those in Latin America. "When we arrived in Ecuador in 2011, local people did not know Chinese manufacturing and Chinese commodities well, and they tended to trust American, European and Japanese manufacturers," Luo said. "So when we submitted our project design, they were doubtful." Luo said after his team received a feedback report thicker than his design report, he did not know what to do next. "We had advanced manufacturing technology," Luo said. "We had to take measures to mitigate misunderstanding." So Luo brought excellent designers to conferences with local company representatives and explained their designs in detail, which eventually won the trust of supervisors and Ecuadorian companies and helped form friendships. "We were invited to their Christmas parties, and we brought hot pot seasonings from Chengdu as gifts for them," Luo said. China's investment and financing in Ecuador has exceeded 10 billion U.S. dollars so far, with a variety of projects constructed or under construction, including eight hydropower stations and more than 10 highways. Economic exchanges have also been increasing between China and other Latin America countries. In 2009, the Chilean chemical mining company SQM invested 14 million U.S. dollars to build a fertilizer company in Chengdu in partnership with China's Migao Corp. This year, Chengdu's Tianqi Lithium Co. Ltd invested about 300 million U.S. dollars in establishing a mining and chemical company in Chile. Chinese companies have also trained skilled workers from Latin America. "We have trained for free hundreds of professionals in engineering, construction and management from Chile, Peru and Venezuela," said Tan Meng, senior engineer with China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Co. Ltd. Last month, ambassadors to China from four Latin American countries expressed hope for more cooperation with western China at a conference. "We look forward to establishing more cooperation relationships with the region in energy, infrastructure, agriculture and tourism," said Jorge Heine, rotating president of the Pacific Alliance and Chile's ambassador to China. "We also welcome more companies from western China to invest in Latin America." The ambassadors also briefed investors on agriculture, infrastructure, and manufacturing in their countries. Oscar Rueda, Colombia's ambassador to China, said that his country plans to build a series of airports, ports and roads. "I hope that more Chinese companies will invest in the projects," he said. Jorge Heine said that the four embassies will create more opportunities for companies from western China to invest in Latin America, as well as provide consulting services and information. "I see a bright future for China and Latin America's cooperation," said Luo Xi. "The end of their industry is in sight and their strategy is to maintain the market. It's easy to build pipeline, but not transmission lines because transmission lines support wind and solar energy. They cannot beat us in the market, but they'll saddle our children ... and anchor us in this dirty, addictive toxic fuel." Robert F. Kennedy Jr., explaining his support for Dakota Access Pipeline opponents. q q q "I thought it'd be a lot smaller. I like it. It's pretty cool." Roberto Morales, a Bismarck resident, reacting to a march by those opposed to the Dakota Access Pipeline in Bismarck on Monday. q q q "We're going to start uncovering those scenarios where the rights of the defendant are getting trampled on by the implications of Marsy's Law." Jackson Lofgren, president of the North Dakota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, warning of problems with Measure 3 that was approved by voters on Nov. 8. q q q "They've had a tough time here the last few months. We want them to know that we love them, we care about them and we pray for their protection." Butch Kramer, of Bismarck, a motorcyclist who attended a rally Sunday to show support for law enforcement. q q q "This rule to prevent waste of our nation's natural gas supplies is good government, plain and simple. We are proving that we can cut harmful methane emissions that contribute to climate change, while putting in place standards that make good economic sense for the nation. Not only will we save more natural gas to power our nation, but we will modernize decades-old standards to keep pace with industry and to ensure a fair return to the American taxpayers for use of a valuable resource that belongs to all of us." U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, explaining new methane and waste rules. q q q "It's disappointing that we're all sitting on pins and needles waiting for an Obama administration to help us and yet they remain silent. President-elect Trump has no regard for the environment and cares even less about those of us trying to protect it." Indigenous Environmental Network Extreme Energy organizer Kandi Mossett. q q q "There is no market in the world where they do not care about carbon." Julio Friedmann, principal deputy assistant secretary for the office of fossil energy at the U.S. Department of Energy, speaking to the Basin Electric Power Cooperative annual meeting. q q q "I have worries because I want to make sure I do a good job on both sides. I want to make sure I represent the people, the county, as sheriff, and I want to make sure I represent the people of District 32. I think they've entrusted me with that because they elected me." Burleigh County Sheriff Pat Heinert, on his dual roles as sheriff and House representative from District 32 in Bismarck. q q q "We haven't heard a lot about Trump's philosophies or his plans. We've heard some general ideas of policy toward education, and he wants to rebuild education; he mentioned that (election) night." Kirsten Baesler, North Dakota superintendent of public instruction, on the new administration. q q q "My preference is to be North Dakota's lone representative in the House with a friend in the White House." Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., on speculation he will get a Cabinet post in the Donald Trump administration. q q q "These agreements they all started out with peace and friendship." Suzan Harjo, president of the Morning Star Institute and a longtime Native American historian and advocate, on treaties between Native Americans and the U.S. JAKARTA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- A total of 15 people are missing as a ship collided with a boat in waters off Tuban district of East Java province, Indonesia, on Saturday, Joko Loediyono, head of the disaster agency in the district, told Xinhua via telephone. JAKARTA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- A total of 15 people are missing as a ship collided with a boat in waters off Tuban district of East Java province in western parts of Indonesia on Saturday, a senior official of local disaster agency said. The collision occurred at 4:10 a.m. local time involving a Vietnamese-flag ship and an Indonesian sailor boat which was carrying 27 people, said Joko Loediyono, head of the disaster agency at the district. All the victims are those aboard the boat, as the rescuers had evacuated 12 of them safely, said the official. "Search for the missing persons is underway now," Loediyono told Xinhua via phone from Tuban district. The ship was loaded with tapioca flour and heading to Tanjung Perak seaport in Surabaya, the provincial capital of East Java, he added. NANNING, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- A military transport plane once used by the "Flying Tigers" arrived in Guilin City in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Saturday. The plane, a C-47 Skytrain manufactured in 1944, will be preserved at a local heritage park for the "Flying Tigers," a U.S. air squadron that helped the Chinese fight the Japanese during World War II. The plane flew the treacherous "hump route" over the Himalayas to raise money to repair the blindage once used by Claire Lee Chennault, the leader of the "Flying Tigers." It departed from Australia in August and has made stops in several countries. The American Volunteer Group, which was later given the "Flying Tigers" moniker, was formed in 1941. ADEN, Yemen, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- A 48-hour ceasefire declared by Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen began on Saturday to allow the entry of humanitarian aid to besieged areas. The two-day ceasefire that began from 12:00 noon in Yemen's timing (09:00 GMT) will be automatically renewed if the Shiite Houthi fighters and supporters of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh adhere to it. However, residents in the province of Taiz told Xinhua that a number of shells fired by Shiite Houthi gunmen and landed on residential areas minutes after the ceasefire began. Fierce battles also continued between pro-government forces and Houthi rebels in the eastern areas of Yemen's province of Taiz despite the truce. Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry said that a Saudi soldier was killed by a missile fired by Yemeni rebels across the border into the kingdom's southern Asir province hours before the beginning of the truce. The main purpose of the ceasefire is allowing humanitarian aid access to reach besieged areas including the southwestern province of Taiz, according to the Saudi-led military coalition. The truce came after Yemen's President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi dispatched a private message to Saudi Arabia's King Salman, according to the Saudi-funded Arabiya news channel. No comments were reported from pro-Houthi authorities in Sanaa regarding their position about the ceasefire. On Friday, forces loyal to Yemen's government launched military offensives and made ground advances that pushed Houthis out from several areas in Taiz. The situation in Yemen has deteriorated economically and politically since March 2015, when war broke out between the Shiite Houthi group, supported by former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, and the government backed by a Saudi-led Arab coalition. The Houthis and Saleh's forces hold most of Yemen's northern regions while government forces backed by Saudi-led military coalition share control of the rest of the country including seven southern provinces. The civil war, ground battles and airstrikes have already killed more than 10,000 people, half of them civilians, injured more than 35,000 others and displaced over two millions, according to humanitarian agencies. ISTANBUL, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Some 50 migrants escaped on Saturday from a repatriation center in Istanbul, local media reported. The migrants waiting to be deported at the Kumkapi Repatriation Center located in Istanbul's Fatih district first set fire to the duvets and beds, the Hurriyet daily said. Around 50 of them managed to run away after breaking the door, the daily said, noting the police opened fire into the air in an attempt to stop them. The police have launched an investigation, the press reports said. MOSUL, Iraq, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces on Saturday repelled attacks of Islamic State (IS) militants in south of Mosul, killing 43 IS militants and capturing 11 others, security sources said. In one attack, some 200 IS militants overnight attacked security forces near the town of Qayyara after they crossed the Tigris River with boats from an IS-held areas in the eastern side of the river, Mohammed al-Baiyati, head of the security committee of Nineveh's provincial council, said in a statement. The security forces and allied Sunni paramilitary tribal fighters fought heavy clashes with the attackers over the night until the early morning when a federal police force arrived the scene and drove out the extremist militants, leaving some 40 IS militants killed and 11 others captured, Baiyati said. Three policemen, including an officer, were also killed in the battles, the source added. In a separate incident, five Sunni tribal fighters were killed in an ambush by IS militants near the town of Shirqat, some 280 km north of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, a local security source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. Afterwards, the tribal fighters chased the IS militants and killed three of them after a clash, and continued searching for other militants in the vast area in west of Shirqat, the source said. The attacks came after a month of a massive offensive to dislodge the extremist militants the city of Mosul, which represents their last major stronghold in Iraq. On Oct. 17, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the start of a major offensive to retake Mosul, the country's second largest city. 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. File photo taken on April 1, 2011 shows a bird weaver on a branch of a tree in Mbarara, west Uganda. (Xinhua/Yuan Qing) By Ronald Ssekandi, Yuan Qing ENTEBBE, Uganda, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Wendy Maltinsky is a birder from the United Kingdom. Her passion for birds stems from her family back in Scotland. They have moved around the world in search for unique bird species. Maltinsky is in Uganda to attend the first ever African Birding Expo that has attracted over 100 birders from Europe and the United States. The event, which opened on Friday, is held here 40km south of the capital Kampala, on the shores of Lake Victoria. Uganda is using the expo to showcase that it is a birding paradise. The country is endowed with over 1,000 bird species that account for 10 percent of the globe's total bird species and 50 percent of Africa's bird species population. All this is possible because of the richly diverse habitats from the scenic shores of Lake Victoria to the lush forests of the Albertine Rift and the banks of River Nile. Uganda was declared Africa's Preferred Birding Destination in 2013 after Africa Bird Club voted two of its birding sites among the top 10 birders' destinations on the continent. "The birds here are very brightly colored, we do have some of those in the United Kingdom but not as much as here," Maltinsky told Xinhua in an interview. Laura Kammermeier, a travel writer from New York, described her birding experience in Uganda as magical. "They (birds) are so many, they have beautiful shapes and colours. They are really exciting to see and easy to find," she said. Nate Swick of the American Birding Association urged Uganda to fully exploit the country's potential. Uganda Tourism Board, a government agency charged with promoting tourism, argues that birding is one of the most important tourist activities in the world, garnering chunks of money for countries that have given it priority. The agency argued that the country now needs to market birding to reap from the tourist attraction. Tourism now ranks as Uganda's top foreign exchange earner, contributing over 23 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product. SHIJIAZHUANG, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Near a rehabilitation shed at Cangzhou Wildlife Rescue Center, a swan paces around leisurely after eating a bowl of fish. It was difficult to imagine such a scenario just a month ago when the elegant creature was too weak to stand on its own after being found struggling in the wild outside Hejian, a county-level city in Cangzhou in north China's Hebei Province. Countless migratory birds are making their way south, but some are not able to reach their winter destinations due to sickness, injury or poaching. On Thursday, three people were detained for poaching migratory birds in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and more than 30,000 birds were rescued, according to the public security bureaus of Guilin City and Pingle County. During the National Day holiday from October 1 to 7, about 3,000 living birds were rescued and 5,000 dead birds found due to the joint efforts of local officials and volunteers. Clap nets stretching over 10,000 meters in the coastal areas of Tianjin Municipality and Tangshan City, Hebei Province were also retrieved. Experts say that rising demand in Chinese urban markets has caused an increase in migratory bird poaching. The birds are usually sold locally or in other Chinese cities, including in the southern province of Guangdong, where restaurant diners pay generously for meat considered a delicacy. Cangzhou stands along one of China's three bird flyways. The wetland-rich coastal city is a vital stopover site for birds as they refuel before reaching their wintering grounds in the warmer south. In Cangzhou, a volunteer bird rescue team led by 52-year-old Meng Derong has been saving wounded birds. Additionally, staff at the Cangzhou Wildlife Rescue Center have rescued 20-plus birds from protected species so far this year. Since 2001, Meng, a biology professor at Cangzhou Normal University, has taken his students and bird protection volunteers to conduct studies in Cangzhou's wetlands and offer assistance to sick or wounded birds while keeping an eye out for poachers. There are two factors that put the life of migratory birds at risk, Meng said. "One is bird disease and attacks by their natural enemies," he said. "The other is poaching." Meng is called the "Bird Doctor" by locals due to his dedication to studying and protecting migratory birds. The rescue center was founded by him with the help of the local forestry authorities in 2003. Since its establishment, the facility has managed to save more than 1,100 birds from over 50 nationally protected species, about 760 of which have fully recovered and returned to the wild. Meng has also opened an exhibition room with information about birds and held campaigns to promote bird protection. "It is not going to happen with just one man's efforts to protect birds," Meng explained. Lu Jun, director of the Bird Banding Center of China, called for related departments to work together. "The government should promote bird protection so that the public will stay away from any activities that threaten wild birds," he added. Fortunately, public awareness of bird protection has gradually increased in recent years, Meng said, adding that he sees hope in the fight to save migratory birds. "Now when sick or wounded birds are found, people call us for help," Meng Derong said. "I am delighted more and more people have joined the battle." ZHENGZHOU, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- On a foggy Friday morning in Zhengzhou City, a train loaded with 80 Bentleys and Land Rovers pulls in, drawing a large crowd. Fresh off an 18-day journey from Hamburg, Germany, the train was the first dedicated solely to shipping vehicles from Europe to Zhengzhou City in central China's Henan Province. The city is a hub for several major Chinese railway lines. Setting a milestone for the city, a port for vehicle imports in China, the train is also a response to the country's calls to develop its railway network to Europe. "Since October, we've had four trains travel from Zhengzhou to Europe each week and vice versa," said Yuan Weidong, chairman of Zhengzhou International Hub Development and Construction Co., Ltd (ZIH), an operation platform for the trans-Eurasia express in the city. "It is estimated that 240 trains will travel down the line by the end of the year, a much bigger number than the 156 in 2015," he added. The bigger number is in line with a five-year plan released by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on the issue in October. According to the plan, around 5,000 trains will run between China and Europe via the network per year by 2020. It reiterated that the China-Europe rail network is a crucial part of the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, a strategic plan to connect China with the vast Central Asian and European markets. OPENING UP THE INTERIOR As one end of the Zhengzhou-Hamburg Line and a pivot in China's rail network, the inland city of Zhengzhou is now connected to the world and has been a key beneficiary of railway trade. "Our customers can get their vehicles in 20 days or so after placing their orders," said Jia Weiqiang, chairman of Zhengdeyuhua International Trade Co. Ltd, which has imported more than 400 luxury vehicles in the past two years through the railway. "That saves a month compared to sea shipping and improves the efficiency of capital turnover," said Jia. So far more than 700 vehicles worth more than 1 billion yuan (146 million U.S. dollars) have been imported from Europe to Zhengzhou through the railway, according to ZIH figures. For the first time, Jin Baoliang, a manager of a trading company from the costal city of Tianjin, ordered 10 Land Rovers through the Zhengzhou-Hamburg Line instead of via sea routes. "We can receive more types of vehicles and components through the railway and it is really fast," said Jin, adding that rail transport brings down costs by at least 30,000 yuan per luxury vehicle, even though railway transportation expenses are twice those of shipping by sea. The network also offers Chinese people access to various foreign products, such as beverages. "You can't get all these types of German beer elsewhere in supermarkets," said local Zhao Jianhua, who was picking out beer at an exhibition center for imported goods in Zhengzhou. The rail network launched in August 2011 with the opening of the Chongqing-Duisburg Line, which starts from the southwest China metropolis of Chongqing. By the end of June, 1,881 trains had traveled the 39 lines of the network, connecting 16 Chinese cities with 12 foreign cities and bringing in around 17 billion U.S. dollars in trade over the years. Zhengzhou, capital of Henan Province, home to more than 100 million people, will further its rail network with major coastal Chinese cities in the east to consolidate the city's status as an important pivot in the Belt and Road initiative, said Yuan. "Utilizing Zhengzhou as a traffic hub shortens the process for trade," Zhao Wenming, general manager of ZIH, said. "It also cuts the cost for transportation." With all the plans being implemented, the China-Europe rail network is set to have an important role in opening up China's interior. MARKET RULES Despite the rapid development, however, the trans-Eurasia rail network is not without its problems. As the NDRC said in the plan, the network has been plagued by high costs, disorderly competition and a supply-demand imbalance. "Not all of the lines are regularly delivering goods back and forth," said a customs official in Khorgos, a major gateway. "A lot of trains returned to China empty because of a lack of goods." Wasted transportation capacity is partly due to the division and overlapping of lines, which has led to a situation in which cities vie for cargo with the help of local government subsidies, leading to overreliance on the subsidies. Better regulation has been added to the agenda by state planners, as the five-year plan issued by NDRC emphasized streamlining the 39 lines down to the three main routes of the China-Europe express in order to improve service and the network as a whole. After all, for many, the market remains the key factor. "No more than 10 percent of China-Europe trade is actually made via railways at the moment, despite the rail network," Zhao Wenming said. "That reflects the need to further open up the market for railway trade in China." Wei Jigang, researcher at the Development Research Center of the State Council, agreed. "We should make sure that the market plays the major role. Setting up more import ports is also necessary," he said. "Businesses involved in railway trade should also be encouraged to explore the market themselves," he added. "Only by doing so can they attract more goods with more accurate services." BEIJING, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- More small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were added to China's New Third Board this week. A total of 156 debuted on the board, up from 103 during the previous week. The number of companies listed on the board rose to 9,637 as of Friday thanks to China's efforts to encourage the development of SMEs amid downward economic pressure. Turnover on the board reached 4.93 billion yuan (around 715 million U.S. dollars), up 16.82 percent from a week ago. The New Third Board, or National Equities Exchange and Quotation (NEEQ) system, is a national system for SMEs to transfer shares and raise funds. It began in 2006 as an experimental platform for non-listed small high-tech enterprises in Beijing's Zhongguancun Science Park. The present system was officially established on Jan. 16, 2013 after trials in cities including Shanghai, Tianjin and Wuhan. The NEEQ complements existing stock exchanges as an easier financing channel with low costs and simple listing procedures. Local officials raised concerns Friday about potential clashes within Bismarck and Mandan as pipeline protests have moved into the the cities this week. At a press conference in Mandan on Friday, Bismarck Police Chief Dan Donlin encouraged people to stay informed and out of the fray. "We know there is prayerful and peaceful activities that are occurring, and lawful. That's awesome. That's exactly what we want. But we also know, masked in that area, or completely not even peaceful, is violence or potential for violence," Donlin said. He noted that a growing pro-law enforcement and pro-pipeline contingent has been protesting alongside pipeline opponents in the metro area this week. At times, the groups took to shouting at each other. "We do thank you for your support and for standing up for your community, but we want to ensure that you do not become part of the problem," Donlin said. "It is fine to show your support of law enforcement being there, but refrain from any verbal or physical activity that could lead to an escalation or conflict," he added. Donlin suggested that people concerned about protests near them should register their phones for the CodeRED alert system so they can get updates on road closures, and check the department's social media page. He also assured residents that local patrols had not been forgone as Bismarck officers have been called to police protests in Morton County. He said many officers are working extra hours and the department is responding to normal calls as usual. Bismarck Mayor Mike Seminary thanked residents for their patience. "I want to thank local residents for doing what we're famous for, and that's showing 'North Dakota Nice,'" he said. "My hope and prayer and wish is that we continue to do that until we can come to a resolve in this." Indigenous Environmental Network organizer Dallas Goldtooth said protests have moved into the cities because police barricades have restricted access to construction sites. Also, the activists want to pull people from Bismarck and Mandan into the conversation and put the issue before elected leaders. "In any effective political campaign, to raise awareness of any issue, you have to get outside of your comfort zone and engage the public about your issue," he said. Protesters marched around Bismarck and Mandan four days this week, gathering at the state Capitol, the federal building and banks operated by Wells Fargo, an investor in the pipeline. Goldtooth said he hopes relations will stay civil between the two groups of protesters in town. "I have complete faith with those in the camps and our allies in Bismarck to stay focused and committed to peaceful action and asserting their First Amendment rights," he said. "Pro-DAPL has every right to voice their opinion, and I hope they don't act upon their convictions in any ways." Donlin said he's also worried about increasing harassment of local police officers. He said that in recent days an officer had his name, address and date of birth posted online. Some other officers have been identified with photos, and some may even have had credit card and bank information hacked. "There's simply no reason for protesters, demonstrators, water protectors to release personal information of our officers other than to facilitate tactics of intimidation and harassment," said Donlin, who said he feared for the officers' families, as well. Goldtooth said he is also concerned about the practice known as doxing. He said it is not being called for or encouraged by any camp or tribal leaders. "I am concerned about it," he said. "We cannot control internet trolls, what people do on the internet. I, myself, I think there is a fine line between holding public officials accountable and putting their personal identity at risk." Gov. Jack Dalrymple said that he anticipates needing to borrow additional money to pay for continued law enforcement around the protests above and beyond the $10 million already borrowed from the Bank of North Dakota. He blamed the continued unrest on the federal government's postponement of a decision on an easement under the Missouri River and tolerance of the protesters camping on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land. He implied that the choices were politically motivated. "We believe this is an unnecessary and problematic delay that does nothing but continue to prolong the difficulty that we have as a state and as counties dealing with this great challenge. It increases our costs, and it increases the risks of something happening that everybody would regret," he said. Energy Transfer Partners CEO Kelcy Warren has said publicly that he was interested in reimbursing North Dakota for law enforcement costs incurred. However, Dalrymple said his office has received no such offer. Asked whether he would accept that kind of offer, Dalrymple said: "We would have to research it and see what it is that we're talking about." NANNING, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- A military transport plane used in the Australian battleground during World War II reached south China's Guilin, after it repeated a flight of the dangerous "hump route" over the Himalayas, a route flown by the famous U.S. Flying Tigers. The C-47 aircraft, contributed by the Flying Tiger Historical Organization in the United States, landed at the Guilin Liangjiang airport after three months of travel from Australia. It will be permanently displayed at the Flying Tigers Heritage Park in Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. C-47 aircraft were used by the Flying Tigers, a U.S. air squadron that helped the Chinese fight the Japanese during WWII. The American Flying Tiger Historical Organization purchased the plane in Australia and repaired it for flight. The plane left Australia on Aug.15, and passed through Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Myanmar and Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan province, before arriving in Guilin. Larry Jobe, head of the U.S. organization, said the trip was supposed to take about ten days, but it actually took three months. The crew changed the engines twice and made an emergency landing during the trip. The money to buy the plane and fund its journey was donated by Flying Tigers history lovers and Chinese living in the United States, according to the organization. The American Volunteer Group, which was later given the "Flying Tigers" moniker, was formed in 1941. Chinese director Jia Zhangke gives an interview to the journalist with Xinhua during the 38th Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) in Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 16, 2016. Jia Zhangke said he was thrilled and honored to win the Excellence Award of the 38th CIFF, one of the most prestigious film gala in Africa and the Middle East.(Xinhua/Meng Tao) by Zheng Kailun, Huang Zemin CAIRO, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese director Jia Zhangke said Saturday he was thrilled and honored to win the Excellence Award of the 38th Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF), one of the most prestigious film gala in Africa and the Middle East. Frequenting world-renowned film festivals as Cannes and Venice, Jia said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua during this year's CIFF that the award was special because it was awarded by Egypt, a developing country just like China. "Cannes, Venice and other film festivals held in Western countries are of course centers of the world cinema, but I am happy to find a country with rich history and tradition also approves my works. That makes me glad and honored," the 46-year-old director told Xinhua. Jia also thanked CIFF because the award is not meant to honor one specific movie of his, but rather commends his whole career. Born in north China's industrial city of Fenyang, Shanxi, in 1970, Jia Zhangke gained early fame with his first feature fiction film, "Xiao Wu," in 1997. His "Still Life" won the Golden Lion at Venice Film Festival in 2006. A leading figure of the "Sixth Generation" movement of Chinese cinema, Jia uses his movies to reveal the love and hate of ordinary Chinese people by artistically depicting the realities of their lives with a poetic flavor. Visiting Egypt as well as Africa for the first time, the Chinese director said the trip made him feel "nostalgic." "I found many people sitting outside shisha cafes at Cairo's streets just to kill the time, which arouses my boyhood memory in Shanxi," Jia said. "Then I suddenly realized that both Egypt and China are densely-populated developing countries with long histories." The similarities between the two countries make Jia confident that Egyptian people will enjoy his two movies screened during the festival, "Mountains May Depart" and "The World." Shot in 2004, "The World" explores the impacts of urbanization and globalization on traditional Chinese culture, especially those on Chinese young people. "Just as Beijing, Cairo is a metropolis with a population of 20 million. Young Egyptian people coming from other governorates to live in Cairo may find great empathy with the characters in the movie," said Jia. "Mountains May Depart" is Jia's latest full-length film. The 2015 fiction movie tells a story of change from 1999 to 2025, at both societal and personal levels, Jia said, adding that change is a common motif for all developing countries, including Egypt and China. "Movie is all about life - about the problems we have to face in our lives," Jia said. "Good movies must convey this universal humanity to its audience." As China is the guest honor of this year's CIFF, the festival will showcase 15 Chinese films from over a decade (2001-2015). Chinese movies screened during the festival consist of action blockbusters as well as art films, which showcase the diversity of contemporary Chinese films, Jia said, adding that he believes those films will better acquaint Egyptian audience with the latest developments in Chinese cinema. "All these movies focus on one theme: change and how people emotionally react to changes. I sincerely welcome Egyptian people to watch them," Jia said. BEIJING, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- The fact that Ecuador has accorded Chinese President Xi Jinping the highest-level reception demonstrates the close relationship and friendship between the two countries. Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan are greeted by Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa and his wife Anne Malherbe at the airport in Quito, Ecuador, Nov. 17, 2016. Xi arrived here Thursday for a state visit to Ecuador. (Xinhua) According to the Ecuadorian Public Ceremonial Regulations, the foreign minister is responsible for the reception of visiting heads of state at the airport. However, upon Xi's arrival on Thursday, President Rafael Correa received him in person and held a welcome ceremony for him, a practice rarely seen in international politics. Chinese President Xi Jinping (C) attends a welcoming ceremony held by Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa (L) at the airport in Quito, Ecuador, Nov. 17, 2016. Xi arrived here Thursday for a state visit to Ecuador. (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan are greeted by Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa and his wife Anne Malherbe at the airport in Quito, Ecuador, Nov. 17, 2016. Xi arrived here Thursday for a state visit to Ecuador. (Xinhua) Ecuador was hit by a magnitude-7.8 earthquake in April this year, killing nearly 700 people and injuring about 5,000 others. China was one of the first countries to have supplied humanitarian aid after the quake, providing Ecuador with a cash of 2 million U.S. dollars and aid worth 9.2 million dollars. Chinese companies operating in Ecuador also dispatched staff and resources to the affected regions for disaster relief. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa witness the signing of document on bilateral cooperation after their talks in Quito, Ecuador, Nov. 17, 2016. (Xinhua) President Correa thanked China for its support in Ecuador's post-quake relief and national development, adding that the Latin American country is willing to deepen win-win cooperation with the Chinese side. Chinese President Xi Jinping lays a wreath at the monument to independence heroes in Quito, Ecuador, Nov. 18, 2016. (Xinhua) "China will take an active part in Ecuador's post-quake rebuilding, and continue to provide support in housing, medical treatment, human resources and disaster prevention and reduction," Xi said Friday at the headquarters of Ecuador's national emergency response system, ECU-911. Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) and Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa inaugurate a joint laboratory at the headquarters of Ecuador's national emergency response system ECU-911 in Quito, Ecuador, Nov. 18, 2016. (Xinhua) The Chinese leader's visit to Ecuador, the first by a Chinese head of state in 36 years, has been fruitful. Chinese President Xi Jinping (4th R) meets with Ecuadorian National Assembly President Gabriela Rivadeneira (2nd L) in Quito, Ecuador, Nov. 18, 2016. (Xinhua) Xi has held talks with top leaders of the country, witnessed the signing of a number of cooperation agreements, met with the press, and visited the ECU-911 headquarters. Enditem BEIJING, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- The mountains of Hubei in central China are gloomy and cold in early winter. Lu Hongfei, 28, arrives at a community service center in Wangjiaping village after walking with her 3-year-old daughter for half an hour. In a small activity room, eight children and their parents sit together. The youngest is just a toddler. Books and toys are stacked in one corner. Since 2012, with UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) China assistance, the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) has been setting up community-based early childhood development (ECD) centers in poor rural areas affected by urban migration in Hubei, Hunan, Hebei, Shanxi, Guizhou and Xinjiang. Wangjiaping Village, in Wufeng County, is a pilot center. UNICEF has supplied it with books, toys, desks, chairs, kiosks with child-care information, and outdoor facilities for children. Children in Wangjiaping can play in the ECD center five days a week. Parents can engage in play with them under the guidance of volunteers. Regular visits by ECD experts also teach parents better ways to raise their children. Lu Hongfei and her daughter are at the ECD center for the first time. For seven years, she and her husband have run a store selling electronic products in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, east China. She brought her elder daughter back to their hometown last month and gave birth to her second daughter. "A one-year early education program costs hundreds or even thousands in Hangzhou, and we can't afford it," Lu says. "I never thought the toys and picture books here would be the same as those in the city - and free too. Rural children can have the same opportunity as children in the cities." Wufeng County, in the Wuling Mountain area, is one of China's contiguous poor areas with an annual per-capita income of less than 8,000 yuan (about 1,100 U.S. dollars). About 85 percent of the county's 200,000 people are from the Tujia ethnic minority. "Over 80 percent of the children in the village are left-behind children. They are raised by the older generation who believes children only need to be fed and dressed," says Tan Langui, director of the Women's Federation in the village. "Many children are either shy and withdrawn or unruly and rude when they first come to the ECD center. However, as they come more often and are taught by the teachers, they gradually learn how to get along with peers and adults as well as how to read and play with them." Half of China's 16 million newborns each year are born in rural areas, says Zhao Qi, education officer at UNICEF China. "Early childhood development encompasses physical, social, emotional, cognitive thinking and language progression. "An old Chinese saying goes 'childhood predicts future'. From a scientific point of view, the brain develops rapidly in the first few years. Good nutrition, early stimulation, vaccination, and a secure and caring environment can facilitate the development of a child's brain and help reach their full potential." Zhao says. Yang Rubing is one month shy of 3 years old. She brings each visitor a wooden stool and gives them oranges without being told to, and then stays quietly by her grandmother. But when ECD volunteer Wang Haiyan enters her home, she rushes into her arms. Rubing's parents are migrant workers, living away from home. In fine weather, her grandparents take Rubing to the ECD center in the village on their motorcycle. This fills her with happiness. Rubing's grandma Xiang Jiayan says she first heard of ECD during volunteer campaigns. "In the past, I only worried whether the pigs had been fed and the tea leaves picked. Now I also think of doing some reading with my granddaughter." Two years ago, Wang Haiyan quit her job in a foreign trade company in Shenzhen, where she earned 100,000 yuan (about 14,500 U.S. dollars) a year. She was trained in the UNICEF-ACWF joint project to become an ECD volunteer in Wangjiaping Village. Her new salary is just 1,500 yuan (about 210 U.S. dollars) a month. She walks 40 minutes on mountain road to the ECD center, where she welcomes children, sorts toys and books, and organizes parent-child activities every week. "It's difficult to fix the problem if a child fails to develop properly at early childhood. I hope parents in rural areas can see the benefits of early education for children," says Wang. Lingbao Village, in the suburbs of Hubei's Yichang City, is home to another pilot ECD center. Since 2014, the center has given 73 children under 3 years and their families ECD support. Liao Xinyi was born in August 2014, the same time Lingbao's ECD center was established. Xinyi's mother, Lian Lanlan, has been taking her to the service center every week to listen to music, read books, and play with other children since she was just a few months old. Xinyi is lively and cheerful. She can sing the English alphabet song and loves watching Peppa Pig cartoons. "We used to go to the center three times a week. Now the place is under renovation so we haven't been there for a while," Lian says. "Whenever Xinyi walks past the center, she says, 'I miss my teachers and friends'." Lingbao is renovating and refurnishing the center. Village head Wang Kangjun says that the village has invested 300,000 yuan (about 43,700 U.S. dollars) in expanding it. The activity room has been expanded from an area of 20 square meters to 400 square meters, so all the village children will be able to enjoy it with their parents. The building materials are environment-friendly, and the construction work is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. "The ECD pilot project also drives improvement of infrastructure in the village," says Wang Kangjun. "To encourage villagers to bring their children to the center, the government invested 15 million yuan (about 2.18 million U.S. dollars) last year in a new paved road and planting trees." The project has also changed the lives of the volunteers. Yang Rong was the first ECD volunteer in Lingbao Village. With a qualification in advertising design, she used to work in the village council and had no knowledge of how to mix with children. "When I attended the UNICEF training, there was a simulation task requiring me to manage children at play. I was so nervous I could barely speak. My hand, which was holding the book, was trembling and the entire scene went out of control," Yang recalls. "All I could do was to read through the manual provided by UNICEF again and again. I gradually managed to master the techniques of getting along with children, and started to enjoy the work." Yang's volunteer work won support from people in the village. Last month she was elected by an overwhelming majority as a member of the People's Congress in the district as a representative of Lingbao Village. This year, 26 new pilot sites have been added to UNICEF's Early Child Development Community and Family Support Program. By 2020, it will support 146 ECD centers. "We hope the Early Child Development Service Program can be replicated and developed in a sustainable manner," says Zhao Qi, education officer of UNICEF China. "The model and experience gained from these pilot projects provide a basis for the government to develop and implement policies. They will improve childhood for more children and families." A member of the Iraqi Federal Police fires his weapon at an Islamic State (IS) group target on the front line near the village of Tall Adh-Dhahab, some 10 kilometres (6 miles) south of Mosul, on November 18, during a massive operation to oust IS jihadists from the country's second city. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) MOSUL, Iraq, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces on Saturday repelled attacks of Islamic State (IS) militants in south of Mosul, killing 43 IS militants and capturing 11 others, security sources said. In one attack, some 200 IS militants overnight attacked security forces near the town of Qayyara after they crossed the Tigris River with boats from an IS-held areas in the eastern side of the river, Mohammed al-Baiyati, head of the security committee of Nineveh's provincial council, said in a statement. The security forces and allied Sunni paramilitary tribal fighters fought heavy clashes with the attackers over the night until the early morning when a federal police force arrived the scene and drove out the extremist militants, leaving some 40 IS militants killed and 11 others captured, Baiyati said. Three policemen, including an officer, were also killed in the battles, the source added. In a separate incident, five Sunni tribal fighters were killed in an ambush by IS militants near the town of Shirqat, some 280 km north of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, a local security source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. Afterwards, the tribal fighters chased the IS militants and killed three of them after a clash, and continued searching for other militants in the vast area in west of Shirqat, the source said. The attacks came after a month of a massive offensive to dislodge the extremist militants the city of Mosul, which represents their last major stronghold in Iraq. On Oct. 17, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the start of a major offensive to retake Mosul, the country's second largest city. 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. DAMASCUS, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- At least 27 people were killed Saturday by government forces' shelling on rebel-held districts in Syria's northern city of Aleppo, a monitor group reported. Children were also among the killed on the fifth day of the intensified shelling in Aleppo, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The UK-based watchdog said Saturday's death toll is the highest in a single day, as scores of barrel bombs and artillery shells targeted several rebel-held areas in the eastern part of Aleppo. The bombardment came as intense battles were raging in the northern part of the eastern Aleppo between jihadi groups and the Syrian army. The Observatory said the Syrian forces managed to advance in the Bustan al-Basha area, controlling several buildings in that part of the city. Meanwhile, rebels also shelled the government-controlled areas in the western part of Aleppo on Saturday, killing at least two and wounding 17 others. A day earlier, the Observatory reported that at least 119 people had been killed over the past few days as a result of intense shelling in Aleppo. For months, the Syrian government and Russia have been urging rebels to leave Aleppo, offering them safe passages to other rebel-held areas in the northwestern province of Idlib. The rebels, however, turned down all offers, which has resulted in intensified violence. Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa press buttons to inaugurate the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant, in Quito, Ecuador, Nov. 18, 2016. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng) QUITO, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Ecuador marked a historic moment in bilateral ties, Ecuador's Deputy Foreign Minister Fernando Yepez has said. "The visit to Ecuador by China's president truly marks a historic moment in our relations, which have been characterized, above all in recent years, by their strategic nature, permanent and deep dialogue, cooperation of all types and mutual benefit," Yepez told Xinhua in an exclusive interview. Xi wrapped up his two-day state visit to Ecuador on Friday. The visit came after Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa's official trip to Beijing in January 2015. In a joint statement issued after Thursday's talks between the two presidents in Quito, China and Ecuador agreed to lift their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. The South American country believed that Xi's visit serves to strengthen bilateral cooperation, which "continues on its upward path in strategic projects, in the economic field, and in the trade field," said Yepez. "For Ecuador, China represents a friend, a strategic partner, a country with which we share fraternal ties of all kinds," he added. China played an active role in the reconstruction effort following a powerful earthquake that devastated towns along Ecuador's northern coast on April 16, killing 673 people and leading to 3.34 billion U.S. dollars in losses. "China's cooperation has been felt," said Yepez, noting that Beijing sent some 5,400 tents and 10,000 foldaway beds to accommodate those who were suddenly left homeless. Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) and Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa inaugurate a joint laboratory at the headquarters of Ecuador's national emergency response system ECU-911 in Quito, Ecuador, Nov. 18, 2016. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng) Chinese financing, Yepez said, has been essential to the realization of emblematic development projects in Ecuador. Exploring China's markets for new export products is one of the topics Ecuador hopes to broach after Xi's visit. "We want to strengthen trade exchange by identifying market opportunities and better conditions for accessing the respective markets," Yepez said. China is Ecuador's leading source of financing, which has allowed the Latin American country to significantly improve infrastructure by building hydroelectric plants, irrigation and flood-control projects, and highways. Xi arrived in the Latin American nation on Thursday for a state visit, the first leg of his three-nation tour to the continent. Besides Ecuador, the week-long tour also takes the Chinese president to Peru and Chile. In Peru, Xi will attend the 24th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting from Saturday to Sunday in the capital city of Lima. Photo taken on Sept. 19, 2014 shows a sticker with the word "the UNION needs YOU" after the Scottish Independence Referendum in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Xinhua/Han Yan) LONDON, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- British Supreme Court announced Friday that the Scottish and Welsh governments will be allowed to intervene in the forthcoming legal battle over how Britain's exit from the European Union (EU) should be triggered. In what will be one of the most important court cases in British legal history, British Prime Minister Theresa May's government is to appeal against a High Court ruling that parliament must vote on triggering Brexit. The landmark case will start before all 11 Supreme Court judges on Dec. 5 and is likely to last for four days. The decision will not be announced until early in 2017. The Supreme Court said Friday that the Lord Advocate of the Scottish government and the Counsel General for the Welsh government had been granted permission to intervene in the case. The court is also to allow other representation in the case by the "expat interveners," George Birnie and others, as well as the Independent Workers Union of Britain. Additionally, the Attorney General for Northern Ireland will take part in the case regarding devolution issues relating to Northern Ireland. The High Court in London ruled earlier this month that the British parliament should have a say before Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty is triggered to start two years of formal withdrawal talks from the EU. May said she still hopes to trigger Article 50 before the end of March 2017, paving the way for Britain to leave the EU before March 2019. She has always insisted that the government can start the process without permission of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The High Court disagreed, prompting the appeal to the highest court in Britain. May's fear is that anti-leave politicians could use a parliamentary process to sabotage Brexit. People visit the exhibition of Chinese and Cypriot antiquities at the Archaeological Museum of the southern city of Limassol, Cyprus, Sept. 28, 2015. (Xinhua/Zhang Zhang) NICOSIA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- People in Cyprus, when they want to say that something is too difficult to understand or learn say "This is Chinese!" Well, this could soon become a thing of the past as Chinese may soon be introduced in Cypriot primary and secondary schools or be learned privately. A seminar organized by Confucius Institute of University of Cyprus on Friday discussed how and why Chinese can be learned at schools as a foreign language, drawing a lively interest from teachers and even expatriate Chinese living in Cyprus. Xiaoming Zhu, the Deputy Director of the Confucius Institute at the Institute of Education (IOE), University College London (UCL) and a tutor of IOE's Mandarin Chinese course, discussed the issue of introducing Chinese into Cypriot schools. She talked about the ways this can be done and why it is useful to learn Chinese. She referred to the example of Britain, saying that the teaching and learning of Mandarin Chinese has developed from a rarely taught language to now a well-established Modern Foreign Language subject offered on curriculum in many state schools as well as independent schools in England. Of course, introducing Chinese in Cypriot schools requires first of all qualified teachers and this was a subject on which a lively discussion developed at the seminar. Wenying Yin, enlarged on the issue of training teachers of Chinese, based on her experience as the inspector of Chinese language teaching in the Paris school district and other school districts under the French Ministry of National Education. She stressed that it is quite possible to train people to teach Mandarin Chinese, pointing out that according to official French statistics 50,000 students are learning the language in French primary and secondary schools this year. She also presented the French experience, introducing the development of Chinese language teaching policy at the French Ministry of Education level, and analyzing how this policy has been successfully implemented at both the school district level and the individual school level. Xinsheng Zhang, Professor of Chinese and Director of the Centre for Modern Languages at Richmond, the American International University in London, dealt with practicalities. He talked on how Chinese is different from English and how differences between the two languages reflect different perspectives and thinking habits of these language users. During discussion about the characteristics of Chinese culture and their evolution and about modern China, it was pointed out that these subjects have come to the forefront because of China's rapid development, apart from the fact that China has a long history and a rich cultural heritage to be proud of. Elena, who took part in the seminar, said that for Cypriots, especially young people, who suffered the past years in the shadow of economic crises, learning Chinese language and culture could be more than an interest, but also a pragmatic choice for an ambitious career and a brighter future. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi addresses the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, the United States, Sept. 20, 2016. (Xinhua UN Photo) CAIRO, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi expressed appreciation for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump as "the choice of the American people," expecting stronger Egyptian-U.S. ties under Trump's administration, the Egyptian presidential spokesman said in a statement Saturday. According to the statement, Sisi's remarks came in an interview with Portuguese news agency LUSA ahead of the president's visit to Lisbon scheduled for Monday. Sisi expected more support of the Egyptian-U.S. ties when Trump takes office, noting Trump has shown deep understanding of what is taking place in the Middle East in general and Egypt in particular. With regards to Trump's anti-Muslim and anti-migrant remarks during the presidential campaign, Sisi said they do not necessarily reflect the actions he will take as the president, urging not to jump to conclusions. "We have to distinguish between the rhetoric that takes place within presidential campaigns and the real and actual administration of a country after inauguration," Sisi added. "There will be a chance for more thorough readings." In late September, Sisi met in New York with both U.S. presidential candidates, Trump and Hillary Clinton. The former showed support to Sisi's administration and promised future partnership in anti-terrorism war, while the latter addressed democracy and freedom in Egypt. The Egyptian president said he believes that Trump will be vigorously engaged in regional issues. As law enforcement cleared pipeline protesters from a northern camp established in October, 139 people were arrested for felony conspiracy to endanger by fire or explosion, plus two misdemeanors. About two weeks after the tense and fiery day, the Morton County state's attorney filed a single criminal complaint outlining the allegations against all 139 of those arrested. Because they were charged together, they are considered co-defendants and co-conspirators in the same case, creating a challenge for the defense commission charged with finding attorneys for many of them. Ethical concerns usually bar a defense attorney, or even attorneys from a single law office, from representing co-defendants who might later implicate or testify against one another. This suggests 139 different attorneys would be needed to handle the cases. This new wrinkle adds to growing difficulties facing public defenders in the state, who are scrambling to find ethical ways to represent the ever-increasing number of arrestees who qualify for indigent defense. In response to this particular case and the general increase, the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents decided Friday to temporarily suspend its policy against public defender offices representing co-defendants, according to Jean Delaney, executive director of the commission. That means a public defender or other contracted attorney could represent more than one person charged in the Oct. 27 incident, as long as the defendants agree to it and the attorney feels it would not adversely affect their representation. Delaney said this is the first time the commission has suspended this policy, and she anticipates that only some people defendants and attorneys will be up for it. "If an attorney thinks they have a conflict, it's their license, their livelihood," Delaney said. "We won't push anyone into anything they think they shouldnt be doing." Delaney said she is also reaching out to attorneys hundreds of miles away to take on the cases and has found about 50 so far, including some from as far away as the oil patch and Grand Forks. It would be helpful if the traveling attorneys could take on multiple defendants in the same case, she noted. "Attorneys from all across the state have stepped up," she said. Morton County Sheriff's Department spokesman Rob Keller said it is standard practice for people accused in a conspiracy to be charged together on the same complaint. However, by creating challenges for the indigent defense commission, it inadvertently plays into a professed goal of the protest movement: to gunk up the court system. "If Morton County (law enforcement) wants to continue the overt militarization and excessive use of force against water protectors, then we're going to do our very best to make that whole process as complicated and as frustrating for the county itself," said Dallas Goldtooth, an organizer with the Indigenous Environmental Network. "We're asking our water protectors who do get arrested to stay in there -- not bail out, unless for medical reasons, or not to bail out for their arraignment hearing -- because it puts financial burden on the county itself, a strain on resources and a strain on people's time," he said. Public defenders have been assigned 201 protest-related cases so far, according to Delaney. That's about 40 percent of the cases filed to date. Delaney said she has alerted the state Office of Management and Budget to the growing burden on her agency and estimated that she may need an additional $670,000 in a deficiency appropriation. The agency's budget for the biennium, after cuts, was $19.2 million, she said. She calculated that figure based on an estimate of an additional 500 arrests with public defenders being assigned to half of the cases. Many are asking for jury trials, which take an average of 31 hours per case, as opposed to plea agreements and bench trials, which average 5.5 hours each. Attorneys make $75 an hour to work these cases. "Its a guesstimate," she said. "We have absolutely no control over how many people are charged, request an attorney or are found eligible." The group of 139 people were charged with felony conspiracy to endanger by fire or explosion, plus misdemeanor counts of maintaining a public nuisance and engaging in a riot. The charges originate from a law enforcement raid of a camp established by the protesters atop the pipeline route on Dakota Access property. During the hours-long confrontation Oct. 27, some protesters prayed while other set fires to vehicles and hay bales and threw objects at police. Officers responded with pepper spray and bean-bag bullets. South Central District Judge Cynthia Feland dismissed the felony conspiracy charge against more than a dozen of the protesters assigned to her on Thursday. The misdemeanors against them still stand, and the fate of the felony charge against more than 100 other protesters is still unclear. Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with his Philippine counterpart Rodrigo Duterte in Lima, Peru, Nov. 19, 2016. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) LIMA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Philippine counterpart, Rodrigo Duterte, met here Saturday and pledged to further promote bilateral ties and strive for more cooperation fruits. Talking on the sidelines of the 2016 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting, Xi praised Duterte's visit to China last month, saying it achieved full improvement of China-Philippines relations, opened a new chapter for bilateral ties and injected positive energy into regional peace and stability. China and the Philippines, Xi said, should steadily carry forward their relations in the right direction, and commit to friendly cooperation, proper management of their differences and common development, so as to further push forward their good-neighborly friendship and cooperation and benefit the two peoples with more cooperation fruits. Noting that China and the Philippines are faced with a new situation, the Chinese president called on both sides to boost exchanges at all levels, exchange views on major issues of common concern in a timely manner, and restore bilateral mechanisms in various fields, in order to enhance mutual trust and cooperation. On maritime issues, Xi urged the two sides to actively mull maritime cooperation and promote positive interaction on the sea, and thus jointly transform the South China Sea issue into an opportunity for bilateral friendly cooperation. China and the Philippines should also encourage non-governmental groups to participate in cooperation, facilitate the convergence of the two nations' interests through people-to-people exchanges, and strengthen cooperation in such fields as culture, education, health care and youth, Xi said. Noting that the Philippines will take over the presidency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year, Xi said China is willing to work with the Philippines to promote the development of China-ASEAN ties and East Asia cooperation. Both as developing economies of APEC, China stands ready to join hands with the Philippines and other members to focus on economic cooperation and make the Lima APEC meeting a success, he said. For his part, Duterte spoke highly of his successful visit to China last month, saying it produced rich results. The Philippines follows an independent foreign policy and is willing to be friends with "brotherly" China forever, said the president. Duterte also extended gratitude for China's assistance to his country's development, pledging to enhance cooperation with China in various fields including infrastructure construction. Noting that the Philippines and China share similar views on many issues, he said the two sides should conduct closer communication and coordination, jointly push for regional development in Asia and promote peace, prosperity and justice for the world. The Philippines, he added, is willing to properly address maritime issues with China through dialogue and consultation, so as to jointly safeguard the momentum of improvement and development in bilateral relations. Duterte paid a state visit to China in October. It was his first official visit to a foreign country outside ASEAN since he took office in June. In their meeting last month, the two leaders agreed that their countries would properly handle differences and achieve full improvement and greater progress in bilateral ties. Performers perform dragon dance during the activities of the Day of Hong Kong on the royal Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, UK, July 27, 2008.(Xinhua/Xie Xiudong) LONDON, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Britain's largest ever tourism trade mission to China was preparing to leave for Shanghai Saturday. More than 80 travel trade delegates from Britain, including officials from tourism bodies, hotels, retailers and tour operators, will showcase Britain as a destination to Chinese buyers at a VisitBritain "Destination Britain China" three day event, being held in Shanghai starting on Nov. 21. More than 7,000 business appointments will take place during the three-day trade fair, giving more than 100 buyers from 15 cities across China the chance to see the latest tourism products and services from across Britain, with more than half of the delegates attending for the first time. Britain's most romantic marriage spot, Scotland's Gretna Green, will be represented with stories of how eloping teenage brides from England made the dash across the border to be married in the blacksmith's shop in front of an iron anvil. Castles and Britain's royal palaces, as well as popular destinations such as Shakespeare's England will be highlighted. There will even be a team from central London, promoting the capital's famous Chinatown along with the theaters of the West End and London's fashionable Carnaby Street. Every part of Britain will have a story to tell, from historic Scotland, the scenic Lake District, tourism in Wales along with many of Britain's major cities. Destination Britain China has been running since 2009 and is an important event in VisitBritain's travel industry calendar, said a spokeswoman for the organisation. VisitBritain CEO Sally Balcombe said: "Our Destination Britain China event gives British travel suppliers the chance to forge valuable business connections with the Chinese travel trade." "This is a fantastic opportunity for travel suppliers and local destinations to get their tourism products and services to inspire more visitors to come and explore more of our nations and regions," said Balcombe. As well as doing business with top travel buyers in China, delegates at this year's event will hear about the latest international travel market trends, what Britain is doing to attract more international visitors, alongside seminars and networking to boost knowledge of Britain as a tourist destination. The spokeswoman for Visit Britain added: "Last year was a record-breaking year for visits from China to Britain with 270,000 visits, 46 percent up on the year before with spend up 18 percent to 586 million pounds (724 million U.S. dollars), moving China into Britain's top 10 most valuable inbound markets for the first time." "Latest flight booking data shows that flight bookings from China for November this year to January 2017 are up 17 percent on the same period last year," said the spokeswoman, adding "VisitBritain has ambitions to double spend from Chinese visitors to 1 billion pounds (1.25 billion U.S. dollars) by 2020." After their mission to Shanghai, the event moves to South Korea to signal a new start for VisitBritain's promotional effort in that market, described as one of Britain's fastest growing inbound markets. MOSUL, Iraq, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces on Saturday recaptured a town and two villages in south of the city of Mosul, while special forces fought heavy clashes with Islamic State (IS) militants as they pushed deeper into the eastern part of the city, a security source said. The army's 9th armored Division continued their advance toward Mosul and managed to free the town of Khedhr al-Yas, which is the center of Nimrud area in south of Mosul, and nearby two villages of Qara-Shor and Kahriza, said a statement from the Joint Operations Command (JOC). Nimrud area includes the archeological site of Nimrud, located some 30 km south of Mosul and freed from IS militants a few days ago. The ancient Assyrian ruin site of Nimrud, which was part of the IS militants' campaign of destruction against heritage sites, was founded in the 13th century B.C. and became the capital of Assyrian empire. In eastern Mosul, the commandos of the Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) continued clashes with the IS militants to gain more ground in Mosul and managed during the day to recapture parts of the Muharibin and Mu'alimen districts, the JOC statement said. The troops started later in the day a clearing operation in the freed areas to defuse dozens of booby-traps planted by the extremist militants, the JOC statement said. The security forces have been fighting to push deeper into the eastern side of the city, locally known as left bank of the Tigris River, but met resistance of the militants, who are fighting in small groups of well-trained fighters with snipers, suicide bomb attacks and many landmines, in addition to the heavy presence of civilians in their homes in Mosul districts. After more than a month of military operations against IS militants inside Mosul, almost 60,000 people have been registered as displaced and this number went up every day, according to the recent report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Oct. 17 announced a major offensive to retake Mosul, the country's second largest city. Since then, the Iraqi security forces have inched to the eastern fringes of Mosul and made progress on other routes around the city. Early in the month, hundreds of the CTS commandos and Iraqi army made a significant progress at the eastern side of Mosul and managed to recapture more than 10 districts out of about 60 districts on both sides of the city. Mosul, some 400 km north of Iraqi capital of Baghdad, has been under the 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. NICOSIA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- The leaders of Cyprus' Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities flew to Switzerland on Saturday for what is expected to be a crucial round of negotiations leading to the reunification of Cyprus and the re-integration of Turkish Cypriots who have been living in isolation for over four decades. Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci will sit at the negotiating table on Sunday at Mont Pelerin in the presence of a United Nations emissary to conclude unfinished work from a previous round of negotiations on territorial issue a week ago. Anastasiades left for Mont Pelerin after he briefed all Greek Cypriot party leaders and former presidents ahead of the negotiations that is set to last from Sunday to Monday, securing the support of the two main parties commanding a majority in Parliament -- governing DISY and opposition left wing AKEL. He said before flying out that he could not say what the outcome would be until the talks end on Monday, but he vowed that he would do his utmost for a successful conclusion. "The President told me that he is almost certain that an overall agreement will be reached when the negotiations will be concluded on Monday. There are still outstanding issues but there is an intense desire by both sides to find an agreement to a problem that is around for over four decades," said ex-President George Vassiliou after meeting Anastasiades. The two community leaders have to reconcile their last differences on territorial adjustments and mark on maps their respective positions on areas where Greek Cypriots displaced 42 years ago by Turkish troops will return. Turkish troops occupied 37.5 percent of Cypriot territory in 1974, in a military action spurred by a short-lived coup of the military rulers of Greece. If the two sides have agreed on the territory issue they are expected to schedule a multi-party conference to mostly deal with security arrangements after a solution. But there is a difference in the approach of the two sides on the mandate of such a conference. Turkey and Turkish Cypriots want a five-party conference of Greek and Turkish Cypriots, and the three 1960 guarantor powers -- Turkey, Greece and Britain -- to decide on security and resolve all other issues which may still be pending. Greece and Greek Cypriots want all other issues to be settled before a wider conference is called to also include the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus as an interested party, and possibly all five United Nations Security Council permanent members plus the European Union to discuss only security arrangements. Greece and Turkey have already started a dialogue on security. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced that he talked over telephone with Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan on Friday and that they agreed to talk again. The United Nations which have been brokering the negotiations for 42 years has said that it is already working on the practicalities of the implementation of a solution, in the firm belief that it will soon be able to strike the Cyprus problem off its list of outstanding international issues. In Cyprus, too, there is a general sense that a settlement is now within reach. But in view of past disappointments, even the most ardent supporters of a solution are reserved. "We'll hail a solution when one will be officially announced. The devil is always in the details," ex-President Vassiliou cautioned. Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang in Lima, Peru, Nov. 19, 2016. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) LIMA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Saturday that China will support Vietnam in hosting next year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in a bid to consolidate the foundation for future APEC collaboration. Under the current situation, all APEC members should make joint efforts in promoting long-lasting Asia-Pacific prosperity and safeguarding the region's role as a powerhouse for global growth, Xi said in a meeting with Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima, capital of Peru. Speaking on China-Vietnam ties, Xi urged the two sides to stick to the correct path, carry out the consensus reached in bilateral high-level contact, and earnestly implement the projects they have already agreed on, so as to ensure steady and healthy development of bilateral relations and bring benefits to both peoples. Xi called for continued high-level contact between the two countries and timely communication on bilateral ties and other issues of common concern. The Chinese president urged the two sides to upgrade the quality and standard of practical cooperation, accelerate the building of cross-border economic cooperation zones and the implementation of infrastructure projects, and strive for early results of production capacity cooperation. As for the South China Sea issue, Xi urged the two neighboring nations to solve disputes through bilateral consultations and dialogues, adhere to a cooperative path of "shelving differences and engaging in joint development," and properly address problems in order to maintain regional peace and tranquility. Quang, for his part, stressed that Vietnam is firmly committed to developing the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation and is very glad to see the rapid growth of bilateral ties in various fields. He also conveyed the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) leadership's congratulations on the successful plenary session of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee last month and on the great achievements China has scored in its socialist construction. The CPV and the Vietnamese government, said Quang, stand ready to maintain high-level close contact with the CPC and the Chinese government and make joint efforts to push forward bilateral relations in a stable and sustainable way. Xi arrived in Peru on Friday to attend the annual APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and pay his first state visit to the Latin American country. MOGADISHU, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- A UN-backed team has been deployed in the restive central Somali town of Galkayo, where clashes between rival state forces have killed more than 45 people, to help ensure ceasefire. In a statement, the UN Assiatance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) said Saturday the ceasefire team, led by officials from regional bloc Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), had began its work by meeting leaders of the rival states and representatives of communities from both sides of the conflict. More than 45 people were killed and over 90,000 people displaced since fighting between forces from Galmudug state and those of Puntland state broke out in Galkayo on Oct. 7. Galkayo is currently divided into two districts, with Galmudug state governing the southern district and Puntland state the north. The town has been beset by recurrent clashes between Galmudug and Puntland forces. The UN-backed team will work with both sides to ensure the implementation of a peace agreement reached by Presidents Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas of Puntland and Abdikarim Hussein Guled of Galmudug state in Galkayo on Friday, the UNSOM said. "The deployment of the ceasefire team to Galkayo today is a sign of the importance that the international community attaches to the resolution of this conflict," said Michael Keating, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Somalia, in the statement. The deal brokered by the UN on Friday retirerated a ceasefire in Galkayo and established a 2km-wide buffer zone between the rival state forces stationed in the town. The team will also work with a 18-member joint committee of Puntland and Galmudug representatives to advise on and support practical arrangements for implementing the ceasefire. The state leaders previously agreed on a ceasefire in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 1, but clashes continued one day later. "Primary responsibility for enforcing and monitoring an agreed ceasefire in and around the disputed city rests with the two state presidents and their security forces," the statement said. The statement said definitive cessation of hostilities in Galkayo was essential for the return of those displaced residents to their homes, as well as for the success of efforts to resolve the underlying causes of the conflict. LIMA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) - In a keynote address to the APEC CEO Summit in Lima on Saturday, Facebook Chairman and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, challenged the world to connect all people to the Internet and reap the economic benefits of doing so. With the speech titled "The Connectivity Revolution," Zuckerberg said that, as an engineer, his mindset was to view any system in the world, whether hardware and software, healthcare and education systems, or even governments. "With the accelerating progress in science and technology, our generation has the potential to do even more great things that at any other time in history," he said. As an example, Zuckerberg looked at education. "For the last century, education has worked in more or less the same way. Students sitting in a classroom, with a teacher, learning the same material, in the same way, at more or less the same pace," he laid out. "Today, we know that personalized learning is way better. If you can give teachers the tools and software to help students learn in the way that suits them best...results show students can learn as much as 50 percent more each year and that can compound." According to the social media guru, schools that integrate such personalized learning feel like start-ups and that more of the education system should work like this. To tap into this, Facebook created a dedicated engineering team to create personalized learning that teachers could use for free. In the first year, 20 schools signed up to Facebook's program for personalized learning. The second year, 100 schools signed up and many hundreds are expected to do so in the third year, Zuckerberg pointed out. He added that Facebook intended to spread this program around the world, clearly providing an opportunity for APEC countries. Zuckerberg also gave examples of how connectivity helps to keep people safe, such as Facebook building AI that can scan and flag content which could be a sign of violence, or the Safety Check tool allowing people to check in online and say they are safe after a natural disaster. "I am optimistic...but also realistic about how hard this is going to be," he said. "In order to do all these things, we first have to connect people...We need to make connectivity and connectivity infrastructure a much higher priority on each of our agendas." Listing three major challenges to connectivity, availability, affordability and awareness, Zuckerberg said governments had more to do to invest infrastructure and recognize that connectivity is the path to achieving any goals they might have. UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday called for peaceful local elections in Mali and encouraged the Malian government to "pursue a constructive dialogue with all stakeholders to defuse tensions that may arise before and after the poll." The secretary-general, in a statement issued here by his spokesman, made the appeals one day before the the Malian government is scheduled to organize local elections on Sunday. "The secretary-general calls on the Malian government, the democratic opposition and the signatory parties to the peace agreement to ensure the conduct without incident of the elections in the localities where political and security conditions allow their organization on 20 November," said the statement. "He encourages the Malian government to pursue a constructive dialogue with all stakeholders to defuse tensions that may arise before and after the poll and to ensure that the holding of these elections do not compromise the advances made in the implementation of the political and security interim arrangements provided for by the agreement," the statement said. "He acknowledges that the Malian Constitution precludes further postponement of the polls, which have already been rescheduled three times," the statement said. The secretary-general noted that important delays in the implementation of key provisions of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, the statement said. The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) will support the conduct of the polls within its resources and in its areas of deployment where it will be possible to conduct the elections by providing logistical and security assistance as provided for by its mandate, it said. Local councillors and mayors are normally elected for five years in the West African country, where the last such polls were held in 2009. However, no election was held in 2014 because of insecurity. Northern and central parts of Mali frequently come under attack by extremist rebel fighters, despite a peace pact sealed in mid-2015 by the government, armed groups that back it and mainly Tuareg former rebels who battled the army in the north. The peace accord, known as the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, was signed in June 2015 by the Coordination des Mouvements de l'Azawad armed group, following its signature in May 2015 by the Malian government and a third party, the Plateforme coalition of armed groups. The Malian government has been seeking to restore stability and rebuild following a series of setbacks since early 2012, including a military coup d'etat, renewed fighting between government forces and Tuareg rebels, and the seizure of its northern territory by radical extremists. The West African country has also been wrecked by a series of humanitarian crises. DAMASCUS, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations said it was "extremely appalled" by the escalation in fighting in Syria, particularly in Aleppo, according to a statement sent to Xinhua on Saturday. The statement recounted instances of intensified violence, such as the raging conflict in the northern city of Aleppo, and the mortar shelling that targeted several residential areas in the capital Damascus. It said such attacks targeted civilians and infrastructures, calling on all warring parties to cease "indiscriminate attacks." In recent days, the targets included hospitals in the rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo, and the university in the government-controlled parts west of Aleppo, according to the statement. The government-imposed siege on Aleppo and the rebels' grip in that region have also made civilians in dire need for humanitarian assistance, the statement said, adding that the UN is ready to assist the civilians there once granted access by all parties in accordance to a plan put forward by the UN. "The UN has shared with all parties to the conflict in Aleppo and member states concerned a detailed humanitarian plan to provide urgently needed assistance to the inhabitants of east Aleppo, and conduct medical evacuations for the ill and injured," according to the statement. It highlighted the need for all parties to accept the plan and accept to provide safe access to the affected people in eastern Aleppo. This came as the UN special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, is expected to arrive in Syria on Sunday morning to discuss the humanitarian plan with the Syrian side. Also, Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem is also scheduled to hold a press conference after his meeting with Mistura, apparently to give the Syrian government opinion regarding the situation in Aleppo. For months, the Syrian government and Russia have been urging rebels to leave Aleppo, offering them safe passages to other rebel-held areas in the northwestern province of Idlib. The rebels, however, turned down all offers, which has resulted in intensified violence. By Zhang Maorong, researcher with the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations; cartoon drawing by Liao Tingting During the past couple of days, Chinese President Xi Jinpings state visit to Ecuador has become a major event for the equatorial country in South America. Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa greeted his Chinese counterpart at the airport in Quito with a grand welcoming ceremony on Thursday. The two heads of state held talks on the same day and agreed to lift bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Xis visit to Ecuador is the first stop of his three-nation LatAm trip, and the first of its kind since the two countries established diplomatic relations 36 years ago. His ongoing tour is of historic significance. President Xis trip has enriched the two nations long-standing friendship, upgraded the bilateral relations, and deepened strategic mutual trust. The visit is expected to promote the bilateral ties to a new phase and make the traditional friendship between the two countries consolidate and last for a long time. During Xis visit, both sides have inked a number of cooperation documents and launched major projects including a hospital and the Coca Codo Sinclair (CCS) hydroelectric station. All these show that the two countries pragmatic cooperation has grown towards a higher, wider and deeper level. If two people are of the same mind, their sharpness can cut through metal. The new bridge of China-Ecuador friendship and cooperation brought by Xis trip is expected to promote the two countries to become good partners for mutual trust, common development, friendship for generations, and South-South cooperation, and as well push the China-Ecuador & China-Latin America relations towards a higher level. (Source: CNTV.com) MAPLETON Students in Kayla Delzers third-grade classroom here experienced a sunrise over Paris on Nov. 10. The virtual field trip was possible thanks to an augmented-reality app theyre beta-testing called Aug That. Ryley Hanson sent Brad Waid, Aug Thats augmented reality officer, a message about his experience. New AR, VR app @AUGTHAT ! Just trying it out. Awesome experience for me. Really Cool!!! @TechBradWaid by Ryley, he tweeted, along with a photo of Delzer and fellow students using the app. Waid later tweeted back a few words of appreciation and encouragement. This was a pretty typical day for Delzer and her class. Students rotated between four work stations with their iPads. In addition to the Aug That creative writing assignment, they also wrote computer code, read books on Epic and provided constructive feedback on their classmates digital portfolios through an app called Seesaw. Delzer is well-known for integrating technology and social media in the classroom. She writes about it in her blog, Top Dog Teaching, and is a frequent contributor at local and national professional development seminars. For a tech junkie, she hit the big time last month when she was asked to speak at a Digital Citizenship Summit at Twitter headquarters in San Francisco. Sixty-five percent of todays schoolchildren will be employed in jobs that have not yet been created, Delzer told the crowd of educators, administrators, industry professionals, parents and students. My job as a third-grade teacher now is completely different than what a third-grade teacher was doing 20 years ago. Were not now preparing students to be veterinarians or teachers or doctors. We are preparing kids for jobs that dont exist yet with technology that has not yet been created. At the core of her speech was Delzers belief in the importance of elevating her students voices. My message was about how every student has a voice and its our obligation or our job now to make sure that were amplifying that voice and giving students a platform, she said. I always say students will do their worst work when its only just for the teacher or an audience of one. So giving them that network of thousands of followers, theyre going to do their best job. Summit organizer David Polgar said Delzers speech resonated. Kaylas talk struck at the heart of the issue. We should be empowering students in order to maximize the benefits of social media and tech, not merely treat it as a danger. We have to be mindful of the risks while aiming to capture the rewards, he said. Digital citizenship Delzer takes digital citizenship very seriously. Her students are not allowed to use the class social media accounts until they have passed her Seven Levels of Digital Citizenship Bootcamp. One of her lessons is about what private information is. Delzer said kids are rewarded for memorizing their address and telephone number and are often surprised those are the things they should never give out online. They dont know its private information until you teach them that, Delzer said. Delzer also provides a social media bootcamp for parents. She shows them how to follow the class social media accounts in order to see what their children are learning. Its also a good way to open the dialogue between parents and students about the importance of good digital citizenship. Delzer tells parents, Ninety-three percent of employers are going to use social media to hire their employees, so if your student has a poor digital footprint or a neutral digital footprint, theyre not going to be employed. The Essential 55 Not all of Delzers lessons are technology-based. She also devotes a great deal of time to what is known as the Essential 55, based on a book written by education guru Ron Clark. Student Ryley Goodman explained them as 55 rules of how to be a better person. He said he demonstrated this weeks lesson of Random Acts of Kindness by offering to loan his iPad to a fellow student while his was getting fixed. I tell kids I dont care how smart you are, if youre not a kind, good human, that doesnt matter, Delzer said. Its something we work and work and work so hard on. An Afghan policeman searches a passenger during a military operation in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, Nov. 19, 2016. A total of 16 people including 12 militants and four police personnel have been killed as clash erupted in Andar district of the eastern Afghanistan's Ghazni province Friday night, provincial police chief Aminullah Omarkhil said Saturday.(Xinhua/Sayed Mominzadah) Zika virus is no longer a world threat, the Trans Pacific Partnership was abandoned, Airbnb launched a new service and more news that you missed The north pole was reported at about 20C (36F) warmer than normal, with record low sea ice. Photograph: Mario Hoppmann/AFP/Getty Images WHO: Zika virus is no longer a world threat The World Health Organization declared on Friday that Zika virus, shown to cause microcephaly in infants and spread by mosquitos, is no longer an international emergency. The virus causes a mild fever and flu-like symptoms in healthy adults but has been linked to malformed heads in newborns, and research has suggested possible links to other birth defects. The organization noted, though, that while no longer a public health emergency of international concern, the virus remains a significant enduring public health challenge requiring intense action. The WHO shifted to a longer-term technical mechanism to confront the crisis, it said. Almost 30 nations have reported birth defects linked to the virus, and thousands of people have tested positive in Brazil and the US territory of Puerto Rico. Florida has reported 139 locally acquired cases of the virus, according to the CDCs most recent count. Related: Zika virus is no longer a global health emergency, UN health agency says Trade and Peru The White House and leaders in Congress quietly abandoned the Trans Pacific Partnership, the free trade deal that would have set up new rules of commerce for 12 nations, including the US, Japan, South Korea, Australia and Peru. The trade deal became a symbol of globalization and lost manufacturing jobs during the presidential campaign, and Donald Trump had promised to take it off the table. The deal would have phased out thousands of tariffs and made it easier for US vendors to sell products abroad, and vice versa. It also had provisions for internet and copyright provisions, guards against wildlife trafficking and child labor, and rules designed to curb Chinas influence in Pacific trade. Its opponents included unions, which argued it gave too much power to foreign manufacturers. Story continues Barack Obama will meet with leaders of Japan, China, Australia and other nations in Peru this weekend for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. He will face questions about trade and, inevitably, Trump. Airbnb The housing startup blocked a Harvard professor, Ben Edelman, from its service after he found evidence of racial discrimination by its users. Edelman said he had found that black guests are more often rejected than white guests who use the site, in part by creating multiple fake accounts as black and white users. Airbnb said it suspended his service for violating policy about multiple fake accounts. The $30bn company also announced a massive expansion to create entire vacation schedules, though it already faces opposition in cities such as New York and San Francisco, where critics say the company is making exploitative housing practices worse. Related: Airbnb blocked discrimination researcher over multiple accounts China and the Arctic: global warming still real The north pole was reported at about 20C (36F) warmer than normal, with record low sea ice, alarming climate scientists. The extreme behavior of the Arctic in 2016 seems to be in no hurry to quit, Francis continued, Jennifer Francis, a Rutgers University scientist, told the Washington Post. Meanwhile Chinas deputy foreign minister, Liu Zhenmin, felt compelled to remind the USs president-elect that global warming is real and that Republicans presidents since Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan have supported environmental measures. In 2012 Trump wrote: The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive. Dakota protests The energy company trying to build a pipeline through North Dakota has asked a federal judge to intervene in the project, which the US government ordered delayed and which Native Americans have protested for months. It is time for the Courts to end this political interference and remove whatever legal cloud that may exist over the right-of-way beneath federal land at Lake Oahe, CEO Kelcy Warren said in a statement. Dakota Access is so desperate to get this project in the ground that it is now suing the federal government on the novel theory that it doesnt need an easement to cross federal lands, the Standing Rock Sioux tribal chair, Dave Archambault II, said in response. More than 400 people have been arrested in demonstrations so far. Related: Dakota Access pipeline: the who, what and why of the Standing Rock protests Gains in Iraq, losses in Syria The Iraqi army and Kurdish peshmerga, backed by US special forces and air strikes, have made tentative gains in the grueling battle for Mosul, Iraqs second largest city and one of Isis most important strongholds. Reuters reported that advances into Mosul have slowed out of concern for civilians trapped in the city, and that 54,000 people have been displaced by the four-week campaign. Iraqi forces also retook Nimrud, the site of an ancient Assyrian city where the king Ahsurnasirpal built his palace. Isis militants tried to bulldoze sections of the site last year, and released video purportedly showing fighters destroying artifacts. Related: I hate this beard. By God, I hate it: Iraqi men celebrate their freedom by shaving In Syria, civil war between the regime of Bashar al-Assad, rebels and Isis continued to devastate the country. A childrens hospital in Aleppo was bombed by chlorine gas, leaving only four functioning hospitals in the city for some 250,000 civilians in the area. The bombing was believed to have been fired by Syrian government forces, which have launched a new assault with air strikes and support from Russian allies. Thank you for joining! Access your Pro+ Content below. IT spreads innovation at Unilever In this weeks Computer Weekly, we find out how consumer goods giant Unilever has changed its thinking about IT to support a global digital transformation programme. The UK boss of Hewlett Packard Enterprise assesses progress after the first year since HP split in two. And we examine how software development is changing in the enterprise. Read the issue now. - 1 2022 2 290,9 , 18% 2021 36,6% . Boy, 15, shot dead by police According to reports, officers who were out on an anti-crime exercise responded to a report that a man was seen with a gun at Pasea Extension. Officers under Snr Superintendent McDonald Jacob responded and saw Josiah Ramsahai, 15, running towards a wall in a bid to escape. After being pursued by officers, Ramsahai allegedly fired several shots at the police prompting officers to return fire. The teenager was shot several times and later rushed to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Police investigators told Newsday that Ramsahai had a rap sheet of 13 offences for rape, robbery and firearm offences. As police said there was a shootout which led to the teens death, his weeping relatives insist he tried to surrender when he was gunned down. Investigations are continuing. Cops raid SRPs home Newsday understands that a joint team of officers from the PSB with the assistance of officers from the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) executed a search warrant at the home of the SRP but he could not be located on Thursday night. The search was carried for illegal arms, ammunition but nothing illegal was found. The SRP has since contacted officers of the PSB and indicated that he would make himself available to be interviewed in company with his attorney. During the same exercise, officers detained two civilians from the San Juan area in connection with the $400,000 robbery. The two are being questioned by PSB officers up until midday yesterday. Officers are also searching for a former SRP formerly assigned to the Tobago Division who was dismissed from the service after he was charged with larceny. The whereabouts of this former officer remain unknown. However, police sources revealed that he was captured on surveillance camera at the scene of the $400,000 robbery while the vehicle belonging to the SRP on suspension was also seen in the camera footage. The identity of the other persons involved in the robbery at Claxton Bay could not be seen clearly. One SRP formerly assigned to the North Eastern Division has already been charged with the $400,000 robbery and has been placed on $250,000 bail. He was expected to reappear in court on Monday on a possession of ammunition charge. According to reports, two Fridays ago, three armed men arrived at the home of Wei Hui Zhu, 31, of Soledad Road, Claxton Bay in a marked police vehicle, wearing police tactical gear. Three more officers arrived in a black Sport Utility Vehicle stating they had instructions to search his home. The men found and took $400,000 as well as two iPhones. Couple on murder charge Mother of two Josanne Alleyne, 27, and her boyfriend Christopher Heerah, 28, yesterday appeared before Justice of the Peace Norisha Pundit in the San Fernando Magistrates Court jointly charged with the murder. It is alleged that between August 26 and 27, at Edinburgh South, Chaguanas, the couple murdered Quamina. The charge, laid by PC Terrance Rahim of the Homicide Bureau in San Fernando. As the charge is a capital offence (for which the penalty is death) the couple was not called upon to enter a plea and the case would have to be determined in a trial before a judge and jury if so ordered at the end of a preliminary inquiry. Quamina of Mahaica Street, Waterloo Road in Carapichaima was employed as a supervisor at the Jamaica Money Market Brokers (JMMB) in Chaguanas. Female accused Alleyne also worked at the same bank but as a Customer Sales Representative. Initial police reports stated that a masked intruder stormed the couples home back in August and committed the crime. Quamina was at the time staying at the couples home. Both accused - Alleyne and Heerah - are to reappear in court on Monday. ARINI Viveka Persad- Wingson, daughter of attorney and Trinidad and Tobagos High Commissioner to India attorney Dave Persad, was called to the bar as an attorney yesterday at the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain. She was among several new attorneys who were admitted to practise. Persad-Wingsons mother, attorney Indrani Mootoo-Persad, presented her daughters petition at the ceremony which was attended by the young attorneys grandfather and former Mayor of San Fernando, Dr Romesh Mootoo MP Tewaries home burgled A Honda Accord car valued $250,000 belonging to the MP was also stolen. According to reports, at about 9.30 pm on Wednesday, Tewarie secured his home and retired to bed. He awoke at 4.30 am on Thursday and discovered that a Samsung S3 cellphone, an Ipad, $900 and other valuables missing. A further check revealed that his vehicle was also stolen. Tewarie believes that the intruder gained access by climbing through a window on the western side of the house. Central Division police said yesterday that they are searching for a suspect in connection with the burglary and an arrest is imminent. The MP appeared very distressed over the burglary but was thankful that neither he nor his wife were attacked or injured in the incident. Officers of the Cunupia police station are continuing enquiries Father and son were hard-working men Friends, family and loved ones gathered yesterday afternoon at the Bethel World Outreach Ministries located in Malabar, Arima to say farewell to the two men who were killed on Tuesday by an unknown gunman. During their eulogies, the two men were both described as hard-working and fun loving. Speaking on behalf of Leon, one relative said, His morals were quite simple: work very hard and play very hard. He had a signature smile, and when he smiled his eyes smiled along with him. At this time my heart aches because I did not only lose my brother but I lost my nephew as well. The relative said Leon was given the name Big Bird by friends at school. During Shavaughns eulogy, the congregation was told of his work ethic and his humility. A relative who spoke on his behalf told the gathering that he began his contracting company at 28, and faced every situation with the temperament of a true leader. His strong desire for success did not make him arrogant, disdainful or full of himself. Instead, he maintained his integrity and humble view of himself as the owner of a business, said one relative who went on to say, His success spilled over to the community since anyone could have approached him for a job. Just as important as his role of boss, was his role as a father. The congregation was told of his patience and love, which he expressed profusely to his two children. The congregation was also told of Shavaughns willingness to help anyone in need. Shavaughn was given the nickname blacks by his family members who teased him about his complexion. The incident which saw the deaths of Leon and Shavaughn Sobers actually claimed the lives of three persons on Tuesday last. Newsday understands the two Sobers, were in their yard on Harper Circular, Dabadie, when, shortly after 7 pm, an unknown assailant approached them on a bicycle, hopped off with firearm in hand, and fired on the group of men. Leon Sobers died instantly, as did Joel Alexander, a truck driver who had been working with the Sobers family. However, Shavaughn who was rushed to hospital after being shot in the eye later succumbed to his injuries. Police rescue 14-year-old schoolgirl The girl and the two females were taken into custody and the teen was later handed over to her mother Kim Flit and Sgt Martin of Community Policing. She was expected to be taken to a doctor to be medically examined to ascertain if she was physically harmed. The same team of officers then went to Charlotte Street where they arrested four persons for firearm offences and seven others for robberies, woundings, break-ins and outstanding warrants. Tobago triumphs In a hotly-contested final between five victorious secondary schools in the Tobago, East, West, Central, and South regions, the Bishops quartet of Camryn Bruno; Oshun Trim; Cindy Andrews, and Soyini Greig impressed the judging panel, headed by Penelope Spencer. The event took place on November 11 at City Hall, San Fernando. Bruno is no stranger to the spoken word winners row, having placed second in the 2015-2016 singles competitors Intercol, held in March. The competition has undergone historic shifts, and for the first time in the four years of the annual high-stakes contest, school teams, not individual competitors, took to the stage. The champions took home a winners purse of $7,500 from Courts, second-place winners St Georges College received $5,000, and Bishop Anstey High School and Trinity College East, in third place, won $2,500. Presentation College, Chaguanas and San Fernando Central Secondary earned fourth and fifth places respectively. Giving judges remarks during the prize announcement, Spencer said that the standard of competition was extraordinarily high and praised all the participating schools. Public relations officer of Unicomer, Nicole Loney-Mills, expressed Courts dedication to intercollegiate spoken word excellence, saying that the contest has grown from strength to strength. Founder of the NGC Bocas Lit Fest, Marina Salandy-Brown, echoed Loney-Mills sentiments, lauding the bravery of secondary school students poetic expressions across Trinidad and Tobago, said a media release. The Courts Bocas Spoken Word Intercol is a landmark Bocas Lit Fest project that works with the dynamic youth group, 2Cents Movement, in over 50 schools each year to expose secondary school students to a creative form that allows them to express their thoughts and engage with matters of personal, social and political interest. The Intercol final got the 2016 NGC Bocas Lit Fest South underway. The free festival, held last weekend on San Fernando Hill attracted a large and varied audience for readings, debate, spoken word, drama, extempo, open mic and more plus a full childrens festival of storytelling, workshops, reading, writing, magic and fun learning. For more info: www.bocaslitfest. com Bolivian on fraud charges Lozado, 46, was also charged with one count of trafficking counterfeit money as well as one count of illegal money transfer of $20,000 through Western Union Money Transfer to someone in Bolivia. Lozado, who was aided by an interpreter in court, was also charged with being in possession of several large quantities of cash in Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Eastern Caribbean, Bolivian and Paraguay currency which he knew was criminal property, and possession of marijuana. It is alleged that the criminal acts took place between October 3 to November 10, at various banking locations in Maraval, Diego Martin and Glencoe. His lawyers application for bail was denied by the chief magistrate after prosecutors argued he was a flight risk and had no fixed place of abode in Trinidad. Lozado, who has two children, was staying at Moniques Guest House in Maraval, and arrived in Trinidad in September. His passport is being held by the Fraud Squad Office and Lozado is expected to return to court on December 1. The Bolivian national was held on November 10 at a guest house in Maraval and instructions to charge him was given by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard SC, on Wednesday. The Transnational Organised Crime Unit assisted by the Fraud Office worked on the case. Former Shiva Boys student wins Mastana Bahar He impressed the judges with the film song Oh Re Piya, beating nine other contestants in this contest. Jaikaran became the 46th winner of this long standing television series, produced by Khayal Mohammed. Music is happiness, music is sadness, music is love and music is life, Jaikaran said on winning this title. At this time he wants to pursue a BA degree in classical music in India while continuing to singing film songs. He took home $25,000 from Sos Furniture and Appliances. Satnarine Ramdeo placed second doing the song Tumhi Ho. Ramdeo won $15,000 sponsored by Trinity Insurance Brokers. Ishani Maharaj placed third with the song, Sunhara hai Tu. She took home a prize package of $12,000 from Extra Foods. UWI student, Reshma Roopnarine won the first prize of $10,000 from Indus Merchants for the pageant section. Reshma thanked her parents Hemawatie and Rajindra Roopnarine for supporting her through Mastana Bahar. This was my first time in a pageant and as a model and I felt nervous competing with beautiful and brilliant finalists of this pageant, Reshma said, adding that she is yet to come to terms with this win. Second place went to Kailash Kallipersad and third place went to Shalini Soochit Mohammed who said it was a hard task finding sponsors for the talent show since the Ministry of Culture did not offer any prizes in 2016. Although we had to cut down on the prize money, we saw an increased amount of yong people coming forward and auditioning for this annual contest, Mohammed said, adding that he plans to continue promoting culture through this series. OWTU ready to rumble if Govt fails to address Petrotrin issues We are prepared to hit the streets if it comes to that, next week, to ensure that perhaps those who may not be paying attention, pay attention to what we are saying with respect to the importance of this issue, an adamant Roget told reporters, yesterday, during a news conference outside of the International Waterfront Complex. The briefing followed a two-hour meeting with Energy Minister Franklin Khan, at the ministrys head office, to address pertinent issues relating to falling crude oil production. The OWTUs audience with the energy minister, came one week after union officials met with Khan, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste-Primus to hammer out issues relating to Trinmars operations at Petrotrin. Arguing that Trinidad and Tobago was facing a precipitous fall in indigenous crude production, Roget said the country needed to quickly ramp up production levels. These issues are urgent and it cries out for the type of management so that not the company but the country can benefit as a result of increased crude oil production, he said. Flanked by OWTU executive members, Roget said the union presented two suggestions to Khan of ways to increase production, one of which offered a revamp of the existing governance model for Petrotrin. The monstrosity that is Petrotrin is a merger of some five companies coming together into one described as the Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago, he said. But there are a number of inefficiencies in the way in which Petrotrin is operating currently and these are transferred to lack of productivity, lack of production which at the end of the day result in duplication and wastage. Roget alleged that the people at the helm of Petrotrin benefitted from the situation because they are in top positions. Petrotrin was structured to suit persons in top positions rather to suit the needs and interest of the country, he claimed. The union leader again called for the State company to be urgently restructured. It ought to be broken up into manageable segments, manageable divisions - exploration and production, Trinmar operations, refining and marketing and a proper HSE management, input so that as you ramp up production you will be able to pay close attention to health and safety issues and so we will not have all of this oil spilling into the sea and into the waterways, he said. Roget said Petrotrin was in dire need of proper management. As we speak, we are not confident that the persons that are placed at then helm of Petrotrin that they can deliver the benefit to the country as a result of that monstrosity they are in charge of. And we prevail upon the Minister of Energy that Petrotrin ought to be restructured, he said. Roget claimed Khan had welcomed their presentations and vowed to act upon them by talking to the board of management to put structures in place to realise benefits. Roget said he also called on Khan to address outstanding wage negotiations for Petrotrin employees for the periods 2011-2014 and 2014-2017. Point highway construction to resume Rowley and Energy minister Franklin Khan. The latter announced that construction on the highway to Point Fortin would resume next year while Rowley promised Siparia residents that they would be given Borough status. Khan told hundreds of PNM supporters representing Penal, Fyzabad and Siparia districts that government would commence construction of the highway next year. Supporters gathered on Siparia junction, greeted the news with thunderous applause amidst steelband music by the Siparia Diatonics steel orchestra. The much maligned highway project halted in May by the government after the contractor, Brazilian construction firm OAS Construtora, was declared bankrupt in March last year. The highway project had stopped at Grants Road, Rousillac, but Khan told the meeting that the project would continue from the Golconda leg, into Debe in Penal and Fyzabad. He continued that the highway would then merge into the La Brea area to link from Rousillac, then into Point Fortin. Yesterday, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony for opening of the Freeport/Couva Parallel Access Road Phase 1, Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan confirmed, Yes, definitely next year the highway construction would resume. There are certain packages we are working on and the idea is to get local contractors involved. The minister however, said that having regard to a litigation matter, the arbitration into which the government recently won, there was need for his ministry to get legal clearance before work resumes. Government would soon resolve the issue over the controversial Mon Desir section of the highway, Sinanan said. Khan told the meeting at which PNM candidates contesting districts in the Siparia and Penal/Debe Regional Corporations were presented to the crowd for the November 28 Local Government elections, that his ministry intends to re-activate land oilfields that are either dormant, or, had been capped in Fyzabad, Siparia, Los Bajos, Santa Flora and Palo Seco districts Hinds: Kamla grasping at straws Hinds told Newsday, She tries to twist a clear metaphor. Countering that Persad- Bissessar has been caught flat-footed on the issue of local government reform and has nothing useful to add to that discussion, Hinds said the former prime minister is, clutching at straws. According to the Laventille West MP, She has been caught flat being maliciously alarmist about nothing. That is the behaviour of the vampire in the Black Stalin sense. Hinds further stated that Persad- Bissessar is fighting to remain relevant and, is fighting to break the blight of losing eight elections on the trot. During yesterdays sitting of the House of Representatives, there was passing reference to Hinds reported comments in an exchange between Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Baratarian/ San Juan MP Dr Fuad Khan. Khan asked Rowley if he could use his office to reduce the kind of violent imagery utilised on political platforms. The Prime Minister replied, I am sure the Member (Khan) would find support on this side, if he encourages his Members (Opposition) not to go about abusing people personally and accusing them of rape, paedophilia and similar kinds of disgraceful conduct carried out on their own platforms. In response, Khan said, I will do my best, once he does his. Persad-Bissessar, who has publicly criticised Rowley for having children inside and outside of his marriage, was not in the Parliament Chamber when Khan gave this commitment. Why must bill go back? Orville London was responding to calls from Newsday Tobago on claims made by Leader of the Tobago Platform of the Truth (TPT) Hochoy Charles which said the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2016 from the THA sent for Cabinets approval would not improve governance in Tobago, as he called on the bill to be sent back to the people of Tobago. Charles made the statement one week ago as he argued that as Tobago seeks greater autonomy through the bill, the island would have powers to make laws and to implement them but no power to interpret the laws. However, contacted yesterday, London said he is uncertain as to why the bill must come back to the people of Tobago as the bill has been before the people of Tobago for the past four years. We have had well over 40 meetings with all the various interest groups, with all the various communities and what the bill represents is the consensus among Tobagonians as to what they want, London explained. He said that there is a difference of opinion about the mandate given to the forum of Political parties. As far as I am concerned and most of the members on the forum, the mandate given to us was to treat with a bill that represents the wishes of the people of Tobago and therefore we did not give ourselves the authority to heave on the people of Tobago something which they did not want. Those issues of which Mr Charles has indicated, those issues were put to the people of Tobago in various forums and at every occasion, the majority of people went with the position which was put forward in the bill that was sent, the Chief Secretary said. Gambling Act not good without going before JSC Johnson spoke to media staff outside the Parliament yesterday and stated that while he supports certain aspects of the Bill, there are other aspects that must be addressed. He said, We are here to show our support. We support the Bill, but not entirely. The Bill has some good points regarding the Rehabilitation Fund, you know, the support for the problem gamblers and so forth. We do support that. But then there are some issues in the Bill concerning the employees, which we have concerns about. Last year, it was in June, June 9th I believe, Senator Faris Al Rawi raised some valid concerns, concerning the over-criminalisation of the Bill. He also talked about what would happen to innocent infringers. And these are issues we believe, should be resolved. So what we are pushing for is for the Bill to go before the Joint Select Committee (JSC) as opposed to being passed to the House. Johnson said that if it was passed without going the JSC, it would be an imperfect law. And while they would be displeased with that outcome of affairs, they have no intention, he continued, of doing anything untoward since they do not want to retard the legal process. Imbert: Casinos vulnerable to criminals Imbert made this observation as he opened debate on the Gambling (Gaming and Betting) Control Bill, 2016 in the House of Representatives. Quoting from a recent report from the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), Imbert said, We are not compliant with FATF (Financial Action Task Force) requirements with respect to regulation and supervision of private members clubs which operate as casinos. The minister said CFATF also noted that in TT there is no adequate anti-money laundering or anti-terrorist financing regime for the supervision of these clubs. He explained this meant, there is no measure in place which prevents criminals or their associates from holding key positions in a private members club. Imbert said this point is further reinforced by a report done in July by Gaming Laboratories International which indicates that in this country there is, no transparency into the operations of casinos. He told MPs that Government engaged the services of the New Jersey, USA-based company in May. Indicating the bill is the same one brought by the former Peoples Partnership (PP) government which lapsed when Parliament was dissolved last June ahead of last Septembers general election, Imbert said amendments to certain pieces of legislation have caused gambling to explode in TT. He said TTs gaming industry is considered to be the most unregulated in the Western Hemisphere. Imbert stated there are at least 200 clubs conducting casino style activities and 20,000 amusement gaming machines operating in 4,000 bars and recreational clubs in TT. He also said the industry employs 7,000 persons directly and has an annual turnover of approximately $12 billion. Speaking later in the debate, Attorney General Faris Al Rawi caused a stir when he remarked that while Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal was housing minister, know criminals turned up to perform HDC (Housing Development Corporation) contracts. When Moonilal objected, Al-Rawi said he was talking from a factual statement. There is nothing wrong with that construction. I did not say the Honourable Member put them there, the AG replied. Was it (Energy Minister) Mr Franklin Khans wife? Was it Mr Imberts wife? countered Moonilal. Imbert objected and demanded Moonilal withdraw that statement. Upon the insistence of Deputy Speaker Esmond Forde, Moonilal said, I withdraw the question. No problem. Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has publicly claimed that government ministers wives have been recipients of HDC contracts under the Dr Keith Rowley Administration. Imbert and Bolt (a company in which his wife Suzanne is a director) have initiated legal action against the Trinidad Express on this issue. The Finance Minister has also said he intends to take legal action against Persad- Bissessar as well. Al Rawi explained that under the Constitution, House Standing Orders and Mays Parliamentary Practice, parliamentarians take ownership for what they say and do not need to produce evidence. I take ownership of those statements, the AG declared. Referring to an electronic article from 2013 which Imbert directed him to, Al Rawi said the individual he was referring to was the infamous Spanish and it was reported that Moonilal met that person while he was acting prime minister. Going back to the Bill, Al Rawi said he hoped the Opposition would join Government in aiming a dagger, at the heart of criminality. Galen Glen Winery The sun rises over the vineyard at Galen Glen Winery in Andreas, Schuylkill County. It's one Pa. winery that has managed to raise its regional profile, especially over the past couple years. (Facebook) Stuart Pigott is a British-born and Berlin-based wine critic and author who has built a niche stateside with his Rock Stars of Wine America website and a collection of distinctive videos. Per wikipedia: "Taking his inspiration from Hunter S. Thompson and Tom Wolfe, Pigott has in recent years tried to emulate the style of Gonzo journalism in the wine area. He has published a number of free educational wine videos in the "Gonzo" style on the Internet." That background made him an appealing candidate to invite to a session with Pa. winery owners, winemakers and other in the industry, one that got a $1 million boost earlier this year with the passage of the liquor reform bill. Through the coordination of the Pennsylvania Quality Alliance (PQA) and the promotional push of state enologist Denise Gardner, a group of 16 individuals heard Pigott speak to the priorities in developing a regional profile. It's a state that's among the top 10 in the country in the number of wineries, its acreage devoted to grape growing and its overall wine production, yet one that has watched non West Coast states such as New York, Virginia and Texas rise more rapidly in national awareness. Here's the invitation that originally went out to Pa. wineries: "Stuart has in recent years focused on the Finger Lakes region. The best and easiest way to understand what Stuart Pigott has to offer is to spend some time on his web site, especially the segment Rock Stars of Wine America. "We will address questions such as: What are wine writers looking for? What kind of out of the ordinary characteristic sells copy? Is there a critical mass or tipping point which determines when a region acquires an identity? Wine quality is not the only requirement, Stuart points out. Style is also crucial. Attractive aromatics and harmonious acidity. It takes time even if you are on message. Stuart Pigott will analyze the grape growing, stylistic decisions and the winemaking in Southeast Pennsylvania, then the marketing, followed by discussion." Pigott met the group in a hotel in Kennett Square a couple weeks ago, appropriate since Chester County provided the first groundswell of publicity for the state's premium wines, much of it emanating from Eric Miller's work out of Chaddsford Winery. He offered advice, took questions and then sampled some wines, and left behind this analysis from Gardner, who was kind enough to type out her thoughts Friday and email them over. It was impossible to leave Stuart Pigott's workshop titled, "Creating a Regional Image" without feeling some twinge of excitement or a new marketing idea brewing in the back of one's mind. Stuart rocked the audience with key points pertaining how to find common ground among all quality wine producers and encouraged the industry to work together to find a way to reach urban audiences. Pigott, author of The Best Wine on Earth - A Riesling Story and the e-book series Rock Stars of Wine America, had a lot of positive feedback with regards to what he tasted from Pennsylvania. One of his leading messages indicated that most of the world does not realize that wine is produced in Pennsylvania, but that it was not impossible to make more consumers aware of the industry's presence. He listed a series of other wine regions relatively unknown to the mass consumer market, but where extraordinary wines are being made including Thailand, China, and Denmark. And he discussed how the Finger Lakes has grown in quality and recognition in the last decade. One intimate with the local wine industry's history may find it disjointed and be unable to find common ground among all producers. That's to be expected considering the various varieties grown and produced across Pennsylvania, from native Concord wines to complex Bordeaux blends, and the multitude of wine styles that consumers see at individual wineries, from fruit wines to formula wines (wines mixed with various flavors) to everything in between. But for the group sitting around the table, Stuart was able to deduce one common denominator: all were trying to produce quality dry or off-dry Vitis vinifera (European variety) wines in some capacity at their winery. And voila - common ground was found! Pigott was able to use Germany's underdog Riesling story as an example of how a wine region can re-energize itself and endeavored to inspire the producers sitting around the table. By the 2000s, Germany had been facing a lot of resistance against its leading wine variety produced, Riesling. Several years ago, most consumers assumed that Riesling was always sweet, only produced in Germany, was cheap and relatively unsophisticated wine. However, in the last 10 or so years, Riesling has made a significant comeback in the consumer market, and Pigott used this to challenge the Pennsylvania wine industry to grow to new marketing heights, with profound examples on how to capture the market's attention. Having Pigott talk to the Pennsylvania industry at the annual PQA meeting was truly a treat for the local trade members. His perspective on the global wine industry alone is impressive. Finding ways that Pennsylvania could connect to that market was inspirational. To witness his excitement about many wines that are typically unknown to many of us was delightful. This was definitely a seminar and experience that one didn't want to miss. Among those attending was Sarah Troxell from Schulykill County's Galen Glen, one of the few wineries in the state that has elevated its regional awareness through its highly acclaimed Gruner Veltliner and Riesling, two dry white wines. Troxell and her wines have been recognized nationally, one of a handful in eastern Pa. that Inquirer wine and food critic Craig Laban visited and wrote about a couple years ago. Troxell was asked what she thinks Galen Glen is getting right in terms of getting the word out about its product. "We [Galen Glen] have worked to create a collection of cool climate white wines and customers visit us specifically because of these wines," she wrote. "Now we [Galen Glen] need to focus on a single variety as our number one wine, with a complementary number two wine. [Example - Finger Lakes - #1 is Riesling & #2 Cab Franc Rose]." As for a marketing initiative they'd like to get better at? "[I would] love to find a way to create more awareness of PA wine in Philadelphia, which sounds easier than it is in practicality," she wrote. President to visit Chandigarh on Sunday Delhi,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Sat, 19 Nov 2016 IANS New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) President Pranab Mukherjee will visit Chandigarh on Sunday to inaugurate the 12th CII Agro Tech 2016, organised to provide an ideal interaction platform between the farm producers and the agro industry. The four-day Confederation of Indian Industry Agro Tech programme attended by farmers' delegations from Australia, Britain, the Netherlands, Sri Lanka and Argentina is scheduled from November 20 to 22. The President will also address the 15th anniversary celebrations of the Indian School of Business at Mohali. --IANS rak/in/bg Priyanka Gandhi has not yet said yes to campaign in UP, says Congress leader Delhi,National,Politics, Sat, 19 Nov 2016 IANS New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Congress party president Sonia Gandhi's daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has not yet given her consent to campaign in Uttar Pradesh, though the party is hopeful she will agree to their request, party Rajya Sabha MP and Uttar Pradesh Congress campaign committee chairman Sanjay Singh said on Saturday. "We have been requesting her to campaign for a long time now. We are hopeful that she will give her consent to campaign," Singh told IANS. "And when she gives her consent, we'll let everyone know the plan," he added. "As of now, she has not said 'yes'..But we are confident that she will agree." Asked about media reports saying that Priyanka will play a "major role" in Uttar Pradesh assembly polls next year, he said: "I am not saying it is 'incorrect or correct'." Priyanka and Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi attended the party's strategy meeting on Uttar Pradesh elections here on Friday. Priyanka had attended the party's strategy meeting on UP assembly elections in the past as well. Asked if anything has been finalised on the selection of candidates for the assembly polls in UP, Singh said: "The process is going on. Very soon we'll announce the list." "If it becomes necessary to announce anything, we will do it at that very moment," Singh said without giving further details. He also said that the next strategy meeting will be held after November 22. Asked about Congress' polls strategist Prashant Kishor's fate, Singh declined to say anything and said that only party General Secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Ghulam Nabi Azad can comment. On November 21, party president Sonia Gandhi, Rahul and Priyanka will be in Allahabad to attend a photo exhibition on former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's life to mark her birth centenary anniversary celebrations. Priyanka Gandhi has so far confined her electoral campaigning to constituencies of her mother and brother Rahul Gandhi (Rae Bareli and Amethi). Congress has been out of power in Uttar Pradesh for over three decades. The party has also not won any major state assembly poll since its debacle in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. --IANS sid/rn It takes more than 3 men to take me down: Mallika Maharashtra,Cinema/Showbiz,Bollywood, Sat, 19 Nov 2016 IANS Mumbai, Nov 19 (IANS) Indian actress Mallika Sherawat, who was allegedly "tear-gassed" and beaten up by three masked men in her Paris apartment block, says she is a strong woman and that it takes more than three men to take her down. Mallika on Friday night took to Instagram, where she shared a photograph with a journalist. "It takes more than three masked men to take me down, I am a strong woman. Talking to CNN," she captioned the image. It was reported that the 40-year-old was attacked earlier this month by criminals who wore scarves across their faces and without saying a word, sprayed their victims with tear-gas before punching them. --IANS dc/nn/vm If demonetisation fails, country will be pushed to anarchy, Raj Thackeray warns Maharashtra,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Sat, 19 Nov 2016 IANS Mumbai, Nov 19 (IANS) Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the November 8 demonetisation of high-value currency notes and warned that if it fails, the country will be pushed to anarchy. Questioning the government's assertions that preparations for demonetisation of 500 and 1,000 rupee notes were made 10 months in advance, Thackeray said if so, "then how come it (the new notes) bears the signature of the new (RBI) Governor (Urjit Patel)?" "The BJP has still not submitted its election expenditure for the 2014 polls... If there was so much aversion to black money, how did Modi get elected," he asked, directly targeting the Prime Minister. Denouncing the new decisions announced daily on money withdrawals or deposits in banks, Thackeray claimed it is evident now such a major policy was "rushed through" without making proper studies or adequate groundwork on the implications. "I have spoken to people in the BJP, I have discussed it with RSS people, nobody seems to be happy about it, but all are keeping silent.. Even Mohan Bhagwat has not yet reacted on it... I wonder what's really going on," Thackeray observed, addressing a large meeting of party leaders and grassroots workers. He demanded why action has not been taken against those hoarding black money and instead the ordinary masses are being punished and made to stand in long queues, and more than 40 people have lost their lives. "There are few ads in the print media and on television there are only commercials by Patanjali (owned by Baba Ramdev)...we know where these come from," Thackeray said throwing dark hints. "There was absolutely no planning or preparedness before Modi implemented the demonetisation... Everybody says it is good for the nation, but even the PM is not telling how we will benefit. We can only pray to God that something good comes out.. Because, it it fails, the country will be pushed behind by 20-25 years and be in severe crisis," Thackeray declared. He said it's strange that those declared corrupt and jailed by the former Congress regime are now BJP leaders and the party's (Karnataka) MP Janardhan Reddy spent Rs 500 crore on his daughter's wedding earlier this week, and that too after demonetisation was implemented. "I have read that the bride's sari cost Rs 17 crore...All this is beyond words," he said. Training his guns on the Prime Minister, Thackeray said "in the morning, he makes an emotional speech in Goa, and in the evening he praises (Sharad) Pawar in Maharashtra." "Modi says that he held Pawar's fingers to enter politics... But even Ajit Pawar (Pawar's nephew) held his uncle's finger and came to politics," he pointed out amidst laughter. Thackeray said only four per cent of the population pays income tax and the rest carry out cash transactions. Even (Finance Minister) Arun Jaitley made a declaration of Rs 82 lakh 'cash in hand' in his election declaration in Punjab - "I am not saying it is black money, but how will he deposit it in the changed circumstances now?," he asked He urged the people of the country and his activists to remain vigilant against the fallout of the demonetisation, as "elections will come and go, but the people of the country are of paramount importance to me". --IANS qn/rn Know your readers: Elizabeth Gilbert's trick of writing with emotions United States,Cinema/Showbiz,Hollywood,Art/Culture/Books, Sat, 19 Nov 2016 IANS Los Angeles, Nov 19 (IANS) She often pens her own experiences in her books, and is known for using words to express her state of mind in an apt way. The author of "Eat, Pray, Love" - Elizabeth Gilbert says the magic trick for capturing the right expression in her work is knowing the target audience. "Literally, my magic trick for writing is that you don't begin writing a word of anything until you know exactly who you are writing for," Gilbert said here during a special session at the ongoing Airbnb Open 2016 on Friday. She became a part of the annual press conference hosted by the online community company to talk about her travel experiences during her book tours, business trips and how she likes to add the mantra she preaches in her own life. Gilbert also emphasised on how some people are clueless about their target when they sit down to write. "When you sit down, write directly to that person. Then human voice will come down to words and then expression to what you write," she added. Gilbert also shared the special moment when people came to her and said that it seemed she wrote it directly for them. Gilbert made it big with her 2006 memoir "Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across, Italy, India and Indonesia" -- which narrates her experiences during her travel after her divorce from her first husband. The book got a cinematic translation in 2010 with actress Julia Roberts in the lead role. Gilbert wrote an essay in 1997 talking about the time she worked in New York as a bartender. Her work got a Hollywood twist as it inspired the plot of "Coyote Ugly". She also wrote a memoir in 2010, "Committed", in which she talks about her decision to marry Jose Nunes. She has now separated from Nunes, and is looking ahead to her new romantic endeavour with a female companion. The author says she took up a mission to include the things that she talks about. "I realized that I am not living what I write," she said, adding that getting to do it was difficult for her. She said: "The biggest obstacle to me is the sheer number of people I interact with on a daily basis... What I decided to do was to make sure that I actually met every single person who I met." She asked everyone about the one thing they are excited about in life. The responses over her travel to different cities and countries were mixed -- happy, sad, energetic and angry. There were also times when she thought of giving up on the creative experiment which she undertook for a four-month book tour for her self-help book "Big Magic". But in the end she was glad and satisfied that she didn't, as the expression, the connections that she formed will stay forever with her. (The writer's trip is at the invitation of Airbnb. Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandha.r@ians.in) --IANS sug/nn/bg Slight decline in bank rush, senior citizens get to exchange notes Delhi,Business/Economy,Human Interest/Society, Sat, 19 Nov 2016 IANS New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Crowds outside banks and ATMs declined marginally on Saturday as only senior citizens were allowed to exchange old notes. Other people were seen waiting in long queues either to deposit their old notes or withdraw cash at banks and ATMs. One Sunil Jain tweeted: "Bank lines much shorter! Was at HDFC bank at 10 (a.m.), cash over at 10.15 so line shortened!!! Cash will come on Monday they say (sic)." "There is less crowd for exchanging high-value currency as only senior citizens have been allowed to do it today (Saturday). But there is still a rush for withdrawing and depositing cash," said a private Noida firm staffer Fareed Ahmad. Ahmed, who said he had come to deposit cash in a bank in Noida, rued that he had to stand in queue for three hours to do so. "A few days ago, I went to my bank to withdraw cash and spent a whole day in the process." Even as all banks were giving preference to senior citizens in exchanging their old notes, they still had to wait in queues for their turn. "I had to wait for two hours to exchange old notes," griped a senior citizen Dharam Das. Another senior citizen Sanjay Parmanand was delighted as he did not have to wait for too long. "It is good the government allowed only senior citizens to exchange their old currency on Saturday," Parmanand said. Harish Jain, 62, standing in a queue at ICICI Bank's branch in Preet Vihar area of east Delhi, lamented he stood in queues for four days and managed to get the cash only on Saturday. He said he was thankful to the government for setting aside one day for the senior citizens to exchange money. "I was earlier not able to exchange cash or even withdraw money since sometimes banks ran out of cash or their timings ended," he said. --IANS akk-aks/tsb/bg Concerns arise over success of GST Council's informal meet Delhi,National,Business/Economy, Sat, 19 Nov 2016 IANS New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Ahead of the GST Council's informal meeting on Sunday, concerns have started emanating over its ability to take the crucial consensus-based decision as the stand of political parties remains unclear following the vehement opposition towards demonetisation. After the previous GST Council meet remained inconclusive on the issue of dual control, or cross-empowerment, on who will exercise control over GST assessees -- the Centre or the states, the government sought an informal meeting on November 20 hoping to reach a consensus by a political push. The meeting to be held on Sunday will be attended by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and the state finance ministers without the other officials. A formal meet will then be held on November 24-25 hoping to finally reach a consensus on the issue. But post the November 8 demonetisation of 500 and 1,000 rupee notes that has riled the opposition, the problems remain grave as the state finance ministers belong to different political parties, and are unlikely to arrive at any consensus-based decision. "Functionally, you can't have two authorities competing for the same GST assessee. This situation has to be avoided. There has to be clearly defined guidelines as to who will assess whom," Jaitley has said, adding this is what the political leadership in the council will discuss informally, sans aides or officials. "Since it is a complex matter, we do not want to rush. It (dual control) has to be a well thought of solution for which we are going systematically. Five different proposals came in this regard, out of which the discussions revolves around two," he had said. The November 24-25 meeting of the GST is slated to discuss the four GST draft bills -- Central GST, State GST, Integrated GST and state compensation matter for revenue losses -- which will have to be passed by Parliament and state assemblies after the Council approves them. The target rollout of GST will depend on the passage of the Central GST and the Integrated GST (iGST) bills in Parliament and the state GST bills by the respective states. The government has targeted implementing the GST across India from April 1, 2017. GST is a single indirect tax that proposes to subsume most central and state taxes, like the value added tax, service tax, central sales tax, excise duty, additional customs duty and special additional customs duty. --IANS mm-ap/rn Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary to reopen on Sunday Haryana,National,Environment/Wildlife,Health/Medicine, Sat, 19 Nov 2016 IANS Gurugram, Nov 19 (IANS) The Sultanpur National Park in Gurugram, which was shut down as a precautionary measure in the wake of the bird flu outbreak in parts of the country, is all set to reopen on Sunday, officials said on Saturday. The park authorities claimed that no case of bird flu was reported in the park till date and it was closed only as a precautionary measure on November 5 for a week that was later extended to a fortnight. The authorities, assisted by experts from the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), were keeping a close watch on the movement of migratory and other birds. "According to reports and conditions of birds in the park, we have decided to reopen the park for visitors from Sunday (November 20)," an official said. He, however, made it clear that they will "re-examine the situation on Sunday morning before allowing bird lovers in". This was the second time in recent years that the Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary was closed due to avian flu. The park was closed for over a week in January 2015 following the death of four dozen birds, mostly Eurasian coots due to avian flu. Located on Gurugram-Farukhnagar Road, the park is home to around 250 species of birds, both resident and migratory. The birds come here from as far as Europe, Siberia and Central Asia. According to forest officials, currently there are over 11,000 birds in the park. "Experts have been keeping a close watch on the movement of avian guests to prevent an outbreak of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1), commonly known as bird flu. As of now all is well," said a senior forest officer. Though wildlife officials had not confirmed any bird death at the park before shutting it, some sources had said a few birds had died in the park leading to the decision of closing the sanctuary in November. --IANS pradeep/vgu/in/bg Three soldiers killed in Assam ambush, MHA monitoring situation Delhi,National,Defence/Security,Terrorism, Sat, 19 Nov 2016 IANS New Delhi/Guwahati, Nov 19 (IANS) At least three soldiers were killed when militants fired at an army convoy in Assam's Tinsukia district early on Saturday morning. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal after the militant attack at Pengeri around 5.30 a.m. and said his ministry was closely monitoring the situation. "Spoke to Assam CM (Chief Minister Sarbananda) Sonowal who apprised me of the situation in the wake of blast in Tinsukia. The MHA is closely monitoring the situation," he said in a tweet. Defence spokesman Lt. Col. Suneet Newton earlier said the militants first triggered an improvised explosive device blast and then fired indiscriminately attacked the convoy. "The militants used AK-47, rocket-propelled grenades and other sophisticated firearms," the spokesperson added. "The injured soldiers were rushed to a local hospital, but three of them succumbed to their injuries later," Newton said. Assam Director General of Police Mukesh Sahay told IANS: "Our men are on the spot. I will go there from Dibrugarh. We can't say anything about the attack at present. The investigation is on." Tinsukia Superintendent of Police Mugdhajyoti Mahanta said the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) and an anti-talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) were behind the attack. On Wednesday, suspected militants had indulged in firing at Pengeri, killing one person and injuring two others. --IANS sk/tsb/bg I learnt Indian culture, political lessons from Indira Gandhi: Sonia Delhi,National,Politics, Sat, 19 Nov 2016 IANS New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Sonia Gandhi on Saturday appreciated the efforts of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and said that she learnt about the culture of India and political lessons from her. "It is from her that I learnt about India, about its culture, about its values. It is from her that I imbibed my earliest political lessons," Sonia Gandhi said. "Indira Gandhi was not a figure of history for me, she was my mother-in-law. We lived under the same roof, shared the same joys and sorrows." Sonia Gandhi also regarded Indira as her "mentor". Indira Gandhi, the only woman to serve as Prime Minister of India, was born on November 19, 1917 in Allahabad and served as Prime Minister for three consecutive terms from January 1966 to March 1977 and a fourth term from January 14, 1980 until she was assassinated on October 31, 1984. Indira Gandhi was the only child of India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. --IANS akk/vgu/bg High turnout in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry by-polls (Roundup) Tamil Nadu,National,Politics, Sat, 19 Nov 2016 IANS Chennai, Nov 19 (IANS) Demonetisation issues did not deter voters in three assembly constituencies of Tamil Nadu and the lone one in Puducherry in coming out in large numbers to exercise their constitutional right. According to Election Commission officials polling came to an end at 5 p.m. in all the four constituencies. While Thirupparankundram saw around 85 per cent polling, Aravakkurichi saw a turnout of around 81 per cent. However, Thanjavur recorded around 69 percent polling. In Puducherry's Nellithope constituency where Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy is contesting, the polling percentage was around 85. The figures are provisional as the Election Commission has to collate the final figures. Brisk and peaceful polling was witnessed in all the constituencies. In Aravakkurichi, ruling AIADMK's V. Senthil Balaji is fighting against the DMK's K. C. Palanisamy while at Thirupparankundram the AIADMK's A. K. Bose is facing DMK's P. Saravanan. In Thanjavur, the AIADMK's M. Rengasamy is pitted against the DMK's Anjugam Bhoopathy. In Thirupparankundram, the by-election has been necessitated by the death of AIADMK's legislator S. S. Seenivel. While there are other parties in the fray, the contest is mainly between the AIADMK and the DMK in Tamil Nadu. In Puducherry's Nellithope, Congress leader Narayanasamy is contesting against AIADMK nominee Om Shakthi Segar. Counting of votes will be held on November 22. --IANS vj/py/bg Palestinians count on Trump for achieving two-state solution Israel,International, Sat, 19 Nov 2016 IANS Jerusalem, Nov 19 (IANS) A senior Palestinian official said on Friday the Palestinians are looking forward to positively working with the US administration of President-elect Donald Trump to realise the two-state solution. Saeb Erekat, secretary general of Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), made the announcement in a meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah with the US Consul General Donald Bloom, Xinhua news agency reported. He also said in a statement that he conveyed to President Trump that "all types of Israeli settlement are illegal," adding that "the Israeli government's decision to annex occupied East Jerusalem is illegal, and we do not recognise it." Erekat had earlier met in Ramallah with visiting New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully and called on New Zealand, a member of the UN Security Council, to nack the choice of the two-state. On Thursday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with McCully and stressed to New Zeland's top diplomat that the Palestinian leadership is exerting all efforts to keep the choice of the two-state solution. --IANS sku/ Russia dismisses US accusations of alleged hospital bombing in Syria Russian Federation,International, Sat, 19 Nov 2016 IANS Moscow, Nov 19 (IANS) The Russian Defence Ministry on Friday criticised the US for accusations of alleged hospital bombing in Syria by Russian and Syrian government forces, saying that the airstrikes only exist in "imagination." The US State Department spokesman John Kirby told a briefing on Wednesday that Russia and the Syrian government had bombed "five hospitals and at least one mobile clinic in Syria," citing unsourced "reports of these things". Denying the accusations, Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov responded on Friday that Russia has repeatedly asked for detailed information about the alleged strikes, which Washington has so far failed to provide, Xinhua news agency reported. "It has become absolutely clear to everyone that the accusations exist only in John Kirby's imagination," Konashenkov was quoted as saying. According to Russian Defense Ministry, the country's air force has not launched airstrikes against any targets in Aleppo in the last 30 days. --IANS sku/ Polling begins for Bengal by-polls West Bengal,National,Politics, Sat, 19 Nov 2016 IANS Kolkata, Nov 19 (IANS) Polling began amidst enthusiasm for by-elections to two Lok Sabha and one assembly seats in West Bengal at 7 a.m. on Saturday. An electorate of nearly 3,524,977, including 1,689,735 females and 38 from the third gender are eligible to choose their representatives from among 23 candidates vying for honours in Cooch Behar (Reserved-Scheduled Castes) and Tamluk parliamentary constituencies and Monteshwar assembly seat. Cooch Behar has the maximum number of contestants (10), followed by Tamluk (7) and Monteshwar (6), whose fate would be decided in over 500 Electronic Voting machines spread across 4,121 polling stations. The state's principal political parties -- the ruling Trinamool Congress, the Congress, the Left Front and the BJP -- are in fray for all three seats. The elections are being held under the shadow of the central government's demonetisation move to unearth black money and counterfeit coins, that has caused turmoil across the nation. Since the November 8 announcement banning Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, people have been forced to stand in long queues at banks and ATMs for the elusive cash. Trade and business have also been hit. The Cooch Behar parliamentary constituency fell vacant after the death of Trinamool's Renuka Sinha, while Tamluk has gone to the hustings as the incumbent MP Suvendu Adhikari became a minister in Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Cabinet. Trinamool lawmaker Sajal Panja's death has caused the Monteshwar assembly by-poll. The vote count is on Tuesday. --IANS ssp/sku/ Man befriends three women, kills two Haryana,National,Crime/Disaster/Accident, Sat, 19 Nov 2016 IANS Gurugram, Nov 19 (IANS) A 22-year-old man befriended three women, killed the first with the help of the second and murdered the second with the help of the third woman he became friends with, Gurugram police said on Saturday. The accused, Subodh Kumar who hails from Bihar's Nalanda district and drove an auto-rickshaw for a living in Gurugram, is in jail now with his third woman friend. According to the police, Kumar first befriended 45-year-old Nargis alias Neelam, who hailed from Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh and was currently living in Delhi, and murdered her with the help of 25-year-old Sunita alias Riya. The police said that Neelam pushed Riya into prostitution but did not pay her according to their understanding. Riya sought Kumar's help to settle the issue, and both killed Neelam on the night of November 10, 2015. They dumped her body in Saraswati Kunj area of Sector 53 under Sushant Lok police station, Police inspector Jaswant Singh told IANS. Later, Kumar came into contact with Maya alias Pinki, a resident of Delhi's Rajiv Nagar area, and murdered Riya on the night of May 13, 2016. He dumped the body in the same area where Neelam's body was dumped. Kumar and Maya alias Pinki are in Gurugram jail in connection with Sunita alias Riya's murder. Singh said that Kumar confessed to having murdered Neelam after he was grilled for five days about the murder. Kumar has been living in Gurugram's Ghata and Chakarpur area on rent and used to drive an auto on the Mehrauli-Gurugram (MG) road. He became acquainted with all the three women while ferrying them. --IANS pradeep/lok/bg Around 80% voting in Bengal by-polls West Bengal,National,Politics, Sat, 19 Nov 2016 IANS Kolkata, Nov 19 (IANS) More than 80 per cent of the voters exercised their franchise till evening in by-polls for two Lok Sabha constituencies and one assembly seat in West Bengal on Saturday. "The polling percentage till the polling hours ended at 5 p.m. in the Lok Sabha constituencies of Cooch Behar and Tamluk was 77 per cent and 81 per cent respectively. The figure for Monteshwar assembly seat was 86 per cent," said an Election Commission official. But with people still standing in the queue, the polling percentage may go up. Barring sporadic incidents of violence and allegations of booth capturing, polling in the three constituencies was mostly peaceful. Altogether, 39 companies of CRPF personnel have been deployed along with large number of state police to ensure fool proof security. However, longer queues could be seen in front of ATM kiosks than at polling stations in all three constituencies in the morning hours. "I have the ATM card in one pocket and the voter card in the other, but I feel withdrawing money is more important now than casting my vote," said a man standing in an ATM queue at Cooch Behar. The elections are being held under the shadow of the Central government's demonetisation of 500 and 1,000 rupee notes to unearth black money and counterfeit coins, that has caused turmoil across the nation. The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) demanded repolling in Cooch Behar constituency over alleged violence and vote loot by the ruling Trinamool Congress party. They also complained their polling agents were beaten up and stopped from entering the stations by Trinamool-backed miscreants at several places in Tamluk constituency including Haldia, Chaitanyapur and Nandigram. The Trinamool has denied the accusations. "All are voting for Trinamool this time around. Who would water a dead tree like CPI-M," said state Transport Minister Subhendu Adhikari, whose brother Dibyendu Adhikari is the candidate in Tamluk constituency. In Manteshwar constituency, Congress candidate Bulbul Ahamed Sekh withdrew his candidature on the polling day protesting against alleged booth capture and voter intimidation by cadres of the ruling party. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders alleged the Trinamool was intimidating their supporters to keep them away from the polling booths. BJP candidate of Monteshwar Biswajit Poddar also accused Trinamool party workers of kidnapping a BJP polling agent on his way to the booth. "The elections were free and fair. There was not a single untoward incident. The electronic media people were moving around all the constituencies. Could they show one incident of irregularity or violence?" said Trinamool all-India vice president Mukul Roy. Roy also ridiculed Sekh's announcement of withdrawing from the fray. "He took the decision only around 5 p.m. when polling was almost over." An electorate of 3,524,977, including 1,689,735 women and 38 from the third gender, were eligible to choose their representatives from among 23 candidates vying in Cooch Behar (Reserved-Scheduled Caste) and Tamluk parliamentary constituencies and Monteshwar assembly seat. Cooch Behar has the maximum number of contestants (10), followed by Tamluk (seven) and Monteshwar (six). The state's principal political parties -- the ruling Trinamool, Congress, Left Front and BJP -- are in fray for all three seats. The Cooch Behar seat fell vacant after the death of Trinamool's Renuka Sinha, while Tamluk has gone to the hustings as the incumbent MP Suvendu Adhikari became a minister in Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Cabinet. Trinamool lawmaker Sajal Panja's death caused the Monteshwar assembly by-poll. The vote count is on Tuesday. --Ians mgr/ssp/rn Eddie Redmayne locked 'Fantastic Beasts' script in a safe United States,Cinema/Showbiz,Hollywood, Sat, 19 Nov 2016 IANS Los Angeles, Nov 19 (IANS) Actor Eddie Redmayne had to lock his "Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them" script in a safe. The 34-year-old, who stars as magizoologist Newt Scamander in the fantasy film, says he occasionally defied the team's orders to keep the script under lock and key and smuggled it home with him, reports variety.com. "I never ever have done a film where you have to literally lock up the script in a safe. First, you're not really allowed a paper script. I was like, 'I need a script to write notes on it'," Redmayne said. Asked if he could take the script home with him from time to time, he added: "Not really. Occasionally, I would smuggle my script home." Redmayne, who has five-month-old daughter Iris with his wife Hannah Bagshawe, also found out about the role in a "wonderfully top-secret way". "It came to me in a wonderfully top-secret way. I got a call, saying David Yates wanted to meet me about an unknown project. We met in a pub called Blacks, which is in Soho in London. "As I went to this place, it was pouring rain, and downstairs in the basement, there was a fire and David. The whole thing had a Diagon Alley vibe to it," he said. "He started telling me this story that J.K. Rowling was writing, and he talked about Newt and the case. I had taken a suitcase that I had. As he talked more about the case, I gently pushed my case back. I had this embarrassment that I looked like one of those actors that turned up dressed for the part," he added. The film released in India on Friday. --IANS ks/rb India elected Vice Chair of KPCS 2018 Delhi,National,Business/Economy, Sat, 19 Nov 2016 IANS New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) India has been elected as the Vice Chair for 2018 and Chair for 2019 of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), an official statement said on Saturday. The Kimberley Process (KP) is an international initiative to stem the trade in conflict diamonds. In 2002, the KPCS was launched by a coalition of governments, civil society and the diamond industry in response to the role of diamonds in funding some of the most devastating civil wars in Africa. Accepting the decision of the KP, Manoj Dwivedi, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce and head of the Indian delegation to the KP Plenary Meeting said, "With all gratitude we accept the responsibility to be the Vice Chair in 2018 and the Chair in 2019. I thank European Union for their prudence and maturity in collaborating with us to reach this solution which creates goodwill and no ill will in our forum." The announcement was made at the recently held KP Plenary meeting 2016 at Dubai. Earlier, India had held the position of KP Chair in 2008. He further stated that the progression of Chairpersonship has been from Australia, a producing country to EU, a trading country, and India a manufacturing country of diamonds. "Our approach will be collaborative, democratic and transparent to take this illustrious process to a new era of digital relevance and capacity building so that there will be equitable distribution of capabilities and standards, especially amongst the African colleagues with alluvial mining in managing the KPCS and issuance of the KP certificates", Dwivedi said. --IANS bdc/lok/bg Trump to pay $25 mn to settle university litigation United States,Immigration/Law/Rights,Politics, Sat, 19 Nov 2016 IANS New York, Nov 19 (IANS) US President-elect Donald Trump has agreed to pay $25 million to settle several lawsuits against now-defunct Trump University, New York state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said. "I am pleased that under the terms of this settlement, every victim will receive restitution and that Donald Trump will pay up to $1 million in penalties to the State of New York for violating state education laws," Schneiderman said in a statement on Friday. The agreement covers two federal class-action cases in California and a separate suit brought by the New York attorney general against the university, a for-profit entity that opened in 2004 and closed in 2010, Efe news reported. "The victims of Trump University have waited years for today's result, and I am pleased that their patience - and persistence - will be rewarded by this $25 million settlement," Schneiderman said. New York prosecutors said the university never had the necessary operating licenses and that students were bilked out of thousands of dollars. Some students paid as much as $35,000 for courses that purported to share Trump's formula for success in real estate. The settlement eliminates the prospect of the president-elect's having to appear in court. Trump, who was attacked over the university during the campaign, said before winning the Republican nomination that he was unwilling to settle the lawsuits "out of principle", insisting that many of the students were satisfied with the quality of the instruction. --IANS ksk UPDATED President-elect Donald Trump is slated to meet with former District of Columbia Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee as he continues his search for an education secretary under his administration, the Trump transition team told the press on Friday. Trumps search for education secretary appears to be crossing party lines. Rhee, who has identified as a Democrat throughout her career, is a strong supporter of school choice (including vouchers), which appears to be the top K-12 priority for Trump. She also rose to prominence for how she handled teachers and teacher evaluations during her tenure in the District of Columbia, which lasted from 2007 to 2010. In 2010, she left the nations capital and founded StudentsFirst, an advocacy group that pushes for choice, reforms to labor policies often unfriendly to teachers unions, and data-based school accountability. She stepped down as the leader of StudentsFirst in 2014. Rhees name came up as a possible Trump secretary of education a few days ago, along with Success Academy Charter Schools CEO Eva Moskowitz , who served as a Democratic member of the New York City Council. Moskowitz met with Trump this week, but then announced Thursday she would not work in a Trump administration. [UPDATE: One potential candidate who isnt a Democrat appears to be Betsy DeVos, the chairwoman of the American Federation for Children, which support school choice including vouchers and tax-credit scholarships. Trump is also set to meet soon with DeVos, who formerly led the Michigan Republican Party.] One of the more high-profile figures in public education, Rhee would likely be applauded by at least some choice advocates if she ends up as education secretary. However, she would be defying some of her allies in the choice movement, including Democrats for Education Reform, which on Thursday urged Democrats to reject serving as Trumps education secretary unless he backs away from controversial statements and commits to educating the whole child and supporting the communities and families they depend on. Rhee is also strongly disliked by unions and others suspicious of high-stakes accountability. And many conservatives opposed to the Common Core State Standards, which Rhee has supported, could also be alarmed by the prospect of Rhee as education secretaryin fact, some of them are petitioning Trump not to appoint a common-core supporter . Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 . Priyanka Gandhi has not yet said yes to campaigning in UP, says Congress leader Delhi,National,Politics, Sat, 19 Nov 2016 IANS New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Congress party president Sonia Gandhi's daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has not yet given her consent to campaign in Uttar Pradesh, though the party is hopeful she will agree to their request, party Rajya Sabha MP and Uttar Pradesh Congress Campaign Committee chairman Sanjay Singh said on Saturday. "We have been requesting her to campaign for a long time now. We are hopeful that she will give her consent to campaign," Singh told IANS. "And when she gives her consent, we'll let everyone know the plan," he added. "As of now, she has not said 'yes'..But we are confident that she will agree." Asked about media reports saying that Priyanka will play a "major role" in Uttar Pradesh assembly polls next year, he said: "I am not saying it is 'incorrect or correct'." However, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar had on Friday told media: "It has been decided that she will campaign for the party in the state. She has accepted our request to campaign. Whenever we get her schedule, we will use her time accordingly." Priyanka and Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi attended the party's strategy meeting on Uttar Pradesh elections here on Friday. Priyanka had attended the party's strategy meeting on UP assembly elections in the past as well. Asked if anything has been finalised on the selection of candidates for the assembly polls in UP, Singh said: "The process is going on. Very soon we'll announce the list." "If it becomes necessary to announce anything, we will do it at that very moment," Singh said without giving further details. He also said that the next strategy meeting will be held after November 22. Asked about Congress' poll strategist Prashant Kishor's fate, Singh said that only party General Secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Ghulam Nabi Azad can comment on it. On November 21, party president Sonia Gandhi, Rahul and Priyanka will be in Allahabad to attend a photo exhibition on former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's life to mark her birth centenary celebrations. Priyanka Gandhi has so far confined her electoral campaigning to constituencies of her mother and brother Rahul Gandhi (Rae Bareli and Amethi). Congress has been out of power in Uttar Pradesh for over three decades. The party has also not won any major state assembly poll since its debacle in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. --IANS sid/rn/bg Sonia says Indira was mentor to her, takes veiled dig at rivals Delhi,National,Politics, Sat, 19 Nov 2016 IANS New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Praising the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for mentoring her, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Saturday took a veiled dig at political rivals, saying there are now leaders "willing to undermine the very foundations of national character in quest for shortcuts to greatness". Speaking at the Indira Gandhi centenary celebrations at the Vigyan Bhavan here, she said the former Prime Minister was not only her mother-in-law but also a mother, mentor and a guide to her. "Indira Gandhi was not a figure of history for me -- she was my mother-in-law. We lived under the same roof, shared joys and sorrows. It is from her that I learned about India, its culture and its values," Sonia Gandhi said. "It is from her that I imbibed my earliest political lessons. She was the Prime Minister of India, but to me she was a mother, a mentor and a friend. It was in my arms that she drew her last breath," the Congress leader recalled. "Before her (Indira Gandhi's) death, she declared, and I quote: 'Every drop of my blood will invigorate the nation'. And indeed it did," Sonia Gandhi said. "Her sacrifice in preserving a united, diverse and egalitarian India will be remembered. All the more so at a time when, in the quest for shortcuts to greatness, we find leaders willing to undermine the very foundations of our national character," she added. The Congress leader said: "Some dismissed her as weak and incapable. Others called her a tyrant. But with the trust of her countrymen, painstakingly won, and with her dedication to their cause, she went on to serve her people, sacrificing her very life." She said Indira Gandhi was an institution, a leader with the courage of conviction and nerves of steel, unflinching in the face of duty, resolute against all that was unjust. "She led our nation through the tumultuous battles of the 60s and 70s, never faltering in her dedication to the masses who gave her their complete trust," Sonia Gandhi said. "She faced economic crises, and prevailed. She managed the greatest refugee crisis in human history (in 1971). She refused to compromise on India's noble humanitarian traditions," she added. Sonia Gandhi said the then Prime Minister faced war with courage and determination, and her victory saw the triumph of democracy and the birth of a new nation, Bangladesh. "When powers that be abroad attempted to dictate terms to India, she stood up for what was right and was vindicated by history," the Congress President said. Sonia said her mother-in-law had a vision for India in the world of the 21st century. "But it was not a soulless vision that came at the cost of our pluralist diversity. She saw an India that will not follow blindly the path laid by the West. She saw it crafting its own future guided by its democratic and cultural ideals," she added. "Where others failed, she (Indira) wanted India to show the world the way. It made her mission doubly challenging, but Indira Gandhi was not a woman daunted by challenge," the Congress chief said. --IANS sid/tsb/bg Sea ice at record lows at poles: Report United States,Environment/Wildlife, Sat, 19 Nov 2016 IANS Washington, Nov 19 (IANS) Sea ice in the Arctic and Antarctic are at record lows this time of year, the first time since scientists began keeping track, a report revealed. "It looks like, since the beginning of October, that for the first time we are seeing both the Arctic and Antarctic sea ice running at record low levels," said Walt Meier, a research scientist with the Cryospheric Sciences Laboratory at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, who has tracked sea ice data going back to 1979, in the report on Friday. While record low sea ice is nothing new in the Arctic, this was a surprising turn of events for the Antarctic, the report said. Even as sea ice in the Arctic has seen a rapid and consistent decline over the past decade, its counterpart in the Southern Hemisphere has seen its extent increasing, CNN reported. While it is too early to know if the recent, rapid decline in Antarctic sea ice is going to be a regular occurrence like in the Arctic, it "certainly puts the kibosh on everyone saying that Antarctica's ice is just going up and up," Meier said. Temperatures in the Arctic have soared recently, and scientists are struggling to explain exactly why, and what the consequences will be. Air temperatures have been running more than 20 degrees Celsius above average. The water temperatures in the Arctic Ocean were also several degrees above average, which is an expected result of having less sea ice, CNN said. --IANS ksk Delhi constable stabs, seriously injures property dealer Delhi,National,Crime/Disaster/Accident, Sat, 19 Nov 2016 IANS New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) A property dealer was stabbed several times and critically injured by a constable here on Saturday following a heated argument over car parking, Delhi Police said. Police said the accused constable has been arrested. Victim Gajendra Pawar of Shahpur Jat in south Delhi has been admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) trauma centre. Pawar's elder brother is posted as Sub-Inspector in the Delhi Police. According to police, accused Suraj Bhan is a resident of Shahpur Jat area. Suraj stabbed Pawar in his left eye and chest after the arguments, leaving Pawar in a pool of blood, police said. He later fled the spot. --IANS rak-am/lok/tsb Facebook plans its first stock buyback United States,Technology,Business/Economy, Sat, 19 Nov 2016 IANS New York, Nov 19 (IANS) In a first since going public, Facebook is planning to buy back $6 billion in stock from shareholders beginning in the first quarter of of 2017, a document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission revealed. "Usually a stock buyback programme is a way to repay investors with cash currently sitting in the bank. Facebook does not offer a dividend and never has, but it does have $26 billion in cash and marketable securities, according to its latest earnings filing," RECODE reported on Friday. "Facebook might also feel its stock is undervalued and want to bring some of it back in-house. Either way, this is Facebook's first stock buyback to date," the report added. There are also reports about the resignation of Facebook's Chief Accounting Officer, Jas Athwal. After nine years, he will leave the company in mid-February. --IANS qd/ahm/ 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. From cutting the red ribbon to being in charge of red tape. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images In the less than two weeks since Donald Trumps victory in the presidential election, there have already been several news stories illustrating how Trumps new role will create conflicts of interest with his family businesses. The latest alarming example comes via the Washington Post, which reports that about 100 foreign diplomats packed into a junior ballroom at the new Trump International Hotel in D.C. this week to drink Trump brand Champagne and hear a sales pitch for the new hotel. Unsurprisingly, a chief topic of discussion among the attendees so soon after Trumps victory was, how are we going to build ties with the new administration, and one way to do that seemed more than clear: Believe me, all the delegations will go [to Trumps hotel], said one Middle Eastern diplomat who recently toured the hotel and booked an overseas visitor. The diplomat said many stayed away from the hotel before the election for fear of a Clinton backlash, but that now its the place to be seen. In interviews with a dozen diplomats, many of whom declined to be named because they were not authorized to speak about anything related to the next U.S. president, some said spending money at Trumps hotel is an easy, friendly gesture to the new president. Why wouldnt I stay at his hotel blocks from the White House, so I can tell the new president, I love your new hotel! Isnt it rude to come to his city and say, I am staying at your competitor? said one Asian diplomat. While business wasnt going so great at Trumps new hotel during the campaign, the propertys general manager, Mickael Damelincourt, reports that demand has now picked up, and the hotel is completely sold out for Trumps inauguration in January. Damelincourt also said he didnt think that the hotels connection to the future president was the reason for the surge, instead citing the hotels prime location and that other hotels are also doing good business in the area. Then again, the Trumps may not see the connection as a bad thing, as the New York Times reported on Saturday that Trumps new D.C. hotel could also take on an outsize role in the Trump administration since his children may stay there when they come to the nations capital, and there is chatter that it may supplant Blair House, which traditionally hosts foreign dignitaries visiting the president. This thinking should come as no surprise, considering how much money the Trump campaign managed to spend on Trump businesses over the past year. "I spent $5000 at your hotel last night and gave it five stars on Yelp" could wind up a diplomat's greeting to Trump https://t.co/cwiBt6RQch Hayes Brown (@HayesBrown) November 19, 2016 On average, diplomatic delegations spend millions of dollars a year for rooms and events at capital-area hotels, and the Post notes that there is no ethics rule that prevents corporations or foreign governments from spending heavily at Trump properties. Also, a Congressional Research Service analysis out last month indicated no legal requirement for a president to relinquish financial interests because of a conflict of interest, though, as the Times reported this week, Trump will have to make annual disclosures of his assets (starting in 2018), and he may need to be wary of the obscure Emoluments Clause in the Constitution, which prohibits any government official from taking payments or gifts from a foreign government, or even from sharing in profits in a company that has financial ties to a foreign government. Of course, very little is currently known about Trumps business ties due to his unprecedented refusal to release his tax returns during his presidential campaign. Trump also promised during his campaign that he would hand control of his businesses over to his children if he won the election, but that hasnt happened yet, and even if it does, ethics experts are doubtful such a move would be enough to prevent Trump from using the presidency to profit his familys businesses. The Trump Organization says the matter will be adequately addressed, but conflict-of-interest concerns have only been exacerbated by Trump naming his children to his transition team; the fact that Trumps daughter, Ivanka, attended the president-elects first meeting with another head of state on Thursday; and how Trump is reportedly interested in having Ivankas husband, Jared Kushner, become a senior advisor in the White House assuming thats not already illegal. And even just looking at the new hotel, it was also reported this week that the Trump International has launched its second lawsuit against Washington D.C. in an attempt to reduce its tax bill. In response to these concerns, a collection of watchdog groups wrote a letter to Trump this week urging him either to place his businesses in a real blind trust, which would hand management to an independent third party, or simply to liquidate his assets. There is also a social-media-fueled effort underway to pressure the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to conduct a bipartisan review of Trumps financials and apparent conflicts of interest. That call-in campaign has apparently overwhelmed the committees phone lines. Democrats in Congress are gearing up for a fight over Trumps conflicts of interest as well, according to Politico. Though, its a different story across the aisle, since a survey of lawmakers found only a smattering of support among rank-and-file Republicans for aggressive oversight into Trumps financial situation, and nearly every GOP leader approached for an interview on the topic hunkered down or tried to avoid comment. On the other hand, Richard Painter, the former chief ethics counsel to President George W. Bush, told ThinkProgress that just looking at the issue of diplomats staying at the Trump International in D.C., President Trump, unless he divests from the hotel, will already be violating the Constitutions Emoluments Clause the moment he takes office. There seems to be virtually no precedent for enforcing that clause, however, and it might be up to a competing hotel, should they be willing to risk the wrath of the White House, to sue Trump for violating the clause and stealing their business. Its either that or wait for Republicans in Congress to impeach Trump over the issue, and that will likely be a very, very long wait. This post was updated to include the New York Times Saturday reporting on how the Trumps may utilize the D.C. hotel, Politicos reporting on how Democrats in Congress intend to respond, and comments from a former Bush administration ethics lawyer. POTUS. Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images Its been less than five months since Donald Trump became commander-in-chief. But for the presidents detractors, its felt like centuries long medieval centuries chock-full of plague, illiteracy, and barbarians running roughshod through the ruins of the old republic. But we arent actually living in the dark ages (yet). So we might as well shed some light on what the barbarians have been up to. Trump has given progressives so many causes for fear and outrage, it can be difficult both practically and psychologically to keep on top of them all as they happen. To help you stay informed despite this challenge, Daily Intelligencer will provide regular inventories of Trumps assaults on civic norms, common decency, and/or liberal democracy. Here is a rundown of everything the president has done on that front in the period between April 28 (the date of our last edition of Terrifying Things) and June 9, arranged in rough order of each affronts apparent significance and severity. Prior editions can be found below. Fired the director of the FBI for failing to demonstrate personal loyalty to him. The president has the authority to fire the director of the FBI. But before last month, that authority had only been exercised once and in that case, Bill Clinton only fired William S. Sessions after a Justice Department investigation found him guilty of flagrant ethical violations. Historically, presidents have avoided firing the head of the FBI out of respect for federal law enforcements independence. After all, FBI directors serve ten-year terms precisely to ensure a measure of distance from the Oval Offices occupant. Respect for the rule of law has also, typically, prevented presidents from demanding the FBI directors personal loyalty; suggesting that he demonstrate that loyalty by dropping investigations into White House allies; and then firing the head of federal law enforcement for failing to honor such requests. But Donald Trump is not a typical president. And so, he did precisely that. The president did not give James Comey the opportunity to resign. Instead, the FBI director learned of his unemployment when his gaze drifted to a television monitor, in the middle of speech to bureau employees in Los Angeles. Comey laughed, and complimented the officers on a fairly funny prank. Then someone asked him to step into a nearby office. Meanwhile, the White House had the chutzpah to claim it had fired Comey because he had been unfair to (Crooked) Hillary Clinton during the investigation of her email server. Last October, Jeff Sessions had applauded Comeys handling of that investigation. But then, the attorney general had also recused himself from the Russia investiation and this did not stop him from advising the president to fire the man leading that inquiry. But the bizarre nature of Comeys ouster was far less significant than the reasons behind it. By all accounts including, to some extent, his own Trump seemed to view the FBI director as his private detective and/or PR representative. When the president accused Barack Obama of wiretapping his phone an allegation made on the basis of news articles that he had misread Trump was reportedly furious that Comey wouldnt publicly vouch for his baseless felony accusation. According to accounts from Comey and his associates, Trump asked the FBI director to drop an investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn; redirect the bureaus resources toward combating leaks to the press; and consider imprisoning journalists who report on classified information. According to the president himself, Comeys firing was the direct result of the FBI directors handling of the investigation into his campaign. When I decided to just do it, I said to myself, You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story, Trump told NBC Newss Lester Holt, contradicting the White Houses narrative and, arguably, confessing to obstruction of justice. Tried to intimidate his former FBI director into silence by threatening to release secret recordings of their conversations. After Comeys associates told the New York Times that Trump had demanded a loyalty pledge, the president sought to prove that he wasnt an amateur authoritarian, by tweeting this: James Comey better hope that there are no "tapes" of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 12, 2017 Encouraged Americas intelligence chiefs to undermine the FBIs Russia probe. Trump also, reportedly, asked Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats and CIA Director Mike Pompeo to kill the FBIs investigation into Comey for him. As the Washington Post reported: On March 22, less than a week after being confirmed by the Senate, Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats attended a briefing at the White House together with officials from several government agencies. As the briefing was wrapping up, Trump asked everyone to leave the room except for Coats and CIA Director Mike Pompeo. The president then started complaining about the FBI investigation and Comeys handling of it, said officials familiar with the account Coats gave to associates. Two days earlier, Comey had confirmed in a congressional hearing that the bureau was probing whether Trumps campaign coordinated with Russia during the 2016 race. At a Senate Intelligence Hearing this week, Coats was asked whether the president had ever requested that he encourage Comey to back off the FBIs investigation of Flynn. I dont believe its appropriate for me to address that in a public session, Coats said. Undermined international cooperation on climate change and Americas credibility on the world stage out of mindless spite. The Trump administration was always going to sabotage the Paris climate accord. You cant put a climate-change denier in charge of the EPA without jeopardizing the international communitys collective commitment to curbing emissions. Still, there were more and less destructive ways for the president to go about expediting the onset of ecological catastrophe. Since the Paris agreement is non-binding, and allows its signatories to set their own emissions targets, Trump could have rolled back Obamas Clean Power Plan, slashed funding for renewable energy, and, heck, established a tax credit to incentive rolling coal all without forcing the United States to join Syria and Nicaragua at the climate-pariahs table. In fact, by remaining in the agreement, Trump may have been better able to advance the interests of the American energy industry, which must compete in foreign markets, and, thus, comply with international regulations. Big Oil implored Trump to remain in the agreement for precisely this reason. But keeping the U.S. in the agreement would have made it harder for Trump to damage our nations credibility as a diplomatic player; cede moral authority to Beijing; make Steve Bannon smile; and, most critically, perform his independence from globalists in a jingoistic Rose Garden speech, full of demagogic lies about how our European allies had used climate change as an excuse to steal our nations wealth. In the end, giving a middle finger to Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel and validation to his partys most reactionary billionaires and troglodytic info-warriors proved more important to the president than anything else. Mendaciously accused Londons first Muslim mayor of being indifferent to terrorism, hours after a terrorist attack in London. When news first broke of the attack at London Bridge last Saturday, the president of the United States retweeted an unsubstantiated report from Matt Drudge; reiterated his call for banning immigration from several Muslim countries; and suggested that a low-casualty attack committed by men with knives somehow validated his opposition to gun control. He also, briefly, expressed solidarity with the people of London. Whatever the United States can do to help out in London and the U. K., we will be there - WE ARE WITH YOU. GOD BLESS! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 3, 2017 The morning after the attack, London mayor Sadiq Khan told his constituents that they shouldnt be alarmed if they see an increased police presence in the city, as the mobilization of law enforcement was strictly precautionary. Shortly thereafter, Trump ostensibly decided that the best way for him to help out would be to take Khans words out of context, and suggest that Londons first Muslim mayor views terrorist attacks with blithe indifference. At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is "no reason to be alarmed!" Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2017 When reporters and politicians on both sides of the Atlantic dared to note the context of Khans remarks, Trump doubled down on his attack. Pathetic excuse by London Mayor Sadiq Khan who had to think fast on his "no reason to be alarmed" statement. MSM is working hard to sell it! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 5, 2017 Trump has said things so patently dishonest, they undermine the very concept of objective reality. He has made dog-whistle appeals to anti-Muslim animus that validate the worldviews of white supremacists and ISIS militants alike. And he has crassly exploited public tragedies to stoke fears of vulnerable minority groups. In his tweet about Khan, Trump managed to do all three. Shared highly classified Israeli intelligence with a core ally of Israels top geopolitical foe. The president does not like homework. In deference to this fact, national security officials have tried to condense Trumps briefings to single-page lists of bullet points. But even these test his patience. And so, Trump tends to wing his high-level diplomatic meetings, deciding what is or is not wise to say to his counterparts on a whim. On the morning after firing James Comey, Trump deemed it prudent to tell Russias ambassador and foreign minister that his former FBI director was a nut job whose departure would take great pressure off of him. Then, he decided to let the Kremlin in on the hot new ISIS gossip. Specifically, Trump shared highly classified intelligence that Israel had provided to the United States, on the condition that it not be shared without Israeli permission. Trumps disclosure was so detailed, Putins regime could plausibly deduce the sources and methods that Israel had used to produce it. This was alarming to Israel, since Russia is a top ally of its enemies in Tehran. And it was also alarming to U.S. intelligence officials, since Trumps violation of Israels trust threatens to jeopardize intelligence-sharing agreements on which the American spy state depends. Then, accidentally, publicly confirmed that he had done so. Still, when Trump arrived in Jerusalem, no one in the U.S. or Israeli government had publicly confirmed that he had spilled Israels beans. Best to retain official ambiguity, the two governments ostensibly reasoned, even if extensive reporting made Trumps unauthorized disclosure difficult to deny. But then some Israeli journalists shouted questions about the matter at the end of a Trump-Netanyahu photo op and the president decided to defend himself by accidentally, implicitly confirming that hed let Russia in on the Jewish states secrets. Just so you understand, Trump said,just so you understand I never mentioned the word or the name Israel in conversation. Never mentioned it. His comments just confirmed it was Israel something no U.S official had admitted!! https://t.co/duwH9S6sEI Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) May 22, 2017 Abandoned an alliance with a longtime Middle East ally over Twitter. Donald Trump went to Saudi Arabia last month with the goals of securing a lucrative arms sale for Americas weapons manufacturers, and winning a commitment from the leaders of the Arab World to cease abetting Islamic extremism. Or, more precisely: Trump went to Riyadh with the goal of appearing to do those things. The presidents disinterest in actually cracking down state sponsors of terrorism was reflected in his silence about the Saudis role in financing the spread of Wahhabism. And his contentment to project the appearance of a diplomatic breakthrough over an actual one was confirmed by the ersatz nature of his $110 billion arms deal. Shortly after Trump left, the Saudis decided to exploit the presidents indifference to reality. Riyadh organized a blockade against Qatar, on the grounds that Doha was uniquely guilty of aiding terrorist groups in the Middle East. In truth, the Saudis actions are rooted in a long-standing regional rivalry with Qatar, and resentment of Dohas occasional openness to engaging with Iran. But Trump proved powerless to resist an opportunity to declare his own success. So good to see the Saudi Arabia visit with the King and 50 countries already paying off. They said they would take a hard line on funding... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 6, 2017 ...extremism, and all reference was pointing to Qatar. Perhaps this will be the beginning of the end to the horror of terrorism! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 6, 2017 These were problematic tweets. Qatar is an ally of the United States one that is allowing the U.S. to run its air operations over Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Afghanistan from a giant military base outside Doha. Trump, who has claimed to know more about ISIS than the generals, seems to have been ignorant of this fact when he disavowed Qatar over Twitter. MSNBC reporting White House sources says Trump "may not have known" the US has troops based in Qatar. Simon Marks (@SimonMarksFSN) June 8, 2017 Praised a foreign leader for his policy of sanctioning the extrajudicial killings of thousands of suspected drug dealers and users. Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte is a self-avowed murderer, whose regime has encouraged police and vigilante gangs to exterminate whomever they deem to be drug dealers. Trump had already displayed a malign indifference to this policy, praising Dutertes leadership and inviting him to visit the White House (over the outraged objections of human rights groups and U.S. senators). But last month, we learned that in a late-April phone call with Duterte, Trump praised his counterpart specifically for treating a public-health problem with mass murder. I just wanted to congratulate you because I am hearing of the unbelievable job on the drug problem, Trump told Duterte, according to a transcript obtained by the Intercept. Many countries have the problem, we have a problem, but what a great job you are doing and I just wanted to call and tell you that. Released a budget with a $2 trillion math error. The White Houses official budget dramatically increases military spending; maintains Medicare and Social Security retirement benefits at their current levels; radically reduces taxes on the rich; and, according to the Trump administration, balances the federal budget within ten years. If that last point strikes you as mathematically incompatible with the previous ones, then you may be too numerate to work in the Trump administration. The White House budget director Mick Mulvaney did his best to resolve Trumpisms fiscal contradictions. The Trump budget proposes cuts to to federal agencies and anti-poverty programs so draconian, multiple Republicans declared them dead on arrival. Unfortunately for Mulvaney (and Americas poor), the United States spends very little money on feeding, clothing, and housing its least fortunate. And so, the White House was forced to repeal the laws of arithmetic. The Trump budget (baselessly) assumes that his enormous supply-side tax cut will pay for itself, by generating $2 trillion in growth-induced revenue gains. It also assumes that the estate tax will generate $328 billion in revenue over the next decade, even though the White Houses official tax plan abolishes that revenue stream. But even with the supply-side voodoo and Schrodingers death tax, the Trump budget still comes $2 trillion shy of balancing. And so, it just counts the $2 trillion thats supposed to pay for its tax cuts a second time. Mulvaney later justified this apparent error by saying, I wouldnt take whats in the budget as indicative of what our proposals are. Shoved the prime minister of Montenegro out of his way, so that he could stand at the front of a group of NATO leaders. Disputed the Office of Government Ethicss legal authority to oversee government ethics. In one of his first official acts as president, Donald Trump signed an executive order prohibiting all lobbyists and industry lawyers hired as political appointees from working on issues that involve their former clients. Trump proceeded to appoint dozens of lobbyists and industry lawyers to positions throughout the government, granting many of them special waivers allowing them to work on issues that involve their former clients. By itself, this sequence of moves was not wholly unusual. The Obama administration did allow some ex-lobbyists to flout its own, very similar ethics rule. But any time the Democratic administration provided such a waiver, it automatically published a detailed explanation as to why an exception was being made. These justifications typically cited the unique skill set of the individual in question, and/or the fact that the individuals new responsibilities would only bring her into peripheral contact with her former employers interests. Trump, by contrast, has not only failed to offer a public justification for his waivers, but also neglected to disclose which members of his staff have received waivers, and which have not. Without such information, its impossible for the Office of Government Ethics to know who is and is not flouting the administrations own ethics rule. So, the OGE asked all federal agencies (including the White House) to provide a copy of every ethics waiver theyve issued by June 1. The office has clear legal authority to request such information. In fact, data requests are OGEs primary tool for providing ethical oversight. However, the office does not have the power to take enforcement actions against agencies that refuse to honor its requests. Which is to say: The OGEs capacity to police federal ethics has always depended on norms of cooperation, not legal powers. And the Trump administration has little use for norms. This data call appears to raise legal questions regarding the scope of O.G.E.s authorities, Trumps director of the Office of Management and Budget Mick Mulvaney wrote in a letter to the ethics office. I therefore request that you stay the data call until these questions are resolved. Allowed the Justice Department to prosecute a woman for laughing at Jeff Sessions. At the attorney generals confirmation hearing in January, Alabama senator Richard Shelby claimed that Jeff Sessionss history of treating all Americans equally under the law is clear and well-documented. Shelbys claim made Code Pink activist Desiree Fairooz laugh. This was a wholly appropriate response: Jeff Sessionss history of treating African-Americans unequally is clear and well-documented. Federal prosecutors decided that Fairoozs laugh amounted to willful disorderly and disruptive conduct intended to impede, disrupt, and disturb the orderly conduct of congressional proceedings. She was prosecuted and convicted, and may soon find herself in jail. Knowingly hired a paid agent of the Turkish government as his national security adviser. Last month, we learned that Michael Flynn informed the Trump administration that he was under investigation for secretly lobbying on behalf of Turkish interests and the president decided to appoint him to one of the most powerful national security posts in the government, anyway. Flynn then used his short time in office to veto a plan for retaking the Islamic States de facto capital, despite the plans strong support from the Pentagon and Obama administration. The operation would have involved partnership with Syrian Kurdish forces a prospect vehemently opposed by Turkeys government, for domestic political reasons. Signed Yad Vashems Book of Remembrance as though it were a middle-school yearbook. The Trump administration is awkward about the Holocaust. On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the White House released a statement that didnt mention Jews. Its press secretary once argued that Adolf Hitlers use of chemical weapons was less outrageous than Bashar al-Assads, because at least the former never used poison gas on his own people (Hitler only used that stuff at his Holocaust centers, Sean Spicer explained). So, it wasnt terribly surprising that Trump refused to allot more than 15 minutes for his trip to Yad Vashem, Israels Holocaust museum. Nor was it unexpected that his inscription in the museums book of remembrance would be less than moving. But it was still a bit odd that he signed said document as though it were the guest book at a bar mitzvah. This is @realDonaldTrump's message in Yad Vashem's Book of Remembrance. "So amazing + will NEVER FORGET!" (He forgot: "See you next summer") pic.twitter.com/XcGbR88PXV Raoul Wootliff (@RaoulWootliff) May 23, 2017 As Times of Israel reporter Raoul Wootliff notes, Barack Obama struck a slightly different note during his trip to Yad Vashem. For context - this is Obama's message during his presidential visit in 2013 pic.twitter.com/cpYOXgX5w8 Raoul Wootliff (@RaoulWootliff) May 23, 2017 PREVIOUS ENTRIES: (March 28 through April 28) Baselessly accused President Obamas national security adviser of committing a crime after his White House conspired with the head of the House Intelligence Committee to foment a false scandal. On Monday, March 20, James Comey revealed that the FBI was investigating ties between Donald Trumps campaign and the Russian government. A little over 24 hours later, the Republican tasked with leading the Houses investigation into Russian hacking, Devin Nunes, was invited onto the White House grounds. There, administration officials provided him with access to classified intelligence reports. And what Nunes saw shook him to the core. The contents of those reports were so alarming, the House Intelligence Committee chair brought them to publics attention the next day, even before sharing them with his fellow committee members. Nunes proceeded to personally brief the president an ostensible subject of his own investigation into Russian interference on what he had learned. These actions jeopardized the integrity of the Houses investigation. And they may also have constituted an unlawful disclosure of classified information. That latter issue, eventually, forced Nunes to step aside from his committees Russia inquiry. But all this was a small price to pay for bringing the terrible truth to the American public: Some members of the Trump transition team were incidentally surveilled when they contacted foreign agents who had already caught the eye of the American spy state. Granted, thats perfectly legal. But when private citizens have their communications incidentally collected, their identities are supposed to be masked in intelligence reports, unless there is intelligence value in unmasking them. And these reports revealed the names of Trump team members and did so unnecessarily, at least in Nuness opinion. Later, Bloomberg revealed that former national security adviser Susan Rice an official who has the legal authority to unmask names in intelligence reports ordered the unmasking of the names of Trump officials in some intelligence reports. Conservative media outlets heralded this news as a vindication of Trumps claim that Barack Obama had wiretapped his phones during the 2016 election, even though Nuness darkest insinuations did not vindicate a single detail of that claim. The White House declared itself shocked and awed: Nunes hadnt merely uncovered a scandal far greater than alleged collusion between a presidential campaign and a hostile foreign government but one bigger than that which took down Nixon. Watergate was a little spat in the sandbox in the kindergarten compared to what Susan Rice had done, White House aide Sebastian Gorka told Fox News. The president suggested that Rice had committed a crime, insisting that he would share supporting evidence for that allegation at the right time. And then, House members not named Devin Nunes were finally given access to the incriminating documents: After a review of the same intelligence reports brought to light by House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes, both Republican and Democratic lawmakers and aides have so far found no evidence that Obama administration officials did anything unusual or illegal, multiple sources in both parties tell CNN One congressional intelligence source described the requests made by Rice as normal and appropriate for officials who serve in that role to the president. Anonymous intelligence sources told the New Yorkers Ryan Lizza a more detailed version of the same story: What the intercepts all had in common is that the people being spied on made references to Donald Trump or to Trump officials. That wasnt even clear, though, from reading the transcriptsThe Trump names remain masked in the documents, and Rice would not have been able to know in all cases that she was asking the N.S.A. to unmask the names of Trump officials. The intelligence source told me that he knows, from talking to people in the intelligence community, that the White House said, We are going to mobilize to find something to justify the Presidents tweet that he was being surveilled. They put out an all-points bulletina call to sift through intelligence reportsand said, We need to find something that justifies the Presidents crazy tweet about surveillance at Trump Tower. And Im telling you there is no way you get that from those transcripts, which are about as plain vanilla as can be. If Lizzas reporting is true and, as of this writing, no outlet has published anything to contradict it then the White House leaked and misrepresented classified intelligence material so as to validate a presidential tweet, and disrupt the Houses investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Then, on the basis of those misrepresentations, the president publicly suggested that the previous administrations national security adviser was a criminal. But the most shocking aspect of the whole faux surveillance-scandal saga may be this: The Trump White House produces novel outrages at such a frenetic clip, an apparent conspiracy between the Executive branch and a high-ranking member Congress to mislead the public and defame the previous administration dropped out of news cycle days after it was reported. On the 96th day of his presidency, unveiled a tax-reform plan that was less detailed than the blueprint he had campaigned on. After three months in office, most presidents have at least introduced if not passed multiple pieces of major legislation. Trump failed to secure so much as a House vote for Paul Ryans health-care plan. And the administration has yet to even translate its second priority the one that the White House planned to take the lead on and that nobody knows more than Donald Trump about into a proposal more substantial than the presidents detail-less campaign plan. This week, the administration tried to pretend otherwise. Anxious to demonstrate progress ahead of his 100th day, Trump blindsided his advisers by promising that his tax package would be unveiled on Wednesday of this week. The presidents budget director, Mick Mulvaney, had said that it might be June before the administration released a detailed plan, and that even broad principles would likely be weeks away. But in a reality stars White House, optics trump policy. And so the administration scrambled to put together a broad outline of its vision to radically reform the worlds largest national economy. The result was as audaciously regressive as expected. Trumps proposal amounted to a blueprint for a raid on the federal treasury one that would deliver the lions share of its spoils to the wealthiest individuals and businesses in the United States, while tossing a few bucks in hush money to the witnesses in the middle class. And almost no one would stand to benefit more from this heist than the president himself: By abolishing the Alternative Minimum Tax, repealing the Estate Tax, and slashing the top rate on pass-through businesses to 15 percent, Trump stands to gain tens of millions of dollars from his reform while his children are poised to gain multiple billion. Less ethically dubious, but decidedly more surprising, was how bereft of substance the plan was. At the proposals unveiling, National Economic Council director Gary Cohn and Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin said, over and over, how much time and effort the administration had put into tax reform. And then, they handed out a less substantive version of the plan Trump campaigned on last fall. The administrations proposal included virtually no ideas for how to offset the multitrillion dollar hole its regressive tax cuts would generate. It did not explain how the administration plans to prevent high-income individuals from abusing the new pass-through rate by reframing their salaries as business income. Instead, the plan merely stipulates that a subsequent version will definitely solve that problem. Most stunningly, the plan calls for consolidating Americas seven income-tax brackets into three, but doesnt propose any specific income bands for those brackets. In one sense, this incompetence may be comforting. Trumps ambitions for tax reform are repugnant to all but the small minority of Americans who believe that income and wealth are distributed too equally in this country. If the White House is incapable of actually developing their plan into a coherent, politically tenable piece of legislation, perhaps thats all for the best. But at some point in the next four years, Americans of all ideological stripes are going to be invested in the competence of their countrys Executive branch. In the wake of a natural disaster or economic crisis, blue America will not benefit from the White Houses ineptitude. And this weeks tax-reform presentation suggests that this administration is more inept than many of its harshest critics ever realized. Threatened to sabotage Americas insurance markets as a means of coercing Democrats into voting for his plan to finance a large tax cut for the rich by throwing millions off of Medicaid. Earlier this month, Trump announced that he planned to use the powers of his office to jeopardize health-care access for millions of low-income people, while destabilizing Americas insurance markets because he believed that voters would blame the ensuing chaos on the Democratic Party, leaving Chuck Schumer desperate to negotiate with the White House over Obamacare repeal. As the Wall Street Journal reported: In an interview in the Oval Office, Mr. Trump said the White House may lack authority to make the payments established under his predecessor to reduce copayments and deductibles for some of the poorest customers who buy insurance under the 2010 Affordable Care Act. Cutting off the payments could trigger turmoil in insurance markets. I dont want people to get hurt, Mr. Trump said. What I think should happenand will happenis the Democrats will start calling me and negotiating. There were a couple obvious problems with Trumps gambit: (1) The presidents hostage and his ransom were the same thing: He threatened to cut off health-insurance subsidies for poor people if Democrats didnt vote for his health-care plan, which significantly reduces health-insurance subsidies for poor people. (2) It would be hard to convince the public to blame Democrats for Obamacares destruction, after you publicly declared your intention to destroy Obamacare so that people would blame the Democrats for what you did. And, in fact, polls suggest that large majorities of Americans would blame Trump for anything bad that happens to the American health-care system under his watch. As of this writing, the president appears to have discerned these facts, and promised to continue the Obamacare payments, at least for now. But the fact that the president mulled deliberately hurting his constituents for (wholly imaginary) partisan gain is unnerving. Said he was absolutely considering breaking up the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. On Wednesday, a federal district court judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from enforcing its (essentially toothless) executive order denying federal funds to so-called sanctuary cities. Weeks earlier, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals had struck down Trumps travel ban. And so, when the president heard that another one of his executive orders had been repudiated by the Judicial branch, he didnt waste time reading an actual news report on the details of the ruling he already knew which court was responsible. First the Ninth Circuit rules against the ban & now it hits again on sanctuary cities-both ridiculous rulings. See you in the Supreme Court! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 26, 2017 Out of our very big country, with many choices, does everyone notice that both the "ban" case and now the "sanctuary" case is brought in ... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 26, 2017 ...the Ninth Circuit, which has a terrible record of being overturned (close to 80%). They used to call this "judge shopping!" Messy system. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 26, 2017 Of course, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals did not, in fact, rule on the sanctuary cities order (courts of appeals tend to prefer to rule on, well, appeals). But that didnt stop Trump from telling the Washington Examiner that he had absolutely looked into breaking up the 9th Circuit Court, noting, There are many people that want to break up the 9th Circuit. Its outrageous. Typically, respect for the separation of powers prevents presidents from threatening to disband courts that rule against them (while respect for objective reality prevents presidents from criticizing courts for rulings that they never actually made). But Donald Trump is not a typical president. Decided to upend the North American economy to win a desired headline then changed his mind when he was informed that people who voted for him would be among those most adversely impacted by such a measure. Earlier this week, Trump was readying plans to announce Americas withdrawal from the North American Free Trade Agreement. This decision was inspired by the presidents desire to be able to announce he was making good on a major campaign promise during a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on Saturday night, his 100th day in office, White House advisers told the New York Times. You know I was really ready and psyched to terminate NAFTA, Trump told Reuters. I was all set to terminate I looked forward to terminating. I was going to do it. But just before the president ripped up the foundation governing $1.3 trillion in annual trade flows, his advisers suggested that he first consider the economic consequences of such an action. [Agriculture Secretary Sonny] Perdue even brought along a prop to the Oval Office: A map of the United States that illustrated the areas that would be hardest hit, particularly from agriculture and manufacturing losses, and highlighting that many of those states and counties were Trump country communities that had voted for the president in November. It shows that I do have a very big farmer base, which is good, Trump recalled. They like Trump, but I like them, and Im going to help them. And, thus, NAFTA was saved. That Trump considered radically disrupting economic and diplomatic relations on the North American continent without giving much thought to either is discomfiting. But his rationale for scrapping that idea is, too. On the night of his election, Trump promised every citizen of our land that I will be president for all Americans. Now, he has publicly suggested that he makes policy decisions not on the basis of what would be best for the United States, but rather, what would benefit that portion of the country that likes him. Refused to turn over documents on his first national security advisers financial relationships with foreign governments, despite requests from the House Oversight Committee. Michael Flynns tenure as national security adviser was cut short by revelations that he had misled Vice-President Pence about the nature of his conversations with the Russian ambassador. Weeks after his departure, Flynn acknowledged that he had been on the payroll of the Turkish government while serving as a top surrogate and adviser to Trumps campaign even as the GOP standard-bearer accused his rival of making pay-to-play arrangements with foreign governments. Weeks after that, news broke that Flynn had neglected to list three Russia-linked sources of income including $45,000 in speaking fees from the Kremlin-backed RT news network in his legally required White House ethics forms. Both of those actions appear to have contravened federal law, House Oversight Committee chair Jason Chaffetz told reporters this week. As a former general, Flynn was required to seek the governments permission before accepting payments from a foreign government. Then, after accepting the foreign payments, Flynn had a legal obligation to disclose them fully before taking a job with the Trump administration. To further its investigation into Flynns apparent misconduct, the Oversight Committee asked the White House for access to Flynns security clearance paperwork, receipts from payments he received from foreign governments, and other documents related to the hiring and firing of the former national security adviser. The Trump administration has refused to honor a single one of those requests, informing the committee that it was unable to provide the desired documents, as some of the papers were not in its custody or control while others were likely to contain classified information. The White House has refused to provide this committee with a single piece of paper, the committees ranking Democrat Elijah Cummings said Tuesday. And that is simply unacceptable. Allowed the State Departments website to advertise his Florida resort. Donald Trumps Florida resort has amply monetized its owners newfound public power. The clubs annual membership fee has doubled since Election Day, while the president has used virtually every major meeting with a foreign dignitary as an occasion to showcase his for-profit business. And for a brief period this month, the State Department even advertised Trumps resort on one of its official, government webpages. The page offered a triumphalist version of the propertys history one in which the resorts former owner, cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post, had always dreamed that her home would be used as a vacation spot for American presidents. Posts dream of a winter White House came true with Trumps election in 2016, the government website explained. The page was quickly removed following public complaints. When measured against Trumps other outrages, this incident may appear unremarkable. But if one measures it against precedent instead and imagines how the public would have reacted to Barack Obama plugging Dreams From My Father as recommended summer reading on the Education Departments official website the absurd impropriety of the thing becomes stark. Had his daughter meet with the Chinese president the same day that her company won trademarks from the Chinese government. On April 6, White House adviser Ivanka Trumps company won three trademarks from the Chinese government. That night, she dined with the Chinese president at her fathers resort. Shortly thereafter, president Trump announced that China was not actually a currency manipulator, and was really, probably, doing all it could to pressure North Korea over the latters nuclear program dizzying reversals from the administrations previous positions. There was a time when the mere appearance of corruption was considered an intolerable affront to our democracy. Referred to several different North Korean leaders as this gentleman. In the early 1990s, Bill Clinton negotiated a deal to curb North Koreas nuclear program with the nations dictator Kim Il-Sung. That deal was signed in October 1994, after Il-Sungs death had brought his son, Kim Jong-il to power. In 2011, Jong-il died, and his son, Kim Jong-un became North Koreas leader. Our president is, apparently, unaware of this basic history: Recently, Trump gave an interview to Fox News in which he suggested that North Korea has had the same leader for more than two decades: I hope things work out well. I hope theres going to be peace, but you know, theyve been talking with this gentleman for a long time. You read Clintons book, he said, Oh we made such a great peace deal, and it was a joke. You look at different things over the years with President Obama. Everybodys been outplayed, theyve all been outplayed by this gentleman and well see what happens. But I just dont telegraph my moves. To be fair to Trump, its possible that he believes the soul of the Supreme Leader is indivisible and eternal passing from father-to-son at the moment of the formers death, such that the gentleman in power remains forever the same. But whether Trump lapsed into momentary ignorance of basic North Korean history or believes that Kim Jong-un is a kind of deity the mogul probably isnt the ideal commander-in-chief for America to have, as Pyongyang creeps closer to possessing a nuclear missile capable of reaching the coast of California. Praised a cable-news anchor who was fired for serial sexual harassment, days after declaring April National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. One day after Trump made his declaration, the New York Times reported that Bill OReilly and Fox News had, together, paid out $13 million settling sexual-harassment claims against the host. Four days after that, the president expressed his disappointment in OReilly for giving those lying, gold-diggers a single cent. I think hes a person I know well he is a good person, Trump told the New York Times. I think he shouldnt have settled; personally I think he shouldnt have settled Because you should have taken it all the way. I dont think Bill did anything wrong. Granted, Trumps remarks probably did raise awareness of how and why certain perpetrators of sexual crimes can escape comeuppance for so long. ______________________ (February 28 through March 28) Baselessly accused his predecessor of illegally wiretapping his phones. (February 28 through March 28) Baselessly accused his predecessor of illegally wiretapping his phones. (February 28 through March 28) Baselessly accused his predecessor of illegally wiretapping his phones. On the first Saturday of this month, President Trump announced that Barack Obama had personally wiretapped his phones during the final month of the 2016 campaign. Terrible! Just found out that Obama had my "wires tapped" in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 4, 2017 How low has President Obama gone to tapp my phones during the very sacred election process. This is Nixon/Watergate. Bad (or sick) guy! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 4, 2017 The president later revealed that this extraordinary allegation was based entirely on publicly available news reports none of which actually supported the substance of his claim. Asked by Tucker Carlson how he came to discover that his predecessor had spied on him, Trump cited a New York Times article that did have the words wiretapped data in its headline. But the story was about intelligence agencies monitoring Russian officials and how, through that regular surveillance, they may have discovered contacts between those officials and Trump associates. The article says nothing about Trump Tower being surveilled, let alone about Obama wiretapping Donald Trump himself. Despite Trumps tacit admission that his claim was baseless, he continued to insist on its accuracy even after his allegation was rebuked by the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, Bill OReilly, The Wall Street Journal editorial page, and the FBI. It is unprecedented in modern times for a president to publicly accuse his predecessor of seeking to illegally undermine the democratic process let alone to do so on the basis of nothing but a paranoid hunch. Allowed his White House to defame the intelligence agency of a core U.S. ally for the sake of defending the infallibility of his tweets. Eventually, the presidents inability to admit he was wrong on the internet sparked a diplomatic spat with the United Kingdom. The crisis seems to have been generated by a glaring contradiction facing Trumps defenders: On the one hand, the president claimed that his wiretap allegation shouldnt be taken literally, and that news reports about the Obama administration legally investigating his campaigns Russia ties should be taken as proof that he was right. On the other hand, the White House had previously denied the existence of such an investigation and suggested that reports to the contrary were fake news. In other words: The Trump administration didnt want to admit that the president made a bad tweet. But it also didnt want to admit that American intelligence agencies had found cause to investigate ties between the president and Russia. And then, a Fox News hosts conspiracy theory provided Sean Spicer with a way to square the circle. Three intelligence sources have informed Fox News that President Obama went outside the chain of command, the White House press secretary told reporters, quoting, verbatim, from the commentary of Judge Andrew Napolitano, a conservative pundit who has claimed that the government concealed what really happened on 9/11. He didnt use the NSA, he didnt use the CIA, he didnt use the FBI, and he didnt use the Department of Justice. He used GCHQ. What is that? Its the initials for the British intelligence-finding agency. Obama deputized the redcoats! Apparently, Spicer was so taken by how elegantly this reconciled the presidents contradictory claims, it didnt occur to him that accusing a core allys intelligence service of participating in the illegal surveillance of an American presidential candidate might not sit well with said ally. Recent allegations made by media commentator Judge Andrew Napolitano about GCHQ being asked to conduct wiretapping against the then president-elect are nonsense, GCHQ said in a rare public statement. They are utterly ridiculous and should be ignored. The White House then promised the British government that it would not accuse GCHQ of wiretapping Donald Trump ever again, according to U.K. prime minister Theresa Mays official spokesman. Later, Trump defended the propriety of his press secretarys slander of our ally. We said nothing. All we did was quote a certain very talented legal mind who was the one responsible for saying that on television, the president told reporters. That was a statement made by a very talented lawyer on Fox, so you shouldnt be talking to me, you should be talking to Fox. To be clear: The president of the United States argued that its perfectly appropriate for the White House to spread conspiracy theories that implicate close allies so long as a 9/11 truther on Fox News spread them first. Suggested that being wiretapped by Barack Obama was the one thing he and the prime minister of Germany had in common. At a press conference with Angela Merkel, a German reporter asked Trump whether it was a mistake to blame British intelligence for wiretapping him. Instead of conceding this point, the president decided to remind the world of a recent diplomatic crisis between the United States and Germany. As far as wiretapping, I guess, by this past administration, at least we have something in common, perhaps, Trump said, gesturing to Merkel. Wow. Trump to Merkel about alleged wiretapping by Obama: At least we have something in common, perhaps. She appears to be very confused. pic.twitter.com/la4p9ZJGvo Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) March 17, 2017 Documents released by WikiLeaks in 2015 suggested that Americas National Security Agency (NSA) had tapped phone calls by the German chancellor and her closest advisers for years. Gave his daughter an office in the White House and a security clearance while keeping her immune from conflict-of-interest laws. Last month, the president used his bully pulpit to upbraid a private company for dropping his daughters fashion line. Now, hes giving that daughter an office at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and access to classified national-security information. Ivanka Trump will, effectively, be a full-time White House staffer. However, she will not receive a salary or formal title, and, thus, wont be bound by federal conflict-of-interest laws. Ivanka claims that she will honor those rules anyway. But as Obamas former ethics czar Norm Eisen told Politico, If she can voluntarily subject herself to the rules, she can voluntarily un-subject herself to the rules. Allowed his budget director to argue that cutting funding to Meals on Wheels is probably one of the most compassionate things we can do. President Trumps proposed budget would increase defense spending by $54 billion while slashing funding for medical research, climate science, public housing, education, aid to the indigent, development grants for poor and rural areas, infrastructure, and many, many other things. Shortly after the proposal went public, the White Houses budget director, Mick Mulvaney, explained that these changes were inspired by one simple question: Can we ask the taxpayer to pay for this? Mulvaney then explained that, while he could ask a coal miner in West Virginia or a single mother in Detroit to pay for an increase in defense spending, he couldnt justify taking their money to finance public broadcasting. At a White House press briefing hours later, CNNs Jim Acosta asked Mulvaney to address some of the tensions in this rationale. Just to follow up on that, you were talking about the steelworker in Ohio, coal worker in Pennsylvania, but they may have an elderly mother who depends on the Meals on Wheels program or who may have kids in Head Start, Acosta said. Yesterday, or the day before, you described this as a hard-power budget. Is it also a hardhearted budget? No, I dont think so, Mulvaney replied. I think its probably one of the most compassionate things we can do. To cut programs that help the elderly and kids? Acosta asked, incredulously. Youre only focusing on half of the equation, right? Youre focusing on the recipients of the money. Were trying to focus on both the recipients of the money and the folks who give us the money in the first place, Mulvaney explained. And I think its fairly compassionate to go to them and say, Look, were not gonna ask you for your hard-earned money, anymore, single mother of two in Detroit unless we can guarantee to you that that money is actually being used in a proper function. Mulvaney went on to explain that the key distinction between the Defense Department and the anti-poverty programs that Trump wishes to cut is that the latter have failed to show results. But for many a single mother in Detroit, funding for rental assistance, home energy aid, and food assistance deliver such results as keeping her family out of homelessness, her home warm in the winter, and her child well nourished. For many a resident of coal country, the Appalachian Regional Commission has provided desperately needed job training. Here is how Trump described the return on investment that the Pentagon has provided the American people, back when he was running for president. Weve spent $4 trillion trying to topple various people that, frankly, if they were there and if we could have spent that $4 trillion in the United States to fix our roads, our bridges, and all of the other problems our airports and all the other problems we have we would have been a lot better off, I can tell you that right now. I wish we had the 4 trillion dollars or 5 trillion dollars. I wish it were spent right here in the United States on schools, hospitals, roads, airports, and everything else that are all falling apart! Demanded the passage of a health-care bill that he, himself, admitted would hurt his own supporters. While campaigning for the presidency, Donald Trump promised to pass a new health-care law that would cover everyone; leave Medicaids funding untouched; and provide relief to the forgotten men and women of middle America. Shortly after taking the oath of office, Trump threw his support behind a bill that would have thrown 24 million Americans off their health insurance; cut funding for Medicaid by $880 billion; and drastically increased the cost of health care for older, low-income people in deep-red rural counties. Fox News host Tucker Carlson confronted Trump with that last finding. A Bloomberg analysis showed that counties that voted for you middle-class and working-class counties would do far less well under this bill than the counties that voted for Hillary, the more affluent counties, Carlson said. Oh, I know, Trump replied. But this is going to be negotiated. But in negotiations with House Republicans, Trump did not push for any changes that would have significantly ameliorated the negative effects he acknowledged. Instead, the president offered to make the bill even more draconian, so as to appease the tea-party hard-liners in the House Freedom Caucus. Whats more, Trump expressed utter indifference about the substance of the bill in those negotiations, arguing that what really mattered was that passing something would improve his chances for reelection, according to Politico: Forget about the little shit, Trump said, according to multiple sources in the room. Lets focus on the big picture here. The group of roughly 30 House conservatives, gathered around a mammoth, oval-shaped conference table in the Cabinet Room of the White House, exchanged disapproving looks. Trump wanted to emphasize the political ramifications of the bills defeat; specifically, he said, it would derail his first-term agenda and imperil his prospects for reelection in 2020. The lawmakers nodded and said they understood. And yet they were disturbed by his dismissiveness. For many of the members, the little shit meant the policy details that could make or break their support for the billand have far-reaching implications for their constituents and the country. Surely, Trump isnt the first president to ever champion a substantively flawed proposal for purely political reasons. But the scale of his nihilism is breathtaking. By all accounts, the president knew virtually nothing about the substance of his health-care law beyond the fact that it would violate some of his core campaign promises, while hurting millions of people and he demanded that lawmakers pass it, as an act of personal loyalty to him, anyway. Failed to staff nearly 2,000 vacant Executive branch positions. Trump is governing the worlds most powerful country with a skeleton crew. The presidents dysfunctional transition left him without a pool of nominees-in-waiting when he took the oath of office. Since then, Trumps incompetence combined with his aversion to hiring any Establishment Republican who opposed his campaign has allowed nearly 2,000 Executive branch positions to collect dust. As of mid-March, Trump had not nominated anyone for more than 500 top-tier administrative posts, making his transition the slowest in decades, according to the New York Times. Back in February, Trump tried to sell this dereliction of duty as an innovative act of cost cutting. A lot of those jobs, I dont want to appoint, because theyre unnecessary to have, Trump told Fox News. I say, What do all these people do? You dont need all those jobs. But the president has drafted no formal plan for cutting the vacant senior positions, and White House spokesperson Lindsay E. Walters told the Times earlier this month that Trump intended to fill them, eventually. For now, the executive offices at the State Department remain virtually empty. And the high-ranking civil servants who are in place have been largely ignored. As Julia Ioffe reported for The Atlantic: [M]any State staffers are surprised to find themselves on the outside. They really want to blow this place up, said the mid-level State Department officer. I dont think this administration thinks the State Department needs to exist. They think Jared [Kushner, Trumps son-in-law] can do everything. Its reminiscent of the developing countries where Ive served. The family rules everything, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs knows nothing. The White House lent credence to this claim on Monday, when it announced that in addition to being the administrations point man on trade deals, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and broader Middle East policy the presidents son-in-law will lead a new government office with sweeping authority to overhaul the federal bureaucracy and fulfill key campaign promises such as reforming care for veterans and fighting opioid addiction. Signed an Energy Independence Executive Order that will not make America more energy independent but will likely prevent America from honoring its international commitments to reduce carbon emissions. On Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order that began the process of reversing the Obama administrations Clean Power Plan, which would have required states to reduce their carbon emissions by decreasing their reliance on dirty energy sources, like coal. Trumps order also rescinds a temporary ban on new coal leases on federal land. The official goal of the law is to decrease Americas dependence on foreign energy, while reviving the long-suffering coal industry. But there is no rational basis for believing the measure will do either of those things. The United States does not import coal. Reducing regulations on carbon emissions will not allow America to replace foreign energy sources with domestic ones, but rather to prioritize dirty domestic energy sources over clean ones. This shift would do nothing to bolster Americans employment prospects. At present, solar companies employ twice as many Americans as the coal industry does. Whats more, Trumps executive order wont even have a significant impact on the economic fortunes of coal miners themselves. While the new order will keep older coal plants open for a few years longer, the mines that are staying open are using more mechanization theyre not hiring people, energy economist Robert W. Godby told the New York Times. So even if we saw an increase in coal production, we could see a decrease in coal jobs, Godby told the paper. Thus, the cost-benefit analysis on Trumps executive order is effectively this: On the plus side, coal magnates will enjoy a few more years of profits before natural gas, wind, and solar make their industry obsolescent. On the downside, it may very well accelerate the onset of an ecological catastrophe that threatens to drown major American cities in the next century. (February 11 through February 28) Declared the mainstream media the enemy of the American people. Trump and his administration have been waging a war on objective reality and those tasked with describing it from the moment he was sworn in. In his first appearance as White House press secretary, Sean Spicer demanded that reporters believe the presidents estimate of the size of his inaugural crowd over their own lying eyes. Trumps tumultuous (and not terribly productive) first month only widened the chasm between the presidents grandiose self-conception and what he sees reflected back at him in the mirror of the mainstream press. And this gap has produced evermore extreme attempts to nullify the Fourth Estate. In late January, chief White House strategist Steve Bannon branded the mainstream media the opposition party, and suggested that it keep its mouth shut and just listen for a while. Bannons remarks were widely described seen as outrageous; at a subsequent White House press briefing, Spicer distanced the administration from Bannons sentiments, saying, The press plays a very healthy role in democracy, no question about it. But last week, the president decried the media in terms far more inflammatory than even the former Breitbart mastermind had mustered. Trump did not have second thoughts about describing several of Americas leading journalistic institutions as enemies of its people. Nor did he subsequently evince concern for whether his rhetoric would inspire some Second Amendment people to defend the American people against its enemies through extralegal means. Instead, he reiterated his charge one week later, at the Conservative Political Action Conference. A few days ago I called the fake news the enemy of the people. And they are. They are the enemy of the people, Trump said. Because they have no sources, they just make em up when there are none Im against the people that make up stories and make up sources. Previously, the president had criticized the press for printing illegal leaks from anonymous government officials and suggested that those officials have often shared false information. But hed never before claimed that major newspapers were fabricating sources out of whole cloth and presenting works of fictions as reportage. Still, Trump insisted that he had no problem with the real media. Im not against the media. Im not against the press, Trump said. I am only against the fake-news media or press. He then lambasted the fake news media for failing to appreciate this nuance. Fake, the president said. Fake. They have to leave that word. On Friday afternoon, the White House appeared to put the presidents distinction into practice: When reporters from the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Politico, CNN, and other major mainstream outlets showed up for a scheduled, off-camera briefing from Sean Spicer, they were denied entry to the White House press secretarys office. Breitbart News, the Washington Times, and One America News Network were waved in. Spicer also welcomed some mainstream outlets, including erstwhile enemies of the people ABC and CBS. Reporters from Time magazine and the Associated Press were allowed in, but chose to boycott the briefing in protest of the other outlets exclusion. Nothing like this has ever happened at the White House in our long history of covering multiple administrations of different parties, Dean Baquet, the executive editor of the New York Times, said in a statement. We strongly protest the exclusion of The New York Times and the other news organizations. Free media access to a transparent government is obviously of crucial national interest. Held a nuclear strategy session in the public dining room of his Florida resort. Instead of hosting the Japanese prime minister at the White House, Trump opted to fly Shinzo Abe down to the private resort he owns in Palm Beach, Florida. This choice of venue cost American taxpayers millions in additional travel-and-security expenses. But it also allowed the president to directly profit off the diplomatic meeting, while increasing the perks of being a member of his club. Now, Mar-a-Lago members dont merely have access to golf, a private beach, and a network of fellow plutocrats they also get seats in the presidents open-air Situation Room. Per CNN: The iceberg wedge salads, dripping with blue cheese dressing, had just been served on the terrace of Mar-a-Lago Saturday when the call to President Donald Trump came in: North Korea had launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile, its first challenge to international rules since Trump was sworn in three weeks agoAs Mar-a-Lagos wealthy members looked on from their tables, and with a keyboard player crooning in the background, Trump and Abes evening meal quickly morphed into a strategy session, the decision-making on full view to fellow diners, who described it in detail to CNN. The White House later claimed that Trump and Abe did not engage in detailed security discussions in Mar-a-Lagos dining room. But Trump indisputably took a break from discussing the nuclear crisis to reward one of his longtime members with a wedding-night visit from himself and the leader of Japan. Trump also allowed one of his guests to post a picture to Facebook of the man tasked with carrying Americas nuclear football. Mar-a-Lago member who pays Trump hundreds of thousands of dollars posts pics of - and identifies - US official carrying nuclear football. pic.twitter.com/oyAfY0E9Fj Samuel Oakford (@samueloakford) February 13, 2017 Trumps weekend visits to Mar-a-Lago cost American taxpayers more than $10 million in his first month in office, according to the Washington Post. Allowed one of his senior advisers to complain about CNNs political coverage to the networks parent company which has a proposed merger pending before the government. The fact that the American president has displayed a fondness for authoritarianism and an indifference to ethical norms is concerning for a whole host of reasons. One is that these qualities raise the possibility that Trump might use the powers of his office to coerce private industry into doing his administrations bidding. Shortly after the moguls victory, Voxs Matt Yglesias treated this subject at length in an essay titled, We have 100 days to stop Donald Trump from systemically corrupting our institutions. In that piece, Yglesias argues that America has long been prey to venal corruption, which consists of rich people buying favors through campaign contributions. The U.S. is not, however, a systematically corrupt nation one in which political favor becomes the primary driver of economic success. To explain how Trump might begin systemically corrupting American institutions, Yglesias writes the following: Trump is not going to crush the free media in one fell swoop. But big corporate media does face enough regulatory matters that even a single exemplary case would suffice to induce large-scale self-censorship. AT&T, for example, is currently seeking permission from antitrust authorities to buy Time Warner permission that Time Warner executives might plausible fear is contingent on Trump believing that CNN has covered him fairly. Earlier this month, The Wall Street Journal reported that senior White House adviser (and Trump son-in-law) Jared Kushner complained to Gary Ginsberg, executive vice president of corporate marketing and communications at CNNs parent Time Warner, about what Mr. Kushner feels is unfair coverage slanted against the president. Allowed his administration to ask the FBI to leak favorable information, in violation of rules protecting the Justice Departments independence. Earlier this month, anonymous U.S. officials told the New York Times that Trump campaign aides contacted Russian intelligence operatives, multiple times, during the 2016 race. The day after the Times reported on the Trump campaigns Russia contacts, FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus had a conversation. Which one of these men brought up the Times story is unclear according to the White House, McCabe told Priebus that the papers report was overblown. However the subject came up, Priebus eventually asked McCabe to tell the press that the Times story was baloney or, at least, have that information leaked, anonymously. Even if the White Houses story is true and the Times story is false this request was problematic for at least two reasons. For one, Justice Department rules forbid the White House from discussing the details of ongoing investigations with the FBI let alone investigations into the president himself unless those details are vital to the presidents duties. For another, the FBI is not supposed to publicly comment on ongoing investigations. Hours after his administration admitted that it had asked the FBI to leak classified information, the president condemned the FBI for leaking information. The FBI is totally unable to stop the national security "leakers" that have permeated our government for a long time. They can't even...... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 24, 2017 Declined to publicly condemn the shooting of two India-born engineers by a man who (allegedly) said get out of my country, as he fired. Declared himself the least racist person then asked a black reporter to set up a meeting for him with her friends in the Congressional Black Caucus. Minutes after declaring himself the least racist person in existence, Trump took a question from American Urban Radio Networks D.C. bureau chief, April Ryan. Ryan asked if Trump planned to seek the advice of the CBC when crafting his urban agenda. The president was confused. Ryan explained that she was referring to the Congressional Black Caucus. Do you want to set up the meeting? Are they friends of yours? Trump asked the African-American journalist. No, Im just a reporter, Ryan said. Set up a meeting, the president interrupted. I would love to meet with the Congressional Black Caucus. Reporter: Will you meet with the Congressional Black Caucus? Trump: "I would. You want to set up the meeting? Are they friends of yours?" pic.twitter.com/8Pp18KBUJd BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) February 16, 2017 Trump also informed a Jewish reporter that he was the least anti-Semitic person youve ever seen in your entire life, before explaining that a lot of supposed acts of anti-Jewish intimidation are really just false-flag attacks designed to make Donald Trump look bad. *An earlier version of this list included the presidents failure to condemn the shooting of two India-born engineers in Kansas by a man who (reportedly) shouted, get out of my country, as he fired. But, after more than a week of silence, the White House did release a formal statement condemning the shooting on Tuesday. Week 8 (February 4 through February 10) Declared the court system a threat to national security. Donald Trump spent much of his presidential campaign promising to use executive power to discriminate against Muslims. Upon election, he promptly banned immigration from several Muslim-majority nations, via an executive order that was Breitbart-tested but not cabinet-agency-approved. This led to chaos at airports, on-the-fly revisions to the governments interpretation of its own order, and a bevy of legal rebukes. Last week, judges in New York, Massachusetts, Virginia, and California stayed the order or aspects of it on a variety of legal grounds. Then, on Friday night, U.S. District Judge James Robart delivered the body blow. Unlike other plaintiffs, the state of Washington did not challenge discrete provisions of the executive order, or merely the process by which it was implemented. Rather, the state argued that the order was in fundamental tensions with both federal law and the Constitution. Robart ruled that Washingtons argument was likely to succeed on the merits and ordered a halt to nationwide enforcement of the travel ban. The president responded by suggesting that Robart might not actually be a judge. The opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 4, 2017 Then, he framed the existence of judicial review as a sign of national decline. What is our country coming to when a judge can halt a Homeland Security travel ban and anyone, even with bad intentions, can come into U.S.? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 4, 2017 Still, superficially, Trumps complaint was with an individual judge, not the Judicial branch, itself. But then the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the White Houses request for an emergency stay of Robarts decision and the president made his contempt for the rule of law explicit. Just cannot believe a judge would put our country in such peril. If something happens blame him and court system. People pouring in. Bad! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 5, 2017 This was not merely an intemperate tweet. It was the president instructing the American people to view the next terrorist attack on U.S. soil as an indictment of the judiciary. And it isnt just Trump himself whos pushing this line. In its legal challenge to Robarts ruling, the White House argued that the federal judge was in no position to rule on the propriety of the executive order, because he lacks access to classified intelligence. This is an argument for allowing our fear of terrorism to overwhelm our commitment to the rule of law a line of reasoning that poses a far greater threat to the American form of government and way of life than any closeted-jihadist refugee ever could. Insisted that his Supreme Court pick had no problem with attacks on the judiciary, in the face of blatant evidence to the contrary. Trumps Supreme Court nominee had little choice but to condemn the presidents attacks on his branch of government. In private meetings with senators ahead of his confirmation hearings, Neil Gorsuch described Trumps remarks demoralizing and disheartening. But the president found it hard to believe that his Supreme Court pick would object to attacks on the court system. And so even though White House adviser Ron Bonjean had confirmed that Gorsuch had criticized Trumps comments in his meeting with Richard Blumenthal the president accused the Democratic senator of lying. Sen.Richard Blumenthal, who never fought in Vietnam when he said for years he had (major lie),now misrepresents what Judge Gorsuch told him? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 9, 2017 The presidents case here was airtight: Richard Blumenthal once apologized for saying that he had served in Vietnam, when, in fact, the senator had merely served as a Marine Corps Reserve during the Vietnam War, but was never sent overseas. (By contrast, the president spent his Vietnam fearlessly weathering round after round of unprotected sex.) Therefore, both Blumenthal and Bonjean are lying. Trump proceeded to chastise CNNs Chris Cuomo for refusing to ask Blumenthal about his Vietnam record during a Thursday-morning interview even though Cuomo asked Blumenthal about his (utterly irrelevant) Vietnam record during that Thursday-morning interview. Chris Cuomo, in his interview with Sen. Blumenthal, never asked him about his long-term lie about his brave "service" in Vietnam. FAKE NEWS! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 9, 2017 There seems to be no lie too obvious nor attack too hypocritical for the president to deploy as a means of evading responsibility for his mistakes. Trashed New START during a call with Putin after putting the phone aside to ask his advisers what that (nuclear-arms treaty) was. I was a good student. I understand things, President Trump assured America on Wednesday. I comprehend very well, okay? Better than, I think, almost anybody. But many within the White House beg to differ. In leak after leak, anonymous administration officials paint the president as less teachers pet than class clown one who refuses to do his homework, demands the Cliffs Notes for every reading assignment, and struggles to comprehend the most basic aspects of the curriculum. The latest SOS from the West Wing was intercepted by Reuters: In his first call as president with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump denounced a treaty that caps U.S. and Russian deployment of nuclear warheads as a bad deal for the United States, according to two U.S. officials and one former U.S. official with knowledge of the call. When Putin raised the possibility of extending the 2010 treaty, known as New START, Trump paused to ask his aides in an aside what the treaty was, these sources said. Trump then told Putin the treaty was one of several bad deals negotiated by the Obama administration, saying that New START favored Russia. Trump also talked about his own popularity, the sources said. New START is pretty fundamental to U.S.-Russian relations. At his confirmation hearing, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson expressed his support for the agreement. Trump, himself, was aware of the treatys significance if not of its proper name last year, when he complained that Russia outsmarted Obama on START Up. To avoid such lapses in memory, presidents typically request an in-depth briefing from the National Security Council before dialing up world leaders. But, according to Reuters sources, Trump received no such briefing before hopping on the horn with Putin. (Considering that Trump has often bragged about being too smart to read long things, it seems safe to take Reuters word on this one.) The source of Trumps antipathy for New START is unclear. On the one hand, the president has expressed enthusiasm for a new arms race. On the other, he has called nuclear weapons the single greatest threat we face and has a habit of disparaging any deal that he did not, himself, negotiate. Which is to say: The best-case scenario here is that our president would like there to be fewer nuclear arms in the world but is willing to jeopardize that objective if it means honoring an agreement Obama negotiated. Publicly condemned a private company for dropping his daughters (increasingly unpopular) fashion line. Trump long ago concluded that it would be unreasonable for the American people to expect him to divest from his business interests, just because they elected him president. To forfeit the empire he spent his whole life building was simply too great a sacrifice. While he would cease managing the Trump Organization, he would, nonetheless, retain majority ownership of its assets. Most Americans sympathized with this position. Then, Trump decided that having someone outside his family run the organization in his stead so as to put meaningful distance between himself and its management was also too great a burden for him to bear. Trump proceeded to reason that he couldnt fairly be expected to not invite the children running his business to policy meetings with tech entrepreneurs; or to not meet with his business partners while president-elect; or to ensure that his D.C. hotel did not court the patronage of foreign diplomats (in arguable defiance of the Constitution). And, then, on Thursday, the president decided that we also cant expect him not to attack private companies that refuse to maintain a relationship with his daughters poorly performing brand. My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person -- always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 8, 2017 Suggested that publicly criticizing his military decisions is tantamount to aiding the enemy. Last week, President Trump sent a team of Navy SEALs to raid a compound in Yemen with the aim of capturing or killing the head of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, Qassim al-Rimi. When the raid was over, al-Rimi was still alive, and on the lam while one SEAL, 14 (alleged) Al Qaeda fighters, an 8-year-old American citizen, and an unconfirmed number of other civilians lay dead. The SEALs did manage to collect some phones and computers, though the value of the information contained therein is not publicly known. Meanwhile, in light of the raids many civilian casualties, the Yemeni government is starting to rethink its support for U.S. ground operations on its soil. Surveying these results, Arizona senator and prominent war enthusiast John McCain dubbed the mission a failure. On Thursday, Trump suggested that McCains comment was harmful to national security and also the kind of thing that a loser would say. Sen. McCain should not be talking about the success or failure of a mission to the media. Only emboldens the enemy! He's been losing so.... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 9, 2017 ...long he doesn't know how to win anymore, just look at the mess our country is in - bogged down in conflict all over the place. Our hero.. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 9, 2017 ..Ryan died on a winning mission ( according to General Mattis), not a "failure." Time for the U.S. to get smart and start winning again! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 9, 2017 Got angry at his press secretary for being impersonated by a woman. Per Politico: [T]he devastating Saturday Night Live caricature of Spicer that aired over the weekend in which a belligerent Spicer was spoofed by a gum-chomping, super soaker-wielding Melissa McCarthy in drag did not go over well internally at a White House in which looks matter. More than being lampooned as a press secretary who makes up facts, it was Spicers portrayal by a woman that was most problematic in the presidents eyes, according to sources close to him. And the unflattering send-up by a female comedian was not considered helpful for Spicers longevity in the grueling, high-profile job[.] Week 7 (January 27 through February 3) Used the Executive branchs immense authority over border control to inflict arbitrary cruelty on thousands of Muslim immigrants, create chaos at airports all across America, and sour diplomatic relations with the rest of the world. Many of the actions catalogued in this post serve as testaments to our new presidents incompetence; others, to his mindless bigotry. Late last Friday, Trump signed his name to a document that affirmed both of his signature qualities and upended the lives of tens of thousands of innocent people. That executive order as of Friday evening temporarily blocked by a Seattle judge suspended the admission of all refugees to the United States for 120 days; suspended the admission of Syrian refugees indefinitely; prioritized the refugee claims of non-Muslims in the Middle East; and banned citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. These measures were advertised as means of protecting national security. But there is little evidence that they will do any such thing. America already has one of the worlds most rigorous systems for vetting refugees, and the deadliest terror attacks on U.S. soil in recent years were executed by our own disaffected citizens. Even if one believes that protecting homeland security requires barring travelers from the Muslim world, there is no coherent argument for why visitors from Saudi Arabia should be allowed, while those from Iran should not. In fact, no foreign national from any of the seven blacklisted countries has committed a fatal terrorist attack in the United States since 1975. As an effort to prevent terrorism, Trumps executive order is incoherent, and likely counterproductive. The orders broad, overt denigration of the Muslim world aids every jihadist who wishes to tie his heinous cause to a broader war between Islam and the West. But jihadists arent the only ones who long for such a clash of civilizations some of the most powerful people in the Trump White House believe Judeo-Christian civilization really is at war with Islam. Many of those same people see Muslim immigrants as threats to national security, whether theyre terrorists or not. The two main authors of last weeks order Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller have explicitly argued that such immigrants are a threat simply because their religion will prevent them from assimilating into our society. Once you stipulate this view, the order becomes more coherent: The goal is not to stop terrorism but to halt the dilution of the white Christian population in the United States. Its about protecting ethno-national security. Nearly 60,000 immigrants had their visas revoked to satisfy Bannons Islamophobic paranoia. Countless refugees were stranded. But the costs of Trumps order dont merely fall on nonU.S. citizens. America relies on many of the countries Trump blacklisted to provide doctors for our understaffed hospitals. Now, some medical groups are preparing for a shortage of physicians in our nations underserved rural areas. The order has also disrupted the smooth functioning of American universities and tech companies that rely on immigrant labor. Finally, even if one shares Bannons worldview and believes all this is a small price to pay for saving America from the Muslim hordes the implementation of the order revealed the new administrations profound incompetence. The White House sought little input from legal counsel, Congress, and relevant cabinet agencies. It provided Customs and Border Protection with little notice of its plans. This led to chaos in airports all around the United States as visa-holders arrived to find their legal status had been terminated while they were midair. And the vagueness of the orders wording produced confusion about who was and was not impacted by the rules. At the beginning of the weekend, the order applied to legal permanent residents and dual citizens of the blacklisted countries; by Monday it did not. Violated court orders against his travel ban. The sloppiness of the order did have its own silver lining: It exposed many of the Trump administrations directives to effective legal challenge. Days after the order went into effect, judges in Massachusetts and California had issued injunctions, restraining the orders enforcement. But the rule of law does not seem to matter very much to the law and order president. As Slates Jeremy Stahl wrote Thursday: Its been more than four full days since the Boston order and more than one full day since the Los Angeles order. Nothing has changed. Travelers cleared by the two court orders to come to America have instead been blocked. They remain in legal limbo, often trapped in places that are not their homes Trump has violated the spirit of the court rulingsand, in the opinion of experts, the letterthrough a mix of legal chicanery and subterfuge, enabled by a Kafkaesque bureaucracy doing the presidents will rather than the will of the courts. Heres what Stahl means by Kafkaesque and legal chicanery: The judges in Boston ordered the government to cease detaining or removing individuals with valid immigrant and non-immigrant visas. But the Trump administration claims that it had already revoked the visas of all nationals from the blacklisted countries, prior to the order a fact that was not publicly confirmed until Friday. And so, Customs and Border Protection agents have carried on following their orders. Created a diplomatic crisis with Australia and threatened to invade Mexico. Australia is the kind of friend that takes your side even when youre wrong. In geopolitical terms, this means that when the United States asked for some help with our quagmire in Afghanistan, Australia sacrificed 42 of its young people to our cause. So, when Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull reminded President Trump of Americas commitment to take in 1,250 refugees currently residing in an Australian detention center, he had little reason to believe that hed be met with a torrent of verbal abuse. But he was. This is the worst deal ever, the president said during the Saturday call, according to the Washington Post. Trump proceeded to inform our dear ally that he had spoken with four other world leaders that day including Russian President Vladimir Putin and that this was the worst call by far. When Turnbull tried to direct the conversation to less contentious subjects, Trump abruptly ended the call 35 minutes before it was scheduled to expire. Later in the week, Trump tried to patch things up with Mexican president Enrique Pena Nieto and kind of, sort of, threatened to invade our southern neighbor. You have a bunch of bad hombres down there, Trump told Pena Nieto, according to the excerpt obtained by the Associated Press. You arent doing enough to stop them. I think your military is scared. Our military isnt, so I just might send them down to take care of it. Mexican officials later characterized this as a friendly offer, rather than a military threat. Nonetheless, neither of these phone calls increases ones confidence in the diplomatic chops of our commander-in-chief. Allowed his press secretary to falsely claim that Iran had committed an act of war against the United States. The Trump administration spent much of the past week rattling sabers at Iran. Not all of this belligerence was unprovoked Iran did test an intercontinental ballistic missile Sunday, in (arguably) a violation of a U.N. Security Council resolution. But one thing Iran definitely did not do was take action against an American Navy vessel. But that didnt stop White House press secretary Sean Spicer from saying that it had. I think General Flynn was really clear yesterday that Iran has violated the Joint Resolution, that Irans additional hostile actions that it took against our Navy vessel are ones that we are very clear [we] are not going to sit by and take, Spicer said Thursday, intimating that Iran had committed an act of war against the United States. In truth, a Saudi Arabian warship was attacked by fighters that the Pentagon suspects were Houthi rebels a Shia militant group in Yemen that the Saudis have been slaughtering for over a year. Iran does back the Houthis, but the latter isnt really the puppet of the former the Houthis are less concerned with expanding Tehrans sphere of influence than winning their nations civil war. And yet, the White House eagerly painted a (suspected) Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia as a (confirmed) Iranian attack on America. Which makes you wonder whether or not the Trump administration will do everything in its power to avoid launching another Middle Eastern war. Retained the author of a reactionary screed that likened the 2016 election to Flight 93 as a national-security staffer. Michael Anton is a former Bush administration speechwriter and current national-security official in the Trump administration. This week, we learned that he is also the author of an essay titled The Flight 93 Election. In it, Anton argued that the 2016 election put conservatives in a position akin to passengers of Flight 93 on 9/11: They could either charge the cockpit or die. If you dont try, death is certain, Anton wrote. To compound the metaphor: a Hillary Clinton presidency is Russian Roulette with a semi-auto. Antons reasoning was simple: The ceaseless importation of Third World foreigners with no tradition of, taste for, or experience in liberty means that the electorate grows more left, more Democratic, less Republican, less republican, and less traditionally American with every cycle. Thus, absent an immediate restriction of Third World immigration, America, as conservatives knew it, would end. This is not merely an argument against Hillary Clinton, but an argument for authoritarianism. If a Democratic victory in 2016 could have brought national ruination, surely the same would be true in 2020. Which is to say: One of the presidents senior national-security staffers is an opponent of American democracy. Suggested that Frederick Douglass is still alive in speech on Black History Month. At his speech honoring African-Americans historical contributions to our republic, the president said this about Martin Luther King Jr. Last month, we celebrated the life of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., whose incredible example is unique in American history. You read all about Dr. Martin Luther King a week ago when somebody said I took the statue out of my office. It turned out that that was fake news. Fake news. The statue is cherished, its one of the favorite things in the and we have some good ones. We have Lincoln, and we have Jefferson, and we have Dr. Martin Luther King. But they said the statue, the bust of Martin Luther King, was taken out of the office. And it was never even touched. So I think it was a disgrace, but thats the way the press is. Very unfortunate. And this about Frederick Douglass: Frederick Douglass is an example of somebody whos done an amazing job and is being recognized more and more, I noticed. Sean Spicer was later asked what Trump had meant by this. I think he wants to highlight the contributions that he has made, Spicer said. And I think through a lot of the actions and statements that hes going to make, I think the contributions of Frederick Douglass will become more and more. *clears throat* "osama bin laden is dead and frederick douglass is alive!" Jamelle Bouie (@jbouie) February 1, 2017 Week 6 (January 7 through 27) Told a demonstrable lie about the size of the crowd at his inauguration and predicted that the media would pay a big price for refusing to repeat it. Donald Trumps inauguration attracted a much smaller crowd to the National Mall than Barack Obamas did in 2008. This was not a surprise: Washington, D.C., is a majority African-American city, and the first black president won its vote overwhelmingly. Trump, by contrast, received a mere 4 percent of the districts ballots. Further, Obama entered office with an approval rating of 80 percent; Trump was sworn in with one around 40. But while Trumps (comparatively) sparse inaugural crowd comported with demographic and polling realities, it was wildly inconsistent with the presidents expectations. And so, as he often does when reality disappoints his fondest wishes, Trump discovered a set of alternative facts. I get up this morning and I turn on one of the networks and they show an empty field, Trump said. I said wait a minute, I made a speech, I looked out, the field was, it looked like a million, a million and a half people it went all the way back to the Washington Monument. "Even the media said the crowd was massive," President Trump said tonight, claiming crowd stretched "to the Washington Monument." Fact check pic.twitter.com/dbmkBujjMJ Mark Berman (@markberman) January 21, 2017 So, we caught the media, Trump said, and we caught them in beauty. And I think theyre going to pay a big price. That big price turned out to be a scolding from the new White House press secretary. Armed with visual aids, an ill-fitting suit, and secondhand indignation, Spicer condemned the presss shameful attempts to minimize the enormous support that had gathered on the National Mall. Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period, Spicer baselessly declared, before vowing, Were going to hold the press accountable. Spicer then informed the White House press corps that the CIA had given Trump a five-minute standing ovation at the end of his speech (the audience stood throughout the speech, having never received permission to sit. Trump would later claim that this had been the biggest standing ovation since Peyton Manning had won the Super Bowl). Thats what you guys should be writing and covering, Spicer said, then left without taking a single question. Told congressional leaders at a private meeting that he only lost the popular vote because undocumented immigrants cast millions of ballots against him. In November, Trump tweeted that he had actually won the popular vote, if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally. That was disturbing for several reasons, all detailed in an earlier installment of this list. But Trumps repetition of the claim in a private meeting with congressional leaders, whom he has no hope of conning on this subject raises the alarming possibility that the president genuinely believes in his own conspiracy theory. Which is to say, the president believes that 3 to 5 million undocumented immigrants risked deportation to illegally vote against him. Even though there is literally no evidence for that claim. And no losing down-ballot Republican candidate has demanded an investigation into the matter. And he, himself, loudly opposed all attempts to audit the elections results until reporters alerted him to this apparent contradiction. Then, the president announced an investigation into such acts of voter fraud as being registered to vote in two states (which is a crime committed by several of his advisers and family members, if it were actually illegal). I will be asking for a major investigation into VOTER FRAUD, including those registered to vote in two states, those who are illegal and.... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 25, 2017 even, those registered to vote who are dead (and many for a long time). Depending on results, we will strengthen up voting procedures! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 25, 2017 On Tuesday, Sean Spicer affirmed that this is, in fact, the presidents genuine understanding of how Hillary Clinton won more votes than he did. The president does believe that, he has stated that before, Spicer told reporters at a White House press briefing. I think hes stated his concerns of voter fraud and people voting illegally during the campaign and he continues to maintain that belief based on studies and evidence people have presented to him. If true, then Trumps claim about illegal votes is not just a dangerous challenge to popular perceptions of democratic legitimacy and a pretext for voter suppression though it is both these things. It is also a sign that the president may have developed his talent for conning the insecure by practicing on himself. Suggested America might once again have the opportunity to confiscate Iraqs oil. Trump has long maintained that one of the biggest mistakes the United States made in Iraq was that it did not expropriate the nations most valuable natural resource. The president is fairly certain that, had the U.S. stolen Iraqs oil, the region would be far more stable than it is today. Trump reiterated this view in his speech at the CIA on his first weekend in office and then suggested that his administration might have a chance to rectify Americas great error. Now I said it for economic reasons, Trump said while introducing Representative Mike Pompeo, his pick to lead the intelligence agency. But if you think about it, Mike, if we kept the oil, you probably wouldnt have ISIS because thats where they made their money in the first place, so we should have kept the oil Trump promoting his new university in 2005. Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images In a pair of tweets Saturday morning, Donald Trump weighed in on the settlement of a series of lawsuits related to his failed Trump University business. The president-elect and his f0r-profit university were facing allegations of fraud by former students, by way of two class-action lawsuits, as well as a lawsuit brought by New York attorney general Eric T. Schneiderman. Trump had repeatedly defended the business and denied the allegations, vowing to win the case and insisting that he would refuse to settle out of principle even saying he would relaunch the company once the case was resolved to spite his critics. Despite all that, Trump and his legal team ultimately decided that they could not afford to go to trial while he was in the middle of putting together his White House administration, and so they settled the case this week for $25 million without an acknowledgment of fault or liability, though the settlement did include a $1 million penalty for violating New York State education laws. According to Trump, however, that he wasnt able to go to trial and win the case is the ONLY bad thing about him becoming president. Characteristically, he also tried to spin the settlement as a win, albeit a lesser win due to him having to put America ahead of defending himself against allegations of fraud: I settled the Trump University lawsuit for a small fraction of the potential award because as President I have to focus on our country. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2016 The ONLY bad thing about winning the Presidency is that I did not have the time to go through a long but winning trial on Trump U. Too bad! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2016 For reasons as yet unknown, a giant blob of white foam has appeared and filled a street in Santa Clara, California. The foam is reportedly five feet deep in certain sections and appears to be some sort of flame retardant, KTVU reports from the scene. Several thousand people are tuned into the KTVU livestream, watching with bated breath to see what will become of the foam. The area is now taped off, but before officials were able to secure the area, at least one man on a bike was able to take a soapy joy ride. From KTVU: A man on a bike said he couldnt resist the foam. He said officers told him its non-toxic and he should bike through it. As he went into the foam he disappeared for several minutes, but later reappeared covered in foam. The man, who said his name is Blake, said he tried to stand in the middle of the foam but couldnt. He said it was about 10 deep. Blake added he ran into a sign at one point. an american hero pic.twitter.com/Ww71izXmnf alyssa bereznak (@alyssabereznak) November 18, 2016 Sending positive thoughts to the good people of Santa Clara in this trying time. Marion Cotillard and Brad Pitt in Allied. Photo: Daniel Smith/Paramount Pictures Costume designer Joanna Johnston had only two weeks to do research before outfitting Marion Cotillard, Brad Pitt, and the rest of the cast of Robert Zemeckiss upcoming film Allied in World War IIera garb. Luckily, you would never suspect that fact while watching the film. Cotillards wardrobe, in particular, shines, whether shes wearing glamorous loungewear (like the delectable dressing gown below), sequined gowns, or chic military-style ensembles. She and Pitt play romantically entangled spies who flit from Casablanca to occupied London, and Johnston consulted with both actors regularly as part of her research. Luckily, she says, they both absolutely went with it 100 percent. Marion Cotillard in Allied. Photo: Paramount Pictures Johnston also studied Old Hollywood films from that era the onscreen wardrobes of Lauren Bacall, Barbara Stanwyck, and Katharine Hepburn were particularly influential. She looked at Casablanca, not just for the shared setting but because it has a real timeless quality and all Ingrid Bergmans stuff then looks as good today as it ever did. You could wear it today. And Bette Daviss ugly-duckling-turned-swan character from Now, Voyager, served as an inspiration for Cotillards glamorous pieces. Costume sketches for Allied. Photo: Costume Design by Joanna Johnston; Illustration by Jacqueline Bissett/Costume Design by Joanna Johnsto Cotillards character, to phrase it in the most spoiler-free way, may not be exactly who she seems. Johnston didnt hint broadly at mystery or subterfuge when costuming the character, but she does say, She takes on the mantle of what shes meant to be. She cloaks herself in this imagery, which is what she wants the perception of her to be. Johnston looked at French fashion plates from the era so that she could convey the uniquely Gallic quality of Cotillards wardrobe. And it seems that Cotillard herself was pleased with the result: At a screening of the film hosted by The Cinema Society & Chandon, the actress told the Cut, The costumes are one of the layers of this character, so of course it helped [with] getting into character, adding that the military-inspired jacket and trousers she wears during a target-practice scene in the desert was one of her favorite looks. Exclusive costume sketches from Allied for the Cut. Photo: Paramount Pictures Another challenge for Johnston was getting the military uniforms right: She had scores of actors to outfit, from the Vichy French occupiers to the British and Canadian navy, army, and air force officers. Andrew Fletcher, a frequent collaborator of Johnstons, did the heavy lifting with that segment of the film; she says he gave her a two-year-degree course in a week. Many costume designers will tell you that making characters look fashionable or stand out isnt always the goal with their craft they want the figures onscreen to look authentic, even if that means making their clothes realistically bland. Johnston says that shes taken that approach with some projects, but that Allied couldnt be further from that M.O. it feels, in some ways, like its an Old Hollywood piece from the gowns by Adrian era. I felt that it definitely lent itself to what I call the Hollywood Lift in its look, she says. Because its the way the story read to me. It had this old-fashioned quality. And for audiences looking for a moviegoing escape, the high-wattage fashions will likely be a highlight. Allied opens on November 23. Josh Grossberg contributed additional reporting to this piece. Photo: Courtesy of YouTube/Bruno Mars On Thursday afternoon, Bruno Mars responded to some questions over Twitter. Should everyone be given a day off to listen to the first album Mr. Mars has released in four years, 24K Magic? ABSOLUTELY! he wrote of the album, out now. Its an international holiday in my mind! What should fans sip on while listening to the titular inescapable earworm 24K Magic or slinky ballad Versace on the Floor? The most elegant Champagne with imported strawberries. Or some Sunny Delight. Whatever. One fan tweeted not a question but a statement, pulled from the albums eponymous track: Put yo pinky rings up to the moon! Mr. Mars, ever the sport, responded to the non-question anyway. Wasnt a question but respect. He signed this tweet with a sunglasses-face emoji, the emoji that best captures the pure essence of Bruno Mars: forever cool, never ruffled, and completely unaware of anything going on around him. Bruno Mars has been living in a beautiful, impenetrable bubble for four years and, for our benefit as well as his, we must ask him and his open-bloused Hooligans to stay there for as long as possible. The success of the worlds weddings and bar mitzvahs depends on it. Today, 24K Magic is out: The world will finally hear a new Bruno Mars record. Unfortunately, we must do so in a world where only one week prior, Donald Trump was elected president of the United States. In these trying times, Bruno Mars asks us to not be mad, to fix our face, to keep up. We should have believed him we should have just watched. Previously, we didnt believe him, and we didnt just watch, and now look at the mess weve gotten ourselves into. Mr. Mars has never once implied any political allegiance, and god willing never will. A website called Hollowverse wrote of Bruno Marss politics, The total lack of information regarding Bruno Mars religion and political beliefs is so staggering, that one speculates that Mars completely lacks depth and maybe even intelligence. I would disagree. Bruno Mars is a man who simply came here to do what he came to do, and that is historically to have fun, look good, and be funky. And now more than ever, this is what he must do. Recently there has been an expectation that Americas pop stars weigh in on politics: Katy Perry, Beyonce, Lady Gaga all have. Over the next few years, people will turn imploringly to Bruno Mars for guidance and light in the darkness. It will not be because of his sudden transformation into an outspoken surrogate for the Democratic Party. It will be because of his lifelong commitment to the Party Party. Watching the video for 24K Magic as we enter the long haul of Trumps America feels like if Molly Brown had decided to do a leisurely, rapturous waltz to strains of the Titanic string quartet as the ship sank. In the video, set in Vegas, neither Mars nor any member of his Hooligan crew gives any indication that America is about to succumb to chaos. At the climax, Mars jet-skis in the Bellagio fountain. He rides a mart cart stuffed with cash down the hallway of a hotel. He laughs in the face of god. This is a man who does not care about or fear a Trump presidency. This is a man who just wants to dance. Let him dance. And let his unabashed enthusiasm even as we stare into the hellmouth wash over you like a Xanax. In a recent Rolling Stone cover story, Mars reported that he had been living in this damn box for 18 months. Bruno, whatever you do: Stay right where you are and do not come out. D.C.s tampon tax will soon be a thing of the past. Photo: Rich Pedroncelli/AP Ladies in D.C. may soon be able to buy tampons and other feminine products without being taxed for having ovaries. Following in the footsteps of New York, Illinois, and Connecticut, a spokesperson for Mayor Muriel E. Bowser told the Washington Post on Wednesday that she will sign legislation that will end a 5.75 percent tax on tampons, diapers (for both babies and adults), and other feminine products. But theres a catch: Before the tax can be withdrawn, D.C. needs to find $3 million a year to make up for the dent the lost tax will create in its $13 billion annual budget. As a result, the tax which will hit lower-income women and families the hardest will have to remain in place for at least another year, until the next budget goes into effect in October 2017. Its worth noting that in the meantime, in D.C. (and elsewhere), Viagra will still be tax-exempt as medically essential, while women will keep on being taxed for having functioning ovaries. Women, babies, and persons with disabilities who need these products should not be taxed for natural bodily functions, city council member Anita Bonds, who authored the legislation, told the Post. I'm anxiously awaiting Prison Mike's feverish comment calling you trash. Reply Parent Thread Link who again ? Reply Parent Thread Link Await the resident Logan stan to tear you apart girl Reply Parent Thread Expand Link word Reply Parent Thread Link same Reply Parent Thread Link how disappointing, harry. team #singlerory tbh Reply Parent Thread Expand Link YAS TEAM JESS ALL THE WAY Reply Parent Thread Link BEST TEAM Reply Parent Thread Link ETA: I'm Edited at 2016-11-18 11:16 pm (UTC) Babette is her same old self, I love it. I got tears in my eyes watching this ugh can't wait, one more week!ETA: I'm #TeamJess and I know I'm trash for it but I trust ASP will write it in a way that doesn't completely disrespect Rory (plus I love Milo). I would also settle for Logan though because gotdamn that boy is fine. All three of them aged really well tbh. #TeamSingleRory would also be OK but I'm pretty sure ASP wouldn't do that. Reply Thread Link I can't help it, I'll always be http://i63.tinypic.com/dha9es.png http://i66.tinypic.com/30a5nk6.png http://i65.tinypic.com/2ecordi.png http://i66.tinypic.com/m9ofu0.png http://i67.tinypic.com/4utaih.png http://i64.tinypic.com/2mm5kq1.png (I would add the whole thing to the post but I'm not sure how to source it since it's from tumblr.) re: Babette. IA! She was my favorite townie, everytime.I can't help it, I'll always be #TeamJes , they just "click" to me, and I have a feeling ASP is very fond of them, so I kinda trust her with the writing of it. I love what they say about Jess/Rory in the EW article, for example (it's on the last link):(I would add the whole thing to the post but I'm not sure how to source it since it's from tumblr.) Reply Parent Thread Link I really need Rory to be single at the end. If forced to choose I'd prefer Logan, but honestly they all suck. I'm mostly going against Jess because some of his stans annoy the fuck out of me, although he was also a really shitty boyfriend. Logan had many shitty moments but at least we got to see him improve while actually with Rory. Anyway, I'm mostly annoyed that there does seem to be so much of Rory's boyfriends at all in the revival. Like it's not just people marketing Team Jess vs. Logan stuff, but from reviews it does seem like there's a lot. I'm most looking forward to Emily and Lorelai interactions, and seeing Paris again. Reply Thread Link I find the anti-Jess people more annoying. I've seen a couple of people here say stuff like "oh if you like Jess then you're okay with rape and you're trash and there's something wrong with you".... like what? Relax, it's just a show. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Honestly yeah, there's definitely been a ~turn in the tide~ here on ONTD, because I feel like in every post there are now people who are now violently anti-Jess and it's gotten annoying. Yeah I don't like him but I don't think people who do are awful people, wtf? But in other places and for much longer it's been the other way around, so that's where the annoyance comes from. But anyway, single Rory >>>>>> Reply Parent Thread Link I could not agree more, especially re: rape. Like, um, I'm a rape survivor (twice over), and people saying I'm trash for not hating a rapist like Jess is wildly uncalled for and just flat out ridiculous. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link lmao right, there seems to be a severe hatred of jess among the logan fans. i'm team jess but i don't hate logan, i just couldn't care less about him. Reply Parent Thread Link Rape? What rape? Jesse is a rapist? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Jess isn't my fav character by any means, but the hate for him here is really intense lol, especially when every single positive comment on him is met with advice on love yourself. Umm a little perspective, please? Reply Parent Thread Link that is something which always bothered me about Jess coming back. he was everything teenage me found attractive in a boy (welp) but he was also such an asshole. and after he drops off the face of the show, he comes back basically a different person, but we don't actually get to experience any of that change. with Logan, and even Dean when he showed up to cheat on his wife, at least we saw how he grew or didn't, etc. show, don't tell, basically. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Stans of any team are annoying. I'm Team Jess all the way but this show started when I was a teenager, I find it ridiculous that people are still having any sorts of meltdowns and engaging in fights. Fans of the show who grew up with it are at least 20 today, embarrassing if they engage in any petty behaviour. Reply Parent Thread Link I think they may purposely not be showing them much, so nothing is spoiled. Logan is in all 4 episodes and Jess is in 3, and Logan is almost non-existent in the promo, but his dad, Colin, Finn, and Robert are all in it - so I think he must be in it a fair amount. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link IA Reply Parent Thread Link all those teams are the best team Reply Parent Thread Link so you support rape?!?!?!!? just kidding. #TeamJess as well. Reply Parent Thread Link lol we all need to seek help!!!111 We OBVIOUSLY support emotional abuse!!!! Reply Parent Thread Link +1. I would be happy with any of these. Reply Parent Thread Link Yes Reply Parent Thread Link #teamInolongergiveafuck I just want some awesome brotp and adults acting like adults and living progressive lives outside the hallow (I will weep if Jess or Rory settle in SH. That shit ending they gave bb Lane was more than enough). I don't need nor want no pinning or a billion hours of UST and denial. I hope the first episode answers that question of teams and then the story rolls on. #lawdsbothsidesbeextraasfuck . Yeah, I'm Jess trash (they gave enough of his little growth and learning in season 4 to make the changes if 6 feel real and earned. Us fans always knew he had it in him and it took leaving Stars Hollow, resolving daddy shit in Cali, and then coming back and doing his shit with Luke, to get there) and a lit shipper but it's been 10 years.I just want some awesome brotp and adults acting like adults and living progressive lives outside the hallow (I will weep if Jess or Rory settle in SH. That shit ending they gave bb Lane was more than enough). I don't need nor want no pinning or a billion hours of UST and denial. I hope the first episode answers that question of teams and then the story rolls on. Reply Parent Thread Link It's so weird to see this in HD. I'm used to my grainy DVDs, lol. Reply Thread Link The hd and bright colors were a little off-putting at first. The series just has such a special look to it. Reply Parent Thread Link glad i am not the only one! the show has always been so brownish. all this color and brightness makes the set pieces look fake, granted i am picky with stuff like this in general Reply Parent Thread Link That, and the aspect ratio is messed up. Reply Parent Thread Link Omg yes! I was wondering why it looked different/off, lol Reply Parent Thread Link mte! i wonder if they opening credits will be like this (if they keep them). Reply Parent Thread Link it's so weird seeing like these. the colors looks off, to bright and intense lol Reply Parent Thread Link It's so close!!! Reply Thread Link I'm at the point where I don't care for who Rory ends up with. I just want to see handsome pieces of meat that are not Dean Reply Thread Link Fuck Rory's boyfriends. Team #JusticeforLane Fuck Rory's boyfriends. Reply Thread Link I was so happy to see that clip of her on the drums, it just sucked how the series ended with her not even being to tour and fulfill her dreams because she got pregnant so young Reply Parent Thread Link The handling of Lane will forever make me angry. FOREVER. Reply Parent Thread Link ia! lane deserved so much more Reply Parent Thread Link Isn't there a rumor that the creator of the show wanted to make an example of Lane to show young girls what happens when you have pre-marital sex? (A.k.a your life will be ruined and you deserve all the shit you get). I binged the last seasons two years ago and was WTF'ing at my TV because of what happens to her. Reply Parent Thread Link Amy had left by the final season though, so Lane getting pregnant was the choice of the new showrunners. And Lane does wait until she's married before she has sex, if anything it seemed like the show was suggesting that it wasn't necessarily a great idea to wait lol and try and make it a really memorable experience, because then she was left feeling really let-down after all the build-up and trying to do it on the beach for their first time Reply Parent Thread Link That middle life and death brigader is fiiiiiiiiiine! Reply Thread Link Yes he is. What's his name? Reply Parent Thread Link Tanc Sade Reply Parent Thread Link I used to think so, too. But he's ott and kinda annoying on social media, he's lost all of his appeal to me lol. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link uggghhh i can't wait. between this and pokemon i'm going to die Reply Thread Link lolz Reply Parent Thread Link Milo is so cute! Reply Parent Thread Link scott patterson's new hair is unsettling Reply Parent Thread Link #checkyourweavegirl What is that...thing on Scott/Luke's head #killitwithfire Reply Parent Thread Link they should've dyed scott's hair piece to blend it in better Reply Parent Thread Link Lmao I LOVED this. Milo is the best even with that awful look lol. Reply Parent Thread Link I love this so much. Reply Parent Thread Link they also did a PSA about spoiling the last four words lmfao. Our Gilmore girls have a very very imporant message for you. (Hint: It's about the last four words.) https://t.co/ZBgcW7Xf9U pic.twitter.com/F0734nDTDf Gilmore Girls (@GilmoreGirls) November 18, 2016 & new promo pics where they don't look completely awkward! [ [ Spoiler (click to open) ] Edited at 2016-11-18 11:19 pm (UTC) i'm still team jess out of the three old guys but would be down for single rory/rory with someone newthey also did a PSA about spoiling the last four words lmfao.& new promo pics where they don't look completely awkward! [ x Reply Thread Link I'm starting to get annoyed about the four words hype now lol, because it's making me feel pressued to watch them all really fast in case I get spoiled for those words, but if it were up to me I'd like to space them out over a week and really take my time with them :( Reply Parent Thread Link i legit dont understand why the last four words are important Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Watch these last four words be the most basic shit that wasn't even worth the years of hype. I don't like ASP (I find her pretentious, seems hard to work with, and she thinks a hell of herself, her talent, her shows, etc. she thinks she's such a special snowflake, etc etc) and believed she hyped it up out of her bitters of walking away from the show or whatever the dispute was about. Watch it be some thing like "no Kirk, you can't" fade to black, the end. I feel fans (and show runners) may have built it up to be more than it really is/was. We all gonna be like "that it....!?!?!?!!" Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Thanks! I'm gonna add it...there's so much stuff coming up, I can barely keep up. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link My friends know I love Logan (and Rory/Logan) but yet, all they've done for weeks now is repeatedly bash him/the ship. I purposely don't bash their favorite characters/ships because it'd be rude as fuck to do so and this is when I get in return. But I love both Jess/Rory and Logan/Rory so either way, I'm going to be happy with the way this goes down. And Milo and Jared killed me in all the behind the scenes shit for the EW photoshoot! Reply Thread Link I'm sorry your friends are being pricks, but try not to take it to heart, girl. It's not worthy it. A ship is just that. Divert their attention to something you all hate/like Reply Parent Thread Link Dave was the best boyfriend on the show, and I'll always be bitter at how that ended. Reply Thread Link Loved Dave! Reply Parent Thread Link Yesss Reply Parent Thread Link I was so confused at how one minute Lane was talking about doing the long-distance thing with Dave, and then next minute she's crushing on Zach (urgh) with no mention of her and Dave breaking up or anything. Considering they spend an entire season on them getting together, you'd think they would have at least mentioned their break-up Reply Parent Thread Link That always bothers me! All we know is that he got freaked out by the misunderstood marriage jug, and I guess that's what we're supposed to think broke them up? And, god, what a downgrade to go from Dave to Zach. Lane deserves so much better. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link He made a good first boyfriend, but we never got to see his flaws though Reply Parent Thread Link Yes, Dave has always been my favorite GG boyfriend! Zach was such a downgrade. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link yeah i loved dave :( i feel like they had to rush his exit because of the o.c. Reply Parent Thread Link Yasss Dave was the husband Lane deserved and was sadly taken by the OC. My personal head cannon is that Lane moves to LA or NYC after high school. The stars align, she and Dave bump into each other at some hoke in the wall bar his band was playing at. A few drinks and a needed drummer later (their original was a divia who quit live on stage in the middle of a set) boom they're living and touring together with the band (Bible Kiss Bible, cause he never forget). Reply Parent Thread Link i grow to like zach but i love dave so much :( they build up such a cute story but then adam brody left to the oc :( Reply Parent Thread Link Fifth Harmony's @LaurenJauregui pens open letter to Trump voters: "I am a bisexual Cuban-American woman & so proud" https://t.co/5psQ6p5L9k billboard (@billboard) November 18, 2016 To every single Trump supporter trying to say that voting for Trump does not mean that you are racist, homophobic, sexist, xenophobic, assholes that you just like the way he didn't really care what people thought and just said whatever he wanted that he wasn't a politician, so he wasn't part of the establishment and didn't have corrupt money backing himThis is for you:Your words are worthless, because your actions have led to the single-handed destruction of all the progress we've made socially as a nation. You have, with your pure ignorance and refusal to understand the way the government and the world works, allowed a power-hungry business tycoon to take over the United States of America. "The land of the free, the home of the brave, under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for ALL."You are HYPOCRITES.Restoring the America-that-was is only stagnating the progression of our consciousness. You voted for a person who built an 18-month campaign off the back of your hatred. He manipulated ALL of you with such ease by speaking to the darker parts of you that had started to feel ashamed about the way you viewed the "politically correct" world. He became your champion, because he spoke to the parts of you that think you are superior to the rest of us (just like Hitler did in Germany before the Holocaust! Just read his autobiography: Mein Kampf).This politically correct world we've created, which is really just a world with social etiquette, where we have weeded out the language of racism and explained why, where we have established feminism as a growing notion of making women realize their validity and right to be treated as the full complex beings they are and men the same (which clearly needs A LOT of work considering how women across America, especially white women, voted for this man who insulted your very existence every time he opened his mouth or disrespected Hillary during his campaign), where we have had to create numerous labels to help queer people who didn't fit the cis heterosexual mold feel valid and identified in a world where narrow-minded consciousness has made them feel invalid and invisible for so long. That's the "politically correct" behavior you wanna get rid of? You wanna restore America to a world where the human beings around you feel scared to be themselves and live and love freely?Apart from how selfish that is, it is so very un-CHRIST-like, because your God is watching and He knows your hearts and He is aware of the true reason you chose such a human to run the most powerful country in the world, and I promise you the God that I have come to know and love is intolerant of judgment and hatred. And I know this, because I was raised Roman Catholic in a Latin household and went to private Catholic school my whole life so I have studied WAY more than most of you have studied the religion or the Bible for that matter. The ONLY reason is your inability to accept the growing world around you. You chose hatred. Your heart chose to separate yourself as a superior when the only superior in existence in this entire universe is SO much greater than you.Our "political correctness" that your champion, Donald Trump, so pointedly disregarded throughout his entire campaign and now with the appointment of his advisors and other government officials, is the language we have worked tirelessly to establish to feel safe in a world that never stops reminding us we are minorities. I am a bisexual Cuban-American woman and I am so proud of it. I am proud to be part of a community that only projects love and education and the support of one another. I am proud to be the granddaughter and daughter of immigrants who were brave enough to leave their homes and come to a whole new world with a different language and culture and immerse themselves fearlessly to start a better life for themselves and their families.I am proud to be a woman. Proud that the sex between my thighs provides a strength and resilience in me that only other women can feel, that my body curves in ways that allow me to create life within me, that my entire life is filled with adversity and doubt and people questioning my intelligence and my artistic potential and my expression of myself and my virtue and honor because I am too much woman. I am proud that I get to prove them all wrong. I am proud that I have to work even harder for it. I was raised to feel that I can do ANYTHING, and I will always believe that. I am proud to feel the whole spectrum of my feelings and I will gladly take the label of "bitch" and "problematic" for speaking my mind the same way any man would be admired and respected for doing. But, I will also extend the fullest hand of compassion and empathy for anyone labeling me as such.I also know that in my struggle of being a woman I am so very privileged. I was born with a lighter complexion and green eyes (thanks genetics) so from that narrow-minded perspective, I'm white. I have experienced the privilege those genes have granted me, and I am grateful and will continue to speak on behalf of the women around the world and in our very own country who do not experience a fraction of that respect because of the color of their skin or what they choose to wear, or how their hair looks, or how much makeup they have on or any other absurdity that we women are reduced to.It's truly disheartening to me to see so many beautiful women who have no idea what their potential is. This election made it blatantly obvious just how many women can't see it. We have failed ourselves as a nation. We are the example for the world, and we have failed our fellow humans who were watching us with hope that we would not allow hatred to prevail. I have had the privilege of being in a band that has allowed me to travel all over the world. I cannot express the gratitude I have for this experience because it opened my eyes to so many things and has allowed me to view the world from such a simple perspective, a perspective that I understand not very many people have the opportunity to experience.If I could tell every Trump supporter two things, it would be to travel and read a history book. Look beyond yourselves, look at how petty the morals you uphold seem when you realize we are not the only ones. Realize that your white skin is the result of immigration from Europe, that the only true "Americans" are Native Americans, who are indigenous people that inhabited this land before these conquerors from other countries (England, France, Italy, Spain) wiped them out almost entirely. None of us belong here but all of us deserve the right to feel safe and live our lives in peace. To not have to worry about potentially dying, or being electro-shocked, or beaten, or raped, or emotionally abused because our existence and/or choices for ourselves upset someone else. This is the world Trump is fostering. This is the division that has risen since the beginning of the campaign. We are not America indivisible any longer, we are united on two separate sides; Love and Hatred. We arenot "whining" about our presidential choice losing, we are screaming battle cries against those whose political and personal agendas threaten our lives and sanity. We are making sure you hear us, no matter how much it bothers you, we EXIST.I'm on mobile so hopefully this works sorry mods I read about this. When can I find a millionaire daddy in a Manhattan penthouse? I promise not to murder anyone. Reply Thread Link He's not the greatest looking, is also an ex con... like this guy could easily find better trade that won't murder people, like me! Reply Parent Thread Link the uglies are easier to control, until they start murdering people Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Right! These rich older gays always pick the most unstable trade they can find. Calvin Klein, this could have been you... Reply Parent Thread Expand Link TBQH?! I've aged out of being a boytoy but I would be a lovely house husband. Reply Parent Thread Link what the hell Reply Thread Link Well damn Reply Thread Link this is some lifetime shit Reply Thread Link Lifetime is television for WOMEN. Not homosexuals. Reply Parent Thread Link James Franco can make it then. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Starring Ty Burrell as the jeweler and Shawn Mendes as the young con. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Ikr! The story is insane. I'm wondering what lead to the murder. Drugs? Sex? Reply Parent Thread Link rip to the 26 year old :/ Reply Thread Link so why did the neighbours assume the two were lovers. maybe the jeweller adopted James because he didn't have any kids Reply Thread Link He "adopted" a man in his mid 20s Reply Parent Thread Link lmao, ikr?! someone adopt me please...i could use some sugar Reply Parent Thread Link From one of the articles: Neighbors in the swanky building, said they assumed the younger Rackover was Jeffrey's gay lover. 'I have seen them working out together in the gym and there is no way they were father and son,' one told the DailyMail.com. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link lmao Reply Parent Thread Link maybe they saw something......~inappropriate Reply Parent Thread Link This is something straight out of an episode of Snapped. What a horrible way to die. Reply Thread Link All these J names had me reading this several times to figure out who is who. So the jeweler isn't involved beyond buying the murderer an apartment? Reply Thread Link That was me last night. I need a web chart with pictures Reply Parent Thread Link mteee on the names Reply Parent Thread Link me too lol Reply Parent Thread Link Me too. I'm still not sure lol Reply Parent Thread Link Thank you! Taking in the many J names and the DATELINE-level craziness of the story really messed with my brain for a good few secs Reply Parent Thread Link All these J names had me reading this several times to figure out who is who. Same & I'm still a bit fuzzy on who's who. Reply Parent Thread Link Someone's been watching too much HTGAWM Reply Thread Link lol when these gross old men sink their manicured fingers into young ex cons thinkin they can groom them for assplay and call them their sons and shit. such a cliche that never ends well. giving me calvin klein/that ex porn star teas Reply Thread Link Too many male J names. Just like my dating history. Reply Thread Link do you have a Duggar fetish? Reply Parent Thread Link lol no just a fuckboi fetish Reply Parent Thread Link The suitcase thing happened on svu but the person survived. Rip Reply Thread Link Thank u so much Reply Parent Thread Link wow that was an incredible read. thank you Reply Parent Thread Link Morocco is currently hosting the 2016 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP22) in Marrakesh aiming to further discuss the achievements of COP21 and the Paris Agreement. Morocco is committed to push its energy mix toward renewable sources, but the countrys green energy plans are increasing geopolitical tensions with the disputed territory of Western Sahara. For the Kingdom of Morocco, which is heavily dependent on imports when it comes to its energy supply, COP22 is a great opportunity to display its commitment to renewable energy sources and show the world that the North African country is investing massively in renewables. In February 2016, Mohammed VI of Morocco commissioned the construction of the world largest concentrated solar power plant in the town of Ouarzazate, south-east of Marrakesh. When completed, in 2018, it will provide electricity for more than 1 million people in the country. By 2020, the countrys Solar Energy Programme is targeting to reach 2GW of solar power capacity and by 2030, Morocco plans to get most of its energy from renewable sources. However, when it comes to some of the new renewable energy projects, Morocco plans to construct them in the disputed territory of Western Sahara, which Morocco has occupied back in 1975. In the last 40 years, Western Sahara has been the subject of an international controversy, but although the native Sahrawi people claim they have the right for self-determination and independence, the international community so far has ignored or failed to find a solution for this conflict. Despite strong opposition from campaign groups and human rights organizations, Morocco has taken full advantage of Western Saharas natural resources and now it plans to realize some important green energy projects in the territory. Earlier this year, PVTech reported that three Saudi Arabian energy firms - ACWA Power, Alfanar and Abdul Latif Jameel Energy - are believed to be frontrunners in a solar photo-voltaic (PV) plants development tender after submitting the lowest bids for the construction and operation of the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energys (MASEN) Noor PV I scheme. Tariffs submitted by the Saudi companies are in the region of US$6 cents/kWh; a record-low in North African markets, which made them the top three bidders under the scheme, notes the PVTech article. The Noor PV I scheme consists of 3 PV plants for a cost of $220 million and a total capacity of 170 MW. Two of the three power plants will be built in Western Saharan cities, El Aaiun and Boujdour, with 80 and 20 MW of capacity, respectively meanwhile, Ouarzazate power plant will take the remaining 70 MW. The Noor PV I project took another step forward yesterday, when MASEN finally signed a development agreement with ACWA Power during the COP22 conference. Previously, ACWA Power had also worked on the Ouarzazate power plant project. However, international campaign organizations strongly condemn Moroccos action to realize projects in Western Sahara, claiming that it will only preserve and further justify the occupation. According to a recent report published by Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW), an international watchdog organization monitoring the activity of Morocco and foreign companies in Western Sahara by 2020, more than a quarter of the green energy produced by Morocco will be located in areas under military occupation. No less than 40 percent of Morocco's solar capacity will then come from Western Sahara. "We condemn Morocco's increasing energy infrastructure programmes in the territory it holds under occupation. Despite being remarkably green, they are fundamentally dirty, contributing to the upholding of the occupation", said Erik Hagen, Director of The Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara. There are several foreign companies involved in energy development programmes in Western Sahara. For example, a total of 37 firms applied for the Noor PV I tender, among them Italian Enel Green Power, French EREN Renewable Energy S.A. or Spanish Abener Energia S.A. Another notable international company working in Western Sahara is German giant Siemens, who operates several windmills in the area. "If one uses the territory of Western Sahara for the benefit of Morocco and for foreign enterprises, without properly consulting the people of Western Sahara or ensuring that they are the ones profiting from the wind energy, it will be in violation of international law and UN principles for responsible business, said former UN Legal Counsel Hans Corell earlier this month. Although, there is no real possibility to end the dispute over Western Sahara in the foreseeable future, if Morocco indeed wants to achieve the targets of its ambitious green energy programme it should reconsider to take a different approach to Sahrawi people and the whole discussion regarding the territory. Moroccos king, Mohammed VI, stated last year that the maximum he can offer to the Sahrawi is autonomy. Perhaps that could be a start for a better understanding, and probably would benefit both sides politically and economically as well. Moreover, a calmer political landscape and mutual understanding would help the development of sustainable green energy projects without harming anyones interests. By Daniel Stemler for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: From Brian. As most of you already know my wife Lorine has passed away. It was a great shock to myself, her family and many of you in the... In July, OnMilwaukee announced that award-winning musician Evan Christian planned to open a jazz lounge called Gibraltar at 538 W. National Ave. in Walkers Point. According to Ryan Casey, Gibraltars general manger, the club will open to the public on Friday, Dec. 2. The musical guest has not yet been confirmed. Casey describes the space, which was completely remodeled, as "a rustic and classy vintage jazz club" featuring chandeliers, exposed brick and warm tones. "Its a really unique, beautiful space," says Casey. Stay tuned to OnMilwaukee for a first look at Gibraltar on Thursday, Dec. 1. See original here Senator Bernie Sanders gave his first major address since the election on Wednesday night. Since challenging Clinton in the Democratic primary, he has emerged as one of the most powerful Democrats in Washington. This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form. AMY GOODMAN: Across town at George Washington University, Senator Bernie Sanders also gave his first major address since the election. Sanders, who challenged Clinton in the Democratic primary, has emerged as one of the most powerful Democrats in Washington. On Wednesday, he was named to a leadership post in the Senate -- chair of outreach, a new position -- and was reappointed ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee. During his speech, Senator Sanders called on Trump to rescind his decision to make Steve Bannon his chief strategist. Bannon is the former head of Breitbart News. SEN. BERNIE SANDERS: This country, as you all know, since our inception, has struggled to overcome discrimination of all forms. And that is racism and sexism and xenophobia and homophobia. For hundreds of years, extraordinarily brave people have stood up, and some of them have died in the struggle, to end discrimination in America. And I say to Mr. Trump, from the bottom of my heart, and I know I speak for millions of fellow Americans: Mr. Trump, we are not going backwards in terms of bigotry; we're going to go forward in creating a nondiscriminatory society. And in that regard, I call upon Mr. Trump to rescind the appointment that he made of Mr. Bannon. A president of the United States should not have a racist at his side. Unacceptable. AMY GOODMAN: That's Senator Bernie Sanders speaking Wednesday. But his speech was not solely an attack on Donald Trump. The Vermont senator said he hopes to work with the president-elect on a number of issues. SEN. BERNIE SANDERS: Mr. Trump said, unlike many Republicans, the vast majority of the Republicans, he said we -- he will not cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Now, I believe we should expand Social Security. I believe in a Medicare-for-all program. But that is what he said. And pay attention to see what he now does. The question that will be resolved, pretty quickly, is whether or not everything that he was saying to the working families of this country was hypocrisy, was dishonest, or whether he was sincere. And we will find that out soon enough. But, number one, no cuts, says Mr. Trump, to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Mr. Trump says he wants to invest a trillion dollars in rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure. That is a good sum of money. That is exactly what we should be doing. And we could create millions of good-paying jobs if we do that. Mr. Trump, that's what you said on the campaign trail. That's what we look forward to seeing from you. Now, I happen to believe that the federal minimum wage of seven and a quarter today is a starvation wage, that it should be raised to $15 an hour, a living wage. Mr. Trump did not say that, but what he did say is we should raise the minimum wage to 10 bucks an hour. Not enough, but a start. And we will hold him to those words. Mr. Trump said that Wall Street, dangerous, doing bad things. He wants to re-establish Glass-Steagall legislation. I look forward to working with him. Mr. Trump said he wants six weeks of paid maternity leave. Well, every other major country on Earth has, I think, at least 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave, but this is a start. This is a start. We look forward to working with him, if he is honest about that. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). From The Guardian It's hard to imagine the start of the Trump administration going any worse: their transition team is in absolute chaos, awash with walking conflicts of interest, and the people they've floated as cabinet members are extremists, torture supporters and generally awful people who should be nowhere near the levers of power. The New York Times reported on the nightmare that is the Trump transition process on Tuesday, which they described as being "marked by firings, infighting and revelations that American allies were blindly dialing in to Trump Tower to try to reach the soon-to-be-leader of the free world." The Huffington Post reported that Trump representatives missed meetings with several major federal agencies. But it's the people who are already in place that are arguably worse. Elizabeth Warren wrote a scathing letter to Trump this week, documenting in stark detail that despite Trump's pledge to "drain the swamp," his transition team is filled with lobbyists while special interest representatives are heading up the transition for federal departments they probably wish didn't exist in the first place. They include, she wrote, "a former Goldman Sachs executive who is rumored to be a Treasury Secretary pick; a paid consultant for Verizon who is making key decisions on your administration's Federal Communication Commission; a 'top lobbyist' whose firm lobbied on behalf of issues related to the Trans-Pacific Partnership who is shaping your Labor Department; and a climate change-denying, oil industry-paid think tank fellow who is leading your environmental team's transition." Part of this host of ethics quagmires could be that the transition team, such as it is, is reportedly struggling to find qualified people willing to serve the administration. But more pointedly, why would anyone believe Trump would actually stick to his pledge to "drain the swamp"? He holds no actual positions to hire against and has contradicted himself on virtually every major issue that exists. He's not exactly been an ethical beacon his entire life, either. Click Here to Read Whole Article This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source. From Counterpunch Obama's legacy is in tatters, and that is good news. Donald Trump's victory was not just a win over Hillary Clinton, but against Democratic Party policies that silenced the rank and file. For years Democrats became convinced that the only means of keeping Republicans at bay was to go along with their party leadership without complaint. If they wanted to expand trade deals that stole workers' jobs, so be it. The people who marched against the invasion of Iraq folded their tents when Democrats became the party of endless war. When Obama promoted austerity and "grand bargains" with Republicans not a word was uttered. Even Black Lives Matter refused to point out that the Obama Justice Department left killer cops unpunished. Barack Obama is nothing if not consistent. While Democrats take to the streets in protest against president elect Trump, Obama declares that the man he once called unfit is not an ideologue, but a "pragmatist." No one should be surprised about the conciliatory tone. Obama never had a problem with Republicans. They may have obstructed him, but he was always happy to assist them because he wasn't really opposed to their policies. The most obvious example of Obama's lack of substance was his relationship with black Americans. His disdain and contempt for the people who loved him the most was clear to anyone who paid attention. Jokes about "cousin Pookie" and parents serving fried chicken for breakfast should have been seen as the racist screeds they clearly were. But the desire to see a black face in a prominent place endures to our detriment. Obama won by making himself palatable to white people while also taking advantage of undeserved black pride. Hillary Clinton would be the president elect if the new voters who emerged in 2008 had remained committed to the Democratic Party. But their loyalty was to the imagery of Barack Obama as president. Their joy was confined to seeing him meet the queen of England alongside his first lady or disembarking from Air Force One with his signature swagger. The sight of Barack and Michelle hosting a state dinner was enough to make black hearts swoon. Policy initiatives need not intrude upon the love fest. The end result of this unrequited and superficial love was six million fewer votes cast for Hillary Clinton in 2016 than for Obama in 2012. The apocryphal cousin Pookie stayed home and no one should be surprised. There is no secret to keeping voters engaged. They are engaged if their needs are met. Deliver for voters and they deliver in the voting booth. Even the unpopular and shady Hillary Clinton could have won Michigan if the people of Flint had received the federal help they needed so badly. Not only did the Obama environmental protection agency allow the beleaguered city to be given contaminated water, but he showed up for a photo opportunity and did nothing else as residents suffered. He drank a glass of water, posed for the cameras and returned to Washington. The people of Flint are still living under conditions Americans think of as being "Third World." The response to Trump's victory should mean more than protesting policies the Democrats now have little ability to fight. This moment presents an opportunity for much needed introspection and mea culpas. Millions of people did more than just accept Democratic Party policy. They supported actions they would have rejected if carried out by a Republican or a white Democrat. They supported Muammar Gaddafi when Republicans were president but averted their eyes to his murder when committed by a Democrat. They even voted for the person who bragged about the killing. Democratic voters must ask themselves why they said nothing when their party promoted trade deals that were against their interests. Ultimately that acquiescence led to defeat at Trump's hands. The Obama team's propaganda skills were legendary but the day of reckoning revealed the emptiness of what they produced. The corporate media acted like scribes under White House direction and declared that Russia was an enemy state and its president a 21st century Hitler. Now it is Donald Trump, the self-promoting reality television star, who declares his willingness to talk to his Russian counterpart. It is the sort of behavior that Democrats once valued. Democratic presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton began the tradition of getting Democrats to support what they didn't like. Obama perfected the art, which ultimately led to the debacle. He will certainly not be the last to tempt the party faithful but in 2016 Democrats sold their souls and ended up with nothing. Defeat creates the most hollow feelings of all. By Robert Weiner, Mahmoud Al Shaarawy and Ben Lasky It's often said "there are no good options for Syria." Not exactly. The war in Syria is tremendously complicated and its overlapping layers require a multi-layer solution. It is the biggest humanitarian disaster since WWII. A people-to-people approach would save millions of innocent souls. We should evoke examples like Alliance for Progress, Peace Corps, and VISTA1961--1969 which were the biggest U.S. aid programs toward the developing world up to that point--and called for substantial reform of Latin American institutions. It was an effective way to create a friendship and stabilize difficult situations in Latin America back at the 60s. White Helmets is a group of some 3,000 volunteers has been credited with saving over 60,000 people from the rubble of buildings in war-torn Syria. This group could be the perfect example of what the international community should vastly support in Syria. As the Syrian plight goes through its sixth year, it is still far away from a viable solution to stop bloodshed. Only uncertainty and further violence loom. The repercussions of the Syrian conflict echo loudly in Europe, which is plagued by a surge in terrorist attacks and bitter internal division about how to handle the rapidly-growing refugee crisis--one that caused Brexit. U.S. cities like New York and Orlando are thousands of miles and an ocean and sea away from the nearest Syrian city. However, the perpetrators of the terrorist acts in these cities who declared their allegiance to ISIS, the perverted individuals who set off explosive devices and executed mass shootings, show that Syria is closer than Americans think. US-Syria policy is in the midst of conflicting strategies and alliances. The U.S. and Russia are at odds over how to end the war, or rather, how to manage it. Maybe this will change in the Trump administration President Obama created red lines and ignored them when Congress refused to authorize air strikes he had wanted. President Elect Trump has a plan but will not yet tell anyone about it. Secretary Clinton said in the third presidential debate, "I will continue to push for safe zones and safe havens not only to protect civilians and stop the constant flow of refugees, but also and frankly to gain some leverage on both the Syrian and Russian governments." Russia has a stake in the prolongation of the conflict. If it loses its ally in Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, it would lose its toehold in the Mediterranean Sea and the Middle East. Recently, Russia warned the U.S. against attacking the government's troops. That warning later translated in Moscow's announcement that it had beefed up its forces in Syria with S-300 air defense missiles, raised its troops from 3,000 to 9,000 and deployed navy forces in the Mediterranean. President Obama claims it stopped Syria from using chemical stockpiles to commit genocide. Perhaps. Now, the US wants to help resolve the humanitarian crisis in Syria, the floods of refugees. What are the options? 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). Here is the full hideous point by point list of the major votes of Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions on civil rights issues complete with the dates he torpedoed them. Banning the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional. (Jan 2006) Voted NO on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act. (Feb 2013) Voted YES on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration. (Jun 2006) Voted YES on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (Jun 2006) Voted NO on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002) Voted YES on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. (Oct 2001) Voted NO on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation. (Jun 2000) Voted NO on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women. (Mar 1998) Voted YES on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business. (Oct 1997) Supports anti-flag desecration amendment. (Mar 2001) This list of civil rights horrors from Sessions earned him a 0% rating from the Human Rights Campaign, a 7 % rating from the NAACP, and a 20 % rating from the ACLU. The prospect of Sessions as the next Attorney General is an absolute worst nightmare. However, there were ample warning signs. One was Sessions himself. He was one of the first GOP name officials to latch onto to the Trump campaign and never wavered in his support of it. There was little doubt that if Trump bagged the White House, Sessions would be in on the pay-off for his loyalty and would land some big-ticket administration appointment. That appointment was almost certain to be the Justice Department head. He had the right Trump favored credentials. He was a former U.S. Attorney, a long-time member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and most importantly, there's his record on civil rights. It fit into exactly the type of person Trump would put into every top legal position he could put someone in from the Justice Department to the Supreme Court. That someone had to be the type who took the narrowest strict constructionist interpretation of the law, and the dimmest view of what and how civil rights should be litigated and enforced. For the court, Trump's ideal choice as he oft put it, was another Antonin Scalia. If he couldn't get Sessions for the High Court, and the likelihood of that was slim since Sessions had already been rejected once for a federal judgeship as too racist, then the next best place he could fit him was the Justice Department. Now we come to Clinton. The drumbeat refrain from many progressives and some liberal Democrats was that Clinton was as bad as Trump. She was supposedly pro-war, pro-Wall Street, and a corporate shill. If Bernie Sanders didn't get the nomination, then they would either vote for a Third-Party candidate or stay home. No amount of exhorting that Trump would wreak havoc on the Affordable Care Act, labor protections, voting rights, abortion, give unfettered free rein to Wall Street and the Big Banks, try to put at least two or three more Scalias on the Supreme Court, not to mention stock the federal judiciary with Scalia type clones, and cut and slash an array of other federal supported health, education and job spending programs mattered. The retort was that Trump would be relentlessly challenged every step of the way by Congressional Democrats, civil rights, liberties, environmental, and women groups to prevent shoving this horrific apocalyptic vision of a future America through. Maybe, but that overlooked one glaring problem. Senate Democrats and progressive House Democrats would almost certainly be in the minority in Congress and could not stop Republicans from proposing endless legislation and initiatives in these areas, inflaming their invigorated base of ultra-conservatives, and white protestant evangelicals, bullying the mainstream media, and using their majorities in the majority of America's state legislatures and state houses to counter the other side. Protest groups would have leverage only in the forces they could muster in the streets. But a Republican White House and majority Congress would be virtually immune to those protests since they did not rely on them to win or stay in office. No matter what one thought of Clinton and her supposed deep standing corporate and Beltway ties, she was not Trump. It would be the height of lunacy to compare say Obama's Attorney Generals, Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch on their absolute worst days to Sessions. It would be beyond delusion to think that Sessions would ever file briefs challenging the gut of the Voting Rights Act or bring a civil rights prosecutions of police officers that gunned down unarmed blacks as Lynch and especially Holder did. The almost certain blind eye by a Sessions to the horrendous abuse of civil rights might not have much resonance to well-to-do, comfortable and smug progressives who are not in direct harm's way from these abuses. But for poor, and working class blacks and Hispanics these abuses are almost literally a matter of life and death. Shunning Clinton could not be shrugged off as a mere case of thoughtless, holier-than-thou idealism that had no consequences. It did then and even more so now. Sessions is the horrid proof of that. Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. He is the author of How President Trump will Govern (Amazon Kindle) He is an associate editor of New America Media. He is a weekly co-host of the Al Sharpton Show on Radio One. He is the host of the weekly Hutchinson Report on KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles and the Pacifica Network. What are we coming to when the 'National Enquirer' accurately reports Donald Trump's speech promising reforms in his "first 100 days" in office? They even add, in giant print on the front page, "in his own words" because they know how rare it is for anyone quoted in the 'Enquirer' to actually be quoted correctly. Of course, the Trump-supporting rag can't resist gloating, putting it all beneath the cover headline: "We Told You So!" How long can it be before the New York Times is reporting on Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie's divorce, or Prince Harry's latest girlfriend? Oh wait they've already done that. But the 'Enquirer' can't maintain its facade of accuracy for long, plunging headlong into a series of highly dubious fact-free zones. Princes Harry's girlfriend, American actress Meghan Markle, is reportedly enduing a "Nude Photo Horror!" But it's typical 'Enquirer' wishful thinking. Markle evidently told a humorous anecdote about skinny-dipping in a New Zealand lake one day in 2012, only to find that pranksters had stolen her clothes. "She's panicked that the photos will be published," raves the mag. Except there are no photos. Never were. There's no suggestion that a single photo was snapped. No nude photo horror. No panic. Actress Jennifer Garner is saving her troubled marriage to Ben Affleck by having a baby, reports the 'Enquirer,' for at least the second time this year. This is based on a photo that shows Garner is a loose-fitting shirt. Just like the photos of her six months ago in a loose sweater, when they also swore she was pregnant. This is one of those games where they will keep reporting she's pregnant until one day she actually will be, and the 'Enquirer' will congratulate itself for always being right. "We were right Again, Again and Again!" the 'Enquirer' proclaims in this week's issue, ignoring the times it was wrong about Ted Cruz's father being involved in the assassination of John F Kennedy, or the Queen's abdication, or actor Nick Nolte's death the 'Enquirer' gave him "four weeks to live" many months ago and many, many other fantastical tales. In a "custody bombshell," the 'Enquirer' cover claims that "Brad's secret tapes destroy crazy Angie!" The mag reports that Brad Pitt "has damaging tapes exposing her insane rages and sick sexual kinks." But these aren't tapes of Angelina Jolie behaving badly. The tapes if they even exist are allegedly recordings of Pitt complaining, made by Pitt's "lifelong confidante, celebrity psychic Ron Bard." Even if Bard decided to breach the confidentiality agreement he undoubtedly signed, such tapes would prove nothing more than Brad making unsubstantiated allegations about Angie. It's proof of nothing, and would have no effect on their custody battle. Best of all is the "Enquirer World Exclusive" offering a "jailhouse confession" by prison inmate Gary Olivia, who was reportedly "once a key suspect" in the murder of infant pageant queen JonBenet Ramsey, But despite the headline's suggestion, he's not confessing to killing the six-year-old. He simply "confesses" to having "partied" with her ghost, building a shrine to JonBenet in his cell, and allegedly admits that he is a "deranged pervert obsessed with the death of a small child." Why would the 'Enquirer' publish the ramblings of a self-confessed deranged pervert in the first place? Because they can. 'The Globe' claims that TV's 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin "committed suicide," according to a "chilling new autopsy report." But the 'Globe' story goes on to admit that there is no new autopsy, only the original one performed a decade ago. And claims that he was suicidal because of neck pain are not made in the coroner's report, but dubiously come from an unnamed "insider." Presumably Irwin was killed by a stingray that had been paid large sums of squid to hurl its barb into Irwin's chest, because stingrays are the hitmen of the ocean. Right. "Skinny Angelina" has been warned: "Eat Now or Die!" according to the 'Globe,' which claims the actress has dropped to 76 pounds, while in the same issue reporting that Pitt's first wife Jennifer Aniston "gains 50 lbs!" If Pitt's estranged wife would only eat all his ex-wife's meals, perhaps they could both be fit and happy. Mel Gibson also "packs on 50 lbs" and "goes from hunk to chunk" says the 'Globe,' whose reporters are routinely recruited from State Fairs, where they work in 'Guess Your Weight' booths. "Oswald didn't kill JFK!" screams the cover of the 'National Examiner' which would put Ted Cruz's father in the clear claiming that it was a Castro hitman who killed the president. Presumably because Castro couldn't pay a stingray enough to do the deed, due to the famous Cuban squid shortage of 1963. Fortunately we have 'Us' magazine's crack investigative team to tell us that Olivia Culpo wore it best, Christian Serratos carries a copy of 'Fifty Shades of Grey,' lip balm and post-defecation fragrance "Poo-Pourri" in her Stella McCartney tote, and that the stars are just like us: they swim, they stretch before exercise, and "they hold onto their bags." Yep, that's the best caption they could come up with for a photo of Liev Schreiber "(wearing a Tiffany CT60 watch) headed to work in NYC Oct. 31." Presumably because they rejected the caption: "The stars are just like us: They hate being photographed by strangers." Onwards and downwards . . . From Robert Reich Blog Democratic Donkey - Caricature (Image by DonkeyHotey) Details DMCA Who will become the next chair of the Democratic National Committee? This leadership contest has significant implications for the future of American politics. The choice will help determine how the Democratic party responds to its extraordinary defeats in recent years, ending with the election of Donald Trump. Don't bet on it. For one thing, many vested interests don't want the Democratic party to change. Most of the money it raises ends up in the pockets of political consultants, pollsters, strategists, lawyers, advertising consultants and advertisers themselves, many of whom have become rich off the current arrangement. They naturally want to keep it. For another, the Democratic party apparatus is ingrown and entrenched. Like any old bureaucracy, it only knows how to do what it has done for years. Its state and quadrennial national conventions are opportunities for insiders to meet old friends and for aspiring politicians to make contacts among the rich and powerful. Insiders and the rich aren't going to happily relinquish their power and perquisites, and hand them to outsiders and the non-rich. Most Americans who call themselves Democrats never hear from the Democratic party except when it asks for money, typically through mass mailings and recorded telephone calls in the months leading up to an election. The vast majority of Democrats don't know the name of the chair of the Democratic National Committee or of their state committee. Almost no registered Democrats have any idea how to go about electing their state Democratic chair or vice-chair, and, hence, almost none have any influence over whom the next chair of the Democratic National Committee may be. Nor, for that matter, has Barack Obama cared. He basically ignored the Democratic National Committee during his presidency, starting his own organization called Organizing for America. It was originally intended to marshal grass-roots support for the major initiatives he sought to achieve during his presidency, but morphed into a fund-raising machine of its own. Finally, the party chairmanship has become a part-time sinecure for politicians on their way up or down, not a full-time position for a professional organizer. In 2011, Tim Kaine (who subsequently became Hillary Clinton's running mate in the 2016 election) left the chairmanship to run, successfully, for the Senate from Virginia. The chair then went to Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, a Florida congresswoman who had co-chaired Clinton's bid for the Democratic nomination for president in 2008. This generated allegations in the 2016 race that the Democratic National Committee was siding with Clinton against Bernie Sanders -- allegations substantiated by leaks of emails from the DNC. So what we now have is a Democratic party that has been repudiated at the polls, headed by a Democratic National Committee that has become irrelevant at best, run part-time by a series of insider politicians. It has no deep or broad-based grass-roots, no capacity for mobilizing vast numbers of people to take any action other than donate money, no visibility between elections, no ongoing activism. If it is to be relevant to the future, the Democratic party must be capable of organizing and mobilizing Americans in opposition to Donald Trump's Republican party -- turning millions of people into an activist army to peacefully resist what is about to happen by providing them with daily explanations of what is occurring in Trump's administration, along with tasks that individuals and groups can do to stop or mitigate their harmful effects. It must harness the energies and idealism of young people across the nation who were drawn to Bernie Sanders's campaign because of its promise to get big money out of politics; reverse widening inequality; turn the nation's wildly expensive and baroque healthcare complex into a single-payer system; reverse climate change; end the militarization of our police and the mass incarceration of our people and stop interminable and open-ended warfare. That means helping working-class white people understand they've been conned by Trump into believing he's a populist, and that their economic insecurities are due to a rigged game rather than to immigrants, black people, Latinos and Muslims. In other words, to become a credible force that wins elections and addresses what ails America, the Democratic party must no longer represent America's ruling class. It must be the voice of the dispossessed -- now the majority of Americans. The Democratic party will choose its new chair soon after the start of the year. So far the contestants include Howard Dean, a former DNC chair; Minnesota Representative Keith Ellison, Naral Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue, Labor Secretary Tom Perez, former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and South Carolina Democratic party chair Jaime Harrison. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). From Nation of Change Donald Trump is not the only -- or even the biggest -- real and present danger to our democratic republic. Koch Brothers (Image by LibertyPen, Channel: LibertyPen) Details DMCA Tug on any right-wing thread in America and you'll most likely find that it's tied to the multi-billionaire Koch boys, Charles and David. While the brothers are infamous for funneling hundreds of millions of campaign dollars to presidential, congressional and gubernatorial politicos willing to embrace their self-serving agenda, few know of their equally self-serving push to bend whole state governments their way. In addition to the $37 million that their industrial conglomerate, Koch Industries, has pumped into politicians, PACs and ballot initiatives in the past two decades, the Kochs are dominant players in all things American Legislative Exchange Council: --To keep watch on the front group, the Kochs placed their own lobbyist on ALEC's corporate board. --At least five Koch-funded groups are sponsors of and active participants in ALEC, including Americans for Prosperity, State Policy Network (a coordinating body for Koch-minded think tanks in all 50 states), Heartland Institute, Mercatus Center and the Texas Public Policy Foundation. --In the past two decades, Koch-controlled nonprofit foundations funneled $23 million into ALEC and sponsoring groups. --In the past 14 years, two secretive "dark money" funds used by the brothers -- Donors Trust and Donors Capital Fund -- poured an additional $77 million into ALEC and the sponsoring groups. This spring, the duo and several of their billionaire brethren announced that they would put nearly a billion dollars into the 2016 national elections, with a big chunk to Koch-ize the White House. But then Trump happened. Charlie and Dave don't cotton to The Donald so they made quite a show of announcing in July that they would back no presidential candidate this fall. But while pundits were gazing dreamily at the prospect of an election year without the ponderous weight of Koch cash skewing the presidential race, oodles of money from the brothers' campaign cache were being wormed deep into our country's political terrain, nurturing right-wing corporatists running to fill such down-ballot seats of power as state legislators, attorneys general, judges and secretaries of state. Digging into only a few of the opaque political funds of the multi-tentacled Koch network, the excellent watchdog group Center for Media Democracy uncovered 58 Koch-funded candidates for state legislative seats in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin. The actual number could be much larger, for the bulk of the network's donations go through "dark money" channels that hide the names of donors and recipients. It's easy to become mesmerized by The Spectacular Donald Show in this year's political circus, but it's time for progressives to focus on the outer rings, where the Kochs, ALEC and their corporate cohorts have laid siege to our state governments. More than a firefight here or an ambush there, they have launched a massive, coordinated maneuver to conquer the countryside. If you doubt that the strategy has gone local, consider this stunning fact: Even though the Kochs did not back a presidential campaign and say that they were concentrating on only a half dozen U.S. Senate races this year, they deployed 1,600 paid political staffers into 38 states to drive elections and policy campaigns. This is why we must pay attention. Donald Trump is not the only -- or even the biggest -- real and present danger to our democratic republic. As Arn Pearson, general counsel of CMD, warns: "There are a lot of different parts of the Koch machine pulling on this oar. From their think tanks up through their elected officials, they're pushing on it. Hard." You might think this is madness, but madness -- spurred by plutocratic greed -- is the new American political reality. Just being progressive won't stop it. We have to get aggressively progressive to confront and defeat the Kochheads in our states. Rolling back the effects of the continuing decades-long attack on America's ideal of the common good will take some work. Roll up your sleeves and get started. Check out Center for Media Democracy and www.ALECexposed.org. From Gush Shalom THE FIRST shock has passed. President-Elect Donald Trump. I am gradually getting used to the sound of these words. We are entering an era of complete uncertainty. We Israelis and the entire world. From shoe-shine boy to head of state. Nobody knows. BUT FIRST we must say goodbye to Barack Obama. Frankly, I like the guy. There is something noble about him. Upright. Honest. Idealistic. When the cameras showed him this week sitting together with Donald Trump, the contrast could not have been greater. Obama is the anti-Trump. Trump is the anti-Obama. And yet.... Yet in all the eight long years of his presidency, President Obama has done nothing, nothing at all, for peace in our region. In these eight years, the Israeli ulra-right has flourished. Settlements in the occupied territories have multiplied and grown larger. After every new settlement expansion, the State Department has dutifully condemned it. And then given Binyamin Netanyahu another few billions. And the latest gift was the biggest ever. When he came into office, Obama made some very beautiful speeches in Cairo and Jerusalem. Many exquisite words. And they were just that: mere words. Some people believe that now, when Obama is free of all obligations, he will use his last two months in power to atone for his sins and do something meaningful for Israeli-Palestinian peace. I doubt it. (Years ago, at some European congress, I accused the Spanish Diplomat Miguel Moratinos of doing nothing for Israeli-Palestinian peace. In his aggressive reply, he accused me of sheer impertinence. Why should anyone do anything for the Israeli peace forces, if these forces themselves do nothing to achieve peace?) Have we heard the last of the Obama family? I am not sure. Somehow I have the idea that after four or eight years we will see another Obama running for president: Michelle Obama, the wildly and rightly popular first lady, who has all the qualities needed: She is black. She is a woman. She is highly intelligent. She has a sterling character. (Unless in the New America, these are all negative qualities.) THERE WAS some comfort in the election results. Hillary Clinton got more votes than Donald Trump. She lost in the electoral college. 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). Vice President-elect Mike Pence went to see Hamilton last night; he was booed on the way to his seat, but afterward, the cast acknowledged him with a brief set of remarks written by the show's creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda: "We, sir we are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights. We truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf all of us." The remarks were delivered by Brandon Victor Dixon, who plays Vice President Aaron Burr in the show. Later, Trump took to Twitter to denounce this mild message in support of American values as "harassment." Trump has not seen the show, but lead producer Jeffrey Seller told the New York Times that the President-elect would be "welcome to attend." The presence of Pence loomed large during the show, and turned "immigrants, we get the job done" (from the outstanding song Yorktown) into an applause-line that brought the house down and temporarily suspended the show until the cheering died down. Tonight, VP-Elect Mike Pence attended #HamiltonBway. After the show, @BrandonVDixon delivered the following statement on behalf of the show. pic.twitter.com/Jsg9Q1pMZs Hamilton (@HamiltonMusical) November 19, 2016 The statement that Mr. Dixon read was written by the show's creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda, its director, Thomas Kail, and the lead producer, Jeffrey Seller, with input from cast members, Mr. Seller said. "We had to ask ourselves, how do we cope with this?" Mr. Seller said. "Our cast could barely go on stage the day after the election. The election was painful and crushing to all of us here. We all struggled with what was the appropriate and respectful and proper response. We are honored that Mr. Pence attended the show, and we had to use this opportunity to express our feelings." Mike Pence Saw 'Hamilton.' The Cast Had Something to Say. [Christopher Mele and Patrick Healy/New York Times] Lower House strongly condemned Indian attacks from LoC ISLAMABAD: Legislators in the Lower House on Friday passed a resolution in which they strongly condemned Indian attacks from across the Line of control (LoC), resulting in the martyrdom of seven Pakistani soldiers. Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Chaudhry Barjees Tahir forward the resolution and expressed deep concern over the tragic incident of unprovoked firing by the Indian forces. Parliamentarians in the National Assembly took serious cognisance of the unprovoked and barbaric attack on the Pakistani border forces by the Indian Army, resulting in aggression and clashes in the border areas. Through the resolution, the House recognised the sacrifices of the armed forces and paid a glowing tribute to the martyred soldiers for their courage. Relations between Pakistan and India have been strained for several months, while cross-frontier shelling had intensified in recent weeks leading to deaths of civilians and soldiers stationed along the disputed boundary. The House was informed that the tensions had been fraught since July when India-held Kashmir (IHK) was rocked by street protests after the killing of famous freedom fighter Burhan Wani. Islamabad launched an international campaign to highlight rights abuses by Indian security forces in IHK. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar laid before the House the Companies Ordinance, 2016. Explaining the salient features of the ordinance, the minister said it would replace the Companies Ordinance, 1984. He said the ordinance had been prepared taking all the stakeholders into confidence and keeping in view the international best practices to provide ease of doing business. He said the ordinance would empower the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) to probe money laundering, terror financing and fraud. This ordinance has recently been promulgated to replace the previous 32-year-old ordinance. He said that consultations were held for more than a year to bring in this comprehensive law. Dar said the proposed law discussed in detail the perspective of offshore companies, and would make companies bound to declare their investors and beneficiaries. He informed the House that major penalties had been proposed in case of non-disclosure of assets of the companies. On the other hand, the National Assembly was informed that the government was taking concrete steps to deal with the increasing cases of hepatitis in the country. The information was given by Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services Dr Darshan while responding to a calling attention notice moved by Khalida Mansoor and others regarding rampant increase in the number of hepatitis patients. He said that the hepatitis B vaccine was available, whereas there was no vaccine of hepatitis C. He, however, said its treatment was available. Dr Darshan said that doctors were also being imparted training for the treatment of hepatitis patients. He said the government was also working for the provision of clean drinking water to the people, as contaminated water was the main cause of hepatitis. To another calling attention notice moved by Dr Nafisa Shah and others regarding explosion in an oil tanker at Gadani ship-breaking yard, Minister for Ports and Shipping Mir Hasil Bizenjo said two committees had been formed to investigate the incident. He said the committee formed by the federal government had already presented its report to the prime minister, while a report of the committee formed by the Balochistan government was being prepared. The minister said the government had announced compensation for the victims of the incident and three officers had been suspended for showing negligence. Bizenjo said the Gadani shipyard lacked facilities like fire tenders, and added that safety measures were being improved at the facility. The minister said that 28 people were killed and 50 others wounded in the tragic incident. "Laws for ship breaking are being prepared," he maintained. Meanwhile, Mahmood Achakzai demanded a judicial probe into the incident. The house also offered Fateha for Jehangir Bader, Naveed Qamar's father, ANP leader Haji Adeel, the Pak Army soldiers and those who had died in the Gadani incident. 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, 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. First, you had to pull the red wicker settee with its circus-striped cushions a few feet away from the wall. Then you put the army surplus table Mother sometimes used for the sewing machine next to that, in front of the closed-in fireplace; and if Father wasnt using them for the work he brought home Tunnels of Love Read More Douglas V. Gibbs is a proud member of the American Authors Association Douglas V. Gibbs is a proud member of the Military Writers Society of America. CHESTER -- A store clerk at the Exxon station in Chestertown was arrested this week when he allegedly sold alcohol to an underage person working with State Police, authorities said. James T. Bolton, 22, of Brant Lake, was charged with prohibited sale of alcohol to a minor, a misdemeanor, during a State Police investigation, the agency said. In all, state troopers working with the underage volunteer checked 41 businesses in Warren County and were able to purchase alcohol only at the Exxon store, officials said. Bolton was released pending prosecution in Chester Town Court. QUEENSBURY One of two men accused of murder in the July death of a Glens Falls man is scheduled for a possible guilty plea in early December. Kevin S. Chapman is scheduled to appear in Warren County Court on Dec. 7 for what the court calendar lists as a plea in connection with the July death of 58-year-old Kevin J. Jenks. Warren County District Attorney Kate Hogan said this week that her office had not heard definitively whether Chapman, 49, of Herkimer, was going to plead guilty. Hogan said the plea agreement would include a guilty plea to second-degree murder, with a sentence to be determined. The minimum for second-degree murder is 15-years-to-life and maximum is 25-to-life. Chapmans court-appointed lawyer, Greg Teresi, did not return a phone message for comment left Wednesday. Also charged with murder was a longtime friend of Jenks, Robert M. Divine Henry, 45, also of Herkimer. Police believe he arranged the meeting with Jenks that night, bringing Chapman with him to rob Jenks at his Dix Avenue home. Authorities said the men blamed each other for Jenks death when they were questioned. Henrys lawyer, Tucker Stanclift, said there were preliminary plea talks in Henrys case, but his client was not willing to plead guilty to second-degree murder. He said he has been digging through the evidence to try to determine how to proceed with the case. The issue is, to what extent is there culpability for either of these defendants? he said. The possible plea agreement comes weeks after Chapman, with the consent of his lawyer, took a polygraph test at the State Police station in Greenwich in an effort to back up his claim that he did not kill Jenks. The results of that test have not been revealed, but it was done with the consent of his lawyer in an effort to determine whether Chapmans claims that he did not kill Jenks, but Henry did, were valid. Both men were arrested in Herkimer three days after Jenks July 6 death, which police said occurred when he was strangled in the bedroom of his home. Newly filed court documents outline more evidence against the two suspects, including witness testimony that seems to bolster the police claim that they had Jenks distinctive Cadillac sedan in central New York in the hours after the death. The two suspects lived in adjoining rooms in a Red Roof Inn motel in Herkimer, and a man who was visiting a relative there on July 7 said he saw Chapman, whom he knew as Chappy, with the car. Chapman told him he won it in a poker game. A short time later, Henry whom the witness also knew removed a Vizio television from the trunk of the car, telling the witness he was going to sell it at a local pawn shop, records show. Chapman later abandoned the car in a nearby shopping plaza parking lot, where State Police found it. At least two TVs had been stolen from Jenks home before his death, police said. The theft of the car, personal items and credit cards from Jenks prompted additional charges that could result in consecutive prison terms to the murder counts if the men are convicted. Police were led to the Herkimer area after tracking one of Jenks stolen cellphones to the area, and learning that a State Police patrol car with a computerized license plate reader had passed Jenks vehicle in western Montgomery County the night of his death. Both suspects have extensive criminal records and are being held in Warren County Jail, pending further court action. No court date has been set for Henrys case, as Stanclift said he is preparing pretrial motions. Jenks was a well-known local bartender who also worked at CR Bards medical device plant in Queensbury. He was well-regarded for helping others. Living Gospel Equality Now: Loving in the Heart of God: Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests Turkey says Russia has announced the resumption of deal for the shipment of grain through the Black Sea, reports AP. Featured Post Minnesota: Line 3 Charges Dismissed Against Five of 'Shell River Seven' Water Protectors Shell River Seven stand their ground in a confrontation with law enforcement, the Shell River behind them, July 2021 (Photo credit: Citizen ... White Mesa Ute Spiritual March to Shut Down Uranium Mill Mohawk Warrior Society Book Launch Lakota Jean Roach: The True Story of Leonard Peltier Justice for Dad: Taylor Dewey Shares the Harsh Road to Justice Justice Dept Files Lawsuit Against Rapid City Hotel Western Shoshone Ian Zabarte Speaks on Radiation Archive Search This Blog About Censored News Censored News is published by Brenda Norrell. Since 2006, Censored News has received more than 20 million pageviews. As a collective of writers, photographers and broadcasters, we publish news of Indigenous Peoples and human rights. Contact publisher Brenda Norrell: brendanorrell@gmail.com From the publisher Censored News is published by Brenda Norrell, a journalist in Indian country for 40 years. Norrell created Censored News after she was censored and terminated as a staff reporter at Indian Country Today in 2006. She began as a reporter at Navajo Times during the 18 years that she lived on the Navajo Nation. She was a stringer for AP and USA Today and later traveled with the Zapatistas through Mexico. She has been blacklisted by all the mainstream media for 14 years. Contact brendanorrell@gmail.com Translate The decision was reached after GIBA failed to show up at an event to sign a Memorandum of Understanding regarding how they should pay music royalties. READ MORE:Hollywood honors Japanese samurai actor Toshiro Mifune GHAMRO officials said GIBA is showing bad faith after its officials failed to show up for the event and offered no explanation for not showing up. But according to the Vice President of the GHAMRO, Ahmed Banda, many of them have defaulted payment, adding that GHAMRO took a number of them to court and we won and they paid hugely for it. Many more are still in court when GIBA approached GHAMRO and requested for an out of court negotiation on behalf of the radio and television stations who are members of GIBA. GHAMRO showed GIBA the due respect and we started talks and negotiations for close to three months until GIBA itself came to us with a MoU which would solve the challenge of radio and television stations which fail to pay the due music royalties. "We went through the terms of the MoU and both parties agreed it would be mutually beneficial. We agreed on a date to sign and GIBA came to us with a full team made up of its leaders and lawyers. "Just when we were about o sign, GIBA suggested the date should be postponed to Thursday November 17 so we invite the media and make it a subject of news. We agreed to the suggestion. Here we are today, Thursday, November 17 the invited media houses are here, GHAMRO is here with its leadership and team of lawyers but GIBA is nowhere to be found, we have waited for several hours they have not showed up, they are not picking their calls, and they have just ignored us completely in a very disrespectful way he added. Lawyer for GHAMRO, Dr Poku Adusei, threatened to go back to court with radio and television station that have defaulted in the payment of the music royalty. However, the EC's Deputy Communications Director, Yussif Ayuba, said it is not possible for the EC to deliberately deploy faulty machines to the Ashanti and Eastern regions. ...That cannot be possible, and it is not true that the Electoral Commission is going to deploy faulty BVDs to the strongholds of the New Patriotic Party. It is never true, and it is not possible for the Electoral Commission to hatch something of this nature, he said in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM. These BVDs weve spoken a lot about it, and weve said we are going to deploy 2 BVDs per polling station, and in addition to that, well have backups at the constituency level and also at the regional level. Mr Ayuba also urged the NPP to desist from running to the press on the least suspicion. According to him, the doors of the EC are always opened for dialogue. "It is a stakeholder collaboration. It is not just the Electoral Commission that will ensure that the elections are peaceful. Every Ghanaian, every political party has a stake in ensuring that all these things are achieved, he said. READ MORE: Campaign rallies halted in Ashanti Region But Osabarima Ayeh Kofi has mocked the president's claim, criticising him that "I don't think this is how we should do politics." What was most laughable to me was the claim that if Nana Akufo Addo wins power, hell destool me. This statement was made here in Suhum," Osabarima Ayeh Kofi added. He made the statement on Thursday when Akufo-Addo visited him as part of his tour of the Eastern Region. He said: "I know that it is only the people of Suhum who can destool me, not even the Okyehenethose you rule are the only people who can destool you. We will ensure that we reform out constitution because there are some things that are wrong in there. If we dont change them, we are not going to move forward, he said. We will reform to make sure that we vote elect Municipal, Metropolitan and District Chief Executives just as it is done in all the countries that are doing well." He made this known when he took his turn at GTVs Presidential Encounter Friday. Dr Nduom also pledged to separate the offices of the Ministry of Justice from the Attorney Generals so as to fight corruption and secure effective prosecution without interference. He also promised real responsibilities and separation of powers between the presidency and parliament by ensuring that MPs do not become ministers. Dr Nduom, who was disqualified by the Electoral Commission for multiple errors on his nomination forms and re-admitted into the presidential race promised additional radical reforms. He promised to govern with not more than 40 ministers and also do away with regional ministers if he is elected president in the December vote. He said basic education will be free and compulsory from Kindergarten to Senior High School. Former Nigerian Presidents are being owed their allowances; spanning ten months. Spare a tear for them, if you will. Said Lawal: There is a department responsible for payment of former Presidents entitlements. At present, funds are not available in service wide votes to do that. We are aware there was a protest in that the former president was not paid, but weve explained that hes not the only one affected. Others affected are Iand so on. For some reason, we have been writing and writing, but there has been no response. And there is presently no money to pay them. In this class of former Presidents owed emoluments are Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Shehu Shagari, Ernest Shonekan, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. One Senator described the development as "unfortunate". A few other Senators were nearer depression when they learned that some former Presidents hadn't been paid their allowances. They were devastated. What we have seen here is an abnormality", said Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi."Before referring any matter to the National Assembly, it is a function of the executive to appropriate funds. Therefore, the SGF should understand that there is something wrong in this office that must be addressed. There is no way you can run the expenses of this office without cash backing. We definitely have to draw the attention of the budget office and ministry of finance to the problems, Hunkuyi said. Senator Aliyu Wamakko, slipped into catharsis: We can understand if former President Goodluck Jonathan has not been paid because he just left office. But for someone like Shagari, who lives from hand to mouth...it is something I cant understand. This development is really unfortunate; it doesnt indicate seriousness, and it doesnt indicate fairness. Wamakko has to understand. But how could he? Alongside other Senators, He's lived in a bubble all these years. They are still purchasing exotic cars worth millions of Naira even in a recession. On the hot seat, SGF Lawal said the development has left him sorely "embarrassed". It is painful to me because as a person I know all of them (ex-presidents) personally. Now, why have we not been able to get the money? We requested a budget of N700 million, but the President has his way of doing things. Look around, youll see government vehicles breaking down every now and then. Really, I know the challenges the budget office is facing, but the truth is the funds are not just there. In any government, there are certain agencies that must be served first before others. So we have agreed on that. However, we will lean harder on the finance ministry to see that the situation is turned around. As SGF , Im getting embarrassed and demeaned by chasing money. All come to me for things to be done, and it is not quite easy, but we try our best. Last year, these political appointees had nothing. As for assistance, we really need assistance to retain all that we have budgeted for, said Lawal. They never esperrerit. What is "unfortunate" and "embarrassing", however is that these 'big men' still don't know what time of day this is. But seeing as we are always here to help, here goes--most State Governors owe civil servants arrears in salaries; most businesses have closed shop because the country slipped into a recession thanks to the profligacy of these past Presidents; millions of Nigerians are jobless; Millions of Nigerians employed by the private sector haven't received salaries in months. Inequality is at its highest since Independence and most Nigerians can't afford to whip up a meal to save their lives; The country now earns far less from oil; during the administrations of these past Presidents, they refused to diversify--as a matter of fact, most of these past Nigerian leaders helped in looting the coffers on their watch. According to the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), between 1999 and 2014, Nigeria earned N70trn (seventy trillion Naira) from crude oil sale. Would we be in a recession if we had saved within this period? Where did all the money go? For answers, you may have to ask Obasanjo, Jonathan, the PDP and past Nigerian military rulers. Sani Abacha stole so much, a statue of his corrupt self should be erected at the Aso Villa entrance. A stealing legend. Why should we really care if these guys haven't been paid their pension for ten months? Like, seriously? Didn't these guys corner enough oil proceeds to last them a lifetime? The Senators and SGF who felt "embarrassed" and found the situation "unfortunate" really need to get a life. They are the unfortunate and embarrassing ones here. What's a few months of no additional income for past Nigerian leaders? Please!!! For once, let everyone feel the pinch of this shoe we all wear. We are in an economic recession and even past Presidents should know that they have to make sacrifices. 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! The State Police Commissioner, CP Zanna Ibrahim, disclosed this on Saturday in Asaba. He said that the teenage secret cult group was known as the Future Trigger Boys (FTB). The CP said the suspected cultists, aged between 13 and 16 years old, were rounded up during school hours, following intelligence reports from members of the public. These are children, who were sent to school to study but regrettably, they form cult group to terrorise their fellow students and the entire school. They call themselves the Future Trigger Boys. We were able to arrest these ones, while many others are still on the run. Since we arrested them, many of their parents have been on our neck, Ibrahim said. The CP urged members of the public to continuously avail the command with valuable information that would help the Police checkmate all forms of crimes in the society. In an interview with NAN, one of the teenage suspected cultists, who is 13 years old JSS1 student of Osadenis Grammar School, confessed his membership of the group. All of us are cultists. We are members of the Future Trigger Boys. I was introduced into the group in 2014 by my friend here. Our leader is one Ibrahim, he is currently at large, the suspect said. He, however, said that he had left the group and had not been participating in its activities anymore. The suspect alleged that when the Police arrested some of them, they named him as a member. Another member of the group, a 14-year-old JSS 3 student of the same school, also said that he had left the group but always afraid of some of the boys. 1 joined the FTB last year, when one of my friends introduced me to the group. We have members in various schools here in Asaba. We do not use any weapon, we only fight with our hands. Early this year, I told my friends that I do not want to belong to the group anymore because I was afraid of some of the bigger boys, especially Ibrahim, the suspect said. The agencys spokesperson, Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, stated this in a statement on Friday in Lagos. He also said that some 67 bags were also transferred to Osun State Command of the agency as exhibits for further investigation. The cannabis will also serve as evidence against 11 suspected farmers arrested during an operation inside the cannabis plantation. The suspects arrested in connection with the cannabis cultivation are Kand . Others are and . The raid operation codenamed Operation Herb Spring was in response to an intelligence received by the Agency on the activities of cannabis cultivators in the forest. The exhibits was estimated to worth three hundred and nine million naira (N309million). These exhibits were found in 27 camps used as storage facilities located within a farmland at Orita-Ijebu forest reserve, Ikoyi area of Ikire in Ayedade LGA of Osun State. Drug cartels have invaded government forest reserves for the cultivation of cannabis, the spokesman said. He also quoted the Chairman of the agency, Mr Muhammad Abdallah , who said concerted efforts were needed to stop cannabis cultivation. He said that farmers should be encouraged to cultivate food and economic crops. Unless the current trend of cannabis cultivation is addressed, the country is on the verge of a devastating food insecurity. It is worrisome that the cartels are using government forest reserves in the cultivation of cannabis. Stakeholders must strategise on how to increase food production and prevent criminal organisations from diverting arable farmland for cannabis cultivation. A situation where food and cash crops is paving way for cannabis plant portend danger and deserve urgent attention. The operation was a sweet victory for the agency because the farmers had done all the work by harvesting and processing the cannabis awaiting evacuation from the farms. It was a perfect timing for the Agency and a painful loss to the drug barons. They had prepared the cannabis in bags waiting for shipment when we raided. The Agency will continue to launch similar devastating attacks on drug trafficking cartels until they are completely defeated. He said that the kidnappers abandoned their victims in an area outskirt of Kaduna, before informing JNI of where they could located them. Mudi, however, refused to comment on whether a ransom was paid to secure the release. Reports had indicated that the abductors demanded N60 million before they could free the cleric and his driver. NAN reports the cleric was kidnapped, along with his driver, on their way to Kaduna. Mudi had told NAN on Thursday that they were kidnapped around Saminaka in Lere Local Government, Kaduna State. According to him, the cleric, who coordinates the activities of JNI in six states, was on his was to Sokoto to condole the family of the late former Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, when the abductors grabbed him. Shehu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Zaria on Saturday that the call became imperative in view of the rising cases of malaria in the country. The director also advised the people to always ensure a clean and tidy environment to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes in their surroundings. I want to advise people to keep a clean and tidy environment, sleep under mosquito nets, fix nets on their windows and use insecticides to prevent mosquito bite. Remember, mosquito bite remains a major factor responsible for malaria fever, therefore, there is every need to use all sorts of measures to avoid the bite. In the event where somebody falls sick of malaria, he or she should rush to a nearby hospital or clinic for medical attention. It is unfortunate that people dont come to the hospital until they are completely down and when they come, diagnosed and treated, the same sickness resurfaces after some days, Shehu said. He observed that the disease was defying the normal treatment because it presented itself in different dimensions. Shehu said that the effect of mosquito bite included contamination of the victims blood and to some extent affected the liver. I want to appeal to our people to always ensure that they take complete dose of medicine as prescribed by doctors. The drugs should be purchased from authentic pharmaceutical shops to avoid fake drugs, he further advised. Shehu expressed appreciation to Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State for supplying medicines to designated hospitals for the treatment of malaria. I am happy to state that Gambo Sawaba Hospital, Zaria is among those hospitals slated for the treatment of malaria to the public free of charge. Gov. Kashim Shettima made the donation when he visited the widow of the deceased in Kaduna. Malam Isa Gusau, the Special Adviser to Shettima on Communication and Strategy, stated this in a statement in Maiduguri. According to the statement, the Borno State Governor presented a N10 million cheque to Samira, the widow of fallen soldier and one of Nigerias bravest war hero. The late Ali was killed in Malam-fatori, headquarters of Abadam local government area of Borno on November 4, 2016. Shettima described the late officer as a hero who sacrificed his life for peace to reign not only in Borno but in the entire North East and the country at large. ALSO READ:Nigerians pay tribute to fallen soldier He prayed for the repose of his soul and for the family to bear the irreparable loss. The advice came from the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, who says it will cushion the effect of the economic recession. Speaking at the Annual Bankers Dinner in Lagos on Friday, November 18, 2016, Emefiele said the government could raise about N100billion as additional revenue by introducing the charge. In his words, There are several ways we can raise additional revenue to finance the increased expenditure that is needed to engender fast and sustainable growth in the economy. Speaking further Emefiele said, I think we can consider introducing a negligible telecom surcharge to be entirely borne by the initiator of a call. In order to protect the poor and vulnerable amongst us, we could structure it to only take effect after the third minute of talk. TheCable reports that the security operatives in the IDPs transit camp situated in Muna garage, Maiduguri were drawn to the attacker after he exhibited a strange attitude. It was further reported that the attacker was shot before he could detonate the explosive device attached to him in the camp on Saturday, November 19, 2016. The transit camp, it was also reported, is used to check and screen potential displaced people before being allowed into any of the IDP camps in Borno. The spokesperson for NEMA in North East, Ibrahim Abdulkadir confirmed the incident saying the mangled body of the attacker had been evacuated. Maj.-Gen. Kasimu Abdulkarim, the pioneer General Officer Commanding (GOC), of the Division, disclosed this to newsmen on Saturday in Port Harcourt. Abdulkarim said the military had recorded success in the war against terror and was committed to combating emerging security threats in the Niger Delta and other parts of the country. According to him, the Division will cover army 2 Brigade Akwa Ibom; 16 Brigade Bayelsa and 63 Brigade in Delta, respectively, with divisional headquarters in Port Harcourt. This arrangement will help to curtail activities of militants, banditry, inter-communal clashes, illegal bunkering, kidnapping, robberies, Niger Delta Avengers and pipeline vandalism prevalent in the area. Insecurity in these states negatively impacts on our national economy resulting from sabotage by criminal entities within the region. Everything must be done to protect and defend our fledgling democracy with focus to prevent insecurity in the area of our responsibility, he said. Abdulkarim said his mission was to structure and enhance the operational capability of the division and improve combat readiness of the troops. He said the task included a review of existing intelligence architecture; accountability; inclusiveness; rule of law; troops discipline and respect for human rights. The GOC said the division would work with the media and the public to promote civil-military relations with focus on improving intelligence gathering. Officers and soldiers of 6 Division must collectively evolve media management skills in the exploit of mass and social medias growing power instead of fighting it. Our personnel must be honest, trustworthy and professional in their conduct to earn public confidence in our internal security operations, he said. The NGO is known as the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), The trainees, according to Mr Boniface Anthony, the NGOs Programme Manager, Emergency Preparedness and Response, are expected to serve as proactive trouble shooters especially in areas considered crises-prone. He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos on Saturday, that the training, tagged Changing Hearts for Peace, had participants from across the 17 Local Governments Areas. The official said that the NGO targeted teachers for the training because of their interaction with all manners of people the poor and the rich, as well as the young and old. The teachers particularly became a target because they mould young minds; we want them to instil virtues of peace amongst our youths, he explained. He said that the NGOs primary mandate was the restoration of lasting peace on the Plateau to reclaim its glory as a warm home for all. We expect the teachers and supervisors to train their students toward attitudinal change in favour of peace, he said. The programme manager said that the project would last till 2020 so as to capture more trainees that would train others. In an exclusive chat with Pulse, Olawuyi explained that the politicians are humans who have the duty of giving account of their activities not to only voters and citizens but religious leaders in whom they had shared their ambition with. Olawuyi said: As church leaders, we should be courageous enough to correct our political leaders and put them right where it is required. I dont believe we should only pamper politicians but I believe when they are doing well, let us encourage them and when they are not doing well, let us call them to order, reprimand them and let them know that they have not really proved that they are the light of the world because Bible says you are the light of the world but if the light becomes darkness or the salt becomes bitter, what is the gain? he asked rhetorically. Continuing, Olawuyi said: It is a big issue which we have challenged ourselves even as religious leaders. If I have a senator or local council chairman or councillor in the church and probably when vying for political position, he or she has brought me into confidence to inform me about his/her political ambition, I and other religious leaders have the right to call these politicians to account their activities before the church or the religious leaders. We should ask them how far have they gone in implementing their promises and when we hear complaints about their activities, we have the right to call them and ask them to give us the true situation of things. We let them know they are either representing us well or not, the Bishop said. A statement issued on Saturday in Jos by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicly, Mr Dan Manjang, said the governor equally lauded efforts of organisations and individuals who aided the release of the cleric. I am happy that the 90 year-old cleric has been released and has since been in the warm embrace of his family and in good health. His release followed the swift intervention of the joint operation of security forces in Kaduna and Plateau states. We rejoice with members of the family of Sheikh Abdulazeez Yusuf and the entire Muslim Ummah in the state over his release, he said. Lalong, however, called on members of the public to be extra vigilant and report suspicious and dubious characters among them as they go about their normal duties. He assured all law abiding citizens of the state of adequate protection of their lives and property. ALSO READ: 90-yr-old kidnapped cleric regains freedom This is contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Dosara, and made available to newsmen in Gusau on Friday. Dosara also said that the governor had ordered an immediate investigation into the activities of the bandits in the state with a view to restoring peace in the area. Eye witnesses told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the gunmen numbering over 100 stopped three Toyota Canters carrying passengers from Dansadau to Dankurmi and diverted the vehicles at gunpoint to an unknown destination. NAN gathered that the hoodlums took away all the passengers , except one woman who they spared alongside her three-year-old son and told her to report back what happened. The woman was said to have reported back to Dansadau that the bandits would not release the hostages until the governor released their cows numbering over 400 which were recovered from them by security men recently, within seven days. A joint security patrol had recovered the rustled cows from the criminals during which seven members of the gang were also killed near Bindin village of Maru local government. Shortly after the abduction of the villagers, a team of mobile policemen went on a rescue mission but the bandits shot and killed two of them and also went away with a third. ALSO READ: 35 reportedy killed, 40 kidnapped in fresh attack on Zamfara The movie screened on Friday, November 18, 2016 at FilmhouseIMAX Cinema, Lekki, Lagos, with a Festival Party at Boat ClubAwolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, by 10pm. Celebrities spotted at the event include RMD, Rita Dominic, Genevieve Nnaji, Ramsey Noah, Toni Tones, Hilda Dokubo, Chioma Ude, Kiki Omeili, Deyemi Okanlawon, Blessing Egbe, Izu Ojukwu, among others. ALSO READ: undefined Speaking at the event, Ojukwu said of the props: We had to search for them for about two years. This project started in 2009. Some of these things were gathered in 2012. By the time we were ready to shoot, the owners had taken them away. So we had to start looking for fresh vintage vehicles and then refurbishing, so it took quite a while. The movie, he said, was done to celebrate history, We realize that we have little respect for history, so we decided to weave a romantic story around an ugly event. If you notice, we decided to play down the assassination and the execution scene. It was a deliberate attempt not to celebrate one of the darkest moments in our history. Founder and Executive Director of AFRIFF, Chioma Ude expressed satisfaction at the turn out of events at this years festival, which featured movie screenings and topical industry sessions, provoking discourse on a number of issues while also providing networking opportunities for participants drawn from all over Africa. There are lots of new elements we have put into what we are doing. There are lots of added interests in what we are doing. So it has been a very exciting journey. Of course, it is very grueling putting things together in terms of logistics. We see it and nobody else sees it, Ude said. "People dont know too much what the benefits of festivals are. So weve been spending five years teaching. Weve left things for free, now weve opened them up because now we know the plethora of knowledge that comes into the festival, she added. ALSO READ: undefined Other movies which screened during the festival include "93 Days" (Nigeria) by Steve Gukas,"The CEO" (Nigeria) by Kunle Afolayan, "Vaya" (South Africa) by Akin Omotoso, "The Cursed Ones" (U.K) by Nana Obiri, "The Wedding Ring" ( Niger) by Rahmatou Keita,"Kati Kati" (Kenya) by Mbithi Masya,"If Tomorrow Never Comes" (Ghana) by Pascal Amanfo and "Remember Me" (Nigeria) by Izu Ojukwu. ALSO READ:undefined According to Punch News, Mezie has appealed to his well-wishers to give him time to rest and spend time with his family. He stated that he would address the public, whom he thanked for their love and support very soon. "It has all been God and I give him all the thanks and praises. "I just got back into Nigeria and I would beg you to please let me rest and spend some time with my family. "I promise to address the public properly next week. I am very thankful to Nigerians for their love and support." Egoh, who represents Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituency in Lagos State, made the appeal on Saturday when he visited Kirikiri prison to pay bailable fines for ten inmates. While decrying the deplorable state of facilities in the prison, Egoh said he decided to pay the fines because the offences committed by the inmates were bailable. He added that he also took the decision because Kirikiri prison falls under his constituency. Some inmates stay long in prison because they do not have anybody to pay for their fine. I paid the fines of ten prisoners and six of them were released today. The police are yet complete the release process of the remaining four, he added. The lawmaker also gave an undisclosed amount of money to the inmates released on Saturday. Due to inadequate facilities, Kirikiri prison built to accommodate about 1,700 inmates is accommodating over 3,000 inmates, he said, and stressed the need to upgrade the jail house. It is human beings that are in the prison not animals. News / Regional by Stephen Jakes Mthwakazi Liberation Front has distanced itself from the so called Mosi-OA-Tunya (AMOT) alliance allegedly posed as to lead the Mthwakazi to self determination and its independence.MLF Secretary General Andrea Sibanda said MLF is disheartened to learn through the social media that they will be taking part in a so called coalition: aliance Mosi-OA-Tunya -AMOT."So as MLF, poised and determined to lead Mthwakazi to self-determination and its inherent independence, freedom and nationhood which was vanquished in 1893 by BSAC, we would like to distance ourselves hugely from the alliance, dubbed, Mosi-Oa-Tunya which never was in any day relayed to the movement. We are shocked by the said alliance which unashamedly includes, among its partners, the name MLF," he said."For the record, MLF leadership has always been and remains pro-unity of Mthwakazi movements, however the concern is seeing its name being peddled as part of AMOT without it participating or having been earlier courted before the announcement that was splashed on social media networks. It therefore wants to put the record straight that it is not part of that arrangement and is concerned about imposters who claim to be MLF."He said there are lessons to cite from the Chitawa declaration where the movements that were present, minus/plus ten of them, only one refused to sign-remember it was the first attempt to bring the pro-Mthwakazi movements into some alliance which will have seen some positive pronouncements and actions made. Sibanda said it was not the best though, but the best attempt towards the right direction."As MLF, we see no reason whatsoever to rush for alliances now as there should be clarity first on some aspects that seem to divide us-the pro-Mthwakazi movements, which saw others not in agreement with the Chitawa declaration. It is for this reason primarily that MLF will not make any alliance with organisations or groups whose perception on how to restore is sometimes subject to speculation," he said."MLF will be working with like-minded organizations that take the position of non-participation in Zimbabwean elections. If Mthwakazi nationals are not careful, some actions may be endorsing the Rule by Conquest which was bequeathed to acrimonious Zimbabwean rulers by their British masters at Zimbabwean independence in 1980 who are still supported by the proxy (the current Zimbabwean Regime)."Sibanda said as MLF, we stand firm as we loyally hold onto our founding objectives, chief of which is the restoration of our lost state without ever partaking in the Zimbabwean elections whose results will definitely be used to crush the restoration agenda and be rendered rejected by the electorate."MLF is destined to lead Mthwakazi nation out of Zimbabwean shona hegemony without fear or favour and most of the issues will be delivered to Mthwakazi peoples during the rallies that we will be holding come 2018," said Sibanda."MLF will not purposely confuse, mislead and divert the besieged nation from its core objectives. We will stand firm on the pursuits and needs of our nation by not seeking populism which is distant from the actual goal but by dwelling on the real issues that are practical and implementable.""It therefore needs to be understood by all and sundry that MLF is not in that kind of league or alliance which has totally derailed from the cause. We implore and urge whoever are the proponents of such a perceived alliance to desist from using MLF for their political mileage in order to placate their handlers. MLF stills stands firmly on its founding objectives and pursuant of the restoration of Mthwakazi to its former glory and form that existed prior to colonisation," he added. Buhari also lauded them supporting Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, the partys candidate for the Nov. 26 elections in the state. Speaking at a meeting with the gubernatorial aspirants, APC elders in the state, and national officers of the party, President Buhari said the unity of the party was crucial for the outcome of next Saturdays election. I am very pleased that those of you who lost the primaries are still very much in the party. That you lose elections doesnt mean you should walk away, you keep on trying. I went to the Supreme Court three times in my bid to become the President of Nigeria. I like your high spirit and your commitment to the party and I hope your constituencies are taking note of that, the President told the aspirants shortly before departing for the Democracy Park in Akure for the grand finale of the Ondo APC gubernatorial rally. The President, who was accompanied to the meeting by the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki, APC National Chairman, several APC Governors and Ministers, told the party faithful in Ondo that he looked forward to a successful election next week. President Buhari assured Nigerians that determined, steadfast and patriotic people in the APC-led government would transform the nations ailing economy, which was run aground by the party that governed Nigeria for 16 years from 1999-2015. In his remarks, the representative of the aspirants, Mr Tunji Abayomi, assured the President that they have resolved to deliver Ondo to APC. No single aspirant left the party after the primaries. Those who left the party were not party members; they returned to where they belonged, he said. Also speaking, the Chairman of APC Elders Council, Ondo State, Sen. Olorunnimbe Farukanmi, said Akeredolu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) was eminently qualified to lead the state. We have fielded an experienced, informed, hardworking and capable legal practitioner to work with President Buhari to carry out massive industrial development, job creation, eradication of poverty and massive economic improvement in the nation, he said. ALSO READ: President Buhari arrive Akure for APC rally The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Buhari, who later attended a mega rally ahead of the Nov. 26 governorship election, pleaded with the people of Ondo to vote for the APC candidate in the election. This was his way of taking her out of the picture as his wife, Grace, a 37-year-old Filipino was an hindrance to his planned trip. According to the Daily Mail, Koenig made a detailed research online on how to successfully kill someone. This was discovered by the police who stumbled on the computer he installed at his residence for that purpose. The accused reportedly hit Grace's temple with a hammer while she was asleep, knocking her unconscious. He then tied her head with a plastic bag which led to suffocation. In his confession at the court, Koenig, who is a computer specialist said, "I had check lists made, I worked it all out." He was motivated to commit the murder after chatting with a woman he met online. According to the accused, the woman who resides in Pattaya, Thailand promised him what he could not refuse. "What she promised seemed exciting and many of my secret desires seemed to come true. I wanted to be with this woman." Daily Mail reported that the victim's sisters were quite satisfied with the outcome of the case. Liou who asked that her full name not be disclosed because she had yet to come out as gay said she would feel more comfortable holding her partners hand or embracing her in a society that did not view their way of life as out of the ordinary. If we could realize marriage equality in Taiwan, people in our situation could lead fuller lives, she said. That day could be coming soon, although it is not assured. Bills that would legalize same-sex marriage are moving through Taiwans legislative system, bringing the island closer to becoming the first place in Asia with marriage equality. Some predict it could happen early next year. The political climate in Taiwan has never been more favorable. President Tsai Ing-wen, who took office in May, has spoken out in favor of same-sex marriage. Her Democratic Progressive Party, which is largely sympathetic to gay rights, holds the majority in the Legislative Yuan. Some cities are already extending symbolic recognition of same-sex relationships. In May, Kaohsiung became the first city in Taiwan to register same-sex couples. Shortly afterward, Taipei, the capital, followed suit. This month, Kaohsiung issued its first same-sex partnership cards to gay couples, and the Taipei city government announced it would soon do the same. The deputy director of the Kaohsiung civil affairs bureau, Chen Shu-fang, said the cards would make it easier to contact partners in emergencies and for hospitals to include partners in medical decisions. In Asia, Taiwan is an island of relative acceptance for gays, lesbians and those of other sexual orientations. In some Asian countries, including Brunei, homosexual acts are illegal. The governing Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP, the opposition Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang, and the smaller New Power Party have each proposed same-sex marriage bills. As of Friday, the bills were in the hands of a Legislative Yuan judiciary committee. Taiwan has considered marriage equality before. Hsiao Bi-khim, a DPP legislator, submitted a same-sex marriage bill in 2005 that was blocked outright. In 2013, a bill reached the committee review stage but stalled. Now, Hsiao said, things are different. We have a much better chance this time around, she said. If a bill comes to a vote in the Legislative Yuan, it will need the support of at least 57 of the bodys 113 lawmakers for passage. So far, Hsiao said, the bills have collectively received backing from 56 legislators. All of the bills would legalize same-sex marriage and permit gay couples to adopt, said Yu Mei-nu, a legislator who submitted the DPP proposal. The author of the Kuomintang bills, Hsu Yu-jen, also cosigned the DPP draft, highlighting the momentum that marriage equality has gathered in both major parties, although some members of each party oppose it. Public support for legalizing same-sex unions is robust, Yu said. She noted the large turnout last month for the 14th LGBT Pride Parade in Taipei, which attracted about 80,000 participants from Taiwan and around Asia. Yu said that legalization had a good chance of passing in Taiwans next legislative session, from February through May. But if the proposal fails then, its chances in the session that follows before the legislative elections in November 2018 could be lower, she said, as the issue remains controversial. This is a golden opportunity, Yu said. But the opposition is strong. She noted that legislators who had initially signed on to the 2013 bill withdrew their support after being pressured by groups opposed to same-sex marriage. On Thursday, thousands of people protesting legalization, dressed in white, occupied the street outside the judiciary committee proceedings in Taipei, denouncing what they called a black box in which the bills were being considered. They chanted demands for the legislature to hold public hearings on the issue, and some called for a plebiscite. Late Thursday, the legislative caucuses of the DPP and the Kuomintang agreed to each hold a hearing to air opinions on legalization before continuing deliberations. Among the opposition is the Alliance of Religious Groups for the Love of Families Taiwan, which was formed to block the 2013 bill and is now focusing its attention on presenting its views to legislators. We dont use the term lobbying,' Andrew Chang, the alliances secretary-general, said in an interview. Were going to explain in detail the social impacts, and they can make their own decision. Opinion / Columnist The Zimbabwe judiciary system has been sentenced to death by political interference, politicisation and corruption that has left Zimbabweans without an effective recourse to justice in particular when the governing party of ZANU PF is the offending party. Limited judiciary independence in Zimbabwe is the main problem for miscarriage of justice as it is heavily subject to political arm twisting by ZANU PF. The denigration of the judiciary by ZANU PF is more explicit when ZANU PF feels its position and power is being threatened either by electoral, constitutional or civic contestations.The current challenge of the introduction of bond notes in the courts is a test case for the judiciary in the express and application of the law. Mugabe has already signed the bond notes off for circulation. It is interesting to see if the vulnerable presiding judges will declare the bond notes illegal against the expressed wishes of their president. If the verdict of the bond notes is that they are illegal, the decision is likely to go down in the Guinness book of recordsThe current public perception and speculation is that there is an existence of corruption within the Zimbabwe judiciary system and a belief that the Zimbabwe judiciary is corruptible. The structural organisation of the judiciary provides opportunities for political interferences by presidential influences and procedures. The president appoints judges and judicial leadership; terms and conditions of tenure for judges; conditions of work such promotions, renewal of contracts, salaries and benefits. The majority of the learned distinguished and honourable judges and administrative officials of the justice system are believed to be ZANU PF political appointees starting from the justice minister to attorney general, judges, magistrates, public prosecutors and down to the ministry of justice office workers. When Judges are appointed this way, the formal rule for appointing judges may not be enough for presiding judges to ignore the expressed wishes of their employer, the president who happens to be responsible for their promotion and demotion. Judges are inclined to feel vulnerable to threats of dismissal. They will make every attempt to rule cases in favour of ZANU PF to protect their jobs. The judges would then preside over cases merely to portray a smoke screen to create an image that justice is being served.The public perception is that the judiciary is curiously biased towards ZANU PF more so in political contestations that are brought to their courts. The public has seen this in cases in involving members of opposition parties, political activists, peaceful demonstrators and now the bond notes. The judges appear to impose length pre-trial detentions (remands) so as to delay court actions. Cases against ZANU PF get thrown out even when there is clear evidence for prosecution. The courts have been observed spending all their energies and time on trumped up charges by ZANU PF against people that they, ZANU PF would have abusedMugabe has come out routinely threating judges when he feels that they are make judgements against his party ZANU PF. Illegal political influence in Zimbabwe involves bribes, blackmail, threats and arrests of members of the judiciary when they are viewed by ZANU PF to have over stepped ZANU PF's political interests. Justice Benjamin Paradza was arrested under the instructions of Mugabe when he gave free bail to MDC mayor Mudzuri in Febuary 2013 accused for holding a meeting without police approval. The decision by Justice Paradza was viewed as abstracting the cause of justice and defying the authority of the president. He was eventually struck off from the bench. Recently Justice Mangota condemned the government for acting unconstitutional by locking up Linda Masarira at Chikurubi Maximum prison with male prisoners. Not sure what will become of this judge. This judge may not be promoted. Justice Judge Priscilla Chigumba suspended the police ban on demonstrations citing that is was unconstitutional to impose the ban. Justice Judge Chigumba was later accused of soliciting $20 000 bribe from a member of the public in a different court hearing. The action against Justice Judge Chigumba was taken following public threats by Mugabe castigating the courts for defying the ban imposed by the police on protests and as such Justice Judge Chigumba failed an interview for promotion. This serves to warn the judiciary that ruling against ZANU PF may carry negative career consequences such as loss of a job or the affected judge may get demoted.The general public perception is that the promotion of judges and salary hikes is always planned to coincide with the period pending parliamentary and presidential elections so that most cases involving elections petition are presided by the newly appointed judges who may be obliged to give back something to Zanu Pf as a way of expressing a thank you.The judges have been receiving bribes in public from Mugabe on television. In 2000 Mugabe rewarded the judges with farms during the invasion of white owned farms as a thank you for the work the judges did to frustrate the cases brought to the courts by the white farmers. After winning the disputed 2008 presidential elections Mugabe showered the then judges some of them are still on the bench with lavish gifts of plasma televisions, satellite dishes, and top of the range cars. That was clear bribery, miscarriage of justice and its application by the president exercising corruption in public. Who knows how much of bribes take place behind closed doors? It's anyone's guess. The actions of the president of the country were tantamount to erosion of the image and trust in the judiciary and its impartiality. The corrupt like actions of the president had the effect of harming the core functions of the judiciary to uphold the rights of citizens, securing the integrity of the political rules and sanctioning political representatives when they act in contravening the law. The public sentiments are that ZANU PF is a political party that puts itself above the law and they expect the law to be answerable to their party. This is a miscarriage of justice that impinges on the principles of democracy, rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.An independent, impartial, transparent, properly functioning judiciary system that enjoys optimum autonomous separation of powers is important to address corruption; preside over cases brought to it in a fair and just manner without bias and favour. The conflict between the operation of the courts and the current political interference has the consequence of undermining the right to fair trials and equal justice to all. It is not fair for the judges to simply assert that a defended is guilty based on the judge's sub-conscience that responds to political interference. The consequences of unfairness and bias in the application of justice have a significant cost to social justice and safeguarding human rights and freedoms. On Thanksgiving Day, the state of Iowa and its turkey industry will be in the spotlight as Iowa provides this year's National Thanksgiving Turkey. As has long been a White House tradition, the bird will be pardoned by President Barack Obama. The sitting U.S. president has received a turkey from the National Turkey Federation during Thanksgiving week since 1947. This year's bird was provided by Chris and Nicole Domino of Early, Iowa, who have been turkey farmers for nearly nine years. The Iowa Turkey Federation hosted a send-off Friday at their farm, located north of Early in northwest Iowa. Iowa was selected to provide this year's turkey by John Reicks, the federation's chairman. "Raising the Presidential Turkey flock has been a real honor for our family," Chris Domino, a fourth generation farmer, said. Now time to talk turkey. Iowa's turkey industry is big business for producers and processors across the state, and continues to grow. The state currently has more than 130 turkey farms, which produce more than 11 million turkeys annually. Iowa now is the eighth-largest turkey producing state having moved up from ninth, and the fifth largest in turkey processing. A $1.5 billion industry in Iowa, it provides thousands of jobs and more than $159 million in salaries, according to Iowa Turkey Federation statistics. It marks the sixth time Iowa has supplied the National Thanksgiving Turkey. The tradition began with the first presentation to President Truman. Since then, Iowa farmers have presented turkeys to Presidents Johnson, Ford, Reagan, George W. Bush and now Obama. Farm and Fleet matches toy donations Speaking of the holidays, Blain's Farm and Fleet is reintroducing its Kids Helping Kids program to help kids less fortunate have a Merry Christmas. Customers shopping its Toyland section can donate new, unwrapped toys at any of its 38 stores, including Davenport and Moline. The Blain's family will match up to $200,000 in toys and donate them across all the family-owned company's communities. In the Quad-Cities, all the toys will be donated to Toys for Tots. In Clinton, they will be donated to the Salvation Army. "We're encouraging families to bring in their kids to Toyland, let them pick out a toy they would like to have, and then put it in the donation bin," said company spokeswoman Kristin Mickelson. Mickelson said Farm and Fleet's Toyland has been a tradition for many Midwest families for the past 49 years. The toy giveaway program has been revamped to give more families the opportunity to donate and to be able to help even more children. She said the toys, including Farm and Fleet's match, stay in the local communities where they are donated. Diamonds on the Avenue closing its doors For years, Kevin and Margaret Whitgrove have been a part of the new chapters and milestones in other families' lives. But now the owners of Diamonds On The Avenue are starting their own chapter retiring and closing their Davenport jewelry store. The store at 3320 E. Kimberly Road in Davenport launched its going-out-of-business sale last week. Nearly 17 years old, Diamonds On The Avenue got its start on Moline's now Avenue of the Cities. That store closed in 2010. "It's bittersweet, it truly is," said Kevin Whitgrove. "Now people are coming in that I haven't seen in awhile and as soon as you see their faces it starts tearing at your heart. But we tell them we're looking for a bright future for retirement, then we talk about their futures." The jeweler's five employees and the Whitgroves have a combined 75 years in the jewelry business. It's a legacy that has included many families and multiple generations. "Our customers became family as soon as they entered the building," he said, adding that this has been a business about "creating relationships." "I can say we did that. We created great relationships with customers and with their kids." The store's closing also is part of trend of fewer independents in the business, Kevin Whitgrove said. "It's not as much competition (from other stores) as it is the internet. The shame is it is the human touch that is disappearing." He said the couple is humbled with the success their business has seen. "Never a day goes by that we don't thank the Lord for each single sale," he said. Davenport police are seeking assistance in identifying a suspect involved in a Thursday night robbery at a Walgreens store. At 10:21 p.m., police responded to Walgreens, 1600 W. Locust St., in reference an armed robbery. The suspect displayed a handgun and demanded oxycodone from the pharmacy. The suspect fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of medication. No one was injured during the incident. Detectives are conducting follow up, and additional information will be provided when available. Anyone with information is asked to call the Davenport Police Department at 563-326-6125 or submit an anonymous tip via the department's mobile app, titled CityConnect Davenport, IA. At 7 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, the first of 13 semitractor-trailers was backing into the loading dock at RiverCenter South in Davenport. The trailers contained all the trees, garland, wreaths, steps, doors, walls, bells and other "back drop" items used each year for the Festival of Trees. Fresh displays trees, room vignettes, gingerbreads and so forth are created every year by designers, but the tables, walls and assorted shelving on which they are displayed and "filler" decorations all are broken down, packed up, hauled out, stored and then reassembled every year. In charge of setup this year was Steve Morrison, Davenport, retired executive from SSAB, the steel plant in Montpelier. As "understudy" last year, he watched closely and took notes. Spread out on a folding table on the first day of setup was Morrison's three-ring binder. It contained a fold-out drawing of the center floor as it would be set up for the festival. Volunteers unloading the trucks put things in the general area in which they would be used. Taped to the table was a calendar of the month of November, with each square listing the jobs that needed to be done each day to meet the setup deadline. That was last Friday, Nov. 11, the day when after an inspection of the stage by the fire marshal the hall was turned over to the designers to set up their creations. "I knocked five days off our setup time this year," Morrison said. "Last year, I did an analysis of the number of people, what got done, whether the work was busy or slow. We eliminated a couple of days at the front and the end. We saved money in the days we have to rent the floor" (from the RiverCenter). He also had a checklist with entries, such as "assemble toy tree structure," "set up Bo the Bear" and "hang banners." Lots of activity As he spoke, forklifts whizzed across the cavernous and still-empty RiverCenter, lights flashing and beeps beeping, while young men from Arrowhead Ranch, Coal Valley, pushed wheeled carts stacked with boxes marked "ceiling treatment" or "gift shop." The boxes are made of wood so the contents don't get crushed in storage. Also in place were four "scissor lifts" that volunteers who are not afraid of heights would use later in the week to hang 16 three-dimensional silver bells from the ceiling, in keeping with this year's theme of "Bells will be Ringing." The fork- and scissor-lifts were donated by area businesses, just like the services of the professional truck drivers who backed into the loading docks. Two other volunteers arrived with a wheeled cart stacked with 50 two-dimensional red bells, made by volunteers especially for this year's event. An area business donated the space and laser cutter for their construction. About 10 a.m., the Arrowhead teens were sitting on folding chairs, munching doughnuts. That is another detail of organizing Festival of Trees taking care of volunteers to make sure they feel appreciated. Later in the week, a crew of journeymen carpenters who already had worked a full shift arrived with their tools to set up all the walls, stands and shelving. The following Monday, Nov. 7, a crew of journeymen painters took up rollers and brushes to freshen up all the battered sets. Veteran volunteers Among the volunteers for setup was Ron Kessel, who headed setup of 15 years before Morrison took over. "The guys are just good," he said of his fellow volunteers. "All you've got to do is say, 'I need those bells hung,' and there will be two or three guys on a lift." If there were a prize for the oldest volunteer in setup, it might be Babe Reber, 85, whose area of expertise is the gift shop. And if there were a prize for traveling the farthest, it might be Norm Lake. He got involved with the festival through his wife, who has since passed away. About three years ago, he moved to Missouri but has made the 5-hour drive back, because he enjoys the work and camaraderie. His area of expertise is forklift driving. Setup takes 10 days. By Friday, Nov. 11, all the backdrops were in place and the "embellishment crew" volunteers had taken over, ready for the designers to arrive first thing Saturday morning. A major job of setup is the electrical wiring the ceiling and all the displays twinkle with thousands of lights, so there have to be enough extension cords and outlets to accommodate them all. Exhibits, banners and the stage also have to be spotlighted. All that work is hired out to Rexroat Sound RS Companies LLC, Colona. Of course, setting up wasn't the end of the job for Morrison and his crew. In the square on his calendar for Nov. 27 are the words "takedown starts." Then, everything is done in reverse: Pack up and put away for next year. DES MOINES Rob Hogg has been chosen by his Democratic colleagues in the Iowa Senate to lead them out of a time of significant upheaval. Senate Democrats met in a closed-door meeting Saturday at the Iowa Capitol and elected Hogg to be the groups leader in the Iowa Legislature, which convenes for the 2017 session in January. As a result of the Nov. 8 election, Democrats will be the minority party in the Iowa Senate for the first time since 2004, and they will be without Sen. Mike Gronstal, their leader as both a majority and minority party since 1997. Its really quite an honor, personally, Hogg said Saturday. The election was unanimous, Hogg said. Hogg, an attorney from Cedar Rapids, has served as a state legislator since 2003. Earlier this year, he ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in the Democratic primary. Hogg will lead Iowa Senate Democrats into a new era at the Iowa Capitol, where for at least the next two years Republicans have complete control of the states agenda. The GOP now has majorities in both the Senate and House, and Republican Gov. Terry Branstad has two years remaining on his term. Hogg said Senate Democrats will speak on behalf of Iowans who need state government to work and attempt to prevent Republicans from implementing policies that could damage the states economy or adversely affect its residents. Im hopeful we can stop Republicans from going down a knee-jerk, partisan pathway, Hogg said. Perhaps bracing for Republican attempts to change the states collective bargaining laws for public employees, Hogg said Senate Democrats will make clear how Iowans rely on state government services. Weve got lots of great public employees in this state who help make Iowa the great place to live that it is, very dedicated people, Hogg said, listing teachers, correctional officers, state police, health and human services workers and natural resources workers. They help Iowans every day with real problems, and we need to stand up for the Iowans who need help and the public employees who do such a good job helping Iowans. ... State government does a lot of important things in peoples lives. Senate Democrats also elected Sen. Amanda Ragan of Mason City as whip and six assistant leaders: Sens. Bill Dotzler of Waterloo, Liz Mathis of Robins, Rita Hart of Wheatland, Joe Bolkcom of Iowa City, Matt McCoy of Des Moines and Herman Quirmbach of Ames. MUSCATINE, Iowa On a Tuesday afternoon, just as children spilled out of their respective classrooms into their parents open arms, Wendy Donald and Jessica Foster begin their meeting. Donald, a school nurse and a nurse coordinator, had called Foster, a care coordinator from Family Resources, to help a family in crisis: with a parent in the hospital and multiple school-aged children, the other parent is struggling financially and emotionally. Donald and Foster try to find community resources to address some of the familys immediate needs. Do the children have coats and boots for the winter? Will they have a Thanksgiving meal? Some of the kids take medications. Is there a way to help the parent keep track of these medications at this stressful time? Donald says shell call the Hy-Vee for a Thanksgiving meal delivery. Foster says shell check if the Muscatine County Community Partnership for Protecting Children can cover the cost of the meal. The local United Way will provide coats for the children and they decide to explore ways to help the parent organize their childrens medications, perhaps with a chart and pre-packed pill packets. Increasingly, Muscatines seven school nurses are involved in this type of holistic care for the citys families in a district of upwards of 5,000 students. We just have families that are in crisis, Donald said. And that crisis can be mental health, that crisis can be poverty, that crisis can be a combination. And weve got kids that are coming to school that are just struggling and when you really start looking at the family of the student you realize that its really the family that is struggling. Like the nurses of yesteryear, nurses in the district still do eye screenings, hearing tests and monitor immunizations, but they also have a new role, one of coordinating care. We do so much behind the scenes stuff that the job is really very little about band aids and ice packs, said Robin Graettinger, a school and a special education nurse. The nurses may recommend that a family sign up for state-sponsored health insurance and help them fill forms. They may work hand-in-hand with primary care physicians to monitor childrens health in school. If a child has special medical needs, such as taking a medication several times day, the nurse will be involved. When a child has strep throat or the flu, nurses may work with the Department of Public Health to decide when it is safe for the child to come back to the classroom. Nurses also train other school staff on what to do in emergencies. Graettinger said she recently trained bus drivers on handling seizures, for example. And it isnt just about the children. School nurses sometimes have to treat the staff too. This is not a job for the weak, Donald said. You have to be aware not only of childrens diagnoses but its also the staff that youre dealing with. So at any given day, you can go from taking care of a student with ADHD or a student with diabetes to an adult staff member that has high blood pressure and all of a sudden isnt feeling well. Graettinger said the school nurse is sometimes the first medical provider that the children come in contact with. Were involved in helping them [children] find a medical home, she said. Do they have a primary care? Do they have dentist? Do they have an eye doctor? Kids really cant learn unless theyre healthy and all of these things are vital to the success of them learning at school. And the nurses provide a modicum of continuity for children as they age. They dont have to keep repeating it to a stranger year after year after year, Graettinger said. I can be that one person that knows them and Im familiar with them and their family and their unique needs, she said. Sometimes, the nurses go above and beyond in helping children and their families. Graettinger, for instance, received an employee recognition award from the district for giving parents a ride to the food pantry and giving them a few groceries to get them through a rough patch. If someone is at home at night and they dont think they can feed their kids, they can text me and I can help them, she said. But its impossible to be everything for everyone. I feel like my job is both so challenging yet rewarding, Graettinger said. The challenging part is you never get done in a day what you need to get done. Every day is different. You can come to school with a plan then I find out that one of my schools is having difficulties with a student that I have a special relationship with, or maybe I know the family because I work with them and their medical provider so I get called away to provide assistance and everything I had planned for that morning is now gone. Graettinger, for whom helping people is like breathing, finds a lot of fulfillment in the lasting connections she forges with children and families. In the end, helping families is a way to support children so they can learn. Its very hard to help the child without helping the family, Donald said. Because lots of times the child is affected and thats what we see, but when we start talking to the family, its a bigger issue. So I think the school wants the family to be successful because thats what makes the child successful. MUSCATINE, Iowa The Iowa County Treasurers E-Government Alliance (ICTEA) and GovTech Services today jointly announced upgrades for the ICTEA web application, IowaTreasurers.org, making the site even more customer friendly. Property tax payers already have the most advanced mobile online tax payment system available with the Iowatreasurers.org site, and now a couple of key interactive upgrades are being added. With the upgrade, customers will now be able to sign up for email notifications on the Iowatreasurers.org website. This enhancement will allow users to more easily sign up for email alerts reminding them of upcoming due dates for property taxes in September and March. Previously users could only sign up to receive notifications after making a payment. With the new enhancement, no payment is required to receive email notifications. The information will not be shared with any other source and users will only receive email reminders regarding upcoming property tax due dates. The other major enhancement allows users to store an account. With this change, users will enter a receipt number during the initial set-up, but will no longer need to enter a receipt number for further payments via e-check. This will also eliminate the need for users to search for their tax statements when making e-check payments. These amazing new updates will not only simplify the process of paying taxes online, but will give users an additional reminder when tax due dates are approaching, said Peggy VandenBerg, ICTEA Board Chairperson. These types of enhancements show the continued commitment ICTEA has to our consumers and our taxpayers. The Iowatreasurers.org web site is a multi-functional, state-of-the-art web application that uses the most advanced technology to allow users to research, view and pay property taxes, and vehicle registrations online. The site was developed and designed in a cooperative effort between ICTEA and GovTech Services. GovTech Services is a privately held Clive-based software company specializing in payment processing, escrow processing, platform development for government and educational entities. The Festival of Trees Holiday Parade will go on as scheduled at 9:45 a.m. Saturday, with a slightly edited cast of characters. It's hoped that one big helium balloon the Coca-Cola bear, sponsored by the city of Bettendorf can be inflated, said Mel Drucker, volunteer coordinator for the parade. Otherwise, conditions are not expected to be conducive to flying the large balloons. However, eight smaller helium balloons are expected to be good to go, he said. The Saturday morning parade kicks off the week-long Quad-City Arts Festival of Trees, the largest annual fundraiser for the organization. Six marching bands had canceled as of Friday night, but Drucker hopes the St. Ambrose University band still will participate, as well as the resilient Metropolitan Youth Corps. The Rock Island-based drum corps, he said, was the only such group to march in the 2013 parade. But the parade will have the usual contingent of decorated tractors and cars, as well as walking groups. The weather will feel like it's wintertime, said Andy Ervin, meteorologist from the National Weather Service, Davenport. Parade-time temperatures will be in the 20s, with sustained northwest winds of 20 miles-per-hour, mixed with wind gusts of up to 35 miles-per-hour. To compensate for the weather, Drucker said the balloons will be inflated early Saturday morning. The single big one, from Coca Cola, will be placed on a flatbed truck, and not held by volunteers, as is usually done. Eight of the smaller balloons also will be inflated early Saturday, Drucker said. Marching bands from Davenport Central, West and North, Bettendorf and Moline high schools canceled because they have a temperature requirement of 35 degrees, Drucker said the parade-time wind chill is expected to be 20 degrees. It is also possible that some groups of balloon handlers still will march in the parade, he said. The plan, as of Friday night, is to to inflate the balloons starting about 6 a.m. on 3rd Street, between Iowa and LeClaire streets. "That's the best-laid plan," Drucker said, "unless the weather goes off on us." The coldest temperatures and windiest conditions will occur before noon Saturday, Ervin said, but it's not expected to warm up much in the afternoon either. Festival of Trees began in 1986, a relatively bleak year in Quad-City history. Major manufacturing plants had closed, thousands of jobs had been lost, and many people were in a dark funk. Funding for "frills," such as the arts, was practically non-existent. Diane Sulg, executive director of what was then the Quad-City Arts Council, had read in an arts magazine about a festival of trees event in Atlanta and wondered if such an event could be pulled off in the Quad-Cities. She called to learn about the event, visited the city to see what she could borrow, then organized a meeting. A dozen people met in a Davenport living room and made plans, becoming the original steering committee. Companies, businesses and individuals were solicited for money to cover most of the festival's expenses. Designers were recruited to donate their time and materials to decorate trees, and the public was invited to pay to see them. Special events also were part of the lineup. "I used every idea I ever had," Sulg told Quad-City Times reporter Linda Cook in a 2013 interview, referring to the Celebrity Lunch that continues to this day. The big question was, would people go to the RiverCenter to see decorated trees? The answer, of course, was yes. When the doors reopened on the Friday after Thanksgiving, it was to crowds that became difficult to handle at times. Many Quad-Citians were more than ready for a morale booster, a sparkly diversion from sour economic news. "Diane was a big dreamer," Carmen Darland, CEO of today's Quad-City Arts, said of Sulg, who now lives in Charlotte, N.C., with her husband, Madis. "She thought big," Darland said. "To go out on a limb and rent the whole RiverCenter, it was a gift to the community." A coup was signing Hollywood star Cary Grant for an appearance in the Adler Theatre on the last night of the festival. What happened is the stuff of history: Grant became ill, his appearance was canceled, and he was taken to what is now Genesis Medical Center-East Rusholme Street, where he died shortly before midnight. While the now-famous headline, "A legend dies in our arms" was true, it also is true that a Quad-City tradition was born. Thumbs down to closure of the Rock Island Arsenal Museum Gift Shop. Its a good reminder that the things we take for granted as staples of our community will disappear if they arent supported. The Arsenal gift shop is having a going-out-of-business sale now and will close by the end of November. Declining sales made it no longer profitable. The gift shop was privately run and had been in business for 35 years. Its a good reminder about the future of the Arsenal Museum itself. Quad-Citians were upset earlier this year when we heard that items in the Arsenal collection were being moved and closing the museum all-together wasnt off the table. Concern died down somewhat as the community turned our attention to other things. Dan Carlson, public affairs officer for the Army Sustainment Command, told the Quad-City Times that news would be coming in the coming weeks about the future of the museum itself. A portion of the gift shops proceeds went to the Rock Island Arsenal Historical Society, whose members are hoping to get some kind of a replacement. Hours at the gift shop are the same as the museum, noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturday. Thumbs down to the leadership of Illinois. Were going on a year and a half without a full budget for the state. Weve been operating on a six-month budget held together by duct tape and baling wire. Agencies have closed. Students and talented faculty have chosen universities outside of Illinois to avoid the uncertainty. Were losing out on investments and living in the short-term. Illinois is incurring debt because it is shelling out more in court-ordered spending than it is collecting in taxes. Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan blames Gov. Bruce Rauner, and Rauner points the finger right back, both pointing at an ideological divide. Democrats were a no-show at a Monday meeting of leadership called to address the budget. Leadership from both parties did meet on Tuesday. Madigan called the meeting respectful but said hell only agree to a budget if Rauner sets aside his demands. There isnt space for compromise in a room choked by the egos of men who refuse to lose, even if it burns the entire state to the ground. Meanwhile, 800 people in Cordova are waiting to learn if the Exelon nuclear plant will be closed or if they will be saved by a last-minute hail-Mary bill on the table during the short veto session that continues the week after Thanksgiving. We want to have faith in our elected leadership, but its difficult to do when they cant manage the most basic function of government passing a budget. Thumbs up to all the volunteers who work year-round to put on the Festival of Trees. In Sundays paper, reporter Alma Gaul breaks down how much time, effort and logistics go into this massive festival. Heres a preview: Since 1986, the event has raised $7 million, 100,000 people attend each year, 650 people design trees and room vignettes each year, and 150 sponsors give money to cover expenses. Enjoy the parade at 10 a.m. today. Its the culmination of countless hours of hard work and planning. Opinion / Columnist The ruling party ZANU PF has kick started vote buying exercise as it is offering residential stands to civil servants ahead of 2018 election campaigns.Civil servants who spoke to Bulawayo24.com blasted the move calling it a sign of desperation by clueless ZANU PF."Under fire ZANU PF is giving us residential stands as a persuasion tool ahead of their doomed 2018 election.I am sure you know every Zimbabwean is tired of the 92-year old led party; these guys are in panic mood.Our names were jotted down yesterday awaiting residential stands.Let me assure you we have suffered enough but come election time we make a wise decision," lamentedThe ruling party is currently shrouded with hostility in the leadership and that is raising a alarm to opposition to overcome. NATION Thousands mourn, celebrate life of Ifill Thousands of mourners including first lady Michelle Obama remembered and celebrated veteran Washington journalist Gwen Ifill on Saturday, recalling her as a standard bearer, cherished friend, devoted mentor and woman of abiding faith. Ifill died Monday at 61 after a yearlong battle with cancer. Mrs. Obama did not speak at the service, but several journalists and political figures offered reflections. "We didn't look like other anchor pairs and we loved that," said Judy Woodruff, half of the history-making team that became the first female co-anchors of a major news broadcast in 2013. The two co-hosted PBS' "NewsHour." Woodruff added that Ifill is needed "more than ever." "Never have we faced tougher challenges, and no one would've risen to them better," she added. Ifill, she added, will "be our compass." Former Attorney General Eric Holder read a letter from President Obama, who was in Peru. Holder likened Ifill to "a comet" and challenged the colleagues she leaves behind to honor her legacy with their work by holding those in power accountable. Missing newborn baby found Authorities have found a week-old baby who was reported missing Thursday after her mother was shot to death in Kansas, police said Saturday. Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay said baby Sophia was found alive after authorities executed a search warrant before dawn at a Dallas home, The Wichita Eagle reported. He said the baby is in protective custody and is doing well. "This is the best possible outcome to a very sad case," Ramsay said at a news conference. Two adults were in custody and being interviewed Saturday, Ramsay said. He also said more suspects could be identified, but provided few details, saying "it is still an active investigation." No one has been charged. WORLD Pope warns of virus of polarization Pope Francis warned against what he called a "virus of polarization" and hostility in the world targeting people of different nationalities, races or beliefs, as he led a ceremony Saturday giving the Roman Catholic Church 17 new cardinals from six continents. The consistory ceremony in St. Peter's Basilica formally inducted the churchmen into the cardinals' ranks. Francis used his homily to also caution the new "princes of the church," as cardinals are sometimes called, to guard against animosity creeping into the church as well, saying "we are not immune from this." The pope spoke of "our pitiful hearts that tend to judge, divide, oppose and condemn" and cautioned somberly against those who "raise walls, build barriers and label people." Iraqi troops face stiff resistance Iraqi troops faced stiff resistance Saturday from Islamic State militants as they pushed deeper into eastern Mosul, backed by aerial support from the U.S.-led international coalition, a senior military commander said. Troops moved into the Muharabeen and Ulama neighborhoods after fully liberating the adjacent Tahrir neighborhood on Friday, said Maj. Gen. Sami al-Aridi of the Iraqi special forces. Al-Aridi said IS militants were fighting back with snipers, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar rounds. Thick black columns of smoke were seen billowing from the two areas, while dozens of civilians were seen fleeing to government-controlled areas. Shortly before noon, a suicide bomber emerged from a house in the Tahrir neighborhood and attacked security forces, wounding four troops. Later in the afternoon, another suicide car bomber hit the troops in Aden neighborhood, killing a soldier and wounding three others. Late on Friday, a group of IS militants attacked the village of Imam Gharbi south of Mosul, controlling most of it for hours before airstrikes from the U.S.-led international coalition were called in, an officer said. The clashes and multiple suicide bombings left three policemen dead, including an officer, and four others wounded, he said. Nine IS fighters were killed, he added. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to brief media. On Saturday, after the fighting had quietened down, the Kuwaiti government in coordination with a local NGO distributed 1,000 boxes of humanitarian aid to residents of the Samah and al-Arbajiyeh district in eastern Mosul, which had been cleared of IS militants earlier. Residents sat on the ground in a long queue waiting to receive the aid. As they emerged from their districts, some opened their jackets and raised their hands in the air to show troops they were not wearing an explosive belt. Some waved white flags. "We don't have any medical support," said Ibrahim Saad, a Mosul resident. "There is no food, no water. I am not talking about electricity, but these three fundamental things are not available." he said. NATION U.S. marshal, fugitive killed in shootout A fugitive accused of attempting to murder police officers fatally shot a deputy U.S. marshal trying to arrest him Friday in southeast Georgia, where other law officers returned fire and killed the suspect, federal authorities said. The U.S. Marshals Service said 53-year-old Patrick Carothers, deputy commander of the agency's Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, died after being shot twice as a team of officers tried to serve a warrant at a mobile home in rural Long County. The slain suspect was identified as Dontrell Montese Carter. He was wanted in Sumter County, South Carolina, since September on charges of attempted murder of police officers, domestic violence and illegally discharging a weapon, the Marshals Service said in a news release. The agency said Carothers and his team had tracked Carter to a mobile home just outside Ludowici, about 55 miles southeast of Savannah. Carothers was shot as they were entering the home. 23 students hurt in bus crash Twenty-three students were hospitalized after a Tennessee school bus crashed and rolled over on an interstate off-ramp Friday, but authorities said none suffered life-threatening injuries. The bus was one of three headed from Chester County in western Tennessee to an academic and community service convention in Nashville when it crashed as it left Interstate 65 northbound. A 17-year-old student had a broken collarbone and two other students had arm injuries, Metro Nashville Fire Department spokesman Brian Haas said. "Especially when children are involved in a crash, we err on the side of caution," Haas said. "We get them to the hospital, make sure everything is OK." WORLD Protests erupt in Puerto Rico Dozens of Puerto Ricans clashed with police on Friday while protesting a federal control board that was meeting for the first time in the U.S. territory after taking control of the island's finances. About 500 police officers were deployed in anticipation of protests outside the meeting at a swanky resort in the northeast city of Fajardo, a one-hour drive from the capital of San Juan. But the protest in Fajardo was small and peaceful, while a clash came in San Juan, where demonstrators pushed into the board president's office floor as they clutched Puerto Rican flags made in black and white to signify mourning and called the board a "dictatorship." The nearly six-hour meeting in Fajardo was closed to the public, unlike the previous two other meetings in New York. Board members warned they will have to make very hard decisions in upcoming months as the island struggles to overcome a decade-long economic crisis and pushes to restructure nearly $70 billion in public debt. Hospital bombed, babies evacuated Doctors and nurses at a pediatric hospital in eastern Aleppo scrambled Friday to evacuate babies in incubators to safety from underground shelters after the facility in the besieged Syrian city was bombed for the second time this week. Medics and aid workers also reported a suspected attack involving toxic gas in a district on the western edge of the rebel-held area. At least 12 people, including children, were treated for breathing difficulties, said Adham Sahloul of the Syrian American Medical Society, which supports health facilities in Aleppo. Claims of toxic gas attacks are common in Syria, and reports by international inspectors have held the government responsible for using chemicals in attacks on civilians, which Damascus denies. Airstrikes also hit a village in rural areas Aleppo province, killing seven members of a family, including four children, opposition activists said. Chile battles wildfire About 20 wildfires are spreading quickly in Chile's central region, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of people, authorities said Friday. The National Forestry Corporation said the fires had burned through 46,949 acres. Agency head Aaron Cavieres said there had been no injuries, and most of the area affected is grassland. But he said the blazes were nearing a small village about 40 miles northeast of the Chilean capital. The out-of-control fires began last week amid a heat wave. More blazes started in recent days, fueled by unusually hot and dry weather and strong winds. Chile's meteorology service said the fires were likely to spread to southern Chile next week due to the high temperatures. SALT LAKE CITY | A federal judge refused Tuesday to dismiss food stamp fraud charges filed against members of a polygamous group, rebuffing arguments that sharing benefits is a protected part of their religion. U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart decided the case doesn't violate the religious freedoms of the secretive group accused of operating a multimillion-dollar scheme. Most of those accused in the case didn't receive benefits themselves, so they can't argue rules limiting their use is unfair, the judge wrote. Stewart will, however, allow the defendants to argue at a Jan. 30 trial that they believe their eternal salvation depends on living communally. Salt Lake City lawyer Jim Bradshaw, who represents one of 11 defendants in the case, said he's disappointed the case will go forward, but he is heartened that the religious-belief arguments can be heard by a jury. Members of the polygamous group are accused of diverting food-stamp money to front companies and using it buy a truck and a tractor. Sect leaders lived lavishly while low-ranking followers suffered, federal prosecutors contend. Defense attorneys argue that there's no law barring sharing of benefits, and restricting the group's religious expression could set a dangerous precedent. Leader Seth Jeffs testified at an October hearing they believe everything on earth belongs to God, which is why members must donate everything they own to a community storehouse. The group's leaders decide how best to redistribute the goods. The "law of consecration" is based on early Mormon beliefs from the 1800s, he said. His testimony offered a rare glimpse into the group that follows Warren Jeffs, who is serving a life prison sentence for sexually assaulting underage girls he considered wives. The group known for prairie dresses and updo hairstyles is based in a remote community on the Utah-Arizona border. Its members don't usually talk with outsiders at the behest of their leaders. Seth Jeffs runs the group's South Dakota organization and is a brother of the imprisoned leader. Known as the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the group believes polygamy brings exaltation in heaven a legacy of the early Mormon church. The mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints abandoned the practice in 1890 and strictly prohibits it today. The highest-ranking leader ensnarled in the bust, Lyle Jeffs, has been a fugitive for more than three months since he slipped out of a GPS ankle monitor and escaped home confinement in the Salt Lake City area. The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for finding him. The 11 defendants have pleaded not guilty to food stamp fraud and money laundering. Opinion / Columnist "Zanu-PF has been dangling gifts to the war vets, including cash, land and vehicles, in a bid to strengthen the ruling party ahead of the 2018 polls - after initial thuggish methods failed to coerce the disgruntled ex-combatants into line," reported Daily News. "In serving their divorce papers on Mugabe five months ago, the liberation struggle fighters had also said pointedly that Mugabe's continued stay in power was now a stumbling block to the country's development, adding coldly that the nonagenarian would be "a hard-sell" if he contested the watershed 2018 polls."Over the years, war veterans have served as Mugabe's and Zanu-PF's political power dynamos, playing particularly significant roles to keep the nonagenarian on the throne in the hotly disputed 2000 and 2008 national elections which were both marred by serious violence and the murder of hundreds of opposition supporters."The primary reason why the war veterans fell out with President Mugabe is that the tyrant has failed to honour his word; they kept him on the throne on the understanding he would share the spoils of power with them too. The tyrant and his cronies including war veterans in government, security services and other strategic positions have grown filthy rich whilst the disbanded war veterans wallowed in abject poverty.The disbanded war veterans wallowing in poverty hit the panic button when they realised that President Mugabe was now manoeuvring; with the help of a new G40 faction, supported by VP Mphoko and a few others led by Ministers Saviour Kasukuwere and Jonathan Moyo; to have his wife succeed him as president. If the move succeeded, there was no doubt the the war veterans will lose even the little pension and support they were receiving from the government.Even those war veterans with secure positions in the Police, Army, etc. had good reasons to panic. G40 members made no secret about their disdain of war veterans' tradition of waving their liberation war credentials to claim special privileges in society. There was no doubt that the G40 faction, if allowed to rule, would force most war veterans into retirement and, for most of them, into poverty.So for the war veterans, disbanded or not, this a simple choice; stop the G40 faction assuming power or be damned! No wonder them have come out with guns blazing.Mutsvangwa and his band of unemployed war veterans with the solid backing of the top brass in from the Police, Army, etc. told President they are the "stockholders in Zanu PF and Zimbabwe and everyone else was a stakeholder". Meaning they had the veto on who was to lead the party and the nation. They wanted VP Emmerson Mnangagwa to succeed Mugabe as party leaders and state president.Of course Mugabe struck deaf, blind and mute by this, he is used to dictating his whim and everyone falling into line with their tails between their legs. Now these war veterans are not only dictating to him but worse still they even have the audacity to tell him they have the veto to his vote and they are exercising their veto in deciding who will lead Zanu PF and the country!Ever since Grace Mugabe burst on the political stage in 2014 with her vicious attack against the VP Joice Mujuru it was clear this was a power grab. Grace could not bear the prospect of having to give up the luxurious lifestyle she had got used to as First Lady and the only she could be absolutely certain of not giving up anything is for her to be the next president."So, excluding Grace might be a divide and rule tactic and a mechanism to go after the real thinkers and brains behind G40. It might also be a sign that Grace and her husband are reaching out to war veterans having seen how indispensable they are," civic leader and political analyst Gladys Hlatywayo said.It is tempting for the ordinary Zimbabwean out there to consider the removal of Robert Mugabe / stopping of his wife Grace Mugabe from becoming the next president as progress. After 36 years of corrupt and tyrannical Robert Mugabe rule; just the thought of someone else taking over is a monumental change! If Mugabe dropped died this minute, many people will heave a big sigh of relief as if a whole mountain has just been lifted off their shoulders. Many will celebrate and why not, given the suffering and deaths the tyrant has brought on the nation.However, the truth is Mugabe's departure from the political stage will mean much, very significant though the event may be. There is a lot more to the corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF regime than the individual Robert Mugabe; he is the snake we all see but only the lead snake of the hideous monster gorgon Medusa. Cutting off one snake, even the lead snake will not end the corruption and tyranny since another lead snake will emerge to take Mugabe's place.Mugabe is lead snake on Medusa - Zanu PF dictatorship - we have but one strike.If Mugabe was to capitulate and disband his G40 faction and allow the war veterans to have their way and propel Mnangagwa leader of Zanu PF that will confirm that they are indeed the stockholders of Zanu PF with the veto to impose whoever they want to lead the party. Come the 2018 they will frog-match us all to the polling stations to make sure their man is state president and thus confirm they are the stockholders of not just Zanu PF but Zimbabwe too!If we are serious about ending the corruption and tyranny that has plagued this nation for all these years, then we must make sure we not only remove Mugabe from power but dismantle the Zanu PF dictatorship too. Mutsvangwa, Chiwenga, Chihuri and all the other war veterans who have propped up the Zanu PF regime all these years by wielding their veto must now be told in no uncertain terms that no one has a veto.We, the people of Zimbabwe, view the war veterans' use of their assumed veto to impose Mnangagwa as Zanu PF leader with concern and suspension as that can only be a prelude of what they will do come the national elections! War veterans have denied the ordinary people a meaningful vote in free, fair and credible elections in the past. We demand an end to this barbarism and tyranny now; not tomorrow, after the demise of G40 faction, etc.; NOW!We want a democratic Zimbabwe where the right of every citizen to free, fair and credible elections and meaningful vote is sacrosanct. This is the heart and soul of what the fight against white colonial rule and, since independence, against this Zanu PF dictatorship was about. We are now close to accomplishing that goal.The war veterans' rogation of veto powers unto themselves constitute the heart and soul of the Zanu PF dictatorship, the gorgon Medusa, and as long as they continue to exercise this veto there will never ever be free, fair and credible elections in Zimbabwe. Removing Robert Mugabe will change nothing as the dictatorship already has Mnangagwa lined up to replace him.Strike Medusa and all the snakes will die. Kill one on the snakes and Medusa will grow ten more in their place and turn us all into stone! We have but one strike; one strike! PIERRE | Less than two weeks after the Nov. 8 election, a new set of rules aimed at ensuring fairness and accountability in South Dakota government is already having a major impact. From the resignation of officials on a state panel to lawmaker concerns over receiving gifts as small as a cup of coffee or a bottle of beer, the new laws are shaking up the South Dakota legislative arena. The most recent effects came to light Friday, when it was announced that two members of the state Transportation Commission quit because they are registered lobbyists. Their roles were seen as a conflict under Initiated Measure 22, known as the Anti-Corruption Act that was passed by voters last week. The two are Tim Dougherty, a lawyer from Sioux Falls, and Kathy Zander of Pierre, who manages two agri-business organizations. State Transportation Commission Darin Bergquist announced their resignations at the start of the commission meeting Friday. Dougherty and Zander work as lobbyists for their clients before the Legislature. Legislators, lobbyists and association managers appear to be in growing disarray over the restrictions in the sweeping new set of laws. Among the requirements is a $100 limit on gifts from a business or individual to a legislator or state official. That has caused a variety of organizations this week to begin canceling their traditional group meals with legislators in response. The incoming Senate Republican leader sent an email to caucus members Tuesday saying top Republicans aren't attending any events until they get more guidance. The ballot measure approved by voters on Election Day limits gifts from lobbyists to $100 annually for lawmakers a major change given there were previously no caps. The new law has spurred uncertainty among lobbyists and lawmakers. Secretary of State Shantel Krebs said her office has received hundreds of calls about the wide-ranging initiative, while groups such as the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce have canceled upcoming events or are weighing whether they'll still be held. Last session alone, lawmakers were invited to dozens of breakfasts, dinners and gatherings held by groups ranging from trade associations to local chambers of commerce. It's likely the number of shelved events will grow because organizations are reacting to the law change with caution, South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry President David Owen said. The Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce decided to cancel its gathering to welcome legislators, though it could come back in a different form. "We would like to be able to have the event, but we don't want to put anyone in jeopardy of breaking campaign finance or election laws," CEO Laura Schoen Carbonneau said. The state constitution already prohibited bribes to legislators, judges and state officials. Groups are canceling because legislators dont want to attend a function and subject themselves to violating the $100 annual aggregate gift law, according to Rep. Fred Deutsch, R-Florence, who did not seek re-election. The measure is written so broadly that just about any legislator puts themselves at risk if the group has a lobbyist and provides a gift to a legislator in practically any way, Deutsch said. He emphasized that includes any compensation, reward, employment, gift, honorarium, beverage, meal, food, or other thing of value made or given directly or indirectly to any person. Under the new law, legislators are supposed to keep track of the value of every cup of coffee, bottle of beer and chicken dinner they receive per group and make sure the total value from each group throughout the year does not exceed $100, Deutsch said. He said a violation is punishable by a fine up to $1,000 and one year in jail. In the end, its just easier and safer not to attend group functions and unwittingly exceed the $100 aggregate cap, Deutsch said. The state constitution also gives the two legislative bodies the authority to determine the election returns and the qualifications of their members to serve. The South Dakota Supreme Court in 1977 re-affirmed that position in its Gutzler decision. Some believe that would overrule new restrictions in the Anti-Corruption Act regarding jobs held by legislators. Unclear is whether the same constitutional provision would insulate their spouses and other family members from the new law. The new law takes aim at legislators and officials and their families working for businesses and organizations whose lobbyists try to influence legislators and state agencies. Lawmakers inquired about guidance Friday during a meeting of the Legislatures Executive Board. The various sections of IM 22 will be incorporated into South Dakotas legal code in the coming days, said Doug Decker, a lawyer for the Legislative Research Council. Decker said work is under way on a summary and index for legislators to use. LRC director Jason Hancock said there are aspects of IM 22 that are clear and some are open to interpretation. And I dont know that we can make some of those calls what it actually does, Hancock said. Thats the job of courts, to interpret the law, he added. The summary will simply repeat the language of IM 22 where there isnt clarity. Hancock said the Legislative Research Council will send the summary to legislators and they can pass it along as they wish. Another major provision in IM 22 is creation of a state ethics commission. The governor is responsible to appoint five members by Jan. 31, 2017. No more than two members can be from the same political party. The governor must choose three from nominees submitted by the Senates majority and minority leaders and two from nominees submitted by the presidents of the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University. The commission members cant be state officials, state employees, legislators or lobbyists. The commissions purpose is to enforce the requirements in the Anti-Corruption Act and has authority to make rules related to the new law. The commission also will administer the new state-funded democracy credit system to provide $100 per registered voter that can be contributed to legislative and state-office candidates for their campaigns. Gov. Dennis Daugaard hasnt made any of the five appointments yet, according to Tony Venhuizen, the governors chief of staff. The governor hadnt received any lists of nominees to this point, Venhuizen said Friday. IM 22 is very badly drafted and vague, and the governor is still receiving legal advice on its effects, Venhuizen said. Many states have placed restrictions on lobbyist gifts to lawmakers. In Kansas, the limit is $40 a year, but that doesn't include hospitality such as food, drinks and recreation. Minnesota law bans lobbyists from giving public officials gifts, with exceptions for some small-value gifts and food and beverages at certain events. It's unclear whether lawmakers will attempt to revise or repeal the South Dakota initiative during the 2017 session. The leader of a wild-horse sanctuary in north-central South Dakota is struggling to meet deadlines and conditions for the return of her impounded horses, leaving her vulnerable to the loss of at least some horses at a public auction. Karen Sussman is the president of the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros, which has a small ranch under her supervision near the town of Lantry. Last month, following reports of starving horses and with the society struggling financially and lacking feed for the winter, all 810 of the societys horses were impounded to be cared for and fed by local authorities. The court-ordered impounding included conditions and deadlines for Sussman to seek the return of the horses. The first deadline was Oct. 21, when Sussman was expected to submit a comprehensive management plan for the ranch. Dewey County States Attorney Steven Aberle told the Journal this week that Sussman submitted the plan, but it was deemed inadequate. What she submitted was not comprehensive enough in our opinion, Aberle said. There were gaps and holes in it, and things that needed to be addressed if any animals are going to be returned. Local and state authorities met with Sussman on Nov. 9 to work on the plan, and Aberle said the improved plan is still being put into writing. The next deadline was Nov. 11, when Sussman was supposed to produce evidence of funding or feed sufficient for 18 months of ranch operations. At the Nov. 9 meeting, Sussman sought and was granted an extension of that deadline until Dec. 1, on the condition that she reimburse Dewey and Ziebach counties which share a border straddled by the ranch for the costs of the impounding by Wednesday of this week. Aberle said the counties were several days late in submitting their $76,000 cost estimate to Sussman, so she was given a grace period until Monday. Meanwhile, she made a partial payment of $30,000 on Wednesday, leaving a balance of $46,000. If Sussman is able to pay that amount, she will still face the Dec. 1 deadline to produce evidence of feed and funding for 18 months of operations. With recent hay costs of $10,000 per week on the badly overgrazed ranch, an amount well into six figures is likely needed to convince authorities to return a significant number of horses. Aberle said the amount raised by Sussman will be used to help determine how many horses if any will be returned to her control. In the meantime, Sussman, who has not responded to Journal interview requests, is free to arrange sales or adoptions of horses. She is apparently doing that, to a limited extent. Dewey County Sheriff Les Mayer recently said that about 55 horses had left the ranch. After the Dec. 1 deadline, Aberle and the other authorities involved with the impounding order will decide whether to return any horses to Sussmans control, and how many. Any horses that are not returned will be scheduled for sale at a public auction, with the proceeds going to Sussmans society only after all remaining county costs have been covered. Though there are no active horse-slaughter plants in the United States, an auction might attract buyers for foreign plants that slaughter horses for human consumption. Buyers could also include individuals and groups committed to protecting wild horses. The states attorney of Dewey County has issued a statement in response to public calls for the prosecution of a wild-horse sanctuary president whose animals have been impounded. States Attorney Steven Aberle wrote that he will not file criminal charges against Karen Sussman, the president of the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros (ISPMB). The societys horses were impounded by Dewey and Ziebach counties last month following reports of starving horses at the societys ranch near Lantry. Aberle wrote that criminal charges in such cases are rare unless there is intentional abuse or willful neglect. Neither accusation was leveled by two former ranch employees who went public with reports of deteriorating conditions at the ranch, according to Aberle. They both felt Karen Sussman should not be prosecuted criminally, Aberle wrote. He also acknowledged Sussmans cooperation with authorities. When Karen Sussman was contacted by the Animal Industry Board about the complaint they had received, she acknowledged insufficient funds to properly feed the horses, Aberle wrote. She voluntarily agreed to the immediate impoundment of the ISPMBs entire herd so the animals would receive proper feed and care. She cooperated with the two counties in stipulating to very strict conditions that have to be met before any of the animals would be returned to the ISPMB. PIERRE | The South Dakota Transportation Commission awarded grants totaling nearly $3.5 million to 17 cities and counties of less than 5,000 population Friday to help local economic development. The commission was able to provide many more of the community access grants after moving money from two other grant categories. This year there wasnt much demand for highway assistance for agri-business projects, and there werent any applications for industrial park grants, according to Laurie Schultz, who oversees the programs in the state DOT. Schultz recommended shifting nearly $1 million of money available in those two categories and spending it in the community program. She said DOT received 22 applications for community grants. She said the 17 that received recommendations met the eligibility criteria. The others didnt, she told the commission. The 17 include: Bridgewater, $71,500 for Juniper Avenue; Campbell County, $101,000 and Pollock $85,200 for Summit Street and A Avenue; Elk Point, $290,000 for Rose Street; Eureka, $88,000 for Eighth and Ninth streets; Freeman, $400,000 for Main Street and Railway Street. Also, Gettysburg, $183,000 for Broadway Street and Potter Street; Kimball, $126,000 for Kiote Road; Lake Andes, $400,000 for Main Street, First Avenue and Third Avenue; Mount Vernon, $82,000 for Railroad Avenue; Murdo, $400,000 for Third Street and Cleveland Avenue; Parkston, $309,000 for Depot Street; Peever, $45,400 for four streets; Ramona, $143,400 for Railway Avenue; Salem, $400,000 for three streets; Tyndall, $142,000 for Maple Street; and Wolsey, $203,000 for Ash Street. The commission also gave a $400,000 grant for road work serving the new Dakota Plains Dairy in Lincoln County. Schultz said the shifts from the two categories wouldnt short them. Next years cycle begins the beginning of the year, Jan. 1, she said. The commission voted 6-0 to approve the funding shifts, the dairy grant and the 17 community grants. Chris Jackson/Getty Images(LONDON) -- Prince William spoke candidly about fatherhood in a very emotional interview this week with Vietnam TV. The second in line to the British throne made his first official visit to Vietnam for the Hanoi Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade,on a mission to stop illegal poaching and the devastating effect the ivory trade has on endangered wildlife. While in Vietnam he sat down with Talk Vietnam, an English-language talk show, when he opened up about family life and his hopes for the future "I'm very lucky in the support I have from Catherine. She's an amazing mother and a fantastic wife," William said speaking lovingly about Kate. William spoke about how his children -- 3-year-old Prince George and 18-month-old Princess Charlotte -- have changed his life. "I adore my children very much and I've learned a lot about myself and about family just from having my own children," he said. "George is a right little rascal sometimes, he keeps me on my toes but he's a sweet boy. And Charlotte, bearing in mind I haven't had a sister so having a daughter is a very different dynamic. So I'm learning about having a daughter, having a girl in the family." The Duke of Cambridge thanks the people of #Vietnam for their hospitality. We will see you again soon! pic.twitter.com/YeEFnAo5V2 Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) November 17, 2016 William admitted there are "challenges" that go along with parenthood and he thinks quite a bit about the world his children are growing up in. "I worry about the future more. When you have something or someone in your life to give the future to I think it focuses the mind more about what you're giving them and are you happy that you've done all you can to leave it in a good state," he said. "I would like them to grow up with more simple aspirations. I think there's a lot of huge aspirations and people living with an enormous amount of stuff that they don't necessarily need," he said. "The materialism of the world I find quite tricky sometimes." Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. - T. S. Eliot Thoughts After Lambeth "The World is trying the experiment of attempting to form a civilized but non-Christian mentality. The experiment will fail; but we must be very patient in awaiting its collapse; meanwhile redeeming the time: so that the Faith may be preserved alive through the dark ages before us; to renew and rebuild civilization, and save the World from suicide." During the 2016 session, the Legislature passed a package of three bills, based on the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Task Force. The purpose was to direct new funding to school districts to increase teacher salaries. Im pleased to report that this effort has been a success. A survey by the state Department of Education indicates that the average teacher salary is $46,924. This represents a one-year increase of 11.9 percent. The Blue Ribbon Task Force was convened to address the serious problem our schools faced when trying to recruit and retain excellent teachers. South Dakota had paid the lowest average teacher salary for decades, but in recent years the gap with our surrounding states had widened. For many teachers, neither the desire to stay close to home, nor South Dakotas low cost of living could any longer outweigh the significantly higher salaries offered in neighboring states. The task forces recommendations addressed the problem head-on. I again thank the task force members for their work and the legislators who had the courage to vote for bills that raised the sales tax, rewrote the school funding formula, and committed funds to innovation and sharing of services. The Legislature set a target average salary of $48,500 for teachers. We knew that we would not reach that average in the first year, because it will take time for schools to become more efficient and repurpose their own funds into salaries. I am very pleased that, with an average salary of nearly $47,000, our schools have made so much progress toward that goal. Our rural school districts are especially challenged to attract teachers. So, I am pleased to see sizable salary increases in many small districts. In Jones County, the average teacher salary increased by 22.4 percent. In Ethan, it increased by 19.7 percent. In Mobridge-Pollock, salaries increased 25 percent. Faith increased 18.3 percent. Iroquois increased 23.3 percent. Florence increased 19.6 percent. Burke increased 18.8 percent. Oelrichs salaries improved by 20.5 percent. Gayville-Volin went up 21.4 percent. And the highest increase in the state, as a percentage, was Waubay with 26.3 percent. Larger schools also enjoyed sizable raises, although they had higher salaries to begin with and therefore their percentage increases are generally lower. Most were close to the state average of 11.9 percent, although Brandon Valley achieved an increase of 19.3 percent and Meade County went up 14.7 percent. I have heard from superintendents that these raises are having an impact. Fewer teachers are departing, fewer vacancies are unfilled, more are applying for open positions and more teachers are staying in South Dakota. Every South Dakotan wants to give our children a quality education, and we know that the most important means to that end is not buildings or equipment it is great teachers. When the Legislature approved the Blue Ribbon package, it sent a clear message that South Dakotans were willing to invest in teachers. I thank our school leaders for joining in that investment by using these funds to dramatically increase teacher salaries. Dear Annie: Both my wife and I work all day, she as a police officer and I as an accountant. When we get home, we eat dinner together and then sit in front of the TV for a little down time. The problem is that what she wants to watch to unwind is very different from what I want to watch to unwind. She loves short funny shows, such as Two and a Half Men and How I Met Your Mother. I, on the other hand, love dramas. My favorites are Homeland and Game of Thrones. Every night, I sit on the couch looking forward to one of my favorite shows, and she insists that we watch one of hers. She says that my shows are too serious and that being a police officer, she sees serious stuff every day and she just wants to laugh. She has a point, but Id still like to watch my own stuff. I have been giving her her way lately, but I am starting to feel resentful. Missing the Drama Dear Missing: Sorry, but theres not much drama in my response, as this has an easy solution. Just compromise. Alternate nights. You pick one nights programming; she picks the next. If you both really cant stand watching each others shows, you could invest in a second TV or, better yet, head to the library. There youll find plenty of great stories (such as the novels on which Game of Thrones is based). You could get lost in an epic book while she de-stresses with some comedy worlds away but happily together. *** Dear Annie: I met Meghan at our childrens school five years ago, and weve been close friends ever since. When we met, she had just finished treatment for stage 1 breast cancer, and since then, she has been cancer-free. The other day, she told me she was unable to work with me on our kids school project because she had a doctors appointment. She said it was just a routine thing but was very vague about it, and I could tell she didnt want to talk about it. I began to worry that something was wrong, and at the same time, I felt hurt that if something was wrong, she should have wanted to share it with me. Worried for My Friend Dear Worried: Have patience. For all you know right now, it really is just a routine checkup, and I hope thats the case. But in the event that its not, dont be offended that Meghan didnt reach out to you immediately. Health is an incredibly personal thing. Part of being a good friend means allowing her the time and space she needs to process things, trusting that she will come to you when shes ready. In the meantime, be understanding, empathetic and the worlds best listener. Thats how you can let her know youll be there when shes ready to talk. *** Dear Annie: I want to write in response to A Wyoming Teacher, who does not feel teachers should be expected to write thank-you notes to students for gifts. I feel that part of my job as a teacher is to teach students social norms and conventions. I believe in writing and mailing thank-you notes for students gifts, even the half-used bottle of nail polish one of my second-graders gave me. Children love getting mail, and they learn from example. Teaching by Example *** Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com. To find out more about Annie Lane and read features by other Creators Syndicate columnists and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2016 CREATORS.COM SPOKANE What started as an annual mountain biking adventure among high school buddies has transformed over decades into a motorcycle camping trip that continues to incorporate thrills, dirty clothes and the occasional spill. Were not getting any younger, said Jon Stanley of Spokane. But even on motorcycles, some of us find ourselves on the ground once in a while. We used to call our group the Rolling Thunder. This summer the group logged a five-day, 750-mile road trip that spliced long stretches of pavement with rugged national forest riding in Idaho. The loop included the Lolo Motorway and Magruder Corridor. The Lolo Motorway parallels a portion of the Nez Perce Indians route the Lewis and Clark Expedition followed across the Bitterroot Mountains in 1805. The Magruder Corridor is a 101-mile backroad built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The route is sandwiched between the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness and the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. Grandfathered before the wilderness areas were designated, the route allows motorized travel in a narrow corridor through the largest spread of wilderness in the lower 48 states. Both routes are wild and popular among off-highway motorized vehicle groups, including the Spokane riders. Stanley has traveled on a Suzuki DRZ400 for nine years. I had the biggest bike when we first did a short in-and-out section of the Magruder in 2011. Now Im the baby of the bunch, he said. The other riders engines range from 650cc to 990cc. The smallest bike on the 2011 trip was a 125cc. Even though they trailered to a national forest campsite and rode day trips from there, that motorcycle was underpowered and often starved for fuel in keeping up with the bigger bikes. The 125 had a range of 50 miles, maybe, Stanley said, comparing him with the person on every road trip with the smallest bladder capacity. It was the butt of a lot of jokes. Weve all upgraded since then. I have an expanded gas tank on mine for better range. I get nervous if Im not near refueling at about 175 miles. The group has names for each other and inside jokes. They kid me for having the smallest engine and act like theyre worried it will explode trying to keep up with them, Stanley said. The Orange 990 is called El Toro as in the bull, the big one. I just bought some orange horns to slap on his bike on the next trip. With everyone upgraded to bigger cycles, theyre riding in more comfort and expanding their range without being rapped out on I-90. The motorcycles are a big leap from the origins of the Rolling Thunder. Thats the name we gave ourselves when we started the tradition of an extended trip on mountain bikes for my bachelor party in 2001, Stanley said. I grew up riding the family motorcycle during summers at Priest Lake. One of my favorite things was tooling around on forest roads. Mountain biking is just as enjoyable on a different level. Im 50 and Id still enjoy doing the trip on mountain bikes, but its no longer possible for everyone in the group because of health reasons. The group has expanded to eight from a core of four who were tight friends while attending Lewis and Clark High School. Going on motorcycles allows the group to stay together. Sticking together is the most important thing, Stanley said, noting that in 2011 they shifted gears and dubbed themselves the Motorized Rolling Thunder. We can see a lot more country in the same amount of time. In their planning meetings for this years trip, they voted to revisit the Magruder and do the entire 101-mile route. We also wanted to maximize dirt riding on the entire trip so we included a portion of the Lolo Motorway to make a loop, he said. Their trip included a good chunk of the 1,250-mile Idaho Backcountry Discovery Route. The Magruder route, which runs about 113 miles between gas stations at Elk City, Idaho, and Darby gave the MRT plenty of what the group was seeking. The dust can be suffocating like talcum powder in some stretches, Stanley said. And some portions are very rocky. One of our guys went down on a rough section of big boulders. He got to bouncing, spun out and down. No injuries. The group never had to use the tire plugs, Slime and battery-operated pumps they packed along to deal with a flat tire. The most serious issue was a battery failure on the KTM 990. The bike wouldnt fire even in a rolling start. We were at Lochsa Lodge and AAA towed him to Missoula, but he missed the last two days of riding, Stanley said. Camping was a pleasure all nights but the last, when other campers filled the best sites off the Lolo Motorway. It was Saturday night and a lot of people were out, Stanley said. We finally got a pretty decent site, but it was getting near sundown. MRT trips are fueled by a few gallons of gasoline and a full tank of camaraderie, Stanley said. Thats the best part. We make a lot of memories. One hot, dusty day, they arrived early at a camp along the Selway River, donned shorts, pulled out their folding chairs and set them up knee-deep in the water. In one glorious bull session they cool off, lightened their load of beer, planned their next day and solved many of the worlds problems. Even though theyre on motorcycles, the chairs are among the few luxury items that deviate from backpack-style camping. We go pretty light on tents, stoves, freeze-dried meals and things like that, Stanley said. But we did have our beer for after the days ride and I probably had twice as much food as I needed in the Magruder. With no cellphone coverage in the wilderness areas, they carried a satellite locator in case of emergency. The biggest trick to safe and efficient motorcycle camping is figuring out how to pack gear on the bike for the high-speed interstate as well as the rugged forest terrain. I added two 15-liter dry bags on the top of my motorcycle pannier and a 70-liter bag in the middle and it turned out to be pretty heavy, Stanley said. I needed to get more of the weight in the middle of the bike behind my back. Going up to the Burnt Knob lookout point on the Magruder I dumped my bike twice. I was pulling wheelies. When the front tire would hit a big rock, the bike would rear up like a spooked steed and over he would go. I just had too much weight on the back, he said, adding, but the views were beautiful as far as I got. Only the guys on the two bigger bikes, the 800 and the 990, made it all the way up. Theyre better riders. I thought Id be more agile on the 400. The smart rider stayed back. After setting up camp each day, the MRT would convene for happy hour. We ate at restaurants a couple times in the civilized areas of Moscow, Lolo and Grangeville, Stanley said. But there are not services on the Magruder. Wildfires in recent years have greatly changed the scenery and landscape in many areas since their last ride into the region. It opens the view a lot, but its a little sad in some ways, he said. Blooming fireweed added a splash of color under blackened snags. The most challenging portion of the ride may have been the end of the Magruder where it gets more day-use traffic as people come in from the Darby side. The road is like talc. Sometimes youre almost hydroplaning on the powder and you come around a corner and theres a pickup barreling up the middle of the road, Stanley said. It always seems to happen at the end of the day when youre tired and thinking about getting to camp. We had to split up to keep from suffocating one another. And we were filthy at night. Its one thing to be on a dirt road, but the pulverized dust penetrated everything. I had my iPhone in a waterproof, dust-proof case. The air filters on our bikes got trashed. Last week, Stanley had his bike in a shop for a professional oil and filter service. Theres definitely wear and tear on the equipment, he said, but thats why we have the motorcycles. MISSOULA Surrounded by Blackfeet leaders in ceremonial headdress, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell signed papers canceling 15 energy exploration leases in the Badger-Two Medicine area on Wednesday morning. Leaseholder David Hager, president of Devon Energy, joined the ceremony in Washington, D.C., noting his company was voluntarily surrendering the opportunity to drill on 32,000 acres in a landscape the Blackfeet consider sacred to their people. The 130,000-acre area is surrounded by the Blackfeet Reservation, Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. Today we cancel 15 leases that were let in the early 1980s, in an area that never should have been opened for oil and gas leasing, Jewell said. We didnt follow procedures we should have followed, and there are painful lessons that land managers have learned about the way we lease for natural gas. Its important to know the highest and best use of these landscapes, she said. Thats why there is a consultation process (with Indian tribes). Blackfeet elder Earl Old Person sang a blessing for the ceremony, and Tribal Chairman Harry Barnes thanked the government and Devon for working together to resolve the matter. He also called out tribal historic preservation officer John Murray, who developed scientific evidence to back up the tribes oral traditions about the Badger-Two Medicines significance. Murrays work helped get the area federally designated as a Traditional Cultural District. This directive today is a movement toward putting trust back into our trust responsibility, Barnes said. The entire Blackfeet nation should hold their heads up high today. Energy exploration on the Badger-Two Medicine became a uniting issue for the Blackfeet community when another leaseholder, Solenex LLC, announced plans to exercise its option to drill on 6,200 acres of the area four years ago. The tribal government teamed with conservation groups to argue the leases were illegal when they were released in the 1980s because they lacked proper consultation with the tribes and complete environmental analyses. Solenex sued in federal court to force the U.S. Forest Service to give it a permit for drilling. But in March, the agency concluded that the leases were improperly granted and recommended that they be canceled. The Interior Department agreed, but that matter is still in court. Devon Energy acquired its 15 leases through a merger with another company, but has never acted to explore or develop them. Hager said the company had recently shifted its focus from worldwide energy development to North America after it led the revolution in horizontal hydraulic fracking for natural gas. But it concluded the Badger-Two Medicine didnt need to be part of that activity. We recognize there are times and places where the right thing is to take a step away, Hager said. We appreciate how important this is to the Blackfeet people. Cancellation of the leases entitles Devon to a refund of all rents and bonus bids paid, which total about $200,000, according to Department of Interior records. There are plenty of places where we can drill and dig in this country, but the Badger-Two Medicine is not one of those places, said U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, who attended the ceremony in Washington. This is one of the most pristine landscapes in the world, Tester said. This decision really helps bring this area to a point where my kids and grandkids can enjoy it the way it is. And it wouldnt have been possible without the Blackfeet Tribe, Chairman Barnes and Chief Old Person. Two oil and gas leases remain in the area. Barnes and Jewell said efforts will continue to resolve those leases as well. As early as next week, the committee tasked to develop recommendations for managing recreation on the upper Bitterroot, including the West Fork, could be in place. Christine Oschell, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks access site program coordinator, has presented a list of 15 potential committee members to the directors office for final approval. The names were selected from a list of 29 applicants. I was very pleased with the number of people who were interested and willing to volunteer their time for this important process, Oschell said. The committee will be asked to explore the issue of crowding on the popular stretch of river and develop a range of alternatives that could change the way river recreation is managed. The committee is expected to consider river recreation plans on other rivers in the state, including the Beaverhead and Big Hole, that provide some preference for local fishermen. The state conducted several surveys of anglers on the West Fork and upper Bitterroot over the past three years. Creel surveys in 2013 and 2014 on the West Fork showed between 75 to 85 percent of anglers were from outside Montana and often on a guided trip. Last winter, an additional 3,000 Ravalli County fishermen were sent surveys. Of the 957 who returned them, 325 said they had fished the West Fork in the last three years. About 65 percent of the local respondents said they were spending considerably less time there than they had in the past. Their reasons included too many guides and outfitters, too many float fishermen and the river was too crowded, especially for those wanting to wade or bank fish. Oschell was encouraged that people with varied interests were willing to volunteer their time to consider the issues. It appears the committee will include outfitters, local fishermen, members of Trout Unlimited and the Ravalli County Fish and Wildlife Association and some landowners. We wanted it to be inclusive, she said. Even within the outfitting community, we chose some who had been here a long time and some who were newer to the area. Employees of FWP and the Bitterroot National Forest will also attend the meetings in an advisory position. It will be an intensive effort, Oschell said. We dont know how long it will take. Im certain there will be some in-depth discussions. Im happy to know that the public will be engaged in the process. Oschell is hoping to begin notifying members of the committee by the middle of next week. She also hopes the people who werent selected will be active in the process. Quite honestly, everyone who applied was qualified to be on the committee, she said. It made it very difficult to select the committee. Oschell employed the help of a neutral, third-party graduate student to help with the selection process. Most of the committee is made up of Bitterroot Valley residents, with a couple residing in Missoula. She hopes the first meeting will be held during the last week of November. That may be a lofty goal, she said. Oschell anticipates that most of the meetings will be held in the Bitterroot Valley. All of them will be open to the public. People will have two opportunities at each meeting to offer their input. The committee will develop recommendations, which will then be passed to the regional office in Missoula where an environmental analysis will be written. Once the EA is complete, there will be another round of public comment. Its going to be six months to a year before it even goes to the commission, Oschell said. Im looking forward to the process. We will have a neutral facilitator who will help us stay on track. There will be ground rules that require that people respect everyones opinion and listen to their views. BILLINGS - A car crashed into a Billings business on Friday afternoon, going almost completely through a front window and into the building. Emergency crews were called out at about 2 p.m. to Batteries + Bulbs, at 1145 Central Ave., after a blue sedan drove through a window just to the left of the building's front door. Information on how the crash happened wasn't immediately available. An American Medical Response crew could be seen speaking with a woman as she sat upright on a stretcher. The crew then loaded the empty stretcher into the ambulance and left while the woman spoke with the Billings Police Department. All but the very rear end of the sedan was inside of the building, and the crash brought debris from the window and ceiling down around it. Members of the Billings Fire Department could be seen inside inspecting the building. America must return to conservative principles of less government,reduced taxes, less spending and a balanced budget! Cut,cap and balance! Heshmat Alavi The world begins to digest the major development of business tycoon Donald Trump defeating former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Among the many questions regarding this unexpected election result is the new administration's approach vis-a-vis Iran. Considering the Iran nuclear deal, viewed by President Barack Obama as his foreign policy crown jewel, there are inarguable mistakes that need urgent remedies. Iran considered the Obama presidency as a golden era. It is now on the shoulders of Donald Trump and the new Republican-controlled Congress to patch various wounds inflicted by eight years of mistaken Iran appeasement policy. Iran nuclear deal The Obama Doctrine, if you will, was based on extending a hand to America's historical rivals. This stirred serious anger among traditional U.S. allies, especially in the Middle East, and members of Congress from both sides of the aisle. However, Obama managed to push forward his initiative at the expense of others. This policy envisioned Iran becoming a more responsible partner of the international community as a result of the nuclear deal, a premise now revealed as a wish-fulfillment daydream. The International Atomic Energy Agency recently reported that Iran has again exceeded the permitted level of heavy water, raising eyebrows across the board. This is the result of a weak stance adopted by the Obama administration after the nuclear deal. Iran is also taking advantage of the opportunity to continue its gross human rights violations, enormous support for terrorist groups not only across the Middle East but even in the U.S. and Europe as well, and persisting in inflaming wars in Syria, Yemen, and Iraq. The incoming administration in Washington has the opportunity to weigh a more serious approach against Tehran. Such a policy must force Iran to quickly wind down its nuclear efforts and bring an end to horrendous human rights violations and daily execution of its opponents. Tehran's terrorism and foreign intervention The Obama administration took a turn for the worst from day one, pledging to pull out all American troops from Iraq. This signaled a major American policy shift in the Middle East, raising concerns for U.S. allies and providing a much-sought opportunity for the mullahs in Tehran. Obama's White House argued Iran would play a constructive role in stabilizing the entire region, beginning with Iraq. Unfortunately, what the world witnessed has been anything but. Obama turned his back to Iran's meddling in Iraq in favor of pursuing the JCPOA at all costs -- viewed as an unofficial pact paving the way for Tehran's political/military infiltration of Baghdad and fueling the rise of Daesh (ISIS). The situation calls for a Trump White House to work closely with the new Congress in adopting a firm Middle East policy by recognizing the root of all such crises. Iran must be brought to comprehend that a new administration in Washington means an end to an enormously profitable political period. Atrocious human rights record Choosing not to support the 2009 uprising movement in Iran, Obama made it crystal clear to all his intention to pursue a policy of close engagement with Tehran. This emboldened the mullahs to take full advantage of such a change in attitude from Washington by significantly intensifying their domestic crackdown. Despite claiming to be a moderate, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has presided over 2,500 executions during his tenure. Scores more are on death row and Iran's jails are packed with inmates like never before. While smiling to the outside world and claiming to seek reforms, Rouhani has remained completely loyal to the establishment by supporting a continuing policy of oppression, torture, and executions. Congress rightfully introduced the Iran Human Rights Legislation and a new administration must build upon this initiative. Donald Trump has the opportunity to show his support for the Iranian nation and their thirst for freedom, democracy, and other values cherished also by the American people. Conclusion President Barack Obama made a strategic mistake in adopting a mistaken and already failed Iran appeasement policy. Iran continues to quietly cheat on the nuclear accord, inflame wars across the Middle East, and clamp down on human rights inside its own borders. This must end, and the wrongs of the Obama era must be made right. Donald Trump has the opportunity to create a completely new perspective on Iran. The Iranian people are begging for the new administration to support their struggle for freedom. Obama failed to extend his hand to the Iranian people. Donald Trump should not. His White House and the new Republican Congress should work closely to adopt a firm Iran policy worthy of the values America stands for. Stephen M. Flatow, a vice president of the Religious Zionists of America, is an attorney in New Jersey. He is the father of Alisa Flatow, who was murdered in an Iranian-sponsored Palestinian terrorist attack in 1995. Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh.blog spot.com. If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.Twitter updates at LoveoftheLand as well as our Love of the Land page at Facebook which has additional pieces of interest besides that which is posted on the blog. Also check-out This Ongoing War by Frimet and Arnold Roth. An excellent blog, very important work. . ..JNS.org..18 November '16Important government action was taken to protect the environment in the Middle East this week. But don't expect the government in question to get any creditbecause it was the Israeli government that took the action, and the Palestinian Arabs who were the polluters. And the Palestinians, as we all know, are immune from international criticism.The Israeli authorities repeatedly alerted the Palestinian Authority (PA), over the course of several years, about a charcoal factory in the PA-ruled city of Yabad that was causing serious air pollution in the area. The Israelis made it clear that if the PA did not act, Israel would have to intervene.The primary victims of the Yabad pollution were, of course, the Palestinian residents of Yabad and nearby villages. Israeli officials even pointed out to the PA that the area's residents suffer a disproportionately high rate of respiratory problems because of the smoke. So you would think the PA would take action for that reason alone. But the PA has no interest in protecting the environment. So it ignored the Israeli warnings.PA officials no doubt assumedbased on plenty of previous experiencethat if Israel acted, then the State Department and J Street andwould accuse Israel of "intruding on Palestinian territory" and "driving Palestinian industrialists out of business." The PA also probably calculated that the various branches of the Green Party around the world are so locked in to a radical-left, pro-Palestinian worldview that they will never speak out against Palestinian pollution. And, so far, that appears to be the case.Israel's patience with the Yabad air-poisoners was finally exhausted Wednesday. Israeli police shut down the factory and confiscated its production equipment. KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19: Thousands of anti-government protesters marched in Malaysia's capital on Saturday demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Razak over his alleged involvement in a multi-billion dollar misappropriation scandal. Clad in yellow shirts and unfazed by arrests of activists and opposition leaders just hours before the rally, protesters marched from various spots towards the heart of Kuala Lumpur amid tight security. The mood among those gathered was festive, with drums and vuvuzelas heard along with speeches, songs and chants by participants calling for a clean Malaysia and people power. The demonstration is unlikely to shake Najib, who has denied wrongdoing and weathered the crisis, consolidating power by cracking down on dissenters and curbing media groups and activists. The head of pro-democracy group Bersih - the organisers of Saturday's rally - was arrested on Friday, along with several other supporters of the demonstration, including opposition leaders and student activists. Police have said the Bersih rally is illegal. "We are not here to bring down the country. We love this country! We are not here to tear down the government, we're here to strengthen it," Bersih deputy chair Shahrul Aman Shaari told the crowds gathered at the National Mosque. Another Bersih leader Hishamuddin Rais was arrested on Saturday at the protest area, with police also issuing warnings to other participants. State news agency Bernama said about 7,000 policemen will be on duty near the protest area. "Our country is being governed by clowns and crooks. So I'm here to protest against our prime minister," said artist Fahmi Reza, holding a poster of a clown-faced Najib. In a speech uploaded on his website on Friday, Najib said the protesters were "a tool of the opposition". "Their movement is deceitful. It is clear that these street protests are in fact the opposition disguised as an independent NGO working to unseat a democratically elected government," said Najib, who is in Peru to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Azalina Othman Said, a minister in the Prime Minister's Department, on Saturday said it was unlawful for any party to try to unseat a democratically-elected government via street protests. TENSIONS Fears of clashes between Bersih and a pro-Najib group called Red Shirts mounted this week after the latter threatened to target Bersih supporters. The Red Shirts also rallied on Saturday, marching from the headquarters of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party towards Dataran Merdeka, or Independence Square, where the Bersih rally is expected to converge. The Red Shirts' rally has also been declared illegal. Jamal Yunos, an UMNO member and leader of the Red Shirts, was arrested before the protests began. A six-week campaign by Bersih ahead of the rally was marred by several violent confrontations with the Red Shirts, and anonymous death threats have been sent to Bersih chairwoman Maria Chin Abdullah. Jamal has warned of a repeat of racial riots in 1969 that killed hundreds in clashes between Malays and ethnic Chinese. Ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities formed the bulk of a similar rally of more than 200,000 organised by Bersih last year, after the Wall Street Journal reported that around $700 million from state fund 1MDB was diverted into the personal bank account of the prime minister. Najib ran into further trouble this year when lawsuits filed by the U.S. Justice Department in July said over $3.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB, which was founded by Najib, and that some of those funds flowed into the accounts of "Malaysian Official 1", whom U.S. and Malaysian officials have identified as Najib. Najib has taken steps critics say aim to limit discussion of the scandal, such as sacking a deputy prime minister, replacing the attorney-general and suspending newspapers and blocking websites. He retains significant support within UMNO and from the long-ruling Barisan Nasional coalition. File- Famed heart surgeon Dr. Denton Cooley leaves memorial services for Enron founder Ken Lay at the First United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas, US on July 12, 2006. Photo: REUTERS Dr Denton Cooley, who sparked controversy and a feud with another pioneering heart surgeon when he performed the worlds first artificial heart implant in 1969, died on Friday at the age of 96, the Texas Heart Institute said. Cooley, who also performed the first successful human heart transplant in the United States, founded the Texas Heart Institute and was one of the most celebrated heart surgeons in the world. The Texas native was also known however for a long-running dispute with another world-renowned innovative surgeon in Houston, Dr Michael DeBakey, over the implant operation. A spokeswoman for Texas Childrens Hospital, where Cooleys son-in-law acts as surgeon in chief, said Cooley died in his Houston home on Friday morning, surrounded by his four daughters. Cooley, who estimated he operated on about 100,000 people, developed many techniques used in cardiovascular surgery and received honours including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest US civilian award. Nothing can compare with the activity of the human heart, Cooley, who grew up wanting to be a dentist like his father, once told an interviewer. And besides that, its always had a special connotation in our society, or in our life. Its been the seat of the soul and the seat of emotions. But now we find that it really is a tough little organ. It can tolerate a great deal and it certainly has been revealed that it can be corrected in many ways and even replaced by organ transplantation. Cooley performed the first successful heart transplant in the United States in 1968, a year after South African Dr Christiaan Barnard had done the first one in the world. Cooley also broke ground with surgical methods to fix congenital heart anomalies in infants and children and methods for repairing and replacing diseased heart valves and went on to found the Texas Heart Institute. On April 4, 1969, with no donour heart available for a dying patient, Cooley implanted an artificial heart in Haskell Karp, a 47-year-old man from Illinois. The device kept Karp alive for 65 hours until a human heart became available. Cooley transplanted the human heart to Karp but the patient died a day later. The procedure led to trouble because Cooley had used an artificial heart developed in the laboratory of his former partner DeBakey without his approval. Cooley, who had worked with DeBakey at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, argued that he implanted the heart device in an urgent bid to keep his patient alive until a human heart was available for transplant. DeBakey called what Cooley did an unethical childish act in order to claim a medical landmark, as well as a theft and a betrayal. The device had been tested in animals but had not been approved for use in people. The US government ordered an investigation and the American College of Surgeons censured Cooley. The controversy prompted Cooley to leave Baylor. In 2007 Cooley and DeBakey ended their feud and DeBakey died the next year at age 99. He wanted to be able to say he was the first one to use an artificial heart in a patient, DeBakey told the New York Times in 2007. I never quite understood it other than his ambition was almost uncontrolled. I mean, you dont let your ambition get you in trouble. Cooley told the Times he was justified in doing the implant. He said that at the time he was performing more heart operations than DeBakey or anyone else and viewed himself as the appropriate person to do the first implantation of an artificial heart. It was not until 1982 that the first artificial heart intended for permanent use was implanted in a person, at the University of Utah. In his interview with the Times, Cooley said a lawyer once asked him during a trial if he thought of himself as the worlds best heart surgeon. Yes, he replied. Dont you think thats being rather immodest? the lawyer asked. Perhaps, Cooley said. But remember Im under oath. ILAM, Nov 19: Former Prime Minister and CPN (UML) senior leader Jhal Nath Khanal has presented 23 different public development plans to the District Development Committee (DDC), Ilam to be implemented in his constituency. Khanal is the lawmaker from Ilam constituency number 1 and he has presented the plans to be implemented under the Constituency Infrastructure Development Special Programme. As stated in the budget statement for the fiscal year 2016-17, the government provides the money to the elected lawmakers at the rate of Rs 30 million per lawmaker for spending in the development projects in their respective electoral constituency under the heading "Parliamentarian's Development Fund". Among the different development projects presented by Khanal are the Fikkal-Panchakanya- Kanyam Ring Road project with an outlay of Rs 4 million, and the Irauntar, Jirmale and Kuwapani Lamitar electrification projects, with an outlay of Rs 2 million each. Similarly, construction of different roads as Kolbung and Chhabise-Chhiruwa-Uttare Khola- Sriauntu roads and he construction of a community building at Godak are also among the development projects Khanal has presented to the DDC. Each of these projects has been allocated a budget of Rs 1.5 million. Most of the other projects are related to the repair and upgrading of different roads, according to the DDC, Ilam sources. RSS A Malawian man accused of sleeping with more than 100 girls and women in a series of traditional cleansing rituals was on Friday convicted by a court of "engaging in harmful practices". Eric Aniva -- who has said he is infected with the HIV virus -- was prosecuted after publicly speaking about his role as a "hyena" in a BBC documentary. Custom in some parts of southern Malawi demands that a man, known as a "hyena", is paid to have sex with bereaved widows to exorcise evil spirits and to prevent other deaths occurring. At the request of a girl's parents, the "hyena" is also paid to have sex with adolescents to mark their passage to womanhood after their first menstruation. The ritual, which many Malawians says is rarely practised today, is believed to train girls to become good wives and protect them from disease or misfortune that could fall on their families. After an international outcry, President Peter Mutharika ordered Aniva's arrest in July. In the first case of its kind, Aniva, 45, was found guilty on two counts by magistrate Innocent Nebi after a one-day trial in a packed courtroom in the district of Nsanje. "It is clear... that the state has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused was engaging in harmful practices," the magistrate said. "I find you guilty and convict you accordingly," he said, adding that sentencing would be on November 22. He faces a maximum of five years in jail. High HIV infection The state produced six witnesses against Aniva, who pleaded not guilty. The magistrate said the court had concluded that "sexual cleansing violates the dignity of widows". State prosecutor Chiyembekezo Banda demanded a long prison sentence for Aniva, saying he was probably responsible for the spread of HIV. Malawi is one of the worst affected countries in the world, with 27,000 deaths from AIDS-related illnesses and nine percent of the adult population infected with HIV. Michael Goba Chipeta, Aniva's defence lawyer, told the court his client should not be jailed. Chipeta appealed for Aniva to not be used as "a sacrificial lamb", saying "the publicity he has attracted is punishment enough". Before being led by police to his cell, Aniva told AFP: "I am not worried about being convicted. I think I will be given a suspended sentence." His second wife Sophia, who was in court, was in tears and declined to speak to the press. Aniva is said to have slept with at least 104 women and girls, some as young as 12, in a ritual that lasts three days. He said each family paid him a fee of between $4 and $7 (3.78-6.61 euros). If you're feeling generous and just can't pass up the opportunity to get me a present, some suggestions are listed here 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. In 2012, a young medical student, Jyoti Singh, was gang-raped and brutally beaten by six men on a bus in New Delhi, later dying of her injuries. This sparked a nation-wide protest, with thousands calling on the government, and Indian society, to treat rape as the serious crime that it is. Indian-Canadian director Deepa Mehta, known for her more straightforward dramas and comedies (Bollywood/Hollywood, Water), takes a different direction in her experimental docudrama Anatomy of Violence, an imagined examination of the victim and perpetrators of the crime, their psychology and motivations. The film tells the story of the six rapists, telling each of their stories in moments from childhood and young adulthood, including the day of the crime. Interspersed is the story of the victim, renamed Janki. Rather than reenact in the crime (and thankfully so, as it is unnecessary), the film instead seeks to highlight the social and cultural environment of all involved, and especially how the men would come to believe that such a crime is allowable and even inevitable to them. Mehta and her actors used theatre improvisation techniques to develop the story of these men and Janki. This staging might read on paper as inauthentic, but it has the opposite effect: it allows the actors freedom to explore, and for the spectator to see themselves in both perpetrators and victim. A large-scale, high-budget production would have been too glossy and taken away from the serious, real problems that exist in any society that treats women like so much chattel. We must be on the ground, so to speak, with these characters. Mehta and her male actors ask us to understand, but it is not in an effort to excuse their actions. But as one of them was abused as a child, another molested by a female neighbour, another behaved like a spoiled child: all have different upbringings, but as the film slowly reveals, each lives in a culture that allows that they, since they are men, still have a superiority even if they are economically and socially outcasts. The same actors play the roles as children and adults, adding to this concept of how boys and men are treated and seen. (And this is not to suggest at all that this behaviour is solely within India; as we've seen all too well of late, dismissal of male sexual violence towards women is a worldwide epidemic). The film is given a cinema verite style, with Mehta and cinematographer Maithili Venkataraman use handheld camera work, off-centre framing and autofocus to keep the spectator involved as if they are a part of this society as well; as well, the grainy look and shoot-on-the streets- style keep this story firmly where it should be, in the here and now. This kind of immersion in the story is uncomfortable and often painful to watch; but that is deliberate. It *should* be painful to see Jinka, to get to know her, knowing her fate; it should be deeply uncomfortable to see how these men behave, knowing what actions they will take and how even a slightly different perspective could have stopped them. This is a deeply uncomfortable film, and in many ways not even a satisfying one; nor should it be given the story. But Mehta takes an important risk by eschewing her traditional style for one that highlights the crime and those behind it, to understand how it happened, and it is a risk that pays off. Chef Russell Moore has something in his repertoire that has dogged him for years now precisely because it so delicious. It's called boudin blanc, and if you're unfamiliar with this rich and much coveted sausage from the Burgundy region of France you owe it to yourself to get over to Moore's restaurant Camino before the month of November is through. Once a year (or so), Moore gets back to the arduous process of making this velvety pork and chicken sausage made with cream solely for the pleasure of his regulars, and it's served as part of a prix fixe on Mondays this month, or as a middle course with beets and sauerkraut on the regular dinner menu (for $15). It is wildly good, as those regulars know, and only makes occasional appearances due to its level of difficulty to make, sometimes popping up only at New Year's Eve. Moore spoke about the curse of his boudin blanc with First We Feast earlier this year, saying that while it is one of the ten dishes that has made his career, "I do it in this tedious way thats un-teachable." He further elaborated with Grub Street several years back, describing how he first came to make the sausage as a young cook in the kitchen at Chez Panisse, after Alice Waters asked him to make some for a special event: I called my friend David Tannis [formerly executive chef at Chez Panisse] in Santa Fe, because I knew hed have some advice. If anyone knows David, he speaks in really vague, whimsical terms, and he said things like: It should be soft and yielding with a crispy skin, but it definitely shouldnt bounce back from the casing. It should taste like the things you put in it. After that conversation I basically lied and told Alice I knew how to make it, and I spent the next twelve hours figuring it out on my own. Its a really tough sausage to get right, to get the flavors right, and there are so many components. It was a big hit at the party, everyone talked about it, and it ended up on the regular menu in the cafe. But the problem is it took me fucking forever to make every single time, and it still does. ...I think its better now than it was. I use Soul Food Farm chickens, which are so good. I start making it in the morning, butchering everything myself, saving the fat, grinding each meat separately, and eventually something splatters on me and I end up smelling like sausage for days. But weve got some funny customers who keep coming back for it. Despite saying his method is "un-teachable," Moore nonetheless shared his boudin blanc recipe with Saveur last year, around the time of the publication of his and wife Allison Hopelain first cookbook, This Is Camino. It's listed as taking three and a half hours. And if we needed any other reason to love Camino, the restaurant served up free amaro cocktails (i.e. bitter ones) last Wednesday night, following the election, in order to help neighbors commiserate. Camino - 3917 Grand Avenue, Oakland - Open for dinner Sunday, Monday and Wednesday, 5:30 to 9:30 and Friday and Saturday 5:30 to 10 p.m. Closed Tuesday The nation's rash of emboldened racism continues with an incident Thursday evening in the Bayview. The SFPD sent out a release regarding the arrest of and charges against 33-year-old David Chacon of San Francisco, after a witness apparently saw him spray-painting both a racist epithet and a symbol on the wall of a business on the 1400 block of Egbert Street. "He then sprayed gold colored paint onto the hood of a parked Toyota pickup truck," according to the release. The incident occurred at 4:15 p.m. Thursday, and Chacon was booked into SF County Jail just after 8 p.m. according to the Chronicle. Chacon has been charged with felony vandalism with a hate crime enhancement. The SFPD has not elaborated on the nature of the epithet or symbol Chacon is accused of writing. He was being held on $78,000 bail, and it's unclear if he's been released on bail since then. Police are saying that despite the arrest they would still appreciate any further information anyone may have. Other witnesses or those with knowledge of the case are asked to contact the San Francisco Police Tip Line at (415) 575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD. In related news, racist graffiti keeps appearing at a high school in San Ramon, the most recent targeting the Black Students Union. Update: This can't be confirmed, but a tipster suggests that the suspect may be this David Chacon, a local artist with, uh, questionable taste. Stay tuned. A group of Milwaukee craft beer enthusiasts took to Company Brewing last night to celebrate the release of three beers brewed by the fall Barley to Barrel class. Barely to Barrel takes a group of aspiring craft brewers and brewery owners on a 10-week crash course in brewing, business building, marketing, sales, distribution and any other skill needed to run a brewery. Last nights event showcased collaborations between the Barely to Barrel participants and three prominent Milwaukee breweries. Team Ale House (MKE Brewing) unveiled Hanal Pixan Mole Porter, Team Company Brewing showcased Rowdy Night Inn Stout and Team Enlightened Brewing released their Rust Belt Amber Rye. Votes were cast as the three breweries competed against each other in the categories of beer quality and branding, with Team Ale House winning both categories. "The team from the Crafter Space is very proud of the 12 participants of our fall Barley to Barrel program, said John Graham, founding partner of The CrafterSpace, who organizes the Barley to Barrel program. They created some really great branding for some really great beers, and they have had a great time doing it. I can't wait to see them get new breweries started here in Wisconsin." Friends of the Shepherd Help support Milwaukee's locally owned free weekly newspaper. LEARN MORE This fall's Barley to Barrel participants are Adam Pfefferle, Andrew Stigen, John Degroote, John Lecher, Kiel McGuinness, Matthew Witterschein, Nate Fakler, Peter Schroder, Seth Jaeck, Thomas Munsie, Tony Stalewski, Vernon Seymour. You can find out more about the Barley to Barrel program here. In 2012, journalist Lisa Napoli did a story about a peace monument in Santa Monica, California, that had fallen into disrepair. She soon learned the identity of the anonymous donor who had paid for it years before: Joan Kroc, heir to the McDonald's hamburger fortune. Curiosity piqued, Napoli went looking for a biography of the philanthropist, only to discover that none existed. So she decided to tell the story herself. The result is "Ray & Joan: The Man Who Made the McDonald's Fortune and the Woman Who Gave It All Away," and as the title suggests, it's less about the impetuous, strong-willed woman whom some called St. Joan of the Arches than it is about her passionate and tempestuous relationship with the brash, driven entrepreneur behind one of the world's most successful brands. Both were remarkable individuals, but given the limited options available to women of her generation, it's unlikely that Joan would have left as big a mark had she not married Ray. For him, it was love at first sight from the moment he first set eyes on her playing the organ at a fancy supper club in St. Paul, Minnesota. Both were married, and it would take another dozen years and a second marriage and divorce for him before they finally got hitched. When they did, things didn't get easier. She filed for divorce over his drinking and violent temper. They ended up reconciling, and she channeled her discontent and her considerable energy into funding programs to treat alcoholism and much more. As long as Ray, a staunch conservative, was alive, Joan mostly kept her politics to herself. After his death in 1984, she began to openly support a variety of liberal and humanitarian causes: the Democratic Party, nuclear disarmament and AIDS research, to name just a few. When she died in 2003, the Salvation Army and National Public Radio were her biggest beneficiaries. Napoli tells their story in a brisk, efficient fashion, often sacrificing psychological complexity for melodrama. (About her new life as a socialite: "Joan found it all so boring she wanted to cry.") She's also prone to sweeping generalizations ("Levity was in short supply for the class of 1945") and cliched language, noting on two occasions that Ray had ketchup in his blood. Still, it's a fascinating story, and it arrives at an auspicious moment. In January, the Ray Kroc biopic, "The Founder," starring Michael Keaton, opens in theaters. NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- In November 2014, Bethany and Jared Crain got a call saying that they were matched with an expectant mother. While they were ecstatic that they could be adding to their family of three, they decided not to tell their 4-year-old that she could be getting a sibling. We werent very certain that it wasnt going to fall through, said Bethany Crain, who was hoping to adopt. The biological mother could change her mind up until after the baby was born. So while their only child knew that adoption was on the table, they didnt tell her that they were matched even as they headed to the hospital to meet their new baby. The Crain family finally felt comfortable telling their daughter after the papers were signed and the baby was coming home. Is adoption right for our family? While adoption is an option for growing a family, its also difficult for families who already have children to determine how and when to tell them about their new sibling. Parents struggle with telling children too early because the adoption could fall through. But they dont want to wait until the last minute, as a child needs time to adjust. There are few studies that looked at how many adoptions failed, but one from 2006 that examined administrative data from more than 15,000 children in Illinois who were placed between 1995 and 2000, found that about 10 percent of adoptions were disrupted. Another study from 2001 found that 10 to 16 percent of adoptions in children over age 3 failed. The reason the figures are so difficult to find, according to the studies, is that after a child is placed, the case is closed. Given those odds and uncertainty, parents are struggling with how to be open and honest with their biological or already adopted children, so that the adjustment to having a new member of the family goes smoothly, while they dont want to be too open, so that the kids arent devastated if an adoption falls through. It can go quickly, or it can take a while, said Mandy Jones, adoption therapist with the Cradle in Evanston, Illinois. And even after a family thinks the adoption is going smoothly, the worst could happen. That was the case for Kristy Dougherty, of Waretown, New Jersey, who has four biological children and three adopted children from ages 4 to 21. Dougherty said she was always open with her children about adoption, because her four kids were older when she and her husband started the process. So everyone was excited when a child was placed with them but 18 months later, the child was taken away after his fathers family got involved and the state moved him to a paternal uncle. It was devastating, Dougherty said. We didnt really expect there to be any other people involved, so we didnt anticipate that we were going to have this problem. Dougherty said there was no way she could have anticipated what happened. She continued to adopt and believed in the process, and through adoption, she was able to complete her family. When should we tell our biological children? Carol Lawson, adoption caseworker with Adoption Options, based in Aurora, Colorado, suggested that parents dont start talking to their children about the adoption right away, as most adoptions take up to a year or 18 months. Maybe if its a few months out, they can start talking to them about the fact that they could be getting a new brother or sister, Lawson said. If the child is going to be switching bedrooms, it should be done sooner rather than later, so the child doesnt feel pushed out to make room for the adopted baby, she said. When its time to get the nursery ready for the adopted child, you can include your child in the preparation, said Nicole Witt, executive director of The Adoption Consultancy in Brandon, Fla. Since the child wont see a growing belly, an adoption is a very intangible idea, so preparing in this way is helpful to show that a child will eventually come, Witt said. Once the adoption is completed, its important for the parents to help the siblings adjust. Jill Pawlinski has four adopted children ages 4 to 11, and shes fostered many other kids, so she has a system for helping her family get accustomed to new children quickly. We have seven or eight books about adoption, and these books have always been in our rotation, Pawlinski said. At the adoption court, we always include the whole family and make it a celebration about growing our family. SIOUX CITY | A benefit to support Nick Hodgins-- who was brutally attacked by a crowd of people last month-- was Saturday at Checkers Bar in Sioux City. "It's wild man-- everybody getting together for me, it's wild," Hodgins said about the more than 150 people that came out to support him. "I dig it." In October, a group of people crowded around Hodgins, threw him to the ground, punched him and stomped on his head in the 1500 block of West Third Street, according to court documents. "I was walking across the street, and they got me," Hodgins, a mechanic at Mac's Auto Repair, said. "That's all I remember." Hodgins 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, the documents said. His cell phone was also stolen. Four teenage boys have been charged in connection with the incident so far, but police are still looking for almost a dozen other suspects. The assault was caught on video and was published by the Sioux City Police Department on their Facebook page in an effort to seek information from the public. Saturday's benefit included a silent auction with everything from blankets to a tea maker, a bake sale and a tavern meal with all of the proceeds going directly toward medical, dental and monthly expenses for Hodgins. "He's doing really well. He's got a ways to recovery, but he got some dental work done and his eye socket is healing," Valerie Rogers, who coordinated the event, said. "Lots of positives." Donations can still be made to help with Hodgins' medical expenses by contacting Rogers at (712) 266-6974 or Mac's at (712) 252-4203. Two of the charged teenagers have pleaded not guilty. De'Von Jackson, 16, entered his written plea Thursday in Woodbury County District Court to charges of first-degree theft, willful injury, assault while participating in a felony, second-degree robbery and serious assault. Austin Rockwood, 16, entered his written plea Friday to a charge of willful injury. Both have requested the case to be transferred to juvenile court. SIOUX CITY | You may not know Homero Mendoza by name but he said he'll soon be joining the ranks of Puff Daddy and Jay Z. That is if the North Middle School eighth-grader is able to keep his grades up. "Schoolwork comes first," Homero, 13, said. "My D.J. class comes in second, I guess." Homero is one of the students enrolled in a Sioux City Conservatory of Music class taught by Brandon Young, who goes by the stage name of "D.J. Skribe." A professional disc jockey for more than half of his life, Young, 37, originally began scratching records as way to stay out of trouble. "When a lot of my friends were joining gangs, I was getting into music," said Young, who grew up in Sioux City before moving to Mesa, Arizona. "Music saved my life." This is why he began teaching a Friday night DJ class at the music conservatory in September. "I wanted to show kids they can lead any life they want to live," said Young, who is also a Western Iowa Tech Community College audio engineering student. "That's important to me." Young and his students will be among the performers on the Orpheum Theatre stage during a special fundraising concert at 7 p.m. Saturday. The nonprofit Conservatory, located at 1309 Pierce St., currently hosts 62 students with free lessons. According to co-founder Gia Emory, organizers would like to increase that number to 100 students by January. Which is fine by Homero, who is learning how to play piano in addition to his DJ class at the Conservatory. "Taking lessons from (Young) is pretty cool," Homero said. "He says 'stay on the beat.' Otherwise, your scratching will sound terrible." Even though he likes pop music and R&B, Homero said such old-school hip-hop acts as Sugar Hill Gang, Run-D.M.C. and Beastie Boys are his major influences. Young can't help but smile after discovering his student's favorite acts. "Wow, Homero has pretty good taste," he said, while listing off Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre as favorite hip-hop artists. Creedence Clearwater Revival is being his favorite overall band. Wait, Creedence Clearwater Revival? That seems like a random choice for a DJ. "For some reason, I've always love 1970s rock," Young reasoned. "Plus a DJ can scratch, mix, master and play to any genre of music." Which is a lesson he's anxious to teach students like Homero. "Being a DJ means you're reading the mood for a room," Young said. "If it's super-chill, you play super-chill music. But if a room is ready for some dancing, you play music that will keep people on their feet." "And when people respond to your music?" he added with a smile. "There isn't a better feeling in the world." That's exactly what Homero wants to take away from Young's classes. "It would be pretty awesome," Homero said. But, first things first. Homero needs to come up with a cool DJ name, right? "I'm thinking I'll call myself 'Slickback,'" he said, seeking Young's approval. "You mean 'DJ Slickback'?'" Young asked. "No, just 'Slickback,'" Homero said with a sense of confidence. "That's an awesome name," Young said. "Wear it with pride." SIOUX CITY | Sioux City schools superintendent Paul Gausman on Friday defended the district's plans to restructure the reading programs for students in grades 6 to 8. I know there are comments out there in the community that the district is trying to make reading extinct, and frankly anyone that makes the comment that we are trying to make reading extinct is making an absurd statement, Gausman told reporters. The superintendent was referencing an online petition circulated by a group of district residents at change.org. By mid-afternoon Friday, 450 users had signed the petition, titled "Stop the extinction of reading in Sioux City's Middle Schools before it's too late!" The organizers plan to present the petition to the school board at a future date. Gausman acknowledged the districts new Focus 2022 Strategic Plan, along with demands of Iowa Common Core, will lead to changes in the reading programs. He said under the new structure, time will be added to each period to allow teachers to teach reading in their specific courses. We need to teach reading in math, in social studies and sciences and of course, we need to teach it in our language arts courses as well, he said. Each student will also be diagnosed and assigned a reading level, so the district can prescribe a reading program that fits with individual needs. By doing this, we are working in collaboration to bring our English Language Arts courses together so we are focusing on reading in every area of the district, he said. Currently, reading classes are segregated from English classes, as in the courses are taught separately, Gausman said. This is a blended approach, he said. Its a bigger acknowledgement that reading is part of everything that we do. Gausman said the change in the reading program was also necessitated to address budget restraints. The realignment of the reading program plays hand in hand with new revisions to the district's early retirement policy. Due to stagnant enrollment and underfunding from the state, Gausman said the district is looking at $2 million in budget cuts for the next school year. He said one way to meet that target without layoffs is to offer an adjusted, one-year, early retirement plan. The district has targeted 45 positions for elimination through early retirement. Early retirement eligibility in Phase 1 of the program for teachers enrolled in the Iowa Public Employees Retirement plan, or IPERS, begins at age 58. A teacher must have served a minimum of 20 total years in the district. Phase II expands the criteria to include more people. Teachers now will be eligible for reimbursement for banked sick days. Broken down in four levels, Gausman said a teacher could earn a sick day stipend of up to $8,000 a year until a person reaches Medicare eligibility, based on how many sick days have been accumulated. The district will accept Phase I applications through Nov. 30 and Phase II applications through Dec. 21. Gausman said typically 30 to 40 percent of teachers eligible for early retirement apply for it. With the increased one-time incentives, Gausman said that number could grow to 50 percent or higher. He said this plays with the changes to the reading program because teachers that may be displaced, could potentially fill positions left by early retirements, assuming a current teacher has appropriate endorsements. We want to be able to say to all of these teachers that want to stay in the district that we have a position for them, he said. Other positions left by early retirement may go unfilled or filled by a teacher at a lower salary level, he said. We want to make it clear that we are doing this as a strategy for budget reductions and using it as a management tool to get where we need for reductions, he said. The Sioux City School Board approved the first reading of the updated early retirement policy Monday. The second reading will be heard Nov. 28. If approved, it would take effect immediately. SIOUX CITY | Donna Fuller remembers seeing her father cry when getting the news that his brother, Rollin Fritch, had been killed in World War II. On Saturday, she'll experience a much different emotion when the U.S. Coast Guard commissions its newest ship, named for her heroic uncle, who was killed while defending his ship from a Japanese kamikaze attack in the Pacific Ocean. "I feel Uncle Rollin is a representative of all the other heroes of World War II," Fuller said. The USCGC Rollin Fritch, a 154-foot fast response cutter, will be commissioned Saturday at at Cape May, New Jersey. Fuller and her sister, Glenda Ford, who both live in Sioux City, will be there with their husbands and about 30 other relatives from across the country. Named the ship's sponsor, Fuller will give a short speech prior to the commissioning. "It's going to be a pretty exciting ceremony," she said. On Jan. 8, 1945, Fritch was on board the USS Callaway off the coast of Luzon in the Philippines when it was attacked by Japanese kamikaze pilots. A member of a gun crew, Fritch stayed at his gun, firing at airplanes in an effort to save his shipmates when a kamikaze crashed into his position, killing him at age 24. Fritch was posthumously awarded a Silver Star. He is listed with other Woodbury County residents killed in the war on a plaque in the Woodbury County Courthouse. About two years ago, Coast Guard representatives contacted Fuller to tell her that the ship had been named in her uncle's honor. It was a complete surprise. "Out of the blue came the news that my uncle's name was chosen as a hero from World War II. I was completely bowled over," she said. "I'm still flabbergasted." Fuller had done extensive research of her family's genealogy and her uncle's service history, so she was able to give plenty of information to the Coast Guard about her late uncle, who was born in Blue Rapids, Kansas, moved with his family to rural Pawnee City, Nebraska, as a child, then moved to Sioux City as a young man to work in a meatpacking plant. He enlisted in the Coast Guard on March 17, 1942, in Omaha. Fuller was 5 years old when Fritch was home on leave for the last time in 1944. "I have a faint memory of when he came back, and of course I have pictures," she said. "Uncle Rollin was such a sweet, loving person." DES MOINES | Rob Hogg has been chosen by his Democratic colleagues in the Iowa Senate to lead them out of a time of significant upheaval. Senate Democrats in a closed-door meeting Saturday at the Iowa Capitol elected Hogg to be the groups leader in the Iowa Legislature, which convenes for the 2017 session in January. As a result of the Nov. 8 election, Democrats will be the minority party in the Iowa Senate for the first time since 2004, and they will be without Sen. Mike Gronstal, their leader --- as both a majority and minority party --- since 1997. Its really quite an honor, personally, Hogg said Saturday. The election was unanimous, Hogg said. Hogg, an attorney from Cedar Rapids, has served as a state legislator since 2003. Earlier this year he ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in the Democratic primary. Hogg will lead Iowa Senate Democrats into a new era at the Iowa Capitol, where for at least the next two years Republicans have complete control of the states agenda --- the GOP now has majorities in both the Senate and House, and Republican Gov. Terry Branstad has two years remaining on his term. Hogg said Senate Democrats will speak on behalf of Iowans who need state government to work and attempt to prevent Republicans from implementing policies that could damage the states economy or adversely impact its residents. Im hopeful we can stop Republicans from going down a knee-jerk, partisan pathway, Hogg said. Perhaps bracing for Republican attempts to change the states collective bargaining laws for public employees, Hogg said Senate Democrats will make clear how Iowans rely on state government services. Weve got lots of great public employees in this state who help make Iowa the great place to live that it is, very dedicated people, Hogg said, listing teachers, correctional officers, state police, health and human services workers, and natural resources workers. They help Iowans every day with real problems, and we need to stand up for the Iowans who need help and the public employees who do such a good job helping Iowans. ... State government does a lot of important things in peoples lives. Senate Democrats also elected Sen. Amanda Ragan, of Mason City, as whip, and six assistant leaders: Sens. Bill Dotzler, of Waterloo; Liz Mathis, of Robins; Rita Hart, of Wheatland; Joe Bolkcom, of Iowa City; Matt McCoy, of Des Moines; and Herman Quirmbach, of Ames. DEADWOOD, S.D. South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks officials said they're concerned about the deaths of five bighorn sheep in recent weeks, diminishing the herd of 26 animals transplanted last year from Canada. Regional Wildlife Manager Trenton Haffley told the Rapid City Journal that the first bighorn died Oct. 13 when it fell off a cliff south of Deadwood. "Bighorn sheep love walking along cliffs, but unfortunately we find sheep every year that have fallen off cliffs," Haffley said. State game officials are most worried about the loss of at least one to a form of pneumonia that can infiltrate a bighorn herd. Lab tests showed the sick ewe had suffered from mycoplasma ovi-pneumonia, a deadly bacterial disease that is often the primary cause of pneumonia in sheep. "It didn't sink in for a day, but for me, I have a special spot for sheep," Haffley said. "I really, really like bighorn sheep, so it's been a really rough week." He added there is a possibility that the pneumonia found could be a highly virulent strain with the potential to wipe out the entire herd. "We've really lost a bunch of bighorns up there in the past few weeks from some off-the-wall causes," Haffley said. "We can put a finger on what happened with each, but it's just been one after another with sheep dying up there." The other three deaths occurred to due to a bacterial infection, a drowning and old age. LEONARDTOWN, Md. Samantha Nicole Thomas, age 24, of Lexington Park. Amber Renee Stewart, age 26, of Lusby. Disclaimer: In the U.S.A., all persons accused of a crime by the State are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. See: so.md/presumed-innocence. Additionally, all of the information provided above is solely from the perspective of the respective law enforcement agency and does not provide any direct input from the accused or persons otherwise mentioned. You can find additional information about the case by searching the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Database using the accused's name and date of birth. The database is online at so.md/mdcasesearch . Persons named who have been found innocent or not guilty of all charges in the respective case, and/or have had the case ordered expunged by the court can have their name, age, and city redacted by following the process defined at so.md/expungeme. (Nov. 19, 2016)The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office released the following arrest reports.10/30/2016 ESCAPE: On October 30, 2016, the suspect, removed her ankle monitor and walked out of a facility where she was ordered by a judge to remain there in pre-trial supervision under the St. Mary's County Detention Center. Thomas was located on November 9 at her residence and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center. She was charged with Second Degree Escape. CASE# 57944-16Matthew Paul Brown, age 35, of Mechanicsville, Md.11/11/2016 ASSAULT: Deputy A. Budd responded to the 39000 block of Thomas Drive in Mechanicsville for the report of a domestic assault. The victim alleged the suspect,, struck the victim in the face during an argument leaving a visible injury. During the same argument, another victim was struck while attempting to intervene, also causing visible redness to the second victim's face. Moore was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center where he was charged with Second Degree Assault. CASE# 58220-1611/14/2016 Theft: Deputy D. Holdsworth responded to the Best Buy located in California for a reported theft. The suspect,, was observed placing merchandise in his bookbag. When confronted by staff, he removed the merchandise from his bookbag and attempted to flee but was detained by Best Buy staff until deputies arrived. Marshall was transported to the St. Mary's Detention Center and charged with Theft $1000 to under $10,000. CASE# 58734-1611/14/2016 Possession: Sergeant Julie Yingling responded to the St. Mary's County Detention Center for the report of contraband on an inmate. Correctional officers performed a search consistent with St. Mary's County Detention Center policy, in which the suspect,, was in possession of a plastic baggie containing tobacco in his shoe. Neal was charged with possession of contraband in a place of confinement. CASE# 58735-16111/14/2016 Theft: Deputy C. Beyer responded to the Weis Market in Callaway for the report of a theft. The suspect,, was observed attempting to conceal items and leave the store without paying. Bowers was transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center and charged with Theft Under $100. CASE# 58660-1611/13/2016 Theft: Cpl. J. Vezzosi responded to the Kohls in Lexington Park for a reported theft. The suspects,and, were observed concealing items in a backpack and exiting the store without paying. Briscoe and Calhoun were both transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center and charged with Theft Less than $1000. CASE# 58574-1611/12/2016 Assault: Corporal S. Carberry responded to the 46000 block of Midway Drive in Lexington Park for the report of a domestic assault. The victim alleged the suspect,, struck the victim in the head with a flat iron. The victim displayed visible injuries. Penn was arrested and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center and charged with Second Degree Assault. CASE# 58418-1611/16/2016 Alter Drug Test: Deputy First Class J. Maguire responded to the St. Mary's County Detention Center for a reported fraud. During a court-ordered urinalysis test, the suspect, attempted to use "false" urine that was contained in a bottle and tube. Riley was charged with Alter Drug and Alcohol Test. CASE#59053-1611/16/2016 Theft: Corporal J. Davis responded to the Belk Store located in California for the report of theft. The investigation revealed the suspect,, conducted a theft scheme involving gift cards where she activated several store cards for personal use. Hill was transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center and charged with Theft Scheme 1000+, Theft $1,000-under $10,000 and Theft Less than $1000. CASE# 59056-1611/16/2016 Possession: Deputy A. Schultz responded to the 22000 block of Wicomico Street in Leonardtown for a reported violation of a peace order. The victim reported receiving a phone call about a disturbance inside of a residence. Upon arrival, the officers determined the suspects,and, were involved an argument that turned physical. During the argument, McCarthy flipped over a table causing injury to a toddler in the home. Additionally, CDS and paraphernalia were located within the residence, and the victim was contacted by suspect Ridgely in violation of a peace order. The suspects were both transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center. Ridgely was charged with Two Counts of Possession, Second Degree Child Abuse, Second Degree Assault, and Possession of Paraphernalia. Ridgely was charged with Two Counts of Failure to Comply with a Peace Order, CDS Possession, and Possession of Paraphernalia. CASE#59115-16Eric James Gallodoro, age 26, of Lusby.11/16/2016 HEROIN, CRACK COCAINE: Deputy V. Pontorno, of the Lexington Park COPs Unit, responded to the report of a suspicious vehicle occupied by two persons parked at St. Mary's Square in Lexington Park, who appeared to be sleeping for several hours in the motor vehicle. The vehicle was located, and the suspects were identified asand. Paraphernalia was located within the vehicle, in addition to suspected heroin and crack cocaine. Both suspects were arrested and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center where they were charged with Two Counts of Possession: Not Marijuana and Three Counts of Possession: Not Paraphernalia. CASE# 59101-16 Le Collectif Cheikh Yassine a organise un certain nombre dactivites et de festivites pour les enfants de Gaza sous le theme La joie des enfants de Gaza pour lAid . Ces activites ont commence le premier jour de lAid et continue jusquau 4eme jour de lAid dans la bande de Gaza. Plusieurs activites, ont ete organisees parmi lesquelles : des competitions recompensees par des prix, des jeux, des animations et des chants presentes par un groupe ainsi que des distributions de cadeaux et daides financieres. VilanovaiLa Geltru (Spain), 18 November 2016 (SPS) President of the Republic, Secretary-General of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, confirmed that the just and peaceful solution to the Moroccan Sahrawi conflict is in grave danger today due to the Moroccan repeated escalation and provocation, in a speech at the opening of the 41st European Conference for Support and Solidarity with the Sahrawi people. In the speech delivered on his behalf by the President of the National Council, Khatri Adouh, the President of the Republic said I regret to say that the just and peaceful solution to the Moroccan Sahrawi conflict is in grave danger today. The explosive situation at Al Guergarat, in southern Western Sahara, would not have arisen if the Security Council, through the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), had not failed in preventing the Moroccan transgression. Because of this failure, the Sahrawi army was forced to intervene to prevent Morocco from annexing new territories and changing the status quo established under the military agreement n 1 that regulates the relationship between MINURSO and the two parties to the conflict. There is no doubt that the Moroccan state of occupation is the responsible for this threat through its repeated escalation and provocation. However, the prime responsibility lies with the UN Security Council because it has failed since 1991 in implementing and defending its decisions aiming at the decolonisation of Western Sahara. The UN Security Council is responsible for the impasse confronting the conflict today because it has unfortunately allowed MINURSO to be an exception, thus subjecting it to the will of the Moroccan military illegal occupation. Unlike other peacekeeping operations that operate in line with certain standards and procedures, no such considerations have been taken in the case of MINURSO in terms of car license plates, entry visas and monitoring of human rights as well as ensuring freedom of observers to visit the Territory and interacting with the population and the like. Because of its continuous indifference and indecisiveness, the UN Security Council has given the Moroccan state of occupation a free hand to rebel against international legality and to attack the authority of the Council itself by expressing its unwillingness to cooperate with the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy, expelling the political and administrative component of MINURSO and breaching blatantly the cease-fire. Peace in Western Sahara is in danger. The UN Security Council therefore should take a decisive decision to enforce expeditiously the provisions of the UN-OAU Settlement Plan endorsed by the Council and signed by the two parties to the conflict, which aims at holding a free and fair referendum in which the Sahrawi people would exercise their right to self-determination and independence, added the President of the Republic in the speech at the opening of the 41st European Conference for Support and Solidarity with the Sahrawi people. (SPS) 062/090 World champion Always B Miki made one final visit to the Big M winner's enclosure on Friday night (November 18) for a special retirement ceremony after he capped his career with a resounding win in the $400,000 TVG Free-For-All Pace last weekend. The fastest Standardbred to ever set foot on a racetrack concluded his career with 30 wins in 53 career starts, over $2.8 million in earnings, and a career mark of 1:46 taken at the Red Mile in October. Always B Miki will transition from the Jimmy Takter stable to assume stud duty at Diamond Creek Farm in Pennsylvania. Tessa Seelster Wins Friday Feature After patiently tracking an exacting pace, odds-on favourite Tessa Seelster ($3.00) was able to chase down pocket rival Inittowinafortune to capture Friday's featured $17,500 top-level distaff pace at The Meadowlands. Tessa Seelster was anxious to move forward when the gates folded in, but Yannick Gingras was able to wrangle the four-year-old daughter of Shadow Play into a tracking spot behind pacesetter Nat A Virgin (David Miller) and the pocket-sitting Inittowinafortune (Corey Callahan) through early splits of :26.3 and :53.4. With five-sixteenths to go, Tessa Seelster angled second-over behind Inittowinafortune, who powered clear of a taxed Nat A Virgin approaching head-stretch. While Inittowinafortune edged away by nearly four lengths in upper stretch, she too began to tire in the final sixteenth, just nosed out in the last yards of a 1:50 mile by Tessa Seelster. Icommandmyspirit (Jim Marohn Jr.) rallied belatedly to save third, two and three-quarter lengths in arrears of the top pair. Ron Burke trains Tessa Seelster for the Burke Racing Stable, the Weaver Bruscemi partnership, and Jonathan Newman. Live racing returns to The Meadowlands with an 11-race card slated for Saturday (November 19) evening, and a last-race Jackpot Super Hi-5 carryover of $38,181.74. Post time is 7:15 p.m. Eastern. (With files from Meadowlands Racetrack) Midland Acres has announced with deep regret and profound sadness the untimely passing of stallion Feelin Friskie. On Monday (November 14), Feelin Friskie was taken to Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine for evaluation and treatment of colic. Upon his arrival, he was taken into surgery and found to have an inoperable condition. He was medically euthanized. Feelin Friskie has been an outstanding sire with many stakes winners throughout the years in the Buckeye State and beyond. He is responsible for producing Ohio Sire Stakes champions Igottafeelinfran (1:51.1, $560,115), Crown Time Keeper (1:53, $276,965) and Feelin Lika Winner (1:51.1, $300,826). He also fathered such regional standouts as Friskie Adam (1:52.2, $204,936) and Nobles Finesse (1:54.1, $296,436). Standing at Midland Acres since 2008, Feelin Friskie, is owned by that facility and Wayne Whebby. Through the 2016 racing season, his offspring have amassed $11,114,917, he has 36 $100,000 winners and, in 2016 alone, his foals have collected more than $1.92 million. Midland Acres and Mr. Whebby would like to thank all the people responsible for believing in Feelin Friskie. Their support of his stallion career was essential to the horse that amassed $784,210 (U.S.) during his time on the track. His sire power and presence in Ohio will be greatly missed. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Feelin Friskie. (With files from Midland Acres) Theres little doubt Trotting Triple Crown winner Marion Marauder has been one of the highlights of Mike Keelings career, but it was a modest $5,500 yearling with a tongue-bedeviling name that changed the trainers life. There was a little Valleymeister horse I bought named Zorgwijk Bedeviled. I bought him probably the first year I went on my own, Keeling said of the yearling purchased in 1999 at the Forest City Yearling Sale in London, Ont. when the trainer was 30. It was me and my parents and the little guy made good money, but we sold him in Harrisburg and with the proceeds of that, my parents bought their first new pickup truck theyve ever had in their life. They still have that truck." Keeling, who lives in Cambridge, Ont., raced the horse through most of his first two years before selling him to Linda Toscano. Zorgwijk Bedeviled made some $60,000 in those first two years and he proved to be something of an iron horse. He raced 10 years and earned nearly $300,000 with a record of 18-46-44 in 251 starts. He made some money in the (Ontario) Sires Stakes and this and that, but to have my parents get enough money out of it to buy a new diesel truck I thought, Wow, if I can keep this up, maybe life can get better. Hambletonian winner Marion Marauder is just one of many examples that life did indeed get better for Keeling. More than just getting Keelings career started, Zorgwijk Bedeviled played an important role in the trainers career development in other ways, as well. He was just a very well-made horse. I always look for horses that look like him that are kind of medium-sized and correct. Hes kind of been a benchmark for me, in a way. His pedigree wasnt fantastic, but the individual was a benchmark. (Courtesy Ontario Racing) Beste Stan, Het is bijna zover, na maanden voorbereiding kijk ik er erg naar uit om het tweede pianoconcert van Brahms te spelen met het S... London tour: from architectural gardens to nose-to-tail dining, the best of the city right now Take the Wallpaper* London tour the latest in our design-led weekly travel round-up The volume of drugs seized in Tuesdays Kelso drug bust wasnt nearly as large as police originally reported, but agents say they did nab two big area drug dealers. A press release from the Longview Police Department included a typo that said 200 ounces (roughly 12.5 pounds) of drugs were confiscated. The amount of heroin and meth seized actually totaled 200 grams, slightly less than a half a pound. The street value of the confiscated methamphetamine is about $500 to $600, according to Sgt. Marc Langlois of the Longview Police Department. In total, seven men and five women were arrested Tuesday. Christina Sanchez, 42, of Kelso and Ben James Vivian, 37, of Longview have a reputation as larger drug dealers in the area, Langlois said. Vivian had a federal warrant for his arrest stemming from drug charges. However, its not as if everyone involved in the bust was in a cahoots with each other or running a major drug ring out of the home on 200 block of Holcomb Road, he added. The homeowner, Russel Leroy Butler, 58, also was arrested Tuesday for various drug and firearm charges. The suspects were not manufacturing drugs out of the home, Langlois said. He declined to say how long police have been working on this case. Many of the 12 people arrested in the bust had a history with drugs or run-ins with the law. Here are several examples: Anthony Adam Anderson, 32, of Kalama was convicted of meth possession in 2011. Nathan Paul Davis, 44, was convicted of meth trafficking in 2002 and third-degree domestic violence assault in 2011. Edwin Michael Cecil Hill, 33, did time for a 2005 third-degree child rape conviction and also was convicted of failing to register as a sex offender in 2011. Tia Louise Moyer, 24, was arrested at a highly publicized Street Crimes unit arrest at a Castleman Drive residence last December that resulted in the arrests of 12 men and women. She was not charged in that case, but she has three previous felony drug convictions. Police confiscated several firearms, drug paraphernalia, scales, an improvised explosive device and other dangerous weapons. The Longview Street Crimes Unit served the warrant in the drug bust. The unit received assistance from the Cowlitz County Sheriffs Office, the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Narcotics Task Force, the Washington Department of Corrections and the Portland Police Department-Clark County Sheriffs Office Bomb Squad. With tears in her eyes, Sandra Baker became a mother again Friday afternoon. She and her husband became the legal parents of 10-year-old Gavin Baker in a National Adoption Day ceremony held in Cowlitz County Superior Court. In addition to Gavin, two other children, ages 5 and 6, were adopted by their grandmother. We knew we were going to adopt him from the very beginning. ... We just fell in love with Gavin when we met him, Sandra Baker said. Right when I started living there, Gavin added. Gavin, whos originally from Grays Harbor County, has been living with the Bakers for 20 months. In addition to his adoption, the Bakers legally changed his middle and last name, which Gavin still is getting used to. Baker, of Battle Ground, has one other son, age 17, and she said its exciting to become a mother again. She said the most valuable part of the day was, for Gavin to finally have a mom and dad to call his own and know that hell never lose a home again. I finally have the best parents in the world, Gavin said. The other two children, Jordan and Eddie Angel Monroy who wore matching blue, plaid shirts were adopted by their grandmother Luenda Monroy of Longview. She said that as a grandparent, she decided the boys needed to be with family. She said she was prepared to do whatever it took to adopt them, and having the process finalized was a relief. Its just exciting knowing that I get to actually provide them a good environment and a good home. And I get to see them grow. I think all children are Gods gifts, Monroy said. During the celebration, the group shared laughter and tears, and all three children received gift bags containing action figures, toys, books, stuffed bears and blankets, among other things. Cupcakes, treats and balloons were also handed out. Since National Adoption Day started in 2000, almost 54,500 children have been adopted. Nationwide, there are over 100,000 children in foster care, 8,796 of them in Washington. This is the 11th year Cowlitz County has celebrated National Adoption Day in court. Since 2006, 150 children within the county have been adopted on that day, said Superior Court Judge Marilyn Haan, who presided over Fridays adoptions. This is without a doubt the most special day of the year, and adoptions in general are just amazing, Haan said. Over 65pc REHAB members operate business in Dhaka sans Rajuk registration Mohammed Badrul Ahsan : More than 65 percent of REHAB member companies have long been running their business in the city without taking registration from Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) showing thumb to the law enforcement agencies, sources said. The sources also said that reluctance of Rajuk to check and enforce the companies to abide by the government rules is main reason behind the situation. According to data of Real Estate & Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB), as of june 2016, the total memebrs of the association stood at 1,139. Of them only 360 of them have got registration so far, according to Rajuk, showing that even the REHAB members were not complying with the regulations. Besides, according to an estimate, another 1200 companies are also in operations in the capital without taking registration neither from REHAB nor from the Rajuk . The government had approved a draft Real Estate Management Ordinance in 2008 for taking action against the unregistered real estate companies. Later for a specific land use plan in Dhaka, the government formulated Detailed Area Plan (DAP) and finally passed the Real Estate Management Law in 2009 and Real Estate Development and Management Act in 2010. Later, the Real Estate Development and Management Regulations were formulated in 2011. According to section 5 (1) of the Real Estate Development and Management Act of 2010, the real estate companies need to get the approval from the government before their commencement. The government assigned Rajuk to deal with the approval, according to the Rajuk officials and REHAB office bearers. Rajuk has issued notices at different times this year to the unregistered companies to complete their registration according to Real Estate Development and Management Act 2010 and Real Estate Development and Management Regulations 2011. "But we did not receive satisfactory level of response from them (unapproved realtors)," Rajuk member (development control) Md. Asmaul Hossain told The New Nation. "Of course, the possibility of frauds is quite high in the projects built by the unauthorised builders as there is no accountability. That's why we're trying to motivate the people," he said. Seeking anonymity, another Rajuk official said the realtors, in fact, are too powerful to follow the instructions of the development authority. "You'll not get too many examples of punishment by Rajuk for breaching the laws." He said the acts provide for punishment-financial penalty or even two years imprisonment-to unauthorised developers for wrongdoings and hurting the interests of apartment buyers and landowners. When contacted, REHAB President Alamgir Shamsul Alamin (Kajal) said they have recently taken a decision in principle of sending letters to their members to secure approval from Rajuk within three months. "If they fail, their membership will be cancelled," Some realtors, however, complained that a large number of such firms are not trying to get registration only to avoid the harassment by the Rajuk's corrupt officials and employees. Talking to The New Nation, a managing director of an unapproved real estate company said the approval procedure could cause extra burden in the form of unnecessary harassment by Rajuk officials and killing of time, etc. "To avoid harassment and obtain registration easily, we engage with agents to facilitate transaction of a lot of money," he said. He added that they submitted design of projects to Rajuk and secured its green signal before implementation. "We are not illegal. If Rajuk wants to enforce the legal provision, they can easily do this by cancelling the projects." However, economists express their grave concern over the situation saying that government's apathy to enforce the realtors to abide by the rules may rise of apartment-related frauds and may create another Destiny like situation again. "The government should immediately take action to make the housing companies bound to take approval from Rajuk to keep them under surveillance and to ensure transparency in the sector," Dr. A B Mirza Azizul Islam, Former Adviser Caretaker Government said. SCB becomes first foreign bank to be enlisted on e-GP Economic Reporter : Standard Chartered Bank, Bangladesh has become the first foreign bank to be enlisted as an e-payment service provider on the national online procurement portal, e-GP (e-government procurement), said a press release. To this effect, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by the Bank with the Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU), IMED, Ministry of Planning at a ceremony held at the offices of CPTU on 15th November 2016. e-GP is the portal through which government procurement is managed online. It is the enabling site for e-tendering. The enlistment of Standard Chartered Bank, Bangladesh on to this portal will allow the bank to upload tender guarantees and manage tender payments to the benefit of those clients who wish to participate in government tenders. Farid Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Secretary, IME Division, chaired the signing ceremony. Apurva Jain, Head of Transaction Banking, Standard Chartered, Bangladesh signed the MOU on the Bank's behalf. Other senior members of the Bank and CPTU were also present at the ceremony. Iraqi troops face stiff resistance from IS in eastern Mosul Iraqi special forces pushed into the Aden neighbourhood of Mosul. AP, Mosul : Iraqi troops faced stiff resistance Saturday from Islamic State militants as they pushed deeper into eastern Mosul, backed by aerial support from the U.S.-led international coalition, a senior military commander said. At dawn, troops moved into the Muharabeen and Ulama neighborhoods after fully liberating the adjacent Tahrir neighborhood on Friday, said Maj. Gen. Sami al-Aridi of the Iraqi special forces. Al-Aridi said IS militants were fighting back with snipers, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar rounds. Thick black columns of smoke were seen billowing from the two areas, while dozens of civilians were seen fleeing to government-controlled areas. To the west of Mosul, government-sanctioned Shiite militias took control of the Tal Afar military airfield Friday night, said Jaafar al-Husseini, spokesman for the influential Hezbollah Brigades. Al-Husseini said the clashes almost destroyed the airport and that it will be an important launching pad for the troops in their advance. The offensive to retake IS-held Mosul, which was launched on Oct. 17, is the biggest military operation in Iraq since American troops left in 2011. If successful, the retaking of Mosul would be the strongest blow dealt to IS' self-styled caliphate stretching into Syria. The Shiite militias are leading an assault to drive IS from Tal Afar, which had a majority Shiite population before it fell to the militants in the summer of 2014, and to cut IS supply lines linking Mosul to Syria. According to the United Nations, more than 56,000 civilians have been forced from their homes since the operation began out of nearly 1.5 million civilians living in and around Mosul. The extremist group captured Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, in the summer of 2014. Meanwhile, Iraqi forces have found another suspected mass grave containing the remains of victims of the Islamic State group in territory recaptured from the jihadists near Mosul, AFP journalists reported Friday. An AFP team visited the isolated site that was recaptured recently by elite interior ministry forces down a dirt track outside the village of Tall Adh-Dhahab, some 10 kilometres (6 miles) south of Mosul. Bone fragments were scattered around the location along with scraps of clothing -- including a man's headdress, ripped trousers and a flip-flop. The stench was overpowering and several bullet casings could be seen. Earth was piled in metre-high mounds at the entrance to the shallow pit, located behind a small sand-covered hill. An officer from the interior ministry forces said local residents reported an estimated 40 people could be buried at the site, which IS allegedly used as an execution ground. Trump`s national security adviser vows to tackle N Korea nuclear threat Flynn stoke Muslim fears of an anti-Islamic White House Michael Flynn has said he would work to strengthen the US alliance with South Korea. Reuters, Seoul : US President-elect Donald Trump's national security adviser says North Korea's nuclear programme would be given a high priority under the new administration, a South Korean official who held talks with him said on Saturday. Michael Flynn, one of Trump's closest advisers, also said he would work to strengthen the U.S. alliance with South Korea, calling the relationship "vital," the South's deputy presidential national security adviser Cho Tae-yong was quoted as saying by Yonhap news agency. Cho was leading a South Korean delegation to the United States to meet with key advisers to the president-elect to discuss the two countries' response to the North's pursuit of nuclear weapons in defiance of international sanctions. Cho spoke to South Korean reporters in Washington following the meeting with Flynn, Yonhap said. Flynn is a retired Army lieutenant general and a military intelligence veteran of three decades who has championed Trump's promises to take a more aggressive approach to terrorism. His appointment as national security adviser this week does not require Senate confirmation. The North conducted its fourth and fifth nuclear tests this year under young leader Kim Jong Un, who has vowed to build a nuclear arsenal and ballistic missiles to deliver them. The U.N. Security Council has held discussions to adopt a toughened new sanctions resolution following the North's Sept. 9 nuclear blast. U.S. President Barack Obama has been criticised by Congressional Republicans that his policy of "strategic patience" was a failure and that he must make full use of sanctions authorities given to him by Congress. Trump pledged his commitment to defend South Korea under an existing security alliance during a phone call with South Korean President Park Geun-hye, Yonhap said last week. Meanwhile, news of President-elect Donald Trump's national security picks set off fresh tremors across the Islamic world on Friday as Middle Eastern allies and Muslim American groups prepared to face advisers and potential Cabinet members noted for harshly anti-Muslim rhetoric. The naming of Trump's picks for attorney general, CIA director and national security adviser drew public condemnations from Muslim civil rights groups as well as private expressions of concern from several Arab states that cooperate closely with the United States in the fight against the Islamic State and other terrorist groups. Some current and former government officials worried that the appointments could reinforce perceptions among the world's Muslims that the United States is at war against Islam itself. Obama urges European leaders to work with Donald Trump AP, Berlin : President Barack Obama used a meeting with key European leaders Friday to urge them to work with the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump and to discuss steps necessary to resolve the conflicts in Syria and eastern Ukraine, the White House said. Obama's meeting with the leaders of Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Spain was likely his last in such a setting before he leaves office. The session expands on lengthy talks he held the day before with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Obama didn't speak with reporters before departing for Peru on Air Force One. The White House said Obama thanked his counterparts for their cooperation during his two terms in office. He urged them to work on common challenges with a Trump administration on the "basis of the core values that define the United States and Europe as open democracies." Since Obama's arrival on Wednesday on his sixth and last trip to Germany as president, he and Merkel have focused several meetings on issues of globalization and trans-Atlantic cooperation. The talks come largely in the context of what the election of Trump will mean to efforts to seek peace in Ukraine and Syria, the strength of the NATO alliance, trade agreements, efforts to fight climate change, and other pressing matters. The White House said in a summary of the meeting that the leaders expressed grave concern about the humanitarian situation in Aleppo. They agreed that increased attacks by the Syrian regime and its supporters, including Russia and Iran, should be immediately halted. They also are calling for humanitarian access to the city to be restored. On Ukraine, the White House said the leaders agreed that sanctions against Russia must remain in place until it meets its commitments to resolving the conflict. At a news conference with Obama on Thursday, Merkel diplomatically said she was approaching the incoming Trump administration "with an open mind." Around the world, many are looking to Merkel - one of the longest serving leaders of a major world power, leader of Europe's largest economy and one of the biggest US trade partners with the US - for leadership as Obama leaves office. Primary terminal exam begins today BSS, Chittagong : Directorate of Primary Education (DPE), Chittagong division has completed all preparations to conduct the Terminal Examinations-2016 for students in the primary levels of general and madrasa education in a free, fair and peaceful manner. The exams will begin on Sunday and continue till November 27. This year, a total of around seven lakh six thousand and 284 students of different general schools and Ibtedai madrasas in 11 districts of the division including three hill districts will sit for the exams through 1521 examination centres under the supervision of DPE Chittagong division, said the officials. Of the total participants, six lakh 11 thousand and 420 students are sitting for Terminal Examinations while the rest 94 thousand 864 students are taking part from Ibtedai madrasas. DPE Chittagong division office sources said all preparations have been completed to hold the exams in a peaceful manner in 11 districts of the division. No illegal entry: Border sealed off BGB, Coast Guards on high alert: 125 Rohingyas pushed back Special Correspondent : The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has increased vigilance and patrolling along with the Myanmar borders to prevent the Rohingya Muslims from entering Bangladesh amid fresh military crackdown in Myanmar's western Rakhaine state. Bangladesh Coast Guard has also put on high alert in the river boundary with Myanmar so that Rohingya's cannot enter Bangladesh by crossing the Naaf River. All these measures have been taken as part of the government stance not to allow Rohingya's in Bangladeshi lands further, official sources said. As part of the government stand, the Coast Guard on Saturday pushed back more than 125 Rohingyas who were fleeing Myanmar as violence breaks out there. Seven trawlers, carrying Rohingya Muslims, have been sent back in the early hours of Saturday as they were trying to cross the Naf River in Cox's Bazar. The trawlers were carrying 125 people including 34 children, 64 females and 27 males, said Lt Nafiur Rahman, chief of Bangladesh Coast Guard's Teknaf base. "A coast guard patrol team sent them back while they were trying to enter Bangladesh's water," he added. Nafiur Rahman said that they have intensified patrol since the Oct 9 attack on security posts of Myanmar border forces in Rakhine state. BGB earlier pushed back nearly 300 Rohingya Muslims who tried to cross over Bangladesh in wake of deadly violence in Myanmar. "We have pushed back 278 Muslim from Myanmar as they tried to enter Bangladesh territory illegally between October 1 and November 17. We have intensified patrols and vigilance along the frontier to foil Rohingya's fresh bid to cross over," Md. Abu Zar Al Zahid, Area Commander of the BGB in Teknaf, told The New Nation on Saturday. He said the BGB did not shoot at any people who were trying to enter Bangladesh illegally. "Security forces have been put on high alert on border area so that they can prevent illegal migration by Rohingya Muslims into Bangladesh," Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Minister for Home Affairs, told The New Nation yesterday. The Minister said that they have come to know hundreds of Rohingya Muslims are trying to cross the land and river borders to escape from a reported military crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhaine state. "But, we are rigid in this regard and our stance is no illegal entry, be it Rohingyas or others. We have asked the security forces to seal off border so that none can cross over," he added. An UN agency on Friday expressed deep concern over the safety and well-being of civilians in the northern part of the Rakhine state, Myanmar, urging the country's government to ensure the protection and dignity of all civilians on its territory in accordance with the rule of law and its international obligations. It also appealed Bangladesh to keep its border open to allow safe passage to civilians fleeing in wake of the violence in the Rakhine state. Bangladesh consists of a 209 kilometer (130 mile) land boundary and a 63 kilometer (39 mile) river boundary with Myanmar. Myanmar Army confirmed death of 130 Rohingyas in the recent military crackdown launched in response to coordinated rebel attacks on three border posts on October 9 that killed nine police officers, according to a report by Reuters. The report said, the bloodshed by Myanmar Army is the most serious since hundreds were killed in communal clashes in the western Myanmar state of Rakhine in 2012. "Myanmar authorities have locked down areas, where the vast majority of residents are Rohingya, shutting out aid workers and independent observers," it added. Suu Kyi criticised as Myanmar denies army crackdown on Rohingyas Sydney Morning Herald, Yangon : Myanmar's government on Friday rejected accusations by minority Rohingya Muslims that the military has killed residents fleeing the conflict in the north-west of the country in which at least 86 people have been killed and up to 30,000 displaced. Hundreds of Rohingya are trying to escape the military crackdown after a recent escalation in violence in Rakhine State, say residents, adding that some of them have been gunned down while attempting to cross the river the marks the frontier with Bangladesh. Rohingya Muslims say Myanmar troops raped or sexually assaulted dozens of women in a remote village during a crackdown on insurgents. The Information Taskforce on Rakhine, formed this week by the office of de facto Myanmar leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi, has rejected the allegations against the military, known as the 'Tatmadaw' in the Burmese language. "Regarding those incidents, after asking the Tatmadaw and border guard troops in those regions, it is known that the information is absolutely not true," said the State Counsellor Office Information Committee in a Facebook post. The office added that the military and the border guard troops had not conducted operations near the border and were only engaged in an "area clearance operation" in the "inner part" of the state. Soldiers have poured into the north of Rakhine along Myanmar's frontier with Bangladesh, responding to attacks by alleged Muslim militants on border posts on October 9. They have locked down the district, where the vast majority of residents are Rohingya, shutting out aid workers and independent observers. A senior Bangladeshi official said its border guard force on Friday turned back 82 Rohingya Muslims, including women and children, attempting to leave Myanmar. This came after two boats with 86 people were pushed back on Wednesday. Lieutenant Colonel Anwarul Azim, commanding officer of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in the Cox's Bazar sector said those turned away had been provided with food and medicines. The United Nations stressed the border should be kept open. Bangladeshi activists protest against what they say are the killings of Muslims in Myanmar. Sixty-nine suspected insurgents and 17 members of the security forces have been killed, according to official reports, since the violence began last month. Residents and rights advocates have accused security forces of summary executions, rape and setting fire to homes. The government and army have rejected the accusations. The UN envoy on human rights in Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, criticised Suu Kyi's handling of the crisis and renewed her appeal to investigate the allegations of abuses. "State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi has recently stated that the government is responding to the situation based on the principle of the rule of law. Yet I am unaware of any efforts on the part of the government to look into the allegations of human rights violations," she said. "It would appear, on the contrary, that the government has mostly responded with a blanket denial, she said, adding that security forces "must not be given carte blanche to step up their operations". Up to 30,000 people are now estimated to be displaced and thousands more affected by the October 9 attacks and the following security operation, said Pierre Peron, the spokesman of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Myanmar. "This includes as many as 15,000 people who, according to unverified information, may have been displaced after clashes between armed actors and the military on 12-13 November," said Mr Peron. He added that humanitarian operations that had been providing food, cash, and nutrition to more than 150,000 vulnerable people have been suspended for 40 days. More than 3,000 children have not received their regular treatment for severe acute malnutrition (SAM). "Without appropriate treatment and care, many children with SAM are at risk of dying," said Mr Peron. Harassment in name of enquiry Passport seekers need to visit police stations Gulam Rabbani : Passport seekers are being harassed in various ways, especially at the time of verification, it was alleged. Generally, police in plainclothes are supposed to visit the houses of passport seekers for physical verification of the residential details. But in reality, the scene is just the opposite. There are allegations that the applicants are asked to visit police stations a number of times. After many visits to the police station, they may not get to meet the concerned officers. Meanwhile, Director General of the Immigration and Passport Department Brigadier General Md Masud Rezwan in a recent public hearing said that they are contemplating to drop the attesting and police verification system to get a passport. He also admitted that the people are being harassed in many ways at the time of verification. A recent Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) report has claimed that the passport sector is the most corrupt sector in the country. About 77.7 per cent households felt victim to corruption while securing services from passport offices. Besides, the corruption rate is 74.6 per cent in law enforcement agencies and 60.8 per cent in educational sector, the report mentioned. Nazneen Nahar Ferdousi, a passport seeker of Ashulia area, told this reporter that she along with her guardian had to face harassment at the time of verification. The concern police officer of Ashulia Police Station didn't go to her house for verification. The officer called her to the police station. Nasreen also said though she is a permanent resident of that area and they have all required documents, the officer demanded Tk 1000 in the name of 'khoros'. Their harassment tripled when their two children's verification was under the duty of two other officers. They had to pay them separately for the verification. Abul Kalam of the same area also narrated the similar experience. He said that the concern police officer didn't go to his house to verify. Rather, the officer tried to find a fault unnecessarily so that he could claim more money. He had to pay Tk 1100 to the concern officer. They said this is the common scenario of passport verification. This is why many people have been urging the authorities concerned to give up this system immediately. In the meantime, Sadiqul Islam, an ASI of Special Branch of Police, faced a tough situation after seeking bribe at the time of verification of a passport. He demanded this money from a wife of a Justice of Supreme Court. Then a High Court bench summoned him and directed to the authority to file a departmental case against him (Sadiqul). After this order, the Supreme Court administration filed a case against him and handed him over to Shahbagh Police Station. However, a passport seeker said that this was a rare case. General people cannot take such action after facing alike situation. A police officer said it is not always possible to visit houses of applicants because of shortage of staff. 'At times we find the houses of applicants locked. Many times the applicants also request us not to send police vehicles fearing their neighbours might take it otherwise,' said the police officer. Passport authorities have admitted that they have been receiving complaints about malpractice of police during verification. The officials said they are thinking to withdraw the verification system. "We want to serve every citizen without any harassment. But the decision should be taken by the government," A T M Abu Asad, Director of Dhaka Divisional Passport and Visa office, told The New Nation yesterday. He said police personnel should visit the houses of applicants instead of asking them to turn up at police stations so that they can make a proper field verification of the applicants. Land belongs to Santals Citizens body cites documents: Demand payment of compensation Staff Reporter : Santals are the original owners of the lands that now are being claimed by Rangpur Sugar Mills at Gobindaganj in Gaibandha, as per documents. This was revealed by some concerned citizens, under the banner of 'Shocheton Nagorik', at a press conference held at Dhaka Reporters' Unity [DRU] in the city's Segun Bagicha on Saturday. They also described untold sufferings of the uprooted Santals what they had seen during their recent visit to Gaibandha. The citizens' body also demanded compensation for the families of the dead and injured Santals. A seven-point charter of demands was placed at the briefing that included judicial investigation into the incident and punishment to involved persons. General Secretary of Adibasi Forum Sanjeeb Drong presented the keynote paper in the press briefing. Professor of Economics at Dhaka University Dr Abul Barakat, columnist Syed Abul Maksud, President of Oikya NAP Pankaj Bhattachariya and Khushi Kabir, among others, spoke on the occasion. "The government officials, from minister to secretary, are now telling to the media that Santals are not owner of the land". This is totally false, and it was made with an attempt to misguide the common people. What we want to say is that: the owners of the lands are Santals and the forefathers of local poor people. We've got a copy of the document [khatian] of the land," the written statement said. "The names of Dudu Majhi, Durga Majhi, Jolpa Majhi, Jetha Kisku, Mongola Majhi, Mungli, Charu Majhi, Suku Majhi and others were found in the document -where their lands were marked in the Bagda farmland. During our visit, the affected people also claimed that the Bagdafarm had been named after the name of Bagda Saren, a member of Santal community," the statement added. Meanwhile, the concerned citizens have termed the attack on Gaibandha Santals as violation of human rights. They also urged the authorities to take responsibility of treatment of the injured Santals. At the same time, the civil society group demanded a judicial inquiry into the deaths of three Santals named Shaymol Himbrom, Mongol Mandri and Romesh Tudu. The group demanded withdrawal of a false case and removal of local administrative officials involved in the attack. Three Santals were killed in a fierce clash when Gobindaganj upazila administration went to evict around 600 Santal families from their ancestral land in Sahebganj-Bagda Sugar Mill area on November 6. A fourth Santal victim's body was found later in the sugar-cane land. The eviction drive was carried out by police, RAB and BGB members who were joined by people allegedly loyal to the local ruling party lawmaker. The law enforcers opened fire and lobbed teargas canisters during the eviction drive. At least 25 people, including nine policemen, were also wounded when the Santals threw arrows at police personnel and Rangpur Sugar Mills workers, who joined the eviction drive. After the incident, police filed cases against the Santals on charge of obstructing the law enforcers. Santals stranded after eviction Crops set on fire Md Joynal Abedin Khan : Unknown men set Gobindaganj Santals' crops on 40 bighas of land ablaze on Saturday morning despite the tight security which panicked the affected ethnic group further. Not only that, they were allegedly stranded in front of a local Pagoda at Madarpur village under Gobindaganj upazila in Gaibandha district. The Santals are now passing in hardship for they cannot go out of their shelters for doing their daily activities in fear of additional attacks. Even at least six more Santal people have been missing since the clash erupted resulting in the death of three persons and injuries to 40. They do not go to their workplaces, markets, paddy fields, hospitals, union parishad office and police station. About two weeks ago, some 1,500 Santal families were evicted from their ancestral lands. They are now living under the open sky in a nearby village of Sapmara union with none to extend a helping hand. "We are likely to lose our agriculture lands, which were means of our livelihood," Rafayel Hasda, Treasurer of Madarpur Bhumi Uddhar Committee, told The New Nation on Saturday, adding that relief materials supplied by the Administration were inadequate and disappointing. "We have no confidence in the government's assurance of giving us shelters near their evicted lands," said Rafayel Hasda. On November 16, the government decided to build new homes for the Santals of Gobindaganj, said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. The new homes would be built on over 10 acres of land (4.05 hectares) in Gobindaganj's Katabari area. Dijen Tudu, accused of 'police assault' case, said, "Attackers came and our houses were looted and everything burnt." Tears were rolling down his cheeks when he was speaking. "We are like birds, flying from one place to another," says Dijen about the plight of ethnic minorities. "The situation remains unchanged as men, women and children cannot go out of their shelters due to fear of further assaults in the streets," alleged, Professor Mezbah Kamal, also indigenous people right activist. Rather, the Administration had asked them to leave the villages where they are staying temporarily after being evicted from their land, he said. "We are still in fear, said Elikha Mardi, a Santal woman from Madarpur. "We are waiting and hoping that the government will meet our reasonable demands for rehabilitation and work," she said. "We are still suffering. There is no reason to trust anymore," said Sri Ezekiel. "We have been able to survive by sharing only a handful of rice," Soban Soren. "Nobody can change their dresses as there was nothing left for them to put on," he said. Rustom Ali, 50, said, "We are helpless. We don't know what to eat and where to go? If someone goes out of the village he comes back after being beaten by local goons." Abdus Samad, Deputy Commissioner of Gaibandha, said, "We gave assurances to the victims that their children could go to schools and elders for work. About 150 packages of relief materials including rice, edible oil, salt and potato were distributed among the Santals, he said. Ashraful Alam, Superintendent of Police of Gaibandha, said. "We have also given them our phone numbers to inform us whenever they need security. But the problem is that the Santals do not want to talk to us." Rangpur Sugar Mills MD Abdul Awal said that this fence should have been put up a long time ago as per the law. According to Abdul Matin, President of Rangpur Sugar Mills Workers Union, the Rangpur Sugar Mills were established on 326 acres of land in 1954 and have been incurring losses for 58 years. The government temporarily shut down the mills on May 31 in 2004. After its reopening in July 16, 2006, the sugar mills, remained operational for just 33 days, producing 5,315 tonnes of sugar in 2007-08, shows the annual report of the Industries Ministry (2014-15). On November 6, police fired and lobbed teargas shells during an eviction drive at the Shahebganj sugarcane farm leaving three Santals killed and many others injured. "The clash occurred over 761.62 hectares of land in Shahebganj where sugarcane was being farmed. The land is claimed by Rangpur Sugar Mills in Gobindaganj. EC formation may face difficulty: Analysts Reza Mahmud : Formation of new Election Commission (EC) may face a serious complexity as the ruling Awami League and the main opposition BNP have taken totally opposite stance over the issue, said analysts. BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia on Friday proposed to form the next EC based on unity of all political parties when the ruling AL instantly rejected the proposals as a whole. "Actually, there are also no clear laws about the formation of the Commission," they said. In this situation, the analysts find it very difficult to forming the new EC with consensus between the two archrival political parties. Moreover, they said, the political rivalry has deepened over the years. It is to be noted that the tenure of the current EC will be expired by February 8 next year. "The BNP laid stress on formation of the new EC after sitting with all political parties, including BNP. On the other hand, the government labeled the BNP chief's call as 'vanity'. In these circumstances, we have not seen any light of hope at the end of the tunnel," Dr. Shahdeen Malik, an eminent lawyer and political analyst told The New Nation on Saturday. Khaleda Zia at a press conference on Friday put forward 13-point proposals to form a neutral EC. But the ruling Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on same day rejected the proposals labeled them as frivolous. Dr. Shahdeen Malik said, "There is a vacuum about the law of formation of Election Commission. The government said they follow the rule of the Constitutions. But the Constitutions only say 'the Parliament will pass laws about the appointment of EC, the government will follow the laws to form EC." He said, "The Parliament yet not pass any laws on the issue. The government now appointing EC by search committee, but if any one challenge it in the court the system may be canceled, as like as the caretaker system, which has been canceled after holding three national polls." Professor Md.Aktaruzzaman, Pro-VC (Admin) of Dhaka University told The New Nation, "No one should open new windows of debates over the settle issues like the formation of Election Commission." As an elected public representative, he said, the government will form the next EC. The BNP should accept that. There will be a space to trust for everyone. The government is such in a place. Everyone should trust of them. Prof. Aktaruzzaman also said he hope that no one would be able to push the nation towards anarchy by using settled issues like formation of EC. While Professor Nurul Amin Bepari, the Chairman of Political Science Department of Dhaka University, told The New Nation, "Neutral and trustworthy election commission is a must to hold a free, fair and participatory election. The government should make the EC as a strong institution. But it failed to make it reliable to BNP." He said, the BNP may not likely to accept one-sided EC appointed by the government. But there is also a doubt about that party's capability to initiate any strong movement in the streets. If they finally be able to take to the streets it may push the country towards another unrest situation, he added. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhurl Islam Alamgir at a programme yesterday vowed to launch movement as the ruling party refused to accept Khaleda Zia's proposals. The ruling party fear on free and fair participatory election. So, they have denied our Chairperson's proposals. In this situation, there is no way but tougher agitation to compel the government to meet our demand," he said. Two crore people deprived of arsenic-free safe water OVER two crore people are still deprived of arsenic-free drinking water in non-fulfillment of a commitment made by the ruling Awami League in its 2008 election manifesto, as per a report of a local daily. Access to improved drinking water sources rose from 68 per cent (in 1990) to 87 per cent (in 2015) of the population. The Awami League had made a commitment in Article 11.2 of its manifesto published during the 2008 general elections that safe drinking water would be provided for all by resolving arsenic problem by 2011. In a modified commitment made in its 2014 polls manifesto, the party said it would develop strong mechanism to provide arsenic-free safe drinking water for all. The coverage of water supply has been lowered particularly due to arsenic contamination in groundwater mostly in the shallow aquifers, contamination of groundwater by salinity in coastal districts, bacteriological contamination and contamination by iron and other chemicals in many central districts and hill areas. People in areas other than major cities primarily depend on groundwater from shallow aquifers, where arsenic is generally found, as their drinking water source. Arsenic is found in bedrock and often contaminates well water. Arsenic contamination of groundwater is found in many countries throughout the world, including the USA - and affects over 137 million people in 70 countries. Arsenic contamination of the groundwater in Bangladesh is a serious problem. Prior to the 1970s, Bangladesh had one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world. Ineffective water purification and sewage systems as well as periodic monsoons and flooding exacerbated these problems. As a solution, UNICEF and the World Bank advocated the use of wells to tap into deeper groundwater. Millions of wells were constructed as a result. Because of this action, infant mortality and diarrheal illness were reduced by fifty percent. However, with over 8 million wells constructed, approximately one in five of these wells is now contaminated with arsenic above the government's drinking water standard. In the Ganges Delta, the affected wells are typically more than 20 meters and less than 100 meters deep. Groundwater closer to the surface typically has spent a shorter time in the ground, therefore likely absorbing a lower concentration of arsenic; water deeper than 100m is exposed to much older sediments which have already been depleted of arsenic. However it is quite easy to provide access to water which has no arsenic by simply digging tubewells within 20-100 metres or providing filters to get rid of arsenic. However in Bangladesh other problems exist - due to nepotism and corruption government tubewells are given to private families in exchange for bribes, thus reducing the number of tubewells for use for ordinary citizens. Also not enough tubewells are installed in areas with water shortage, thus needlessly exacerbating the problem. A national problem requires a national solution - with over 20 million people affected more solutions need to be implemented impartially to ensure all have acces to the most basic of rights - drinking clean water. Protection of rights, not police power is justice Justice is much more than law and police power. Justice demands to apply law in the context of prevailing circumstances as held by Justice Diplock and Lord Denning, the two eminent British jurists. Our Appellate Division of the Supreme Court agreed with them. The surprise victory of Donald Trump as President of The United States of America, the least experienced man with the most unAmerican temperament and values, has added to the worries not only to many in his own country but also the world outside. Some states are threatening to secede saying Donald Trump is not their President, he being so unAmerican. But one thing is sure that because of the power of the government institutions and patriotism of the public functionaries, the President-elect will have to change himself or will find the system challenging him all the way. Not just election democracy, but people's democracy will be at work. We are unlucky in that hardly anybody is willing to take the responsibility of making the democratic institutions of the government strong. Unless this responsibility is taken seriously we shall not have good and just governance and our personal rights will remain under threat. The country will lean towards a police state. Violence and disunity afflicting our safety, security and happiness. The reliance on justice of police power, instead of protection of law and the Constitution has proved not to be the right answer to the problems of peace, order, unity or economic progress in our country. Denial of justice is not merely a personal tragedy, it is a national calamity. Where justice is not ensured the situation is hopeless for protection of law and good governance. Any friction between the Law Ministry and the Supreme Court over administrative matters of the judiciary is self-defeating and must be avoided. The need for close cooperation between the Supreme Court and the Law Ministry is essential for dispensing impartial justice under the rule of law and nothing should be done to make it otherwise. Lately the Supreme Court had to seek explanation how the Law Ministry could serve a show cause notice on a Session Judge without its prior consent. The people must have faith in the impartial justice system under the rule of law. The police power without the restraining need of impartial justice, will not make police efficient and trustworthy. If this is allowed, the police will be wrecking the justice system by prevailing police power over the power of law and justice. Already there are disturbingly high numbly of police officials who feel free to break law and commit crimes. Only last Friday a policeman was caught red-handed in the capital city when snatching Tk.44,000/- from an egg trader. Not just snatching, even their complicity as murder is not so uncommon. Killing people by police in cross-fire is not considered a crime. Imagine if a large number became law breakers, what that would mean for social order. If we cannot protect the justice system against abuse of police power, police will cease to be police. It is wrong to think that social order and peace can be maintained without protecting an impartial justice system. If justice system is undone, nothing remains of civilized existence. We did not have terrorism but now the government finds terrorism everywhere. Whatever is the truth about terrorism, most of our police remain busy looking for terrorists and yet fear of terrorism is rising. Hundreds of cases are pending relating to the offence of terrorism. Initiating a police case alleging terrorism has become too easy for abusing police power easily. Thousands of police cases are keeping thousands of people in jail without trial. Recently the High Court Division finding that an accused in an alleged murder case spent 17 years in jail without trial set him free. Though he does not know where to go or what to do with his freedom. He does not even know where his family is. It is learnt that two more cases of gross failure of justice have been identified. Things would have been different if getting bail was not so hard paving way for innocent persons to be victimised helplessly. It cannot be denied that we had no communalism but now for the over-enthusiasm of anti-communal politics of a particular lobby, communalism has emerged in its uglier and bolder form. In all such cases the men in power were found provoking the human tragedy for personal benefit. The recent attacks on Santals lasting for days were shocking. Lives were lost, properties were grabbed and houses were burnt yet the government appeared helpless because their own men were involved. The police also was not quick to act knowing that government's own men were behind the crimes. The situation was so helpless that a High Court Division had to come forward to the aid of victims. This is like many other instances where our Supreme Court had intervened as no other authority cared for the victims of human rights violation. The Anti-Corruption Commission has been claiming to be tough by chasing big fishes but not a single big fish is being investigated. Corruption is endemic at every level of the government because the big ones are protecting the small ones. Anti-Corruption officers are chasing the weak ones to make their life miserable. Even the Anti-Corruption officials can now arrest anybody they want. Thus they have acquired more power to abuse. Public outcry against corrupt Anti-Corruption officials go unheeded. Many more innocent people are suffering imprisonment than those found guilty after trial in court. We cannot provide all the facts to support our claim but we are sure we shall not be far wrong. In this backdrop of abuse of power and corruption, the main concern of our judicial system should be how to save people from the injustices of abuse of power and greed. More than ever before, the principle of justice that one is innocent before found guilty by the court through trial should be given highest consideration that it deserves. The principle of innocence is more than a principle, it is recognised by the Universal Human Rights Declaration of the United Nations as a legal right. By relying too much on police power, we have now lawlessness everywhere. Blaming the police is not the whole answer when the police are politicised and not allowed to remain impartial. The reality is we cannot be sure when police are enforcing politics and when they are enforcing law. We have also a problem of judicial culture. An arrested person is treated more often surely as guilty if the allegation is about a serious crime. In most cases an accused suddenly finds himself as a non-entity. He is totally at the mercy of police forwarding report. All his fundamental rights are of no help. The presumption of innocence is not recognised as a legal right. All his fundamental rights to be free is thrown overboard by a paper allegation endorsed by the police. For not granting bail, he has no freedom to claim his innocence also as a free citizen. The major source of corruption in the judicial system is filing of false cases and business of bail. The most damaging is people's faith in the judiciary as dispenser of impartial justice. An individual's protection of law guaranteed under the Constitution has to be meaningful in the context of police harassment or not for anything. Our system is habituated to be in favour of the police to have all the freedom to deal with anyone they suspect to be an accused. The common saying is: They must be given a chance to investigate. He will be available for police interrogation is not enough. Despite Supreme Court's caution against police remand, police are too often obliged so that an accused can be taken into their custody for interrogation. This is an unholy situation for the sanctity of justice. In India, the process of justice has not been weakened by granting anticipatory bail, or releasing a person on condition that he will be available for interrogation. We had also law for granting anticipatory bail, but now it is considered dead. Scope of abuse of police power and corruption among them are contexts for judicial acknowledgement for doing justice. But from the prosecution side all efforts and fury are employed painting a man as a dangerous criminal not to be enlarged on bail before any evidence has been produced against him. To deny bail is a big success for police but total loss of all the freedoms for the accused. Our educated people have a unique gift of amnesia to forget what our people had fought for, so as to know what we must protect and preserve. Bangladesh will never be a country of yesterday living in fear of authority without protection of law. 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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 CARBONDALE The African American Museum of Southern Illinois kicked off its 20th anniversary celebration Friday evening. Najjar Abdul-Musawwir, president of the museum board, said the event Friday was the kick off a year-long anniversary celebration which will end on the museums 20th anniversary in November 2017. As part of the kick-off, the museum board unveiled a newly acquired piece of art from a local artist. Dale McReynolds of Metropolis recently exhibited 23 portraits at the museum in an exhibit called, Self-Taught, God-Inspired. We enjoyed her work and had to have one of her pieces in the collection, Abdul-Musawwir said. Art is an investment. If you get the opportunity to invest in art, you should. Abdul-Musawwir called art collectors keepers of culture, much like the African American Museum keeps the culture. Were not only trying to preserve the history of Southern Illinois, but also the history of the region and the country, Abdul-Musawwir said. He added that the artifacts in the museum are real, not fake or reproductions. One piece currently displayed is a painting that was done by students of Attucks School in Carbondale in 1952. The painting is a collage of African American heroes, including Jesse Owens, Crispus Attucks and others. Its one of our priceless pieces in the collection, Abdul-Musawwir said. As president of the museum board, Abdul-Musawwir is especially thankful to Corene and Milton McDaniel for being keepers of the culture. They had already started collecting and invited me to be a part of it, he said. The museum started because they wanted to show it somewhere and to get people together. Why do we need a museum? This museum allows people to see history in a different light, as well as events today, Abdul-Musawwir said. As part of the anniversary year, the museum board has several things planned. They will start an awareness campaign that will highlight the accomplishments of the museum, including its art collection, special programs and summer enrichment for children and young people. The board has appointed Ernestine Hughlett as its media person and historian. We want to push the pedal to the metal and let people know what were about, Abdul-Musawwir said. We have special exhibitions lined up and special programs, Hughlett said. Third Thursday will feature educational presentations on the third Thursday of each month, beginning in December. Programs will include topics like Financial Planning 101 and Black Love (for February). During the kick-off, Abdul-Musawwir also recognized former board member Cheryl Odle, as well as people who were instrumental in the museums early years, like the late Donna Haynes and the McDaniels. M Stalls congratulated the museum and those working with the museum on behalf of Friends of the NAACP. She called it an important resource for the community. The museum is located in University Mall, 1237 E. Main St. It currently has an exhibit about President Obama, along with pieces of the museum's permanent collection. For more information about the museum and the celebration, call 618-457-2217. COBDEN Union County Historical Societys Christmas Shop will open for its 14th consecutive year from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 19 in the Dubois Building at 117 Appleknocker St. The shop is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Black Friday, Nov. 25, and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 17. It is our primary fundraiser of the year for the museum and historical society, Judy Travelstead, treasurer of Union County Historical and Genealogy Society and Museum, said. The organizations collect items all year and store them upstairs at the museum and shop. They start bringing items down in October. It takes a lot of man hours to get it together, but people love it, Travelstead said. They will be lined up to get in at 8 a.m. Saturday morning. The shop will have fall centerpieces and other decor the weekend before Thanksgiving. The fall stuff is this weekend only; we will pack it up, Brumleve said. One of this years most unique items is a small, silver, metal Christmas tree. We call it Christmas Sputnik, Pat Brumleve, president of Union County Historical and Genealogy Society and Museum, said. Travelstead said the tree was donated by Mona Diefenbach who found it in the basement of her fathers home. They used to hang greenery on the hook-shaped branches. That is probably the most unique thing we have, Travelstead said. Other items include a Picard bell, Thomas Kinkade collectible, Temp-Tations dinnerware in Christmas and everyday patterns, knitted monkeys made by women in Kenya, a handmade Santa figurine, dinnerware, glassware, and lots of Christmas decorations. The museum will offer Christmas trees and yard decor, as well as other items. This years Christmas Shop will also raise funds for Southern Illinois Parkinsons Support Group. The fundraiser will feature white paper trees in various sizes of three-dimensional engineered paper over a cardboard, cone-shaped base. They are all handmade by local artisans, Travelstead said. Marilyn Boysen of Cobden is coordinating the project. "It helps the community as well as helping us. Plus, it's just a fun thing to do," Travelstead said. For more information about the Christmas shop, historical society or museum, call 618-893-2567 or the museum at 618-893-2865. DU QUOIN A regional military organization needs hundreds of volunteers on Monday to help put out U.S. flags along the route that U.S. Army Pfc. Tyler Ray Iubelt's body will travel coming into Southern Illinois. His body is expected to arrive Monday morning at Scott Air Force Base in St. Clair County. Their help is being sought by the Epsilon Sigma Alpha's Hope for Heroes Program for Xi Chi Chapter. Iubelt died Nov. 12 at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan after his area was attacked by a suicide bomber. Volunteers are asked to meet at Keyes Park, at 334 East Park in Du Quoin, at 1 p.m. Monday to place approximately 3,000 three-feet by-five-feet American flags out to honor Pfc. Iubelt and his family. For further information about the flag placement, please contact Chip Shaffer, a retired U.S. Navy Senior Chief who is the Midwest Area Regional Conference Coordinator for Hope for Heroes, at 618-567-5315. 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 Azertac Azerbaijani Defense Industry Minister Yavar Jamalov will take part in the 9th IDEAS- The International Defence Exhibition and Seminar to be held in Karachi, Pakistan on November 22-25. The Azerbaijani Minister will also hold bilateral meetings with Pakistani state officials, as well as heads of delegations of participant countries. By Trend An Uzbek delegation participated in a session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers in Mecca, Uzbekistans Foreign Ministry said Nov. 18. The meeting was held under the Uzbek chairmanship Nov. 17. The session appointed Yusuf bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen as the new OIC secretary general. Al-Othaimeen has previously served as OIC director general of cabinet and senior advisor to the OIC secretary general. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation, or OIC, was established in September 1969 to ensure Islamic solidarity in social, economic and political spheres. The organization has 57 member-states. Uzbekistan became an OIC member in 1996. By Trend A riot occurred at the center for illegal refugees in Istanbul, as a result of which, about hundred people were able to escape, the Turkish Haber 7 newspaper reported Nov. 19. Refugees set fire to bedding, and then broke down the door. Police tried to prevent the escape by firing a warning shot. Fire brigades were sent to the scene. Meanwhile, Istanbul police launched an operation to arrest the escapees. Premier League moves to ban unregulated lending Friday, 18 November, 2016 The move to restrict borrowing only to lenders approved by the Financial Conduct Authority would preclude clubs from taking money from funds like Vibrac Corp who have funded the likes of Everton, West Ham, Southampton and clubs in Spain and Germany. Vibrac's location in the British Virgin Islands allowed the identity of their backers to remain undisclosed. [The Premier League] want to deal with greater transparency in terms of the people that are lending money to their clubs, said Martin Blake, a London-based lawyer who, according to Bloomberg, advises both clubs and lenders. There is a perception that some of the funds that are lending aren't as transparent as they would like. Everton have had a revolving line of credit, first with Vibrac and then with Rights and Media Funding (itself linked to Mousehold Limited who share a BVI address with Vibrac), from which the club has borrowed funds secured against future television revenue to fund transfers and player salaries for the past few seasons. The Everton Shareholders Association says that it is their information that the club's financial accounts for 2015-16 will be released within the next two weeks, followed by the scheduling of the next AGM. Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer About these ads Royal Jordanian, the national carrier, has inducted its sixth Boeing 787 aircraft into the country's fleet. This aircraft along with the seventh aircraft which will be joining the fleet in the beginning of next year are on capital lease, while the first five were operationally leased, said a top official. The new Boeing 787 landed at Queen Alia International Airport straight from Boeing unit in Seattle and is the sixth 787 (Dreamliner) to become part of the airline fleet. RJ president/CEO Captain Suleiman Obeidat, who received the aircraft upon its arrival, expressed satisfaction with the addition of this new 787 to the currently operating five aircraft of the same type, which RJ introduced at the end of 2014 as part of the plan to modernize its long-haul fleet. The Dreamliners replace the Airbus 340s and 330s the company previously had; five aircraft of these two last models were phased out two years ago and two A330s will retire soon, stated Obeidat. He pointed out that the 787s paved the way for RJ to step into a significant new era, a step that pushes the national carrier forward in terms of inflight services and route network, enhancing its regional and international competitiveness. All new 787s, together with the operating A320 family and Embraer jets, help RJ meet its operational needs and leverage passengers experience. Today RJs fleet age does not exceed five years, a young, and modern, fleet when compared internationally, said Captain Obeidat. The wide-body, revolutionary aircraft is capable to fly long distances with full load non stop, making it a suitable choice for RJ to run it to North America, the Far East and Europe, he added. The state-of-the-art features and high specifications of the 787s offer higher levels of comfort and luxury to the RJ clients. The Dreamliners have improved ventilation and humidity levels onboard, taking the travel experience to a new level, offering passengers more comfort and significantly reducing jetlag. It is also designed to be able to monitor safety and inform the ground systems about the need of maintenance. Customers in all classes experience cabin environment improvements, such as LED mood lighting, larger windows, bigger overhead bins, lower cabin altitude and enhanced ventilation systems, among other features. The new planes also enable airlines to increase their cargo revenues by providing about 20 to 30 per cent more cargo capacity than the current airplanes of the same size.-TradeArabia News Service Charles Walsh is the new president and CEO of the Casper Area Economic Development Alliance. He spoke with the Star-Tribune about the organization and his plans. The following are excerpts of that interview. As the new head of CAEDA, could you tell us about your plans going forward? I will tell you that were going to build around five different focus areas. The first one is we need to become more engaged with our existing businesses here in the Casper region, and focus on identifying opportunities for them to expand. They are the ones that are in a better position to deploy capital, to look for new markets, to expand product lines, so they are in a better position to ultimately create primary jobs. No. 2 is recruitment. Its important for us to recognize that we have attributes in this community that allow us to compete for specific types of businesses and build a game plan around a more targeted approach to attracting the right types of complementary businesses here. We have a huge medical clinical base, for instance and those create very high-value jobs. And we are convinced we need to do more manufacturing here, value-added manufacturing. The third thing is innovation and startups. You may have heard about Breakthrough 307 (a newly launched private funding and support program), and we have the Wyoming Technology Business Center that we need to capitalize on. The final two areas ... we need to do a more effective job in workforce development to make sure that we are identifying and qualifying in the right skills retraining, retooling as we bring in new companies or new product lines with existing companies The last one is quality of life. We need to help facilitate improving our quality of living here, because those things are tools that we can use when we want to attract or recruit new businesses. Concerning the mineral industry, I was wondering if you had any thoughts on what you can do during the downturn to bridge or even expand at this point. Im always going to do to defer to those that are in the business directly, but one of the things that we can look at whether its good times or not-so-good times is the oil and gas supply chain. We have primary drillers, primary producers and primary distributors of oil and gas here in the Casper region. I think we can grow our supply chain, and the depth of our supply chain, by looking to new technological advancements for product lines, ones that we could actually build and manufacture here, and sell not only in our backyard but export outside of our state to bring money back in to people that live here. At the business incubator in Casper, there have been some energy-related startup companies. Would that be one avenue you would look at? Well, it is an avenue that were looking at.and its not just energy, it could be alternative energy that lessens our dependence on our natural resources. I know we have a lot of them, but it could be alternative energy. It could be process technology that enhances our ability to actually produce or distribute oil and gas or other minerals. There are a couple of companies that are in the incubator today that I have personally taken a look at that could not only support the energy industry, but they could actually take 75 percent of their technology and deploy it in another industry. So the simple answer is yes, absolutely, thats what the incubator is really all about. With Breakthrough 307 partnering ... this could be an engine for creating and building new businesses that are within our primary industries and outside of our primary industries. The University of Wyoming also has the Energy Innovation Center in Laramie, and there may be connections between what UW is doing there and the incubator here. Is that something you might get involved in? It is really, because right now the University of Wyoming is the manager of the incubator in Casper. We need to look for those opportunities where some of that research might transfer to here, to actually be developed into market-capable products, so we can actually create the company, and create primary jobs, here. We could, and should, serve as an outlet for some of that research in Laramie at the University of Wyoming. Do you have any connections with Casper College and the McMurry Training Center as far as job-training programs go? Good question. As you look at workforce development and you look at skills-based training, were having a lot of dialogue. In my first 30 days here Ive spent time at Casper College(and) I just met with the Wyoming Contractors Association, and theres the electricians union. All of them provide skills-based training, and each one of them has a unique, distinctly different capability. It is vitally important that we look at higher education both at the two-year, four-year and advanced degree capabilityand at the trade-based, quick turnaround, skill-based capabilities that the Wyoming Contractors Association and the electricians union have. That doesnt mean we just have to train those that are here. There are people that come from out-of-state that go to Casper College because of its name and its brand and how well its respected across the country. So we need to leverage those resources, and we need to capitalize on their capabilities. How do you think Casper is faring in this downturn? I think naturally theres been some diversification. I dont believe it has been as purposeful and as targeted as it could be, but that has helped. I believe that, in this case, the public deployment of capital for new infrastructure, and schools, and state buildings, was all-important in terms of softening some of the blow. The construction trades have been, I think, effective, and continuing to build residential homes, as well as some other projects. As we compare the 80s (downturn) to today, we fared exceptionally well. I was going to ask you if you think the Trump presidency is good for the state. What I have heard from a lot of other people is that they believe it is going to be good for the energy sector, whether thats coal or gas or oil, etc. And if its good for the energy sector, lets just face it: It has to be good for Casper and Wyoming as a whole. This week marked one of the wildest and highest-volume trading periods in US history, with booms and busts surrounding Tuesday nights election results. In the first few hours of vote counts, Wall Street boomed on the expectation that Hilary Clinton had strong results in exit polling, which was followed by a fierce collapse in stocks and explosion in gold once early vote tallies showed an extremely close race. Late Tuesday night, before any swing states had been called, Dow futures were down nearly 900 points, while gold was up a whopping $64 per ounce. Once Donald Trumps Electoral College win became clearer overnight, equity markets recovered from their panic drop, but still reflected a pessimistic economic outlook. But, by midday Wednesday traders began to find optimism as they reassessed President-elect Trumps economic policy plans; stocks rose sharply as gold made new lows. This weeks wild ride left many investors wondering if this may be just the beginning of a rougher ride ahead. Infrastructure plans boost copper One of the biggest winners this week was copper, a metal that is closely associated with economic growth, as it is an essential component in construction and manufacturing. The red metal exploded higher, gaining over 40 cents per pound (+10 percent) on expectations that Trumps economic plans will result in stimulus and infrastructure spending. Similar expectations for more construction helped boost lumber, steel, and aluminum markets, as well as the stock market as a whole. Stocks were also boosted by an expectation for lower taxes and less regulation of the health, banking, and energy sectors. Crude under pressure The potential for loosened environmental regulations was a boon to energy producing companies that may be able to drill for oil and gas more easily and refine those fuels into gasoline and diesel fuel with fewer barriers. Though these companies stock prices rallied, this expectation knocked energy futures markets lower during the week. Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency announced that global oil production is rising, and that OPEC is producing petroleum at a record pace, despite recent vows to reduce production. Exports in question Trumps criticisms of trade agreements were a central part of his candidacy, leading many to expect that there will be increased trade barriers over the next four years. This could hurt U.S. exporters, especially if other countries respond with similar measures, sparking trade and tariff wars. These concerns are weighing heavily on the agricultural sector, which accounts for 10 percent of all U.S. exports. If China, Mexico, the EU and other major trade partners buy less soybeans, wheat, corn and livestock from the U.S., our farmers could see a sharp decline in revenue. Corn, wheat and soybeans tumbled to the lowest price in weeks with a weak finish on Friday. Saturdays support meetings Alcoholics Anonymous: 9:30 a.m., womens meeting, 500 S. Wolcott; 10 a.m., 328 E. A; noon, 500 S. Wolcott; 7 p.m., 500 S. Wolcott; 8 p.m, 328 E. A; 8 p.m., 917 N. Beech; 10 p.m., 917 N. Beech. Douglas: 7:30 p.m., 628 E. Richards (upstairs in back). Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are open. Casper info: 266-9578; Douglas info: (307) 351-1688. Al-Anon: 10 a.m., 4600 S. Poplar, Shepherd of the Hills Church, New Starts. Nonsmoking. Narcotics Anonymous: Noon, 500 S. Wolcott, 12-24 Club; 6 p.m., 500 S. Wolcott, 12-24 Club, closed meeting; 7 p.m., 15th and Melrose, at the church. Web site: http://www.urmrna.org. NAMI: 4 p.m., 133 W. Sixth St. NAMI C.A.R.E. (Consumers Advocating Recovery through Empowerment) Support Group for individuals with mental illness. Info: 234-0440. Adult Children of Alcoholics: 1:30-3 p.m., 12-24 Club, 500 S. Wolcott St., Suite 200. Open meeting. Rotary hears of rescue mission On Monday, Nov. 21, Brad Hopkins, executive director of the Central Wyoming Rescue Mission, will address Rotarians and guests regarding the Central Wyoming Rescue Mission: A Twenty-five Year Rotary Update, at a noon luncheon meeting at the Parkway Plaza. Brad Hopkins has been serving as the executive director of the Central Wyoming Rescue Mission since 2012. He oversees the restoration work for nearly 900 needy individuals each year back into society as healthy productive independent community members. CWRM serves some 40,000 meals and 29,000 nights of stay along with care management and recovery programs each year to those experiencing homelessness. Hopkins is a founding active board member of Governor Matt Meads Wyoming Homeless Collaborative and a part of the Governors ten-year planning committee addressing homelessness. He is also a member of the Casper Homeless Collaborative, board member for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, and member of the Central Wyoming Counseling Center Advisory Board. Groups meet together for dinner The Natrona County Historical Society and the Oregon-California Trail Association will hold their joint Christmas dinner on Dec. 8 at the Ramkota. The speaker will be the award-winning former newspaper owner, publisher and editor of several Wyoming and Montana newspapers, Bill Sniffin, who retired to travel, photograph and write books about his beloved adopted state of Wyoming. He will share stories and photographs, especially connected with his most current historical book, Wyoming at 125. For more information, call Robin at 259-4174. Sporting a Panama suit and a thick coat of stubble, Casper Mayor Daniel Sandoval railed against voters during the city councils first meeting since he and three other council members lost their re-election bids. This years election was, at least in part, a spiteful slap in the face to the voters own local government, Sandoval said, punctuating his speech by thumping his cue cards onto the dais. Sandoval, Vice Mayor Steve Cathey, Wayne Heili and Scott Miller were all unseated in the Nov. 8 election. Miller had withdrawn from the race the week before, but his name still appeared on the ballot. In his speech, Sandoval whose Amazon author biography describes him as a scholarly monk displayed characteristic eccentricity. He paused after using the word alacrity to address council member Kenyne Humphrey. Alacrity, Kenyne, is doing something at a brisk pace with a cheerful demeanor, Sandoval said. Sandoval said he had been widely praised for his comments on behalf of the city at dozens of events and could attribute his loss only to Casper voters being grumpy. He noted that Cathey had spent a year preparing to take over as mayor. By voting out the vice mayor, he said, the voters had effectively wasted that time. How ungrateful is that? Sandoval said. The departing mayor also announced plans for a new novel about people who are always so stirred up that they can be bluffed into going against their best interest with every decision they make. Sandoval has written several books, including Bitchiprocity, a story of diabolical women who learn kindness is not weakness, that truth endures past deception, and that destiny favors the righteous. Sandoval was not the only member of council to sound off about the election results at Tuesdays meeting. Councilman Charlie Powell lamented that the public did not understand how much work it took to be on city council. Instead of criticizing them or taking pleasure in their un-election, we should be thanking them for their service, said Powell, one of just two incumbents to be re-elected this year. Several members spoke about how cordial the working relationship has been among the current council and the importance of that to the democratic process. Governments not perfect. Itll never be perfect, said councilman Ray Pacheco. Theres not one person or entity that is going to save any part of society. That means working together, not taking cheap shots against people. Heili, who lost his Ward 1 seat to Jesse Morgan, spoke after Pacheco. Ill take Rays advice and not share any cheap shots, Heili said before ceding his time. Sandoval, who finished third in his Ward 1 race, seemed most upset that voters had not recognized his efforts to encourage cooperation among council during his year as mayor. He described national politics as hellish and said he had sought to prove that it was possible for elected officials to be cool and confident and productive. Being able to accomplish such an incredible goal is also a testament to my political skills, Sandoval said. Educators in Natrona County are studying flat student enrollment and cost-saving measures amid the energy downturn. Their counterparts in Campbell County are just hoping the situation doesnt get worse. The Natrona County School District announced this week that its elementary schools have lost 163 students over the past year, while experiencing a 151-student increase in the secondary grades compare with a year ago. The district has lost more than 200 elementary students in the past two years, after seven years of growth. Enrollment is important because, generally speaking, the average annual attendance for each year determines the amount of funding each district is guaranteed from the state. On average, a student enrolled in a school is worth about $15,480 in state funding, state Board of Education spokeswoman Kari Eakins said. As a result of the downturn and its effect on enrollment, Natrona County school officials in September started a Facility Condition and Capacity Study to examine the districts facilities. The study, released Thursday, recommended closing Grant Elementary and selling or, as a last result, demolishing Grant and a number of vacant buildings, like the old Roosevelt High School and North Casper Elementary. Currently, the district has 6,232 elementary students and 6,671 secondary students. Superintendent Steve Hopkins said the two-year decline in enrollment is especially sharp because the previous seven years saw elementary growth at a clip of more than 150 students a year. Though he was pleased that Natrona Countys enrollment is holding steady, Hopkins was quick to note that the story is more complicated. Short term, good news is that enrollment is flat. But we have to pay attention to that elementary trend line, he said. The growth of elementary school students was so steady during those seven years that facilities were expanded, Hopkins said. But as elementary enrollment slips and the energy economy limps along, the district commissioned the study to find ways to cut costs and become more efficient. Part of that process has included cutting more than 20 staff positions at the districts central office through attrition, district officials said. Spokesman Kelly Eastes said the district will continue to monitor enrollment figures. Staffing will hold steady, as it was based on enrollment of the beginning of the school year. District officials said that faculty and staff from Grant will be reassigned. Our goal is to work with every single one of our staff members at Grant and work through the reassignment process, executive director of human resources Michael Jennings said Thursday. Take care of them ... and work with them through their reassignment to other positions. Were keeping our fingers crossed that enrollment will stay flat, Eastes said. Mixed signals While the districts growing secondary education enrollment appears promising, those numbers arent so clear-cut, either. Hopkins said that one reason that number continues to grow despite elementarys decline may be the strong seven years of elementary growth that preceded the recent drop. That boom is likely inflating current secondary enrollment figures as those kindergartners grow into middle-schoolers. Hopkins said the number of secondary students leaving would probably otherwise be in line with the number of departing elementary students. Hopkins also is absolutely certain that the enrollment shrinkage is caused by the economy, holding up as evidence those seven years of growth, a trend that snapped just as energy prices took a turn. Still, though: Im absolutely thrilled that overall enrollment is flat ... I feel very fortunate compared to places like Campbell County, Hopkins said. The situation in Campbell is bleak. Don Dihle, the business manager for the Campbell County School District, said the district has lost around 500 students, about 5 percent of its enrollment, in the past year. The loss is significant, a hole punched by a downturn thatll cost the district $5.5 million over the next three years. The loss of jobs is a direct cause of people leaving our county to find work elsewhere, Dihle said, noting the huge decline in prices for oil, coal and gas. Its the worst enrollment crisis since the mid 1980s, Dihle said, when a dive in oil prices caused similar problems. In 1986, oil dropped below $10 a barrel. About 1,800 students left the public school system that year, and 2,500 moved the next year. Campbells assistant superintendent Kirby Eisenhauer struck a hopeful note: Stretching the loss of that $5.5 million over three years will give the district breathing room to evaluate programs. He also said theyve been preparing for this: The district has built up about $18 million in reserves while it has cut $3 million since July, slashing travel, employment bonuses, substitute teacher pay and more. The economy is out of our hands. Its like the weather: We just have no control. We just have to react to whatever happens, Dihle said. As for filling the budgetary hole, Dihle said the district will look at hundreds of different things. That could mean not filling positions should faculty leave, or it could mean transfers. But ideally, any cuts will be the furthest away from the kids, teaching and learning. Nothing is safe from being considered, Eisenhauer said. Still, Dihle said the district doesnt feel helpless. Its just looking for the new normal. We hope that weve hit the bottom already. The three Wyomingites who are being floated for White House cabinet positions would bolster the administration of Donald Trump, Washington observers said. U.S. Rep. Cynthia Lummis, Gov. Matt Mead and Jackson investor Bob Grady have been named as possible contenders for cabinet positions, according to the Washington Post and E and E News, an energy and environmental media website. All three Wyoming residents are being considered for secretary of the interior, a position with supervision over 10 agencies that perform much work in the West including the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the U.S. Geological Survey. Additionally, Grady is being considered for energy secretary and administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Post has reported. Kara Calvert, a Washington lobbyist who grew up in Riverton, said the experiences of the three Wyomingites would be valuable to a president who is from Manhattan. Theyre from the West, she said. When you think about the departments theyve been talking about whether its Interior or Energy so much of what those departments deal with are Western issues, whether its public land or energy. Rob Wallace, a Jackson resident who spent dozens of years working for U.S. Sen. Malcom Wallop and as a U.S. Senate staffer, a lobbyist and an assistant director of the National Park Service, said the Wyomingites insights into Western issues would inevitably help the state. Wyoming would be lucky to have one or all of them in the administration, he said. Theyre all terrific people who would bring a lot of heft to the jobs theyre being suggested for. Each of the three cabinet prospects declined to comment for this story. Meads spokesman, David Bush, said the governor has read news reports stating he may be on a short list. But Wyomings Republican governor doesnt appear to be gunning to leave Cheyenne. The governor is willing to help make sure these important positions are filled by people who understand the West, our economy and our way of life, Bush said in a statement to the Star-Tribune. He often says that as governor of Wyoming he has the best job in public service. Lummis Lummis, who decided to step down after eight years in Congress, is one of the few women mentioned for a cabinet position. I think Cynthia is really well-respected in Washington, D.C., Calvert said. As a woman, she played a valuable role working in leadership in the Freedom Caucus and with Congress at large. Lummis was a member of the House Freedom Caucus, composed of conservative representatives who blocked some of the agenda of former GOP House Speaker John Boehner, and are largely credited for his resignation last year. Lummis membership in a group that prides itself on being mavericks could be attractive to Trump, who built his campaign on being perceived as anti-establishment. Yet, for a president without any experience inside the government, Lummis could be valuable because she understands the workings of Congress, Calvert said, noting that Trump has already chosen a congressman, Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kansas, to lead the CIA. Lummis has a reputation as a conservative, but she is popular among Republicans and Democrats, Wallace said. Shes got an amazingly broad group of friends on both sides of the aisle who genuinely like her, he said. Likability is sometimes overlooked in terms of political strengths. Mead The governor is chairman of the Western Governors Association this year. He brings a great set of contacts with his leadership in that organization, Wallace said. Under Meads leadership, the group is trying to draw attention to the Endangered Species Act. Mead wants the act reformed, Wallace noted. He is frustrated by what he believes is a slow pace in which protected species get de-listed after their populations are restored. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service adds and removes species from the list. And that agency falls under the Department of Interior. Calvert said Meads strength is his executive experience, the understanding of how to run government day-to-day. Grady Grady is a partner in a San Francisco-based venture capital and private equity firm, Gryphon Investors. He is vice chairman of St. Johns Hospital Foundation in Jackson. He was a deputy assistant to former President George H.W. Bush and associate director for natural resources, energy and science under the White House Office of Management and Budget in the Bush years. He also advised and wrote speeches for the Bush-Quayle presidential campaign in 1988. Grady has a history of public service in New Jersey politics as well. He is close to Gov. Chris Christie, who had led Trumps transition from May until recently. Politico has reported that some of Christies cabinet picks will be disregarded by the new transition team. Things are very fluid in terms of Christies leaving. I dont know how that cuts for Bob, Calvert said. I think its very, very fluid. Grady would bring institutional knowledge to the agencies hed supervise, Wallace said. Like Lummis, Grady is well-liked in Washington, he said. Theyre not controversial like Sarah Palin, for example, he said. A cornerstone of Trumps campaign was to increase development of energy, on which Wyomings economy is based, Calvert said. Anyone from Wyoming would be well-positioned to help Trump with energy. Wallace concurred. Theyre all three solid picks, he said. Arno Rosenfeld contributed to this story. States that voted for Hillary Clinton in last weeks presidential election reported stronger job growth in the previous year than states that supported Donald Trump, according to data released by the Labor Department Friday. Large cities in states where voters were more likely to support Trump also lagged in job growth, a separate analysis by Jed Kolko, chief economist at Indeed, a job search website, also found. The figures add credence to the idea that economic concerns contributed to Trumps unexpected victory. Eleven U.S. states reported healthy job gains in October, and the unemployment rate fell in seven, the Labor Department said Friday. Thirty-four states reported little change in employment from the previous month. The healthiest gains in the past year were in so-called blue states: Job growth was 3.5 percent in Washington state, the biggest gain nationwide. Oregon reported the next largest gain, at 3.3 percent. Other healthy increases were in Colorado, California and Nevada. There were exceptions to the trend: Florida, which supported Trump, saw hiring rise 3.1 percent in the 12 months ending in October, the third-highest total. But the smallest increases were in so-called red states that voted for the Republican candidate. Job growth was just 0.7 percent in Pennsylvania, 0.9 percent in Ohio and 1 percent in Wisconsin three Midwestern states that handed 48 electoral votes to Trump. And two states lost jobs in the past year: Wyoming and North Dakota, which have been hit by falling oil and coal prices. They both voted for Trump. Overall, the differences werent huge: Job growth in blue states was 1.7 percent in the 12 months ending in October, compared with 1.5 percent in red states, according to Kolkos calculations. But there are similarities in the city data. Six of the ten metro areas with the slowest job growth were in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Wisconsin. Allentown and Scranton, both in Pennsylvania, lost the most jobs of any city nationwide. Nationwide, the economy picked up in the fall even amid the contentious presidential election. Americans ramped up their shopping and applications for unemployment aid fell to a four-decade low, a sign layoffs are scarce. Thats prompted steady hiring, though it has fallen from last years pace. Employers added 161,000 jobs nationwide in October, enough to reduce the unemployment rate over time. The rate slipped to 4.9 percent from 5 percent in September. Donald Trumps pledges to protect the Second Amendment brought millions of beleaguered American firearms owners to the polls this month. One thing Trump can do to assure them that he deserves their trust would be to instruct his attorney general early in 2017 to name a special assistant whose job would be to protect Second Amendment rights. Over the years, the Department of Justice has taken action against various other civil and constitutional rights abuses. It is time for the DOJ to prosecute violations of the Second Amendment and federal laws including the Firearms Owners Protection Act. The next attorney general should take action against states and local governments that adopt laws designed specifically to infringe on the rights of honest firearms owners or discourage people from exercising their right to keep and bear arms for legitimate reasons, including self-defense. For too many years, cities including Washington, D.C., and Chicago, and states including New Jersey, New York and Maryland have prosecuted firearms owners, including those in transit from other states, for actions that would be legal anywhere else in the nation. This must cease, and those states must be held accountable for their abuses. Egregious laws have been adopted also in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Illinois. Bans on certain commonly owned firearms in all of these states began as simple licensing and/or registration requirements. Earlier this year, for example, anti-gun Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey unilaterally decided to expand the definition of assault weapon in the Bay State, essentially rendering tens of thousands of legally owned firearms as contraband. Her claim that the state law on assault weapons has been misinterpreted for the past 18 years and that she was merely correcting that problem is specious at best. California is another example of a state where rights have been gradually eroded to the point where owning a firearm has become little more than a privilege. The state initially banned a limited number of firearms and has gradually expanded that to cover a whole class of firearms, making previously legal firearms illegal. A deputy U.S. attorney general could bring the full force of the Justice Department against such demagoguery. That all of this has been done under the guise of gun safety is an insult to the intelligence of gun owners. They see their rights have been infringed, and they deserve to have those rights protected and defended by the Justice Department rather than surrendered piecemeal to gun control extremism. It should not be up to gun rights organizations like the Second Amendment Foundation to challenge such laws while the Justice Department acts like a spectator. It would also be the task of this special assistant AG to make sure the DOJ does not take anti-Second Amendment positions on any legal action. This individual would also serve as a liaison with gun rights organizations, working with them rather than against them to assure that the nations laws are used to prosecute criminals rather than persecute law-abiding gun owners. This assistant AG could work with members of Congress and gun rights organizations to restore funding for the long-neglected rights restoration investigations that once were conducted by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Trump pledged to fill the Supreme Court vacancy created by the untimely death of Justice Antonin Scalia with someone who shared his view that the Second Amendment protects an individual civil right not contingent with service in some militia. At some point, the high court must address the right to bear arms, sending a message to state governments that a right so encumbered by draconian restrictions that its exercise is impossible is not a right at all, but a prohibitively-regulated privilege. Trump has been given an opportunity to right so many of the wrongs that have been committed against millions of citizens whose only crime has been a wish to exercise their constitutionally delineated civil rights. They helped to make him president, and it is time for the government to treat them as the first-class citizens they are and have always been. It is time to make the Second Amendment great again. Editor: Did you know the Red Desert is the largest unfenced landscape in the lower 48 states? It certainly deserves some protection and attention for the wilderness characteristics that flourish here. I recently was invited by the Wyoming Wilderness Association to take a flight on a small aircraft over the Red Desert. The aerial perspective showed me the hundreds of miles of openness that embody the true spirit of Wyoming. The experience of flying over places such as Cedar Mountain, Honeycomb Buttes, Little Mountain, and parts of the Northern Red Desert was truly breathtaking and inspiring. The pristine ecosystems in the Red Desert are some of the most endangered in the world. Take for instance the sand dunes, the sagebrush sea, and distinctive desert pillars that provide refuge to migrating ungulates, wild horses and desert birds like the sage grouse. These lands provide the connective tissue to other ecosystems in the region and are the lifeblood for biotic and abiotic systems, much of which we have yet to fully understand. I feel lucky to have the opportunity to explore much of the Red Desert in complete solitude and simply experience the awe of these untouched expanses that I call home. I cherish moments when I can hear only the sounds of nature and can gaze upon vistas where nothing impedes my viewshed. These places clearly have value beyond resource extraction and must be protected for future generations. Therefore, I encourage you to get out and explore Wyomings wilderness areas and help influence the management decisions taking place. I am forever indebted to those who had the foresight to preserve these wild open spaces and to those who are willing to continue ensuring slices of this planet remain wild. Lets all work to keep Wyoming wild! Editor: It is interesting to note that the election of Americas first black president who insisted that we are not a white America, a black America, or a red America, we are all Americans, etc., did not result in a more United States, but divided it worse than anything else since the Civil War. Thank God for the Electoral College voting method that prevented an extension of the past administration from taking this country further from the purpose our Constitution than it already has. I am convinced that Wyoming residents, for the most part, are on average, more informed and have a better grasp of reality and the desire to perpetuate the American dream than much of the coastal bastions of Socialist thought. Before the election I posited a bet that Sheridan County would vote split of 15 percent / 85 percent for Trump. The reality turned out to be: 20.6 percent / 72.4 percent. Close. I also figured 50 percent / 50 percent for Teton County. Wrong! 60.1 for Clinton vs 32.2 for Trump. A discussion of why Jackson is so liberal would take a whole other column. For Albany County I guessed 35 percent / 65 percent for Trump. Reality: 41.9 / 46.3 in Trumps favor. Then I remembered things like the Bill Ayers invite by the Equality State Policy Center and the osmosis effect of Colorado. Campbell County: C=7.4, T=88.0. Park County: C=17.3, T=76.0. Crook County: C=7.2, T=88.8. Laramie County: C=29.0, T=62.2 Natrona County: C=20.2. Johnson County: C=14.7, T=79.9. Fremont County: C=25.4, T=67.5. No surprise about Fremont, since the reservations there, being beholden to government largesse, would support a Democrat. Park and Teton counties with a larger portion of federal employees than most other counties would also lean left. Too bad the rest of the country cant follow Wyomings lead. (Jackson should be annexed to California.) Editor: Our founding fathers established the electoral college because they didn't want a majority rule electing a president. They didn't want the urban voter dominating the rural voter. Yes Hillary may very well win the popular vote, but that's not how we elect presidents and for good reason. California would dominate a majority rule system. They are a wealthy state and they don't feel the crushing blow of 30 years of lost manufacturing jobs, the Rust Belt does....they voted Trump. They don't feel the crushing blow to their economy when energy jobs are lost, but we in the Plain States do -- that's why we vote Trump. And they could care less about the cost of illegal immigration, but our southern border states feel it ... they went Trump. Each state is unique, we all have different economic needs, hence why majority rules in state elections. On a national level that doesn't work. Largely populated states would dominate the rest of us. The heartland would lose our voice. America is the greatest country in the world. Let's leave our government structure and its uniqueness alone. We don't need or want to be like everyone else. We are a government for and by the people. Editor: It was the 37th year for The Braille Trail on Casper Mountain. The trail, built and maintained by The Casper Mountain Lions Club and an army of community volunteers over these years, experienced one of its best visitor years to date. Based on numbers from the visitor book and social media, the trail gave an estimated 5,000 visitors the peaceful interaction with nature that is its core. An estimated 800 of these were visually challenged for whom the tail is dedicated and designed. The visitor count saw people from every county in Wyoming, 29 states and six foreign countries. The latter includes the first-ever visit from India. The trail also hosts various local service, youth and school groups. They come to learn for the diverse alpine setting that offers a "natural classroom" and a serene mountain hike. The Braille Trail and the Casper Mountain Lions Club would like to thank the many volunteers who gave of their time and efforts in trail maintenance. These included the NCSD Summer School Physical Education Classes and the The Leadership Class of Natrona County High School. In addition, a big thank you must be extended to the terrific staff of Hoffman Monuments. They provided the beautiful tributes in stone to two champions for the visually impaired and The Braille Trail: Ed Strube and Don Martinson. Ed had the vision and the energy to take on the building and continual maintenance of the trail. Don championed the trail through his work in establishing the Rocky Mountain Eye Institute and Eye Bank. The Casper Mountain Lions Club thanks Casper for its support of the trail. It certainly is the gem of Casper Mountain. See you next summer! Tucson-based Raytheon Missile Systems plans to expand its Southern Arizona operations and add nearly 2,000 high-paying jobs over five years, potentially adding billions of dollars to the local economy. Raytheon announced the expansion plan Friday, after reaching tentative agreements with officials from the city, county and state on potentially tens of millions of dollars in tax breaks and related incentives. In return, Tucson will get the kind of higher-paying, technology-based manufacturing jobs that have become the gold standard for economic development. Raytheon said it plans to hire workers at all skill levels, with an emphasis on engineering and other higher-wage, technical positions. Junior engineers at the company make an annual salary of about $70,000 nearly twice Tucsons median household income in 2014. Those salary levels are going to permeate through this community, its going to drive up home sales, everything, said Joe Snell, CEO of Sun Corridor Inc., the areas main economic-development agency. Missile Systems President Taylor Lawrence said the companys expansion plans are driven by renewed growth in its 20 franchise missile programs due to U.S. and allied demand for its products. The company also is in contention for some major new programs, such as development of next-generation hypersonic missiles. Were expecting a number of competitions to be decided this year, Lawrence said in a conference call. Were kind of growing across the board. Raytheons existing product line includes the Tomahawk cruise missile, the AMRAAM and Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, and the Standard Missile series of ship-defense and ballistic-missile interceptors. Buffer is key to expansion Lawrence credited local and state officials with helping Raytheon grow by establishing a buffer area around the companys plant on the south side of Tucson International Airport and working to create a competitive incentive package. The strong support we receive from state and local organizations is essential to our expansion plans and will help provide Raytheon with the workforce and infrastructure to meet the growing demand we are seeing from our customers, Lawrence said. Besides the city, Raytheon said its partners in the expansion initiative include Gov. Doug Ducey, the Arizona Commerce Authority, Pima County, Sun Corridor Inc., Tucson Electric Power and the Tucson Airport Authority. On a conference call with Ducey, Lawrence said details on the pace of hiring and the programs the company plans to grow or add will come later. The Tucson City Council on Friday morning signed off on an agreement with Raytheon already the areas largest private employer with more than 10,000 local workers that will allow the company to build on city-owned land near its airport operations. A City Council vote is expected Tuesday on an amended annexation agreement and potential tax incentives. Government incentives Also on Tuesday, the county Board of Supervisors will consider a number of its own incentives, including support for the companys application for a foreign-trade-zone designation, which would reduce Raytheons property tax burden by about $16 million over the next 10 years. The county incentive package also includes support for additional road infrastructure projects and restrictions on county-owned land adjacent to Raytheon. The state has offered Raytheon $5 million through the Arizona Commerce Authoritys deal-closing fund, known as Arizona Competes, authority spokeswoman Susan Marie said. Details of that deal are still under negotiation, Marie said, but she noted that funds are conditioned on applicants hitting hiring and wage goals, paid out incrementally as certain milestones are reached. The expansion also will spread to smaller companies that supply Raytheon, officials said. It is likely that Raytheon suppliers and subcontractors will also make announcements of plans to locate in the area in the near future, Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry said. Raytheon does business with about 500 companies across the state, about half in Southern Arizona, according to the Governors Office and Sun Corridor. Job creation, facilities expansion and production are expected to result in billions of dollars of economic impact for Arizona over 10 years, the city said. Though no formal economic impact study has been issued, the salaries alone for 2,000 Raytheon workers at an annual salary of $70,000 would add $1.4 billion to the areas economy over a decade. The additional property taxes that activity generates will be dramatically more than the taxes the county forgoes as a part of its proposed incentive deal, Huckelberry wrote in a memo to the board Friday. Responding to Huntsville Lawrence, of Raytheon, praised local officials for responding to company concerns after Raytheon passed over Tucson in 2010 and chose Huntsville, Alabama, as the site of a new missile plant. That decision was made because of the lack of adequate buffer space around Raytheons airport plant and because Alabama offered a generous incentive package, Lawrence said. After the city, county and airport worked to relocate a road south of Raytheon and swapped land to create an aerospace business park nearby, the buffer issue has been completely resolved, Lawrence said. Ducey called the Raytheon expansion a big win for the state and the latest example of a rebounding Southern Arizona economy, citing hundreds of new Tucson-area jobs announced in the past year by Comcast, Caterpillar, HomeGoods and human-resources systems provider ADP. This is great news and just more proof that Southern Arizonas economy is on fire, Ducey said. This demonstrates that Tucson is attractive and competitive and can win at the economic-development game. Working over the weekend Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild said some aspects of the citys deal are still being negotiated with the defense contractor. However, a final council vote is scheduled Tuesday night. What we are hoping to do on Tuesday is bring to council an agreement with Raytheon that would enable Raytheon to bring an additional 1,900 jobs, at least, to Tucson, Rothschild said. As a result of the deal, the company could spend upwards of $400 million in new construction on city-owned land near Tucson International Airport, Rothschild said. It is a complicated deal so we will be working over the weekend to finalize the tight language, he said. The mayor says he hopes Raytheon will build as soon as possible and expects Raytheon to break ground next year. The amended agreement will extend the time frame of the current annexation agreement and tie tax incentives to Raytheons completion of the expansion project and creation of the new jobs, said Mike Rankin, the city attorney. Besides the funding offered through the states deal-closing fund, Raytheon also apparently qualifies for a refundable state income tax credit available to companies making capital investments to build or expand certain facilities, the Arizona Commerce Authoritys Marie said, but the company has not yet applied for that program. FOREIGN-trade zone Pending approval by the Board of Supervisors Tuesday, Pima County will also be offering incentives, including support for Raytheons foreign-trade-zone application, which would come with significant property tax savings. The company currently pays property tax based on an 18 percent assessment ratio, which would fall to 5 percent if its foreign-trade-zone application is approved by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The reduction would apply to both existing and planned facilities and would result in roughly $16 million in reduced tax receipts over the next 10 years, according to a memo Huckelberry wrote to the board on Friday. For the current tax year, calculated with the unaltered assessment ratio, the company is expected to pay nearly $3 million in property taxes, according to an estimate provided by the treasurers office. Raytheon has consistently ranked among the top 10 property taxpayers in Pima County, according to the most recent comprehensive financial report. The property tax drop would affect only the taxes controlled by the county. The company has major manufacturing operations at its headquarters site next to the airport and at the University of Arizona Tech Park on South Rita Road, along with several other smaller local sites. Other taxing districts, including the Sunnyside Unified School District and Pima Community College District, will receive the full value of property taxes as paid at the higher assessment ratio, according to the memo. More land moves The county plan also calls for restrictions on the use on 382 acres of property it owns near Raytheon, including limits on building heights and other design features, as well as prohibitions on foreign ownership by companies based in non-NATO countries. That land was purchased in 2012 for around $6 million to provide a buffer for the company. Huckleberry recommends selling 48 acres of that land adjacent to Raytheon to the Air Force at market value. That land would be used to develop a state-of-the-art secure entry-control facility. The county would also commit itself to continued road infrastructure improvements near the facilities. Most recently, the Pima Association of Governments awarded the county $10 million in late October for a widening of Aerospace Parkway and other changes near Raytheon. On Friday, Huckelberry told the Star that another roadway priority will be the so-called Sonoran Corridor, which would connect Interstates 10 and 19 and pass near Raytheon. The estimated price tag is between $600 and $700 million, he added. County voters shot down $30 million of support for the project in a bond election last November, though Huckelberry said the project has been designated a priority by the federal government, which means we should receive substantial federal participation. Since 2012, roughly $33.4 million has been spent on county-led projects that set the stage for the expansion, according to a summary in the memo. Supervisor Sharon Bronson said the incentive package has her vote, and she hopes it has at least another three supervisors behind it. Supervisor Ramon Valadez, who hosts Raytheons airport plant in his district, said he enthusiastically supports the incentive plans and predicted quick approval. Ive had the pleasure of representing that area for the last 20 years now, and Ive always supported the largest private employer in our region, he said. Supervisor Ally Miller, who has been critical of some county economic development efforts, was the lone vote against rerouting the Hughes Access Road in 2015, a measure county officials said was necessary to actualize the benefits of the buffer. Miller did not immediately return calls for comment. Some concerns about skilled workers Asked during a conference call if Raytheon expects to have any trouble finding the skilled workers it needs to fill the new posistions, Raytheons Lawrence said he remains concerned about the level of science, technology, engineering and math education in Arizona. Were always concerned about getting the right type of talent, he said, though he added that he was very impressed with Raytheons latest crop of interns. Raytheon will continue to rely on the University of Arizona for engineering grads and other talent the company needs, Lawrence said. Were concerned but not alarmed, said Lawrence, who has frequently written op-ed pieces advocating for more state support of K-12 schools and universities. Sun Corridors Snell said Raytheons expansion adds urgency to the quest to develop a more-skilled workforce. So far, we have found we can fill those jobs, but if we look into the future, were going to have to import more skilled workers or grow our own, Snell said. Graduates of Arizonas public-university system earn about $10,000 a year more on average than all other Arizona workers, according to a comprehensive new study that examined pay for more than 271,000 state residents. To no surprise, people who earned degrees in highly sought majors such as engineering and business earned substantially more than the typical Arizonan with only a high school diploma, but even graduates with degrees in less-lucrative fields, such as ethnic/gender studies or the performing arts, also beat the average pay of $27,947 for those with just a high school diploma. The study prepared for the Board of Regents the governing body overseeing Arizonas three state universities examined actual pay records for people who graduated from any of those three universities with degrees between the 1989-1990 academic year and 2014-15. The study didnt track pay of Arizona public-university graduates who left the state, nor of people with degrees from other universities. Also, for data-gathering reasons, federal employees and self-employed individuals were excluded. At a point in time when so many are questioning the value of college degrees, this study shows the value not just to students but to the state, said Eileen Klein, president of the board. A college degree beats no degree. How the numbers break down The nearly 197,000 Arizonans who earned undergraduate degrees over the 25-year period earned $10.5 billion in cumulative wages over the most recent year, or a mean average of $53,303. The more than 74,000 graduate-degree holders earned $5.2 billion in 2015 combined, or $70,357 on average. Pay variations ranged considerably, depending on the type of major. For people earning an undergraduate degree from Arizona State University, Northern Arizona or the University of Arizona, engineering was the top-paying major with a median wage of $86,443. The next-most-lucrative fields were computer/information sciences ($83,227), engineering technologies ($77,204), business/marketing/management ($66,438) and health professions ($61,112). The lowest-paying degrees were those offered in area/ethnic/cultural/gender studies at $40,281. Other less-lucrative fields were visual/performing arts ($40,474), family/consumer services ($41,119), communications technologies ($41,730) and English language/literature ($42,834). One graduates story Mark Naufel, 24, is one recent graduate near the top of the pay charts. He earned a masters degree in systems engineering in August from ASU, one year after earning a masters degree in business analytics, also from ASU. Naufel said hes now in the $70,000 to $100,000 range, declining to cite a specific figure. The Tempe native, who also earned an undergraduate finance degree from ASU, said he received multiple job offers, including those from technology firms in Northern California, but chose to stay here. Silicon Valley is a great place to be, but the cost of living is lower here, Naufel said, also describing the job opportunities and quality of life here as very good. Klein expressed optimism that the pay figures might encourage more graduates to stick around. Our students have good opportunities here in Arizona, she said. ASU grads earn most ASU graduates tend to earn a bit more than those from the UA or NAU. The differences can be explained by several factors, said Dan Anderson, director of institutional analysis for the Board of Regents. One is the different composition of majors at the three schools. Each institution has graduates in areas like engineering, business and health, but their share of the graduating class differs, he noted. Students graduating with degrees in high-demand fields such as business or engineering will earn more immediately and likely will see greater future pay increases than others such as those who go into teaching. Also, the labor markets in which students find jobs also differ. We know that urban areas pay higher wages than rural areas, Anderson said, meaning grads who find work in metro Phoenix as opposed to Flagstaff or other areas of the state generally will earn more. Factors not studied The study didnt attempt to measure the costs that students incur to earn degrees not just in actual expenses for tuition and such, but in wages forsaken to attend college. While Arizona is relatively low for student loans, We are concerned about the increasing amount of debt for Arizona students, said Klein. The affordability part is key. Future studies might attempt to factor in these costs, Anderson said. The study also didnt attempt to measure other perceived benefits of a college degree. For instance, a study by the College Board indicated graduates are more likely to receive workplace health and retirement benefits, are more likely to report heightened job satisfaction, are more likely to volunteer and vote, and are less likely to smoke or be obese. At any rate, measuring even the value of a college degree in financial terms, to students and the state, has been difficult to do without detailed earnings data. The Board of Regents study is one of the most comprehensive of its type in the nation, Anderson said. The studys findings agree broadly with a 2015 Census Bureau survey that pegged the median earnings in Arizona of an individual with a graduate degree at $60,884 and pay for someone with a bachelors degree at $49,801. The Census survey found that Arizonans with some college but no degree had median earnings of $33,632, compared with $27,947 for high school graduates only. The census study wasnt restricted to graduates of ASU, NAU or the UA. tax impact The Board of Regents study tracked earnings for 271,197 statewide public-university students whose pay was examined on an anonymous basis from unemployment insurance records maintained by the Arizona Department of Economic Security. Collectively, these individuals paid an estimated $1.1 billion in state and local taxes on their combined $15.7 billion in wages. Their annual average mean wage was $57,985, compared to $47,937 for all similar workers. If youre up late and flip on 99.5 KIIMFM, youll hear nationally syndicated radio host Blair Garner spinning chart-topping hits, chatting with stars and giving his overnight listeners the inside scoop on country music. And sometime during The Blair Garner Show, which runs from midnight to 5 a.m. weekdays in more than 150 markets nationwide, hell dial up a woman in Tucson to get her take on the days country music news, gossip and juicy rumors. Chances are, Jessica Northey will know something that might even have escaped Garners radar. From her living room office in Tucson, Northey seems to have her fingers on the pulse of Nashville. And millions of people are paying attention. On the nationally recognized Klout Score of social-media influence, Northey has an 85 out of 100. Her presence across Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Google Plus is just south of 3 million followers. She counts among her consulting clients major American corporations, Nashville superstars and industry executives and small businesses looking to increase their profile through social media. Celebrities know her by name she was the first person Merle Haggard followed on Twitter and the person Garth Brooks turned to when he wanted to join Twitter. She flew with him to Twitters headquarters in San Francisco to get him started. He has since amassed 278,000 followers roughly half of Northeys 568,000. Forbes magazine listed her at No. 3 of its top 50 social media power influencers of 2013, and the Huffington Post called her a Twitter powerhouse. She just knew and she went into it and really, I think, made it her own, said Northeys friend Shannon Black, co-host of KIMM FMs Max, Shannon & Porkchop morning show. She stuck with Twitter, she has stuck with the online thing, and shes made it herself. Garner, one of Nashvilles biggest radio personalities, said he started paying attention to Northey a couple years ago after discovering her through her weekly online chat #CMChat. It was the first country-music centered 24/7 hashtag community a weekly online chat of celebrity interviews and fans asking artists questions in real time. She has amassed for herself a following that anyone in the world of country, anyone in the world of social media, would be envious of, Garner said. I would look at her chats and I would look at the stuff she would get out of artists and she would be able to extract from them stuff that no one else could. I dont know what it is, her style or what it is, but you feel like she gets to know the person much more. Garner is a big deal in Nashville. Hes a radio veteran whose syndicated overnight show ran for 20 years in 270 markets nationwide before he took a side trip to the morning shift two years ago. But the dayshift was short-lived; he left his popular Nash FM America Morning Show in August to return to the overnight shift. When he was mapping out The Blair Garner Show, Northey was one of the first names that came to mind. The idea was to create an A Team of respected country music bloggers and writers from across the country who could give the lay of the land not only from their side of the country but from their unique perspectives. Northey was a perfect fit, he said. She dances outside the box when it comes to her artist interviews, asking celebrities such earth-bound questions as how does Tim McGraw like his popcorn, buttered or plain? What was Garth Brooks first Halloween costume? Who would Reba McEntire want to play her in a Lifetime biopic? And those are the kinds of things Jessica turns in. She finds those common touch-points between the artists and the fans, and she connects them in that way, Garner said. And she is the perfect conduit between the artist and the fans because she asks their questions. Its a really cool thing that shes got going on. Northey didnt set out to be a social-media pioneer, but she eyed a radio career for as long as she can remember. Northey and her mother lived with her grandparents, who ran the Corona Speedway racetrack, which is now Tucson Speedway. Her grandfather, Bill Cheesbourg, was a local celebrity after competing in six Indianapolis 500 races from 1957 to 1965. By the time Northey was born, he had retired from racing and was involved in managing race tracks, including the 3/8-mile oval dirt track at Corona. When Northey was 15 or 16, she sold tickets and programs at the track and helped out in the DJ booth. She also got to know Tucson DJ Bruce St. James, who is now a prominent talk show host on Phoenixs KTAR 92.3 FM. His family ran a rival car on the track, and whenever she saw him, she was inspired by his career, she says. After graduating from Amphitheater High School one of several schools she attended after what she described as a turbulent childhood she studied political science and communications at the University of Arizona, but her eye was always on radio. She got her first shot when she was a nanny for the GM of a local radio station and landed a job as the stations receptionist. Allen Kath was something of a celebrity at the station. He did the rush-hour SkyView traffic reports, and Northey answered the phone when he called in his reports. One day, she told Kath she wanted to be on his traffic team. She was always looking to break out and do different things, Kath said, so he told her to make a demo tape. Northey recruited her friend Black, who did SkyView reports and was a sidekick on KRQs Mojo and Betsy Show, to help. I did a reel-to-reel tape and I had to cut it, Northey recalled with a chuckle. Kath was impressed and gave her a shot. He had her doing the traffic reports for Radio Tejano 1600 KXEW, a bilingual station on the AM dial. There was a smattering of Spanglish and we put her on and it was great. She was interacting socially with the hosts of this Tex-Mex Tejano station, Kath recalled. Northey did the traffic reports for about five years before landing a sales job with Tucsons Fox TV affiliate, KMSB. The money was great double or triple her radio pay but after a few years, she itched to get back into radio. She moved to central California to take a radio sales job just as MySpace was taking off in 2003. Northey was intrigued and signed on. Before long, she had 50,000 followers and was incorporating the platform into her radio sales work. She and a few colleagues tried to persuade their bosses to do the same, but it fell on deaf ears. Management didnt see how social media could make them money. Northey quickly proved them wrong. After six years in California, she came home to Tucson in late 2009 with a thriving MySpace following, a dynamic Facebook presence and a foothold in Twitter, which came along in 2008. I just started fooling around with it and I just started getting a lot of followers and saying funny things and being witty, she said. At home, friends and strangers started asking Northey to help them set up Twitter accounts and manage their social media. She charged a few bucks and picked up clients along the way. A Nashville record executive who found her on Twitter hired her to do social media for the label. She also was writing a social-media column for the online magazine All Access and launched her own social-media consulting company, Finger Candy Media. She built everything around country music, including #CMChat, which she launched in 2011 as a format for country fans to get behind-the-scenes access to superstars and rising stars. In the five years since, she has generated more than 10 billion Twitter impressions, 400,000 tweets and has more than 100,000 unique contributions, according to Hashtracking, which tracks hashtag traffic on the internet. The chats success helped propel her personal brand and power as a social-media expert. She has become an in-demand social-media speaker nationwide, and has appeared on numerous radio talk shows. Her client list includes Chevrolet, which hired her as their Red Carpet host for the 2014 and 2015 Country Music Association festivals; Dick Clark Productions, which brought her on to be its social-media correspondent for the ACM Awards, ACCA Awards and Miss America contest; and Verizon, AT&T, Garth Brooks Ghost Tunes record label and Richard Bransons Virgin Air offshoot, Galactic Travel. She also does social-media management for a national company based in Tucson and consults and manages social media for private clients. Northey said she is hoping the exposure from The Blair Garner Show will lead to more opportunities, including correspondent work and perhaps a podcast. Its been a really interesting ride, she said. But I do really want to stay in Tucson. Northeys fellow A Team members on Garners show are Morning Hangover host Kurt Bardella on the East Coast and Lisa Konicki, the editor of the online music zine nashcountrydaily.com, representing the middle. We are kind of the connection to the fans of all things country, Garner said. Garner described the show as high energy, aimed at second- and third-shifters, people whose workday begins when most folks are crawling into bed. According to his research, Garner estimates the market is as big as 15 million, and I think that thats a huge group of people who deserve to be entertained. I can tell you honestly that one of the highlights of my day is talking to (Northey) on the phone. Not only just about what I learn from her, but her infectious spirit, her infectious enthusiasm about life in general, Garner said. I love talking into that every day, and so do our listeners. Black said its a big deal to have a Tucson native on a nationally syndicated radio show. PHOENIX A federal judge on Friday ordered the Border Patrol to make immediate changes to how it treats people being held after being picked up for being in this country illegally. U.S. District Court Judge David Bury said it is a violation of the rights of those being detained often for days to not provide them clean bedding, including a mat on which to sleep. He also ordered the agency to deal with the personal hygiene needs of detainees being held for longer than 12 hours, including the ability to wash and clean themselves. Bury cited testimony from an expert who saw holding rooms with floors, walls, benches, drains, toilets, sinks, stalls and other fixtures, all of which were badly soiled. And Bury said there is evidence the Border Patrol is not complying with standards that require one toilet for every 12 male prisoners and one for every eight female detainees. One large holding room at the Nogales station had a capacity of up to 88 but with just one working toilet and one that didnt flush at all. In deciding to issue the injunction, Bury said some of the conditions cited by the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups representing detainees amount to a deprivation of their constitutional rights. And that, the judge said, constitutes irreparable injury. What that means, Bury wrote, is that it takes more than simply allowing those affected to sue after the fact for financial compensation. But the judge acknowledged that there may be legitimate security reasons for some of the conditions under which people are held, like the lights being on 24 hours a day. And he said there is some evidence the Border Patrol is working to improve conditions and meet its own standards. So he specifically ordered the agency to monitor its own compliance for things like the availability of working sinks and toilets, cell temperatures, sanitation and the availability of personal hygiene items like toilet paper, toothbrushes, feminine hygiene items, baby food, diapers and meals. In a prepared statement, Nora Preciado, an attorney for the National Immigration Law Center, called the order a victory for the Constitution. No one, regardless of where they were born, should be subject to the deplorable conditions our plaintiffs and other class members endured in the hieleras, she said, using the Spanish word for ice boxes that migrants have used to describe the Border Patrols temporary holding facilities. And Melissa Crow, legal director of the American Immigration Council, said Bury properly rejected the agencys excuses that it had done everything within its means to protect the health and safety of those in its custody. The lawsuit, filed in 2015 by immigrant-rights groups, contends that many people who are detained at facilities at Tucson, Nogales, Douglas and Casa Grande are subject to inhumane and punitive conditions. It was filed on behalf of three people who attorneys said were denied food, adequate clothing and sleep. But the lawyers said the conditions they experienced are not unique and pursued the case as a class-action lawsuit. They noted that the Border Patrol facilities are supposed to be just holding areas until people can be taken to more appropriate locations. Bury cited evidence that in a 3 month period in 2015, only about 3,000 of the approximately 17,000 detainees were processed within 12 hours. More than 8,600 were held for up to 23 hours; 6,800 for up to 48 hours; 1,200 for up to 71 hours; and 476 for 72 hours or more. They have been packed into overcrowded and filthy holding cells with the lights glaring day and night, stripped of outer layers of clothing and forced to suffer in brutally cold temperatures, deprived of beds, bedding and sleep, denied adequate food, water, medicine and medical care, the lawsuit stated. Burys ruling contains a mixed bag of findings. For example, he said the lights need to be on at all times where security cameras are not technologically capable of recording in dimmed light. But the judge took exception to the Border Patrol serving the first meal of the day in pre-dawn hours. The court finds no security reason nor any reason related to the processing activities being conducted at these facilities to wake up detainees by scheduling one of the three burrito meals at 4 a.m., he wrote. Bury also criticized the lack of mattresses, requiring people to sleep on the cold concrete floors and benches in the holding cells. But he was more willing to allow the Border Patrol to continue using Mylar sheets rather than blankets. The efficacy of the Mylar blanket depends on comfortable room temperatures being maintained at Border Patrol stations, he wrote. And he said the agency reports holding cell temperatures at between 71 and 74 degrees. The judge also expressed displeasure with some of the other practices. For example, prior to 2015 there were no trash receptacles in holding cells, resulting in detainees putting used toilet paper on the floor because they come from countries where plumbing cannot tolerate flushing the paper and are used to putting it into trash receptacles. Border Patrol cited safety reasons. But Bury said that was no excuse. The judge said he was also swayed into issuing his order because the people being held by Border Patrol are neither pretrial detainees nor prisoners. They are civil detainees who are being denied the ability to wash or clean themselves for several days, he said. And Bury said that transferring them as a 72-hour limit approaches does not solve the problem. Still, he acknowledged a lack of showers in these holding facilities. With that in mind, he ordered Border Patrol to provide some means or materials for washing and/or maintaining personal hygiene when detainees are held longer than 12 hours. A photograph of a Tucson police officer, showing her on duty with no magazine in her gun, went viral on a Facebook page dedicated to law enforcement. The photo of Officer Faith Schrouder was posted on the Survive the Streets: A Page for Cops photo timeline in mid-October and has received more than 2,200 views, more than 1,000 shares and 1,700 comments. Law enforcement personnel across the nation have left comments that range from disbelief to humorous to questioning the danger posed to officers and the public. Schrouder was hired by the department on January 2013 and patrols the downtown business district. When the Arizona Daily Star inquired into the matter, Lt. Corey Doggett explained that on Oct. 17 at about 5 p.m., Schrouder and another officer had just come on duty and responded to a check-welfare call involving a man who was suffering a mental crisis. The officers took the man, without incident, to the Crisis Response Center at Banner-University Medical Center South. It appears someone took the photo while the officers were interacting with the man and later posted it on the Internet, said Doggett. After the officers handled the call, Schrouder was informed about her gun not having bullets, as required by the departments general orders. Schrouder corrected the problem and advised her sergeant, said Doggett. Doggett said the incident and photo were brought to the attention of Schrouders commanders, who reviewed the incident and determined that the action was a mistake and not misconduct, said Doggett. He said commanders spoke to Schrouder about her mistake and that she was counseled and provided with remedial training. Tucson police have identified a man who was stabbed to death overnight at the Ronstadt Center in downtown. Joseph Robert Lundberg, 38, died as emergency workers tried to save his life about 12:30 a.m. Saturday. Tucson fire crews and Tucson police went to the transit center, after a 911 caller reported a wounded man, said Sgt. Pete Dugan, a department spokesman. Officers found Lundberg near a bus bench with obvious signs of trauma. Tucson fire paramedics immediately began to perform first aid, however the man was pronounced dead at the scene, Dugan said. Homicide detectives have since learned that Lundberg was stabbed during a fight with a man about 11:30 p.m. near the center's bus benches. The man who stabbed Lundberg ran away, heading north away from the center, Dugan said. A typical zoning hearing for a 7-acre subdivision doesnt draw more than a handful of protesters mainly people who live close by. But on Tuesday, the Pima County Board of Supervisors expects to hear hours of objections to a 7-acre greenhouse that global biotech giant Monsanto Co. wants to put in rural Avra Valley, northwest of Tucson. Critics are upset not just about Monsantos plans to operate here, but also about County Administrator Chuck Huckelberrys support of incentives that would reduce the companys property taxes by two-thirds. The company promises $95 million to $105 million in investments, 40 to 60 jobs paying an average of $44,000 a year and an emphasis on sustainability. It says the automated operation will use far less water and land and a fraction of the herbicides normally sprayed for an operation of this scale. The greenhouse will turn out a new generation of corn seed varieties, both conventional and genetically modified, that will help farmers around the world have more productive and resilient crops, Monsanto says. Huckelberry, who wants the board to support Monsantos incentives, says that even after accounting for the tax breaks, the county will get far more tax revenue from the companys 155 acres in the Avra Valley than it receives today on the vacant parcel. Monsanto will become the largest taxpayer in the Marana Unified School District, Huckelberry wrote in a memo last month. It will have twice the taxable value of the Ritz Carlton Hotel and Resort. In the past month, the district and the Joint Technical and Educational Districts governing boards passed measures supporting Monsantos application. Last week, Pima Community Colleges Governing Board rejected one by a 3-2 vote. The project will have no negative environmental impacts, Huckelberry says. But critics who have organized rallies and circulated petitions against the deal say Monsantos presence would seriously damage Tucsons burgeoning reputation as an international City of Gastronomy. UNESCO bestowed the title last December. We were just designated based on our long agricultural heritage. What that stands for is diversity. What Monsanto stands for is homogenization, said Megan Kimble, managing editor of Edible Baja Arizona magazine, which spearheaded the push for the City of Gastronomy recognition and which recently editorialized against tax incentives for Monsanto. Opponents say its not fair for one of the worlds largest biotech firms which will get much bigger if a proposed merger with Bayer AG is approved to get major tax subsidies that local farmers dont get. They dont trust Monsanto to run an environmentally friendly and sustainable greenhouse, based on what they see as the companys poor track record for transparency and honesty around the world. At issue Tuesday will be whether supervisors support Monsantos application to the U.S. Commerce Department to expand an existing foreign-trade zone in Pima County. If Commerce approves the application, Monsanto gets the tax break. University of Arizona scientist and local-food advocate Gary Nabhan objects to adding Monsanto and its GMO corn seeds to a foreign-trade zone that promotes trade with Mexico. He said Mexicos scientific leaders oppose GMOs and its courts have banned certain genetically modified crops. Putting Monsanto in this area is like putting a factory in a nature sanctuary, Nabhan said at a rally held Thursday to oppose the incentives. LESS WATER will be used, COmpany SAYS Monsantos greenhouse would be part of a company effort to find the best, most-productive corn seeds . It will contain a blend of genetically modified seeds and non-GMO seeds, said Kyle Smith, a leader in Monsantos breeding activities. It eventually will grow 400,000 to 500,000 corn plants annually, all indoors, the company says. Its the first time weve had a greenhouse with this level of sophistication, Smith said. The greenhouse essentially will be split into two. Two 3-acre sections will be glassed in, separated by 2 acres that will hold irrigation and fertilizer tanks, soil media, potted plants, shellers to remove kernels from corncobs and driers to prepare seed for shipment. The 155-acre site will also have an office building, a 2 million gallon water tank for fire suppression and a composting facility. For now, at least, no outdoor corn-seed planting is planned, Monsanto says. Monsanto has drawn complaints and lawsuits elsewhere that say its genetically modified seeds have blown from open fields onto other farms and contaminated those farmers seeds. Critics worry that could happen here, even with a greenhouse. It is a sealed greenhouse, Smith countered. Ventilation will flow through the roof and floor, with roof vents covered by mesh tight enough to keep insects out or corn pollen from escaping, he said. A similarly scaled corn seed operation in a field would use 250 acre-feet of water, Monsanto says, enough to serve at least 500 typical Tucson homes for a year. This project will use one-fifth that much from a well on the property, said Smith. While that amounts to about 7 acre-feet per acre far more than is typically used to grow corn or virtually any other crop in Arizona that comparison isnt valid for the greenhouse, Monsanto spokeswoman Christi Dixon said. The greenhouse will grow corn plants twice as closely packed as they would be in an open field, she said. Because of Southern Arizonas year-round growing season, the greenhouse can grow three generations of corn crops yearly three times the norm. Taking all that into account, the greenhouses water use should amount to 1.19 acre-feet per acre, she said. Monsanto will also install a system to recycle water the plants dont take in, Dixon said. Monsanto bought its land in October, prior to board approval but after discussing plans with county officials since March. We felt this had a good chance of being approved, Smith said. GMOS, CHEMICALS WORRY SOME SMALL FARMERS Monsanto has no place in the nations first City of Gastronomy, said Debbie Weingarten, a board member for a local-food-advocacy group. She points to its use of GMOs and herbicides and a potential for corporate homogenization of agriculture to put small, organic farms out of business. Our UNESCO application directly pointed toward the rich history and culture of food production here, which goes back 4,000 years and is based around traditional crops and dryland farming by the Tohono OOdham and their ancestors, Weingarten said. Weingarten serves on the board of the Pima County Food Alliance, a nonprofit that advocates for a secure food system that is environmentally sound. She also sits on the city of Tucsons Commission on Food Security, Heritage and Economy, is a co-founder and board member of the local Farmer Education and Resource Network and is a former co-owner of Sleeping Frog Farms in the rural village of Cascabel. In the past 20 years, this region has seen an upswing in local growers and food advocates who are promoting a food system that values the connection between people producing food and people who consume food, she said. Like Sleeping Frog Farms, many local farms are certified as naturally grown, or organic, and are committed to growing food without using chemicals. Concern for water supply and pollinator population doesnt seem to be a concern that industrial agriculture or specifically Monsanto shares, she said. My concern with a corporation coming that doesnt have ties to this area would be that they have no long-term consideration. They dont have to live here or drink the water. Maneesh Shah, a founder and co-executive director of Heirloom Farmers Markets Inc., watches Heirlooms Rillito Market draw around 2,500 people on a typical Sunday. The market pays Pima County about $20,800 a year to lease space outside the Rillito Racetrack for food stalls, including at least 10 run by local and regional produce growers. Shah says he has no problem with Pima County giving tax incentives to some big companies such as Caterpillar, which he says fits in with the regions historic mining industry. But hes not convinced that Monsantos corporate agriculture blends in as well. Were less industrial. We care about our environment. Im not sure Monsanto fits that, he said. He wants county supervisors to let the public decide whether to support its property tax incentives.Clay Smith, a co-owner of Sleeping Frog Farms, says he wants the county to treat his business as well as its treating Monsanto. They bring in $100 million in investments, but look at what local farmers markets generate, he said. We grow food for taste, nutritional value, for freshness, not mass production or for shipping. We sell 100 percent of our food within 100 miles, at farmers markets and through direct marketing to three dozen restaurants, co-ops and Community-Supported Agriculture customers. Larry Parks, owner of Larrys Veggies at Rillito Market, neither supports nor opposes giving Monsanto incentives, but he said small growers should get used to it. Organic farmers arent going to get support from the government, said Parks, who grows a wide range of vegetables without pesticides. Monsanto is going to invest $100 million. If I had $100 million, I wouldnt be doing this. So they deserve a little tax break. Thats a lot of money coming into this county. ECONOMIC IMPACT Despite the controversy around Monsantos use of genetically modified organisms, Pima County has not identified any negative air quality, water quality, water supply, transportation capacity or natural resource impacts from the facility, Huckelberry said in his memo to supervisors last week. Furthermore, the county cannot regulate an agriculture operation based on state law. Assuming the company invests $95 million, its estimated county primary and secondary property tax bill for the first year would be nearly $190,000, according to county calculations obtained by the Star through public-records requests. Without the foreign-trade-zone designation, that bill would be more than $500,000. The previous owners paid just shy of $2,000 in 2015 property taxes on the undeveloped agricultural land. The economic impact of the project is estimated at around $280 million between 2016 and 2025, according to an analysis conducted by Sun Corridor Inc., a privately and publicly funded economic-development firm. To address environmental concerns, Huckelberry proposed creating two commissions to look for potential adverse impacts and separate fact from fiction about the company. One commission would focus on agricultural science, the other on social and policy concerns. Monsanto would pay up to $50,000 annually for any research or technical analysis deemed necessary by the science commission. Benefits questioned Sylvia Lee, a member of the Pima College Governing Board, voted against a motion supporting Monsantos foreign-trade-zone designation to align her vote with her values, which have a lot to do with the public good and public health. Im concerned that genetically engineered foods havent produced the benefits that were touted years ago, Lee said One reason she voted against the designation was a recent New York Times article. Evidence doesnt show that the production of genetically modified foods has increased crop yields or reduced herbicide use, the story said. It cited United Nations data in comparing results from Europe, which 20 years ago largely rejected the growing of genetically modified foods at the same time the United States and Canada were approving it. Comparing results on the two continents, using independent data as well as academic and industry research, shows how the technology has fallen short of the promise, reported the Times. In response, Monsanto accused the newspaper of cherry-picking data and of overlooking the perspectives of farmers worldwide who choose to use GMOs. The company said making comparisons across broad areas is difficult because of differing crop maturity rates and overall traits of the regions agriculture. It said USDA statistics show that soybean and corn yields in the U.S. have actually risen around 28 to 30 percent in the GMO era since 1996. View from Maranas cotton fields Some conventional cotton farmers in the Marana area say they have no problem with Monsantos greenhouse plans and appreciate what its technology has done for their operations. But theyre split on whether the company should get local tax incentives. Pima County, with its mining cutbacks and other jobs setbacks, shouldnt even be debating the incentives, but should have its arms wide open for 50 good-paying jobs, said Marana cotton farmer Arnold Burruel. Another longtime Marana farmer, Tom Clark, said hes not convinced that a company Monsantos size needs tax incentives. The county is not in that good of a financial position. I just think they ought to be putting their money into fixing the potholes and fixing the roads, Clark said. But Clark said hes not concerned about seed contamination from Monsanto because he believes the greenhouse will be effectively sealed. He and everybody I know of in Marana uses GMO seeds to grow cotton, he said. He uses seeds that are resistant to pink bollworm at one time a serious threat to cotton crops and said that, due to the GMO cotton, he sprayed his fields once last year, rather than seven to eight times like he used to. Maranas continued encroachment onto farmland concerns him far more than a 7-acre greenhouse, Clark said. Like another farmer told him, The last crop a farmer wants on his ground is houses. The Marana Unified School District board has unanimously approved a property tax arrangement with agribusiness giant Monsanto that will save the company roughly $3.4 million in taxes over 10 years. The deal, approved in late October, will also give the average district homeowner a small reduction in property taxes, but less of a reduction than could have been the case if another plan was approved. The vote centered on how to handle property tax impacts if the company is granted a so-called foreign-trade-zone designation, which drops tax burdens significantly. The Pima County Board of Supervisors is to consider a proposal Tuesday, but that will impact only the three taxes it controls. Other districts, including MUSD, have to come up with their own arrangements. On Oct. 27, three such proposals from Monsanto were presented to the school board by Superintendent Doug Wilson, according to meeting minutes reviewed by the Star. The first, which the board eventually approved, provided for a one-time $500,000 payment from Monsanto to the Marana Schools 2340 Foundation and annual tax payments of $188,000, according to the minutes. The second was similar, but involved a $250,000 payment to the foundation and 40 scholarships worth $400,000 over the 10 years tr trade-zone status would be in place. The final proposal, which figures in the minutes show would have cost Monsanto the most but provided nothing to the foundation, was annual property tax payments of $580,000. As noted by Wilson, even if Monsanto were to pay the full taxes, the district would receive the same amount in overall property taxes districtwide as in the other scenarios, though taxpayers would pay $10 less a year in district property taxes with that option, according to the minutes. No matter what, it was a little bit of a reduction in the tax burden, he said Friday. In terms of benefits to the district, however, Wilson argued that options one and two would be more significant for students and staff, according to the minutes. The donation that we would receive from Monsanto for that one time, our board really felt it gave us more flexibility to have greater impact now than the other options that we had, he said. Board member Tom Carlson, agreed, saying the first option was the best deal. The image of the district and how we are stewards of the taxpayers money is at the forefront of any decision, he said later. And equal to that is benefit to the district and to the students and to the families. The foundation provides a number of benefits to students and staff, including scholarships, tutoring and professional development, according to Brenda Drury, its secretary. Drury said the $500,000 represented a big donation to the foundation. Total contributions to the foundation were just shy of $300,000 in fiscal year 2015, during which it spent nearly $200,000, according to filings available online and summaries from Guidestar. The boards decision also came with substantial benefits to Monsanto, according to a Star analysis of the three proposals, the results of which were confirmed by Wilson. The first two scenarios would have cost the company $2.4 million and $2.5 million respectively in property taxes and other payments, but the third would have cost the company $5.8 million, or roughly $3.4 million more than the first proposal. Carlson said the discussion preceding the boards decision was not about trying to lure Monsanto. It was not a discussion about how this would benefit Monsanto or anything like that. Wilson said Monsanto officials did not express a preference among the options or otherwise try to influence the vote, adding: When they came to the board, it really was up to the board. County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry said his office encourages those applying for trade-zone status, in this case Monsanto, to hold the districts harmless, or pay the higher rate, though the county is not able to compel applicants to do so. He said he would not second-guess the MUSD boards decision, adding that the upfront money for scholarships and other benefits have been more important to them. In the handful of other comparable cases, Huckelberry said that affected boards have opted for the full amount of property tax. Asked if Monsanto may have offered a large lump sum to the board in an effort to secure lower costs overall, Huckelberry declined to speak for Monsanto, but did say that such deals are a negotiation. Theyre going to probably look for the lowest contribution, versus the other side looking for a higher contribution, he said. Monsanto did not respond to requests for comment on Friday. Two former Southern Arizona law enforcement officers are facing the loss of their state certifications, which would bar them from working as certified officers in Arizona. In a Wednesday meeting of the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, members voted to start proceedings against Charles Austin, formerly of the Bisbee Police Department, and Israel Burkholder, a former Cochise County deputy, said spokeswoman Sandy Sierra. The board also reviewed the case of former Tucson police Officer Zachary Bohmer, who was fired after being accused of sexual assault, according to AZPOST documents. However, the board opted not to initiate proceedings, saying the investigation didnt provide enough information, Sierra said. The board felt the evidence was incomplete and additional information was necessary, but that information wasnt available now, she said. AZPOST compliance specialists are on alert and should he apply with another agency, it gives them the opportunity to gather this information through a polygraph examination by the potential hiring agency. Bohmer, 25, was officially fired by Tucson police July 6 for violating several department policies while he was a probationary employee. Hired in September 2015, Bohmer was already under investigation for his use of social media and photos he posted on the internet, when the department was notified of the sexual assault allegations, according to AZPOST documents. In April, a woman told TPD detectives shed been sexually assaulted by a man who said he was a police officer, the documents show. The woman said that the one time she met up with Bohmer, she found herself afraid to resist or turn him down when the encounter turned sexual, and that he forced her to perform oral sex on him, according to the documents. When detectives interviewed Bohmer, he said everything was consensual and the woman had sent him a text message the next day. In a follow-up interview with internal affairs, Bohmer changed his story and admitted that he texted the woman. The criminal case was sent to the Pima County Attorneys Office, which declined to prosecute because of insufficient evidence and the unlikelihood of getting a conviction. When he was asked about it, he wasnt sure which girl they were talking about since he is on Tinder (an online dating app) and has had multiple dates with different girls, the county attorney wrote in the declination letter, adding that it was unlikely the case would make it through a grand jury. Bohmer was terminated after the first investigation. He will receive a letter alerting him to the boards decision. Drug use at issue On Nov. 10, the Star reported that Burkholder, 43, who had recently been arrested in a murder-for-hire plot, resigned from the Cochise County Sheriffs Office nearly two years ago after he admitted to using oxycodone and Vicodin while on duty for 1 years, according to board documents. The boards decision Wednesday to initiate proceedings was based solely on the drug use. Burkholder, who worked at the department for more than a decade, appeared before a Cochise County judge Thursday, in a preliminary hearing for the murder-for-hire trial. Hes been charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, aggravated assault with serious injury and several drug charges, according to court documents. Breath test Former Bisbee police Officer Austin, 37, resigned in lieu of termination after he was discovered to have alcohol in his system while on-duty and wearing his uniform, according to board documents. In October 2014, Austin called his supervisor while on duty and said that he wouldnt be able to attend the staff briefing because of plumbing problems at his home. Because the department had received numerous reports in prior months that Austin had appeared in public in various states of intoxication and had shown up at the department off-duty and drunk, they decided to check on him to make sure he was fit for duty, the documents show. When they arrived at his house, the supervisors found Austin in uniform and intoxicated, and learned that there was no plumbing issue. His breath test revealed a blood-alcohol level of 0.179, and he admitted to having a drinking problem and needing to go to rehab, according to the documents. His second violation of department alcohol policies in three months, Austin was placed on leave but resigned the next day. Formal complaints will be mailed to Austin and Burkholder, who have the opportunity for an AZPOST hearing with an administrative law judge, Sierra said. Faith Herrod wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up. The 11-year-old lives in the small Central California town of Lemoore with her family, three dogs and three cats. Someday, shell get a rabbit, too as soon as her mother lets her. In her free time, Faith should be out playing with her dogs. But for almost a year, she was not able to do so. She would come home from school at 4 p.m. and go right to bed. Thats because last October, the sixth-grader was diagnosed with valley fever, a fungal infection that kept her out of school for months and left her with regular headaches and chronic pain. Sometimes, when you get super tired, itll feel like your ribs will go in, she said, wrapping her arms around her stomach. Itll feel like your ribs go in and hurt really bad. Faith contracted valley fever by breathing in fungal spores carried by the wind. Thats how the disease is contracted, and it can happen at any time. Faiths mother, Caren, isnt entirely sure when it happened, but her best guess is it happened while they were doing yard work one day something they had done dozens of times before. Herrod never imaged that, after so much time, Faith would not have built up natural immunity and that she could still be at risk. If I had known that she was susceptible, it wouldve been different, Herrod said. We wouldve done things differently. As it turns out, Faith and her mother could have known. A new skin test called Spherusol can detect whether a person has developed natural immunity, meaning theyve overcome valley fever before. Because most valley fever cases are asymptomatic, many people whose immune systems have battled the disease may never know it. Advocates are excited about the test. So are doctors like Dr. John Galgiani, director of the University of Arizonas Valley Fever Center for Excellence. He dreams of seeing Spherusol being used as a tool to screen for past infections. I think that Spherusols best use will be in primary care doctors offices, to test their patients on a routine basis to find out if theyve indeed previously had valley fever, Galgiani said. If patients knew they had never conquered valley fever, they could better prepare themselves against it, and doctors might be more likely to diagnose the disease if patients showed unusual symptoms. L imits on test But despite its promise, the test isnt in wide use. Frankly, I dont use it very often myself, Galgiani said. Even specialists dont use it very often. Thats because the Food and Drug Administration hasnt approved Spherusol for testing immunity. Instead, the test is supposed to be used by clinicians only after a person has been diagnosed with the disease. Galgiani and others would like to see the FDA change the rules to allow its use whenever a clinician thinks a test is warranted. If the labeling is changed to allow the test to be used to test for prior infection, then it opens up a whole different value of the test to the clinical community, Galgiani said. Valley fever lurks in dirt and dust in the desert throughout the Southwest. Most people who inhale the spores fight off the disease without ever knowing they had it. Some develop flu- or pneumonia-like symptoms. In rare cases, it can cause severe lung infection or disseminate throughout the body, requiring lifelong treatment or leading to fatal meningitis. But there is some good news. Once youve had valley fever and gotten over it, you are for all practical purposes immune from a second infection, Galgiani said. Skin test reveals exposure Thats why Spherusol could have such an impact: It could reveal a persons history of exposure. Before, that was something most people could only wonder about. Spherusol works similarly to a tuberculosis skin test. A clinician injects a small amount of spores under the skin, and the reaction indicates whether immunity has developed. Similar skin tests for valley fever were first developed in the 1930s, but the most recent iteration was discontinued in the 1990s after the company that produced it was unable to turn a profit. Spherusol was released in 2014 and costs about $62. No studies have directly compared its efficacy to previous tests. Now, instead of being used as a way to determine valley fever exposure, Spherusol is considered a sort of immune-system checkup for those recovering from the disease. Its indicated for understanding how their body is reacting to the disease, said Tom Carpenter, president and CEO of Nielsen Biosciences, the Arizona-based company that developed Spherusol. Is their immune system engaged? Or is their immune system overwhelmed? Or are they potentially immune-compromised and not even able to respond to the infection? Carpenter says screening patients could be a great way to use the test, but getting the FDA to approve a change in the labeling could take years. It would involve new clinical trials and potentially millions of dollars of investment. He says his company is looking into it. In the meantime, however, he points out that doctors are already allowed to use Spherusol for off-label uses. Health-care providers right now have the ability to make a medical judgment on how best to use the skin test, Carpenter said. So, its certainly not preventing them from making that use, but we cant speak to that use. But using Spherusol off-label has challenges like its price tag. A single test may not break a budget, but regular valley fever screening would mean periodic trips to the doctor to pay $62 for a prick under the skin. Some health insurers cover it but only for its prescribed use. Even then, some reimburse as little as $4. Spherusol can only be bought in vials of 10 doses; once the vial is open, the countdown to expiration begins. If you dont use it all, it costs a lot of money, said Dr. Royce Johnson, chief of infectious disease at Kern Medical in Bakersfield, California. So theres some resistance to stocking it. Another problem? Spherusol is only approved for 18-to 64-year-olds, even though children can be hit hard by valley fever and the CDC says people over 60 are most at risk. Prisoners get new test Despite all its obstacles, the test has been used to screen one very large patient group: California state prisoners, where it appears to be helping to prevent the disease. Prisoners who test negative to Spherusol, which indicates they havent built up an immunity to valley fever, are not sent to serve their terms in the two Central Valley prisons hit hardest by the disease. Faith Herrod didnt have access to Spherusol a year ago, but her mother admits that wouldnt have solved the root of the problem: that she didnt take valley fever seriously enough because so little information about it is available. With a disease that is so prevalent, for there to be so little information, its sad, Caren Herrod said. Meanwhile, Faith is back at school full-time, and hopes she can soon take her dogs, Moses and Jasmine, out for a walk. OPINION: "Dickens' famous passage about an earlier fraught time captures this knife-edge moment: 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us...'" writes Tucsonan Brent Harold. Veterans ceremony ". . . As a grateful Nation, we honor more than 58,000 patriots --their names etched in black granite -- who sacrificed all they had and all they would ever know. We draw inspiration from the heroes who suffered unspeakably as prisoners of war, yet who returned home with their heads held high. . ." --Presidential Proclamation -- Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War That smoke you saw rising from Mount Bigelow in the Santa Catalina Mountains northeast of Tucson Monday should be a more regular sight, say fire historians and forest ecologists. Two recent studies place different emphasis on the primary causes of fire in the mountains of the West, but the researchers who wrote them agree that restoring forests to a healthy state requires more attention to thinning them out and burning when circumstances permit. One study, published last month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), says fuel aridity the drying of trees by drought and increased temperatures is the major cause of contemporary fires. The other says human manipulation of the landscape was the key factor in historical fires. That latter study, published this week in PNAS, found that major sociological changes influenced management of the forests in the Sierra Nevada range in California. That manipulation of the landscape was more important than drought and fuel buildup for more than 400 years when it came to fire susceptibility, the researchers found. Fire activity was low in the earliest period, from 1600 to 1775, said Valerie Trouet, an associate professor in the University of Arizona Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research and a lead co-author of the study. The indigenous inhabitants of the Sierra Nevada set fires to drive out animals for hunting and to improve production of food products such as acorns, she said. These were small-scale burns, which disrupted the continuity of fuels, such as grasses. That changed after 1775, when missionaries and colonists came to California, introducing diseases that drastically reduced the native population and policies against burning. Fire activity doubled. During a third period, starting in 1866, the fire-scar record in trees showed a decrease in fire. Researchers attributed the reduction to an influx of people after the Gold Rush. Population boomed and forests were logged, while grazing cattle and sheep reduced the load of grasses and other fine fuels. An even bigger reduction came in the early 1900s, when forest managers introduced a policy of snuffing out fires before they could spread. You get the Smokey Bear effect, Trouet said. She said her research began when she was a post-doctoral researcher with co-author Alan H. Taylor of Penn States Earth and Environmental Systems Institute. They set out to find a climatic reason for fires in the Sierra Nevada. But when the researchers combined a 300-year record of fire scars with historical documentation of acres burned since 1908, they found that the changes in land management trumped climate. That has now changed. By the fourth period, starting in 1987, snuffing out fires became more difficult. That forest fuel buildup, coupled with drought and rising temperatures, made it impossible to contain fires that raged across the landscape. Stronger fireclimate relationships have developed since the mid-1980s, and our analysis, and other studies, show that fire activity, particularly at high severity, has increased as a result of warming and earlier spring snowmelt, the study says. Currently climate is the major driver of this recent increase in burned area, said A. Park Williams, of Columbia Universitys LamontDoherty Earth Observatory. Williams was a coauthor of the fuel aridity study published in October that found a changing (hotter, drier) climate responsible for three-quarters of the Wests fires since 1979. Williams said the record shows that when there is fuel on the landscape and you dry it out, then fire is inevitable. Burning when the fuels are not so dry is a good way to reduce the threat, he said. He said he hopes the evidence being uncovered by scientists will lead to public support for better forest management. When there is drought, and as we warm, big fire years will become more common, he said. Given that inevitability, we hope the public understands that we cant continue this policy that we just hope every year that fire doesnt occur at the wrong time in the wrong place. Scott Stephens, an environmental scientist at the University of California, Berkeley, and a co-author of the Sierra Nevada study, said climate may be the driving force in fires right now but over time the predominant factor is really the social system and ability to change fire regimes quite drastically and abruptly. It gives you hope, he said. To me it means there is a possibility of changing trajectories with forest conservation and sustainability efforts. When forests burn frequently, there is a chance to reduce that trajectory, he said. The 200 acres burned on Mount Bigelow is a small step, but land managers across the West are planning bigger ones. The Four Forest Restoration Initiative in Northern Arizona will use thinning and prescribed burning to treat 50,000 acres of ponderosa pine forest in the Kaibab, Coconino, Apache-Sitgreaves and Tonto national forests each year for 20 years. So far this year, Arizonas national forests have burned 88,013 acres in prescribed fires. A wetter than normal spring made it possible for some naturally caused fires to be managed for resource improvement, said Heidi Schewel, spokeswoman for the Coronado National Forest. Help India! TCN series on Muslim women empowerment On International Womens Day on 8th March, TCN is bringing great stories of Muslim women empowerment from different states of India Editor Support TwoCircles By Ilyaskhan Pathan, TwoCircles.net, A first-time voter, she fought and won the Panchayat election thus became the youngest Sarpanch of Kankot of Vakaner taluka in Rajkot district in Gujarat. Afsana Mohammed Badi, 19, who has just qualified to vote and to participate in the worlds largest democracy persuaded 3000 voters and battered 2 other candidates to make the history. Afsana won the Panchayat election on 31st December 2011 by 51 votes. Afsana Muhammad, the youngest Sarpanch in Gujarat Confident Afsana told TCN: I was extremely confident to win the election. She dreamt of becoming a Sarpanch since her childhood. She has the good fortune to be born and brought up in the family of politicians. Her Father Mohammed Badi was the Sarpanch for 15 years and now the Head of Kankot Van Sanrakshan Samiti. Mother Amina Badi has also won the grampanchayat election. Telling about her confident daughter, Mohammed Badi said, When we took Afshana to submit nomination form she told the officer that she will surely win the election and offered them the sweet. Ninth class pass-out Afsana got emotional when she was invited for flag hoisting ceremony on this past Republic Day (26th January 2012) in her own alma mater JKT School. The first thing she did as a Sarpanch is to get the approval of six additional classrooms in JKT School. Remembering her high school days she said, I had to travel 5 Kilometers away from my village for the SMPH High School. Even today Kankot doesnt have a high school. I want to build a High School in my village and bring progress in the village she pledged. Afsana Muhammad with parents Her teacher Ajay Singh Rana told TCN, She used to tell me in her school days that she will not tolerate any indiscipline in the school after becoming Sarpanch of this village. Now she is. I am so proud that one of my students has become a sarpanch. Afsana, naturally, likes to get respect and invitation in different programmes but she still cooks and helps her mother in other domestic work. She said, I take care of our cow without any hesitation. Admiring Congress president Sonia Gandhi Afsana also loves to see Heena Rabbani, foreign minister of Pakistan, on Television. She said, I dream of becoming a Foreign Minister of India by looking at Heena Rabbani. Help India! By Arif Hussain On Sunday the Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra D. Modi said powerful moneyed people wouldnt leave him alive. And nobody batted an eyelid. What does it say about Mr. Modis persona and his public posturing and level of political discourse in India? Support TwoCircles During his address on November 13, 2016 during the foundation stone laying ceremony of Mopa Green Field International Airport & Electronic City at Tuam in Goa, the Indian prime minister Mr. N. D. Modi said I am looting away their stash of 70 years, they wouldnt leave me alive, will destroy me. (Video link -1:02:03, Transcript, last para). Imagine Angela Merkel or Francois Hollande coming on live Television and disclose that there are forces in Germany and France, respectively, that are out to kill her/him. What would be the response of German and French security forces? Wouldnt they go in an overdrive to hunt down these groups who are threatening the head of the German government and the French state? And what of German and French people? Wouldnt there be pandemonium on the streets, at least by their party supporters? Now compare this to the response to Mr. Modis remarks in Goa. Even after Mr. Modi has directly acknowledged a threat to his life not a single red alert has been sounded. Neither the agencies tasked with his protection have come out with an update, nor Mr. Modi has deigned to issue a clarifying statement. If Mr. Modi had referred to a foreign intelligence agency or a global terrorist group, it would have been understandable, but specifically referring to moneyed interest within country as a threat to his life shows that either he doesnt mean what he says, or, worse, it betrays his lack of faith in Indian institutions including security forces and intelligence agencies. What is even more shocking is peoples apathy towards such a statement by the prime minister of the country. Apart from a reference by Mr. Anand Sharma (MP-RS) in the upper house, there has been no media attention on the issue or even a splash-in-the-pan reaction in social media. If the Prime Minister doesnt trust the security forces and intelligence agencies of India to deal with the people threatening him, he should make such names public and I am sure the people of India, to save the prestige of the position of the Prime Minister of the Indian Republic, would take care of such forces. As it stands, threatening Narendra Modi, the individual, is very different from threatening Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India. What are we missing here? It would be interesting to compare his Goa speech with his speeches during the 2014 election campaign and even earlier during his time as the Gujarat chief minister. Taking, for example, his now infamous speeches during the 2014 election campaign on 15-20 lakh in every poor persons account or bringing back black money in 100 days or his 2007 speech on fake police encounter of undertrial Sohrabuddin Sheikh when he asks a frenzied crowd what should be done to a man like Sohrabuddin who hoarded weapons.. In all instances,it seems that Mr. Modis main objective has been to get the crowds worked up. And boy, do the crowds play along. In the light of the recent Goa speech and the non-reaction it elicited, it seems that people too have taken to reacting to what Mr. Modi says with a smile and a wink. That his persona as a public performer cum chief vote catcher for the BJP has gotten so entrenched that now Mr. Modi cant change and speak more seriously. It seems over halfway into his term, Mr. Modi still hasnt been able to shed the mindset of a street fighter election campaigner who relishes the sound of people cheering, laughing and clapping even if it comes at the expense of facts and undermining the very institutions and agencies he is incharge of. But the worst part is that people have gotten used to such bombast coming from none other than the highest executive authority in the country. What this does to the level and content of political discourse in the nation and how long it would take to change it, is anybodys guess. (Arif Hussain is a researcher and activist based in Cambridge, U.S.A.) Help India! By TCN News More than 1 lakh women attended the 26th Grand Annual Sunni Ijtema event to acquire Islamic knowledge; understand their roles and responsibilities, prepare themselves in accordance with Islamic teachings for developing a moral society. Support TwoCircles The following is a summary of the topics covered in todays event by various speakers: Rights of women in Islam According to the Holy Quraan, men and women have been created from the same essence, and consequently both are equally honorable and their spiritual status, moral status, legal status as human beings is different. The mother, according to Islamic theology, is three times more honorable than man as the father. The Holy Prophet Muhammad said, Paradise lies by the feet of the mother. He has not said this about the father. So, woman as mother is three times superior to man as father. Woman as a daughter is twice more honorable than man as son. Woman as sister is twice more honorable than man as brother. Woman as wife is the equal of her husband. The Holy Quraan has clearly laid down And they (women) have rights similar to those (of men) over them, according to what is equitable (Quran 2:228) The mutual obligations between the husband and wife, as far as the legal status is concerned, they are exactly the same, they are on par. It is not that women is inferior in a manner, it is not so. Then the Holy Quraan says something which is absolutely natural and rational and that thing is that physically, man is stronger than women. Consequently man is capable of shouldering more obligations in connection with the obligations towards the family. All these obligations have been placed on the shoulders of man and not on the shoulders of women. Although the woman has been given the economic freedom to earn for herself, but the economic unit of the family is really man who has also been made the head of the family. If he likes the head that wears the crown, he has been crowned, but crowned with the crown of thorns. He has been made the protector of the honor, property and life of all those other interests which might be there. He is the guardian of his wife. The obligations have been placed upon his shoulders in connection with the affairs of the family. It is a fact, that woman is more delicate in her personality, biologically and psychologically: and it is easier to damage a woman, than to damage a man. Men are polygamous by nature whilst women are monogamous by nature. She feels very hurt when her husband wants to play any trick on her. So in this connection, Islam has taken great care, to appeal to the Muslim men, to be very careful about the rights of women. To an extent that in connection with the husband and the wife, the Holy Prophet Muhammad has made it the standard of the dignity and honor of a mumin (Believer)as to how nicely and excellently he behaves towards his wife. He may be doing some other things in his life, which might be good, but the Holy Prophet Muhammad says that if he is not good to his wife, then he cannot be regarded as a good man in any sense of the word. The best of you is he who is best to his wife The Holy Prophet Muhammad was so careful about it and viewed it so seriously that when he gave the Charter of Human Rights, at the time of the Farewell Pilgrimage, he mentioned the women, especially the wives as something sacred. He said to the Muslims, O Muslims! Remember that your wives are a trust of God in your hands. Be careful, you will be called to account on the Day of Judgment by God Almighty. As regarding the word trust, remember that a trust is always something sacred. Women enjoy equal rights in Shariah in respect of ownership, management of financial affairs, civil transactions and contracts. Objectives of Sharia Law The primary concern of Shariah is protection and advancement of the five essentials (al-daruriyat al- khamsah) for all human beings 1. Right to Life, 2. Right to Religion, 3. Right to Property, 4. Right to Intellect and 5. Right to Family (Lineage) It is often said that Shariah in all of its parts is concerned with the manner of best protecting these values. Procedure in case of serious disagreement and conflict between the husband and the wife: 1. Effort at reconciliation through arbitration by a Family Council composed of one representative from each side. 2. a) While lending its weight to the sanctity of the marriage relation, the Holy Quran gives due consideration to the weaknesses and aberrations of human nature. Therefore, it allows divorce as a necessary evil, when that becomes the only remedy for rectifying a situation of irreconcilable incompatibility. b) In allowing the divorce, however, the Holy Quran prescribes a procedure which aims at eliminating the evils of idiosyncrasy and availing every possible opportunity and means for reconciliation before the final rupture, the procedure consisting in abstention from pronouncing divorce during the menstrual period, which is the period of least mutual husband-wife attraction, and pronouncing it in three stages at intervals of one month each, thereby preventing hasty step and providing the parties repeated opportunity for cool deliberation. c) Though pronouncement of divorce has been placed in the hands of the husband, the wife has also been given the right to sue for, and obtain, divorce. d) In case of divorce, again, the Holy Quran emphasizes with full force the safeguarding of the welfare of the wife and treatment of the wife with generosity e) The Quranic teaching is also emphatic in safeguarding the welfare of the unborn child, if that may be the case. f) When the marriage tie has been finally dissolved, the husband is not permitted to take back his wife, until she has married someone else sincerely and has thereafter become a widow or a divorcee. This injunction is meant to check husbands from making fun of marriage, which is a serious affair according to the Holy Quran. g) A period of waiting, or probation, has been prescribed for the divorced women as a healthy gap in their sexual life, and for saving them from taking any hasty step in connection with their next marriage (which is necessary after the emotional disturbance caused by the shock of divorce), and for safeguarding the interests of the unborn child, if any. h) Cessation of relations with the wife without freeing her from the marriage-tie has been prohibited. Restriction on Polygamy and rights of woman It was not Islam that initiated polygamy. Islam rather reformed and regulated the already existent practice. Before Islam, there was no limitation as to the number of women a man could marry. Restricting this number to four, Islam at the same time emphatically recommends monogamy, if one is apprehensive of not being able to treat all spouses with justice. Secondly, contracting more than one marriage is not a commandment, but rather a permission given in special circumstances, motivated by the aim of upholding and safeguarding the marital institution. In times of war and plague, for instance, the number of men can tend to decrease drastically, leaving many women without spouses. The practice can therefore serve to protect women left without protection. Moreover, if one is married to a woman depleted with ill health, a physical disorder or one who is unable to conceive, then the practice can provide opportunity for remarriage without the need for divorce. Regardless of the circumstance, the upper limit is four, whatever the motive behind it may be. As for contracting multiple marriages; essentially, this is only a permission, rendering permissible (mubah) something that at the same time can become impermissible (makruh) if there is fear of committing injustice towards any of the spouses. Its better to get divorce than to stay in horrible marriages in a miserable state. The worst thing about horrible marriages is ingratitude. Its hard to be in a state of gratitude with Allah if you are miserable. The Blessed Prophet states, A man married to two women without having established justice among them will be resurrected half paralyzed in the Hereafter. (Ibn Majah) Islam also allows women to lay down the condition, at the time of their marital contract, that her husband observe monogamy throughout the marriage. This is a legal right given to women permitting them to make a case against any second marriage provided they had stipulated it at the time of the contract. Islam places great emphasis on the progeny of human beings, to the point of demanding that a divorced woman wait a period of at least three months before marrying again, lest she may be pregnant from her previous marriage, in which case the waiting period will clear any confusion that might arise with regard to the childs father. The waiting period described is ignored today by almost all secular legal systems. The difference illustrates the level of care shown by Islam for human honor, through the laws it lays for ensuring its protection. The first day of the Ijtema ended with mass prayer for peace and prosperity of the whole mankind. Help India! By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net Former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi was on a days visit to Lucknow to explore the possibilities of his outfit Hindustani Aam Morcha in UP and said that his organisation would support the claims of a Muslim Chief Minister for the state. Support TwoCircles Besides Muslim CM for the state, Manjhi also claimed that there should be two Deputy CMs with one each from OBC and Dalit category. We are exploring the possibility of contesting the assembly polls in UP along with some smaller groups. If we are instrumental and have any role in government formation, I will favour a Muslim CM and two Deputy CMs with one from backward and other from dalit section, Manjhi told reporters in Lucknow on Friday. He also informed that talks are being held with Sadbhavna Party and Jan Samvad Party and election may be contested along with them by merger or alliance. He also stated that local leaders have been entrusted to sort out the alliance. Manjhi contested the Bihar assembly polls as part of NDA but refused to follow the same line. In Bihar we had contested as part of NDA but now if they will call me to even campaign in UP, I will not come, he said. Speaking on liquor ban in Bihar by CM Nitish Kumar, he claimed that he is in support of banning liquor but Nitish has done it in arbitrary manner. In Bihar if liquor is found in anyones home he will be arrested. Among Adivasis liquor is part of several traditions and it is affecting them, he said. Manjhi however favored demonetisation by central government stating that it will have far reaching effect and curb black money and counterfeiting of currency. Help India! By Twocircles.net Staff Reporter Malappuram: Tension prevailed in Malappuram after a 32-year-old man who converted to Islam six months ago was murdered on the wee hours of Saturday. Support TwoCircles Faisal was brutally hacked to death in Kodinhi by the roadside.His body was found by local residents at around 5 am on their way to mosque for dawn prayers. Faisal P, son of Ananthan Nair, converted to Islam while working in Saudi Arabia. He had been preparing to fly back to the Middle East before his murder. He returned home only four months ago after working in Gulf for a year. He was going to Parappanangadi railway station to pick his father-in-law Karthikeyan K P, who was coming from Thiruvananthapuram. Karthikeyan also said that Faisal had promised him that he would come the station to pick them up and they were waiting for him at the station in the morning. The auto-rickshaw he had used for transportation, was found abandoned by the dead body. Quoting neighbors, local media reports said that he had received threats even from his family members after he accepted Islam. Faisal, who was born in Thiruvananthapuram, relocated to Kodinhi, from where his father Ananthan Nair married his mother Meenakshi. The tragic death of Faisal has however left his family in uncertainty as he was one, whom five members relied up on. Priya, his wife, is studying at Maunathul Islamic Sabha at Ponnani after she embraced Islam recently. The couple have three children studying Islamic Education Centre (IEC) High School at Kodinhi. A forensic team from Thrissur, a dog squad and a team of fingerprint experts visited the site of the incident. Local residents also expressed shock over the incident and sad demise of Faisal. He has harmed no one and was ready to extend any help to the people in need. We wonder how he could be killed, said Faisals friend Aboobackar P. His body was buried after post-mortem was held at Kozhikode Government Medical College. Tirurangadi police has initiated a probe into the death. Police told Twocircles that a case had been registered on 302. The police has not received any clues about the culprits. Police force has been deployed in the region to avert unwanted incidents. Bird watchers from Europe and the UK are impressed with Uganda opportunities to indulge their love for things avian. The first African Birding Expo is currently being held in Uganda near Kampala on beautiful Lake Victoria. This is an opportunity to showcase the diversity of bird species in the country. With more than 1000 bird species representing 50 percent of Africa's birds, the expo has attracted hundred of bird lovers from Europe, the UK and even from as far away as the USA. Uganda hosts 10 percent of world's bird species Xinhuanet News reported that visitors are delighted to find out more about the bird paradise. It is indeed a paradise for 'twitchers' as Uganda "accounts for 10 percent of the globe's total bird species." In 2013 the Africa Bird Club voted Uganda as the preferred destination for bird watching. In 2012 they made it as the best destination on the Lonely Planet Website. This was good news for the Uganda Tourism Board as tourism currently brings in 23 percent the country's Gross Domestic Product. With Birding seen as an environmentally friendly eco-travel draw-card Uganda hopes that this Expo will encourage more bird-lovers to visit their country. Xinhuanet quoted the American Birding Association spokesperson, Nate Swick, as saying that he "urged Uganda to fully exploit the country's potential." The reason Uganda can boast such bird diversity is attributed to the geological and floral biodiversity of the country. Uganda has rich habitat and these include lush tropical forests, the banks of the Nile River, and the Great Lake Victoria. Biodiversity for sustainable development is seriously on the agenda in Uganda. In 2015, A new Biodiversity Conservation Trust for Uganda was launched in Kampala. Rare birds and reputable recommendations Amongst the rarer birds in Uganda can be found the Shoebill. These strangely ugly birds are coming under fire from human activity and there are now reportedly less than 200 of them left in the wild. Nevertheless, there are bird watching opportunities that stun visitors, and this was reported on by National Geographic - a media outlet with a respectable reputation. The pleasure of watching birds is that many of them are found in areas where other animals occur naturally. See the short video below to see a bird safari guide training experience in Uganda, the beautiful country known as the "jewel of Africa." Pardon the pun, but it seems rather apt in describing Boris Johnson's comments to Carlo Calenda, Italy's economics minister, in relation to the Foreign Secretary's claims that they should provide the UK with tariff-free access to prosecco. Calenda retorted that we would be unable to sell fish and chips to them if we quit the Single Market altogether. What is the December referendum all about? But beyond the insults of exports lies a profound challenge for Italy next month that demonstrates they have "bigger fish to fry" than the ones we currently export to them; the referendum on their proposed constitutional reforms. The markets should be preparing for a result far more substantial to the Euro's, and even the EU's, future than Brexit and Trump. The Italian Government has announced a referendum on constitutional reforms due to be held on Sunday December 4th. Matteo Renzi, Italy's current Prime Minister, has offered his resignation if the country votes against their proposals to amend the Italian Constitution. Yet by personalising the ballot, Renzi has provided an opportunity for voters to vent their anger against the left-right coalition that has failed to generate an economic recovery. How did the referendum come about? The situation emerged as a result of Renzi's failure to secure a two-thirds majority in their parliament for the changes he needs. The Prime Minister's aim is to transform Italy into a more governable country due to the frequent changes in government they have experienced since the formation of their Republic 70 years ago. With 63 different governments throughout that lifespan, it is little wonder these proposals are necessary. Both chambers possess equal legislative powers. The reforms would reduce the Senate's power and eradicate an overlap of responsibilities between the central and regional governments. They would essentially centralise Renzi's power and the re-election of deputies would depend almost entirely upon the popularity of the Prime Minister. He would be free to govern with an absolute majority in parliament. The implications of defeat But if the Prime Minister resigns, political turmoil awaits Italy. They have debts of 132.7% GDP and a banking sector struggling due to sluggish growth. The Five Star Movement, established by comedian Beppe Grillo, will benefit from a government defeat. Italy is restricted by the eurozone's structures and neither Merkel nor the European Commission are prepared to cut them some slack in regards to their enormous debts. If this happens, then the EU could be witnessing another Greek-style crisis that would be difficult to contain. Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, Italy's third largest lender, has the highest ratio of bad debts to outstanding loans among existing banks. Rome and Brussels entered talks during the summer to use public money to stave off huge losses for banks and shareholders. This would result in anti-bailout rules adopted in 2014 to prevent investors and some depositors to share the burden of bank failures. But the question is: will the EU exercise flexibility if the Italian Government loses on December 4th? In a year when Brexit and Trump both happened, there is no reason to doubt that this referendum will fail. It's time Italy sorted out its priorities and stopped worrying about British takeaways or prosecco; they have bigger fish to fry. A group that is leading the so-called Calexit movement, a campaign that would have California breaking away from the United States and becoming a separate nation, is working on opening an embassy in Russia. Louis Marinelli, who heads whats called the Yes California Independence Campaign, tells the financial and news site Business Insider that the planned embassy would include a resource center to promote trade relations and encourage tourism to California, as well as to provide information to Russians about the states history and culture. Marinelli says the group wants to establish connections now so if the breakaway movement does succeed, a new and independent California could ask, in his words, Will you now recognize that and therefore recognize our independence from the United States as a country? Calexit movement given big boost by Trump victory The Calexit movement, which earlier this year had gained little attention, suddenly was given a big boost when Donald Trump won the presidential election. Though he beat Hillary Clinton in the electoral college, Trump was trounced in California, with Clinton winning 61.5 percent of the votes cast in the state. Heading into election night about 11,000 people had indicated they liked the Facebook page for the Yes California Independence Campaign. But with despair and unrest spreading throughout California over the election results, a little more than a week later that number had exploded to 295,000 likes. The Calexit hashtag, a play on the Brexit movement, had also been trending for several days. This campaign is not just about Donald Trump though, the Yes California Independence Campaign says in a statement on its website. It is about the American people who elected him. If they could do such a thing, then the United States is not our country and Trump is not our president. We will vote to secede from the Union. Organizers note additional reasons for California breakaway Organizers say besides Trump winning the presidency, there are a number of additional reasons why they want to break away from the rest of the country. They point to what they refer to as flawed election, fiscal and political systems. Backers of the secession movement admit there are a number of hurdles to overcome before California could leave the U.S. And, a number of legal and political experts say there is little chance of the movement succeeding. First, the campaign must gather 1 million signatures from registered voters to put the measure on the 2018 ballot. If Californians were to vote in favor of secession, Congress and a majority of states would then have to approve an amendment to the Constitution that would allow California to leave the U.S. PLEASE NOTE! Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate! All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited! (One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!) 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. Tiki is one of leading e-commerce start-ups in Viet Nam. Photo tiki.vn HCM City Vietnamese e-commerce startups are capable of competing with international companies, which are increasingly coming to Viet Nam to set up business, delegates heard at a forum yesterday in HCM City. More foreign investors are coming to Viet Nam, but are not able to catch up with the character of the new emerging market with its unstable policies, Le Hai Binh, deputy chairman of the Viet Nam Electronic Commerce Association, said at the Viet Nam Startup forum. The forum was held during Global Entrepreneurship Week, an event celebrated in more than 160 countries by 10 million people. Vietnamese startups should be confident to compete with foreign companies on their home ground, Binh said. Huynh Viet Phuong, head of the representative office of Viet Nam Internet in HCM City said: The challenges for foreign investors are our advantages. This is strength for Vietnamese startup and you dont need to worry about their money or experience. But Phuong also suggested startups should control their quality of products, know who their customers are and should not do business in a hurry. Around 95 per cent of startups in Silicon Valley failed because they did not have the right development trend, Lucy Keoni, a US startup expert, said. She stressed the role of investors and trainers in guiding startup owners and staff. This is the same for Vietnamese startups. Before starting business operations, you should set out your development path, Binh added Huynh Ngoc Duy, CEO of Mat Bao JSC, said: Vietnamese startups dare not share their ideas because they are afraid of stealing, but it is not fully true. Global startups often have their own community to share ideas because if you discuss one idea from different aspects with many people, you can learn and avoid mistakes, he added. The Vietnamese Government has paid a lot of attention to developing the business community, especially for startups. There are 600,000 enterprises and 4 million households contributing to economic development, Vo Tan Thanh, deputy chairman of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said. By 2020, Viet Nam plans to have at least 1 million enterprises, with the private economic sector contributing 45 50 per cent of GDP. VCCI is proud of being the 13th partner of the Global Entrepreneurship Network and we are trying to deploy many startup encouragement projects around the country, he added. Corporate social responsibility At the forum, VCCI spoke about corporate social responsibility policies of companies. Le Thi Thu Thuy, vice director of the Small- and Medium-sized Enterprise Promotion Centre, of VCCI, said: The Global Entrepreneurial Week is a big opportunity for many attendees to develop their local and international business networks and learn from their peers. We want to show these start-ups that corporate social responsibility policies such as zero tolerance towards threatened wildlife consumption can attract new business and foreign investment. Vietnamese e-commerce businesses have a unique opportunity to be leaders in the reduction of wildlife trafficking, she said. TRAFFICs research has identified e-commerce as an important area to target to reduce wildlife trafficking. The Viet Nam Startup forum is a key way to reach companies entering the sector. In June, TRAFFIC conducted a 23-day rapid assessment of the top eight e-commerce websites in Viet Nam to determine the prevalence of wildlife sales online. For 30 minutes each day, TRAFFIC searched for wildlife products that ranged from birds and lizards to rhino horn and ivory. Over the course of the assessment, TRAFFIC found 180 advertisements for wildlife 64 per cent of which advertised illegal commodities. TRAFFICs rapid assessment suggests e-commerce websites are a low risk channel to supply consumers with illicit wildlife products, said Madelon Willemsen, head of TRAFFIC in Viet Nam. With the growth of the e-commerce market in Viet Nam, we must closely monitor activities in this sector and engage businesses to act against the illegal trade of wildlife. Through TRAFFICs partnerships with civil society organizations like VCCI, we are encouraging the business community, including the e-commerce sector, to adopt corporate social responsibility policies that reduce illegal trade and consumption of wildlife, she added. -- VNS HA NOI The doors are set to open wider for Vietnamese timber exports to Europe after Viet Nam and the European Union (EU) concluded negotiating a forestry pact. The Voluntary Partnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (VPA/FLEGT) was negotiated for nearly six years. The conclusion of negotiations was announced at press briefing in Ha Noi yesterday by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong and European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella. The VPA aims to ensure legal exports of all timber products and promote sustainable development of the Vietnamese wood sector while expanding its reach into foreign markets, especially the EU. It also aims to prevent illegal logging, strengthen forest governance and promote trade in legally produced timber. Under the agreement, Viet Nam will build and operate a timber legality assurance system (VNTLAS) in line with the countrys situation and the EUs requirements on tracing the origin of timber in the supply chain. Cuong said full operation of the VNTLAS would significantly contribute to ensuring the origin of Vietnamese timber exported to the EU and other markets. The FLEGT licence would allow Vietnamese businesses to export wood products to the union without taking accountability for the origin of legal timber products, he added. Commissioner Karmenu Vella said implementation of the agreement would help achieve social, environmental and economic targets. He said the key commitments were to establish a strong and reliable system and effective mechanisms to detect any violations, ensuring law enforcement, he said. The EU will strictly monitor Viet Nams implementation of the VPA and would support the country in this, he said. The two sides began negotiating the VPA/FLEGT in October 2010. As many as 10 high-level and 18 technical negotiating sessions were held before reaching a conclusion. -- VNS The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has asked the Ministry of Transport to approve its purchase of a runway debris detection system to scan for debris and alert airport operators. Photo baodatviet.vn HA NOI The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has asked the Ministry of Transport to approve its purchase of a runway debris detection system to scan for debris and alert airport operators. The system would detect Foreign Object Debris (FOD) on runways if installed at Tan Son Nhat and Noi Bai international airports. FOD is any object that is not supposed to be on a runway. It can range from wildlife to aircraft parts to litter. The proposal seeks to reduce the number of FOD problems threatening the safety of flights. The systems are expected to cost nearly VN1 trillion, including VN486 billion (US$21.67 million) for Noi Bai Airport and nearly VN510 billion for Tan Son Nhat Airport. According to CAAV statistics, the tyres on 19 planes were slashed by foreign objects on runways, and 20 others planes ran into birds, since early this year. In particular, when planes are landing or taking off at high-speed, if they strike any objects, even those as tiny as screws, a bar of iron, debris or birds, it can become extremely dangerous and even cause accidents. CAAV said that the runway safety system at the countrys airports currently involved inspecting and examining runways with the naked eye, which was very time-consuming and not performed regularly. Whenever airport workers conduct inspections, they have to close runways, causing delays and difficulties for operations at the airports, especially those that are very busy, such as Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat and a Nang. The automatic runway FOD detection system at the two major airports will provide accurate debris detection. It never issues an incorrect warning and does not cause backups or affects other technology systems at the airfields or aboard planes, said a CAAV representative. The CAAV proposed three investment methods. In the first, the State would directly invest in the project with funds from the State budget. However, the CAAV said this method was unrealistic because of limited budgets. As for the second method, the project would be invested by the Airports Corporation of Viet Nam. This method has many advantages, such as capital resources and a short implementation process, meeting the urgent demand, ensuring co-ordination in building and managing airfield operations, along with assuming the safety of runways and aviation security at the airfield. The profit would be derived from the annual runway service. Meanwhile, the third method would be carried out under a private-public partnership (PPP). The investor would install the FOD facilities and then transfer it to the airport operators. The operators would deduct an amount of money from their annual revenue in the runway service to pay for the investors. The CAAV said that there were a number of investors interested in this project when funded through the PPP method. If the project receives approval from the transport ministry, investors will have seven months, from November to June 2017, to prepare their investment. Meanwhile, construction is scheduled from July-December 2017 and the systems would become operational by 2018. VNS There are plans to get more elephant to live in the wild in ak Lak Provinces Natural and Cultural Reserve. The new elephants will join two elephants that already live there. Both have had bad experiences. One was injured after being trapped in a forest and the other was trapped under a well. AK LAK The Natural and Cultural Reserve in the Central Highlands Province of ak Lak has completed building an electronic fence around the reserve campus to protect the habitat of elephants. Huynh Trung Luan, director of the reserve, said an electronic fence was set up within 14 days with the support of technical staff of Viet Nam-based Animals Asia. The electronic fence, with capacity of between 6.4kw and 8.4kw, will cover an area of some 6,000 sq.m. of the reserve, releasing the elephants from an iron leash and helping them integrate into nature. The fence has a length of 1,320m, including five iron pillars and had four electronic lines, with 220V power lines and two large capacity batteries backup, which could cause panic for the elephants but not threaten their lives. Luan said the electronic fence had been used effectively at many animal reserves around the world and would help the animals move freely and comfortably. Currently, there are two wild elephants in the reserve. In February 2014, a five-year-old male elephant was found trapped in a forest in the province. Its left foot was seriously injured and ivory was nearly fractured. The animal, named Jun, was treated and raised by the reserve. This April, a one-year-old elephant was rescued by the reserves staff. It was found trapped under a well. The animal was named Gold and has been living in the reserve since then. VNS GLOSSARY The Natural and Cultural Reserve in the Central Highlands Province of ak Lak has completed building an electronic fence around the reserve campus to protect the habitat of elephants. A campus is the grounds of an institution. A habitat is a place where a living thing plant or animal -- has the right conditions to survive. The electronic fence, with capacity of between 6.4kw and 8.4kw, will cover an area of some 6,000 sq.m. of the reserve, releasing the elephants from an iron leash and helping them integrate into nature. If the fence has a capacity of between 6.4kw and 8.4kw, it can carry that amount of electric current. A leash is a chord or a chain. To integrate into nature means to become part of nature. Luan said the electronic fence had been used effectively at many animal reserves around the world and would help the animals move freely and comfortably. If the fence is used effectively, it works. Currently, there are two wild elephants in the reserve. Currently means now. Its left foot was seriously injured and ivory was nearly fractured. Fractured means broken. WORKSHEET Find words that mean the following in the Word Search: 1 . Things that store electricity. 2. The sex of the five-year-old elephant. 3. The month in which the elephant was rescued from under a well. 4. The number of days it took to set up the fence. 5. The name of the older elephant. t j u n b u m e s u i m e a e u t o p e n b s a n n n u o l a e d r s l a e r z u f e a e o o e r t m a a t c b o u n r g o a p r i l e n t e a y o p u l e i r p d g c a r o e c t e a o i i t u f t e a c h e r s e s b a t t e r i e s h a i ANSWERS: 1. Batteries; 2. Male; 3. April; 4. Fourteen; 5. Jun. HA NOI One thousand colorful wheels will decorate ao Duy Tu Street of Ha Nois Old Quarter on November 23, part of a festival celebrating Vietnamese heritage that begins today. The decorations honour traditional handicraft, said painter Nguyen Manh uc, one of the organisers. The festival starts with an event called Net Xua (Old Feature) at the Old Quarter Culture Exchange Centre, 50 ao Duy Tu Street. The programme includes a fashion show of ao dai (traditional long robe) with collections by designers Lan Anh, Minh Minh, La Hang and Duyen Huong. Painter Kieu Quoc Khanh will paint natural landscapes in water colours on black and white outfits designed by Lan Anh. Embroidery artisan Vu Gioi will introduce his collection of 15 court gowns copied from royal costumes of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945). Gioi will display his collection at the centre until November 27. After the show, audiences will enjoy traditional music like cheo (operetta), tuong (classical drama) and quan ho (love duets). Visitors will also be introduced to Viet Nams tea culture at Heritage House (87 Ma May Street) and traditional embroidery arts at Kim Ngan Temple (42-44 Hang Bac Street) from now until November 20. Notably, an exhibition featuring clothes for the hau ong ritual will also be displayed at the Old Quarter Culture Exchange Centre until November 27. Hau ong is used to connect people to the spirit of Mother Goddess and other deities to whom they communicate their concerns and prayers for good health and fortune. There are many hau ong pieces dedicated to Mother Goddess, Lady Bo who helped King Le Loi (1385-1433) and his army fight against the Chinese Ming invaders, and Lord Muoi, a mandarin of the Le Dynasty (14281788). Researcher Ngo uc Thinh, a leading expert in the Mother Goddess practice in Viet Nam, will host a talk show and display on November 26. VNS Hoang Hai, deputy director of the State Agency for Construction Quality Inspection, under the Ministry of Construction talks to Kinh te Viet Nam & The gioi (Viet Nam & World Economic Affairs) about the need to conduct thorough inspections on the safety of old apartment buildings and houses. Photo news.zing.vn Hoang Hai, deputy director of the State Agency for Construction Quality Inspection, under the Ministry of Construction talks to Kinh te Viet Nam & The gioi (Viet Nam & World Economic Affairs) about the need to conduct thorough inspections on the safety of old apartment buildings and houses. What is the permitted support capacity for a multi-storey building in Viet Nam? According to standard procedures issued by the Ministry of Construction, inspections and assessments of the allowable bearing pressure of any tall building are divided into two stages. The first stage is to conduct a survey and produce an initial assessment of the building; the second stage is to conduct a second survey and come up with a detailed assessment. In the first stage, both the survey and the assessment are based on the outside appearance of the building. Based on these initial results, the surveyors and assessors will then come up with three levels of allowable bearing pressure: normal; requires further inspections and detail assessments; requires a detailed survey and assessment. In addition, the building owner must take technical measures to strengthen the foundations, particularly in weak and dangerous areas. In the second stage, detailed survey and assessment will be conducted in accordance with Vietnamese standard technical procedures. The results will then be divided into four levels: A, B, C and D, according to their measure of safety. If the building is graded D, residents have to move out and the building must be either dismantled or overhauled. Should the code A, B, C and D be applied to old buildings in Viet Nam? Yes. The code A, B, C and D must be applied to all buildings in our country. Buildings, which are coded A, B and C are safe. But people living in D coded buildings must demand the owners take immediate measures to save their lives. However, whether the building is graded A, B, C or D, owners have to adopt technical measures to ensure safety. Recently, Ha Noi authorities released a report saying that the city has 10 living quarters needing immediate renovation due to their seriously deteriorated status. They called on investors to rebuild these buildings at an estimated cost of VN316 trillion (more than US$14 billion). There are many such buildings in both Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City. Does your agency have a road map for conducting appraisals? Under the Prime Ministers instructions, by late 2016 we must complete stage 1 and by the end of 2017, stage 2 must be completed. To do this, we need to ask competent inspection consultancy companies to work together with us. At the same time, Government management agencies should allocate adequate funding for these activities. Objectivity is a very important factor in the appraisal work. What should be done to achieve this goal? Not all appraisal reports have received unanimous approval from everyone. Thats why it is important to create a consensus of all those concerned before consultants or authorised agencies conduct their reviews. A very important principle must be for consultancy agency to follow all MOC procedures. In case a building must be taken down immediately, all State management agencies and peoples committees must inform the affected residents and work out plans to temporarily resettle them elsewhere. VNS National Assembly deputies yesterday agreed on a pilot project to issue e-visas to foreigners but wanted it to be more selective and not rushed into implementation. Photo diadiemdulich.com HA NOI National Assembly deputies yesterday agreed on a pilot project to issue e-visas to foreigners but wanted it to be more selective and not rushed into implementation. Under a Government resolution, the e-visa project will be piloted for two years, starting January 1, 2017. The visa will be valid once for a period of less than 30 days. Deputy Ho Van Thai of Kien Giang Province said that the pilot project would serve the countrys political, economic and external relations objectives. It is in line with the national cause of international integration cause and would create favourable conditions for attracting investors and visitors, he said. However, he added, the pilot project should not apply to all foreigners. Such a vast inclusion would create loopholes for unwanted visitors and cause difficulties for local authorities, especially when there are so many complications going on in the region and the world at the moment, Thai said. Deputy Nguyen Mai Bo of An Giang Province observed that in many other countries like India, Cambodia and South Korea, e-visas are only issued to tourists, foreign scientists or those coming to work in the host country. Bo felt that e-visas should be granted initially only to tourists and investors who want to come to Viet Nam to study the market, or citizens of countries that are signatories to relevant diplomatic conventions. Many deputies also felt that it would be too hasty for the project to start on January 1 next year, less than two months from now. Deputy Nguyen Lam Thanh of Lang Son Province said since the issue involves many aspects of national security, it should not be implemented in such a hurry. In agreement with Thanh, Deputy Bui uc Hanh of Thua Thien Hue Province said only 36 of Viet Nams 61 international border gates and ports could be electronically connected. He said the country would need to provide more training and prepare better for the pilot project. Rail rules disappoint Many deputy expressed their disappointment yesterday at the amendments made to the Railway Law. Deputy Nguyen Phuong Tuan of Ninh Binh Province said the proposed changes were of low quality and feasibility. This is due to the abolition of some detailed provisions of the old law (the 2005 law), and because many provisions of the law have been assigned to relevant ministries to decide by issuing resolutions or circulars. Thus, many regulations in the amended law do not carry much content anymore, Tuan said. He noted that in the 2005 Law, there were 18 articles that needed instructions issued by the Government or relevant ministries via specific resolutions or circulars, but in the draft amended Law, there are 37 such articles. Deputy Nguyen Phi Thuong of Ha Noi said the railways account for just one per cent of the transportation volume, while the road sector shoulders 65 per cent, causing overloading. Thuong said this imbalance occurred because not enough attention had been paid to the railway sector, and it had suffered from unclear development orientations. VNS HCM CITY Farmers in Ca Mau Province have begun to breed a new batch of blue-clawed prawns in rice fields, according to the province Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Thoi Binh, U Minh and Cai Nuoc districts and Ca Mau city are estimated to have 12,000ha of rice fields where the prawn is farmed. Thoi Binh alone accounts for nearly 10,800ha, up 3,000ha from last year. The model of farming blue-clawed prawns in rice fields has fetched large profits in recent years. Tran Van Phuoc in Thoi Binhs Bien Bach ong Commune said he began breeding the prawn in 2014. In his first crop he had 3,000 prawns per hectare and earned a profit of nearly VN20 million (US$900) after three months. The crustaceans are easy to breed, and their harvest time depends on the tending, according to the farmer. If they are given additional food, they can be harvested after 85-95 days of breeding. Nguyen Phi Thoan, deputy chairman of the Bien Bach ong Commune Peoples Committee, said past success persuaded many farmers to expand their prawn farming areas this year. In his commune it has increased by 600ha to 2,200ha, the largest blue-clawed prawn breeding area in the district. Nguyen Hoang Lam, head of the Thoi Binh Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the model of intercropping blue-clawed prawn in rice fields had been assessed as effective and sustainable since there had been no disease outbreaks. The average yield is 150-220 kilogrammes per hectare. At VN130,000-150,000 ($5.9 6.8) per kilogramme, farmers earn a profit of VN20-30 million ($900- 1,400) per hectare, Lam said. Thoi Binh has recommended that farmers should expand blue-legged prawn farming areas, he said. Diversified models Ca Mau Province, the countrys largest shrimp producer, has developed various shrimp-farming models that offer high yields and are sustainable, according to its Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The models include advanced extensive farming, industrial farming, rotating shrimp and rice in rice fields and breeding shrimp in submerged forests. The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province has more than 175,800ha devoted to shrimp farming, with advanced extensive farming accounting for the largest area of 85,099ha. The average yield is 540 kilogrammes. Ca Mau plans to rotate rice and shrimp on 50,960ha this year. But farmers have bred shrimp on only around 30,000ha because of the drought and high salinity earlier this year. Under the model, in the dry season farmers allow saltwater to enter their fields to breed shrimp before switching to rice in the rainy season. To sustainably develop shrimp farming, Ca Mau has adopted many comprehensive measures like reviewing farming schedules and identifying shrimp species suitable for breeding and meeting the markets needs. It has also stepped up inspection of shrimp feed and breeding pairs and provided advanced training to farmers. It has also advocated expansion of effective shrimp farming models. Currently the provinces key varieties are black-tiger shrimp and white-legged shrimp. Last month the Government decided to develop Ca Mau into one of the countrys largest shrimp producers with advanced farming techniques to produce clean shrimp with high competitiveness at home and abroad. VNS Thu Hang HCM CITY Despite receiving high scores on the universitiy entrance exam this year, Nguyen inh Tuan decided to choose a more practical career by studying automobile engineering at a vocational college A native from the central province of Quang Ngai, Tuan enrolled in Cao Thang Technical College in HCM City, hoping to have a stable career soon after graduation. He made his decision based on careful study of the labour market and the availability of jobs that are in high demand. His parents, who supported his decision, said that technical training would prepare him for a rewarding career after graduation. This year, around 600 high school students who could have enrolled in university instead chose the automobile engineering technology training programme, according to Le Xuan Lam, deputy rector of the college, which is managed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The schools enrollment exceeded its target of 3,000 students this year, with many of them receiving scores above the minimum for the university entrance exam. Automobile engineering technicians are in high demand, with monthly salaries ranging from VN7-8 million (US$315-360) for new graduates, according to Nguyen Thoi Trung, deputy head of the programme. This school year, enrollment also increased at Lilama 2 Technical & Technology College, thanks to modern facilities and dual vocational training programmes that combine classes in vocational schools with on-the-job training in companies. "High school graduates have opportunities to enhance their employability by demand-driven vocational training and find a well-paid job after completing dual vocational training programmes," said Nguyen Khanh Cuong, rector of the college, which is located in ong Nai Province and is managed by the Ministry of Construction. Every year, around 30 companies hold a job fair to recruit new graduates, but discover that most of the students have been hired by companies where they worked as interns, according to Le Tuyen Giao, deputy head of the mechanics faculty. To fill the shortage of trained workers, many companies are willing to pay tuition for excellent students to pursue the companies demand-driven vocational training. Since 2013, Bosch, for instance, has selected 25 high school graduates for a free three-year course taught in the mechanics faculty. Students learn theory at LILAMA 2 College and pursue practical training on machines at the companys technical industrial apprenticeship centre, which uses German vocational training standards. After graduation, the trainees are awarded dual certificates as well as job placements at Bosch. High school graduates are aware that occupation-related practical skills are not commonly offered at training programmes at most universities. Many firms in ong Nai Province and neighbouring provinces such as Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau are in dire need of well-trained workers, but the labour market cannot meet their demand. A recent vocational training survey conducted by GIC/AHK Vietnam found that German companies in Viet Nam in the next few years will have high demand for competent workers with vocational training and those with university degrees. Ninety-six per cent of the 26 polled companies said they needed to hire new staff and train them in the next few years. And more than 33 per cent of the companies said the labour market had failed to meet their need for well-trained workers. Nearly 80 per cent of companies would like to offer internships next year, with 78 per cent of them willing to pay the interns, according to the survey. International-standard courses Many vocational schools have invested in modern equipment and machinery, which has allowed students to use the latest technologies. Cao Thang Technical College, for example, has spent nearly VN10 billion (US$448,430) to purchase new machines. "Students often have internships at companies that are willing to employ them after graduation," said Le Xuan Lam, deputy rector of the college. Many foreign and local companies have signed contracts with the college to train their staff. LILAMA 2 is also well equipped with new machinery and technology provided by Germany and France. The schools highly skilled teachers and trainers have extensive knowledge about the tailored training programmes based on German standards. ieu Quy, a junior in the mechanics faculty at LILAMA 2 College, said that he was trained in practical skills with the latest technologies at the schools state-of-the-art training workshops. I think training in mechanics offers good career prospects as demand for skilled mechanics technicians remains unmet, Quy said. The demand for skilled workers is increasing steadily as the countrys economy continues to grow and integrates with the regional and world economy, according to Cuong, the rector of LILAMA 2. Experts said that Viet Nam was facing a shortage of skilled workers in many areas, leading to employment gaps that could not be filled overnight. The Government has put vocational skills training at the heart of its development goals. Its plan is that by 2020 trained skilled workers will make up 55 per cent of the labour force, compared to the current figure of nearly 30 per cent. Challenges According to a World Bank report, the quality of labour in Viet Nam received only 3.79 points on a scale of 10, ranking 11th out of 12 Asian countries surveyed. South Koreas score was 6.91; Indias 5.76; Malaysias 5.59; and Thailands 4.94. The low quality of labour was one of the main reasons for weakened competitiveness of Viet Nams economy. The gap between training supply and market demand as well as inadequate education has led to a high rate of unemployment among recent graduates. In the second quarter of this year, more than 1 million people of working age were unemployed, an increase of 16,400 compared to the previous quarter, according to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs. Of that figure, a total of 286,100 people with bachelors degrees and above were unable to find jobs. Only 20.6 per cent of the labour force has received vocational, college or university training, while the majority are manual workers. VNS LAI CHAU At 7.30am, when fog begins to fade from the mountain tops, teacher Bui Van Xuan, an ethnic Muong minority, rings the bell to call his students to class at Ha Xi-Ha Ne Primary School in Pa U Commune, Muong Te District in the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau. After waiting for a long time without seeing any students, Xuan walked around Ha Xi and Ha Ne villages as he has often done, searching for and leading his students to class. By 8.30am, Xuans grade one class can begin with five out of nine total students in class. Like Xuan, everyday, Lo Thi Thao, an ethnic Thai teacher at the U Ma Primary School in Pa U Commune, worries whether her 14 students will go to school or not. Thao teaches grade one and two , but two of them have not attended school since the school year began in September. Ethnic La Hu minorities fields are very far away, so they set up tents on the fields to work there during the week. They bring their children to the fields since they are young. So when the children are at school age, their parents wont let them go to school, Thao told Lao ong (Labour) newspaper. Thaos students are quite small for their age, and listen to her carefully in class. But they struggle to read and write. They do not know Viet Nams common language, so its hard to make them understand, even the simplest word. Sometimes I teach them something, but they have forgotten it by the next day, so I must start again from the beginning, said Thao. To get the students to attend school, Thao must go to every house to convince their parents, but many of them refuse. The parents also do not know Vietnamese, so dont understand the teacher. Bringing students to school is also an issue for teacher Bui Van Xuan each school year. Im a local teacher, but still find it difficult when I want to meet the village leader, because he lives on his field most of the time. Some days I have to walk for an hour to his field to ask for help, but cant find him and have to give up, said Xuan. Government Decree No 116/2016/N-CP which was put into effect in September this year regulated that each ethnic La Hu student can receive an allowance of VN690,000 (US$30) and 15kg of rice per month, with teachers required to help the students access their right to an education. Ethnic La Hu minorities do not make birth certificates for their children so they cannot enjoy the policy. We go to every house to ask for their date of birth to make birth certificates for them. But their parents even do not remember when their children were born, only if it was in winter or in summer, said Thao. Teachers lives Teacher Lo Thi Thao lives in a small plain house close to school. Her two children, aged three and four, are taken care of by a relative in Muong Te District, and after spending every weekend with them, she travels 50km from her house to U Ma Village to work. Her husband, teacher Senh Van Chinh, an ethnic Mang minority, also works in a school in Pa U Commune. Students here have three meals at school per day, so besides teaching hours, I wash their uniforms and plant vegetables to supplement their meals, said Thao. Washing students clothes, spoon-feeding them and combing their hair, Thao cannot help missing her two children, who see their parents on weekends only. Thao is still happier than teacher Xuan at the Ha Xi-Ha Ne Primary School, because U Ma Village has telephone signal so she can call her family. At the Ha Xi-Ha Ne Primary School, although electricity was set up three months ago, if people want to make a phone call, they have to walk down the mountain several kilometres. Muong Te is the furthest and poorest district of Lai Chau Province and Pa U is the poorest commune of Muong Te District. Pa U Commune has 12 villages with more than 700 houses and more than 3,000 people. All of them are ethnic La Hu minorities. Many of them are illiterate and do not know Vietnamese, so many preferential policies of the Government and the State for them are not effective. At present, most La Hu villages still depend on rice aid from the State, and most La Hu children work the fields instead of going to school, making learning difficult for the children. To ease the problem, Truong Van ong, principal of the Pa U Junior Boarding School No 1 said that he asked for help from local authorities, village leaders and concerned local organisations to call for more students to attend school. Schools will also organise different extra-curricular activities such as reading books, singing and dancing and playing games to make the students be closer to their schools. VNS Gamble responsibly tagline set to be scrapped Punters will no longer see the long-standing "gamble responsibly" when placing a bet online, as the Albanese government launches a new campaign to help problem gambling. Get out of your tents, run! Terrified family detail moment five lions escaped enclosure A young family-of-four staying at Taronga Zoo have revealed they were briefly woken up during their overnight stay at the park before animal keepers rushed in a couple of hours later telling them to ditch their belongings and to run. Andrews hits back at absolute nonsense reports Premier Daniel Andrews has rejected "absolute nonsense" claims about the repatriation of the wives and children of former Islamic State fighters to Victoria amid the state election campaign. Melbourne Cup jockey cops massive fine and ban over careless race act Melbourne Cup runner-up jockey Patrick Moloney was fined nearly 40 per cent of his $55,000 earnings from the race after he was scrutinised for "careless riding". WESTGATE -- On Thursday at about 10:40 p.m., Fayette County Sheriffs deputies responded to The Bank Bar & Grill in Westgate to investigate a report of underage people being served alcohol at the establishment. Upon investigation, Ethan Steinbronn, 19, of Westgate, was cited for possession of alcohol under the legal age. The bartender, Jennifer Cavnar, 32, of Westgate, was cited for employee-supplying alcohol to a person under the legal age. The incident was also referred to the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division, which controls the establishments liquor license. JESUP The Jesup Elementary School principal has been reprimanded after making unauthorized accommodations for some students on standardized tests. Brian Pottebaum received a written reprimand from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners in September after waiving his right to a disciplinary hearing. He also agreed to complete, at his own cost, a 15-hour Ethics for Educators course offered by the Iowa State Education Association. The boards case file noted he provided unauthorized accommodations to children who were not qualified for accommodations. These were made for 11 third- and fourth-graders taking the Iowa Assessments last February after teachers noted a concern with the students. Due to various things, they struggle with filling in the ovals on the Scantron (test form) sheet, Pottebaum said in an interview. The students would scratch through the sheet with the pencil or incompletely fill in the ovals. Others would just break down and cry, he said. Photocopied test booklets were provided to the students where they circled the answers. Adults later used the answers in the test booklets to fill out the students answer sheets, according to the case file narrative. This process is not in accordance with test administration procedures. A statement from Superintendent Nathan Marting distributed throughout the Jesup Community School District noted Pottebaum consulted with area principals, Area Education Agency 267 support staff and Iowa Testing Services before proceeding with the accommodation. It was interpreted that allowing students to answer directly in the testing booklet and later transferring the answers to the bubble sheet was an appropriate accommodation, wrote Marting. After completion of three tests, we were made aware by the Department of Education of a complaint they received that this was not an allowable accommodation unless a student had a specific special education plan or 504 plan allowing it. Pottebaum immediately ceased the accommodation as the states Department of Education and Board of Educational Examiners investigated the incident. Obviously, as a district we realized that was a mistake, said Pottebaum. It was wrong on my part to say, Hey, you can circle the answer. The intent was to help these kids get through a standardized test. Marting emphasized: It was determined that there was no falsification of any test answers, but the accommodation of allowing select students to answer directly into the testing booklet was a violation. The superintendent has stood behind the principal during the ordeal. While it is understood that a mistake was made in the interpretation and administration of appropriate accommodations on the standardized assessment, the school district fully supports Mr. Pottebaum as our elementary principal, wrote Marting. Pottebaum, who has been the elementary schools principal for 14 years, said he has similarly received support from the community. The literally hundreds of emails and other responses have been above and beyond supportive, he said. Its been overwhelming. On Monday morning, Miller shared his background on growing up in the Cedar Valley in Independence and how he got into politics. He also went into his reasons for running against incumbent Paul Pate. In particular, he expressed that the ability to vote especially early and mail-in voting had become more difficult during Pates tenure. WATERLOO Judge Kellyann Lekar handed out a cold ruling to the parents of 14-year-old C.J. Rich in District Court pn midday Friday. "I have a rule in my courtroom, and that's anyone who gets adopted has to have ice cream by the end of the day," Judge Lekar said. Darrel Rich, who was in the courtroom with wife Julie Rich to officially adopt C.J., said he intended to follow the order. "We're going to Culver's after this, so yeah," Rich, said, but then reconsidered his confidence. "It's custard I hope we don't get arrested," he joked. C.J., who has been living in the Rich home in Manchester for about four years, joins a large family. He's now the oldest sibling by about a week and-a-half. "I don't really mind," said Isaiah Rich, 14, of losing his oldest status. C.J. was one of 24 children adopted into 15 families at the Black Hawk County Courthouse on Friday. Lekar was joined by two other judges donating their time to make the adoptions final with courtroom proceedings. This is the fifth year Iowa KidsNet through Four Oaks has organized the event. The organization recruits, trains and licenses foster and adoptive families in Iowa. Families from Buchanan, Bremer and Fayette counties attended the event. The Rich family has adopted before bringing siblings, Jenna, 11, and James, 6, into their family five years ago. Jenna agreed with Rich and Julie there was room for one more. "I think we get along pretty well," she said. Faith Rich, 11, agreed. The process took a bit longer in part because the family has so many members, Darrel Rich said. "Whenever you add more to a family of this size, there's a lot to consider," he said. That didn't deter them from adding C.J. to their fold. "Once we decided, we knew it was the right thing to do," he said. Families willing to adopt more than one child or adopt siblings are helping children who need it most, said Iowa KidsNet officials. "The best ending for a child is to stay with their siblings if they can't stay with their parents," said Christa Hefel. Hefel said Iowa needs more families willing to foster and adopt. "All it takes is love, consistency and support," she said. Ballot proposal asks Kentucky voters whether there's a right to an abortion BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, November 19, 2016 -- President Donald Trump represents an opportunity for the United States and for the world. This is a man who has succeeded at everything he has done in his career, and who is going to restore lost greatness to the USA and to the American dream. President Donald Trump will get along well with his counterpart Vladimir Putin. Putin has solidified his control over Russia, and anyone who has watched the chess match over Syria and NSA leaks has a clear idea of the shifting of individual power dynamics towards Putin on the international scene. Putin has worked his way up through the ranks and built his charismatic appeal on what appears to be a simple formula: keeping his promises. The Russian people sought a leader able to restore their honor and make their country great again; he has succeeding in establishing a vertical power structure and forging a dominant position on the continent. The Russian people demanded vengeance after the terrorist attacks; he meted out punishment. The Russian people called for control over their own economic interests; he re-established the state's grip on oil, gas and other strategic sectors. The Russian people wanted the country to regain its status as a great power; he has shown that he takes lessons from no one. All negotiations depend on a position of strength. This position is occupied by Putin. Reconstruction of the Russian empire has been definitively validated. Most Europeans I have spoken to would like to see Europe having its own version of Putin. With the arrival of President Donald Trump, these two exceptional men will be the Presidents of a changing world. For five years, my partners and I have been working to develop a new "SKY & SEA" concept: a 'next generation' building, spearheaded by cutting-edge technology in terms of ecology, economy, architecture, design and materials. Eiffel built the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty in New York, and so on. We will soon be announcing to the media that construction has begun on our "SKY & SEE" building. This concept will be presented to President Putin with a view to offering him the only building of its kind in the world, in keeping with the greatness of his country, including a museum illustrating the history and culture of Russia. The site could receive an estimated seven million visitors per year, equivalent to the numbers visiting the Eiffel Tower. President Putin will certainly be delighted by this development, which could be named in his honor. Similarly, the election of President Trump has inspired me to present a project to him which will also mark his Presidency. As a major property mogul, he will certainly appreciate our expertise, and we will propose to him that we advance this concept together. In conclusion, the year 2017 will be marked by Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, as Presidents of a world they are going to change together. Come and visit my website, denouncing in particular the injustices perpetrated by French politicians towards President Putin, who is coming to the rescue of powerless Europe in the Middle East conflict. Stop criticizing President Trump, who has just been elected, when you do not even know his program. The voice of the people must be respected. I have followed the path of Gerard Depardieu, as many others have done, and returned my French passport. The only reason I have not moved to Moscow is because the weather is too cold... All those who share my ideas will find a warm welcome and exceptional hospitality at my first "KEY HOTELS & RESORTS" in the Dominican Republic. Allow me to emphasize once again my support for Presidents Trump and Putin, who will undoubtedly work together to change our declining world. Mark Elie Klein www.markelieklein.com # # # Nov 18, 2016 | By Benedict Stratasys has launched The New Ancient, a new art and design collection that includes Vespers, a series of 15 3D printed death masks designed by Neri Oxman. The masks will be unveiled at the grand reopening of Londons Design Museum next week. VESPERS, Mask 3, Series 2, 2016. Photo credit: Yoram Reshef Neri Oxman, an American-Israeli architect and designer, has been at the forefront of creative 3D printing for a number of years. Her work has spanned 3D printed architecture, futuristic artworks, andmost recentlya selection of 3D printed masks that were picked up by Icelandic music sensation Bjork for a recent VR exhibition. Oxman, an MIT professor and leader of the universitys Mediated Matter Group, appears to be sticking with masks for the time being, with the visionarys new collection of 3D printed death masks set to be unveiled next week. Vespers, Oxmans collection of 3D printed death masks, feature 15 masks in total, divided into three subcategories: Past, Present, and Future. Made of a single material, such as wax or plaster, the death mask has historically originated as a means of capturing a persons visage, keeping the deceased alive through memory, Oxman explained. Vespers death masks, however, are designed to reveal cultural heritage and speculate about the perpetuation of life, both cultural and biological. VESPERS, Mask 1, Series 1, 2016. Photo credit: Danielle van Zadelhoff Rather than use traditional design techniques to produce the masks, Oxman and her teamChristoph Bader, Dominik Kolb, Rachel Smith, and Sunanda Sharma of the Mediated Matter Groupused data-driven processes to digitally generate 3D models of the masks, before 3D printing them on high-resolution Stratasys Objet500 Connex3 Color Multi-material 3D printers. According to Oxman, the 3D printed masks express the deeper meaning of a death mask, as well as their possible future use, bringing the tradition back to life. Past, the first sub-series of Vespers, explores themes of historical origins, looking at life through the lens of death. The Past collection utilizes five material combinations to emulate colors commonly found in cultural artifacts. The second sub-series, Present, looks at the transition between life and death, examining the progression from the first sub-series to the third. Physically, the 3D printed Present masks exhibit volumetric material distributions housed within transparent, smoothly curved dome-like structures. Future, the final sub-series, attempts to embody the concept of rebirth, with the engineers guiding living microorganisms through minute spatial features of the artifacts. The New Ancient collection marries ancient crafts and designs of past civilizations with advanced technologies to reimagine design in and of the modern world, said Naomi Kaempfer, Creative Director of Art Fashion Design at Stratasys. Oxman, along with her team, is amongst a number of leading designers who have contributed to the creation of the collection, including Zaha Hadid, Nick Ervinck and Daniel Widrig. Oxmans Vespers epitomize this theme, traversing between modern, cutting-edge technologies and historical crafts and artifacts. VESPERS, Mask 5, Series 2, 2016. Photo credit: Danielle van Zadelhoff The Vespers masks were photographed by Belgian photographer Danielle van Zadelhoff, whose Chiaroscuro-heavy style of photography is reminiscent of Caravaggio and Rembrandt. The photographs therefore maintain the theme of timelessness present in the 3D printed masks themselves. UK-based fans of Oxmans work can see the new collection at the Fear and Love exhibition at Londons Design Museum from November 24, 2016 until April 23, 2017. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: Nov 19, 2016 | By Nick Bioniks has produced the first 3D printed prosthetic arm in Pakistan and now it has launched a crowdfunding campaign to take its Real Life Superhero concept to the masses. Five-year-old Mir Bayyan received the first 3D printed arm in the country and when it finally arrived, the young Iron Man fan was amazed to see that it came in red and yellow with a torch. Its a simple touch that has gone a long way to restoring the childs confidence. Now the company wants to expand the concept and give disabled children the chance to feel like a hero. Anas Niaz and Ovais Qarashi launched Bioniks after seeing how 3D printing could slash the cost of each individual prosthetic limb and help tailor the limb to the individual. They worked with open source prosthetics and then came up with their own twist to improve upon the basic concept. Niaz said: We are providing 3D printed prosthetics in Pakistan. Its easy to see why 3D printing has taken off in the prosthetics world, but in Pakistan its very difficult to get 3D printed prosthetics and we are trying to change that. By their own admission, the first arm isnt perfect. It has given Bayyan a new lease of life, but the hand is relatively crude and the team knows it can improve upon the basic design. For that, Bioniks has launched a crowdfunding campaign on ZingoHub to raise $5000. With that small cash investment, the team can perfect the design of the Iron Man arm and create several more. Were not just providing them with a prosthetic hand, were boosting their confidence, said Oarashi. It isnt just in Pakistan. When children around the world have to endure an amputation, they can be tempted to hide away. It hits their confidence. Bayyan received a relatively simple prosthetic right forearm and hand that is a long way behind the traditional prosthetics children in the US and other first world nations might receive. But this relatively straightforward device has given the young child the chance to lead a relatively normal life. The integrated laser beam, meanwhile, is a unique touch that has restored a little pride. Its also an interesting example of mass customization. The child can choose the basic design, depending on their favorite superhero, and then the team can scale and customize their particular prosthetic in terms of the final fit. No two amputations or birth defects are exactly alike and the ability to tailor the prosthetic can make a real difference in terms of the comfort and functionality. Recent advances in 3D design software, combined with constant improvements in the hardware, means that 3D printing can provide a custom fit that we just cant achieve with traditional manufacturing methods. Weve seen this type of mass customization elsewhere recently, with the e-NABLE Raptor. That is a low-cost prosthetic that the open source community has taken to its heart and it is one of the pioneers of the 3D printed prosthetic movement. It, too, was designed for people in developing nations and war-torn countries. e-NABLE has stayed true to its roots and continues to supply hands to those in need to this day. Bioniks is keen to focus on the children of Pakistan at first and will continue to refine the relatively simple design that means it can supply hands at a lower unit cost. Over time, though, and with the help of the open source community, theres no reason why this relatively simple concept cannot grow into something much larger. We really want to make something different and make this world a happier place, said Diaz. By the look on Mayyans face, they have already achieved that goal. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: Chase Madar at Bookforum: How quickly talk of war turns into talk of law! When a hospital is bombed in a military action, whether by the United States in Afghanistan, Russia in Syria, or Israel in Gaza, what typically draws outrage is the war crimethe violation of the laws of armed conflictwhile the choice to wage war itself evades condemnation or analysis. Opposition to the Iraq War was commonly voiced as a matter of respect for international law. And now that Washington is helping a Saudi-led coalition bomb Yemen, one common apologia is that American targeting assistance saves lives by bringing air strikes into compliance with international humanitarian law, the euphemistic term for the laws of war. Such opposition as exists to US drone strikes in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Somalia is also frequently expressed as concern about inadequate legal procedure. But as Jameel Jaffer points out in the introduction to his new anthology, The Drone Memos, the problems with these strikes are hardly limited to questions of legality. Dennis Blair, a former director of National Intelligence under Obama, has worried that drone strikes might be harming the national interestpresumably, the security of the domestic United Statesin the long run. Even perfectly executed tactics can undermine larger strategy: Not mentioned in Jaffer's introductory essay is this past May's drone assassination of Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour, the leader of the Afghan Taliban. Instead of causing the Taliban to disintegrate or surrender, it merely brought forward new leaders, who have turned out to be even more hostile to negotiations for peace and power-sharing deals with the Kabul government and its American patrons. At this point, reaching such a deal is Washington's aim in the Afghan war, but because of the successful drone assassination of a high-value target, this goal has been set back at least a year. more here. Dave Eggers in The Guardian: Back in April, I had been in the Gaza Strip and had met a married couple, Mahmoud and Miriam, journalists and activists who badly wanted to leave Gaza. I had e-introduced them to an asylum lawyer in San Francisco, but from 7,000 miles away, she couldnt do much to help. The impossible thing was that they actually had a visa. A real visa issued by the American state department. All they had to do was get out of Gaza. But permissions were needed from the Israelis or Egyptians, and they were having no luck with either. Finally, one day in October, an email arrived. Mahmoud and Miriam were in Brooklyn. Theyd bribed an Egyptian guard at the Rafah gate and had made their way on a 14hour journey through Sinai. Im so sorry, I said. I was apologising for what wed done the day before. Electing the man who wanted to ban all Muslims from entering the country. The man who might bring Giuliani into a seat of unspeakable power. This could mean terrible things for Palestinians. There was already talk of the end of the two-state solution. Netanyahu, it was assumed, had danced all night. Its OK, they said. The Gazan asylum seekers were telling me not to worry. But I was worried. Worried enough to change their names in this piece. They arent Mahmoud and Miriam. We are entering an era where uniquely vindictive men will have uniquely awesome power. Dark forces have already been unleashed and terrible plans are being made. On 3 December, the Ku Klux Klan are holding their largest public rally in years, to celebrate Trumps victory, which they claim as their own. I also changed Steven McManuss name. I worried for him, as well. You should be worried, too. George W Bush, a man of comparative calm and measured intellect, started two foreign wars and cratered the world economy. Trump is far more reckless. We are speeding toward a dark corridor, my friends. Keep your eyes open, your hearts stout and be ready for the fight. More here. Toppmeyer: Vols can't be stopped by a basketball school. Bring on Georgia Ethiopia and China have agreed to further cement ties in all spheres, ranging from government-to-government to party-to-party relations. This was disclosed at a joint press statement Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen and Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao gave this morning at the conclusion of the seminar on Party Building and National Governance. Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen said the seminar held on the premises of the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) Headquarters focused on strengthening government-to-government, people-to-people and party-to-party relationships. According to him, Ethiopia and China have very good relation and the seminar held earlier and the memorandums of understanding signed in the morning will further strengthen the relations in capacity building and experience sharing between the two parties. The relationship between the two countries is cemented on mutual interests and strategically guided by cooperation and partnership, he noted. The deputy premier said we have learned a lot from the Chinese government and Communist Party of China and we very keen to learn on how to manage this emerging economy and to sustain the double-digit growth and transformation agenda. He further stated that EPRDF is very much committed to continue with the development and democratic process underway in the country. Vice President Li Yuanchao said on his part the development of Ethiopia under the leadership of EPRDF has registered great achievements. The friendship of EPDRF and CPC have played pivotal role to forge cooperation and relationship between the two countries, he stated. According to Yuanchao, the parties have similar tasks, philosophy, process and challenges. So we can learn from each others success and experience to avoid risks and problems. Ethiopia always provides help and assistance in core issues of china and therefore we also are here at a critical period to provide our support and confidence in Ethiopia, the vice president said. The cooperation between Ethiopia and China has played great role for the development of Ethiopia, the vice president said, adding that the cooperation projects are instrumental not only for the industrial development of Ethiopia but also for the development of Chinese investors. The Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) the two countries signed were on capacity building and cooperation among the two parties. Mohammed VI & Haile Mariam Dessalegn Launch Project to Build Fertilizer Production Platform in Ethiopia, Chair Signing Ceremony of Several Agreements The King Mohammed VI and Ethiopian Prime Minister, Haile Mariam Dessalegn, chaired, on Saturday in Addis Ababa, the launch ceremony of a project to build a world-class integrated platform for fertilizer production in Ethiopia. The King Mohammed VI and Ethiopian PM Launch Project to Build Fertilizer Production Platform in Ethiopia, Chair Signing Ceremony of Several Private/Private Agreements Mohammed VI and the Ethiopian Prime Minister also chaired the signing ceremony of several Private/Private agreements. On this occasion, CEO of OCP Group, Mostafa Terrab, made a presentation before the King and Ethiopian Prime Minister in which he said that the project to build the integrated platform for fertilizer production will require a total investment of nearly 3.7 billion dollars. This industrial Megaproject will require an investment of 2.4 billion dollars in its first phase in order to produce 2.5 million tons/year of fertilizer by 2022. This will make Ethiopia self-sufficient in fertilizer, with a potential for export. An additional investment of 1.3 billion dollars is expected by 2025 to reach a total capacity of 3.8 million tons/year of fertilizer to support the growth of local demand, he said. This South-South partnership is part of a common vision for the development of Africa between Morocco and Ethiopia and a strong willingness to strengthen economic ties, said Terrab, noting that this project aims to take full advantage of the complementarity between the respective natural resources of the two countries. This industrial platform, which will consist of an integrated complex of fertilizer production, industrial and storage units, is part of OCPs future strategic development plan to meet local fertilizer needs. A plan based on the complementarity of the respective natural resources of the two countries, he noted. According to Terrab, the industrial platform will be equipped with all necessary basic infrastructures. It will be equipped with water pumping station and water treatment plants, as well as with a power plant. To ensure the necessary raw material needs for the fertilizer platform, a storage unit at the port of Djibouti will be developed and secured, said Terrab. Subsequently, HM the King and the Ethiopian Prime Minister chaired the signing ceremony of the agreement on the setting-up of the world-class integrated platform for fertilizer production in Ethiopia, and of five private/private agreements. The agreement on the setting-up of the world-class integrated platform for fertilizer production in Ethiopia was signed by Mostafa Terrab and Girma Amente, Ethiopian Minister of Public Enterprises. The second agreement is a memorandum of understanding in the field of water. The third is an agreement for the establishment of a bilateral business council between the Moroccan employers association (CGEM) and the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (ECCSA). The fourth agreement is a memorandum of understanding between Anouar Invest Group, BMCE Bank of Africa and the Ethiopian Investment Commission. The fifth agreement is a memorandum of understanding between the Ethiopian Investment Commission, Holmarcom and BMCE Bank. The sixth agreement is a memorandum of understanding between the Ethiopian Investment Commission and Tanger Med. SA (TMSA). King Mohammed VI and the President of Ethiopia chair the signing ceremony of seven public bilateral conventions and agreements King Mohammed VI and President of the Democratic Federal Republic of Ethiopia, Mulatu Teshome, have chaired on Saturday at the National Palace in Addis Ababa, the signing ceremony of seven public-public agreements and bilateral agreements. In harmony with the Royal orientation towards strengthening the South / South partnership, these agreements provide an expanded and operational legal framework for structuring fruitful collaboration between the governments of both countries. They cover areas as diverse as air services, tax cooperation, investment protection, agriculture and renewable energy. A Memorandum of Understanding on Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Co-operation was signed by Mr. Nasser Bourita, delegate Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, and Mr. Taye Atske Selassie, Ethiopian Minister for Foreign Affairs. The second convention is an agreement on air services. The third convention is an MOU on trade promotion. The Fourth Convention seeks to avoid double taxation and to prevent tax evasion with respect to taxes on income. The Fifth Convention is an agreement on the promotion and reciprocal protection of investments. The Sixth Convention is an agreement on cooperation in the field of agriculture. And the Seventh Convention is a draft Cooperation Agreement in the field of renewable energies. This signing ceremony was attended by members of the official delegation accompanying the King, and several members of the Ethiopian government, in addition to economic operators from both countries. At the end of this ceremony, the sovereign Mohammed VI, signed the Guest Book of the National Palace of Ethiopia. Moroccan Sovereign King Mohammed VI, accompanied by Prince Moulay Ismail, arrived on Saturday evening in Antananarivo for an official visit to Madagascar, the second stage of a tour that also led the Sovereign to Ethiopia and which will also lead him to other African brotherly countries. Madagascar and enjoys a special place in the heart of the Moroccan monarch, first of its importance within the African family, then for the good ties between the kingdom and Madagascar. Furthermore its historical significance as it was one of the place where the monarchs grandfather the King Mohammed V has spent a significant period in Madagascar as his exile during the national struggle against the French colonial Upon his arrival at Ivato international airport, the King was greeted by President of the Republic of Madagascar, Hery Rajaonarimampianina. Subsequently, the two Heads of State got to the grandstand to greet the national colors to the sound of national anthems of the two countries. Afterwards, The King Mohammed VI and the President of the Republic of Madagascar reviewed a detachment of the armed forces, which paid the honors, before being greeted by the Prime Minister, the Presidents of the Senate and the National Assembly, members of the Malagasy government and members of the international diplomatic corps accredited to Antananarivo, as well as by the mayor of Ivato. The Sovereign was also greeted by Moroccan ambassador to Madagascar, Mohamed Ben Jilali, and members of the Moroccan diplomatic mission. For his part, the Malagasy President was greeted by members of the official delegation accompanying HM the King, notably the Sovereigns advisors, Fouad Ali El Himma and Yassir Zenagui. The delegation also includes minister of Foreign Affairs, Salaheddine Mezouar, minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Toufiq, minister of Economy and Finance, Mohamed Boussaid, minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Aziz Akhannouch, and minister delegate to the Foreign minister, Nasser Bourita, as well as several other officials. After a brief pause at the honor lounge of Ivato international airport, the official motorcade headed to the residence of the King in Antananarivo. Aiken, SC (29801) Today Clouds and some sun this morning with more clouds for this afternoon. A few sprinkles possible. High 76F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 53F. Winds light and variable. Three Christians in Iran Sentenced to 80 Lashes for Taking Communion Wine Christian converts Yaser Mosibzadeh, Saheb Fadayaee, and Mohammed Reza Omidi are due to be flogged in public for partaking of communion wine, a grave and blasphemous misconduct under Iran's Sharia law. The ruling is a total of 80 lashes for each. They were caught last May during a church gathering in Rasht. They were imprisoned for weeks, were bailed out, but now have to face public flogging. The three Christian converts face a mounting challenge being Christian in a Muslim-dominated country. They renounced their Islamic religion by choice. The Christian church's pastor, Yousef Nadarkhani and his wife Fatemeh Pasandideh, were also arrested last May. While the couple were not put into jail, the three converts and Pastor Nadarkhani are now charged with "action against national security." In Iran's Sharia court, it is highly illegal for a Muslim to convert to another religion. This is the second time Mohammed Reza Omidi will be subject to a public flogging. Back in 2012, he was one of four Christians charged with blasphemy and sentenced to 80 lashes. There are currently 300,000 Christians in Iran, including indigenous Christian Armenian and Assyrian communities. Christians clearly are a minority with 90% of the population Shia Muslims, and the remaining 9% Sunni Muslims. This leaves Christians to a paltry 1%. Public floggings are still done in Iran as part of the country's adherence to Sharia law. Cases against the Sharia law include adultery, extra-marital sex, and consuming alcohol. These offenses are also subject to public floggings, with the number of lashes dependent on the gravity of the case. According to Open USA's World Watch List, Iran is on the number 9 spot for being the most repressive country for Christians to practice their religion. Just this month, three Azerbaijani pastors were imprisoned in Iran after being wrongly accused of participating in a blasphemous religion-related activity. Turns out, they were invited to a wedding and were just having a tour of the country. Back in 2015, at least 108 Christians were also imprisoned and charged for practicing their faith. Christian prisoners face a grim challenge to survive as they are beaten, abused, and continuously threatened. Release International Chief Executive Paul Robinsons says of the trio due to be flogged, "Why is Iran refusing to allow its own citizens that most basic of all freedoms, the freedom to choose their own faith? These men have chosen to call themselves Christians. The state should respect that." November 18, 2016 Many Egyptians are hoping that a new bill, set to come before parliament in two months, will put a stop to a surge in rapes throughout the country. The bill, prepared by the National Council for Women (NCW), a state-run agency that seeks to defend women's rights, would authorize the death penalty for rapists a first in Egypt. The bill is seen as an attempt by Egyptian authorities to demonstrate their seriousness in criminalizing violence against women and putting an end to rape. "The bill toughens penalties with the only aim of deterring rapists and preventing this crime from happening," Sanaa Khalil, a senior member of NCW's Legislative Committee, told Al-Monitor. "Rapes have reached alarming levels in this country." According to the bill proposed by Khalil and his colleagues, if the rape victim is under 18 or has a mental or psychological disorder, the rapist will be sentenced to death. However, if the rape victim is over 18, the rapist will be sentenced to death or life in prison, depending on the court's judgment. Egypt ranked the worst among Arab countries for women's rights, according to a 2013 poll conducted by the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Furthermore, a staggering 99.3% of Egyptian women have been exposed to some form of sexual harassment, according to a 2013 survey by UN Women. Growing violations in this regard have given rise to a large number of anti-harassment movements in Egypt that lobby for maximizing penalties for rape and harassment. Many sexual assault victims count the days until rapists will pay for their crimes. Many women say they are victimized twice once by the actual assault, and again by the failure of current laws to assign appropriate punishments to wrongdoers. Egypt's penal code does not allow for the execution of rapists. Instead, the code applies the maximum penalty of 25 years in prison to rapists who have been proven beyond a reasonable doubt to have committed the crime. A rapist will face the death penalty only if rape is followed by murder, according to the penal code. If the rapist is a minor, the maximum punishment he faces is 15 years in prison. The new bill, however, aims to make rape a legally unforgivable crime. Currently, members of the NCW Legislative Committee are holding meetings with representatives from the government and civil society institutions to debate the bill and form recommendations on the bill before submitting it to parliament for final discussion. The bill is expected to be submitted within the next two months. Many members of parliament say there is an urgent need for a law that toughens penalties for rape. "Rape is like murder," said Margret Azer, a member of parliament's Human Rights Committee. "It is even more heinous." She told Al-Monitor that a rapist does not only psychologically kill his victim but also kills all the victim's family members. "Like murderers, rapists must be punished by death," she said. In conservative Egyptian society, sex is only acceptable within the framework of marriage. A woman's body and sexual organs are shrouded in sanctity, and rape is considered a heinous, socially unacceptable act. In some parts of Egypt, a woman can be killed by her family members if she has an affair with a stranger. This is why Azer and other members of parliament have called for rapists to endure the toughest penalties. They believe that rape violates the most sanctified part of Egyptian culture namely, women's bodies. "We will do our best in parliament to convince other members to vote for the bill when it is submitted to parliament for approval," Mona Monir, a member of parliament, told Al-Monitor. "Such a bill should have been submitted to parliament a long time ago, in fact." Hundreds of rape victims are also waiting on tenterhooks for the bill to be passed. "When such a law becomes a reality, people like me will feel that [the bill has] restored [our] rights," said Shaimaa Ghazal, the mother of a 5-year-old girl whose attempted rape and subsequent murder in 2013 shocked Egypt and gave rise to repeated calls for tougher action against rapists. Despite the horrific nature of the crime, the rapists were only sentenced to 15 years in prison. "Having heard the judge read out the sentence, I felt as if he issued this sentence against me and her father, not her killers," a tearful Ghazal told Al-Monitor. "I will feel very satisfied, even if the potential law is not applied retroactively, when it is approved by parliament." Nonetheless, not all Egyptians agree on the bill. Some oppose the proposed bill because they say it promotes capital punishment, which in itself is a problem. "This punishment has already been canceled out in some countries," said leading feminist Hoda Badran. "The capital punishment is irreversible, which means that you cannot bring a person back to life after executing him if he proves to be innocent." Rape can be stopped, Badran told Al-Monitor, not by introducing the death penalty in such cases, but by applying swift and effective justice. "Death is not a solution," Badran said. "Murder is punishable by death, but death has never prevented murders." Khalil said the proposed bill would not open the door for the unrestricted killing of people suspected of committing rape. He said there would be strict and clear conditions for the application of this punishment in accordance with international law. "We are badly in need of a law to put an end to this heinous crime," Khalil said. "I am sure the urgency of such a law will translate into a positive reaction parliament." November 18, 2016 Ever since the fall of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003, Shiites have begun once again openly marking the annual mourning holiday of Arbaeen, with the number of people taking part in the ceremony surging each year. Arbaeen, described as the world's largest annual pilgrimage, is a ritual that occurs 40 days after the day the third Shiite Imam Hussein bin Ali was slain by forces loyal to the second Umayyad caliph Yazid in A.D. 680. Hussein, who was the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, is highly cherished and commemorated among Shiites for his battle against the thousands of troops dispatched by Yazid to confront him and his less than 100 companions. Each year, a few days before Arbaeen, Shiites from all over the world travel to Iraq to walk to the holy shrine of Hussein in the holy city of Karbala. Of note, followers of all branches of Islam venerate Hussein, and even some groups of Christians in Iraq regularly join the march to Karbala. Last year, 27 million people reportedly took part in the ceremony from various countries, such as Turkey and Tajikistan. Iran is one of the countries that sends the most visitors to the ceremony, with more than 1.5 million pilgrims traveling to Iraq. In past years, apart from the religious aspects, Shiites believe their participation in the ceremony has a challenging message for the Islamic State (IS): unity, power and readiness to confront the group. Mohammad-Naghi Lotfi, the Friday prayer leader of Ilam in Iran, said on Nov. 9, The epic of the march of Arbaeen in Iraq is the real fulfilling of unity and will of Shiites to confront takfiri groups and frighten them. Moreover, Arbaeen is considered a direct challenge to Saudi Arabia, which has been slammed by Iran for its mismanagement of the hajj, given the deadly stampede in 2015 that led to the deaths of a large number of pilgrims including hundreds of Iranians. Management of the pilgrimage in Iraq has nothing to do with the government, and the price of the trip is cheap, as a lot of volunteers on the path of the march to Karbala give free food and drinks to pilgrims. Plus, during the ceremony which hosts a greater number of pilgrims than the hajj in Saudi Arabia no one has been killed due to a stampede or any sort of mismanagement. Mentioning the 2015 stampede in Saudi Arabia, Iranian news site Dana wrote on Nov. 7, The marching is being done under the correct management, without any casualties. The [widespread] presence of people in the Arbaeen ceremony [signifies to Saudi Arabia] that they should learn from this ceremony. The root of Saudi Arabias opposition to Arbaeen On Sept. 10, Saudi-owned TV channel al-Wesal tweeted a video and wrote, Muslims go to Mecca, Safavids go to Karbala. Safavid, which refers to the medieval Iranian Safavid Empire, is a term commonly used primarily by Wahhabis to suggest that Shiites are more loyal to Iran and Iranians are not Muslims. Interestingly, the same word has been used by IS to describe Shiites as apostate. In this vein, Dabiq, the official magazine of IS, commonly refers to Shiites as Rafida or rejectionists. As such, Saudi Arabia is fundamentally against the Arbaeen ceremony an opposition that is rooted in its Wahhabi ideology. Wahhabis believe that visiting tombs and venerating saints are acts of polytheism. In fact, in 1801, Wahhabis from the Arabian Peninsula attacked and sacked Karbala. During the raid, Wahhabis killed thousands of locals, plundered the tomb of Hussein and destroyed its dome. Saudi historian Osman Ibn Bishr Najdi wrote, Saud [son of 'Abd al-'Aziz and grandson of Ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab] set out with the divinely supported army. He made for Karbala and began hostilities against the people of the city of al-Husayn. The Muslims [the Wahhabis] scaled the walls, entered the city, and killed the majority of its people in the markets and in their homes. Then [they] destroyed the dome placed over the grave of al-Husayn. They took whatever they found inside the dome and its surroundings. They took the grille, which was encrusted with emeralds, rubies, and other jewels different types of property, weapons, clothing, carpets, gold, silver, precious copies of the Qur'an. It is worth mentioning that the same type of destruction has been repeated by IS over the past few years. For instance, on July 4, 2014, IS members dug up and destroyed the grave of Prophet Younis (biblical Jonah) east of Mosul. Do Shiites and Iranians prefer Karbala to Mecca? In recent months, articles circulated in some Arab outlets claiming that Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had issued a fatwa asking Iranians to carry out the duty to perform the hajj in Karbala rather than Mecca. Of note, Iranian officials quickly denied these claims. Apart from Irans rejection of the alleged fatwa, Shiite jurists and scholars are of the conviction that the hajj cannot be performed anywhere else but in Mecca. In fact, while performing the hajj is "wajib" (mandatory), visiting the shrine of Hussein is merely "mostahab" (recommended). In fact, the hajj is so important in Islam that those who do not perform it if they are healthy enough and can afford it will not be considered Muslim in the hereafter. In this vein, Sheikh Al-Hurr al-Aamili, a prominent Twelver Shiite scholar (1624-1693) said that visiting the shrines of the Shiite imams cannot be used as a pretext for not carrying out the duty to perform the hajj. Moreover, Imam Muhammad ibn al-Bagher, the fifth Shiite imam, said, If someone can afford to go to hajj but has sickness or disease, he should send someone else instead of himself to the hajj and pay the expenses. November 18, 2016 Your Amona will bring back the intifada, a Palestinian security source told Al-Monitor. How come you cant see that? He was referring to the Israeli right wings effort to prevent the court-ordered evacuation of the unauthorized settlement of Amona. According to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, extensive joint Palestinian-Israeli efforts in recent months to restore calm and prevent Palestinians from carrying out terror attacks in Israel could go down the drain, just for the sake of appeasing a few settler families in an unauthorized West Bank outpost built on privately owned Palestinian land. This time we wont be able to stop the violence, because popular sentiment will have changed, he warned. Several hours after that conversation on Nov. 16, it was reported that Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat was threatening to demolish Palestinian structures illegally built and perhaps built on Jewish-owned land in East Jerusalem unless the government prevents the evacuation of Amona. If the Amona issue is not resolved, our hands are tied [by law], and we will be forced to demolish hundreds or thousands of homes in Jerusalem, Barkat said. He added, There should not be one law for Jews and another for Arabs. Barkats reference to hundreds or thousands of homes refers, of course, only to homes of Palestinians. Even as he spoke, the Jerusalem municipality was petitioning the courts to approve demolition orders for 14 structures housing some 40 Palestinian families in the Beit Hanina neighborhood. The city claims that the houses were built on private Jewish land administered by the state custodian. The issue of land ownership in East Jerusalem is not new it is legally complicated because of overlapping Ottoman, Jordanian and Israeli rule and statutes. However, it is playing with fire to bring it up at this time, after the so-called al-Quds intifada that broke out in October 2015 has been stemmed and routine, daily life has more or less been restored. Much has been said about Nir's political aspiration of reaching the pinnacle of the ruling Likud. His latest actions and pronouncements appear to be geared toward right-wing Israeli circles, in an effort to court West Bank settlers. Their votes and their lobbying groups could help him climb into Likuds top echelon. Barkats threat that he will be forced to demolish hundreds or thousands of Palestinian homes if Amona is evacuated has already stirred unrest in East Jerusalem neighborhoods. As the Palestinians see it, Barkat simply wants payback: If the home of a Jewish settler is razed, hundreds of Palestinian homes will be brought down as well. Barkat has proven that he represents the settlers and not all the citys inhabitants, Hani Issawi, a prominent activist in the Issawiya neighborhood, told Al-Monitor. Residents of his neighborhood feel threatened by Barkats statements, he said. They feel anger and rage, Issawi explained. The significance and the results could turn out to be major and severe. Im talking about unrest far wider and deeper than weve seen before. Other Palestinian activists from Jerusalem who requested anonymity agree that there is, indeed, a sense of a state of emergency in the eastern part of the city. One of them warned, It all looks like preparation for the outbreak of another intifada. There are people here who lived here under the rule of the British Mandate and then under Jordanian rule, until they were conquered by the Israelis, Dahoud Abu Sinna, a resident of East Jerusalem's Silwan neighborhood, told Al-Monitor. If the mayor wants to evacuate them now, well tell him go ahead, but it should be clear that this will not go down smoothly. Someone comes to you to destroy your life, yours and that of your children, and youre going to thank them? Tensions in the Palestinian neighborhoods of East Jerusalem are mounting not only because of Barkats threats, but also against the backdrop of the muezzin bill, legislation proposed by Knesset member Moti Yogev of HaBayit HaYehudi and approved by the Ministerial Committee on Legislation and soon scheduled for a first vote in the Knesset. The bill, designed to silence the Islamic call to prayer over mosque loudspeakers, is of great concern to residents of East Jerusalem. The muezzins call to the faithful is part of their daily routine, especially in the large and bustling neighborhoods where many have adopted a religious way of life in recent years. This all proves the irresponsibility of the Israeli leadership, Issawi said. Barkats remarks and the silencing of the muezzins constitute a blow to the most fundamental elements of our society. We view this as deliberate provocation and an undermining of the status quo. Issawi added that the call to prayer is an indispensable element of Muslim religious life, and Barkats pronouncements are fueling fires of discord. Issawi, Abu Sinna and other activists believe that the wave of violence that broke out last year was the result of Israeli provocations at Al-Aqsa Mosque. Issawi asserted, [The attempt] to break all the rules and undermine the status quo is what led to the intifada of the youths. The [repeated] attempts now to change the religious and civil status quo are by way of a shockwave that could result in a violent outbreak, which will be harder to stem, if its at all possible. The mayor of Jerusalem is unlikely to carry out his threat and demolish hundreds or thousands of Palestinian homes in the city, some of which have been standing for decades. One thing is certain: Sometimes all it takes are words to ignite a major conflagration. November 18, 2016 GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip The Palestinian Authoritys efforts to join Interpol failed after its application for membership was suspended in a meeting Nov. 8. While Israel celebrates the PA's loss, the secretary-general of Fatah's Revolutionary Council, Amin Maqboul, confirmed that the PA will reapply for membership next year. Maqboul told Al-Monitor, We will not give up on our endeavor to join all international institutions, which would lay strong foundations for an independent state of Palestine. Following its 85th meeting Nov. 8, in Bali, Indonesia, the Interpol General Assembly said in a statement that Interpol has suspended Palestine's application and appointed an adviser to recommend a "clear and transparent process with a defined set of criteria for membership." It added that it will consider no new applications until after its 2017 meeting in Beijing. Of Interpol's 190 member countries, 56 voted in favor of the Palestinian application, 62 voted against and 37 abstained. Palestine needs 125 votes to secure a seat. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed during the Nov. 8 opening ceremony of a new rail line in the northern Israeli town of Afula that Israel thwarted the PAs efforts to join Interpol. In a Nov. 8 statement, Israel's Foreign Ministry announced that the vote was a victory for Israeli diplomacy. Maqboul said, Interpol has forwarded Palestines application to the organizations legal committee to examine whether the Palestinian police would be able to cooperate with Interpol. The committee will decide in June 2017 if the Palestinian application will be submitted once again for vote or not. Should the application be accepted by the committee, it will be then voted on during the Interpol assembly to be held next year in Beijing. He stressed that the Palestinian police have prepared all of the required plans, as well as the technical and human staff and infrastructure, to cooperate with Interpol, in case its application was endorsed and Palestine became a member state. Maqboul explained that Palestine's accession to international institutions like Interpol is one of its fundamental rights after the UN General Assembly voted to make Palestine a nonmember observer state at the United Nations on Nov. 30, 2012. He added, The PA needs to join Interpol to be able to prosecute dozens of the most wanted fugitives by the Palestinian judiciary on criminal and financial corruption charges. He stressed that joining Interpol would promote peace and security in the Palestinian territories. In response to Netanyahu's claim of an Israeli victory, Maqboul said, Netanyahu is trying to disseminate fake victories to cover up the Israeli failure after UNESCO adopted a resolution on Oct. 13 denying Jewish ties to Jerusalem holy sites, including the Western Wall, which Israel calls the Wailing Wall. Antoine Shalhat, the director of the Palestinian Forum for Israeli Studies' "Israeli Scene" supplement distributed with Al-Ayyam, believes that international institutions have become a battleground for Palestine and Israel. Shalhat told Al-Monitor, Palestine is trying to establish itself as an independent state, while Israel seeks to counter all Palestinian efforts to this effect. Israel wants the PA be more of a local authority that caters to the Palestinians civil needs, and an [Israeli] security arm that would pursue armed cells in the West Bank through the so-called security coordination. He said there is an important political reason behind the PAs quest to join international institutions. Israel has not abided by the 1993 Oslo Accord, which provided for the establishment of a Palestinian interim self-government authority in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip for a transitional period not exceeding five years, leading to a permanent settlement based on UN Security Council Resolution 242. The UN resolution calls for the withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict. Political analyst Ibrahim Jaber told Al-Monitor that Israel has major concerns about the PA joining Interpol. By becoming a member of the international police, the PA would have the right to ask Interpol to prosecute Israeli military commanders if the International Criminal Court finds Israel guilty of war crimes during the wars on Gaza. He noted that Israel has used its political and commercial ties with many countries as leverage to pressure them not to vote in favor of applications by Palestine to join international institutions. Political analyst Abdel-Sattar Qassem agrees with Jaber that Israel fears that its military commanders could face prosecution. However, he told Al-Monitor, I believe that these Israeli fears are hyperbolic. Israel has never been pressured or forced to abide by or implement any of the decisions by international institutions issued in favor of Palestinians. Qassem added, For instance, the Security Council issued three resolutions condemning [Israeli] settlements and calling for the halt and dismantlement of these settlements. They also called [for member states] not to recognize the annexation of the settlements. These are Resolution 446 of 1979, Resolution 452 of 1979 and Resolution 465 of 1980. Yet Israel has not abided by any of these resolutions. Qassem continued, The pro-Israel bias by the United States which is the worlds major power allows Israel to be strong and have no fear of anything. This is why I believe that the PA accession to Interpol or any other international institution will not change the reality of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. November 18, 2016 The date Nov. 15, 1988, is a special one for Palestinians. On that day, the Palestinian National Council (PNC), the Palestinians' parliament in exile, convened in the Algerian capital of Algiers and adopted the Palestinian Declaration of Independence. It was almost one year into the relatively nonviolent intifada that shook up Israel and the world. PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi told Al-Monitor how the declaration had been largely drafted by distinguished professor Edward Said and Palestinian poet laureate Mahmoud Darwish, both now deceased. Said, who along with [prominent academic] Ibrahim Abu-Lughod was in contact with the Americans, contributed to it, said Ashrawi. He wanted the declaration to contain a number of principles that appear in the US Constitution, but it was Darwish who drafted the final text that was read in Arabic. The idea of the declaration reflected the aspirations of local leaders of the intifada, including Faisal Husseini of Jerusalem. Ashrawi believes the document should not have been called a declaration. It should have been announced as a body of principles that would define the nature of our state and the basis of our future constitution, she said. It was a courageous and astute statement that succeeded in gaining the support of all Palestinians. Ashrawi, who served as spokesperson for the Palestinian delegation to the 1991 Madrid peace conference, said that the declaration represented major Palestinian concessions. She explained, It included Palestinian acceptance of the UN partition plan of 1947, but unfortunately it was not reciprocated with similar seriousness by Israel and the world, which continued to move the goal posts and make further demands of Palestinians. PNC meetings usually take place in supportive Arab capitals, so in Algiers in 1988, Yasser Arafat, the longtime leader of the Palestinian movement, took the podium and read the Palestinian Declaration of Independence to a roaring PNC audience: The Palestine National Council announces, in the name of God, in the name of the people, of the Arab Palestinian people, the establishment of the state of Palestine in our Palestinian nation, with holy Jerusalem as its capital. The declaration reflected international law, advocated values of respect and tolerance and included indirect recognition of Israel. The PLO was considered a terrorist organization at the time, and its leaders were often targets of Israeli assassination attempts. Palestinians in the Pine Palace in Algiers celebrated back then, as balloons bearing the colors of the Palestinian flag came down, and excitement was in the air when in Jerusalem, at Al-Aqsa Mosque, the declaration was read aloud, giving it relevance on the ground. In the occupied territories, the scene was electric, with Palestinians celebrating while the Israeli army tried to quell their excitement and enthusiasm. Ilan Ziv, an American filmmaker of Israeli origin, recalled the scene for Al-Monitor, saying, I was in Bethlehem, and a curfew had been declared that evening throughout the occupied territories. There was so much excitement. Homemade fireworks were shot, and people were screaming from the rooftops and celebrating even though the Israeli army was nervously patrolling the streets. Then, at the moment that Arafat was supposed to make the declaration, the electricity went out, and the entire city was pitch black, as the Israeli army tried to prevent Palestinians from following the declaration on TV. But the electricity cut-off only raised the level of the celebrations. Twenty-eight years later, without the actualization of independence, the scene in Palestine is somber. Hassan Breijieh, the head of the Committee to Resist the Apartheid Wall in Bethlehem, lamented to Al-Monitor, The declaration is a statement that was supposed to be built on. It reflected a vision that required implementation through a viable strategy. According to Breijieh, what is needed now, before one can talk about concrete steps to implement the Declaration of Independence, is national unity. All factions and patriots must be united with a clear purpose and goal, he said. Nothing will be done without unity. All the factions must meet and agree on a unified vision and work together to implement it. Kayed Miari, the founder of the Nablus-based Witness Center for Citizens Rights and Social Development, told Al-Monitor that the declaration has lost its appeal, because the public has no faith in moral victories. The value of independence has been gutted because of the continuation of the Israeli occupation and the absence of real sovereignty, with the Palestinian government playing nothing more than a functional role, he said. In the Gaza Strip, Hamadeh Hammodeh, the director of Al-Fajr Center, which trains released prisoners in media skills, bitterly told Al-Monitor, We got nothing out of this declaration on the ground. No state, no [return of] refugees, no borders and no rights achieved. The only thing we get on this day is a holiday from school and work. Gazans cannot celebrate this day because, Hammodeh said, [They] live in a terrible situation with the siege and the restrictions on all sides. In Ramallah, satirical columnist Walid Batrawi scoffed at the declaration. In a post on Facebook, Batrawi joked, The world has April Fools,' while Palestinians have this November declaration. In Hebron, Haitham Sharif, a local journalist, said that the only celebration for the declaration had been formal events. People were mourning Arafat, who died 12 years ago, rather than celebrating the Declaration of Independence, he said. Mubarak Awad, the founder of the Palestinian Center for the Study of Nonviolence in Jerusalem, and who was deported from his birthplace by Israel in June 1988 on the eve of the Palestinian intifada, told Al-Monitor, When the declaration was made, Palestinians were in the midst of a collective intifada in which everyone was willing to make a sacrifice for the nation. Today, we have lost that collective will as everyone is looking out for themselves after our unity has been shattered. Awad, who now runs Nonviolence International out of Washington, and teaches nonviolence at the American University in the US capital, called for genuine change if the declaration is ever going to be implemented. We lack a leadership that can excite its people, he said. We have no strategy for liberation, and we are accepting division rather than rejecting it. While many Palestinians in the diaspora commemorated the 28th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the celebrations in the occupied territories were not even newsworthy. The reality is that Palestinians in daily confrontation with Israel are no longer convinced by words and declarations. So long as the reality on the ground has not changed, and the occupation continues, there will not be any genuine celebration. For Palestinians, the question is no longer one of a state or a flag or a president. An independent state is about true sovereignty on the ground and freedom to move without restrictions. It will be hard to celebrate a public declaration while the illegal, Jewish settlement enterprise remains ongoing, and the Israeli military occupiers rule over Palestinians. November 18, 2016 As experts on Russia and Turkey are wondering just how receptive US President-elect Donald Trump will be to their agendas in the Middle East, Moscow and Ankara have been involved in a series of talks over Syria. Indeed, Turkish officials have become frequent guests in Moscow. The most recent visit, on Nov. 1, brought high-ranking military and intelligence officers, triggering rumors about a potential joint pursuit of ideas over the fate of Syria. But as the content of the negotiations remains confidential, Russia believes the significance of these contacts goes beyond Syria. One needs to understand the worlds perception of what drives Turkish foreign policy and the political situation in the country. The way Russia sees it, Turkey is going through a feverish transition process that has a direct impact on its political course, including contacts with key global actors. To the United States, which has seen Turkey as its right-hand man in the region, Ankara has become much too independent regarding its international policy. As for the European Union, even if its leaders toy with the idea of integrating Turkey, they see it as a supporting partner state, not as a country with big geopolitical ambitions. The US policy of becoming involved in the politics of countries of interest is showing signs of failing in Turkey, as lately there seems to be very little chance of changing the regime, be it through revolutionary or evolutionary ways. Turkeys power-loving president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, doesnt understand the EUs attempt to compel Turkey to accommodate the flow of refugees from the Syrian war. Not only did Erdogan ignore the European logic of managing the situation, he tried to use the refugee crisis to his own advantage. However, in his attempt to elevate a regional actor to a world power, he overestimated his potential. With that rift, as well as complications in Turkeys relationship with the United States, the political situation pushed Turkey to reactivate ties with Russia. Ankara found it possible to start a dialogue on the most sensitive issues, including Syria. Since August, Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin have conducted two state visits with each other and had numerous telephone conversations. The parties agreed to resume cooperation on key economic projects, and Russia has gradually lifted anti-Turkish sanctions. Even so, there have been doubts about the relationships progress all along the way, especially regarding geopolitics and security-related issues. As an active NATO member, Turkey until recently interacted frequently with potential NATO member states and insisted on increasing the alliances presence in the Black Sea so that it didnt turn into a Russian Sea. Moreover, Turkey has its own opinion about developments in the Caucasus and Central Asia, and this opinion rarely coincides with Moscows. However, Syria is undoubtedly the major issue. The view in Moscow is that Erdogan, seeing the rapid regime transformations in 2011 during the course of the Arab Spring, was planning to use the moderate opposition to his own advantage, change power in the neighboring country and in due time construct a natural gas pipeline from Qatar. Despite their previously friendly relations, the removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad became a primary political goal for Erdogan. Thus, Turkey made a U-turn in its rhetoric and actions, and yesterday's friend turned into a dictator and assassin. For Moscow, which rejects regime change accomplished in illegitimate ways and which has had a very positive relationship with Syria, it was unacceptable. Nevertheless, both Moscow and Ankara from the very beginning insisted on the integrity of the states in the region, though each had its own reason. Turkey, with a large share of the regions Kurdish population, was apprehensive of the possibility of creating Kurdish states or autonomies. Although Russia interacts with all subjects in the region, it maintains the principle of Syrias territorial wholeness, which actually narrows the gap between Erdogan's and Putin's positions. More and more voices in Turkey are rising against the United States for favoring the division of Syria and the region according to ethnicity, which contravenes the interests of Turkey, with its big Kurdish faction. Besides, despite the controversy at the interstate level, the Turkish population seems to assess Russias position on Syria in a rather positive manner. And as a source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, some in the Turkish military favor strengthening ties between the two countries, and the idea of buying Russian air-defense systems has surfaced again. Russia neither objected to nor expressed support for Turkeys military Operation Euphrates Shield. It seems that in the course of talks, Putin and Erdogan have reached a certain agreement on the issue, although it is too early to talk about an alliance. What could be asserted is that Russia and Turkey are negotiating not only about the gas pipeline, but also the destiny of Syria after the war on the Islamic State (IS) is over. In the supposed dialogue, Turkey is maneuvering to save face and step up its influence in northern Syria, while Russia aims to save face and all its opportunities in the Syrian Arab Republic, including the military bases. Can we expect Turkey to try to expand its influence to northern Iraq as well? Taking into account the instability of regimes in the Middle East and the necessity to speed up the victory in the operation against IS, Moscow could agree to this on the condition Ankara demonstrates a consolidated, independent course. It is important that Ankaras and Russias general staffs and intelligence services establish good communication. This could be the first sign of stabilization of their bilateral relations and improved regional stability. Moscow perceives Turkey as fighting and searching for its new identity. The fight and search are not easy; they include the arrest of those who oppose the New Turkey, and Erdogans policy that Turkeys present-day borders were imposed by the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne and do not correspond with the aspirations of Turkey in the south and west. Theres an opinion in Russia that interfering with these self-searching processes will increase instability in the already unstable region. Strengthening Ankaras independent policy has its risks for all major players. Yet it gives Moscow hope for more transparency in cooperation. Historically, Turkey lies at the crossroads of major economic, political and military routes. The given geopolitics is not likely to change, but it is possible to influence the perspectives of development. November 18, 2016 BAGHDAD Tal Afar will be the cemetery of Turkish soldiers should Turkey attempt to take part in the battle, Hadi al-Amiri, the head of the Badr Organization and a leader in the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), said Nov. 9 in a message to Iraqs northern neighbor, in the event Turkish troops deployed in the Bashiqa camp attempt to take part in the liberation of Tal Afar. On Nov. 16, Tal Afar was liberated. It is a strategic area for the PMU, as it gives them access to the Syrian border and enables them to cut off the routes for Islamic State (IS) fighters to escape to Syria. Following the liberation of Tal Afar, Amiri said that the Syrian president has invited the PMU to fight the Syrian opposition inside Syrian territory. Amiri's statement against Turkey, which is close to Iran, came in response to the earlier statements of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in regard to the city of Tal Afar, whereby he warned the PMU not to commit any violations against the citys civilians. During a press statement Oct. 29, Erdogan said, The Turkmen city of Tal Afar is a matter of great sensitivity to us. Should the PMU commit terrorist acts in the city, our response will be different. Erdogan added that he received information that confirms the PMU terrorist acts in the city, without giving further details on the number of reinforcements or how Turkeys retaliation will be different. In the same vein, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi responded to the Turkish president Nov. 1, saying that the Iraqi government is keener than any other party on Tal Afar. Abadi did not hide his concerns about any Turkish threats, stating, The threat of a Turkish intervention still exists. Tal Afar is a district administratively affiliated with Ninevah governorate and located 63 kilometers (39 miles) west of Mosul, close to the Iraqi-Syrian border, with an area of approximately 28 square kilometers (11 square miles). IS' No. 2 man, Abu Alaa al-Afri, who was Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's deputy, hails from Tal Afar and was killed in the city in an Iraqi raid last year. The city of Tal Afar, with its diverse population, has become a controversial battlefield for parties beyond Iraqi borders, which is what confirms its geographic importance especially for Iran seeking to reach Syria through the Iraqi land channel, and for Turkey seeking to revive the glory of the Ottoman expansion. The city is home to different ethnicities and has a Shiite Turkmen majority, which is at the base of the Iranian-Turkish conflict (Iran supports the Shiites, while Turkey supports the Turkmens). It is important to note the Shiite-Sunni conflict among the Turkmen population, which could spark a raging war within the district, making it easier for Iran and Turkey to gain a foothold in the city that might involve military presence. To add fuel to the fire, there has been talk that the liberation of Tal Afar, which is still under IS control, will be under the supervision of the head of Irans Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani. This would be a major provocation for the Sunnis there. The PMU involvement in Tal Afar is also controversial and is seen as a reaction to the Turkish presence in Bashiqa. Faleh al-Fayad, the head of the PMU and the national security adviser in Iraq, said, The PMUs goal is to liberate the city of Tal Afar and reach the outskirts of Mosul, without entering the city unless by an order from the commander in chief of the armed forces. On Oct. 30, the Turkmen Front in the Kurdistan Region parliament warned against any demographic change in the district of Tal Afar as a result of the PMU interference in the battle there, and thus refused the latters participation in the liberation of the city. Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, one of the PMU factions affiliated with the Iranian velayat-e faqih, expects the battle to liberate Tal Afar to be fierce, denying claims that the PMU is trying to bring about a demographic change in the district, and accusing Turkey of sticking its nose in the business of others." It is very likely that the PMU and the Turkish troops will clash in the city, as the latter are stationed 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from Tal Afar. Turkey believes that the presence of the PMU in Tal Afar gives it ground to enter the city, especially after Erdogans warning to interfere should the PMU spread fear among the citizens. Whats more, Turkey does not wish for Iran to have influence in Tal Afar, which is adjacent to the border with Syria; it would make it easier for Iran to transfer arms through the land route it is seeking to establish from the east to the west of Iraq. This is also seen as one of the reasons behind the dispute over Tal Afar. Erdogan fears that Tal Afar, which lies 60 kilometers (37 miles) from the Turkish border, would become a haven for the Shiite factions close to Iraq. The Turkish president also has concerns over a possible alliance between the PMU and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in regard to attacks that could be launched on Turkey or a possible facilitation by the PMU of arms transfers to the PKK fighting the Turkish army. It appears that there will be a new Turkish-Iraqi escalation that might evolve into a military standoff, especially since Abadi has previously stated, [Iraq] does not wish to go to war with Turkey, but should Turkey insist on a war, we will be ready. However, should any military confrontation happen between Turkey and Iraq, the latter would not involve its regular troops but rather the PMU that view the Turkish troops in Iraq as an occupation force, which they would target if they happen to be in the same location. Tal Afar has become an international disputed area between Turkey and Iraq, which is causing further instability in terms of security and opens the door to civil conflicts, thereby paving the way for any Iranian or Turkish military intervention. November 18, 2016 The hottest political topic in Turkey these days is the major constitutional amendment the government is cooking up to introduce a presidential system. This, in fact, has been the grand ambition of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the past few years. But only now, thanks to the political alliance they formed with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), they can find enough mandates in the parliament more than 330 seats out of 550 to realize this major transition. If this transition takes place, Turkey would be abandoning the European-style parliamentary system it has been adhering to since the beginning of the republic in 1923 or even from the first Ottoman Constitution of 1876. In this system, the president is a nonpartisan head of state, whereas the real executive power lies in the hands of the prime minister. Erdogan had no problem with this design throughout his first decade in power when he himself was the prime minister. Once he decided to run for the presidency in 2012, however, he and his advisers began advocating the presidential system and a new constitution that would allow that. Some Turkish advocates of the presidential system point to the United States as a good example, but this comparison is flawed for various reasons. First, America is a federation made up of 50 states that have their autonomy in many matters, making the overall system quite decentralized. In contrast, Turkey is, and will keep on being, a very centralized state. Moreover, the presidency Erdogan seeks will have astonishing powers that would be unimaginable in America, such as appointing the heads of all universities across the nation. Given the electoral system and political culture, a partisan president is also very likely to fully dominate his own party, which can give him the full control of both the executive and legislative branches. Add to this the large appointment powers envisioned for the president over the high judiciary, what may come out is a system of unified power as critically noted by a former adviser to former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. This would be the exact opposite of the system of checks and balances that is built into the American model. Advocates of the presidential system also argue that it will save Turkey from all the previous ills, from economic problems to terrorism but this too looks like more propaganda than analysis. They even claim that the presidential system will save Turkey permanently from military coups, whereas other experts think the exact opposite is true. One of them is Shadi Hamid of the Brookings Institution who examines the political models in the Arab world in his notable book, Islamic Exceptionalism: How the Struggle Over Islam Is Reshaping the World. All other things being equal, parliamentary systems make coups against elected leaders less likely, Hamid observed. Because the fact that presidential contests are all or nothing only one person, after all, can win further heighten[s] the existential tenor of political competition. Unfortunately, there is little room to calmly discuss such issues in Turkey now, as the presidential system is promoted more through defiant propaganda rather than a free, open debate. The urgency given to the topic, despite all the other major issues Turkey is facing, also suggests that the yearning for a new system has something to do with the personal trajectory of the current president. As Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the MHP, noted, Erdogan is using lots of de facto powers going well beyond his constitutional role, and what needs to be done is to make the system compatible with this de facto reality. Here is the possible scenario, as reported in the Turkish press, for the transition to a presidential system: The ruling AKP has just submitted three optional constitutional amendment packages to the opposition MHP: a whole new constitution, a major amendment and a more limited amendment all focusing on a presidential system. When the MHP approves one of these, the parliament will vote for it, opening the way for a referendum sometime in early 2017. If a yes vote comes up, which is quite likely, then Turkey will have an entirely new political system. However, as insider reports also suggest, the transition will not take place overnight. There will be a two-year provisional period, during which Erdogan will use his newfound powers. The new constitution will fully come into effect in 2019 also the year Erdogans current five-year term ends. Then, the first presidential elections for the presidential system will take place. Since his current presidency will not count, Erdogan will have the chance to go for two more terms, or for 5+5 years, keeping him in power until 2029. He would be 75 years old then and in power for 27 years. This would be almost twice the time Mustafa Ataturk spent in power, giving Erdogan a much bigger continuum of incumbency than any other political leader in modern Turkish history. Is this really possible? Legally, it is certainly possible and that is, in fact, the whole point about the presidential system, at least according to the opposition. Politically, Erdogan will have to sustain his popularity to keep winning elections in the next 13 years. He already has a large ideological base whose devotion to his persona seems unbreakable, but he also gets the support of pragmatic voters who think they have been better off under the AKP. To sustain the latter, Erdogan will have to keep the economy going, and whether he can really do that may be the pivotal question regarding Turkeys political future. In any case, we will be witnessing a remarkable political experience. It will be an experience that gives euphoria to its supporters, fear and trauma to its dissidents, and marks a significant place for itself in the political history of the world. November 17, 2016 Amid all of Turkey's current controversies the attempted coup, the subsequent purge of thousands of alleged conspirators, the war in Syria, to name just a few Istanbul's art critics" are creating their own turmoil. On Nov. 3, a group of angry young Islamists chanting "Allahu Akbar" showed up at the annual Contemporary Istanbul art exhibit demanding that a sculpture be removed from the gallery. The statue that caused such an uproar is a sculpture of a woman wearing a bathing suit. Painted on her belly is a man wearing a fez and a military uniform with his tongue sticking out and curved upward. This man is Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid II. Abdulhamid Han, as he is referred to among Turkish Islamists, reigned for 33 years and is the most revered sultan. During a show that lasted only four days, the statue was removed, put back up the next day and finally removed again at the request of the artist, who told the press he was concerned about the reaction to his work. Considering the tense times in the country, artist Ali Elmaci decided it was better not to add to the unease. Yet several news outlets used inflammatory descriptions of the incident, such as Bigots attack art and Under the guise of political sensitivity these actions resembled the Paris attacks of the Islamic State. Some even said the exhibit had been raided. On social media, both sides were vocal. While the secularists condemned the Islamists' attack on the art, those who were offended by the statue questioned how it could be considered art. On Twitter, there were comments such as What kind of art is this? How can one ridicule [his] own history and leaders?" Others said things like, If it was [Mustafa] Ataturk painted there [on the belly of the sculpture], hell would break lose. When it is Abdulhamid, it is of course called art. Al-Monitor interviewed different Islamist groups about their perception of Sultan Abdulhamid II. Most of the Islamists emphasized that Abdulhamid Han was first and foremost a caliph and that it was not appropriate to display him in that manner. One prominent historian who asked not to be named told Al-Monitor, In this case and in other protests like this, we must ask, are all who chant 'Allahu Akbar' violent and dangerous, or terrorists, for that matter? Then to answer your question, Abdulhamid Han is important because he was known as a pious sultan, a source of pride for Muslims in a challenging time during his reign.` The Istanbul Art Snob blogger, who asked that her name not be released, told Al-Monitor, The sculpture is the first sculpture work of the artist; he normally works oil on canvas. And this sculpture is part of his I can't reciprocate your feelings Osman series. In this series, Osman is referred to as the leader of the neo-Ottoman ideology. [Elmaci] used Abdulhamid II as a symbol here, and the face of the sultan is actually painted as the artist himself, especially the eyes. So here it is the sultan as well as the artist himself. As I said, this is due to the fact that the whole series of works are under the same concept of neo-Ottoman ideology. It is also crucial to note that the art blogger had interviewed several members of the art community who rallied around the artist and stood against the protest. For example, X-ist Gallery owner Daryo Beskinazi commented, I think that all there is to say has already been said about this horrible and unacceptable attack. Fascism has found a way to enter our tall walls, which we thought were safe and sacred. Ignorance will always remain as ignorance wherever you go. I disapprove of the whole thing without a doubt! The blogger also told Al-Monitor that, although rare, negative public outbursts like this do happen in Turkey. There was an incident a few years ago at an exhibition at Tuyap. As the public does not follow contemporary art so much in Turkey and neither does the government, unless you stick a finger in their eye they do not know what the art world is doing, and so unless it is very visible, the [artists'] hidden protest in the artworks never get to be seen or censored, she said. So what spurred this protest? Al-Monitor interviewed Huseyin Terzi, the chairman of the Erbakan Foundations Istanbul bureau. Erbakan Foundation was the main group that voiced disapproval of the artwork. Terzi first explained that Erbakan members have a reputation for leading marches, sometimes with hundreds of thousands of people, even almost a million people, without injury or any sort of aggression. Terzi confirmed that, in this instance as well, there was no violence or even the threat of violence against anyone or the property of the galleries. He said, We learned about the statue from the news online that was advertising Contemporary Istanbul. Our youth branch attended the fair to express their thoughts and concerns about the artifact. Just like everyone, each one of our members entered the fair after buying a ticket. They approached the gallery that was displaying the statue and asked the artist and other people in charge, What is the purpose of displaying a caliph of Muslims with his tongue sticking out on the belly of a naked statue? The answer they received was only, It is art. Then our members explained to them that this is offensive to Abdulhamid Han and his people and, therefore, it should be not displayed. A day after, we learned that the artist agreed to pull his work out of the fair, so the issue is closed for us. According to Terzi, the artist has not been able to explain the purpose and the meaning of portraying Abdulhamid Han with his tongue sticking out. He said, We view this kind of a display as offensive to the Turkish nation and Muslims everywhere. Art should not be used to normalize ridiculing sacred values, insulting individuals and ignoring cultural dynamics. At the end, Contemporary Istanbul was completed successfully; according to SanatKaravani.com, 90,000 people attended. Still, questioning the purpose of a work of art or why it may be offensive for some sections of society while others simply do not care, in itself may be controversial. Arguing over whether art is respectful of different political, cultural and religious sensitivities is rubbing salt into the deep wounds and divisions of Turkish society. In Erdogans Turkey, art remains a risky and contested pursuit. November 17, 2016 In its quest to become part of the Mosul operation, the Turkish government has been warning that the predominantly Shiite volunteer Popular Mobilization Units will ethnically cleanse Sunnis from Mosul and its environs. But since that argument has not yielded the desired results of being able to intervene in Iraq, Ankara is now using the argument that the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) has turned Sinjar into a base. By declaring that Sinjar is on the way to becoming a new Qandil, we cannot allow that, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has made Turkeys position clear. Turkeys Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar warned US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford of Turkeys potential intervention during their Nov. 6 meeting in Ankara. According to a senior official who spoke to daily Hurriyet, Dunford said Turkey is justified to intervene in such a situation that concerns its national security. This unidentified official explained Turkeys position, which is to prevent the PKK from taking control of Sinjar and turning it into a logistics base that will provide access between Syria and Iraq. The question is whether the historical center of Yazidis in Sinjar is truly becoming a new base for the PKK, like Mount Qandil, and are Kurds really taking over control of the town? The PKK presence in Sinjar did not begin on Aug. 3, 2014, when the Islamic State (IS) occupied the area. In fact, the PKK have been with the Yazidis for at least 20 years. After the occupation of the region by the United States in 2003, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) attempted to annex Sinjar to Kurdistan by increasing the size of peshmerga forces, while the PKK intensified its efforts to expand its sphere of influence. About 8,000 peshmerga forces withdrew from the area without challenging IS in 2014, but the PKKs armed wing, the People's Defense Forces (HPG), began fighting to open a corridor from the Sinjar Mountains, while Rojavas People's Protection Units (YPG) began doing the same from the Syrian side. These moves boosted the PKKs popularity among the Yazidis, while the KRG leadership under Massoud Barzani and peshmerga forces affiliated with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) suffered serious blows to their prestige when they were accused of abandoning the Yazidis to the murderous IS. Later, to recoup its lost prestige and prevent expansion of the PKK, peshmerga forces became more aggressive. Although Barzani's government was able to obtain the backing of some notable Yazidi families and religious leaders, it couldnt keep up with the PKK's popularity. With the assistance of the HPG, Yazidis formed their own self-defense with the Sinjar Resistance Units (YBS) and the Sinjar Women's Units (YJS). The Sinjar Constituent Assembly was formed to handle civilian and political affairs. This assembly was successful in organizing their diaspora extensions and establishing relations with many international actors. Also under PKK guidance, an academy named after legendary Kurdish fighter Dewrese Evdi was inaugurated, modeled after the PKKs Mahsum Korkmaz Academy, which operated in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon. The academy teaches political and social subjects. Most of the instructors are Yazidis who had once served with the Iraqi army under Saddam Hussein or worked with peshmerga forces. Barzani's administration was considerably perturbed by the emergence of military and political alternatives beyond the KDP. His government tried to get the upper hand in the Sinjar area with its peshmerga forces which included 4,000 Yazidis and also set up a Yazidi womens military force. But the perceptible increase in religious rhetoric and hate speech against the Yazidis is a cause for serious concern. The Yazidis more and more think that their future can be best assured not with Erbil, but with the central government in Baghdad. When the central government recognized the YBS and the YJS as legitimate forces and started paying salaries to some of them during preparations for the Mosul operation, Erbils uneasiness grew. But Baghdads financial input was not adequate to start with. Journalist Seyit Evran of Sinjar told Al-Monitor that although Baghdad had promised to pay salaries to 1,000 people, it sent funds only for 500. This money was shared among 2,500 people serving in the YBS and the YJS, and even that was discontinued after three months. Local sources say the funding stopped after Baghdad and Erbil reached an agreement on participation of peshmerga forces in the Mosul operation. After liberating the center of Sinjar together with the peshmerga forces, the YBS and the YJS continued fighting IS in villages. So far, the Yazidis havent taken part in operations against Mosul and Tal Afar, saying they are awaiting the call of the Baghdad government. Nevertheless, Yazidi forces see themselves as an integral part of the Mosul operation. After all, administratively, Sinjar is attached to the Mosul governorate. Divided Sinjar The future of Sinjar continues to be the core of tension between the PKK and the KDP, and Yazidi settlements appear to be divided militarily and politically between these competing forces. Peshmerga forces and organizations following the PKK line are jointly controlling the center of Sinjar, and the HPG has headquarters both at the Sinjar Mountains and in the town of Sinjar. HPG militants wear their own uniforms, and in villages like Sinune and Hanesor whose populations reach 30,000 the YBS and the YJS appear to be in control. There is a dual administration, as both sides appointed their own district governors. Both parties operate their own checkpoints, and the YBS is stronger at Hanesor, where they control the district governorate and security offices. Rabia at the Syrian border is under joint control of the YBS and peshmerga forces, where both maintain checkpoints and mostly watch each other. Autonomy and international protection wanted Sociologist Azad Baris, the chairman of the Yazidi Cultural Foundation, said after all the massacres they suffered under IS, the Yazidis are seeking strong guarantees that, in their opinion, can be provided by setting up an autonomous region with its own self-defense units and ensuring international protection to the region. Many Yazidis are afraid to return to their homes from camps they live in, because they still fear recurrence of massacres. Baris told Al-Monitor, Because of the squabbling among the Kurds, Sinjars future is uncertain. They dont want Yazidis to decide the fate of Sinjar. They dont take the fears and demands of the people seriously. Everyone wants to create his own Yazidi. In the process, Jalal Talabanis Patriotic Union of Kurdistan is lagging behind as the PKK and the KDP struggle [to dominate] Sinjar. Yazidis in peshmerga forces say after they get rid of IS, they may opt for autonomy. But people are sympathizing more and more to the PKK line. Many diaspora Yazidis also think they will be safer with the PKK. There are many who say their lives and properties will be protected by the KDP. True, they dont trust the KDP, but they [are] also worried about what they see as communist propaganda by the PKK. Baris doesnt agree that Sinjar is about to become a second Qandil. He said, This analogy is not accurate. First of all, geographic and topographic conditions are different. You cannot make Sinjar a guerrilla base. On one flank you have flat ground and desert; on the other flanks there is a bare mountain. It may allow the Yazidis an adequate defense, but it cant be a guerrilla base like the Qandil Mountains. Such claims are exaggerated and politically motivated. Yes, there is a PKK ideological presence, but what we want is to organize the Yazidis and provide them with means of defending themselves against a new massacre. The PKK doesnt need a second Qandil. The PKK has been in Sinjar since 1993. Yazidi journalist Eyup Burc, who shares the views of Baris, told Al-Monitor, This allegation that Sinjar is becoming a second Qandil is a Turkish propaganda invention. The KDP manipulates some of its Yazidi friends to say the same things. Politically and militarily, the PKK deserves to have more say in Sinjar. The KDP is uncomfortable knowing the PKK gets the credit for opening a lifeline against IS for the Yazidis. The KDP is reminded of its treason of leaving the Yazidis to the mercy of IS. I think there will be some kind of international protection of Sinjar. Nobody will hand over Sinjar to the PKK, but the PKK will always remain as a major element in the region. The PKK cannot give up Sinjar, because Sinjar is the gateway to western and southern Kurdistan. The PKK has always been in the world of the Yazidis. I see the solution as an internationally protected Yazidi area that will enable the Yazidis to return to their homes. Evran said, Wherever it goes, the PKK installs a culture of resistance. This is what Turkey is afraid of. After the HPG entered the picture at Sinjar Mountains on Aug. 3, this culture has been flourishing. Especially the youth and women are joining self-defense forces. The PKK has no need to create another Qandil here. Although Sinjar topographically may not be conducive to guerrilla operations, with the turbulences of recent times, the PKK has been able to become more visible and effective in a crescent from Hanekin on the Iranian border to central Iraqs Mosul and Kirkuk. When you look at it from inside Iraq, it doesnt look all that easy for Turkey to reverse such a flexible and dynamic process just by massing tanks at the Silopi border. Trump reassuring the world he's focusing on foreign policy as he prepares for transition Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala. and Kellyanne Conway, campaign manager for President-elect Donald Trump, speak to reporters at Trump Tower in New York, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) (Associated Press) The Alabama NAACP State Conference issued a statement today criticizing President-elect Donald Trump's selection of Sen. Jeff Sessions for attorney general. The statement mentioned Sessions' failure to win Senate confirmation as a federal judge in 1986 after he was accused of making racially charged comments. The Alabama NAACP said the selection of Sessions "can be seen as an attempt to normalize racism, and hate in America." The organization said the appointment, and that of Steve Bannon as chief strategist, is part of an effort not only to "make American great again" but to "make America White Again." "The selection of Jeff Sessions is a deliberate attempt to undo all of President Obama's policies of inclusiveness and diversity," the NAACP statement said. A spokesman for Sessions said the senator would have no comment at this time. Sessions, who had served as a federal prosecutor, was nominated by President Reagan for a district judgeship and appeared before the Senate Judiciary in 1986. According to the Associated Press, Sessions was criticized during that hearing for joking in the presence of a Civil Rights Division attorney that the Ku Klux Klan was "OK" until he learned they smoked marijuana. He was also said to have called a black assistant U.S. attorney "boy" and the NAACP "un-American" and "communist-inspired." Sessions has said the racially charged allegations against him have been painful and unfair. The senator told CNN during a 2009 interview that the accusations were "false charges" and described the matter as "heartbreaking," the AP reported. Bessemer Child Shot.jpg Deanthony Shiquan Billingsley and Cardamien Demun Braxton Cooper are charged with attempted murder and remain at large. (Bessemer Police) Two men are now charged in the shooting of a 6-year-old girl wounded when gunfire pelted her Bessemer home. Deanthony Siquan Billingsley, 20, of Bessemer, and Cardamlen Demun Braxton Cooper, 21, of Hueytown, are charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count of shooting into an occupied dwelling. Both suspects remain at large, and should be considered armed and dangerous, said Bessemer police Sgt. Cortice Miles. Bessemer police and U.S. Marshals are searching for Billingsley and Cooper. One of them has outstanding warrants in Jefferson County and in Hoover, and both are know to law enforcement officers. "This isn't their first rodeo,'' Miles said. Alexis Davis was asleep on the couch of her family's home in the 400 block of 30th Street in Bessemer. Gunfire peppered their home shortly after 11 p.m., but family members and police didn't realize Alexis was shot in the back until more than two hours later when she got up to use the restroom. That's when she complained of pain in her stomach, and blood was found on her and the couch. She was taken to Children's of Alabama where she remains in the Intensive Care Unit this afternoon after undergoing surgery. She is listed in stable condition. About 11:10 p.m., officers were dispatched on a shooting at the Dartmouth Avenue Convenience Store, located at 2931 Dartmouth Avenue. Miles said officers found a black male lying outside the store on his back with a single gunshot wound to the arm. The victim told officers he was shot in the arm while inside of the store by a person that he knows. He was taken to UAB Hospital, but was released a short time later. Miles said detectives believe that Billingsley and Cooper shot the male victim at the store as part of an ongoing dispute. "It is believed that Billingsley and Cooper went across the street and shot into the residence,'' Miles said. He said police received simultaneous calls about the shootings at convenience store and the gunfire at Alexis's home. It wasn't until 1:30 a.m. they discovered Alexis shot. "She didn't act like she had been shot,'' said her grandfather, J.D. Lucius. "She was laughing and everything." Miles said their investigation shows that Billingsley and Cooper intentionally shot into the home where Alexis was sleeping because they knew their intended victim - the man shot in the arm - had associations with that home. Once captured, the suspects will be held on more than $2 million bond each. "We pray that this innocent young child recovers physically from this assault. It is also our prayer that she is able to overcome the indelible emotional scar that she will have to carry through life," said Bessemer police Chief Nathaniel Rutledge. "It is concerning that people are so reckless as to discharge weapons with no regard to where the bullet strikes." Anyone with any information on these cases is asked to call the Bessemer Police Department at (205) 425-2411 or the TipLine at (205)428-3541. A federal judge on Friday dismissed a lawsuit challenging Alabama's method of lethal injection by death row inmate Ronald Bert Smith, who is set to be executed Dec. 8. The judge on Friday also ended "negotiations" over whether Smith should be executed using a single dose of the drug midazolam, rather than the state's three-drug protocol. Smith's lawyers immediately filed notice of appeal of the judge's dismissal of the lawsuit to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Smith, and other inmates, argued in their consolidated lawsuits that the first drug in the combination - midazolam - wouldn't anesthetize the inmate enough to prevent the pain that would be caused by the other two drugs. Smith had argued that death row inmate Christopher Brooks may have died a painful death at his Jan. 21 execution because a witness saw one of Brooks' eyes open during the procedure and may not have been properly sedated. Smith also argued that one large and continuous dose of midazolam would be enough to execute him - an untried method. U.S. District Court Judge Keith Watkins on Friday dismissed Smith's lawsuit as being brought too late under statute of limitations, but he let the other death row inmates lawsuits stand. Watkins also halted negotiations over whether Smith should be executed using the single dose of midazolam. "Plaintiff Ronald Bert Smith was directed to show cause why the court should not order defendants (Alabama Department of Correction) to execute him using the method pled in his complaint, 'a large initial dose of midazolam, followed by continuous infusion' until his sentence is carried out," Watkins stated. Smith responded that the court couldn't enter such an order without first finding the current three-drug protocol unconstitutional, invalidating it, and enjoining its future use, Watkins stated. Smith's complaint also had an error when referencing 500 mg of midazolam; it should have been 2500 mg, the judge stated. Also, Smith included additional requirements: "necessary equipment and sufficient training," plus a plan to deal with a supposed "paradoxical reaction" that allegedly occurs in 2 percent of the population, Watkins stated. "As Smith well knows, the law does not require, and has never required, these elements in lethal injection cases. Defendants strongly resist all such requirements, as well as each of Smith's positions." "The unfortunate outcome of this show cause process confirms the court's previous reluctance to sidetrack capital litigation through negotiations," Watkins wrote. "In view of the lateness of the hour for Mr. Smith, that process--insofar as it involves the court--is hereby ended." The Alabama Attorney General's Office earlier on Friday had told Watkins that Smith wasn't truly interested in being executed by an untried lethal injection method, but instead was trying to create more litigation to delay his execution. The Attorney General's Office also addressed Smith's claim about Brooks' eye opening during his execution and his contention that Brooks was sedated but not "insensate." "Smith has presented absolutely no medical evidence or testimony of any kind supporting such a conclusion," the Attorney General's response stated. "Indeed, it is unsurprising that Smith has not attempted to present such evidence, as lagophthalmos--the failure of the eyelids to properly close--is a such a common condition in surgeries in which patients undergo general anesthesia that medical studies suggest that patients' eyelids be taped to reduce the chance of corneal abrasion," according to the Attorney General's document. 11-18 radar 730 1.jpg A line of rain and storms was making its way toward Alabama on Friday night. Some areas will see actual rain, but the front was expected to lose its punch as it moves through the state overnight. (National Weather Service) A cold front was slowly making its way toward Alabama on Friday night, bringing with it the best chance for rain the state has seen in weeks. As of 7:30 p.m. CST Friday rain and storms were moving eastward through Mississippi and Tennessee. What's that on radar you ask? Something we really need "rain"! Expect a brief period of light to moderate rain late this evening. #HUNWx pic.twitter.com/oaQoKMpW22 NWS Huntsville (@NWSHuntsville) November 19, 2016 The National Weather Service office in Huntsville expected rain to enter northwest Alabama between 9-10 p.m. The line of rain and storms was moving to the east-northeast. The best chances of seeing a good rain were in northwest Alabama. The line was expected to weaken and "dry out" as it moves deeper into Alabama. That trend was already starting to appear Friday evening, the weather service said: Unfortunately infrared satellite is indicating a weakening trend as expected . #alwx pic.twitter.com/2DuDGz4gBO NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) November 19, 2016 The rain was expected to be light for the most part -- but it could be enough to end the record rainless streaks ongoing in several Alabama cities, including Tuscaloosa (62 days), Birmingham (61 days) and Anniston (53 days). Much cooler temperatures will follow the front starting on Saturday. The weather service offices in Huntsville, Birmingham and Mobile all anticipated having to issue freeze watches or warnings at some point over the weekend. John White-Spunner loves work, and people, and dirt. It's dirt that makes his eyes light up. He hates debt. He emphasizes the importance of his Christian faith in all aspects of his life, business included. And while his construction management firm has all the trappings of success, he says they're not what matters. He says it's the people that matter. White-Spunner Construction, founded amid uncertain prospects in the recession of the early '80s, has grown into one of the biggest such firms in Alabama, one that has a national presence, overseeing construction projects all over the country. Based in Mobile, it has a yearly average of more than $70 million in projects during the past five years. It also has had a major impact on the Mobile skyline: Projects it has overseen in whole or in part include the restoration of the historic Van Antwerp Building and the RSA BankTrust Building, the renovation of the RSA Battle House Hotel and interior work on the RSA Tower and the construction of the cruise terminal. The company recently held a small celebration marking its 35th anniversary, and speaking before the assembled group, White-Spunner's manner was a far cry from that of a swaggering captain of industry. He started off softly, giving credit to virtually everyone but himself. "You don't get 35 years in a company without a lot of help and a lot of blessings," he said. Rather than take pride in past projects, he said "everything belongs to God anyway." Mentioning a recent visit to World War II cemeteries in Normandy, he got caught up in the memory and fell silent for a good thirty seconds, microphone in hand, before concluding "don't take it for granted." Afterward, White-Spunner, 61, sat down for a conversation about the distinctive approach that have driven his career, and the lessons it might offer anyone hoping for similar success. Excerpts follow. On the value of a work ethic: White-Spunner became president of his own fledgling company at 24, fairly soon after graduating from Auburn University in 1978. But he said that he can hardly remember a time when he wasn't working. It was expected. His grandfather, Strat White-Spunner, started at Merchants Bank in Mobile as a bicycle messenger and worked his way up to vice president, retiring after 50 years when he hit the company's age limit. His father, Blacksher White-Spunner, started a real-estate company where he still works at age 89. "Growing up, my dad, he lived through the Depression and was a Marine in World War II and went over into Japan," White-Spunner said. "Working was not optional. Christmas, my friends would be off and I would be working somewhere ... So I knew, I just got adjusted to always be working at something. And so it might as well be something that's productive and enjoyable, I guess. All the summers, I was working, Christmas, you had a job. That was just understood." "I remember driving tractors when I was 15, before I had a driver's license," he said. "When I was 16, I worked with a shovel and all that, but also they let me drive a Mack truck. The big one with the bulldog on the hood ... you have to be 18 now." He learned early to look for opportunities. "I was starting with a shovel. I was a laborer," he said. "You would ask, 'Can I drive that piece of equipment or can I learn that?' and ask if people will try something and let you learn it. And once you learn it, you know, you can come off the shovel and maybe you're driving the backhoe. I don't know, I drove backhoes a lot, but I drove shovels a lot too." His early experience served him well in the lean years after graduation. In the wake of Hurricane Frederic, he and his colleagues would do construction and roofing work all day - and then head out after 5 p.m. with cherry picker and chainsaws, picking up work clearing fallen trees. It wasn't the construction work he wanted to do, but it was better than sitting idle. "There's always something to do," he said. "I mean, it's not a passive business." On doing what you love: On this point, White-Spunner gives credit to his wife, Margaret. He could have gone to work with his father and older brother Jay. Few restoration projects have had as big an impact on Mobile as the restoration of the Battle House Hotel, overseen by White-Spunner Construction. In a photo from April 2007, employees look at the renovated rotunda. From left are Wayne Mostellar, Mike Free, Dan Summer, Warren Rizzi and Torrey Garrison. (Mike Kittrell/Press-Register file) "They said I could come work in the real estate business with them, there would be an opportunity there. My wife's the one that told me I needed to go do my own thing," he said. "It's a big deal, her telling me to do that." There's no doubt he's doing his own thing. When he gets to talk about the construction part of the construction business, he geeks out. "Oh, it's so cool," White-Spunner said. "I've done it my whole life, and I've never had two days the same. I mean, the things I've dealt with today, I've never dealt with in my life, already today. We're building some stuff we've never built, for people we've never worked for before, we're excited about some great opportunities. The things we're building are never the same. No two sites are the same. The soils on every job are different. The dozens or hundreds of people that help put the project together is always a different team. The weather is always different. The architecture's usually different. So there's not a boring aspect to it. I wish sometimes it was more boring. But it's, you just never know what the next phone call is going to be, with a challenge or blessing or what." "I like the challenge, and it is rewarding to go to a grand opening and see it finished on schedule ... Do we bask after an opening? Very little. None. We're builders." "We like digging dirt," White-Spunner said. "That's exciting to me. I love dirt. I love the dynamics of soils. It's an unknown, you're digging in places nobody's been, and it's the biggest challenge. It's also probably the riskiest part of the business. If you don't understand soils and subgrades, weather impact and water impact on soils ... I've been in dirt a lot, digging, feeling, tasting ... it's the most volatile part of the business." On the golden rule: "Treat everybody like they could possibly be your boss one day and probably will be. You're no better than anybody else," White-Spunner said. "Don't be misled by the pickup truck somebody's driving or the way they're dressed." "Treat people for the long haul. It's a small world. It's a small country ... Treat people like you want to be treated. That doesn't mean everybody's happy. We have competition. Performance is mandatory. It's a demanding business that, sometimes it requires working a lot of hours. Sometimes we work jobs 24 hours a day for a while." "Whatever you've agreed to do, you have to finish it. You have to finish it on time. Sometimes people don't want to do that, 'Well I would but I can't.' We have to. You've got to do what it takes to get it done. Sometimes that rubs people wrong. It's a demanding business." On how to treat employees: White-Spunner said that years ago, a professor from the University of South Alabama came out and studied his company. "They called us organic management," he said. To this day, he's not sure it was a compliment. We trust people who work here a lot. We trust them with a lot of responsibility," he said. "There's some risk involved with trusting people." "We share a lot with our employees," he said. "Monday we had a conference call with all of our employees. We share numbers, we share where we are, we share the jobs, the jobs we're looking at, and we report to all the employees and educate them. People did that with me when I was growing up. The good side is, you have well-rounded people that work with you. They understand all aspects of the business, and that's the way it is, and that's worth the benefit, to us. It helps the client, it helps the job, because they understand so much more than just how to build. They understand where the money comes from, or how to manage people. We share all those things. "The downside is, it prepares people to where they're able to run a business. I think we've had eight contractors start out of here, and most of them, I wish I still had 'em to work here. And none of them have gone out of business. They've all done fine. Probably more than eight, probably ten." "Some companies box up (employees) and say, 'All right, we're only going to let you know about estimating,' 'We're only going to let you know about safety.' And then you kind of box them up and then I guess you've kind of got them, you know, because they really can't leave unless they go do that same thing" at another company. One of his mottos is that "We're all in sales," he said. "Not meaning to make a sale, but to achieve your goal, to build a long-term relationship with the client. Everybody needs to have their ears open and be paying attention to all the aspects of it." "We teach ethics here. We have ethics classes on how to treat people, how you pay people, just how you treat them ethically. I think it's a responsibility of a company." On debt and growth: "I got some stuff passed down from my grandfather and my dad, and that's on being indebted. ... Debt can control you. It can control your thoughts, and limit your abilities. It can destroy marriages, and all that." "I was taught that you protect your name like your blood," White-Spunner said. "I've seen people lose $100 million on a signature." "I'm not saying I didn't ever borrow money," he said. He had a mortgage on the first house he built for himself and Margaret, and it taught him a lesson: "It's so easy to sign and so hard to pay back." "I didn't really make any money for the first seven years," White-Spunner said. "So everything that I made, went to pay taxes and increase equity in the company. The monies we made all went to the IRS or to increase equity." White-Spunner said that one of his early mentors, Skipper Tonsmiere, advised him that there were two quick ways to go bust in the construction business: To work too cheap, or to do too much. So he's never been a believer in the adage to "bite off more than you can chew, and chew like hell," or in the strategy of borrowing to grow. "Just my personal opinion, I think that if you've got to borrow money to stay in the construction business, or be in it over time, I think you're probably in the wrong business, that's just my attitude," he said. "You work within your abilities," he said. "Not that you can't stretch them or work people where they can learn their potential. That's one way to learn it, you know, is load the wagon up some. But don't get overextended. Say no to things. We've got a thing on the wall in there, it says 'No can be a good answer.' It's okay for anybody here to say no to something." "You can get a big head or an ego in our business," White-Spunner said. "Because you're building big things and you're moving a lot of money around. It may not be yours, but you're moving or handling a lot of money. ... Don't get puffed up in the head. Don't get all beat up when something doesn't go right, either." "I think if you have a big, big challenge, run to it," he said. "Get in the middle of it and stay in the middle of it and get it sorted out. Don't run from it. Problems aren't usually going to go away, or challenges aren't going to go away. So go to them and learn from them. I think we learn the most in those aspects of our lives. I've learned the most in business there." On faith: "The best class I've ever taken in my life was Crown Ministries," White-Spunner said, referencing a program that translates biblical guidance into financial principles. He encourages prayer before company meetings and meals and makes the services of a company chaplain available. "The Lord's done some amazing things in my life. The most rewarding thing in my life is to see somebody have that transformation that I went through and am still living through daily. I don't have everything figured out and I'm not saying I do, but I know what I was like 30 years ago and I know what I am like today, and I like this side of the equation a lot better." "That's the most rewarding thing in my life, to see happen in somebody (else's) life. And that's not something I can make happen or do, that's a personal choice. We don't force prayer or force anything on anybody." "It's not always the case, but I really like having a boss that I know has a boss. I've got a lot of bosses, on the earth, and I've got one up there. And if I know he's the boss of them, it changes the relationship. But we work for all kinds of people. I'm not throwing stones out of a glass house. I'm willing to share. And I think the workplace has some responsibility to teach or share those values. Because if not, it's a free-for-all, anything goes." "Forgive," he said. "If you can't forgive, work at it until you can, and forgive. It's not going to help them or you, so get over it and move on." On sharing the wealth: White-Spunner Construction is an employee-owned company; employees hold shares. But White-Spunner said there's more to it than that. "This last economic downturn, we kept a lot of people when there wasn't much work going on," White-Spunner said of the downturn that started in 2008. "I really don't have any regrets about it." "Pay your people, take care of your people," he said. "If you don't have people, you don't have anything, in any business. All you are is your people ... I don't think there's a cap on what somebody can make. I've had people here make more than I've made. And I'm okay with that." "If it's there, share it," he said. "I've never regretted rewarding or investing back in or paying the people that you work with ... I don't think it's measurable, but when you take care of people, you see the return later." On the future: "We're probably the most optimistic we've been in 10 years, really," White-Spunner said. "It's just a good work environment." "It's been a fun ride so far." WASHINGTON -- The Senate confirmation hearing of Sen. Jeff Sessions, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for attorney general, is likely to rehash racially charged allegations that derailed his efforts to become a federal judge and made him a symbol of black-voter intimidation under the Reagan administration. The expected focus on Sessions' record on race, policing and immigration comes as the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division has surged in prominence under the Obama administration. If confirmed, Sessions would have broad latitude to define how federal prosecutors across the country wield their powers and make changes to the Justice Department's priorities. Lawmakers and advocates expressed concern Friday that Sessions could sideline or undo the Obama administration's civil rights efforts, which have included investigations of police departments for unconstitutional practices and lawsuits meant to protect the rights of transgender individuals and black voters. "Given some of his past statements and his staunch opposition to immigration reform, I am very concerned about what he would do with the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice and want to hear what he has to say," incoming Democratic Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York said in a statement. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said he strongly supported Sessions, who he said "has worked tirelessly to safeguard the public and to improve the lives of Americans from all walks of life." Sessions' peers on the Senate Judiciary Committee will almost certainly delve into the Alabama senator's past statements on race. The panel's top Democrat, Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, hinted as much on Friday, saying the "American people deserve to learn about Senator Sessions' record." Leahy voted against Sessions for a district judgeship when he last came before the Judiciary Committee in 1986. During that hearing, Sessions was criticized for joking in the presence of a Civil Rights Division attorney that the Ku Klux Klan was "OK" until he learned they smoked marijuana. He was also said to have called a black assistant U.S. attorney "boy" and the NAACP "un-American" and "communist-inspired." Gerry Hebert, a former Justice Department lawyer who worked with Sessions in the early 1980s, said he remembered Sessions making racially offensive remarks. "I filed all these things away thinking, 'God, what a racist this guy is,'" Hebert said. Sessions, a former prosecutor, has said the racially charged allegations against him have been painful to him and an unfair stain on his reputation. He called the matter "heartbreaking" in a 2009 CNN interview and described the allegations as "false charges." In defending his record, Sessions is likely to point to his vote to confirm Eric Holder as the country's first black attorney general and to his co-sponsorship of the Fair Sentencing Act, which sought to reduce racial disparities in how black and white drug offenders are treated. When he was U.S. attorney in Alabama, his office investigated the 1981 murder of Michael Donald, a black man who was kidnapped, beaten and killed by two Klansmen who hanged his body in a tree. The two men were later arrested and convicted. "He couldn't have been more supportive of making sure we got convicted the murderers of the last black man who was lynched by the Klan," said former Justice Department attorney Barry Kowalski, who worked with Sessions. But "those incidents don't obliterate the well-established record of hostility to civil rights enforcement in other areas," said Wade Henderson, the president of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Sessions' civil rights record matters because, if confirmed, he would have oversight of a division that Holder has described as the Justice Department's "crown jewel." Sessions himself has said a "properly exercised" Civil Rights Division "provides tremendous benefit to American citizens" but should not be used as "a sword to assert inappropriate claims that have the effect of promoting political agendas." As attorney general, he'd have the power to depart significantly from the priorities of his Democratic-nominated predecessors. The Obama administration Justice Department, for instance, has opened 23 investigations of law enforcement agencies, including police departments in Baltimore, Chicago and Ferguson, Missouri, for unconstitutional practices and has reached court-enforceable consent decrees with many of them. It sued North Carolina over a bathroom bill it said discriminated against transgender individuals, and has challenged state voting laws that it said disenfranchised minority voters. As a supporter of Trump, who campaigned on law and order, Sessions is likely to pursue fewer civil rights investigations of troubled police departments. He may also elevate voter fraud as a priority, something the current Justice Department leaders see as negligible. In the mid-1980s, Sessions was criticized over the prosecution of three civil rights activists on charges of vote tampering in Perry County, Alabama. The activists, who included Albert Turner, a former adviser to Martin Luther King Jr., were acquitted. During his confirmation hearing Sessions defended the case, citing evidence of absentee-ballot tampering. Democrats and civil rights groups called it an example of the Reagan administration intimidating black voters. As a senator, Sessions criticized the Justice Department in 2009 for dismissing three defendants from a voting rights lawsuit against the New Black Panther Party after allegations of voter intimidation outside a Philadelphia polling place. The department's Office of Professional Responsibility found no evidence politics played a role in that decision. He's also defended the lawfulness of state voter identification laws. Policy differences aside, the Civil Rights Division is expected to continue enforcing civil rights laws, such as prosecuting police officers for egregious acts of violence. "The challenge for an incoming administration is always to make those policy changes without making law enforcement look like a purely political undertaking," said William Yeomans, who worked in the division for more than two decades. Otherwise, "it hurts the legitimacy of the institution." Ayanda is anxious. Her four months of maternity leave are almost over, and she has to return to her job as an accounts consultant at one of South Africas large banking firms. The 27-year-old first-time mother will send her baby to live with her mother in a town 30km away. Ayanda will see her child only at the weekends. Because of this living arrangement, she feels she will be unable to continue breast-feeding her infant. But at her local clinic, she is advised to breast-feed exclusively until the six-month mark. I asked the nurse if I could switch my baby to formula. She told me I cant because of my HIV status. The policy of the Department of Health on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission informs healthcare workers to advise HIV-positive mothers that formula milk wont be provided to them at health facilities because studies have shown that exclusive breast-feeding reduces the risk of HIV transmission between mother and child. Im positive, but my baby is negative. I was told I should use a breast pump to express milk and to freeze it, Ayanda says. Although the clinic cannot enforce the recommended policy, the critical nature of the advice makes Ayanda feel she has no other options but continue breast-feeding by any means necessary. National guidelines The clinics advice is in line with South Africas national policy [PDF], which advocates an exclusive breast-feeding strategy for the first six months of a childs life, based on the World Health Organizations international guidelines. UNICEF, the UN childrens fund, estimates that globally, 8 percent of babies under six months were exclusively breast-fed, with that number dropping to 1.5 percent for babies between four and six months old. In 2011, at a national consultative meeting on breast-feeding held in Tshwane, Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi said that breast-feeding practices in South Africa had been undermined by the aggressive promotion and marketing of formula feeds, social and cultural perceptions, and the distribution of formula milk in the past to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. As a result, South Africa was one of 12 countries where infant mortality has increased. At the meeting, the country adopted the Tshwane Declaration, which aimed to improve the countrys low breast-feeding rates. The National Development Plan, implemented in 2013, highlights the importance of exclusive breast-feeding in helping to reduce the child mortality rate from 56 deaths per 1,000 live births, down to 30 per 1,000 by 2030 [PDF]. Exclusive breast-feeding is therefore relevant to this sustainable development goal which seeks to ensure good health, development and survival of infants and children, as well as contributing to the wellbeing of mothers, Motsoaledi said in a statement when the government strategy was announced. For him, the benefits are obvious. Breast-fed babies are better protected against infections like diarrhoea, respiratory illnesses, allergies and ear infections. They are at much lower risk of malnutrition, and as adults are at lower risk of chronic lifestyle diseases such as obesity, coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes, Motsoaledi said. Diarrhoea and malnutrition are two of the big causes of death for children under five in South Africa. Mothers who breast-feed also draw a benefit, the health minister added. They have a reduced risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer, they will return to their pre-pregnancy weight more easily, and the likelihood of becoming pregnant again while breast-feeding is reduced in some women. READ MORE: Myths about breast-feeding put embattled mothers under siege The updated health department infant and child feeding policy mandates that public health facilities stop providing formula milk to all new mothers, and that women receive counselling on the importance of exclusive breast-feeding. The government also has been promoting Human Milk Banks, a service that allows nursing mothers to donate breast milk to organisations that store and distribute the milk. It has been five years since these policies were implemented, but breast-feeding rates in the country remain low. Motsoaledi is concerned: Globally, it is estimated that only 36 percent of moms breast-feed their infants for at least six months. In South Africa, we estimate that only 39 percent of mothers breast-feed exclusively for 14 weeks [3.5 months] after the baby is born, and the figure is much lower at six months at only 8 percent. Our exclusive breast-feeding rates are among the lowest in the world. Why are rates so low? A doctoral research study by nutritionist and doctorate candidate Linda Siziba found that a number of different factors influence a womans ability to breast-feed. Among these are the mothers need to return to work at 29 percent, the need to return to academic studies at 12 percent, health reasons at 25 percent, and insufficient milk supply at 13 percent. Of 580 mothers interviewed in the study, just 41 percent believed breast milk provides all the nutrients babies need. These perceptions result from cultural misconceptions that breast milk must be supplemented with formula, says Sindi Van Zyl. Van Zyl, a South African HIV specialist, has found her niche answering questions on social media, often receiving questions from young HIV-positive mothers. In an interview with Al Jazeera, she explains why cultural perceptions are problematic. The majority of queries, even now in 2016, are from women who havent disclosed their [HIV] status to their family. When a granny or sister wants to introduce mixed feeding, because they believe breast milk alone isnt enough, the mother doesnt know how to explain why not. So she stops breast-feeding. Motsoaledi blames inadequate information from healthcare workers for the difficulties women face in breast-feeding management, as well as a lack of support within the households with negative attitudes towards breast-feeding, as well as unsupportive work environments. Work environment Conflicted, Ayanda turns to the internet for information. This is her first child, so she she wants to make sure she does everything right. Her search led her to Van Zyls website. Much to Ayandas relief, Van Zyl informs her theres no harm in switching to formula, provided that she weans her daughter off her breast and doesnt mix formula-feeding with breast-feeding. According to UNICEF, exclusive breast-feeding for the first six months is associated with a three-to-fourfold lower risk of HIV transmission as compared to mixed feeding where the infant receives both breast milk and any other food or liquid including water, non-human milk and formula. Van Zyl was critical of the government policy when it was introduced, calling it impractical. Her stance hasnt changed. Im not against it, and of course, there are benefits. But the policy is too rigid in its one-size-fits-all approach. It doesnt work for everyone, and it should be on a case-by-case basis. The womans situation must be taken into account, she adds. But, like Ayanda, many women are being told by healthcare workers that there is no other choice but to breast-feed exclusively for six months. It upsets Van Zyl that women are given false information. OPINION: The fight for the first food She regularly receives desperate emails, like this one: Hello doctor, Im HIV-positive and have been on treatment since my fourth month of pregnancy. My baby tested negative and is still on nevirapine, an antiretroviral drug. Shes two weeks old. Im going back to work on October 3. Currently, Im breast-feeding. Can I switch her to formula feeding as I dont feel comfortable disclosing my status to my nanny? Please help! Im even thinking of quitting my job so I can continue breast-feeding till until six months. This is the problem, says Van Zyl. Women are being told theres no other option, which isnt true. Most women go back to work after six weeks. I get a lot of emails saying Ive got a job in another province. I cant take my baby with me. A typical example is a domestic worker who has to be back at work after six to eight weeks. Work is a big factor preventing women from breast-feeding. The work environment has to change to make it viable for women. Motsoaledi wants this too, urging employers to be supportive. This will require an extra mile by all of us to encourage and support breast-feeding mothers by improving their workplace and social environment. In 2011, Motsoaledi said he would ask the ministers of labour and social development to fast-track legislation to compel employers to have nurseries and breast-feeding rooms in the workplace. Currently, theres no data available on how many South African companies have on-site nurseries, but the number is estimated to be low. Al Jazeera asked Department of Labour spokesperson Sithembele Tshwete when legislation would be passed. Tshwete replied that it is an issue for unions to handle not a legislative matter. This is an issue that is normally discussed and agreed upon in a collective bargaining forum between employees and employer representatives. He says the labour law does entitle women to two half-hour breaks per day to breast-feed or express milk. But this offers Ayanda little consolation. Shes envious of friends who work at companies such as FNB and Discovery Health, which have on-site nurseries. If my company had a [nursery], I would continue breast-feeding, and would keep [my daughter] with me instead of sending her to my mother. Id go down during my breaks and feed her, or express milk. Id love to do that. *Name has been changed to protect her identity Bill Clinton, George Bush, Barack Obama, none of them tried to allay Palestines misery. Hillary wouldnt have either. On December 14, 1998, we had a day off at school. As an eight-year-old child, I couldnt be happier. All the shops were closed and there were roadblocks everywhere. The streets were filled with Palestinian flags, and white and red striped flags I couldnt recognise. I asked my father and he explained that those were American flags, and that Bill Clinton, the President of the United States, was going to visit Gaza City later that day. Little did I know that I would be hearing Clintons name almost every day for the next 18 years, but it will not be on happy occasions. The late Palestinian President, Yasser Arafat, had invited Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton to inaugurate the Gaza International Airport . Clintons helicopters landed on the airports runway in Rafah and then took off to Gaza City, where Clinton addressed the Palestinian National Council in what went down in history as the first visit ever by an American president to a sovereign Palestinian entity. Clintons Palestine concerns The following year, my siblings and I joined 65 other students in the newly opened American International School in Gaza, a school fully staffed by American and Canadian teachers, with textbooks that had come all the way from the United States to Gaza. In the meantime, Senator Hillary Clinton joined Elie Wiesel in addressing anti-Israel and anti-Semitic rhetoric in Palestinian textbooks ( PDF ). In 2001, she sent a letter to President George W Bush urging him to force Yasser Arafat into changing the Palestinian Authoritys hateful rhetoric as a condition for peace. In 2007, she questioned Mahmoud Abbas eligibility as a partner for peace, given that textbooks issued under his administration were inciting hatred. This came after she co-sponsored a Congress resolution that supported the building of Israels apartheid wall in the West Bank, which she defended by saying: This is not against the Palestinian people, this is against terrorists. Despite Clintons passionate interest in Palestinian education, she had little praise for Gazas American school; on the contrary, when two American supplied Israeli F-16 jets razed the school to the ground in 2008/9, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had nothing to say. Her indifference came as no surprise, and was no different than her reaction, or lack thereof, to Israels destruction of Gazas Airport three years after she herself had inaugurated it with Arafat and her husband. Driven by a mission from God to spread peace and democracy in the Middle East, Bush pressed for a Palestinian National Council against all odds in 2006. But when Hamas, as predicted, won the elections, he approved a plan to overthrow Hamas by igniting a Palestinian civil war with the help of Israel. In the meantime, Clinton was busy co-sponsoring a Congress resolution entitled, The Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006. The resolution, which was introduced after Hamas won the elections and taken over Gaza as a result of Bushs interference, denied Hamas any participation in the peace process unless it recognised Israel, disarmed and renounced violence. The bill was signed into law by Bush in December 2006, and was effectively the approval Israel needed to launch its ongoing siege of Gaza. Effectively, Bush and Clinton tried to change the results of the elections they forced upon us with a violent civil war, and when that failed, they decided to punish us for making the wrong democratic choice. OPINION: Trump and Israel When Hamas won Bushs elections, I had just graduated from school and was ready to leave Gaza to study at the American University in Cairo. From that year on, crossing the border out of or into Gaza turned into a fine experience of hell on earth. The US, like any other country on a divinely inspired global peace-promoting mission, had decided to lead an international boycott of Palestine due to the failure of both the elections and the civil war it ignited in tipping the balance of power as it wanted it. The boycott entailed vigorous US support for Israels complete imprisonment of the Gaza Strips inhabitants with occasional military assaults three in less than six years. Doesnt matter who is in the White House As a student activist campaigning for Palestine in the American University in Cairo , my colleagues and I found ourselves engaging in endless conversations with American study-abroad students, who had a positive opinion about the Bush administrations policies towards Palestine, to convince them of the results of the democratic elections that had just brought Hamas to power. After all, these students needed to know the truth before voting in the next US presidential elections in 2008. Barack Obama was running for office and our hopes were up in the sky, to the extent that a group of Palestinians in Gaza joined his campaign over Skype , hoping that Obamas victory was going to bring a just solution to their misery. It didnt. Hereby, I dedicate Trump's victory to every democracy-loving American senator, congressman/woman, and campaigner, who gambled with our lives and futures in order to win more AIPAC votes. by Stuck in Cairo during the spring break because of the US and Israels continuous siege on Gaza, I remember watching Obamas 2009 speech in Cairo University with mixed feelings. Despite his attempt to offer a more reconciliatory tone, he had already stated his positions on fundamental Palestinian issues in two speeches to AIPAC the American Israel Public Affairs Committee during his campaign: He believed that Jerusalem will remain the undivided capital of Israel and was opposed to the right of return. Hope quickly evaporated as Obamas eight years in office proved to be no different for the Palestinians, especially those besieged in Gaza. With Clinton as secretary of state, things got even worse: in her own words to the AIPAC, Clinton was an outspoken enemy of BDS (the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement), a proud opponent of any Palestine-related UN resolutions, a proud condemner of the Goldstone Report, a staunch defender of Israels assaults on Gaza, and a major factor behind the US blocking Palestines statehood bids at the UN. When the US announced a plan to provide Israel with $38bn in military aid over the next decade, sealing off Obamas heroic and peaceful legacy, Clinton expressed her delight in a statement congratulating Obama and Netanyahu on this important diplomatic achievement. She promised that as president, she would work to implement this agreement. Sadly for Clinton, the plan will be implemented without her. She missed a historic opportunity to reaffirm her unwavering support to Israel. But has anyone in the US asked why this plan is the only one that was passed down from Obama to Trump without question? Is sending military aid to Israel more important than Obamacare, for example? Why do the AIPAC and Israel always emerge as victors regardless of who sits in the oval office? As a woman, Im deeply offended by Trumps victory. As a Palestinian, however, particularly after watching Trumps speech to the AIPAC , I couldnt care less who won. In truth, I stopped caring about American elections once Obama slapped us in the face with staggering indifference to Palestine, which in fact made our lives a living hell. Hereby, I dedicate Trumps victory to every democracy-loving American senator, congressman/woman, and campaigner, who gambled with our lives and futures in order to win more AIPAC votes. In particular, I dedicate it to Hillary Clinton and her establishment, and to everyone who was distraught by the outcome of the democratic elections that led to Trumps victory. Will Clinton call for boycotting her own people for making the wrong democratic choice, will she impose collective punishment on them like she encouraged Israel to do with us? Will she justify the misery that American people will face under Trump like she justified the people of Gazas suffering under the 2014 Israeli assault by saying , theyre trapped by their leadership, unfortunately? Yasmeen Elkhoudary is a Palestinian from Gaza currently based in London. She is an independent researcher specialised in Gazas archaeological and cultural heritage. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. In one of historys most shocking electoral upsets, Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, pulled off a decisive victory against his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. It was an outcome that defied practically all leading pundits and polls, putting into jeopardy the credibility of established media outlets and experts. Though Clinton clinched more popular votes, Trump pierced through the Rust Belts and shattered the blue wall of Democratic dominance in one swing state after the other. While it is too early to judge the merits and impact of a Trump administration, the immediate effect has been less than encouraging. As post-election market fluctuation and nationwide anti-Trump protests demonstrate, the United States is a deeply polarised nation haunted by political uncertainty, which will certainly have a cascading effect on the rest of the world. The US troubles at home will undoubtedly put into question its global commitments, particularly in key strategic theatres such as Asia. Moreover, Trumps abject lack of political experience, divisive and often offensive rhetoric, and neo-isolationist philosophy will test Washingtons leadership in Asia like never before. In contrast, China is likely to be seen as a relative rock of stability and bastion of mature leadership by a growing number of countries. The shocker Conversations with senior policymakers and analysts across the region suggest that Clinton was by far the preferred candidate in Asia, with the notable exception of China. As one of the architects of the Pivot to Asia policy, she oversaw deeper engagement with allies and rivals across the region. During her tenure as Secretary of State, Clinton managed to normalise relations between Washington and Hanoi, consolidate relations with the democratising regime in Myanmar, and lay the ground for a deepened American military footprint in archipelagic Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines and Singapore. There was also greater engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a whole, as Washington appointed an ambassador to the regional body and studiously deployed senior policymakers, including outgoing President Barack Obama, to regional fora. His 'America first' philosophy, coupled with his 'Make America Great Again' campaign slogan, suggests his preference for a more transactional, introverted foreign policy, which puts America's short-term interests ahead of the international liberal order. by In stark contrast, neither Trump nor his core team of advisers exhibit similar credentials or inspire much confidence. Trump, a billionaire businessman, has had no relevant diplomatic engagement with Asia. Much of his exposure to the region is based on pure business deals. So far, Trumps roster of advisers includes loyal friends and supporters, namely former governor Chris Christie, who is overseeing the transition team, former House speaker Newt Gingrich and former mayor Rudy Giuliani. But there are indications that Washington insiders are considering joining in. The neo-isolationist Aside from his lack of relevant experience, Trumps rhetoric has also been a source of deep concern across the region. Throughout decades, in one interview after the other, Trump has consistently advocated a mercantilist conception of American global interest. His America first philosophy, coupled with his Make America Great Again campaign slogan, suggests his preference for a more transactional, introverted foreign policy, which puts Americas short-term interests ahead of the international liberal order. OPINION: Trump Putins best frenemy This is precisely why he has repeatedly questioned Washingtons long-standing military commitments in both Asia and Europe, which have benefited from decades of US security umbrella. He has threatened to withdraw American military support from vulnerable allies, ranging from the Baltic States which confront a Russian threat to South Korea which faces a volatile North Korea, unless they provide strategic tribute and fulfil their respective obligations. No wonder then, shortly after his election victory, Seoul convened an emergency National Security Council meeting to assess risks of a potential American disengagement from the region. Strategic anxiety also permeates halls of power in Tokyo, Manila, Canberra and other traditional allied nations. Not too dissimilar from the George W Bush administration, Trump has expressed more preference for unilateral assertion of American military muscle, particularly in the South China Sea, rather than harnessing regional institutions, international law and multilateral diplomacy. Grand bargains He seems to be more concerned with striking grand bargains with major powers, particularly Russia, than engaging with smaller nations and mobilising allies for preservation of public international goods. Trumps anti-trade rhetoric, which has transformed the (white) working class into his core constituency, also doesnt bode well for the US economic engagement with the region. He has opposed both existing (North America Free Trade Agreement) and proposed (Transpacific Partnership Agreement) regional commercial arrangements, which are crucial to the US strategic influence and economic wellbeing. OPINION: Trump and Israel His plans to impose heavy tariffs on trading partners in Asia, introduce extreme vetting on immigrants, and scrap the TPP agreement will heavily undermine the US leadership in the region. Trumps threat to overturn Obamacare, the Illegal Immigration Act, and other key legacies of his predecessor will surely provoke a backlash at home, further deepening Americas internal polarisation. The president-elects mercurial temperament, incendiary rhetoric, and often-contradictory policy remarks have simply compounded a profound sense of uncertainty over the US role in the region in the coming years. After all, it takes more than a gracious, reassuring victory speech for Trump to restore and harness regional trust in America and its commitment to the Asian strategic order. He will have to dramatically distance his actual policy from his campaign rhetoric, sign up credible foreign policy advisers, constantly reiterate Washingtons commitment to regional alliances and the broader strategic order, and propose a positive-sum economic initiative, which will deepen, not reduce, trade and investment linkages in the Asia-Pacific theatre. Otherwise, Trumps presidency could very well mark the end of American exceptionalism, or any credible claim to such. 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. It is clear that Israel is not prepared to tolerate another drawn-out conflict come the next war. In a recent, controversial interview with Al-Quds newspaper, Israeli defence minister Avigdor Lieberman vowed that the next war on the Gaza Strip would be the last. Was this just bluster, or does it represent a shift in Israeli strategy towards Gaza and Hamas? Analysts are divided. No one has a clear-cut answer about this, Adnan Abu-Amer, political commentator and Dean of the Faculty of Arts at Gazas Al-Ummah University, told Al Jazeera. But if there is a war, he continued, it will be fiercer than ever, and Israel wont let it last 51 days. Lieberman made the same promise in June, before his latest ministerial appointment, and was criticised by those Israeli military analysts who believe talk of a knockout blow to be a deep misunderstanding of the Hamas-Israel confrontation. In August, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri dismissed the consecutive Israeli threats against Gaza claiming that the upcoming war will be the last as mere media propaganda and factional biddings between the government and the [parliamentary] opposition in Israel. INTERACTIVE: 24 Hours in Gaza Writing after the Al-Quds interview, however, former Israeli military intelligence officer Yossi Alpher claimed that Liebermans rhetoric must be understood as a major update of Israels Gaza strategy: No more periodic mowing the lawn and grabbing at the first offer of a ceasefire. He by Wafa doesnt need a war; Israeli policies are enough to weaken Hamas and PA at the same time.] Meanwhile, Liebermans remarks came in the context of a clear tightening of a number of Israeli-imposed restrictions on the Gaza Strip, including a drop in the number of exit permits for traders, medical patients, and NGO employees including United Nations staff. Even Palestinian Authority officials responsible for coordinating exit permits have had their exit permits rescinded. According to data published by Israeli NGO Gisha, the number of exits of Palestinians via Erez Crossing fell to 11,050 in September, down from the previous months total of 13,447 (and compared to a monthly average in 2015 of 14,276). The monthly average before September 2000 was more than half a million. Similarly, there was a drop in the entrance of goods via Kerem Shalom in September 9,731 truckloads (including fuel, petrol, and construction materials), down from 13,089 in August. Meanwhile, a mere 152 truckloads of goods exited Gaza during September (19 percent of 2005 levels). Earlier this month, an official at the Gaza Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the current situation is the worst ever. Lieberman has also instructed the military to clamp down on attempts to bring in restricted dual-use items, a list including items whose use is critical for civilian life. According to Wafa Abdel Rahman, director of a media NGO, such measures are signs that Lieberman has launched a soft, unseen war. He is tightening the siege on Gaza at the same time as going ahead with his carrot and stick plan in which he declared there was no need for the Palestinian Authority (PA) and that he will be dealing with Palestinians directly. He [Lieberman] doesnt need a war; Israeli policies are enough to weaken Hamas and PA at the same time. For Israeli journalist Noam Sheizaf, another thing to consider is the [yet another] shift to the right the political system took after the elections. Policy decisions in 2016 should thus be understood in the context of a very right-wing, nationalistic government, that wants to deliver on its promises for tougher measures against the Palestinians. With regard to Hamas, the organisation is neither interested [nor] even ready for a new war, said Abdel Rahman. Hamas has realised that governing is very costly, because it is not only about providing security, but also providing services. Citing growing criticism of its conduct even among supporters, Abdel Rahman believes Hamas will do its best to avoid any war, and count on external factors which might change in its favour. READ MORE: Besieged Gaza hits population milestone On the other hand, Abu-Amer points out that the political and economic crisis being experienced by Hamas, both regionally and closer to home, could also lead to war on the basis of creating a new crisis to get rid of an existing one, but notes that this would not be easy for Hamas and the Palestinians and there is no certain outcome expected. It is also possible that a more serious escalation could take place unintentionally: Israeli forces continue to cause casualties among Palestinian protesters and fishermen in Gaza, as well as striking Hamas positions in response to sporadic rocket fire from Salafist groups. A miscalculation could create its own momentum towards war. Sheizaf told Al Jazeera that while he is unsure whether Israel wants to conquer and control Gaza again, the weakness of Hamas is probably making some people sense an opportunity. He said: Add that to all the talks about the day after Abbas and youll see why Israeli officials feel that some of the pieces that held the status quo in the last decade are in motion, and that its time for Israel to take a much more proactive approach on all fronts. Whether war comes about by accident or design, it is clear that Israel is not prepared to tolerate another drawn-out conflict. Amos Yadlin, a former director of Israels military intelligence, recently warned against slid[ing] again into an unplanned confrontation, as in Operation Protective Edge, which ended with no change in the strategic situation. Officials tell Al Jazeera all medical facilities in citys rebel-held east have been taken out as bombing intensifies. All medical facilities in Syrias rebel-held Aleppo have been destroyed, health officials and opposition activists have told Al Jazeera, as another day of ferocious government bombardment on the besieged city left dozens of people dead. Air raids, barrel bombs and artillery fire killed at least 56 people on Saturday, volunteers with the White Helmets group told Al Jazeera. The rescuers, who operate in rebel-held parts of Syria, said they had been pulling bodies, including those of children, out of the rubble. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based group monitoring the war, reported a lower death toll of 27 civilians. The latest deaths came as health officials said that every hospital in the rebel-held east is now out of service a statement also confirmed by the World Health Organization, according to Reuters news agency. They [health officials] say that they are specifically being targeted to make people give up. In the last few hours, two remaining hospitals have come under intense shelling by the regime, Al Jazeeras Osama Bin Javaid, reporting from Gaziantep, on the Turkish side of the Syria-Turkey border, said. Activists told us that these are specific targets and civilians have nowhere to go now as medical facilities have been taken out. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Dr Ahmed Mbayed, of the Canadian Medical Relief Organization, confirmed that all medical facilities in besieged Aleppo are totally out of service. The people are hopeless now. They dont have any access to essential [medical] services in Aleppo, he said from Gaziantep, adding that even warehouses with medical supplies had come under attack. White Helmets rescuers in Aleppo also told Al Jazeera that all their equipment and vehicles had been taken out by the shelling. The city of Aleppo, once Syrias commercial centre, has been divided since 2012, with the eastern half in rebel hands and the western half controlled by government forces. More than 250,000 civilians are still trapped in the east, which is under near constant bombardment, with dwindling food supplies and extremely limited medical care. READ MORE: In east Aleppo, there is no way out Five days into a renewed government assault on the citys opposition-held districts, the civilian death toll stood at least 92, according to the Observatory, and up to 150, according to Al Jazeera sources. Theres barely a neighbourhood that has been spared in the east, Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the Observatory, told AFP news agency. On Friday, an Al Jazeera crew witnessed the bombardment of a childrens hospital, which forced the facilitys staff to evacuate babies kept in incubators. According to the United Nations, medical supplies for the citys besieged residents have now run out. The world body also said that there no agreement had been reached between the warring parties to allow an aid convoy to enter. The ruling on against Yahia Kallash, head of the countrys press union, and two others comes after a seven-month trial. An Egyptian court sentenced the head of a journalists union and two board members to two years in prison for harbouring colleagues wanted by the law and spreading false news, judicial sources said. Yahia Kallash, president of the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate, Gamal Abdel-Rahim and Khaled Elbalshy were charged in May with sheltering two journalists wanted over protests against the transfer of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. Saturdays decision to sentence the journalists comes as authorities try to quell rising dissent against President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. READ MORE: Into the cage A journalist on trial in Egypt The court set bail at 10,000 Egyptian pounds ($615), a court official said. The journalists lawyer, Sayyed Abou Zeid, at the time told the Reuters news agency that they denied the charges, which relate to a May 2 police raid on the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate to arrest two opposition journalists who had sought shelter from arrest. Kallash condemned the arrests of Mahmoud El Sakka and Amr Badr, which sparked protests from journalists, and issued a statement two days later demanding the interior minister be sacked. Amnesty International urged the authorities to drop the charges against the union chiefs. The Committee to Protect Journalists has listed Egypt among the top jailers of journalists, and one of the most dangerous places to report from. In 2013, five Al Jazeera staff were imprisoned in the country on charges that rights groups said were trumped up. Though an international campaign secured their freedom, there are more than 70 journalists still in prison in the country. Tens of thousands of protesters have gathered in South Koreas Seoul for the fourth in a weekly series of demonstrations aimed at forcing President Park Geun-Hye to resign over a corruption scandal. Saturdays protest came as Parks approval ratings plunged with prosecutors planning to interview her, making her the first sitting South Korean president to be questioned in a criminal case. The scandal centres on Parks shadowy confidante Choi Soon-sil, who is accused of using her ties with the president to coerce local firms to donate millions of dollars to non-profit foundations that Choi then used for personal gain. After claiming a turnout of about one million for last weeks protest, organisers said they expected some 500,000 people on Saturday, while police predicted one-tenth that number. So far the protests have been largely peaceful, with many families participating, but there was still a heavy police presence, with buses and trucks blocking access roads to the presidential Blue House. There have been protesters on the streets in smaller numbers throughout Saturday. But the numbers have built up significantly as we approached the official start of the demonstration [in the evening], Al Jazeeras Wayne Haye said, reporting from Seoul. It seems that hundreds of thousands of people are going to be here by the time this protest comes to an end later. The president has defied calls to step down, but her lawyer said that she would cooperate with public prosecutors who sought to question her next week. Prosecutors said that they planned to formally charge Choi by Sunday. They are also seeking to indict two of Parks former aides who allegedly conspired with Choi. Separately, opposition parties used their parliamentary majority to pass a law that would allow for a special prosecutor to investigate the scandal. READ MORE: Park Geun-hye: Scandal is all my fault and mistake Opposition parties have yet to seriously push for Parks impeachment because they fear triggering a backlash from conservative voters, which could hurt them in next years presidential election. However, there is a growing voice within the opposition that says an impeachment attempt is inevitable because it is unlikely Park will resign and give up her immunity from prosecution. Parks term lasts until February 24, 2018. If she steps down before the presidential vote on December 20, 2017, an election must be held within 60 days. The HIV-positive man, known as a hyena, was paid to have sex with bereaved widows to exorcise evil spirits. A Malawi court has convicted an HIV-positive man who had confessed to having sex with 104 girls and widows in traditional sexual cleansing rituals. Eric Aniva, 45, was found guilty on Friday on two counts after a one-day trial in a packed courtroom in the district of Nsanje. It is clear that the state has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused was engaging in harmful practices, the magistrate, Innocent Nebi, said. I find you guilty and convict you accordingly, he said, adding that sentencing would be on November 22. READ MORE: Theresa Kachindamoto, the terminator of child marriages The verdict did not take into account the mans HIV-positive status, because there was no evidence of any of the girls or women having caught the virus. Custom in some parts of southern Malawi dictates that a man, known as a hyena, is paid to have sex with bereaved widows to exorcise evil spirits and to prevent other deaths from happening. I dared to reveal what I have been practising. But my arrest, prosecution and even imprisonment will not stop others from practising a custom which has been in existence for over 100 years, Aniva said outside court. Such men are hired by families to have sex with recently widowed women in order to put to rest the spirit of the deceased, or with girls, after their first menstruation, to mark their passage into adulthood. It is not known how widespread such practices are in Malawi, where they are believed to take place especially in the south. Some people fear that if they are not performed, illness or other misfortunes can befall the family or community, locals said. READ MORE: Malawi empowers children to fight sexual abuse The Aniva case sparked controversy in the southern African country, where womens rights activists branded him as an abuser, while others saw him as a scapegoat for a cultural practice. State prosecutor Chiyembekezo Banda demanded a long prison sentence for Aniva, saying he was probably responsible for the spread of HIV. He faces a maximum of five years in jail. Malawi is one of the worst HIV-affected countries in the world, with 27,000 deaths from AIDS-related illnesses and nine percent of the adult population infected with HIV. Pakistan says three children are killed by Indian mortar shells that hit their house in Kashmirs Kotli district. An official in the Pakistani-administered area of Kashmir has accused Indian forces of firing mortar shells that targeted a village along the disputed Line of Control, leaving three children dead and three others injured. Two girls and their brother died when mortar shells fired by Indian troops hit their house in Kotli district along the Line of Control (LOC), Raja Arif Mehmood, a local administration official, told AFP news agency on Saturday. He said the eldest girl was aged 10 and the youngest girl was five. All belonged to the same family, he added. Kashmir: Shelling forces thousands to flee their homes Indian news sites citing government sources have also reported ongoing clashes in another Kashmir district, Pulwama, but made no mention of the three child deaths in Kotli. The reports from Indian Express and Times of India claimed that armed men in the Kakapora area of Pulwama opened fire at Indian security forces. Indian forces exchanged fire with the group, killing one fighter, they added. Both Pakistani military and Indian defence officials have confirmed the exchange of fire along the LOC. Indian troops resort to unprovoked firing in Tander and Baroh areas of Bhimber sector today, said a statement issued by the Pakistani military, adding that no loss of life was reported in those clashes. Unprovoked ceasefire violation An unnamed Indian defence spokesman confirmed to Indian media clashes in two areas of Rajouri district along the LOC, blaming the Pakistani army for the unprovoked ceasefire violation. The latest incidents come a day after Pakistans navy said that it had pushed an Indian submarine away from Pakistani waters, as tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals continue to smoulder over unrest in the disputed Kashmir region. Tensions across the long-disputed de facto Himalayan border reached dangerous levels in September, when India blamed Pakistani armed groups for a raid on an army base that killed 19 soldiers. India said it had responded by carrying out surgical strikes across the heavily militarised border, sparking a furious reaction from Islamabad, which denied the strikes took place. There have since been repeated outbreaks of cross-border firing, with both sides reporting deaths and injuries including of civilians. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British colonial rule in 1947. Both claim the Himalayan territory in full and have fought two wars over the mountainous region. Deal reached that Saudi Arabia says could be extended if Houthi rebels adhere to it. A Saudi Arabian-led coalition supporting Yemens government against Houthi rebels has declared a 48-hour ceasefire that began on Saturday, according to local media. It has been decided to begin a 48-hour ceasefire from 12:00 noon in Yemens timing (09:00 GMT) on Saturday, a coalition statement carried by Saudi Arabias official SPA news agency said, adding that the truce could be renewed if Houthi fighters and their allies abided by it and allowed aid into besieged cities. The coalition move came after a request for a ceasefire by Yemens President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, himself based in Riyadh, to Saudi King Salman, the statement said. Coalition forces will abide by the ceasefire, it said, but warned that should the rebels or troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh make any military moves in the area, the coalition would respond. The naval and air blockade would also remain in place and surveillance jets would continue to fly over Yemen, it added. The coalition has been supporting forces loyal to Hadis government since March 2015. A spokesman for forces allied to the Houthi rebels, Brigadier General Sharaf Luqman, confirmed that they would abide by the ceasefire. Based on the agreement reached in Muscat, we affirm our commitment to the ceasefire if the other party respects it, Luqman said, referring to the accord signed with US Secretary of State John Kerry in the Omani capital on Monday. The US chief diplomat had said after meeting with Houthi negotiators in Oman that they were ready to observe the ceasefire plan. Hadis government was reluctant to accept the ceasefire plan, but finally agreed to the peace push. READ MORE: No ceasefire deal with Houthis UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed urged all parties to encourage full respect for the cessation of hostilities and to ensure that it leads to a permanent and lasting end to the conflict. Since Thursday, more than 50 people have been killed in clashes between the rebels and loyalists on the outskirts of the third biggest city Taiz, medical and military sources said. Six attempts to clinch a ceasefire in Yemen have foundered, including a three-day October truce that fell apart as soon as it went into force. It was designed to allow aid deliveries to millions of homeless and hungry Yemenis. There has been severe and heavy clashes on different fronts in Yemen recently, now with this ceasefire, there will be a decrease in the number of air strikes and heavy clashes but at the same time, inside the country, we are going to see the same heavy clashes going on despite the announcement of the ceasefire by the Saudi-led coalition, Baaran Shiban, a London-based human rights worker, told Al Jazeera. Usually a ceasefire is supposed to be for humanitarian aids and to have access for us to areas suffered most by the clashes, but we are not sure whether this truce will hold, Shiban said. The United Nations says that more than 7,000 people have been killed and nearly 37,000 wounded in Yemen since the anti-Houthi coalition began its bombing campaign last year. Thousands of anti-government protesters marched in Malaysias capital demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Razak over his alleged involvement in a multibillion-dollar corruption scandal. Clad in yellow shirts and unfazed by arrests of activists and opposition leaders, protesters marched on Saturday from various spots towards downtown Lumpur amid tight security. Najib, who is attending an Asia-Pacific summit in Lima, Peru, has kept an iron grip since corruption allegations emerged two years ago involving the indebted 1MDB state fund that he founded. 1MDB is at the centre of investigations in the United States and several other countries. The US Justice Department said that at least $3.5bn had been stolen from 1MDB by people close to Najib and initiated action in July to seize $1.3bn it said was taken from the fund to buy assets in the US. The US government complaints also said that more than $700m had landed in the accounts of Malaysian Official 1. They did not name the official, but appear to be referring to Najib. Some were chanting Save Democracy and Bersih, Bersih the name of the electoral reform group that organised the rally. The name means clean in the Malay language. READ MORE: Hundreds of Malaysian protesters call for 1MDB arrest Bersih said on Twitter that police raided its office on Friday and arrested its chairwoman Maria Chin and another official Mandeep Singh. It said at least seven others including several politicians were also held. It said police confiscated laptops, mobile phones and bank statements. Despite the authorities desperate measures to stop us, [the rally] will go on, the group tweeted. Another Bersih official, Mandeep Singh, and 12 others including several politicians were also arrested, mostly in connection with the rally and to prevent rioting, the police said. The reason why people are on the streets is not just about asking him [Najib] to resign, but it is also about changing the system, Azmi Sharom, a law professor at the University of Malaysia, told Al Jazeera. The ruling party can win less popular votes and yet win the large majority in the house, so its a serious systematic problem that needs to be changed and this is why most of the people are out on streets today. Heavy-handed The protesters gathered around the Independent Square, the main venue that was locked down by police. A smaller group of red-shirt pro-government supporters held a counter-rally. Najib, who has denied any wrongdoing, said he wont be cowed by the rallies. In a statement on his blog, Najib called Bersih deceitful and said the group has become a tool for opposition parties to unseat a democratically elected government. We want to see Malaysia more developed and not robbed of billions of ringgit, said Wan Aisyah Wan Ariffin, an opposition supporter. READ MORE: US goes after $1bn in assets from Malaysia\s 1MD A rally that Bersih organised in August 2015 demanding Najibs resignation brought together 50,000 people, according to police estimates. Bersih said the number was much higher. British-based rights group Amnesty International slammed the crackdown and called for the immediate release of the Bersih activists, describing them as prisoners of conscience. Can protests change anything? We dont know because that would require a huge move on the part of the election commission, it would need a parliament to agree on something, so its a bit of a long shot, Sharom told Al Jazeera. But I think people are angry, they feel the desire, the need to express themselves and hopefully this would push and gather momentum and perhaps in the next elections something positive can come out of it. About 50 refugees have escaped from a repatriation centre in central Istanbul after starting a fire inside the building, according to Turkish media. The men, most of them reportedly from Afghanistan and Pakistan, burned furniture on the third floor of the building in Kumkapi district protesting about poor living conditions, the Turkish national daily Hurriyet said on Saturday. Video footage from the scene, published online by Turkeys state-run Anadolu agency, showed refugees taking advantage of the commotion caused by the fire, with dozens of them bursting open the buildings main gate and scattering into the districts back streets. 50 foreigners nationals held in #Istanbul,#Kumkapi repatriation center for deportation have escaped fire.Operation launched to catch them pic.twitter.com/mqenrirIlZ Mete Sohtaoglu (@metesohtaoglu) November 19, 2016 Police and fire fighters were immediately dispatched to the scene. Authorities said that they had started an investigation into the incident. Turkey currently houses 2,764,500 registered Syrian refugees, according to the latest UNHCR statistics. The country is also believed to be home to thousands of other registered and unregistered migrants and refugees from countries such Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan. The European Union, faced with its worst refugee crisis since World War II, signed a controversial deal with Turkey in March, in which the country agreed to take back Syrian asylum seekers from Greece in return for billions of euros in aid. General Petraeus discusses the challenges President-elect Trump will inherit and how US foreign policy might change. After a gruelling, aggressive and bitterly fought election campaign, in a victory which stunned the world and has been described as having no parallel in American history, Donald Trump is set to become the 45th president of the United States. Trump, a 70-year-old billionaire reality TV star, has never held political office or served in the US military. He ran a campaign which challenged the vision of a multi-ethnic, globalist US, and expressed his disdain for long-standing political and security alliances. He described NATO as being obsolete and stuck to his America First slogan which harks back to the 1940s. President-elect Trump takes power at a time of multiple global crises. He will face challenges including an assertive President Vladimir Putin of Russia, the Syrian civil war, and the battle against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria and Iraq. General David Petraeus has been at the centre of these global pressure points, having served as the top US commander in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and later, as director of the CIA. I think there's a resilience factor to the US government, to the US democracy, its system of checks and balances that will enable it to move forward very, very, very well. by General Petraeus, former top US commander and ex-director of the CIA Petraeus talks to us about the challenges President-elect Trump will inherit and how US foreign policy might change under his leadership. When asked whether it is significant that the US traditional foes are cheering and its allies are bemused and dismayed by the election result, Petraeus says, its not the most welcome of developments but that American democracy has been robust over the years and the US has seen more divisive politics in the past. I think theres a resilience factor to the US government, to the US democracy, its system of checks and balances that will enable it to move forward very, very, very well, he says. What the election results revealed, he says, is that people have to understand sentiments in the heartland and there is a disconnect between, if you will, the coast and the flyover areas as theyre termed thats the heartland and thats where the election was won and lost thats our street. You know, I used to get advice when I was in the Middle East all the time: Always listen to the Arab street. In fact, some leaders gave me that advice who perhaps might have listened closer to the Arab street once or twice. And here, I think its not unwise to the listen to the heartland a little bit more clearly than we have in the past. Petraeus also discusses Trumps ongoing selection of his top team and whether he would be willing to be part of it. I dont know yet, Petraeus answers, when asked if he would serve if he is called upon. Foreign policy and alliances Petraeus speaks to us about the suggestions, made by Trump during his campaign, of forging closer ties to Putin and discusses whether he, as former director of the CIA, would trust Putin. According to Petraeus, the issue does not come down to trust, but understanding Putins objectives where they converge and diverge with those of the US. He cites the Kremlins support for separatists in southeast Ukraine, the seizure of Crimea and the 2008 invasions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in Georgia as big concerns and the activities in Syria also of considerable concern, in as much as some of these have clearly been part of quite indiscriminate bombing, deliberately it appears, by the Bashar al-Assad regime, and it appears also by Russian air force on hospitals and sites that are thronged with civilians. Petraeus believes that NATOs allies neighbours and near-neighbours of Russia should not be concerned about whether or not the US would come to their defence, if faced with aggression by Russia. I think that should not be in question, Petraeus says, adding that he is absolutely confident the core NATO commitment would be adhered to and that he is not worried about Trumps hints of wanting to take a step back from NATO. He argues defence alliances and commitments with South Korea and Japan are iron-clad. We have to see, as now the process begins of translating campaign rhetoric into foreign policy reality, and I dont have huge concerns in that particular area, he says. ISIL and the battle for Mosul He also discusses the fight against ISIL and the battle for Mosul, which is currently under way. I think its actually going quite well, he says. I have said for nearly two years that there was never a question that the Iraqi security forces, with the enablers that the US and the coalition members would bring to assist, would defeat the Islamic State, which is the army that is the Islamic State; thats what came in and made short work of the Iraqi security forces in some of the areas in the north and in western Iraq as well. He says the battle for Mosul isnt a disaster. It is unfolding as a textbook example of urban combat where there is a very high degree of sensitivity to damage, to innocent civilians. Demographically-speaking, Mosul lies in very complex human terrain, and the biggest challenge will come after the battle, Petraeus says. There will be a struggle after this, understandably, essentially for power and resources. When it comes to Syria, we ask Petraeus whether ISIL or Assad should be the priority for the next president. You cant divorce the two. Clearly, you have to prioritise, and clearly, the priority has to go after that element which is posing an external threat and of course, that is the Islamic State, he says. During the campaign, Trump may have boasted of himself being his primary consultant, but Petraeus says he is well-known for reaching out, having a circle around him, who has expertise. And my suspicion [is] that you will see advisers selected who will indeed help him deal with the world that is out there some of which he knows about, and some of which hes going to have to learn more about. Middle East: Lessons learned Finally, we ask Petraeus what he believes are the main lessons learned over the past decade and more of leading war operations in the Middle East. He lists five: Firstly, he says, Ungoverned spaces in the Middle East, and also frankly North Africa and Central Asia, will be exploited by Islamic extremists. Its not a question of if; its a question of when and how big will that exploitation be. Secondly, he says, Las Vegas rules (what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas) dont apply in these locations. Rather they tend to spew violence, instability, extremism and, in some cases like the geopolitical Chernobyl that is Syria, they spew a tsunami of refugees, he says. Thirdly, he believes, a response is imperative and in responding, the US does have to lead. He says: The US has more of the assets that we really need, that were seeing so useful in Iraq manned and unmanned aerial vehicles, the precision strike, industrial-strength intelligence, fusion capability, than all of our allies and possible partners put together, times a factor of five or more. So, the US has to be engaged. Fourth, he says, the US must ensure a comprehensive campaign is pursued. Fifth, these conflicts must be understood as a generational struggle. Describing the certainty of defeating ISIL, he says: We will put a stake through the heart of the Islamic State without question. You can talk to Al Jazeera, too. Join our Twitter conversation as we talk to world leaders and alternative voices shaping our times. You can also share your views and keep up to date with our latest interviews on Facebook. Dr Marc Lamont Hill is an award-winning journalist and author and is the Steve Charles Professor of Media, Cities, and Solutions at Temple University. Hill is known for his work addressing the intersections of race, justice, politics and culture. His latest best-selling book is We Still Here: Pandemics, Policing, Protest and Possibility which follows on the success of Nobody: Casualties of Americas War on the Vulnerable from Flint to Ferguson. Hill has received numerous prestigious awards from the US National Association of Black Journalists, GLAAD, and the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. English News Climate vulnerable forum commit to stronger climate action at COP22 - 19 Novembre 2016 MARRAKECH - 18 November 2016: The Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) agreed today, during its 2016 High Level Meeting at the UN Climate Change Conference at Marrakech (UNFCCC COP22), that climate action does not limit development - it strengthens it and all Forum members committed to take actions to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Ministers and heads of delegations of the CVF adopted the Marrakech Communique and the Marrakech Vision. The Communique called for greater ambition emphasizing that any country with an NDC not yet compliant with its fair share consistent with the Paris Agreement's long-term goal must update contributions by 2020 at the latest. It also called on honoring commitments, investing in climate finance and the need to transform market place. The Vision adopted recognizes the steps the Forum will undertake to keep the dangers of climate change to an absolute minimum and extend this to maximize the advantage taken of the benefits of climate action, including striving to achieve 100% renewable energy the latest between 2030 and 2050. Climate Vulnerable Former-Forum Chair, H.E. Dr. Gemedo Dalle, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change invited all CVF members to pursue robust domestic climate action, and to encourage other countries to deliver the targets the Forum has embraced. Minister Dalle added: "Without stronger climate action, we might not survive, and this is not an option." H.E. Mr. Mattlan Zackhras, Hon. Minister in Assistance to the President of the Marshall Islands said that this is a turning point in climate leadership and transformation that is bound to secure a safer future for vulnerable communities. Minister Zackhras added: "We are pioneering the transformation towards 100% renewable energy, but we want other countries to follow in our foot steps in order to evade catastrophic impacts we are experiencing through hurricanes, flooding and droughts." H.E. Ms. Evelyn Cruzada, Office of the Cabinet Secretary of the Philippines said that climate actions will generate the income needed to finance adaptation plans. Secretary Cruzada added: "climate action is not optional, and neither is the developed countries obligation to support climate resilient development. Adaptation is central to the ability of vulnerable countrie like the Philippines too thrive." H.E. Mr. Edgar Gutierrez, Hon. Minister of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica said that meeting the 1.5C target requires an immediate sense of urgency from all parties. Secretary Gutierrez added: "We don't know what countries are still waiting for to move towards net carbon neutrality and 100% renwable energy, all parties should start the transition, otherwise we will all suffer." Dr. Saleemul Huq, Director of the Centre for Climate Change and Development, Bangladesh; Chair of the CVF Expert Advisory Group said that CVF's unprecedented leadership in this declaration challenges other countries into action. Dr. Huq added: "I am moved to be withnessing this historic moment, the CVF countries have paved the way to a much safer, healthier and prosperous world." Ms. Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner, Marshallese Poet performed her poem turning the focus on the consequences of inaction on human dignity. Commenting on the next steps H.E. Mr. Kare Chawicha, State Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of Ethiopia said that mitigating climate change impacts require concerted efforts and engagement of the whole spectre of socitey from government to citizens. State Minister Chawicha added: "We pledge to inform and educate everyone about climate risks and the impact of taking action, from government contributions to the smallest initiatives by individuals." 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 Commentary: China contributes to climate change with concrete action Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 18 Novembre 2016 By September, the accumulated allowance trade volume of the 7 pilot carbon trading markets across China reached 120 million, totaling over 3.2 billion yuan ($464.4 million) in revenue. All these achievements demonstrate Chinas determination in addressing climate change with practical actions. By Xie Zhenhua The ongoing Marrakech Climate Change Conference is the first meeting among member states since the Paris Agreement went into force, and also the first meeting that focuses on what actions will be taken. China will continue to abide by the purpose and regulations of the agreement; pursue the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities, equality and respective capabilities; follow the rules of multilateral negotiation; and support the work of Morocco, the conferences presidency so as to ensure the complete success of the Marrakech meeting. During the meeting, China also hopes to cement political mutual trust with all attending parties by consolidating, maintaining and carrying forward the atmosphere of win-win cooperation created during the Paris Climate Change Conference. The adoption of the Paris Agreement marks a new stage for global climate governance, sends a signal of transformation towards a green and low-carbon lifestyle and popularizes green and low-carbon development. Before the agreement was reached, all sides faced fierce negotiations as climate change concerns the core interests, development rights and international influence of all countries. During negotiations at the Paris conference, China synergized the consensus of all parties, introduced Chinas policies and actions on addressing climate change, played a constructive role and contributed to the success of the conference. By centering on the implementation of relevant institutional arrangements stipulated in the Paris Agreement, the Marrakech conference will fulfill a number of tasks. The meeting, first of all, needs to make arrangements on the entry into force of the Paris Agreement. It also has to arrange the follow-up negotiation on the Paris Agreement so that the international community can conduct substantive negotiations at an early date and prepare for the agreement implementation. Whats more, the meeting should push for intensified pre-2020 action. All countries should fulfill their pre-2020 promises, especially developed countries who pledged to effectively cut down emissions and provide 100 billion-dollar financial support to developing countries each year until 2020. The conference also needs to pay more attention to the appeals of developing countries, and their endeavors for progress in capital, technology, capacity-building and other concerns. Considering tackling climate change as an opportunity for economic restructuring, China has been exploring and following a low-carbon development path suitable to its national conditions. The Chinese government has taken effective actions to control greenhouse gas emissions, improve its adaptive faculty to climate change and push various works for progress. According to preliminary calculation, Chinas CO2 emission in energy consumption per unit of GDP has dropped by 20 percent, exceeding the 17 percent compulsive objective. Its forest growing stock has increased to 15.137 billion cubic meter, which meets the the target set for 2020 well in advance. By September, the accumulated allowance trade volume of the 7 pilot carbon trading markets across China reached 120 million, totaling over 3.2 billion yuan ($464.4 million) in revenue. All these achievements demonstrate Chinas determination in addressing climate change with practical actions. In the principle of mutual benefit, win-win results, pragmatism and effectiveness, the Chinese government has reinforced practical cooperation with various countries and international organizations in order to play a constructive role in advancing global cooperation in dealing with climate change. China also maintains close communication and coordination with the US, the EU and other major developed countries and regions. The Chinese and US heads of state have issued three joint statements regarding climate change, and both sides released an outcome document on China-US climate change cooperation during the G20 Hangzhou Summit this September. This year, China further deepened practical cooperation with the EU, South Korea, Russia and other partners by launching dialogues and multilateral meetings on climate change. China also increased efforts to consolidate collaboration with BASIC countries four developing countries that share a similar stance and with the G77 to bolster South-South cooperation on tackling climate change. Through setting up a South-South cooperation fund on climate change, China invested 580 million yuan during the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011~2015) to provide material and equipment assistance to small island states, the least-developed countries, African nations and other developing countries. China also offered support in international negotiations on climate change, policy planning and personnel training. China has hosted more than 40 training sessions for South-South cooperation on climate change and helped developing countries cultivate over 2,000 officials and experts in responding to climate change. As a common challenge confronting all mankind, climate change requires joint efforts from all countries. The Chinese government will, for the sake of the well-being of the Chinese nation and the long-term development of all mankind, unswervingly tackle climate change, assume international responsibilities that conform to its capacities and take more firm actions to cope with global climate change. (The author is Special Representative for Climate Change of China.) (Source: Peoples Daily) 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 Commentary: China to play more active role in global governance Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 20 Novembre 2016 China will, first of all, keep contributing to the world order and global governance system. The country is dedicated to building a new type of international relations centered on win-win cooperation. Such ties, meeting the needs of the international community, do not aim to set up a new system by destroying or revising the current one as some observers in the West have claimed. By He Yafei The old world balance of power and global governance system have been undergoing dramatic changes, especially in the wake of the global financial crisis of 2008. The collective rise of the developing world, with China at its helm, has overturned the worlds political and economic landscape, as the old global governance system and international order, once dominated by the West, has shifted to a model governed by the East and West together. International relations likewise have undergone dramatic changes. Though the US and its fellow Western countries have accepted this reality, they have failed to fully adjust to the new status quo. Their "strategic anxiety" has made major-power relations even more complicated and sensitive. Amid the steady decline of global trade resulting from the slow recovery of the world economy, all countries are now exploring new ways to achieve economic growth and global governance, having realized the importance of new drivers, new thoughts and new models in revitalizing the world economy. Meanwhile, China's economic miracle and stable system of governance, achieved on the back of its successful reform and opening-up policy, have made it stand out against the sluggish world economy. As a result, the Chinese way of development has attracted significant attention from the international community. Global governance has faced further obstacles resulting from political and economic factors. Conflicts have emerged surrounding dealing with deficits, the phenomenon of fragmentation, as well as the growing economic pressures brought by globalization. For instance, because of a lack of political support, the West has given the global trade system represented by the WTO the cold shoulder, while global trade agreements such as the Doha Development Round remained stagnant. At the same time, the widening wealth gap and other negative effects caused by globalization have given rise to emerging anti-globalization and populist sentiment. An escalating conflict between globalization and anti-globalization forces poses a threat to the global system of trade and investment. Such changes suggest a new era of globalization and a historic transition to a new system of global governance. Standing at this juncture, China's relations with the world are undergoing critical changes, as China's destiny is closely tied to that of the world economic system. Against this backdrop, we see that China faces a historic test in terms of its future role in global governance. China will, first of all, keep contributing to the world order and global governance system. The country is dedicated to building a new type of international relations centered on win-win cooperation. Such ties, meeting the needs of the international community, do not aim to set up a new system by destroying or revising the current one as some observers in the West have claimed. To this end, we must resolutely safeguard the free, open and equal trade and investment system represented by the WTO, keep promoting further reforms, and improve global economic and financial mechanisms. China will, at the same time, act as a provider of global public goods. It will not only contribute Chinese proposals by absorbing the essence of Chinese culture, but provide new ideas, solutions and choices for the world to promote democratic international relations, establish new cooperative partnerships, boost the world economy, and improve the global governance system, thus providing the world with global public goods by playing its role as a major power. China will also safeguard world peace and development. Fully aware of the relationship between peace and development, China will make efforts to abandon the parochialism and prejudice dominating todays geopolitics, and avoid the Thucydides trap, in order to create a favorable political and security environment that is conducive to promoting free trade. In a word, China will contribute to perfecting global governance by playing a more active role in improving the global governance system, increasing the influence of developing nations via platforms like the UN, WTO, G20 and BRICS, and restructuring the world order in the new century. (The author is a former Chinese vice foreign minister and counselor at the Center for China and Globalization) (Source: Peoples Daily) 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 COP22 Launches Major Global Partnership on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency - 18 Novembre 2016 MARRAKECH -- Last night representatives of dozens of developing countries, including Africa, small island states, least developed countries and Central American countries joined COP President Morocco in launching the Marrakech Global Partnership on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. The Global Partnership is a major outcome on clean energy from a conference aiming to deliver concrete action and implementation, after a year of high momentum following the adoption of the Paris Agreement. The launch of the Global Partnership is the culmination of a year of collaboration among emerging renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives worldwide. In May of this year at climate negotiations in Bonn, Germany, leaders of key negotiating blocs called for for a global partnership. There the Chairs of the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group, African Group and Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS)- representing over 90 countries - were joined by leaders from Morocco and Sweden, building off the inspiration of the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI), launched at COP 21 in Paris last year. The AREI, a program with pledges of USD 10 billion in financial support, aims to accelerate the harnessing of Africa's huge renewable energy potential in an African-owned and African-led effort to mobilise 300 GW of renewable energy generation capacity in Africa by 2030. Founders of the Global Partnership include five regional renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives from Africa, small island states and least developed countries as well as collaboration with central American countries. Mr. Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu, Chair of the LDCs, set out the Global Partnership's vision at the launch, and said: "at this action and implementation COP, the Marrakech Global Partnership is a concrete outcome brightening the futures of the 1.3bn people who currently lack adequate access to energy. The Global Partnership forms a 'roof' supported by the sturdy pillars of regional initiatives, including the newly launched LDC Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Initiative (REEEI) for Sustainable Development. These pillars support a home that is more than the sum of its parts, catalysing transformative global action in the energy sector by growing capacity, sharing knowledge and building synergies." Mr. Amjad Abdulla, Chief Negotiator for AOSIS, said: "Island states are increasingly threatened by food insecurity, water shortages and devastating storms. We have recognised the urgency and decided to act now through our Initiative for Renewable Island Energy and the Global Partnership, demonstrating that countries most in need of access to clean energy and ambitious climate action are taking the lead in driving it." Ambassador Seyni Nafo, Chair of the African Group, said: "It is gratifying to see this African proposal for a Global Partnership take flight at a conference hosted by Africans on the African continent. Just as Africa is taking a lead through the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative, so must the rest of the world move towards low-to-zero carbon energy systems to keep warming below 1.5 degrees C." Mr. Ram Prasad Dhital, Executive Director, Alternative Energy Promotion Centre, Ministry of Population and Environment, Government of Nepal, said: "Only 5% of global energy finance flows into low income countries. The LDC Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Initiative is not trying to reinvent the wheel. Instead, it will fill the cracks LDCs currently fall through by facilitating access to finance flows and building capacity to establish the policies, regulations and project pipelines needed to get local projects off the ground." Minister Paul Oquist, of the Republic of Nicaragua,said: "I've often wondered why the most solar panels in the world are in the countries with the least sunshine. Many developing countries have enormous untapped renewable energy potential and the Global Partnership will enable communities to harness this. The link between electricity access and poverty is undeniable.Through the Global Partnership, Central American countries and other developing countries are on the path to low-carbon, sustainable development." Mr. Diego Pacheco, Head of the Bolivian Delegation at the UNFCCC, said: "The Plurinational State of Bolivia is pleased to associate with the Global Partnership. Policies and actions to facilitate renewable energy and energy efficiency in developing countries, are essential for moving towards sustainable development in harmony with Mother Earth." Mr. Said Mouline, Director of public/private partnership COP22, said: "The Global Partnership is a key outcome from COP22 and a shining light for South-South Cooperation. Developing countries are going above and beyond to take ambitious action in the energy sector and steer the world towards a safe and prosperous future for all. Morocco is proud to contribute a strong pillar to the Global Partnership with the International Energy Efficiency Initiative." Representatives of Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) also attended the event to welcome the new Partnership and expressed their support. In addition, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) which has been working in partnership with small island developing states to develop Initiative for Renewable Island Energy was also recognized as important. 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 Global Climate Justice Movements Refuse to Be Overshadowed by Election of Climate Change Denier to US Presidency - 19 Novembre 2016 We the undersigned organisations, networks, and movements gathered in Marrakech at COP22 issue the following collective statement in support of communities and movements around the world in response to Donald Trump becoming President-Elect of the United States of America and its potentially devastating implications for the cause of climate justice. Record breaking global temperatures are already threatening staple crops in many regions, bleaching the world's coral reefs, decimating ecosystems, and driving killer droughts and floods that have devastated the lives and livelihoods of millions of people around the world, fanning the flames of every existing inequality. All around the world, people are taking action to stop this climate crisis from worsening. We are protecting and defending the places we love-waterways, forests, mountain ranges, our homes and our communities-and building the world we want: a clean, safe and more equal world.The fossil fuel special interest groups looking to take advantage of this election cannot stop this irresistible transformation. Donald Trump is the face of the broken economic system that has caused climate change-the concentration of wealth, lobbyists and corporate interests. Big business will have a seat at the White House for the next four critical years, threatening the lives of people in the U.S. and around the world. We all have a responsibility to show President-elect Trump and right-wing populists everywhere that we as climate justice groups and movements stand in solidarity with all people threatened and impacted by his Presidency. Islamophobia, homophobia, racism, sexism, elitism, and climate denialism are an insult and threat to us all. We are determined not to allow our governments to normalise or accept such a destructive- agenda. They must act in the global public's interests and protect all of our futures by opposing the planet and people-wrecking policies espoused by Donald Trump. Governments must begin by committing to their fair share of ambitious action needed to realise the Paris Agreement's goal of preventing a breach of the 1.5C target, which would result in catastrophic climate change. We also know that the Paris Agreement alone will not get us off this destructive course. To confront this global crisis we must: End all coal, oil, and gas extraction; Commit to 100% renewable energy, encouraging decentralised energy, owned and built in our own communities; Create a just and equitable transition to a low carbon and more equal economy that protects those already marginalised and impacted by the failed globalised economy as well as those whose livelihoods depend on extractive industries; Act as a global community and welcome migrants, refugees and climate displaced people seeking the right to a safe and dignified life; Win back power for people over big business and ensure they are held accountable for their actions. We urge U.S. state, city, and local governments to act to confront the climate crisis and confront Donald Trump head-on. The views of one man neither change how the rest of the world sees the climate crisis, nor can they change the reality of what needs to happen to keep temperature rise to a minimum, below 1.5C. The rest of the world will go on with climate action, thanks to our incredible pressure as global movements and communities at the frontline who are building power. We call on world leaders to fulfil their fair share of climate action, including delivering climate finance and transferring technology, and prove that they take the crisis seriously. Action is needed now, in the next 4 years-rich countries must ramp up their short-term 2020 targets in line with science and fairness, and support poorer countries to prosper cleanly. In the international negotiations countries should put an end to the toxic influence of the U.S. which pushes for weak and toothless emission reduction targets. The global community, including governments, must forcefully apply political, legal and economic pressure with real consequences on the U.S. to do its fair share of action. As global citizens we commit to build a climate movement, whose beating heart is justice, that can break out of its silo and create a broad based progressive movement alongside Black Lives Matter, Indigenous movements, women's movements, student movements, LGBTQI communities, migrants movements, labour movements, and local movements against corporate power and the fossil fuel industry that work together to address the inequalities and injustices that blight our world. We stand in solidarity with Indigenous land and water protectors in Standing Rock, and climate justice and environmental justice movements that have been rooted in communities across the U.S. as they resist President-Elect Trump's attempt to back more fossil fuel expansion which will poison our environment, our air and our water. In our communities around the world we will mobilize against Trump everywhere he goes and hold our own governments to account for their fair share of climate action including blocking their plans for fossil fuel expansion. Now is a moment of great fear and uncertainty, but we cannot give in to despair. People power has resisted great threats and transformed the world before-we must stand together once again for a just and liveable world for all. Initial list of signatories Action Aid International | Asian Peoples' Movement on Debt & Development | Center for Biological Diversity | Centre for Environment Justice Zambia | Climate Justice Project (US) | Corporate Accountability International | Corporate European Observatory | Earth in Brackets | Ecology Collective Association (Turkey) | Ecological Society of the Philippines | Ecologistas en Accion (Spain) | Engajamundo | Equity BD | Fairwatch (Italy) | Friends of the Earth Bosnia and Herzegovina | Friends of the Earth England, Wales, and Northern Ireland | Friends of the Earth International | Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives | Grassroots Global Justice | Human Nature | IBON International | Indian Social Action Forum | Institute for Policy Studies Climate Policy Program | Join the Dots UK | LDC News Service | LDC Watch | Movimiento Ciudadano frente al Cambio Climatico Peru | National Hawkers Federation India | Oil Change International | Oil Vay: Jewish Climate Action UK | Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance | Peoples Front Against IFIs India | Philippine Movement for Climate Justice | P3 Foundation | SustainUS | Tipping Point Collective | The Climate Justice Project | UK Youth Climate Coalition | Worldview-The Gambia | Young Friends of the Earth Europe | 350.org 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 Op-ed: Lima meeting will generate more action on Asia-Pacific cooperation Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 18 Novembre 2016 China has made great contributions to Asia-Pacific development and APEC construction in the past 25 years. Evidence shows that the international communitys attitude toward Chinas performance in APEC has shifted from doubts at the very beginning to todays acknowledgement and admiration. By Zhong Sheng from People's Daily Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the 24th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima, Peru from November 19 to 20, a meeting that comes on the 25th anniversary of Chinas accession into APEC. Over the past 25 years, China has grown as an important leader in APEC cooperation. Looking back at the ties between China and APEC over the last 25 years, there are three moments that are endowed with symbolic significance. 1991 marked Chinas official accession to APEC, after which the country sped up its integration into the Asia-Pacific region and international systems. In 2001, China, for the first time, hosted the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting as a presidency. Then, it was the largest and most high level international meeting China had hosted since its founding. The 9th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting held in Shanghai also brought unprecedented attention for China. A report from the Australian APEC Study Centre lauded The story of APEC is the story of the rise of Asia. And today that is the story of the rise of China. In 2014, Beijing became the second Chinese city to host APEC meetings, during which transitional, historical and ground-breaking outcomes were achieved. During this summit, APEC agreed to build the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), pointed out a growth path of innovation and reform and enacted the APEC Connectivity Blueprint for 2015-2025. Even though APEC members agreed to mark FTAAP construction as a long-term vision in 2006, substantial progress was not made on the agreement for several years. Thanks to Chinas promotion, all economies at the 2014 Beijing summit finally adopted the Beijing Roadmap for APEC's Contribution to the Realization of the FTAAP, agreeing to build FTAAP as soon as possible based on existing free trade arrangements after completing the collective strategic studies. As a major step for realization of FTAAP, the collective strategy studies have made fundamental progress, and policy suggestions drawn from the study are expected to be submitted during the Lima meeting. FTAAP construction will raise regional economic integration to a new level and bring extensive benefits to the economies on both coasts of the Pacific. A report from the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) indicated that the FTAAP will boost the world economy with a generous gift of $2.4 trillion if it is to be completed by 2025. China has made great contributions to Asia-Pacific development and APEC construction in the past 25 years. Evidence shows that the international communitys attitude toward Chinas performance in APEC has shifted from doubts at the very beginning to todays acknowledgement and admiration. Both APEC and China have undergone earth-shaking changes in terms of size and influence. The young APEC 25 years ago has grown into the highest-level and most influential economic cooperation mechanism with the widest coverage in the Asia-Pacific region, while China has developed from an explorer in the path of Asia-Pacific economic cooperation to an important propeller and leader in regional economic integration. Though many changes have occurred, some things remain unchanged. APEC still carries a mission to lead, coordinate and promote regional and global development, while China has been pursuing an open, inclusive, win-win cooperation with other Asia-Pacific economies based on its reform and opening-up policy. Thanks to Chinas efforts as a host, the recently-concluded G20 Hangzhou Summit reached consensus on boosting the world economy and depicted a splendid blueprint toward an innovative, invigorated, interconnected and inclusive economy. This consensus shares the same participle with Chinas goal to deepen pragmatic cooperation and achieve common development with other APEC members. Whatever the occasion or platform, China will always spur development of other partners by its own development, in a bid to inject faith and catalyst in the economic development and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region and even the world. It still takes several steps to get there no matter how near a place, and it takes real action to finish the work no matter how small the task. More effort is needed to implement the APEC spirit of the Beijing summit as well as the consensus reached during the G20 Hangzhou Summit. As the Lima meeting draws near, the world expects APEC to act as pioneer, leader and forerunner in Asia-Pacific and global cooperation. China, upholding the ideals of win-win cooperation and a community of common destiny, will encourage stakeholders to make decisive calls and down to earth action. 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) Sen. Sherrod Brown, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, sharply criticized Wells Fargo on Friday for failing to respond to questions about the phony-accounts scandal, including when the board and top executives first learned of the illegal sales practices. Wells either ignored or provided insufficient answers to some of the 58 questions submitted in late September by Democrats on the banking panel, Brown said. In some cases, Wells did not answer questions directly, citing an ongoing investigation by its board. For example, Wells could not quantify how many employees were disciplined for not meeting sales goals, and the bank declined to say how much pay former CEO John Stumpf received over the years for cross-selling activities. Brown said he will continue to prod the bank for answers. "It seems unlikely that Wells Fargo can restore the trust of its customers if it continues to ignore or dodge basic questions about the causes and consequences of the fraud that it permitted for years," Brown said. "The bank's illegal actions and its continued stonewalling show why so many hardworking Americans believe the system is rigged against them in Wall Street's favor. This issue isn't going away and I will do everything in my power to make sure the Banking Committee keeps pushing to get to the bottom of it, so we can protect customers from being cheated again." Brown said Wells refused to provide precise dates for when Stumpf, the board and Carrie Tolstedt, the head of retail banking, first learned that employees "were defrauding customers nationwide." He also said Wells failed to provide email and other correspondence between Stumpf, Tolstedt and the board related "to the fraud." Wells was thrust into a reputational crisis on Sept. 8 when it agreed to pay $190 million to settle charges that employees created 2 million sham accounts to meet aggressive sales targets. Wells fired roughly 5,300 employees between 2011 and 2014 for creating the unlawful accounts. Stumpf stepped down from the bank in October after the board stripped him of $41 million in compensation. Former retail banking head Carrie Tolstedt left in late September after she was stripped of $19 million in compensation. Wells still has not shed much light on what Tolstedt knew and when she knew it. In response to senators' questions, Wells said that it "cannot determine for certain the first time Ms. Tolstedt was told that a team member's employment was terminated for committing a sales violation." Democrats on the committee also have not received minutes from Wells' board or compensation committee describing the discussion of the settlement, the impact on Tolstedt's decision to retire and her final pay. Additionally, Wells has refused to allow customers to file lawsuits against the company for the illegal sales practices. Customers who were harmed are forced to arbitrate disputes, Brown said. In response to Brown's criticism, Wells said that it had provided answers to each of the more than 350 questions from the entire Senate Banking Committee. Brown only released answers to the questions from Democrats on the panel. The bank said that despite the pending independent board investigation and other pending legal actions, the bank has been "very responsive" to lawmakers. "We have work underway to fix identified problems and resolve the sales practices issue," Wells said in an emailed statement. "This includes making a change in the leadership of the retail bank, refunding $2.6 million to impacted customers and eliminating product sales goals." Many of the Democrats' questions related to the timeline of events, including when senior executives first learned of the illegal sales practices and what they did about it. Before 2012, Wells responded to unauthorized accounts "as they were brought to its attention by customers and bank team members" as a normal part of the business. Sometime in 2012, risk managers began to "proactively monitor sales-integrity issues" by tracking how many accounts were opened and closed within 30 days. Wells said it first began to identify employees who opened the illegal accounts in 2013, which led to the first of several articles published in the Los Angeles Times. The bank made changes to its policies and procedures in 2014. The Los Angeles city attorney filed a lawsuit against Wells in May 2015. A month later, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency sent a supervisory letter to Wells with five matters requiring attention that were all related to cross-selling and the bank's emphasis on product sales. It is reported that 17% of all Navy and 30% of all Marine Corps personnel live in San Diego County, including families with more than 60,000 military connected children. It has also been reported more than 220,000 veterans live in the region, including 48,000 Post 9/11 Iraq and Afghanistan vets -- the nations largest concentration. When necessary, many of these individuals and families turn to nonprofit sector charities for assistance when the Department of Defense, Veterans Administration, or other government agencies do not or cannot meet their needs. Needs that may be pressing and time critical, such as eviction or foreclosure. Or less pressing needs, such as just putting food on the table until the next payday. Or it could be a one time financial crisis, like paying for unexpected car repairs. Some the problems may be of more long-term significance, such as chronic homelessness, long-term unemployment, substance abuse/addiction, or mental health care. According to figures provided by 2-1-1 San Diego, in FY 14-15 and FY 15-16 (through February 2016), 10,878 military clients contacted them. The top category (44%) in FY 14-15 was for basic needs (food, housing/shelter, material good, transportation, and utilities). Housing and shelter alone accounted for 28% of these. Charity Navigator, a national charity watchdog organization, observes that there are roughly 40,000 veteran and military charities nationwide. In 2015, the University of San Diegos Caster Family Center for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Research compiled a list of nearly 130 national, regional, and locally represented organizations supporting active duty military personnel in the San Diego region. For the charities specifically established to support the military, family, and/or veteran populations there are distinct challenges. First is generating revenue (fundraising). The Caster Family Centers director, Dr. Mary Jo Schuman says of the San Diego region, it is always a challenge, because there is limited funding. There are not as many foundations [locally] as in other regions such as San Francisco or Los Angeles. And there are also limitations with revenue sources (i.e., government, private donors, events, fee for service). The October 2015 report Threads: Insights from the Charitable Community by Independent Sector stated, Numerous comments focused on shortcomings of the current funding models, including challenges many organizations face in obtaining adequate funds and unintended consequences (such as competition among nonprofits) precipitated by current funding practices. In this competitive environment, education and reputation are crucial. Local charity leader Sandy Lehmkuhler, founder and president of Warrior Foundation-Freedom Station, said, Our ability to raise funds is also directly linked to our ability to educate the community, which is a massive undertaking in itself. People cannot contribute to a cause that they do not understand. Regarding reputation, Carolyn Blashek the founder of Operation Gratitude, said, I would say the most significant challenge we face today as a Military Support charity is the shadow cast on all of us in the field due to the inappropriate conduct of a very few. With donor education and charity reputation so crucial, many potential and current donors rely upon so-called watchdog organizations to evaluate the competing charities, though the practices and actions of these watchdogs are not always viewed favorably. Speaking specifically of Charity Navigator, one local military related charity CEO said, These are like gauntlets. They take away spirit. They take away man-hours. They take away energy. And they take away dollars. They take it away from the client. They attempt to take a very complex formula and represent it with stars. When asked about this, Ms. Sandra Miniutti, Vice President of Marketing and Chief Financial Officer of Charity Navigator, said there are a fair amount of really inefficient charities working in that space. About the rating system, Miniutti said, I think our rating system is very fair and very transparent. It is designed to be objective. Analysts on [the] team cant have personal opinions impact the charity ratings in any way, she said. The beauty of the system is that it is objective, it is numbers driven. If it is not one of the watchdog organizations, charities also have to contend with the negative impact of government actions on their reputations. Tony Teravainen, Navy veteran and CEO of Support the Enlisted Project (STEP), related a significant problem encountered when the IRS delayed the all-important 501(c)(3) certification and approval. Right at the peak of the crucial fundraising season, Charity watchdog Guidestar placed a huge red flag next to STEP, because the IRS had not included the charity on the list of approved organizations. Once informed, Teravainen called the IRS, reportedly speaking directly with the specific lady responsible for this function. After explaining the situation and its impact, the lady was reported as responding, Oh, my fault. Apparently she fixed it immediately, explaining the flag would not be removed until the next update was published six-to-eight weeks later. Teravainen was able to work with Guidestar to mitigate the matter, but it was obvious the experience left a rather sour taste . In addition to dealing with the IRS and watchdog organizations, Teravainen highlighted fundraising is a constant struggle when the donor public is the more removed it has ever been from the military and veteran communities; not surprising, since less than one-half of one percent of the nation currently serves in the military, an all time low. Working on fundraising with individuals bereft of personal military experience contributes to the charities encountering invalid assumptions about military life. For example, some believe every military family is provided free military housing. The uniqueness of military and veteran life is all too unfamiliar to all too many people, making traditional fundraising a constant challenge. But what about charities not involved in traditional fundraising, like the Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD)? According to VVSD CEO and Army veteran Phil Landis, their organization receives approximately 88% of its revenue from government -- primarily federal government -- grants. The challenge is the dramatic impact of unintended consequences from evolving changes in the Veterans Administration Grant and Per Diem Program. For decades VVSD satisfactorily utilized VA approved grants for veterans transitional housing to fund the residential component of its nationally recognized residential treatment program. VVSD then finds whatever additional funding is necessary. According to Landis, a previous director of the VA Grant office described the program as the gold standard. Since 2009, a developing change at the VA threatens this success and the very existence of the VVSD resident treatment program. Landis reports the VA is working with Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide HUD VA Supportive Housing vouchers to homeless veterans. The VA now directs a low barrier housing first approach, meaning any qualifying homeless vet can obtain the vouchers. Landis said, Housing first works really, really well for lots of vets. But it overlooks veterans dealing with alcohol and substance abuse, trauma, and incarceration. Unlike the VVSD residential treatment program requirements that the vet cease alcohol or drug use, not be quarrelsome, comply with program requirements, and get a job, the HUD-VASH Program levies no such requirements. This evolving policy change threatens the funding of this VVSD program. According to Landis, the VA is telling them they must transform their agency, by saying, we know whats best for you, instead of empowering the people closest to the problem to address it in what makes best sense for the local situation. For Landis, this means we either find a solution to the funding that would be denied for this purpose or it (the residential treatment program) goes away. The necessity for charities to help in time of need shows no sign of diminishing for active duty military, military family, and veteran populations. As the charities connect with and assist these populations, they face the ongoing challenge of securing revenue, whether through traditional fundraising or government grants, as well as contending with negative impacts of the watchdog organizations and government agencies. Among others, Lehmkuhler, Blashek, Landis, and Teravainen understand all too well. The world begins to digest the major development of business tycoon Donald Trump defeating former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Among the many questions regarding this unexpected election result is the new administrations approach vis-a-vis Iran. Considering the Iran nuclear deal, viewed by President Barack Obama as his foreign policy crown jewel, there are inarguable mistakes that need urgent remedies. Iran considered the Obama presidency as a golden era. It is now on the shoulders of Donald Trump and the new Republican-controlled Congress to patch various wounds inflicted by eight years of mistaken Iran appeasement policy. Iran nuclear deal The Obama Doctrine, if you will, was based on extending a hand to Americas historical rivals. This stirred serious anger among traditional U.S. allies, especially in the Middle East, and members of Congress from both sides of the aisle. However, Obama managed to push forward his initiative at the expense of others. This policy envisioned Iran becoming a more responsible partner of the international community as a result of the nuclear deal, a premise now revealed as a wish-fulfillment daydream. The International Atomic Energy Agency recently reported that Iran has again exceeded the permitted level of heavy water, raising eyebrows across the board. This is the result of a weak stance adopted by the Obama administration after the nuclear deal. Iran is also taking advantage of the opportunity to continue its gross human rights violations, enormous support for terrorist groups not only across the Middle East but even in the U.S. and Europe as well, and persisting in inflaming wars in Syria, Yemen, and Iraq. The incoming administration in Washington has the opportunity to weigh a more serious approach against Tehran. Such a policy must force Iran to quickly wind down its nuclear efforts and bring an end to horrendous human rights violations and daily execution of its opponents. Tehrans terrorism and foreign intervention The Obama administration took a turn for the worst from day one, pledging to pull out all American troops from Iraq. This signaled a major American policy shift in the Middle East, raising concerns for U.S. allies and providing a much-sought opportunity for the mullahs in Tehran. Obamas White House argued Iran would play a constructive role in stabilizing the entire region, beginning with Iraq. Unfortunately, what the world witnessed has been anything but. Obama turned his back to Irans meddling in Iraq in favor of pursuing the JCPOA at all costs -- viewed as an unofficial pact paving the way for Tehrans political/military infiltration of Baghdad and fueling the rise of Daesh (ISIS). The situation calls for a Trump White House to work closely with the new Congress in adopting a firm Middle East policy by recognizing the root of all such crises. Iran must be brought to comprehend that a new administration in Washington means an end to an enormously profitable political period. Atrocious human rights record Choosing not to support the 2009 uprising movement in Iran, Obama made it crystal clear to all his intention to pursue a policy of close engagement with Tehran. This emboldened the mullahs to take full advantage of such a change in attitude from Washington by significantly intensifying their domestic crackdown. Despite claiming to be a moderate, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has presided over 2,500 executions during his tenure. Scores more are on death row and Irans jails are packed with inmates like never before. While smiling to the outside world and claiming to seek reforms, Rouhani has remained completely loyal to the establishment by supporting a continuing policy of oppression, torture, and executions. Congress rightfully introduced the Iran Human Rights Legislation and a new administration must build upon this initiative. Donald Trump has the opportunity to show his support for the Iranian nation and their thirst for freedom, democracy, and other values cherished also by the American people. Conclusion President Barack Obama made a strategic mistake in adopting a mistaken and already failed Iran appeasement policy. Iran continues to quietly cheat on the nuclear accord, inflame wars across the Middle East, and clamp down on human rights inside its own borders. This must end, and the wrongs of the Obama era must be made right. Donald Trump has the opportunity to create a completely new perspective on Iran. The Iranian people are begging for the new administration to support their struggle for freedom. Obama failed to extend his hand to the Iranian people. Donald Trump should not. His White House and the new Republican Congress should work closely to adopt a firm Iran policy worthy of the values America stands for. If anything could be said about America in the week following the election, it is that we are a deeply divided nation. Many streets in our cities have been filled with demonstrators holding signs such as Hes Not My President. However, as with so much, the Jewish community in America is this, but in much sharper contrast. There are rabbis in the United States who have instructed their communities to sit shiva because they are mourning for the loss of America. (Shiva is the seven-day period after losing a close relative where one is not permitted to leave the house). Many Jews have taken the entire Torah and distilled it down to the words, Tikun Olam, (repairing the world), and they feel that the most Jewish thing they could do is serving lunch to people in a homeless shelter on Christmas, or building at Habitat for Humanity. Needless to say, among these American Jews, compassion for the plight of the Palestinians has superseded any identification with the struggles of the Jewish state to survive, and to protect their civilian population from a people where every opportunity has been taken, directly from the head of the Palestinian Authority on down, for the last 23 years, to demonize Jews and incite them towards terrorism. I have a friend who survived Hitler Youth training, and he told me that the constant and steady incitement that the Palestinian children receive towards Jews is even worse than what he was exposed to. Within Judaism, emphasis has always been placed on compassion. In the Hagaddah, the book we read on Passover, we are instructed that we should all feel as though we had been slaves in Egypt. Many of my coreligionists have, at this point, inserted into the Hagaddah something to say for the plight of the Palestinians. A few years ago, at San Francisco State University, the rabbi wrapped herself in the Palestinian flag while dancing with the Torah. Recently Thomas Friedman of the New York Times, one of the high priests of the liberal temple, was interviewed on Bill Mahers show, called the election of Donald Trump, a moral 9/11., And then, inferred that the election is worse, Because we did this to ourselves. This is because for far too many American Jews, as has long been observed by Dennis Prager, myself and others, liberalism has become their religion. Many of my friends feel that a womans right to choose is actually part of the ten commandments. And they viewed this issue, and this issue alone as the most important issue of the election. It is very difficult to argue with these people. This has become a raw, emotional issue for so many of my closest friends and relatives. When I try to discuss other issues with them, such as Obamas foreign policy and how it has negatively impacted on regional stability throughout the Middle East, and particularly on the survival of Israel, their eyes glaze over with boredom. The Jewish community, and unfortunately, even much of the modern Orthodox community of which I am a part, has distanced itself much too dramatically from Israel. Here we are, so far away from the automobile rammings, knifings, shootings and bus bombings that Israel has had to endure, nestled in our cushy suburban communities, placing judgment on the Israelis because a partner hasnt emerged among the Palestinians who either has the will or the ability to actually make peace, and a peace that will endure for generations. Something mushy happened to the brains of many American Jews on September 23, 1993, when the Oslo Accords were signed on the White House Lawn. If liberalism is their theology, this moment was their revelation at Sinai. And for most of the ensuing two decades since then, they have cherry-picked which information they will hear about the Palestinian -- Israeli conflict in order to justify their knee-jerk compassion for the Palestinian cause However, for those of us who are deeply committed to the survival of Israel, it was difficult not to breathe a sigh of relief about how the elections turned out. President Obama and his administration signaled his feelings about Israel and the Muslim world almost immediately upon assuming office, when on June 3, 2009, he made his first trip abroad to Cairo, and invited members of the Muslim Brotherhood to sit in the front row while Hosni Mubarak was still in power. And when Mubarak was overthrown and Mohammad Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood was elected to into office, President Obama was quick to believe that one election is all it takes to make a democracy, to call him and assure him of Americas continued support. However, when millions of Egyptians took to the streets to overthrow the Morsi government and replace it with that more moderate government of General Abdel al-Sisi, it took months for Obama to signal his support. President Obamas administration totally ignored what was supposed to have been an ironclad commitment between Prime Minister Sharon and President George W. Bush before the Gaza withdrawal. This was specifically laid out in a letter on April 14,2004 that stated: As part of a final peace settlement, Israel must have secure and recognized borders, which should emerge from negotiations between the parties in accordance with UNSC Resolutions 242 and 338. In light of new realities on the ground, including already existing major Israeli populations centers, it is unrealistic to expect that the outcome of final status negotiations will be a full and complete return to the armistice lines of 1949, and all previous efforts to negotiate a two-state solution have reached the same conclusion. It is realistic to expect that any final status agreement will only be achieved on the basis of mutually agreed changes that reflect these realities. This ironclad commitment was immediately erased as soon as the Obama administration assumed office. Somehow the American commitment of a former U.S. president slipped the mind of then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton when she excoriated the Israeli prime minister for a full 45 minutes in March of 2010, for granting building permits in a suburb of Jerusalem. During the Gaza War of 2014, when missiles were raining down on Tel Aviv from Gaza, suddenly President Obama decided to hold up the delivery of Hellfire missiles. And then, in October of 2014, as reported in the Atlantic, a high-ranking official in the Obama White House said, The thing about Bibi is, he is a chicken____. The lists of insults, invectives, and hurts goes on and on, despite the hundreds of times someone from the Obama administration would talk about the ironclad commitment between t United States and Israel. In fact, whenever I heard a White House or State Department official start a sentence like that, I would psychologically prepare myself for the next blow to Israels security or the damage that was about to be done to Israels perception in the United States or the world. Eight years of living under the Obama administration has brought with us a rudderless world, where America has withdrawn from its rightful position as the worlds moral compass, leaving the Middle East in a devastating state of chaos. By far, however, the greatest damage to Israel, America and the world has come through the Iranian nuclear deal, which has empowered and enriched Iran with $150 billion in unfrozen assets, and $17 billion in ransom payments. We have emboldened the Islamic Republic with an internationally recognized pathway for a nuclear bomb, and the administration has acted as the Iranian counsel for the defense every time it violates the deal. This puts both America and Israel under direct existential threat, but of course Israel which is the low hanging fruit, under clear and present danger. But at the General Assembly of Federations which I attended last week, President Obamas liaison to the Jewish community, Chanan Weissman, spoke about what a great friend the president has been, because after, He had the first seder in the White House and he isnt even Jewish. So, for all of my liberal friends and relatives who are tearing their cloth and are in deep mourning because the election did not go their way, I ask you to please, look at the big picture. Sarah N. Stern is Founder and President of the Endowment for Middle East Truth, ENET, an unabashedly pro-Israel think tank and policy institute in Washington, DC President Obama seems to think he can jawbone his legacy into permanency, despite the recent election. He says the Iran nuclear deal will endure. The Paris agreement will last. Regulations cannot and will not be rolled back. ObamaCare will retain its chief provisions. But the political earthquake resulting in the election of Donald Trump is but an indicator of the tsunami of change that is about to happen. The truth of the matter is that the Obama administration saw the high-water mark of progressivism. Its overwhelming power has been broken. Attempts to persuade the renegade American public and its new leaders back into the progressive fold will not cease, but they will be largely futile because Americans have made it clear they do not want progressivism to dictate domestic and foreign policy. Why was there a revolution at the voting booth? The revolution happened because Americans have seen the wrecking ball that is progressivism in action for the last eight years (and counting). The pendulum swung because citizens have watched as the leadership of the Democratic Party was gradually taken over by a bunch of fanatical extremists whose agenda was both morally and pragmatically repellent -- completely divorced from the realities of human existence. What happened was that the once noble moral impulses undergirding the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s were gradually distorted by the radical feminist and gay rights movements, both of which hijacked civil rights terminology and both of which leveraged the momentum of the initial civil rights movement for their own increasingly fatuous, fanatical and narrow purposes; purposes which wound up badly hurting other Americans -- in fact, the American majority. Jettisoning the highly religious foundations established by Martin Luther King, Jr., who spoke in terms of human rights as rights for all, the new so-called civil rights movements embraced by the Democratic Party did not seek equality before the law for all human beings, but rather special privileges and power for themselves regardless of the cost to others. In their attempts to promote the causes of the latest self-proclaimed victims, progressives ran roughshod over the core institutions of America and over those structures upholding her constitutional republic. The Church and her institutions were also targeted for destruction in the name of progress. In some circles, it became seen as inherently hateful to be a Christian because the Christian conscience as defined by orthodox doctrine simply could not accommodate the demands of the Left and remain Christian. For example, Americas Christians saw a Harvard professor encourage progressives to treat Christians, particularly evangelical Christians, as Nazis were treated after the end of World War II. No quarter or clemency was to be offered Christians now that progressives were in the seats of power. Many progressives agreed with the professors assessment. For them, it was only just to persecute people like the Little Sisters of the Poor because of their stance on birth control. As progressive extremism wrote Christians out of their script, they kept writing an increasingly radical script for the American masses to follow. Those who refused to act out the parts assigned them were treated with contempt and often exiled to the periphery of society, there to join the aforementioned leprous Christians already outside the camp. Those who opposed the new truths -- truths which could be changed daily according to the latest decree of political correctness -- were treated with ridicule and often persecuted. Whether it was the CEO of Chick-fil-A or the small-town butcher, baker, or candlestick maker, those who stood against the progressive tide were marked for destruction. Despite the deeply held convictions of tens of millions of Americas people of faith, the proselytizers of the progressive movement insisted on abortion on demand up to the point of birth. They insisted the primordial universal understanding of marriage as being between man and woman had to be redefined. Even gender, the foundational distinction of the human race, was to be fluid, open to redefinition at any time. Included in the radical agenda was the completion of the retrofitting of academia to the progressive agenda. Even language was to be retooled in order to express gender preference; indeed, to eliminate the distinctions of words denoting male and female. Further, the doctrine of global warming was to become the accepted scientific viewpoint, and woe to those scientists who disagreed. Such extreme positions are but a few examples of the radical transformations sought under the Obama administration and embraced by the Democratic Party, which from all appearances seems determined to double down on radical orthodoxy, oblivious or resistant to reform. In other words, Americans were to be forced into believing and accepting a complete reversal of the Western understanding of reality and the substitution of unreality -- a worldview matching neither science nor acceding to the moral transcendence supplied by faith. Instead, Americans were to be forced to agree with and live within the progressive bubble world that was hell bent on enforcing a confabulist viewpoint that would extend to the entire globe. History and even memory were up for grabs as the Brave New World was effectuated through force, as persuasion was not enough to do the job. But the unreality, extremism and fanaticism of leftist progressivism has been a sure sign of its demise. It became more and more abhorrent to the American people. Voters saw that their country could not continue to embrace the destructive concepts perpetrated and enforced by the Obama administration if America was to endure, much less flourish. If the nation was to survive, the progressive movement had to be rolled back. As Eric Hoffer pointed out in The True Believer, the confabulist, not worried a bit about facts -- even those recorded on camera or by eye witnesses, can move on a dime and invent another truth to fit changing circumstances. Confabulists hand on their penchant for fabulism to their children, encouraging, for instance, transgenderism in kids as little as six. Of course, confabulism is a descent into insanity -- and mass insanity is what we are seeing today. Fanatical orthodoxy is in all movements a late development. It comes when the movement is in full possession of power and can impose its faith by force as well as by persuasion. Americans had found themselves forced to believe and practice an ideology that endured only by coercion. As Hoffer notes, for a time, force works. Thus coercion when implacable and persistent has an unequaled persuasiveness, and this not only with simple souls but also with those who pride themselves on the strength and integrity of their intellect. Progressives were Sovietizing America, to the point that arbitrary decrees from leading progressives, including the person inhabiting the White House, were forcing people of conscience to recant their convictions and confess their errors lest they be destroyed. We saw the United States military, for instance, subjected to progressivisms politically-correct mandates that undermined the mission and effectiveness of the armed forces, while protesting generals were arbitrarily forced into resignation. As time went on, the more unworkable and oppressive the mandate, the greater the force needed to ensure capitulation of the resistant. As Hoffer noted concerning Soviet Russia: The more unworkable communism proves in Russia, and the more its leaders are compelled to compromise and adulterate the original creed, the more brazen and arrogant will be their attack on a non-believing world. Here in America, what the above translated into was that those who have opposed the imposition of the latest progressive doctrine were persecuted as heretics. Is it any wonder, then, that the pragmatic and commonsense Americans, along with those whose consciences and religious freedoms were constantly violated, revolted at last? Is it any wonder that when an elite few invent a world without any relationship to reality, the rest of unconverted society refuses to accommodate itself to their confabulist insanities? Is it any wonder that honest Americans saw, as did the late theologian John Webster, that The lie can be kept intact only if anything which threatens to expose it is destroyed? Is it any wonder that the mere mortals among us have seen that the progressive gods are mad, and that their insistence that we retrofit our existence and all of society to accommodate their insane demands was a potentially fatal assault on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? In sum, by using the power remaining to them; namely the voting booth, Americans repudiated the lies and subterfuges of the extremist progressive movement. While fundamentalist progressivism will live on for a time and fight back through academia, the media and Hollywood, the flood tide crested during the reign of Obama, and now has begun to recede. Progressives will increasingly live on in backwater subcultures, much like the ones to which for generations they routinely consigned those who opposed them. People like Al Gore will be seen in the same light Aimee Semple McPherson is now seen in retrospect -- as an irrelevant curiosity and the purveyor of pure poppycock. It remains for the newly elected leadership to close their ears to those who want to preserve the outlandish legacy of the past eight years. It is time to forge ahead with the mandate of the voting public. Now is not the time for timid compromise and reaching across the aisle. Its time for conservatives to continue to continue to roll back the progressive tide -- across the board. Fay Voshell is a frequent contributor to American Thinker. Her thoughts also have appeared in many other online publications such as National Review, CNS, RealClearReligion and Russia Insider. She may be reached at fvoshell@yahoo.com Three universities in Virginia associated with our Founding Fathers, Thomas Jeffersons University of Virginia, James Madison University, and George Mason University, are embroiled in free speech battles over what faculty, students, and employees can or cannot say. University of Virginia Last week, UVa faculty released a letter to President Sullivan wherein they requested that she stop quoting Thomas Jefferson in mass emails to faculty, students, and employees. For many of us, the inclusion of Jefferson quotations in these e-mails undermines the message of unity, equality and civility that you are attempting to convey (here.) Ostensibly, the rationale had something to do with the idea that Jefferson owned slaves when he wrote that All men are created equal, and that Jeffersons writings do not convey a message of diversity and inclusion. Whats going on here? This is a case of the left eating its own. The University of Virginia is a far left globalist institution. Some faculty are upset that President Sullivan is not far left enough, and that she still pays lip service to those who revere Jefferson. Here is the reality. In an address to gathered alumni in June 2016, President Sullivan laid bare a globalist agenda for the university. Here are some of the phrases from her address: ...global outreach important for UVA / global century of connected nations / global labor market / we prepare UVA students for global citizenship / we recently launched a new major in Global Studies / global development / global public health / created a new Global Careers Taskforce / globally-oriented education / problems are global, their solutions must be global / this is not global citizenship as an abstract concept; this is global citizenship in action / global Academical Village / The UVA family is a truly global family. (The transcript is available from the alumni association.) That is the plan for UVa, and its not far left enough. What does this mean? It means that its not likely that you will ever see UVa found a new American Program of Anything. It means that the UVa administration does not believe that Americas radical political system, founded on the idea the state is subordinate to the individual, is any different from all the worlds other political systems, where the individual is subordinate to the state. University of Virginia Early in October, Douglas Muir, an adjunct lecturer for UVas School of Engineering and Applied Science, replied to another individuals Facebook post by saying: Black lives matter is the biggest rasist [sic] organization since the clan. Are you kidding me. Disgusting!!! As a result, he agreed to take leave (here and here,) the restaurant that he owns was boycotted by the Vice Mayor of Charlottesville (here,) and he wasnt reinstated until he apologized (here.) During the controversy, UVa Provost Tom Katsouleas said that the university: stands firmly against racism and social injustice of any kind. This position in no way squelches academic freedom, which welcomes dissent and encourages the voices of others whose perspectives may differ from ours (here.) In fact, the universitys position exactly squelches academic freedom. Its quite clear that Muir was fired, pending an apology, and that his dissenting voice was disallowed, and that if Muir had refused to apologize he never would have returned to UVa. Can Muir sue UVa for a violation of his First Amendment rights? If Muir were to bring a First Amendment case against the university, it might hinge on the courts perception of whether or not his speech represented true or false statements. In Pickering v Board of Education, the court wrote that: In sum, we hold that, in a case such as this, absent proof of false statements knowingly or recklessly made by him, a teachers exercise of his right to speak on issues of public importance may not furnish the basis for his dismissal from public employment (here.) Its painfully obvious that Black Lives Matter is a racist organization. The entirety of its mission is centered on righting grievances that mainly can be claimed by black people, or people of color. Black Lives Matter is also a dangerous anti-government movement involved in stoking protests, riots, and the spread of its Marxist ideology (here, here, here, and here.) Based on an abundance of facts, the court would have to agree that Muirs statement was substantially true, and logically would have to conclude that UVa violated his rights. Muirs case is an ideological repeat of the UVa rape hoax. When Rolling Stone magazine published its story of an alleged rape at a UVa fraternity, President Sullivan fully supported the rape culture myth. The same administration is now supporting the myth that Black Lives Matter is a courageous social justice group, and is suppressing free speech based on its support for a movement that is actually violent and dangerous. George Mason University A mirror image to the Muir case was reported in early November, when it was shown that GMU Senior Assistant Director of Admissions Andrew Bunting commented on Facebook about people who agree with the National Organization of Marriage (NOM): If you agree with them then that is your opinion. Just know that to the rest of us, you are a piece of worthless trash (here.) As of now, Bunting has not been disciplined by GMU, despite his attack on millions of Americans who believe in the sanctity of marriage. In comparing the UVa and GMU Facebook incidents, its clear that academics who use Facebook privately to express political opinions will be given a pass as long as their opinions comport with leftist politics. Academics whose opinions dont comport with leftist politics will be disciplined or threatened with termination. In addition to attacking NOM supporters, Bunting also has openly supported collecting sexual orientation information on admissions applications (here.) Can affirmative action for sexual politics be far behind? Politics by Facebook has become a leftist wedge to divide academia, and the tactic is working. At the University of Rochester, a program director in the Department of Computer Science was forced to apologize and resign his directorship for a Facebook joke about students protesting against Trump (here.) Warning to academics: dont use Facebook to joke about or disagree with leftists you will be sent to the gulag. University of Virginia Late on election night Nov. 8, students allege that UVa police officers yelled Make America Great Again into the speaker system of their squad car, and thus taunted a group of students who were unhappy about the election results (here and here.) Several police officers have been placed on administrative leave, pending an investigation. On Friday Nov. 11, during a Board of Visitors meeting, students protested outside the Rotunda. According to news reports, some students demanded that the police officers be fired, while others demanded that the university police force be defunded. Students chanted No justice, no peace, no racist police! Its hard to fathom how the MAGA theme equates to racist police, though the mind of a liberal snowflake is admittedly an unfathomable place. As a political matter, the phrase Make America Great Again is so innocuous as to beg credulity as an actionable complaint. Do we really want to fire people over the MAGA phrase or litigate someones hurt feelings about an election? As a counterfactual exercise, imagine that eight years ago, on the night that Barrack Obama was elected, that university police officers in their squad car had yelled Hope and Change at a group of students. In that case, can anyone in their wildest imagination conceive of a student protest and calls to fire the police? No, its not imaginable because, as we all know, liberal slogans never hurt anyone. Its always assumed that only slogans from the lefts opponents hurt people. And when conservatives lose, its just expected that they will knuckle under, man up, and go on with life. When leftists lose, the delicate snowflakes expect mommy and daddy to step in and administer retribution. James Madison University At the beginning of October, the administration at JMU gave student leaders a list of 35 things they should avoid saying during new student orientation (here.) For illustrative purposes, consider just one example. I dont see difference. We are all part of the same race, the human race. As reported in The College Fix (here,) a representative of the JMU administration later attempted to spin the list as just an exercise: James Madison Universitys director of communications Bill Wyatt told The College Fix via email that this was just an exercise, prior to orientation, to get our volunteers to understand how language affects others. The list was not distributed to our first-year students nor were the volunteers instructed not to use the phrases. While the administrations ham-handed attempt to censor student leaders was an obvious attempt at suppressing free speech, no ones actual speech appears to have been suppressed. Nevertheless, taxpayers are paying state employees to sit around and cook up these batty schemes, and thats an abuse of the public trust. This is a case where students should rise up and protest against an administration that holds their First Amendment rights in contempt, and students should demand that there be consequences for conspiring to experiment against their rights. In summary, the common thread to these speech controversies in Virginia is the suppression, threat of suppression, or demand for suppression, by leftists, of speech that leftists do not like. For those of us who believe that Donald Trump was elected to drain the swamp in Washington, we must do our own part to drain the swamp of leftist ideology from our public universities. Write, speak, petition, and, as the leftists say, fight on. James G. Robertson is a University of Virginia alumnus. French designer Sophie Theallet tweeted an open letter to the fashion world saying she would not be involved in designing clothing for the Trumps. Funny, but no one has said she's even on the short list of designers Melania Trump might employ. CBS News: As an independent fashion brand, we consider our voice an expression of our artistic and philosophical ideas. The Sophie Theallet brand stands against all discrimination and prejudice, the letter says. Theallet, an immigrant, admits she is well aware it is not wise to get involved in politics, but that the bottom line of her business is not just about money and she must stand by her values. Those values, she writes, do not align with the rhetoric of racism, sexism, and xenophobia unleashed by [Donald Trumps] presidential campaign. I will not participate in dressing or associating in any way with the next first lady, Theallet says. I encourage my fellow designers to do the same. Designing for the first lady is a high honor in the fashion world, making Theallets appeal to her colleagues even more daring. But she is not the first designer to take a stand against the Trumps. Kaelen Haworth, known for her creations for Blake Lively and Elizabeth Banks, announced after the election that proceeds from items sold on her website would be donated to organizations opposed by Trump. The list includes Planned Parenthood, Black Lives Matter, and Everytown for Gun Safety. But not everyone is jumping off of the Trump Train, and those who have might buy another ticket soon, says fashion legend Carolina Herrera. I think that in two or three months theyll reach out, because its fashion. Youll see everyone dressing Melania. Shes representing the United States, Herrera told Business of Fashion. A fashion designer who swears she won't work for the Trumps despite the fact no one has asked her to is like me saying I will never play for the New York Yankees. I'm still waiting for a call from the front office offering me a contract that I can throw back in their faces. If Theallet's company were public and I were a shareholder, I'd sue the witch for gross mismanagement. Deliberately undermining a company's bottom line by taking an action that damages the brand with half the country is actionable. But in New York, the haute couture crowd is cheering her on. On 11/17/16 on Fox News's Tucker Carlson Tonight, Nicholas Kristof (of the late N.Y. Times) condemned Donald Trump of racism. Kristof did not qualify or justify his severe judgment of the president-elect even as he seemed to be attempting the role of a conciliatory emissary from the discredited ranks of Democrat shills at the New York Times. The Times recently acknowledged that they did not manage even an appearance of objectivity or impartiality during the recent presidential campaign. But as Kristof pitched concern for displaced workers, he could not help himself from vilifying the candidate those forgotten people just chose to be their president. The blind hatred in the late, lamented New York Times against Trump is so great that even a soothing pitchman like Kristof can't hide it. Kristof plucked on the heartstrings of his small-town Oregon roots, which is the closest the New York Times can come to atomizing even a whiff of concern for ordinary Americans. But even as Kristof invoked a warm recollection of the folks he left far behind, he could not avoid insulting the incoming commander-in-chief. In vilifying Trump as a racist, Kristof certified the mindless addiction to character assassination that will continue from the Times. Nicholas Kristof also insulted the American people by implication. If the American people have elected a frank racist, as Mr. Kristof states, they must either be too stupid to see Trump's bigotry or be racist themselves. The New York Times probably believes that mainstream Americans to be both. Furthermore, a corollary of Kristof's slander against Trump is that anyone who works in the new administration is willing to work for a racist. What a miserable crew that will be. Tucker Carlson asked Kristof if he knew two people at the Times who were opposed to abortion. Carlson should have asked Kristof if he knew two people at the Times who were opposed to attempting to redefine marriage to include same-sex couples. That would have been an even more absurd falsehood for Kristof to deliver. Of course, Mr. Kristof offered neither specifics nor evidence for his charge that the president-elect is racist. As long as any member of the left-wing elite can discharge the Racism! Sexism! Phobia! calumny, he can go home comforted in the knowledge that he has shored up the left's delusion of moral superiority. No further explanation than the excommunicating triune Racism! Sexism! Phobia! is needed. Does Kristof allege that Trump hates the whole "black brown red and yellow" spectrum? It doesn't matter. As long as Kristof tars Trump with the brush of racism, he remains a member in good standing in the dead journalists society. The shrill, desperate hunt by liberals for dirt on the flourishing Trump administration continues unabated. Today the lying liberal mainstream media is reporting breathlessly on fake news that may have assisted the Trump presidential victory. And under the guise of eliminating such fake news, social media sites such as Google, Twitter, and Facebook are even reported to have begun a purge of some conservative accounts c never mind that anti-Trump hate speech flourishes on those same websites virtually unchecked. And of course, liberals appear to have conveniently forgotten that they invented the practice of creating fake news. Who can forget, for example, the counterfeit October Surprise documents orchestrated by Dan Rather to smear the Texas Air Force National Guard service of George W. Bush, which got Rather canned instead when the truth emerged? More recently the world was sickened by the lies conjured out of nothingness by the liberal mainstream media against conservative Steve Bannon to obstruct his effectiveness as White House chief strategist. One might even submit that most of the so-called news reported by the liberal mainstream media is false, the truth perhaps lying in the opposite direction. Certainly that applies to the liberal chest-thumping and tub-beating about Trump voters being racist, sexist homophobes, when in fact many were only disillusioned Obama voters immunized against such bigoted name-calling. Perhaps it is best these days to consider all news from the liberal mainstream media fake manufactured by some twisted wizards of hate cowering behind their laptops someplace in la-la land. It is Synthetic News, transmitted to hundreds of millions of electronic devices by the liberal mainstream media, in the desperate hope that if the lies are repeated often enough, they will become the truth. Last night, Mike Pence went to see the Broadway hit musical Hamilton. He was roundly booed by an audience of ill-mannered theater-goers. Who knew that people who can afford thousands of dollars (that is what it costs) to see a play about Alexander Hamilton could be so abominably rude? While a few people cheered him, most were booing. This is the low point to which the intolerant left has brought us very low. To add insult to injury, Brandon Victor Dixon, the actor who plays Aaron Burr, the man who murdered Hamilton in a duel and became a traitor to America, delivered an ill informed lecture to Pence at the show's end. Can't we all visualize this group of privileged rich actors composing their insulting rant backstage during the performance? He said he and his cast members are "alarmed," as though the country just elected a tyrant. He ranted about "diversity," as though Trump and Pence are actually all the things the "fake news" lefty media say they are. This crowd have been so thoroughly indoctrinated by the MSM, they are more afraid of a Trump administration than they are of ISIS. This can be explained only by ignorance of essential facts as Governor, Mike Pence believed in religious freedom and was excoriated for it. But so uninformed are these people that they do not know that their beloved Obama has effected a soft tyranny these past eight years. He has governed by fiat, going around Congress most of his two terms. He has transformed America in countless ways, and many millions of Americans just fought back with their votes. Shouldn't the privilege of wealth bring with it responsibility the responsibility to be cognizant of essential facts? This audience and this cast are an American embarrassment. So rude, so unconscionable was this theatrical show of solidarity with the intolerant left that perhaps all of Broadway should be boycotted by sentient people. Maybe those mind-numbed people who booed were not all from New York, but most of them were. Like California, New York is a blue state populated largely with Pauline Kael leftists, people who never come across a conservative in their daily lives. They are shocked when an election does not comport with their views. The plight of the millions of people in the flyover states never enters their consciousness. And if it does, they are quickly dismissed as too stupid to vote, to have a say in their national governance. Those people who booed the vice president-elect should be ashamed of themselves, but they are not. They are proud of themselves. They apparently did not grasp the meaning of the play they just paid thousands of dollars to see the miracle of America's founding, the Revolution, and the Constitution. It's a good bet that none of those actors or members of the audience who were so loudly booing has ever read our founding document. If they had, they would not have behaved as they did. If they had, they would respect the results of the election. As Obama so crudely reminded Republicans in 2009, elections have consequences, and he won. The consequence of his eight-year tenure as president is Donald Trump. The lefty N.Y. theater crowd should begin to accept the fact that the damage done by Obama has been repudiated. Suicide is illegal in most states. Since the presidential election, however, it is claimed that there has been a 250% increase in calls to suicide prevention hotlines, largely fed by fears of illegal aliens about being deported by Donald Trump. If you believe this new height of hysteria, here is propaganda to fill your minds: ... Illinois has witnessed a dramatic 200 percent surge in calls to mental-health hotlines. The nationwide figure is even higher, showing a 250 percent increase[.] ... Many of those calling in to crisis hotlines are those vulnerable groups who fear that life for them under a Trump administration could get even uglier. Trump recently reiterated his vow to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. Immigrant and refugee students fearing deportation (or their family's deportation) have been extremely fearful, angry, depressed and in some cases have failed to show up to school altogether in the wake of Trump's win[.] ... Trump's platform has caused "significant distress and anxiety... This is clearly a public health crisis." CBS adds: CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker looks at some of the faces behind the numbers. "This fear of being deported. I've never felt that before," says Hector Lopez. There were heartbreaking calls from students like Luis Gomez. "I've been trying to reconcile the reality and the possibility that my dad will lose his job, that my family will lose their home and that I might lose my friends and family to deportation and suicide," he says. Gomez and others shared their stories at a news conference where health officials promoted mental health resources. Questions for discussion: 1) Isn't suicide a form of self-deportation? 2) Given the apparent magnitude of the crisis, should suicide prevention hotline recorded messages start speaking in Spanish from the get-go rather than having callers wait until the end of the English part of the message? It might be too late by then. 3) If the Immigration and Naturalization Service manned Spanish-language suicide prevention hotlines, do you think they could trace the calls and save a lot of lives? 4) If you had the choice of living in Mexico or taking your own life, which would you choose? Would your answer be different if it were a slum in Mexico, a rich neighborhood with many guards, or a drug plantation? 5) If you think I'm making light of a serious subject, could I reclaim the moral high ground by saying I think this is more whipped up hysteria, and that there is no evidence that a single person has ended his life because of Donald Trump? Ed Straker is the senior writer at NewsMachete.com. Google has begun to open the first Google Shops in some Best Buy locations in Canada, following an announcement from the end of October that they would be opening the retail locations within the popular consumer electronics chain. While this marks the beginning of Googles physical retail presence in North America, it isnt the first Google Shop entirely, as they had previously opened up a similar shop experience in the UK in Currys PC World early on in 2015. That being said, with Best Buy stores in Canada now starting to see the Google Shops opening up, it paves the way for Google to bring the shops down south and potentially explore the retail options in the U.S., although it was noted that Google doesnt currently have plans to launch Google Shops in the country. This doesnt mean that it wont ever happen, though. As one might expect, Google has laid out the shops product offerings in specific groups, so youll find Pixel and Pixel XL devices with Pixel accessories, for example, but its said that they also have areas where some products are combined to showcase how they work together, such as with the Pixel and he Daydream View headset, allowing consumers to see both products in one space without having to travel to each location within the shop. In addition to simply showing off and selling their latest and greatest products like the Chromecast Ultra, Google Home, and Google Wifi, there will also be occasional workshops that new customers or anyone who has already purchased a Google product can attend to learn about specific stuff. For example, Google will have a workshop dedicated to teaching you how to use Google Assistant for planning your travel details during the holidays. Workshops will be hosted by various people including some YouTubers, such as TheSorryGirls who are to host the first event, and theyll have Google contracted staff on hand to help people with tutorials of the different products that are on display if they need assistance with anything. Google hasnt mentioned how many Google Shops will be opening up in Canada, nor how many there already are or if they have plans to open more within the country, as its only been stated that the shops have opened up in select Best Buy locations, and thanks to TechCrunch who was able to visit one of these shops youll be able to see what they look like without having to visit one yourself. Sophie Theallet bans Trump and joins a long list of rude shopkeepers Sophie Theallet has something to say. Having once provided clothes for Michelle Obamas wardrobe, Theallet will not allow Melania Trump to fill her massive closets with the same. Does Melania want to wear Theallets clothes? Weve found no word that she does. But it is a shame one immigrant cannot support another. Of course, banning people is what any tradesperson can do. Its their right to be rude. Well, sort of. One of my favourite rude shopkeepers was Kim Tickell, aka Kim Joseph Hollick de la Taste Tickell, who ran the Tickell Arms outside Cambridge until his death in 1990. After parking carefully you approached the front door, on which was posted a long handwritten list of house rules No Long-Haired Lefties, No Tee Shirts, No Trainers, No CND-ers and so on. The Squire himself usually presided over his empire in 18th century style attire including knee breeches and an eye glass. He was spectacularly rude, usually for no good reason, and was prone to outrageous behaviour. He once poured the ice bucket down a customers trousers because his shirt had come untucked and he was therefore undressed. A large pair of scissors was kept behind the bar so he could snip off any ties which offended him. Should a customer not have parked sufficiently neatly, he would call out their number plates through a megaphone, demanding they adjust the vehicle now. The walls were adorned with large weapons which he sometimes used for chasing people out of the building. Londoners will recall Sohos Wong Kei, a restaurant famed for its surly staff. When the new owner promised to offer a more genteel dining experience, patrons complained. Andrew Lebentz wrote: Please dont make Wong Kei a polite place to eat the best thing about it is the rude staff. James Bollen added: RIP Londons most masochistic dining experience in Chinatown. Even Daniel Luc, who too over the place in 2014, said: Maybe there was an issue with rude staff 20 to 30 years ago, but I dont think so any more. I dont know whether thats a good thing or not. So more power to Sophie Theallet, whose snootiness should have them flocking. She is now The Rudest Designer in the USA. She should put that on a T-shirt. Paul Sorene Posted: 19th, November 2016 | In: Key Posts, Politicians, Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink 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. The installation of an autoclave at its state-of-the-art repair shop in Jebel Ali, Dubai raises the regional benchmark on highly effective rapid-response aircraft maintenance solutions and gives the region its first radome repair solution. This removes the need to outsource to Europe or the USA, said Vincent DAndrea, SVP Engineering & Maintenance Components Products for Air Franc KLM-EM.CP. DAndrea said the autoclave could help shave as much as 10 days off major repair schedules resulting in huge transportation and scheduling savings for clients. This greatly improves our operation for airlines in the Middle East with significant saving on local turnaround times. The installation of the autoclave, which was proven in previous service with Air France at Le Bourget and has undergone a full retrofit and modification programme, will also, according to Philippe Couteaux, Vice President, Corporate Strategy & Development, SAFRAN, allow AMES to expand its product offering to clients and mark a strategic growth era in the companys support activity and position it for new work with airframe components. Building on a new FAA certificate, along with the new autoclave for composites and its skilled on-site repair engineering team, AMES can now accommodate a growing volume of nacelle MRO work while also creating capabilities for composite repairs on aerostructure parts such as radomes, winglets and flight control surfaces. The capabilities also apply to Safran Nacelles latest products, including the nacelle system for Airbus A320neo version and the planned introduction of the companys nacelle system for the A330neo. AMES also is uniquely positioned to accommodate the very large nacelles and thrust reversers for General Electrics GE90 engines on Boeing 777s, along with the Engine Alliance GP7200s and Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines that power Airbus A380s, said Couteaux. The joint venture has also successfully developed on-wing support activities that involve the deployment of its teams to serve clients across the Middle East and Indian Sub-continent. AMES opened in 2010 and currently employs 20 staff with a 50% increase envisaged by 2020, according to Couteaux. The companys new capabilities will be its main sales thrust when it mounts a branded. Stand-alone promotion at Februarys MRO Middle East show at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The right-side under-wing landing gear did not deploy, and the crew were unable to deploy it using a gravity drop method. President Tim Clark said: So, the aircraft landed on the main gar (and) nose gear; it is certified to do that. It is understood that the United Arab Emirates General Civil Aviation is investigating. YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. 7 million 708.1 thousand USD worth of humanitarian assistance has been imported to Armenia from Switzerland in the period of January-September. According to the National Statistical Service, Switzerland has shipped the largest volumes of humanitarian aid to Armenia 20.8%. However compared to last years same period, there is a 16,2 percent decrease in humanitarian aid delivered from Switzerland. From the USA, 6 million 729.9 thousand USD worth humanitarian aid was delivered to Armenia, a 14.6 % growth compared to previous year. 3 million 939.5 thousand USD worth humanitarian aid was delivered from China a 12.4 percent growth, and from Italy 2 million 236.4 thousand worth humanitarian aid a 75.2 percent growth. YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. Thousands of protesters gathered in Malaysias capital Kuala Lumpur to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Razak, reports TASS. Many streets are closed in the center of Kuala Lumpur. The chief of the law enforcement agencies of Malaysia earlier said they will allow to use tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters. The PMs supporters, called Red Shirts, also held a protest for supporting the government. The Police officers promised to do everything in order to avoid the meeting of pro-government and opposition protesters. At an event recenty she refused to talk with the media about her rumoured relationship with Salman. It was reported that Salman Khan would get married to Iulia Vantur by the end of this year. Salman Khans fans have been hoping that he finally ties the knot with his rumoured girlfriend Iulia Vantur. However, it seems unlikely if that that would happen anytime soon. Iulia recently won an award for Successful Woman in Romania and at the event she refused to talk about her rumoured relationship with Salman with the media. However, Iulia finally opened up about it in an interview to a Romanian publication when she reveals that she has no plans of marrying the superstar and that 'cultural differences' was one of the reasons of her returning back. When asked if she had got married during her India visit, Iulia, in her local language said, I have been married, and I have left my previous husband in the past. But then I was in India, neither did I marry, nor did I part ways with anyone. God forbid! Iulia also went on to talk about her difficulty in adjusting with the Indian culture. I started to sing in Hindi, and took singing lessons. I worked hard for many years and it bothers me that only my private life has been discussed. The last time I stayed in India for five-six months, it indicated a lot of things that I do not want to address. But the Indian mentality is really different, the culture, the people. Everything is different. You do not have as much privacy, because you stay with many people in one house. I also did not realise that I had to dress a certain way on the streets. Now, I understand that my clothing was too lowcut, It would be now interesting to see if Iulia returns to India or if things could work out between her and Salman. The actors team has refuted reports that suggest the police is closing investigation of the emails. There seems to be a big development in the Hirthik Roshan-Kangana Ranauts long-standing feud. After reports that investigation into the email saga had been closed, Hrithiks legal team has rejected the claims outright. Media reports, which suggest that the investigation into the Hrithik-Kangana emails is closed, are totally false, said Gunjan Mangla from Hrithiks team. A section of the media in connivance with Ms Ranauts lawyer has sought to disseminate this false information. The investigation, in fact, continues. Mr Saxena (Joint Commissioner of Police, Crime) has informed Mr Mahesh Jethmalani, Senior Counsel who has been advising Mr Roshan that the investigation is still going on. It is categorically asserted that there is unimpeachable evidence to suggest that there was no relationship of any kind between Mr Roshan and Ms Ranaut and that Ms Ranaut persistently hounded Mr Roshan on emails with the intention to entice him into a relationship. On the other hand, Kanganas lawyer Rizwan Siddique has refuted Hrithiks legal teams arguments as baseless. In a statement, Rizwan explained that Joint Commissioner of Police and the department were unable to find anything on the mail ID purportedly belonging to Hrithik, as the server is in the US. He adds, The department has also now claimed theyre trying to conclude the case with the given evidence, without being able to answer questions of whether or not there really was an imposter. And if there was an imposter, who was it? Rizwan went on to say that if the police are saying they cant do much further, both parties ought to accept the decision. However, he also said, I would like to categorically state that my client has always claimed and maintained that there is no imposter and that her email ID was hacked by Mr Hrithik Roshan multiple times during the seven months which Mr. Roshan took to file a belated and misleading police complaint. A lot can be implied from these acts. On being contacted, a tight-lipped Rakesh Roshan said, Our lawyers have already responded to the media. Please look into it for all your queries. 'The Rs. 1,000 notes may be withdrawn when circulation improves by December 30, or at your discretion,' she said. Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday accused the Narendra Modi government of making "actionless announcements" and said it should allow the old Rs 500 notes to remain in circulation along with new notes to help the common people. "We are looking for a solution. I have some concrete suggestions which will help restore normalcy and help all people who are suffering," she said in a statement. The government should allow old Rs 500 notes to remain in circulation along with new notes. Also Rs 100, Rs 50, Rs 10 notes must be made easily available. "The Rs 1,000 notes may be withdrawn when circulation improves by December 30, or at your discretion," she said, adding there was no need for anymore "faltu, action-less announcements. Sometimes blunders lead to more blunders". Ms Banerjee along with her Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday set a deadline of three days to the Modi government to roll back the demonetisation decision, warning of "widespread unrest" if the current "chaos" continues. The NIA early this morning launched raids on 10 premises of Islamic Research Foundation run by controversial Islamic preacher. Mumbai: The counsel for controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik on Saturday said the case filed by the National Investigative Agency (NIA) against his client under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) is illegal. He said the Supreme Court had earlier granted a stay in a similar case, and hence, any fresh complaint on the same grounds would stand void. "Earlier in the year 2012 an FIR was registered by the office bearers of some organisation against Zakir Naik under section 153 A and in response we filed a petition in the Supreme Court and the court granted stay to all those proceedings in the FIR. So fresh FIR for the same offence is not maintainable in law so they cannot be two FIR for one offence," the counsel, Mobin Solkar, told ANI. Solkar further maintained that from 2012 till date, Dr. Naik has not given any lecture that can be a cause of action for filing a fresh FIR against him. He, however, conceded that the NIA is entitled to search and visit the premises of the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), owned by Naik. He added that the organisation would cooperate with NIA investigation. "The NIA, irrespective of the legality of the FIR, is empowered to investigate the matter and they are carrying out their investigation and we are ready to cooperate as far the investigation is concerned. IRF has been a law abiding trust and we are ready to fully cooperate with the investigative agency," Solankar said. Teams of the NIA, along with the Mumbai police, launched raids on 10 premises of IRF early Saturday morning. NIA spokesperson told ANI that the premises were raided at 6 am. "We are searching a few residential premises and a few office premises of Zakir Naik," said the NIA spokesperson. The NIA had on Friday registered a case against Naik and others under sections 10 (Penalty for being member of an unlawful association) and 13 (Punishment for unlawful activities), and other various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Section 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), said a spokesperson. The Union Government had on Tuesday declared the IRF as an "outlawed organisation" under the anti-terror law for its alleged terror activities, following which the Maharashtra Government said it would keep a close eye on locals and organisations funding the IRF and would be treated as "anti-social elements". Malkhan Singh biopic, Malwa ke Sholay, is going to be released soon. Bhopal: In his heyday, the ex-bandit king of Chambal ravines would perhaps have never imagined that he would one day stand in a queue to draw money from a bank that he used to rob at ease. Armed with his licensed double barrel gun, dreaded Chambal dacoit of 1970s, Malkhan Singh, drew large crowd at the State Bank of India (SBI) branch in the district headquarters town of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, on Thursday when he quietly stood in a queue to exchange a few demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. Sixty nine-year-old Malkhan, who came to the mainstream following his surrender along with his dreaded dacoit gang before former undivided MP chief minister Arjun Singh in 1983, was seen waiting patiently for hours in the queue moving at a snails pace, much to the awe and amusement of the curious onlookers. The redoubtable emperor of robbers of Chambal ravines of 1970s, Malkhan Singh, had amassed a total of 94 police cases, including 18 of robbery, 28 of kidnapping, 19 of attempt to murder, and 17 of murder, by the time he bade farewell to arms. His biopic, Malwa ke Sholay, is going to be released soon. I was amazed to see his composed demeanor, which was in sharp contrast to his bygone image of a dreaded dacoit. I was wondering what must be going in his mind when he was waiting in the queue outside a bank that he once perhaps loved to loot. It was a strange and terrific experience for me and other onlookers, Rakesh Pandey, a local trader, told the newspaper. Two Army and BSF jawans and a woman resident were injured when the Pakistani troops targeted Indian forward posts. he officials said that the Pakistani troops resorted to heavy unprovoked firing in Kalsian, Jhangar and Namb Karali areas of Nowshera sector in the morning. (Photo: Representational Image) Srinagar: The Pakistan Army on Saturday claimed that an Indian quadcopter was shot down by it after the camera-fitted drone allegedly intruded into PoKs Rakhchakri sector along the LoC at 4.45 pm (local time). Indian quadcopter shot down by own Aagahi Post in Rakhchakri Sec. Had intruded 60 Ms in Pak side of LOC, fell near own Agahi Post & taken over, Lt. Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa, director-general of Pakistans Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces, tweeted. He claimed the drone had intruded 60 metres into the Pakistan side of LoC and its debris fell near Agahi Post in Rakhchakri Sector. Meanwhile, two Army and BSF jawans and a woman resident were injured when the Pakistani troops targeted Indian forward posts and civilian areas in Naushehra and Sundarbani sectors along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmirs Rajouri district on Saturday. A report, not confirmed officially, said the facing troops traded fire also in Uri-Chakothi area of the de facto border on Saturday evening. Earlier, the authorities in Muzaffarabad said that four civilians, including three girls, were killed and two more wounded after a mortar bomb fired by the Indian troops landed inside a private house in Kerni village of Charhoi sector of the PoKs Kotli district on Saturday. In Rajouri, the police and Army officials said that sepoy Kala Singh of the Armys 8 Sikh Li, a BSF jawan Laltu Singh ( of 126 Battalion) and 55-year-old resident Shanti Devi were injured in the Pakistani shelling in Sunderbani and Noushehra sectors of the LoC on Saturday. Also, two residential houses were damaged and a buffalo died in the Pakistani shelling in Noushehras Makri village, they added. The officials said that the Pakistani troops resorted to heavy unprovoked firing in Kalsian, Jhangar and Namb Karali areas of Nowshera sector in the morning. Later in the afternoon, the facing troops targeted the Indian forward posts and civilian areas with 120 mm mortars, automatics and small arms also in neighbouring Sunderbani sector. The fire was returned befittingly using the same calibre weapons, a defence spokesman added. The Army and the BSF sources said that there have been as many as 286 incidents of firing and shelling along the LoC and International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistani troops that have resulted in the death of 26 people, including 14 Army and BSF personnel, since the surgical strikes on terrorist-launch pads across the de facto border on September 29. On the other hand, the Pakistan has blamed India for each violation of the November 2003 ceasefire agreement that took place during past over seven weeks. On Saturday, it said that, at least, 26 civilians have been killed and 107 others wounded in the last two months due to the Indian forces firing along the LoC and the International Border (called Working Boundary by Islamabad). The Bill aims to ensure that women find a respectful position in the society by bringing an end to the discrimination meted out to them. New Delhi: With the bill to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and state legislatures hanging fire, it is evident that Indian politics is not ready for a separate quota for women. But that has not deterred DMK MP Tiruchi Siva from pitching for the reservation of women in government jobs, and even private if the employers so want. Mr Siva, an MP from Tamil Nadu, moved the Womens (Reservation in Workplace) bill in Rajya Sabha on Friday. The private members bill seeks 30 per cent reservation for the women in jobs and promotions in establishments owned, controlled, managed or financed by the Central and state governments. The bill says the private sector may voluntarily decide to provide equal employment opportunities to women and the Centre could take steps to incentivise the private sector. The promise of equal opportunity for women has lingered as a mere promise in our country since Independence. Though the Constitution has guaranteed these promises in terms of the fundamental right of equality, women are deprived of employment opportunities however much they are qualified and deserving, according to the statement and objectives of the bill. Women in many parts of the country are kept away from active participation in the workplace. The bill aims to ensure that women find a respectful position in the society by bringing an end to the discrimination meted out to them, it says. According to the Census 2011, women constitute only 10.93 per cent or 3.37 lakh of the 30.87 lakh Central government workforce. They account for 48.5 per cent or 58.74 crore out of 1.21 crore population. The situation is very grim in police forces across the country, in which they account for 6.44 per cent and in paramilitary, a paltry 2.28 per cent. The public sector banks are among the very few exceptions where 24 per cent of the employees are women. Though the number of women in government sector has increased over years, activists complain that the growth is slow and they face discrimination at the time of promotions too. According to the Census, 67,369 women (2.51%) were in Central government services out of 26.99 lakh employees in 1971. The number rose to 2.91 lakh (7.53%) in 2001 and 3.11 lakh (10.04%) in 2009. It is high time that women are unshackled from their discriminatory status in society. Article 15 of the Constitution prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, even as it allows for State to make special provisions for women, Mr Siva told this newspaper. India has been a signatory of the UN and ILO Conventions recognising the equality of the sexes. Further, it has adopted legislations that uphold Equal Remuneration, Maternity Benefits, etc. However, women in many parts of the country are kept away from active participation in the workplace. Naidu said Congress was rattled by the smooth functioning of the Rajya Sabha earlier as it was not interested in a fruitful discussion. New Delhi: Union information and broadcasting minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said on Friday that Congress and its allies did not want Parliament to function, and were shying away from a debate on demonetisation as the poor look at Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a messiah following the decision. The senior minister said Congress was rattled by the smooth functioning of the Rajya Sabha earlier as it was not interested in a fruitful discussion. Calling the demonetisation measure a national project and massive social mobilisation, he said peoples lives will be impacted for a better tomorrow. The government is concerned about the hardhip being faced by the masses and is taking measures based to ease it. Modi ji is very popular in the country, and after this step he has become further popular. The poor of the country are looking at Modi as their messiah. We cannot understand why the Congress and its friends are raising a ruckus (in Parliament), he said. Congress is now saying that the PM should come only then the debate will go on, demanding JPC probe. There is an attempt to divert from the issue. It does not have facts and public opinion is turning against it, he added. They do not want Parliament to function and seem to be moving in that direction, he told reporters. He accused the opposition party of taking a U-turn after initially agreeing to a debate. On the demand by some opposition leaders that the PM speak on the issue, the Minister pointed out that Modi has intervened during various debates in Parliament earlier. But it cannot be a practice as the precedence is of ministers concerned replying on the behalf of government, he added. Congress leaders are discussing the issue outside Parliament just for the sake of it and are not willing to take part in a debate and give meaningful feedback to the government to resolve issues, he said. Reacting to Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azads remarks yesterday in Rajya Sabha, Naidu asked Congress to clarify if it was his personal remark or the partys official line. Naidu claimed while appealing Opposition parties to resume the debate in Parliament. The minister said that people want Parliament to debate demonetisation but the opposition has disappointed them as well as the government by disrupting it. Are you against cleaning up of the economy? Are you against black money, hoarders. Or you are against the problems faced by the people, he asked, urging the rival parties to start a discussion and offer their suggestions to the government. Biker Rohith Subramaniam, who traversed India on a solo ride, recently undertook a 120 day-long journey covering south-east Asia. After riding across the country for over 150 days, I decided I wanted to ride across other countries, specifically in south east Asia. I flew to Singapore and then went to other countries, viz., Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. It took me 120 days to complete this journey renting and buying motorbikes at different places. I chose south east Asia not only because its close to India, but also because I wanted to visit countries that were steeped in culture and history. Being Vegetarian I stuck to being a vegetarian throughout the journey, even though it was extremely difficult. But I liked the challenge because I did see other vegans who got by. The food otherwise was crazy, from snakes to frogs to other reptiles, everything was on offer on the streets. Besides, I had a lot of lovely vegetarian food wherever I went. My personal favourites were the Thai and Indonesian meals I had. In Indonesia, food that is cooked in the morning is what will be served for the next two meals of the day! Natures Bounty Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos had really great mountains that I rode through. I managed to do a lot of off-roading as well, which was an amazing experience for me. I tried to avoid the typical tourist destinations as much as I could. Vietnam and Cambodia had some of the best mountains, beaches and islands Ive experienced. Northern Vietnam also had many great loops and routes for bikers, including the Sapa-Sin Ho loop and Ha Giang. Enjoying the Travel Sans Planning The best thing about travel is that different people enjoy different kinds of travel. I tried avoiding tourist hotspots and discovering alternate routes to reach locations. I covered the entire length and breadth of all these countries, and that required a lot of time. If you do have time, explore these countries on a bike. Go out and live in the moment, dont plan your entire trip meticulously. One of the interesting spots that stood out to me besides the loops was, of course, Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Then theres Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Cat Ba Island and Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam that are worth visiting. The locals are extremely sweet, helpful and had a lot of love to share in all the countries I went to. There were times when I didnt have a place to sleep and would knock on peoples doors they were kind enough to let me stay with them. The culture and traditions are extremely friendly. In Vietnam, there is a tradition to drink rice wine with the host every night, which shows how open they are to different people. Memories and more I cant say there was just one experience that made an impact on me because every day was marvelous. I never thought Id buy a bike in Vietnam and then end up selling it for a higher price! Apart from that, I love to make conversation despite language barriers, and I ended up teaching English for a couple of days to kids in Vietnam. I even tried my hand at cooking! Once, I lost my bike keys while standing at Cambodias border getting my passport stamped. Finally, I ended up pushing the motorcycle into another country, while the officials looked on. It was a very funny incident that I will never forget. However, I think the entire journey was memorable. Future Plans Currently, I am on my way to Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar and will be ending the year with these three countries. Im indeed very excited! (As told to Kaavya Pillai) 8 major bottlenecks set to be removed soon. New Delhi: With Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing strong displeasure over the inordinate delay in the take off of the ambitious 14-laning NH-24 project, Cabinet Secretary P.K. Sinha has directed both the Centre and the AAP government to immediately remove eight major bottlenecks in the national capital. Soon after Mr Modi rapped the authorities for not doing proper groundwork before he laid the foundation stone of the project, various concerned agencies have now identified the bottlenecks like shifting of five slum clusters with more than 1,500 jhuggis; private residential properties both on the right and left hand side of the ROW (right of way); construction of a bridge over Yamuna for which permission is yet to be obtained; dismantling deputy chief minister Manish Sisodias office which falls on NH 24 and shifting of basic utility services such as DJB pipelines, transmission line of BSES, 220 KV lines of Transco, and other religious structures. The project is expected to help about 1.5 lakh car commuters on a daily basis. The total area of Delhis portion of the project is 8.7 km stretch of the 96 km Expressway. A copy of the document pertaining to the project accessed by this newspaper revealed that there are several private residential buildings on ROW while several similar structures inside ROW of the National Highway 24. Besides Nehru Camp Jhuggis, Patparganj with 1,500 dwelling units exist within 90 metre on ROW of NH-24. The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board has been directed to submit proposal for rehabilitation of the jhuggi dwellers within two weeks. The document said: There are also several nurseries of the MCDs that fall outside ROW of NHAI and these are expected to be shifted in four weeks. Another slum, Jai Bharti camp with 1100 jhuggis, also falls on the ROW of NHAI-24. There are also L&T camps at Junction of UP Link Road -NH-24 and NH 24-Ring Road. And at both the locations, the batch mixing plant and casting yard has been set up for construction of Barapullah elevated corridor Phase III by Public Works Department (PWD) of the Delhi government. The deputy chief ministers office also falls under ROW of NHAI and the same needs to be removed. The PWD chief engineer has reportedly assured that these structures would be cleared within the next four weeks. Another bottleneck is the construction of a bridge over the Yamuna River at Nizamuddin as a part of the Delhi Meerut Expressway. The concerned agencies have yet to give clearance for a Yamuna over bridge as the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has not given clearance for land for the bridge project. Mr Kejriwals role in the ongoing battle against the Modi government. After keeping low for the past few months, the BJPs maverick Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy has launched a fresh attack against his bete noire finance minister Arun Jaitley. After the Narendra Modi governments decision on demonetisation of high denomination currency notes led to widespread chaos at banks across the country, Mr Swamy got an opportunity to renew his demand for Mr Jaitleys exit from the government on the plea that his ministry had not made adequate arrangements for the availability of sufficient funds in banks. While Mr Swamys diatribe against Mr Jaitley is understandable given that the two are not on the best of terms, a large number of unhappy BJP members are also said to be in agreement with the controversial MP. Mr Jaitley, however, is unfazed over these attacks as he enjoys the full support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Moreover, the same BJP members, who are privately criticising the finance minister, are lining up to give him suggestions on how the government can mop up black money in the market, including the revival of the Income Declaration Scheme, which allows people to declare their unaccounted funds without any explanation. Others are seeking the ministers advice on handling large amounts of money, ostensibly on behalf of a relative or a friend. But Mr Jaitley can see through the ruse, having figured out their real motives from their crestfallen faces and the tone adopted by them. Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad triggered uproarious scenes in the Rajya Sabha last week when he pointed to the number of people who had died waiting in queues outside banks to access their money, stating that these many deaths were not reported even after the terror attack on an Army base in Uri. Needless to say, the BJP members seized upon this statement to launch a frontal attack against Mr Azad and sought an apology from him for his anti-national remarks. This confrontation, however, did not end in the Rajya Sabha but continued outside. Information and broadcasting minister M. Venkaiah Naidu, who was most agitated over Mr Azads statement, got into a slanging match with Congress Rajya Sabha member Jairam Ramesh. While Mr Naidu insisted that the Congress leader had crossed the lakshman rekha, Mr Ramesh argued that the BJP minister was deliberately distorting Mr Azads remarks. The heated exchange of words continued for some time till Mr Ramesh ended it up by telling the voluble Naidu: The trouble is that you have always misunderstood me while I have never understood you. When Congress leader Amarinder Singh was Punjab chief minister, he had unilaterally terminated a river-sharing agreement with Haryana, which also involved the construction of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal. Although the decision had embarrassed the Congress-led ruling coalition then, Mr Singh had consolidated his position both in the party and the state by emerging as the real champion of interests of Punjab. Mr Singh got a fresh opportunity to position himself as the chief protector of his home state when he resigned his Lok Sabha seat when his 2004 decision was struck down by the Supreme Court and addressed a series of press conferences vowing to fight for the people of Punjab. But Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, who is hoping to steal a march over the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal and the Congress in next years Punjab Assembly elections, moved quickly to deny Mr Singh the privilege of emerging as the hero of Punjab. His tech-savvy party lost no time in using social media to circulate an old photograph, which shows that Mr Singh was present when Indira Gandhi laid the foundation stone of the SYL canal at Kapoori village in 1982. Needless to say, Mr Singh is on the defensive after the photograph went viral. West Bengal chief minister and Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjees proposal that all Opposition parties march to Rashtrapati Bhavan on November 16 to petition against the Modi governments decision to ban high-denomination currency notes, got support from the Aam Aadmi Party, the Shiv Sena and the National Conference only. The others, including the Congress and the Left parties, stayed away as they obviously did not want to give credit to Ms Banerjee for taking a lead in this matter. Although Arvind Kejriwal participated in the march, he was obviously not willing to allow Ms Banerjee to grab all the limelight. When Mr Kejriwal and Ms Banerjee addressed a joint meeting at New Delhis Azadpur mandi last week to highlight the suffering of the common man, the West Bengal chief ministers photograph was missing from the posters at the venue while there was only a passing reference to her in the speeches made by the AAP leaders whose main focus was on Mr Kejriwals role in the ongoing battle against the Modi government. But Ms Banerjee sent out a clear message to Mr Kejriwal that he should not assume sole ownership of this issue in her speech. Stating that there were no leadership or ego issues in the crusade for the poor, Ms Banerjee declared, I am even willing to accept the leadership of a rickshaw puller in this fight. Everybody serving in a Trump administration will serve Donald Trump and Mike Pence and implement their ideas and no one else's Washington: Anyone joining the Trump administration would have to leave their personal views behind and implement the vision and ideas of the President-elect, a top transition team member has said. "Regardless of someone, whether it is a staff member appointed or nominated or intended to be nominated, one of the things that always has to be remembered is that everybody who serves in a Trump administration will serve Donald Trump and Mike Pence and they will implement that vision and their ideas and no one else's," said Sean Spicer, Chief Strategist and Communication Director of the Republican National Committee. "One point on all nominees, and I think this is important for people to recognise, is that anyone's personal view is not what matters. You are serving the President-elect of the US and implementing his views," Spicer told reporters on Friday. Spicer was responding to questions on the past views and statements made by several of Trump's appointees and nominations - the announcements for which have been made in the last few days. Yesterday, Trump announced his intent to nominate Senator Jeff Sessions as his Attorney General, Lt Gen (rtd) Michael Flynn as National Security Adviser and Congressman Mike Pompeo as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Trump, before heading for Bedminster in New Jersey where he will spend his weekend, had two-hour meeting with the transition team headed by the Vice President-elect Mike Pence. Today, Trump is slated to meet Mitt Romney, Republican party's presidential candidate in 2012, General (rtd) James Mattis, Bob Woodson, who's the founder and president of the Center for Neighbourhood Enterprises, Andy Puzder (a right wing commentator and fast food CEO), and investor Lew Eisenberg. "These meetings that the President-elect is holding shows that he's meeting with some of the best and the brightest and the most qualified people not only to fill specific roles within the administration but also to give advice and counsel on the policies and structure of how to best put together a team and enact a successful agenda. "It also goes to the fact that Trump is not putting together meetings based on political affiliation or if they've supported him in the past. He's bringing together a broad and diverse team to help come up with a number of different policies and procedures and specific team members to help move our country forward," said Jason Miller, communication director of the Trump Transition Team. The Transition team needs to fill up to 4,000 positions in the administration for which the team has received more than 51,000 resumes. Over 145,000 people have shared their story or idea on how to make America great again, Miller added. About 7,000 students would be eligible for refunds if US District Judge Gonzalo Curiel approves the proposed settlement. San Diego: President-elect Donald Trump agreed Friday to pay $25 million to settle lawsuits against his now-defunct Trump University for real estate investors, averting a trial in a potentially embarrassing case that he had vowed during the campaign to keep fighting. The agreement came 10 days before jury selection was scheduled to begin in one of three cases. The complaints accused Trump University, which wasn't an accredited school, of defrauding students who paid up to $35,000 a year to enroll in programs that promised to share Trump's real estate secrets. About 7,000 students would be eligible for refunds if US District Judge Gonzalo Curiel approves the proposed settlement. Under the terms, Trump admitted no wrongdoing in two class-action lawsuits in San Diego and a civil suit brought by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. The settlement lifts what would probably have been a major headache for Trump as he works to fill key executive branch positions and get acquainted with foreign leaders. The San Diego trial, on a case filed in 2010, was expected to last several weeks, guaranteeing daily news coverage of a controversy that dogged him during the campaign. Trump's political rivals seized on the lawsuits to try to portray him as dishonest and deceitful. Trump brought more attention to them by repeatedly assailing Curiel, who oversaw the San Diego cases. Trump suggested the Indiana-born judge's Mexican heritage exposed a bias. The thousands of former students covered by the San Diego lawsuits will be eligible to receive at least half and possibly all their money back, as much as $35,000, said Jason Forge, an attorney for the plaintiffs. The plaintiffs' attorneys waived their fees. Trump has denied the allegations and said during the campaign that he would not settle. He told supporters at a May rally that he would come to San Diego to testify after winning the presidency. "I could have settled this case numerous times but I don't want to settle cases when we're right. I don't believe in it. And when you start settling cases, you know what happens? Everybody sues you because you get known as a settler. One thing about me, I am not known as a settler," Trump said at the time. Two days after the election, Trump's lead attorney in the San Diego cases, Daniel Petrocelli, said he was "all ears" to settlement talks and accepted an offer to have US District Judge Jeffrey Miller of San Diego broker negotiations. Forge said the agreement was reached an hour before a hearing for Curiel to weigh Trump's latest request to delay the trial until after the Jan. 20 inauguration. The plaintiffs' attorney said he "definitely detected a change of tone and change of approach" from Trump's camp after the election. "We were at each other's throat for 6 ? years and were able to find the common ground with them and do something good there," Forge told reporters. Schneiderman called the agreement a "stunning reversal" for the president-elect, saying Trump "fought us every step of the way, filing baseless charges and fruitless appeals and refusing to settle for even modest amounts of compensation for the victims of his phony university. Today, that all changes." Trump's attorneys said the settlement allows the president-elect to focus full attention on his transition to the White House. "He was willing to sacrifice his personal interests, put this behind him, and move forward," Petrocelli said. Alan Garten, the Trump Organization's general counsel, said he had "no doubt" Trump would have prevailed at trial. The lawsuits allege that Trump University gave nationwide seminars that were like infomercials, constantly pressuring people to spend more and, in the end, failing to deliver on its promises. The San Diego trial would have been pinned on whether a nine-member jury believed Trump misled customers by calling the business a university and by advertising that he hand-picked instructors. Court documents unsealed in May revealed strategies for enticing people to enroll even if they couldn't afford it. The documents outlined how employees should guide people through "the roller coaster of emotions" after they express interest and tells employees to be "very aggressive during these conversations to in order to push them out of their comfort zones." Transcripts of about 10 hours of Trump depositions provided additional material to rivals, though Curiel denied a request to release video of Trump's testimony that would have likely been used in campaign attack ads. Trump acknowledged in the depositions that he played on people's fantasies, and he could not recall names of his employees despite his advertising pitch that he "hand-picked" them. Trump has repeatedly claimed a 98 per cent customer satisfaction rate on internal surveys. Plaintiffs countered that students were asked to rate the product when they believed they still had more instruction to come and were reluctant to openly criticize their teachers on surveys that were not anonymous. The settlement comes a day after watchdog groups and ethics experts who served in both Republican and Democratic administrations sent a letter to Trump urging him to make a clean break from his business to avoid "embroiling the presidency in litigation." One of the authors, Richard Painter, an ethics lawyer at the White House under President George W. Bush, said the Trump University settlement might backfire if lawyers think Trump is eager to settle to avoid court cases while president. "The plaintiffs' lawyers," he said, "are going to smell blood in the water." 'Only 20 of our soldiers were killed while they lost more than 40 soldiers,' a top Pakistani military commander. A top Pakistani military commander on Saturday claimed said that 40 Indian soldiers have been killed in cross-firing at LoC after the surgical strikes. (Photo: AP) Islamabad: A top Pakistani military commander on Saturday claimed said that Indian army's casualties were double as compared to Pakistan in the ongoing clashes at the Line of Control. "Only 20 of our soldiers were killed while they lost more than 40 soldiers," Commander of 10 Corps Lt-Gen Malik Zafar Iqbal told a selected gathering of parliamentarians and journalists in Gilgit on Friday. Lt Gen Iqbal was on a visit to the strategic Gilgit- Baltistan region in the north wherein he addressed a gathering of civil and military officials, the Express Tribune reported. Iqbal claimed that rising army casualties were making the cost of ceasefire violations unbearable for the adversary. "If they violate the ceasefire during the day, we manage to settle the score before evening, but if it [the violation] occurs during night, we respond in kind before dawn," he said. His remarks came days after Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif claimed that Indian army suffered at least 40 causalities in the recent border clashes. He also accused that Indian army was hiding its losses due to fear of public backlash. Earlier, the Corps commander visited the Khunjerab Top, the entry point of the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor where he inaugurated an ATM machine. He claimed that India had set up a special section within its intelligence apparatus for obstructing the CPEC. "But we are ready to foil the enemys nefarious designs," he added. Around 10 heavily armed militants stormed Karachi airport in June, 2014 and were killed by army commandos. A medical board, under the supervision of a judicial officer, will exhume the bodies of 10 unidentified attackers buried at the graveyard run by the Edhi Foundation. (Photo: AFP) Islamabad: Pakistani authorities will next week exhume bodies of ten attackers involved in Karachi airport attack that took place two years ago. A medical board, under the supervision of a judicial officer, will exhume the bodies of 10 unidentified attackers buried at the graveyard run by the Edhi Foundation on November 22. The decision followed after a judicial magistrate in Karachi directed the health authorities to constitute a medical board since police moved court for the exhumation of the bodies for DNA testing. The four-member medical team will collect samples for DNA tests to establish the identity of the killed assailants. Around 10 heavily armed militants stormed Karachi airport in June, 2014 and were killed by army commandos and personnel of other security forces during an operation lasting about five hours. They were buried at an Edhi-run cemetery and their identity remained unknown. Around 25 people, including personnel of the Airport Security Force, police and Rangers, were killed in the audacious gun-and-explosive attack. Three men are facing trial before an anti-terrorism court for allegedly providing logistic support, funds and weapons to the attackers. Jin Yinan, a retired major general, believes that Clinton would have tried to isolate China economically, politically and militarily. With Trump, there will be more economic pressures, but also new ways of collaboration; for example, in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Hong Kong (AsiaNews/Agencies) Donald Trumps election might cause some short-term uncertainty in US-Sino relations, but the Republican will put the bilateral relationship on a better track than rival Hillary Clinton would have, this according to Retired Major General Jin Yinan, a former director of the strategic research institute at the Peoples Liberation Armys National Defence University. The policy initiatives of Clinton are obvious that she would continue with pivoting to Asia and the TPP, encircling China politically and militarily, and isolating China economically, a candid Jin said yesterday in Hong Kong. By contrast, There may be uncertainties facing relations between China and the US in the short run, but from a medium- and long-term perspective, Sino-US ties will be better under Trump than [they would have been under] Clinton. The retired generals remarks run counter to apprehensions that emerged during the US election campaign in which Donald Trump often accused China of currency manipulation and threatened to impose 45 per cent duties on Chinese imports. At the same time, Trump said that he wanted to get rid of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which does not include China, and curb US defence commitments to its Asian allies, leaving more room for Chinese hegemony in the South China Sea and vis-a-vis South Korea and Japan. Jin said he expects the US to exert more economic pressure on China but that new avenues for cooperation will be found as Trump focuses on economic development to unite American society. As an example, he cites the position of an advisor to the newly elected president who said that it would be in the US interest to join the Beijing-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, a super bank that offers credit to developing countries. In the public consistory creating 17 new cardinals, Pope Francis urged new cardinals to love ones "enemies" and not demonize them in order to have a sacred justification for dismissing them. The College of Cardinals reflects the geographic, linguistic, liturgical and ethnic diversity that "is one of our greatest riches." Three new cardinals are from or based in Asia. Card Zenari, apostolic nuncio to Syria, presented the initial greeting and expression of gratitude. Afterwards, pope and cardinals paid a visit to Benedict XVI. Vatican City (AsiaNews) Pope Francis, in his homily at todays Ordinary Public Consistory in St Peters Basilica creating 17 new cardinals, said that The virus of polarization and animosity permeates our way of thinking, feeling and acting, and this is contrary to the richness and universality of the Church, which is tangibly evident in the College of Cardinals. What should concern is the fact that so many of our brothers and sisters are living without the strength, light and consolation born of friendship with Jesus Christ, without a community of faith to support them, without meaning and a goal in life. Reflecting a practice initiated by John Paul II, the cardinals are increasingly non-European, including some from small Churches that had not cardinal in the past. Three of the new cardinals are in fact from or based in Asia: Mario Zenari, apostolic nuncio to Syria; Patrick D'Rozario, Archbishop of Dhaka (Bangladesh); and Anthony Soter Fernandez, Archbishop Emeritus of Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). One of the new cardinals, Mgr Sebastian Koto Khoarai, bishop emeritus of Mohale's Hoek (Lesotho), was not present. Card Zenari, invited to present the initial greeting and expression of gratitude to the pontiff, said: "We are called by the ancient Churches of the East, by young Churches and the Churches of the New World" and "we are invited by her to be in a Church outward bound, in the most diverse existential peripheries." After reading a passage of the Gospel (Lk 6, 27-36), called the Sermon on the Plain, Francis compared Jesus call to his disciples to his to the new cardinals. The call of the Apostles is linked to this setting out, descending to the plain to encounter the multitudes who, as the Gospel says, were troubled (cf. v. 18). Instead of keeping the Apostles at the top of the mountain, their being chosen leads them to the heart of the crowd; it sets them in the midst of those who are troubled, on the plain of their daily lives. My dear brothers, newly created Cardinals, the journey towards heaven begins in the plains, in a daily life broken and shared, spent and given. In the quiet, daily gift of all that we are. The pontiff stressed the "four commands" Jesus gives: "Love, do good, bless and pray. [. . .] They are four things we can easily do for our friends and for those more or less close to us, people we like, people whose tastes and habits are similar to our own. The problem comes when Jesus tells us for whom we have do these things. Here he is very clear. He minces no words; he uses no euphemisms. He tells us: love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you (cf. vv. 27-28). These, he added, are not things we spontaneously do in dealing with people we consider our opponents or enemies. Our first instinctive reaction in such cases is to dismiss, discredit or curse them. Often we try to demonize them, so as to have a sacred justification for dismissing them. Here we find ourselves confronted with one of the very hallmarks of Jesus message, where its power and secret are concealed. Here too is the source of our joy, the power of our mission and our preaching of the Good News. My enemy is someone I must love. In Gods heart there are no enemies. God only has sons and daughters. We are the ones who raise walls, build barriers and label people. God has sons and daughters, precisely so that no one will be turned away. Gods love has the flavour of fidelity towards everyone, for it is a visceral love, a parental love that never abandons us, even when we go astray. Our Father does not wait for us to be good before he loves the world, he does not wait for us to be a little bit better or more perfect before he loves us; he loves us because he chose to love us, he loves us because he has made us his sons and daughters. He loved us even when we were enemies (cf. Rom 5:10). The Fathers unconditional love for all people was, and is, the true prerequisite for the conversion of our pitiful hearts that tend to judge, divide, oppose and condemn. To know that God continues to love even those who reject him is a boundless source of confidence and an impetus for our mission. No matter how sullied our hands may be, God cannot be stopped from placing in those hands the Life he wishes to bestow on us. Ours is an age of grave global problems and issues. We live at a time in which polarization and exclusion are burgeoning and considered the only way to resolve conflicts. We see, for example, how quickly those among us with the status of a stranger, an immigrant, or a refugee, become a threat, take on the status of an enemy. An enemy because they come from a distant country or have different customs. An enemy because of the colour of their skin, their language or their social class. An enemy because they think differently or even have a different faith. An enemy because And, without our realizing it, this way of thinking becomes part of the way we live and act. Everything and everyone then begins to savour of animosity. Little by little, our differences turn into symptoms of hostility, threats and violence. How many wounds grow deeper due to this epidemic of animosity and violence, which leaves its mark on the flesh of many of the defenceless, because their voice is weak and silenced by this pathology of indifference! How many situations of uncertainty and suffering are sown by this growing animosity between peoples, between us! Yes, between us, within our communities, our priests, our meetings. The virus of polarization and animosity permeates our way of thinking, feeling and acting. We are not immune from this and we need to take care lest such attitudes find a place in our hearts, because this would be contrary to the richness and universality of the Church, which is tangibly evident in the College of Cardinals. We come from distant lands; we have different traditions, skin colour, languages and social backgrounds; we think differently and we celebrate our faith in a variety of rites. None of this makes us enemies; instead, it is one of our greatest riches. The pope ended with a few recommendations. Jesus never stops coming down from the mountain. He constantly desires to enter the crossroads of our history to proclaim the Gospel of Mercy. Jesus continues to call us and to send us to the plain where our people dwell. He continues to invite us to spend our lives sustaining our people in hope, so that they can be signs of reconciliation. As the Church, we are constantly being asked to open our eyes to see the wounds of so many of our brothers and sisters deprived of their dignity, deprived in their dignity. My dear brothers, newly created Cardinals, the journey towards heaven begins in the plains, in a daily life broken and shared, spent and given. In the quiet, daily gift of all that we are. Our mountaintop is this quality of love; our goal and aspiration is to strive, on lifes plain, together with the People of God, to become persons capable of forgiveness and reconciliation. Today each of you, dear brothers, is asked to cherish in your own heart, and in the heart of the Church, this summons to be merciful like the Father. And to realize that if something should rightly disturb us and trouble our consciences, it is the fact that so many of our brothers and sisters are living without the strength, light and consolation born of friendship with Jesus Christ, without a community of faith to support them, without meaning and a goal in life (Evangelii Gaudium, 49). At the end of the Consistory, the pope and the new cardinals went to Mater Ecclesiae Monastery to meet with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. In recent years, cultural mixing, social media and globalisation are changing many societies in the world, even that of Saudi Arabia. Changing clothing style, the ability to work, and time abroad have raised awareness among women. Riyadh (AsiaNews) Even in the capital of Saudi Arabia, known for its cultural conservatism, globalisation and media-mediated models are leading to western-styled openness. One of the first timid signs of the changing society is clothing. Increasingly, people no longer consider mandatory the niqab, which covers the face, except the eyes. This is especially true for women who dont feel obliged to walking the streets covering their faces, opting instead for the hijab, the Islamic veil that covers the hair, sometimes even with strands of their hair showing, combined with colourful abayas or cloaks instead of the traditional black colour. I know families [in Riyadh], the eldest sibling could not wear hijab alone - she had to wear niqab, but the youngest sister can now walk even without a scarf on her hair in some places, said Rawan Al-Wabel, a mother of three and a health care worker. I have been living in Riyadh since last four years, but I am the daughter of Dammam, she noted. In Dammam, it was much easier to be a hijabi, attributing her home citys much liberal climate due to its diversity where people come from different areas. Dammam is in eastern Saudi Arabia. Asked if women in Riyadh are becoming bolder in their dressing like their eastern and western counterparts in the kingdom, Najla Al-Sulaiman, 30, said, Of course. Sulaiman, who did a Master in the United States from 2011 till 2015, said the difference through the three years was extremely striking when she returned to Riyadh. You see more colourful abayas, more women who are not covering their faces. Sulaiman, who does not wear the hijab when travelling outside Saudi Arabia like many other compatriot women from her country, said: While the overwhelming majority are still covering the hair, I have seen girls without head scarfs. Nouf Al-Wabel, 33, who works in the human resources sector in Riyadh, said the change itself is in wearing more colours and not just black. We see it in hospitals, medical centres, and banks, she added. The change is happening in media, and media is changing many people. Different cultures coming together, social media, globalisation or women going to work and earning their own income, are all factors these women consider behind the change. A law passed by the Saudi government in April has also helped by restricting the Committee of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, also known as the religious police or haia. In late September, about 15,000 women signed a petition, which they sent to the government, calling for an end to male guardianship. The Salesian parish of Nandan Nagar is home to the Door of Mercy. The closing ceremony coincided with the diocese eighth Eucharistic procession. Agartala (AsiaNews/Agencies) More than 6,000 Catholics took part in the closing of the Holy Door of Mercy in the Salesian parish of Nandan Nagar, in the diocese of Agartala (Tripura State). The door opened on 8 December 2015, simultaneously with the one opened by Pope Francis in St Peter's Square in the Vatican. The Door in Agartala was closed on 13 November, the day set for closing it in all the dioceses of the world. The solemn ceremony was held in the courtyard of the Auxilium School, officiated by Mgr Lumen Monteiro. "As a people that received abundant mercy from God, we ought to be merciful to others," he said. Speaking about the end of the Extraordinary Jubilee, the bishop said that "the Holy Year has come to an end [...] but the time of mercy continues and the doors of our hearts must remain open: open to receive mercy and open to give mercy to our fellow human beings." The event was held on the occasion of the eighth diocesan Eucharistic procession, offered by the local Church since 2009. Organised by the diocese lay association, the latter represents the only moment in the year when all Catholics can gather together for Eucharistic adoration. Fr Thomas Pereira, head of the laity organisation, explained that "the procession is a manifestation of God's mercy" and that the title Sing forever the mercies of the Lord (from Psalm, 88:2) fully reflects the atmosphere of the event. To take part, the faithful travelled from 20 parishes around the state, and walked for three kilometres along the city streets, ending in front of the Salesian school. Fr Rodney Borneo from Kolkata led the prayer and adoration of the Sacrament, and invited those present to "forget the fatigue and exhaustion and only reflect on the immense love of Jesus." by Loula Lahham The Egyptian Church leader was welcomed by the apostolic vicar and numerous faithful. Today he baptized and confirmed children in the cathedral of Kuwait-City. Spokesman for the Coptic Church: "The Egyptian Catholics abroad know little about their mother church, this is why the patriarch wants to be close to them." The Catholic Church in Kuwait has about 200 thousand faithful, mostly migrants from Asian and Arab countries. Kuwait City (AsiaNews) - The Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac, the spiritual leader of the Catholic Copts, the largest Egyptian Catholic community, began his first pastoral visit to Kuwait, which will end on November 20. Upon arriving at the airport, the patriarch said he was very happy to visit the country for the first time: "Thousands of different nationalities and faiths live in this state, known for its religious tolerance. The Egyptian community is very well received in Kuwait. For many of them, it is a second home country. " The patriarch was welcomed by Msgr. Camillo Balin, apostolic vicar of Northern Arabia, Fr. Angelus Massoud, curate of the Coptic Catholic Church in Kuwait, the priest of the Maronite Church, the Protestant Church and some Coptic Catholic parishioners. In his welcome speech, Fr. Massoud, who joined the vicariate in 2006, said that "this visit is of particular importance because Kuwait is the gulf country that welcomes most Egyptians, including the Coptic Catholics who take full advantage of the atmosphere of religious and cultural tolerance ". In addition to his meetings with the authorities and with religious leaders - to deepen dialogue between faiths - yesterday patriarch Isaac chaired a High Mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Family, where he gathered a large number of faithful. Today he baptized and confirmed many children belonging to the Kuwaiti parish. Fr. Rafic Greiche, spokesman for the Catholic Church in Egypt, spoke to AsiaNews about the importance of the visit: "The new generations of Egyptians abroad know little about their mother Church. For this reason, His Beatitude considered it a must to help the parishioners of the diaspora. It was in this context that the patriarch made two tours in the USA, one in Australia, and several in Europe. Now he heads to the east, towards the Gulf countries that welcome millions of Egyptians of all religions". Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac asked for a special audience with the Emir of Kuwait to thank him for his reception, and congratulate him for the tributemade him by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-mon, who called the emir a "leader of humanitarian action". The Catholic Church in Kuwait has about 200 thousand faithful mostly migrants, the majority from Asia, but also from Arab countries such as Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan and Palestine. This community is part of the Episcopal Vicariate of Northern Arabia, which also includes the Church of Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi. The current cathedral of Kuwait-City was built on land provided by the Kuwaiti government in 1957. In developing countries, children have no access to school because they are forced to work or are in war zones. In 2015, United Nations member states approved the goal of providing free and accessible primary and secondary school to all children by 2030. Geneva (AsiaNews/Agencies) - About a third of children in developing nations miss school because they must work, and the same number say their schools are unsafe, this according to research released on Monday. The highest rate of absenteeism among the 41 nations surveyed was in Afghanistan, where nine out of 10 children are unable to go to school, said the ChildFund Alliance, a global network that promotes childrens rights. The ChildFund Alliance survey questioned about 6,200 children ages 10 to 12. It found that nearly a third of the children said their schools were not always safe. Danger was reported most in Burkina Faso, where one in five children said school was never safe. Overall, some 59 million children do not attend primary school, according to UNICEF, the United Nations childrens agency. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), about 168 million children and teenagers are forced to work, 85 million of them in highly dangerous jobs. In its 2015 report, the ILO found that in poor countries, 20-30 per cent of children under 15 leave school to start working. In 2015, United Nations member states approved the goal of providing free and accessible primary and secondary school to all children by 2030. All these data were made public for Universal Childrens Day, which is celebrated on 20 November. The day, sponsored by the United Nations, is designed to promote children's rights. On 16 November, Pope Francis stressed its importance at his weekly general audience. The pontiff made an appeal to everyones conscience, institutions and families, that children always be protected and their wellbeing safeguarded, so that they never fall prey to forms of slavery, recruitment for armed groups, and mistreatment. I hope that the international community will watch over their lives, guaranteeing every boy and every girl the right to schooling and education, so that they may grow in serenity and look with trust to the future. Ten Classic Watches And What They Say About You 10 Classic Watches And What They Say About You Many men buy expensive watches without really understanding why theyve chosen a particular model or realizing what message their wrist candy sends to those around them. As the only piece of jewelry many men wear, and often the only item on their person that really says anything about the person in question, the importance of a proper watch cant be understated. But what are these talkative timepieces communicating exactly? RELATED: AskMen Watch Store [Up To 89% Off] Image courtesy of Bobs Watches We asked experts, including Paul Altieri, founder of top online luxury watch boutique and Rolex exchange Bobs Watches; Eric Wind, Vice President and Senior Specialist of Watches at famed auction house Christie's; New York-based designer Duncan Quinn, creator of the Savile Row-meets rocknroll look; and James Lamdin, founder of essential vintage watch emporium Analog / Shift, to weigh in on 10 of the worlds most important timepieces and what they say about you: 1. Rolex Submariner Image courtesy of Bobs Watches Image courtesy of Bobs Watches Originally designed for divers and worn by everyone from James Bond to Steve McQueen, the Submariner is the most coveted watch in the world, and therefore also the most frequently knocked-off. A Submariner means youre a man who appreciates extremely fine watchmaking and also wants to convey a rugged masculinity, Paul Altieri says. These days it doesnt really indicate youre into diving but its more the sportiness in general that matters. Its a statement watch and some will misinterpret the message but Submariner wearers are nothing if not confident or hoping to look confident, at least. Theres a reason so many Wall Streeters wear them. 2. Rolex Daytona Image courtesy of Bob's Watches Image courtesy of Bob's Watches Among the most expensive and hardest to come by of Rolex models, the Daytona was originally designed for motorsports. A more complex watch than the Submariner, its also a lot rarer. Paul Newman helped make the Daytona famous and few men ever had more natural, easy elegance than he did, Paul Altieri says. Its really a tool watch for calculating speed and to be sure many race car drivers the ones with style wear it. But it also says you have plenty of money, and are a cut above the Submariner crowd. It says I like fast cars and beautiful women find me attractive. Its actually a hell of a watch. 3. Panerai Luminor Image courtesy of Panerai Image courtesy of Panerai The Luminor, originally supplied to the Italian Navys elite underwater commandos, has an impressive history but is viewed by many as a fashion watch. Until 1997, Panerais were not sold to the public. You may have bought a Luminor just because you like the look of it, Altieri notes. Its certainly a lot different than any other watch out there. But more often than not the Panerai guy appreciates the brands history as well as the way it sets him apart from the crowd. Wearing a Luminor with a suit says you have class and taste but also a bid of a badass streak: You should think twice before messing with me. 4. Patek Philippe Nautilus Image courtesy of Patek Philippe Image courtesy of Patek Philippe Pateks are known for being the worlds most exclusive and expensive watch brand. The Nautilus, designed in the 1970s, is more sporty and avant-garde and less stuffy. If youre wearing a Nautilus, you are classic in your approach to design, but are forward-thinking and with a bit of a hidden edge. If you have a vintage one on your wrist, you appreciate the simplicity and importance of watches like this. Early vintage models can also be a litmus test for how trusting someone is of whats around them because they don't have a seconds hand to indicate that it is running. 5. Omega Speedmaster Image courtesy of Omega Image courtesy of Omega The Speedmaster was the first watch on the moon, chosen because it withstood rigorous testing. Lately vintage models have been commanding astronomical prices at auction. If youre wearing a Speedmaster, you probably dreamed of being an astronaut as a kid, Wind says. You want a watch as solid and reliable as you are. If youre wearing a vintage Speedmaster, you may have inherited it or maybe just want people to think you did. And if your watch has a caliber 321, one of the finest chronograph movements ever made and the one that accompanied the astronauts to the moon, you are truly a watch geek with an appreciation for detail. 6. Breitling Chronomat Breitling was founded in Switzerland in 1884 but has always been on the cutting edge of fine watchmaking. The Chronomat pilots watch was introduced in 1941. Many consider vintage models to be cooler. The vintage Breitling wearer is usually found sporting a dark, finely cut, bespoke three piece suit, Duncan Quinn says. Rather elegant and rakish, but understated. His drink of choice is a Sazerac, his car a green 1970s Porsche 911. It may not have belonged to his father in Vietnam and been delivered by Christopher Walken a la Pulp Fiction but for sure there are a few stories hidden in that Valjoux movement. Perhaps even a little adventure. And intrigue. 7. TAG Heuer Carrera Image courtesy of TAG Heuer Image courtesy of TAG Heuer Not as precious as a Rolex Daytona, the Heuer Carrera, originally launched in 1963, is nonetheless important in the auto racing world. Heuer, founded in 1860, became TAG Heuer in 1985. The Calibre 17 Carrera is a trumpet blast from the wrist, shouting your love for the golden era of motorsport and Heuers Pre-TAG brilliance with red accents that evoke the iconic race cars of the 1960s, James Lamdin says. Subtle it isnt, but youll get points for wearing anything without the TAG logo from anyone who really knows. And bonus points for sporting a vintage version, which have become cult-like collectibles. 8. IWC Portugieser Image courtesy of IWC Image courtesy of IWC IWC is a rarity among Swiss brands, having been founded by an American watchmaker in Schaffhausen, Switzerland in 1868. The classic Portugieser models date back to the 1930s. Watches such as the Portugieser 8-Days Edition 75th Anniversary in steel subtly convey your interest in fine watchmaking and heritage design, without opting for a more common, more femininely proportioned timepiece from one of the more traditional manufacturers, Lamdin notes. It is hard to do anything sized at 43mm subtly, but this watch manages to do just that. The Portugieser is sporty, elegant and understated all at the same time. 9. Hublot Big Bang Image courtesy of Hublot Image courtesy of Hublot One of the great success stories of modern watchmaking, Hublot was founded in 1980 and still expresses an 80s-ish brashness though the designs are unmistakably ultra-modern and expensive. Hublots are most often seen on the wrists of gents in slightly shiny suits with white t-shirts they boldly proclaim are from a well-known Italian brand found at Bergdorfs, Quinn says. The sleeves of the jacket are rolled up revealing a forest of masculinity. And it goes well with his three day stubble, vodka Redbull and neon green Lamborghini. The Hublot wearer almost never checks the time a good thing because the design makes it nearly impossible to do so. 10. Cartier Tank Image courtesy of Cartier Image courtesy of Cartier French jeweler Cartier made one of the first mens wristwatches and the slim Tank, named after the machines introduced in World War II, has since shed its military associations and is an iconic luxury item. There are few dress watches more old-school and traditional than a Cartier Tank, Altieri says. It fairly reeks of class. It says that youre an adult whos used to being civilized and well turned out most of the time, not constantly jetting off to dive in shark-infested waters. It speaks of money but in hushed tones. Nowadays its not the most masculine watch in the world, but Cary Grant wore one. Thats all you really need to know. Related Links: Best Watches Under $500 Best Watches Under $300 Best Watches Under $150 Hi everyone, With my partner will are going to apply for the partner visa 820 in late January 2017, just before my current visa runs out. His main job is in the oilfield and he is currently in NZ for 5 weeks straight, he will be back for 3 weeks an gone again for 5 weeks, also he won't be here when I will need to lodge the application online. So far this year, it's the first time he has to go away for a such long period and overseas. Until now he was truck driving locally and interstates in Australia. For any period of separation we are able to provide work contracts and how we are keeping in permanent contact with emails, messenger chats and calls while he is away. We would like to know if the fact that he is away for work in NZ for so long will impact on the 12 months requirement. Thanks a lot for your help Maud All-new Hyundai Celesta sedan slots between the Verna and Elantra; will come with a 1.6-litre petrol engine. Hyundai has unveiled an all-new sedan called Celesta at the ongoing 2016 Guangzhou Auto Show in China. A first set of spy shots of this new sedan had surfaced a few days ago. This new sedan is positioned above the Verna and below the Elantra in Hyundais line-up. The Hyundai Celesta sedan gets styling based on Hyundais popular Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design language. The design platform is also shared the all-new India-bound Verna sedan and the already available in India Elantra. The incoming sedan is 4,510mm long, 1,756mm high and 1,470 mm. It gets a 2,650mm wheelbase which makes it 50mm longer than the new 2017 Verna and 25mm shorter than the current-gen Elantra. Dieselgate cost-cutting continues; cuts will help fund electric vehicle push Volkswagen is reported to be cutting 30,000 jobs in the next three years after striking a deal with its labour unions. The cuts are the result of the growing cost of the Dieselgate emissions scandal, but they're also aimed at increasing VWs focus on autonomous and electric cars, according to a report from Reuters. Some 23,000 of these job losses which will come before 2020 - will be in VWs native Germany. It hasnt been made clear if these are widespread or concentrated within VWs HQ at Wolfsburg. VW boss Matthias Mueller described the job cuts as "the biggest modernisation programme in the history of the group's core brand." The spread of the other 7000 redundancies has also not yet been confirmed, but they are expected to be in North and South America, given VWs now diminished presence in North America and the recession currently happening in South America. The BBC reports that Volkswagen has said none of the redundancies will be compulsory. The cuts make up around 5% of VWs 610,000-strong employee base (nearer one fifth in Germany, where 120,000 work for VW), but Reuters also reports that 9000 new jobs are to be created around the brands renewed electric vehicle push. The aim of the move is to raise VW's operating profit from 2% to 4%. The job losses are expected to trim 3.7 billion (around 3.1bn) from VWs yearly outgoings. Earlier this year, VW put aside 13.6bn to cover the cost of the emissions scandal. Some 9.62bn of that will go on compensation for US owners alone. Volkswagen has been negotiating the deal with its unions since June and will announce the cuts today at a press conference. No job losses elsewhere in the Volkswagen Group have been announced. Graph courtesy of Modern Tire Dealer. Editors Note: This article is part of a five-part package dealing with operating costs in 2016. Read related articles that offer and in depth look at Fuel Spend, Fleet Maintenance, and Preventative Maintenance, as well as an overview of operating costs in 2016. Replacement tire pricing for calendar-year 2016 has been flat compared to 2015. A key reason is less volatility in the price of commodities used to manufacture tires, namely oil, rubber, and steel. These lower materials prices have contributed to keeping replacement tire costs flat. With commodity prices remaining low particularly oil material costs have not shown much fluctuation. In addition, increased imports of low-cost replacement tires from abroad has helped keep average prices down. At A Glance Tire costs are flat for 2016. The cost of commodities used to manufacture tires continues to be the driving force behind the price of replacement tires. Extended replacement cycles and the overall increase in average vehicle life has driven the demand for replacement tires and impacted over tire spend The forecast is for replacement tire prices to gradually trend upward in 2017. The cost of commodities used to manufacture tires continues to be the driving force behind the price of replacement tires. Extended replacement cycles and the overall increase in average vehicle life have driven the demand for replacement tires and impacted tire spend, said Romy Bria, director, fleet management for ARI. Others, likewise, share the same assessment, forecasting flat pricing of replacement tires continuing so long as crude oil prices remain stable. We expect only moderate tire cost increases unless crude oil prices significantly rise, said Chad Christensen, strategic consultant for Element Fleet Management. In addition to oil, the other key commodity needed to manufacture tires is rubber, which has also experienced less pricing volatility in the past 12 months. Tire costs are down compared to 2015 thanks to decreased rubber costs driven by high dealer inventories and a relatively mild winter, said Bill Croke, manager of TotalView Analytics for Merchants Fleet Management. Replacement tire prices should be expected to trend back towards previous years as dealers finish offloading their excess inventories. The wildcard continues to be the price of the key commodities used to manufacture tires, but the near-term outlook is that pricing will remain stable. Influence of Fleet Application on Replacement Tire Costs The types of vehicles in a fleet has a direct bearing on overall tire costs, especially in the oil patch. Also, the overall fleet expense for replacement tires will vary by the type of fleet application and region of the country. Total tire expenses for truck fleets has increased slightly for many companies this year, said Bria of ARI. Fleet policy is an important component to manage replacement tire costs. Companies are taking a closer look at policies regarding job function/terrain and making data-driven decisions when formulating fleet policy. Another consideration is that the size and rating of the tire will determine the tires cost. A specific manufactured tire could be of the same size, but with a different rating, the cost can vary dramatically. Fleets should consider OE tire sizes when making selector decisions. Tire size can have a significant impact on tire costs, especially when snow tires are required during the winter months. Certain tire sizes impact tire availability and limit alternate brand options, added Simek. Graph courtesy of Element. There have been minimal increases in pricing structures from most suppliers. The main fleet issue is the lack of product availability for new tire size and load requirements of latest model service vehicles. Another issue that needs clarification at the tire store level is how to determine the load index indicator. Changes in replacement tire sizes have been confusing to tire stores and fleets. The load index tire indicator refers to the load carrying capacity for a tire or how much weight it can support. The load index numerical code can be referenced on an industry chart to see the maximum load. Its important to not replace a tire with a load index lower than the original tire provided by the vehicle manufacturer, said Bill Jones, director of managed maintenance for Element Fleet Management. Introduction of New Tire Sizes One factor influencing replacement tire expenses is the OEM trend to offer new models with a much broader variety of tire sizes. A recurring issue from past model-years is the lag time in the availability of tires in the aftermarket, which were specially designed for a specific model. As auto manufacturers develop unique tire sizes for new-model vehicles, it impacts the replacement tire supplies for one to two years, as aftermarket tire companies may not be able to immediately meet the demand for these tire sizes. This lag time limits selection and availability of replacement tires. The engineers from the OEM look for the perfect tire to match the vehicle, keeping in mind tire size, load range, and, speed rating. When that occurs, there are no tires in the aftermarket world and the customer is forced to pay the higher price of the OEM tire, said Tony Blezien, vice president, Operations for LeasePlan USA. Its a good idea to check with your fleet management company when ordering a vehicle to verify that replacement tires are available. Graphs courtesy of Element. The other recurring issue is the ongoing trend of larger size tires being speced for new models. This continued trend toward larger diameter, lower profile tires has impacted tire costs. Increased use of larger-sized wheels and tires has driven up the cost of fleet replacement tires and has, in some instances, created limited availability in parts of the county, said Bria of ARI. Additionally, the influx of new vehicle models such as European-style vans has increased prices on new tire models due to reduced competitive options for specific tread patterns and sizes. Prices for identical size and models, however, have not increased significantly this year. Market Dynamics The numerous variables impacting tire replacement patterns, a dizzying array of fleet applications, and regional pricing dynamics makes it difficult to make broad sweep generalizations about the market. Seasonality is also a factor in replacement tire pricing, especially with snow tires, which result in product shortages with severe weather changes. Graph courtesy of Modern Tire Dealer. Another factor putting downward pressure on total fleet tire expenditures is the ongoing improvement in tire quality, which has resulted in longer wear life during the past decade. Tire life has been extended by 10% in the past 10 years. This has helped offset some of the recent price increases since the expense is spread out for a longer period. Interest in run-flat tires has been lower than expected, considering many OEMs dont provide spare tires. Tire durability and reliability has improved due to stronger tire construction in recent years. There are now fewer flat tires, punctures, and sidewall damages, said Jones of Element Fleet Management. Forecast for 2017 Tire Prices Replacement tire prices are anticipated to remain stable into the 2017 calendar-year. This forecast is based on the anticipation that commodity prices and vehicle replacement policies will remain stable in 2017. Others foresee tire prices trending upward. We expect tire prices to gradually trend up from 2015 and become a more significant portion of fleet spend. As that happens we expect fleet managers to begin strategically targeting cycle policies that replace vehicles before tire replacement intervals. Additionally, with the EIA projecting a 20% increase in the price of crude oil, synthetic tires will become more expensive, impacting primarily passenger vehicles, said Croke of Merchants Fleet Management. The key to future tire prices is the price of oil. If oil prices continue at the current levels, expect to see flat tire prices. Graph courtesy of Modern Tire Dealer. Another factor is the importation of low-cost tires from Asia. The U.S. Department of Commerce continues to investigate tire imports from China, Sri Lanka, and India, having already put in place temporary tariffs. Long-term tariffs could reduce the amount of imported tires, driving prices up, said Croke. Low-cost house brand tires offered by major tire OEMs, along with bargain-priced import tires, are helping to exert downward pressure on replacement tire costs in the aftermarket. These alternative tire brand options have covered gaps in tire sizes not readily available with more recognized tire brands, said Jones of Element Fleet Management. Barring any unforeseen changes to commodity and oil prices, tire prices are expected to remain flat or increase just slightly in 2017. All indications are that tire prices should remain stable in 2017, as raw material costs are staying flat, said Blezien of LeasePlan USA. Photo of GMC Acadia courtesy of General Motors. General Motors is recalling 1,844 2017-model year Cadillac XT5 and GMC Acadia vehicles because of potential problems with brake performance, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Cadillac XT5 SUVs involved were manufactured from April 16 to May 9 of this year. The GMC Acadia SUVs were manufactured from April 19 to April 22 of this year. The front brake calipers in these vehicles may have a torn or misaligned caliper piston seal, which may allow brake fluid to leak. If there is a brake fluid leak, braking performance may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash, NHTSA said on its website. Dealers will inspect the front brake calipers, replacing the brake caliper assemblies as necessary. There will be no charge for this service. Vehicle owners can reach GM customer service at (800) 458-8006 (Cadillac), or (800) 462-8782 (GMC). GMs number for this recall is 16096. The Highlander series has proven its immortality again, when IDW publishing announced the release of a new Highlander Comic Book Miniseries. The upcoming series is going to feature none other than the original main protagonist, Connor Macleod. This new Highlander Comic Book Miniseries is written by Brian Ruckley, a Scottish fantasy writer. Which is also quite fitting, considering that the lore of the series as the Macleods happens to be Scottish. The illustrations are done by Italian illustrator Andrea Mutti. Whose well known works in the USA include several 'Iron Man' series for Marvel, as well as 'DMZ' and 'The Executor' (together with Jon Evans) for DC/Vertigo, and 'Rebels' and 'G.I. Joe Origins' for IDW. The upcoming Highlander Comic Book Miniseries would serve as a prequel before the 1986 film, according to IGN. The events would take place during Medieval-Era Scotland, then Civil War-era Pennsylvania, to mid-20th century Manhattan, New York, leading up to 1985 or when the main event of the first film took place. It would fill up the time gap that occurred before the first movie, mainly focusing on how Connor Macleod tries to cover up his existence as an Immortal while trying to settle down and adapt to his new life and homeland in the United States. Aside from Connor Macleod, other fan favorite characters are expected to show up in the story. New, interesting characters are also to be introduced into the Highlander universe, such as the Immortal Osta Vazilek, IDW has posted on its official website. 30 years had passed since the first Highlander movie was released. It has spawned sequels, a TV series, a cartoon series, and even an Anime movie, and amassed a cult following. This new Highlander Comic Book Miniseries is expected to gather up old fans and new fans alike into the world of Highlander. After all, "There can be only one!" A Piper PA-31 on an air ambulance flight crashed and burned in a parking lot Friday night in Nevada, killing all four people on board. The aircraft had departed Elko Regional Airport with three crew members and a patient, bound for the University of Utah Medical Center, the Elko Daily Free Press reported. Firefighters responded about 7:30 p.m. and contained the fire, which did not affect adjacent businesses. No injuries on the ground were reported. Witnesses told news outlets they heard explosions that shook nearby buildings and saw flames and smoke in the parking lot, which is used by a mining operation to transport workers. The fire damaged vehicles in the lot but no one is believed to have been on the ground at the time of the crash as it occurred between shifts, according to the Free Press report.The aircraft operator, American Medflight, issued a statement that its cooperating with the FAA and NTSB in investigating the crash. The Nevada-based company operates Piper Cheyennes with a primary base in Reno, according to its website. 19 November 2016 13:00 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Over the past 24 hours, Armenias armed forces have 22 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, Azerbaijans Defense Ministry reported on November 19. Armenian army was using large-caliber machine guns. The Azerbaijani army positions located in the Gizilhajili and Gaymagli villages and on nameless heights of Azerbaijans Gazakh district underwent fire from the Armenian army positions located in the Berkaber village of the Ijevan district, Voskepar and Barekamavan villages of Armenias Noyemberyan. Meanwhile, the Azerbaijani army positions located in Kokhanabi village of the countrys Tovuz district and on nameless heights of the Gadabay district underwent fire from the Armenian army positions located on the nameless heights of Berd and Krasnoselsk districts. Moreover, the Azerbaijani army positions also underwent fire from the Armenian positions located near the Armenian-occupied Chilaburt village of the Tartar district, Javakhirli and Bash Qarvand villages of the Aghdam district, Ashagi Seyidahmadli village of the Fuzuli district, as well as on nameless heights of the Goranboy, Tartar and Khojavand 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. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 November 2016 10:35 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Norwegian energy companies are interested in entering the Azerbaijani market, Norwegian ambassador to Azerbaijan Bard Ivar Svendsen told Trend in Baku on November 18. "Norwegian energy companies have a great interest in Azerbaijan, he added. Norwegian companies, which have not started to work in Azerbaijan yet, but considering such an opportunity, appeal to us almost every three months." He said that Norway has great experience in the field of oil production. Having modern technologies in the oil production, Norwegian companies are ready to offer them to Azerbaijan, the ambassador said. The ambassador also said that the visit of one of Norwegian ministers or deputy ministers to Baku to attend one of the energy exhibitions or conferences in 2017 is being considered. He said that Norwegian companies always show interest to participate in energy exhibitions and conferences in Baku. Svendsen said that Norwegian oil and oil service companies have been already operating in Azerbaijan. Thus, the largest Norwegian Statoil oil company operates on Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli field in the Caspian Sea. Moreover, there are 6-7 Norwegian companies that supply niche products and render expertise services for the major oil companies, and especially BP. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 November 2016 11:17 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Irans Minister of Communications and Information Technology Mahmoud Vaezi will visit Azerbaijan, Shahin Mustafayev, Azerbaijani minister of economy, said. Mustafayev made remarks at the meeting with Iranian ambassador to Azerbaijan Javad Jahangirzadeh. The issues of mutual interest will be discussed during the visit, the minister said. Mustafayev and Jahangirzadeh also discussed the issues to be considered as part of the eleventh session of the intergovernmental commission on economic, trade and humanitarian cooperation, scheduled for late 2016. Mustafayev added that the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Iran increased by 58 percent within 10 months 2016. The minister also stressed the high level of the Azerbaijan-Iran relations and spoke about the ongoing projects of the two countries. He added that the bridge over the Astara river, which is one of the most important parts of the North-South international transport corridor, will be constructed till late 2016. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 November 2016 17:43 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Shareholders of Bashak Inam Insurance OJSC will discuss increasing of the companys authorized capital on Dec. 22, the company said in a message on November 19. Currently, the authorized capital of Bashak Inam is seven million Azerbaijani manats (1.7091 AZN/USD on Nov. 19). Moreover, during the meeting, the shareholders will discuss changing the name of the insurance company and the results of the companys activities in the first nine months of 2016. The first half of 2016 Bashak Inam completed with a profit of 294,360 manats. The companys assets decreased by 7.2 percent to 8.5 million manats, liabilities by 32.2 percent to 753,140 manats during the year. Bashak Inam Insurance OJSC was formed in 1994. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 November 2016 10:00 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Holding of the 5th News Agencies World Congress and the 16th General Assembly of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) in Baku is one of the most important events for the world media, Mohannad Sulaiman Al Noaimi, vice president of the Federation of Arab News Agencies (FANA), told Trend on November 18. Al Noaimi, who is also acting director-general of Bahrain News Agency (BNA), noted that a meeting of representatives of more than 100 global news agencies, who shared their experience and discussed current global challenges, was held within the framework of the event. Azerbaijan organized the event at a high level, he said, adding that he thinks its goals were achieved. He expressed belief that Azerbaijan will successfully chair the OANA in the future. The guest also said that he liked the capital of Azerbaijan, and he also noted that Baku is changing and developing every year, having become a beautiful and modern city. Azerbaijan hosted the 5th News Agencies World Congress, the 16th General Assembly of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) and the 22nd Session of the Council of CIS Heads of News Agencies. Azerbaijan was represented in the events by Trend and AzerTAc news agencies. Co-organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Azerbaijans state news agency AzerTAc, these events brought together heads and officials of about 100 news agencies, international media experts, and officials from UNESCO and regional media organizations. Speakers in the sessions included presidents of the News Agencies World Congress, OANA, EANA, FANA, managers of Associated Press, Reuters, Xinhua, Anadolu Agency, TASS, Agence France-Press, Press Association, EFE, Yonhap, Kyodo News, TT, SPA, BTA, AAP, IRNA, DPA, Notimex, ATPE and other leading news agencies, Los Angeles Times newspaper, Al Arabiya TV channel, and experts from Tripod Advisors, News Corp, PwC, Axel Springer and Stibo Accelerator media companies. Initiated by the Russian news agency TASS, the 1st News Agencies World Congress was held in Moscow on Sept. 24-25, 2004. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 November 2016 12:42 (UTC+04:00) By Trend The 5th News Agencies World Congress and the 16th General Assembly of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies in Baku will strengthen cooperation between the world news agencies, Jung Tae-sung, chief of the media technology department in the Korean news agency Yonhap, told Trend. Challenges facing the news agencies were discussed, important decisions were taken and the areas of the future cooperation were identified during these events, he said. In this regard, these events hold big significance and Azerbaijan organized them at a high level, Jung Tae-sung said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 November 2016 14:45 (UTC+04:00) Co-organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and AZERTAC, plenary sessions of the 16th General Assembly of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) have been held in Baku. The General Assembly was preceded by the 40th meeting of the OANA Executive Board. Addressing the event, OANA president, Director General of TASS news agency Sergey Mikhaylov on behalf of the participants thanked President Ilham Aliyev, president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva and AZERTAC Director General Aslan Aslanov for the excellent organization of the events which Baku hosted during three days. Sergey Mikhaylov highlighted the history of the establishment of OANA which includes 44 news agencies from 35 countries. The participants then approved the agenda of the 16th General Assembly and heard a financial report of the organization. The 16th General Assembly then continued with plenary sessions. The event moderator, OANA Secretary General, First Deputy Director General of Russia's Tass news agency Mikhail Gusman noted that more than 80 heads and representataives of 40 news agencies attended the meeting of the supreme body of the organization. The OANA 16th Assembly's agenda then was put to a vote and approved. Addressing the event, OANA president, Director General of TASS news agency Sergey Mikhaylov hailed the development of information technologies in recent years. He also pointed to the establishment of the committee of ethics of OANA, saying this was important amid growing cases of journalists facing violence in some countries. Hailing OANA's active cooperation with a number of regional and international organizations, Sergey Mikhaylov noted that a special award was instituted to recognize the efforts of those who contribute to the development of journalism. The event then featured a ceremony to award winners of "OANA Excellence Award"-employee of Korean Yonhap agency Tae Sung Chung and a representative of Russia's TASS agency Andrey Lebedev. The events heard and approved reports of financial, technical and ethics committees of OANA. AZERTAC' s Director General Aslan Aslanov was elected as a new president of OANA. Heads of Russia's TASS, China's Xinhua, Korea's Yonhap and Turkey's Anadolu agencies were elected as OANA vice-presidents. Heads of Iran's IRNA, Bahrain's BNA, Vietnam's VNA, Lebanon's NNA, Australia's AAP, Japan's Kyodo, India's PTI, Malaysia's Bernama agencies were elected as members of OANA Executive Board. Speaking at the event, newly elected OANA president Aslan Aslanov thanked for support and confidence put in him and the agency. He hailed fruitful discussions featured at five sessions of the News Agencies World Congress which ended in Baku yesterday. The General Assembly featured the 41st Executive Board meeting following the new president's speech. AZERTAC Special Correspondent in Germany Vugar Seyidov was elected as OANA Secretary General. Azerbaijan's AZERTAC, Russia's TASS, Iran's Mehr, Mongolia's Montsame, Indonesia's Antara, Kazakhstan's Kazinform, Kuwaiti KUNA were elected as members of the organization's technical committee. As a result of voting AZERTAC, Vietnamese WAM, Japan's Kyodo, Australian AAP agencies were elected as OANA ethics committee members. Yonhap agency of the Republic of Korea put forward its bid to host the 17th OANA General Assembly, which was approved by voting. Yonhap agency will chair OANA in 2019-2022. Bahrain was elected as host of the 42nd Executive Board meeting that will take place in March, 2017. In his remarks, president of Yonhap agency Park No-Hwang hailed TASS's successful presidency of the organization. He expressed his confidence that AZERTAC will excellently chair the organization in 2016-2019. In his closing remarks, Mikhail Gusman, on behalf of the participants, expressed his gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation for excellent organization of both the 5th News Agencies Word Congress and the 16th General Assembly of OANA. He wished AZERTAC success in its activities both in News Agencies World Congress and OANA presidency. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 November 2016 14:57 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijani Defense Industry Minister Yavar Jamalov will take part in the 9th IDEAS- The International Defence Exhibition and Seminar to be held in Karachi, Pakistan on November 22-25, Azertac reprted. The Azerbaijani Minister will also hold bilateral meetings with Pakistani state officials, as well as heads of delegations of participant countries. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 November 2016 15:25 (UTC+04:00) European Partners against Corruption (EPAC) and European contact-point network against corruption (EACN) have organised the 16th Annual Professional Conference and session of the General Assembly in Riga, Latvia. An Azerbaijani delegation headed by Deputy Prosecutor-General, Chief of Anti-Corruption Department under the Prosecutor-General Kamran Aliyev participated at the event. Director-General of the European Anti Fraud Office (OLAF) Giovanni Kessler and Prosecutor General of Latvia Eric Kalnmeyer made addresses at the session of the General Assembly. They provided an insight into what has been done to develop the organization, and its achievements in combating corruption. Kamran Aliyev highlighted judicial and legal reforms conducted in Azerbaijan under President Ilham Aliyev. Member states of the organization exchanged views on positive experience in combating corruption, including methods of corruption investigation. On the sidelines of the event Prosecutor General of Latvia, Chief of the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) of Latvia, as well as Director-General of OLAF and representatives of several international organisations discussed mutual cooperation prospects at the bilateral meetings. Then members voted to admit Georgia to the organisation and select the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI) as a monitor over activity of EPAC. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 November 2016 18:55 (UTC+04:00) Minister for Emergency Situations of Azerbaijan Kamaladdin Heydarov has met with chairman of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry Majid Saif Al Ghurair, Azertac reported. Minister Heydarov highlighted what has been done in Azerbaijan to prevent emergency situations and eliminate their consequences. He said the ministry maintains fruitful cooperation with emergency authorities of foreign countries. Al Ghurair praised the work of the ministry. He stressed the importance of expanding cooperation between emergency authorities of Azerbaijan and the UAE. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 November 2016 12:00 (UTC+04:00) By Trend An Uzbek delegation participated in a session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers in Mecca, Uzbekistans Foreign Ministry said on November 18. The meeting was held under the Uzbek chairmanship Nov. 17. The session appointed Yusuf bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen as the new OIC secretary general. Al-Othaimeen has previously served as OIC director general of cabinet and senior advisor to the OIC secretary general. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation, or OIC, was established in September 1969 to ensure Islamic solidarity in social, economic and political spheres. The organization has 57 member-states. Uzbekistan became an OIC member in 1996. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 November 2016 12:23 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Russia's task is to neutralize any threats to the national security, including information warfare, Sputnik quoted Russias President Vladimir Putin as saying. Our task is to effectively neutralize any military threats to Russia's security, including those connected with creation of strategic missile defense, implementation of the global strike concept, the waging of information wars," Putin said during a series of meetings with defense industry officials. Russia fulfils all its international obligations when designing and creating advanced weapons systems, according to Putin. The Russian leader pointed out that some countries did not meet their obligations, for example, in the sector of missile defense, in order to gain unilateral advantage. In this relation, I shall note that we will continue doing everything in our power to ensure the strategic balance of forces. We consider the attempts to change it or break it extremely dangerous, the president noted. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 November 2016 15:39 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US State Secretary John Kerry discussed in a phone call on Friday the Syrian crisis with the focus on the situation around the embattled city of Aleppo, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, Sputnik International reported. "Following recent talks on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Lima, Lavrov and Kerry continued discussion of the Syrian peace process with the focus on the situation around eastern Aleppo," the ministry said in a statement. Over recent months, Aleppo has been a major battleground in Syria, engaging government forces, jihadists, and numerous opposition groups. Militant-held eastern Aleppo is encircled by government forces and the fighting has affected thousands of civilians still trapped in the cit --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 November 2016 18:15 (UTC+04:00) By Trend French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault is scheduled to visit Tehran in the near future to attend the meeting of the joint economic commission, ISNA news agency reported on November 19. Following a meeting with Majid Takht Ravanchi, Irans deputy foreign minister, Ayrault said that he will participate in the upcoming Iran-France joint economic commission which is scheduled to be held in Tehran in January 2017. He referred to his meeting with top Iranian diplomat as an important and necessary meeting. Ayrault further expressed hope that all sanctions against Tehran to be removed, adding that boosting mutual ties with Tehran, in particular in economic field has big importance for Paris. Takht Ravanchi left Tehran for Paris Nov. 17 to take part in regular political negotiations between Iranian and French foreign ministry officials. The second round of Tehran-Paris regular political talks was held on Nov. 18 in line with a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that the two countries signed during Iranian President Hassan Rouhanis visit to Paris back in January 2016. The first round of these talks was held in Tehran in May. The two sides also agreed to hold the next round of regular political negotiations in Tehran next year. Takht Ravanchi also discussed the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA, aka the nuclear deal) with senior French officials during his visit to Paris. The P5+1 (China, France, Russia, the UK, the US as well as Germany) reached a historic deal with Iran last year to curb the Islamic Republics nuclear program in return for lifting the nuclear related sanctions. The deal came into force in January. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 November 2016 19:24 (UTC+04:00) By Trend The next meeting of the Turkmenistan-Latvia intergovernmental commission on economic, industrial, scientific and technical cooperation will be held on November 21-22 in Riga, the Turkmen government said in a message on November 19. During the meeting, it is planned to discuss the opportunities of expanding the cooperation in transportation and communication sector, in the spheres of agriculture, construction, healthcare, as well as through the commerce and industry chambers and business structures of the two countries. The sides will speak about the cooperation on the overland transit and logistics of common routes in order to develop effective and mutually beneficial solutions for cargo transshipment. The volume of bilateral trade between Turkmenistan and Latvia has been growing over the recent years. Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedovs official visit to Latvia in September 2012 and the visit of former Latvian President Andris Berzins to Turkmenistan in May 2013 gave an impetus to bilateral relations between the two countries. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 91-year-old gay veteran Ed Spires of Norwalk, CT has filed suit to get his undesirable discharge status upgraded, and after spending three weeks in the hospital battling pneumonia, one of his last wishes is to be granted permission for a full military burial. Out of shame, Spires kept quiet for 70 long years about why he was discharged from the Air Force and told of the inquisition he faced before superior officers when he was told to pack bags and go home because he was gay, Spires served in the Air Force from 1946 to 1948, but received an undesirable discharge when he was outed for being gay. After the repeal of Dont Ask, Dont Tell, in 2011, Spires requested a discharge upgrade. The Air Force responded by saying his paperwork stipulating why he was discharged was lost in a fire back in the 70s. Students from the Yale Law School Veterans Services Clinic took on his cause and filed a federal lawsuit against the Air Force Friday morning. They are seeking to get his discharge upgraded to honorable. Originally called Blue discharges armed service members holding a blue discharge were subjected to discrimination in civilian life. They were denied the benefits of the G.I. Bill by the Veterans Administration and had difficulty finding work because employers were aware of the negative connotations of a blue discharge. Following intense criticism in the press and in Congress, the blue discharge was discontinued in 1947, replaced by two new classifications: general and undesirable but both still carried the same stigma Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), is the ranking member of the Veterans Affairs Committee and said 100,000 vets received similar discharges for sexual orientation. Only about 500 of those have filed to have it upgraded. Blumenthal praised Spires for his efforts. He is the voice and face of an effort to seek justice for tens-of-thousands of other vets, Blumenthal said. We hope that in doing so the U.S. Military may send a message to other gay vets that their service is appreciated and recognized under the law, Rosenberg said. Connecticut District Court Judge Victor Bolden has been assigned the case. Bolden once served as Corp. Counsel for the City of New Haven. SOURCE Share this: Tweet More Email Print Bakersfield, CA (93308) Today Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 60F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Cloudy with periods of light rain. Low 46F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. UPDATE: (8:40pm, November 18, 2016) The van with 16 dogs inside stolen in downtown Toronto Friday morning has been located, Toronto police have confirmed. Apparently all of the dogs have been accounted for, are being reunited with their owners. The van had been left running to keep the air conditioning going while the walker went to fetch another dog. The Bulldog loves a happy ending! #Toronto My dog walker's van was stolen w my dog from Fort York Blvd. White Ford Econoline AM34530. Pls ? TO police if you spot them. & RT pic.twitter.com/Ab4F3UpNMW shannon loves tv (@shannonlovestv) November 18, 2016 The following hospital and health system rating and outlook changes and affirmations took place in the last week, starting with the most recent. 1. Moody's affirms Owensboro Health's 'Baa3' rating Moody's Investors Service affirmed the "Baa3" rating on Owensboro (Ky.) Health's $576 million of outstanding rated revenue bonds. 2. Fitch affirms UF Health Jacksonville's 'BBB' rating Fitch Ratings affirmed the "BBB" rating on University of Florida Health Jacksonville's bonds. 3. Fitch revises ThedaCare's outlook to negative Fitch Ratings revised Appleton, Wis.-based ThedaCare's outlook to negative from stable. 4. Fitch affirms Mosaic Life Care's 'A+' rating, removes negative rating watch Fitch Ratings affirmed the "A+" rating and removed the negative rating watch on St. Joseph, Mo.-based Mosaic Life Care's bonds. 5. Moody's assigns 'Baa2' rating to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center's bonds Moody's Investors Service assigned an initial "Baa2" rating to Hutchinson (Kan.) Regional Medical Center's proposed $34.7 million of series 2016 bonds. 6. Fitch upgrades Hunterdon Medical Center's rating to 'A+' Fitch Ratings upgraded the rating on Flemington, N.J.-based Hunterdon Medical Center's $42.7 million of series 2014A bonds to "A+" from "A." 7. Moody's assigns 'A1' rating to Lehigh Valley Health Network's bonds Moody's Investors Service assigned an "A1" rating to Allentown, Pa.-based Lehigh Valley Health Network's proposed $48.6 million of series 2016B bonds. 8. S&P revises SSM Health Care System's outlook to negative S&P Global Ratings revised the outlook to negative from stable and affirmed the "A+" long-term and underlying ratings on St. Louis-based SSM Health Care System. 9. Fitch revises Temple University Health System's outlook to stable Fitch Ratings revised Philadelphia-based Temple University Health System's rating to stable from positive. Irving-based Hospital Corporation of America North Texas has changed its name to Medical City Healthcare. Here are four things to know: 1. The new name applies to all 13 hospitals in the HCA North Texas network as well as seven off-campus hospital emergency departments. 2. The network also includes 11 ambulatory surgery locations, six children's urgent care centers and the CareNow urgent care network. The name change will not affect these facilities. 3. The name change coincides with more than $1.5 billion in healthcare-related capital investments, which HCA North Texas spent or committed in the last three years. 4. In 2015, the network's hospitals saw 114,000 patient admissions and 2.2 million outpatient visits. "Medical City is a trusted name with an immediately recognizable reputation for quality healthcare," said Erol Akdamar, president of Medical City Healthcare, in a statement. "We've always been a family, and now the public and our patients will be able to immediately identify our expansive system of care in their own communities." More articles on leadership: Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh adds actor Joe Manganiello to board US Surgeon General issues call to action in fight against opioid, alcohol abuse Dr. Tom Price rumored to be Trump's pick to lead HHS To continue following the latest news and information for Bedfordshire and surrounding areas, simply enter your full postcode below Australian varsity launches initiative to boost higher education in India IANS, New Delhi | Published : 18th November, 2016 Leveraging India's growing importance as a resource hub, the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney has launched a unique 'Diya' (light) initiative through which it aims to provide degree education at and through UNSW for one lakh Indian students across the next decade. This was revealed by UNSW President and Vice Chancellor Professor Ian Jacobs during a lecture on 'Education, Technology and Transformational Change'. Jacobs said the Diya initiative is symbolic of the illumination that higher education can bring in the lives of people. "We plan to facilitate this with investment in educational technology, including online teaching and learning, through mutually beneficial partnerships across India's higher education system and with India's national and state governments," Jacobs explained. He added that the UNSW Diya initiative will demonstrate the varsity's commitment to building much-needed capacity in India's higher education system, to expanding the skills needed to drive India's development agenda and to power its economy. It will also in a large way contribute to the government's ambitious plans including Make in India, Startup India and Digital India. Jacobs also announced the launch of UNSW's scholarship programmes for Indian students which aim at helping them achieve their potential, and enhance the experience of individuals who might otherwise struggle financially to maintain a place at university. He pointed out that in addition to UNSW Diya, these new India Scholarships too will bring the transformative power of a UNSW education to outstanding Indian students at the undergraduate, postgraduate and research levels. UNSW is also actively partnering with the Indian government on a series of initiatives that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has unveiled in the recent past. One of them is SWAYAM - an Information Technology platform which will host a Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and provide high quality education on various subjects from school level -- class 9-12 to undergraduate and postgraduate students -- covering all disciplines. "Increasingly, the future will depend on non-traditional forms of education, especially on digital delivery, which offers incredible opportunities for providing educational opportunities to millions who would otherwise have no access to the best teachers and resources. Online learning will prove transformational in making India competitive with the world," he said. Meanwhile, UNSW is also actively partnering with the Indian government on its Smart Cities agenda by working on a major symposium for next year. "We will be bringing our expertise on Low Carbon Living, Built Environment, Materials Science and Computer Science and Engineering. Discussions are currently underway between the Ministry of Electronics and IT and the Australian Centre for Cyber Security at UNSW on a series of programmes related to creating greater awareness on cyber security," Jacobs stated. He also touched upon the point of how given the current global political scenario, Australia could well be a good option as an academic destination for Indian students. "While it's perhaps too early to assess the impacts of the Brexit vote in the UK or the Trump vote in America, I believe that the relative stability of Australia in an uncertain world makes it a highly attractive option for Indian students seeking an international education. Many young Indian students will in future see Australia as at least as an attractive option as the USA and UK." To bolster its partnership with India, the university had in July appointed former Indian Consul General, former ambassador and educator Amit Dasgupta as its inaugural India Country Director. The appointment is aimed at helping UNSW work across the highest levels of government and industry to ensure India becomes one of its flagship partnerships. Jacobs was on a three-city tour to India which included visits to Hyderabad, Delhi and Mumbai. He and his team held a series of meetings and talks with government officials and corporate heads during the visit to enhance relations between the two countries. Strengthening education, research and knowledge exchange in India has been on top of the agenda during the Vice Chancellor's entire stay in India. Find it Useful ? Help Others by Sharing Online Comments and Discussions Like many things in her life, Billie Piper embraced her triumph at last Sunday night's Evening Standard Theatre Awards wholeheartedly. "It feels great," laughs the 34-year-old, handling the statuette for the Natasha Richardson Award for Best Actress, which she won for her heart-rending performance as Yerma at the Young Vic, in a production that turned Lorca's barren Spanish villager into a modern London woman desperate for a child. The applause from the starry crowd at the Old Vic was as heartfelt and unanimous as the reviews lauding her performance. For the Times, her "full-blooded" performance marked the former teen pop star's "transition into a major dramatic artist". Piper was nominated for the same award in 2013 for her performance in The Effect, written by her great friend and collaborator Lucy Prebble, so her win this year is all the sweeter. "It feels like it comes at a good time and it's such a fancy night," she says. "It's just nice, after the end of a run, to then go and drink nice cocktails and dress well and meet loads of wonderful people and grab an award. These little moments in life are gone in a flash, and it's exciting that you experience them once in your life." It also provides validation at the end of a difficult year. Piper was divorced in May from Laurence Fox, the scion of the acting dynasty, after nine years of marriage. When they first separated in March they stated that no other party was involved and that they would continue to co-parent their sons Winston (8) and Eugene (4). This subject is off limits but it must have made Yerma - and the physically and emotionally exposing last series of Sky's Penny Dreadful, which she shot as her marriage was breaking up - all the more wracking. "I think you are drawn to certain things in certain points in your life," she concedes. "I've noticed that I have always found myself doing something (professionally) that comes out of something personal. Maybe you are just in a more emotional place where you can be affected by certain stories." This Yerma, adapted by Australian writer-director Simon Stone, was performed inside a glass box, like a fish tank or a lab cage. At the start Piper's unnamed character is a successful journalist engaging in flirty talk with her businessman partner in the new home that they've somewhat guiltily bought in an "edgy" part of London. By the end she is a desperate woman, hollowed out by rounds of IVF and her gnawing baby hunger, savagely turning against her lover and her family, and ultimately herself. When Stone first contacted Piper she read Lorca's original and found it entrancingly poetic, but something she'd rather read than watch. "I find period stuff frustrating," she says. Stone assured her he'd update the play, and on the first day of rehearsals he told the cast about the box, gave Piper four pages of script and asked them to discuss the play's central issue. The story and performances grew organically, which gave the play its energy. The story felt timely. "The conversation about fertility is rife among friends and women generally and in the media," Piper says. "Or maybe it's that I've entered my thirties and that's all I hear. But I know loads of people going through it. I have seen what it's done to people I know, and it's not as full-blown as Yerma, but it's pretty f****** awful. It's terrible for your relationship and friendships. And having had children myself, knowing what it feels like, the thought of not being able to have that is just traumatic. I know it would make me unbelievably depressed, and angry and so jealous." Piper left her working-class parents in Swindon at 12 to stay with grandparents and attend the Sylvia Young Theatre School. She became the youngest pop artist to debut at number one with Because We Want To at 15. After a struggle with anorexia she gave up pop when she met and married 34-year-old presenter Chris Evans at 18. She separated amicably from Evans in 2004, aged 22, then effortlessly charmed the nation as Rose Tyler in the rebooted Doctor Who in 2005. At 25, she starred as happy hooker Belle in TV series Secret Diary of a Call Girl. That was 2007, the year she married Fox, having met him in 2006 on the set of Christopher Hampton's play Treats, her stage debut. I assumed she'd made enough from music to relaunch as an actress (and to not take a penny of Evans' millions when they split). "No. I think I'm still in debt to certain record companies," she says. "I didn't earn much compared to the amount I worked." Lots of things, such as the cost of filming music videos, came out of her earnings, "plus I was a child, so I spent a lot of it". Depressed by the punishing workload and fan abuse over her relationship with Richie Neville from boyband Five, she splurged on limos back to Swindon or to friends' boltholes - although Evans gave her a 110,000 Ferrari after their first date she couldn't drive until she was 19. Evans was pivotal, though: "He is like 'chief encourager'. If there is something you believe in he will champion you. He encouraged me to pursue acting and hooked me up with an agent and showed me loads of arthouse movies, which I studied and studied." Though she loved Doctor Who - "I have not worked with a nicer group of people since" - she quit after a year because the role brought a level of uncomfortable fame similar to her pop days. Now theatre is what she wants to do. It's where the interesting roles are for women, she says, although they tend to be "mad or unhinged or sad. But I like playing those crazies, or women with stuff going on. And TV is good for women now as well. It's just film that seems to be... nothing." Still, for TV it's "very rare that you read a role that doesn't involve a sex scene." She's only played prostitutes twice - in Secret Diary and Penny Dreadful - but "I still get sent hooker scripts once every four months." Despite her past body issues Piper says nude scenes were possible because "I feel like a tomboy, so it's easier for me to share my body in that way. I'm not programmed in that sexual way. I could sit around in my pants in front of people and I wouldn't care because I don't feel I am doing it to be suggestive." She's said in the past that she disliked her "oversized" features and her "monster" feet, has been frank about suffering from rosacea and facial hair but says now that being in her thirties, and a mother, she's let go of any anxiety about how she looks. Needless to say, even though she's tired after a childcare failure today and wearing a knackered oversized lumberjack shirt, she remains extravagantly beautiful. Is she in a good place now? "I'm in a great place, yeah," she says. "I am in a great professional moment. I am happy at home and in love with my children and I feel all right." She's gained a new-found respect for her mother since becoming a mum herself and has a solid network of friends in north London. There's a chance, she reveals, that Yerma will be revived at the Young Vic, then transfer to New York. Right now, though, she wants to take it easy. "I'm still coming down a bit with Yerma," she says. "And at this point of the year it's time to just bed in and get cosy, isn't it? It's beautiful, I like the cold, I love England, and all the festivities. I love Christmas." For many Christians, the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year is celebrated as the Feast of Christ the King. This year, we hear proclaimed St Luke's account of the penitent thief's exchange with the crucified Lord: "Jesus, remember me in your Kingdom"; "Truly, this day, you will be with me in Paradise (Cf. Luke 23:35-43)." Our Lord Jesus Christ is the almighty lord of heaven and earth. "All things in heaven and on earth: everything visible and everything invisible, Thrones, Dominations, Sovereignties, Powers - all things were created through Him and for Him (Colossians 1:16)." Yet, we do not find him among the high and mighty of the world - he who will sit in judgement over all of them. He reigns from the cross. He takes his place among criminals and with the most despised. He enters into the deepest, darkest places of human anguish and pain, to establish his kingdom of truth and life, of holiness and grace, of justice, love and peace. Where there is the most profound absence of hope and meaning, he becomes the presence of utter and infinite love. He instantly transforms the last ignominious moments of a robber's life of crime into an eternal future in paradise. The good thief, a broken man, recognises the true kingship of Jesus - that is not "of this world (Jn 18:36)" - but is established rather to bring about the healing and saving reign of God, triumphing over all that is fallen and wounded, in creation and in humanity itself. Through Jesus Christ, "we give thanks to the Father who has made it possible for us to join the saints and with them to inherit the light". Jesus has taken us out of the power of darkness. In him, we gain our freedom, the forgiveness of our sins. All perfection is found in him and he reconciles all things, in heaven and on earth, "making peace by the Blood of His Cross (Cf. Colossians 1:12-20)." Let us not fail in our service of the king of kings. For, "what kind of love would not feel the need to speak of the Beloved, to point Him out, to make Him known? There is nothing more precious which we can give to others (Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium - The Joy of the Gospel 264)." UUP MLA Robbie Butler, a former fireflighter who has voiced his concern over response times More than 9,000 emergency calls to the Ambulance Service were abandoned in the last two years. In each case the caller hung up before an operator would answer. Figures show how hundreds of 999 calls are not being answered within the two-second target every month. Ambulance crews are also taking longer to deal with emergency calls. In the 12 months to April the average response time to a category A call - where the situation is described as immediately life-threatening - was over 10 minutes. That is two minutes above the target time. The figures were released by Health Minister Michelle O'Neill after an Assembly question from UUP MLA Robbie Butler. He said the response was "hugely concerning". "The importance of ambulances and other emergency services arriving on time cannot be emphasised enough," he said. "The longer someone has to wait for help in many of these situations, the greater the risk of them coming to serious harm." The figures show: The Ambulance Service received 3,610 abandoned calls in the 12 months to April, and a further 5,424 in the previous year; The average response time to category A calls in the last year was 10 minutes and 17 seconds, up from nine minutes 37 seconds the previous year; Around 1,100 emergency calls a month on average were not answered within the target two seconds last year. The average delay was around 6.3 seconds. Before being elected as an MLA for Lagan Valley earlier this year, Mr Butler worked as a firefighter. He said it was crucial that all emergency calls were responded to immediately. "Shortly before being elected to the Assembly in May I experienced what a delay in an ambulance response time looked like," he added. "In my role in leading a crew in the Fire and Rescue Service I attended the scene of a major road traffic incident in Belfast with multiple casualties. "Yet long after securing the scene and stabilising the casualties, my crew and the lone paramedic on the ground were left waiting for ambulances to come to their support. "When people are experiencing serious medical difficulties or have unfortunately been involved in such major road traffic collisions, they deserve and expect to be seen as quickly as humanly possible. "In many of these situations a delay can mean the difference between life and death. A spokesman for the Ambulance Service said the 9,000 abandoned calls represented just 2.25% of the emergency calls received. "The trust is unable to comment as to why the caller would disconnect as we have been unable to speak with them," he said. "In relation to the hundreds of calls each month that were not answered within the two second target, NIAS would point out that this is an internal standard whereby we aim to connect with 95% of emergency calls within a two second time-frame. "Telephony traffic through the control centre, in relation to incoming and outgoing calls, was a staggering 59,000 for the month of October. This includes calls in for 999 services, calls from GPs and other healthcare professionals and other calls relating to control business." He said the ability to respond within the two second time-frame is hampered by volume - last year around 200,000 999 calls were made. The spokesman added: "An additional barrier to achieving the standard lies in the need for our call takers to remain on line with a caller to provide clinical advice and reassurance while crews are en route to the scene. Examples of this would include advice on CPR and emergency childbirth. "Within this current year our call takers are working exceptionally hard and are doing well to connect with 91% of calls within two seconds. For the 4% that sit outside the target, the delay experienced is approximately five seconds." Earlier this week the Belfast Telegraph reported how the PSNI is arriving late to thousands of emergency calls, with one in 15 taking longer than half an hour to respond to. In the past year, there were more than 1,300 cases where police did not show for 30 minutes. They were among 4,500 emergency incidents across the province in which officers failed to attend in the first 15 minutes. SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan said he would raise the matter at the next Policing Board meeting. William Shakespeare said that all the world's a stage. If he had lived long enough, he would have adored the Crumlin Road courthouse. Because, on a daily basis, more drama unfolded in this elegant, imposing, but ultimately menacing Lanyon landmark than pulsed through any of his plays. Read More There was more Machiavellian plotting under these vaulted portals than even in the black masterpiece of Macbeth. The Bard's quill pen would certainly have quivered at some of the trials staged here. From the riveting cases involving civilians: like the headline grabbing and emotion-charged trial of Robert McGladdery, eventually convicted of the murder of Pearl Gamble... while Judge Curran sat on the bench, having endured the tragedy and trauma of his own daughter being murdered. To the huge terrorist-related show trials, the so-called 'Supergrass' cases. They ranged from 'starring', if that is the right word, the likes of UVF terrorist-turned-tout 'Budgie' Allen, who earned his exotic nickname because 'he sang like one', to the late Raymond Gilmore, found lying dead still under death threat from the IRA and in exile in his London flat, just a few days ago. This was the courthouse, now crumbling, where the cream of Ulster's QCs, the great battling barristers, plied their articulate trade, both in prosecuting criminals, and defending the innocent. The names don't only roll off the tongue. They are a roll of honour in their own right: Dessie Boal, Robert 'Big Bob' McCartney, the late, great John Creaney, and the still practising Michael Lavery, now the High Priest of the High Court round the corner from the Albert Clock. It was in reporting the legal arguments and representations of those skilled advocates that many's a cub reporter cut their teeth, documenting criminal cases at the Crumlin Road courthouse. You shook in your shoes when your news editor 'marked' you to cover a case there: but your hand had to be steady to take down shorthand at 120 words a minute, because if you got one word wrong, you, yourself, or, even worse, your Editor, could be in the dock next morning, facing a charge of contempt of court. Little wonder, then, that many of the best court reporters in the world sharpened their pencils and pulled out their notebooks on the Press benches of the myriad court rooms in this palisaded palace of justice. Forgive me for a quick trip down an old hack's memory lane, but in that incomparable Press pack of court reporters where the likes of Stanley Aiken from the 'BT' itself, Ivan 'The Major' McMichael, Leslie 'Bomber' Mills, Trevor Hanna, of course, the lovely Maureen Martin, and, until the court house closed, Mickey 'Make Way For The Press' Donnelly, who is still reporting Crown Court cases. Those were the days of either phoning your (instant) reports into copy takers on the other end of a phone in the newsrooms, or tapping it out on a typewriter in the Crumlin Road Press room for publication in the paper the next morning. This wasn't just reporting. This was journalistic romance. Tragedies and triumphs, Macbeth and Romeo & Juliet, all rolled into one. As for the Bard, he would have revelled in it. As for the future, I was once standing on the balcony of the Stormont Hotel with an Ulster business tycoon. We were both peering at the Big White House on the Hill where our politicians still meet and yack. I asked the millionaire what he would do with Stormont if he could ever buy it. Without blinking, he replied: "I'd turn it into a casino." Now, it would be ditto with me if I could get my hands on the Crumlin Road courthouse. After all, consider how many lives were gambled on, or gambled away, in there, in terms of life, or death, for those pronounced either innocent, or found guilty. And as the site was sold for just a quid not so long ago, what a fitting punt it would be - even for a few million pounds more - to turn the artifice known colloquially as 'The Old Lady of the Crumlin Road' into an emporium where Lady Luck could have the last throw of the dice. And turn a crumbling wreck into a roulette wheel of fortune. The British and Irish Governments must work together to resolve a long-running dispute over Lough Foyle, Ireland's Foreign Affairs Minister has said. Claims over the vast estuary between Co Londonderry and Co Donegal have been made since partition. After the Good Friday Agreement the cross-border Loughs Agency was handed responsibility for the waters, a key strategic naval base during the Second World War. But in the wake of the UK's vote to leave the European Union, Northern Ireland Secretary of State James Brokenshire has reasserted London's claim over it. However, addressing the contentious issue after a meeting of the North South Ministerial Committee in Armagh, Charlie Flanagan said: "I don't accept the claims that the whole of Lough Foyle is under the jurisdiction of the UK Government. However, rather than dwell on the negatives, I think it is important that we look forward and see how best this issue might be resolved." He added that officials from his department had been in contact with civil servants from the Secretary of State's office in a bid to thrash out a resolution. "I believe it is important that we work towards solutions and both myself and my department are committed to reaching a successful conclusion on this outstanding issue which has been the subject of disagreement for many decades." Meanwhile, First Minister Arlene Foster said a barrier on the seas would contradict the efforts to avoid a hard border on land. "Obviously, if there's no hard border going to be on land we don't really want to see a hard border on Lough Foyle either. "There has been a dispute over Lough Foyle and it is important that we find a solution that everyone can agree on," she said. Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness added: "Here, here Arlene. No hard border on the land; no border on the sea. This has been a debating point which hopefully can be resolved by some form of negotiation between the Irish Government and the British Government." An artists impression of how a John Lewis store at Sprucefield might look Hopes have been raised that John Lewis will reassess its decision to pull out of a major development at Sprucefield after a Belfast court overturned a 'bulky goods only' planning restriction that had discouraged the retail giant. The battle over where John Lewis' first store in Northern Ireland should be sited has been raging for 12 years. The retailer, which currently has no stores in Ireland, has consistently said that Sprucefield is the only site it would consider for its development. But the location sparked intense opposition, both from retail organisations - who feared it would undermine town and city centre shops - and from Belfast City Council, which felt that the capital could become a less attractive option for shoppers if the out-of-town development was permitted. The controversy has seen a welter of legal battles and protracted wrangling over Northern Ireland's complex planning regulations. A public inquiry was due to begin in 2013, but before that the upmarket UK retailer withdrew its planning application when the then Environment Minister Alex Attwood ruled retail at Sprucefield should be limited to "bulky goods". Mr Justice Treacy's decision in the High Court yesterday has been warmly welcomed by Lisburn and Castlereagh Council and Lagan Valley MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, as well as Northern Ireland's Infrastructure and Economy Ministers. However, it has been criticised by small retailer representatives and Belfast City Council. Sir Jeffrey said: "This ruling confirms that the bulky goods restriction which prevented John Lewis from locating at Sprucefield has been removed. Those who have given up on the fight to secure this major development are wrong. "I will continue to work with the company and the developers, as I have done over the last number of years. The path is now clear for an application to be lodged and I would hope this can happen as soon as possible." But Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association chief executive Glyn Roberts said: "If our town and city centres are to have any chance of recovery, the very last thing they need is any more out-of-town retail applications being granted which draw away footfall and trade." And it seems the legal wrangling is not over yet. Belfast City Council said last night that it plans to appeal against yesterday's High Court judgment lifting bulky goods restrictions at Sprucefield. A council spokesman said: "The council will do everything that is necessary to ensure that Belfast's regeneration and investment strategy is delivered, and this includes protecting existing retail and developing our retail offering to ensure we can compete with other regional cities regards retail provision." Support for an appeal also came from Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce president Gordon McElroy. "Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce considers that the removal of a bulky goods condition to pave the way for a John Lewis store at Sprucefield near Lisburn is bad for Northern Ireland and bad for Belfast in particular," he said. Last night a John Lewis spokeswoman reacted cautiously to the news from the Belfast court ruling. "We will continue to monitor developments, but we do not have any current plans to open a shop in the province," she said. The employee-owned retail chain has more than 40 stores across the UK, but none in either Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland. Clare Crockett with her sisters Megan (left) and Shauna on the day she took her final vows Sister Clare Theresa Crockett died in an earthquake in Ecuador in April of this year Stills from the moving video tribute compiled by the order of Sister Clare Crockett, the Derry nun killed in the earthquake in Ecuador Stills from the moving video tribute compiled by the order of Sister Clare Crockett, the Derry nun killed in the earthquake in Ecuador Stills from the moving video tribute compiled by the order of Sister Clare Crockett, the Derry nun killed in the earthquake in Ecuador Stills from the moving video tribute compiled by the order of Sister Clare Crockett, the Derry nun killed in the earthquake in Ecuador More than six months after Sister Clare Crockett was killed when an earthquake hit a school in Ecuador, the impact of her tragic death continues to reverberate from across the globe back to her home in the heart of Londonderry. A film which draws its title, "All or Nothing", from Sr Clare's attitude to everything she did, is being made by the Home of the Mother Order that she belonged to. Today, in a moving interview, her sister Megan tells the Belfast Telegraph how the family continues to be inundated with messages from around the world. Sr Clare grew up in the Brandywell area where she spent 18 years doing what every other girl her age loves - hanging out with her friends and two sisters, gearing up for a weekend of partying and, in her case, planning a future as a successful and famous actor. But life turned out very differently for Clare Crockett - she abandoned all her aspirations of fame and fortune when she was 17 after she was called by God to become a nun. Sadly, her life as Sr Clare was cut short in April this year when the terrible earthquake hit Ecuador and reduced the school building she was in to rubble, killing her as she tried to protect the children she was teaching. As news of her death filtered through to her family back in Derry, it brought a devastation her parents Margaret and Gerald and sisters Shauna and Megan could barely cope with. But they drew comfort from the huge number of people from the city who called to their home to offer condolences. In the weeks it took for Sr Clare's remains to be brought back to Derry for her funeral, the family heard countless stories of people who knew her and remembered her fun-loving ways growing up in the city. Since then, that flow of well-wishers to the Crockett family home has never ceased, and includes those who knew Sr Clare in her role as a nun, and whose lives were impacted for the better by meeting her. Megan Crockett told the Belfast Telegraph how every day they get an insight into how many lives Clare continues to touch. "I am having to get used to being called 'that wee nun's sister' which I find funny because it makes our Clare sound as if she was a wee old lady," she said. "Every day we are contacted by people telling us their stories of Clare - we get emails from people in Ecuador and America where she touched so many. "People have been telling us how they are praying to Clare, asking her to intercede for people in their family who are very ill in hospital and how they have recovered, and they tell us Clare did this for them. "Just two weeks ago, a couple from Massachusetts called to our house who had come here especially to visit Clare's grave. "We also found out recently about a wee pensioner from Belfast who gets the bus down to Derry every day so he can go and pray at Clare's grave. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close The funeral of Sister Clare Theresa Crockett at St Columbas Church, Long Tower in Derry. The 33 years old nun from the Mother Order died in who died in Playa Prieta when a school collapsed when Ecuador suffered from an earthquake on the 16th of April. Picture Martin McKeown. Inpresspics.com. 02.05.16 Sister Clare Crockett The funeral of Sister Clare Theresa Crockett at St Columbas Church, Long Tower in Derry. The 33 years old nun from the Mother Order died in who died in Playa Prieta when a school collapsed when Ecuador suffered from an earthquake on the 16th of April. Picture Martin McKeown. Inpresspics.com. 02.05.16 Sister Clare The funeral of Sister Clare Theresa Crockett at St Columbas Church, Long Tower in Derry. The 33 years old nun from the Mother Order died in who died in Playa Prieta when a school collapsed when Ecuador suffered from an earthquake on the 16th of April. Picture Martin McKeown. Inpresspics.com. 02.05.16 The coffin of Sister Clare Crockett, who was killed in an earthquake in Ecuador, is carried into Long Tower Church in Londonderry. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday May 2, 2016. See PA story ULSTER Nun. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire PA The coffin of Sister Clare Crockett, who was killed in an earthquake in Ecuador, is carried into Long Tower Church in Londonderry. Niall Carson/PA Wire PA The funeral cortege of Sister Clare Crockett, who was killed in an earthquake in Ecuador, arrives at Long Tower Church in Londonderry. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire PA The funeral of Sister Clare Theresa Crockett at St Columbas Church, Long Tower in Derry. The 33 years old nun from the Mother Order died in who died in Playa Prieta when a school collapsed when Ecuador suffered from an earthquake on the 16th of April. Picture Martin McKeown. Inpresspics.com. 02.05.16 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The funeral of Sister Clare Theresa Crockett at St Columbas Church, Long Tower in Derry. The 33 years old nun from the Mother Order died in who died in Playa Prieta when a school collapsed when Ecuador suffered from an earthquake on the 16th of April. Picture Martin McKeown. Inpresspics.com. 02.05.16 "One day I was in the back of a taxi and the driver pulled down his sun visor and there was the novena with our Clare's picture on it. I told him that was my sister and he said: 'I say a Novena to that wee nun every day'. "This has been going on for six months now and we know it isn't what usually happens when someone dies, but it continues to be a great comfort to us and helps us cope with missing Clare." By her own admission, Sr Clare was an unlikely nun. In her testimony before she took her final vows, she said: "I liked to party a lot. My weekends since I was 16 or 17 consisted of getting drunk with my friends. I wasted all my money on alcohol and cigarettes. "He (God) wanted me to live like the sisters in poverty, chastity, and obedience. "I automatically told Him that that was impossible for me. "I said: 'I can't be a nun! I can't leave drinking, cigarettes, partying, my career, and my family'." Back in Derry, Sr Clare's family found it difficult at the start to imagine her as a nun. Megan continued: "Growing up, the three of us - Clare, Shauna and me - were very close. As well as sisters we were best friends, but Clare was definitely the boss of us. Whatever she said went - if she had been told to do the dishes but decided she didn't want to, she said: 'I am the oldest, you two can do the dishes' and we did. "Clare was incredible, she was full of energy, full of craic and full of fun. "She was very definite about what her life was going to be like. "She was going to be famous, star in the movies and everyone would recognise her all over the world, and it looked like she was on her way because she had been in a few documentaries. "She had an offer from Nickelodeon to become a presenter just before she went on what she thought was a 10-day party trip to Ibiza in Spain, but was, in fact, a pilgrimage. "Clare wasn't overly religious, in fact many's a time we skipped Mass, but we were cute enough to check what priest was saying Mass and what was in the parish bulletin first, so we were ready for any question mummy had when we got back home. "The trip to Spain was very last minute, someone had pulled out so Clare had no time to find out too much about it, but she thought she was going on a 10-day holiday of partying. "For the first two days, she rang home telling us how miserable she was because all they were doing was praying, but on the third day she said she would stick it out instead of coming home early. " When she did come home, she was a very different Clare, but a couple of days later she went back to her old self - going out and having a good time," Megan explained. She added: "Not long after that though, she told us she was miserable and how she could only really be happy if she be came a nun. "Clare was at her absolute happiest as a nun and the ironic thing is, she has become famous. "Maybe not in the way she imagined growing up in the Brandywell, but so many people all over the world know Sr Clare Crockett - my big sister." A new reduced size pig farm in Newtownabbey has been recommended for approval. A previous planning application for a large-scale pig farm in Newtownabbey - which could accommodate up to 30,000 animals - sparked controversy last year, with animal advocacy groups speaking out against it. The Hall Farm has filed a new, smaller scale application, however Animal Aid is maintaining its objections. The planning committee of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council is set to vote on the application next Tuesday. According to the council agenda for the meeting, the proposed pig farm is to include four pig houses with air scrubber units and associated water and waste holding tanks. It will also involve the widening of a section of Rea Hill Road and recontouring of land within the site. The application has been recommended for approval with a number of conditions, including a programme of archaeological work and a cap on the total site capacity of no more than 6,888 weaners and 10,332 fatteners. However, Animal Aid has urged councillors to refuse permission for the pig farm. The group has claimed that up to 17,000 pigs could be reared in "cramped conditions". "They would be deprived of the opportunity to carry out many of their natural behaviours, and are likely to become bored, stressed and frustrated," the group said in a statement, adding that petitions against the proposal have gained more than 250,000 signatures. Animal Aid director Isobel Hutchinson has claimed that approving the proposal would set a "dangerous precedent for the intensification of UK farming". "And if these scaled-back plans are given the green light, it will be much easier to gain permission for the original 30,000-pig unit in the future," she said. "We also believe that there are many other compelling reasons why councillors should refuse permission. "These include an increase in traffic to the point that Rea Hill Road would have to be widened, and intruding on the countryside with industrial-scale agricultural buildings. Chunks of the landscape would even have to be carved out to make the surface level enough for building on." Earlier this year the farmer behind the application, Derek Hall, addressed concerns over animal welfare. He said: "The facility has RSPCA standards and with extra technology to improve their environment and alleviate environmental concerns for the local community." In a statement on its website, Hall's Pig Farm said its existing farm buildings are old and they do not have the space to renovate the existing site and remain in business. "We have been farming on this site for around 62 years and while the area wasn't built up when we first started farming here, the area is now extremely residential," the statement says. "Our aim is to develop a new site on the Rea Hill Road, off the Carntall Road, in Newtownabbey. This area is a more agricultural setting for our proposed farm than our existing site, with little housing in close proximity. Our new proposed farm would be a state-of-the-art facility, providing improvements both for the animals and for our environment. If planning permission is granted, the farm would be built to house around 15,120 animals, approximately 50% more than at the existing farm. "If the new farm is approved, only sows will remain on the existing site along with their young offspring. Approval for the new farm will allow us to renovate the existing site. "The reduced pig numbers and renovations will significantly reduce odour and allow us to improve the welfare of our pigs." A retired solicitor is planning to set up a new support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people within the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Colin Flinn, a former Presbyterian, explained his aim was not to challenge the doctrine of the Church, but to see it provide welcome, safety and inclusion to LGBT people which, he believes, is currently lacking. And he added he would like to emulate the success of existing groups such as Changing Attitude Ireland and Accepting Sexuality, which have been operating within the Church of Ireland and the Irish Methodist Church respectively. Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Mr Flinn (70) who is a board member of Cara-Friend and a long-serving volunteer with its LGBT switchboard service said he aimed to establish a network with the help of like-minded people. Of all the Churches, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has failed to support its LGBT members by obstructing any opportunity for dialogue, he claimed. The purpose of my initiative is to find a way through this for LGBT Presbyterians, and to support them in their spiritual lives by seeing that the three pillars of welcome, safety and inclusion are implanted in the Church. These issues are complicated. Churches find the matter toxic and are, just like political parties, afraid of splits. Other Churches here have networks supporting LGBT members and these have been successful to the degree that these Churches are no longer talking into themselves, but tentatively finding ways to dialogue with LGBT members. Mr Flinn, who is a member of both the Equality Consultative Forum of Belfast City Council and Queerspace Collective, said he only realised he was gay in his mid-50s and spent two years coming out after extricating himself from a 30-year marriage. The father-of-four and former Sunday School teacher said he was born into and brought up by a liberal Presbyterian family with my late dad as clerk of session in our local congregation. A former member of the Down Presbytery Youth Movement, he said it will be up to the people who get together following his clarion call to decide what shape the network takes. Im merely facilitating the process as I have training in the areas required, he added. Caring and committed staff at the hospital struggled to cope in some areas, said the report Staff shortages have left some nurses at Craigavon Area Hospital feeling burnt out and stressed, according to a new inspection report. The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) examined conditions in the emergency department and medical and surgical wards over four days in April as part of an unannounced visit. And while the overall findings were positive, the inspectors observed caring and committed staff struggling to cope in some areas. Olive Macleod, RQIA's chief executive, said: "RQIA's overall findings at Craigavon Area Hospital were good. "In each area inspected we identified strong leadership, good governance, and processes in place to provide good quality care to patients. "While we noted a shortage in nursing staff numbers in the medical and surgical wards inspected, the Southern Health and Social Care Trust was working actively to address this deficit." The inspection team included doctors, nurses, pharmacists and allied health professional peer reviewers and members of the public led by RQIA's healthcare inspectors. They spoke to patients, relatives and staff, observed delivery, and examined records to determine whether care was safe, effective and compassionate. They also looked at how each ward was being led and managed. At Four North, a 28-bed surgical ward, which can accommodate 34 patients during times of pressure, inspectors found staffing levels were poor with a heavy reliance on bank and agency staff. Although additional nursing appointments had been agreed, the delay in recruitment was impacting on staff, leading to complaints of tiredness, burnout and stress. Inspectors also noted difficulties in maintaining visual contact with higher risk patients and responding promptly to call bells, and delays in the preparation of and assistance with meals when staffing levels were low. "We observed prompt staff responses to call bells and requests for assistance from patients when the ward had the agreed staffing levels. "However, when the ward was short-staffed, we observed caring and committed staff struggling to meet patients' basic care needs," the report stated. Other observations included the poor state of repair of the toilets. At One South, a general medical ward, with gastro intestinal and rheumatology speciality nursing staffing levels were also below the recommended levels, but inspectors were told trust had been actively working to address deficits. Issues were highlighted around patient discharge and it was noted the availability of medical staff to complete discharge letters could cause a delay. Meanwhile, it was found the trust had been proactive in the recruitment for the emergency department with 25 new nurses having taken up post within the past year. Although a positive step, inspectors said it had presented challenges because 70% of registered nurses within the ED had less than two years' experience. It was also reported that the recruitment of paediatric nurses for the ED was proving difficult. Attempts to minimise the symptoms of crowding through initiatives such as a revised triage process, escalation protocol and pathways for children were highlighted, and although some patients remained within the ED for longer than targeted time frames, inspectors said the quality of care they received was maintained to a high standard. Mrs Macleod said: "In each area inspected we observed caring, sensitive and insightful staff working to maintain the dignity and privacy of those in their care. "Patients also told us they were very satisfied with the standard of care and treatment they received. "In the emergency department we observed senior nursing and medical staff directing and supporting departmental activities - and we commend this good practice. "We also noted that the Southern Trust has been proactive in recruitment of nursing staff, and has a range of initiatives in place to minimise the symptoms of crowding in the ED. "In the surgical ward we were told of an open and transparent culture, and staff were positive about the support they received from management. "However, we noted the impact of staffing shortages, with a heavy reliance on bank and agency staff. While we observed good practice in relation to recording food and fluids, when short-staffed there were delays in preparation of meals and assistance provided to patients. "The medical ward was bright and well presented, and staff told us that morale was good and they were happy working there. "While we noted medical records were well organised, in a number of instances nursing care records did not fully demonstrate assessment, planning monitoring and evaluation of patient's needs. "We also considered that supervision and coordination of meals required improvement." United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit. ROBERT BARROCA, Plaintiff - Appellant, v. CLAUDE MAYE; (FNU) JOHNSON; MARY NOLAN; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Defendants - Appellees. No. 16-3080 Decided: November 18, 2016 Before KELLY, McKAY, and MORITZ, Circuit Judges.** ORDER AND JUDGMENT* Plaintiff-Appellant Robert Barroca, a federal inmate appearing pro se, appeals from the district court's dismissal of his Bivens action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) and 28 U.S.C. 1915A(b). Our jurisdiction arises under 28 U.S.C. 1291, and we affirm. In 1994, Mr. Barroca was convicted of several weapon and drug offenses in the Northern District of California. 1 R. 7. He was transferred to USP-Leavenworth on July 30, 2014. 1 R. 7. As a result of two pending cases he has been involved in and two additional cases he is considering formally pursuing, he has collected twenty-six boxes of legal materials over twenty-plus years. 1 R. 7; Aplt. Br. at 67. When he arrived at USP-Leavenworth only two of his boxes were at the prison. 1 R. 7. On August 20, Mr. Barroca formally complained about his missing boxes and the prison's policy of only allowing inmates to store one box of legal materials in their cells. 1 R. 8. Other boxes are placed in a storage room, to which inmates only have weekly access. R. 8. On the same day he filed his complaint, a prison official went directly to [Mr.] Barroca's cell, [and shook] it down. 1 R. 8. Unbeknownst to Mr. Barroca, all twenty-six boxes had arrived at the prison on August 14. 1 R. 9. He was given permission to review his legal materials with an attorney from the Bureau of Prisons on September 29. 1 R. 1113. Mr. Barroca sets forth two causes of action: (1) lack of access to the courts and (2) retaliation. After reviewing Mr. Barroca's response to an order to show cause, the district court dismissed his complaint because he failed to demonstrate an actual injury to contemplated or pending claims. R. 8996. We review de novo. Buchheit v. Green, 705 F.3d 1157, 1159 (10th Cir. 2012). Federal inmates have a constitutional right of access to the courts. Bounds v. Smith, 430 U.S. 817, 821 (1977). Like other constitutional rights, it may be tempered to preserv[e] internal order and discipline in prisons. Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. 520, 546 (1979). For example, we have held that prisons may limit the amount of legal materials inmates can store in their cells to maintain security and safety. See Green v. Johnson, 977 F.2d 1383, 1390 (10th Cir. 1992). To succeed on a denial-of-access claim, a plaintiff must allege an actual injury to contemplated or pending litigation. Lewis v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 35152 (1996). Mr. Barroca has not made such a showing. The court's denial of Mr. Barroca's Rule 60(b) motion in his habeas petition, Barroca v. United States, No. CR-94-0470 EMC, 2014 WL 5528063 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 31, 2014), was based on the merits of that motion allowing amendment of a prior 2255 motion would have been successive and was not warranted by existing law. Id. at *8. Mr. Barroca has similarly failed to demonstrate actual injury with respect to his other pending action; the mere fact of delay is not sufficient. Mr. Barroca has also not articulated how the one-box policy has caused actual injury regarding his two contemplated lawsuits. The district court noted that Mr. Barroca's filing of well drafted pleadings in the instant action clearly demonstrates that he is fully capable of initiating a legal action notwithstanding having limited or no access to his boxes of legal materials. 1 R. 3435. Mr. Barroca also claims that the prison official who shook down his cell retaliated against him for submitting a formal complaint. We disagree. To successfully plead a claim of retaliation, Mr. Barroca must show (1) that [he] was engaged in constitutionally protected activity; (2) that the defendant's actions caused [him] to suffer an injury that would chill a person of ordinary firmness from continuing to engage in that activity; and (3) that the defendant's adverse action was substantially motivated as a response to [his] exercise of constitutionally protected conduct. Shero v. City of Grove, 510 F.3d 1196, 1203 (10th Cir. 2007). An isolated shakedown, a routine prison procedure, is not sufficient to chill an inmate from filing additional complaints. AFFIRMED. Entered for the Court FOOTNOTES . Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Fed. Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971). Paul J. Kelly, Jr. Circuit Judge Martin McGuinness is among Stormont leaders who defended a controversial fund for disadvantaged communities Stormont's leaders have defended the workings of a controversial fund that distributed 80 million to disadvantaged communities amid demands for it to be halted. Sir Alistair Graham, the former chairman of a UK watchdog on standards in public life, has joined mounting calls from opposition politicians for a major review of the Social Investment Fund (SIF). Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness rebuffed Sir Alistair's remarks. "We are not accountable to Sir Alistair Graham, we are accountable to our own electorate," he said. "The SIF scheme has been the most open, consulted-upon scheme imaginable, with huge support from the community and voluntary sector and widespread support within our community." The Sinn Fein veteran added: "As far as we are concerned our focus is on delivery and the 80 million has been distributed and has now been put to good use." First Minister Arlene Foster said she was more focused on the positive difference the fund was making rather than what she described as "process issues". The Democratic Unionist leader noted that a public consultation had been done on proposals for the fund and said "no issues were raised". "It is disappointing that when we do try to do something different, something innovative to try to make a difference and deliver on the ground that this is the attitude that's brought forward," she said. "But we are focused on delivery, we are not focused on process issues and people can look at those process issues because we have absolutely nothing to hide in relation to those process issues - but for us it's about delivering." The leaders, who claim the fund ensures those working on the ground can shape its direction, were asked about the controversy as they attended the North South Ministerial Council meeting in Armagh. The fund was established by the Stormont Executive during the last Assembly mandate to allocate millions of pounds to disadvantaged areas in Northern Ireland. The Executive appointed political, community, statutory and business representatives to steering groups - these appointees then, in turn, appointed organisations to oversee and manage the community schemes. The chosen groups were called "lead partners" and were paid a management fee for their work. The lead partnership bodies then, in turn, appointed specific groups to deliver the individual projects on the ground. Controversy surrounds the middle link in the four-tier structure - the relationship between the steering groups and the lead partnership organisations. Criticisms have been levelled around the fact organisations represented on the steering groups could appoint themselves to a remunerated lead partnership role, without a tendering process. There have also been claims around a lack of rigorous background checks on those controlling the money and questions on why formal votes on the appointment of lead partners were not apparently commonplace on the steering groups. Sir Alistair, the former chairman of the Committee for Standards in Public Life, claimed there were clear conflict-of-interest issues. "I think they have a flawed process that doesn't stand up to the principles that are generally held to be appropriate for the awarding of public contracts," he told BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show. "They really need a root-and-branch review of the arrangements they have in place." Intense public attention has focused on the SIF since controversy flared over the appointment of alleged loyalist paramilitary leader Dee Stitt to the chief executive's role at Charter NI - an organisation handed control of 1.7 million as a lead partner overseeing an employability initiative in east Belfast. The convicted armed robber, who denies being a UDA chief, faced down calls for his resignation in the wake of a newspaper interview in which he launched a foul-mouthed tirade against the Government and claimed his flute band in North Down provided "homeland security". Pressure remains on Mr Stitt despite being allowed to keep his job following an internal review by Charter NI, but the furore has prompted a wider political row on the operation of the SIF scheme. Mrs Foster has said she does not regret standing alongside Mr Stitt at a recent SIF-related photocall. A child sex abuse inquiry's fourth chairwoman has said some forces want to stop a light being shone on "dark institutional failings" after a victims' group quit the probe, branding it an "unpalatable circus". Professor Alexis Jay vowed to push on with the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) after the Shirley Oaks Survivors Association (Sosa) and Labour MP Chuka Umunna called for her replacement. Sosa delivered a blistering critique of IICSA - calling it a "stage-managed event" which has "lurched from crisis to crisis". But Prof Jay, writing in The Times, said: "I have fought for this inquiry - for its independence, its reputation and its vital capacity to right a terrible wrong - since it opened, and I don't intend to stop fighting for it now. "There are some people who would like to see us fail because it suits their agenda to not want dark institutional failings brought into the light. "But shine that light we will, because there are many, many people in this country who spend every waking minute of every day living with the damage and the pain caused by child sexual abuse." Sosa, which represents victims affected by abuse at children's homes run by Lambeth Council in south London, said it feared Prof Jay is "an uninspiring leader" who is not the right person to uncover the truth. Downing Street and Home Secretary Amber Rudd have voiced their support and panel member Drusilla Sharpling said Prof Jay's work exposing prolonged abuse in Rotherham meant she had the expertise needed. Sosa chairman Raymond Stevenson said members voted on Saturday that they no longer wanted to be part of the inquiry. "The inquiry needs to sort itself out. They need to get rid of Alexis Jay, who's been parachuted in by the Home Office. She's not the right person," he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme. Labour MP Chuka Umunna said he did not have confidence in Prof Jay as chair of the inquiry and wanted a judge of High Court level or above to replace her. An inquiry spokesman said: "Our investigation will continue and will examine the scale and nature of the abuse that may have taken place under the care of Lambeth Council with pace, confidence and clarity." The inquiry, first established by then home secretary Theresa May in 2014, has been fraught with problems and controversy. Described as the most ambitious public inquiry ever launched in England and Wales, it is running several investigative strands spanning decades. Following her resignation earlier this year, former chairwoman Dame Lowell Goddard said there was an "inherent problem" in the inquiry's "sheer scale and size". Nearly 11 million pensioners are targeted every year by cold callers, the Government says Plans to ban pensions cold calling, which can leave people tricked out of their life savings, will be set out in next week's Autumn Statement. On Wednesday, Chancellor Philip Hammond will outline plans to stamp out the calls, during which scammers may offer victims a "free" review of their nest egg, extra tax savings or access to their pension before the age of 55. Under the proposals, calls where a business has no existing relationship with someone will be forbidden. This includes fraudsters targeting people who inadvertently "opt-in" to receiving third party communications. Enforcement action by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) could include fines of up to 500,000 for firms trying to breach the planned ban. Cold callers often present scams as "unique investment opportunities", such as putting money into a new hotel in an exotic location or into "ethical" projects that promise too-good-to-be-true returns. It is hoped the crackdown will help bring an end to the misery caused by the 250 million scam calls - the equivalent of eight a second - made in the UK every year. The Government has said nearly 11 million pensioners are being targeted annually by cold callers. Savers are thought to have lost almost 19 million to pensions scams between April 2015 and March 2016. As well as losing their life savings, victims can also face hefty tax charges. There have also been concerns that the pension freedoms launched in 2015, which give over-55s more choice over how they use their retirement savings, could make them a particular target for fraudsters. Mr Hammond also plans to consult on a wider crackdown on pensions scams, including g iving more powers to firms to block suspicious transfers, preventing people's life savings being transferred into scams without any checks and making it harder for scammers to open fraudulent pension schemes. Research suggests fraudsters could be behind as many as one in 10 pension transfer requests and the proposed measures are intended to prevent scams happening in the first place. The Government will consult on the proposals before the end of the year and the next steps will be announced in the Budget in 2017. Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice which recommended the action, said: "Citizens Advice found that as many as 10.9 million people received unsolicited calls, emails and texts about their pensions over the last year. Promises of high returns are used to trick people into fake investments leaving them with a reduced or even empty pension pot. "The government's ban on pension cold calls is the right move to protect people. The power to fine scammers also means enforcement bodies will be able to put a stop to any scammers that still target people's savings." Vickie Sheriff, Which? director of campaigns and communications, said the move would be a "victory against criminals", adding: "No legitimate pension or investment firm will ever cold call you about releasing cash from your pension, accessing it before you are 55 or extra tax savings, so alarm bells should ring if they do." Steve Webb, a former pensions minister who is now director of policy at Royal London, welcomed the move, saying: "If it becomes known that anyone ringing up out of the blue to offer you a special deal on pensions or investments is committing an offence, this will make it much harder for the scammers." He added: " It is also very good news that the Government is looking at how to support firms who suspect that a proposed pension transfer would not be in the interests of the policy holder." Baroness Altmann, also a former pensions minister, said the move is a "victory for common sense and for customer protection". She said: "No bona fide company should contact people out of the blue offering free pension reviews or investment schemes for their pension savings. If a firm wants to generate new customers, they will have to find better ways than just buying up lists of contact details and cold calling people." The Prime Minister has been urged by senior Tories to abandon the Supreme Court appeal over the decision on Article 50 Donald Trump is reportedly being lined up for an invitation to meet the Queen next year as ministers ponder how to cement the "special relationship" and strike a free trade deal with the United States. The US president-elect reportedly told Theresa May during a phone call last week that his late Scottish mother was a "big fan" of the Queen and the PM could use a 2017 state visit to curry his favour, according to the Sunday Times. An early visit to the UK from Mr Trump would also allow the Prime Minister to swat away claims that Nigel Farage has closer links to the controversial tycoon, which have been dismissed by Downing Street. It would also provide a potential opportunity to warm up the apparently anti-global trade president-elect over the idea of a post-Brexit trade deal. A Downing Street spokeswoman said: "No visit has been organised but the Prime Minister is looking forward to welcoming the president-elect to the UK when he chooses to visit." The PM has been invited to visit Mr Trump at the earliest possible opportunity and she is expected to travel to the US after he is inaugurated on January 20. But a state visit by Mr Trump to the UK would allow her to roll out the red carpet and offer a meeting with the Queen. A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "State visits and other meetings with overseas heads of state are organised on the advice of the Government." It came as Mrs May faced fresh calls to deliver what will be seen as a "hard Brexit" from a group of 60 Conservative MPs including prominent former cabinet ministers. Cameron-era ministers Michael Gove, Iain Duncan Smith, John Whittingdale and Theresa Villiers urged the PM to pull Britain out of the European single market and the customs union. They claimed getting out of the single market free trade zone was crucial for the UK to become free of Brussels regulations. Pulling out of the customs union, which sets common tariffs for goods from countries outside it, would be the only way to strike trade deals with other nations, they said. Eleven Labour, DUP and Ukip MPs also reportedly backed the call. A Government spokeswoman insisted there were "no binary choices" in the UK's future trading relationship with the EU and that the Government would pursue a bespoke deal rather than an "off the shelf" solution . She added: "That's why the Government is painstakingly analysing the challenges and opportunities for all the different sectors of our economy. "The Prime Minister has been clear that she wants UK companies to have the maximum freedom to trade with and operate in the single market - and to let European businesses do the same here." S hadow chancellor John McDonnell accused the Tories of pursuing a "Trump-lite" hard Brexit "with a minuscule increase in infrastructure investment, a pernicious immigration policy, the destruction of workplace rights and environmental protections, alongside a race to the bottom in taxes for the rich and in wages for the rest of us". He also defended his speech earlier this week in which he committed Labour to not blocking or delaying Brexit, saying the party has long advocated changes to single market regulations such as state aid rules and "enforced deregulation and privatisation". Writing in The Observer, Mr McDonnell said: "As a democrat, I respect the referendum result. "Not to do so would sow even deeper divisions within our society. But that does not mean we cannot use the period of the Brexit negotiations positively to work with our socialist, social democrat and progressive friends in Europe to construct a new relationship based upon solidarity, co-operation and democracy." The father of a 14-year-old girl whose remains have been frozen after a High Court judge's ruling said he last saw his daughter alive nine years ago and did not get to view her body before it was cryogenically preserved. The teenager, who died on October 17, was terminally ill and had wanted her remains to be frozen in the hope she could be revived in the future. But her divorced parents became embroiled in a dispute relating to whether her remains should be taken to a specialist facility in the United States and cryogenically frozen. The girl, who lived in the London area with her mother and had a rare form of cancer, had taken legal action. She had asked Mr Justice Peter Jackson to rule that her mother - who supported her wish to be cryogenically preserved - should be the only person allowed to make decisions about the disposal of her body. Ultimately, Mr Justice Jackson made the ruling she wanted - following a private hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London - shortly before she died. But speaking to The Telegraph, the girl's father spoke of his sadness and blamed his former partner for stopping him seeing the child's body before it was embalmed and frozen. The man, who is also suffering from cancer, said: "Last time I saw her was in 2007. The reason for this is purely her mother's doing - she said 'no way, full stop'. "She has caused this sadness between me and my daughter and she died in the end without me being able to see her." The girl's solicitor, Zoe Fleetwood, said Mr Justice Jackson had ruled on a dispute between parents - not on people's rights to have their remains frozen. Ms Fleetwood, who is based at Dawson Cornwell, said the teenager had described Mr Justice Jackson as her ''hero'' after learning of his decision days before she died. Mr Justice Jackson had said nothing about the case could be reported while the teenager was alive, after she said media coverage would distress her, and said he had been moved by the "valiant way" in which she had faced her "predicament". He also ruled no one involved could be identified - again in line with the girl's wishes. The teenager, who had been too ill to attend the court hearing, had been represented by lawyers and had written to the judge explaining she wanted a chance to "live longer". Mr Justice Jackson had also visited her in hospital. He said the girl's application was the only one of its kind to have come before a court in England and Wales - and probably anywhere else - and was an example of new questions science posed to lawyers. Ms Fleetwood on Friday told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: ''By October 6, the girl knew that her wishes were going to be followed. That gave her great comfort. She had those last few days knowing that her wish was granted.'' Prime Minister Theresa May is reportedly set to announce a funding boost for science and research ahead of the Autumn Statement Chancellor Philip Hammond has been urged by Labour to boost wages and childcare provision in the Autumn Statement to help families on low and middle incomes. Shadow chancellor John McDonnell told Mr Hammond to help people who will be affected as prices r ise following the Brexit vote and to pay for it by scrapping tax cuts for the wealthy. The Chancellor is widely expected to announce help for "just about managing" families identified by Theresa May in her first speech as Prime Minister. And Mr McDonnell said he must now introduce a "real" living wage and reverse welfare cuts to Universal Credit and disability benefits. It came as the Sunday Telegraph reported that Mr Hammond was set to crack down on staff perks like gym memberships and mobile phone contracts which are offered to workers willing to forgo part of their salaries in return. The move would help the Treasury raise more money in income tax receipts and national insurance contributions, the newspaper said. But Mr McDonnell called for wide-ranging action to help working families and an end to the "political choice" of austerity. Writing in the Observer, the Labour frontbencher said: " We need actual support for those in work on low and middle incomes, who will struggle as prices rise. "The Chancellor can start by introducing a real living wage. "He needs to provide honest solutions to the childcare crisis. "Furthermore, he should reverse the giveaways to the wealthy and reverse those cuts, such as universal credit and employment and support allowance, to low and middle earners. "Many people are indeed 'just about managing', but that is directly due to Tory economic policies that have favoured a rich few over the rest of us, and left many in our country behind while a few at the top have soared ahead." Ministers have already ditched former chancellor George Osborne's plans to generate a budget surplus by 2020. And Mr Hammond is reportedly set to acknowledge a 100 billion black hole in the public finances as a result of slower than expected growth and lower investment following the vote to leave the EU. The Chancellor has already announced plans to ban pension cold calls which can leave people open to scams which trick them out of their life savings, and is reportedly expected to approve another freeze in fuel duty until April 2018. Mrs May is reportedly expected to use a Monday speech to industry leaders at the CBI's annual conference to insist she is "unashamedly pro-business" and to announce fresh investment in science and research. The incident took place at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia branch in the suburb of Springvale A 21-year-old man accused of injuring 26 people when he set himself on fire with petrol in a bank in Australia has been identified as a Burmese asylum seeker who had been waiting for three years to be accepted as a refugee. The suspect, known by his friends as Noor, and five bystanders were taken to hospital with serious burns following the incident at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia branch in the Melbourne suburb of Springvale on Friday morning, officials said. Another 21 people casualties ranging from children to people in their 80s were taken to hospital with breathing problems. Noor, who remained under police guard on Saturday, arrived in Australia by boat as a lone teenager in 2013 and had been waiting to be granted a refugee visa ever since, said Pamela Curr, who recently retired from the non-government Asylum Seeker Resource Centre outside Melbourne. Ms Curr did not know why Noor had allegedly decided to set himself alight. But she said the Immigration Department was threatening to make thousands of asylum seekers financially desperate by cutting their benefits if their refugee claims were rejected. "The department is going to starve thousands of people out of the country, or so they think," she said. A member of Burma's minority-Muslim Rohingya community in Melbourne, Habib Habib, said Noor speaks Rohingya, although he might not himself identify as Rohingya. Noor had been struggling financially to help support his family in Burma with the government benefits he is paid every two weeks, Mr Habib said. Asylum seekers are not legally allowed to work. Mr Habib had been told that Noor's latest benefit had not been deposited into his bank account when it was due on Wednesday and that Noor had returned to the bank each day in the hope of making a withdrawal. Noor's friends had become concerned by the state of his mental health as years passed without his refugee claim being resolved. "This system makes all of them crazy. They're in legal limbo," Mr Habib said. Police have yet to announce a motive for the fire, which was quickly extinguished. Closed-circuit television footage showed Noor walking towards the bank carrying a plastic bottle of fuel that he had bought from a nearby petrol station moments before the blaze. Acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce declined to comment on Noor's refugee claim. "You'd have to lose your mind to do something so cruel," he told reporters. Noor arrived in Australia shortly before July 19 2013, when the government introduced a hardline policy banning refugees who arrive by boat after that date from ever making Australia home. Since then, asylum seekers have been sent to Australia-run camps on the Pacific island nations of Papua New Guinea and Nauru. Two refugees on Nauru set themselves alight within a week early this year. The first was a 23-year-old Iranian man who died. A 21-year-old Somali woman survived after hospital treatment in Australia. Noor was initially detained in an immigration camp on the Australian territory of Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean before he was relocated to Melbourne on a bridging visa while awaiting the outcome of his refugee application, Ms Curr said. AP Mr Santos has vowed to push the deal through (AP) Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos has vowed to have congress ratify a modified peace deal with the Farc rebel group rather than submit it to voters again, after they rejected the original pact last month. Mr Santos said implementing the accord in the shortest time possible would prevent a fragile ceasefire from falling apart. His comments came after two Farc rebels were killed in combat with security forces in a confusing incident now being investigated by United Nations-sponsored monitors. Mr Santos announced a week ago that the country's largest rebel group had agreed to modify the peace accord defeated in a referendum, but he has been cagey about how he intends to implement the deal. The Colombian president was addressing the Organisation of American States after the hemispheric group endorsed the deal. Hundreds of protesters turned out in force in Paris against US President-elect Donald Trump - voicing fears about whether he will respect human rights, women and minorities. The crowd, including many Americans living in France, took to the streets Saturday in the Eiffel Tower neighbourhood behind a large banner "Paris against Trump". Youssef Al-Moughrabi, born in California and studying in Paris, said that "we are not contesting election results. But in every democracy I believe there is a government and there is an opposition, in a healthy democracy, and we are the opposition". Many placards could be seen in the crowd with messages against racism, misogyny, Islamophobia, homophobia and "white nationalism". AP United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit. MARK ANTHONY PALZER, Plaintiff - Appellant, v. COX OKLAHOMA TELECOM, LLC, a Delaware corporation, CoxCom, Inc., CoxCom, LLC, Cox Communications, LLC, or Cox Communications, or Cox Communications Kansas, LLC, Defendant - Appellee. No. 16-5021 Decided: November 18, 2016 Before KELLY, GORSUCH, and MATHESON, Circuit Judges. ORDER AND JUDGMENT* Mark Anthony Palzer appeals the district court's dismissal of his employment discrimination suit for failure to timely obtain service. Exercising jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. 1291, we reverse. After receiving his right-to-sue letter from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Mr. Palzer sought the services of attorney N. Kay Bridger-Riley, who had recently suffered an accident that resulted in multiple broken bones. Ms. Bridger-Riley filed a petition in state court on Mr. Palzer's behalf against his former employer, Cox Communications, on January 20, 2015. Due to the suite of medications she was taking as a result of her accident, however, she neglected to effect service on any of the Cox entities named as defendants. Because Ms. Bridger-Riley had previously resigned her admission to the Northern District of Oklahoma bar, she listed her former colleague Christopher Camp as counsel on the case as a contingency if the case was removed to federal court pursuant to an agreement between them. On August 24, the state court issued a Notice of Disposition Docket in connection with this case pursuant to Okla. Stat. tit. 12, 1083, indicating that the court would dismiss the case without prejudice unless counsel appears and shows good cause why the case should be allowed to remain on the docket. Aplt. App. at 65. Mr. Camp received the notice but Ms. Bridger-Riley did not. Mr. Camp forwarded the notice to Ms. Bridger-Riley, after which she sent the petition and summons to the defendants via certified mail. Mr. Camp appeared before the state-court judge on September 10 and explained how Ms. Bridger-Riley's medical issues led to her failure to effect service. The state court granted Mr. Palzer an additional 30 days to complete service. Cox was served on September 14. On October 2, Cox removed the action to federal court and moved to dismiss for failure to timely serve summons under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(5). Mr. Palzer moved to strike the motion, arguing that the state court had already found that good cause existed at the disposition docket hearing. The district court determined that the state court's decision to extend at the hearing did not amount to an analysis of good cause under [Okla. Stat. tit. 12,] 2004(I). Aplt. App. at 67 (brackets and internal quotation marks omitted). Accordingly, the court ordered Mr. Palzer to file a brief stating his good cause so it could consider in the first instance whether he met his burden. Mr. Palzer did so, recounting Ms. Bridger-Riley's medical issues and how they obstructed her ability to timely serve the defendants. In a decision citing no legal authority, the district court concluded that Mr. Palzer failed to establish good cause for failure to timely serve because he was represented during the entirety of the service period by at least one attorney who could have effectuated service, referring to Mr. Camp. Aplt. App. at 11011. The court reasoned that, despite the agreement between Ms. Bridger-Riley and Mr. Camp, Mr. Palzer did not explain why Mr. Camp could not have effectuated service. Aplt. App. at 110. We review the district court's dismissal of the case for failure of proper service, and consequently its determination of good cause, for an abuse of discretion. See Constien v. United States, 628 F.3d 1207, 1213 (10th Cir. 2010). Under the abuse of discretion standard, a trial court's decision will not be disturbed unless the appellate court has a definite and firm conviction that the lower court made a clear error of judgment or exceeded the bounds of permissible choice in the circumstances. Phelps v. Hamilton, 122 F.3d 1309, 1324 (10th Cir. 1997). When we apply the abuse of discretion standard, we defer to the trial court's judgment because of its firsthand ability to view the witness or evidence and assess credibility and probative value. Brown v. Presbyterian Healthcare Servs., 101 F.3d 1324, 1331 (10th Cir. 1996) (internal quotation marks omitted). Discretion means a sound discretion, that is to say, a discretion exercised not arbitrarily or willfully, but with regard to what is right and equitable under the circumstances and the law, and directed by the reason and conscience of the judge to a just result. Rogers v. Andrus Transp. Servs., 502 F.3d 1147, 1152 (10th Cir. 2007) (internal quotation marks omitted). This case occurs at a curious intersection of state and federal law. Where service is effected prior to removal to federal court, we look to state law to determine if service was perfected. Wallace v. Microsoft Corp., 596 F.3d 703, 706 (10th Cir. 2010). Section 2004 provides that, [i]f service of process is not made upon a defendant within one hundred eighty (180) days after the filing of the petition and the plaintiff cannot show good cause why such service was not made within that period, the action shall be deemed dismissed without prejudice. Okla. Stat. tit. 12, 2004(I). But when process served proves to be defective, 28 U.S.C. 1448 (emphasis added), our looking to state law does not foreclose service being effected in the federal district court. Wallace, 596 F.3d at 706 (brackets and internal quotation marks omitted). Here, though service was perfected prior to removal, the district court invalidated service in finding that Mr. Palzer did not establish good cause. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m) thus gives the plaintiff [90] days from the date defendant removes the case to federal court in which the imperfect or defective service may be cured. Id. at 707 (internal quotation marks omitted). Accordingly, the district court abused its discretion in dismissing the suit instead of giving Mr. Palzer the opportunity to effect service under federal law. We are further assured of our decision in light of the district court's manifest disregard for the state court's September 10 decision. To be sure, the district court may dissolve or alter prior state court orders after removal, Granny Goose Foods, Inc. v. Bhd. of Teamsters, 415 U.S. 423, 437 (1974), but we do not take lightly the notion that Cox can avoid this suit in federal court after the state court expressly allowed the case to proceed, whether its decision amounted to a good cause finding or not. Such a result is not a just result, see Rogers, 502 F.3d at 1152, because it is inequitable as it is incompatible with our discouragement of forum-shopping, see Hanna v. Plumer, 380 U.S. 460, 468 (1965) (observing that discouragement of forum-shopping is one of the twin aims of the Erie rule.). Any deference we owe the district court is lessened in situations such as this where there were no witnesses called and no credibility assessed. See Brown, 101 F.3d at 1331. To reach its decision without citation to any authority confirms for us that the district court made a clear error of judgment [and] exceeded the bounds of permissible choice in the circumstances. See Phelps, 122 F.3d at 1324. We therefore vacate the judgment of the district court and remand the case to the district court with instructions to allow Mr. Palzer 90 days to serve process in accordance with the dictates of 28 U.S.C. 1448 and Rule 4(m). Entered for the Court Paul J. Kelly, Jr. Circuit Judge The Dutch counter-terrorism coordinator said Islamic State (IS) has between 60 and 80 operatives planted in Europe to carry out attacks. Dick Schoof said would-be fighters are also heeding messages from IS "asking them not to come to Syria and Iraq, but to prepare attacks in Europe". One result is that over the last six months the number of "foreign terrorist fighters" has not grown, he said, but the fact that they are not travelling "does not mean that the potential threat of those who would have travelled is diminished". Mr Schoof said ongoing military operations to oust IS from its self-declared caliphate in Syria and Iraq is also scattering its fighters. A week-old baby girl who went missing after her mother was shot dead has been found alive. Police in Kansas were searching for newborn Sofia Victoria Gonzalez Abarca since Thursday. Her mother Laura Abarca-Nogueda, 27, was killed in her home. Chief Gordon Ramsay said police received a tip-off about 4.30am Saturday that the child was in Dallas. The police chief said finding the baby alive and healthy is "the best possible outcome to a very sad case". Local newspaper, The Wichita Eagle, reported that Chief Ramsay said that suspects in the death of Ms Abarca-Nogueda took the child and fled to Texas, where Sofia was found. Ramsay said two people are in custody. AP Pope Francis on Saturday decried what he called a polarising surge in much of the world to exclude people with different nationalities, races or beliefs as enemies, as he led a ceremony welcoming 17 new cardinals from six continents. The consistory ceremony in St Peter's Basilica formally inducted the churchmen into the cardinals' ranks. One of the new "princes of the church," as the cardinals are sometimes called, an 87-year-old bishop from Lesotho, Africa, was too frail to attend the ceremony; his red hat will be delivered to him, the pope announced in Latin. Francis used his homily to encourage the new crop of cardinals to be near to, not remote from, the flocks of faithful they will lead. He said love is needed for "the conversion of our pitiful hearts that tend to judge, divide, oppose and condemn", and cautioned sombrely against those who "raise walls, build barriers and label people". "We see, for example, how quickly those among us with the status of the stranger, an immigrant, or a refugee, become a threat, take on the status of an enemy. An enemy because they come from a distant country, or have different customs," the pope said. Popes, in selecting cardinals, look for men who share their approach to the church's mission in the world. Among the newly made cardinals is Indianapolis Archbishop Joseph Tobin, who defied the governor of the US state of Indiana, Mike Pence, by welcoming Syrian refugees. Cardinal Tobin in January will become archbishop of Newark, New Jersey; Mr Pence will be installed as vice president of the United States. The new cardinals who pledged loyalty to the pope on Saturday included prelates from Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, and North and South America. Some of their homelands include Papua New Guinea, Mauritius, Malaysia, Venezuela, Mexico, Bangladesh and Brazil. One of them, an 88-year-old Albanian priest, Ernest Simoni, personally knew the suffering caused by hatred. Cardinal Simoni spent 18 years in prison because of his faith, facing both solitary confinement and hard labour, in his homeland during its communist regime. Since cardinals are usually bishops already, Francis bestowed a rare honour on giving that rank to Cardinal Simoni, a simple priest. After Cardinal Simoni kneeled before Francis to receive his red hat, he clasped the pope's hand tightly and seemed to fight back tears. When Francis visited Albania in 2014, he was brought to tears after the then Father Simoni told him how he was persecuted. Cardinal Simoni, who worked to reconcile feuds in many of that country's villages, after decades of serving clandestinely as a priest until the country's communist rule ended in 1990. Another new cardinal, Italian Archbishop Mario Zenari, is the pope's envoy to Syria. Greeting Francis on behalf of all the 17 prelates, Cardinal Zenari recalled war-torn countries, places where "the unlucky, adults and children, (are) left for dead, or half-dead on the streets of their villages and neighbourhoods, or under the rubble of their homes and schools, because of the brutal violence and bloody, inhuman and inextricable conflicts there". Archbishop Dieudonne Nzapalainga, of Bangui, Central African Republic, also was among the fresh crop of cardinals. In 2015, Francis visited Cardinal Nzapalainga's country, bloodied by sectarian violence between Christian and Muslim militants that has forced more than one million people to flee their homes. The two other new cardinals from the United States are Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich and Archbishop Kevin Farrell, who served as bishop of Dallas before Francis appointed him to head the Vatican office for laity, family and life issues. Thirteen of the 17 new cardinals are under 80 years old and thus eligible to vote in a secret conclave for the next pope. Francis has now appointed 44 of the 120 cardinals young enough to elect his successor. The others were named by the previous two pontiffs, John Paul II, whom Francis made a saint, and Benedict XVI, who retired in 2013. After the basilica ceremony, the new cardinals and the pope were taking two mini-buses to the monastery on Vatican grounds where Benedict lives so they can greet the emeritus pontiff, the Vatican said. AP President-elect Donald Trump has agreed to a 25 million US dollar settlement to resolve three lawsuits over Trump University, his former school for real estate investors. The deal announced on Friday by New York state attorney general Eric Schneiderman would settle a lawsuit he filed three years ago, plus two class-action lawsuits in California filed on behalf of former Trump University students. The suits allege that Trump University failed to deliver on its promise to teach success in real estate through programmes that cost up to 35,000 US dollars. They say the programme misled students by calling itself a university when it was not an accredited school and by saying that Mr Trump "hand-picked" instructors. Messages left with several of Mr Trump's lawyers and a spokeswoman were not returned Friday. Mr Trump has strongly denied the allegations and said during the campaign that he would not settle. He told supporters at a May rally that he would come to San Diego to give evidence after winning the presidency. "I could have settled this case numerous times, but I don't want to settle cases when we're right. I don't believe in it. And when you start settling cases, you know what happens? Everybody sues you because you get known as a settler. One thing about me, I am not known as a settler," Mr Trump said at the time. The deal does not require Mr Trump to acknowledge wrongdoing. Mr Schneiderman said the 25 million dollars to be paid by Mr Trump or one of his business entities includes restitution for victims and one million US dollars in penalties to the state. "Donald Trump fought us every step of the way, filing baseless charges and fruitless appeals and refusing to settle for even modest amounts of compensation for the victims of his phony university. Today, that all changes," Mr Schneiderman said in a statement. He called the settlement "a stunning reversal by Donald Trump and a major victory for the over 6,000 victims of his fraudulent university". A US federal judge in California had been set on Friday to consider arguments on Mr Trump's latest request to delay a trial until after Mr Trump's inauguration on January 20. Mr Trump's lawyers said in a court filing last week that preparations for the White House were "critical and all-consuming". Six months ago, when they unsuccessfully sought a delay until after Inauguration Day, lead lawyer Daniel Petrocelli said the period between the election and swearing-in is extremely hectic for a president-elect but that it was preferable to a trial during the campaign. "The task is momentous, exceedingly complex, and requires careful coordination involving the respective staffs and teams of both President (Barack) Obama and President-elect Trump," Mr Trump's lawyers wrote. "In fewer than three months, the President-elect must be prepared to manage 15 executive departments, more than 100 federal agencies, two million civilian employees, and a budget of almost four trillion US dollars." Mr Trump's lawyers also raised the prospect of having the president-elect testify by video recording before the trial begins in the class-action lawsuit on November 28. AP Steve Kelliher of the Royal Army Medical Corps with Second World War veteran Thomas Gurley Piper Lance Corporal Richie Spence of the Irish Guards during the service at the Thiepval Memorial in northern France A Remembrance service attended by 2,000 people fell silent in France yesterday as it marked the 100th anniversary of the final day of the Battle of the Somme. The British and French national anthems were played at the Thiepval Memorial heralding the end of the bloody four-and-a-half month offensive which started on July 1, 1916. To mark each day of the battle a daily service had been held at the towering monument, which is inscribed with the names of more than 72,000 soldiers whose bodies were never recovered or identified. In July an international service attended by figures including the Prince of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and then Prime Minister David Cameron was held marking the 100th anniversary of the start of the battle. A more low-key ceremony was held yesterday to commemorate the centenary of the final day of the battle, which was fought by 60 nations from across the British Empire and Europe over a 15-mile front in northern France. Guests- including the British ambassador to France, Lord Llewellyn of Steep - braved downpours during the service, which was led by Bishop James Newcome, the Royal British Legion national chaplain. The Rev Stephen Hancock, chaplain to the Royal British Legion Somme branch, said: "The trees and fields today mask the horror that once came here. "I pray God that is never repeated and I pray God that the people who died are remembered." The Last Post was followed by a two-minute silence and wreath-laying. A lone piper led a military escort of the wreaths to the nearby memorial where they were laid. Fermanagh man Rodney Corrigan - whose grandfather's cousin died at the Somme - was among those who attended. "I had looked into going earlier, but there wasn't anything available with the flood of demands. I just happened to see this service advertised so I put my name forward and got the ticket," he said. "It was a very good service - very well-organised, as you'd expect by the British Legion and the War Graves Commission. "Unfortunately the weather wasn't kind, but it puts things into perspective when you think of what the men and boys out there would have had to endure." After the service Mr Corrigan walked around the Thiepval Memorial, which is carved with the names of the thousands of missing British Empire servicemen, including William Edward Morrow, his grandfather's cousin. Carol Walker of the Somme Association based in Conlig, Co Down, paid her tribute to the thousands of local men who fought and died in the battle. "The figures are still hard for us to comprehend so many years on, with the loss of somewhere in the region of 420,000 British casualties," she said. "Only a few miles were gained for this unimaginable loss of life. The 36th (Ulster) and 16th (Irish) Divisions both played their part in the Somme campaign and their sacrifices along with so many others should never be forgotten. "Many came home broken men, both mentally and physically, and lived with their scars until they died. "We should never forget what they gave for our freedom and democracy." Three members of a family were killed and three others wounded after Pakistan and Indian troops exchanged fire in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir. Pakistani officials on Saturday accused Indian troops of "unprovoked" cross-border firing. According to police official, Mohammad Shafqat, two sisters and their brother were "martyred". A fourth person who was critically wounded this week died at a hospital, he said. Pakistani troops are returning fire and carrying out a "befitting response," the military said in a statement. However, an Indian army officer Saturday blamed Pakistan for initiating the firing, and also described the Indian troops' response as "befitting". The officer spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to brief reporters. Although such shoot-outs are common, the latest one came a day after Pakistan's navy said it had intercepted Indian submarines entering the country's territorial waters in the Arabian sea. India denied the claim. Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesman, Nafees Zakaria, posted a tweet to express his sympathies for those who lost their loved ones in the cross-border firing. Pakistan has said India is escalating tension to divert the world community's attention from its human rights violations in Indian-controlled Kashmir, and says its army responds with restraint when under attack. AP Donald Trump has agreed to a 25 million dollar (20.1 million) settlement over three lawsuits involving his now-defunct Trump University. About 7,000 students would be eligible for refunds if US district judge Gonzalo Curiel approves the settlement. Under the terms of the deal, Mr Trump admits no wrongdoing in settling two federal class-action lawsuits in San Diego and a civil suit brought by New York attorney general Eric Schneiderman. The agreement came 10 days before jury selection was scheduled to begin in San Diego in the oldest case, which was filed in April 2010. The complaint accused Trump University, which was not an accredited school, of defrauding students who paid up to 35,000 dollars (28,000) a year to enrol in courses which promised to share Mr Trump's real estate secrets. Mr Trump denied the allegations and said during his successful presidential campaign that he would not settle. He told supporters at a May rally that he would come to San Diego to testify after winning the presidency. He said at the time: "I could have settled this case numerous times but I don't want to settle cases when we're right. I don't believe in it. And when you start settling cases, you know what happens? Everybody sues you because you get known as a settler. One thing about me - I am not known as a settler." Two days after the election, Mr Trump's lead attorney in the San Diego cases, Daniel Petrocelli, said he was "all ears" to settlement talks and accepted an offer to have US District Judge Jeffrey Miller of San Diego broker the negotiations. The plaintiffs' attorney Jason Forge said the agreement was reached an hour before a hearing for Judge Curiel to weigh Mr Trump's latest request to delay the trial until after his January 20 inauguration. He said Judge Miller's role as a mediator was "very critical". "We were at each other's throat for six and a half years and were able to find the common ground with them and do something good there," Mr Forge told reporters. The agreement cancelled the trial and lifted what would probably have been a major headache for Mr Trump as he works to fill key executive branch positions and get acquainted with foreign leaders. The trial was expected to last several weeks, guaranteeing daily news coverage of a controversy which had dogged him during the campaign. Mr Trump's political rivals seized on the lawsuits to try to portray him as dishonest and deceitful. President-elect Trump brought more attention to them by repeatedly assailing Judge Curiel, who oversaw the San Diego cases. Mr Trump suggested the Indiana-born judge's Mexican heritage exposed a bias. The thousands of former students covered by the San Diego lawsuits will be eligible to receive at least half and possibly all their money back, as much as 35,000 dollars, said Mr Forge. Mr Schneiderman called the agreement a "stunning reversal" for him, saying Mr Trump "fought us every step of the way, filing baseless charges and fruitless appeals and refusing to settle for even modest amounts of compensation for the victims of his phony university. Today, that all changes." Mr Trump's attorneys said the settlement allows the president-elect to focus full attention on his transition to the White House. "He was willing to sacrifice his personal interests, put this behind him, and move forward," Mr Petrocelli said. Michael Jackson had a hit song in the early Seventies when he was still just a sweet wee boy. It was called "Ben" and the opening lines went like this: "Ben, the two of us need look no more We both found what we were looking for. With a friend to call my own I'll never be alone; And you my friend will see You've got a friend in me" I really loved it and so did everyone else too because it was number one for ages. It was only afterwards the writer explained that the song was actually about a lonely boy and a tame feral rat. When I learnt that I actually loved it even more. I'd always been an animal lover and from that moment I too wanted a friend to call my own just like Ben. And thus began my fondness for the common rat... In those days I'd only ever seen rats on the telly before - on a children's programme called Tales of the Riverbank - but I adored them. Awww!...Those cute little beady eyes! The wee pointy nose! Those long glossy whiskers! Those tiny little teeth! Unfortunately my mum didn't share my enthusiasm. She had a hysterical mortal dread of all rodents and so when I asked for a pet rat she looked at me like I was possessed with the devil. I knew they were more likely to take me to the priest to be exorcised than to the pet shop to get one, but I hankered after a rat ever since. Before you all pipe up, I accept that rats are vermin that spread disease and considered by most of the world to be a plague on humanity, but I still think they are really cute despite all the bad Press. And heck are they getting a lot at the moment. In fact rats are never out of the news these days. Just this week there was a story about a girl who rescued a cornered rat from a violent mob who were kicking it to death on Royal Avenue in Belfast. As I read it I knew I would have done exactly the same thing. The poor wee thing must have been terrified and it must have taken a lot of courage for that girl to intervene and carry the critter all the way across town to find a vet. And yet the public at large seemed to think that the girl was crazy to even try to defend it. This wasn't a wee fluffy puppy - this was a huge rat for dear sake! Meanwhile on telly I'm a Celebrity has started up again with its ultimate Bush Tucker Trial - to see who can last the longest stuck in a cave full of live rats. Personally, I've often thought I'd much rather do that than endure an hour in the company of so many revolting reality TV stars. But it just goes to show how these unsuspecting little fellas are feared and loathed so openly and so vehemently by so many. So yes, you could safely conclude that I've had a sneaking regard for rats all my life. So one thing might surprise you - because it certainly did surprise me - and that is how I reacted when I came face to face with one last week. I went to investigate a loud crunching sound coming from the cupboard in my kitchen, opened the door and there, looking up at me without so much as a by-your leave, was a solitary rat - about the size of a guinea pig and just as cute - gnawing nonchalantly on a Bonio dog biscuit. Unfortunately, my instinctive gut reaction was to leap back and scream from the shock, sending him bolting out through the door like ...well, like a rat up a drainpipe. I know how it got there. I had left the back door open for the dogs to come and go and he must have seen that as a giant welcome sign for him to saunter on in and help himself to the free all-you-can-eat buffet under the kitchen counter. Bless... I haven't seen Mr Ratty since, but I've now got a trap in position (filled with doggie biscuits) poised with a hair-trigger door, so that if he does come back I'll be able to catch him safe and sound without hurting him. If so, I do intend to set him free in the wild, but I'll probably try and get to know him first before I do. I might even give him a name. No prizes for guessing what it'll be. It is heartening to know that the life and death of a young nun from Londonderry continues to inspire people from beyond the grave. Sister Clare Crockett gave up her hedonistic and busy social life as a teenager in Derry to become a member of the Home of the Mother Order. Like many another teen, she loved the "good life", spending her money on alcohol and cigarettes, and partying with her friends. When she was 17 she went on a 10-day trip to Ibiza, bound for the island's nightclubs, but this turned into a soul-searching pilgrimage when she received a call from God to be a nun. She chose to live among the poor and vulnerable in Ecuador. Tragically, however, she died earlier this year when an earthquake destroyed the school in which she was working. In today's paper her sister Megan talks about the enormous impact of that tragedy on the family, who are still inundated with heartfelt messages of sympathy. Many well-wishers who call at the Crockett home include those who knew Clare as a nun, and whose lives were made better by meeting her. Her inspiring story will be brought to many other people in a film being made by her Home of the Mother Order, titled All Or Nothing. Another inspiring, spiritual young woman is former high-profile journalist Martina Purdy, who became a nun in Belfast and is now Sister Martina. Both these young women have shown the transforming power of a strong and deep Christian faith. Sadly, it has become almost commonplace for people to decry that kind of faith, but no one can doubt its power to change the lives of those who believe. Sister Clare used her profound personal faith to connect with others, as is evidenced by the effect she still has on other lives, even from beyond the grave. Her inspiration truly lives on. Dear Arlene and Martin: So, you have congratulated President-elect Donald Trump on his election. Very polite, but a bit pompous, indulging in hubris and inviting the sharp question he may ask: "Who on earth are these people? And why should I care about this little place off Scotland, somewhere?" Indeed. My advice to The Donald - not that he would heed it, I suspect - is not to invite you to his new house, the White House, until you have fixed up your own ailing house in Northern Ireland. Please stay at home and don't bother junketing out here and begging for tickets to the inauguration in January and then buying the first-class, or business class, airline tickets for another time-wasting visit to Washington in March. You need to stay at home and fix up the Fresh Start, as it was supposed to be, and not the Stale Start, it has turned out to be. The 'Opposition' powers in the Assembly have turned out to be an utter joke, thanks to your two tribal parties excluding others from decisions, not just because they left the Executive (they weren't consulted when they were in the Executive, anyway), but because of the DUP and Sinn Fein carve-up of power, not sharing power, which suits you both very nicely. For years now, in fact for almost two decades, we have had the spectacle of Northern Ireland First Ministers, deputy First Ministers, ministers, MLAs, senior public servants, and assorted bag-carriers traipsing off to DC every St Patrick's Day, but with precious little to show for it on their return. In the days after the Good Friday Agreement back in 1998, and before, and for about five years afterwards, there was focus and definite purpose to these trips and likely pay-off. In recent years, no. Let's take the so-called trips to drum up the elusive "US investment, jobs back home, exports from NI". Declan Kelly, a one-time reporter for southern Irish weeklies and The Cork Examiner, who hit the jackpot out here as a wunderkind PR man, was appointed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's 'economic envoy' to Northern Ireland. He won an office in the State Department, staff and produced, well, how many jobs? How much in investment? Export numbers? No doubt Invest NI (an oxymoron, mostly) will tell us he did truly wondrous things. But he left within two years and he was doing other things, such as benefiting from the wonderful connection with the Clinton Foundation, Bill Clinton himself and the kudos that gave Mr Kelly and those at his company. And then we have the well-staffed 'Northern Ireland Bureau', with splendid offices in DC and with an office in New York. Under the first Executive of David Trimble and Seamus Mallon and later Mark Durkan, this office - which I pushed to be set up in the late-1970s and early-1980s - no longer operates as a serious policy/communications virtual 'embassy' for Northern Ireland. It is, today, let's face it, a truly wonderful high-end concierge and lodging and travel bureau, which arranges the very best hotels, hires shining stretch limousines to ferry our VIPs around DC and New York and books superb restaurants for these elected representatives. But what do we have to show for this large staff? It's time for the responsible Assembly committee to do a forensic audit of cost-and-benefit for these offices and also the other offices outside Northern Ireland, such as in Beijing. Please stay at home and work on what, for me, is Issue Number One: integrated education. The former First Minister, Peter Robinson, made a big speech years ago about what a difference the educating of girls and boys from the Catholic and Protestant communities together could make to a future Northern Ireland. I liked that. And, then ... nothing happened. The DUP/Sinn Fein pantomime horse trotted out 'shared education', a pale, almost see-through imitation of the real thing. We still have only 7% of our schools integrated. Americans would be stunned and amazed that the taxpayer pays for Catholic and Protestant grammar schools. And then we have the Assembly where you, Arlene, have pledged not even to have a vote on same-sex marriage, but have promised to use a Petition of Concern to block it. What are you afraid of? Democracy? And let's be clear that Sinn Fein would do exactly the same if they wished. Fresh Start? Hardly. Tell you what. Let me suggest how you could, legitimately, come back to DC on a future St Patrick's Day (no, not 2017) and maybe at other times: when you, Arlene and Martin, have shown progress; joined-up government; given real teeth to A Shared Future, now toothless pabulum, and a boost to integrated education. Sure, the perks of office are nice for your parties and for the too-numerous MLAs and their generous expenses. These jobs are nice earners - no question about it. There was a time when the Northern Irish were famous for hard work and wanting value for money. Not anymore, it seems. Earn your back pay, Arlene and Martin, and I'll be delighted to see you - even in the awful Donald Trump Republican Party-dominated USA. In the meantime, stay at home. Yours, Michael. United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit. MICHAEL E. KEELING, Appellant v. C.O. BARRAGER; MR. WALSH; MR. MOONEY; MR. ZAKARAUKAS; MR. PALL; MR. CIRELLI; MR. MARTIN; MRS. LUCAS; MS. CICERCHIA; DR. JESSE; C. J. MCKEOWN; SECRETARY JOHN WETZEL No. 16-1131 Decided: November 18, 2016 Before: SHWARTZ, COWEN and FUENTES, Circuit Judges OPINION* Michael E. Keeling appeals the District Court's orders granting the prison officials' motion to dismiss and Dr. Jesse's motion for summary judgment. We will affirm. Keeling, a Pennsylvania prisoner, filed suit alleging numerous civil rights violations under 42 U.S.C. 1983. Keeling's complaint asserted, inter alia, the following claims: (1) Defendant Cicerchia retaliated against him for suing her in a separate lawsuit; (2) Defendants Cirelli, Pall, Martin, and Zakaraukas retaliated against him for filing a grievance against their colleague, Defendant Barrager; (3) while Keeling was in the Restricted Housing Unit (RHU), prison officials denied him access to portions of his legal material, which violated his right to access the courts; (4) his rights to due process were violated when prison officials removed his Z-cell status, forcing him to share a cell with another prisoner; (5) prison officials wrongfully found him guilty of various prison misconducts and sentenced him to up to 90 days in the RHU, in violation of his due process rights; and (6) Dr. Jesse, Keeling's treating-psychologist, violated his Eighth Amendment rights and retaliated against him for amending his complaint in a separate lawsuit. The District Court granted the prison officials' motion to dismiss and Dr. Jesse's motion for summary judgment. Keeling appeals. We begin our discussion with the District Court's order dismissing the retaliation claims against the prison officials. In order to state a claim for retaliation for engaging in protected conduct, Keeling was required to plead facts showing: (1) he engaged in constitutionally protected conduct; (2) he suffered an adverse action at the hands of prison officials; and (3) a causal link between the exercise of his constitutional rights and the prison officials' decisions to punish him. Mack v. Warden Loretto FCI, ___ F.3d ___, 2016 WL 5899173, at *6 (3d Cir. Oct. 11, 2016). For the reasons given by the District Court, Keeling failed to state a retaliation claim against Defendant Cicerchia. Keeling alleged that she retaliated against him by transferring him from A-Block to J-Block for naming her in a lawsuit he had filed 13 months ago. As the District Court concluded, the allegedly retaliatory transfer was too remote in time to infer an unlawful motive, see Watson v. Rozum, ___ F.3d ___, 2016 WL 4435624, at *3 (3d. Cir. Aug. 23, 2016), and Keeling has not provided any other facts linking the transfer to the grievance. The District Court was also correct to dismiss Keeling's retaliation claim against Defendant Cirelli, who was assigned to investigate Keeling's grievance in which he claimed that Defendant Barrager had assaulted him. After Cirelli finished investigating that grievance, he cited Keeling with a misconduct for lying about the incident. These facts, even if proven true, are insufficient to show causation. Because several months passed between Keeling's filing his grievance against Barrager in March and Cirelli's decision to cite him with misconduct in early June, we agree with the District Court that the timing alone was not sufficient to suggest that Cirelli was retaliating. Keeling did claim that he had told the truth in his grievance, and that Cirelli wrongly concluded that Keeling was lying about Barrager's conduct. But that fact does not create any inference that Cirelli was retaliating against Keeling. Keeling also states, in conclusory fashion, that Keeling punished him on account of his grievance, but those conclusory allegations are not sufficient to survive a motion to dismiss. See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). For the same reason, the District Court correctly dismissed Keeling's claim that Defendants Pall, Martin, or Zakaraukas retaliated against Keeling for filing grievances against Barrager. We have already explained that the time between Keeling filing his grievance and the Defendants' decision to cite him with misconduct did not suggest that they were retaliating against him. Keeling claims that Defendant Zakaraukas falsely alleged that Keeling withdrew one of his two grievances against Defendant Barrager, but that Defendants Pall, Martin, and Zakaraukas later investigated the grievance because it was not, in fact, withdrawn. Keeling also claims that Zakaraukas never prepared a written recommendation or report denying Keeling's grievance, and that the Defendants did not view the prison security video from every possible angle. None of these allegations, however, show any causal link between Keeling exercising his rights to file a grievance and the Defendants' decision to cite him with a misconduct for lying in his prison grievance. Therefore, we will affirm the District Court's dismissal of Keeling's retaliation claims. The District Court also correctly dismissed Keeling's access to courts claim. To prove such a claim, Keeling was required to show (1) he suffered an actual injurythat is, that he lost a chance to pursue a nonfrivolous or arguable underlying claim; and (2) he had no other remedy that may be awarded as recompense for the lost claim other than in the present denial of access suit. Christopher v. Harbury, 536 U.S. 403, 415 (2005); see also Monroe v. Beard, 536 F.3d 198, 205 (3d Cir. 2008) (per curiam). The District Court surveyed Keeling's various other cases and concluded that Keeling had not been prevented from actively litigating in any of them. We agree with the District Court's conclusion. The District Court also correctly dismissed Keeling's due process claims because it is well settled that he had no protected liberty interest that was implicated by either the removal of his single-cell assignment, see generally Rhodes v. Chapman, 452 U.S. 337, 347-49 (1981), or his short-term placements in the RHU, see Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472, 486 (1995). Accordingly, we will affirm the District Court's dismissal of Keeling's claims against the prison officials. We will also affirm the District Court's grant of summary judgment in favor of Dr. Jesse. We begin with Keeling's allegations that Dr. Jesse retaliated against him, by ordering the removal of his medication, because he amended his complaint in two other lawsuits to add claims against different prison officials, but not her, challenging the removal of his single-cell status. Specifically, Keeling claimed that he amended his complaints in Keeling v. Damiter, a case he filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and in Keeling v. Beggs, which he filed in a court in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Dr. Jesse was entitled to summary judgment on Keeling's claims of retaliation because there was no record evidence that she was aware that he amended his complaints before she took the challenged action. See Ambrose v. Twp. of Robinson, 303 F.3d 488, 493 (3d Cir. 2002) (It is only intuitive that for protected conduct to be a substantial or motiv[at]ing factor in a decision, the decisionmaker[ ] must be aware of the protected conduct.). As the District Court found, Keeling amended his complaint in Damiter after Dr. Jesse removed his prescription for medication. As a matter of law, she could not have acted to retaliate against before he ever exercised his First Amendment rights. Moreover, although Keeling did amend his complaint in Beggs several days before Dr. Jesse removed his prescription, and Keeling theorized that prison officials must have alerted Dr. Jesse to his amended complaint so that she could conspire with them to retaliate against him, that allegation lacks any factual support in the record. The only evidence in the record on this point comes from Dr. Jesse's affidavit: She avers that she did not know about Keeling's litigation, let alone that he amended his complaint in Beggs, before making her treatment decision. Dr. Jesse was thus entitled to summary judgment because she could not have changed his prescription as retaliation for an action about which she was unaware. See Ambrose, 303 F.3d at 493. The District Court also correctly granted summary judgment on Keeling's claim that Dr. Jesse was deliberately indifferent to his serious medical needs. The District Court undertook a thorough review of Keeling's entire treatment history during his incarceration. The District Court noted that Keeling had received continuous evaluation and treatment for his mental health, and that the treating psychiatrists often reached different conclusions about whether Keeling needed psychotropic medication. The District Court further explained that Dr. Jesse, after evaluating Keeling several times, ultimately concluded that he did not need a prescription for psychotropic medication. As the District Court ruled, given Keeling's extensive treatment record and the record of Dr. Jesse's evaluation and treatment, no reasonable fact finder could conclude that Dr. Jesse was deliberately indifferent to Keeling's serious medical needs. Moreover, Keeling's claim presented, at most, a mere disagreement Dr. Jesse's treatment decision. That is insufficient to survive summary judgment. See Parkell v. Danberg, ___ F.3d ___, 2016 WL 4375620, at *14 (3d Cir. Aug. 17, 2016). Accordingly, we will affirm the judgment of the District Court. FOOTNOTES . We write only for the parties, who are familiar with the facts and the history of this lawsuit. . Keeling also claimed that Defendant Barrager unlawfully retaliated against him and verbally abused him. However, Keeling does not argue on appeal that the District Court erred in dismissing those claims. Accordingly, we will not address them here. See Emerson v. Thiel Coll., 296 F.3d 184, 190 n.5 (3d Cir. 2002). . We have jurisdiction over this appeal under 28 U.S.C. 1291. We review de novo a district court's orders granting summary judgment and dismissing for failure to state a claim. See Barefoot Architect, Inc. v. Bunge, 632 F.3d 822, 826 (3d Cir. 2011). . Keeling presented his factual allegations in a scattershot manner, without regard to chronology, and his complaint jumbled together numerous allegations against numerous defendants for the same actions. With regard to his misconduct citation, Keeling alleged that Defendant Cirelli issued the misconduct. However, in a different portion of his complaint, Keeling appeared to allege that Defendants Pall, Marin, and Zakaraukas issued the misconduct. We note that in reaching our decision, we have read Keeling's complaint in the light most favorable to him. . Because the prison officials were properly dismissed from this case, Keeling's motion to compel their discovery was correctly denied. See Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 686. . In his opening brief, Keeling complains that the District Court never ruled on his motion to amend his complaint. We note that the District Court did, in fact, deny Keeling's motion. We perceive no error in that determination because any amendment would have been futile. See Shane v. Fauver, 213 F.3d 113, 116 (3d Cir. 2000). We will also affirm the District Court's denial of Keeling's motion to reconsider its grant of summary judgment. Keeling does not challenge that decision in his opening brief beyond his arguments discussed above, and we conclude that the District Court did not abuse its discretion in denying his motion to reconsider. PER CURIAM Remember Glass, the 1,000 smart spectacles launched by Google to much fanfare in 2012, but abruptly cancelled three years later following sluggish sales and a backlash from the public, who objected to being filmed without their knowledge? Now, Snapchat has unveiled Spectacles, in a move which bears a remarkable similarity to Google's doomed project. The social network announced the wearables back in September, but they went on sale for the first time this week, only available from a "Snapbot" vending machine positioned on sunny Venice beach in Los Angeles. Described by parent company Snap as "a totally new type of camera", the sunglasses enable wearers to take 10-second video clips (called "Snaps") by pressing a button on the left arm, which can then be uploaded wirelessly straight to your Snapchat account. Snap says the device, which is charged inside its case, is capable of taking a day's worth of Snaps, while the circular video format "captures the human perspective". Reception has been good so far, the bright yellow vending machine attracting a lengthy queue and a reported three-hour wait for a chance to buy the 102 specs, before they sold out completely. The lucky few who succeeded have been excitedly posting their first hands-free Snaps online, praising the shades for being simple to set up and fun to use. So why has the reaction been overwhelmingly positive, especially in comparison to Google Glass? For a start, positioning Spectacles as sunglasses rather than eyewear makes them instantly cooler, and the round lens design, available in black, turquoise and orange, is much more stylish. While the camera lens is prominent on the corner of the frames, crucially, the round shape, outlined in yellow, is repeated on the other corner, making them symmetrical and balanced, as opposed to Glass' clunky lopsided design. It's clear there's been a focus on fashion from the get-go, whereas Glass eschewed aesthetics in favour of technology - and even an appearance on the New York Fashion Week catwalk couldn't give it the street cred it needed. Fancy getting your hands on a pair? Well, that might prove tricky. A mysterious snoozing animation on the Spectacles website (www.spectacles.com) suggests that the Snapbot will be back in business somewhere else soon, but it doesn't say when, or where. But with winter on the way, you've got to wonder how useful a pair of sunnies - however smart they are - will be. Konflikt 47: New Units for US & Germany 3 Minute Read Advertisement Allied Walkers Nazi Zombies & more hit the tabletop in Konflikt 47. Leading the assault lands the Mudskipper one of the newest walkers off the production line! US M2A1 Mudskipper Jump walker is a heavier platform deisigned to give the jump infantry some genuine punch as they advance in to enemy territory. With shock absorbers to handle the jumping manoeuvre and a stripped down chassis to save weight, the Mudskipper is proving a battle-winning addition to Jump Battalions. The US M2A1 variant replaces the arm-mounted .50 cals with antitank rockets for additional firepower. In Konflikt 47 Cost: 240pts (Veteran) Weapons: Twin forward-facing light autocannons, Forward-facing MMG, left and right armmounted HMG. 2 fists Damage Value: 8+ (medium walker) Options: Replace HMGs with two arm-mounted bazookas for +10 points per arm. Special Rules: Walker Jump Operation Cobra launches on 25 June 1944, shortly after the British begin Operation Goodwood on 18 July to fix the German defenders around Caen. After a slow beginning the operations gain traction and German defenders start to lose cohesion. On 28 July the US achieve a breakthrough and prepare to exploit the gap they fought hard to create. The German High Command, likely Hitler himself, orders the release of their new secret weapon, Die Totenkorps or the Dead Corps. Advertisement Overnight the Allied forces begin to fall back in disarray. Reports from the front speak of corpses and zombies attacking the Allied troops from the darkness. Shock, fear and horror break the resolve of the US spearhead forces and by early August, any chance to exploit the breakthrough has been lost Totenkorps Squad The animated corpses of the Totenkorps divide military opinion, whilst an ethical affront to even military minds, their impact on the battlefield and role in saving Germany in 1944 cannot be denied. The Korps now often finds itself held in reserve until required, normally kept as a weapon of last resort under the most fanatical and loyal SS Commanders. Subscribe to our newsletter! Get Tabletop, RPG & Pop Culture news delivered directly to your inbox. By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Cost: 42pts (Inexperienced) Composition: 6 Animated Corpses Weapons: None Options: Add up to 18 additional corpses for +7pts each. Special Rules: Horror Tough Fanatics Slow Ignore Pin Markers and Morale checks. Not affected by Medics. Advertisement The panzerschreck was a German development of the bazooka, firing a large calibre shaped-charge rocket projectile. A blast shield was fitted to the weapon to protect the firer, giving it its distinctive appearance. Carrying an even heavier version of the panzerschreck, heavy armoured infantry can get closer to their targets and wreak havoc on armoured vehicles. Cost: 118pts (Veteran) Team: 2 men Weapons: 1 panzerschreck Special Rules: Large Infantry Resilient Slow Team Weapon Shaped Charge ~Get in on the Weird World War! Author: Mars Garrett Pop culture staff writer that has been on the BoLS team since 2010. Contributor on the One of Us podcast. Marvel, Vertigo, and dystopian sci-fi fan. Enjoys bad movies, amazing stunt performances, and the internet. Hates rom-coms. (she/they) Advertisement Read the Comments (2) Thousands of yellow-clad Malaysian protestors rallied Saturday in downtown Kuala Lumpur, where they called for upholding parliamentary democracy and criticized the rule of a prime minister clouded by corruption allegations. The Bersih 5 rally took place although the leader of the grassroots movement as well as several other organizers and supporters were arrested ahead of the demonstration, and some scuffles and confrontations with activists from a pro-government group occurred during the day. At least 13 people were taken into custody in pre-rally arrests on Friday and early Saturday, including the leader of the so-called Red Shirts, an activist group that supports the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), the party of Prime Minister Najib Razak. Eight more people were reported arrested on Saturday, including three opposition politicians who were being investigated under laws that prohibit the incitement of riots. As Bersih protestors marched toward the venue for the rally, police barricades blocked them from accessing Independence Square, a symbolic spot in the Malaysian capital where they had intended to rally. Instead, they changed course and staged their demonstration in front of an iconic Kuala Lumpur landmark, the twin skyscrapers of the Petronas Towers (pictured below). The number of Bersih protestors who turned out ranged from 10,000 to 40,000, according to news reports, but Kuala Lumpur police put their number at 15,500. We will stop here. The crowd is so big and we cannot afford to allow people to get hurt. This is already a feat, former Bersih chairperson Ambiga Sreenivasan told a crowd of protestors at one of the barricades along the approaches to the square. All roads leading there were cordoned off and guarded by thousands of police and anti-riot personnel. At the plaza outside the towers, thousands in the crowd sat and chanted slogans, which called for Najib to resign over a corruption scandal tied to state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). Najib has denied allegations of wrongdoing over nearly U.S. $700 million in 1MDB-linked money deposited into his bank accounts in 2013. On Friday, the prime minister flew abroad to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru. At the rally held under monsoonal clouds, people chanted Hidup Rakyat! (long live the people), as opposition leaders and other speakers took turns at the microphone. This is what is called undermining democracy. It is not Bersih who is stopping democracy, but the government, former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, Najibs fiercest critic, told the crowd, referring to the barricades near Independence Square. This is not against democratic principles. This is Malaysia, and it belongs to all of us, former Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, whom Najib sacked last year for criticizing him in public about 1MDB, said when it came to him to speak. The Bersih rally ended at 5:30 p.m. Most Malaysians are keeping quiet The Red Shirts had threatened to mobilize some 300,000 of their members for a simultaneous counter-protest in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, but Malaysian authorities on Thursday declared the two rallies illegal, warning both groups to cancel them. According to police, only 2,500 Red Shirts showed up on Saturday. Zainuri Zainal, the chief of the youth wing for the Red Shirts, nonetheless declared the groups presence on Saturday a success, saying they had helped prevent the Bersih people from accessing Independence Square. They know we are here to control and to stop them, and we have managed to do that. We are here to help the police, he said. On the other side, the rally by Bersih was far smaller than the one it had staged over two days last year, in which some 200,000 protestors converged on Kuala Lumpur to protest against the 1MDB scandal. Bersih is a coalition of Malaysian NGOs, whose supporters wear yellow T-shirts and advocate transparent government, free and fair elections, institutional reforms to strengthen parliamentary democracy and the right to dissent, among other causes. A million will only turn up when their stomachs are getting empty. Im sad. Most Malaysians are keeping quiet, a retired army officer, who took part in Saturdays Bersih rally and requested anonymity, told BenarNews. Two days earlier, Malaysias Chief Secretary to the Government, Ali Hamsa, had warned the nations 1.6 million civil servants to stay away from Saturdays protests or face disciplinary action, including termination or pay cuts, reports said. Pro-government Red Shirts march in the Malaysian capital, Nov. 19, 2016. [Muzliza Mustafa/BenarNews] More arrests On Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi amplified the governments warning that it would act sternly toward organizers of the two protests. There is no issue of abuse of power because those arrested do not come from one side. More will be arrested, state news agency Bernama quoted Zahid as saying. In the evening, the chief of Kuala Lumpur police announced that six people were arrested during the protests. Three were being investigated for attempting to incite rioting, including Armand Azha Abu Hanifah, a leader of the Red Shirts and official from UMNOs youth office, and Howard Lee Chuan How, an assemblyman from the opposition Democratic Action Party. Among the others, one was arrested for flying a drone during the Bersih rally, a second man was arrested for carrying a machete and brass knuckles, and a third was picked up for attacking a Bersih supporter, Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Amar Singh Ishar Singh said in a statement. As of 6 p.m., the situation in Kuala Lumpur, especially at Independence Square, is under control with protestors having dispersed, he said. Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar, who praised the police force for maintaining law and order on Saturday through messages posted on Twitter, could not be reached for comment about all the arrests related to the protests. Late on Saturday night, two senior leaders of the opposition Peoples Justice Party (PKR) were arrested at their homes in connection with the Bersih rally, including PKR Vice President Tian Chua, The Star newspaper reported. Earlier in the day, a court remanded Jamal Md Yunos, the firebrand leader of the Red Shirts, to four days in police custody as part of an investigation into an alleged skirmish that he had with police officers on Nov. 13 during an incident involving MP Zuraida Kamaruddin, one of the two PKR officials picked up on Saturday night. Apart from Bersih chairwoman Maria Chin Abudullah, who was picked up on Friday, the 11 others, who were also arrested before the rallies took place, including two other Red Shirt activists, were all remanded Saturday to four days in police custody, local media reported. As for the leader of Bersih, who was initially arrested on suspicion of alleged activities deemed detrimental to parliamentary democracy, she was now being investigated under the Security Offenses (Special Measures) Act (SOSMA), which could allow police to hold her for 28 days without charges, according to Lawyers for Liberty, a local NGO. We are shocked and appalled by this abuse of power," Lawyers for Liberty tweeted on Saturday. [Hadi Azmi/BenarNews] Berkeley County Cpl. Kimber Gist recounts the day she was shot multiple times on duty and survived. She spoke to a group of students and faculty Thursday at Charleston Southern University. It was the first time Gist has spoken publicly about the incident since it happened in February. United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. KENNETH TOWNSEND, Appellant No. 16-1577 Decided: November 17, 2016 Before: JORDAN, GREENAWAY, JR., and RENDELL, Circuit Judges. OPINION* Kenneth Townsend was convicted of drug offenses and sentenced as a career criminal, but the District Court gave him a downward variance from the recommended guidelines range. We vacated his sentence in light of Supreme Court precedent that invalidated portions of the Armed Career Criminal Act. Johnson v. United States, 135 S. Ct. 2551 (2015). On remand, the District Court granted the government's request to enhance Townsend's sentence for obstruction of justice, and the Court resentenced him to the full length of his original sentence. On appeal, Townsend challenges the Court's reliance on the remarks of an accomplice made in a proffer to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. We conclude that the Court did not clearly err in crediting those remarks and will therefore affirm. I. Background A. Arrest and Trial In late 2011 and early 2012, the FBI and law enforcement officers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania conducted an investigation into local heroin trafficking. Through a wiretap, they determined that Damon Boyd and Carter Gaston were dealing cocaine and heroin. The investigators also became suspicious of Townsend after they observed Boyd and Gaston repeatedly entering and exiting from Townsend's residence. Soon after, the agents learned of a cocaine transaction happening there. They followed Boyd and Gaston as those two drove away from the home. The agents stopped them and arrested Boyd on an outstanding warrant. While conducting a standard inventory search of the vehicle, they discovered crack cocaine. The cocaine was still wet, indicating that it had been recently processed. The agents obtained a search warrant for Townsend's home and promptly conducted a search. There they found cocaine and items associated with the processing of crack. Townsend was convicted of possession with intent to distribute less than 500 grams of cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1), and of possession with intent to distribute 28 grams of crack cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1). He was also charged with, but not convicted of, conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. 846. During trial, he testified that the only time that he had ever processed cocaine for Boyd was on the day he was arrested. The jury could not reach a decision on the conspiracy charge and that charge was dismissed. B. Sentencing and Appeal Townsend was sentenced as a career offender pursuant to the United States Sentencing Guidelines 4B1.1. He had two prior offenses that contributed to his status as a career offender: possession with intent to deliver cocaine (a controlled substance offense) and fleeing a police officer (which at the time was considered a crime of violence). The Sentencing Guidelines recommended a prison sentence of 360 months to life, but the District Court granted Townsend's request for a downward variance and sentenced him to 200 months in prison. In explaining its decision to grant the variance, the Court noted that Townsend's record is light with respect to violent tendencies and that Townsend has shown some inclination toward bettering himself and learning a trade both before and after his arrest. (Suppl. App. at 102.) The District Court therefore concluded that the sentence was sufficient but not greater than necessary to meet the goals of [18 U.S.C.] Section 3553. (Id. at 103.) The government had argued that Townsend qualified for an obstruction of justice enhancement pursuant to U.S.S.G. 3C1.1. It claimed that he had offered false testimony when he claimed that he had only cooked crack cocaine for Boyd on a single occasion. Because Townsend qualified as a career criminal, and therefore already faced an elevated recommended sentence, the District Court did not resolve whether an obstruction of justice enhancement was proper. Townsend appealed his sentence, raising a variety of arguments about whether there was probable cause to search his home and whether he had been denied his right to confront a witness. United States v. Townsend, 638 F. App'x. 172, 175-77 (3d Cir. 2015). We determined those arguments to be meritless and affirmed his conviction. Id. But, in light of the Supreme Court's decision in Johnson v. United States, 135 S. Ct. 2551 (2015), we concluded that Townsend's prior conviction for eluding a police officer no longer qualified as a crime of violence, Townsend, 638 F. App'x at 178, and therefore Townsend no longer qualified as a career criminal. Accordingly, we vacated his sentence and remanded to the District Court for resentencing. C. Resentencing On remand, the District Court held a new sentencing hearing. The government argued for imposing the obstruction of justice enhancement that had been passed over during the first sentencing. It also urged the Court to impose the same sentence that had originally been imposed because, while Mr. Townsend may no longer be a career offender in terms of the legal definition, he is a career offender by every other definition. (App. at 87a.) Townsend responded that Gaston's statements were unreliable because he made them out of a self-serving desire to reduce his own sentence. Townsend also noted that Boyd at one point had called Gaston to ask for Townsend's number, which, Townsend claimed, undermined the assertion that Boyd worked with Townsend on numerous occasions. Moreover, according to Townsend, his earlier interactions with Boyd only involved marijuana, not cocaine. The Court evaluated the record from the original sentencing hearing, as well as supplemental information, the guidelines, and the parties' arguments. It credited Gaston's statement as being believable and noted that there were other indicia that Mr. Townsend and Mr. Boyd had a relationship including Mr. Townsend's knowledge of Mr. Boyd's street name, his knowledge of Mr. Boyd's voice, and the manner in which they conversed. (App. at 98a.) It found that Townsend's claim that he had only manufactured crack on one occasion was a perjured statement by a preponderance of the evidence. (App. at 98a.) The Court therefore concluded that an obstruction of justice enhancement was appropriate. As a result of that sentence enhancement and Townsend's criminal history, the recommended guidelines range became 135 to 168 months imprisonment. The Court agreed with the government's argument that Townsend's criminal history category did not appropriately reflect the seriousness of [Townsend's] criminal record or the likelihood of recidivism in this case. (App. at 100a-01a, 110a.) And the Court emphasized that, when imposing the original sentence it had varied downward from the guidelines to achieve a sentence in that case that balanced the very serious nature of this drug trafficking offense, [Townsend's] criminal history, and the needs for just punishment, deterrence, and rehabilitation. (App. at 110a.) Additionally, because the Court had discount [ed] [Townsend's] career offender status, the fact that Townsend was no longer considered a career offender did not change what [the Court] believe [d] to be the appropriate sentence in this case. (App. at 110a-111a.) It thus re-imposed the original sentence of 200 months. Townsend appeals that sentence. II. Discussion 2 According to Townsend, the District Court erred when it granted the government's motion for a two-point enhancement for obstruction of justice. We review for clear error the District Court's factual determination that Townsend falsely testified under oath, United States v. Napolitan, 762 F.3d 297, 312 (3d Cir. 2014), and we review the decision to apply the sentencing enhancement for abuse of discretion. United States v. Fumo, 655 F.3d 288, 314 (3d Cir. 2011). The defense has two arguments. First, that the Court erred in considering Gaston's hearsay testimony, and second, that the Court did not sufficiently address each of the elements of perjury. We reject both. As for Gaston's hearsay statements, it is well established that out-of-court statements may be relied upon during sentencing as long as they have sufficient indicia of reliability. United States v. Brothers, 75 F.3d 845, 848 (3d Cir. 1996) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Here, there were sufficient indicia of reliability and the Court did not err in crediting Gaston's remarks. Gaston spoke to the FBI as part of his safety-valve proffer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 3553(f). That provision allows a court to sentence a defendant without regard to statutory minimums, when certain conditions are met. In particular, the defendant must have truthfully provided to the Government all information and evidence the defendant has concerning the offense or offenses that were part of the same course of conduct or a common scheme or plan. Id.; see also United States v. Sabir, 117 F.3d 750, 751 (3d Cir. 1997) (describing the requirement of truthfulness). Satisfying the truthfulness element requires candor and openness. Sabir, 117 F.3d at 754; see also United States v. Aidoo, 670 F.3d 600, 607 (4th Cir. 2012) (The defendant's burden under the safety valve is a true burden of proof that rests, at all times, on the defendant. To carry his burden, the defendant must persuade the district court that he has made full, truthful disclosure of information required by the safety valve.). Gaston therefore had a strong incentive to be forthright. Furthermore, satisfying the truthfulness element does not depend on providing novel information that furthers an investigation or leads to another's conviction. 18 U.S.C. 3553(f)(5) (noting that the fact that the defendant has no relevant or useful other information to provide or that the Government is already aware of the information shall not preclude a determination by the court that the defendant has complied with this requirement). So, Gaston did not need to falsely implicate Townsend. Indeed, if his remarks were proven false, he would have been denied the benefits of the safety valve. There were also other indicia of reliability that the District Court noted, such as Townsend's knowledge of Boyd's street name, his ability to recognize Boyd's voice, and the familiarity with which he treated Boyd. In addition, the police had observed Boyd at Townsend's home on at least one other occasion. Townsend's familiarity with Boyd gave added credibility to Gaston's assertion that Townsend had cooked cocaine for Boyd before. Thus, the District Court could properly rely on Gaston's remarks. In contrast, Townsend's remarks were highly self-serving because they reduced the likelihood that the jury would find him guilty of conspiracy to distribute cocaine a tactic that bore fruit in the form of a hung jury and dismissal of the conspiracy charge. While there is some evidence cutting in favor of Townsend, such as Boyd not knowing Townsend's telephone number, the District Court did not clearly err in finding Gaston's account more credible. Therefore, the Court did not err when it concluded that Townsend had perjured himself on the stand. Townsend also obliquely attacks the District Court for not being sufficiently thorough in its analysis of the other elements of perjury. It is clearly preferable for a district court to address each element of the alleged perjury in a separate and clear finding. United States v. Dunnigan, 507 U.S. 87, 95 (1993). But it is enough for a court to make[ ] a finding of an obstruction of, or impediment to, justice that encompasses all of the factual predicates for a finding of perjury. Id. That was the case here, as the Court noted that Townsend's statements were intentional misrepresentations on material matters and contrary to other evidence. (App. at 97a-98a.) The Court therefore did not abuse its discretion when it found that Townsend had committed perjury and applied the sentencing enhancement. III. CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, we will affirm the District Court's sentencing decision. FOOTNOTES . As explained herein, we later determined that Supreme Court precedent undermined the conclusion that his conviction for flight was a crime of violence. . The District Court had jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. 3231. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1291 and 18 U.S.C. 3742(a)(1). . Townsend admitted to having sold cocaine for several years to numerous other individuals. That was consistent with Gaston's account that Townsend was known for his skill with cocaine manufacture and distribution. JORDAN, Circuit Judge. ein Google-Unternehmen Google-Dienste anzubieten und zu betreiben Ausfalle zu prufen und Manahmen gegen Spam, Betrug und Missbrauch zu ergreifen Daten zu Zielgruppeninteraktionen und Websitestatistiken zu erheben. 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Sofern relevant, verwenden wir Cookies und Daten auerdem, um Inhalte und Werbung altersgerecht zu gestalten. Wir verwenden Cookies und Daten, umWenn Sie Alle akzeptieren auswahlen, verwenden wir Cookies und Daten auch, umWahlen Sie Weitere Optionen aus, um sich zusatzliche Informationen anzusehen, einschlielich Details zum Verwalten Ihrer Datenschutzeinstellungen. Sie konnen auch jederzeit g.co/privacytools besuchen. United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. United States of America Plaintiff - Appellee v. Roxanne Merrell Defendant - Appellant No. 15-3211 Decided: November 18, 2016 Before MURPHY, GRUENDER, and SHEPHERD, Circuit Judges. Roxanne Merrell was convicted by a jury of two counts of producing child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2251(a) and (e). The district court sentenced Merrell to 240 months imprisonment on each count, to be served concurrently. Merrell appeals, challenging various aspects of her trial and sentencing proceeding. We affirm. I. In 2013 the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began investigating Travis Guenthner for the production of child pornography. The DHS investigation ultimately uncovered 50,000 photographs and 90 videos of suspected child pornography on Guenthner's various computers and devices. That same year Guenthner pled guilty to five counts of sexual exploitation of minors and two counts of coercion or enticement and was sentenced to life in prison. Among the child pornography found in Guenthner's possession was a folder containing sexually explicit photographs of the torso region of a prepubescent girl (Minor A). A woman's hands are visible in some of the images in the folder, sometimes spreading Minor A's genitals apart. Through forensic examinations the investigators determined that these photos were created in 2010. In 2014 Guenthner told investigators that Merrell had sent him the images of Minor A and that she had produced the images at his request. Law enforcement officers then obtained two search warrants, one for Merrell's home and the other for the search of [t]he person of Roxanne Merrell, specifically body views and photography of her hands. Merrell was interviewed by officers during the execution of the warrants. In her recorded interview, she admitted that she had taken the pictures of Minor A sleeping and that her own hands appeared in the photographs. Officers took Merrell to a police station after this interview and recorded 47 photographs of her hands. Merrell was indicted on two counts of production of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2251(a) and (e). At trial, the government elicited the testimony of federal agents and introduced audio clips of Merrell's initial interview with law enforcement officers and cell phone records indicating that she and Guenthner had telephoned each other around the time of the alleged offenses. The government also called special agent James Cole as an expert witness. Over Merrell's objections, Cole testified that it was likely that the adult hands visible in the photographs of Minor A were hers. The government also called Matthew Stephenson, a child protection worker who had conducted a videotaped interview of Minor A prior to trial. When asked on direct examination about Minor A's reaction when she saw one of the photos of herself found in Guenthner's possession, Stephenson testified that [Minor A] seemed shocked and confused. On cross examination, Stephenson testified about the questions he had posed to Minor A in the interview, but not her answers. After the government rested, Merrell attempted to introduce the videotape of Stephenson's interview of Minor A. The district court excluded the videotape as hearsay. The jury found Merrell guilty on both counts. At sentencing the district court determined that the applicable guideline range was 360 months to life, but varied downward and imposed a sentence of 240 months imprisonment on each count, to be served concurrently. Merrell appeals. II. Merrell first argues that the district court erred by denying her motion to suppress the 47 photographs of her hands taken during execution of the search warrant. When reviewing the denial of a suppression motion, the district court's findings of fact are examined for clear error and its conclusions of law are reviewed de novo. United States v. Castellanos, 608 F.3d 1010, 1015 (8th Cir. 2010). Since there is no dispute about the relevant facts, we give de novo consideration to Merrell's arguments regarding the constitutionality of the search. Merrell contends that the 47 photographs should have been suppressed because they exceeded the scope authorized by the search warrant. We disagree. Although Merrell is correct that the Fourth Amendment requires a warrant to describe particularly the things to be seized, there is no requirement that search warrants include a specification of the precise manner in which they are to be executed. Dalia v. United States, 441 U.S. 238, 255, 257 (1979) (citation omitted). We generally leave the details of how best to proceed with the performance of a search authorized by warrant to the judgment of the officers responsible for the search. Id. at 257. In this case, the warrant specified that law enforcement could search [t]he person of Roxanne Merrell, specifically body views and photography of her hands. The manner in which the officers carried out the search here did not exceed the scope of the warrant. Nor do we agree with Merrell that the photography process exceeded the bounds of reasonableness required by the Fourth Amendment. See U.S. Const. amend. IV; see also Hummel-Jones v. Strope, 25 F.3d 647, 650 (8th Cir. 1994) (noting that a valid warrant does not immunize the execution of a search from reasonableness review). The Fourth Amendment reasonableness standard is flexible and intends to balance the private interests of citizens against the countervailing public interests of law enforcement. See United States v. Bach, 310 F.3d 1063, 1067 (8th Cir. 2002); see also Pennsylvania v. Mimms, 434 U.S. 106, 109 (1977) (per curiam). Merrell argues that such a balance was exceeded in her case because it was not necessary to take her to the police station or to touch her in order to obtain the photographs. The fact that there may be less intrusive means by which law enforcement officers could conduct a search does not make it necessarily unreasonable, however. United States v. Williams, 477 F.3d 974, 976 (8th Cir. 2007). Moreover, the abbreviated physical touching of Merrell was limited to her hands during a twenty minute period. Based on the totality of the circumstances, we conclude that the manner in which law enforcement executed the search warrant here was reasonable. Finally, we reject Merrell's argument that her due process rights under the Fourteenth Amendment were violated because the warrant's execution was an identification procedure that had been suggestive and unnecessary. The photographing of Merrell's hands by law enforcement officers did not amount to an identification procedure, as Merrell terms it, because the photographs were not being presented to an eyewitness for the purpose of identifying an alleged criminal perpetrator. See, e.g., Perry v. New Hampshire, 132 S. Ct. 716, 721 (2012). Rather, the photographs were evidence gathered during the execution of a valid search warrant. Merrell's due process rights were therefore not violated. III. Merrell next argues that the district court erred by admitting the expert testimony of special agent Cole. The admission or exclusion of expert testimony is reviewed for abuse of discretion. United States v. Roach, 644 F.3d 763, 763 (8th Cir. 2011) (per curiam). Under Federal Rule of Evidence 702 an expert witness may provide opinion testimony if: (a) the expert's scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will help the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue; (b) the testimony is based on sufficient facts or data; (c) the testimony is the product of reliable principles and methods; and (d) the expert has reliably applied the principles and methods to the facts of the case. When assessing whether expert testimony is based on scientific knowledge, trial courts may consider various factors including: (1) whether the expert's technique can be tested, (2) whether the technique has been subjected to peer review and publication, (3) whether there is a known or potential rate of error, and (4) whether the technique is generally accepted within the relevant scientific community. Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharm., Inc., 509 U.S. 579, 59394 (1993). These same factors may also be relevant in assessing the admissibility of an expert's testimony on the basis of technical, or other specialized knowledge. Fed. R. Evid. 702(a); see Kumho Tire Co. v. Carmichael, 526 U.S. 137, 14950 (1999). In the case of all expert testimony the district court serves as a gatekeeper to ensure that only reliable and relevant expert testimony is presented to a jury. See Kumho Tire Co., 526 U.S. at 152. Assuming Merrell is correct that the district court abused its discretion by failing to exclude Agent Cole's testimony, this failure was harmless. Improperly admitted testimony warrants reversal of a conviction if the testimony substantially influence[d] the jury's verdict. United States v. Iron Hawk, 612 F.3d 1031, 1039 (8th Cir. 2010). Agent Cole's testimony could not have substantially influenced the jury's verdict here because of the overwhelming evidence provided by the government of Merrell's guilt. Most important was Merrell's confession which had been captured on tape by law enforcement officers. In that tape, she admitted that she had produced the child pornography at issue and that the adult hands visible in the photographs were hers. Merrell's confession was corroborated by evidence of the phone records between Merrell and Guenthner around the time the photographs were produced. Since substantial evidence other than Agent Cole's testimony supported the jury's verdict, its improper admission does not warrant reversal for a new trial. See id.; see also United States v. Oliver, 908 F.2d 260, 264 & n.3 (8th Cir. 1990). IV. Merrell's third claimed error relates to the district court's exclusion of the videotape of Stephenson's interview of Minor A as hearsay. We review the evidentiary rulings of a district court for abuse of discretion and will not substitute our judgment for its judgment. United States v. Condon, 720 F.3d 748, 754 (8th Cir. 2013). The district court did not abuse its discretion here. Merrell argues that the videotaped interview of Minor A was admissible because it fell within two exceptions to the hearsay rule: (1) present sense impressions, and (2) then existing mental, emotional, or physical conditions. See Fed. R. Evid. 803(1), (3). Even assuming that Minor A's statements fell within an exception to the hearsay exclusion, we see no abuse of discretion by the district court's decision to exclude the statements under Federal Rule of Evidence 403. Merrell argues that the failure to admit the videotape of Minor A's interview kept her from putting on an effective defense because she was prevented from presenting witnesses on her own behalf. There is no indication that the district court prevented Merrell from calling Minor A as a witness, however. Furthermore, Merrell fails to identify a single, critical statement made by Minor A in the interview that would have had the potential to affect the outcome of the case. We see no abuse of discretion in the district court's conclusion that any probative value was substantially outweighed by the videotape's potential to confuse the issues. See Fed. R. Evid. 403. V. Merrell also contends that the district court erred with respect to the jury instruction on lascivious exhibition. We review a challenge to a jury instruction for abuse of discretion and will affirm so long as 'the instructions, taken as a whole, fairly and adequately submitted the issues to the jury.' United States v. Aleman, 548 F.3d 1158, 1166 (8th Cir. 2008) (quoting United States v. Lalley, 257 F.3d 751, 755 (8th Cir. 2001)). The district court used the Eighth Circuit Model Instruction on lascivious exhibition, which is as follows: Whether a visual depiction of the genitals or pubic area constitutes a lascivious exhibition requires a consideration of the overall content of the material. You may consider such factors as (1) whether the focal point of the picture is on the minor's genitals or pubic area; (2) whether the setting of the picture is sexually suggestive, that is, in a place or pose generally associated with sexual activity; (3) whether the minor is depicted in an unnatural pose or in inappropriate attire, considering the age of the minor; (4) whether the minor is fully or partially clothed, or nude; (5) whether the picture suggests sexual coyness or a willingness to engage in sexual activity; (6) whether the picture is intended or designed to elicit a sexual response in the viewer; (7) whether the picture portrays the minor as a sexual object; (8) the caption(s) on the picture(s). It is for you to decide the weight or lack of weight to be given to any of these factors. A picture need not involve all of these factors to constitute a lascivious exhibition of the genitals or pubic area. Model Crim. Jury Instr. 8th Cir. 6.18.2252A (2014). Merrell asked the district court additionally to instruct the jury on the definition of lascivious exhibition outlined in the Modern Federal Jury Instruction treatise available on LexisNexis, which states: The term lascivious exhibition means a depiction which displays or brings to view to attract notice to the genitals or pubic area of children in order to excite lustfulness or sexual stimulation in the viewer. Not every exposure of the genitals or pubic area constitutes a lascivious exhibition. Leonard B. Sand et al., 3 Modern Federal Jury Instructions-Criminal Instr. 62-7 (2016). Merrell contends the district court's refusal to give her proposed definitional instruction did not fairly submit the issues to the jury because the jury was deprived of an opportunity to assess whether the photographs were clinical and therefore not lascivious exhibition. We see no abuse of discretion in the instructions given by the district court. It is well settled that a defendant is not entitled to a particularly-worded instruction when the instructions actually given by the trial court adequately and correctly cover the substance of the requested instruction. United States v. Espinoza, 684 F.3d 766, 783 (8th Cir. 2012) (quoting United States v. Cruz-Zuniga, 571 F.3d 721, 725 (8th Cir. 2009)). Such is the case here. We therefore conclude the district court did not abuse its discretion when it declined to give the specific instruction on lascivious exhibition requested by Merrell. VI. Merrell's final argument is that the district court committed procedural error at her sentencing proceeding and that her sentence is substantively unreasonable. Since Merrell did not object during her sentencing proceeding, we review the district court's actions at sentencing for plain error. United States v. Chavarria-Ortiz, 828 F.3d 668, 671 (8th Cir. 2016). We review the substantive reasonableness of Merrell's sentence for abuse of discretion. United States v. Maxwell, 778 F.3d 719, 734 (8th Cir. 2015). The procedural error claimed by Merrell is the district court's alleged failures adequately to consider the sentencing factors outlined in 18 U.S.C. 3553(a) or to explain the reasons for the sentence imposed. A district court is not required to recite the 3553(a) factors mechanically or to make specific findings on the record about each factor. United States v. Fry, 792 F.3d 884, 891 (8th Cir. 2015) (quoting United States v. Deegan, 605 F.3d 625, 630 (8th Cir. 2010)). Instead, we review the record to ensure the district court gave due consideration to the statutory factors in fashioning the sentence. See United States v. Feemster, 572 F.3d 455, 461 (8th Cir. 2009) (en banc). If a case is conceptually simple, and the record makes clear that the sentencing judge considered the evidence and arguments, the law does not require the judge to write or say more. Chavarria-Ortiz, 828 F.3d at 671 (citing Rita v. United States, 551 U.S. 338, 359 (2007)). After careful review of the record in this case, we conclude the district court committed no procedural error. At sentencing the district court heard argument from counsel for Merrell and from counsel for the government, as well as statements by Merrell and Minor A's father. The district court made clear that the sentence imposed was appropriate and reasonable in light of the considerations set forth in 18 United States Code, Section 3553(a). The court specifically noted that it had taken into consideration Merrell's history and characteristics and the offense conduct at issue, concluding the sentence imposed is sufficient, but not greater than necessary, to afford adequate deterrence to future criminal conduct. In the context of this case, we do not think the district court was required to say more. Nor do we conclude that Merrell's 240 month sentence on each count, to be served concurrently, is substantively unreasonable. A sentence is substantively unreasonable if the district court fails to consider a relevant factor that should have received significant weight, gives significant weight to an improper or irrelevant factor, or considers only the appropriate factors but commits a clear error of judgment in weighing those factors. United States v. Watson, 480 F.3d 1175, 1177 (8th Cir. 2007). Merrell argues that her sentence is substantively unreasonable because other defendants in this circuit have received shorter sentences for comparable offense conduct. At base, this is a disagreement with the manner in which the district court weighed the 3553(a) factors in her case and does not establish that the district court abused its discretion. See United States v. Lozoya, 623 F.3d 624, 627 (8th Cir. 2010). Moreover, we note that the district court varied downward 120 months from the bottom of the guideline range. As we have said before, when a district court has sentenced a defendant below the advisory guidelines range, it is nearly inconceivable that the court abused its discretion in not varying downward still further. Maxwell, 778 F.3d at 734 (citation omitted) (internal quotation marks omitted). Merrell has failed to establish that hers is the rare case in which a decision not to vary further amounted to an abuse of discretion. VII. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the district court. FOOTNOTES . The Honorable David S. Doty, United States District Judge for the District of Minnesota. . The Honorable Jeffrey J. Keyes, United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Minnesota, prepared a report and recommendation on Merrell's pretrial motion to suppress which was subsequently adopted by Judge Doty. MURPHY, Circuit Judge. Divisions within the church. Disagreements about how to worship. Questions about marriage. Sexual temptations. Compromise with societys views. These issues date back years to the church of Corinth where Paul had spent at least 18 months after establishing a church there, serving and teaching the people while on his second missionary journey. Corinth was a major cosmopolitan city, an important commercial trade center by the sea. And it had a strong reputation, for rampant sexual immorality and loose living. So interesting that this church of old was having many of the very same troubles we face today. This problem still remains in our world, and always will - true believers don't seem to fit well within the opinions of our culture. And yet, we might try so hard to "fit in." We don't want to look different. We don't want to be accused of being judgmental or unloving. We want to be "relevant" for today and stay with the times, right? But God says we are different. Because of Him. He's changed us, from the inside, made us new, we're not supposed to be the same as the world. Here's a few things that Paul says to the church of Corinth, which seems to be a timely word for our day. God had given him a very fruitful time of ministry while there and many people had come to know Christ. When Paul left the city and traveled to Ephesus, he later received word of trouble the Christians in Corinth were having. It was from there that he wrote several letters of encouragement. In 1 Corinthians 16, we read Gods instructions, penned by Paul, on - How to walk wisely, within the church, and among unbelievers, 5 things: "Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be men of courage, be strong. Do everything in love." 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 1. Be on your guard - The truth is, if we're not living aware, we will be taken advantage of, we will be taken off guard, possibly deceived, tricked, or thrown for a loop. The enemy wants nothing more than for us to be asleep in our faith. Let's stay spiritually awake and aware of what surrounds us. God gives us discernment for a reason. 2. Stand firm in the faith - This means to "persist." Keep standing on, remembering, the Truth of what we have believed, the Truth of what has set us free. We can't live a watered down gospel for a world that insists we tone it down a bit. We do not have to waver in our beliefs out of a longing to be accepted from the world. 3. Be men of courage - Be people of courage and strength. Our world needs men who are willing to walk courageously. We need women who are willing to be brave. Nothing has affected me so much in recent days as the 21 kneeling men who lost their lives on a beach at the hands of evil. These will always be remembered as men of true courage. May our lives be so brave in a dark world. 4. Be strong - The word used here means "to keep increasing in strength." Not in our own strength, but in the power of the Spirit of God. He makes our footsteps firm, He makes our way strong. 5. Do everything in love - That pretty much sums it all up. Our calling. Our purpose in this life. Everything we do, all that we say, should be done in love. Pointing others to Him. Love God. Love others. It's the very love of Christ that compels us, may we walk in a manner worthy of His calling. We will never be able to agree on everything with everyone, we're not supposed to, and that's not really the goal. We should never long to look just like the world, out of the fear that we look too different than those around us. We should not be persuaded to live in shades of gray because we dont want to step on any toes. Were here to be salt. Were here to be light. We're here to make a difference, to point others to Christ. And we can be all that God calls us to be - staying strong, standing firm, living aware, walking in love, being people of courage - for this is what matters most anyway. Grace. Debbie McDaniel is a writer, pastor's wife, mom to three amazing kids (and a lot of pets). Join her each morning on Fresh Day Ahead's facebook page, DebbieWebbMcDaniel, for daily encouragement in living strong, free, hope-filled lives. Find her also at Twitter and Web Site. (This post was first published July, 2015.) For Immediate Release, November 18, 2016 Contacts: Clare Lakewood, +212 653 700 299, clakewood@biologicaldiversity.org (in Morocco) Patrick Sullivan, (415) 517-9364, psullivan@biologicaldiversity.org (U.S.) Conclusion of Morocco Climate Summit Underscores Need for U.S. Action 47 Nations Pledge to Use Only Renewable Fuels by 2050 MARRAKESH, Morocco A pledge by 47 nations at the Morocco climate conference to use only renewable energy by 2050 underscores the world's powerful determination to move away from fossil fuels, even after Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential race. The shock of the U.S. elections has ignited a fiery determination to fight Trumps regressive rhetoric on climate, said Clare Lakewood of the Center for Biological Diversity, who attended the Morocco conference. The world is more determined than ever to fight for climate justice. A broad coalition of people and organizations is rising up and working together to keep dirty fossil fuels in the ground and stop dangerous and unjust projects like the Dakota Access Pipeline. The clean-energy pledge, made just before the conference's conclusion by a group of developing countries that are highly vulnerable to the climate crisis, underscores the need for developed nations, including the United States, to take much stronger steps on climate finance and action. But it also highlighted the growing strength of the international climate movement. The Center spearheaded two panel discussions at the conference in Marrakesh that explored the growing global movement to end fossil fuel extraction and usher in a zero-carbon pollution future. On every continent except Antarctica, communities are organizing to fight the fossil fuel industry and demand that keeping fossil fuels in the ground be a core component of plans to implement the Paris climate agreement. The pledge by some of the worlds most vulnerable developing countries to end fossil fuel use should shame the United States into taking strong action on climate, Lakewood said. The U.S. has played an outsized role in creating the climate crisis. We have a profound moral responsibility to take much more ambitious steps to protect our planet, and that starts with keeping it in the ground. To avoid climate changes worst dangers, the world must leave most oil, natural gas and coal in the ground. A recent Oil Change International study found that using just the reserves in currently operating gas- and oilfields alone even without coal would take the planet dangerously beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming. The report urges governments to stop granting permits for new fossil fuel extraction or transportation infrastructure like pipelines. In the United States, an analysis by EcoShift on behalf of the Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the Earth found that ending new fossil fuel leasing on public lands and offshore areas controlled by the U.S. government, for example, would keep up to 450 billion tons of greenhouse gases from polluting the atmosphere. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.1 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places. It can be tough to be a vegetarian. You have to work harder than everyone else to make sure youre getting all the nutrients your body needs. So, when its time to take a Joint statement of 83 womens associations in Turkey to government: Step back! - A + 83 womens associations in Turkey have released a joint statement condemning the proposal of AKP where child molesters get impunity from punishment if they wed the victim and demanding them to immediately step back and withdraw their proposal. According to the reports of Bianet news portal, in addition to objecting to this latest bill, the signatories of the joint statement also made note of the previous efforts of AKP to lower the age of consent in Turkey to 12. Underlining that these current regulations serve for the protection of abusers, women also drew attention in their statement that this is an attempt to prepare the ground for legalizing encountarence of girls as young as 12 with sexual abuse, forced marriage, and domestic violence. There was already a similar article in Turkeys penal code prior to 2005 where a molester was to get acquitted should there be a marriage between the two. With the pressing efforts of human rights advocates and women, this article had been lifted. However, the latest proposal of AKP suggests this act to be now applied to even children. Also emphasizing that the current efforts of AKP officials are truly taking Turkey severely backwards, women called on to all women, associations, political parties, and the media to give support to this struggle for annulment of these shameful legal regulations. Below is the list of signatory associations: 17+ Alevi Women, Adana Cosmopolitan Municipality City Council of Women, Aka-Der Womens Activities, Akdam Adana Womens Solidarity Center and Shelter, Ankara Feminist Collective, Ankara Womens Platform, Antalya Feminist Collective, Antalya Womens Solidarity Center and Shelter, Europe Women Lobby of Turkey, Ayvalk Independent Women Initiative, Mersin Independent Womens Association, Bodrum Womens Solidarity Association, BPS Federation of Women in International Business, Buca Evka, Association of Fight against Sexual Abuse, Canakkale Handcrafts and Womens Solidarity Center, Cigli Evka, Union of Progressive Workers Womens Branch, Association of Disabled Women, Enkad, Equality Watch Group, Womens Branch of Equality Coalition, Women for Equality and Justice, Equal Life Foundation, Filmmor Women Cooperation, Legal Aid for the Sexually Abused Inmates, Goztepe Lanimo Womens Association, Gunebakan Womens Association, Hevi LGBTI Association, Human Rights Association Ankara Womens Commission, Izmir Independent Womens Initiative, Izmir Womens Solidarity Foundation, Ka-Der, Foundation for Solidarity with Women, Urgent Action against Homicide of Women, Womens Solidarity Association, Women Labor Association, Women Labor Collective, Council of Womens Freedom, Womens Party, Human Rights of Women, New Solutions, Womens Coalition, Kagider, Kahdem, Campus Witches, Kayseri Womens Solidarity Association, KESK Womens Branch, Kekesor LGBT, Red Pepper Association, Red Umbrella Sexual Health and Human Rights Association, Kocaeli Womens Platform, Koza Womens Association, Lesbian and Bisexual Feminists, Mentese City Council of Wome, Mor Cat (Purple Roof all sub branches), Mugla Womens Solidarity Group, Free Young Women, Pink Life LGBT, Samandag Womens Association, SODA, Socialist Womens Councils, SPOD, Non-violence Centers Women, Womens Task Force on Turkish Penal Code 103, Turkish Chamber of Architects and Engineeres, TODAP, Turkish Medical Association Womens Branches, Turkish Womens Association, Federation of Women of Turkey, College Women of Turkey, Beyond Nations Womens Issues, Collective of Women in Colleges, Vakad (shut-down by government), Life House, New Democratic Women, Women of the Earth, Green Feminists, Yogurtcu Women Forum. Source: http://www.birgun.net/haber-detay/83-kadin-orgutunden-ortak-bildiri-onergeyi-derhal-geri-cekin-136170.html Three members of a Rakhine family along with their four cows were killed and three houses also got damaged by the shelling of Junta forces last night... 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 PR Newswire NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2016 NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- North Shore Animal League America, the world's largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization, held its annual Celebrity Gala on Friday, November 18th at The Mandarin Oriental in New York City. The evening included a wonderful group of attendees from all sectors of New York's animal-loving community and beyond. Comedian/Actress Pam Stone served as host for the evening and musical guest and renowned animal advocate Belinda Carlisle completed the evening with a crowd pleasing performance. Among the "bold face names" to stride our red carpet, in addition to Beth and Howard Stern were, Today Show Host Matt Lauer, "Orange is the New Black" actor, Peter Rini, Stage and Movie Actress & Playwright Mara Wilson; Comedienne, playwright and former Animal League America Gala Host, Lisa Lampanelli, WNBC-TV Weather Anchors Janice Huff and Chris Cimino, WNBC-TV Reporter, Lauren Scala, Hot 97 and ESPN Radio Host, Peter Rosenberg, New York Mets Sideline Reporter, Alexa Rosenberg, New York Yankees play-by-play TV announcer and ESPN radio host Michael Kay; Michael's wife, broadcast journalist Jodi Applegate; Director, Producer, ABC Channel's "All My Children" Star, Ricky Goldin; President & CEO of Crown Media Family Networks, Hallmark Channel, Bill Abbott; Published Author and TV Personality, Carole Radziwill; WPIX-11 weather anchor Linda Church; Celebrity Chef & Cookbook Author, Katie Lee; TV producer, entertainer and comedian, Brian Balthazar; WPIX-11 Evening News Anchor, Tamsen Fadal; WABC-TV News Reporter, Jim Dolan; Celebrity Chef and New York Times bestselling author, Rocco DiSpirito; iHeart Radio Personality Maria Milito; FOX-5 New York Weather Anchor, Audrey Puente; Co-Founder & CEO of Next Step Realty, Blair Brandt; Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Concordia Summit, Matt Swift; President, Canine Company, Jennifer Hill; Producer, Howard Stern Show, Gary Dell'Abate; Chief Meteorologist, Fox 5 New York, Nicolas Gregory, and others. Bill Abbott, President and CEO of Crown Media Family Networks, Hallmark Channel, received Animal League America's Crystal Collar Award. "Bill and Hallmark Channel have been invaluable partners in our mission to rescue, nurture, adopt and educate," said Joanne Yohannan, Senior Vice President of Operations, North Shore Animal League America. "More than 5,000 cats, kittens and canines have been adopted though our collaboration, over the last four years, on the Kitten Bowl programs, Paw Stars and the Kitten Summer Games." Also accepting awards during the evening were three of Animal League America's Mutt-i-gree Curriculum Classroom Canines including: The Gala supports North Shore Animal League America's ever-expanding no-kill mission with all proceeds from the event dedicated to Bianca's Furry Friends Feline Adoption Center. This 14,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility will enable Animal League America to rescue many more animals by adding a second floor to the existing shelter that will host a cage-free, natural living environment for felines. In addition, this expansion to our shelter will open up space on the first floor to increase the number of dogs we take in and enrich their lives. Overall, this project will enable us to provide the best quality of life for all the animals in our care while they await adoption into loving homes. Media Contact: Kathleen Lynn 516.528.7878 [email protected] For more information on North Shore Animal League America's 2016 Get Your Rescue On Gala, please visit www.animalleague.org/2016gala ABOUT NORTH SHORE ANIMAL LEAGUE AMERICA Animal League America has saved more than 1,000,000 lives. As the world's largest no-kill rescue and adoption organization, we understand that a rescue isn't complete until each animal is placed into a loving home. Our innovative programs provide education to reduce animal cruelty and advance standards in animal welfare. Our staff and volunteers work tirelessly in the pursuit of our vision of a world where all companion animals find permanent homes to end euthanasia. For more information, visit www.animalleague.org. Twitter: @animalleague Instagram: @animalleague Facebook: North Shore Animal League America #GetYourRescueOn Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161118/441370 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/north-shore-animal-league-america-celebrates-over-70-years-of-saving-lives-and-the-continuation-of-the-get-your-rescue-on-campaign-300366264.html SOURCE North Shore Animal League America Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/11/2016 (2174 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Liberalism in North America took a bit of a beating last week. Fresh off the finest example of demagoguery becoming the leader of the free world, the Canadian Liberal movement took a hit from a couple of different sources in the same passage of time. Interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose and potential CPC leadership hopeful Kevin OLeary both took the opportunity to use a Trump victory as a vehicle to score cheap points against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Ambrose was first to respond sharing that the Democratic loss south of the border was a warning sign for Liberals here, who she believes are losing touch with working people. OLeary, as only Kevin OLeary can do, proceeded to pile on by sharing his thoughts on how the Trump presidency would be disastrous for Canadians, in particular with Trudeau at the helm. OLeary went one step further calling Trump and Trudeau Godzilla vs. Bambi, among other insults hurled at our sophomore prime minister. OLeary has flirted for months with the leadership of the Conservative party and has crossed more than one politician in the process, so the comments about Trudeau do not come as a surprise. OLeary has often been compared to Trump, as both are people of affluence who have built on their name through their involvement in reality television, among other things; a fact he often tried to dispel. It will be interesting to see OLearys next move though. While Trump was still the long-shot OLeary distanced himself from the Republican nominee, now that he was ultimately electable Im left to wonder whether the Shark Tank judge will change his tune. U.S. president-elect Donald Trump played on the thought process that the Democrats had lost touch with voters. They had become the elite and Trump, although a billionaire himself, would be the one to drain the swamp of corruption in Washington. Trump capitalized on the idea (whether correct or not) that Clinton and liberal Democrats in the United States were untrustworthy and without a doubt that messaging worked. Now the challenge for Canadian Liberals is to not allow the Trump mindset to potentially brew under the surface in our country. The government is facing some monumental challenges over the next 12 months as it pertains to our relationship with the United States, so now is not the time to shift off course and bite on the hook hanging precariously in front of them. Pipeline projects like Keystone XL will be back on the table, but will undoubtedly be brought forward under Trumps form of rule. It is likely to be a deal that strongly benefits the United States and paints Trudeau into a corner with foes both at home and abroad depending on how he and his government approach a deal. The U.S. result taught us a couple of rather frightening things about the electorate south of the border, but there was also plenty of wisdom to be gleaned from the result. It showed that a party that is out of touch with the people will be upended if it continues to govern from a bureaucratic standpoint. Trump spoke the language Americans wanted to hear, and OLeary is currently speaking to that same ideal. I doubt that OLeary remains on the sidelines much longer. It has been rumoured for some time he would come forward in an attempt to shake up the established principles many of the Tory hopefuls portray, and is looked upon as a no-nonsense, brash-talking alternative to the government establishment. Sound familiar? Trumps ascension to power should serve as a shakeup for politicians. It reflects a deep-seated mistrust for the political establishment and is a warning beacon for those who rely so heavily on their base throughout election cycles. Hillary Clinton may have rested on her laurels in the closing days of the campaign and it ultimately cost her the White House. If Trudeau were to do the same, a challenger with a cause could shake up our government in the future. No matter the socioeconomic factors people want to feel they are being listened to. Trump, much like Trudeau, was able to accomplish that. Now the difficulty for both leaders moving forward is whether they can continue to harness the energy from the working class that put them where they are today or ultimately fizzle out as their terms continue to unfold. Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/11/2016 (2175 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Last weekend, following the U.S. election, this columnist embarked upon a mini-listening tour to Wisconsin. Like a taller version of Paul Simon or a straight-haired Art Garfunkel, I walked off to look for America. My focus was simple talk to Wisconsinites about the presidential election and why it unfolded the way it did in their home state. Why Wisconsin? A so-called swing state, Wisconsin voted Republican in the presidential election for the first time since Ronald Reagan was on the ticket. Yet, Hillary Clinton lost the state. Driving through the States, I saw still-standing Trump signs and absolutely no Hillary signs. Maybe the losing side wanted no evidence of their decision. Who knows? During my journey, I drove through rural communities as well as more urban centres including Duluth and Bemidji, Minn., and Eau Claire, Wis. I spoke to people who generously shared their opinions with me. I didnt ask their names and they didnt offer. Hopefully they were being honest with me. Having reflected upon these comments and ran them through my mind, I analyzed them for you. Why did Hillary lose Wisconsin? In general terms, three basic things happened she took victory for granted; she didnt understand the depth of ill will voters have toward her and the establishment; and she didnt understand her weaknesses as a candidate. For example, Hillary started Wisconsin-specific television ads on Oct. 29, just weeks before the election. She did not campaign in the state after the Democratic nomination convention. In other words, she put the state in her win column too early. (Any seasoned politician will say its a grievous error to take ones foot off the gas until the final vote is counted.) Several voters used the drain the swamp reference. They possess a huge antipathy toward Washington, but especially what they considered to be the establishment. Hillary sold her long service in Washington as an asset, but it was exactly the opposite of what these disaffected voters were seeking. In a change/grievance election, the Democrats ran former senator Russ Feingold in an effort to regain his seat. They took this same approach in Indiana with former senator Evan Bayh. Both were longtime Washington establishment figures. Clearly the Democrats were not listening. Are all Trump voters bigots, sexist or anti-Semitic? Not at all. To suggest such a thing would be overwhelmingly close-minded and judgmental to such a degree that some are flirting with the risk of becoming all that we had forsaken. Are there some who match this profile and voted for Trump? Im confident there were. Are they the majority? That does not seem remotely plausible to me. While I would have voted for Hillary, as I have previously written on these pages, that doesnt make me a better person. It just meant I have a somewhat different world view. Protesters should not forget the same country that elected Donald Trump also elected Barack Obama twice. Is it sexism? Maybe, but help me understand how North Dakota voters were sexist in voting against Democrat Hillary Clinton, but progressive when voting for their Democratic Senator Heidi Heitkamp in 2014? In simple terms, we were far too quick to talk in sweeping terms. I was guilty of this, too. In the tumultuous days immediately following the election, slogans were confused as policy. Progressive voters certainly exercised their right to name-calling, but the reality, a cold one, was that millions of Obama 2012 voters stayed home. Hillary failed to get her vote out and simply did not connect sufficiently with voters. She outspent Trump almost three to one and still lost. The Democrats took entire population segments for granted. Approximately 29 per cent of Hispanic voters pulled the lever for Trump and so did approximately 12 per cent of black voters. Post-election polling reflected, despite Trumps racist comments about Mexicans, that he had strong support among those who had arrived legally. Perhaps this unveiled a disdain against those who essentially skipped the immigration queue and arrived here illegally. African-American voters did not vote entirely for Hillary. Perhaps this cohort did not completely view their race as their destiny. In other words, did being black preclude them from having a Republican view on other issues? The same trend was true for women voters. Taken as an obvious core competency for Clinton, and with so many offensive comments made by Trump, it seemed reasonable to suggest Hillary should have won this cohort in a landslide. The reality female turnout was only one per cent higher than in 2012. Again, Hillary failed to motivate her voters as women broke entirely along existing party lines. Party lines in the 2016 were a much bigger deciding factor than pundits had anticipated. Maybe the big lessons from this include our failure to understand how truly talented a politician Barack Obama is, but also how his coattails are not particularly long. During his time, Democrats lost the Senate and House, and now the White House. The time has come for Democrats to sit back and begin thinking about what they offer to voters. Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/11/2016 (2175 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. It is the middle of November and I am looking out the window at a coffee shop wondering how it could happen. Even at the beginning of October, no one would have predicted these outcomes. Two new individuals walked through the door and I said out loud to myself what has happened? I was surprised when they said to me that this is a good opportunity for us to take advantage of the benefit of hindsight, and if I could take the time to tell them what happened. So, I started: It was not so long ago when the markets had been driven up by cheap and easy money that allowed investors to drive up stock prices. We knew that the gains from economic growth and prosperity had become concentrated in the hands of a few. It seemed as if everyone still had a chance to do better or even get rich and, for those with newfound wealth, it was being put into the housing market and status symbols like fancy automobiles. Jobs were easy to find with emerging industries disrupting the old, traditional way of doing things. New technologies were reinventing transportation, communication and automating and even disrupting the workplace and the future of employment. Some called it a new Industrial Revolution. Furthermore, there were signs that economic, social and political challenges were coming. Increases in oil production had started to drive down coal prices and the sharp increase in coal production that had happened in the United States for more than 50 years was coming to a close. For the last 10 years, coal production had flattened and oil production was growing. Meanwhile, competition from foreign imports was threatening domestic employment and immigration was being called a problem in the United States and Britain. New protectionist legislation was proposed to support agricultural and industrial workers and industries. It was like the Smoot-Hawley tariffs that had emerged out of the Fordney-McCumber tariffs of earlier years. Britain moved to narrowly focus on its own interest by exiting from gold-standard international agreements. The United States threatened to restrict immigration and tear up international agreements. Even though the United States and Britain had been significant proponents and benefited greatly from free trade they were now moving toward a protectionist, isolationist and possibly a nationalist position. Many others across the globe were moving in the same direction. Then it happened the market crashed. When the market crashed, it was blamed on the banks and the financial services sector and a lack of regulation and easy access to credit was highlighted. Everyone agreed that a combination of market and government failure was to blame. Having the answers did not change the reality that unemployment rates increased, families were impacted and countries retreated into a more isolationist stance with a focus on their own affairs. It is now eight years after the market crash and governments are only now starting to figure out what actions to take. They are talking about infrastructure spending simply put, they are talking about governments having a role in stabilizing the economy. It feels like Keynesian economics just got invented yesterday. It is already starting to show results with about a five per cent drop in unemployment from the peak levels just about five years before and even stronger economic growth promised for the future. However, the social contract and fabric of the nation and the globe had been strained. People within nations looked at each other differently as economic opportunities for the next generation diminished and tensions rose. People no longer believe that our greatest value is working together to build a great future. The United States is moving toward being more isolationist while other countries talk about re-establishing their historic territory and their greater national identity and borders. A number of individuals and countries are warning about the rise in nationalism and the potential for it to harm the world, democracy and peace. As I look at the calendar, I notice it is November 1937, just eight years after the market crash of 1929. I look at my new friends and find it difficult to understand them telling me that they have travelled back in time to Brandon from the future. They tell me that they are from November 2016, which was just eight years after the 2008 market crash of their time. I tell them that I do not understand. I tell them that in my time nationalism is being coupled with the idea of making nations great again. The market crash that had started in the United States sent a tidal wave across Europe with a rise in ultra-nationalism in the 1930s including Italy and Germany re-establishing Greater Italy and Greater Germany. Italy is about to invade Ethiopia, and it does not seem that much will be done about the aggression. They try to tell me about Ukraine and Crimea, but I do not understand. They tell me about America becoming more isolationist and a newly elected President, a Mr. Trump, wanting European countries and Japan to spend more on military arms. I say that they must be wrong because they are not talking about 2016 since they must be talking about my time (1937) and I do not believe that they are actually from the future. Anyone from the future would have learned from the past. I tell them again that they cannot be from the future because everything they are telling me is happening right now in 1937, starting after the market crash eight years ago. They try to prove to me that they are from the future by giving me a 2013 book by a Bruce Strang at Brandon University, who is an expert of Italian history. His book, Collision of Empires: Italys Invasion of Ethiopia and its International Impact outlines how this set in motion events in Europe that were going to culminate into a crisis. They ask me how bad unemployment was in the 1930s, and I tell that it was up to nearly 25 per cent. They say that it was different for their time as it only went up to just over 10 per cent. Governments and financial institutions must have learned something from the past. They share with me another book from the future (2014). It is written by Allison McCulloch from Brandon University and entitled Power-Sharing and Political Stability in Deeply Divided Societies. McCulloch emphasizes the role of governance and societal institutions in stabilizing and supporting peace in deeply divided societies. It helps me to see that democratic institutions and educational institutions, including universities, have an important role to play in creating a forum for dialogue, discussion and reflection on the lessons learned from the past. They help to show me how the values outlined in the Bill of Rights (1791) for the United States and Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982) for Canada, including the linkage to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) for the United Nations will provide the foundation for peaceful, harmonious and multicultural societies. It is difficult for me to understand what my new friends tell me about the election outcome of November 2016, eight years after their market crash of 2008. I only know that in 1937, eight years after our market crash, we had become divisive, isolationist, and nationalists were winning elections in major Western countries. I still do not believe they are from the future because I am not sure what nearly 80 years has taught them. They tell me that they are returning tomorrow to the future. As they walk away to leave, I run to catch up to them and I say remember our grandchildren will live in the world you make and they are multiracial, multicultural, multiethnic, multireligious, and, most of all, multihuman. I hug them and wish them well. I hope they take care of our future. Gervan Fearon is the president and vice-chancellor of Brandon University. He holds a PhD in economics, a BSc. and M.Sc. in agricultural economics and a chartered professional accountant designation. His column appears monthly. The Social Democrats have called for an end to State-sponsored religious discrimination in Irish schools. The party says it is unacceptable that children as young as four can still be refused admission to state schools if they do not have a baptismal cert. It is calling for the repeal of Section 7(3)(c) of the Equal Status Act, the clause that means the majority of State-funded schools can refuse children from different faiths or non-religious backgrounds. It is time to finally end this outdated discrimination, said co-leader Roisin Shortall at the party's first national conference today. One of the most fundamental principles of a republic is that citizens are not discriminated against because of any faith they do or dont profess. Yet, every year, religious affiliation is the very basis on which access is denied to a vital public service: education. The law of the land, as it currently stands, is that State-funded schools are perfectly entitled to refuse entry to children as young as four because they are not signed up to a particular religious belief. Even schools that accommodate children of different faiths, or no faith, continue to expose those children to a religious ethos to which they do not subscribe. This is entirely unacceptable. Deputy Shortall said it was time for Irelands education system to reflect and respect the diversity of Irish society. We have long moved on from organised religion dominating the lives of a large proportion of people. Laws and public services need to catch up. It is a key priority of the Social Democrats to repeal Section 7(3)(c) of the Equal Status Act. Incredibly, the Governments School Admissions Bill, currently going through the Dail, ignores the baptism barrier. It is time to finally end this outdated discrimination and we will be tabling amendments to this Bill to that effect. A week-old baby girl who went missing after her mother was shot dead has been found alive. Police in Kansas were searching for newborn Sofia Victoria Gonzalez Abarca since Thursday. Her mother Laura Abarca-Nogueda, 27, was killed in her home. Don't Miss the Latest News Subscribing is the best way to get our best stories immediately. MUMBAI: India said it will allow cargoes of white and brown rice backed by letters of credit issued before Sept. 9 ... A Canberra Muslim minority community has hosted its first inter-faith summit in the capital, calling for peace and understanding between cultures. The Ahmadiyya Muslim community, part of a South Asian-founded Islamic movement that arrived in Australia during the 1980s, held a Peace Symposium at Albert Hall on Saturday. Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Australia president, Imam Inam-ul-Haq Kauser with Fareed Rasheed and Sana Bajwa outside Albert Hall in Yarralumla. Credit:Stephen Jeffery Organisers reached out to representatives of other faiths within Canberra to speak at the event, including Catholic Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn, Christopher Prowse, Tibetan Buddhist master Lama Choedak Rinpoche and Canberra Sikh Association president Madhusudan Singh Sidhu. ACT Greens MLA Caroline Le Couteur and Pakistan High Commissioner to Australia Naela Chohan also attended the meeting, as well as a Hindu and Anglican representative. When Jamie Wilson told his family about his intention to be an organ donor, his parents listened but did not expect they would need to act on the information. But the nonchalant conversation took on a tragic level of importance in March, when the 26-year-old died from injuries sustained in a car crash on the Hume Highway. Jamie told his family about his decision to donate his organs about two months before he died. He had not yet registered his wishes on the federal government's organ donation website, but his discussion in front of the television at the start of the year meant his family knew the right decision to make. "It wasn't until we were sitting in a waiting room at Canberra Hospital surrounded by doctors who had just spoken the bad news that his words came back to us," Jamie's father, Jeff Wilson said. Japanese advertising giant Dentsu is considering dropping a principle set by a former president encouraging staff to stick to a goal even to the point of death after a 24-year-old employee committed suicide because of overwork. The principle in question was one of 10 written by Dentsu's fourth president in 1951 and they were looked on by employees as the pinnacle of commitment, Shusaku Kannan, spokesman at Dentsu said by email. The company said earlier this month that it was cooperating with a labour ministry investigation of its labour practices. Credit:AP The bereaved family of the female employee who killed herself on Christmas Day in 2015 is opposed to the principles, saying they symbolise Dentsu's culture of excessively long hours, the Asahi newspaper reported. The employee repeatedly worked long hours and clocked up 105 hours of overtime over the course of a month from October 9, 2015, according to an earlier report by the newspaper. A new $83,000 luggage lift installed in the Prime Minister's official residence was first proposed under Tony Abbott's government. Federal bureaucrats have been forced to correct the official record after using a Senate estimates hearing to repeatedly claim the expensive taxpayer-funded feature in The Lodge was first planned under Julia Gillard. The Lodge renovations cost more than $11 million. Credit:Paul Harris At the hearings last month, a senior Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet official, Elizabeth Kelly, said the lift was recommended by architects in the early stages of the Canberra residence's $11.6 million makeover. "I am just making it clear so as not to mislead the committee that the luggage lift was part of the 2010 earliest plans for the refurbishment of The Lodge," Ms Kelly told the committee. The estranged wife of the brother of slain crime figure Hamad Assaad has been arrested after she allegedly injured a journalist in a confrontation outside Bankstown court house on Friday. The woman, 31, allegedly lashed out at Sky News reporter Amy Greenbank, after Tarek Assaad was refused bail on charges of possessing a prohibited weapon, ammunition and drugs. She has been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and will appear in court in December after being granted conditional bail. Greenbank was among a group of journalists who approached the woman outside the court house and attempted to question her shortly after Mr Assaad was refused bail. It was wartime when Judy Barry married Walter Wolicki in Chicago, wearing a wedding dress made from parachute silk. Her family was Czech; his was Polish. Money was tight in 1944 and Walter, at the start of a long career in the US Army, used his military connections to source silk for the bride's gown. When Yasmine Loupis gets married next month, she'll be wearing the same wedding dress her mother and grandmother wore. Credit:Katherine Griffiths Seventy-two years later their granddaughter Yasmine Loupis is preparing to wear the dress to her own wedding. It was preserved and handed down by her mother Maruschka, who wore it when she married Yasmine's father George in 1978. "I got goosebumps seeing her in it," Maruschka said. "The fact that she fit into it at all, it's almost like it was meant to be." The NSW counterpart to the federal Human Rights Commission has been hobbled by the Baird government, with management consultants sent in to overhaul the NSW Anti Discrimination Board. The re-emergence of One Nation and the election of Donald Trump has increased the need for strong laws to protect minorities from race hate speech, say groups including the Redfern Legal Centre and Chinese Australian Forum. Yet NSW Parliament has risen for the year without any action on reforms promised by the NSW Attorney General to ethnic communities a year ago to make it easier to prosecute serious racial vilification cases in the state. The board's annual report reveals its future is up in the air, with all four board positions left vacant for a year, an acting president since January, and three of four managers in acting roles. Sydney's climate is changing and the city is likely to encounter more heatwaves, intense storms and bushfires. The risk assessment showed more people in Sydney are directly affected by heat stress than any other natural hazard. "In January 2013 we had our hottest day, 46 degrees, and 350 people were hospitalised that day, many of them were unconscious, due to heat related illness," Ms Dawson said. Heatwaves also put key services including, health services, transport and electricity networks under stress. Sydney is also vulnerable to flooding due to extensive urban development in the flood plains of the Hawkesbury, Georges and Cooks rivers. Storms, flooding and hail regularly cause major disruption to urban transport networks at considerable cost the economy. 2. Failures of large financial institutions Sydney's economy is exposed to global changes. Credit:Peter Braig Sydney is heavily dependent on the financial and insurance services industry. It commands a 16.2 per cent share of the city's economy the consultancy SGS Economics and Planning estimates, which is far more than any other industry sector. That means Sydney's economy is exposed to major fluctuations in global financial markets. "When there is major blip in the global economy it is particularly felt here," said Dawson. "The global financial crisis of 2008 was a good example. The city's economy, especially employment, would be badly affected if one of Australia's major financial institutions such as a major bank or an insurance company were to fail. 3. Infrastructure failures, especially power outages Commuters were plunged into chaos, and darkness, at Sydenham station. Credit:Wolter Peeters The way Adelaide was plunged into darkness after a storm damaged power infrastructure last month underscored how dependent modern cities are on electricity. "Once you have a power outage you loose a lot of basic services including transport, water and lot of other things," said Dawson. "Most of the big infrastructure failures we have seen are linked to power outages." The failure of important infrastructure such as power, road or rail can cause huge disruption across large parts of the city at significant cost to the economy. The risk assessment singled out health infrastructure, airports and the rail network as the city's three most vulnerable infrastructure assets. 4. Disease pandemics Babies in Brazil have been born with Zika-linked microcephaly. Credit:Getty Images International bird flu, swine flu and the zika virus outbreaks over the past decade have drawn attention to the economic and social disruption caused by disease pandemics. Sydney is vulnerable to international pandemics because of its growing integration with the global economy and a significant tourism industry. "Pandemics can have a direct impact on everyday businesses because they stop people moving around and meeting with each other," Dawson said. "When people cease connecting with each other business activity slows." The risk assessment said chronic illness and lifestyle diseases such as obesity and diabetes are on the rise in Sydney, increasing pressure on our health system. 5. Water crisis too much or too little Stormwater causes localised flooding at Cronulla. Credit:John Veage The risk assessment ranked Sydney's wastewater and stormwater system as the city's fourth most vulnerable infrastructure asset because of its age and capacity constraints. As the city gets more high rainfall events there is an "increasing level of urban flooding," says Dawson. The failure of stormwater networks poses a pollution risk Sydney's many waterways. The risk assessment also found Sydney's supply of drinking water could come under pressure due to lower average rainfall, higher temperatures and a growing population. The city's water supply network was ranked among the city's eight most vulnerable infrastructure assets because of "limited diversity and availability during droughts". The assessment called for "innovation" in Sydney's water management. 6. Digital network failures Increased reliance on digital solutions means increased risk if networks go down. Many of Sydney's critical services, including the payments system, depend on continuous data supply in order to function. Sydney also has a growing digital industry. That means any network interruptions can have knock-on effects across the whole economy. "Even a disruption to one supplier of broadband or mobile technology, such as Telstra, affects millions of people and businesses," said Dawson. The risk assessment said an "increased reliance on digital solutions" was one of the key trends that would influence the city over the next 30 years. Finding ways to mitigate the impact of digital network failures will be crucial. 7. Cyber attacks Cyber attacks pose a major threat to Sydney. Credit:Erin Jonasson Recent cyber attacks on the national census and the Bureau of Meteorology have grabbed headlines but the risk assessment found they also pose major threat to Sydney because services and commerce have become so dependent on information technology. It said a growing number of businesses and government agencies in NSW are coming under cyber attack. "This is a global trend but Australia seems to be particularly vulnerable because we haven't done a huge amount of work on it, our businesses in particular, compared to some other countries," Dawson said. 8. Terror attacks Thousands of floral tributes left in Martin Place following the Lindt cafe siege in 2014. Credit:Getty Images While Sydney's critical infrastructure is less vulnerable to terror attack than many parts of the world, the Lindt Cafe siege at Martin Place in December 2014 showed the city is not immune. In addition to the tragic loss of life, that emergency stunned the city and shut down its commercial hub. "Terror came out very strongly in the public's perception of risk," said Dawson. "There's a real sensitivity too it." Research for the risk assessment found nurturing social cohesion will be an important challenge for Sydney in coming decades. Sydney's eight chronic stresses Diminishing social cohesion, high housing costs and growing inequality are among eight chronic stresses tearing at Sydney's social fabric, the city-wide risk assessment has found. These nagging pressure points will have a major bearing on the quality of life enjoyed by Sydneysiders over the next 30 years. The chronic stresses are: 1. Increasing demand on health services 2. Diminishing social cohesion 3. Loss of housing affordability 4. Increasing chronic illnesses 5. Lack of transport diversity 6. Insufficient employment diversity 7. Increasing geographic inequity 8. Rise in drug and alcohol abuse Some of these long-term stresses overlap. About half of the city's adults are overweight or obese, contributing to an increase in chronic "lifestyle illnesses" such as diabetes and heart disease. This stress, along with the rise in drug and alcohol abuse, both exacerbate the first problem listed increasing demand on health services. The risk assessment said catering for the health care needs across the Sydney entire urban sprawl was a key challenge. Beck Dawson, the report's author, said social and economic inequality was an "underlying theme" in the chronic stresses affecting Sydney. Rising housing costs, a lack of employment in western Sydney and limited transport options in some suburbs have all contributed to "increasing spatial inequality" across metropolitan area. "Because of patterns of settlement and because of our geography we are quite a polarised city," Ms Dawson said. Brisbane's first puppy picnic started as a simple idea to hand out a couple of flyers in a park. And its organisers could never have imagined the Little Legs Dog & Cat Rescue event would draw a crowd of about 1000. Little Legs Dog and Cat Rescue hosts Brisbane's first puppy picnic on Saturday, November 19, 2016. Pictured is Lauren O'Sullivan, Sam Ashton, Mykeala Campanini and Misti McClane. Credit:Matt Donaldson People lapped up the chance to head to New Farm Park on Saturday with man's best friend to support the rescue group. The day featured a vegan sausage sizzle, bake sale, face painting, raffles, dog accessory sale, foster and adoption information, vets, dog trainers and a dog-themed photo booth. By discovering what drives a motorist to make the potentially fatal decision to cross a flooded road, Griffith University and Royal Life Saving Society Australia research may save lives. It comes as the Queensland government this week launched its campaign, urging people not to drive through floodwaters during the wet season. A car driving through flood waters in Brisbane last year Credit:Bradley Kanaris School of Psychology adjunct senior lecturer Kyra Hamilton is leading research involving interviews with people who have driven through floodwaters, and those who decided not to, to discover what shapes their decisions. She said if someone had successfully driven through floodwaters in the past, they may do it again. Researchers are joining teenagers on the Gold Coast this weekend to discover what lies behind the annual Schoolies celebration. It comes after a previous study found Gold Coast residents had an overall attitude of tolerance towards Schoolies. An anticipated 25,000-strong Schoolies contingent settled in for week-long partying after arriving on the Gold Coast during the weekend. Professor Sharyn Rundle-Thiele will lead a team of social marketers from Griffith University handing out 19,000 wristbands, inscribed with positive messages. Ambulance Victoria's Emergency Response Plan was activated to the highest level given the large number of people injured. Twenty-five ambulances were sent to the scene and the 27 victims were divided between the three hospitals for treatment. Six people with serious burns were taken to The Alfred hospital, 10 were taken to the Monash Medical Centre in a stable condition and another 11 were taken to the Dandenong Hospital in a stable condition. Dr Rosler said the 10 women and one man who arrived at Dandenong Hospital's emergency unit were triaged by senior medical staff, including anaesthetists and specialists from the respiratory, intensive care and ear, nose and throat department. Five of the patients were the last people to escape the burning bank, and had been trapped in a back room for longer than the other victims, suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation. "There's always a bit of chaos because there's a lot of noise," Dr Rosler said. Across town at The Alfred, emergency and trauma unit director De Villiers Smit received a notification from Ambulance Victoria at midday about an incident with the potentially mass casualties. "We were told we could receive about 20 patients with serious burns. At that stage we had a very full department already," he said. "We activated out disaster response. It's always better to prepare for the worst, so we did. Within half an hour we went from 71 patients to 40, and we created space in ICU." Dr Smit said the first patients that arrived 40 minutes later were "all critical". "We had six teams ready to receive every patient, with two to three doctors and three nurses for every single patient," he said. "Some of them had been washed by bystanders, others were still in suits." Dr Smit described the incident as the hospital's largest potential mass casualty event the emergency department has witnessed in about four years. "Every single event you deal with you think it's the worst," he said. "Clearly a lot of emotion is involved with any situation like this, but staff dealt very well with it. I would think it was incredibly well controlled. "I think we were prepared to receive more. If we were faced with a bigger disaster I think we'd be able to cope, so it was a very good excuse for us [to activate disaster response] because fortunately these things don't happen often. "In the times we live in, anything can happen and we have to be prepared for the worst," Dr Smit said. Back at Dandenong Hospital, two women aged 79 and 20 were taken to the high dependency unit and an 89-year-old woman and 54-year-old man were taken to the general medicine unit. The man's wife and daughter, aged 50 and 20, were taken to the emergency observation unit. Five people between the ages of 16 and 61 were assessed and sent home. Mr Islam entered the bank branch on Springvale Road on Friday afternoon, allegedly starting a wild blaze that caused himself and 26 others to be rushed to hospitals across the city. Suspect Nur Islam with police at the scene on Friday. Credit:Ernesto Gonzalez Two people remain in a critical but stable condition at The Alfred hospital. Their condition had improved slightly by Saturday evening. Four others were in a stable condition at the same hospital while many of the remaining 21 people injured in the blaze were allowed to go home from the Monash Medical Centre and Dandenong Hospital. Phalla Neary Khmer, left, with two of her children, daughters Claudia and Angel. Hospital sources said the scene on Friday had been the biggest test of the city's emergency capability in four years. Mr Islam had been living in a Springvale share house on a bridging visa and is believed to have spent time on Christmas Island and then at a detention centre in Weipa after attempting to travel to Australia by boat as an unaccompanied minor. Junior Dean apprehended the fire suspect at the Springvale Commonwealth Bank until police arrived. Credit:Jesse Marlow Housemates at the rundown white weatherboard house told The Age that he had moved in about two months ago. Joseph Joseph, who lives in the house, had first met Nur three years ago in detention. "We stayed together in the camp one month," Mr Joseph said. "After that, he is released, I stay in the camp. After release, I came to here [Springvale]. "I meet him a couple of times and he stay in another house. Then two months ago, he have no place to stay and so he talk to me: 'Oh, help me, I have no place to go'. "Because we are all Burmese people, we are helping him." But Mr Joseph became concerned when he saw how Mr Islam was acting. "He [would] talk to himself and then at midnight he [began] walking in here [the backyard]," Mr Joseph said. "Then he saw some other things like spirits or ghosts. He's saying that he's seeing that." Mr Joseph said Nur was extremely concerned about money problems related to his sister, who had become sick back in Myanmar. "He was disappointed about that because he have no money to send to Burma," Mr Joseph said. "In Burma if you go to hospital you have nothing, it's hard to survive." As his financial situation worsened, Mr Islam became increasingly agitated about his inability to access Centrelink payments, Mr Joseph said. "He said, 'Why the government give money to me and the bank not give me," Mr Joseph told The Age. Community leaders said Mr Islam was in Australia alone and had been struggling both financially and mentally. It is believed he discovered his welfare payments had been cut off and argued with bank staff before allegedly starting the blaze. Australian Burmese Rohingya Organisation president Habib Habib said Mr Islam had shared concerns about his immigration status and the safety of his family back home. "He was struggling mentally for the past year or two because his visa has not been processing," Mr Habib said. The Rohingya are a Muslim minority group living in Myanmar and are one of the most persecuted people in the world, according to the United Nations. Police said on Saturday they were yet to interview the man they believe responsible for the blaze because he was badly burnt in the fire. The news came as more details poured in from witnesses recounting the "scariest moment" of their lives. Melbourne mother Phalla Neary Khmer was inside the bank with her three children when the 21-year-old allegedly entered, doused himself in petrol and set both himself and the bank alight. Ms Khmer said two of her friends managed to escape, but she and her children became trapped inside the bank when its emergency door sealed them and several others inside. "I really thought I was going to die," she said. Ms Khmer and others who were trapped inside the bank may owe their lives to emergency services as well as some brave onlookers, including a quick-thinking father of 12 who sprinted down a nearby arcade and charged into the bank's rear entrance to help rush people to safety. It was there, in a rear laneway, that the father a New Zealander by the name of Junior Dean caught the man allegedly responsible for the fire. Mr Dean grabbed the man's phone and kept him in a corner until police arrived. He asked him why he had started the blaze. "He said, 'The bank moved me from here to here and I got sick of it'," Mr Dean said. "Because the bank gave him the run-around." Police have commended Mr Dean for his bravery, but he denies he acted heroically. "I would hope that if that situation happens again and I hope it doesn't that others would act in the same way," he said. Bangkok: Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of the Malaysian capital on Saturday, defying a police ban and crackdown on pro-democracy activists, to demand the resignation of scandal-hit Prime Minister Najib Razak. Ninety-one-year-old former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, one of Mr Najib's fiercest critics, told a sea of protesters clad in yellow that it is time to topple the government. Activists from the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) march during a rally in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Saturday. Credit:AP "We are no longer a democracy, we are known as a kleptocracy a nation run by thieves," he said. The on-line portal Malaysiakini estimated that more than 40,000 protesters marched in the rally organised by Bersih, a coalition of almost 100 groups campaigning for electoral reform and against corruption amid allegations that a state fund embezzled billions of dollars in the country's biggest financial scandal. Pamela Ramsey Taylor wrote of Michelle Obama: "I'm tired of seeing an ape in heels." Credit:Facebook In New York state, students hung a black doll from a noose in an elevator at Canisius College in Buffalo. At the University of Pennsylvania, black freshman students were added to GroupMe chats, in which they were invited to "daily lynchings". At a middle school in Michigan, the white students taunted their Latino classmates with a Trump slogan "Build a wall!" and at a school in New Jersey, they chanted: "Ten feet higher! Ten feet higher!" In Georgia, an anonymous note was passed to a Muslim teacher saying her "headscarf isn't allowed any more" and "hang yourself with it". Former Clay County, West Virginia, mayor Beverly Whaling. Credit:Facebook In Maryland, a banner announcing a Spanish-language service at a church in Silver Springs was defaced with the words "Trump nation whites only". In New York state, a swastika and the "Make America White Again" slogan were painted on the wall of a dugout at a softball field in Wellsville. In Indiana, "Heil Trump" and a swastika were daubed on a church. In the Pennsylvania suburbs, a woman found her car daubed with "Trump rules!" and "Black bitch". In North Carolina, graffiti on a Durham wall read, "Black lives don't matter and neither does your vote". Melania Trump and Michelle Obama met at the White House on Thursday. Credit:Getty Images There have been hundreds of such attacks and incidents since election night. Suicide helplines report a doubling in the rate of desperate calls as Muslims and mosques become targets. These attacks don't come out of nowhere. The FBI reported almost 6000 hate crimes in 2015, with a 67 per cent hike in violence directed at Muslims, the biggest spike in hate crime since the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. Michelle Obama in Versace as she appears in the December 2016 issue of Vogue. Credit:Vogue/Annie Leibovitz Andrew Anglin revels in it all. As publisher of the widely read neo-Nazi website Daily Stormer, he urged his readers to pursue those who complain of harassment or were critical of Trump: "You can troll these people and definitely get some of them to kill themselves 'Mass suicide after Trump victory' would be a headline the media would play up but it would demoralise the left even further." One of Anglin's followers urged victims of the attacks to slash their wrists "Make it count!" Another told a woman who said she had cried on election night to "get dressed and get in the oven". Chong Cha demonstrates against Donald Trump with her dog, Zuzu, outside Trump Tower on November 12. Credit:AP/Mary Altaffer Anglin, who last year told the Los Angeles Times he believed "white people deserve their own country", continued his verbal rampage after Trump's victory: "We beat you, we beat you badly. And now that you are on the ground, we are going to keep kicking you in the head." Angry protests against the election outcome were accompanied by a handful of reports of vicious anti-Trump behaviour in Chicago, a man was reportedly beaten and kicked by a mob that accused him of voting for Trump; and in Washington DC a placard in a protest outside a new Trump hotel read "rape Melania", a reference to Trump's wife. Lakeville Country Club owner Gary Mosca looks down at a message carved into the 18th green on October 13, 2009, in Lakeville, Massachusetts. Credit:AP/Boston Herald While Trump and his inner circle have remained cloistered at Trump Tower, saying little save for an occasional tweet, most of which have lashed the media, many who are expected to have key roles in the new administration have a record of bigotry, xenophobia or intolerance or all three. Top of the anxiety heap, after Trump, is Steve Bannon, who the President-elect has named as his chief strategist and White House counsellor, a remarkable ricochet from the dark fringes of American conservatism to a desk just down the passage from the Oval Office. Trump aide Kris Kobach is pushing for a national immigrant registry. Credit:AP Under Bannon's leadership, Breitbart News, or "Trump Pravda", as critics dubbed it, became the election's go-to news source for white nationalist American males reliably anti-women, anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant and anti-non-white. Hate-monitoring group the Southern Poverty Law Centre describes Breitbart News as a "white ethno-nationalist propaganda mill". During the July Republican convention, Bannon boasted that the website was a "platform for the alt-right", a loose group of far-right ideologies fixed on the notion that white identity is under attack. Its followers are mostly young and male, white supremacist, anti-immigration, anti-feminism, and anti-multiculturalism. Senator Jeff Sessions and Kellyanne Conway, campaign manager for President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday. Credit:AP They are at war more with mainstream American conservatism than they are with centrist or left schools of political thought; and on social media, the targets of their bile are usually Jews, Muslims and other vulnerable groups. Bannon has become a lightning rod for non-white anxiety. In the West Wing, he is expected to advocate for the most aggressive of Trump's policies, described as he is by a Breitbart colleague as "a field general [who] very much sees the fight for the soul of this country as a war". Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones of InfoWars.com is a hit on social media. In most developed democracies, the celebration of Bannon's appointment by a far extremity of the right would have made it impossible for Trump to stick with it "best possible position [because he'll] not get lost in the weeds", according to prominent white nationalist Richard Spencer; shows that Trump might "be for real", says the chairman of the American Nazi Party; "excellent basically creating the ideological aspects of where we're going", reckons David Duke, one-time imperial wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. But it's not just Bannon. Many of those destined to be a part of the Trump administration or helping to shape it cause great distress in non-white America. Members of the Ku Klux Klan after a white pride rally in Georgia in April. Credit:AP Alabama senator Jeff Sessions, Trump's stoutest supporter in Congress who is widely tipped to be either defence secretary or attorney-general in the new administration, was rejected for a judicial appointment in the 1980s after his Senate confirmation hearing heard allegations of his racism. Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, tipped to be secretary of state, has urged that Muslims on the government's terrorist watch list be electronically tagged. A sign held up at a Clinton rally in Ohio in June. Credit:Bloomberg Kris Kobach, the Kansas secretary of state who heads the immigration unit in Trump's transition team, said this week that advisers are already considering a registry for all Muslims. On Wednesday, Kobach was cheered on by Trump surrogate Carl Higbie, arguing there was precedent for a registry in the mass internment of Japanese-Americans in World War II. David Clarke, the firebrand sheriff of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, who is touted to head the Department of Homeland Security, has called for Muslim neighbourhoods to be subjected to special patrols. Trump's elevation of Bannon speaks volumes. So does one of his few known attempts to reach out to supporters after winning he phoned arch-conservative radio host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to thank him and his audience for their support. Jones publishes the infamous InfoWars.com, which propagates myths that the Clintons are murderers and that recent US massacres were permitted by the government as a pretext to shrink American rights. As recounted by Jones, Trump told him: "Listen, Alex, I just talked to the kings and queens of the world, world leaders, you name it. But it doesn't matter, I wanted to talk to you, to thank your audience, and I'll be on [your show in] the next few weeks to thank them." Jones told his audience: "He wanted to directly talk to you and thank you because you're the people, you're the bitter clingers, you're the people they couldn't break your will, they couldn't mind-control you, you're the core that's going to restore the republic." When pressed during a 60 Minutes interview, the President-elect claimed surprise on being told of the harassment of Muslims and migrants. But apart from saying he was "saddened", the best he offered was: "I say, 'Stop it.' If it if it helps, I will say this, and I will say right to the cameras: 'Stop it'." As Tweeter-in-chief he was not moved to write a "stop it" tweet to his almost 30 million social media followers. And Trump's wife Melania, who was welcomed in that shocking Facebook post in West Virginia as a "classy, beautiful, dignified First Lady" because she would replace the "ape in heels", has been silent, despite declaring that her mission as First Lady would be to fight hatred and bullying. Princeton University professor Nell Irvin Painter parsed the election as the point on the political timeline at which white identity became a racial identity, instead of being the supposed norm from which all the "others" are marked as different: "From being individuals expressing individual preferences in life and politics, the Trump era stamps white Americans with race: white race." During the primaries, Reuters/Ipsos polled voters supporting Trump, his Republican challengers Ted Cruz and John Kasich, and Hillary Clinton, on their attitudes to African-Americans the Clinton, Cruz and Kasich camps all were of a par, but by significantly greater margins Trump's followers thought blacks to be less intelligent, more lazy, more rude, more violent and more criminal than whites. More than 70 per cent of Trump supporters believed that Barack Obama was a Muslim and almost as many of them supported Trump's call for a ban on Muslims entering the country. Writing at University of California Berkeley's The Secret History of America website, Professor Michael Cohen observes: "Make no mistake, white racial resentment is one of the leading factors driving this election this sense of loss, of mourning on the white right, this sense of 'being strangers in their own land'." Quoting figures on a shrinking white demographic, he notes: "No wonder Trump supporters speak in such apocalyptic terms, because for millions of older white men, their world is literally ending." Trump calculatedly entered politics by assuming leadership of the birther movement, which denied Barack Obama's American birth and thereby challenged the very legitimacy of the first black presidency. Trump then stoked white working-class resentment by condemning brown and black communities for stealing jobs that rightfully belonged to whites and branding them as the source of violence and terrorism or as The Economist's Lexington column put it casting his opponents "as illegitimate, unfit, contemptible, un-American or [a favourite word] 'disgusting' ". In its soul searching after defeat in the 2012 election, the GOP declared itself hostage to the demographic reality of modern, multicultural and diverse America it was doomed unless it opened itself to non-white minorities. But in doubling down, Trump figured there were enough insecure white voters out there who could be scared into supporting him if the message was right. Whites are a shrinking demographic 91 per cent in 1960; 72 per cent in 2012; and 70 per cent in 2016. Those among them without a college education are a declining species too 83 per cent of the electorate in 1960; just 36 per cent in 2012; and 34 per cent this year. They had reared up to elect Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. But Obama's triumphs in 2008 and 2012 were thought to have cast them to the margins of political life. Answering the "why" question in The New York Times, Thomas Edsall notes that among whites generally Trump barely moved the needle on the support won by the GOP's Mitt Romney in 2012, but that Trump was picking up a different white vote 14 points more than Romney among those who had not been to college. "Just as important, the working class voters Trump carried by such huge margins were heavily concentrated in the rust belt states of Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, Iowa and Pennsylvania all states carried by Obama in 2012 and lost by [Hillary] Clinton in 2016," he writes. Together, those five states alone gave Trump 70 Electoral College votes, more than a quarter of the 270 he needed to win. Ultimately he won 306 college votes from 30 states. Instead of relying on customary Republican riffs that in the past had been communicated by dog-whistle, Trump shrieked them from the rafters at a rally in Minnesota in the days before the vote, he denounced the state's 25,000-strong, predominantly Somali Muslim community as a "disaster" for the state. Those of us who didn't figure that Trump had won when Clinton wrote off half of his supporters, not only as damned awful human beings but, irredeemably so, in her "basket of deplorables" speech early in September, were asleep at the wheel. The result prompted CNN commentator Van Jones, an African-American, to add a new term to the political lexicon: "This was a whitelash against a changing country." But America being America, a somewhat surreal election postscript is now unfolding: a nationwide bid for all to "make nice" over Thanksgiving turkey next Thursday. The airwaves and newspapers are full of handwringing and advice for families on how not to ruin the dinner should crazy Uncle Harry hit the grog and mention the name Trump. Phillies make history: Five homers off Astros starter in Game 3 win McCullers, pitching in his first World Series game since 2017, became the first pitcher in postseason history to give up five home runs in a game. latest news October 31, 2022 Buddy TV In November, there are hundreds of new and returning TV showsit can be overwhelming to try and choose what to watch. That's why we've selected some of the best options... On this episode of The Exorcist, Chapter Eight: The Griefbearers, Angela joins the fight to save Caseys life and is forced to face a dark evil from her own past. The Rances prepare to leave Chicago. Father Bennett warns Cardinal Guillot that the Pope is in danger. Marcus realizes the fight is just beginning. The demon finally got what or who he was asking for, Angela/Regan. Marcus wants her out, but Angela gives him a good crack across the face and reminds him that Casey is her daughter, or whatever small part of her remains. Henry, Kat and Chris rush in next and are horrified to see the putrid mess that is now Casey. This isnt Chriss first time at the rodeo, and Angela is willing to do anything to save her daughter, but Kat and Henry get schooled in just how hateful a demon can be, throwing Kats accident in her face and calling Henry a dimwit before throwing him across the room into a wall look ma, no hands. Time is Running Out for Casey, Tomas and Marcus Clash Angela asks Henry and Kat to return home and pack. Shes going to stay and make sure they get Casey back, but when they do, things are going to be bad for her. She will have to deal with the police and the media, so Angelas plan is that the family run away. The press has gotten wind of the fact that Casey might be inside, and hordes of reporters have gathered. Mother Bernadette emerges to tell the mob that theyre trespassing, creating a hostile environment for the sisters. As the head of the priory, she requests that they leave, or shell call the police. But Detective Lawrence is already there. He claims that its a public sidewalk, so unless someone commits a specific crime, there isnt a whole lot he can do. Mother Bernadette claims its an unlawful gathering.. Detective Lawrence thinks the problem can be easily solved if Mother Bernadette lets him come in and take a look around and tell the people theres nothing to see. She asks if he has a warrant (He doesnt) but the conversation abruptly ends when a bell begins to chime, indicating its time for her to resume her vow of silence. Marcus has banned Angela from the room, but Father Tomas is convinced Angela needs to be inside to help draw the demon out. Foolish priest. One of the most important lessons of Exorcising a Demon 101 is you never give the creature what it wants. Marcus is still pissed that Tomas disobeyed his direct orders. Tomas responds that hes not the one with blood on his hands, and Marcus says thats because Tomas isnt an exorcist, and Tomas shoots back that Marcus isnt a priest. The two men begin to fight which pleases the demon. The sound of insects buzzing grows louder, and Mother Bernadette grabs her head, obviously is some sort of pain. Marcus is poised to punch Marcus, but the sounds of Mother Bernadette whimpering and the demon growling stops him in his tracks. He grabs Tomas and explains that the demon worms its way in and lays its little eggs. This immediately calms Tomas down, but hes still convinced that Angela is the key since she beat it once, but Marcus isnt confident its worth the risk. The Exorcist Recap: Father Bennett Investigates Tattersal and Puts Himself in Danger>>> Angela Faces Her Fears With really no options remaining, Marcus relents, but he warns Angela that a 40-year-absence wont protect her. If she feels it poking around at all, even the slightest twinge, Marcus orders her to run. Angelas main duty is to keep the demon distracted, so she begins to talk to Casey, reminding her of a time when she was young and broke her foot. Casey didnt call anyone, she walked home. The demon is more interested in divulging that Angela aborted her first child, terrified it would come out like her: rotten, filthy and putrid. Angela continues her story, letting Casey know that after Casey endured the pain of that broken foot, she knew her daughter was strong, and that no matter what life threw her, Casey would be okay because she was stronger than Angela could ever be. Holy Conspiracy Theory, Bennett Father Bennett goes to see Cherry and Lester Rego after his run in at the Tattersal warehouse. He did get stabbed in the shoulder, so Lester administers first aid while Cherry calls the police to report the human remains stacked up in the boiler room. As the local news reports about the bodies discovered at the warehouse, Father Bennett warns Cardinal Guillot that the organs were harvested for use in a demonic ritual. Bennett has seen this type of thing before but never on this scale. Bennett reveals that Tattersal Landscaping has ties to at least six members of the planning committee. These people cannot be trusted, particularly Maria Walters, Brother Simon and Superintendent Jaffey. His Holiness cannot be put in their care. A Walk Down Memory Lane Mother Bernadette, Marcus and Tomas are doing their best to vanquish the demon, but he manages to get inside Angelas head, communicating with her telepathically. Angela finds herself back in the basement of the Georgetown house. She sees herself as a young girl playing with the Ouija board. Also present is the salesman. Angela questions why hes making her watch this, and he says he thought she didnt remember most of it and might need to, so this is a refresher, a stroll down memory lane. Angela wants to know why he chose her. He claims there was nothing special about Angela. There are close to eight billion people on this earth, crawling around like vermin. She just happened to be under his foot. Angela demands he leave her family alone, but hes not going anywhere because Angela doesnt get to walk away. Plus, he misses the way she tastes, and to prove that point, he runs his tongue up the side of her cheek. He does note that she tastes different now like death. Angela is yanked back to reality as Caseys body is violently flinging backwards and forwards on the table. Marcus and Tomas decide to try delivering last rites. The demon asks if theyre giving up on the piglet so soon, but Marcus says it isnt for Casey, its for him. Casey sits up, and the demon tells Angela the show is over, its time to give the people what they want. Her head begins to pivot, but Angela grabs her daughter, screaming no but is pulled back by Tomas and Bernadette. Casey writhes on the table. Bernadette, Tomas and Marcus are flung aside. Casey frees herself from her constraints and levitates above the table and collapses. When she comes to, it appears Casey is finally back. This is Just the Beginning Casey may be back, but her troubles are far from over. Shes in the hospital and unconscious, and Henry is having to fight off Detective Lawrence. Hes insistent on speaking to Casey as soon as she wakes up. Im left wondering what happened to the plan to run, but Casey was certainly in no shape to go anywhere without medical intervention. Still, the family is hopeful for the future which probably wont involve staying in the city once they can prove their diminutive 100 pound daughter couldnt have possibly killed those two medics. The poor sucker whose jaw she broke on the train in front of a ton of witnesses is another story, but well see. If they think theyre going to walk out of that hospital and disappear, well, thats highly unlikely. Caseys troubles may or may not be over. Lets face it, that was a pretty anti-climactic end. At least in the movie, a priest flung himself out a window. But theres still that pesky plot to murder the Pope, and Father Bennett learns that the conspiracy goes higher than he even imagined. The Cardinal is in on it, and his security detail puts an end to Bennetts life by placing a plastic bag over his head in the back of a car. Quiz: Which TV Vigilante Are You?>>> Father Tomas returns to St. Anthonys to find Jessica and her husband Jim waiting for him. Hes fully aware of what transpired between his wife and the priest. Tomas offers up no apologies or excuses. Hes even willing to let Jim take a swipe at him, but Jim has bigger plans. Hes going to make a few calls to Tomas superiors and find out where they land on the whole priest committing adultery thing. In this city, in this diocese, Im not sure if that information will work for or against him. Jessica apologizes and swears shell take care of it. Marcus learns that a plot to assassinate the Pope has been uncovered. The polices #1 suspect (some poor, lost soul named John Harplen), shot himself when the police stormed into his apartment. Marcus recalls meeting Harplen, and at the time, he was living under a tarp. How does a guy like that wind up with twenty thousand dollars worth of military hardware? The Rances future plans are up in the air, and Chris and Angela discuss their options. One thing is clear, Angela isnt ready to forgive and forget and move in with mom. Shes still harboring some anger. It soon seems too much vitriol given everything theyd just been through. Chris realizes that her granddaughter may be demon-free, but her daughter isnt. It only makes sense. Why else would Casey have just snapped out of it? Chris sees the light a little too late because Angela snaps her mothers neck like a twig, and her lifeless body lands at the bottom of the stairs. Deja vu. Bad news, kids. Youll have to wait until December 9 to find out what happens next. Will Father Tomas be excommunicated? Will his sins make him more attractive to those who want him to join their cause? Can Marcus save Angela? Let us know what you think in the comments section below. The Exorcist airs Fridays at 9/8c on FOX. Want more news? Visit our Exorcist page on Facebook. (Image Courtesy of FOX) Its fitting that this episode of The Vampire Diaries centers around a carnival because it is a roller coaster of emotions! Capping off the week with the Salvatore brothers has been especially exhausting as of late. Friday nights are supposed to be enjoyable. Most people are finishing up a long week of school or work and wanting to go into the weekend with positive vibes, but you wont find that with season eight. Dont get me wrong, there have been a few bright spots one of which is tonight, and it isnt just the blinding flames. Lets rip the Band-Aid off and jump right to the depressing stuff recap. The Gang Says Farewell to Tyler Stefan, Caroline, Bonnie and Alaric all receive calls from Matt. Its time to lay Tyler to rest. Stefan and Caroline are the first to show up. Stefan walks up to the open casket and we get a close-up of the awful truth. Tyler is dead. Hes pale and the gaping wound in his neck is still visible. Its a harsh reality for Stefan knowing Damon is responsible. Alaric has the twins, but Seline says that will watch them while he goes to the funeral. (She is such a caring nanny, you guys!) Before heading to the service, Alaric stops by the Armory to check up on Sybil. Hes going to torture her non-stop until she reveals who her sister is. Okay, hes not personally going to torture her, but hes going to have the last remaining intern strike the tuning fork over a loud speaker every hour. Bonnie wont be able to attend Tylers funeral though because she has Enzo tied up in the cabin in an attempt to turn his humanity switch back on. In a scene very reminiscent of a Pretty Little Liars promo ad, Matt, Stefan, Caroline, and Alaric act as pallbearers carrying Tylers casket through the cemetery. They get to his burial spot and find four shallow graves that have been dug up by Damon one for each of them. Damon is on a mission to cut all of the people who matter to him out of his life. He grabs Matt and force feeds him his blood. If anyone tries to attack Damon, hell snap Matts neck causing him to turn into a vampire. Theres still a tinge of humanity left in Damon, and hes hoping his actions are enough to keep the gang away from him. It works, for now. The Vampire Diaries Recap: Stefan Finds Out How to Save Damon>>> The Power of Love Bonnie is trying everything to save Enzo. She has him trapped in a cabin with the Flame of Imprisonment. He cant leave until the flame is extinguished, and shes the only one who can do that. In an effort to ignite Enzos humanity, Bonnie plays on his memories of their time together, but nothing is working. She asks Caroline for advice. What was it that made Caroline come back? She says that she had to face her biggest fear. Bonnie douses the entire cabin in gasoline while telling Enzo her plan. She says his greatest fear is abandonment, everyone hes ever loved has left him. She vows she wont leave. She strikes a match and the whole place goes up in flames. Enzo couldnt care less. She says over and over, I wont leave you. The only way she can be saved from a fiery death is if he turns. Her lungs are filling with smoke and heat, but she continues, I wont leave you. He says those will be her last words, and then she passes out. After a few seconds, something clicks. He picks Bonnie up and tosses her outside. She comes to and sees him trapped in the doorway. He says that hes okay with dying, its his time. Bonnie doesnt like that answer. She runs inside and uses her hand to put out the Flame of Imprisonment. Enzo scoops her up and runs both of them outside. He realizes his humanity is back. Bonnie says he is stuck with her forever because she is never going to leave him. Its a really great scene, that only bright spot I mentioned earlier. Damon Loses It Damon goes to visit Sybil. He wants to know why she still has control of him. She answers him pretty frankly she doesnt. He still has freewill or else he wouldnt be looking for answers. She knows that he feels guilty about all of the terrible things hes done to his friends, as well as his brother. She tells him he needs to give himself fully to her, thats all she wants. If he doesnt like that idea, then he can pay a visit to his brother, dim up that humanity switch, and deal with all the crap hes done. Feeling that much at once should be enough for him to completely shut it off. Damon calls Stefan and tells him to meet him at the carnival. Damon doesnt know that Stefan has already decided Damon needs to be put down. They have a plan to desecrate him until they can figure out how to deal with the Sirens. At the carnival, Damon tells Stefan he needs help. He tries to explain whats going on. He feels compelled to help Sybil in order to stay away from hell. But at the same time, hes sick of the control she has over him. He considers flipping his switch, but not feeling seems like the easier option. Stefan tries to shoot Damon with a vervain dart. Damon catches it inches from his face. Damons reaction to this betrayal is to go full dark. He immediately attacks Stefan. It looks bleak for Stefan for a second before Caroline comes to the rescue. She shoots Damon full of vervain darts and he goes out cold.They take him back to the Salvatore house and vervain-chain him in a coffin. Seline is Crazier Than We Thought Seline takes the twins to the carnival. Theyre playing a game, but get disappointed when they dont win. Seline works her siren-magic on one of the workers and tells him to give her a goldfish for the girls efforts. She chooses a dead fish. She says shell teach them how to give the fish a proper burial. They go to an abandoned warehouse. There is a small shrine-like woodpile, and shes laying pieces in the shape of the hell symbol. She wants to teach the twins about Cade. They all hold hands, and the twins drain just enough magic. She tells them to say the magic words, and the woodpile goes up in flames. There is more in that pile than just wood, though. Im guessing the fire gets a little out of hand. Later, the police are investigating the source of the fire. They see charred pieces of a human body. The tattoo reveals that its Georgie. You Had One Job The intern at The Armory is getting annoyed with not getting any answers. Alaric has told him to ring the tuning fork every hour on the hour, but hasnt told him why. He also told him to try to find Georgie who has been missing in action. He doesnt have to try very hard to find her because soon the police call him. (Hes listed as her emergency contact.) Upon hearing whats happened, he immediately leaves the Amory leaving Sybil alone. Without anyone to ring the tuning fork, shes able to break out. You had one job! I dont think the intern will be getting promoted anytime soon. Sybil now has the tuning fork. She finds Damon and releases him from the vervain chains. Shes pleased to see hes all in now. [WATCH] The Vampire Diaries Preview: How Will Stefan React to Damons Latest Devastating Move?>>> Matt is Useful Tyler had been working with Virginia St. John. She was trying to figure out the whole Siren story. When she died, she passed her work down to Tyler. And then Tyler willed the research to Matt. He received a box full of information, including pictures with the name Seline written. Matt, Caroline, Stefan, Alaric, Bonnie, and Enzo all go to the carnival to reflect on the batshit crazy stuff theyve been dealing with. They dont know yet that Damon and Sybil are roaming free. Stefan makes a classic-Stefan speech about hope and memories and its all Kumbaya for a minute. Matt is catching up with Caroline. He asks about the twins, so of course Caroline pulls out her phone to show him pictures. The first one that pops up is of the twins with their nanny, Seline. He immediately recognizes her and tells Caroline she needs to go home now. Caroline and Alaric rush home, but no one is there. They find a drawing one of the girls did. Its four stick figures showing Cade, Seline, and the sisters. Kidnapping! The Vampire Diaries went there. I have a feeling that messing with Carolines kids is not the smartest idea Seline has ever had. I cant figure out what the Sirens want with the twins though. Do you have any ideas? Let me know in the comments below. The Vampire Diaries returns Friday, December 2 at 8/7c. Want more news? Like our The Vampire Diaries Facebook page. (Image courtesy of The CW) Delaware River water treatment plant upgrades to remove contaminant New Jersey American Water is spending $2.5 million to remove a potentially harmful chemical from Delaware River water processed by its Delran plant Dismembered 2-Year-Old Was Murdered For Crying From Milk Allergy By Stephen Gossett in News on Nov 16, 2016 4:07PM A police officer searches along the shoreline of the lagoon in Garfield Park for evidence after body parts from a toddler were discovered in the water on September 9, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Chicago has seen more than its share of awful child murders in the recent past, but none seemed to strike a nerve more than the death of Kyrian Knox, the two-year-old boy whose decapitated remains were discovered more than a year ago in a Garfield Park lagoon. Police on Tuesday evening at last announced the arrest and charge of a suspect, Rockford man Kamel Harris, in the boys murder; and the circumstances of Knoxs death are beyond chilling. Harris, 41, allegedly killed the toddler because he cried for an extended time after ingesting milk. The boy was lactose intolerant. The baby apparently ingested some milk, and the baby was lactose intolerant and kept crying all afternoon, Chicago Police Cmdr. Kevin Duffin said at a press conference near the Garfield Park recovery site on Tuesday evening, the Sun -Times reports. Harris kind of just snapped. It was pretty difficult to deal with, Marine Unit diver Angel Romero said, according to the Tribune. Probably one of the most difficult things I've dealt with in my 29 years on the job. Police found blood in Harris vehicle last year, which reportedly helped break the case. Harris was formally charged with murder, concealment of a homicide and dismemberment of a body, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi announced on Tuesday evening. FORMALLY CHARGED: 41 yo Kamel Harris is the barbaric monster charged with murder, concealing a homicide & dismembering 2 yo Kyrian Knox. pic.twitter.com/C3ZY8ByKSl Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) November 16, 2016 Ahead of the press conference, Guglielmi on Tuesday made public that an arrest had been made. We promised we'd never give up on him and we havent. CPD detectives made an arrest in the murder & decapitation of 2 yr old Kyrian Knox pic.twitter.com/i7Ivyocdd2 Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) November 15, 2016 The childs remains were discovered on Sept. 5, 2015, but authorities struggled for several weeks to identify the boy. Kyrian's mother, Lanisha Knox, said last year that she left Kyrian in Rockford while she moved for work to Cedar Rapids, IA. Kamel Harris, who was watching the boy, told authorities last year that he handed the child over to a group of people he didn't know but was granted permission by Knox over the phone. Police on Tuesday said they believe Harris brought Knox's remains to the lagoon because he had relatives that lived nearby. The current situation (amid demonetisation) may have triggered the pace of selection. However, I am yet to get an offer letter and several other formalities are yet to be completed, may be, by next week. I am here at Amfi for another one month till we get a substitute C V R Rajendran, chief executive officer (CEO) of mutual fund lobby Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi) is exiting his post two years before his contract ends.In one of the quickest selection processes, Rajendran has been appointed the managing director of Catholic Syrian Bank. The formalities, though, are yet to be done for the same.Members of Amfi told Business Standard that there is no official communication from Rajendran to the Amfi's board yet. But they registered their surprise at his leaving the industry when he has just completed barely a year in office and also at the pace of his selection.When contacted, Rajendran said, The current situation (amid demonetisation) may have triggered the pace of selection. However, I am yet to get an offer letter and several other formalities are yet to be completed, may be, by next week. I am here at Amfi for another one month till we get a substitute.He also said that work at an association was not as challenging as it was at banks. It is worth to mention that before coming to Amfi, he was CMD of Andhra Bank. Some of the senior Amfi members said that they will try to find a substitute for Rajendran in next few weeks and they will prefer a banking person only for the post who has good understanding of the industry and is well versed with institutions like Sebi, RBI, Income Tax and, of course, the government. Rating agency CRISIL has downgraded ratings for Ltds (MFL) debt instruments and bank facilities to A-, from A. The rating action factors in leveraging of balance sheet by MFL to acquire real estate properties from partnership firms owned by the Muthoot Pappachan Group. 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. Realty-major will continue to operate the escrow accounts opened in September as part of the Delhi High Court monitored compromise scheme with homebuyers. Though the Supreme Court on Friday stayed the meetings with homebuyers that were to commence on Sunday, the funds in the escrow account would continue to be utilized. Last week, academic and social activist along with four other people was booked by the Chhattisgarh police for abetting the murder of a tribal man, Shamnath Baghel, in the insurgency-hit Sukma district. They were booked under section 120B (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder), 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code at the Tongpal police station. Demonetisation has brought a sense of justice among honest taxpayers and this would be further strengthened if the money recovered is used by the government efficiently and in a leak-proof manner for infrastructure development and social schemes, Stakeholders' Empowerment Services (SES) has said. Rajesh Kushwaha, 40, and thousands of others are yet to get a days work in Delhi since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on November 8. Kushwaha, who sleeps on a footpath outside a building material shop in Paharganjs Chuna Mandi, is worried about fast exhaustion of paltry savings that his family is holding on to in Farrukhabad district of Uttar Pradesh. Activists Impede Construction At TOD To Protest Displacement In Logan Square By Stephen Gossett in News on Nov 19, 2016 6:09PM Photo: Stephen Gossett The struggle for affordable housing remains a steep uphill battle in many parts of Chicago, but the fault line might be greatest in Logan Square, where gentrification and a spike in so-called transit-oriented developments have sent rents skyrocketing and displaced longtime residents. To voice their opposition, dozens of activists protested for hours on Saturday morning at an under-construction TOD at N Campbell Ave. and W Armitage Ave., including several who obstructed access points to the construction site. Rents at the in-progress development, which is being built by Spearhead Properties, are expected to start at $1300 per month for a studio, a rate several protesters said was much too high. I grew up here. Ive been here since the early '90s, but its not our community anymore. Sabrina Morey told Chicagoist. It has affected me and my and kids very much. They cant go to school over here now. At least half the units need to be affordable housing, made for people with familiesnot just studio apartments, she added. "Moreno: amigo de los ricos" Campbell & Armitage pic.twitter.com/uBtejYqVnX Stephen Gossett (@gossettrag) November 19, 2016 On Election Day, nearly 74 percent of voters of the First Precinct of the First Ward voted in favor of a Public Question that requires at least half of newly built residential units to be affordable. But the already-in-development property at 2501 W Armitage Ave. only sets aside the required 10 percent of its expected 78 units for affordable housing, which translates to only 7 units. Some developers choose to pay an extra fee to the city rather than build the 10 percent of units, as mandated by the citywide TOD ordinance, but the First Ward has stopped developers in the area from using that sidestep. Alma Zamudio, of Somos Logan Square, said that residents sent a petition with some 1,200 signatures to Ald. Proco Joe Moreno (1st Ward) to stop the necessary zoning change. But the request was ignored, so the tenants-advocacy organizationalong with Grassroots Illinois Action and Autonomous Tenants Unioncoordinated extreme measures to negotiate with city officials and/or development crews. The protest remained peaceful throughout the morning. Police arrived at various points in the protest, but as of late morning, had come and gone without incident. The Affordable Requirements Ordinance itself is problematic as well, Zamudio said. Rental units must be affordable to households earning up to 60 percent of Average Median Income, according to the rule. That figure translates to roughly $42,000 for a family of four, but the average Latino family in the area makes about $34,000, Zamudio said. Representatives from Spearhead Properties were not immediately available for comment. Alicia, Somos Logan Square pic.twitter.com/aNNrC4OOPp Stephen Gossett (@gossettrag) November 19, 2016 cast a shadow over the India International Trade Fair with footfalls slow to pick up and sales muted on Saturday, the first day the fair was open to the public. A consortium of Indian companies led by (OVL) is set to strike a deal with Iran for the economic development of Farzad-B gas field in the Persian Gulf by January next year. Aruna Desai has a problem with the thousands of Indian rupees she has with her in the US she cant find a bank to exchange her funds and couldnt give the money away if she tried. Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi removed Rs 500- and Rs 1,000 notes from the circulation, currency exchange providers in the US have been unable to take the outlawed bills. Some of the countrys biggest banks, including JPMorgan Chase & Co and Citigroup Inc, work with vendors to provide rupees to clients and those vendors have made the bills unavailable, spokesmen for the banks ... Lula's return: Brazil's left turn may be more muted this time Lula's earlier popularity lay in his redistributive policies, but this time around, he will have to demonstrate an ability to negotiate the ... Enhancing mustard yields Genetically tweaked variety can increase production. It would be unwise for India to deny its commercialisation FM: Major priority of the present Government is to ensure that benefits of Social Security Schemes reach to every section of workers including those working in the un-organized sector; Holds his Second Pre -Budget Consultative Meeting for the Union Budget 2017-18 with the representatives of different Trade Union Groups in Delhi today. The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley said that one of the major priorities of the present Government is to ensure that benefits of Social Security Schemes reach to every section of workers including those working in the un-organized sector. He said that the Government is sensitive about the workers welfare and would take all possible measures to ensure that their interest and welfare is fully protected. He said that making social security schemes accessible to the workers of the un-organised sector is a major challenge, which the Government is keen to address at this juncture as the unorganised sector is growing at a faster pace. The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley was speaking during his Second Pre -Budget Consultative Meeting for the Union Budget 2017-18 with the representatives of different Trade Union Groups here today. Speaking on the occasion, the Finance Minister Shri Jaitley further said that the present framework of social security is structured for different groupings organized, unorganized and those not employed/BPL, which are functional requirements. He said that there is a need to ensure a convergence of benefits for all these groupings, above a minimum threshold. The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley said that for employment generation, the Government has taken many intiatives like Make in India, Skill India, Mudra Yojana and National Career Service Portal. Along with skill development, identifying labour-intensive industries and new areas where jobs can be created like renewable energy and reusable resources etc. and providing employment linked training can be some of the ways to capitalise on the demographic dividend, the Finance Minister added. Along with the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley, the Pre-Budget Consultative Meeting with the representatives of different Trade Union Groups was also attended among others by Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs, Shri Ashok Lavasa, Finance Secretary, Shri Shaktikanta Das, Secretary, DEA, Dr Hasmukh Adhia, Revenue Secretary,Ms Anjuli Chib Duggal, Secretary, Financial Services, Smt. M. Sathiyavathy, Secretary Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr. Arvind Subramanian, Chief Economic Adviser (CEA), Shri Rajan Kumar, Director General, Labour Bureau, Dr. Pritam Singh, Director (Admin.), NILERD and Shri Manish Kumar Gupta, Director General,V. V. GIri National Labour Institute. The representatives of various Trade Union Groups who attended the todays meeting included Shri Tapan Sen, (CITU), Shri Vrijesh Upadhyay (BMS), Shri Ashok Singh (INTUC), Shri D. L. Sachdev & Shri V. S. Giri (AITUC), Shri Harbhajan Singh Sidhu (HMS), Shri Sankar Saha (AIUTUC), Shri S. P. Tiwary (TUCC), Ms. Manali Shah (SEWA), Shri Rajiv Dimri (AICCTU), Shri M. Shanmugam & Shri Jawahar Prasad Singh (LPF), Shri Deepak Jaiswal (NFITU) ,Shri Ashok Ghosh (UTUC) and Shri Uday Patwardhan among others. Most of the Trade Union representative gave a joint memorandum to the Finance Minister containing suggestions for the forthcoming Union Budget 2017-18. Various suggestions were made by the representatives of Trade Union Groups in the meeting. Major suggestions include that next Budget should help in creation of more jobs/employment opportunities. It was suggested to increase the minimum wages to Rs.18,000. Other suggestions include more focus in the Budget on social security schemes for the workers especially those working in an un-organised sector. It was suggested that same wages be given for same work including in case of those working on contractual basis. Anti-dumping measures especially in metal sector like steel have to taken-up on utmost priority to save the domestic industry from irreparable loss and ultimate closure. Other suggestions include minimum personal tax exemption limit be raised to Rs. 5.00 lakh and pension for workers be increased from Rs.1,000 to Rs. 3,000 and be given to all kinds of workers. Other suggestions include credit to MSME Sector at 4% as it generates lot of employment; and providing mobile banking facility in rural areas where there is no banks/Post Offices etc. It was also suggested that rates for treatment in case of emergency under CGHS be revised. FM: To ensure future increases in agriculture output and farmers income by 2022, focus should be on higher agriculture productivity; To increase the price benefits to the farmers, it is necessary that the farmers are provided timely market information and developing software applications, both computer and mobile based, that link farmers to consumers. The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley said that in order to ensure future increases in agriculture output and double the farmers income by 2022, focus should be on higher agriculture productivity especially in view of the limitation on expanding crop area,. The Finance Minister said it is possible by leveraging technology-especially for high yielding and resistant variety seeds and efficient utilization of water for irrigation, adapt latest IT to increase resilience to nature by phasing sowing, watering and harvesting among others. He said that in order to increase the price benefits to the farmers, it is necessary that the farmers are provided timely market information and developing software applications, both computer and mobile based, that link farmers to consumers. The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley was speaking at his First Pre -Budget Consultative Meeting with the representatives of Agriculture Groups here today. The Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley further said along with use of latest technology to raise productivity, there is also need to revisit the incentive structure of farming, to focus to reduce wastages and enhance earnings as well as to improve marketing of farm produce. The Finance Minister said that for efficient implementation of the National Agriculture Market, there is need to integrate the more than 550 regulated Mandis in the country by 2017 for which the States need to reform the APMC Act. Along with the Finance Minister Shri Jaitley, the Pre-Budget Consultative Meeting with the representatives of Agriculture Groups was also attended among others by Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs, Shri Ashok Lavasa, Finance Secretary, Shri Shaktikanta Das, Secretary, DEA, Ms Anjuli Chib Duggal, Secretary, Financial Services, Shri Shobhana K. Pattanayak, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Shri Devendra Choudhry, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Shri Ramesh Chand, Director NCAP, and Dr. Arvind Subramanian, Chief Economic Adviser (CEA), Shri G. S. Jha, Chairman, Central Water Commission and Shri Suresh Pal, Member, CACP. The representatives of the different Agriculture Groups present during the meeting included Shri Raju Shetti, President Swabhimani Paksha, Dr. Satya Narayana, Chief Executive, National Cooperative Union of India(NCUI), Shri Venkatrao Nadagouda, Federation of Oilseeds Cooperative Growers of India, Shri D. Vinod Sivappa, President, United Planters Association of South India, Dr. Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, Shri Siraj Chaudhary, Chairman & MD, Cargill India Pvt. Ltd., Shri R. Parthasarathy, GIDR, Shri Bojja Dashratha Rami Reddy, Secretary General, Consortium of Indian Farmers Association, Dr. K. V. Prabhu, Joint Director (Research), IARI, Shri Devesh Roy, IFPRI, Shri Ajay Vir Jakhar, Chairman, Bharat Krishak Samaj, Shri Harish Damodaran, Indian Express, Shri Satish Chander, DG, Fertilizer Association of India, Dr. Y. Sivaji, Chairman, Kisan Foundation, Shri Rakesh Kapur, Chairman FAI, Shri Abhijit Sen, CESP, Shri Surjit S. Bhalla, O(X)US Investment and Shri Mukul Maheshwary, Agriculture Farm among others. Many suggestions were received from the representatives of different Agriculture Groups. Major suggestions include due to demonitisation, there is urgent need to provide sufficient funds to District Cooperative Banks where most of the farmers have their bank accounts, cargo hubs and dry ports should be encouraged in the production centre of agri-products. Other suggestions include it should be made mandatory for Agriculture Universities to start Agriculture Marketing Research Department, new schemes to bail-out farmers from debt be announced in the forthcoming Budget and banks be directed to implement scheme of differential rate of interest to agriculture sector both in letter and spirit among others. Other suggestions included announcement of awards for those who do new technological innovations in agriculture sector, cold chain provision for horticulture and minor vegetables, higher allocation in Budget for agriculture in the Budget as 52% of Indias population is based on agriculture and allied sector. Health Camp at Amarpur as Part of Navy Week Celebrations As a part of Navy Week celebration, Indian Navy is conducting a free health camp for the general public from 19 to 21 Nov 16 at Amarpur village, Palwal district, Haryana. Through this outreach programme the Indian Navy will bring about awareness in the general public about the role and task of the Navy and also to encourage youngsters to consider Navy as a career. In a glittering function, the camp was inaugurated by Admiral Sunil Lanba, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, the Chief of the Naval Staff at Government Senior Secondary School, Amarpur today, 19 Nov 16. Surgeon Vice Admiral Bipin Puri, PHS, Director General Medical Services (Navy) welcomed the dignitaries and the gathering. Shri. Ashok Kumar Sharma, DC Palwal, Ms Anju Chaudhary Asst DC Palwal and Shri Abhimanyu DSP Palwal were present at the function. Surgeon Commodore SC Gupta, Principal Director Medical Services delivered the vote of thanks. After the inaugural function, the Chief Guest Admiral Sunil Lanba, PVSM, AVSM, ADC visited the out-patient departments and interacted with the medical staff of doctors, nursing officers & medical technicians. A medical team consisting of specialists, super-specialists and para-medical staff from the premiere naval hospital INHS Asvini at Mumbai have been instrumental in the conduct of the camp. The specialists will conduct out-patient consultation for medical, surgical, gynaecology, paediatric, eye, ENT, skin, cardiology and endocrinology ailments. The camp is supported by a dental chair for minor dental ailments and by laboratory, ultrasonography, echocardiography and pharmacy facilities. The camp also have facilities to screen for cancer cervix and cancer breast in women. As prelude to the camp, a mobile laboratory with facilities to carry out blood investigations was established at four villages, viz., Balai on 12 Nov 16, Rampur Khor on 13 Nov 16, Jalhaka on 14 Nov 16 and Amarpur on 15 & 16 Nov 16. Nearly 600 people were benefited by the mobile laboratory. Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, Nalanda to Celebrate its Glorious 65th Foundation Anniversary Tomorrow Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, Nalanda Deemed University, Nalanda is going to celebrate its glorious 65th foundation Anniversary tomorrow, in which Shri Ramnath Kovind, the Governor of Bihar would be the Chief Guest. Prof. Lokesh Chandra, a renowned scholar of Indology and Buddhism and the President of Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR), New Delhi will be the Guest of Honour, who will deliver the Special lecture on Genesis of Nalanda Mahavihara (University)". The Vice Chancellor Shri M. L. Srivastava will distribute certificates of excellence to the students for achieving ranks in the various events of the university like sports, speech completions and regular examinations. On this occasion two books one, written by Dr. Shriknat Singh, titled Interface Between Buddhism & English Literature" and two, Dr. H. K. Tiwari, titled NaiKavita : VividhParidrishya " will be released by the Governor of Bihar. Inaugural programme will be followed by a cultural programme to be performed by the students of the Mahavihara. It is relevant to mention here that Nava Nalanda Mahavihara has been founded way back in 1951 with the inspiration of Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the First President of India under the initiation of Ven. Bhikkhu Jagadish Kashyapa, one of the three revivalist of Buddhism in Modern India, in order to revive the lost glory of the ancient University of Nalanda. The publication of 42 volumes of Pali Tripitak in Devanagari script has been one of achievements of this university, which has caught attention of scholars worldwide. The same has been ordered for reprint by its present Vice-Chancellor Shri M. L. Srivastava. The Mahavihara is functioning presently as a Deemed University under Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India since the year 2006. At present the University has eight Post Graduate and Research Departments in the subjects of Pali, Philosophy, Ancient History, Hindi, English, Sanskrit, Tibetan Studies, Buddhist Studies and Chinese Studies. Students of various South and Southeast Asian studies like Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Laos and Nepal are studying living in various campus hostels apart from Indians. The University is split into three campuses- Academic, Residential and Cultural. The cultural campus known as Xuanzang Memorial premise includes a Museum Memorial in the name of this Chinese pilgrim built with Sino-Indian collaborative efforts, a Theme Park, Vipassana Meditation complex, Amphi- theatre and Sanskritik Gram Museum apart from many others. The campus attracts visitors from various parts of the globe. The Mahavihara also has a rich library with seventy thousand entries including rare manuscripts preserved in air conditioned separate location. Novelist Amitav Ghosh is in Mumbai to attend the Tata Literature Live festival, where he is being presented the Lifetime Achievement Award this year. The author of novels such as The Glass Palace, The Hungry Tide and the Ibis trilogy, in his latest book, The Great Derangement, changes the conversation on representation of climate change in literature. He discussed climate change, India-Pakistan relations and the Myanmar problems with Uttaran Das Gupta over telephone. Premier institutes like Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are unruffled in the wake of Donald Trumps win as the new president of United States of America (USA), even as students pursuing overseas education raise concerns of getting admission and their safety. Director David Yates, producer David Heyman and actors Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler and Alison Sudol receive gifts of paintings of Chinese magical beasts created by Chinese artists at the premiere of the spin-off of the Harry Potter film series "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" in Beijing on Nov. 18, 2016. [Photo provided to China.org.cn] Film director David Yates of "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" fame revealed exclusively to Chinese fans on Friday in Beijing that they will see a new magical Chinese beast appear in a future sequel. "There will actually be an amazing Chinese beast in the second movie," Yates told a press conference at the premiere of the Harry Potter film series spin-off when asked if the next film would be shot in China. The current film was written by Potter author J. K. Rowling as the first of a five-part franchise. The leading actor, Eddie Redmayne, then suggested to the director they could undertake filming in Beijing, arousing cheers from fans present. Producer David Heyman and actors Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler and Alison Sudol all attended the Chinese premiere during a three-day trip to promote the first installment of the extension of Harry Potter genre. They also received gifts of paintings of Chinese magical beasts created by Chinese artists. Heyman said the film was first intended to be in the form of a documentary to find some magic back after the Harry Potter series ended, but J. K. Rowling decided to create a new story. The film received rave reviews from film critics and Harry Potter fans after two advanced screenings on Nov. 15 and 17. It will debut in Chinese theaters nationwide on Nov. 25. Japanese and Peruvian leaders said on Friday they will work harder to put into force a Pacific rim trade pact as early as possible, pledging support for the 12-nation accord with an uncertain future. "The two leaders have committed themselves to stepping up efforts to complete each country's domestic procedure for (TPP) approval and to put the accord into force at the earliest possible timing," the joint statement by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said. The election of Donald Trump, a fierce critic of the TPP, as the US President has cast doubt on the future of the deal. A leading US regulator on Friday reversed course and positioned the agency to claw back pay of former executives at Wells Fargo & Co after a phony-accounts scandal. Former United States and Pakistani officials have warned that a crack in ties between the two nations is not in the interests of either and cautioned that another terrorist attack in America could lead to a violent reaction against Islamabad. The officials met at the US Institute for Peace on Thursday to discuss the future of Pak-US relations under President-elect Donald Trump's administration which will take effect from Jan 2017. South Asia expert Lisa Curtis and Pakistan's former ambassador to the United States Hussain Haqqani described the worst possible scenario: a major terrorist attack in the United States with roots in Pakistan would lead to an "all bets off" retaliation, reports the Dawn. Former US assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs Robin Raphel discussed the possibility of the militant Islamic State (IS) group growing deep roots in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In such a case, "if the administration does what Trump had suggested.you could have another period of an increase in (US) military assistance to Pakistan," she said. The participating members noted that the US-Pakistan ties received little attention in the presidential campaign but the Trump administration will have to deal with the important relationship when in power. The former officials also reviewed the impact of about two billion dollars of US aid on the bilateral relationship. Curtis, member of a conservation think tank the Heritage Foundation, warned that US security assistance to Pakistan would "continue to decline, unless we have some changes in Pakistan's policy, including arrests and prosecutions of terrorists". A decline in relations could be averted, she said, if Pakistan denies free movement of the Afghan Taliban in the country and assert pressure that would bring the extremist leaders to the negotiating table. Haqqani, said that the "most likely scenario, we will have, of course, curbs on immigration from Pakistan..aid will decline, and there will be some reaction in Pakistan". He added: "I hope that it is measured so that it doesn't provoke another reaction cycle here." The most likely scenario, according to Raphel, would be the new administration having "a re-look and tighten up, harden up on the issues" such as the Afghan Taliban's use of Pakistan as a safe haven. She hoped that "Pakistan will probably, at least in the short term, pull up its socks . and . accelerate plans that it might have to deal with some of these groups. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has issued a three-line whip to all its Rajya Sabha members, asking them to be present in the demonetisation debate- hit Parliament on November 21, 22 and 23. The development comes in the wake of the massive attack launched by the opposition on the Centre over demonetisation in the Parliament. On Friday, day three of the Winter Session of Parliament, Rajya Sabha proceedings were disrupted with BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi demanding an apology from Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad for his remarks on Thursday. Azad had made comments linking the Uri terror attack casualties to the deaths during the demonetisation "crisis". Also, the Lok Sabha did not see much happening in the first leg, with the opposition creating ruckus over the demonetisation issue. On day two, both Houses witnessed continued protests from the opposition on the demonetisation move. They demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi to respond in the demonetisation debate, but it was rejected by the government benches immediately. Repeated efforts by the Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to bring normality proved futile and she adjourned the House. In the Rajya Sabha, once again opposition parties stormed the well of the House. Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien's efforts proved futile and the House was adjourned many times. On day one, the Lok Sabha was adjourned after obituary references and the Rajya Sabha witnessed some serious debate between the government and Opposition on the demonetisation move. The Opposition parties moved adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha for day two. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By-election is going on peacefully in the Khowai constituency that has been vacant since the death of veteran CPI-M legislator Samir Deb Sarkar two months back. Under tight security by-elections started in the Khowai assembly constituency along with the Scheduled Caste (reserved) Barjala constituency from 7 a.m. Both the Opposition and ruling parties are considering these by-polls significant as the state is going for the crucial assembly polls in the next 14 months time. Security arrangements with central paramilitary along with Tripura State Rifles were made to hold the by-elections in both the assembly segments peacefully and smoothly. The voters expressed satisfaction over the security arrangements. Rija Das, mother of a toddler after casting her vote said, "My child is very small and so I came early and now returning after casting my vote. I am very happy." While, Jaita Datta a first time voter said, "Every time I use to come with my mother and wished if I could vote. Now today for the first time I have voted and I am very excited." The Election Commission has appointed three central observes to oversee the polling in the two assembly seats and for the first time webcasting of the polling is also taking place. Meantime, the Barjala seat fell vacant after Congress legislator Jitendra Sarkar resigned on June 6 following an internal feud within the party while. Both by-polls would be four-cornered contests, among Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led ruling Left Front, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. Five candidates each are contesting from the two constituencies. In all 39,007 voters, including 18,935 females, will be eligible to cast ballot in the Barjala constituency. In Khowai, 39,400 voters are eligible, among them 19,436 are women. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Under tight security by-elections for two Tripura assembly seats started from 7 a.m. on Saturday. Both opposition and ruling parties are considering these by-polls significance as the state is going for the crucial assembly in next 14 months time. By-elections are taking in the Scheduled Caste (Reserved) Barjala and Khowai assembly constituencies. Security arrangements with central paramilitary along with Tripura State Rifles were made to hold the by-elections in both the assembly segments peacefully and smoothly. Voters and political party representatives expressed satisfaction over the security arrangements. The Election Commission has appointed three central observes to oversee the polling in the two assembly seats and for the first time webcasting of the polling is also taking place. The Barjala seat fell vacant after Congress legislator Jitendra Sarkar resigned on June 6 following an internal feud within the party while the Khowai seat has been vacant since the death of veteran CPI-M legislator Samir Deb Sarkar. Both by-polls would be four-cornered contests, among Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led ruling Left Front, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. Five candidates each are contesting from the two constituencies. In all 39,007 voters, including 18,935 females, will be eligible to cast ballot in the Barjala constituency. In Khowai, 39,400 voters are eligible, among them 19,436 are women. Mina Das, a voter, said, "Here voting is taking place peacefully and there is no problem. Always here election takes place calmly and the queue will be very long after 10 a.m." Dipali Sutradhar, another voter, said, "Here the security force personnel are doing their duties in a very good manner and accordingly. There is no indiscipline, it never happens and this time also it is peaceful." Sushanta Choudhury, a Trinamool Congress leader, also spoke on the occasion. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Crucial by-polls will be held in four states -- Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Tripura and West Bengal today and all arrangements have been made by the Election Commission to conduct them in a free and fair manner amid tight security. In Tamil Nadu, polls will be held in Thanjavur, Aravakurichi and Tiruparakundram. In all, eighty one candidates are in the fray from the AIADMK, DMK, BJP and MDMK. Votes will be counted on Tuesday and the results will be announced on the same day. Voting will start at 7 a.m. and end by 5 p.m. In Thanjavur, 276 polling booths have been set up for 268516 voters, in Aravakurichi, 245 polling booths have been set up for 200347 voters and in Tiruparakundram 291 polling booths have been set up for 285980 voters. Live webcasting of the voting process in 96 booths in Aravakurichi, 275 booths in Thanjavur, and 254 booths will be monitored. Fourteen candidates for Thanjavur, 39 for Aravakurichi and 28 candidates for Tiruparakundram are contesting the election. The elections in Thanjavur and Aravakurichi were postponed after huge seizure of money by election commission flying squads during the election in May this year. In Maharashtra, polling will take place for six legislative council seats and two local body seats (Bhandara-Gondia and Yavatmal from the Vidarbha region). Counting of votes would be taken up on November 22. By-polls will also be held in two Lok Sabha constituencies and one Assembly constituency in West Bengal. By-polls will be held in Cooch Behar and Tamluk Lok Sabha constituencies and in Monteswar Assembly constituency. The Trinamool Congress, BJP, Left Front and Congress have fielded their candidates in all three seats. A by-election in Cooch Behar was necessitated by the death of TMC MP Renuka Sinha, while the by-election in Tamluk in East Medinipur district was caused by the resignation of TMC MP Suvendu Adhikari who also won the assembly poll and joined the state cabinet as transport minister. The by-poll to Monteswar Assembly seat in Burdwan district is due to death of TMC MLA Sajal Panja. In Tripura, by- elections will be held in the assembly constituencies of Khowai and Barjala. In Khowai, out of 52 polling booths 10 booths have been designated as 'A' category, while remaining 42 have been designated as 'B' category. In Barjala, 12 of the 48 polling stations have been designated as 'A' category, while the remaining 36 have been designated as 'B' category. Security measures have been beefed up with the deployment of central paramilitary forces in all sensitive polling stations in both constituencies. For each constituency there are around 39,000 voters. According to political observers, the electoral battle will be among three forces i.e. TMC, BJP and CPI (M). In the 2013 assembly elections, Barjala was captured by Congress candidate Jitendra Sarkar who later joined the CPI (M). The Khowai constituency fell vacant after CPI (M) MLA Samir Deb Sarkar died a few months back. The counting of votes will take place on November 22. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fraud lawsuits relating to Trump University has been settled by president-elect Donald Trump for 25 million dollars. The three lawsuits were settled by Trump's lawyers on Friday, which has now averted the prospect of the president-elect testifying in a courtroom showdown which had threatened to reveal more troubling details about the now defunct real estate course, reports The Guardian. Claiming vindication and victory for those "swindled" by the course, New York's attorney general, Eric Schneiderman said in a statement, "Donald Trump fought us every step of the way, filing baseless charges and fruitless appeals and refusing to settle for even modest amounts of compensation for the victims of his phony university," Schneiderman said in a statement. "Today, that all changes. Today's $25m settlement agreement is a stunning reversal by Donald Trump and a major victory for the over 6,000 victims of his fraudulent university," he added. Schneiderman said that compensation would be received by every victim and president-elect will pay up to $1m in penalties to the state of New York for violating state education law. "The victims of Trump University have waited years for today's result and I am pleased that their patience - and persistence - will be rewarded by this $25m settlement," he said. Former students who filed had the suit said that they were lured by false promises to pay up to $35,000 to learn Trump's real estate investing "secrets" from his "hand-picked" instructors. However, the allegations were denied by Trump as saying that he relied on others to manage the business. The settlement was negotiated by president-elect's lawyers with Schneiderman, in New York, and law firms that brought two separate class action lawsuits concerning Trump University in California. Those who had been involved in the California suits will be compensated with some 21 million dollars of the 25 million dollars and some 3 million dollars will go to those in New York not covered by the California lawsuits. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Looks like the world of seven kingdoms and the galaxies are colliding in style and a twist. StarWars.com recently announced that Clarke, who is known for her stirring portrayal of Daenerys Targaryen in 'Game of Thrones', will join the upcoming untitled Han Solo 'Star Wars' movie. "Clarke joins Alden Ehrenreich and Donald Glover in the highly-anticipated film, which is set prior to the original Star Wars trilogy," the website reports. Reportedly, the 'Terminator Genisys' actress' role will round out a dynamic cast of characters that Han and Chewie will encounter on their adventures. Although not many other details about the film have been released yet, the untitled Han Solo movie, helmed by directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, is set for release in 2018. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Coming down heavily on the Congress for repeatedly questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's preparedness before executing the demonetisation scheme, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday stated that if the Centre was not ready then how did the newly minted 2000 and 500 Rupee notes hit the markets and banks with such alacrity. Speaking to ANI here, the Union Minister asserted that the Prime Minister is taking every step possible to eradicate the evil of black money including forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT), something which the Congress forgot to do when it was in power. "The step of discontinuing 500 and 1000 rupee notes is a crucial step. The Government is aware of the inconvenience it is causing to the people and is in a huddle everyday to alleviate it. But the Congress is simply using the common man as a shield in blatantly attacking the Centre over demonetisation," she said. Further stating that if the Congress was truly committed in the fight against black money it would stand with the Centre, Sitharaman added that the government was fully prepared with the demonetisation but it would be unwise to expect a perfect scheme on such a large scale. "If the Centre was not prepared then how did the new 2000 notes come out in such short time? The Government is sympathetic towards the problems, but a perfect system cannot be implemented on such a large scale in such a short time," she said. Echoing similar sentiments, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh earlier today appreciated the people of India for their cooperation in implementing the demonetisation policy, saying that " pride" is supporting demonetisation, which is in the interest of the nation. "I call this decision of the Prime Minister as historic, brave and in nation's interest. And, such decision can only be taken by a person, who does not do politics to form a government, but does politics in the interest of the nation," Singh told ANI. "This decision will also improve the political structure, law and administration. It will also put an end on terrorism and insurgency. Not only this, it would also reduce the gap between rich and poor," he added. However, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "double speak" on demonetisation. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced demonetisation to bring out black money and the BJP's Janardan Reddy is spending Rs. 500 crores on his daughter's wedding," he said. "Even the Supreme Court has shown its concern that the situation of demonetisation may turn into riots, I have also shared the same concern a few days back. If this demonetisation on Rs. 500 and Rs 1000 rupee notes fails, then the country will go 20-25 years back," he added. The apex court on Friday warned that there "may be riots" and refused the government's plea to stay cases filed against demonetisation in high courts and lower courts across the country, saying 'how can we shut our doors to people when there is a problem of such magnitude." A Bench led by Chief Justice T.S. Thakur noted that people have started becoming "frantic" for money, braving queues for hours. The very fact that cases are being filed in courts all over is a signal that the problem is "serious and of magnitude," he observed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Speakers: Wang Zhaoyao, director of China's Manned Space Program Office, Gao Ming, director of the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization, Yang Baohua, deputy manager of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Li Jian, director of the Beijing Aerospace Control Center, Huang Weifen, deputy chief designer of the Chinese Astronaut Research and Training Center. Chairperson: Hu Kaihong, vice director-general of the Press Bureau, State Council Information Office Date: Nov.18, 2016 Chairperson Hu Kaihong: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the press conference of the State Council Information Office.The Shenzhou 11 reentry module landed safely at the expected site and the Tiangong 2 and Shenzhou 11 manned space mission was a complete success. We are honored to invite Wang Zhaoyao, director of China's Manned Space Program Office, Gao Ming, director of the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization, Yang Baohua, deputy manager of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Li Jian, director of the Beijing Aerospace Control Center, Huang Weifen, deputy chief designer of the Chinese Astronaut Research and Training Center, to introduce the manned space mission program and answer questions. Wang Zhaoyao: Good afternoon, ladies, gentlemen and friends from the media. The Shenzhou 11 reentry module landed successfully at the expected site in central Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at about 13:59 Beijing Time on Friday.The two astronauts opened the return capsule's hatch successfully and are in good condition. They would be transferred to Beijing on Friday. The Tiangong 2 and Shenzhou11 manned space mission has been a complete success. We have been authorized by the headquarters of the manned space mission program and are very glad to see you here to introduce the space mission program and answer your questions. The Shenzhou 11, with astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong on board, was launched at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 7:30 a.m. Beijing Time on Oct.17 atop a Long March-2F Y11 carrier rocket. The spacecraft later entered its designated orbit. The Shenzhou11 successfully completed its automated docking with the orbiting Tiangong 2 space lab at 3:31 a.m. on Oct. 19, which took place in orbit about 393 kilometers above the Earth. The two astronauts aboard Shenzhou11 entered the space lab of the Tiangong 2 at 6:32 a.m. successfully. During the combination of the spacecraft, the two astronauts worked and lived normally and also conducted scientific and technical experiments on the physiological effects of weightlessness, tests on human-machine collaboration on in-orbit maintenance technology and released an accompanying satellite successfully. Accompanying photography and near-distance fly-by observation were also carried out. They collected abundant data and made some achievements in programs of gamma-ray burst polarimeter, space cold atomic clock and preparation of new materials. The Shenzhou11separated from the orbiting Tiangong 2 space lab at 12:41 p.m. Beijing Time on Nov. 17. After that, a rapid orbital maneuvering control demonstration test was carried out. At 13:11 on Nov. 18, the spaceship moved into re-entry process. At 13:59, the re-entry module landed precisely in the planned area. The Tiangong 2 now has switched to independent operation mode to carry out space utilization science experiments. During the preparation and implementation of the manned space mission, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, president of the People's Republic of China, chairman of the Central Military Commission, has given significant instructions many times on the success of the space laboratory mission. Xi sent congratulatory messages on the successful launch of the Shenzhou 11 mission, called and talked with the astronauts at the Command Center of the China Manned Space Program. Three other state leaders, Li Keqiang, Liu Yunshan and Zhang Gaoli were also present at the mission center and gave instructions. It indicates the Chinese government's close attention on the space mission and care for the entire staff. This year marks the 60th anniversary of China's space industry. It is also a year of tremendous importance in the development of the manned space project. This year, we have undertaken several missions, including the debut flight of the Long March 7 rocket and the three missions of Tiangong 2 space station and Shenzhou 11 spaceship. We have also prepared for the launch of Tianzhou 1 cargo spaceship. Moreover, we are pushing ahead with research and follow-up preparations for the space station project. The various successes create important and decisive results for our space labproject, and lay a solid foundation for our space station operation and astronauts' long stays in space. In 2017, Tianzhou1, China's first cargo spaceship, will be launched to verify the refueling technology that is key for any space station. Then, we will finish the testing phase of the space lab and enter into a new phase of building and operating space station. Now, I'd like to take your questions. Thank you. CCTV: Can you say more about the mission? What does the success mean for the follow-up to China's existing manned space project? Wang Zhaoyao: In my opinion, the mission can be summed up as adequate preparations, successful implementation and fruitful achievements. Since the Shenzhou 10 mission, we have entered the preparatory phase for the space lab.Taken into account the special features of the Tiangong 2 and Shenzhou 11 missions, which involved long flight in high orbit and a large number of tests, we made adequate preparations to optimize the general technical scheme, undertook a thorough study of the orbital control strategy, improved implementation plans,enhanced product quality control, and made many experiments to simulate coordinated space tasks and astronauts' 30-day stay in space. As a result, in real practice, we successfully finished all tasks in every procedure, including rocket firing, the spaceship entering orbit, the rendezvous of the spaceship and the space lab, the astronauts' entry into the space lab, their operation of various experiments, the evacuation of the spaceship, rapid orbital maneuvering control test and the spaceship return rescue mechanism. Tasks in major procedures were broadcast live. In the space, we carried out experiments and researches on maintaining astronauts' health and movement abilities. We carried out experiments on space science and applied technologies, such as space physics, earth observation and space materials. We carried out experiments on space station technologies, such as human-machine collaboration in-orbit maintenance and space treadmill. We also carried out experiments on aerospace technologies, such as the control of companion satellite's flight and observation. At present, periodical results are being produced for analysis. And In-orbit experiments and ground investigation are continuing. The two astronauts have excellent qualities and produced an outstanding performance. The success of the missions so far is important to China's space mission, especially to space station construction and operation. First, it helped us understand the laws governing mid- and long-term manned space missions. During the mission, we understood how to maintain astronauts' health, how to operate and control combined spacecraft, how to arrange and implement large-scale in-orbit experiments, and how to conduct in-orbit operations and maintenance. All of these aspects are important to follow-up research, construction, operation and management of a space station. Second, it helped us make technical breakthroughs. We tested the functions of the launch rocket, spaceship, launch site, tracking and communications system, as well as their coordination and compatibility. We also verified the effectiveness of relative technological modifications. In particular, we tested key technologies, such as spacecraft rendezvous and docking, combination operation and manned spaceship return. All are laying a solid material and technical foundation in space station development and operation. Third, in regard to team building and training, the mission has helped promote the astronauts' skills, showing the team is competent to carry out continuous intensive tasks, thus boosting team confidence, gaining skills in the organization and implementation of mid- and long-term missions, and accumulating valuable experience. Fourth, through developing large-scale space experiments and ones involving applied technologies, we have gained abundant data and results as we expected. China Daily: I have two questions. First, compared to previous manned space flights, the time span of the Tiangong 2 and Shenzhou 11 space mission was much longer. In doing so, the aeronautical scientists adopted considerable measures to guarantee the stay of the two astronauts. The mission has turned out to be a success. Therefore, does that mean our country is capable of ensuring that astronauts can stay in space over a longer period of time? Concerning the abovementioned issue, how about the selection of the astronauts in the third batch? Second, the development of Tianzhou 1 Cargo Spaceflight has been in full swing. Would you please give us a brief introduction about the progress concerning the cargo spacecraft? Wang Zhaoyao: We'll give the floor to Deputy Chief Engineer Huang to answer the question. Huang Weifen: Thank you for your questions. Now, I'll briefly answer them. During this mission, our astronauts stayed in space for more than 30 days. It is a record for a Chinese crew, which can be considered an enormous challenge posed to the entire aeronautic system as well as a pivotal step for the transition to long-term manned spaceflight. The success fully shows that China have already developed the technologies that can support a long-term manned spaceflight and stationing. I'll elaborate on this in the following three aspects. First, the success of the mission has proved that the measures we took to ensure the stay in the space are very effective, which has consolidated the bedrock for future long-term manned spaceflight. During the mission, our astronauts and the ground crew assessed the measures regularly. According to our statistics, the feeding rates of the two astronauts reached 95%. Everybody knows that we tried our best to prepare for a manned spaceflight lasting as long as 33 days, providing our astronauts with more than a hundred varieties of aeronautic foods. Considering their different tastes, we selected the foods that are similar to the flavors of their home cuisine. For example, Jing Haipeng is from Shanxi Province, so we provide him with the Shanxi vinegar; meanwhile, Chen Dong is a Henan native, so we offered him his favorite noodles. Within the restriction of the flight conditions, the aeronautic foods cannot compare with the flavor of ground cooking, but astronauts understand the importance of foods and nutrition when they are completing their missions; they took every meal scrupulously which in some respects reflects their professionalism. That is one of the fundamental reasons for the success they achieved during this manned spaceflight. Huang Weifen: Additionally, based on the physical data we tested, the physical exams, their personal views through videos, audios and images, the processes when they were completing their tasks and the data pertinent to guaranteeing their stay in the space stations, the conditions of the astronauts are very good now that they are back on earth. We got news from the landing spot that Jing Haipeng opened the door of the returned module on his own. Those conditions fully prove the effectiveness of our three major measures: to guarantee the health, life and work of the astronauts during their stay in space. Through such practices, we have better understood the technologies that ensure the safety of the space missions and are now armed with more experiences, both of which are precious fortunes. We'll continue to use them to design measures that can safeguard long-term manned spaceflight and stationing in the future. Second, to facilitate future long space missions, we carried out orbital tests of key technologies and new ones in three major areas. For instance, we tested the system that obviates treadmill movement in the space station when astronauts run on it. In long space missions, this feature is very important. In the Shenzhou 11 mission, our astronauts undertook many workouts on the treadmill that gave us a chance to test the system and the exercise regime. The data we have collected will help us develop new treadmills and new exercise programs for future astronauts. We also tested the remote ground-space healthcare system. This is important to the wellbeing of future astronauts. We are applying the latest ultrasound medical imaging technology in the space station. We have designed a VR-based psychotherapy system that will help astronauts maintain mental health and improve regulation of their emotions during long space missions. We have developed a material management system for crew members and an interactive electronic manual. We have also carried out research on the time required for complicated tasks. These activities will greatly facilitate future long space missions and help improve astronaut work efficiency. In addition, we have tested plant cultivation technologies and the brain-computer interface. Growing plants in space tests astronauts' ability to install machines and complete cultivation tasks. We found that such activities were helpful and efficient in keeping the astronauts happy and maintaining emotional balance. All the tests are considered important in maintaining health, improving well-being and enhancing the work of astronauts on future long space missions. They also help us further improve the human-computer interface and the design of tasks and in-orbit operations for astronauts. Third, the outstanding performance of astronauts has shown the soundness of the selection and training processes. During the Shenzhou 11 mission, it didn't take Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong long to accustom themselves to the environment in space. They conducted all operations and followed all instructions accurately. The teamwork was good. The two astronauts were excellent, completing all tasks smoothly. The mission helped us accumulate rich experience in handling astronauts, such as their stamina and adaptability in space, knowledge reserve, daily life, fitness regime, work schedule, complicated and precise medical operations, in-orbit maintenance, human-computer interaction and ground-space coordination. The comprehensive capabilities of our astronauts were improved, providing strong support for future long space missions. The success of the Shenzhou 11 mission showed that our country is capable of sending astronauts into space for long periods. Now, I'd like to answer the question on selecting candidates for the third astronaut batch. At present, we have completed design of the selection plan, and the actual process will start next year. To cope with the multiple tasks involved in running a space station, we plan to expand the selection scope. Besides military pilots, we will select engineers majoring in aerospace technologies to become aerospace engineers. Wang Zhaoyao: I would like to add one thing about the progress of the research and development of Tianzhou-1. This cargo ship is China's brand new space vehicle, and will be responsible for delivering supplies to the orbiting space station, including the astronauts' consumables such as food, necessities, propellant, maintenance items, and test and load measurement equipment. It will also be able to dispose of some of the waste from the space station as required. Tianzhou-1 is now in the general assembly and test phase, and it will be launched from Wenchang to rendezvous and dock with the Tiangong-2 space lab, followed by an attempt at propellant refilling. Thank you TVB: In reading about in this space mission, I note the astronauts took some high school students' experiments into the space. I would like to know the results or primary outcome of these experiments. In the past, after astronauts returned to Earth, they would form a delegation to visit Hong Kong and Macao, so is there such a plan this time? If so, when will it happen? Thank you. Wang Zhaoyao This Shenzhou 11 spaceflight mission carried the prize-winning works from three Hong Kong students who participated in the Space Science Experiment Design Competition, including space silkworm breeding, chemical reaction in a water membrane, and double pendulum movements. The three experiments achieved very good results. In the silkworm experiment, five of the six silkworms were able to create cocoons. The chemical reaction produced membrane. The double pendulum movement experiment also completed the filming of movement imagery. I have to say, due to the careful scientific planning design and full preparation, everything went very smoothly in regard to the experiments in orbit and we received the expected results. And those experiments received wide attention. After the module returns to Earth, the researchers will study the cocoons and membrane and they may have some new scientific discoveries. As for when the astronauts of Shenzhou 11 will visit Hong Kong, I would say our compatriots from Hong Kong and Macao have always been caring and shown their support for the motherland's manned spacecraft cause. After the Shenzhou-5 manned spaceflight mission, we were invited by the local governments, and our engineering delegates visited Hong Kong and Macao multiple times. They were greeted with warm welcome not only from the Hong Kong and Macao governments, but also from all sectors of society. The astronauts of Shenzhou 11 just returned to Earth today. They have stayed in the space for a relatively long period this time, so they need time to recover. After they have got enough rest and fully recovered, we will arrange follow-up events. At present, we have no plan. Thank you. China News Service: On June 25 and on Nov.3 this year,the medium-sized Long March 7 and the large-sized Long March 5 rockets, two of China's new-generation carrier rockets, successively lifted off from Wenchang, Hainan Province. Could you give us a brief introduction of the operation of these two types? Thank you. Yang Baohua: As you say, the Long March 7 and the Long March 5 rockets, two of China's new-generation carrier rockets,were successfully launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan Province. These have greatly enhanced China's ability to conduct space mission, and is of great significance for the rapid development of the national space industry. The development of the Long March 7 rocket is to meet the need of launching cargo spaceships for the space station program. We also take into account the need of the country's future technological development and carrier rocket upgrades. The plan for developing the Long March7 rocket started in January 2011, and the rocket made its successful launch debut from Wenchang on June 25 this year. As the basic type of our new-generation carrier rockets, the Long March 7 rocket has a carrying capacity of 13.5 tons in low-Earth orbit and 5.5 tons in Sun-synchronous orbit. As scheduled, the second Long March 7 rocket will send China's first cargo ship, Tianzhou1, into orbit in the first half of next year. In the follow-up missions of space station construction and operation, the Long March 7 rocket and its payload will form a cargo transportation system providing propellant fuel and other supplies for the space station. With the improvement of technical schemes and performance stability, the Long March 7 rocket can gradually become the main carrier for China's future satellites and spacecraft. On Nov 3, the Long March 5, a new-generation heavy-lift carrier rocket, was launched for the first time in Wenchang, marking China's entry into the era of large rockets. This type is currently the country's largest space transportation system in terms of development scale and technological span. It uses non-toxic and non-polluting propellant fuel, with a take-off thrust exceeding 1,000 tons, and has a carrying capacity of 25 tons in low-Earth orbit and 14 tons in geosynchronous orbit, equal to the capacity of international mainstream carrier rockets. Based on the Long March 5 rocket, another new type, the Long March 5B rocket, has been developed to undertake the space station's accommodation pod launch. This approach will further improve the safety and reliability of rockets and meet mission needs. In short, the successful debut of the Long March 7 and the Long March 5 rockets have not only greatly enhanced China's ability in developing carrier rocket technology, but also further improved our space station's transportation support system, thus laying a solid foundation for the construction and operation of the space station. Thank you. FT: The success of China's aerospace industry represents the success of technology and engineering. I'd like to ask, regarding China's Tiangong plan, how do you incorporate scientific and research plans into it? Would you please brief us on the experiments carried out during this space expedition? Gao Ming: In the Tiangong 2 space lab, we arranged space science experiments, earth science observation and application, and experiments on new space application technologies, among more than 10 experiment projects. The implementations of these projects are expected to lead to major breakthroughs and give subsequent benefits in our country's exploration of cutting-edge space science and the development of experiments. The experiments carried out on Tiangong 2 this time outnumbered all of China's previous manned space missions. In detail, we carried out the following projects. The space cold atom clock carried out in Tiangong 2 is the world's first cold atom clock working in space. The project was to conduct basic research on cold atom physics, with an objective of maintaining the clock's daily stability within a range of 1016, an international leading level. It could improve our spacecraft's autonomy punctuality and navigation precision by 1-2 orders of magnitude, meaning that the application will be important in this prospect. In previous in-orbit tests, we already managed to obtain the stability with a precision of 1.71015. We will further adjust the parameters to try to reach our objective as soon as possible. The gamma ray burst (GRB) polarization detection is a project we jointly carried out with Europe. As you may know, GRB polarization detection is a new channel for us to probe into GRB. The efficiency of our detecting device on Tiangong 2 is dozens of times higher than similar ones on the international market. By observing, we hope to obtain major achievements in unveiling the nature of GRB as well as the origin and evolution of the universe. So far we have managed to observe GRB, solar X-ray burst, and the pulse signal from the Crab Nebula Pulsars. We will continue with these observations and in the meantime, scientists will conduct analysis and research based on these scientific data. We conducted an experiment on the accompanying satellite in Tiangong 2, the second accompanying satellite released from the spacecraft (the first was released from the Shenzhou 7 spacecraft). Equipped with an infrared camera and a visible camera operating at the level of 25 million pixels, the satellite completed its photographic mission when Shenzhou 11 combined with the space lab, observing the flight of the combination. Several experiments and tests were carried out, including that of the in-orbit release, the docking and the accompanying flight of the satellite, as well as new techniques used on the micro-satellite itself. At present, through these successful experiments, we have been able to obtain clear pictures of the spacecraft combination. The accompanying satellite has been dubbed a "selfie stick" by many netizens, and is really a wonderful tool. In regards to Earth observation and various applications, we deployed imaging equipment, such as a multi-angle, broad-band imaging spectrograph, 3D imaging microwave altimeter and ultraviolet limb-imaging spectrometer, to observe the land, oceans and atmosphere of the Earth and test the remote sensing capabilities. The key components of this equipment, all independently developed by China, have reached a leading level in the world. In addition, new technical standards were adopted in the observation system, which remarkably enhanced their observation capability. The improvement will better assist in monitoring the global climate and environmental change, geological disasters and pollution and serve economic development when used in the agriculture, forestry and sea mining sectors. The preliminary tests showed that the observation equipment worked smoothly and steadily. They obtained abundant data and clear high-quality images that have been released on our data service platform. They will continue to finish the in-orbit tests before entering the stage of observation application. Space science experiments, for example material growth and preparation in space and the fostering of higher plants, were carried out smoothly. The astronauts brought back samples of 12 types of materials and one plant species. We will conduct further research and analysis to discover the physical and chemical rules regarding material and plant growth in microgravity, laying a foundation for advancing material preparation techniques and improving plant species as well as researches on space ecological system. Moreover, the programs of space environment detection and space-ground quantum key distribution test had made steady progress and yielded desirable results. Hopefully you will continue to pay attention to the application of the space lab. If you are interested, you can surf the websites of China Manned Space Program (http://en.cmse.gov.cn/), China Academy of Science (http://english.cas.cn/) and Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization (http://english.csu.cas.cn/), for more detailed information. We will release and update the latest results on those websites. Thank you. CRI: My question is for Mr. Li Jian. We know that you are the commander of the Monitoring, Control and Communication Department, and also experienced the entire mission from the front line. How do you value the mission? Compared with previous docking missions, what are the new difficulties and challenges this time? Is there any technologic breakthrough? Li Jian: The Tiangong 2 and Shenzhou 11 missions have been completed successfully. The entire in-orbit flight and control plan, space experiments and key technologies have been verified and achieved various breakthroughs. Compared with previous docking missions, the differences are as follows: Firstly, it was a mission of long duration. Our astronauts orbited for 33 days, one time longer than the previous flight. Secondly, the orbit was a totally new one, operating at a range of 393 kilometers, or 50 kilometers higher than the previous one, which will be used for our country's space station in the future. Operating in this orbit, the calculation of the launch window, long-distance guidance and control strategy, including returning control all needed redesign, resulting in a series of breakthroughs in key technologies, such as fast orbit determination of return vehicle and preparations for return. All these formed new challenges. Thirdly, during the combination period, we successfully released an accompanying satellite for the first time. This needed frequent and difficult control procedures. We have realized satellite fly-by of the combination and maintenance at the assigned position, both of which are very difficult to achieve. Fourthly, there were many in-orbit projects, such as the mechanical arm in-orbit operation calling for coordination between man and machine and cooperation between the astronauts and ground control. By completing the mission successfully, we also achieved breakthroughs in a range of key technologies. Phoenix TV: After the establishment of the space station, the Three-Step Development Strategy will have been completely achieved. What's the next target for our manned space flight? When can we achieve lunar landing? Thanks. Wang Zhaoyao: After 20 years of construction and development, China has already become a country with independent capability to carry out manned space flight missions. Clearly, there is still some distance in terms of overall technology and ability in manned space flight between China and earlier pioneer countries. For example, the frequency and scale of manned space flight activities, in-orbit maintenance time and range of activity, and the scale of space application tests are still very limited. In general, we are still at the elementary development stage. As the construction of Chinese space station moves forward steadily, the main objectives of the Three-Step Development Strategy will be achieved completely around 2020. For the lunar landing you just mentioned, we are still comparing different proposals. The general idea is that we will follow a manned lunar landing exploration road with Chinese characteristics. We will be happy to share with you when we have any new result in this regard. Thank you. China Space News: This year marks the 60th year of China's space industry. The rate of successfully launching the Long March carrier rockets is said to be as high as 97 percent, which is one of the highest in the world. Mr. Yang Baohua, I wonder why China has such a high success rate? What is behind the success? Thank you. Yang Baohua: Thanks. China's space industry officially began work on Oct. 8, 1956. After the continuous effort of generations of technicians and astronauts, China has become one of the world's top space powers. We have scored numerous achievements in such areas as man-made earth satellites, manned space flight and lunar exploration. Among all the space products, the Long March rockets have become world-famous. There are more than 10 types currently. More than 300 satellites have been launched successfully, with a success rate higher than 97 percent. This has put China at the forefront of the world's space industry. We have the following experiences to share. First, success is everything. Tall talk won't work. If the flight tests fail, all efforts amount to nothing. Second, we adopt a system management method, namely, we keep carrying out the methodology of system engineering put forward by Mr. Qian Xuesen. One aspect of this is breaking down a complicated process into several parts, which essentially makes the work easier and our products more reliable. Third, we ensure fine management of the entire process. We enhance quality control on the production and testing of each phase of the products. Fourth, we keep summing up our successful experiences. However, China's space industry is not operating all that smoothly, but has also encountered setbacks. We draw on the good experience we've had, for instance, the identification and control of technical risks. In every phase of creating space products, we identify the technical risks and then manage to control them. Fifth, technological progress ensures that our products are more reliable. China's space industry has developed along with independent innovation. We have made innovations with proprietary intellectual property rights, which have propelled the rapid industrial development. Meanwhile, technological progress has also boosted our design and manufacturing capability, which has raised the probability of success. In all, innovation is the soul of the space industry, and quality is the cornerstone running through the entire process. With intensive research, manufacturing and the launch work planned in future, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation will continue to prioritize innovation and quality to make more contribution to China's space industry. Thank you. Hu Kaihong: Today's press conference ends here. Thank you everyone. Despite being on the receiving end of the Opposition over his government's demonetisation move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday took a lighter tone over the issue, at the in Mumbai. "I always look forward to being among young people. It refreshes and re-energises me. You bring an energy and idealism that is unparalleled. You have been smart in asking me to only address gathering, and not sing, or else I am sure you would be asking for your money back, and that too in Rs 100 notes," Modi said via video-conferencing. "I know that I stand between you and Cold Play, so I will make this brief. Back in 2014, I had enjoyed attending the in the beautiful Central Park of New York. This time around, my schedule didn't permit me to come in person," he added. Asserting that poverty is a bane to any society, the prime minister said, be it malnutrition, unemployment, corruption or uncleanliness, its impact falls the most on the poor. He asserted that the government was working towards empowering the poor. "Cleanliness drive is going on in the nation for the last two years. The young people have taken the initiative of "Swacch Bharat Abhiyan" forward, be it for the country and black money.My dear young friends, I am convinced we can and we will build a Swachh Bharat free of all forms of filth within one generation," he added. Expressing his gratitude to the nation for working with him in the cleanliness drive, Prime Minister Modi said he looks forward that the people continue to do so. "India is a young country and our future is built on the choices you make and the actions you take. Hope you too will seize the moment. Your sons and daughters are beyond your command, your old roads ageing, please get out of the new one if you can't lend your hand," he added. Global Citizen India is a social action platform for a generation that wants to solve the world's challenges. The festival will conclude a two-month long campaign in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Voting for two assembly seats started peacefully at 7 a.m. Saturday under a thick security blanket. Both opposition and ruling parties taking the bypolls seriously as the state assembly polls will be taking place in around the 14 months. The by-elections are taking in the Scheduled Caste (Reserved) Barjala and Khowai assembly constituencies. The Barjala seat fell vacant after Congress legislator Jitendra Sarkar resigned on June 6, following an internal feud in the party, while the Khowai seat has been vacant since the death of CPM veteran Samir Deb Sarkar. Paramilitary forces and Tripura State Rifles personnel have been deployed adequately for a safe, peaceful and smooth electioneering. Voters and representatives of various political parties have expressed their satisfaction over the security arrangements. The Election Commission has appointed three central observes to oversee the polling in the two assembly seats, and for the first time, webcasting of the polling is also taking place. Both bypolls will be four-cornered contests, among Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPIM)-led ruling Left Front, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. Five candidates each are contesting in the two constituencies. In all, 39,007 voters, including 18,935 females, will be eligible to cast their ballot in the Barjala constituency, while in Khowai, 39,400 voters, including 19,436 women, are likely to cast votes. Mina Das, a voter, "Voting is taking place peacefully and there is no problem. Normally, elections take place calmly here. The queue will be very long after 10a.m." Dipali Sutradhar, another voter, said, "Here the security forces are performing their duties strictly. This time also, the election is peaceful. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One terrorist was killed in an encounter in Kakapora area of Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama on Saturday. The gunfight is currently underway. One policeman of the Special Operation Group was killed earlier on Wednesday after gunfight broke out between the security forces and the terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Sopore. The encounter started at Marwal forest area of Zaloora Sopore in Jammu and Kashmir. A terrorist was neutralised and an Army personnel sustained injuries earlier on November 7 after a massive gunfight broke out in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian. An Army jawan was killed in a ceasefire violation in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on November 6. The firing from Pakistan came hours after an Indian soldier was killed and a civilian was injured at the R.S Pura Sector. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday said that in order to ensure future increases in agriculture output and double the farmers' income by 2022, focus should be on higher agriculture productivity especially in view of the limitation on expanding crop area. The Finance Minister said it is possible by leveraging technology-especially for high yielding and resistant variety seeds and efficient utilization of water for irrigation, adapt latest IT to increase resilience to nature by phasing sowing, watering and harvesting among others. He said that in order to increase the price benefits to the farmers, it is necessary that the farmers are provided timely market information and developing software applications, both computer and mobile based, that link farmers to consumers. Jaitley was speaking at his First Pre -Budget Consultative Meeting with the representatives of Agriculture Groups here today. He further said along with use of latest technology to raise productivity, there is also need to revisit the incentive structure of farming, to focus to reduce wastages and enhance earnings as well as to improve marketing of farm produce. The Finance Minister said that for efficient implementation of the agriculture market, there is need to integrate the more than 550 regulated Mandis in the country by 2017 for which the states need to reform the APMC Act. Along with Jaitley, the Pre-Budget Consultative Meeting with the representatives of Agriculture Groups was also attended among others by Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal, Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa, Secretary, DEA Shaktikanta Das, Secretary, Financial Services, Anjuli Chib Duggal, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture Shobhana K. Pattanayak, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Devendra Choudhry, Director NCAP Ramesh Chand, Chief Economic Adviser (CEA ) Dr. Arvind Subramanian, Chairman, Central Water Commission G. S. Jha and Member, CACP Suresh Pal. Many suggestions were received from the representatives of different Agriculture Groups. Major suggestions include due to demonitisation, there is urgent need to provide sufficient funds to District Cooperative Banks where most of the farmers have their bank accounts, cargo hubs and dry ports should be encouraged in the production centre of agri-products. Other suggestions include it should be made mandatory for Agriculture Universities to start Agriculture Marketing Research Department, new schemes to bail-out farmers from debt be announced in the forthcoming Budget and banks be directed to implement scheme of differential rate of interest to agriculture sector both in letter and spirit among others. Other suggestions included announcement of awards for those who do new technological innovations in agriculture sector, cold chain provision for horticulture and minor vegetables, higher allocation in Budget for agriculture in the Budget as 52 percent of India's population is based on agriculture and allied sector. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) People have started withdrawing money from Micro Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) installed in Bhopal. The concept of Micro ATM has been initiated by the government to ease the cash crunch situation and to beat the queues due to the demonetisation move in the country. Banks have appointed agents to run a micro ATMs to help the people of rural and semi-urban areas, where the network of ATM is not strong. The banks today have allowed only senior citizens to withdraw or exchange cash. They can go to any bank branch to exchange notes which have ceased to exist as legal tender after government's demonetisation move. Senior citizens were noticed waiting outside a bank in Hyderabad and Moradabad to withdraw or exchange their money. Indian Banks' Association (IBA) Chairman Rajeev Rishi said working hours at banks on Saturday would be devoted to their own customers and added that only senior citizens have been exempted with regard to the exchange of currency notes at various bank branches across the country. Rishi said, the decision is only for Saturday, and from Monday onwards, all customers will be allowed to exchange their notes at a branch of any bank. The IBA chairman also said, after using indelible ink, queues have substantially been reduced. Indelible ink is being used on the right hand index finger of customers to stop repeat money exchangers thronging banks with invalid currency notes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who have never backed out from helping people whether in India or abroad is now receiving help to recover from kidney failure. An engineer, Fahim Ansari, on Thursday offered to donate one of his kidneys to Swaraj who is undergoing treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). "I was framed in a drugs case in Maldives, but I was helped by MP Kirit Somaiya and Sushma Swaraj ji. I am grateful to her. So, I want to donate one of my kidneys to her," Fahim told ANI. He said that it was due to Swaraj's efforts he was able to return home and said it would be an honour to donate his kidney to her. Swaraj was admitted to AIIMS on November 7 and is being monitored by a team of doctors. She has been suffering from diabetes for almost 20 years. The 64-year-old BJP leader was admitted to AIIMS in April also when she underwent treatment for pneumonia and other health issues. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi [India], Nov.19 (ANI): Swanky pavilions, enthusiastic visitors and a variety of items from across the world at the 36th India International Trade Fair. Based on PM Modi's dream theme of Digital India, the fair kicked off with nearly 7000 participants. This year, the partner country is South Korea but it is the huge variety of items available in the pavilions of different states that is attracting the visitors and all this is driven by the Make in India initiative. From traditional waistcoats of Uttrakhand, to precious stones and jewelry from Myanmar, Silk sarees from Bangladesh and the traditional handcrafted carpets and pomegranate from Afghanistan, there's a lot to choose from. The fair showcases a repertoire of Indian handicrafts and handlooms as well. But what interests the visitors most is the theme pavilion of Digital India. It showcases the government's various digital initiatives. Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad was effusive when he talked about 'Digital India' drive, and how this initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has widened since its launch. Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister of Information Technology, said that "In a population of over 1.25 billion people, India is home to over 1.05 billion mobile phones. We have 107 Aadhar cards and 50 crore internet connection by October 2016. The rising base of start-ups is also very good" The pavilion following the theme of Digital India is the Skill India Pavilion. It showcases an array of interactive and digital solutions inspiring the youth. Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Mos (IC), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship said "The honorable Prime Minister has given us the biggest scheme by the name Skill India Mission. This ministry was started two years back and hence it is our second year in Trade Fair in Pragati Maidan. The interactive and the friendly stalls and the major work which has been going on in the entire country under Skill India we can see all this in Trade Fair. I think this program has taken off well in India". At Uttrakhand pavilion, the centre of attraction was the handmade shawls and woolen jackets. Products with reasonable rates attracted the customers. Rajkumar, Exhibitor at Uttrakhand Pavilion says "I have been coming to Pragati Maidan for nearly 8 years. This time our unique feature is Shawls from Uttrakhand. They are completely hand-made and are very cheap and our customers are very much attracted to this". Y P Shah, Visitor from Patna adds "I am praising Uttrakhand materials. The items which are displayed are very good. Moreover, the quality of the products is satisfactory. The men's waistcoat I liked the most in the Uttrakhand pavilion. The unique features and colors are really appreciable. Apart from that, women and men's shawls are very good and I have purchased the one. The prices are reasonable". Jewellery, precious stones and gems also caught the fancy of people visiting the exhibition. People thronged the stalls throughout the day to experience the unique eye-catching jewelry of Myanmar. Bangladeshi sarees were another major attraction. The pavilion drew a large number of Indian women interested in sarees. In Afghanistan pavilion, the traditional carpets, Afghani dry fruits and Pomegranate juice corner attracted most of the visitors. Qudoos, Exhibitor from Afghanistan adds "The displayed material is the Afghani traditional carpet. People can use these carpets for a very long time. We are participating in this fair for many years. Many Indian customers are liking our products". Over the years, the India International Trade Fair has evolved as a major event for the community. It is a major tourist attraction and lakhs of people visit the fair every year. It provides a common platform to manufacturers, traders, exporters and importers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lashing out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for failing to appear in the Parliament to face the Opposition over the issue of demonetisation, the Congress on Saturday asserted that the former was "absconding" from the House but seemed to have enough time on his hands to address the Global Citizen Festival via video conferencing, where the internationally acclaimed band Cold Play will perform. Speaking to the media mere moments after the Prime Minister's address, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala stated that this government will not be run through video conferencing at rock concerts, but only by accountability to parliament and people of this country. "55 people have died. Crores stand in line for the past 11 days. Banks do not have cash, ATM s do not have notes. People have money in their accounts but there is no money to be withdrawn from their accounts," he said, adding that the Prime Minister was missing from the Parliament since the Winter Session began. "Parliament is on and the Rajya Sabha is demanding that the Prime Minister should come and answer on demonetisation, but Modiji has time to address via video conferencing Cold Play's concert in Mumbai," Surjewala added. Appealing to the Prime Minister to address the issues of the nation, he further said that people across the country are dying and are committing suicides over lack of money. "People are dying everywhere modiji, in your own home state of Gujarat, farmers are dying and protesting in Surat. A trader committed suicide because he could not marry off his daughter in Rohtak, Haryana, and you address rock concerts instead of addressing your people," the Congress leader said. The strong attack came in the wake of Prime Minister taking a lighter note over the issue of demonetisation in his address at the Global Citizen Festival, despite being on the receiving end of the Opposition. "I always look forward to being among young people. It refreshes and re-energises me. You bring an energy and idealism that is unparalleled. You have been smart in asking me to only address gathering and not sing, or else I am sure you would be asking money back that too in Rs.100 notes," Prime Minister Modi said via video-conferencing. "I know that I stand between you and Cold Play and so will make this brief. Back in 2014, I had enjoyed attending the Global Citizen Festival in the beautiful Central Park of New York. This time around, my schedule didn't permit me to come in person," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rio Olympics silver-medallist PV Sindhu will aim to book her place in the finals of the ongoing China Open Super Series tournament when she takes on sixth-seed Sung Ji Hyun in her last-four contest of the women's singles event later today. Sindhu stormed into the semi-finals after brushing aside China's promising teenager He Bingjiao 22-20, 21-10 in the quarter-final clash that lasted half-an hour. Meanwhile, Ji Hyun of South Korea made her place in the last four by struggling past Japan's Akane Yamaguchi 22-20, 10-21, 21-18 in a gruelling contest that lasted one hour and 10 minutes. Sindhu, who became the first Indian women to clinch silver medal at the Olympics, is currently the lone Indian survivor at China Open after fellowmen Ajay Jayaram bowed out of the competition in quarter-finals on Friday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Putting her rumored break-up with Salman Khan on doubt, Iulia Vantur recently said "there is no love lost between me and Salman." In an interview with a leading Romanian daily, the 36-year-old television producer also talked about the reason of leaving India and returning back to her native land. "Salman has many bodyguards but I feel safe in Romania. I do not need bodyguards here," she said. Talking about her relationship experience with the 'Dabbang' star, she further said, "People love him a lot. But you cannot walk on the streets, you cannot walk to the mall or churches. That does not mean you are not safe but you feel safer with protection there," she said to Wowbiz.Ro. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Xi Jinping's visit to Ecuador, Peru and Chile, as part of his attendance at the APEC meeting scheduled in the Peruvian capital of Lima, comes at a time of mounting uncertainty about the future political and economic direction of the U.S., under the presidency of Donald Trump. Few thought Trump was electable; however, like Brexit, diplomats and economists are now scrambling to figure out how they got it wrong, and how much of the isolationist and xenophobic rhetoric of the U.S. presidential campaign will be transformed into policy. The effect on APEC has been dramatic, as witnessed by Japanese Prime Minister Abe's break with protocol in by-passing outgoing President Obama to seek and get a meeting with President-elect Trump. The latter has already signaled he plans to ignore the traditional U.S. political playbook, in favor of a more transactional approach. This brings all political and economic relations in play and will be the elephant in the room as APEC leaders get together. In contrast to the uncertainty generated by the U.S. election, President Xi will be showcasing China's consistent non-ideological brand of trade and development strategy. Economically, as the TPP arrangement falls off the table, and the Doha Round of WTO negotiations has reached stalling point, APEC countries are faced with hard decisions about long-term partnerships. Significantly, as Trump talks about "walls" against other peoples, Xi is talking to Latin American countries about "bridges." In a speech in Ecuador, he emphasized that South America's Pacific-facing nations are part of "the locomotive driving the world economy." This is a not too subtle suggestion that these nations may want to consider trading/balancing their north-south alignment with an east-west one. The change in economic and political relations has been under way in earnest over the last 15 years. In 2013, the total volume of Chinese-Latin American trade was 24 times larger than it was in 2000. In 2014, China was the top destination of exports from Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay. In 2015, the China Development Bank and China Export Bank loaned, or otherwise made available credits worth over $29 billion to Latin American countries, compared to less than $5 billion in 2007. Politically, China, which had traditionally dealt with left-wing governments in Nicaragua, Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela, Argentina and Brazil, has learned to work with the newer center-right governments in Brazil and Argentina. This is a clear sign that its pragmatic non-ideological trade approach is maturing beyond dealing and supporting countries facing ideological or trade issues with the U.S. If President Xi is able to nurture the seeds of a new economic and political world order, APEC could shed its old image as a small subject-matter economic forum and a political excuse for regional leaders to meet, and become an important economic trade mechanism. It could breathe new life into APEC, which has suffered from an overly ambitious initial economic agenda, to ape the EU, and then from the fallout of the Asian Financial Crisis. The impediments to more involvement and cooperation, are essentially the same for many Latin American and Asian countries: simmering territorial disputes and fractious histories. However, if these nations identify themselves with a vastly greater and larger economic bloc, they could possibly get beyond their political differences to achieve mutual economic development. What is clear is that APEC will continue to follow a more Eastern consensus approach rather than the Western majority rule model. Inclusion in the Asian Infrastructure Bank and China's Belt and Road Initiative could also be on the table, if not directly then at least as economic templates for future cooperation. Reaction to Xi's visits will tell us much as the world awaits a Trump America to take form. Einar Tangen is now an economic and political affairs author and commentator. Opinion article reflected the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. The United States has said Pakistan needs to take more effective action against terror groups operating from its soil. A senior White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that while Washington recognizes the sacrifices of people and the security forces of Pakistan in fighting terrorist networks, President Barack Obama has emphasized that Islamabad can and must also take more effective action against terrorist groups. The White House official was responding to a "We the People" online petition that was signed by a record almost 666,000 people. The petition asked the Obama administration to declare Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism, as desired by a bill introduced in the U S House of Representatives by two Congressmen Ted Poe and Dana Rohrabacher. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday questioned the opposition's intention over demonetisation, asking them why they can't provide bipartisan support to Centre's decision to demonetise currency notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000. "As far as opposition sake is concerned initial difficulty has been addressed, lines are getting smaller. What troubles me is that Nitish Kumar has supported this move, Naveen Patnaik, Sharad Pawar has also supported it. Why can't there be bipartisan support on an initiative that is purely interest," he told ANI here. The Union Minister further asserted that the demonetisation move that came into effect nearly 10 days back is showing results and has broken the financial backbone of extremists. "Hardly ten days have gone by and the positive impact of keeping out of circulation Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 is showing results and four lakh crore has come to the bank. All is now clean money. The terrorist flow of counter money has stopped Maoist and other extremist are finding their financial backbone completely broken therefore, India's economy is surging and India's security is getting strengthened," he added. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on President Pranab Mukherjee, even as a raging debate over the implementation of the government's demonetisation exercise reached its peak in parliament. Sources said the meeting lasted for around 45 minutes, but did not divulge the issues discussed between the two. Prime Minister Modi is believed to have briefed President Mukherjee on the developments that have taken place in the aftermath of the launch of the demonetisation drive. Proceedings in Parliament have been stalled for the past three days due to the treasury and the opposition trading verbals over the demonetisation decision. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), India's number one container port, created a major record on November 16, 2016, by loading 80,640 MT of ONGC crude oil on a large vessel 'MT Desh Bhakta', which was berthed at LB-01 of BPCL-run Liquid Cargo Terminal. This is the highest quantity of crude oil loaded on a vessel at JNPT which has surpassed the previous highest of 80,489 MT loaded on Tanker vessel 'MT Ratna Urvi' in June 2012. ONGC's crude oil tanker MT Desh Bhakta, which measures LoA of 244.2 meters, arrived at JN Port on November 14, 2016 for loading of crude oil from Mumbai High region to sail ahead for MRPL refinery at New Mangalore through coastal movement with a sailing draught of 12.6 meters. JNPT started operations at 13:54 hrs on 14th November'2016 for loading of the crude oil and completed it by 09:12hrs on 16th November 2016. JNPT gave topmost priority to 'MT Desh Bhakta' operations in order to give ease to ONGC's concern of having high stock situation, and carried out quick operations to tide over the issue. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 27 civilians were killed by Syrian opposition forces as they dispersed two demonstrations in rebel-controlled Aleppo, a Russian official said on Saturday. Around 200 residents of the Sakhour neighbourhood reportedly tried to leave the part of the city controlled by the rebel militias and enter the area under the control of government troops on Friday, Efe news quoted Russian Defence Ministry spokesman General Igor Konashenkov as saying. He said militias in the adjacent Haidariya neighbourhood opened fire on the demonstrators without prior warning. At least 17 people were killed at the site, including two teenagers, and 40 others were wounded. Later, the opposition militias killed 10 men accused of organising the protest. --IANS py/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 50 migrants escaped from a repatriation centre in Istanbul on Saturday, the media reported. The migrants waiting to be deported at the Kumkapi Repatriation Centre in Istanbul's Fatih district first set fire to the duvets and beds, Xinhua news agency reported. Around 50 of them managed to run away after breaking the door, the report said, noting the police opened fire in the air in an attempt to stop them. The police have launched an investigation. --IANS py/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who is gearing up for the Global Citizen Festival India (GCFI), has urged everyone to support poverty eradication. The 74-year-old on Friday shared a photograph of himself shaking hands with the British band Coldplay's frontman Chris Martin. "The Global Citizen Concert tomorrow (Saturday)...Coldplay and Jay Z and many others. Come support poverty eradication," Amitabh captioned the image, which he shared on Twitter and his official blog. Amitabh also shared that he got to know about Martin "more intimately when I heard his song that he sings along on the streets of London or England or somewhere, in a video .. and now this". "This concert being performed for the eradication of poverty in our universe, and for the well-being of the poor! A sense of pride envelops us as we speak about the venture and why not," he wrote on his blog. The cine-icon also posted some photographs of himself rehearsing for the festival, which is set to take place at the MMRDA grounds here on Saturday. The fest is focused on creating an impact in areas of education, equality, and clean water and sanitation. "Rehearsals...always a mess, but somehow on the day all seems to work out and I do hope it does. The cause is great and noble and worthy," he wrote. Apart from Coldplay, GCFI will feature international artistes like the band The Vamps, Jay Z and Demi Lovato. Among Indian celebrities names like A.R. Rahman, Shah Rukh Khan, Freida Pinto, Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh, Katrina Kaif, Sonakshi Sinha, Parineeti Chopra, Monali Thakur and Arijit Singh will be present at the gala. --IANS dc/nn/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Till October, Sitwa Devi, Munia Devi and their daughters were defecating in open fields near their villages, like millions in Bihar. Not any more. They were sensitised, motivated and persuaded to live with honour, dignity, self-respect and lead a healthy life by their co-villagers. There is visible change, all thanks to direct participation of the community for an open defecation-free (ODF) living. Sitwa Devi, a resident of Madanpur village under Parsouni block, and Munia Devi, a resident of Rajlohasi village under Belsand block, -- both in Sitamarhi district -- are the faces of this visible transformation. They are two of the thousands of women and men, who are now living in an ODF environment in hundreds of villages across Bihar. "Going to a nearby field to defecate in groups in the darkness was a regular feature for us till early last month (October). Now I'm the proud owner of a toilet in my house," Munia, in her mid-40s, told IANS. Sitwa, in her early 50s, too narrated her story of change, adding that she never imagined that a toilet would ever be constructed in her house and she would be spared from attending to nature's call in the open. Sitamarhi District Magistrate Rajeev Roshan said all this was made possible due to direct involvement of the village community. "What matters more than anything, is the mass mobilisation by their own community. It took some time to mobilise, motivate and convince them through alternative techniques for this behavioural change," Roshan said. He said that one sub-division, Belsand, and two blocks -- Nanpur and Parsauni -- are on the verge of becoming ODF. Dozens of gram panchayats have turned ODF so far in the district. Roshan praised women for playing a crucial role in making villages ODF. "People, particularly women, are no more found standing near roads or in fields to relieve themselves. Such things have disappeared in ODF villages," said Roshan, adding that the few who were found standing around were those monitoring the situation. Rural Development Department Principal Secretary Arvind Kumar Choudhary said community participation was the key to behaviour change, with village after village adopting safe sanitation practices in Bihar. "We have been working towards community participation in hundreds of villages in several districts to make them ODF through collective behavioural change," Choudhary said. He said the government's focus was not merely on construction of toilets. "We have been educating and propagating in the primary stage to ensure an ODF village. When villagers themselves agreed to say 'NO' to open defecation, the government agencies helped them to construct toilets," he said. According to Choudhary, the community was supported and assisted by the local leadership and administration officials. There was, he said, still a long way to go to achieve something remarkable in Bihar, as nearly 1.6 crore toilets still remain to be constructed. "We are now stressing on the need for ODF villages. It will pave the way for ODF blocks, then ODF sub-divisions, followed by ODF districts," he said. Behavioural change is the key difference this time. "Without such change, people stick to their old habits. In the past, over 16 lakh toilets were constructed by the state government under different total sanitation programmes, which are lying dysfunctional," Choudhary pointed out. Before the construction of toilets, the entire village population is sensitised, mobilised and motivated through what is called the "Community-Led Total Sanitation" approach. It was successfully experimented in Rampur panchayat in Khagaria district that became the first ODF panchayat in 2015. After Rampur, Piprasi in Champaran became the first ODF block, followed by Sanjhauli in Rohtas. "Sanjhauli was made open defecation-free in only 55 days. Over 6,000 families in 64 villages in six gram panchayats got toilets constructed in their houses," Rohtas District Magistrate Animesh Parashar said. The district-wide campaign was launched as 'Mission Pratistha' in June to make the district ODF in a time-bound manner, Parasher said, adding: "These toilets were a matter of 'pride' for these households." Upbeat over the success in Sanjhauli, the Rohtas district administration has been working to turn Surajpura, Nokha and Tilauthu into ODF blocks. Choudhary said work was going on in full swing in several districts, including Sitamarhi, Rohtas, Buxar, East and West Champaran and Khagaria. Sitamarhi is likely to become the first ODF district in Bihar by March 2017, followed by others, particularly West Champaran and Rohtas, he said. "In fact, there are several districts in the race to become open defecation-free in Bihar, it is a positive development," he said, adding: "Monitoring was being done by local residents along with women of JEEViKA - Bihar Rural Livelihoods Project." In hundreds of villages, communities themselves announced penalties for those who were found defecating in the open, despite agreeing not to do so. Bihar Rural Development Minister Sharwan Kumar said the government has decided to achieve an ODF Bihar by October 2, 2019, under Swaach Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G). But to achieve this, there is need for about 200 gram panchayats becoming ODF each month. That remains a big challenge for now. (Imran Khan can be contacted at imran.k@ians.in) --IANS ik/in/vm/sac (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ahead of the GST Council's informal meeting on Sunday, concerns have started emanating over its ability to take the crucial consensus-based decision as the stand of political parties remains unclear following the vehement opposition towards demonetisation. After the previous GST Council meet remained inconclusive on the issue of dual control, or cross-empowerment, on who will exercise control over GST assessees -- the Centre or the states, the government sought an informal meeting on November 20 hoping to reach a consensus by a political push. The meeting to be held on Sunday will be attended by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and the state finance ministers without the other officials. A formal meet will then be held on November 24-25 hoping to finally reach a consensus on the issue. But post the November 8 demonetisation of 500 and 1,000 rupee notes that has riled the opposition, the problems remain grave as the state finance ministers belong to different political parties, and are unlikely to arrive at any consensus-based decision. "Functionally, you can't have two authorities competing for the same GST assessee. This situation has to be avoided. There has to be clearly defined guidelines as to who will assess whom," Jaitley has said, adding this is what the political leadership in the council will discuss informally, sans aides or officials. "Since it is a complex matter, we do not want to rush. It (dual control) has to be a well thought of solution for which we are going systematically. Five different proposals came in this regard, out of which the discussions revolves around two," he had said. The November 24-25 meeting of the GST is slated to discuss the four GST draft bills -- Central GST, State GST, Integrated GST and state compensation matter for revenue losses -- which will have to be passed by Parliament and state assemblies after the Council approves them. The target rollout of GST will depend on the passage of the Central GST and the Integrated GST (iGST) bills in Parliament and the state GST bills by the respective states. The government has targeted implementing the GST across India from April 1, 2017. GST is a single indirect tax that proposes to subsume most central and state taxes, like the value added tax, service tax, central sales tax, excise duty, additional customs duty and special additional customs duty. --IANS mm-ap/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The AAP on Saturday reiterated that the Centre's demonetisation of high-denomination currency is the "biggest scam in independent India" and again demanded its rollback. "What Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave to the nation is a scam in the name of demonetisation," Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh said. The AAP leader told the media here that the move to demonetise 500 and 1,000 rupee notes was aimed at benefiting big corporates by waiving off their bank dues. "Rs 8 lakh crore dues are pending against his 10 capitalist friends and this (demonetisation) move is (aimed) to benefit them." He claimed Modi was waiving dues of big corporates who paid "bribes" to him (Modi). AAP's Delhi Convenor Dilip Pandey said: "This demonetisation move is a Rs 8 lakh crore scam, the biggest in independent India." Pandey said the rich people close to the Bharatiya Janata Party were unaffected by the cash chaos triggered by the November 8 demonetisation. "The poor are the ones being troubled a lot," he said, adding that the government should roll back this move. AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal told a news channel on Friday: "It is the biggest scam of independent India. It would be anti-national to support demonetisation in its present form. On November 17, Kejriwal and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee warned of a public revolt if the Centre's decision was not reversed in three days. --IANS am/tsb/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India has opposed a UN resolution calling for a moratorium on the death penalty, saying it goes against Indian law and the sovereign right of countries to determine their own laws and penalties. "The resolution before us sought to promote a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty," Mayank Joshi, a counsellor at India's UN Mission said on Thursday. "My delegation, therefore, has voted against the resolution as a whole as it goes against Indian statutory law." The resolution, however, was adopted by the General Assembly's committee dealing with humanitarian affairs by 115 votes to 38 with 31 abstentions after an acrimonious debate and the adoption of an amendment to recognise the sovereign rights of nations to determine their own laws, which virtually nullified it. India supported the amendment and Joshi told the committee: "Every State has the sovereign right to determine its own legal system and appropriate legal penalties." The amendment passed by a vote of 76 to 72 with 26 abstentions. However, it did not mollify India, which voted against the amended resolution. Explaining New Delhi's position on capital punishment, Joshi said, "In India, the death penalty is exercised in the 'rarest of rare' cases, where the crime committed is so heinous as to shock the conscience of society." In the last 12 years only three executions - all of them of terrorists - have been carried out in the nation of 1.2 billion. Last year Yakub Memon, who financed the 1993 Mumbai bombings, was executed. Muhammad Afzal, convicted of plotting the 2001 attack on India's Parliament, was hanged in 2013 and Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab, one of the terrorists involved in the 2008 Mumbai attack was executed in 2012. An independent judiciary hears the cases where death penalty can be imposed and appeals are permitted at several levels, Joshi said. Moreover, the Supreme Court has decreed that "poverty, socio-economic, psychic compulsions, undeserved adversities in life" should be considered as mitigating factors in imposing the death penalty, he added. The amendment about the sovereign right of nations to have their own legal systems was introduced by Singapore. Its delegate said that the original resolution was one-sided and tried to impose the values of one group of countries upon others. New Zealand, echoing the sentiments of several other countries, said that sovereignty did not absolve nations from complying with international norms of human rights and the death penalty violated it. The United States also opposed the resolution saying that capital punishment was legal under international law and dealing with it was a domestic matter. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in) --IANS abl/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping published a signed article in the leading Peruvian newspaper El Comercio under the title "Join Hands to Fulfill Centenary Dreams and Strive for New Progress in Cooperation" on Thursday, ahead of his state visit to the Latin American country. The English translated version of the article is as follows. Join Hands to Fulfill Centenary Dreams and Strive for New Progress in Cooperation By H.E. Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China I am looking forward to coming to Peru for the 24th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and my state visit to this country at the invitation of President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. President Kuczynski visited China in September. By the time of my visit, the presidents of China and Peru will have exchanged visits in less than two months. This will send a strong signal of China and Peru working together for common development. This would be the second time for Peru to play host to the leaders of APEC economies in eight years. It marks another new and important contribution Peru makes to Asia-Pacific cooperation. Peru will have China's full support and cooperation in facilitating positive outcomes of the meeting. I still recall my visit to Peru in the 1990s, which left me deeply impressed by the majestic landscape and rich natural endowments of this country. The Andes Mountains, "the backbone of South America," extends from North to South, and the mighty Amazon has nourished a treasure house of minerals, fossil fuel, forests and biological resources. Peru is also known for its hard-working and courageous people, who created a time-honored history and rich culture. Its dazzling cultural heritage such as the Inca civilization, Machu Picchu and Nazca Lines are favored destinations for international visitors. El Condor Pasa and other Andean folk melodies are popular all over the world. China and Peru enjoy a long and deep friendship. Back more than 400 years ago, braving storms and waves, the Chinese people opened a maritime Silk Road across the Pacific. The Chinese and the Peruvians have been visiting each other ever since. In the past 100 years, a large number of Chinese traveled to Peru to seek a life of happiness on this promising land. They worked diligently with the local people and actively contributed to Peru's development. They were the first generation of friendship envoys who brought Chinese culture to Peru. Today, nearly one tenth of the Peruvian population descended from Chinese ancestry. The Chinese are even called by an affectionate nickname in Peru the "paisano" (old pal), showing the deep roots of friendship between our peoples. This is a valuable asset shared by our two countries. Peru was one of the first Latin American countries to establish diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China. Over the past 45 years of our diplomatic relations, we have treated each other with respect and equality, firmly supported each other on issues concerning our respective core interests and major concerns and developed strong political trust, which formed the cornerstone of China-Peru relations. Our two countries have established a comprehensive strategic partnership, the highest level of relations between China and Latin American countries, which embodies the high degree of our political mutual trust. Despite the wintry state of the global economy in recent years, China and Peru are enjoying spring in their practical cooperation. Bilateral trade has remained on an upward trajectory, hitting a record level of nearly 15 billion U.S. dollars in 2015. In the first eight months of this year, trade grew by 9 percent year-on-year, outpaced by a 21.8 percent uptick in Peruvian exports to China. China has been Peru's largest trading partner, export market and source of import for years, and Peru has become one of the top destinations in Latin America for Chinese investment. Over 170 Chinese businesses have invested more than 14 billion dollars in Peru, helping to create tens of thousands of jobs and new sources of tax revenue for local communities and benefiting economic and social development in this country. The robust people-to-people exchanges between Chinese and Peruvian peoples have brought them even closer to each other. Exchanges and cooperation in culture, education, science and technology, health and the judicial sector as well as between media, think tanks and youths are growing. More and more Peruvians, especially students, want to study Chinese and learn more about Chinese culture. The four Confucius Institutes in Peru have attracted more than 4,000 registered students. We welcome more Peruvians to visit China. More and more Chinese admirers of the Inca civilization are hoping to visit Peru as tourists. China and Peru have maintained close communication and coordination on international and regional affairs to jointly uphold the common interests of developing countries. We hold the same or similar views and have consistently echoed and supported each other's positions, be it on key international issues such as UN reform, climate change, sustainable development or regional ones like Asia-Pacific cooperation, Latin American integration and cooperation between China and Latin America. I believe that the tremendous progress and strong momentum in China-Peru ties is attributable to the extensive public support for our friendship, to our enormous economic complementarity and enthusiasm toward cooperation and to the right decision of successive governments of both countries to place high importance on this relationship. The Chinese people are working vigorously to attain the two centenary goals, namely, completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects by the Communist Party's centenary in 2021 and building a prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious country by the centenary of the People's Republic in 2049, and the Chinese dream of great national renewal. The Peruvian people are making relentless efforts toward a just, fair and united Peru by the bicentennial of Peru's independence in 2021. Cherishing the same dream and vision, it is only natural that we should push forward all-round cooperation. -- We need to deepen political mutual trust and remain partners for each other on the way ahead. We should continue to view our relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, understand and support each other on issues concerning core interests and major concerns and ensure the sustained and steady growth of bilateral ties. I have said on many occasions, "Only the wearer knows if the shoes fit or not." China supports Peru in exploring a development path suited to its national conditions and stands ready to enhance the sharing of experience on governance to make greater achievements in our respective development endeavors. -- We need to expand practical cooperation and promote common development and prosperity. China and Peru are natural partners on the strength of our wide-ranging, large-scale and fruitful cooperation. We have set up mechanisms such as the strategic dialogue on economic cooperation and the joint committee on economic cooperation and trade. We need to formulate and implement a well-structured action plan to guide our practical cooperation in the years to come. China suggests that we intensify production capacity and investment cooperation. We are ready to provide Peru with all the equipment and technology it needs for industrialization, supported by personnel training and matching funds. This will be conducive to Peru's efforts toward diversified economic development, and raise the quality and efficiency of bilateral cooperation. -- We need to promote cultural exchange and cement public support for our relations. Amity between the people holds the key to sound state-to-state relations. We need to expand exchanges and cooperation in culture, education, science and technology and tourism and facilitate the interflow of people between our two countries. China welcomes more Peruvian students to study in China and supports more youth exchanges to pass on our traditional friendship from one generation to the next. -- We need to strengthen cooperation in international and regional affairs to uphold common interests. Lasting peace and sustained progress is the shared aspiration of all humanity. China hopes to work with Peru to maintain close communication and cooperation on major international issues, build a new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation and contribute to a community of shared interests and shared future for all mankind. The baton of China-Peru friendship is now passed to us. Let us join hands and work closely together to pursue the dream of our people for a happy life and promote peace, stability and prosperity of the world. Critically injured senior Uttar Pradesh (UP) IAS officer Navneet Sehgal was flown to Delhi on Saturday by an air ambulance for treatment at Gurugram's Medanta Hospital. He was seriously injured when the car he was in collided head-on with another vehicle on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway in the state's Unnao district on Friday. Four other persons, including a senior IANS journalist, were also injured in the accident, the police said. He was admitted to the Trauma Centre of King George's Medical University. Sehgal is the UP Principal Secretary for information, tourism and sport is also Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UP Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA). Senior journalist, IANS' UP correspondent Mohit Dubey, who was also in the car, suffered minor injuries and is presently hospitalised in Lucknow. The driver of the official white Ambassador car that Sehgal and Dubey were in is also seriously injured. Sehgal was returning from the rehearsal of Indian Air Force fighter jets' landing and takeoff manoeuvers on an airstrip on the expressway, when the accident occurred. Two persons from the other car, a Renault Sedan, were also injured. --IANS akk/ksk/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In an unprecedented action, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan led a daylong protest outside the RBI office here along with 17 Cabinet ministers and CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury. At the end of the protest, they held a special cabinet meeting and decided to convene a special one-day assembly session on Tuesday to discuss the issue. Vijayan and senior leaders from the ruling Left Democratic Front walked from the Martyr's Column and reached the Reserve Bank of India office to denounce the Narendra Modi government's decision to what they said was "sideline the cooperative banks" following the demonetisation on November 8. The Congress-led United Democratic Front leaders, who met Vijayan on Thursday, had requested for the special assembly session to discuss the grave issue. The state government views the central government's move as an "injustice" that would wreck the very existence of cooperative banks in Kerala, said Vijayan. He said the cooperative banking sector was the "livewire" of the rural economy in Kerala as it functions well within the rules but does not have the frills of commercial banks. The CPI-M leader said the cooperative bank was a friend of the common man as it extends credit to him without any fuss. "The deposit base in these cooperative banks is in excess of Rs 1 lakh crore and this banking system rises to the occasion to address the need of our ordinary people," the Chief Minister said. Referring to the Bharatiya Janata Party, he said some people claimed that these banks were flush with black money. "The people standing in front of me... does anyone of you have black money deposited in these banks?" Vijayan asked the crowd. The Reserve Bank of India has withdrawn the facility given to the cooperative banks the right to accept or exchange the spiked 500 and 1,000 rupee notes. The cooperative banking sector in Kerala is a three-tier system, with about 1,600 primary cooperative banks attached to the 14 district banks, which are further linked to the apex Kerala State Cooperative Bank (KSCB). Vijayan said he and his Finance Minister Thomas Issac explained the situation to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who "we felt that understood what we said". "But as soon as this happened, the state BJP spread canards that these banks were flush with black money and after that came the decision of the RBI withdrawing the facility that was given to these banks," he said. "This is nothing but a big rooted political conspiracy," said Vijayan. Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy welcomed the protest of the Kerala government. "We will support any move that comes to protect the cooperative banks and we are with them on this issue," he said. The BJP says that these primary societies do not follow RBI guidelines while accepting deposits. Yechury said: "We will have to take this protest forward to the rest of the country to end the anarchic policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi." Former Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan termed Modi's decision to ignore the cooperative sector as one that will wreck the state economy. --IANS sg/tsb/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) She often pens her own experiences in her books, and is known for using words to express her state of mind in an apt way. The author of "Eat, Pray, Love" - Elizabeth Gilbert says the magic trick for capturing the right expression in her work is knowing the target audience. "Literally, my magic trick for writing is that you don't begin writing a word of anything until you know exactly who you are writing for," Gilbert said here during a special session at the ongoing Airbnb Open 2016 on Friday. She became a part of the annual press conference hosted by the online community company to talk about her travel experiences during her book tours, business trips and how she likes to add the mantra she preaches in her own life. Gilbert also emphasised on how some people are clueless about their target when they sit down to write. "When you sit down, write directly to that person. Then human voice will come down to words and then expression to what you write," she added. Gilbert also shared the special moment when people came to her and said that it seemed she wrote it directly for them. Gilbert made it big with her 2006 memoir "Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across, Italy, India and Indonesia" -- which narrates her experiences during her travel after her divorce from her first husband. The book got a cinematic translation in 2010 with actress Julia Roberts in the lead role. Gilbert wrote an essay in 1997 talking about the time she worked in New York as a bartender. Her work got a Hollywood twist as it inspired the plot of "Coyote Ugly". She also wrote a memoir in 2010, "Committed", in which she talks about her decision to marry Jose Nunes. She has now separated from Nunes, and is looking ahead to her new romantic endeavour with a female companion. The author says she took up a mission to include the things that she talks about. "I realized that I am not living what I write," she said, adding that getting to do it was difficult for her. She said: "The biggest obstacle to me is the sheer number of people I interact with on a daily basis... What I decided to do was to make sure that I actually met every single person who I met." She asked everyone about the one thing they are excited about in life. The responses over her travel to different cities and countries were mixed -- happy, sad, energetic and angry. There were also times when she thought of giving up on the creative experiment which she undertook for a four-month book tour for her self-help book "Big Magic". But in the end she was glad and satisfied that she didn't, as the expression, the connections that she formed will stay forever with her. (The writer's trip is at the invitation of Airbnb. Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandha.r@ians.in) --IANS sug/nn/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With his new book "Choices: Inside the Making of India's Foreign Policy" hitting the bookstands, former Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon has said that the likelihood of Pakistan using tactical nuclear weapons has increased. In an interview to "To The Point" programme that will be aired on Saturday night, Menon says that the tactical nuclear weapons developed by Pakistan will be devolved to lower ranking officers at the battlefield level, who will be "younger officers in an army that is increasingly religiously motivated and less and less professional and that has consistently produced rogue officers and staged coups against its own leaders". This, according to him, means that the likelihood of such tactical nuclear weapons being used against India has increased. Tactical nuclear weapons are nuclear weapons which are designed to be used on a battlefield in military situations. This, says Menon, means that there is an increased possibility of an all-out nuclear war when India retaliates against tactical nuclear weapons with massive retaliation of its own. Stating that the Indian Defence Minister does not have the right to voice his personal opinion on nuclear policy in public particularly when it contradicts the official policy, he says Manohar Parrikar's suggestion that India should give up its no first use policy would not be in India's interest both in terms of the strategic deterrent role of nuclear weapons as well as their role as weapons of war. Menon, who also served as National Security Advisor, says that India's nuclear weapons are no guard and no deterrent against Pakistani terror. Threatening a nuclear response to a terrorist attack from Pakistan "would be like threatening to kill a mosquito with a shotgun and would be unlikely to be understood by India's own people let alone the international community", he says. Stating that New Delhi's relationship with Islamabad was "one of the few major failures of Indian foreign policy", the former Foreign Secretary says India's Pakistan policy has not always related with reality. Speaking about the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, Menon says that he "pressed at that time for immediate visible retaliation of some sort, either against the LeT (Lashkar-Toiba) in Murdike or their camps in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir or against the ISI, which was clearly complicit". He says at the time he believed retaliation would be "emotionally satisfying" and would also go "some way toward erasing the shame of the incompetence that India's police and security agencies displayed in the glare of the world's television lights for three full days". In other words, India's honour, he believed at that time, required a military response. As Foreign Secretary, he says he advised then Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that India should retaliate and be seen to do so. Mukherjee, he says, "seemed to agree with me". He does not reveal Manmohan Singh's response but in the end India didn't retaliate militarily. According to Menon, following the cross-border terror attack on an army camp in Uri this year, the surgical strikes across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir on September 29 were inevitable. But at the same time, he disputes whether the term surgical strikes is the right one. He seems to suggest they should be called limited retaliatory action. The Foreign Secretary also believes that there is no foreseeable end to cross border terror from Pakistan. "India must be prepared for the long struggle to continue without decisive military solutions. Temporarily silencing the cross-border terrorists is the best we can hope for," he says. Menon believes that Pakistan actually cannot control terror. He says "terrorism is hard-wired into Pakistan's society and polity." "I am not so sure that it's any longer within Pakistan's capacity to stop terrorism," he states. Menon's new book will be officially launched by Manmohan Singh on December 2. --IANS ab/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man was arrested in east Delhi after he was found in possession of Rs 96 lakh in demonetised currency, Delhi Police said on Saturday. Nazer-e-Alam, 32, a resident of Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, was arrested on Friday with the cash bag at the entry gate of Anand Vihar bus terminus on a tip-off. "Alam has been booked under the Delhi Police Act. We have informed the Income Tax department about the seizure of money in Rs 1,000 denomination," Deputy Commissioner of Police Rishipal said. During his questioning, Alam claimed he had collected the money from Delhi and was going to deliver it to a person in Gorakhpur. --IANS rak/tsb/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Designer Masaba Gupta has created select T-shirts for the Global Citizen Festival, which will be held here on Saturday. While the official tee for the show is yet to be revealed by the designer, the print will have a strong Indian connect with ample use of the tri-colour. Masaba known for her quirky sense of fashion has also played with the "O" of Global Citizen Festival. Talking about her association, Masaba said in a statement: "It's such a huge honour to be associated with the Global Citizen Festival, especially since this isn't just any music festival but one which will strongly impact India's role in the UN's Sustainable Development Goals initiative." The tees designed by her will be sported by select Global Citizens at the festival. Bhavya Bishnoi, Global Citizen India spokesperson, said: "Masaba is an ingenious designer and has made a mark for herself and her talent. We at Global Citizen India really encourage young entrepreneurs to pursue their passion and achieve their goals. "Our objective is to end extreme poverty by 2030 and are looking forward to Global Citizen Festival India where one can expect a number of commitments by corporate leaders, various state governments and other stakeholders in the key areas of gender equality, sanitation and quality education." International musicians like Coldplay, Jay Z, Demi Lovato and The Vamps; and Indian stars such as Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, A.R. Rahman, Ranveer Singh and Katrina Kaif will be a part of the festival. --IANS nn/vm (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.) Nalanda University in Bihar on Saturday made it clear that there will be no hiatus in the leadership of the university. "In response to media queries about the leadership of Nalanda University after Dr Gopa Sabharwal's present term as Vice-Chancellor ends on 24 November 2016, the Chancellor has directed that his circular to Faculty and Administration Staff on 27 October 2016 and his letter to Dr. Sabharwal on 10 November 2016 be released to the media," a press release of the university said. "This is to assure University's stakeholders and members of the public that there will be no hiatus in the leadership of the University," it added. It further said: "The Chancellor and the Governing Board are grateful to Dr. Sabharwal for agreeing to act as interim Vice-Chancellor until a new Vice-Chancellor is in place. The Chancellor and the Governing Board have put on record their high regard of Dr. Sabharwal's performance as Vice-Chancellor and had wanted to recommend her reappointment." The university Chancellor George Yeo in a letter dated Nov 10, 2016 said: "On behalf of the governing board, I thank you for agreeing to act as interim vice chancellor and making sure that there will be no leadership vacuum in the university." Vice chancellor Gopa Sabharwal's term ended in November 2015 and she got an extension as per varsity guidelines. Located in the Buddhist pilgrim town of Rajgir in Nalanda district, the university began its first academic session in September 2014 on a makeshift campus. Yeo, a former foreign minister of Singapore, replaced Nobel laureate Amartya Sen as the chancellor last year --IANS ik/vgu/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) is planning to re-enter the smartphone business in 2017, a slide from Nokia's capital markets day 2016 has revealed. The event that was held on November 15 for investors, the company stated that 2017 will represent " brand's return to smartphones.," Phone Arena reported on Friday. Since it does not have the required manufacturing facilities, will rope in Finnish company HMD Global, and Taiwanese giant Foxconn to manufacture the smartphones. Led by former Nokia execs, HDM will "develop, market and sell Nokia-branded phones and accessories", while Foxconn is dealing with R&D and manufacturing, the report added. The first smartphone of Nokia after its come back is rumoured to be the D1C that runs on Android 7 Nougat with a Snapdragon 430 processor, and offers a 1080p display and 3 GB of RAM. Pakistan on Saturday said it has shot down an unmanned Indian drone near the Line of Control. Inter-Services Public Relations, the military's media wing, chief Lt Gen Asim Bajwa tweeted that an "Indian quadcopter" was shot down at 4.45 p.m. Pakistan time, by the troops at Aagahi post in Rakhchakri sector. He said the Indian quadcopter had violated Pakistani airspace and came 60 metres inside the territory after which it was targeted by Pakistani troops, Geo News reported. Bajwa said that it fell near Agahi post and was picked up by Pakistani troops. Last year in July, the Pakistan military shot down an Indian 'spy drone' which violated the Pakistan air space along the LoC in Bhimber, Pakistan-administered Kashmir. On Friday, Pakistan said its navy had chased away an Indian submarine that had neared its territorial waters, a claim that India rejected. On Wednesday, Pakistan said that its Army killed 11 Indian soldiers as retaliation for the killing of seven of its soldiers earlier in the week. --IANS rn/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan government has banned two more militant outfits for their involvement in terrorist activities across the country, an official said. The move to proscribe the Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and Lashkar-i-Jhangvi Al-Alami came after recent attacks on sectarian grounds in different parts of the country were claimed by the two groups, Dawn quoted a senior official on Friday. A spokesman for the interior ministry confirmed the development and said that the decision was made a few days ago. Referring to a revised list of banned organisations available on the website of the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta), a senior official in Sindh's security establishment said: "The two organisations were added to the banned outfits' list on Nov 11." The updated list on Nacta website shows a total of 63 outfits that have been proscribed by the federal government. "The latest addition came after series of investigations led to the fact that the two militant groups were actively involved in the terrorism activities mostly on sectarian grounds. Karachi has also witnessed a recent surge in attacks on sectarian grounds executed mostly by the Lashkar-i-Jhangvi Al Alami." --IANS ahm/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Flash People attend a protest against Donald Trump's presidential election victory near the Trump Tower in Chicago, the United States, Nov. 9, 2016. A number of U.S. cities on Wednesday witnessed protest against Tuesday's presidential election result. (Xinhua/Wang Ping) U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's choice of White House staff has sparked an early controversy, as he prepares to take the helm at the White House. The choice of Steve Bannon as Trump's chief of staff is taking heat from U.S. media, members of Congress, and left-leaning groups over the decision. Bannon, who publishes online news website Breitbart, is being lambasted by a number of liberal groups for what they call promoting racist ideology in his publication. Some groups are even calling for Bannon to get booted out. On Wednesday, 169 members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to Trump, asking him to rescind the appointment of Bannon. Although House Republicans were invited to sign on, none did so, according to a press release sent out Wednesday to reporters, from Congressman Jerrold Nadler's office. "Trump's choice of Bannon will hurt him because it reinforces the view that the president is contemplating extreme action," Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell West told Xinhua. "People fear that Bannon will promulgate anti-minority and anti-women viewpoints, since those were common on his website," West said. "Many groups have expressed concern over this appointment and asked that it be withdrawn. This is very rare for that to happen in presidential politics," he added. Dan Mahaffee, an analyst with the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, told Xinhua that Trump's choice of Bannon avoids alienating a large amount of the Republican Party's grassroots that propelled Trump on the path to the White House. "Yet it raises significant concerns among Washington establishment groups about the tone of the Trump administration and potential influence from nationalist and populist players," he said. Trump's transition to power has so far been rocky, according to U.S. media reports, with some reports even suggesting the administration is in disarray as it tries to fill more than 1,000 positions in the next couple of months before Trump takes charge. "I think the Trump administration is at a major turning point in the transition, with significant conflict between establishment figures and outsiders, and that appears to be a major issue with the national security side of the transition," Mahaffee said. "Regardless of Bannon, if (Trump's) inner circle is fighting against itself with major players leaving the process, combined with a struggle between those favoring loyalty versus those favoring competence, the Trump administration could be wasting precious time in getting its transition moving," he said. Indeed, reports in U.S. media contend that the transition is in disarray, with some figures, such as New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who was fired as head of Trump's transition team. For their part, some Democrats seem conciliatory and are seeking ways to join Trump rather than oppose him. "I think Democrats are currently looking for areas where they might be able to cooperate with Trump, while also taking stock of the surprising loss they experienced up and down the ballot. Other than the filibuster, their only way to work towards their policy goals is via dealing with Trump," Mahaffee said. West said that Democratic leaders acknowledge that Trump won the election and deserves a chance to show what he can do. However, as soon as he makes policy proposals, many Democrats are expected to oppose his ideas which they say are bad for America. "Republicans will have the ability to move legislation since they control both chambers, but most Democrats will not support the more far-reaching ideas being contemplated," West added. Pakistan, Russia and China will hold consultations on Afghanistan in December to explore ways to reach reconciliation and restore peace in the war-torn country, an official here said. "We attach high importance to all initiatives aimed at bringing peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region at large," Foreign Ministry spokesman Nafees Zakaria said in a statement. The trilateral talks have assumed importance at a time when there is no let-up in the violence in Afghanistan in spite of the advent of winter. "Under the said trilateral meeting, a working level meeting has already taken place. The deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan has raised concerns about the spillover effect due to the presence of NSAs (non-state actors) and other elements there," the spokesman said. He said Pakistan will also attend an upcoming meeting of the Heart of Asia in India and Foreign Affairs Adviser to Prime Minister Sartaj Aziz is likely to represent the country in the meeting. To a question about the recent statement by Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah that he is looking forward to visit Pakistan, the spokesman said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has extended invitation to Abdullah and mutually convenient dates for the visit are being worked out. --IANS ahm/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Pranab Mukherjee will visit Chandigarh on Sunday to inaugurate the 12th CII Agro Tech 2016, organised to provide an ideal interaction platform between the farm producers and the agro industry. The four-day Confederation of Indian Industry Agro Tech programme attended by farmers' delegations from Australia, Britain, the Netherlands, Sri Lanka and Argentina is scheduled from November 20 to 22. The President will also address the 15th anniversary celebrations of the Indian School of Business at Mohali. --IANS rak/in/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress party president Sonia Gandhi's daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has not yet given her consent to campaign in Uttar Pradesh, though the party is hopeful she will agree to their request, party Rajya Sabha MP and Uttar Pradesh Congress campaign committee chairman Sanjay Singh said on Saturday. "We have been requesting her to campaign for a long time now. We are hopeful that she will give her consent to campaign," Singh told IANS. "And when she gives her consent, we'll let everyone know the plan," he added. "As of now, she has not said 'yes'..But we are confident that she will agree." Asked about media reports saying that Priyanka will play a "major role" in Uttar Pradesh assembly polls next year, he said: "I am not saying it is 'incorrect or correct'." Priyanka and Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi attended the party's strategy meeting on Uttar Pradesh elections here on Friday. Priyanka had attended the party's strategy meeting on UP assembly elections in the past as well. Asked if anything has been finalised on the selection of candidates for the assembly polls in UP, Singh said: "The process is going on. Very soon we'll announce the list." "If it becomes necessary to announce anything, we will do it at that very moment," Singh said without giving further details. He also said that the next strategy meeting will be held after November 22. Asked about Congress' polls strategist Prashant Kishor's fate, Singh declined to say anything and said that only party General Secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Ghulam Nabi Azad can comment. On November 21, party president Sonia Gandhi, Rahul and Priyanka will be in Allahabad to attend a photo exhibition on former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's life to mark her birth centenary anniversary celebrations. Priyanka Gandhi has so far confined her electoral campaigning to constituencies of her mother and brother Rahul Gandhi (Rae Bareli and Amethi). Congress has been out of power in Uttar Pradesh for over three decades. The party has also not won any major state assembly poll since its debacle in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. --IANS sid/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday spoke to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal after suspected militants fired at an army convoy in Tinsukia district leaving three soldiers dead and one injured. Singh said that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) was closely monitoring the situation. "Spoke to CM (Chief Minister Sarbananda) Sonowal who apprised me of the situation in the wake of blast in Tinsukia. MHA is closely monitoring the situation," he said in a tweet. "Deeply anguished to learn of the death of soldiers in a blast in Tinsukia. I pray for the speedy recovery of our injured soldiers," Singh tweeted. Deeply anguished to learn of the death of Army soldiers in a blast in Tinsukia. I pray for the speedy recovery of our injured soldiers. 1/2 Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) November 19, 2016 Spoke to CM Sh. Sonowal who apprised me of the situation in the wake of blast in Tinsukia. MHA is closely monitoring the situation 2/2 Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) November 19, 2016 According to defence officials, the incident took place at around 5.30 am, in the Pengeri area of Tinsukia. Locals said that the militants fired at the vehicle from both sides of the road, which are forested areas. On Wednesday, militants attacked a van of the Pengeri tea estate, killing one person and injuring two others. Sea ice in the Arctic and Antarctic are at record lows this time of year, the first time since scientists began keeping track, a report revealed. "It looks like, since the beginning of October, that for the first time we are seeing both the Arctic and Antarctic sea ice running at record low levels," said Walt Meier, a research scientist with the Cryospheric Sciences Laboratory at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, who has tracked sea ice data going back to 1979, in the report on Friday. While record low sea ice is nothing new in the Arctic, this was a surprising turn of events for the Antarctic, the report said. Even as sea ice in the Arctic has seen a rapid and consistent decline over the past decade, its counterpart in the Southern Hemisphere has seen its extent increasing, CNN reported. While it is too early to know if the recent, rapid decline in Antarctic sea ice is going to be a regular occurrence like in the Arctic, it "certainly puts the kibosh on everyone saying that Antarctica's ice is just going up and up," Meier said. Temperatures in the Arctic have soared recently, and scientists are struggling to explain exactly why, and what the consequences will be. Air temperatures have been running more than 20 degrees Celsius above average. The water temperatures in the Arctic Ocean were also several degrees above average, which is an expected result of having less sea ice, CNN said. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday paid tribute to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 100th birth anniversary. "Remembering Indiraji: a warrior, a revolutionary, a woman of conviction, compassion and sacrifice. My grandmother, my friend, my ever guiding light," Rahul Gandhi tweeted after paying floral tributes. While the Congress party in its message to the only woman prime minister of India, in a tweet said, "Indian National Congress pays tribute to the Iron Lady of India, Smt.Indira Gandhi on her birth anniversary today." "Indiraji shared her birthday with another Iron Lady, who died fighting the British. Our humble tribute to Rani Laxmibai," party's another tweet said. Indira Gandhi was the only child of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru was born on November 19, 1917 in Allahabad. She served as Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms from January 1966 to March 1977 and a fourth term from January 14, 1980 until she was assassinated on October 31, 1984. --IANS aks/ahm/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Praising the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for mentoring her, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Saturday took a veiled dig at political rivals, saying there are now leaders "willing to undermine the very foundations of national character in quest for shortcuts to greatness". Speaking at the Indira Gandhi centenary celebrations at the Vigyan Bhavan here, she said the former Prime Minister was not only her mother-in-law but also a mother, mentor and a guide to her. "Indira Gandhi was not a figure of history for me -- she was my mother-in-law. We lived under the same roof, shared joys and sorrows. It is from her that I learned about India, its culture and its values," Sonia Gandhi said. "It is from her that I imbibed my earliest political lessons. She was the Prime Minister of India, but to me she was a mother, a mentor and a friend. It was in my arms that she drew her last breath," the Congress leader recalled. "Before her (Indira Gandhi's) death, she declared, and I quote: 'Every drop of my blood will invigorate the nation'. And indeed it did," Sonia Gandhi said. "Her sacrifice in preserving a united, diverse and egalitarian India will be remembered. All the more so at a time when, in the quest for shortcuts to greatness, we find leaders willing to undermine the very foundations of our national character," she added. The Congress leader said: "Some dismissed her as weak and incapable. Others called her a tyrant. But with the trust of her countrymen, painstakingly won, and with her dedication to their cause, she went on to serve her people, sacrificing her very life." She said Indira Gandhi was an institution, a leader with the courage of conviction and nerves of steel, unflinching in the face of duty, resolute against all that was unjust. "She led our nation through the tumultuous battles of the 60s and 70s, never faltering in her dedication to the masses who gave her their complete trust," Sonia Gandhi said. "She faced economic crises, and prevailed. She managed the greatest refugee crisis in human history (in 1971). She refused to compromise on India's noble humanitarian traditions," she added. Sonia Gandhi said the then Prime Minister faced war with courage and determination, and her victory saw the triumph of democracy and the birth of a new nation, Bangladesh. "When powers that be abroad attempted to dictate terms to India, she stood up for what was right and was vindicated by history," the Congress President said. Sonia said her mother-in-law had a vision for India in the world of the 21st century. "But it was not a soulless vision that came at the cost of our pluralist diversity. She saw an India that will not follow blindly the path laid by the West. She saw it crafting its own future guided by its democratic and cultural ideals," she added. "Where others failed, she (Indira) wanted India to show the world the way. It made her mission doubly challenging, but Indira Gandhi was not a woman daunted by challenge," the Congress chief said. --IANS sid/tsb/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Stepping up the offensive against the Narendra Modi government on the demonetisation issue, West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress will take out a rally in Kolkata on November 23, the party announced here on Saturday. Similar rallies will be taken out in the districts and blocks in the subsequent two days. "Trinamool's state unit will hit the streets in protest against the note scandal," party's All India Vice President Mukul Roy told the media. The rally will start from College Square in north Kolkata and end at the Dorina Crossing about 3 km away. Ministers, parliamentarians, legislators, office-bearers and party's mass organisation representatives will be part of the rally, scheduled to start at 1 p.m. On November 24, rallies will be brought out in all the district headquarters. Block level rallies will be held the next day. Asked whether Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee, who has been in the forefront of the protests both at the national and state levels against the Modi government's decision to scrap high denomination currency notes, would be part of the Kolkata rally, Roy gave an open-ended answer. "This is a programme of the state unit of All India Trinamool Congress. She is our all India chief. She is very busy. Whether she will be part of the rally or not, depends on her," he said. --IANS ssp/lok/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after US President Barack Obama criticised Facebook for spreading fake news that favoured Donald Trump, Facebook CEO announced new steps to counter fake news on the platform, a media report said. "We take misinformation seriously," The Guardian cited Zuckerberg's post on Saturday as saying. "We know people want accurate information. We've been working on this problem for a long time and we take this responsibility seriously," the Facebook CEO said. Zuckerberg said that the company has "relied on our community to help us understand what is fake and what is not", citing a tool to report false links and shared material from fact-checking sites. "Similar to clickbait, spam and scams, we penalise [misinformation] in News Feed so it's much less likely to spread," Zuckerberg wrote. On Friday Obama said," In an age where there's so much active misinformation and it's packaged very well and it looks the same when you see it on a Facebook page or you turn on your television." "If everything seems to be the same and no distinctions are made, then we won't know what to protect," he further said. Buzzfeed found that top-performing fake stories performed better on Facebook than accurate stories shared by traditional media sites during the US presidential election campaign. Critics have blamed the social networking giant Facebook for influencing the US-elections in favour of President-elect Donald Trump by circulating a "host of fake news stories about political topics. CEO had declined that Facebook played a role in spreading fake news and termed this idea "crazy". To mitigate the criticism, Facebook decided to ban sites that post fake news from using its advertising network to make money. "The capacity to disseminate misinformation, wild conspiracy theories, to paint the opposition in wildly negative light without any rebuttal, that has accelerated in ways that much more sharply polarise the electorate and make it very difficult to have a common conversation," Obama told New Yorker editor David Remnick. Further, this summer Facebook fired the human team of curators who watched its "trending" news items, leaving its algorithm to sort links. On Saturday, Zuckerberg called the problem "complex, both technically and philosophically" and said the company erred "on the side of letting people share what they want whenever possible". Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his tenure by inviting neighbouring country heads, among them Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, to his swearing-in ceremony. This was a path-breaking gesture which he hoped would lead to some forward movement in the relationship between the two countries. Some efforts were made to resume the dialogue process such as the interface between foreign secretaries and national security advisers of the two countries. And finally, there was Mr Modis spontaneous visit to Mr Sharifs private empire at Raiwind near Lahore for a family ceremony. The Indian PM had executed a series of tactical moves that would, apparently, lead to a more congenial interface. Flash Photo taken on Oct. 14, 2015 shows the Buckingham Palace in London. London, located in southeastern England, is the capital of the United Kingdom. (Xinhua/Han Yan) Buckingham Palace is to under a facelift costing 456 million U.S.dollars, it was announced Friday. Details of the project were released by the palace as well as the government's Treasury Department. Both said the planned 10-year overhaul will protect one of Britain's most prestigious buildings and one of the country's most popular attractions. The Treasury in its statement said the government has given the go-ahead for essential works that include replacing electrical wiring, water pipes and the heating system, which were installed in the aftermath of the Second World War. Details of the project were announced Friday at Buckingham Palace by the Master of The Queen's Household Tony Johnstone-Burt. He said: "Buckingham Palace is one of the most iconic buildings in the world, and this program is designed to extend its working life by a further 50 years. On completion of the work, we'll have a Palace fit for purpose until 2067." More than half a million people visit the palace during its summer opening and millions of tourists flock to its gates every year to see the Changing of the Guard. 3.40 pm: 41 per cent voting was recorded till 1 pm in the by-elections to Shahdol Lok Sabha constituency, while the turnout was 53.28 per cent in Nepanagar Assembly seat . 12.01 pm: In Shahdol Lok Sabha seat, nearly 15 per cent electorates exercised their franchise till 9 AM: Poll official President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday walked down the memory lane as he remembered former prime minister Indira Gandhi, who had initiated him into . Eleven Tamil Nadu fishermen were today arrested by Sri Lankan naval personnel while fishing near Neduntheevu of the island nation. The fishermen from this town were detained this evening and taken to Kangesanthurai Port along with their two boats, police and state Mechanised Boat Fishermen Association leader P Sesuraja said. The Sri Lankan navalmen also chased away hundreds of other fishermen by allegedly pelting bottles and stones and warning through public address system, they said. Around 3,500 fishermen in 634 boats had put out to sea from here last night. Voicing concern over the latest arrests, Sesuraja said already nine fishermen, arrested earlier, were languishing in Lanka prisons while 115 impounded boats were yet to be released. The central government should intervene effectively and ensure that the fishermen were allowed to carry on their livelihood. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fourteen dead crows have been found from the residence of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti here following which anti-viral spray was done in lawns around the premises. The crows have been sent to different laboratories across the country for finding the reason behind their deaths. "As many as 14 dead crows have been recovered from the residence of the Chief Minister. The reason behind the deaths is not known", Regional Wildlife Warden V S Senthil Kumar told PTI. However, he maintained that deaths can occur due to poisoning, electric shock or avian influenza. The anti-viral spray was carried out in lawns and other areas around the CM's residence, Kumar added. A team of experts, including Wildlife experts and a veterinary doctor, examined the crows on Thursday. For testing and ascertaining the cause of deaths, the crows have been sent to Jalandhar's North Region Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Bhopal Lab and SKUAST Jammu. "Jalandhar lab has told us that it will take over a week to conduct test and give report", Kumar said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two persons have been arrested for allegedly decamping with valuables after looting passengers of a Delhi-bound train, police said today. Vicky and Sonu tried to escape after looting passengers of a Saharanpur-Delhi train at Khatoli railway station here yesterday, they said. The travellers, however, caught hold of the duo and handed them over to police. The stolen ornaments and mobile phones were recovered from the accused, police added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three persons have died in separate incidents in Hardoi and Aligarh districts allegedly after failing to exchange the scrapped high-denomination notes after the Centre's demonetisation move. In Hardoi, 75-year-old man Kamta Prasad was standing in a queue before Dhikauuni branch of Bank of India when he suddenly fell ill and died on the spot, Station officer of Atrauli police station, Shyam Babu Shukla said. Prasad, a resident of Baghnowan Shek village, was ill but had gone to withdraw money from the bank alongwith his family members, the SO said. In Aligarh, 50-year-old Babu Lal, a resident of Nagla Mansingh, yesterday died due to heart attack after failing to exchange old currency notes despite making persistent efforts at different banks since the past three days, family sources said. The victim was under tremendous pressure as his daughter's wedding was slated for November 26, they said. Babu Lal complained of chest pain after returning from a bank yesterday. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was declared brought dead. In a separate incident in Aligarh, Mohammed Idrees (45), a resident of Jamalpur locality, died due to heart attack while he was on his way to a bank to exchange old currency notes yesterday, his family claimed. They said Idrees had no bank account but he was making rounds of a local bank to exchange old notes since the past four days. Local SP legislator Zameer Ullah Khan said the death of both Babulal and Idrees were connected with the "shock and frustration over failure to get currency notes exchanged" and demanded proper compensation for their families. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five naxals were gunned down by security forces in the jungles of Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district in Maoist hotbed Bastar, police said today. "The skirmish took place last night between a joint team of District Reserve Group (DRG) and ultras in the jungles of Tuspal and Becha Kilam villages under Chhotedongar police station limits," Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range), S R P Kalluri told PTI. This is the second biggest encounter in Bastar this month after bodies of six naxals, including three women,were recovered post a gun battle in Dantewada on November 16. "At least half a dozen cadres of Military Company VI of Maoists were killed in the gun battle at Narayanpur," Kalluri said tagging the operation as "surgical strike". DRG teams from Kondagaon and Narayanpur districts had jointly launched the operation into the core areas of Abhujmad - considered as Maoist den, based on specific inputs, the IG said. When they reached the jungles of Tuspal and Becha Kilam, the gun battle broke out between both the sides, he said. Five bodies and as many weapons have been recovered from the spot, he said, adding that no harm was reported to security forces and more details were awaited. With this, so far as 15 Maoists have been killed in separate encounters in Bastar division this month, the IG added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Election Commission of India (ECI) has deleted names of 510 voters from Goa after they got Portuguese citizenship, which was reported during the recently held electoral roll review. "The special revision of the electoral roll was held from September 15 to October 14 this year and the names of 510 voters holding Portuguese nationality were deleted," Chief Electoral Officer Kunal told PTI today. "We realised that in Goa, lots of people opt for Portuguese passport and nationality. Of the total 510, 189 were from North and 321 from South Goa. The state is an erstwhile Portuguese colony, which was linked to the Indian mainstream in the year 1961," he said. Names of as many as 47,177 new voters have been added in the list, while 25,017 names have been removed owing to their death or absence, he said. "Total 19,000 first-time voters in the age group of 18-19 years have registered themselves, with the final date of roll publication beingJanuary 5, 2017," Kunal added. The coastal state will go to polls early next year. Kunal said as per the draft electoral roll, total number of voters in the state stands at 10,85,271, including 5,19,907 female voters. Names of 9,790 voters were deleted as they were dead. Majority of names came from South Goa 5,236, while North consisted of 4,554 voters. There are around 867 absentee voters identified by CEO. "During the summary revision, our focus was basically on enrolment of new voters and cleaning up the electoral roll by deleting the names of dead people and identifying those shifted voters," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Adani Enterprises today announced that it proposes to commence construction of two major solar projects in Australia next year, each with an output of 100-200 MW. "The largest generator of solar energy in India, the Adani Group has taken its first steps towards replicating that ranking in Australia," Adani Enterprises said in a filing to BSE. Land agreements are in place for the projects in South Australia and Queensland, and Adani has commenced the design and tendering phases for both projects, it said. Adani aims to develop renewable energy projects in Australia with a total capacity of 1,500 MW within the next five years. Adani has constructed approximately 793 MW of solar plant in India till date, including one of the world's largest solar plants in Tamil Nadu which has a capacity of 648 MW. Adani has a pipeline of a further 1,225 MW in construction or late development phase in India. Generation of solar energy is part of Adani's global strategic balanced approach to power generation with its fleet of coal-fired, solar and wind plants supporting the energy policies of the nations in which Adani operates. The Australian solar projects are in addition to Adani's USD 16.5 billion investment in the planned Carmichael coal mine in Queensland's Galilee Basin a well as rail and port facilities. The company's head of Australian operations, Jeyakumar Janakaraj, said that these projects will offer a solid foundation to Adani's renewable energy business in Australia and will contribute to meeting Australia's renewable energy target commitments. "Coupled with the company's $3.3 billion dollars of investment to date across its mine, rail and port projects in Queensland, Adani's plans to pursue solar investment opportunities reflect the confidence the company has in the Australian market," Janakaraj said. "This reflects both Adani's commitment as a diversified energy and infrastructure company in India and a leading solar generator in that market, and the company's plans to build a long-term future with Australia. The project involves dredging 1.1 million cubic metres of soil near the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which will then be disposed of on land. Asked for her reaction to the letter opposing the project, Palaszczuk quipped, "Those who are writing such letters have good jobs. I know how tough the people are doing in my state." "We have had some closure of companies like Queensland Nickel, and the Clive Palmer's. With the downturn in the resources industry I have had other mine closures," she said. "This project is not just a sign of confidence in Queensland. This project by the Adanis is a sign of confidence in regional jobs for families. It will give them such a boost. And all the mayors have commented about that on this trip," the premier said. She said the Adanis have committed to create 10,000 direct jobs and many thousands indirectly. Strongly backing the project, Palaszczuk, however, refused to set a time-line for the project, saying "that's a matter for the federal parliament. I understand that we are getting a report back today (last Friday when the interview took place)." "So, hopefully they will be able to debate it. I know it's very hot on my Prime Minister's agenda. So I am quite sure they will debate it as soon as they possibly can," the premier said. She also said that the federal parliament will sit in the near future to get the piece of legislation through as the project is a high priority for them. Asked if her government is ready to offer any warranty for the project against public protest even after the final federal approvals, Palaszczuk said the Australian laws do not provide any such provisions by a state but the federal government can do that. "Also, there is a legislation pending with the federal parliament in this regard which will insulate large infrastructure projects from public disruption. That federal legislation is before the national parliament at the moment," she said. "It's been introduced and so that will be debated. But that is the sphere of the federal government and not the state government. So the project is happening in Queensland which I fully support. My government fully supports it," she said. "I have brought eight regional mayors with me here to India to show our support. We have had a fantastic meeting today (March 17), and tonight with Adani and the board members," she said. Lauding the Adani group for its great prowess in building world-class infrastructure, the premier said, "I thank Adani for showcasing to us the depth of diversity of his group in relation to our solar project as also the edible oil business." "The scale of his Mundra port is something I have never seen in my lifetime. I have been to ports in Japan and across Australia. But this port is a true testament to the Adani Group's ability to build world class infrastructure," she said. Asked whether the Adanis have sought some infrastructure loan from the state, she said, "Yes but this (concessional funding worth ASD 5 billion) again is through the federal government and is available to any company willing to invest in Northern Australia, and not just Adani." On how much funding they are looking at, Adani Group's Australia chief executive and country head Jeyakumar Janakaraj said though the group is eligible for 50 per cent of the debt amount or ASD 800-900 million. He said they are going to tie-up with commercial banks for most of the loans and only leftover or the maximum 50 per cent of this facility will be drawn upon. "We will mostly look at the export credit agencies (ECAs) from China and Korea, from where we will be buying machinery for funds. We will tap banks only for the remaining amount," Janakaraj said. As an explanation, he said some banks have been misled by environmental groups (SBI had backed out of an Rs 8,000 crore commitment after protest by opposition parliamentarians in December 2015). "And that is the main issue. We have already invested ASD 3.3 billion-all equity into this project which includes port and the mine. Rest of the debt funding is required mainly for the rail infrastructure which is ASD 2.5-2.7 billion," Adani said. Marzia and her husband Qadeer thought themselves lucky when they moved into a 1,700-year-old Buddhist cave hand-carved into the side of a mountain in Afghanistan's central highlands. It was clean and dry, warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and there was plenty of work on the local farms. But now, even this bare-bones way of life is threatened. The family, along with another 242 cave-dwelling households dotted around the capital of Bamiyan province, also called Bamiyan, could be forced to move soon. They are what's left of around 10,000 families who have been relocated over the past decade as part of the local government's program to protect the unique man-made grottoes that it hopes will transform Bamiyan into a global tourist destination once Afghanistan's war with the insurgent Taliban, now in its 16th year, is finally over. The couple moved here from neighbouring Maidan-Wardak province because they believed it was a stepping stone to a better future. "We had no money and my husband couldn't get a job," Marzia said as she breastfed her baby. "We left because we were poor." But 12 years later they are still living in the cave, along with their five children aged from 10 months to 8 years, including 6-year-old Freshta who hasn't been the same since a land mine exploded close by her four years ago. Her mental development stopped and she spends most of her time lolling on the thin mat that covers the cave's floor. Any original features, such as the brightly-coloured geometric murals that were painted by the monks who created these caves, are long gone. They've been destroyed by time, the elements and the wear-and-tear of hundreds of years of habitation, including the fires that residents build for cooking and heat. The provincial government is working with UNESCO to restore the valley's eight significant sites, including the Ghulghulah fortress, believed to be Bamiyan's original staging post on the old Silk Road that linked China to India. The fortress was razed by Genghis Khan's hoards in the early 13th Century and never regained its glory. "Life here is difficult," Marzia, 30, said. Water must be fetched from a nearby stream, and a 9-volt battery charges a solar panel that provides light after dark. Cooking is done on a stove fuelled by a gas bottle. They have installed a door and a step up into the one room that all seven members of the family share. Smaller caves outside are used for storage. On the rural outskirts of the city, amid the rutted fields where the province's main potato crop is grown, the cave-dwellers do what they can with their meagre resources, determined that the next generation will have a better life. As Shiite Muslims of the Hazara minority they have suffered historic persecution, but they have also benefited from immense largesse from international charities and governments. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Flash The European Commission will invest 3 million euros ($3.18 million) to set up a research and innovation center in China as part of its efforts to deepen EU-China scientific and technological cooperation. The European Research and Innovation Center of Excellence is the first EC-funded center in China that focuses on research and development. It will be headquartered in Beijing, and have networks in other cities on the mainland. Its services will range from organizing events to increasing exchanges between Chinese and European researchers, to producing reports about the situation in China on scientific and technological innovation. It will also help private companies from European Union countries do research and seek development in China and find Chinese partners. The project will start working from January 2017 and is expected to come into full operation as early as 2019. "The aim is to establish a center here in China that can help European researchers on the first step toward the Chinese market, help them contact with Chinese companies and, at the same time, enable Chinese researchers to interact better with the European side," said Sara Medina, member of the board of SPI, a Portugal-based consulting firm which focuses on promoting EU-China scientific and technological cooperation. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) today decided to oppose tooth and nail the Centre's move against the triple talaq and the imposition of Unform Civil Code in the country. The decision was taken on the second day of the three-day closed door convention of AIMPLB, to discuss issues ranging from triple talaq, Uniform Civil Code (UCC) to other religious matters of the Muslims. "It has been unanimously decided in the convention that we want triple talaq to stay and we will oppose any move by the government against it. We will also oppose uniform civil code. The triple talaq has been going on for ages and it is part of our religious rights," TMC MP and chairman of AIMPLB reception committee Sultan Ahmed told PTI. The AIMPLB has already launched a signature campaign opposing the move and more than 10 crore Muslim women from across the country have signed supporting the practice of triple talaq. The issue of alleged harassment of Muslim youths was also taken up during the convention. "Our President Maulana Rabey Hasani Nadvi, during his speech, has clearly said that the BJP government at the Centre has taken up an agenda of unnecessarily harassing the Muslims of the country especially the young generation. The government has the tendency to implicate the Muslims as anti-nationals and harass them," a member of the AIMPLB told PTI on condition of anonymity. He said the BJP is trying to infringe upon the religious rights of Muslims and it will not be tolerated. "Muslims are part of this great secular, democratic republic India. We will fight against this communal designs of the BJP government". (Reopens CAL16) A debate has emerged over the government's stand opposing the practice of triple talaq with some leading women politicians seeking its abolition, even as some Muslim bodies accused the ruling dispensation of waging a "war" on their personal law. During their speech, various members of the AIMPLB lauded the initiatives by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the uplift of Muslims. "Mamata Banerjee has taken a lot of welfare programmes for the development of Muslims. All the departments under the department of Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education are very active and efficient. "The Muslims now have taken a sigh of relief as the present state government is led by the most secular leader of the country," Ahmed said while addressing the convention. AIMPLB usually sticks to only Muslim personal laws, which broadly covers marriage, divorce (talaq), inheritance, succession and adoption-related issues. It is an umbrella organisation which has representatives from all Muslim sects, theological schools and religious orders and is the highest decision-making body on Muslim personal laws. Ami Bera, the only Indian- American in the current Congress, has been re-elected to the US House of Representatives for the third consecutive time after defeating his Republican rival. Bera, 51, would be joined by three first-time Indian- American lawmakers in the US House of Representatives -- Raja Krishnamoorthi from Illinois, Pramila Jayapal from Washington State and Ro Khanna from California. He defeated Republican Sacramento County sheriff Scott Jones. This is for the first time that the House would have four Indian-American members. Bera was projected to be declared elected after Sacramento County Registrar of Votes announced the latest update of its counting of votes. According to this, Bera's lead over his Republican rival Scott Jones grew to more than two per cent, with129,064 votes to 123,056 in the Congressional Seventh District of California. With Bera's victory, he ties the record of the most consecutive terms served by an Indian-American in Congress, previously held by Congressman Dalip Singh Saund,who served three terms from 1957-1963. In both 2012 and 2014, Bera won by 9,191 and 1,455 votes respectively, after several days of counting. In the run up to the polls, Bera was endorsed by US President Barack Obama. "It has been my honour to serve this community first as a doctor and for these past four years as a member of Congress. I am incredibly thankful for the hundreds of volunteers who knocked doors and made phone calls during this campaign because they believe in standing up for women's access to healthcare, protecting Medicare and Social Security and ensuring all of our Veterans receive the benefits they have earned," Bera said. "After months of a divisive national election, our job now is to bring our country back together," he added. In 2012, Bera led Republican Dan Lungren by 184 votes the morning after election day, and his lead eventually grew to 9,191 votes. In 2014, Bera was down by more than 3,000 votes on election night, and he came back to win by 1,455 votes. Saund was the first Indian-American elected to the US Congress. He represented the 29th Congressional District of California for three terms from January 3, 1957 to January 3, 1963. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amritsar will host the two-day ministerial conference of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process to be held from December 3. After meeting Union Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh today, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal said the conference would be held on December 3-4 in which more than 40 foreign ministers and dignitaries from various international organisations would participate. "This conference would give further boost to the image of Punjab and go a long way in helping it achieve a privileged position on the world map especially in tourism and hospitality management sectors," Badal said in a statement. The SAD leader said no stone would be left unturned to make the conference a grand success. Badal also mooted the idea of heritage walk around the 'Heritage Street' for the dignitaries which was agreed upon by the Union Minister. During the course of the conference, various events would be held concentrating on the challenge of terrorism in the heart of Asia region especially Afghanistan, countering extremism, exploring cultural and civilisational similarities, and cooperation in education sector. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The APCC, in association with Arunachal Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee (APMCC), today celebrated the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as National Integration Day. The celebrations were held at Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan, here as part of year-long celebration on her 100th birth anniversary. Floral tributes were placed before the portrait of Gandhi by former Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, APCC President Padi Richo followed by the senior Congress leaders and party's office bearers, a communique informed. Tuki addressing the gathering recalled the contribution of Gandhi who steered the nation for 15 years as Prime Minister and presented India as a great nation in the world. "Till today we reap the benefits of her farsighted policies, by undertaking numerous historic measures such nationalization of banks, abolition of the Privy Purses, Garibi Hatao, promulgation of radical land reforms, setting up of country-wide public distribution system, the large scale extension of modern technology to agriculture, etc," Tuki said. The former chief minister said that her famous '20-Point Programme' launched in 1975 was singularly aimed at improving the living standards of the poor masses of the country. "Under her leadership, India reasserted its prominent role in the Non-Aligned Movement by focusing on the relationship between disarmament and economic development," he said. He said that it was due to initiatives of Gandhi that Arunachal Pradesh has been given the status of Union Territory from NEFA. On the occasion, Tuki also strongly condemned the demonetization move taken by the Modi government as anti-people wherein most sufferers are the common poor people. He said that the tall promises by Modi during last election became an assurance without any result during two and half years of his government rule. Tuki appealed the party workers to remain united and pursue the Congress ideology at the grass root levels. Richo in his speech recalled Gandhi's distinguished service to the nation. He said that a committee has been formed by the APCC under the chairmanship party's vice president Bosiram Siram to study the impact of demonetisation and to set-up help desk in all the districts and blocks to extend all possible help to common masses in exchanging old notes and deposit's as well. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The sabre-rattling between parties on rival sides of the political divide over demonetisation showed no signs of softening today with the government accusing Congress of engaging in "fear mongering" and the latter hitting back calling the exercise a "not well thought out move" whose after-effects will last long. Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who was fielded by the government to mount an assault on the opposition on the issue, rejected the charge that demonetisation of high-value currency notes had hit the common man and insisted that despite facing problems people were backing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's action targeted against black money. "Congress is trying to create fear in the common man's mind. It is not needed. It is fear-mongering," she told reporters in Delhi, responding to the opposition party's claim that it will take seven to eight months for the situation to stabilise. Sitharaman rejected the opposition charge that there was panic in the government following the launch of demonetisation drive which was reflected in fresh announcement of measures for easing people's problems. The government, she said, had undertaken as much preparatory work as it could before announcing the decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1000 bills. However, senior Congress leader and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram did not concur with the government's claim and termed the exercise as "not well thought out" and whose after-effects will last longer than expected. He also wondered if the government had consulted "the only knowledgeable economist" in the dispensation CEA Arvind Subramanian before announcing it. "You are seeing the first-order effects of withdrawing, sucking out 86 per cent of the currency in circulation from the market. The first order will continue for several weeks now. Then you will see the second-order effects," Chidambaram said in Mumbai. "My suspicion is the only knowledgeable economist in the government, Dr Arvind Subramanian, was not consulted," he said. Talking about the first-order effects, he said there are many people now living with very little money and not consuming, which means produce, especially perishable items like vegetables and fruits, are not being sold. Chidambaram said the second-order effects are already visible in places like Tirupur and Surat, where lay-offs and retrenchments have started. The second-order effects will be more prominently felt if farmers, who have sown their farms, do not have money to buy fertiliser and hire labour. "So I think the consequences will certainly be negative," he said. "The PM's time out for 50 days might ease the liquidity crisis at individual's hands, but it won't solve many other problems. "Take a simple arithmetic...They demonetised 2,200 (total volume) crore Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. The capacity of all printing presses taken together is 300 crore per month. So, even if you print note for note, it will take seven months. If you print smaller denominations notes like Rs 100 for Rs 500, it will take five times more time...Think somebody didn't think through...That's not unusual for government," Chidambaram said. BJP president Amit Shah, who was in Uttar Pradesh, lashed out at the opposition for criticising the demonetisation decision, saying those who had questioned what the Modi government was doing about delivering on the promise of tackling black money were now attacking it. "Ever since the Modi government came to power, opposition parties have been making a hue and cry over what will be done on black money... They asked, you (Modi) made a poll promise that black money will be finished...What have you done till now. "What was the first step which was taken by the Modi government? It costituted an SIT against black money. It has now demonetised Rs 500 and RS 1000 notes. Now there is hue and cry for roll back of the move. Why?" he asked. Shah said the opposition was "crestfallen" because of demonetisation and parties like Congress, SP, BSP, AAP, and TMC had come together on the issue. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh asserted that demonetisation would bring about probity in political and administrative work, besides reducing the gap between the rich and poor. He said the problems being faced by the people were for a short time as the government was making efforts to normalise the situation. "Naturally, this decision will result in curbing economic sources of the corrupt and terrorists. It will also increase probity in political and administrative works," Singh said. "It is a historic and brave decision taken in national interest. Terrorism, extremism and naxalism will come down. Such decisions are taken by people who are doing politics not only for forming government but also in the interest of society and nation building," he said. TMC leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has demanded withdrawal of the demonetisation drive, accused the Modi government of discriminating against her state by not releasing the new Rs 500 bills. "They have sent 500 rupees notes to Rajasthan but they are not sending the 500 rupees notes to Bengal. The Central government has totally failed to act. Rural India is dying, they don't use (credit/debit) cards. What will they do? The whole of rural India is crying, farmers are crying. If food is not available, what will the common people eat? Plastic?" Banerjee said in Kolkata. The West Bengal Chief Minister claimed that three persons have died in the state because of the demonetisation. Banerjee visited the Reserve Bank of India's regional office in Kolkata and urged its regional director Rekha Warriar to ensure adequate cash was available at all ATMs and banks. Banerjee said she will speak to leaders of other opposition parties to chalk out the next course of action. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also accused the Centre of launching the exercise without adequate preparation. As a result, the common man has been subjected to "grave inconvenience", Siddaramaiah said in Mangaluru, adding he is yet to receive a reply from the Prime Minister to a letter requesting him to make it mandatory for private hospitals to accept the old higher denomination notes. DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi annunced in Chennai that his party will form a 'human chain' on November 24 to protest against the "haste" with which the government launched the exercise. "Because of the haste in implementing the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, and the sudden decision made (by Prime Minister Narendra Modi) on November 8, there is no end to the difficulties being faced by the people," the DMK chief said in a statement in Chennai. He said while Chief Ministers of other states had strongly condemned the exercise, the Tamil Nadu government did nothing to ease the problems of the people. BJP's oldest saffron ally Shiv Sena, however, continued to be unsparing in targeting the government on the issue. Days after Rajnath Singh voiced BJP's unhappiness over the frequent barbs against the government by the Sena during his telephonic talks with its chief Uddhav Thackeray, the fractious ally today came out in support of Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad being targeted by the NDA for drawing a comparison between the Uri terror attack casualties and the deaths in queues at banks and ATMs after demonetisation. "Will the truth change if Azad apologises?" asked an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana'. "In the Uri attack, 20 jawans were martyred. Due to the demonetisation, 40 brave patriots have lost their lives. The difference is in the attackers. Pakistan attacked us in Uri, while in the case of demonetisation (deaths) it was our own rulers," Sena, which shares power with BJP both at the Centre and in Maharashtra, said. Pakistani authorities will next week exhume bodies of ten attackers involved in Karachi airport attack that took place two years ago. A medical board, under the supervision of a judicial officer, will exhume the bodies of 10 unidentified attackers buried at the graveyard run by the Edhi Foundation on November 22. The decision followed after a judicial magistrate in Karachi directed the health authorities to constitute a medical board since police moved court for the exhumation of the bodies for DNA testing. The four-member medical team will collect samples for DNA tests to establish the identity of the killed assailants. Around 10 heavily armed militants stormed Karachi airport in June, 2014 and were killed by army commandos and personnel of other security forces during an operation lasting about five hours. They were buried at an Edhi-run cemetery and their identity remained unknown. Around 25 people, including personnel of the Airport Security Force, police and Rangers, were killed in the audacious gun-and-explosive attack. Three men are facing trial before an anti-terrorism court for allegedly providing logistic support, funds and weapons to the attackers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dreams are fading in China for African traders like Mouhamadou Moustapha Dieng, who in 2003 was among the first wave of Africans to set up homes and companies in this port city and forge trading links between China and the African continent. Young African traders who want to follow in the footsteps of Dieng's generation complain of difficulties getting visas, police crackdowns and prejudice, which come amid rising nationalism and slowing economic growth. Guangzhou is believed to have the largest African population in Asia, but many are leaving as long-time traders struggle against a slowdown in the Chinese economy and increased competition from Chinese traders and the internet. "Now the trade is almost finished," said Dieng, 54 and from Senegal. His profits are down 40 per cent from a decade ago. In the absence of a Senegalese consulate in the city, newly arrived 20-somethings on tourist visas head directly to his office for advice on how to do business in China. "They come with their bags, they sit down, they don't have anywhere to sleep, they don't have money," said the father-of-four. "Most of them, after 10, 15 days they go back." Over recent decades, Chinese companies and entrepreneurs have spread out across Africa building stadiums, roads and other large projects, cultivating land, running hotels and opening restaurants. Less well-known are the thousands of Africans who live in or regularly visit the southern trading port of Guangzhou, which neighbours Hong Kong. Estimates of this population of residents and floating traders vary, and the police's entry-exit administration declined to comment or offer data. The city's vice mayor said in 2014 that there were approximately 16,000 Africans in Guangzhou, of which 4,000 were residents. Guangzhou's population is 13.5 million. The first African traders started arriving in Guangzhou in the late 1990s, attracted by its annual international trade fair, China's economic boom and the ease of doing commerce in the city thanks to its wholesale markets, factories and low prices. Guangzhou had benefited from being one of the first Chinese cities allowed to open up to business in the 1980s, giving it a head start in attracting exporters. Now that rosy picture has faded. Traders have to compete with online companies like Alibaba that allow customers to order from their offices rather than going to markets. They also have more competition from Chinese, like Dieng's former employee who started her own business targeting his clients after picking up the Senegalese language Wolof. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chinese police have confiscated 659 kilogrammes of ketamine and arrested eight drug dealers, state media reported today. Police in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of Hechi City also arrested eight drug dealers, while confiscating a vehicle and 200,000 yuan (USD 29,039) from drug transactions. In September, police received a tip-off about several non-locals making drugs in a remote mountain village in Hechi. Two months of investigation showed that a couple provided drug manufacturing sites, while other suspects supplied money and drug-producing techniques. The final products were then sold in Hechi and neighbouring areas, state-run Xinhua agency reported. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) More than 250 civilians have been assisting police personnel in southwestern range in managing long queues outside banks and ATMs as part of the 'Police Mitra' initiative by Delhi Police, which will be formally launched today. In the southwestern range, comprising west and southwest districts, 294 civilians, including 49 women, have been deputed outside banks and ATMs which are being thronged by people after the Centre demonetised of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes. "West and southwest districts have 166 and 128 'Police Mitras' respectively. The scheme will be formally launched today but they have been helping our staff for the last few days. They help in pacifying people in queues," said Dependra Pathak, Joint Commissioner of police (Southwest). The southwest range is the first to roll out the initiative and other districts will follow suit in the next few weeks. Delhi Police Commissioner Alok Kumar Verma had last month issued standing orders to implement the initiative. Under the initiative, every police station will have civilian volunteers, whose number will depend on the area, and they will be help police in crime prevention and establishing a better public-police interface. Those with "good social record" will be enrolled. Their job will be to help police in addressing issues like drug addiction, maintaining communal harmony in the area. The idea was suggested by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Directors General of Police and Inspectors General conference last year where he had stressed that police forces should work on bridging the gap between them and the society. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Concerned by cooperative banks not getting supply of notes following the demonetisation move, an employee union of such lenders today warned of widespread protest from Wednesday if the cash crunch is not resolved by then. "Our banks have the deep network and the people at the bottom of the pyramid are with us. Despite this, money is not being made available to us," Co-operative Bank Employees Union President Anandrao Adsul told PTI. Adsul, also an MP of the Shiv Sena that has opposed the demonetisation move, said RBI should ensure cash is made available to all urban cooperative banks (UCBs), district cooperatives and credit cooperatives within three days, failing which the employees will come out on the streets in protest. "We will wait till Wednesday and protest outside RBI if our demands are not met," Adsul said, claiming that his union has 1 lakh members. Asked about reports of a threat of withdrawing from the NDA government if the demands are not met, Adsul replied in the negative, saying party chief Uddhav Thackeray will take a call on that. The warning comes a day after the Maharashtra Urban Cooperative Banks Federation wrote to RBI Deputy Governor R Gandhi to ensure its over 1,500 member-banks get adequate cash for serving the public. Cooperative banks have a deep network and millions, especially farmers, depend on them for their banking needs. The UCBs had yesterday said non-availability of cash is "infuriating" its customers and causing an "embarrassment" as other commercial banks are operational. "Our member banks are facing embarrassing situation. On one side, there is huge crowd at branches of commercial banks which are smoothly providing new currencies and exchanging notes from the public even by extending working hours while on the other side, there is no queue at all in front of the branches of UCBs due to absence of legal tenders," it said in its representation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A local Congress and trade union leader Arindam Sarkhel alias Bapi was arrested in connection with the murder of a shipping company official here, police said today. He was arrested after interrogation by police last night in connection with the gunning down of Mahendra Swain on October 26, Jagatsinghpur Superintendent of Police J.N Pankaj said. Bapi had reached Raghunathpur Police Station along with his supporters last evening after a lookout circular was issued against him following the arrest of five persons on Thursday, including three from Jharkhand, in the case, the police officer said. He was detained and interrogated for several hours before being formally arrested, Pankaj said, adding Bapi was produced before a magistrate at Kujang today and sent to jail after his bail plea was rejected. Protesting the arrest, members of several workers' unions in the area staged demonstrations and blocked Cuttack-Paradip road. Some unions also gave a call to cease work at different industrial units in the area. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Entrepreneur and Congress supporter Tehseen Poonawalla today lodged a case against an unidentified person who allegedly threatened him and his family over phone. "On November 18, my personal assistant in New Delhi received a call on my cell phone. The caller informed that he wanted to help me against the Prime Minister. My assistant asked him to call my Pune office," he said in the complaint. Then another call came from a different number and this time he received it. "The caller repeated his offer to help me against the atrocities of Prime Minister. When I told him not to bother me, the caller suddenly changed his tone and started threatening me saying he knows that my wife and mother live alone in Pune and he knows about my and my brother's whereabouts," he said. The caller threatened him of dire consequences and promised to teach a lesson to his entire family while claiming that he was calling from Dubai, Poonawalla said. "In the past attempts of attack on me were foiled by police and I request police to forward the same (complaint) to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Intelligence Bureau," he stated in the complaint, addressed to the commissioner of police. Joint Commissioner of Police Sunil Ramanand said police were in the process of registering the complaint. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Noting that people are bound to face some initial problems after demonetisation, Union minister Prakash Javadekar today said corruption had taken a "cancerous" form and the government was trying to cure "a 50-year-old malaise in 50 days". He equated the demonetisation to the surgical strike against terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, saying black money was being used increasingly to fund terrorist and Maoists activities in the country. The Human Resources Development Minister also hit out at the Opposition, saying they were "stalling" Parliament as they had "no issues" to discuss at all. "A few years after Independence, the country was running fine, but then the malaise of corruption started. And, in the last several decades, it has spread like a cancer. And, where were the corrupt people hiding their black money, in notes of (denomination) Rs 500 and Rs 1000. "The government carried out a surgical strike across the border (on terror launch pads), and another strike on this side of the border," Javadekar said. He was addressing a gathering of students, faculty and others during a function held at the Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Grameen Vishvavidyalay. The minister adopted Paldev under the Centre's Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana in 2014. "We are hearing from media that people are facing inconvenience by standing in queues. There will be initial issues, as the country is going through transition. And, we are trying to cure a 50-year-old disease in 50 days. "Also, these fake currency notes were used for funding terrorist activities and black money is a common source for Maoist and extremist activities. So, a strike was necessary. And, hence the government took this step," he told reporters. The minister underscored that the government is trying to encourage people towards cash-less transactions. At the university, started by RSS ideologue Nanaji Deshmukh a few decades ago, Javadekar also inaugurated the annexe section of the new administration building. The Rajya Sabha member, who adopted this village inspired by the legacy of Nanaji, also paid a visit to Sita Ram Kutir, and paid respect to the late RSS ideologue. Paldev is a village inside the eponymous gram panchayat that falls under the Chitrakoot region of Satna district. The village borders Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The minister, who arrived in Chitrakoot this morning, first visited the patients at the Matri Sadan, housed in the Deendayal Research Institute, one of the many institutes started by Nanaji here. He also met a group of doctors from UK, who visit the place every year and render voluntary service by offering free check-up and surgery to patients. He later visited the Paldev village and held a janta darbar (public interface) there, followed by a review meet with officials. Satna MP Ganesh Singh also accompanied him. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After Manohar Parrikar stoked a controversy over India's 'no first use' nuclear policy, former Security Adviser (NSA) Shivshankar Menon on Saturday said the Defence Minister does not have the right to voice his personal opinion on in public, especially when it contradicts the official stand. Menon also said Parrikar's suggestion that India should give up its 'no first use' policy would not be in the country's interest both in terms of the strategic deterrent role of nuclear weapons as well as their role as a weapon of war. The Defence Minister does not have a right to voice his personal opinion on in public particularly when that opinion contradicts the official policy of the country, he told India Today TV's 'To The Point' programme. Parrikar last week had wondered why India cannot say "we are a responsible nuclear power and I will not use it irresponsibly" instead of affirming a "no first use policy", remarks he said were personal in nature. "Why should I bind myself? I should say I am a responsible nuclear power and I will not use it irresponsibly. This is my(personal) thinking," Parrikar had said. Following the nuclear weapons test in 1998, India had declared a 'no first use' . Menon said India's nuclear weapons are "no guard" and no deterrent against Pakistani terror. "Threatening a nuclear response to a terrorist attack from Pakistan would be like threatening to kill a mosquito with a shotgun and would be unlikely to be understood by India's own people let alone the international community," said Menon, who was the NSA from 2011 to 2014 under the Manmohan Singh government. Menon made the remarks ahead of the launch of his forthcoming book 'Choices', which will officially be launched on December 2 by Manmohan Singh. Talking about Indo-Pak relations, Menon said, "India- Pakistan relations are one of the few major failures of Indian foreign policy." He said India's Pakistan policy has not always been related to reality. Talking about India's "surgical strikes" inside PoK in September, Menon said he believes that going public with them was not in India's interest. It was designed to appease domestic opinion not to advance the desired outcome with Pakistan, he said. Going public meant that Pakistan was forced to deny the strikes happened and, at a later point, to indulge in a stepped-up cross-border violation, he said. Holding that the demonetise move was not well thought out, former Finance Minister P Chidambaram today said its after-effects will continue for a longer period than expected and wondered whether government had consulted its chief economic advisor before taking the decision. The demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes accounted for over 86 per cent of the total Rs 16.24 lakh crore value of banknotes in circulation as on March 31, 2016, according to Reserve Bank of India's latest annual report. "You are seeing the first-order effects of withdrawing, sucking out 86 per cent of the currency in circulation from the market. The first order will continue for several weeks now. Then you will see the second-order effects," Chidambaram said at Mumbai LitFest here, when asked what the repercussions he was seeing of the exercise. "My suspicion is the only knowledgeable economist in the government, Dr Arvind Subramanian, was not consulted," he said. Talking about the first-order effects, he said there are many people now living with very less money and are not consuming, which means produce, especially perishable produce like vegetables, fruits, are not being sold. Chidambaram said the second-order effects are already visible in places like Tirupur and Surat, where lay-offs and retrenchments have started. The second-order effects will be more prominently felt if farmers, who have sworn their farms, do not have money to buy fertiliser and hire labour. "So I think the consequences will certainly be negative," he said. He, however, said it was too early to quantify the damage, which has been done because of the decision. Talking about the 50 days' time Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked for his anti-black money initiative to show results, Chidambaram said it might ease the liquidity crisis for individual hands, but won't solve many other issues. "The PM's time out for 50 days might ease the liquidity crisis at individual's hands, but it won't solve many other problems. "Take a simple arithmetic...They demonetised 2,200 (total volume) crore Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. The capacity of all printing presses taken together is 300 crore per month. So, even if you print note for note, it will take seven months. If you print smaller denominations notes like Rs 100 for Rs 500, it will take five times more time...Think somebody didn't think through...That's not unusual for government," he said. Chidambaram said the exercise will not completely remove the counterfeit notes from the system. "There is only Rs 400 crore of counterfeit currency, 0.028 per cent in a total circulation of Rs 16.24 lakh crore. If somebody can tell me in five seconds, how many zeros are there is 16.24 lakh crore, I am willing to give him Rs 100, very priced now," Chidambaram said. When asked about a brokerage lowering country's growth target to 0.5 per cent in the second half due to demonetisation, he said the situation was not that dismal. "That's a very aggressive statement. I don't think it is so bad," he said. Brokerage firm Ambit Capital yesterday said the demonetisation-driven cash crunch that is playing out in the country will paralyse economic activity in the short term. "Hence, we expect GDP growth to decelerate from 6.4 per cent in the first half of financial year 2016-17 (as per it's estimate) to 0.5 per cent YoY in the second half with a distinct possibility of GDP growth contracting in third quarter of the current fiscal," Ambit said in a report. It also has cut its financial year 2017-18 GDP growth estimate to 5.8 per cent y-o-y from 7.3 per cent earlier. Maharashtra Navanirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday criticised the Centre's move, saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken the decision without full consideration. "PM Modi took the decision without thinking fully. If the decision fails to yield expected results, it will lead the country on a path of potholes," Raj said while addressing a party workers' meeting in Mumbai. "The government says that the decision was taken to check black money. If that was indeed the case, why no raids were carried out against those with black money," he said. Forty people have died while standing in bank and ATM queues, Raj said, and asked: "Did these people have black money?" The Prime Minister speaks of black money in the morning and meets Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar in the evening, he taunted. "While there is a talk of black money, a Bharatiya Janata Party leader spends Rs 500 crore in a wedding ceremony," he said, amid reports of mining baron and former Karnataka minister, Gali Janardhana Reddy's daughter's lavish wedding held recently. Pakistan-born Canadian writer Tarek Fatah today said the Modi government's decision to demonetise 500 and 1000 currency notes has hit Pakistan-sponsored terror activities against India and flow of counterfeit currency has been terminated. "It is a very good decision. It is the first demonetisation in digital era and will transform the lives of people," he said at the 'Jaipur Dialogues' event here. "The move has badly hit Pakistan-sponsored terrorism as funds to terror activities and flow of counterfeit currency have been terminated," Fateh, who is know for his strong anti-Pakistan views, said. He said Balochistan is struggling to break away from Pakistan and he would then prefer going to Pakistan. "Pakistan is not worthy of respect and I will prefer to go there only if Balochistan breaks free," he said in response to a question from the audience. Fatah said Indians who want good relationship with Pakistan should be made learn about the reality of that country and even after this if they are willing to improve ties, it simply means they are not in the interest of India. "Such people should be exposed. Those who live in India and hate India do not deserve to live here and they should be kicked out," he said. He also said the Pakistan high commissioner in India deserve this treatment. American Hindu teacher David Frawley said India should focus more on its soft power. "India is one of the greatest civilisations of the world with rich art and culture and developed science and technology quickly. However, India has not used its soft power to its full potential and the young generation now feels a disconnect with ancient Indian tradition and culture which needs to be addressed," he said. The two-day event which began today will see discussions by experts in defence, strategy and economy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The hunt for a fugitive accused of shooting at police in South Carolina turned deadly when law officers tracked the suspect to southeast Georgia, where an attempt to arrest him erupted in gunfire. The brief shootout at a mobile home in rural Long County killed a deputy US marshal as well as the man his team was trying to apprehend. The US Marshals Service said Patrick Carothers, deputy commander of the agency's Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, died after being shot twice as the officers entered the mobile home. "Pat is a hero," David Harlow, deputy director of the Marshals Service, said in a statement yesterday offering condolences to Carothers' wife and five children. Carothers had served 26 years with the agency. The slain suspect was identified as Dontrell Montese Carter, 25. He had been wanted in Sumter County, South Carolina, since September 18 on charges of attempted murder of police officers, domestic violence and illegally discharging a weapon. The agency said Carothers and his team had tracked Carter to a mobile home just outside Ludowici, about 55 miles southwest of Savannah. Carothers was shot as they were entering the home. Law officers returned fire and shot Carter multiple times, the Marshals Service said. Both men were taken to area hospitals, where they were pronounced dead. Carter had been on the run since he fled South Carolina in mid-September. The Sumter County Sheriff's Office said at the time that officers tried to arrest Carter after receiving calls that he had assaulted his girlfriend and fired gunshots into the home of a relative who tried to intervene. Carter ended up leading officers on a car chase, the sheriff's office said, and fired shots at the officers as he left his vehicle and escaped on foot. Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis offered condolences in a statement yesterday. His office declined further comment. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch, in a statement yesterday, said she was "deeply saddened" by Carothers' death. "He stayed true to his oath to the last, laying down his life to keep his community safe and his neighbors secure," Lynch said. "I know that his legacy will live on in the proud annals of the US Marshals Service and in the memory of his fellow law enforcement officers from coast to coast. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fashion designer Ambrish Damani says he would like to give actress Deepika Padukone a traditional Bengali look. "Deepika's rustic look would be just perfect at the same time she has the charisma in her yet her elegance just just perfect. Dressing Deepika in my 'Shidur collection' (his latest work) is my dream," Ambrish told PTI. Ambrish has come out with his new festive collection 'Shidur' which majorly reflects the ancient traditions of the Bengali heritage. For Bengali women, 'shidur' (vermilion) holds a huge significance as it symbolises marital life. "The Bengali heritage and culture are a big source of inspiration to me. With this collection, I wanted to encapsulate the 'shidur khela' or the vermilion play, which marks the end of the Bengalis' biggest festival - Durga Puja. Shidur collection is an honest effort to reinvent the heritage, the culture and the spirit of festivities of Bengal," Ambrish said. The collection comprises hand crafted festive wear filled with bold red, brown, antique gold and a lot of bling. It includes kurta, kimonos, anarkalis and shararas among others. (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 said that the report of Justice S N Dhingra Commission, set up to probe the grant of licences for change in land use (CLU) in Gurgaon, including to a Robert Vadra- owned firm, will be made public in the next Assembly session. "The report will be made public in next Assembly session," Khattar said. The Chief Minister said that the report has mentioned certain issues which require further investigation. "Therefore, the government is considering to chose a suitable agency for the same," he told reporters. Notably, the Dhingra Commmission had submitted its 182- page report to Chief Minister Khattar here on August 31 on the last day of the tenure of the Commission. Earlier, BJP led Haryana government, on June 30, had extended the term of the single-member commission by two months till August 31, 2016 after Justice Dhingra, a retired judge of Delhi High Court had sought six weeks more time to submit its report. The Khattar government had in December last year also extended the commission's term for a period of six months and later its term had been further extended. The commission was set up on May 14, last year, to probe the issues concerning the grant of license(s) for developing commercial colonies by the Department of Town and Country Planning to some entities in Sector 83, Gurgaon including mutation of land deal between a firm M/S Skylight Hospitality, owned by Robert Vadra, and realty major DLF. The Rs 58-crore deal related to 3.5 acre land in Gurgaon's Shikohpur village was sold by Vadra to DLF. Meanwhile, Khattar today also said that it was on November 1, 2016 that the present state government restored the power of the Director, Town and Country Planning to issue Change of Land Use (CLU) and licences, whereas earlier these powers used to be with the Chief Minister. This, he said, was one of the recommendations of the Dhingra Commission. He reminded that all the Chief Ministers, who ruled the State after 1991, retained these powers with themselves. In reply to a question concerning the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, the Chief Minister said that the Supreme Court would now take up the case on Monday. "After a recent all-party meeting, a written request was made to the President of India to seek an appointment with him on this issue and whenever he would give the appointment, a delegation of all political parties would meet him," Khattar said. When his attention was drawn that tension could build up if the farmers in Punjab could start levelling the land for filling up of the SYL canal in Punjab territory, Khattar said that even earlier similar act was committed and at that time the Supreme Court had appointed the Punjab Chief Secretary and Director General of Police as receivers. In reply to a question whether there was any proposal of the Haryana government to give salary to its employees in cash in view of demonetisation of old currency notes of higher denomination, Khattar said that the issue was under consideration and the employees may get a part of their salary in cash. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi University today held its 93rd annual convocation where eminent jurist professor Ved P Nanda from University of Denver Sturm College of Law presented degrees to students for the 2015 session. The convocation ceremony, which began on a musical note saw a "Shankh Naad" performance followed by one from Army band and a bugler from Delhi Police, was also attended by RSS joint general secretary Krishna Gopal. During the ceremony 666 doctoral degrees, 37 Doctorate of Medicine degrees and 181 medals were awarded and the degrees of students who passed various examinations in 2015 were conferred in absentia. They will be released to the respective colleges, institutions, faculties or departments. Nanda, who has been associated with University of Denver, United Nations Association, American Bar Association, among others and is the recipient of various prestigious awards, delivered the convocation address detailing the challenges in education system and the industry. He said while India has potential "none of the Indian varsities are in the top 100 universities of the world rankings. With good infrastructure and foreign university tie ups, a university like DU could make it in the top 100 list". Underlining that "interdisciplinary education" has become rampant internationally, he said it is important for a university to prove its importance internationally. Recalling a meeting with the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, Nanda told the gathering of students that besides studies and degrees "it is your duty to find solutions to the problems in the society...It is everyone's duty to the make world better". For the first time, the varsity had made additions of several new norms like recitation of holy versus from Quran, Gurbani, Ganesh Vandana and the Bible at the function. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Egyptian court today sentenced the head of the journalists' union and two members to two years in prison for "harbouring fugitives", allowing them to pay bail pending an appeal. Journalists Syndicate president Yahiya Kallash, Gamal Abd el-Rahim and Khaled Elbalshy were charged in May with sheltering two journalists wanted over protests against the transfer of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. The court set bail at 10,000 Egyptian pounds (USD 615, 580 euros), a court official said. Their arrest following a May 1 police raid on the union building to detain two reporters from an opposition website drew condemnation from rights groups. The European Union said the indictment of the journalists' syndicate members was "a worrying development". "It reflects broader limitations on freedom of expression and press freedom in Egypt," an EU spokesperson said at the time. Rights activists accuse President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of running an ultra-authoritarian regime that has violently suppressed all opposition since toppling Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013. Kallash had denounced the police raid on union headquarters to arrest reporters Amr Badr and Mahmud al-Sakka, saying the government was "escalating the war against journalism and journalists". Activists had organised two protests in April against handing the islands to Saudi Arabia. A court later ruled that the transfer could not go through. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has praised US President-elect Donald J Trump, saying that his inflammatory statements from the campaign trail do not necessarily reflect the actions he will take as president. El-Sissi, in an interview with Portuguese agency LUSA released on Saturday, said, "let's not jump into conclusions or worry" about future US actions or policies in the Middle East. The army chief-turned-president was interviewed prior to his upcoming November 21 visit to Portugal. El-Sissi was among the very first foreign leaders to congratulate Trump's on his presidential victory. "We have to distinguish between the rhetoric that takes place within presidential campaigns and the real and actual administration of a country after the inauguration," he said. "There will be a chance for more thorough readings." El-Sissi's remarks echoed sentiments that have been circulating on local and regional media, with columnists speculating that Trump campaign rhetoric such as his call for a ban on Muslims entering the US will be watered down. Trump and el-Sissi have already shown a certain bond. Trump said there was "good chemistry" when they met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September. El-Sissi said Trump would "without a doubt" make a strong leader. El-Sissi, who was elected in 2014 after leading the military ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, has painted himself as a regional leader in the fight against Islamic militancy a stance that echoes Trump's priorities. The prospect of warmer relations with Trump comes after years of comparative chill between el-Sissi and outgoing US President Barack Obama. After the ouster of Morsi and the subsequent lethal crackdown on Islamist supporters, the Obama administration voiced criticism and briefly suspended part of the Egypt's robust American aid package. Egypt's pro-government media have often railed against Obama, accusing the US of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood and other dissident groups. Many of those pro-government media outlets are now cheering Trump's victory. Observers believe that Trump is less likely to take Egypt to task over human rights. Instead, he could offer el-Sissi international political support as the Egyptian leader battles Islamic State group-linked militants in the Sinai peninsula and in neighboring Libya. "I believe that President Trump will be vigorously engaged with the issues in the region," el-Sissi said. "As a matter of fact, Trump has shown deep and great understanding of what is taking place in the region as a whole and Egypt in particular. I am looking forward and expecting more support and reinforcement of our bilateral relations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An elderly man, who was standing in a queue outside a bank to exchange defunct currency notes, died today in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan, police said. "Ratna Ram, 75, was in the line outside State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur (SBBJ) bank to exchange notes in Pilani. "He collapsed in the line and was rushed to a hospital where doctor declared him dead on arrival," police said. The body has been shifted to the mortuary for postmortem. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bharulata Kamble, who has set a world record by driving solo 32,000km and become the first woman to complete the 2,792km Arctic Circle, today attributed the feat to her willpower. The Indian-origin UK resident was felicitated at a programme organised by Maharashtra Information Centre here. "I could overcome the difficulties such as hostile weather conditions, lonely roads, rules and regulations in different countries due to my willpower. My husband too encouraged and backed me in this endeavour," an official statement quoted her as saying during the event. The programme was attended by the Director (Information) of the Directorate General of Information and Public Relations Devendra Bhujbal among others. According to Bharulata, who was born in Gujarat's Navsari district, she set on her journey towards India from England via Arctic Circle on September 13 this year. She became the first woman to complete the circle expedition. Bharulata reached here two days ago, covering 32,000km spread across 32 countries. She has been spreading awarenes about 'saving and educating girl child' over the span of 57 days, the statement said. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself welcomed me. It was a valuable moment in my life," Bharulata said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Finance Minister on Saturday said Jan Dhan account is another name for no-frills accounts opened during the UPA government tenure and that the latter should be added while counting the number of bank accounts opened for financial inclusion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the financial inclusion programme, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), under which Jan Dhan accounts were opened on August 28, 2014. Under this flagship programme, around 25.51 crore accounts have been opened so far. The senior Congress leader said 13 crore no-frills accounts were opened under the UPA regime, but are blacked out now. "Those 13 crore accounts which we opened between 2004 and 2014 under the guidance of C Rangarajan, as far as the (present) government is concerned, they don't exist, they are blacked out. For them (the NDA government) India began, civilisation began only on May 26, 2014. And, therefore, they will count the Jan Dhan accounts, which I compliment them for, but they don't add the no-frills accounts," Chidambaram said at the Mumbai LitFest in Mumbai on Saturday. He said no-frills accounts should be added to Jan Dhan accounts as "Jan Dhan is only another name for no-frills accounts." The Congress leader praised the government's efforts for this financial inclusion drive, but said by simply opening an account, one's behaviour cannot be changed. "People must have money to deposit in the account, they must have a need to borrow from that account. Otherwise, accounts will remain dormant. So, how do the Indian bankers jugad sense work? The government pulls them up for saying dormant accounts, they put one rupee from their pockets in those accounts," he added. At least four Pakistani security personnel were killed today when gunmen opened fire on their official vehicle in restive Baluchistan province's capital city Quetta. Three paramilitary soldiers and one policeman were killed when the gunmen opened fire on a Frontier Corps vehicle on the Fatima Jinnah road of Quetta. Two civilians also sustained gunshot wounds and were admitted to a hospital. "It appears to be a case of target killing and according to eye witnesses armed men on a motorcycle opened fire on the FC vehicle and the police constable who was on duty," he said. Police said the attackers escaped unhurt from the spot. The restive Baluchistan province has seen an increase in separatist and sectarian violence this year with banned terrorist outfits also carrying out suicide bombings. In three major suicide bomb attacks since August, over 150 persons have been killed and scores injured. A suicide bomb attack was carried out at the entrance of the Civil hospital in Quetta in August in which around 70 persons were killed followed by a terrorist attack on the police training centre in the city in which two suicide bomber blew themselves up killing 64 police cadets and two army soldiers last month. Last week, a suicide bomber blew himself up in the compound of the Shah Noorani shrine in the Khuzdar district, killing 54 devotees and security personnel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Trade unions on Saturday urged Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to take immediate steps to mitigate difficulties being faced by and small trades due to the cash crunch. "The new issue added in this discussion apart from our 16-point charter was because of demonetisation and the scandal that has broken out," Centre of Indian Trade Unions President Tapan Sen told reporters here after unionists' pre-Budget consultations with Jaitley. "Had they gone ahead with the preparation, we would have welcomed it. They are more interested in public relation than for the actual cause. This decision of the (Narendra) Modi government proves this." As many as 12 central trade unions' representatives met Jaitley today for pre-Budget consultations as part of the customary exercise ahead of the general Budget. Sen said, "About 85 per cent of the currency was withdrawn. Small traders and unorganised sector workers are going hungry. Despite taking so much of load, bank employees are working till 12 at night, still they are earning the wrath of people for quite justified reasons." He put the onus on the government to infuse more cash. In the memorandum jointly submitted by 10 central trade unions, they expressed deep concern over the difficulties being faced by the common man, especially the daily . "We urge the government to take urgent steps to ameliorate their difficulties," they said in the memorandum. They demanded that income tax exemption ceiling for the salaried persons and pensioners be raised to Rs 5 lakh per annum. They also pushed for tax exemption in totality for all perks and fringe benefits in the railways and linking minimum monthly wage to Consumer Price Index which should be at least Rs 18,000. They made a representation for raising the ceiling of gratuity to Rs 20 lakh from January 1, 2016 as done in the case of central government employees and minimum monthly pension of Rs 3,000 under the Employees Pension Scheme run by EPFO. All workers, they said, should be paid pension and the same should be construed as deferred wage. The unions also sought withdrawal of notification issued for utilisation of money in 'inoperative' EPF accounts for the Senior Citizen Welfare Fund and wanted the government to scrap decision to invest EPF fund in the stock market. The 10 unions opposed the "desperate anti-worker" measures of changing labour laws by the Centre as well as some states. "The government should take steps for initiating discussion and resolving the 12 point charter of demands," they demanded. They regretted that none of their suggestions in the last pre-Budget meetings have been positively reflected in previous budgets. "Rather drastic cut to the tune of Rs 4.40 lakh crore was made in the allocation of funds for social sector schemes in the last budget. This drastic cut needs to be restored and covered up," they added. Their stated position is the contract/casual workers should not be deployed on jobs of perennial nature. "Till regularisation, these workers should be paid the same wages and benefits as paid to regular workers doing the same and similar type of work as has been reiterated by the Supreme Court recently," the unions added. These unions also demanded that the new pension scheme be withdrawn and newly-recruited employees of central and state bodies on or after January 1, 2004 be covered under the old pension scheme. The scope of MGNREGA, according to them, should be extended to agriculture operations and urban areas as well and employment for a minimum 200 days with guaranteed statutory wage should be provided. Opposing foreign direct investment in important sectors, they said, "FDI should not be allowed in crucial sectors like defence production, railways, financial sector, retail trade and other strategic sectors. The government on the other hand, has allowed 100 per cent FDI in these sectors, including pharmaceuticals. The American State of Hawaii would soon have a formal Sister-State relationship with Goa, a US lawmaker has said. "I am proud that we would soon be formalizing a recently established Sister State partnership between the State of Hawaii, my home State and the State of Goa. We would have the announcement soon," Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who represents Hawaii in the US House of Representative, said in her address to the World Hindu Economic Forum here. "We look forward to have a contingent coming to Hawaii from Goa and sending a contingent from Hawaii going to Goa to see what further opportunities there are to build more bridges between our two States and the two countries," said Gabbard, the first Hindu lawmaker to be elected to the US Congress. In the next Congress, she would be joined by three other Hindu lawmakers - Pramila Jayapal from Washington State, Ro Khanna from California and Raja Krishnamoorthi from Illinois. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Throwing spotlight on lesser known achievements of women in the country, Google Art and Culture Platform today launched an initiative, where narratives of some of these women can be explored. The special project - "Women in India: Unheard Stories" is a collection of artworks and virtual exhibitions spanning 2,500 years from 26 cultural institutions across the country. The project will feature some of iconic unsung women achievers of the country. Unveiling over 50 new virtual exhibitions with over 1,800 artworks, photographs and videos, the project throws light on contributions of women to the culture of India. Speaking at the launch , Luisella Mazza, Head of Operations, Google Culture institute, said, "This project is an effort to recognise the impact of Indian women in history and culture. We also want to look forward and inspire women." The launch event witnessed number of panel discussions on various aspects of women empowerment. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vice President-elect Mike Pence was booed at a performance of the award-winning Broadway musical "Hamilton," whose "alarmed and anxious" cast made an unusual call for Donald Trump's incoming administration to work on behalf of all Americans. The president-elect later complained that the cast had been rude to Pence and harassed him during the late yesterday performance. "This should not happen!" Trump tweeted. The wildly popular hit musical, which won 11 Tony Awards in June, follows young colonial rebels who became America's founding fathers, celebrating diversity and immigrants' contribution to the nation. The show's lead actor, Javier Munoz, is openly gay, HIV positive and a cancer survivor. Activists worry that the Trump's administration will be hostile to gay rights. Brandon Victor Dixon, who plays former vice president Aaron Burr, read a statement to Pence during the curtain call that echoed some of the main concerns critics have voiced since the Republican firebrand won the election on November 8. With that, a performance about a revolution and dawn of a young nation became even more political. Pence is a stalwart Christian conservative from the Midwest. Thanking him for attending the performance, Dixon asked him to "hear us out." "We, sir, we are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights, sir," Dixon said. "But we truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and work on behalf of all of us. All of us." Hamilton, Dixon told Pence, was performed by "a diverse group of men, women of different colors, creeds and orientations." The audience cheered and loudly applauded. The crowd had greeted Pence with a mix of boos and cheers when he entered the theater before the show. During the performance, the audience gave a standing ovation at the line "immigrants we get the job done," theatergoer Christy Colburn tweeted. "Crowd went NUTS at King George's lines 'when people say they hate you' & 'do you know how hard it is to lead?' He had to stop the song." Although Pence was leaving the auditorium when Dixon began reading his statement from the stage, he stood by the entrance to hear the entire message, the New York Times reported. He made no comment. Trump complained in a tweet Saturday morning. "Our wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing," he wrote. "This should not happen!" "The Theater must always be a safe and special place," he added in another message. "The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!" Trump has deployed polarizing rhetoric to describe immigrants, vowing to build a wall along the US border with Mexico and ban Muslims from entering the United States. The bombastic real estate billionaire -- who faced widespread condemnation within and outside his party during his campaign when a video emerged of him making lewd boasts about groping and forcing himself on women -- has so far appointed staunchly conservative older white men to major posts in his future administration. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kamala Harris, the first Indian- American to be elected to the US Senate, has criticised President-elect Donald Trump's decision to tap Senator Jeff Sessions for the post of attorney general. "In viewing the role of the US Attorney General through this lens, I have deep concerns about Senator Sessions' nomination. Particularly, I am concerned with his support for policies that would undermine core Department of Justice functions and his views that are incompatible with constitutional guarantees," Harris said in a statement. "Like all presidential nominees, Senator Sessions deserves a fair and thorough hearing by the Senate, and I look forward to actively engaging in that process," said the 51-year-old Democratic party leader, who last week created history by becoming the first Indian origin person to be elected as US Senator. While her mother was from India, her father was from Jamaica. Harris said while she has many concerns with President- elect Trump's nominations to date, the nomination of Senator Sessions is particularly troubling. "Justice Robert Jackson, one of the most esteemed justices to serve on the Supreme Court, wrote of the US Department of Justice, 'The prosecutor has more control over life, liberty, and reputation than any other person in America. His discretion is tremendous',"she said. "I know from my own career in law enforcement, civil rights, and the six years I have spent as California's Attorney General how important this role is for our society. The Attorney General is the people's lawyer, a public servant who is sworn to uphold the promise of equal protection under the law and to ensure the fair administration of justice for all," Harris said. The two-term California Attorney General, Harris would be sworn in as US Senator on January 3, 2017. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madras High Court has said the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption could conduct inquiry into complaints, if cognisable offence has been made out, against All India Service Officers, Heads of Departments and Collectors, without simply forwarding it to the Chief Secretary for necessary action as per its manual. As per a Supreme Court ruling, a DVAC official, who receives the complaint wherein cognizable offence has been made out, can hold an inquiry and then forward it to the chief secretary for further action, the court's Madurai Bench observed. The apex court's direction could not be ignored on the ground of administrative instruction or manual. "If the officials followed the manual instead of supreme court direction... It is not legal," it said. DVAC officials should follow the apex court ruling and not the DVAC manual, a division bench of Justice S Nagamuthu and Justice M V Muralidharan said in its ruling yesterday. They said "the law on the issue as to whether a DVAC police officer who received a complaint making out cognisable offence could hold an inquiry or not is well settled by the supreme court in its decision in 2013," so DVAC officials should follow it dutifully. The court was hearing a PIL by one R Nagarajan who said he had given a complaint against the Tamil Nadu Housing board officials stating that they had constructed flats in Madurai without obtaining building approval. Nagarajan alleged that officials allowed the construction on receipt of illegal gratification from the builder. However, in his counter affidavit, K. Esakki Ananthan, Dy.SP, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Madurai, said the petitioner had levelled allegations against the then TNHB Managing Director who was an IAS officer and many other officials. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Yemen rebels and loyalist forces battled today around third city Taez even as a 48-hour ceasefire announced by a Saudi-led coalition fighting the insurgents began following US pressure. A few hours after the ceasefire took effect at midday (0900 GMT), fighting still raged around the flashpoint southwestern city, where violence has killed dozens this week, despite clashes subsiding on several fronts. Clashes were heaviest in the town of Salo, southeast of Taez, military sources said, reporting casualties on both sides. Inside Taez itself, rebel rocket fired into a residential district killed one civilian and wounded two, the sources added. Intermittent fighting was also reported in Nahm near the capital Sanaa, in Shabwa in the south and Sarwah to the east. The ceasefire comes after a push by US Secretary of State John Kerry who this week met rebel representatives in Oman and also urged the government to come on board. At first the government, which has deep reservations about a UN peace blueprint it believes undermines its authority, rejected the peace bid before later agreeing to observe it. Yemen's government has come under huge pressure to back down in the face of an international outcry over the mounting civilian death toll from 20 months of conflict. "There are international pressures to observe a ceasefire and to resume (peace) negotiations," a source close to the presidency told AFP, requesting anonymity. The 48-hour truce could be extended if the rebels hold fire and allow aid into besieged loyalist enclaves, said a coalition statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency. More than 7,000 people have been killed in Yemen and nearly 37,000 wounded since the coalition intervention began in March last year, the United Nations says. "We really hope that the war will end. All Yemenis are very tired of the conflict," said Khaled al-Waysi, a resident of Sanaa. Another resident, Sadeq Juhaifi, said: "We want one of the parties to be courageous enough to announce long-term peace, not just a two or one-day ceasefire." AFP received a copy of an official document issued by the defence ministry ordering all pro-government forces to abide by the ceasefire, report violations, and reserve the right to respond to any rebel breaches. A spokesman for forces allied to the Iran-backed Shiite Huthi rebels, Brigadier General Sharaf Luqman, confirmed that they would also abide by the ceasefire. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madras High Court has directed the Director of Indian Medicine and Homeopathy to include the name of SVS Yoga and Naturopathy College in the counselling schedule and admit students in the Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yoga Sciences course run by it for academic year 2016-17. The college in Villupuram district had come under the cloud in January this year after three girl students allegedly committed suicide by jumping into a well blaming it for levying exorbitant fees. The chairman and principal were among those who were arrested and later granted bail. The incident led to a public outcry in Tamil Nadu against collection of exorbitant fees. Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had later ordered the transfer of students studying in SVS College to government-run colleges. A PIL plea was filed in the high court seeking to cancel affiliation to the college, but it was rejected by the court. A show cause notice was sent to the college by the TN Dr MGR Medical University, asking why it should not be disaffiliated. Since a show cause notice was sent, the varsity had not sent the schedule of counselling to the SVS College. Hence a representation was sent by the college to the University to furnish it the seat matrix. As there was no response from the University, the college filed the present writ petition. Justice B Rajendran in his interim order said "when there are admittedly unfilled seats as admitted by the government, no useful purpose will be served in keeping the petitioner's institutions out of the purview of the counselling schedule." He further said that during counselling and at the time of admission, the college must inform students that their admission was subject to the writ petition's outcome. The First bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan had earlier refused to entertain a prayer for disaffiliation. An order of the second bench, comprising Justice Huluvadi G Ramesh and Justice V Parthiban had directed an inspection by authorities for the purpose of granting affiliation to another course run by the college. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress leader P Chidambaram today attacked the Narendra Modi government for obliterating everything about India before it came to power and said it believes there was no civilisation prior to that. "As far as the present government is concerned, India began, civilisation began only on May 26, 2014," Chidambaram said at the Tatas-run Mumbai LitFest here today while addressing a panel discussion on 'Banking for the bottom billion'. The former Finance Minister was referring to the NDA government not adding the 13 crore no-frills accounts, opened during the UPA regime, with the Jan Dhan ones that were opened during the present government's financial inclusion drive. While the UPA government had opened these accounts between 2004 and 2014 under its financial inclusion drive, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had relaunched this under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana on August 28, 2014, under which around 25.51 crore accounts have been opened so far. Chidambaram noted that as many as 13 crore no-frills accounts were opened under the UPA rule, but are blacked out now. "These 13 crore accounts which we opened between 2004 and 2014, under the guidance of C Rangarajan, as far as the (present) government is concerned, they don't exist, they are blacked out," he said, adding that "Jan Dhan is only another name for no-frills accounts". The Congress leader praised the government's efforts for this financial inclusion drive, but said by simply opening an account, one's behaviour can't be changed. "People must have money to deposit in the account, they must have a need to borrow from that account, otherwise account will remain dormant. So, how does our bankers jugad sense work? The government pulls them up for saying dormant accounts, they put one rupee from their pockets in those accounts," he added. Earlier in the day, he had said the after-effects of the demonetisation will last longer than expected as it was carried out without much thinking and he also doubted if the government had consulted its Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian on this before taking the decision. "You are seeing the first-order effect of withdrawing, sucking out 86 per cent of the currency in circulation from the market. The first order will continue for several weeks now. Then, you will see the second-order effect," he said. "My suspicion is the only knowledgeable economist in the government Arvind Subramanian was not consulted," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India has been elected as the vice chair for 2018 and chair for 2019 of Kimberly Process (KP) Certificate Scheme, Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) today said. The announcement was made at the recently held KP Plenary Meeting in Dubai, it said in a statement. KP is a joint initiative of the governments, industry and civil societies to stem flow of conflict diamonds. These are the rough diamonds used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments. India is founder member of Kimberley Scheme of United Nations for import/export of rough diamonds to ensure that conflict diamonds are not traded. The scheme is administered through the Department of Commerce. No import or export of rough diamonds shall be permitted unless the shipment is accompanied by this certificate required under the procedure specified by the GJEPC. The chair of this international body is by rotation among its members. GJEPC Chairman Praveenshankar Pandya said: "India has been elected as the vice chair for 2018 and chair for 2019 of KPCS". Quoting joint Secretary in the department of commerce Manoj Dwivedi, it said the vice chair will help India in preparing to take bigger responsibility of the chair seamlessly. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A delegation of industrialists today met Chief Minister Nitish Kumar here and expressed interest in investing in the state. These industrialists also discussed the possibilities and opportunities of setting up industrial units in different sectors. "A detailed presentation was also made before the Chief Minister with regard to the development and expansion of food processing industries, construction sector, tourism industry in the state. Discussion was held on the various aspects of these sectors," an official release said. It was, however, not mentioned as what would be the size of investment and when and where the investment would take place. The industrialists who met the CM were Gulf Petroleum Managing Director Sudhir Goyal, Col. Bhatnagar of Leela Group, Nagarjun of Tiger Steel, Goldrush Managing Director Mehmood A Khan, G P Fund's Director S Shaheen Alam, Rahul Mahindra of Harvard Associate and Industrialists B Mehta and Dr A A Hai. The industrialists later held a meeting with top officials to discuss in details the issues raised during their meeting with the CM. The industrialists discussed the issues with Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh, Industries Department's Principal Secretary Dr S Siddharth, Tourism Department's Principal Secretary Harjot Kaur and other senior officials, the release added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Iran is optimistic that OPEC can reach an agreement to cut production and improve prices, Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said today after meeting the cartel's chief, Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo. "There is a high possibility of OPEC's petroleum and energy ministers reaching an agreement at the November meeting," Zanganeh said, quoted by the ministry's Shana website. "Member and non-member countries are trying to reach a comprehensive agreement at the summit, and the information Secretary General Barkindo gave me today is promising. "I think we will have a better situation in the future," he added. In September, the 14 members of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries agreed at an informal Algiers meeting to cut output, hoping to boost prices that have been severely depressed since 2014. Details of the deal, supposed to bring in non-OPEC producers including Russia, are expected to be worked out at a formal OPEC meeting in Vienna on November 30. Iran, which has the world's fourth largest oil reserves, has refused to join the accord until it has restored market share following the lifting of international sanctions in January. Tehran has "already expressed its views" on the issue of a production cap and "insists on its previous position", Zanganeh said today. Along with Libya and Nigeria, Iran was granted exemption from the planned cuts, so long as it keeps production to levels "that make sense". Asked about fair prices that would benefit both the producer and consumer, Zanganeh said: "OPEC members have set a target price of USD 55 to USD 65" per barrel. Shana quoted Barkindo as saying his trip to Tehran had been to seek "more cooperation from Iran in the Vienna (meeting), so that we can implement the Algiers agreement". He said Zanganeh had assured him Iran "would spare no effort" in helping to reach a consensus. Tehran was exporting 2.44 million barrels per day in late October, after years of international sanctions were lifted in January following a nuclear deal with world powers in 2015. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A senior military commander says Iraqi troops are facing stiff resistance from Islamic State militants as they push deeper into eastern Mosul. Maj Gen Sami al-Aridi of the Iraqi special forces says his troops moved early today morning into the Muharabeen and Ulama neighborhoods after fully liberating the adjacent Tahrir neighborhood yesterday. Al-Aridi said IS militants are fighting back with snipers, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar rounds. Thick black columns of smoke were seen billowing from the two areas. The offensive to retake IS-held Mosul, which was launched on October 17, is the biggest military operation in Iraq since American troops left in 2011. If successful, the retaking of Mosul would be the strongest blow dealt to IS' self-styled caliphate stretching into Syria. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Jammu and Kashmir government today announced to release part of salary for November to all non- gazetted and Class-IV employees in advance in cash. "To address the inconvenience faced by employees and general public due to demonetisation, the state government has announced to release part salary for the month of November to all non-gazetted and class-IV employees in advance and in cash," an official spokesman said. The decision was taken in a meeting that reviewed the inconvenience faced by employees and general public due to demonetisation and subsequent directions were passed by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, he said. Giving details, State Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu said, "As per directions of the Chief Minister, Rs 10,000 out of the salary for the month of November will be paid in cash by November 24 to all the non-gazetted employees of the state government." "Due to demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, there has been acute shortage of notes in circulation resulting in inconvenience to cross-sections of society and in particular, lower income sections including non-gazetted and Class-IV employees," he said. Employees who do not wish to receive the cash pay of the part salary in advance may give their option in the prescribed proforma to their respective Drawing and Disbursing officer by November 22, the Minister informed. "In that case, their salary will be credited to their account on the last working day of November, as usual," he said, adding in case no option is received by the said date, it will be presumed that the employee has opted for cash pay-out and the payment there-off will be disbursed in cash accordingly. Residual part of their salary payable for the month of November will be released as per the existing procedure, he said. The Finance Minister expressed hope that the move will mitigate the inconvenience of employees to some extent as they will not be forced to queue-up at banks and thereby rush at the bank branches will also be reduced. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Model Kylie Jenner has organised a surprise party for rapper boyfriend Tyga ahead of his 27th birthday. The 19-year-old "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" star took to social media to share videos and photos of the small surprise party, which she arranged with the help of the rapper's son King Cairo. A video, posted to Jenner's Instagram, sees King Cairo, four, stood on the kitchen table surrounded by balloons, whilst she holds onto his waist for safety. As Tyga walks in the door, they start to sing him 'Happy Birthday'. Another clip features Jenner handing over Tyga a painted ornament of the word "dad", made by his son. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttarakhand High Court today asked the state government to form five Special Investigation Teams (SITs) and conduct a fresh search operation to find if there are any more bodies lying hidden in areas affected during the 2013-flash floods as human skeletal remains still being found in Kedar valley. A division bench of the High Court comprising Justice Rajeev Sharma and Justice Alok Singh said the state government should form five SITs headed by SSP rank officers to trace the dead bodies in different areas affected by the tragedy. The SITs will comprise the officers drawn from the NDRF, police and paramilitary personnel, the order said. The Court also ordered that the last rites of the recovered bodies should be performed in accordance with their religion. "The state government after tracing the dead bodies will prepare their DNA profile and inform the family members of the deceased. The state government after completing all codal formalities shall perform the last rites as per Hindu, Sikh, Christian and Muslim religion," the order said. The High Court's order came on a PIL filed by Delhi resident Acharya Ajay Gautam who had contended that despite the state government admitting that around 3500 persons had gone missing after the devastating deluge, only 450 bodies had been recovered so far. It meant that there could be more bodies or skeletal remains lying in affected areas. 31 skeletons had been recovered from the forests near Trijuginarayan area in Rudraprayag district last month, more than three years after the June 2013 calamity. BSNL was directed to provide better telecommunication facilities on CharDham route while PWD was directed to maintain the roads leading to the Himalayan shrines in a better way. The Court also asked the Government to provide more metalled roads for the purpose of religious tourism. The court instructed the state government to construct shrines between Govind Ghat and Govind Dham and provide for emergency stores within 10 km of one another en route to CharDham and Hemkund Sahib. Such stores must always be equipped with condensed milk, blanket, sheet, ration, gas and water in sufficient quantities. In June 2013, a multi-day cloudburst in the state caused devastating floods and landslides becoming the country's worst natural disaster since the 2004 tsunami. The torrential rains of unseen magnitude on 16-17 June caused widespread destruction and heavy losses to human and animal lives. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) People today continued to queue up outside ATMs with hopes of getting cash, while those opting for bank withdrawal had a tad smooth run as banks offered exchange service of scrapped currencies only to their respective customers. Congress workers held a demonstration in suburban Mulund, where they hit out at the government, claiming demonetisation has only benefited the rich and mighty. Less chaos was witnessed outside banks today after Indian Banks' Association last night announced that all banks will serve only their respective customers and will not exchange the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes from customers of other banks. Senior citizens were, however, exempted and they can go to any bank branch to exchange notes. Security guards were seen checking the validity of customers outside the gates of the banks. Several ATMs counters in South Mumbai and suburban areas continued to remain shut as cash ran dry, compounding inconvenience to the people. A visibly upset Mulund resident, Anees Khan said he could only get Rs 2,000 from a bank against the permissible limit of Rs 24,000. "I was shocked to hear when bank official handed me Rs 2000 and not Rs 24,000. What would I do in Rs 2,000. I wrote a complaint... I hope that government would understand the problem which is not just mine, but everyone's," said Khan. For advertising professional, Deepika Prajapati, her experience was, however, a smooth one as she got Rs 24,000 in less than 20 minutes. "I went to a bank in Kandivli. There were only 6-7 people in the queue after them, my turn came within 15 minutes and I withdrew Rs 24,000," she said, flashing new Rs 2,000 notes. Some people in south Mumbai's Zaveri Bazar locality said they have been queueing up in the wee hours so that their chance arrives early the next day when the banks open. Meanwhile, Congress workers, holding replicas of the invalidated Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, demanded that immediate steps should be taken to alleviate the problems being faced by people across the country. General Secretary of Congress's Mumbai North East district Rajesh Ingle said, "We are not against the demonetisation which has been brought to curb the menace of black money, but are protesting the unplanned manner in which it is being executed. People have been standing in queues for 7 to 8 hours and despite that they are not getting money." "This demonetisation is benefiting only businessmen, industrialists, while common man, students, labourers, housewives, small traders, patients etc. Are the worst-hit. Government must announce extension of exchanging and depositing old notes to steer away the panic," he added. Meanwhile, some people at the demonstration site, slammed Congress and said even the Opposition party has no moral right to protest over corruption and black money. Rapper-actor Ludacris has finally opened a restaurant inspired by the title of his 2003 album "Chicken-n-Beer". The "Area Codes" hitmaker first unveiled plans for the new venture in 2012, after closing down his Asian fusion restaurant Straits Atlanta, after four years in business. At the time, he announced Chicken + Beer would launch at the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta, Georgia and offer "comfort foods and craft beers using locally-grown ingredients". Ludacris took to Instagram to reveal the place is ready for business as he gave followers a quick tour of the restaurant in a short video clip. "It took me three years, but it's finally coming to fruition," he said in the footage. "Anything that's worth waiting for is worth having. And we are finally here. Chicken + Beer. "I've seen it come from my third album, triple platinum album, all the way to a restaurant. Concourse D, D-5. We open tomorrow, November 17th, in the busiest airport in the world, Hartsfield. I'm talking about great food, great drinks, great energy, and my employees are the best employees in the world." Chicken + Beer welcomed its first customers and Ludacris was on site to greet hungry fans. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A minor girl has filed a complaint against a man for allegedly cheating her by promising to arrange her father's release from jail if she married him. A Bhalerao (30), the accused, was already married when he married the 17 years old girl, police said. According to the police, the victim's father was in jail for the last four years and had suffered paralysis. Bhalerao allegedly befriended the girl and asked her to marry him. He promised to get her father out of the jail if she agreed. The girl married him at Titwala on September 22. But subsequently she found out that he was already married and had two children. After this she approached the Bazarpeth police in Kalyan who registered a case of cheating under section 420. No arrest has been made yet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Rolling Stones star Mick Jagger reportedly left a USD 500 tip for the staff at an eatery in New York. An upscale Chinese eatery, situated in New York, is a favourite among the A-list, with Cuba Gooding Jr, Rita Ora and Will.I.Am previously visiting for some food. When Jagger swung by the restaurant earlier this week with a group of five, plus security, he reportedly left a USD 500 tip for a USD 478 bill, reported TMZ. Jagger and his friends ordered big, tucking into lettuce wraps, tuna tartare, chicken satays and green prawns for starters. The party then moved onto an order of noodles and peking duck, before finishing with baked alaska for dessert. Eyewitnesses say The Rolling Stones legend ate his meal quickly and was very polite to staff. Jagger joins a growing list of 2016's most generous celebrity tippers, which also includes Jim Carrey, who is said to have left USD 225 for a USD 151 bill and Amy Schumer, who went one better, by gifting a lucky waitress USD 1,000 on a USD 77 tab at Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theatre when she watched "Hamilton". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An estimated 41 per cent voting was recorded till 1 PM in the by-elections to Shahdol Lok Sabha constituency, while the turnout was 53.28 per cent in Nepanagar Assembly seat in Madhya Pradesh. The by-polls to the twin seats, reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST), assume significance in the wake of November 8 demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes by the Modi government, and are being seen as the first major ground test for the ruling BJP. In Shahdol Lok Sabha seat, nearly 41 per cent of the voters exercised their franchise till 1 PM, Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Saleena Singh told reporters. On the other hand, 53.28 per cent polling was recorded in Nepanagar till 1 PM, she said, adding no untoward incident has been reported till now in the both constituencies. Voters initially stayed away from polling at five booths in Shahdol to protest lack of development in their area, but agreed to take part in the election process after administration officials spoke to them. A of total 17 candidates are in the fray in Shahdol, while four are trying their luck in Nepanagar. While Congress has fielded Himadri Singh, daughter of former Union Minister Dalbir Singh, from Shahdol seat, BJP has given ticket to tribal leader Gyan Singh, a senior member in the Shivraj Singh Chouhan Cabinet. Himadri's mother Rajesh Nandini Singh was also a Member of Parliament. The Shahdol bypoll was necessitated due to death of BJP MP Dalpat Singh Paraste. In 2014, Paraste had wrested the seat from Congress' Rajesh Nandini Singh. Gyan Singh had earlier won the Shahdol seat twice -- in 1996 and 1998. In Nepanagar, Congress has reposed faith in tribal leader Antar Singh Barde, while BJP has fielded Manju Dadu, daughter of late MLA Rajendra Shyamlal Dadu, whose death in an accident necessitated the by-poll, to cash in on the sympathy vote. Besides these prominent names, other nominees are also in the fray at both places, where counting will take place on November 22. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Morgan Freeman is to be honoured with AARP's 2017 Movies for Grownups Career Achievement Award. The "Shawshank Redemption" star will join past recipients including Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, and Sharon Stone when he is feted at a gala on February 6 in Beverly Hills, California, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "At a certain point in life, if you've had some success, awards start to fall from the sky, but this one really means something," a statement from the actor read. "I started my movie career at 50 and some of the best years happened since then." The 79-year-old actor has been the recipient of several other lifetime achievement awards, including the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award, the Golden Globes' Cecil B. DeMille Award, and a National Medal of the Arts from President Barack Obama. He also been nominated for five Oscars, winning a Best Supporting Actor award for "Million Dollar Baby" in 2005. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP-led NDA today released a 'report card' on the completion of one year of the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar and said the dispensation has proved to be a big "failure" on all fronts, especially so on law and order. Releasing the 'report card' titled 'Ek Saal, Bura Haal', senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi launched a scathing attack on the maha-gathbandhan government saying it has been in for "all wrong reasons" in the past one year. "The situation in Bihar has become worse in just one year... We (NDA leaders) have come out with a report card one day in advance, so that the Chief Minister can answer our questions," Modi told reporters here. The Nitish-led government, in which Lalu Prasad's RJD and the Congress are allies, completes a year in office tomorrow and it would also present its report card showcasing its achievements. The practice of presenting report cards every year was started by Nitish Kumar in 2006 after he became Chief Minister in November 2005. The Chief Minister should present a report card of one year and not of 11 years as BJP was also the part of the government for around seven-and-half-year when the government earned laurels globally, while now this state government has earned name for all wrong reasons in the past one year, Sushil said. Union minister and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Minister of State and RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha, Hindustani Awam Morcha(S) president and former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and other senior BJP leaders including state BJP chief Mangal Pandey were also present on the occasion. Sushil Modi said had the Opposition not objected and raised the issues of bail granted to Shahabuddin, Raj Ballabh Yadav and Rocky Yadav, the state government would not have gone to the Supreme Court against them. "Why is agriculture, health, education and industries missing from the CM's 'Nischay'?" he asked, while seeking answers to what happened to the Rs 1.52 lakh crore 'agriculture roadmap', 'Mission Manav Vikas', 'Mahadalit Vikas Mission' and 'Vision Document 2025'. Sushil also termed Kumar's students' credit card scheme a repackaging of the Centre's scheme. Alleging that criminals have dominated the entire one year of the grand alliance government and the Chief Minister seemed helpless, the senior BJP leader said it was evident from the crime figures, which have "increased" after prohibition came into effect. Quoting figures from the website of the police department, he claimed the number of kidnappings for ransom has gone upto three in August this year from one in April this year. Similarly, rape incidents have increased to 103 in August 2016 from 61 in April. The number of murders have gone up to 228 in August from 192 in April, Sushil said, adding incidents of riots have increased to 1,017 in August from 809 in April. Taking potshots at the grand alliance government, Ramvilas Paswan said development has taken a back seat while cold war was on among the allies. "The CM should issue a white paper on the numbers of Dalit and Mahadalit families and how many of them have got three decimals of land," he said while predicting that the Nitish Kumar-government would fall in two-and-half years. Giving "negative marks" to the Nitish government, former CM Manjhi said, "The government did nothing in one year. Going by its performance, it will not even get a zero mark. It may even get negative marking. Difficulties for Islamic preacher Zakir Naik mounted further today after NIA registered a case against him and his organisation Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) under anti-terror laws and for allegedly promoting enmity between groups on the basis of religion and race. The anti-terror probe agency's action came barely four days after the Union government declared IRF a banned organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). After registering case against the 51-year-old Naik, IRF and others, NIA sleuths along with Mumbai police carried out searches at 10 places in the megapolis, including residential premises of some of the office bearers of the foundation, which was earlier put on restricted list by the Union Home Ministry for receiving funds from abroad. Naik, who has been staying in Saudi Arabia to evade arrest after his name surfaced during probe into the Bangladesh terror strike earlier this year, has been booked along with unnamed IRF officials under section 153-A of IPC (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) beside various sections of UAPA. "The searches are going on and many documents have been seized. The process of scrutinising and seizure will continue throughout the night," NIA Director General Sharad Kumar told PTI here. He said future course of action would be decided after analysing every document seized. Kumar refused to divulge further details about the search operation, saying "the process is on and it will be too premature for us to say anything as of now". However, sources in the probe agency said Rs 13.5 lakh cash and some gold have been seized from one of the locations. Bank accounts of some of the office bearers and those of foundation were being scrutinised. The charges slapped in the FIR, registered by the NIA's Mumbai branch, also included sections 10 (being member of an unlawful organisation), 13 (punishment for being member of illegal organisation) and 18 of UAPA (punishment for being involved in a conspiracy for committing any terror act). IRF came under the scanner of various security agencies after one of the terrorists involved in the Dhaka cafe attack had allegedly posted on social media that they had been inspired by Naik's speeches. Some of the youths from Mumbai suburbs, who had left their home to join Islamic State earlier this year, were also allegedly inspired by the preacher. The speeches of Naik, who is currently out of the country apparently to evade arrest, are banned in the UK, Canada and Malaysia. The Home Ministry has alleged that the NGO had "dubious" links with Peace TV, an international Islamic channel, accused of propagating terrorism. According to the Home Ministry, Naik, who heads the IRF, had allegedly made many provocative speeches and engaged in terror propaganda. Maharashtra Police has also registered criminal cases against Naik for his alleged involvement in radicalising Muslim youth and luring them into terror activities. Naik was alleged to have transferred IRF's funds received from abroad to Peace TV for making "objectionable" programmes. Most of the programmes, which were made in India, allegedly contained hate speeches of Naik, who had reportedly "urged all Muslims to be terrorists" through Peace TV. An educational trust run by Naik has already been barred from receiving foreign funds and probe agencies are looking into their activities. Meanwhile, a Spokesman for IRF Aarif Malik said the foundation will not comment on the searches but whenever the investigating agencies wanted to examine Naik, he will be available. He said Mumbai police had sealed offices of IRF last night itself following which NIA officials carried out the search and seizure operation. (REOPENS DEL36) Meanwhile, an NIA statement said its teams have conducted search operations at 12 premises connected to Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) in Mumbai simultaneously and seized incriminating documents, files, electronic storage devices and about Rs 12 lakh cash. The recovered documents relate to various activities including financial transactions and property details of Zakir Naik and IRF. To assist the search teams, a team of IT experts has been flown from NIA headquarters in Delhi to Mumbai. The searches are still going on and are likely to continue till late in the night. After sharing the stage with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana has expressed his desire to share the stage with American pop rock band Maroon 5. "I'm fan of Maroon 5 so to be with them will be great. I attended their concert in Singapore last year, it was great fun," Ayushmann said on the sidelines of Global Citizen Festival India here this evening. Maroon 5 originated in Los Angeles and has hit singles like "Makes Me Wonder" and "She Will Be Loved" to its credit. For the "Vicky Donor" actor, to be on same stage with Coldplay band was a dream-come-true moment. "To be on the same stage with Coldplay is a dream come true. To watch their performance abroad is a different experience but to be with them so closely in Mumbai is amazing," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Barack Obama faced tough questions today about Donald Trump's victory on the last foreign visit of his presidency, to a summit of Pacific leaders that has been upended by the US election and concerns about China's rise. The US President and other top world leaders, including China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin, are in Lima, Peru for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit whose agenda has been hijacked by the Republican billionaire's shock election win last week. Obama will today meet leaders of the 12 countries negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, a vast US-led trade accord that Trump opposes and now faces an uncertain future. Although the White House admits the chances of passing the deal are slim, Obama will urge leaders to give the new president time to formulate his policy. From Obama down, officials have stressed that the election has not changed US economic and strategic interests, and that Trump may yet recalibrate his views. But there is little chance Trump's Republican allies in Congress would ratify TPP anytime soon. "That is a real blow to US interests, economically and strategically, in terms of our position in Asia, but I think that is the reality, that the US is not going to be participating," said Matthew Goodman, an expert on Asian economics with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "But there are 11 other countries in TPP and I think that it is possible that they will agree to go ahead and pass TPP," he added in an interview, saying the others could "tweak" the agreement to keep it alive without US participation. Some allies are turning their attention to a rival Chinese-backed free-trade agreement. Japanese leader Shinzo Abe, who took domestic political risks to back TPP, visited Trump in New York on Thursday to hear from the president-elect himself. The real estate mogul has prompted concern in Japan and South Korea in particular by questioning decades-old mutual defense obligations that underpin their security. National Security Advisor Susan Rice said ahead of Obama's visit that allies should expect those obligations to hold. "It is manifestly in the United States' interests for these alliances to endure and to be a source of confidence to our partners and for them to understand that they don't need to come out from under the US umbrella," she told AFP. Stressing that she did not want to speculate about Trump's foreign policy, she sought to reassure key US allies in NATO and the Pacific Rim that they will not be abandoned. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Barack Obama begins the final foreign visit of his eight-year presidency Saturday in Peru, facing tough questions from assembled Pacific leaders about Donald Trump's election victory. Obama is in Lima for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit that is likely to focus heavily on Trump's shock victory. Today, he will meet leaders of the 12-country Trans- Pacific Partnership, or TPP, which Trump has opposed and now faces an uncertain future. White House officials admit the chances of passing the deal are slim, but Obama will urge leaders to give the new president time to formulate policy. From Obama down, officials have stressed that US economic and strategic interests have not changed as a result of the election, and Trump may yet recalibrate his views. "It's only been 10 days since the election," said US Trade Representative Michael Froman. He warned of "serious" strategic and economic costs if the United States walks away from the deal, designed to be a cornerstone of US influence in the Asia-Pacific region. But there is little chance of Trump's Republican allies in Congress ratifying TPP anytime soon. "I think that is a real blow to US interests, economically and strategically, in terms of our position in Asia, but I think that is the reality, that the US is not going to be participating," said Matthew Goodman, an expert on Asian economics with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "But there are 11 other countries in TPP and I think that it is possible that they will agree to go ahead and pass TPP," he said in an interview, adding that they could "tweak" the agreement to keep it alive without the US. Some allies are turning their attention to a rival Chinese-backed free trade agreement. Japanese leader Shinzo Abe, who took domestic political risks to back the US trade deal, visited Trump in New York on Thursday to hear from the president-elect himself. Trump has sparked concern in Japan and South Korea in particular by questioning decades-old mutual defense obligations that underpin their security. Ahead of Obama's visit, National Security Advisor Susan Rice told AFP allies should expect those obligations to hold. "It is manifestly in the United States's interests for these alliances to endure and to be a source of confidence to our partners and for them to understand that they don't need to come out from under the US umbrella," she said. While stressing that she did not want to speculate about Trump's foreign policy, she sought to reassure key US allies in NATO and the Pacific Rim that they will not be abandoned. Many Pacific nations are clamoring for deeper trade ties with the rest of the world. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Police has seized Rs 96 lakh in old high-value currency notes from a 32-year-old man in east Delhi's Madhu Vihar area. Nazer-e-Alam, a resident of Gorakhpur, was arrested yesterday at ISBT Anand Vihar, a senior police officer said. "He was carrying a bag that contained bundles of old currency notes of Rs 1,000 denominations. A total of Rs 96 lakh were found in the bag. He couldn't offer any satisfactory explanation for possessing such a huge amount of cash," he said. Alam was arrested under section 103 (possession of property of which no satisfactory account can be given) Delhi Police Act and the amount has been seized, he said, adding, information has been sent to the Income Tax department. On November 17, police had seized 500 demonetised notes of Rs 1000 denomination from an employee of West Bengal-based firm, onboard Sealdah-Delhi Rajdhani train. Police had detained a paediatrician with Rs 69,86,000 in Rs 100 denominations in central Delhi's Paharganj area on November 16. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan has banned two militant groups linked with the Taliban and al-Qaeda for their involvement in several terror attacks across the country. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a splinter group of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, and Lashkar-i-Jhangvi Al-Alami (LeJ) were banned after recent deadly attacks in Balochistan and Sindh provinces, including last week's assault at a sufi shrine in Balochistan that killed over 50 people. A spokesman for the interior ministry said the decision to ban them was made only a few days ago, Dawn reported. Referring to a revised list of banned groups available on the website of the National Counter Terrorism Authority, a top official in Sindh's security establishment said: "The two outfits were added to the list on November 11." A security official said the government banned them once it became clear that they were not ready to shun violence. The list also shows that Jamaat-ud Dawa has been listed since January 17, 2007 as group "under observation", which means its status can be changed as "banned" if there was enough evidence that it was involved in violence. However, both Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad have been listed as banned entities since January 14, 2002. The LeJ, a Sunni terrorist outfit, has roots in Punjab province and has a history of carrying out sectarian attacks in Balochistan, particularly against the minority Shias. The group recently claimed that it killed 61 people, mostly young cadets, during an attack on a police training centre in Quetta, the capital of the restive Balochistan province, in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Pakistan. Two LeJ militants were recently arrested for killing Amjad Sabri, one of Pakistan's finest Sufi Qawwals, in a sectarian attack in June. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar had claimed responsibility for a suicide attack at the government-run Civil Hospital in Quetta in August that had killed at least 75 people, mostly lawyers, and injured 115 others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan "can and must" take more effective action against terror groups operating from its soil as no state should allow its territory to be used to launch attacks into another, the White House has said. "While recognising the sacrifices of the people and the security forces of Pakistan in fighting some militant and terrorist networks -- a fight which we support -- President (Barack) Obama has emphasised that Pakistan "can and must" also take more effective action against terrorist groups operating from its soil," a senior White House official said yesterday. "The President has made it very clear that no state should allow its territory to be used by terrorists to launch attacks into another state, and we will continue to engage on this issue," he said in response to a 'We the People' online petition that was signed by a record 665,769 people. The petition asked the Obama administration to declare Pakistan as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, as desired by a bill introduced in the US House of Representatives by two Congressmen Ted Poe and Dana Rohrabacher. "Since the bill cited by the petition remains in draft, we will not comment on it here," he added. Meanwhile, the State Department has also refused to comment on the bill. "I am not going to get into a discussion about that. We routinely discuss with our Pakistani counterparts the importance for continued focus and energy on the counter- terrorism efforts and the terrorism threat, particularly along that spine between the two countries. "Our focus on this and the focus that we want to see Pakistan expend on it, that is not going to change," State Department Spokesman John Kirby said. The State Department, he said, has seen comments made by the incoming administration on counter-terrorism. "I have seen some comments that they have made about a counter-terrorism focus. That is for them to address. "Nothing changes about our focus on the importance of regional, collaborative and effective counter-terrorism operations and to our interest in seeing all the countries in the region likewise expend a great deal of energy and effort and leadership on that. I just cannot speculate about the future and I would not do that," Kirby added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The district will soon have 120 'smart classrooms' for students, mostly in rural areas, under 'EkShiksha' campaign initiated by Maharashtra Government and ConnectEd Technologies, an education-technology start up. The programme is being funded by Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Ltd (DHFL). The commitment made by DHFL will enable ConnectEd Technologies to double its tally of 'smart classrooms' in Palghar district to 120, benefiting over 25,000 children across Government, aided and tribal welfare schools, a release from the housing finance company said. "Under this initiative, each classroom is installed with ConnectEd's solar-powered 'smart classroom' system, allowing teachers to integrate tailor-made educational content into conventional teaching practices, thereby improving the learning environment and academic performance. "Unlike conventional technology solutions installed in rural schools, these solutions are designed specifically for rural usage. The course content is in coherence with the State Board curriculum, yet optimised for rural students, it said. Education Minister Vinod Tawde has said he is to see industry support digitisation of rural schools across Palghar. "These efforts are in sync with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Digital India' mission, and will go a long way to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. I hope more corporates, NGOs and school trusts support the Government's 'EkShiksha' campaign," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today assured Parliament the new Constitution will be drafted in consultation with all political parties and people would get a chance to approve it. Wickremesinghe made the remarks while presenting the reports of six sub-committees to the Constitutional Assembly. The sub-committees were appointed to look into matters pertaining to the new Constitution. The sub-committees deliberated on different areas of Constitutional provisions and will report to the main Steering Committee. Leader of the Opposition and Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader R Sampanthan also said the Constitution needs to be approved in a nationwide referendum. He said people must be given the chance to take part in the process and "people must be asked to approve it (Constitution)". The new Constitution will replace the current executive president headed constitution adopted in 1978. The government expects the new Constitution to address the demand of Tamil minorities for political recognition. With the defeat of the Tamil Tigers in 2009 the Tamil groups have opted for maximum devolution as opposed to LTTE's goal of a separate Tamil homeland. Wickremesinghe, while presenting the reports, also voiced support for the Constitution to be finally approved by the people. He said the final form of the constitution was yet to be determined and one of the contentious issues was the position of the executive president. "We have to consider if the change of the presidential system would lead to instability," Wickremesinghe said. "No party has a majority in the House so this will have to be an all political party effort and at the end of it we will give people the chance to approve it," he said. Leader of the Joint Opposition Dinesh Gunawardana said their group had submitted a 14-point plan. He asserted that they would not agree on diluting the unitary nature of the state or diluting the position given to the majority religion of Buddhism. "We would not agree to any bulldozing of the process. Things must not be done in a hurry," he said. The current government in a pre-election pledge in the January 2015 presidential election said constitutional reforms would be a key item in its reform agenda. A 21-member steering committee consisting of parliamentarians from across all political parties has been set up. The government's Constitutional reform process began in January this year. The whole Parliament was converted into a Constitutional assembly with cross-party participation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister has the time to address a rock concert, but not Parliament where the opposition has been demanding his response to the problems being faced by the people after demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, Congress said on Saturday. "55 dead. Millions in queues. Crores suffering. Modiji has no time for Parliament but has time to address rock concert instead," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said in a tweet. "Tragic indeed Modiji! As India suffers, bleeds and several die, your self-promotion in a rock concert is almost cold-blooded... Self-styled 'Rock Star' rocks India's poor to misery, evades the Parliament & addresses Rock Concert via video. Way to fight black money," he said in other tweets. Modi appeared in a video address to thousands of people who gathered in suburban Bandra Kurla complex in Mumbai for Global Citizen Festival. The festival featured performances by international as well as Indian celebrities. Apart from Coldplay, Jay-Z, Demi Lovato and The Vamps, Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, A R Rahman, Ranveer Singh and Katrina Kaif were among the performers. "India stands in lines, poor languish in queues for withdrawing their own money. Modiji addressing Coldplay rock concert," Surjewala said. Modi is absconding from Parliament, refuses to face the House despite the fact that the Rajya Sabha has been demanding a reply from him, he said. "The government should be accountable to Parliament, it is unfortunate for the country that Modi doesn't feel the need to address the House," he said. Later, replying to a question on Priyanka Gandhi's involvement in campaigning for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, Surjewala said the final call will be taken by the party, President and Vice-President. will create 17 new cardinals from across the globe on Saturday in a time-honoured ceremony, elevating them to an elite body that advises and elects popes. Three of them are from the US, while come from corners of the world where the Catholic Church needs a boost. Dressed in red robes, these "princes of the Church" will kneel before the pontiff to pledge their allegiance in a solemn ceremony known as a consistory. Thirteen of them are under 80 and therefore eligible to take part in the next secret conclave to elect or become the head of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. They are known as cardinal electors. History's first Latin American pope is famed for wanting to reach out to far-flung dioceses often overlooked by Rome and he has shunned European candidates almost entirely, favouring low-key, pastoral figures or men he knows. The cardinal electors come from Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Central African Republic, Italy, Mauritius, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Spain, the United States and Venezuela. The pope will give each man a three-cornered red hat, telling them that the colour symbolises "your readiness to act with courage, even to the shedding of your blood" for the Catholic Church. They will also be handed a gold ring of their high office. The unexpected pick of three Americans reverses a trend that saw Francis pass over US candidates in his first two consistories. By choosing archbishops Blase Cupich of Chicago, Joseph Tobin of Indianapolis and Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas, Francis has "engineered what may prove to be a seismic shift in the Catholic hierarchy in the United States," wrote expert John Allen on the US Catholic website Crux. The three, from Church's "progressive wing", may help counterbalance a strong conservative presence among US cardinals, particularly at a moment when the authority of reform-minded Francis is being challenged by US-led traditionalists. The youngest of the new cardinals is 49-year old Dieudonne Nzapalainga, the archbishop of Bangui, who organised the pope's 2015 visit to the Central African Republic, where Francis opened the first "Holy Door" outside of Rome. from developing countries are Sergio da Rocha, archbishop of Brasilia, Patrick D'Rozario, archbishop of Dhaka, Baltazar Porras Cardozo, archbishop of Merida in Venezuela, and Maurice Piat, bishop of Port-Louis in Mauritius. President Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate an international agriculture fair 'CII Agro Tech 2016' in Chandigarh tomorrow. After the agri event inauguration at Parade Ground, Mukherjee on the same day will address another function to mark the 15th anniversary of Indian School of Business (ISB) at Mohali, an official release said. Visiting Israel President Reuven Rivlin will be the Guest of Honour at the four-day agri event organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Nearly 92 domestic and global players from 13 countries will be participating in the 12th edition of the fair, in which Israel is the partner country with Canada and Germany as focus countries and Great Britain as the guest country. Punjab and Haryana will be the host states for the expo, which has a theme of Building Global Competitiveness, while Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat as partner states. It is said Chaitanya Mahaprabhu passed through here in the 16th century. Witness to many streams of culture and history, Dantan is still redolent with the richness of literature and culture and the joy of creation, he added. Dantan is a small town in Paschim Medinipur district. West Bengal Governor Keshrinath Tripathi, Former Odisha Chief Minister Giridar Gomag, State BJP President Dilip Ghosh, Dantan Gramin Mela Committee President Aloke Nandi were present at the event. The President also appreciated the activities of the Dantan Gramin Mela, being held for more than 27 years by Dantan Sports and Cultural Association with the cooperation of Maitree organisation. Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters, clad in yellow t-shirts, gathered in the Malaysian capital today seeking Prime Minister Najib Razak's resignation over graft allegations. Reformist group Bersih, whose colour is yellow, turned out in huge numbers for the second time in 15 months despite a police ban on the rally and the arrest of 17 activists so far. Those detained so far included Bersih chairman Maria Chin Abdullah, Mandeep Singh, an ethnic Indian Bersih group activist besides Red Shirts leader Jamal Yunos. Deputy Prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also the Home Minister, warned more protesters could be arrested. Police blocked at least 60 roads across the city and put up barricades at entry points in downtown Kuala Lumpur. Water canon trucks and security personnel have been deployed around the downtown areas. The Bersih tweeted that police raided its office yesterday and detained its chairwoman Maria Chin. "Despite the authorities' desperate measures to stop us, (the rally) will go on," the group tweeted. Ruling party politician Jamal Yunos, who planned to lead a counter rally, also was detained. Authorities had banned the holding of both rallies - by anti-government and pro-government supporters. Prime Minister Najib, who is attending an Asia-Pacific summit in Peru, has remained unmoved by reports of graft allegations against him involving the indebted 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1 MDB) state fund that he founded. 1 MDB is at the centre of investigations in the US and several other countries. In a statement on his blog, Najib called Bersih "deceitful" and said it has become a tool for opposition parties to unseat a democratically elected government. Human rights group Amnesty International called for the immediate release of the Bersih activists. In his biggest political crisis since he took power in 2009, massive street rallies were held against Najib in August calling for his resignation after documents leaked in July suggested that about USD 681 million was deposited in his private bank accounts from entities linked to indebted state investment fund 1 MDB. Najib has denied any wrong doing. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab and Government of Ontario, province of Canada, today mutually agreed to work in collaboration with each other for giving push to agriculture diversification and food processing industry. A decision to this effect was taken by the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during a meeting with the high level delegation of Ontario province led by Minister of Agriculture Jeff Leal here, said an official release. Meanwhile, the Guru Angad Dev Animal and Veterinary Sciences University (GADVASU) and University of Guelph (Ontario) signed MoU in fields of Livestock Agriculture, Aquaculture, Food Processing and Veterinary Medicine in presence of the CM, Cabinet Minister Adesh Pratap Singh and Ontarian Minister of Agriculture Jeff Leal. During the meeting, both the governments agreed to mutually work to prepare a framework for the support and cooperation of both the states in field of diversification of agriculture, food processing, dairy fishery and piggery sector. It was decided that both the governments would ensure the mutual trips of faculty, students and progressive farmers for better exchange of expertise in these fields. Likewise, it was also decided that University of Guelph and Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) would also explore the feasibility of better coordination in these fields. Taking part in deliberations, the chief minister said that there was a huge scope of bilateral cooperation in these areas as both Punjab and Ontario had demonstrated their strength and dominance in agriculture and allied farming due to their vast experience and expertise. He said as both were primarily agrarian economies with very strong agriculture base so as to mutually benefit from technology transfer, cooperation and support. Badal urged Jeff Leal to carry forward the proposals mutually agreed upon by both of them to its logical end so that these should not merely confine to the papers. Underscoring the need for students and teachers exchange programme, Badal said that the modalities in this regard could be worked out and formulated mutually by both the governments. He also stressed on need of farmers' exchange programme for fast and easy transfer of technologies to the fields for introducing new and scientific farm practices to Punjabi farmers. Badal invited the leaders of food processing industry of Canada to set up their ventures in the state, adding that the Punjab government would provide full support and cooperation to them. Jeff Leal said that there was a tremendous potential for the mutual cooperation in the other allied sectors of agriculture and animal husbandry. He also assured Badal of every technical help in the arena of food technology, food processing, nutrition and Agri bio-technology. (REOPENS NRG 020) Meanwhile, Haryana and Ontario, Canada have agreed to constitute working groups to further promote agriculture cooperation, especially in the key areas of food processing, food safety, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Cooperative sector and Horticulture University which is being set up in Haryana. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who held a meeting with a delegation of Government of Ontario, Canada led by Jeff Leal and Minister of International Trade Michael Chan here today, extended cooperation of the state in these areas. The delegation evinced keen interest in mutual cooperation in these areas and also agreed to lend its support in better management of paddy straw. It was informed that working groups would be constituted for exchanging technical support and cooperation and deliberate on the key areas between both the governments for boosting production and productivity in the state. The chief minister said that there is a large scope of joint ventures in agriculture and food processing in the state. Haryana surrounds national capital Delhi on three sides and there is a lot of scope to tap the market of fruits and vegetable in peri-urban areas with the best utilization of technologies. He said that besides, agriculture university, there are Centres of Excellence for fruits and vegetables in the state. As the majority of farmers have small land holdings, the cooperative is also a major sector where both the governments could collaborate with the active participation of people. He said the state government has already signed an MoU with the Province of Ontario to further enhance and strengthen economic relations, facilitate knowledge transfer and encourage ongoing dialogue and cooperation and collaborations in various fields. He also sought suggestions for better management of Agriculture and allied sectors. Jeff Leal said there are cordial relations between Canada and India and they look forward to further strengthen the bond between Ontario and Haryana. The delegation also suggested for mutual cooperation for training of students and teachers at University level. Demonetised currency notes worth Rs 35 lakh were seized in the past two days from different areas here, police said today. The Government Railway Police (GRP) seized Rs 10 lakh at the Jodhpur Railway Station this evening, SP (GRP) Lalit Maheshwari said. "Demonetised notes of Rs 1,000 were found in the luggage of an elderly couple. A GRP team found their behaviour suspicious and checked their bags," he said. "Ten bundles of Rs 1,000 notes and one bundle of Rs 100 notes were seized from them," the SP said, adding during enquiry the couple could not provide any satisfactory reply. IT officials have been informed about the seizure, he added. The couple was waiting to board a train to Vishakhapatnam. They accepted the money belonged to them and was meant to be invested in some business, the SP added. Meanwhile, the Jodhpur police found Rs 25 lakh in bundles of demonetised currency notes in a passenger bus on Friday night, police said. The money was is still unclaimed, SP (Rural) Harendra Mahawar said. "A private passenger bus going to Ahmedabad from Bikaner was intercepted at Khedapa police station near Jodhpur following a tip-off," he said. On checking the bus, we found a black bag behind the driver's seat containing bundles of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 currency notes, the Rural SP said. There was Rs 25 lakh in the bag which was handed over to the IT department today, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Yoga guru Baba Ramdev has said the Vadodara International airport at Harni near here should be re-christened after Sayajirao Gaekwad III, the ruler of the erstwhile princely state of Baroda. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the new terminal building at the airport on October 22. "The airport should be renamed after King Sayajirao Gaekwad III and it will be a tribute to the great ruler and maker of the modern Vadodara city (formely known as Baroda)," Ramdev told PTI. He was in the city to attend an event. Renaming of the airport after Gaekwad III is justified taking into consideration the role he played in the development of Vadodara city, he added. The new international terminal is being constructed at a cost of Rs 160 crore has an area of 18,120 sq metres and can handle 700 passengers (500 domestic and 200 international) per hour, according to airport officials. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid reports that she was a contender for a spot in Donald Trump's cabinet, Indian- American South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has asserted that the Republican Party needs to be inclusive and cannot afford to forget immigrants or people of colour. "If we as Republicans are going to lead effectively and have staying power as a governing power, we must accept that Donald Trump's election was not an affirmation of the way Republicans have conducted themselves," Haley told a Washington DC audience yesterday. "He ran against both parties, against a political system he argued was fundamentally broken, an argument the voters subscribed to in massive numbers. They rejected the political class of all stripes, Republicans included. And we have no one to blame but ourselves," the 44-year-old Republican leader said. Her remarks come amid speculation that she was a top contender for either secretary of state or secretary of commerce in Trump's cabinet. After the November 8 general elections, the Republican Party not only taken control of the White House, but also retained its majority in the US House of Representatives and the Senate. It also won a record number of governors' elections. Haley on Thursday had met Trump. In her first public remarks after that, Haley did not mention anything about her meeting but delivered a speech in which she reiterated her position on issues of ethnicity, race and religion, which are different from that of Trump. She recollected the immigration experience of her parents who came from India with just USD 8 in their pocket. Voters, Haley argued, rejected the political class, "and we have no one to blame but ourselves" because the party "moved toward big government rather than away from it...Republicans lost their way". Haley said as a result of the impressive victory, the Republican party needs to do an autopsy of it as it would do during a defeat. The Republican Party, she said, must remind people that it is the party who will offer opportunities "to all citizens, regardless of their race, gender or where they are born and raised". The two-term South Carolina Governor also praised the president-elect saying that though she was never a cheer leader of Trump, the Republican party has an unprecedented opportunity to enact conservative policies and must take advantage of his election. "I did vote for him and was absolutely thrilled to see him win," she said. (REOPENS FGN 8) Senator Rob Portman said her family story is the quintessential American story. "In my view it's a story thatthe rest of the world appreciates and respects whenreminded of it and I think your very presence at the UN would be a reminder of that and what makes our countryunique," he said. "I also think yourmanagement skills that you haveshown as governor will beeffective in encouraging theUN to be more efficient, whichis a problem in my view," he added. Senator Tim Scott called Haley's story "the epitome of the American Dream" to open UN ambassador confirmation. Haley also received support from the diplomats of other countries based at the UN headquarters in New York. "I very much agree with Nikki Haley that the UN needs reform. Part of the UN that needs particular reform is peacekeeping," said the British Ambassador to the UN, Matthew Rycroft. "The UK has long been advocating that reform, and I look forward to working with Nikki Haley, if confirmed, in pursuit of our shared goal of a better, more effective peacekeeping set of operations from the United Nations," he said. "We thank Ambassador-designate Haley, a true friend of Israel, for her unequivocal support and her clear statement regarding the UN's discrimination against Israel," said the Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon. "We look forward to working together with her to undo the damage done by the shameful Security Council resolution, and to lead towards a new era at the UN which includes real reforms that will put an end to the biased obsession with Israel," Danon said. However Senator Tim Kaine, the Democratic vice presidential candidate, was critical of Haley. He said that Haley's interpretation of the Iranian nuclear deal was completely inaccurate and urged her to read the agreement. RJD today demanded for a referendum with regard to amendment in decades-old Chhotanagpur and Santal Paragana Tenancy Act (CNT and SPT) proposed by the Jharkhand government while announcing that the opposition parties will gherao the state assembly in protest against the move on November 23. The Opposition parties including former chief minister Babulal Marandi-led Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik), RJD, JD(U), Left parties and Samajwadi Party will gherao the state assembly on November 23 to mount pressure on Raghubar Das-led state government to withdraw the proposal, President of RJD, Jharkhand unit, Gautam Sagar Rana said here. Addressing a press conference here, Rana said CNT and SPT, which were framed about a century ago to protect the interest of tribal community, was soul of adivasis and the government should seek referendum about its proposal to bring about an amendment. "CNT and SPT are the souls of adivasis, 80 per cent of whom are solely dependent on agriculgure whereas Jharkhand has only 23 per cent agriculture land in the state," he said. Several villagers, who had taken to streets against the government move to acquire their land forcibly including in Hazaribagh, Ramgarh and Khunti districts recently, were killed in police firing and our demand for a judicial enquiry into the firings fell on deaf ear, he alleged. It would be a "black day" for mineral-rich Jharkhand, had the government succeeded to get the proposal through in the ongoing winter session of the assembly, Rana apprehended. The RJD leader further threatened that the opposition parties would be forced to call for indefinite state-wide economic blockade, if the proposal was passed through in the current session of the assembly. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Saudi policeman was shot dead today in the kingdom's Shiite-populated east, the interior ministry said. The officer was hit by gunfire from "an unknown source" as he got out of his car in a neighbourhood northwest of the city of Dammam, said a ministry spokesman quoted by the official SPA agency. He was part of a unit assigned with guarding public installations. Authorities have launched an investigation into the attack, the latest in a series against officers in Shiite areas of the oil-rich east of the kingdom, the spokesman added. It is the third attack of its kind in Dammam during the past two months. The Shiite minority in Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia has long complained of discrimination. There has been sporadic unrest since the suppression of a Shiite-led uprising in neighbouring Bahrain sparked a wave of protests in 2011. Saudi security forces have also come under attack by Sunni extremists linked to Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State group. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Seven construction workers from Tajikistan died in western Siberia today when the shipping container they used as a home at a building site caught fire, officials said. "Seven people died, while three were poisoned by the fumes and hospitalised," the emergencies ministry's branch in the oil-rich Tyumen region said. The suspected cause was a short-circuit in an electric heater, used to warm the container which was lined with wood and insulation to keep out the cold, Russia's Investigative Committee said. Regional prosecutors said all victims were citizens of Tajikistan, an impoverished ex-Soviet Central Asian country from which many people seek low-paid labour jobs in Russia. The container was located at a construction site for a poultry farm. In January at least 12 migrants from Central Asia, including three children, were killed when a fire at a sewing workship in Moscow caused its roof to collapse. In August, 16 people, mostly women from Kyrgyzstan, were killed in a fire at a printing warehouse that started due to a faulty lamp. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi praised US President-elect Donald Trump and said he expected greater engagement in the Middle East from his administration, in an interview with Portuguese media. The former Egyptian army chief had strained relations with outgoing President Barack Obama's administration, which had temporarily suspended military aid after Sisi toppled his elected predecessor in 2013. "Personally I respect and appreciate" Trump, Sisi said according to an English translation of his remarks to Portuguese agency LUSA published today. "I believe that President-elect Trump will be more rigorously engaged with the issues of the region," he said. "As a matter of fact President-elect Trump has shown deep and great understanding of what is taking place in the region as a whole and what is taking place in Egypt," he added. "That is why I am looking forward, and I am expecting more support and more reinforcement of our bilateral relations". Trump's tough-on-terrorism rhetoric has appeal among Egyptian officials, as the country faces a jihadist insurgency that has killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers. The insurgency took off after the military overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013, unleashing a deadly crackdown on supporters. Sisi, who had met Trump in September in New York, downplayed Trump's calls to ban or extremely vet Muslims entering the United States. "We have got to draw a distinction between the rhetoric that takes place within presidential campaigns and the real and actual administration of a country after the inauguration of a president," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An influential South-Asian rights group has terminated its ties with a major US airlines alleging that it was carrying out racial and religious profiling of Muslims, Arab and South-Asian passengers on its flights. "Southwest (Airlines) employees have been racially profiling Muslim, Arab, and South Asian passengers in the last year, including at least five well-publicised incidents," South-Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) said yesterday. "One well-covered incident involved kicking a University of California Berkley student off a flight in April 2016 for saying 'Inshallah' to his father on the phone," it said. "Because the airline has treated our communities like second-class citizens, we have terminated our relationship with Southwest," SAALT said, adding that as a result of this termination it has lost USD 10,000 in grant money from the airlines. SAALT and our partners sent multiple communications to Southwest, including toCEO Gary Kelly, over the last year expressing our concerns. "Disappointingly, all we received was one unsatisfactory response after another," said Suman Raghunathan, executive director of SAALT. "Southwest made it clear they would issue no apology to the affected passengers nor would it address profiling in their corporate training guidelines and complaint procedures," Raghunathan said. "In short, we saw no effort by Southwest Airlines to establish protection against racial and religious profiling of passengers on its flights.The airline continues to deflect any responsibility for its actions, even as the level of hostility against our communities continues to increase nationwide. So we said 'enough!' and goodbye to Southwest," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : A Tamil TV channel reporter covering the road roko of AIADMK candidate Om Sakthi Segar in protest against presence of 'outsiders' in Nellithope constituency,where a bypoll was held, fainted in the melee. Rahman, also secretary of Puducherry journalists Association, was rushed to a hospital and given immediate medical attention, officials said. Later the speaker of Puducherry assembly V Vaithilingam, accompanied by convenor of Karaikal unit of DMK A M H Nazeemcalled on Rahman at the government general hospital here. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ten people died when an overcrowded ferry on the Ugandan side of Lake Albert capsized in strong winds, local police said. The vessel, with 21 people onboard, was taking passengers from Buliisa to Kagoya, farther south, when the accident happened overnight Thursday, Buliisa police spokesman Julius Hakiza told AFP. "We managed to rescue 11 people. The rest drowned," he said. The 10 fatalities comprised six women and four men. Accidents are frequent on the lake, which is shared by Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo. In March 2014, 210 Congolese refugees drowned when the boat they were travelling in capsized. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hitting out at Opposition parties protesting against demonetisation, Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani today claimed those who have been "robbed of black money" in the wake of the Centre's move, are not letting Parliament work. No business could be transacted in either Houses of Parliament in the last two days due to ruckus by Congress-led opposition parties, which demanded in the Lok Sabha a debate on demonetisation under a rule that entails voting and presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Rajya Sabha for resumption of discussion on the issue. "Naturally, those who have been robbed of their black money are not letting Parliament work. We should set aside our political differences and work together in the interest of our nation," Irani said. "Demonetisation is a part of the Centre's war against black money, corruption, and against those who have filled their coffers with money that belong to the country's poor citizens," she said on the sidelines of an event here to distribute identity cards to the handicraft artisans as part of her ministry's new initiative. Irani said citizens battling long queues to exchange old currency notes and with new ones are warriors fighting corruption along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I am grateful to them. India will forever be grateful to those Indians, who understood Modi's call (for war against black money and corruption)," the Union Minister said. To a question about people who died while standing in queues at the banks, she said, "My sympathies are with every family. We are trying to ensure that people get help from bank employees. "I am also grateful to those who are helping each other out with the feeling that this (demonetisation) is a historic step. Coming generations will remain indebted to them," Irani said. During the event, Irani announced a slew of measures to uplift artisans, including Rs 1,200 per annum stipend to the children of artisans studying in Class IX to XI, organising camps in crafts clusters for loans and insurance schemes, training of artisans, distribution of free tool-kits to artisans belonging to BPL, SC/ST, and minority communities. She also said the age of artisans to qualify for Centre's Shilp Guru Awards will be reduced from 55 to 50 years, and for National Award for handicraft artisans will be reduced to 25 from existing 30 years. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thousands of people, including women and children, marched today in Istanbul against a controversial bill that would overturn men's convictions for child sex assault if they married their victim. "We will not shut up. We will not obey. Withdraw the bill immediately!" the around 3,000 protesters shouted amid claps and whistles as they marched to Kadikoy square on the city's Asian side. Others waved banners emblazoned with slogans such as "#Rape cannot be legitimised" and "AKP, take your hands off my body," a reference to the ruling party of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which introduced the bill. The opposition, celebrities, and even an association whose deputy chairman is Erdogan's daughter have expressed alarm over the move. But the government insists the legislation was aimed at dealing with the widespread custom of child marriages and the criticism was a crude distortion of its aim. Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag on Saturday moved to reassure opponents that the bill would not pardon rapists. "The bill will certainly not bring amnesty to rapists.... This is a step taken to solve a problem in some parts of our country," he told a NATO meeting in Istanbul. After the controversy, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim late yesterday ordered his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to hold talks with the opposition in parliament on the planned measures. The measures were approved in an initial parliamentary reading on Thursday and will be voted on again in a second debate in the coming days. Critics have said the government is encouraging the rape of minors. "We will not allow the AKP to acquit and set free rapists in this country," one of the women protesters who gave her name as Ruya told AFP. "Women will resist and take to the streets until this law and similar other laws are withdrawn." Another protester, a middle-aged man named Ugur, was at the protest with his 14-year-old daughter. "I am concerned about my daughter's future," Ugur told AFP. "AKP is passing any law they want in the parliament." The AKP enjoys a comfortable majority in the 550-seat parliament, holding 317 seats. "That's the maximum we can do. To protest," he said. If passed, the law would allow the release from prison of men guilty of assaulting a minor if the act was committed without "force, threat, or any other restriction on consent" and if the aggressor "marries the victim". The legal age of consent in Turkey is 18 but child marriage is widespread, especially in the southeast. Another protester, Yagmur, called the bill a "nonsense", saying that it was a trap to open the way to legitimise religious weddings -- common in some parts of the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President-elect Donald Trump has agreed to a USD 25 million settlement to resolve three lawsuits over Trump University, his former school for real estate investors. The deal announced on yesterday by New York state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman would settle a lawsuit he filed three years ago, plus two class-action lawsuits in California filed on behalf of former Trump University students. The suits allege that Trump University failed to deliver on its promise to teach success in real estate through programs that cost up to USD 35,000. They say the program misled students by calling itself a university when it wasn't an accredited school and by saying that Trump "hand-picked" instructors. Messages left with several of Trump's attorneys and a spokeswoman were not returned on yesterday. Trump has strongly denied the allegations and said during the campaign that he wouldn't settle. He told supporters at a May rally that he would come to San Diego to testify after winning the presidency. "I could have settled this case numerous times, but I don't want to settle cases when we're right. I don't believe in it. And when you start settling cases, you know what happens? Everybody sues you because you get known as a settler. One thing about me, I am not known as a settler," Trump said at the time. The deal does not require Trump to acknowledge wrongdoing. Schneiderman said the USD 25 million to be paid by Trump or one of his business entities includes restitution for victims and USD 1 million in penalties to the state. "Donald Trump fought us every step of the way, filing baseless charges and fruitless appeals and refusing to settle for even modest amounts of compensation for the victims of his phony university. Today, that all changes," Schneiderman said in a statement. He called the settlement "a stunning reversal by Donald Trump and a major victory for the over 6,000 victims of his fraudulent university." A federal judge in California had been set on yesterday to consider arguments on Trump's latest request to delay a trial until after Trump's inauguration on January 20. Trump's attorneys said in a court filing last week that preparations for the White House were "critical and all-consuming." Six months ago, when they unsuccessfully sought a delay until after Inauguration Day, lead attorney Daniel Petrocelli said the period between the election and swearing-in is extremely hectic for a president-elect but that it was preferable to a trial during the campaign. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pramila Jayapal, the first-ever Indian-American woman elected to US House of Representatives, has said President-elect Donald Trump has made it clear that he will continue to prey on the fears of ordinary Americans. Jayapal, 51, warned she intends to be ready to stand and fight every step of the way, if Trump does not abandon the divisive rhetoric of his campaign. Immediately following Trump's election, there have been more than 300 hate crimes reported across the US, she said. "By selecting Steve Bannon as chief strategist and now Senator Jeff Sessions for Attorney General, Trump has made it clear that he will continue to prey on the fears of ordinary Americans instead of uniting us as a country, 'indivisible, with liberty and justice for all'," Jayapal said yesterday. She alleged Bannon has overseen a website that publishes views that are clearly racist and reflect calls for a white supremacist agenda that have absolutely no place in the US. "I denounce President-elect Trump's appointment of Steve Bannon, and call on him to revoke this appointment," Jayapal said, adding that the announcement of Sessions as Trump's choice for Attorney General simply continues the pattern. "Senator Sessions was not confirmed for a federal judgeship even by a Republican-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee because of his history of racially charged actions and statements. It is untenable to have him as the appointee for the most important post in the country for civil rights and the upholding of our constitutional values," she said. As the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Sessions has opposed immigration reform as well as essential bipartisan proposals to reform the criminal justice system, she alleged. "Appointing him as Attorney General would send a terrifying message to people across the country about the next Administration's commitment to civil rights, criminal justice reform and constitutional rights," Jayapal said. Though Trump has won the election through the electoral college, he should not forget that a majority of Americans rejected the pervasive racism and misogyny of his campaign by choosing another presidential candidate, she said. "If Trump intends to be a President for all of the US, he must abandon the divisive rhetoric of his campaign and choose appointees who will uphold our constitutional values and the core ideas of inclusion and diversity. If he does not do so, I intend to be ready to stand and fight every step of the way and to build the movement that can stop these disastrous rollbacks to decades of progress," Jayapal added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Police today detained two Swedish TV journalists in the sensitive Kurdish-majority province of Diyarkabir in southeastern Turkey after they filmed near a military zone, a local agency reported. The pair, identified only by their initials as L.N.B. And R.A.S, were arrested after they filmed in an area near where a military headquarters is located, the private Dogan agency reported. After questioning, the two were transferred to the foreigners department, a section of the police service that deals with deportations, according to Dogan. There were no immediate other details. Turkish authorities this month expelled a French reporter after being detained near the Syrian border in the southeast. Olivier Bertrand from online media Les Jours was detained in Gaziantep province, where he was working on planned stories on post-coup Turkey. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault called his detention "deeply shocking, unacceptable". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Top Democratic lawmakers and rights bodies have slammed President-elect Donald Trump's reported plan to reinstate a database of immigrants from Muslim-majority countries. National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) is a post-9/11 program which required travellers to the US from specified Muslim-majority countries to immediately register with the federal government or face deportation. "Reinstating failed programs that target Arabs and Muslims in our country is exactly what ISIS was cheering on election night when America, a beacon of freedom in the world, gives in to fear and begins chipping away at civil rights, our enemies are emboldened and their ranks swell with new recruits," Senator Dick Durbin said. "Back in 2002, I called for this program to be terminated because there were serious doubts it would help combat terrorism. Terrorism experts have since concluded that this program wasted precious homeland security funds and alienated Arab- and Muslim-Americans. Failed programs like this are the exact wrong approach to combating terrorism, and I will fight to ensure it never returns," Durbin said. The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Co-Chairs Raul M Grijalva and Keith Ellison, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chairwoman Judy Chu, CPC Vice Chair Congressman Mike Honda, and CPC Vice Chair Mark Takano slammed Trump surrogate, Carl Higbie, for suggesting that Japanese- American internment camps could serve as a precedent for the creation of a Muslim registry. "These remarks are beyond disturbing. This is fear, not courage. This is hate, not policy," Honda said. "Since Trump was elected president, thousands of Americans have voiced fears over what our country might look like in the coming years. Last night, one of his surrogates showed us why so many people are afraid of a Trump administration. "The fact that our incoming President has considered internment as a model for how to move forward with the Muslim community is absolutely shocking. We cannot allow it to be normalised or enacted," Ellison said. Grijalva said it took the US decades to own up to the stain of Japanese internment, providing compensation to more than 100,000 people who suffered through it and formally apologising through the Civil Liberties Act in 1988. To say this heinous treatment should be precedent for any policy is horrific, and Trump should denounce it immediately. "Any proposal to force American-Muslims to register with the federal government, and to use Japanese imprisonment during World War II as precedent, is abhorrent and has no place in our society. These ideas are based on tactics of fear, division, and hate that we must condemn," Chu said. "I am horrified that people connected to the incoming Administration are using my family's experience as a precedent for what President-elect Trump could do," said Takano. Congresswoman Luis V Gutierrez, a Member of the Judiciary Committee and is Co-Chair of the Immigration Task Force of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said the roundup of men from mostly Asian, Middle Eastern and African countries was one of the darkest chapters of the George W Bush years. It was a strategy to scare immigrants and yielded zero concrete terrorism leads that led to conviction. Racial, ethnic, religious and gender profiling is exactly the wrong approach to law enforcement and counter-terrorism, he said. "The internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II was a historic injustice and nothing like it should ever happen again. The protection of our Constitution is not conditional; it applies to all of us. "We cannot allow hate speech, racism, and anti-immigrant sentiment to become the new norm in our country, and we must continue to speak out against hate and prejudice. An inclusive and vibrant America is worth fighting for," Senator Mazie Hironohe said. Meanwhile, the South Asian Bar Association (SABA) has also denounced the suggestions of a registry for non-citizen Muslims in the US. "While once just a campaign promise, this xenophobic and un-American idea has been thrust back into our national consciousness by Carl Higbie, former spokesperson for a Super PAC supporting the President-Elect," SABA said in a statement. Higbie's suggestion that internment camps that imprisoned countless Japanese-Americans during World War II is a "precedent" for a possible Muslim registry, presupposes the lawfulness of a program that's only lasting impact is that of shame, regret and embarrassment, it said. SABA said this proposed registry is rooted inNSEERS that required certain "foreign citizens and nationals" to continuously check-in with US Authorities. After repeated criticism and documented ineffectiveness, NSEERS was abandoned in 2011, leaving a legacy of deporting individuals who had committed no crimes and had no links to terrorism, it said. SABA called on Americans of all backgrounds to reject the notion that registration and potential mass incarceration of residents of this country solely based upon nationality, race or religion, without justification, cause or purpose is acceptable. "Discrimination towards any community cannot be condoned and we hope the President-Elect and the pending administration uniformly reject such proposals. The perpetuation of hate solely serves to continue the divisiveness that tears at the core of our values of equal protection and freedom for all individuals," it added. Former Sri Lankan President has said a closer relationship between the US and Russia under Donald Trump's presidency would help solve most of the world's problems. "I believe their (Trump-Russia) relationship would result in solving most of the problems", Rajapaksa told reporters marking his 71st birthday in Colombo on Friday. Talking about an impact of Trump's presidency on Sri Lanka, Rajapaksa said, "We hope US interference in our country would decrease (under Trump)." Rajapaksa's 10-year rule saw a thorny relationship with President Barack Obama's administration. The Democratic Party government led as many as three UN Human Rights Council resolutions on the Rajapaksa government's human rights accountability. Rajapaksa blamed his 2015 election defeat on certain governments. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati on Saturday cautioned Muslims in Uttar Pradesh that their interests were not safe with the Samajwadi Party (SP), which is mired in a family feud, and voting for it will mean strengthening the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "The 'sarv samaj' including the Muslims should understand that their interests were not safe in the SP.... Voting for the SP which today stands divided into two factions means strengthening the BJP and helping it win elections," Mayawati said in a statement. The BSP supremo has been reaching out to Muslims in a big way, especially as the public feud between Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his uncle Shivpal Yadav threatened to drive away loyal voters of the SP in the poll-bound state. Attacking the SP, Mayawati alleged that ever since it came to power, "goonda, mafia , corrupt and communal elements are ruling the roost and jungle raj is prevailing" in Uttar Pradesh. The BSP chief said that the ongoing tussle in the SP family has further harmed the law and order situation. Mayawati also lashed out at Akhilesh for making "lofty claims" and launching schemes such as Dial-100 and asked him to desist from making any further announcements, "the benefit of which he will not be able to extend to the people". Dial-100 is aimed at reducing the police emergency response time. Actor Vince Vaughn is working on a long-awaited sequel to hit comedy "Wedding Crashers", according to his co-star Isla Fisher. The 2005 movie featured Vince and Owen Wilson as divorce mediators Jeremy Grey and John Beckwith, who frequently turn up uninvited to weddings in order to meet women. Isla portrayed Vince's possessive onscreen lover, Gloria, and the Australian actress said that the gang will be getting back together for more mischievous fun - if a recent chat with Vince is any indication, reported Digital Spy. "I bumped into Vince Vaughn at a party and he said that apparently we're going to be making a sequel," she said during an appearance on US breakfast show "Today". "So I'm really excited to see what's happened to Gloria." Officials at production firm Tapestry Films and distributor New Line Cinema have yet to comment on of a sequel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chinese President Xi Jinping urged Asia-Pacific leaders today to get on board with Beijing-backed free trade agreements, after Donald Trump's election win spelled the likely demise of a US-backed deal. Trump's shock victory has cast uncertainty on the future of Washington's key trade initiative in the Pacific Rim, the arduously negotiated, 12-country Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP. The brash billionaire campaigned against the accord, which has not yet been ratified in Congress, as a "terrible deal" that would "rape" the United States by sending American jobs to countries with cheaper labor. In a Pacific region hungry for trade, that has left even longtime US allies like Australia and Japan looking to China to fill the void. Beijing, which was excluded from TPP, is pushing two alternatives: the 21-member Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) and a 16-member Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which notably includes India but not the United States. Xi urged regional leaders to advance both deals at a summit in Lima, Peru, where the uncertainty unleashed on the world stage by Trump's victory loomed large. "Building a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific is a strategic initiative critical for the long-term prosperity of the Asia-Pacific," Xi said in a keynote address to business leaders from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group. "We should firmly pursue FTAAP," he said. "Openness is vital for the prosperity of the Asia-Pacific." In the face of Trump's protectionist rhetoric, he vowed China "will not shut its door to the outside world, but open it even wider." "We will fully involve ourselves in economic globalization by supporting the multi-lateral trading regime, advancing the FTAAP and working for the early conclusion of the negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership," he said. China describes RCEP as a stepping stone toward FTAAP, a vast plan that would include all 21 APEC members and is expected to take years, if it happens at all. The meeting of APEC, which accounts for nearly 40 percent of the world's population and nearly 60 percent of the global economy, is US President Barack Obama's last foreign visit before handing over to Trump on January 20. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 22-year-old youth broke into a bank at Bela village in the district, but allegedly committed suicide after local residents raised an alarm and gathered outside the bank to catch hold of him, police said today. "The youth, Dharmendra Singh Patel, cut open the shutter of Allahabad Bank's branch office in the village last night. The bank is located on the ground floor of a two-storey building," Rampur Baghelan police station Inspector Animesh Dwivedi said. "When Patel was trying to break the bank's currency chest, the landlord of the building living upstairs woke up due to the noise," he added. According to an eyewitness, after the alarm was raised, people living in the vicinity gathered outside the bank with sticks in their hands. Dwivedi said, "After getting information around 2.40 am, a police team reached the spot. When police peeped through the window, body of a man was found hanging from the ceiling." However, thinking that more people could have been holed up inside the bank, police waited till morning to get a clear picture. "When we were sure that there was nobody else inside, we entered it," the Inspector said. After going through the CCTV footage, police found that Patel, who had covered his face with a small towel, had entered the bank by cutting open the shutter. However, he might have panicked when he came to know about local residents waiting to nab him. He used the same towel to hang himself from the ceiling fan, the officer added. The body of the deceased was handed over to the family members after post-mortem. Asked whether Patel had entered the bank with the intention of stealing new currency notes, he said he cannot divulge any more details as the investigation was underway. The inspector said the deceased was not a history-sheeter, but had been picked up once for questioning in a theft case three years ago. Further investigation is on. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) LIMA (Reuters) - Countries that signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade pact have said at the APEC summit in Lima they could focus on the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)if TPP does not move forward, United States Trade Representative Michael Froman said on Friday. The perception that the United States is pulling back on free trade is creating a void China is willing to fill, Froman said in a briefing with reporters. He said partners in the region have told him they want U.S. leadership on trade but could also consider a pact based on TPP without the United States. (Reporting by Mitra Taj; Writing by Caroline Stauffer; Editing by Andrew Hay) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon has said the threat of a nuclear war with Pakistan has increased, but criticised Minister Manohar Parrikar for suggesting that India should give up its no first use policy. Opposition Congress and NCP on Friday demanded the sacking of Maharashtra Cooperative Minister Subhash Deshmukh amid reports of seizure of Rs 91 lakh and sought an enquiry by Income Tax department into bank transactions of state BJP leaders to "unearth black money". "(Recovery of cash) proves that BJP leaders are in the possession of black money. Since the government has launched a campaign against black money and corruption, properties of the BJP leaders should be searched to unearth black money. "He (the minister) should be sacked from the ministry and arrested," NCP spokesman Nawab Malik said in a press conference. According to reports, cash worth over Rs 91 lakh belonging to Lokmangal Group of the minister was seized by the squad of Osmanabad municipality yesterday. The cash reportedly comprised of the now-invalid tender of Rs 1000. When contacted, the minister was not available for comment. His assistant claimed that Deshmukh was not in town. Meanwhile, state unit Congress spokesman Sachin Sawant has demanded a probe by I-T department into the bank accounts of prominent BJP leaders in the state and the transactions made into them in the last six months. He also sought ouster of Deshmukh from cabinet. Sawant alleged that certain BJP leaders were aware of the demonetisation move in advance. "There is a possibility that BJP leaders and ministers in Maharashtra and Mumbai might also be aware of the decision in advance. So there is a need to probe their bank accounts," Sawant said in a statement. A few days ago after the demonetisation, old currency notes worth more than Rs 6 crore were seized from the brother of a BJP MLA in western Maharashtra while Rs 91 lakh has been seized from Subhash Deshmukh's Lokmangal Bank in Umerga town, Sawant stated. By-elections being held in Assam, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Tripura and Tamil Nadu have assumed significance as the first major ground test for the ruling BJP after demonetization of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. Voting is underway for bypolls in eight assembly and four Lok Sabha constituencies. According to officials, elaborate arrangements have been made for the smooth conduct of the polls Assam Bypolls in Lakhimpur Lok Sabha constituency and Baithalanso assembly constituency in Assam will decide the electoral fate of eight contestants. An estimated 16,91,313 voters, including 8,21,199 women, are expected to cast their franchise in two seats. In Lakhimpur, the five candidates included Amiya Kumar Handique (CPI-M), Pradan Baruah (BJP), Dr Hema Hari Prasanna Pegu (Cong), Hem Kanta Miri (SUCI-Communist) and Dilip Moran (Independent). 15,11,110 voters are expected to exercise their franchise in 1954 polling stations spread across the Assembly constituencies of Majuli (ST), Naoboicha, Lakhimpur, Dhakuakhana (ST), Dhemaji (ST), Jonai (ST), Chabua, Doomdooma and Sadiya. In Baithalanso (ST) - 20 three contestants are in fray including Dr Mansing Rongpi (BJP), Ruponsing Ronghang (Cong) and Rajen Timung (Independent), the Election office said. Boithalangso (ST) Assembly constituency, in West Karbi Anglong district, comprised 1,80,203 voters, including 86819 women and 246 polling stations. Lakhimpur had earlier been represented by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal who was fielded as an MLA from Majuli in May last and winning. Boithalangso had fallen vacant with the resignation of Mansing Rongpi from Congress who joined the BJP on July 12 last. Polling will be held from 7 am to 4 pm and the election shall be completed before November 24, according to the Election Commission of India notification of October 26 last. West Bengal By-elections are underway in Cooch Behar and Tamluk Lok Sabha constituencies and in Monteswar Assembly constituency. Ruling Trinamool Congress, BJP, Left Front and Congress have fielded their candidates in all three seats. Although the Congress and CPI(M)-led Left Front had contested the Assembly polls held earlier this year, the two decided to part company in this round of by-elections. Demonetization became a key issue in the last lap of campaign for the by-polls. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee did not campaign for the by-polls and left it to the other leaders of her party. Apart from state BJP president Dilip Ghosh, Union minister Babul Supriyo canvassed for his party. WBPCC chief Adhir Chowdhury and CPIM state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra spearheaded campaign for their party candidates. TMC MLA and party candidate from Tamluk seat Dibyendu Adhikari told PTI, "Demonetization move has affected every citizen of this country. The common man is suffering." "Demonetization has also impacted our campaign as we are unable to pay the decorators, sound organisers. In Tamluk, most of the rural areas still don't have proper banking facilities, what will the poor farmers do?" he asked. According CPI(M) and Congress leaders, demonetization has all of a sudden come up as an issue for the polls as they are receiving feedback that people are inconvenienced due to the new decision. CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said demonetization became a prominent issue as the people faced huge problems and added that the situation was much worse in rural areas. The BJP, on the other hand, said that by-elections would be a litmus test for political parties. "What TMC, Congress and CPI(M) are saying is not right. People of Bengal are happy with the decision and will give a hands down victory to our candidates," state BJP president Dilip Ghosh said. "It's not a question of black money or white money. All of a sudden if you scrap high value notes how will you meet various expenditures for the campaign," Congress candidate from Monteswar Bulbul Ahmed Sheikh said. By-election in Cooch Behar was necessitated by the death of TMC MP Renuka Sinha while the by-election in Tamluk in East Medinipur district was caused by the resignation of TMC MP Suvendu Adhikari who also won the Assembly poll and joined the state cabinet as transport minister. The bypoll to Monteswar Assembly seat in Burdwan district is due to death of TMC MLA Sajal Panja. Madhya Pradesh By-elections are being held in Shahdol Lok Sabha constituency and Nepanagar assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh. "Total 17 candidates are in the fray for the Shahdol LS seat, while four are trying their luck for Nepanagar," an election official said. Both the seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST) category. Thirty companies (15 each) of armed police forces have been deployed in the two constituencies to provide security during the polling. "Over 4,000 EVMs will be used to seal the fate of the candidates. The EVMs also carry the photographs of the candidates to facilitate the voters," the official said. In Shahdol, total 16,00,787 voters, whereas in Nepanagar, 2,30,420 people can exercise their franchise. While Congress has fielded Himadri Singh, daughter of former union minister Dalbir Singh and ex-MP Rajesh Nandini Singh, from Shahdol Lok Sabha seat, the BJP has given ticket to tribal leader Gyan Singh, a senior minister in Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's cabinet from the reserved seat. The Shahdol bypoll was necessitated due to death of BJP MP Dalpat Singh Paraste. In 2014, Paraste had wrested the seat from Congress's Rajesh Nandini Singh by a margin of over 2.14 lakh votes. The present BJP candidate Gyan Singh had earlier won the Shahdol seat twice in 1996 and 1998. In Nepanagar, Congress has reposed faith in tribal leader Antar Singh Barde, while BJP has fielded Manju Dadu, daughter of late MLA Rajendra Shyamlal Dadu, whose death caused by an accident, necessitated the by-poll to cash in on the sympathy vote. Besides these prominent names, several other candidates have also filed their nominations for the by-polls. Communist Party of India's Parmeshwar Singh Porte, Lok Janshakti Party's Krishna Pal Singh Pavel, Gondwana Gantantra Party's Hirasingh Markm and Apna Dal's Sajjan Singh Paraste, among others are in the fray for the Shahdol LS seat. Besides them, total nine persons are contesting as independent candidates in Shahdol. In Nepanagar, Republican Party of India (A) nominee Revanta and Lok Janshakti Party' Ber Singh are also trying their luck. However, there is no independent candidate in the fray, the official said. The counting of votes will take place on November 22 and the entire poll process will be completed by November 24. Tamil Nadu Polls for Thanjavur and Aravakkurichi and bypoll in Thirupparankundram and in Nellithope constituencies are being held on Saturday. In Aravakkurichi constituency, V Senthil Balaji (AIADMK) and KC Palanisamy (DMK) and in Thanjavur, Anjugham Boopathy (DMK) and M Rengasamy (AIADMK) are among the candidates. In Thirupparankundram, AIADMK has fielded A K Bose, while P Saravanan is the DMK nominee. Besides, the AIADMK and DMK candidates, PMK, BJP and DMDK and independents are also contesting the polls. PMK is not in the fray in Thirupparankundram as it did not get its mango symbol in that segment. The four-party combine, People's Welfare Front, comprising MDMK, CPI(M), CPI and VCK, has boycotted the polls. In Nellithope assembly constituency, it will be a crucial test for Congress nominee and Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, a non- member of the house, at tomorrow's bypoll tomorrow when he crosses swords with AIADMK candidate Om Sakthi Segar. Narayanasamy has the support of DMK and VCK while AINRC, whose founder N Narayanasamy is the leader of the opposition, is backing Segar. The bypoll is being held to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of Congress legislator A John Kumar on September 15 to facilitate Narayanasamy, a non-member of the house, to contest the poll and get elected to the assembly to fulfill the constitutional obligation. Narayanasamy became Chief Minister on June 6 and formed a six member ministry under his leadership with the support of DMK (having two members) from outside. The strength of Congress in the 30 member assembly was 15 before John Kumar quit the post of MLA. Tripura By-polls in two Tripura Assembly seats - Barjala and Khowai - began on a peaceful note amidst tight security. For purposes of peaceful polling nine companies of central paramilitary forces, including Border Security Force (BSF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been deployed in the two constituencies and their adjoining areas. State forces, including Tripura State Rifles and state police have also been deployed. The Election Commission has appointed three central observes to oversee the polling in the two seats. The Barjala (SC reserved) seat fell vacant following the resignation of Congress MLA Jitendra Sarkar due to internal squabble in the party, while the death of veteran CPI-M leader Samir Deb necessitated the by-poll in Khowai seat. At Barjala constituency a multi-cornered electoral battle is on with five candidates of BJP, CPI-M, Trinamool Congress, Congress and Amra Bangali in the fray. Khowai seat too has contestants from the same parties in the ring. A total of 39,007 voters will exercise their franchise in 48 polling stations in Barjala assembly constituency, while in Khowai seat 39400 electorate will cast their votes in 52 polling stations. The Day of Youth Activism and Courage Published on November 19, 2016 Story by Mladi Info en fr es it de pl Today is an important day for youth. Do you want to know why? Lets look back in the history together! Today is an important day for youth. Do you want to know why? Lets look back in the history together! The commemoration of this day dates back to 1939. On the 28th of October 1939, Czechoslovakian students demonstration against the regime organized by medical students of the Charles University in Prague was suppressed by Nazis. One student, Jan Opletal, was shot during the demonstrations and as a response, another massive demonstration of students started. The Nazis reacted fast when on 17th November* 1939 they stormed the dormitories. Result? More than 1200 students were sent to concentration camps, 9 student representatives were executed on the spot, the University was shut down and the buildings were used by the German occupation forces. Naturally, those who wanted to continue with their studies had to find another solution. London became the niche for many students, there subsequently the International Students Council (consisted of many refugees from different European countries), in accordance with the allies, in 1941, declared November 17th to be the International Students Day. Symbolically 50 years later, on November 17th, 1989, the Czechoslovakian students stood up again for the freedoms at that time against communism in peaceful celebrations of the International Students Day. So-called Velvet Revolution started which ended by the fall of the communist regime in former Czechoslovakia. Youth activism accompanied with an inevitable deal of great courage that is what we should celebrate on 17th of November, International Students Day! Article by: Ivana Petriskova Edited by: Dimitar Chatleski * The date of 17th of November has another symbolic meaning, it is also the anniversary of the independence of the Czechoslovak Republic (instead of which the Nazis established the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia and the Slovak Republic in 1918). Original article @mladiinfo.eu Story by Mladi Info PORTAGE Michael James Kelly, 66, of Portage passed away peacefully in his home Monday evening, Nov. 7, 2016. Born Feb. 19, 1950, in Saginaw, Mich., to Joseph and Catherine Kelly (McDonald), he was raised in Vassar, Mich., until 1965, when the family moved to Chippewa Falls. After graduating from McDonell High School in 1968, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1969, as a machinists mate, working in the engine room of the USS Alamo (LSD-33). During two West Pacific cruises, he sailed to Vietnam, Pearl Harbor, Guam, The Philippines, Japan, and Hong Kong. He served until 1972, and attained the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class. In 1973, he was hired as a maintenance mechanic at the Columbia Energy Center, which was then still under construction. He worked at the power plant for 40 years, until his retirement in 2013. In 1977, he married Mary Pat Helminiak of Eau Claire; together they had five children. He later married Kathleen Clark of Rio. Mike had an enormous love of music and played the tuba throughout his life; one of the greatest joys of his life was playing in the Dual County Community Band in Pardeeville, which he did for many decades, and continued to do until the summer of 2016. He was also fond of fishing and made many canoe trips in the Canadian Boundary Waters with family and friends. After his retirement, Mike spent much time woodworking, beekeeping, camping, and reading. He had a great love of the Catholic faith, which in his latter years became increasingly central in his life. In May of 2016, he married his close friend of many years, Jill Larson of Baraboo. Mikes faith illuminated his struggle with cancer, and he understood that suffering is a gift from God, which united to the sufferings of Christ, he offered daily for friends, family, and departed loved ones, including in a particular way, his son, Philip. Mike radiated a joyful presence throughout his life, and his final days were marked by acceptance, peace, and contentment. He is preceded in death by parents, Joseph and Catherine; son, Philip; brother, Robert; and nephews, Ryan and Thomas. He is survived by his wife, Jill; siblings, William, John (Susan), Joseph (Maureen), Mary (Dale), and Ann; children, Anne (Andrew), Elizabeth (Christopher), William (Megan), and Michael (Jill); grandchildren, Gabriella, Cael, Hazel, Catherine, Cordelia, Michael, Adelaide, and Louisa; and stepsons, Thomas and Charles Larson. The family wishes to thank Dr. Lisa Lepeak and staff, as well as all of the nurses and CNAs of Agrace HospiceCare, for their extraordinary and devoted work. Fr. Jay Poster of Baraboo, has also been a great friend and support in recent years. The viewing will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. with a brief prayer service (vigil) at 4 p.m.Friday, Nov. 25, at Pflanz Manley Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Baraboo, with the interment to follow at 1 p.m. at St. Marys Cemetery in Portage. ETATS-UNIS :: USA: Encore et toujours des Camerounais fraudeurs condamnes. :: UNITED STATES Jury Convicts Home Health Agency Owner in $13 Million Medicare Fraud Conspiracy. A federal jury in the Southern District of Texas convicted a Houston-based home-health agency owner for her role in a $13 million Medicare fraud scheme and money laundering. Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson of the Southern District of Texas, Special Agent in Charge D. Richard Goss of Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI) Houston Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Perrye K. Turner of the FBIs Houston Field Office and Special Agent in Charge C.J. Porter of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector Generals (HHS-OIG) Dallas Regional Office made the announcement. Marie Neba, 52, of Sugarland, Texas, co-owner of Fiango Home Healthcare Inc. (Fiango) was convicted yesterday of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, three counts of health care fraud, one count of conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks, one count of payment and receipt of health care kickbacks, one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and one count of making false statements. A week into the trial, her co-owner and husband, Ebong Tilong, 52, also of Sugarland, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, three counts of healthcare fraud, one count of conspiracy to pay and receive healthcare kickbacks, three counts of payment and receipt of healthcare kickbacks and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. Neba and Tilong are scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 17, 2017. According to the evidence presented at trial and admissions made in connection with Tilongs plea, from February 2006 through June 2015, Neba, Tilong and others conspired to defraud Medicare by submitting over $13 million in false and fraudulent claims for home-health services to Medicare through Fiango. Neba and Tilong paid illegal kickbacks to physicians in exchange for authorizing medically unnecessary home-health services for Medicare beneficiaries. Using the money that Medicare paid for such fraudulent claims, Neba and Tilong paid illegal kickbacks to patient recruiters for referring Medicare beneficiaries for home-health services. Neba and Tilong also paid illegal kickbacks to Medicare beneficiaries for allowing them to bill Medicare using their Medicare information for home-health services that were not medically necessary or not provided. Neba and Tilong falsified medical records to make it appear as though the Medicare beneficiaries qualified for and received home-health services. According to the evidence presented at trial and Tilongs admissions, from February 2006 to June 2015, Neba and Tilong received more than $13 million from Medicare for home-health services that were not medically necessary or not provided to Medicare beneficiaries. To date, three others have pleaded guilty in connection with the scheme: Nirmal Mazumdar, M.D., the former medical director of Fiango, pleaded guilty to a scheme to commit health care fraud; and Daisy Carter and Connie Ray Island, two patient recruiters for Fiango, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Mazumdar, Carter and Island all await sentencing. The IRS-CI, FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case under the supervision of the Criminal Divisions Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Southern District of Texas. Trial Attorney William S.W. Chang and Senior Trial Attorney Jonathan T. Baum of the Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. The Criminal Divisions Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, now operating in nine cities across the country, has charged more than 2,900 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $10 billion. In addition, HHSs Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, is taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers. To learn more about the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), go to www.stopmedicarefraud.gov. A team of researchers from the Australian National University has discovered a new species of gecko in central Australia, shedding light on what conditions were like in the area more than 10 million years ago in the process. But the young public servant Erika Bacon, whose car was driven into by an embassy staffer, maintains she was bullied by a Russian diplomat who wanted her to take responsibility for the crash and wanted to know why she wanted reparation at all when her vehicle was "not a Maserati or a Ferrari". The following editorial appeared Wednesday in the Chicago Tribune: Cubs win the World Series. Donald Trump wins the White House. What do those two epochal events have in common? Both were considered highly unlikely. And both happened. Many fans didnt expect the Cubs to come back from a 3-games-to-1 deficit against the Cleveland Indians. But they knew from data that it was statistically possible: Five teams in history had done just that. Most Americans probably didnt expect Donald Trump to overcome a polling deficit against Hillary Clinton to win the presidency. And those polls were all but unanimous: The odds against Trump, as those against the Cubs, looked daunting. But daunting and impossible arent synonyms. In the aftermath of the alleged Epic Big Data fail on Election Day, many Americans will judge predictions, projections and premonitions with more skepticism. Theyve learned an important, even comforting, lesson about the limits of polling and other measures: Big Data is not destiny. Algorithms are formulas written by humans to take the guesswork out of what other human beings will do under certain circumstances. Will they buy this toothpaste? At what price? Survey responses to pollsters, consumer buying habits, internet site visits, etc. can be plugged into computer models to suggest peoples future behavior. The understandable hope is always that if you start with knowable measurements and crunch them through well-constructed formulas, youll produce a reliable preview of what will happen. Not necessarily. Computers dont read minds. Nor do pollsters. People dont always say what they think. Or they change their minds. People can be convinced and unconvinced. Some people say one thing but do another. You will never write a program to take into account all those nuances and many others. To a computer, predicting behavior is an efficient but wisdom-deprived matter of manipulating ones and zeros. But the real world isnt always binary. People mistake having a large volume of polling data for eliminating uncertainty, writes Nate Silver of the website FiveThirtyEight.com, one of many prognosticators who whiffed the election call. It doesnt work that way. Yes, having more polls helps to a degree, by reducing sampling error and by providing for a mix of reasonable methodologies. Therefore, its better to be ahead in two polls than ahead in one poll, and in 10 polls than in two polls. Before long, however, you start to encounter diminishing returns. Polls tend to replicate one anothers mistakes. Big Data can lead to Big Mistakes. Google Flu Trends, for instance, sought to use data from internet searches to estimate when influenza season would peak and at what level. But it drastically overestimated peak flu levels in the 2012-13 season. That failure doesnt erase the value of big data, wrote David Lazer of Northeastern University and Ryan Kennedy of the University of Houston in Wired magazine. What it does do is highlight a number of problematic practices in its use what we like to call big data hubris. Wed say that many alleged political pros suffered a serious case of that affliction before voters set them straight Nov. 8. Should we toss out data and rely only on experience, or on anecdotes, or on what we hear (true or false) from people with whom we agree? That would be a dangerous overreaction to the election flub. If people believe the data cannot be trusted, they may turn instead to trusting anecdotes from friends, family and tribe, political blogger Erick Erickson writes in The New York Times. Policies will be based on what people think are good ideas, not what data show. This will potentially further divide the country and further segment an already divided nation, he warns, aptly. Humans embrace Big Data more than they would if it were more accurately billed as Big Guesses or Big Evidence-based Hunches because we live in an unpredictable universe that is often capricious. People feel comforted when they think they know what is going to happen. They see patterns in random chance. They purge from their thoughts the reality that a 74 percent chance of victory is a 26 percent chance of defeat. Superstition endures. Reality is elastic. Every moment brings new possibilities. Thats what makes life intriguing. Many predictions proved wrong on Election Day. As did many predictions when the Cubs were down 3-games-to-1. Thats why we vote. Thats why we play the games. The deal, to merge Robi Axiata and Airtel Bangladesh, has gone ahead after approval by the Bangladesh high court, creating a company with 32 million subscribers, second only in the market to Telenors Grameenphone. Axiata will own 68.7% of the merged operation. Indian group Bharti Airtel will have 25% and Japans NTT DoCoMo will have 6.3%. No price has ever been given for the deal. Jamaludin Ibrahim, president and group CEO of Axiata, said: Axiatas proven track record of successful strategic mergers and integrations in our other markets such as Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Cambodia has qualified the group to lead the first telecoms merger and initiate market consolidation in Bangladesh. Mahtab Uddin Ahmed, CEO of Robi, said: The merger strengthens the long-term sustainability of the Bangladesh telecoms landscape and business environment, and will secure faster nationwide rollout of mobile broadband as well as contribute significantly to the overall economy of the country. Grameenphone, in which Telenor has a 56% stake, has 54 million customers. The other operators in Bangladesh include VimpelComs Banglalink, with 29 million, and a state-owned company, Teletalk, with under three million. Ibrahim said: In-country consolidation has been one of the groups key focus in solidifying our position, unlocking profitability and opportunities of the market as well as ensuring better services to customers and the public. Airtel entered the Bangladesh market in January 2010, when it bought a 70% stake in what was then Warid Telecom for $300 million. The Indian group bought the other 30% in 2013. Axiatas takeover has taken longer than expected. It was announced in January 2016, and then expected to be complete by June. The companies agreed in June to defer completion until September, before finally taking an extra two months. Ibrahim said: We are confident this consolidation will secure the countrys further development not only within the telecommunications industry but also act as further impetus to fuel a more mature business and investment environment in Bangladesh. 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. If a new report is to be believed, Buick appears willing to offer the LaCrosse Hybrid Electric in the United States if theres adequate demand. During discussions with Auto Guide, Buick spokesman Stuart Fowle said that as the brand is a global one, its certainly possible that models currently available solely in countries outside of the U.S., like China, could make their way stateside if needed. Fowle explained that the LaCrosse Hybrid is one possible candidate which could prove popular in the U.S. as automakers and consumers alike become more and more accepting of electrified vehicles. In China, the model ditches the 3.6-liter V6 of the standard LaCrosse in favor of a 1.8-liter SIDI engine joined with an electric variable transmission and a 1.5 kWh lithium ion battery pack. This setup is enough to power the model to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 8.9 seconds but most importantly, allow it to achieve 50.05 mpg US. PHOTO GALLERY Subaru gave us an exaggerated view of what will become their new mid-size SUV through the Viziv-7 Concept at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Part of the Japanese car makers concept series that preview their future models, the Viziv-7 is described as a car developed for the enjoyment and peace of mind. Visually, you would be forgiven for mistaking it with a compact crossover, since Subarus DYNAMIC x SOLID design philosophy conceals its proportions, but the Viziv-7 is about the size of an Escalade, measuring 204.7 inches (5.2 m) in length, 79.9 inches (2 m) in width and 72 inches (1.8 m) in height. Once you analyze its looks, it becomes clear that nothing can bother you once secluded behind the wheel judging by the muscular proportions of the concept. Foretelling a future Subaru SUV, in both size and design, the Viziv-7 also shows the thinking behind the concept. Although the Viziv nameplate is derived from Vision for Innovation, the number 7 obviously points to the number of seats available since the model comes with full three-row seating capabilities. Subaru wouldnt say what hides under the Viziv-7s hood, but we should expect its production variant on the North American Market by 2018. PHOTO GALLERY VIDEO As Volkswagen is looking to come out clean from the cheating emissions scandal and become competitive on an entirely new level, cost-saving measures need to be applied. These will include the loss of 23,000 jobs in conventional areas of Germany, but nobody will be fired, as the measures will be applied via natural fluctuation and partial early retirement, according to an agreement signed by the Board of Management and General Works Council of Volkswagen. The car company will apparently drop another 7,000 jobs outside its home market, as Reuters writes, pointing the finger at North America, Brazil, and Argentina. However, not everything is as dark as it seems, because VW has pledged to create 9,000 new jobs, mostly in Germany, in the area of electric vehicles, as these will be put together in the Zwickau and Wolfsburg facilities. Additionally, the company will also produce electric motors in Kassel, while battery cell assembly will take place in Salzgitter and Braunschweig. Volkswagens plan is expected to lead to 3.7 billion (~$4 billion) in annual efficiency gains by the turn of the decade, out of which German facilities will account for 3.0 billion ($3.2 billion). Moreover, the company will also invest 3.5 billion ($3.7 billion), for the transformation of its core brand, in zero-emissions and self-driving vehicles. The new cars based on the Modular Electric Drive Kit and electric components from our plants will make our German locations pioneers of electrification within the Volkswagen Group. The Works Council has ensured that these future-oriented vehicles will be made in Germany and not in other countries. Of course, the pact for the future has positive and negative aspects. However, it represents an acceptable compromise for both parties, reached after a long struggle. We have now achieved a reasonable result, said Bernd Osterloh, General Works Council Chairman. PHOTO GALLERY Photo: Contributed Christy Webb is this week's Volinspire Volunteer of the Week, as nominated by the United Way Central & South Okanagan/Similkameen. What inspired you to volunteer? The Okanagan community welcomed me with open arms and warm hearts when I moved here in 2007. Since then, I've been trying to return the favour by giving back. I also believe in the ripple effect, by helping just one person, you actually touch thousands through them. Which cause are you most passionate about? I love the United Way because they spread their support over so many causes. They have specific guidelines of the criteria a charity must meet to receive funds from them, which makes me confident that my dollars and time are going to causes that really work within our community. I also love that so many corporations feel confident in running workplace campaigns in support of the United Way because they have built a brand of trust. Who do you volunteer for? The United Way Central & South Okanagan/Similkameen. What does a typical volunteer shift look like? The team knows that I will take on any task or shift they need, so I often just ask them to slot me in somewhere. A volunteer shift can be anywhere from two hours to run registration for an event, to five hours selling 50/50 tickets, to a full day running a Day of Caring team at one of our partner charities. What impact have you seen volunteers make? Volunteers are what drive events. Time is our most precious commodity and, therefore, people who give it are truly inspiring. Volunteers often act without expectation of reward or acknowledgement they come from all areas and backgrounds of our community which gives valuable perspective as to the impact they see from the events. Most memorable experience volunteering? This past summer, I was fortunate to work with a wonderful team of volunteers from Prospera Credit Union for the Day of Caring. We all met at the The Canadian Mental Health Association and spent the day landscaping, cleaning and weeding the outside of their facility. It made my heart glow with pride that we live in a world in which there is so much caring for others. How can people get involved? Take the time to learn about all the opportunities to get involved with the United Way. If you have a specific cause you are passionate it about, they can help connect you. If you are not sure how to get started or perhaps are nervous about volunteering, they will support you. Anyone else you would like to recognize? There are many companies and small businesses that work to support the United Way, and I thank them very much. Also, I want to thank the team at the United Way for keeping me involved, in particular, Jeremy Lugowy for his dedication. Do you know an inspiring volunteer? Nominate them for a volunteer spotlight. You could have the missing piece of the puzzle that will help the RCMP put someone behind bars. Here are some recent crimes that Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers hope you can help solve by calling our anonymous tips line at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit our website at www.crimestoppers.net or text to CRIMES (274637), keyword Ktown. CRIME: COMMUNITY MAIL BOX THEFTS DATE: November 15, 2016 RCMP FILE: 2016-68298 West Kelowna RCMP received multiple reports of ransacked Peachland community mailboxes between October 28th and November 15th. Mailboxes at nine locations were discovered damaged and empty. Mail left scattered at a couple of locations was retrieved by Canada Post employees and re-delivered to the proper destinations. The following areas had their mail stolen: 4400 block of Trepanier Road; 5300 block of Princeton Avenue; 5600 block of Gladstone Road; 5900 block of Victoria Street; 6000 block of Ellison Avenue; 6100 block of Wilson Road; 6200 block of Winton Crescent; 6300 block of Thompson Drive; 7100 block of Brent Road RCMP advise the best way to avoid being a victim of mail fraud is to pick up mail on a regular basis and report any suspicious activity. Photo: Crime Stoppers If you know anything about this crime, or any other crime, call the Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers anonymous tips line at 1-800-222-TIPS or visit our website at www.crimestoppers.net. Your information will be kept confidential and could lead to a reward of up to $2000.00. CRIME: PHARMACY BREAK-IN DATE: November 10, 2016 RCMP FILE: 2016-67366 A pharmacy located on Main Street in West Kelowna has had two break and enters in the past month. On October 11th RCMP were called when an alarm sounded when thieves cut a hole in the wall from a vacant next door business. They tried to break into the safe but were unsuccessful. On November 10th thieves again entered the empty neighbouring business and cut through to the pharmacy. This time they drilled holes into the back of the safe, taking narcotics and cash. You can help catch these suspects and qualify for a reward by calling Crime Stoppers anonymous tips line at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit our website at www.crimestoppers.net or text to CRIMES (274637), keyword Ktown. This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet. Photo: Facebook 'Polite robber' Brandon Oswald left a Vancouver courtroom in handcuffs Friday morning to serve an additional 18 months in jail. Oswald was arrested in West Kelowna on the evening of March 11, 2014, after using an imitation handgun to rob a Shoppers Drug Mart of prescription drugs and cash. He was found guilty in July by a jury. Victims noted he was calm and polite throughout the crime, saying please and thank you. One employee even said if she were robbed again in the future, she hoped it would be similar to the crime carried out by Oswald. Oswald, who has has been free on bail, moved to Vancouver Island to live with family. In the past eight months, he's found steady employment and has been undergoing drug rehabilitation with his doctor. However, Justice Alison Beames said despite his good behaviour, she felt she had no choice but to jail him. I recognize you've made amazing strides and had I been focused on (only) rehabilitation ... I would have let you out at this point in time, but that's simply not possible, Beames told Oswald in court Friday. I really hope that you can build on the eight months of sobriety that you've had at this point in time and keep focused on your goals. I wish you the best of luck. The Crown had been seeking a total sentence of three to five years for Oswald, while defence lawyer Valerie Hartney was hoping for a sentence of time served. Oswald had credit for 360 days served. In a scenario all too familiar in the courts, Oswald was injured in a work-related accident and became hooked on prescription pills, which later led to illicit drug use. Tragedy filled the years prior to the robbery. His grandmother and mother died. And just 12 hours before he walked into the Shoppers Drug Mart, Oswald found the body of his best friend, killed by a drug overdose. At 9:45 p.m. on a Tuesday, Oswald, wearing sunglasses, a bandana around his face and a hoodie, walked into the drug store with an unloaded pellet gun. Unknown to him, police had been monitoring Oswald, and he was arrested immediately after the robbery. He was 22 at the time and had no criminal record. While Beames said the imitation gun carried an implied threat of violence, Oswald made no threats during the robbery. Oswald's lawyer argued he was a man with addiction issues who struggled in prison during his pre-trial incarceration. He used heroin for the first time while he was in jail. Since his release, he's cleaned up. Beames read a letter from Oswald's doctor in court: His behaviour with me and with the staff has been exemplary. Incarceration is at times a necessity, but at other times can contribute to an individual's destruction, and I fear that may well be the case with Brandon. A conviction of using a firearm while committing an offence even if it's an imitation one carries with it a mandatory minimum sentence of one year, served in addition to any sentence for the other charges. Oswald's defence lawyer had presented a constitutional challenge to this mandatory sentence, but Beames ruled against that challenge Friday. In addition to that mandatory sentence, Oswald was given an additional 18 months for the robbery and six months for disguising his face, to be served at the same time. Oswald was also handed 12 months of probation upon his release. Photo: Kelowna RCMP The City of Kelowna and local RCMP are getting closer to finding a new head for the detachment. Mayor Colin Basran said the RCMP posted the position across Canada and received numerous applications. That list has now been shortlisted to four candidates. At the end of the month those four candidates will be coming to Kelowna for interviews. Basran said the candidates will interview with both the city and RCMP, who will be making the decision jointly. Depending on how things go, there will be some panel discussions between the RCMP and city, he said, adding he hoped they would be able to make a decision next month. Kelownas previous top cop, Nick Romanchuk, suddenly retired in September amid an outside investigation into a series of allegations directed at the detachment. The Abbotsford Police Department has remained tight-lipped on the details of their probe. You could drive away a winner in Castanet's latest and biggest giveaway. In partnership with Harmony Honda and Sun FM, we're giving you the chance to win a brand-new 2017 Honda Civic. Not a lease outright ownership of a brand-new car. The contest kicks off Saturday and continues until Dec. 17. All you have to do to is watch for the Civic to drive across the front page of Castanet and click on it to find out where it will be parked that day. Go to that spot and snap a selfie with the car, then post it to Instagram with the hashtag #WinThisCivicContest. It's that easy. We'll keep you updated with weekly videos and daily tips on where the car will be. Click to win, and good luck! Photo: Contributed Greyback Construction of Penticton has been selected as concrete subcontractor for the new patient care tower and parkade at Penticton Regional Hospital. The $12-million contract will provide a projected 80 man-years of employment. The project will require 2,100 truckloads of concrete, 2,200 tonnes of rebar and 20,000 cubic metres of cement. The patient care tower concrete will be completed by fall 2017, and the parkade concrete will be completed by summer 2018. "Being able to contribute to the construction of the patient tower at the hospital is so vital to the people who live here and resonates deeply with the family values that have been instilled in the company for generations," said Greyback general manager Matt Kenyon. Local workers have a vested interest in contributing to a successful project in their own community, he added. "Having expanded health care facilities close to home will have a huge impact on families who live in the area, and we are honoured to be a part of this project," he said. Greyback has been in business since the 1930s and recently worked at PRH, on renovations to the radiography room. Other projects include the Osoyoos border crossing, South Okanagan Secondary School, City of Penticton waste water treatment plant and the W.R. Bennett bridge in Kelowna. The birthing chimes at Vernon Jubilee Hospital bring a smile to all who hear them. They sound like fairy bells and they just echo through the whole hospital, said Sue Beaudry of the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation. The chimes have been dedicated to Dr. Ted Jordan, who spent 50 years practicing medicine in Vernon. Jordan passed away last year. In a dedication ceremony Friday, Jamie and Pip Jordan described their father's extraordinary dedication to his patients, often going to bed without seeing him due to another baby being born at VJH. There was a year in the early to mid-sixties where, in a calendar year of 365 days he delivered 363 babies, said Jamie Jordan. Most of the babies came at night and he was sort of the disappearing father because he'd be there at breakfast, he'd go to his office and he'd be at the hospital almost every night. Both expressed their immense pride that the chimes have been dedicated in their father's honour. To witness the event was Leslie, the first baby delivered at the hospital by Jordan all those years ago. The chimes are electronic with two buttons, pink for a girl and blue for a boy. People just stop and they have a smile on their face. They know that there's been a new life delivered at this hospital, Beaudry said. Photo: WKFR UPDATE MONDAY, NOV. 21 An investigation into the cause of a mobile home fire on Boucherie Road in West Kelowna over the weekend has been completed. Investigators have concluded the cause of the fire will remain undetermined. A mobile home went up in flames overnight in West Kelowna. Firefighters responded to the fully involved blaze about 12:20 a.m. this morning at a mobile home on the 1800 block of Boucherie Road. The structure suffered significant fire and smoke damage and is a total loss, West Kelowna Fire Rescue assistant chief Darren Lee said in a press release. Crews arrived to find black smoke billowing from the front of the home. Heavy flames were venting from windows at the rear of the home and were threatening to spread to several nearby homes and outbuildings. Neighbours say no one was home at the time of the fire. Firefighters stretched an attack line to the rear of the home and quickly knocked down the flames before moving inside to search for any occupants. They worked for several hours to suppress the remaining fire and extinguish any hot spots. Several outbuildings were damaged by radiant heat. Twenty-four firefighters, five engines, a water tender and command unit responded, with additional fire crews on standby. RCMP, paramedics, BC Hydro and Fortis gas crews also attended. A crew remained on scene overnight to monitor the scene. A cause of the fire is not yet known and is under investigation. Photo: Flickr/RCMP The Criminal Justice Branch says three RCMP officers will not be charged after a suspect in Surrey suffered a broken hip. The branch says police were called to a basement suite in on Feb. 28, 2015, after reports that a tenant was "trashing" the unit. A statement from the branch says Mounties found an apparently intoxicated man who was naked, bleeding and swearing in a room littered with broken glass and furniture. The branch says the man initially complied with police and agreed to leave the residence, but then began pushing the officers who had to take him to the ground so he could be restrained. The statement says suspect's nose and forehead were cut after his head hit the ground, but an injury to his right hip wasn't immediately obvious though it was later determined that he needed surgery. Potential charges of assault were considered, but the branch says the available evidence does not meet the standards to approve any charges. Immigrants in Columbus and Schuyler are waiting to see how President-elect Donald Trump's policies will impact their lives. Victor Lopez, president of Comite Latino in Schuyler, said he and many people he knows expected and hoped Hillary Clinton would win the presidential election. Now that Trump is heading to the White House, even documented immigrants are concerned for their friends and neighbors. Because either they have a family member that is not, they have a friend, they have a relative that somehow will be affected, he said. Undocumented immigrants are not only concerned about the threat of deportation. They don't want to see their families split up. They have an uncertain future because they dont know whats going to happen, said Lopez. A lot of people are worried about being deported and their kids staying here. In spite of the election outcome, Lopez was proud of the efforts of his organization, which registered 300 Schuyler Latinos to vote between the primary and general elections. A Comite Latino member, Mynor Hernandez, won a seat on the Schuyler Community Schools Board of Education. At least we did our part, our participation, said Lopez. Lazaro Spindola, executive director of the Nebraska Latino American Commission, said Trumps campaign rhetoric has many Latinos concerned. Obviously the dialogue during the campaign had pretty harsh things to say about minorities and about Latinos, said Spindola, who lives in Columbus. So now there is concern among Latinos Ive spoken to, especially among DACA beneficiaries. DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) was enacted by an executive order from President Barack Obama that allows children who were brought to the U.S. by their parents without documentation to gain lawful employment and pursue higher education. Trump has said that one of his first acts as president will be to undo Obamas executive orders, which could impact DACA. Hopefully things will not be as dire as they are being shown to be, but we really dont know, said Spindola. The president-elect can, as soon he takes office, he can take away President Obamas executive action with one pen stroke. Spindola said removing DACA would negatively impact local communities and the state, which desperately need workers to fill open positions. They are really filling a need in Nebraska, said Spindola. Nevertheless, this turns out to be a very emotional issue for many Nebraskans. They dont tend to think about the fact that most of the individuals here are filling a need the state has they are working, they are making a better life for themselves and their families. The Nebraska Latino American Commission estimates around 2,000 Nebraskans are currently enrolled in the DACA program. Scott Miller, Central Community Colleges director of marketing and public relations, said there are DACA students attending CCC, but the exact number isn't known. The college is waiting to see what happens with DACA. As of right now its too early to tell because he (Trump) has not been sworn into office, Miller said. John Griffith is executive director of Catholic Charities in Omaha, which teamed with Christ the King Priory to offer immigration services in Schuyler in 2014. Griffith understands the immigrant communitys concerns, but said its too soon to know what a Trump presidency will mean for them. Our hope now, with the new administration, is the immigration reform discussion can begin anew and there can be some changes to immigration laws, said Griffith. But were way early in that process. My and my brides immediate family do not reside in Columbus, so we look forward to the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday as a time to reconnect with loved ones and watch our children have fun with cousins, uncles, aunts and grandparents. It is also during this time that we, like many Americans, take stock in the abundant blessings that have been afforded to our little family of five. We have found that a fun way of doing this is by sharing humorous holiday picture books with our children. Books like Albuquerque Turkey by B.G. Ford, I know an Old Lady who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson, Night Before Thanksgiving by Natasha Wing, and My First Thanksgiving by Tomie DePaola always bring a smile to the little ones in my life, but there is one book that has all of us in stiches: A Plump and Perky Turkey by Teresa Bateman. In this quirky tale, readers meet the down-hearted and depressed citizens of Squawk Valley. It is a week before Thanksgiving, and they still have no turkey for their holiday feast. But their cunning and sly mayor, Ebenezer Bezer, devises a plan to outwit and trap a butterball delight, stating If we cant find a turkey, lets have one find us, instead. Bezer goes on to explain that the town will host a turkey-themed arts and crafts fair, using a real turkey to model for the event. He boasts that once the judging is complete and the winners are announced, he will personally sneak up behind their feathered guest and toss him into a pot. Before they know it, the citizens will be feasting on a turkey of their very own. The hungry crowd delights in the idea and sets to work implementing the plan. They post posters around the forest at turkey level, of course, and wait to see what feathered candidate applies. Well as luck would have it, a robust turkey named Pete spies the unique advertisement and is more than excited at the opportunity to strike a pose. A plump and perky turkey? Well, Im sure I qualify, gushes Pete. To see if the hungry folks of Squawk Valley will get their turkey feast or if they will have to make do with bowls of shredded wheat, checkout A Plump and Perky Turkey by Teresa Bateman. If you are seeking fun and engaging holiday books to help get your little ones in the mood for the upcoming festivities, be sure to stop by the Columbus Public Library and check out what we have to offer. I am sure, no matter the age of your children, the library will have a great holiday text that will satisfy even the pickiest of palates. If you have any questions regarding the books mentioned in the article or would like other fun reading suggestions, contact me at 402-564-7116 opt. 4. Public health officials can use the decreases observed as benchmarks for improving population health, while using observed increases to direct targeted efforts to reduce the number of potentially preventable deaths. A joint effort of public health and health care organizations can support analysis and action to reduce the number of potentially preventable deaths from the five leading causes of death. Specifically, given the reported increase in potentially preventable deaths from unintentional injuries, these findings might inform the selection and implementation of evidence-based interventions to prevent deaths from injuries such as falls and drug overdoses, based on epidemiologic burden. There has been a significant decrease in the number of potentially preventable deaths among three of the five leading causes of death (diseases of the heart, cancer, and stroke) during 20102014. However, the number of potentially preventable deaths from unintentional injuries increased significantly during the same period. This is mostly attributed to an increase in drug poisoning (overdose from prescription and illicit drugs) and falls. No significant change was observed in potentially preventable deaths from chronic lower respiratory disease (e.g., asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema). Deaths from heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease, cerebrovascular diseases (stroke), and unintentional injuries account for the five leading causes of death in the United States. Death rates for these diseases vary widely across states, related to variation in the distribution of social determinants of health, access and use of health services, and public health efforts. Death rates by specific causes vary across the 50 states and the District of Columbia.* Information on differences in rates for the leading causes of death among states might help state health officials determine prevention goals, priorities, and strategies. CDC analyzed National Vital Statistics System data to provide national and state-specific estimates of potentially preventable deaths among the five leading causes of death in 2014 and compared these estimates with estimates previously published for 2010. Compared with 2010, the estimated number of potentially preventable deaths changed (supplemental material at https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/42472); cancer deaths decreased 25% (from 84,443 to 63,209), stroke deaths decreased 11% (from 16,973 to 15,175), heart disease deaths decreased 4% (from 91,757 to 87,950), chronic lower respiratory disease (CLRD) (e.g., asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema) deaths increased 1% (from 28,831 to 29,232), and deaths from unintentional injuries increased 23% (from 36,836 to 45,331). A better understanding of progress made in reducing potentially preventable deaths in the United States might inform state and regional efforts targeting the prevention of premature deaths from the five leading causes in the United States. To determine significant changes in the number of potentially preventable deaths for the five leading causes of death in the United States, CDC analyzed National Vital Statistics System mortality data from 2014 (1) using the same analytic model presented in the original report that used 2010 data as benchmarks (2). The number of potentially preventable deaths per year per state in persons aged <80 years was determined by comparing the number of expected deaths (based on the cause-specific average death rate of the three states with the lowest 20082010 average rate by age groups) with the number of observed deaths in 2010 and 2014. Further detail on age-adjusted rates by state and cause can be found in yearly publications on final death data (1). Population estimates for 2010 and 2014 were produced by the U.S. Census Bureau. The calculations of potentially preventable deaths were restricted to U.S. residents and deaths in persons aged <80 years. Premature death was defined as a death that occurred in a person aged <80 years, based on the average life expectancy for the total U.S. population, which was nearly 79 years in 2010 (2). Analysis was restricted to deaths with an underlying cause of death among the five leading causes, based on International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes. The five leading causes of death represented 63% of all deaths in 2014, a decrease of 2.3% compared with 2010. In 2014 the next five most frequent causes accounted for approximately 12% of deaths (3). The number of potentially preventable deaths for each of the five leading causes of death by state in 2014 was calculated in four steps. The first step was to calculate and rank state disease-specific death rates by age group. Using 20082010 data, the three states with the lowest observed death rates for each age group and specific cause of death category were selected and their death rates averaged across the three states to calculate a lowest average age-specific death rate for each cause of death. For example, during 200810, among persons aged 4049 years, the three states with the lowest rate of death from unintentional injuries were Maryland, New Jersey, and New York, and the benchmark average was 25.2 (supplemental material at https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/42342). The average of the lowest three states was chosen to minimize the effect of any extreme outlier and to represent the low end of the distribution of death rates among the states. The second step was to calculate expected deaths for each age group and state by multiplying the age-specific state populations for 2010 by the 2010 benchmark death rates (i.e., the lowest three-state average age-specific death rates for each cause). Total expected deaths for each cause and state were calculated by summing expected deaths over all age groups aged <80 years, effectively taking into account differences in mortality across age groups. These state-specific and cause-specific expected death counts represent the number of deaths expected if all states were to achieve the 2010 death rate benchmarks (2). Third, the 2010 potentially preventable deaths were calculated by subtracting expected deaths from 2010 observed deaths. Finally, the same 2010 benchmark death rates for each cause were used to calculate 2014 potentially preventable deaths by repeating the third and fourth steps with 2014 population and mortality data. Specifically, the number of expected deaths in 2014 was calculated by multiplying the 2010 benchmark death rates by the 2014 age-specific populations; these expected counts were then subtracted from 2014 observed deaths. The numbers of potentially preventable deaths for each cause were assumed to follow a Poisson distribution, and standard errors were calculated, taking into account stochastic variation, consistent with methods described previously (2), in both the expected and observed number of deaths, for each cause and year. Statistically significant changes from 20102014 were assessed using a two-sided z-test (p<0.01). Results are presented for the United States as a whole, by state, and by the 10 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regions. The five leading causes of death for persons aged <80 years in 2014 (diseases of the heart, malignancies [cancer], cerebrovascular diseases [stroke], chronic lower respiratory diseases [CLRD], and unintentional injuries [accidents]) represent 63% of deaths from all causes. The estimated number of potentially preventable deaths and the proportion preventable among the five leading causes of death in persons aged <80 years were 87,950 for diseases of the heart (30% preventable); 63,209 for cancer (15% preventable); 45,331 for unintentional injuries (43% preventable); 29,232 for CLRD (36% preventable); and 15,175 for stroke (28% preventable) (Figure). Potentially preventable deaths from cancer declined 25% from 2010 to 2014 (the increase in the expected number of deaths was greater than the increase in the observed number). This decline appears to be driven by a 12% decrease in the age-adjusted death rate from lung cancer from 2010 and 2014. Decreases in age-adjusted death rates from cancer were observed across all U.S. states, except the District of Columbia (supplemental material at https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/42343). The expected number of deaths was based on benchmark death rates from 2010; however, cancer-related death rates declined during 20102014. In both 2010 and 2014 the Southeast (Region 4) had the highest number of potentially preventable deaths for each of the five leading causes of death (Table 1). In 2014, the Northwest (Region 10) had the lowest number of potentially preventable deaths for each of the five leading causes of death except deaths from CLRD and unintentional injuries, where the lowest number occurred in New York and New Jersey (Region 3) (Table 2). Consistent with increases in population since 2010, particularly among older age groups, the number of observed deaths increased for each of the five leading causes of deaths in 2014, and age-adjusted death rates declined during 20102014 for each category except unintentional injuries. Specifically, from 2010 to 2014, age-adjusted death rates per 100,000 population for heart disease declined 6.8% from 179.1 to 167.0; for cancer, from 172.8 to 161.2 (6.7% decrease); for stroke, from 39.1 to 36.5 (6.6% decrease); and for CLRD, from 42.2 to 40.5 (4.0% decrease). For unintentional injuries, age-adjusted death rates increased 6.6%, from 38.0 to 40.5 (supplemental material at https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/42341) (1). Among subcategories of unintentional injury deaths for all ages, age-adjusted death rates for poisonings increased 25%, and falls increased by 12% (supplemental material at https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/42344). Prescription drug and illicit drug overdose was a major contributor to the increase in poisonings during 20102014 (4). COLUMBUS Dick Tooley Jr. and his four brothers grew up in the downtown drug store their father and uncle opened in 1928. When the boys werent in school they could be found working the soda fountain, stocking the cigarette racks and taking on other tasks at the family business. They learned the value of hard work at a young age, but made sure to set aside time to go pheasant hunting together every Sunday in the fall. That was a big deal, Dick Jr. said of the weekly hunting trips. He remembers his father as a dedicated man with exceptional foresight. Alfred Dick Tooley was just 24 years old when he and his brother Frank Tooley opened Tooley Drug Store along 13th Street. The brothers, both recent graduates of pharmacy school who moved to Columbus in the previous two years, knew the city was prime for expansion because of its location along U.S. Highway 30 and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. They were spot-on. An estimated 3,500 people visited Tooley Drug on opening day to see the modern fixtures and equipment, including the fully electric soda fountain that served as the stores centerpiece. The brothers handed out 1,200 cigars, 1,300 rosebuds and 1,000 lollipops to mark the occasion. The business, originally located at 2613 13th St., moved to the corner of the block in 1931 and shifted one door west a decade later to make room for Woolworths. After Franks death in 1948, Dick Sr. purchased his interest in the business and oversaw an expansion in 1961 that doubled the stores size and moved it back to the original location. Another expansion followed in 1991. Dick Jr. said his father was a soft-spoken man with a great sense of humor, who knew how to run a business. He worked hard, said Dick Jr., who joined the family business in 1958. Michael Tooley learned those same lessons from his father before starting Sacramento, California-based Tooley Oil Company in 1978. My dad taught all five of his sons about work while we worked at the drug store from the time we could handle a broom through college, he wrote in a letter to the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce. For me, the best part was walking home with dad late at night after closing the drug store. We would walk through Frankfort Square and I felt very important and protected. Dick Sr. died in 1971 23 years after his brother but the downtown fixture they established nearly 90 years ago remains today. Dick Jr., one of three brothers to follow in their fathers footsteps and become a pharmacist, currently runs the business with his wife Joan, son Tim Tooley, who joined in 1984, and granddaughter Jamie Heine, who returned to Columbus last year. A second Tooley Drug location opened in 2002 near Columbus Community Hospital and an Osceola pharmacy bearing the family name was added in 2014. They obviously left a legacy, Dick Jr. said of his father and uncle, who will be inducted into the Columbus Area Business Hall of Fame during a banquet Tuesday at Ramada-Columbus. The Tooley brothers also played important roles in the community outside their drug store. Frank, who served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in World War I, was a founding member of the American Legion post in Central City as well as post and district commander for the American Legion in Columbus. He was the first member of American Legion Hartman Post 84 to receive a lifetime membership. Dick Sr., who enjoyed refinishing antique furniture, was a member of the National Association of Retail Druggists, Nebraska Pharmaceutical Association, chamber of commerce, Knights of Columbus, Izaak Walton and Nebraska Wildlife Federation. To his sons, though, he was their hero behind the pharmacy counter. I will always remember my dad wearing a dress shirt (blue not white) and tie every day to work, Michael Tooley wrote. Rain or shine, cold or heat, it was a shirt and tie at work. 1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war. 2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war. 3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament of the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength. 4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war. 5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites. 6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination. 7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N. 8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N. 9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress. 10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N. 11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.) 12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party. 13. Do away with all loyalty oaths. 14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office. 15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States. 16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights. 17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks. 18. Gain control of all student newspapers. 19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack. 20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions. 21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures. 22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms." 23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art." 24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press. 25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV. 26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy." 27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch." 28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state." 29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis. 30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man." 31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over. 32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc. 33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus. 34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities. 35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI. 36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions. 37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business. 38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand. 39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals. 40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce. 41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents. 42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use united force to solve economic, political or social problems. 43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government. 44. Internationalize the Panama Canal. 45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction over nations and individuals alike. JavaScript is disabled on your browser. CORDIS website requires JavaScript enabled in order to work properly. Please enable JavaScript. Did things get a little heated on your social media feed after the recent election? Be careful. It could prevent you from getting hired. Donald Trump got the top job in America despite his penchant for shooting from the lip on Twitter, but other job seekers aren't so lucky. More and more, an ill-tempered tweet or a crude Facebook rant can disqualify you from a job. According to an April survey by the job site CareerBuilder, 60 percent of employers comb social networking sites to research job candidates. Of those, 46 percent said they'd reject a candidate if they found provocative photos, videos or information; 43 percent object to information about drinking or drugs; and 33 percent said they'd toss a candidate for discriminatory comments related to race, religion, gender, etc. An offensive social media post can not only keep you out of a job, it can also cost you the one you have, of course. Just last month in Georgia, Jane Wood Allen, a Forsyth County Schools paraprofessional, was canned after a Facebook post in which she called first lady Michelle Obama a gorilla. If you're considering sanitizing your social media history, it can be a daunting task. You have to deal with not only your own posts, but also those of others where you commented or where someone tagged you. Early adopters of Facebook may need to go back as much as a decade to find those photos of their brotastic frat party keg-stands they need to delete. Tech entrepreneurs naturally see a business opportunity in fixing things. ReputationDefender starts at $3,000 a year for hands-on help scrubbing your online mentions. There's also Reputation.com and other services, such as BrandYourself and Social U, that provide a free scan of your accounts and then charge to help clean them up. Another is Scrubber.social, which just added political screening to its scans for profanity, drugs, alcohol, check-ins at strip clubs and other potentially embarrassing posts made by you or your connections. The scan is free, and users can pay $15 for 48-hour access to tools that will help them clean up problematic posts, or $30 for a yearly subscription, says founder Ryan Angilly. Angilly added political screening to the mix based on the flaring tempers on his own social media pages. My hunch was mainly from seeing all the vitriol on my own Facebook page and on Twitter, and it turned out to be spot on, Angilly says. We reached out to our free customers and the overwhelming response was that people were looking for political searching as well. Social media information can help you as well in your job hunt. According to the CareerBuilder survey, about one-third of employers who review social media found information that prompted them to hire an applicant, such as, Candidate's personality came across as a good fit with company culture. And it's not just college kids making the move to the career world who need to worry about their online past. Increasingly, even middle-aged professionals find themselves haunted by their posts. It's even hitting job hunters applying to join the Trump administration. According to CNN, the Trump transition teams vetting of potential administration hires includes scouring potential appointees social media accounts. Some people were weeded out for having been publicly critical of Trump in the past. Brian J. O'Connor is an award-winning columnist for The Detroit News. Contact him at brian@funnymoneyblog.com or visit www.funnymoneyblog.com. See the winner here. Extras: Advertisement "I hear they have a deal on Canadian grave sites." Scott Soloway, Evanston "Honestly, Abe, I've never been happy we're dead until now." Advertisement Suzanne Voss, Arlington Heights "He's planning his sculpture - on Mount Trumpmore. " Ann Fraioli, Oak Park "Such small hands." Ron Flowers, Elk Grove Village "We're history!" Libby Wolkoff Highland Park "I dunno, Abe...I thought America was pretty great to begin with." Tom Wogan Sr, Chicago Advertisement "Abe, I cannot tell a lie - there goes the neighborhood." Ruth Muscarello, Lake Forest "Such small hands." Ron Flowers, Elk Grove Village "...he's checking to see if the letters "T-R-U-M-P" will fit on the roof of the White House!" Diane Kearney, Arlington Heights "Let's photo bomb him G" Kristin Andras Advertisement "We're on money, he's got money, maybe this'll work." Jack Featherstone Naperville Okay, Abe. Time to roll over in our graves." Therese Glascott, Chicago "...he's visualizing a spot on Mt. Rushmore!" Patrick Kearney, Arlington Heights "Take note Abe, January 20th, 2017, the day the White House goes from class to crass." Michele Medhurst Flossmoor Advertisement "Gee, Abe, should we join him in his selfie? Looks like he might need some help!" Richard Kosenesky Cicero There's a lot of history bound up in Dance Theatre of Harlem, and not just because it was founded 47 years ago. When the company performed here in 2014, for the first time in many years, it brought works devoted to history: Resident choreographer Robert Garland's "Gloria" celebrated Harlem's groundbreaking Abyssinian Baptist Church and the company's own recent rebirth; the cultural history of James Brown and Aretha Franklin was featured in Garland's "Return"; and the late choreographer Ulysses Dove explored his personal history in "Dancing on the Front Porch of Heaven." But the time for looking back has passed. Of the three new or newly acquired works running through Sunday at the Auditorium, two are politically charged. Very charged. Advertisement MOST READ ENTERTAINMENT NEWS THIS HOUR Francesca Harper began work on "System" (2016) two years ago, driven by the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown at the hands of police in 2014. Even without that knowledge, it's obvious that there's something happening here, as eight dancers stare wide-eyed into the glare of an orangish light, seemingly lit by some conflagration. Each bears a different expression of horror. We see alarm, then retreat into a cold blue light far upstage. We see supplication, support. We see withdrawal in the woman standing hunched, arms and legs crossed protectively. Advertisement Music by John Adams his String Quartet No. 1 and "Fellow Traveler" guides the emotional arc. Unfortunately, it's recorded music for the first half of "System," but for the second it's played live by four members of Chicago Sinfonietta, which heightens the impact of a shift from anxiety to anticipation, excitement. The orangish glare that had shone from in front of the stage turns into a golden light coming from the side, which the dancers turn to and move toward with what looks like hope. Two dancers' delicate bourrees backward, tiny steps inflected by a drooping head falling slowly side to side, are repeated with a subtle sense of triumph in the second half. "System" is too long by half, as emotions are iterated and reiterated. And some of the ballet sequences seem obligatory nods to traditional classical dance. But it is revolutionary in its way, as is Dance Theatre of Harlem's very existence. The company first performed Nacho Duato's "Coming Together" in 2015, but Duato created it in 1991, inspired by composer Frederic Rzewski's 1971 music of the same name. That composition repeats the words of Attica inmate Sam Melville, written from prison, layered over Rzewski's raging river of sound. Pretty much forgotten now, Melville was a radical activist who bombed eight buildings in New York in 1969, got arrested, rioted during the Attica uprising and was killed. God willing, we won't return to such times. But the subject is undeniably topical. Because Duato is known here for the lovely folk-driven pieces Hubbard Street has done, "Coming Together" took me by surprise. But its quirky theatrical elements do call to mind the antic humor of Nederlands Dans Theater, Duato's home for nearly a decade: A gold lame curtain billows behind three ladies in evening gowns perhaps the men's fantasies? and single letters are displayed on some men's shirts. Like the music, the movement is driving and somewhat indistinct, not well performed in the usual sense of clear timing and shapes but passionate. It's also the only dance of the three without pointe shoes. While Harper uses them sporadically in "System," they dominate Garland's 2016 "Brahms Variations," the only remotely classical ballet here, apparently designed to show off the company's technique. And they do show it off, especially workhorses Chyrstyn Fentroy, polished and musical, and Da'von Doane, who combines power with gentle feet and soft landings. Garland has fun introducing and gradually heightening some sly, decidedly nonclassical hip motions. Laura Molzahn is a freelance critic. ctc-arts@chicagotribune.com When: Through 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday Advertisement Where: Auditorium Theatre, 55 E. Congress Parkway Running time: 1 hour, 55 minutes Tickets: $30-$100 at 312-341-2300 or auditoriumtheatre.org RELATED STORIES: Harris choreographer Brian Brooks teams with Hubbard Street Dance Review: Dorrance Dance's electronic tap 'ETM' is ingenious but flawed Advertisement Tere O'Connor's dream dances finally come to Chicago Watch the latest movie trailers. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox) Teacher Elizabeth Minter, center, reads with student Carma Joyner as London Okundaye, left, and Damarie Merritt, right, work on their own at the Washington Park Chicago Youth Programs' Read to Me early childhood literacy program on Nov. 15, 2016. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) For most of her life, Kenya Jones, 43, did not know how to read. After bringing six children to the Chicago Youth Programs literacy initiatives, she finally made the life-changing step of learning for herself. "If it weren't for this program, I'd probably be sitting in my house wondering how life would be," Jones said. Advertisement Jones described her life as "missing out," and "sad, complaining saying, 'Me, me, me, ain't nobody helping me.'" She was afraid to attend parent-teacher conferences for her children, thinking she would not understand. She was afraid to ask for help. Her oldest son, now 18, had problems reading in school. Now, he is in college teaching others how to read, she said. Advertisement Crediting Chicago Youth Programs for both her children's success and her own, Jones is more confident now, actively asking questions and wanting to meet with teachers in her children's schools. Chicago Youth Programs is one of the many local nonprofits that receive financial support through Chicago Tribune Charities, a McCormick Foundation Fund. The programs include Read To Me, which pairs children ages 3 to 6 with an adult volunteer to provide individual reading. There are 55 students in the program, which is held in Washington Park, Cabrini Green and Uptown, according to Cinaiya Stubbs, the organization's deputy executive director. Kenya Jones, standing, left, gets help putting away supplies from student Dynasty Williams at the Washington Park Chicago Youth Programs' early childhood literacy program. Jones, 43, said without the program, "I'd probably be sitting in my house wondering how life would be." (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) Additionally, there is the "PREP" program parent-run evening preschool which encourages parents to participate in the Read To Me program, she said. The literacy initiatives teach preschoolers phonics for two hours a week, Stubbs said. The programs are free and children receive transportation and food. "One of the things that we found, we have some parents who are illiterate," Stubbs said, which was the situation with Jones. "We've had to begin serving our parents" so that learning can begin within the homes. The manager of the Washington Park programs, Audtrie Mobley, said the literacy programs are thriving. "This is where it all begins," Mobley said. "They are very curious and eager to learn." Advertisement Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > Stubbs said they test the students three times a year, which determines the effectiveness of the program and helps identify kids who need more assistance. "It pays dividends," Stubbs said. "Our goal is for them to graduate college and make a transformative step out of poverty." The early-literacy programs give them confidence to engage in their own learning, Stubbs said. That is something Jones knows well. Her daughters are now all strong readers, she said. No longer is it a matter of hoping that the Chicago Youth Programs literacy initiatives would make her children's lives better, Jones said. It already has. "(My daughter) looked at me like 'You can really read,' and I was shocked myself," Jones said. "I used to make excuses, now when somebody calls on me, I raise my hand, I'm so excited." The Chicago Youth Programs was started in 1984 by Northwestern University medical students, and has grown to include more than 600 volunteers across 40 different programs, including 40 volunteers primarily from the University of Chicago who serve the Read to Me literacy initiative, Stubbs said. Advertisement Erin Gallagher is a freelancer. A DuPage County jury delivered a guilty verdict Friday evening in the murder trial of a Chicago man accused of fatally shooting a store clerk during a bungled hold-up, prosecutors said. After listening to about two hours of closing arguments and deliberating three hours, jurors found Stephan A. Russell, 23 guilty of the first-degree murder of Hussein Saghir, who was shot outside his Bensenville tobacco store on the evening of Jan 19, 2014. Russell was also found guilty of attempted armed robbery. Advertisement Authorities say Saghir, 36, a Lebanese immigrant, had stood outside the store blocking the entrance to protect his brother and three-year-old nephew who were inside. The shooting was captured on security camera and was played several times at trial. Saghir was murdered on his wife's 40th birthday, and had plans to celebrate that night at a family dinner, his widow, Hanan Faraj, testified Tuesday. Advertisement Russell testified Thursday that he was at his family's apartment on West Armitage at the time, an alibi that was attested to by his mother and sister, but did not convince jurors. During the trial, which began Tuesday, two hold-up accomplices who were fellow gang members of Russell identified him as the shooter. The reliability of their testimony was a focal point during closing arguments. Defense attorney Roger Malavia argued that alleged accomplice Tremayne Davis shot Saghir. Security video showed the gunman in a distinctive maroon hooded sweatshirt, which Davis admitted was his. However, he said Russell donned it to commit the robbery with accomplice Kenneth Bardlett, while Davis sat in the getaway vehicle behind Sam's Tobacco on Irving Park Road. Malavia said it was "stunningly obvious" that Davis, who made a plea deal to testify, lied in court. The defense attorney also had harsh words for Bardlett. He had a plea deal to testify, but had to be brought forcibly to court and then refused to answer prosecution questions. The defense attorney derisively called Bardlett the prosecution's star witness, in reference to Bardlett's facial tattoo of a star. He contrasted them with Russell's mother and sister, a student at the University of Iowa. "Our witnesses we don't have anyone to apologize for," Malavia told jurors. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > Assistant State's Atty. Mike Pawl said Bardlett's courtroom antics were calculated to show gang members he wasn't a "snitch." The prosecutor urged jurors instead to rely on videotaped interviews Bardlett gave to police after his arrest in February 2014, in which he supplied details about the incident that police were able to corroborate. "The Bardlett of two and a half years ago is the truthful Bardlett," Pawl said. Advertisement Davis' account of the sweatshirt was accurate, Pawl said, and noted a gas station security video taken of Davis about 20 minutes before the shooting. The pants and shoes Davis was wearing at the gas station didn't match those worn by the gunman, Pawl said. Russell made a statement to police at the time of his arrest, in which he said he knew that hanging out with the wrong crowd would get him in trouble, and that he would only shoot someone in self-defense, the prosecutor noted. "That's a confession to the murder, and it tells you that Hussein Saghir was murdered for absolutely nothing," Pawl said. Russell is due back in the courtroom of Judge Daniel Guerin, who presided over the trial, on Dec. 16. A date for sentencing may be set at that hearing. Clifford Ward is a freelance reporter. More than a week after Donald Trump was elected president, at least 200 protesters and onlookers crowded Federal Plaza at noontime ahead of a milelong march to Trump Tower as families waited for the evening's Festival of Lights parade on the Mag Mile. Speakers said demonstrations are important after the election, and that it's vital their voices be heard so what they view as racist, sexist and xenophobic rhetoric of Trump's campaign would not become a new normal. Advertisement Those who led reminded protesters of the importance of demonstration even after the election, and how vital it was that their voices be heard, so that what they believed was the racist, sexist and xenophobic rhetoric of Trump's campaign would not become a new normal. Trump's presidency and recent Cabinet appointments, they promised the crowd, would be met by resistance and organization every day. Advertisement Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 12 Protesters against Donald Trump march toward Trump Tower on Nov. 19, 2016, in Chicago. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) While most of the protesters' ire was focused on the president-elect, whom speakers denounced as a racist and homophobe, the crowd also spoke out against Democrats who they said took them for granted. "The Black Lives Matter protests rose up largely against Democratic mayors and then you have an open racist running on the other side against a woman who played a key role in the mass incarceration boom what sort of choice is that," said local activist Andy Thayer, who was one of the speakers at Federal Plaza. "My point is we don't just have to take this crap," he said, adding that activists can force change when they unite. Chanting in unison, they pumped the air with handmade signs, and passers-by downtown often stopped to read the messages: "Our voices are stronger than Trump's hate." "I deserve a president who leads by example." "Privilege: Thinking something is not a problem because it's not a problem to you personally." One sign was crafted by 5-year-old Johanna Gierut, and its pink scribbled letters formed a simple message, reading, "Donald Trump is mean." A young protester holds up a sign in Federal Plaza on Nov. 19, 2016. (Marwa Eltagouri / Chicago Tribune) Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > Johanna said she thinks Trump is selfish, too something she conveyed to her father, 35-year-old Nick Gierut, during a lesson on selfishness. Gierut said the protest offers his daughter a valuable lesson: That a hateful attitude toward minority groups, even if displayed by her future president, is not acceptable. Gierut said he personally tried to give Trump a chance when he realized he would be the nation's next president. But Trump's recent Cabinet appointments, such as his choice for attorney general, Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, set Gierut back. Sessions is an anti-immigration crusader deeply disliked by civil rights activists. "I was hoping (Trump would) name more moderate Republicans to this Cabinet," he said. "Even if we march and only a couple people read about it, they might go and read about (Stephen Bannon) and Sessions. And that helps." Other speakers talked of opposing Trump and his agenda at every turn in his fledgling presidency. More than a week after the election, hundreds protested Donald Trump's victory outside Chicago's Trump Tower on Nov. 19, 2016. (Marwa Eltagouri / Chicago Tribune) (Marwa Eltagouri / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune) "There are so many political moves that have happened where they expect us to accept everything," said Lashawn Littrice, an Englewood native and co-founder of the group Black Lives Matter Women of Faith. "We've collectively come together with a group who understands," she said. "We have rights, and we can stand up for those rights." Police on the scene estimated between 300 and 400 people took part in the protest between Federal Plaza and Trump Tower. meltagouri@chicagotribune.com wlee@chicagotribune.com gwong@chicagotribune.com Twitter @marwaeltagouri Twitter @midnoircowboy Twitter @GraceWong630 Republican President-elect Donald Trump's choices for leadership posts threaten national unity and promise to turn back the clock on progress for racial, religious and sexual minorities, civil rights leaders and others said Friday after his nomination of Alabama U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions for attorney general. Comments attributed to Trump's picks, also including Stephen Bannon as senior adviser and chief strategist and former Army Lt. Michael Flynn as national security adviser, serve to embolden everyday Americans to lash out at members of minority groups, they said. Sessions, a Republican, was denied a federal judgeship in 1986 after hearings in which he was accused of making racially charged remarks as a U.S. attorney. According to transcripts, Sessions was accused, among other things, of joking that he thought the Ku Klux Klan "was OK" until he learned its members smoked marijuana and of calling a black assistant U.S. attorney "boy." During the hearing, Sessions denied making some of the comments and said others were jokes taken out of context. Black Lives Matter activist and Campaign Zero co-founder DeRay Mckesson said Sessions' "documented racism and previous ineligibility for public office make him unfit to be the standard-bearer for the nation's justice system." "If Sessions were to become the attorney general, the freedom and liberty of the historically marginalized would be severely threatened," said Mckesson, who has protested in several cities demanding police reform to address bias against communities of color. "Sessions' nomination would also confirm that Trump plans to govern as he campaigned as a proponent of bigotry, racism and xenophobia." Bannon led the Breitbart website, which has been widely condemned as racist, sexist and anti-Semitic. In a 2011 radio interview, Bannon said conservative women infuriated liberals because they "would be pro-family, they would have husbands, they would love their children," contrasting that against a slur for lesbians. Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway has called the accusations against Bannon "very unfair." Lennie Gerber, an 80-year-old resident of High Point, North Carolina, who led the fight against her state's ban on same-sex marriage, said she worried Trump's appointments will further incite such sentiments among the public. "Saying that kind of thing incites the racism and the anti-gay feelings in everybody else and says you're free to express these things," Gerber said. "These people who've been suppressed by the positive transformation that has gone on over the last few years are now feeling free to express themselves." Civil rights leaders are calling on Trump to rescind Sessions' nomination or for the Senate to reject him. Sessions requires Senate confirmation as attorney general, as does Republican Kansas U.S. Rep. Mike Pompeo for CIA director, but Bannon and Flynn do not. In August, Flynn spoke at an event in Dallas for the anti-Islamist group Act for America, calling Islam, a religion with 1.6 billion adherents, "a political ideology" and "a cancer." Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said, "Unfortunately, these very important picks in his administration send a troubling message indicating that the bigotry we saw expressed in the campaign will continue." Aside from comments and actions attributed to the nominees, their lack of diversity worries civil rights leaders. Washington attorney A. Scott Bolden said Trump is "0 for 4" on diversity: All his picks are white men. "The scariest part of his potential administration will be how his political debts to the alt-right will manifest itself in his administration and policies," Bolden said. "Jeff Sessions is one of those manifestations ... to be in control not only of justice in America, but really to bring injustice to America." Trump had said he planned to reward loyalty, and he demonstrated such with his nomination of Sessions, who was the first senator to endorse him. Daniela Lapidous, a 22-year-old Jewish woman who works to fight climate change, called Bannon a "misogynist and anti-Semite and an anti-climate extremist." She said she never before felt the need to fight anti-Semitism but now thinks that she must. "I've been somewhat convinced that anti-Semitism isn't a thing in the United States anymore, but this past year, with Trump and Bannon, it's made me scared about that for the first time in my life," said Lapidous, who lives in San Francisco. The Rev. Jeffrey Brown, associate pastor of the Twelfth Baptist Church in Boston, said he's unhappy with Trump's choices, particularly Sessions. "I hear people complaining that we should give the Trump administration a chance," Brown said. "It's very clear by his appointments that he's not going to give a lot of communities in the United States that same chance." Elaine Walton, a black resident of New Orleans, said she had deep concerns. Her most visceral reaction to Trump's picks? "Fear. How is he going to be the top watchdog for the country when he's so biased?" "I think those people cannot lead him, advise him on how to lead this country forward," she said. "They are going to advise him on how to lead the country backwards." Associated Press German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks with President Obama in a meeting of the heads of government of Germany, France, Italy, Great Britain and Spain and the U.S. on Friday in Berlin. (KAY NIETFELD / EPA) Angela Merkel took to Instagram on Nov. 9 to (sort of) congratulate President-elect Donald Trump. Instead of sending a direct message to @realdonaldtrump, Merkel posted her congratulations publicly to her followers, first in German, then later in English. Merkel's message was too long for Twitter, the former businessman's favored outlet. And, no, her message didn't contain the usual platitudes about undying friendship, not in the traditional sense, anyway. Rather, it was a conditional invitation, a message that stopped short of congratulating the soon-to-be 45th president of the United States. Advertisement Merkel's (translated) message read: "Germany and America are bound by values democracy, freedom, as well as respect for the rule of law and the dignity of the individual, regardless of their origin, skin colour, creed, gender, sexual orientation or political views. On the basis of these values, I offer close cooperation to the future president of the United States of America, Donald Trump." Seemingly listing all the issues that divided them, Merkel extended a tentative hand of friendship by daring Trump to renounce many of the ideologies he flirted with during his presidential campaign. Advertisement We do not know if Trump responded. But the president-elect, who has previously tweeted disrespectful and angry comments about the German chancellor's immigration policy, cannot afford to upset her. Merkel is an important ally. Uniquely among European leaders, Merkel has fended off populist challengers and is almost certain to win re-election in September 2017. She will be a fixture throughout the first term of the Trump presidency. In her 11th year in office, the pastor's daughter who grew up under a communist regime and who speaks flawless Russian is not likely to welcome the president-elect's friendly relations with Vladimir Putin. Nor is Germany, the largest exporter of goods in the Western world, enamored by Trump's protectionism. Should the future president be worried? Or could he simply ignore the German chancellor? America needs its allies in international forums such as the G-20, the G-7 and even the U.N. In everyday diplomacy the EU has often acted as a go-between for the U.S., most recently in relation to Turkey. In a potential conflict with China, for instance, the new president would need to count on his democratic allies in Europe. Trump needs to establish positive relations with Europe in general, and in particular with Merkel. The German chancellor comes prepared. Having outmaneuvered strong and often misogynistic men in her own party, the Christian Democratic Union, she has a record of dealing with men in power. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi suffered politically when he used lewd comments about the German leader's physique. And Putin's attempts to bully Merkel have failed time and again. He once let his dog into his office to scare Merkel the former KGB man knew she'd been bitten by a dog in her youth. Her response? She persuaded other European powers and businesses to introduce crippling economic sanctions Russia could ill afford, proving Merkel's careful diplomacy and networks to be stronger than Russia's military might. Trump, beware! As much as Trump would like to establish more friendly relations with Moscow, the European Union is the U.S.'s largest trading partner: More than 6 million jobs in America depend on trade with the EU. Upsetting that relationship will make it difficult to bring back jobs to the American rust belt, the area that overwhelmingly elected Trump. The president-elect needs to develop a very different style if he is to establish positive relations with Germany and the EU upsetting Europe's strongest power is not an option for the New York businessman-turned-politician. Matthew Qvortrup, an expert on German Chancellor Angela Merkel, is the author of "Angela Merkel: Europe's Most Influential Leader." He is a professor of political science at Coventry University's Centre for Trust, Peace, and Social Relations in the United Kingdom. No, the pope didn't endorse Donald Trump. No, Hillary Clinton didn't sell arms to Islamic State. Yes, cousin Shelley really is getting married. You can trust some of what you read on Facebook (congrats, Shelley), but do not believe every headline that pops up on your Facebook feed. The internet, and Facebook in particular, is awash in a sea of fake news. The stories, mainly political in nature, represent a pernicious mix of lies, exaggeration and fantasy peddled as journalism to a divided nation that's unhappy enough to believe the worst about anyone. Advertisement Some of the fakery is satirical and should fool only the gullible ("Trump Confirms He Just Googled Obamacare"). But a lot of junk floating out there like crud on the tide of real events looks legitimate and feeds the suspicions of partisans and cynics. For example, since it could have happened, maybe the Denver Guardian really did break the most shocking story of the presidential campaign ("FBI Agent Suspected in Hillary Email Leaks Found Dead in Apparent Murder-Suicide"). Whoops, breaking news: That FBI agent story was bogus and there is no such news outlet as the Denver Guardian. A lot of people apparently believed it, since it was passed around Facebook more times than a surprising but true New York Times article ("I ran the CIA, now I'm endorsing Hillary Clinton"). Advertisement (Scott Stantis) Craig Silverman of BuzzFeed, a real person working for a real website, studied Facebook and found that the 20 top-performing false election stories generated more shares and reactions than the 20 best-performing election stories from 19 major news websites. The Washington Post (real) interviewed Paul Horner (also real), who writes fake news and wonders if he helped tip the election in Trump's favor. "His campaign manager posted my story about a protester getting paid $3,500 as fact. Like, I made that up," he said. Horner isn't lying. According to Politifact, a Pulitzer Prize-winning news organization, Horner's fake story ("Donald Trump Protester Speaks Out: I Was Paid $3,500 to Protest Trump's Rally") was retweeted by Trump insider Corey Lewandowski. It was easy to accept because Trump who spins a lot of tales had claimed protesters at his events were paid. (Sad but true: At some point fake news and political fibs can intersect). There are financial as well as political motives for distributing fake news. Outlandish stories attract readers, which generates ad revenue. But these fake articles cause real damage: They harden preconception and fan discord in a divided nation. They heighten mistrust in democratic norms and distract from legitimate issues. In Berlin on Thursday, President Barack Obama warned about fake news: "If we can't discriminate between serious arguments and propaganda, then we have problems." A remarkable statement, but you can't blame him: Maybe you saw the photo on Facebook of first lady Michelle Obama holding up a sign that reads "An immigrant is taking my job." Real photo, doctored message. How to hold on to reality in a virtual world? Google and Facebook say they are trying to stop fake news sites from making money through ad sales, but it's on individuals to read skeptically. A few suggestions, based on our experience: Scrutinize the source. Fake stories typically come from obscure websites masquerading as established ones. Advertisement Corroborate what you read by scanning other sources or Googling keywords or quotes to confirm the facts. As grizzled Chicago reporters like to say: "If your mother says she loves you, check it out." Rely on the mainstream news media. Professional journalists strive to report the news fairly and take responsibility for the accuracy of their work. Yes, we're making a pitch for our brethren in the trenches. While everyone makes judgments on what to read and watch, count on real reporters to deliver the facts. You are here: Home Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Friday commissioned the upgraded Victoria Falls International Airport that was built with support from China. Mugabe said the renovation could turn the airport into a regional tourist hub if aggressively marketed. Completion of the airport project was also a major milestone in the country's development efforts, partnered by China which he described as "a great partner and friend." Expansion of the airport, which began in 2013, was done by China Jiangsu International and financed through a 150 million-dollar-loan from China Export Import Bank. The upgraded airport now handles 1.5 million passengers per year, up from 500,000 and boasts of modern passenger facilities, a new international terminal building, a new 4km runway, extended parking areas for aircraft, new control tower, new fire station, new road networks, a new state of the art international passenger terminal building and a refurbished domestic terminal. The new airport can now accommodate long haul flights from around the globe, which is expected to increase inflow of tourists to Zimbabwe. The airport is the gateway to Victoria Falls, a world heritage site and one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Mugabe commended China Jiangsu International for good work and pledged to engage the company for similar construction projects in the future. He added that Harare and other airports in the country need to be further expanded and upgraded. Eighty-five artificially-bred Chinese sturgeon, a critically endangered species, were released on Friday into the Yangtze River. The release was carried out at the mouth of the river in Shanghai. The freed sturgeons were all 1.6 meters long. Workers also freed nearly 60,000 other fish at the same time, including protected Chinese suckers. The Chinese sturgeon has existed for more than 140 million years. The fish has top national protection, as economic development, pollution and illegal fishing have driven it to the verge of extinction. Progress has been made in protection of aquatic animals in the Yangtze in recent years with fishing bans, creation of nature reserves and action against illegal fishing, said Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu. The Chinese sturgeon nature reserve at the mouth of the Yangtze was established in 2002. Since 2004, authorities have freed artificially-bred fish 17 times, involving nearly 500 Chinese sturgeon. An attack by a robot that left a man needing stitches at a technology fair has been blamed on incorrect operation. The attack on a visitor at China Hi-tech Fair 2016 on Thursday was caused by misoperation, organizing committee of CHTF said on Friday. A visitor was reportedly injured on Thursday after a robot named "Xiaopang" displayed at the China Hi-tech Fair ran into a window, smashing it into pieces. The visitor's leg was wounded by broken glass and he was taken to Peking University Shenzhen Hospital by an ambulance. He later went home after receiving a few stitches. The accident took place at about 2pm when the exhibitor, Spreadview Century, a Shenzhen high-tech enterprise, was demonstrating the robot to visitors. In a statement, the fair's organising committee said the employee mistakenly hit the "forward" button, instead of the "reverse" one, leading to the accident An exhibitor surnamed Zhang whose booth is located near the accident site told China Daily that he heard a loud noise when the accident happened and saw many people gathering at the site. Display of the robot had been withdrawn from the site by Friday afternoon. The robot was produced by Beijing robot company Evolver. It was developed for children aged between four and 12 years old for educational use, according to media reports. The device made its debut in November 2015 at the World Robot Conference. CHTF, known as the country's biggest and most influential technology show, is an annual event during which enterprises and organizations from all over the world share and trade their latest technologies and products. This year's fair, held in Shenzhen from November 16 to 21, has attracted more than 3,000 exhibitors from 37 countries and regions across the world. The re-entry capsule of Shenzhou XI spacecraft landed in Inner Mongolia on Friday, bringing home two astronauts from China's longest-ever manned space mission. [LI GANG / XINHUA] China will start to recruit and train the third generation of its astronauts beginning next year and will turn engineers into space fliers, a senior space scientist said on Friday. Huang Weifen, deputy research head of the Astronaut Center of China, revealed the plan at a news conference in Beijing about three hours after two Chinese astronauts returned to Earth from their monthlong space journey. "We have finalized the plan," she said. Huang added that to meet the requirements for a future space station, "we will expand the candidates' scope, by selecting not only pilots from the Chinese Air Force but also engineers in the space industry. Those engineers will be trained to become spaceflight technicians to take part in future missions". The preparatory work is proceeding well, she said, adding that the success of the Shenzhou XI-Tiangong II mission has shown that China is now able to support astronauts' long-term stay in space. Astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong returned to Earth at around 2 pm on Friday after completing China's longest-ever manned space mission. They opened the re-entry capsule's hatch by themselves at the landing site in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region and were carried out of the capsule by medical workers. The two were in good condition and were to be flown to Beijing on Friday evening together with their re-entry module, said a statement from the China Manned Space Agency. Jing and Chen began the space trip aboard the Shen-zhou XI spacecraft, which departed from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China on Oct 17. They entered Tiangong II, which was launched in mid-September from the same center, on Oct 19. General Zhang Youxia, top leader of China's manned space program, said that the Shenzhou XI-Tiangong II mission was a "complete success". The mission was China's sixth manned spaceflight and is expected to pave the way for a permanent space station, which the country plans to start building in 2018 and put into service in about 2022. The space station will consist of three parts: a core module and two space labs to which it is attached, each weighing about 20 metric tons. It will operate in orbit for at least 10 years, according to the China Manned Space Agency. Also at Friday's news conference, Wang Zhaoyao, the agency's director, said that the country will launch its first cargo spacecraft, Tianzhou 1, in the first half of next year to dock with Tiangong II. The mission will test technologies of in-orbit fuel supply for the future space station, he said. Currently, Tianzhou 1 is being assembled and tested. It will be lifted atop a Long March 7 rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Center on the island province of Hainan, Wang said. Premier Li Keqiang urged continued efforts to implement the basic state policy of gender equality and the principle of prioritizing the development of children's education. While addressing the sixth national working conference on women and children, Li said women and children's development should be better coordinated with economic growth and social progress. Gender discrimination must be eliminated, and equal pay for equal work must be enforced, said Li, calling for efforts to provide special work protection to female employees and boost support to them, including training, tax waivers or rebates, and legal and business assistance. Greater efforts should be made to select or promote female cadres, and women should enjoy greater opportunities and capabilities to govern economic and social affairs, Li said. The premier also urged greater care for particularly vulnerable groups, including the poor, sick and disabled, elderly women as well as single mothers. Calling children the "future and hope of a nation," Li said priority should be given to the education of children. Li urged advancing balanced development of compulsory education by investing more heavily in education in central and western regions, border areas, ethnic minority areas and impoverished areas. Work to expand enrollment of students from poor areas in prestigious universities should be continued, Li said, adding efforts should be made to create equal opportunities for education for children from various family backgrounds. Additionally, Li urged improving medical services for children, increasing the number of pediatricians, and addressing shortages of pediatric medications and other medical resources. More effective measures should be worked out to address birth defects and malnutrition of children, Li added. Special care should be provided to orphans and sick, disabled and homeless children, as well as rural children whose parents have left home to work in cities as migrant workers. Moreover, Li added that the government will continue to crack down on human trafficking and other crimes that target women and children. Flash NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Friday called on the European Union to do more for defense and security under uncertain circumstances. He made the remarks in a speech delivered at an event hosted by the think tank the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF). Stressing the importance of the transatlantic bond, the NATO chief said, "Two World Wars -- and the Cold War -- have taught us that the security of Europe relies on the U.S., and that the U.S. has a profound strategic interest in a stable and secure Europe." He said the transatlantic bond should remain strong in these uncertain times, what with challenges posed by Russia and turmoil in North Africa and the Middle East. "Crucially, Europe must do more on defense and security...and an important part of that is closer cooperation between NATO and the European Union," Stoltenberg said. Calling for European allies to spend more on defense, he said, "We have heard that call many times, from many American leaders, from President Obama and from president-elect Trump." Stoltenberg also underlined the complementarity, rather than competition between the two, when it comes to European defense. "NATO nations and EU members simply cannot afford two sets of forces and capabilities," he added. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Stoltenberg would present concrete proposals to further strengthen NATO-EU cooperation next month. You are here: Home Flash At least 119 people have been killed over the past four days as a result of intense shelling in Syria's northern city of Aleppo, a monitor group said on Friday. Government shelling on rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo killed 65 people, including eight children, and wounded hundreds of others, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Rebel shelling on government-controlled areas killed 54 civilians, including seven children, the London-based watchdog added. The Observatory pointed out that as many as 5,100 people have been killed in Aleppo in the last two months, as a U.S.-Russian-sponsored truce failed to bring a prolonged peace in the city. Meanwhile, state news agency SANA reported that five people were killed on Friday by renewed rebel shelling on western Aleppo. For months, the Syrian government and Russia have been urging rebels to leave Aleppo, offering them safe passages to other rebel-held areas in the northwestern province of Idlib. The rebels, however, turned down all offers, which has resulted in intensified violence. You are here: Home Flash Seven militants including a group commander loyal to the Islamic State (IS) outfit were killed after unmanned plane pounded their hideout in Kot district of the eastern Nangarhar province on Friday, spokesman for provincial government Attaullah Khogiani said Saturday. IS group commander Mullah Bazarg is among those killed in the air strike, the spokesman said. There were no casualties on civilians in the raid, Khogiani said. Nangarhar province with Jalalabad as its capital 120 km east of Kabul has been the scene of IS activities over the past two years. Flash The United Nations (UN) Security Council on Friday "expressed deep alarm over the escalation of ethnic violence in South Sudan," and "strongly condemned all instances of attacks against civilians, ethnically targeted killings, hate speech, and incitements to violence." This was contained in a press statement issued by the 15-nation UN body after it was briefed by the special representative of the UN secretary-general, Ellen Loj, the UN special adviser on the prevention of genocide, Adama Dieng, and the chair of the South Sudan sanctions committee on the current situation in the world's youngest country. "The members of the Security Council expressed deep alarm over the escalation of ethnic violence in South Sudan reportedly carried out by the SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army), the SPLA in Opposition, as well as militias, and unidentified armed groups," the statement said. Dieng concluded a three-day trip to South Sudan earlier this week. He warned that the country risked spiraling into genocide if nothing was done to calm the situation. Ambassador Augostino Njoroge, deputy chairman of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), on Friday decried the flare-up of armed clashes, ethnic and political tensions, and lawlessness in parts of the war-torn country. He said that an increase in armed groups had led to a rise in killings and property damage. The Security Council "called on the government of South Sudan to immediately address increasing hate speech and ethnic violence, and to promote reconciliation among its people, including through a process of justice and accountability," said the statement. "The members of the Security Council underscored that the only way forward in South Sudan is through a genuine and inclusive political process, based on the framework provided by the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan which allows for all voices to participate in shaping the future of South Sudan," the statement said. "The members of the Security Council also underscored that all parties must commit themselves to peace and take meaningful steps to end violence and ceasefire violations," it said. The council members called upon the parties to immediately agree on the implementation of an effective cessation of hostilities in order to avoid an escalation of the conflict in the upcoming dry season and reiterated that there is no military solution to the conflict, the statement said. "The members of the Security Council signaled their readiness to consider taking additional measures in order to prevent a further escalation of violence and conflict, including potential sanctions that may be appropriate to respond to the situation," the statement said. South Sudan has been shattered by civil war which broke out in December 2013 after President Salva Kiir accused his sacked deputy Riek Machar of plotting a coup. Machar denied the accusation but then mobilized a rebel force. Tens of thousands have been killed, with over 2 million displaced and another 4.6 million left severely food insecure since then. A peace deal signed in August 2015 between rival leaders under UN pressure led to the establishment of a transitional unity government in April, but was devastated by renewed fighting that erupted in early July. The JMEC is overseeing the implementation of the August 2015 peace deal. Overheated property markets in major cities have started to cool down after authorities took measures against speculative buying and a potential home market bubble. However, a long-term effort is needed to make the market stable and sustainable, analysts said. Last month, new home prices dropped in seven cities, compared with six in September, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, which monitors housing prices in 70 cities nationwide. In Shenzhen, where housing prices rocketed by more than 30 percent, a record, in the past several months, prices declined by 0.5 percent in October. "After first-tier cities and some key second-tier cities launched cooling measures, home prices have obviously become stable," Liu Jianwei, NBS senior statistician, wrote in a note posted on the NBS website. Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Xiamen and Zhengzhou began to see home prices switching from rising to dropping in the second half of October, with average prices down by between 0.1 percent and 0.4 percent compared with the first half of the month, he noted. Housing authorities in more than 20 cities have launched various measures against speculative buying to curb rapid home price growth, including setting stricter requirements for qualified buyers, higher down payments and limits on buying second and third homes. Yan Yuejin, an analyst with property research agency E-House China R&D Institute, said the residential property market is "digesting these policies and measures gradually, and it is likely for the market to have rational and stable prices in the near future". Ma Junwei, an analyst with Deyi Realty in Shanghai, said it will require a long-term effort by regulators and local authorities to battle speculative buying while keeping supplies stable for buyers with solid demand, including those who plan to buy their first home or upgrade their housing. In Shanghai, real estate agents said they have noticed that homebuyers have become more rational. "Buyers are starting to take their time and study their options. They will compare prices, designs and locations and bargain with sales representatives," said Luo Dingjun, sales manager at Jinyu Property Marketing. "This was not the case two months ago, when they rushed to buy for fear that if they hesitated, prices would grow too fast and they would no longer be able to afford." BEIJING - The China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) has protested at a markup by a leading iron ore producer that targets Chinese buyers. "It is obviously unfair," a CISA official said on Friday, who did not name the company but hinted it is among the world's top-three iron ore miners. When discussing new agreements with Chinese steel firms, the company decided to impose a premium in addition to prices published by Platts, a benchmark price assessment in physical energy markets, the official said. The official said the practice damaged the current pricing mechanism and disturbed trade order, and called on the two sides to "sit down and talk" to solve the problem together. China is the world's biggest consumer of iron ore, with the imports up 8.9 percent year on year in the first ten months. A university student in Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi province, takes a taxi she booked through the ride-hailing business of Didi Chuxing. [Photo provided to China Daily] Germany's biggest automobile manufacturer Volkswagen Group said it is seeking to forge joint venture car-sharing deals with major local industry players like ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing, to meet the rapidly-changing travel needs of Chinese consumers. Volkswagen Group China signed a strategic cooperation framework with Didi Chuxing on Thursday, under which the two companies will establish a ride-hailing business and exchange business practices and strategies in products, marketing, branding and data technology. They said their move would help promote the development of smart urban transportation system in China. A joint venture will be set up by VW and Didi at an as yet unspecified date. Volkswagen Group China president and CEO Jochem Heizmann said the two companies would nail down their ownership stakes in the next few months. Heizmann also stressed that Volkswagen sees its presence as a partner in the joint venture not as a car manufacturer as such, but as a "comprehensive mobile travel service provider," in line with the company's long-term strategy in China. He gave no further details about the new joint venture. Didi Chuxing CEO and founder Cheng Wei said that the venture would meet the evolving and multiple travel demands of Chinese people. He said that with a new mainland travel ecosystem being established, the two companies would support the supply-side reform of the Chinese transport system, helping to address the current challenges lurking in transportation, environment and employment. As the biggest ride-hailing company in China, Didi Chuxing now provides services to more than 300 million users in more than 400 Chinese cities. Its market-leader position was reinforced after its acquisition of Uber China in August. In March, Didi Chuxing started a new-energy car timeshare rental business through a joint venture with new-energy carmaker BYD Motors. Apart from Didi Chuxing, Volkswagen is also setting up a joint venture with Beijing-based Shouqi Group, as part of its broader moves to expand into the mainland car-sharing sector. Global market consultancy Roland Berger said in a recent report on the car-sharing economy that the potential of China's car-sharing market is much larger than previously thought, with demand far exceeding supply. It estimated that China's car-sharing market would be worth 1.8 trillion yuan ($261 billion) by the end of 2018, equal to 2.7 percent of China's total GDP in 2015. The consultancy said such a huge demand in the sharing economy - together with alternative propulsion systems, driverless and connected cars - should have signaled it was time for automotive manufacturers to reposition themselves. It said their focus should be changed from simply providing products to services, the latter holding the promise of more added value. "Innovative shared transportation initiatives currently range from chauffeured rides to ride-sharing, driving services, shared rentals and timeshare vehicle ownership," said Zhang Junyi, a partner of Roland Berger. Qualcomm Inc said it expected to start shipping China-customized server chips around mid-2018, as the US tech giant ramped up its resources to tap into opportunities brought by the mainland's growing demand for internet data centers. Qualcomm President Derek Aberle told China Daily in an exclusive interview that 2018 would be a very important year for the company's joint venture in Guizhou province, whose initial investment hit 1.85 billion yuan ($280 million). The joint venture, called Guizhou Huaxintong Semiconductor Technology Co, was set up in January, with the Guizhou government owning a 55% stake and Qualcomm holding the remaining interest. It will start making tailor-made sever chips next year. The joint venture unveiled a new research and development center in Beijing on Friday, which will help make chips commercially available. The move is part of Qualcomm's broader efforts to build up a presence in the server chip sector, which is currently dominated by Intel Corp. "We've provided all the licensed technologies to the joint venture," Aberle said, adding the US group would send samples of its server chips to some customers at the end of the month and expected to initially sell them next year in the US market. "The chips will have a customized security element for the China market that will be different from what is used outside of the country," Aberle said. Qualcomm's move is an example of how international companies are adjusting their strategies in China, where State-owned firms are embracing homegrown IT products amid increasing concern about cyber security. Aberle said earlier that the Huaxintong joint venture would be one of its biggest growth engines in five years, as China's Internet Plus initiative fuels an explosive growth of internet data centers. According to research firm International Data Corp, the country consumed about 3.7 million units of server chips in 2015, and demand is expected hit 8.6 million units by 2020. Roger Sheng, a senior analyst at research firm Gartner Inc, said Qualcomm was the first major company to build server chips based on the ARM architecture, a chip design that is widely used in smartphones and tablets. Premier Li Keqiang shakes hands with representatives from the 6th National Conference on Women and Children, which was convened in Beijing on Friday.[Photo/Xinhua] Premier Li Keqiang calls for measures to improve healthcare and employment for vulnerable groups Premier Li Keqiang called on Friday for additional care for women and children by endowing them with safer food, equal employment opportunities and improved healthcare. Li was speaking at the 6th National Conference on Women and Children, which was convened in Beijing to promote benefits for these two vulnerable groups in fields such as education, health and employment. China has more than 9 million children left behind by their parents who leave rural areas to work in cities and are often taken care of by aged grandparents in poor living conditions. Care for women and children concern the country's future, and respect for women and protection of children should be promoted by everyone in the country, Li said. Since 1949, the country has adopted policies to firmly support equality between men and women and set a priority to care for children, Li said. Food safety has been an enduring concern for parents, eight years after a high-profile scandal in 2008 involving infant formula produced by Sanlu Group, then a leading dairy company in Hebei province. The formula was found to contain chemicals that killed six babies and left thousands seriously ill. Li urged all government departments to perfect national standards and monitoring systems for children's daily necessities, food and toys. Producing and selling counterfeit or shoddy products must be curtailed to provide every child with the most secure products, he said. Li also vowed to create a better environment in which women will have equal chances for jobs as men and further crack down on crimes and violence against women and children, such as school violence, sexual abuse and human trafficking. The country should also improve medical care for the two groups, he added. In 2011, the central government released a 10-year plan to promote the welfare of women and children while the country was undergoing quick economic growth. The past five years have seen an increase in women's life expectancy and a reduced infant mortality rate. Women have contributed to their own families and made equally important achievements in fields such as science and technology, said Xia Xueluan, a guest professor of sociology at Sanya University in Hainan province. Meanwhile, how children are raised and cared for will have a great impact on the future of their families and the country, and that's why Li emphasized the importance of both groups, Xia added. Top political advisor stresses cross-Straits media exchange Xinhua | Updated: 2016-11-19 07:12 BEIJING - China's top political advisor on Friday urged media across the Taiwan Strait to hold more exchanges and boost cross-Straits ties. Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks while meeting with media representatives who attended a media summit in Beijing. The summit was hosted by Beijing Daily Press Group and Taiwan's Want Want China Times Group. Yu said exchanges between the press on the two sides have played an important role in strengthening mutual understanding. He said mainstream public opinion on both sides supports the political foundation of peaceful development, and the central authorities will continue to facilitate cross-Straits media exchanges. Yu also expressed his hope that media on both sides will guide public opinion more positively and promote the bond between compatriots across the Strait. Seasonal floating bridge opens on China-Russia border Xinhua | Updated: 2016-11-19 07:12 HARBIN - A floating bridge on the China-Russia border was opened Friday for winter transport between the two countries, a port in northeast China said. The 600-meter bridge is built on six 1,000-tonne barges connected end-to-end between Heihe Port in Heilongjiang Province and Blagoveshchensk, capital of the Amur region in the Russian Far East, said an official with the port. The bridge is designed with 10.5 meter-wide road with two-way lanes for personnel and cargo transport. It is expected to remain open until April, when the river ice fully melts allowing for ferry operations, the official said. A hovercraft ferry is also being used, until the river freezes. Heihe is an important port in Heilongjiang, with Blagoveshchensk on the other side of the Heilong River. The distance between the ports' nearest points is only 100 meters. China faces tough battle against smog: official Xinhua | Updated: 2016-11-19 07:12 BEIJING - China still faces an urgent and formidable task in combating air pollution, which is a persistent "affliction to people's hearts and lungs," an official said Friday. Recent bouts of severe air pollution in Beijing are reminders of the grim situation for environmental protection, Zhao Yingmin, vice minister of environmental protection, said at a press conference. On Friday, the national observatory continued to issue warnings for moderate to heavy smog in northern and central China, with some areas in Beijing, Hebei, Henan and Shaanxi issuing orange alerts, the second-highest in a four-tier warning system. The top priority of air pollution control should be addressing severe air pollution, especially pollution in north China this winter, Zhao said. "China should strive to resolve the affliction to people's hearts and lungs in the shortest time possible," Zhao said. The fundamental reason for frequent heavy smog is excessive pollutant emissions, although smog-trapping weather conditions also play a part, Zhao said. "Without help from nature, people should make more efforts to fight pollution," he said. The country will push to revamp industrial and energy structures in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and surrounding areas, home to some 50 percent of China's coal consumption and steel production capacity, Zhao said. China will also reduce pollutant emissions by acting on highly-polluting companies, promoting clean use of coal and eliminating vehicles with excessive emissions. Zhao added that China will also improve the accuracy of air quality forecasts, reinforce government supervision and enhance regional coordination in extreme weather conditions. Encouraging figures have been released by the ministry. In 338 large Chinese cities, 81.4 percent of days in the first 10 months had good air quality, slightly higher than last year. A national guideline on environmental improvements for 2016-2020 was approved at a State Council executive meeting presided over by Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday, specifying targets for reducing air, water and land pollution. It sets the goals for a more environmentally friendly way of living, considerable reduction of major pollutants, and a sounder ecological system by 2020. Former Xinjiang senior lawmaker jailed for bribery Xinhua | Updated: 2016-11-19 07:13 XINING - A former senior legislator of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was sentenced to 12 years in prison for accepting bribes, according to court verdict announced on Friday. Li Zhi, former deputy head of the standing committee of Xinjiang regional people's congress, was also fined 1 million yuan (145,119 U.S. dollars), according to the verdict by the Intermediate People's Court of Xining, capital city of northwest China's Qinghai Province. Before becoming a senior legislator, Li held several positions in Xinjiang, including chief of the Communist Party of China (CPC) committee of the regional capital Urumqi. Between 1996 and 2013, Li took advantage of his positions to seek profit for others on construction projects, land development and promotions, as well as extorting and accepting bribes totaling about 13.19 million yuan, which will be confiscated and turned over to the state treasury, the verdict said. The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC announced an investigation into Li in March 2015, before his trial in Xining began June this year. Mei Huan, one of the twin sisters, at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan.[Photo provided to China Daily] Luo Yunhong the panda keeper is happy to take care of Mei Lun and Mei Huan, although he has found it difficult to communicate with the 3-year-old twin sisters. The twins were returned to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan province on November 5 from Zoo Atlanta in the United States. "When I said 'come here' in the Sichuan dialect, they ignored me," Luo complained. The two, born on July 15, 2013, are the first surviving panda twins ever born in the United States. Their parents, Lun Lun and Yang Yang, were sent to Zoo Atlanta in 1999 under a breeding and research agreement between China and the United States. According to the agreement, their cubs born in the United States must be returned to China. Luo said he realized the twins' US keepers had greeted them in English, and so they had become accustomed to the language. "Now I also have to greet them in English," he said. To help the twins adapt to the environment in China, a vet and a keeper, both from Zoo Atlanta, accompanied the pandas to Chengdu. They stayed at the panda base for several days and told Luo what they knew about the twins' traits and eating habits. According to Wu Kongju, a senior keeper at the Chengdu panda base, all the young keepers graduated from institutions of higher learning and can speak some English. But Wu does not believe that pandas can tell the difference between human languages, be it English or Chinese. "Pandas may know the meaning of a few words that keepers say frequently. But that doesn't mean they know the language," she said. She added that the pandas know it is time to eat only after a keeper repeats the words "come here" with an apple in his hand. Mei Lun and Mei Huan are in a monthlong quarantine before they can meet visitors in early December, according to Lan Jingchao, a panda researcher at the base. While some pandas can adapt to their new environment upon arrival, others can be frightened and restless, troubled by the long hours of transportation. But Wu said researchers and keepers at the base are experienced in helping them adapt to their new homes. The signing ceremony for transferring the English rights of the book in Romania took place at the book festival.[Photo/Xinhua] A book providing a comprehensive picture of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East in Tokyo was in focus on Thursday during the Gaudeamus book fair. The Tokyo Trial is a story of war criminals tried after World War II. The signing ceremony for transferring the English rights of the book in Romania took place at the book festival. "The Tokyo trial had an impact upon the Japanese political trend and this book fills a vacuum, attracts attention and generates enthusiasm," said Jiang Yaopeng, representative of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Press, which initiated the project. "The book has opened the path for other publishing houses to initiate their editorial projects on the same topic," Jiang added. Xiang Longwan is the honorary director of the Tokyo trial research center in Shanghai, which was set up in 2011. He believes it's important to have foreign books translated into Chinese to enable the Chinese to know the opinions of foreign experts about what happened. "Even many Chinese do not know about the Tokyo trial. Gradually, in 10 years, we picked files, trial proceedings, documents and did research, to make them available first to the Chinese, then to the world." Romulus Ioan Budura, former Romanian ambassador to China, said: "I am glad the Chinese are disseminating this crucial book across the world because history should teach us not to make more mistakes." Sara Crowley-Vigneau, senior commissioning editor from Palgrave Macmillan, partner publisher of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Press, expressed her delight to have this book disseminated in Romania. "As a publisher, we were very keen to ensure that Chinese research, and research from Asia in general, becomes part of the international global scholarly debate," she said. It's been 70 years since the beginning of the Tokyo trial, the equivalent of the Nuremberg trial in Asia, which brought to court crimes against humanity, and significantly contributed to the development of international law. The five-day Gaudeamus International Book Fair, now in its 23rd year, kicked off on Wednesday in Bucharest, featuring China as guest of honor. Many of China's independent travelers - those who do not book trips with travel agencies or groups - are taking to minsu, a new study has found. The Chinese term is used for accommodations that range from boutique hotels to homestays - and offer opportunities to experience local lifestyles. Bed-and-breakfasts are inside the purview. Compared with 2015, the growth in demand for such accommodations was huge in the first three quarters of the year, mafengwo.cn, a prominent tourism website, said in its 2016 Hotel Reservation Report of Independent Chinese Travelers. The study was based on big data from the site's partner hotels. It didn't reveal the base figure. The trade journal China Tourism News reported that there were more than 40,000 such accommodations in China, with the sector's market value standing at around 20 billion yuan ($2.9 billion). They are seen in large numbers in such cities as Lijiang and Dali in Yunnan province, where prices range between 318 yuan and 801 yuan per night. "You can stay with a local and rub shoulders with other residents of the neighborhood. Each visit gives you a different experience," Ma Yutao, head of the website's research, told China Daily. Independent travelers also prefer to stay in a minsu because Chinese increasingly want better value for their money. According to the website, these travelers want clean rooms and convenient locations. Many travelers commenting on the website said they expected their hosts to be "hospitable, talkative or humorous". Some said they preferred hosts who are "adept at cooking and good-looking or can drive". "The advantages of regular hotels are their standardization and good locations," said Yu Feifei, a frequent traveler from Xiamen, Fujian province. "You know they are going to be good, but there will be no surprises." The 31-year-old said minsu are more attractive because some provide living experiences to the average traveler, who cannot own anything like them. "I like to stay in ancient houses with local features," she said. China has many small boutique hotels that draw tourists with their distinct designs, such as courtyard houses. Yu said she once stayed in a wooden house in Wuyuan, Jiangxi province, that made her feel like she was time-traveling. "Sometimes I stay in minsu because I like their delicate design and the personality of the host," said Wang Ying, an office worker from Haikou, Hainan province. "It's the cool people you meet who make your journey cool," the 28-year-old added. When she traveled to Milan last year, her host at a homestay was a musician and invited her to his band's public performance. Then, in Melbourne in May, a couple in their 60s hosted her in their house where she was well looked after. They took on a trip to see kangaroos. But the minsu business has its downsides. Ma said the costs of maintaining such properties are high, and occupancy depends on such seasons as holidays and weekends. In addition, some travelers have security concerns before arriving because they do not know what their hosts will be like. He suggested that travelers refer to other guests' comments to make the best decisions. The report said that independent travelers generally book hotels in China only a week before their trips but usually book accommodations abroad a month in advance. The average costs for domestic hotels was 553 yuan, and foreign hotels were 1,350 yuan in the first three quarters of the year. Chinese travelers are also spending more money on island hotels, like in Tahiti and the Maldives, where they can enjoy colorful activities such as spa visits and dining on cuisine. NANNING -- Police in south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region have confiscated 659 kilograms of ketamine in a recent crackdown on drugs. Police with the public security bureau of Hechi City also arrested eight drug dealers, while confiscating a vehicle and 200,000 yuan ($29,039) from drug transactions. In September, police received a tip-off about several non-locals making drugs in a remote mountain village in Hechi. Two months of investigation showed that a couple provided drug manufacturing sites, while other suspects supplied money and drug-producing techniques. The final products were then sold in Hechi and neighboring areas. Further investigation is under way. WWII plane flies to China for permanent display Xinhua | Updated: 2016-11-20 06:23 NANNING -- A military transport plane used in the Australian battleground during World War II reached south China's Guilin, after it repeated a flight of the dangerous "hump route" over the Himalayas, a route flown by the famous US Flying Tigers. The C-47 aircraft, contributed by the Flying Tiger Historical Organization in the United States, landed at the Guilin Liangjiang airport after three months of travel from Australia. It will be permanently displayed at the Flying Tigers Heritage Park in Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. C-47 aircraft were used by the Flying Tigers, a US air squadron that helped the Chinese fight the Japanese during WWII. The American Flying Tiger Historical Organization purchased the plane in Australia and repaired it for flight. The plane left Australia on Aug.15, and passed through Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Myanmar and Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan province, before arriving in Guilin. Larry Jobe, head of the US organization, said the trip was supposed to take about ten days, but it actually took three months. The crew changed the engines twice and made an emergency landing during the trip. The money to buy the plane and fund its journey was donated by Flying Tigers history lovers and Chinese living in the United States, according to the organization. The American Volunteer Group, which was later given the "Flying Tigers" moniker, was formed in 1941. Beijing encouraging companies to boost investment, imports China will encourage its companies to increase their investment in the Philippines, while raising imports from the Southeast Asian country, said the Ministry of Commerce on Thursday. Ministry spokesman Sun Jiwen said at a news conference that the two sides were negotiating a five-year economic and technological cooperation plan starting from 2017, which will identify key bilateral cooperation fields. More bilateral cooperation methods are in the pipeline, according to Sun. Both countries will discuss establishing an economic and trade cooperation zone in the Philippines. The 28th China-the Philippines Joint Commission on Economic and Trade Cooperation will be held at the beginning of 2017, co-chaired by Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng and Ramon M Lopez, secretary of the Philippines Department of Trade and Industry. "China will continue to expand imports from the Philippines, especially agricultural products, and encourage Chinese companies to invest in the Philippines," said Sun. In addition, China will consider offering financial support to the Philippines' infrastructure construction, and hopes the country will confirm a list of priorities as soon as possible, Sun added. Earlier this week, Wu Zhengping, director-general of the Ministry of Commerce's department of Asian affairs, said China will encourage its companies to set up a large industrial zone in the Southeast Asian country. While the total trade volume between China and the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations increased 0.1 percent year-on-year to 2.38 trillion yuan ($346 billion) between January and October, trade between China and the Philippines grew 10.7 percent to 252.8 billion yuan during the same period, data from the General Administration of Customs showed. Trade between China and the Philippines amounted to $45.65 billion in 2015, up 2.7 percent on a year-on-year basis. The two countries' economic and trade relations will heat up after the recent visit of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to Beijing, experts said. Prior to that, Philippine direct investment in China was $38.67 million in 2015, down 60.16 percent from the year before, according to financial data provider Wind Information. "Even though both countries have disagreements on some issues, it doesn't mean they are incapable of building better business ties, especially in the fields of trade and investment," said Feng Yaoxiang, spokesman for the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. He Jingtong, a professor of trade policy at Nankai University in Tianjin, said that China and the Philippines also reached a consensus in August to speed up the negotiation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Contact the writers through jingshuiyu@chinadaily.com.cn (China Daily 11/18/2016 page13) China and Ecuador agree to raise bilateral ties to level of comprehensive strategic partnership The help that China offers to Ecuador will have no conditions attached, President Xi Jinping said on Thursday as the two countries agreed to raise their bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Xi met with Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa in Quito during his state visit to the South American country. Xi is the first Chinese president to visit Ecuador since diplomatic relations were established in 1980. Senior officials and experts from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan promised at an ongoing forum to further promote the peaceful reunification of the country and expand exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Straits. They also commemorated the 150th anniversary of Sun Yat-sen's birth during the third Zhongshan Cross-Straits Forum, which is being held in the prosperous city in Guangdong from Thursday to Saturday. The three-day event is expected to strengthen cultural bonds across the Taiwan Straits. Qi Xuchun, vice-chairman of China's top political advisory body, said Sun is not only a great national hero and patriot, but also the forerunner of China's democratic revolution and an instrumental player in overthrowing the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), ending feudalism in the country. "Sun is respected by all Chinese people around the world," Qi told the forum. Zhang Zhijun, head of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said Sun's spirit and thoughts will always encourage Chinese people to seek national unity and fight against separatists. Sun's spirit and thoughts are the common wealth of both the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, Zhang said. "Adherence to the 1992 Consensus is the political foundation for peaceful development and stability of cross-Straits relations and also for both sides of the Taiwan Straits to carry out substantial positive interactions," said Zhang. Zhu Xiaodan, governor of Guangdong, said the province expects to advance its already very close economic relationship with Taiwan. "We particularly hope to expand our cooperation with Taiwan in trade, investment, science and technology, culture, agriculture and tourism in the following years," Zhu said. "Relevant government departments will do what they can to protect the legal rights of Taiwan investors in Guangdong, one of the mainland's economic powerhouses," Zhu said. According to Zhu, Guangdong has attracted more than 27,000 Taiwan-invested projects, with investment totalling $62.8 billion. Guangdong's trade with Taiwan surpassed $60 billion last year, representing one-third of the mainland's total. More than 200,000 Taiwan people are now living in Guangdong. Zhu said he believed the forum will also be able to play an important role in promoting Chinese culture around the world and help to establish long-term cooperation between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan. Jiao Lansheng, mayor of Zhongshan, said his government will use the forum as a platform to expand its economic ties with Taiwan and contribute to mutual development. "Organizing the special forum is of great significance for Zhongshan, which is enjoying rapid economic growth," Jiao said. "Zhongshan expects to provide a platform for scientific innovation, exchanges and cooperation between the youth across the Taiwan Straits," he said. "The city government is sparing no effort to further its cooperation with the country's biggest island and achieve win-win deals in the following years," he added. Zhongshan, formerly known as Xiangshan, is the hometown of Sun Yat-sen, founder of Kuomintang and modern China. Sun was born in the city in 1866 and died of illness in Beijing in March 1925. Sun devoted his life to the cause of reunification, which was also the aspiration of all Chinese people who fell victim to the endless clashes between warlords and the West-led invasion back then, Jiao said. The forum is jointly sponsored by the Taiwan Work Office, the Guangdong provincial government and the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification, and has been undertaken by the Office of Taiwan Affairs of Guangdong province, the Zhongshan city government and Sun Yat-sen University. Attendees of the forum's opening ceremony on Thursday included John Chiang, honorable vice-chairman of Kuomintang, Yok Mu-ming, Taiwan's New Party chairman, and other senior officials, as well as experts and scholars from across the Taiwan Straits. In addition to the main forum, special sub-forums and related events, including the Huangpu (Whampoa) Military Academy sub-forum, have also been held in Zhongshan in the prestigious Sun Yat-sen University. Participants of the military forum called on Huangpu alumni and their families to carry forward the spirit of Sun, the founder of the school, and jointly contribute to the peaceful development of cross-Straits ties and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. zhengcaixiong@chinadaily.com.cn Clockwise from top: The formal residence of Sun Yat-sen now serves as a museum of the forerunner of China's democratic revolution. Provided To China Daily Guests from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan attend the Zhongshan Cross-Straits Forum in Guangdong province. Provided To China Daily A visitor to the Museum of Sun Yat-sen reads about the revolutionary leader. Xinhua (China Daily 11/19/2016 page6) Visitors look on an exhibit at the exhibition "Forbidden City, Imperial China", in La Moneda Cultural Centre, in Santiago, capital of Chile, on Sept 2, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] "Timing isn't everything - it's the only thing" is a mantra I used to hammer into my students and now into my staff. President Xi Jinping is visiting Ecuador, Peru and Chile, during which he will also attend the 24th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima on Saturday and Sunday, at a critical time for Sino-Latin American relations. Needless to say his visit may have a lasting impact on China-Latin American relations. That this is Xi's third visit to Latin America in four years speaks volumes about the priority China assigns to the region (as it happens, this is also his third visit to Chile - his first was as Zhejiang province Party chief in 2005, and later as Chinese vice-president in 2011). Why is this visit different from the ones in 2013 and 2014? During Xi's previous visits, Sino-Latin American relations were riding high on a wave of fast-growing cross-Pacific trade, a decade and a half in which China's seemingly unending appetite for the region's natural resources led to a veritable boom and much progress. Between 2000 and 2014, trade between China and Latin America and the Caribbean multiplied, growing from $10 billion to $267 billion. For several countries in the region, including Chile and Peru, China became the largest trading partner; for many others it was the second-largest. As a result of what Kevin Gallagher has called the "China boom", LAC economies grew at a fast clip, paid up their debts and saw their foreign currency reserves swell. Fast forward to 2016, and a very different picture emerges. Sino-LAC trade was down to $230 billion in 2015. For a second year in a row, Latin America will be hit by negative growth. Some argue that the "Chinese bubble" has burst, that trade with China has led to Latin America's de-industrialization, and that the time has come for the region to go back to the good old days of focusing on the United States and Europe as its main trading partners (never mind that a major wealth shift has taken place since 1990 from the North Atlantic to the Asia-Pacific, making this quite unrealistic). Until recently, this narrative ran parallel to another, the one on global governance. According to this story, while the BRICS may have been "the acronym that defined a decade" in the first years of the new century, by 2016, owing to the developments in Brazil, Russia and South Africa, BRICS was in the tank, and the North Atlantic powers, most prominently the US and the United Kingdom, were back in the saddle. After a brief disruption of the established global order by a few Global South parvenus, things were back to normal, or so the story went, and endearing photographs of cozy G7 summits around small tables circulated. And then reality hit. First with Brexit on June 23 this year. Then came the result of the US presidential election. Now it is no longer the basis of the European order that is in question. This time we are talking about the survival of the liberal order that has underpinned the international system since the end of World War II. Enter the dragon. At the G20 Leaders Summit in Hangzhou in early September, China led the way with an ambitious agenda that put continued support for globalization, for more liberal international trade and for putting down the ugly head of protectionism. Now at the APEC meeting in Lima, a top task is to look for ways to give a new impetus to trans-Pacific trade. One alternative is the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific, for which the results of a feasibility study will be presented in Lima. China should play a critical role in promoting the FTAAP, a project Chile supports. Hand in hand with greater financial cooperation and investment, it could give a big boost to Sino-LAC links. Latin America has come a long way. But it still has some way to go before it is ready to make the great leap forward to a fully developed condition. In so doing it should partner with China, which in 2016 has emerged as the last remaining great power willing and able to champion the cause not just of a liberal trading order, but also of the defense of the very survival of our planet by slowing climate change. In this partnership, President Xi's visit to South America could emerge as a real milestone. The author is the ambassador of Chile to China. (China Daily 11/19/2016 page5) US President Barack Obama's landmark Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement was already on life support before his successor, Donald Trump, promised American voters worried by the impact of globalization that he would kill it and bury it. Now that the Republican-dominated Congress has announced it will not discuss ratification of the TPP during the remainder of Obama's term, all that is left for the outgoing president to do is to read the funeral oration for the proposed Pacific Rim trade pact that had been the keystone of his administration's so-called "pivot to Asia" strategy. That may come when Obama joins other leaders for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Lima, Peru, on Saturday and Sunday. The demise of the TPP, which was to group 12 Asia-Pacific economies in a wide-ranging, US-led trade alliance, offers an opportunity for China to assume leadership of an alternative free trade area. President Xi Jinping, who will also be in Lima for APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, is widely expected to press for a Pacific partnership that, unlike the TPP, will include China and Russia both. Obama's sponsorship of the TPP had been viewed by Beijing as an attempt to write the trade rules for the benefit of the United States in the face of China's growing economic might. As things have turned out, the US administration's failure to secure domestic support for the deal is likely to leave it marginalized in future regional trade agreements. Trump's opposition to the TPP, which he described during his election campaign as a disaster "pushed by special interests who want to rape our country", won the backing of voters in traditionally industrial states who blame foreign competition, particularly from China, for job losses. In an otherwise divisive campaign, it was a theme that united the candidates. Hillary Clinton, who lost the presidential election to Trump, maintained silence on a pact that she had previously supported. The potential US partners in the TPP will almost certainly decide that there is no point moving ahead with the trade pact in the absence of what would have been its most powerful partner. Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, the APEC meeting host, has said of the moribund pact: "It can be replaced with a similar deal, but without the US." Speaking to Russia Today, he said: "I think it would be best to have an Asia-Pacific deal that includes China, and includes Russia as well." That alternative is likely to come in the context of negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Talks on the RCEP, a mega grouping that could embrace almost half the world's population, were launched four years ago. As the results of the US election came through, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said: "We see TPP as an important economic manifestation of the US' presence in our region. Should it not go ahead, then the vacuum that would be created is most likely to be filled by RCEP." Raul Salazar, a senior Peruvian trade official, told the Xinhua News Agency earlier this month: "China has contributed largely to pushing the idea of a free-trade area. Peru holds the position that we need an Asia-Pacific free-trade area." What might be termed the "pivot to China" became apparent as a result of the uncertainties over trade prompted by the US political campaign. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, for example, said during a visit to Beijing in October that he would reduce long-standing ties with the US in favor of better relations with China. With the US on the retreat, and with a protectionist president heading for the White House, the way appears open for China to take the lead toward a proposed Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific that Beijing has long championed as an alternative to the US-dominated TPP. The author is a senior media consultant for China Daily UK. (China Daily 11/19/2016 page5) Tourists enjoy Dubai's delicious food, unique culture and pretty scenery. [Photo provided to China Daily] Chinese tourist Wang Xuemei was a bit apprehensive when several dolphins swam toward her and kissed her on the cheeks. This is part of the Dolphin Encounter Program at the Dolphin Bay in Atlantis, Dubai, which allows visitors to play with dolphins in shallow water. "Dolphins are so adorable! Dubai is really a modern city, much more than I expected. I like the tranquillity when I see the desert from a car, especially at sunset," says Wang, 30, an office worker from Beijing. Last December, she took a six-day trip in Dubai. Since Nov 1, the United Arab Emirates has been granting a free 30-day visa-on-arrival to Chinese citizens. It is good news for those who want to explore the Dubai's unique culture and scenery. "Dubai is attractive for all kinds of travelersindividual tourists and families and leisure and business travelers," says Hamad M Bin Mejren, senior vice-president of Dubai Events and Convention Bureau. VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Friday commissioned the upgraded Victoria Falls International Airport that was built with support from China. Mugabe said the renovation could turn the airport into a regional tourist hub if aggressively marketed. Completion of the airport project was also a major milestone in the country's development efforts, partnered by China which he described as "a great partner and friend." Expansion of the airport, which began in 2013, was done by China Jiangsu International and financed through a 150 million-dollar-loan from China Export Import Bank. The upgraded airport now handles 1.5 million passengers per year, up from 500,000 and boasts of modern passenger facilities, a new international terminal building, a new 4km runway, extended parking areas for aircraft, new control tower, new fire station, new road networks, a new state of the art international passenger terminal building and a refurbished domestic terminal. The new airport can now accommodate long haul flights from around the globe, which is expected to increase inflow of tourists to Zimbabwe. The airport is the gateway to Victoria Falls, a world heritage site and one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Mugabe commended China Jiangsu International for good work and pledged to engage the company for similar construction projects in the future. He added that Harare and other airports in the country need to be further expanded and upgraded. SEOUL -- About 1 million South Koreans are expected to join a mass rally nationwide on Saturday to demand scandal-hit President Park Geun-hye's step down, organizers said. In Seoul, around half-a-million demonstrators are forecast to march at night with paper cup-wrapped candles in hand. Last Saturday, over a 1.3 million people took to the streets in the capital city. Another half-a-million would turn out in some 50 major cities across the country in the fourth Saturday demonstration since the scandal involving President Park and her longtime confidante burst into a rage last month. Protesters dotted across the capital city marched in early afternoon to the Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, just over a km away from the presidential Blue House, where presidential office and residence are located. An official event around the square is scheduled to kick off at 6:00 pm local time, two hours later than the previous week. Before the official event, three main opposition parties held separate rallies around the square. Presidential hopefuls in the opposition bloc are scheduled to join candlelight vigils in major cities outside Seoul. As seen in last Saturday's rally, people attending the protest varied from young couples with children and the grey-haired elderly to secondary school students and labor unionists. People were enraged further as Park delayed a face-to-face questioning by prosecutors to next week. Park said in her second public apology that she would accept an investigation into herself if necessary. The prosecution office had asked Park to be investigated no later than Wednesday, requesting it once again as late as Friday. However, it didn't happen. Choi Soon-sil, Park's longtime confidante suspected of intervening in state affairs though she has no public position, and two former presidential secretaries are set to be indicted by prosecutors on Sunday. Prosecutors said the embattled president's status could be changed into a criminal suspect as Park's "criminal charges" could be in question in the indictment. Donald Trump's presidential victory has created more uncertainty over future international affairs, but a sea change is unlikely in the China-US relationship in the next four years, experts on China-US relations say. Based on the president-elect's campaign commitments and possible major appointments under his watch, his priority would be to unite both parties to make way for policymaking, said Zhou Wenzhong, a former Chinese ambassador to the US. Speaking at a Beijing seminar, co-hosted by the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies and the University of Macau on Saturday, Zhou said that gives China time. "That serves as an opportunity for China to assess Trump's Asia-Pacific policy and make contacts with his administration despite all the uncertainties surrounding his presidency," he said. "But his governing the world's largest economy could also bring about promising changes to the China-US relations, which will remain important as ever." Trump's experience as a property mogul means that he would do what is in the best interests of his country, rather than sustain a fruitless regional presence, said Yang Jiemian, president emeritus of the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies. Yang's comment was echoed by Hao Yufan, a professor with the University of Macau, who believed a Nixon-styled "diplomatic contraction" would be Trump's primary choice. "Unlike traditional US politicians, he is less motivated to seek re-election when his term is done, hence he will be pragmatic in making foreign policies," said Hao. On the military front, Trump would refrain from implementing the "re-balancing to Asia-Pacific" strategy championed by his predecessor Barack Obama, but is likely to adopt some of its tactics, said Yao Yunzhu, a senior researcher at the PLA Academy of Military Sciences. It should be noted that his "America First" credo, which signals the death of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement and more haggling over Washington's responsibility to protect its allies, does not mean a full retreat from global affairs, said Hu Weixing, a professor at the University of Hong Kong. "The US Asia-Pacific military deployment will remain, so would its 'protection of the navigation freedom' in international waters," Hu added. "The Trump administration may stop containing China in the Asia-Pacific area in exchange for Beijing's coordination in major regional affairs. But closing such a deal is not easy and depends on how the two leaders engage with each other." Leadership diplomacy is worth a try, but frictions are almost inevitable when it comes to steel trade and other issues because Trump's presidency indicates the end of an era of "strong market and weak governments", said Da Wei, director of the Institute of American Studies, at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations. "That warrants a new, cautious approach to reassess the China-US relationship," he said. cuishoufeng@chinadaily.com.cn Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan wave as they arrive at the airport in Lima, Peru, Nov 18, 2016.[Photo by Ding Lin/Xinhua] LIMA - Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Peru Friday to attend the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting and pay his first state visit to the Latin American country. Prior to the trip, Xi had visited neighboring Ecuador. The APEC meeting is scheduled for Nov. 19-20 in Peru's capital Lima under the theme of "Quality Growth and Human Development." "My visit aims to strengthen friendship, expand common grounds, deepen cooperation and promote development," Xi said while delivering a written speech upon arrival at the airport in Lima. The president briefly reviewed the sound China-Peru relations in various areas over the past years, noting that the two countries enjoy broad prospects of cooperation. "China supports Peru in hosting the 24th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, and I'm looking forward to meeting with Peruvian leaders to have in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral relations and on major international, regional issues of common concern," he said. "I believe, with concerted efforts of both sides, my visit will achieve a complete success," he added. Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, were received by Peruvian Second Vice President Mercedes Araoz at the airport. Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, who is here to attend the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, also greeted President Xi at the airport. Before leaving Ecuador on Friday afternoon, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa held a grand seeing-off ceremony for Xi. The largest hydroelectric plant ever constructed by a Chinese company in Ecuador is generating 1,500 megawatts of energy, which accounts for nearly 40 percent of the South American country's electricity demand. The Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant, along with others built by Chinese companies, will help Ecuador transform from a power-hungry country into a clean energy exporter, and greatly contribute to the country's economic development. "Ecuador has huge demand for investment in infrastructure, while Chinese contractors such as Power Construction Corporation of China have accumulated experience in related fields at relatively favorable prices," said Hou Xiaotun, manager of the Americas division of State-owned PowerChina International Group, which undertook construction of the hydroelectric plant. "These competitive advantages represent a reason for our investment in Ecuador." The Export-Import Bank of China financed 85 percent of the cost through a $1.68 billion loan. The abundant capital pool also backed some other projects in the Latin American country. According to the company, PowerChina has carried out several projects worth $3.5 billion in Ecuador since entering the market in 2009, with investments in sectors like hydroelectric power, housing development and highway construction. It also has exported construction equipment worth $200 million to Ecuador. According to Ecuadorean Vice-President Jorge Glas, the largest energy project in Ecuador's history provides 7,000 jobs. The power plant's annual generation stands at 8.8 billion kilowatt-hours, with part of the electricity to be exported to Colombia. The export this year is estimated at $40 million. The Ecuadorean government has pledged to guarantee the rights of foreign investors, and will provide tax incentives as well. Contact the writers at zhengxin@chinadaily.com.cn yangziman@chinadaily.com.cn "Timing isn't everything - it's the only thing" is a mantra I used to hammer into my students and now into my staff. President Xi Jinping is visiting Ecuador, Peru and Chile, during which he will also attend the 24th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima on Saturday and Sunday, at a critical time for Sino-Latin American relations. Needless to say his visit may have a lasting impact on China-Latin American relations. That this is Xi's third visit to Latin America in four years speaks volumes about the priority China assigns to the region (as it happens, this is also his third visit to Chile - his first was as Zhejiang province Party chief in 2005, and later as Chinese vice-president in 2011). Why is this visit different from the ones in 2013 and 2014? During Xi's previous visits, Sino-Latin American relations were riding high on a wave of fast-growing cross-Pacific trade, a decade and a half in which China's seemingly unending appetite for the region's natural resources led to a veritable boom and much progress. Between 2000 and 2014, trade between China and Latin America and the Caribbean multiplied, growing from $10 billion to $267 billion. For several countries in the region, including Chile and Peru, China became the largest trading partner; for many others it was the second-largest. As a result of what Kevin Gallagher has called the "China boom", LAC economies grew at a fast clip, paid up their debts and saw their foreign currency reserves swell. Fast forward to 2016, and a very different picture emerges. Sino-LAC trade was down to $230 billion in 2015. For a second year in a row, Latin America will be hit by negative growth. Some argue that the "Chinese bubble" has burst, that trade with China has led to Latin America's de-industrialization, and that the time has come for the region to go back to the good old days of focusing on the United States and Europe as its main trading partners (never mind that a major wealth shift has taken place since 1990 from the North Atlantic to the Asia-Pacific, making this quite unrealistic). Until recently, this narrative ran parallel to another, the one on global governance. According to this story, while the BRICS may have been "the acronym that defined a decade" in the first years of the new century, by 2016, owing to the developments in Brazil, Russia and South Africa, BRICS was in the tank, and the North Atlantic powers, most prominently the US and the United Kingdom, were back in the saddle. After a brief disruption of the established global order by a few Global South parvenus, things were back to normal, or so the story went, and endearing photographs of cozy G7 summits around small tables circulated. And then reality hit. First with Brexit on June 23 this year. Then came the result of the US presidential election. Now it is no longer the basis of the European order that is in question. This time we are talking about the survival of the liberal order that has underpinned the international system since the end of World War II. Enter the dragon. At the G20 Leaders Summit in Hangzhou in early September, China led the way with an ambitious agenda that put continued support for globalization, for more liberal international trade and for putting down the ugly head of protectionism. Now at the APEC meeting in Lima, a top task is to look for ways to give a new impetus to trans-Pacific trade. One alternative is the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific, for which the results of a feasibility study will be presented in Lima. China should play a critical role in promoting the FTAAP, a project Chile supports. Hand in hand with greater financial cooperation and investment, it could give a big boost to Sino-LAC links. Latin America has come a long way. But it still has some way to go before it is ready to make the great leap forward to a fully developed condition. In so doing it should partner with China, which in 2016 has emerged as the last remaining great power willing and able to champion the cause not just of a liberal trading order, but also of the defense of the very survival of our planet by slowing climate change. In this partnership, President Xi's visit to South America could emerge as a real milestone. The author is the ambassador of Chile to China. Agreements with regional partners leave much to be desired as smaller pacts stall wider cooperation Officials walk by a media center for the 2016 APEC, a weeklong series of events starting on Monday in Lima, Peru. Xinhua Starting up the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific would be a practical way to end the regional economic fragmentation undermining integration in the current global environment, officials said. Even though the world is continuing its march toward globalization, slow progress is being made at the Doha round of the World Trade Organization's negotiations, after initial delays in the process. Regional and bilateral free trade agreements are being signed one after another, while Asia-Pacific economic cooperation faces a crossroads of integration and fragmentation. "Eager to restore their earning ability, many member economies have long been calling for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation to play an active role in promoting the FTAAP negotiation process," said Lin Guijun, a professor at Beijing-based University of International Business and Economics. Lin said China expects all parties to begin the FTAAP negotiations as soon as possible. But, the co-existence of low-level free trade agreements will affect the development of regional trade flows because of the different purposes and working mechanisms. Despite the agreements, Asia-Pacific economies remain divided into several groups rather than cooperating in a broad multilateral framework. Both of the two major multilateral trade agreements in the region are not fully representative. For example, the United-States-led Trans-Pacific Partnership does not include China. Meanwhile, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership proposed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations has China as a member, but the US has yet to join. In addition, there are more than 200 trade arrangements in the Asia-Pacific region, with different standards and preferential policies and rules of origins, which may lead to vicious competition among trade groups and not be conducive to deepening economic and trade cooperation between the countries, data from the Ministry of Commerce shows. FTAAP, the 21-member pact which includes countries that have signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership and other trading powers such as China and South Korea, is designed to promote productive cooperation, to resist protectionism and to facilitate fair competition in the Asia-Pacific region. The concept of FTAAP was proposed in 2004 and written into the declaration of the APEC economic leaders' meeting in 2006. China proposed the preparation of a feasibility study in 2014. Ministry of Commerce spokesman Shen Danyang said trade protectionism remains a major barrier against free trade and investment across borders. Particularly in the aftermath of the global financial crisis in 2008, many economies have increased trade barriers and seen disputes occur frequently. "Under these circumstances, the efficiency and effectiveness of the numerous free trade agreements in the Asia-Pacific region have yet to be tested," said Xue Rongjiu, vice-chairman of the China Institute for WTO Studies. "The FTAAP talks are in line with the global trend of booming free trade agreements and is crucial for countries in the Asia-Pacific region becoming more open," said Xue. The Asia-Pacific is vital to global peace and development, according to Xue, as it accounts for 40 percent of the world's population, 48 percent of its trade and 57 percent of global output. Xue said topics such as trade in goods and services, intellectual property, e-commerce, market competition and the environment will all be negotiated during the FTAAP talks. China has 14 current free trade agreements involving 22 countries and regions. It is also negotiating the construction of several new free trade agreements, including a China-Japan-ROK agreement and one with Sri Lanka, as well as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, a free trade pact involving 16 countries. However, China has not reached free trade agreements with some major trading partners in the region, such as the US and Japan. As the country expands its free trade network, the government has also set priorities on making both goods and service trade more open, relaxing investment access rules, promoting trade facilitation, pushing forward rule-making negotiations, and enhancing economic and technological cooperation. "It certainly won't be an easy task to complete the FTAAP talks within a short period. Smaller economies in the Asia-Pacific region will need policy guarantees, such as getting more favorable tariff policies for their products from major economies including China, the US, Australia and Japan during the term discussion period," said Yin Zonghua, vice-chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. Yin said that because many countries in the APEC region depend heavily on trading commodities and natural resources, the lower prices of these mining and agricultural products push them to try different policy methods to support their economies. zhongnan@chinadaily.com.cn QUITO -- Ecuadoran media on Friday focused on Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the Latin American country, which yielded fruitful results for bilateral ties. During Xi's visit, the two countries decided to raise bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, and signed several cooperation agreements, media outlets reported. Prior to Xi's arrival, Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa praised the visit as "the most important in the history" of Ecuador, and media outlets gave it due coverage. El Comercio daily ran the headline "Xi Jinping arrived in Ecuador to seal the comprehensive partnership," while El Telegrafo reported that "China and Ecuador took another step to strengthen bilateral ties." State news agency Andes also dedicated its front page to Xi's visit, reporting the accords signed, including China's pledge to further support in disaster relief and reconstruction for the areas devastated by a magnitude-7.8 earthquake in April. President Correa said the visit marks a new stage in the bilateral relationship, which in the past nine years has reached "an unprecedented level, and even serves as a model for the region." Ecuador is the first stop of Xi's three-country Latin America tour. He will travel on to Peru, where he will also participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting, and then to Chile. This is Xi's third visit to the region since he took office in March 2013. During the past couple of days, Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Ecuador has become a major event for the equatorial country in South America. Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa greeted his Chinese counterpart at the airport in Quito with a grand welcoming ceremony on Thursday. The two heads of state held talks on the same day and agreed to lift bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Xi's visit to Ecuador is the first stop of his three-nation LatAm trip, and the first of its kind since the two countries established diplomatic relations 36 years ago. His ongoing tour is of historic significance. President Xi's trip has enriched the two nations' long-standing friendship, upgraded the bilateral relations, and deepened strategic mutual trust. The visit is expected to promote the bilateral ties to a new phase and make the traditional friendship between the two countries consolidate and last for a long time. During Xi's visit, both sides have inked a number of cooperation documents and launched major projects including a hospital and the Coca Codo Sinclair (CCS) hydroelectric station. All these show that the two countries' pragmatic cooperation has grown towards a higher, wider and deeper level. If two people are of the same mind, their sharpness can cut through metal. The new bridge of China-Ecuador friendship and cooperation brought by Xi's trip is expected to promote the two countries to become good partners for mutual trust, common development, friendship for generations, and South-South cooperation, and as well push the China-Ecuador & China-Latin America relations towards a higher level. By Zhang Maorong, researcher with the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations; cartoon drawing by Liao Tingting President Xi Jinping said on Friday that his visit to Peru, the second station of his Latin American trip, will deepen cooperation and promote development. Xi made the remarks while delivering a written speech upon arrival at the airport in Lima. He will attend the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting and pay his first state visit to the Latin American country. Prior to the trip, Xi had visited neighboring Ecuador. The APEC meeting is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday in Peru's capital Lima under the theme of "Quality Growth and Human Development". The president briefly reviewed the sound China-Peru relations in various areas over the past years, noting that the two countries enjoy broad prospects of cooperation. "China supports Peru in hosting the 24th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, and I'm looking forward to meeting with Peruvian leaders to have in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral relations and on major international, regional issues of common concern," he said. "I believe, with concerted efforts of both sides, my visit will achieve a complete success," he added. Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, were received by Peruvian Second Vice-President Mercedes Araoz at the airport. Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, who will attend the APEC meeting, also greeted Xi at the airport. In Lima, Xi will deliver a keynote speech at the APEC CEO Summit, hold a dialogue with representatives of the APEC Business Advisory Council and meet leaders of some other APEC member economies. After attending the APEC meeting, Xi will pay his first state visit to Peru, only about two months after his Peruvian counterpart Pedro Pablo Kuczynski -- who was sworn in on July 28 -- made his first foreign visit to China. Xi will hold talks with Kuczynski, meet Peruvian Congress President Luz Salgado and give a speech at the Congress. The two heads of state are also scheduled to attend the closing ceremony of the China-Latin America and Caribbean 2016 Year of Culture Exchange. After Peru, Xi will travel to Chile, the final stop of his three-nation tour of Latin America. It is Xi's third visit to Latin America as president since he took office in 2013. anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) meets with Vietnam President Tran Dai Quang on the sidelines of the APEC leaders meetings held in Lima, capital of Peru, Nov 19, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] China and Vietnam should resolve disputes through a bilateral dialogue to safeguard the peace and stability of the South China Sea, President Xi Jinping said on Saturday. The two countries should properly handle disagreements with the principle of setting aside disputes and by joint development, Xi said while meeting with Vietnam President Tran Dai Quang on the sidelines of the APEC leaders meetings held in Lima, capital of Peru. Both sides should speed up the construction of a cross-border economic cooperation zone and push forward cooperation on infrastructure projects, Xi said. All of the APEC members should make joint efforts for the long-lasting prosperity of the Asian and Pacific region, Xi said, adding that China supports Vietnam to host next year's APEC meetings. The Vietnamese president said that Vietnam would like to keep close high-level exchanges with China to push forward the steady and sustainable development of bilateral ties. The current Vietnam-China cooperation has made progresses in all areas, which has benefited people from both sides, he added. anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) meets with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on the sidelines of the APEC leaders meetings held in Lima, capital of Peru, Nov 19, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] China and the Philippines should proactively discuss maritime cooperation to make the South China Sea issue an opportunity for promoting bilateral friendship and cooperation, President Xi Jinping said on Saturday. Xi made the remarks while meeting with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on the sidelines of the APEC leaders meeting being held in Lima, Peru. The Philippine president's state visit to China last month overall improved bilateral ties and "turned a new page" in China-Philippine relations, Xi said, adding that the visit "injected positive energy" for regional peace and stability. The two countries should handle disputes properly and focus on joint development to benefit the people of both sides, Xi told Duterte. Xi called on a joint effort with the Philippines to push forward restoration of all bilateral mechanisms. Because of the Hague arbitration case, the two countries halted exchanges in several areas until last month when Duterte visited China. Calling his China trip fruitful, Duterte said the Philippines sticks to an independent diplomatic policy and wants to be a brother-like friend to China. The Philippines is willing to handle maritime issues properly through dialogue and consultation with China, he said, adding that the momentum of improving bilateral ties should be maintained. Duterte thanked China for its support in his country's development, saying that the two countries should enhance cooperation in areas including infrastructure. anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn (Photo : Getty Images) JPMorgan has agreed to settle its China nepotism case for $264 million. Advertisement JPMorgan has agreed to pay $264 million to the US authorities for resolving its nepotism case in China. The bank allegedly hired the kith and kin of Chinese officials in lieu of favors. The bank was being probed by the US Securities and Exchange and the Justice Department for potential violation of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Apart from JPMorgan, several other banks such as Goldman Sachs and HSBC have also been scrutinized in the recent years by the US authorities. However, JPMorgan is the first major bank to reach settlement for such hiring practices. The bank did not deny or admit the charges. Nevertheless, one of its Hong Kong units admitted to making reciprocal hiring for gaining investment business. The bank said that such hiring program was axed in 2013. It also claimed that appropriate actions were taken against those involved in the case. The Justice Department is set to receive $72 million from the settlement, while SEC will receive $130 million. The US Federal Reserve will receive $61.9 million out of the settlement. The regulators held that the bank "corruptly influenced government officials" with its practices. Andrew Ceresney, director of the SEC's enforcement division, said, "JPMorgan engaged in a systemic bribery scheme by hiring children of government officials ... who were typically unqualified for the position on their own merit." The regulators have not imposed any criminal charges against JPMorgan or any of its employees. The SEC held that the internal controls instituted by JPMorgan were too weak to deny any of such hiring requests made. Advertisement Tagsjpmorgan, Goldman sachs, HSBC (Photo : Getty Images) A congressional panel is urging the US government to implement a ban on Chinese firms acquiring US companies. Advertisement A US congressional panel has urged the government to put a ban on Chinese state owned firms from buying US companies. The panel cited security concerns for such action. The recommendation formed a part of the report released by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission presents its report to Congress every year. The latest report has asked Congress to set up a government panel for reviewing foreign takeover deals. The review will help bar China state-backed companies from acquiring 'effective control' in the US firms. The commission also recommended an investigation of large-scale outsourcing of manufacturing operation to China. The enquiry will help determining whether such practices lead, "to the hollowing out of the defense industrial base." The report also pointed out the growing diversification of Chinese investment in the United States. While the panel cited main concern about Chinese acquisition of technological assets, it also conceded that the investments now cover a wide range of areas such as financial services and real estate. However, the recommendations are not completely unexpected. Following the election of Donald Trump as the next president of the United States, Chinese industrial houses are expected tighter norms from the US. Tsinghua University economics professor Li Daokui said, "The general climate in the US will affect China's investment in the US, and it will also cast doubt on the bilateral investment treaty talks." Meanwhile, the Chinese government has condemned the report. Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the report "revealed the commission's stereotypes and prejudices." Advertisement TagsUS-China Economic and Security Review Commission, china, Tsinghua University (Photo : Getty Images) Chinese tech giants Alibaba and Tencent have welcomed the new Chinese cyber law. Advertisement China recently introduced its new cyber law, imposing stricter regime on technology companies. Chinese tech giants Alibaba and Tencent have welcomed the latest provisions, countering the international backlash received by the new rules. China approved a new set of cyber law earlier this month. The new laws are meant to safeguard local users from hacking. The law is applicable to both domestic and foreign companies operating in China. One of the main provisions is related to the storage of data obtained from within the country. The country requires such data to be stored on the servers located domestically. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The new law has received negative response from the international community. James Zimmerman, chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China said, "This is a step backwards for innovation in China that won't do much to improve security." However, domestic Chinese firms such as Alibaba and Tencent have rallied behind the new laws. Yang Peng, director of Tencent's Executive Committee for Information Security, said, "This marks a step forward for China. We are asking [Tencent] professionals to learn from these regulations." Tencent has also extended its support to the government for scrubbing the cyber sphere. The company said that it is cleaning up the content in collaboration with the authorities. It also claimed that it removed 80,000 video clips from its site this year. Alibaba's Vice President Yu Weimin said that it is important for the public and private sectors to cooperate for fighting cyber terrorism. The new cyber law will be implemented from June next year. Advertisement TagsTencent, Alibaba, china, Cyberlaw (Photo : Getty Images) According to a leading Pakistani newspaper, the Chinese backed CPEC project may end up offering trade benefits to its arch rival India. Advertisement The $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has been plagued with controversies ever since its inception. Although these controversies have never hindered construction work, they have certainly created shadow of uncertainty over the multibillion dollar project. Now a new controversy has cropped up that is likely to rake up passionate views across Pakistan on CPEC project. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement According to a leading newspaper Dawn, a group of legislature from Pakistan National Assembly (PNA) expressed concern in a recent senate meeting that this economic corridor project may end up yielding benefit to its arch rival India. "Irrespective of sour India-Pakistan, China will definitely use CPEC to expand its trade with India because one who invests always watches one's interests first," Member of National Assembly Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi said in a senate meeting. Mashhadi backed his claim by saying that China's trade relations with India were far bigger than Pakistan and also Beijing may look to capitalize improved road and rail links with India. However, Mashhadi and other MNA's concerns stand completely in contrast with constant security fears expressed by the Indian government over this multibillion dollar project. New Delhi says that it has serious reservation over this project, since a major part of its infrastructure passes through the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Indian defense experts claim that China wants to enhance its footprint in South Asia through the CPEC project. This claim is apparently accepted by most ministers within the Indian government. This dominant view largely led to signing of Chabahar Port project with Iran earlier this year. The construction work over Chabahar Port, though, is yet to begin, with media reports suggesting that the work may not commence anytime sooner. Advertisement TagsChina-Pakistan Economic Corridor, CPEC, China and India, India and Pakistan (Photo : Getty Images) China and the US military troops have conducted a joint humanitarian military drill on Friday in Kunming City. Advertisement Chinese and US military troops staged joint drills in China's Kunming city on Friday, an effort to enhance coordinate responses during humanitarian disasters. "This kind of exchange acts as a bridge to promote relations between the two militaries" Gen. Liu Xiaowu, commanded of the ground forces for China's Southern Theater Command, said. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The drill simulated a rescue and resettlement scenario that involves a fictional strong earthquake hitting a plateau country, state-backed Xinhua News agency reported. At least 89 US military personnel and 134 from China participated in the drill and used engineering equipment and helicopters, according to Sputnik News. Meanwhile, there were also around 40 military officers from 24 countries who witnessed the joint exercises. The main goal was to hone the troops' disaster relief skills and look beyond both countries ongoing political tension, the NBC News noted. "These types of military-to-military exchanges are really critical because of the trust they build," US Army Pacific Commander Gen. Robert Brown said, adding that he would advise the incoming administration to maintain such engagement, the ABC news reported. Even though China does not appreciate the US Navy's presence in the South China City, both world powers have continued to hold joint naval exercises. It recently carried out drills in the Hawaiian coast focused on humanitarian disasters. "No matter who is president, as long as it's aimed at humanitarian relief to help relieve suffering of those in disaster zones, it will win support," Liu said. So far, US President-elect Donald Trump has not commented on a defense policy with regard to China, although he has kept no secret of his negative stance on trade with the country. According to Xinhua, the recent military exercise is the fourth one conducted between China and the United States since 2013. Advertisement Tagschina, US, humanitarian relief drill, Military drill, joint military exercises (Photo : Boom) Boom supersonic jetliner (illustration). Advertisement Brash British billionaire Sir Richard Branson will soon revive trans-Atlantic supersonic passenger travel that ended with the retirement of Concorde by ushering in what he calls a new era of "affordable supersonic travel." Branson has unveiled the prototype for a supersonic passenger plane that can cruise at 2,700 km/h or Mach 2. Reports said he might order at least 10 of these planes, which are being dubbed "mini-Concordes" because they're smaller than the Aerospatiale/BAC Concorde that flew passengers across the Atlantic from 1969 until 2003. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The mini-Concorde prototype called the "XB-1 Supersonic Demonstrator" is a smaller but technically accurate model for what Branson hopes will lead to a revival of blitz fast supersonic flight. The jet, nicknamed "Baby Boom," will be produced by an American startup called Boom based in Denver, Colorado and owned by former Amazon executive Blake Scholl, whose team assembled a prototype of Boom in a Colorado aircraft hangar. The full-fledged version of Baby Boom will zip from New York to London in just 3.6 hours, or half the time it takes on a jumbo jet. Test flights of Baby Boom are planned for 2017. The jet will be fashioned from a carbon-fiber composite instead of aluminum to save weight. It will have 40 seats split into two single-seat rows and will cruise at 60,000 feet where passengers will be able to see the curvature of the Earth. A round trip from New York to London is expected to cost $5,000. A trip from Tokyo to San Francisco will cost $6,500 and will take close to five hours compared to the current 11 hours. "Concorde's designers didn't have the technology for affordable supersonic travel, but now we do," said Scholl, who also noted Boom's design is quieter and 30 percent more efficient than Concorde. "The idea is for a plane that goes faster than any other passenger plane built before, but for the same price as business class," he noted. Branson said Virgin Galactic's manufacturing arm, The Spaceship Company, will provide engineering, manufacturing services and flight test support to Boom. Boom and Virgin Galactic haven't announced a target date for the first commercial flight, however. Advertisement TagsSir Richard Branson, XB-1 Supersonic Demonstrator, baby boom, Aerospatiale/BAC Concorde, supersonic passenger travel, Blake Scholl (Photo : Getty Images. ) Analysts claim that the recommendation by the CFIUS, which is headed by the U.S. Treasury Department, is not binding. Advertisement German chipmaker Aixtron's pending acquisition by China's Fujian Grand Chip Investment Fund (FGC) seems to have hit a minor roadblock. The German chipmaker said that it had received a recommendation from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to block the proposed takeover deal. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Aixtron stated that the CFIUS, which scrutinizes deals that are potentially national security risks, has said that it plans to forward the recommendation to the U.S. President. However, the Herzogenrath-based company reportedly said in a statement that it has decided not to follow the recommendation. Analysts claim that the recommendation by the CFIUS, which is headed by the U.S. Treasury Department, is not binding. The negative recommendation comes after a recent report in German newspaper Handelsblatt stated that the U.S. intelligence agency had warned German Prime Minister Angela Merkel's government against the Aixtron-FGC deal. There are fears that the deal could give the Chinese firm access to critical technology that could be potentially used for military activities. It must be noted that German robotic company Kuka AG's takeover by Chinese firm Midea Group had faced similar problems, with German politicians raising concern on security grounds. However, Merkel's government gave a go-ahead to the deal and the takeover was officially completed in August. Over the past year, Chinese firms have been on an acquisition spree to expand their footprint in the international market. However, their acquisition drive has often hit a roadblock due to opposition by Western governments on security grounds. Advertisement TagsAixtron, Fujian Grand Chip Investment Fund, Aixtron Acquisition, Aixtron Takeover Deal, china (Photo : VKS) Russian S-400 missile defense system. Advertisement Turkey is reportedly in talks with Russia to buy advanced S-400 long range air defense missile systems, Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik confirmed on Friday. "As of missile defense, work is continuing. We are negotiating on S-400 not only with Russia but with other countries that have similar systems. Russia's position on this issue now is positive," Isi told Turkey's NTV. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Undersecretary of Defense Industries Ismail Demir on Tuesday said Turkey is willing to work with "any interested party" including Russia and China to develop its long-range air defense capabilities. "We have already made clear that we will be in cooperation with countries and companies that would lend support to us throughout this process," Demir said. Turkey has allocated $3.4 billion to develop its domestic long-range anti-missile shield, according to RT. Last year, Turkey has canceled its 2013 anti-ballistic missile system tender, in which Russia's S-400 system competed with US-made Patriot PAC-3, European SAMP/T Aster 30, and China's FD-2000 systems. However, it quickly clarified that although the tender was cancelled, the project is still alive. The deal was cancelled after Ankara and Beijing reportedly failed to agree on the transfer of technology. The contract also triggered concern from other NATO members over compatibility issues and potential ramification of Turkey's contribution to the alliance, the RT reported. Meanwhile, Turkey lacks a hardware of its own; thus, it has to depend on other NATO members for anti-missile protection. Last year, Turkey was angered after the US withdrew its Patriot missiles from its border with Syria. "We hope that NATO member states would take this seriously, and our system will be compatible with the alliance's requirements. But we do not in any way reject the Russian proposal, and are actively working on it," Isik said, adding that Turkey's ultimate goal is to domestically manufacture these systems. The S-400 is Russia's next-generation air defense system. It carries three different types of missiles that could track and destroy all aerial targets from short-to-extremely-long range, including ballistics and cruise missiles, the Defense World reported. Advertisement TagsTurkey defense missile system, S-400 air defense, S-400 missile, Russia Turkey deal (Photo : Getty Images) JULY 19: Investigators and rescuers work around the wreckage of a damaged bus as the bus carrying tourists from mainland China crashed and caught fire along an expressway on its way to the airport on July 19, 2016 in Taoyuan, Taiwan of China. A Taiwan tour bus carrying visitors from mainland China crashed en route to Taoyuan airport, just south of the capital Taipei on Saturday afternoon, killing all 26 on board, including 24 tourists, one driver and one tour guide. Advertisement Families of the 23 Chinese tourists who died from a bus fire in Taiwan finally received their settlement amounting to NT$6.64 million per victim, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications reported on its website. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement On July 19 this year, a tour bus carrying 24 tourists from Liaoning province in mainland China was on its way to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport when the bus crashed into a highway barrier along Freeway No. 2. It was the group's last tour day. The bus was soon engulfed by flames, trapping the 24 tourists, the tour guide, and the driver, inside. No one survived the tragic accident. After a thorough investigation, Taiwanese authorities revealed in September that the driver Su Ming-cheng was driving the tour bus under the influence of alcohol. He poured gasoline on the passengers and on himself before intentionally setting the bus on fire. The case is now closed as the driver also died. Out of the 24 victims, only one refused to sign the settlement of NT$6.64 million. Families of the 22 victims already received the money from the tour bus' insurance company, while the other one is still completing the documentary requirements. Out of the 24 victims, only one refused to sign the settlement of NT$6.64 million and only accepted the basic insurance compensation of NT$2 million to all victims. The family said that they will hire a lawyer and file a lawsuit against the bus company. Advertisement Tagstour Bus, Taiwan bus fire, china, Mainland China, Taiwan Tourism, Settlement Arabic Translator at German Refugee Camps Says Muslim Refugees Have 'Pure Hatred' Towards Christians A 39-year-old Eritrean woman wanted to offer her services as an Arabic translator in German refugee camps, but when she arrived there, she was shocked by the "pure hatred" these migrants have against Christians. The woman, who chose to remain anonymous, told the Catholic website Kath.net that Muslim migrants want Germany to become Islamised, adding that they plan to do that by having more children to gain the numbers enough to "destroy Christians." She said she arrived in Germany back in 1991 as a refugee herself. She decided to volunteer in asylum centres for five years to "give something back" to the community. However, the woman was shocked by the hostility shown by Muslim migrants to Christians. Their distaste for Christians is so palpable that they forbid their children to play with Christians. "It's very similar in asylum housing, where Muslim boys refuse to play with Christians," she shared. The woman said she has worked in several refugee camps all across Germany, going undercover to discover this truth. The woman also revealed that fellow translators were stoking Muslims' hatred against Christians. Whenever Christian missionaries are out of the vicinity, Muslim migrants would "show their true colours" and reveal their hatred towards those with different faith. "They want Germany to be Islamised. They despise our country and our values," she said. "Pure hatred against non-believers is preached, and children are brought from an early age here in Germany." Some women even told her, "We will multiply our numbers. We must have more children than the Christians because it's the only way we can destroy them here." The woman made an effort to defend Christians, but she was told that doing so is a sin. After German Chancellor Angela Merkel imposed an open-door immigration policy in Germany this year, the European country has been rocked by several terror attacks. 'Genocide Risk' In South Sudan: US Urges Sanctions, Arms Embargo Political rivalry between South Sudan's President Salva Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, and his former deputy Riek Machar, a Nuer, led to civil war in 2013 that has often followed ethnic lines. The pair signed a shaky peace deal last year, but fighting has continued and Machar fled the country in July. Adama Dieng, UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, last week visited South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011. "I saw all the signs that ethnic hatred and targeting of civilians could evolve into genocide if something is not done now to stop it. I urge the Security Council and member states of the region to be united and to take action," Dieng told the council. "There is a strong risk of violence escalating along ethnic lines with a potential for genocide. I do not say that lightly," he said, urging the council to impose an arms embargo. Samantha Power, US ambassador to the United Nations, told the council that Dieng's warning should serve as a wake-up call. "None of us can say we did not see it coming," Power said. The UN Security Council has long-threatened to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan, but veto powers Russia and China are sceptical as to whether such a move would make a difference as the country is already awash with weapons. "We think that implementing such a recommendation would hardly be helpful in settling the conflict," Deputy Russian UN Ambassador Petr Iliichev said. "Introducing targeted sanctions against South Sudanese leaders would be the height of irresponsibility now." China also voiced its opposition to embargoes. "As a matter of principle, China's position is that it consistently does not agree with the use of or threat of sanctions," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang at a regular press briefing on Friday. "On the issue of South Sudan, the United Nation's actions should send the right signal, encourage both parties to reach an agreement and respect the ceasefire, to move the situation towards stability rather than further complicating matters," he said. The Security Council set up a targeted sanctions regime for South Sudan in March 2015 and has blacklisted six generals three from each side of the conflict by subjecting them to an asset freeze and travel ban. "An arms embargo is effective if there is a broad and robust commitment to its enforcement," Power told the council. "Imposing new targeted sanctions designations will isolate the individuals who have consistently been responsible for the acts that have brought South Sudan to this moment and which have caused so much suffering." South Sudanese soldiers and rebels said on Thursday they had clashed in a state bordering Sudan, killing at least 15 people. Hope Amid The Darkness: Christians Urge People Everywhere To Light A Candle For Aleppo Christians are calling on people, churches and other communities throughout Britain to "light a candle for Aleppo" to support the children, men and women trapped under renewed bombardment in the ravaged city. The "A Light for Aleppo" initiative aims to send hope to Syria at a time when the bombing has recommenced after a brief ceasefire. Other faiths and people of no faith are being urged to join the initiative launched by the University of Edinburgh chaplaincy. Church of Scotland moderator Dr Russell Barr the aim is for communities and individuals everywhere to light beacons or candles at 5pm this Sunday as signs of vigilance and hope. Dr Barr said: "The darkness that is Aleppo has filled the news reports for weeks and months: the seemingly endless bombardment, the terrible suffering of the people, and the inability - or unwillingness - of the international community to bring the conflict to an end. "What can we do to offer support and assure the people of Aleppo their suffering is not forgotten? "Given it is better to light a candle than curse the darkness, on Sunday evening I will join many others to light a light for Aleppo. And I will pray that 'the people who walk in darkness will see a great light' and it will bring them the hope of peace. I personally will be in Dumfries, and while this event has its heart in the Capital, I would hope people around Scotland will join me in taking part." University chaplain Harriet Harris said: "The intention is for the coastlines of East Lothian and Fife to be lit up, leading out from Edinburgh, and also that beacons of light could spread around our coastlines, inland, and to anywhere in the world. "It would be wonderful if the churches of Edinburgh could support this, encouraging ministers and congregations to hold gatherings. It really will be the church networks that could make this work as a public event on an inspirational scale, so as to bring hope. "The beacons can be as simple as lighting a candle in a window, though we are also hoping for a fair few community gatherings, with the churches being integral to this vision. "We have already heard from people in other parts of the UK and in other countries who intend to join in. In this way, a path of light might well reach from here to Aleppo, or at least to Syrian borders, and spread hope, and may even help save lives." Gais Masri, 19, who came to Scotland from Syria two years ago, said: "It's sad to hear that people from your country are dying every day and the places where you have loads of memories are destroyed, so this means a lot to me. It means that people are thinking about us and they did not forget us and there is still hope that war will end in Syria and everything might be fine." Masri, who is studying electrical engineering in the hope that he will one day be able to return to Syria and help rebuild the country, says the Scottish people have welcomed him and his friends here are like a new family. "I will never forget what the Scottish people have done for me and my family," he said. "Even if I can go back to Syria and help my country I will never forget Scotland." Events are planned around the country, especially at coastlines. The Cromarty Peace Group, for example, will be gathering around a fire at the harbour. Alan McDonald, a member of the peace group said, "We will be gathering around a fire at Cromarty Harbour to be part of this powerful initiative to bring light into the darkness." The chaplaincy is also asking participants to collect funds for the charities Oxfam and Medecins Sans Frontieres, which are both working to save lives in Aleppo. How Our Troubled Times Give The Church A Chance To Shine There are some significant shifts going on in our culture right now. If we are going to be effective in our times we need to be aware of them so that we can discern how we can faithfully witness to the good news of Jesus through our words and actions. Too often the Church is quick to criticise our changing culture and slow to act. Now is the time for us to shine, thanks to five big challenges we face. 1. An increasingly divided society Globally the gap between rich and poor is increasing. Oxfam says that the richest one per cent own more than the rest of us put together. But the gap between rich and poor within our nation is increasing too. In the UK, Oxfam reports that the richest one per cent own 20 times more total wealth than the poorest fifth. Fewer than 1 million Brits are worth 20 times as much as the poorest 13 million. Oxfam argues that this contributed to the Brexit vote. Whatever our personal views on Brexit, we must recognise not only the huge gap between the rich and the poor that it may have revealed, but also an ideological gap between remainers and leavers. These gaps are likely to increase as the economic and political implications of Brexit play themselves out. With a decrease in what sociologists describe as 'bridging social capita'l, the bonds between different social groups are fraying. We have less and less in common with one another and so are willing to sacrifice less for one another, to serve each other less. Robert Putnam's classic book Bowling Alone documented how there has been a decrease in engagement with the political process, voting, serving on public committees, party membership and volunteering. Is this what we are seeing, not only in the UK's ambivalence towards the EU, but also in the US, with the rise of Donald Trump and his divisive policies? In this situation the Church has an opportunity to shine brightly. Essential to our vocation as Christians is the ministry of reconciliation. We are to model the reconciling work of God. The Church is the place where God's reconciling purposes between rich and poor, between the young and old, Jews and Gentiles, black and white, men and women, leavers and remainers are to be worked through. This allows the Church to model an alternative reality, which comes with the persuasive force of being the future plans of God for the universe. 2. Increasingly long life spans A child born in the West today has more than a 50 per cent chance of surviving to be over 105 years old, while by contrast a child born over a century ago had a less than one per cent chance of living to that age. According to a fascinating new book, The 100 Year Life by Lynda Grattan and Andrew Scott, one of the many implications of this is that retirement takes on a very different shape. Instead of the usual three-tier life of education, work and retirement, Grattan and Scott argue that we will see new stages in life develop. Most economic commentators argue that we will have to be working for many more years than is currently normal in order to afford to retire. There are some very positive implications for the mission of the Church. Longer life should mean more opportunities for people to hear the gospel and more opportunities for different kinds of service to God. We can rejoice in nutritional, medical, political advances that have brought about increasing longevity while also recognising a big disparity between life span in rich and poor countries. Ministries to those in the "third age" of life will need to adapt to the range of different opportunities and needs of older population as 'old age' now covers a very wide range of abilities and interests. One trend that I have noticed is that many of our churches have relied for their volunteer support on retired people. But this bank of volunteers is likely to diminish. In the days to come those who are physically able are likely to be working into their seventies and eighties. How will the Church both staff and finance what it is doing? We will need new models of volunteering and funding for the Church to reach its community. 3. Diminishing public funds Many local councils are cutting back on public services including libraries, children's centres, education and disability provision. This cutting of public spending seems unlikely to stop any time soon. With diminishing public funds perhaps the church may become the means by which the government commissions services that it used to do itself. The Salvation Army recently won the contract to provide safe accommodation for people who have been trafficked. More churches are housing post offices, running local libraries or taking responsibilities for schools. The more churches are able to work together to overcome the differences between us, the more we can stand shoulder to shoulder to fight poverty and witness to the transforming power of the gospel, the greater impact we will have. Groups like Gweini and Cinnamon Network have captured some of the social impact through their Faith in Action Audit. Reporting on just 2110 churches and faith groups they recorded that they were involved in 16,068 projects, mobilising some 139,600 volunteers, serving 3,494,634 beneficiaries. This kind of impact reporting is vital, not just for local projects but as part of a larger apologetic to our culture in demonstrating the value of the Church. It's a form of contextualised evangelism that is able to point to the hard numbers when people ask what has Christianity ever done for anyone. 4. Increased race-related violence and intolerance There are more refugees and migrants in our world today than there have ever been in history. Many are escaping war and terror. Others are seeking to escape poverty. The Church has played an important role in shaping the national response to refugees. Even the Guardian newspaper recognised that it was faith leaders putting pressure for the government to receive refugee children into the UK from Calais that led, eventually, to some action. The question will be whether this is a fad. When the newspaper headlines fade, is the Church locked in for the long term on these important issues? The explosion in racially based violence offers an opportunity for the Church not only to model something very different, but to overcome our tendency towards racial division ourselves. Most churches are monocultural, despite the fact that according to a study by the Social Integration Commission, churches "are more successful than any other social setting at bringing people of different backgrounds together, well ahead of gatherings such as parties, meetings, weddings or venues such as pubs and clubs". There is of course something to celebrate here, but it is also a glaring indictment of the divisions in our society. It must motivate us to move forward and forge and model increasing inclusion across racial lines. The Church is described in the book of Revelation as a multicultural, multilingual multitude, gathered around the throne of Christ offering praise to the Lamb who was slain. In our divided nation we have a powerful opportunity to model the transforming power of the gospel in our personal lives and in our corporate life as God's people. 5. God's continued commitment to the Church It's worth betting on the Church, despite new figures showing 810,600 attended a Church of England service on an average Sunday, which was two per cent down on the previous year and five per cent down over a five-year period. Despite the revelation that one in 20 Anglican parishes has only four worshippers in it. Despite the fact that those of us from other denominations have little cause for optimism either, as overall church attendance is still in decline. Despite claims that the UK only values the Church at Christmas and Easter. Yet I am as confident now as ever in the future of the Church. God's purposes for the Church are not over; his promises endure. What the church attendance figures are demonstrating is simply the end of nominalism. The sociological factors that used to drive people to church are driving them away. What is being revealed gradually, once the age profile of the Church is factored in, is that our churches are increasingly made up of those who really believe rather than those who attend out of social convention. God's purposes for his Church have not changed. This moment in history gives us the opportunity to demonstrate our confidence in the gospel and not just our position in society. Like the moment of truth when a child loses stabilisers and we discover whether they really can ride a bike so now the moment of truth for the Church to shine has arrived. How will we respond? Dr Krish Kandiah is the founding director of the fostering and adoption charity Home for Good. He is the author of the award-winning Paradoxology: Why Christianity was never meant to be simple. He spends a lot of time tweeting @krishk Michael Moore Challenges White Christian America: Don't Call Yourself 'Christian' If You Won't Oppose People Spreading Hatred Don't call yourself "Christian" if you won't oppose people spewing hatred. That was the challenge hurled by filmmaker Michael Moore to white American Christians, the bloc of voters that strongly voted for Donald Trump, catapulting him to the White House. Interviewed on MSNBC's "AM Joy" show on Saturday, Moore called on Christians, white Americans in particular, to stand up for minorities and women who are coming under increasing attack from bigots since Trump stunned the nation with his Nov. 8 election triumph, Raw Story reported. Following Trump's victory, Latinos, Muslims, African-Americans and womenpeople who strongly supported Trump's rival, Democratic Party's Hillary Clintonhave reportedly found themselves under attack from people spewing racism, causing many to fear going out in public. "White people, no matter how painful, have a responsibility to reject anybody who stands in front of a camera who spews racism," Moore said during the show. He said this is because white Americans comprise "the race that's been in power forever" in America. The documentary filmmaker then specifically zeroed in on white American Christians. "Do not call yourself a Christian if you are not willing, literally, to put your body in front of whoever is coming to hurt the other the people who are not you," he said. According to Pew Research Center, 81 percent of self-identified white, born-again/evangelical Christians voted for Trump, while just 16 percent voted for Clinton. Trump's 65-percentage-point margin of victory among voters in this group which includes self-described Protestants, as well as Catholics, Mormons and others matched or exceeded the victory margins of George W. Bush in 2004, John McCain in 2008 and Mitt Romney in 2012. Also on Saturday, Moore went to the Trump Tower in Manhattan in his attempt to personally confront Trump and tell him to resign, claiming that he did not actually win the election. He failed, however, after he was stopped by Secret Service guards when he reached the fourth floor of the building, the Daily Mail reported. Before that, he was with the thousands of people protesting against the President-elect outside the building. Moore has vowed to help form a resistance movement against Trump. In an interview with The Los Angeles Times, he said "it will be a mass movement of millions that will dwarf Occupy Wall Street." "I don't believe anyone in the media who says we're going to have four years of Trump. This is a man who doesn't have any ideology; the only thing he believes in is Donald Trump. And that's usually a one-way ticket out of office," Moore said. 'Prison Break' season 5 air date, spoilers, news: expectations for upcoming miniseries One of the most highly anticipated television events of next year is the return of FOX's "Prison Break," which is to be reintroduced as a miniseries with the network ordering nine episodes for Michael Scofield's (Wentworth Miller) return. For the past several months, the web has been filled with hundreds of rumors and that's a testament to how popular the prison-themed drama is, even though it'll be making a return after seven years of hiatus. Since the show is expected to air early next year, it sounds about right to look back at the most notable theories and rumors about the revival of "Prison Break." Just to remind everyone, some of the things to be mentioned below are facts, such as the characters making a comeback, while others are pure speculations. According to an earlier report from Deadline, series creator Paul Scheuring indicated that Michael didn't actually die and instead he simply faked his own death. This obviously is the best and most believable way to explain how Michael ended up in a Yemeni prison, as seen in the trailer, when he is supposed to be rotting six feet under. Meanwhile, it is safe to bet that the entirety of the series will revolve on the mission to saving Michael. This quest will be led by his brother, Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell), and to be supported by several of the returnees from the previous seasons, including Fernando Sucre (Amaury Nolasco), C-Note (Rockmond Dunbar), and Sara Tancredi (Sarah Wayne Callies). Beyond that arc, there are so many possibilities, including the speculation from iDigital Times wherein another returnee in the person of T-Bag (Robert Knepper) might turn into an enemy. Along with the return of several old characters is the introduction of new ones, including Sara's husband, Jacob Ness (Mark Feuerstein), and Sara's young son, Mike (Christian Michael Cooper). It isn't clear though if Jacob turns out to be a supportive husband to Sara the moment she decides she'll help in breaking Michael out of prison. "Prison Break" is set to return in the spring of 2017 on FOX. Sharia Court Sentences 3 Iranian Christians to 80 Lashes Each for Taking Communion Wine Three Christian men from Iran who converted from Islam were recently found guilty of blasphemy for receiving Holy Communion wine. They were sentenced to 80 lashes each by a Muslim Sharia court. According to a report by The Daily Mail, Yaser Mosibzadeh, Saheb Fadayee and Mohammed Reza Omidi, also known as Youhan, will be flogged in public in the coming days in what observers say is a clear indication of Iran's continuing refusal to recognise the rights of Muslims to convert to Christianity and other religions. Under strict Muslim Sharia law, followers of Islam cannot drink alcoholsomething that is not forbidden under the laws of Iranand also cannot change their religions. The three Christian converts were deemed to have violated these Islamic regulations after taking communion wine at a house church gathering at the Iranian city of Rasht in May. The lawyers helping out the three Christian men are planning to appeal the Sharia court's verdict. However, they face more legal troubles aside from their blasphemy charges. They are also being accused of "action against national security"the sentence of which will be determined at a later date. Paul Robinson, chief executive of Release International, condemned the persecution being experienced by the three Christian men just for practicing their faith. "Why should Christians be lashed for taking communion? And why is Iran refusing to allow its own citizens that most basic of all freedoms, the freedom to choose their own faith?" Robinson told The Daily Mail. "These men have chosen to call themselves Christians. The state should respect that," he added. Aside from the charges filed against the Christian men, individuals close to them are also being persecuted. The house of their pastor, Yousef Nadarkhani and his wife Fatemeh Pasandideh, was also recently raided by Iranian security forces. They were also previously arrested, but were not jailed. World's Oldest Ten Commandments Tablet Sold for $850,000 at Auction The world's earliest-known complete stone inscription of the Ten Commandments has just been sold at an auction in Beverly Hills, California for a whopping $850,000 (682,489). The inscription which has earned a reputation for being the "national treasure" of Israel stands 2 feet tall. It is a square marble slab that weighs 115 pounds. Done in 4th century A.D., it has an early Hebrew script called Samaritan, according to the Daily Mail. It was sold by Heritage Auctions during its public sale of ancient biblical archaeology artefacts. David Michaels, director of ancient coins and antiquities of Heritage Auctions, said the tablet was most likely made to adorn the entrance of a synagogue that was destroyed by the Romans sometime between A.D. 400 and 600. It could have also been destroyed by the Crusaders in the 11th century. Michaels said the Israeli Antiquities Authorities approved the export of the tablet to the U.S. in 2005, with the sole stipulation that it be displayed in a public museum. Despite the recent purchase of the tablet, it will still be available for public viewing. "The sale of this tablet does not mean it will be hidden away from the public," Michaels clarified. "The new owner is under obligation to display the tablet for the benefit of the public." The tablet was first discovered in 1913 during excavations for a railway station near Yavneh in Israel. It emerged years later when it was purchased by an Arab man, who decided to place it in the floor of his courtyard. Because of this, some of the letters in the centre of the slab were worn down. It was later purchased by a certain Mr. Y. Kaplan in 1943. He owned it for 50 years before it was bought by antiquities dealer Robert Deutsch in the 1990s. It was last owned by a prominent rabbi, who purchased it for his Living Torah Museum in New York in 2005. The Israel Antiquities Authority gave the rabbi its approval to have the tablet displayed at the museum before being sold recently at the auction. The new owner does not wish to be named. The starting bid for the Ten Commandments tablet was $300,000 (240,878). After more than a year on the run, a man accused of sexually assaulting a girl in 2015 is now behind bars in Brazoria County after his arrest in Colombia, authorities said on Friday. Carlos Alberto Mejia was indicted for aggravated sexual assault of a child in connection with an attack on a girl, then 9, at a home in the 6000 block of Brian Street in Pearland. Dear Abby: The holidays are coming, and this year it's my turn to host Thanksgiving. I'm a full-time working mom with two active children, and I also volunteer. No matter how hard I will work at cleaning my house before the relatives come, I know there'll be areas that aren't spotless. I have relatives who will make sure to point out what needs to be done, or critique how I have arranged my furniture, or what I did or didn't prepare for the meal. How do I graciously handle these comments? I want to be an example to my children on how to be a gracious hostess. Under Pressure in Ohio Dear Under Pressure: You would be amazed what a person can get away with if it's said with a warm smile. If someone criticizes your housekeeping, smile and say, "Oh, really? I must have missed it. The vacuum cleaner is in the closet. Be an angel and take care of it for me, will you?" The same goes for where you keep your duster. If your relatives don't like what's on your menu, suggest sweetly that next time they come they bring something they will enjoy. It would be a lot more gracious than showing the person the door. Dear Abby I have been in a relationship with a wonderful man for more than a year. He has sole custody of his 10-year-old son, "Jordan." Because of our financial circumstances at the time, we moved in with each other right away. Jordan's mother is not in the picture and, unfortunately, I inherited her parenting responsibilities because of it. Jordan is a sweet boy, but I have no emotional attachment to him. To be honest, I'm disappointed every time he walks in the door after school and I'm forced to stop what I am doing in order to care for him. Abby, I thought I would become more attached to Jordan as time went on, but instead, I'm feeling resentful. I'm embarrassed to have made a commitment to this man and his son and to have ended up in this situation. I don't want to break up with the love of my life, but I don't want to sacrifice the next eight years of my life raising a child who isn't mine. Do you have any advice for me? Conflicted in Sacramento Dear Conflicted: Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. If Jordan's father is really "the love of your life," you had better accept that he and his son are a package deal and treat the child with love. If you can't manage that, then do them both a favor and bow out of the picture now. And because none of this is Jordan's fault, while you're packing, assure him that your leaving has nothing to do with him, only with you. It's the truth, and that way, he won't blame himself. DearAbby.comDear AbbyP.O. Box 69440Los Angeles, CA 90069Universal Press Syndicate A vehicle crashed into an apartment complex in southwest Houston on Friday morning injuring two children and their mother, according to police. The incident occurred around 9:15 a.m at 8077 Creekbend Drive. Sgt. C. Nickerson with the Houston Police Department said the driver was traveling northbound when the motorist ran a stop sign and then struck the Braeswood Forest Condominiums. Two children both age 2, their 27-year-old mother, and the suspect were transported to area hospitals. The extent of their injuries were not given. The children, mother and father were inside when the vehicle struck their apartment unit. Nickerson said officers were doing a routine patrol of the area when witnesses approached them about the incident. Robert Hunt III, an apartment resident, was sitting in the living room and on the computer, when the vehicle crashed into his unit. He said his wife and 2-year-old twins were in the bedroom, when the impact of the crash moved the bed and caused debris to fall on top of the bed. He recalled trying to remove some debris off his son from the crash. "He just crashed through the house," Hunt said. "Totally, totally out of the blue." He said his wife has a concussion, and his daughter had a gash on her forehead. The father does not know the extent of his son's injuries. They are all currently being treated at a local hospital. Houston police spokesman Kese Smith said the incident has been classified as a non-fatal accident and one person has been taken into custody. Thompson students commit to literacy Students at Thompson Elementary School each received a free book to take home and made a commitment to "read it forward" during a literacy event Tuesday, Nov. 15, that was organized by Texas A&M University education majors. Students from all grades spent about an hour rotating through four stations all staffed by student volunteers from Texas A&M that included writing, coloring and a read-aloud story time. Karli Anderson is a student teacher assigned to Thompson Elementary this year through the school's partnership with the Texas A&M Urban Student Teacher Advanced Residency (U-STAR) program. She said the project promoted literacy while also emphasizing the exciting opportunities that are available at the university. When the students moved to the coloring station, they found a "My Aggie Adventure" coloring book already opened to a page featuring the Aggie class ring. An area on the ring picture was left blank for the children to fill in the year they would graduate from college 2032 for the first-graders. One of the most popular stations had tables piled high with age-appropriate books that were generously donated by Half Price Books. Vicki Mokuria, a U-STAR program doctoral student and liaison between Thompson and the university, said the company provided about 1,000 books for the school. It was enough for each student to take one home with some left over to stock the school's Little Free Library that is located outside the school for the community to easily access, even during the upcoming holiday breaks. Dr. Robert Long, Thompson principal, said the event supported the school's effort to have students read for at least 30 minutes each night and strengthened literacy schoolwide. Lewis & Link Students Encouraged to 'Dream Big' Two Spring ISD elementary schools Link and Lewis were selected to take part in this year's Houston Rockets' Good Night Sleep program, sponsored by Mattress Firm. The Good Night Sleep program, now in its fourth year, employs a high-energy traveling show, featuring Clutch, the Rockets Bear, to entertain area schoolchildren and educate them about the importance of proper rest in helping them to be successful in school and in life. This year, 20 Houston-area schools were offered the opportunity to host the program for their students, with every student at each participating school receiving a Clutch storybook that reinforces the program's message about the importance of a good night's rest. During the programs at Link and Lewis Monday, Nov. 14, select students were chosen as helpers during the hourlong presentation and were awarded special prizes, such as autographed copies of the Clutch storybook, a Clutch doll or a Rockets piggy bank. Through a series of skits and presentations involving Clutch, together with Houston Rockets Mascot Coordinator Dominic Davila, students learned how getting the needed amount of rest each and every night would help them focus in school and stay healthy both physically and mentally. As part of the program, each participating school received several sets of Houston Rockets tickets to be given out to students and their families. By completing and mailing in a special activity section included in each storybook, students will also have the opportunity to win additional prizes, including tickets to an upcoming Rockets home game or a personal visit from Clutch at their next birthday party. Spring High, and Dueitt MS music ensembles earn national recognition Six Spring ISD music ensembles, including four from Spring High School and two from Dueitt Middle School, were awarded either National Winner or Commended Winner status in the 2016 Mark of Excellence recorded music contest sponsored by the Foundation for Music Education. Representing the district among this year's Mark of Excellence National Winners are three Spring ISD ensembles: Spring High School Wind Ensemble, Gabe Musella, conductor; Spring High School Women's Chorale, David Landgrebe and Chelsea Berner, conductors; and Dueitt Middle School Percussion Ensemble, Tamara Williams, conductor. Three additional groups were named Commended Winners in the competition: Spring High School Chamber Choir, David Landgrebe, conductor; Spring High School Percussion Ensemble, JD Guzman, conductor; and Dueitt Middle School Symphonic Band, Christopher Gonzales and Michael Warny, conductors. Landgrebe and Musella made special note of the fact that Spring High is the only school to have both its band and choir listed as National Winners. Musella also highlighted the strong showing at the middle school level. "None of these accolades would be possible without the outstanding work and dedication of our middle school directors at Bailey, Dueitt and Twin Creeks," Musella said. "The students, parents and staff are committed to continuing the legacy that has made our performing arts program one of the finest of its kind in the United States." The Mark of Excellence competition, first held in 2008, invites groups to submit unedited live performance recordings to be judged by a panel of university-level professional music educators from across the country. The top quarter of competing schools are ultimately named as National Winners, while the second quarter are awarded Commended Winner status. Winning ensembles for 2016 were selected from 236 entries submitted by middle school and high school groups in 36 states. About 47 children in Harris County found their forever homes on Friday as part of National Adoption Day. Tiffani Butler, a spokeswoman for Texas' Department of Family and Protective Services, said 1,265 foster children in Harris County are still waiting to be adopted. In Texas, nearly 6,400 children are waiting for permanent homes. The Houston dentist whose care earlier this year left a 4-year-old girl severely brain damaged may no longer practice medicine in the state of Texas. The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners Friday voted to permanently revoke the license of Dr. Bethaniel Jefferson, whose licensed has been temporarily suspended since January, when the incident occurred. The revocation will become final in 25 days. The action comes two months after a state administrative judge recommended the permanent revocation of her license. She ruled that Jefferson failed to meet a minimum standard of care in her treatment of Navaeh Hall, including not "recognizing and responding to the emergency situation," when the girl had a seizure and went into shock. The case dates to January, when Navaeh's parents brought her to Jefferson's clinic for seemingly routine treatment of teeth decay. There, Navaeh was given excessive levels of sedatives, overmedication that deprived her of enough oxygen. In hours, state records show, Navaeh suffered brain damage and dystonia, a movement disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions. She spent three months in a rehabilitation hospital, unable to walk, talk or respond to instructions, before being discharged to home care in April. "Nevaeh will never recover from her injuries," James Moriarty, the family attorney, said in a statement. "However today's decision is a victory for her parents, and all parents who take their kids to the dentist. We applaud the Dental Board, and State Administrative Law Judges who, through their actions today, are protecting other children from negligent dental practitioners." Moriarty has filed a civil lawsuit in Harris County against Jefferson on behalf of Nevaeh's parents in the matter. The dental board's vote was unanimous, except for one member who abstained. On Friday, attempts to reach Jefferson for comment were unsuccessful. The Houston Fire Department responded to multiple blazes across the Houston area overnight. Around 10 p.m. Friday, firefighters arrived to an auto shop on Bissonnet at Rampart and found two cars on fire. No injuries were reported in the fire, which is still under investigation. A house fire at 2 a.m. in north Houston caused the roof to collapse, destroying the home at Havenwoods near Greenwood Forest. The cause of the fire remains unknown, but no one was injured. A fire at Summercrest Apartments in Spring Branch caused four units to have fire, water and smoke damage. Firefighters found heavy flames coming from the second floor of a two-story apartment building around 2:15 a.m. on Hollister and Pitner. The fire is currently under investigation. No one was injured. Another fire in Spring Branch broke out around 11:30 p.m. at Hunters Chase apartments on Hammerly and Teague. A resident accidentally left food on the stove cooking and went to bed. No injuries were reported. . Police are investigating a fatal shooting in a residential area in south Houston. Houston police were sent to the scene of a shooting shortly after 7 p.m. Friday in the 5000 block of Dowling. HPD officials said one person was shot and taken to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The motive for the fatal shooting remains under investigation. Police have not identified a suspect. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS. A Texas Tech professor has gone viral after leaving a printed note of each of his students' desks. After reading an article in the Wall Street Journal about schools that were providing comfort for students post-election, Terry McInturff decided to voice his opinion on the topic. OUTRAGED PROTEST: Students at the University of Houston join in walk-out protesting election results According to an article on Everythinglubbock.com, McInturff printed out the article along with his commentary and left a paper for each student to read. "After reading the article and reflecting on my often repeated statement to you that "I don't care how you FEEL, I care what you THINK," it occurred to me that perhaps I have been a bit too harsh. Therefore, in the spirit of dealing with the wounds of those feeling grief and unbearable angst over the election, Kim's tragic Paris robbery, the heart wrenching Brangelina break-up or other similar tragedy, I would like to do my part. While I can't offer "arts and crafts" or a "therapy dog," the Energy Commerce Department has arranged for free hugs from our therapy boa constrictor. Please go to room 139 to schedule a session should you feel the need." Though the comments were meant to be tongue-in-cheek, McInturff stands by his belief that students are too coddled, and that it's an educator's job to prepare young people to "hit the real world" whether they like the circumstances or not. Take a look through the gallery above to see reactions to the election results from across the nation. A community activist in Dallas is asking to meet with a mega-church pastor after he called him a "thug" on television. Dominique Alexander, founder of the Next Generation Action Network, has organized protests against Donald Trump after the real estate magnet won the presidential election. First Baptist Dallas became a target for Alexander after he learned the church's pastor Robert Jeffress supports Donald Trump. AMERICAN MADE: Ford says Donald Trump influenced decision to not move production to Mexico On Wednesday, Jeffress appeared on "Lou Dobbs Tonight" and called Dominique Alexander a "thug." According to Dallas news station WFAA, Jeffress posted the interview on the church's Youtube page but then removed it. Alexander wrote Jeffress a letter about the incident and has asked to schedule a meeting with him. "I would like to ask you to repent for your despicable comments towards the minority community and the LGBTQ community," Alexander wrote in the letter. "Your endorsement of Donald Trump has brought out the deepest and darkest hate this country has seen in a very long time... Currently, in America hate crimes have gone up tremendously since the election, bringing America's dark past back to haunt her." NEW KICKS: Reebok Classic is offering new shoes to anyone willing to trash their New Balance shoes WFAA reports Alexander has organized four protests against Trump, including one outside First Baptist Dallas on Saturday. Alexander reportedly called the church a "mecca of hate" during a protest. Jeffress appeared on "The O'Reilly Factor" on Tuesday and told Bill O'Reilly that there is more to Alexander's protest of his church. "What they're really protesting is not just my support of Trump but my church's conservative belief system," Jeffress told O'Reilly. "We're not a hate church, we're not Westboro Baptist Church. We're a church that simply embraces the tenants of historic Christianity for the last 2,000 years as revealed in the Bible. There's nothing hateful about our members at all." LITTLE DONALD: 9 things to know about Barron Trump Jeffress also spoke to O'Reilly about Alexander's 2009 charges of injury to a child, calling him a hypocrite for protesting. According to the Dallas Morning News, Alexander admitted to shaking a 2-year-old boy and striking him with an object. He was sentenced to two years in prison in Aug. He was released a month later after the judge considered his probation as time served in prison. "I think we see the hypocrisy of liberalism on display with these protests and that is the most intolerant people in the world are those who cry the loudest," Jeffress told O'Reilly. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A video showing young men desecrating a dead dog in Central Texas shocked viewers when it hit social media in late September. But nearly two months later, authorities find no criminal wrongdoing against the three men seen in the video, according to a report. EXOTIC PETS: Mom accused of letting tigers roam house with teen daughter McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara told the Waco Tribune-Herald that his office has "pursued this from every angle and we can only go as far as the law will allow us." McNamara told the newspaper that there are no state laws against desecrating carcasses, preventing authorities from charging the men. In the video, the men are seen shooting the dog with a gun, setting it on fire and lighting firecrackers. The shocking footage was posted on Snapchat and picked up by people on Facebook. It was recorded on private property and went viral. GRUESOME: 50 malnourished horses seized; 20 others dead Police were able to trace the video back to Zach Molina. Molina reportedly apologized for the video in an Oct. 10 Facebook post: "I made a stupid mistake and I wanted to apologize to the public, the owner and my family," Molina wrote. "I just want to state that I did not kill, touch, or did any of the stuff used in the horrific video. I am however guilty of filming the incident, posting it on snapchat and not putting a stop to it." McNamara told the Tribune-Herald that officers later found the owner of the dog. Investigators determined the dog died after getting hit by a vehicle. The animal was then moved to the property where it was shot at and set on fire. CUTE TURNS GRIM: 'Polar bear petting dog' video questioned after dog eaten McNamara said he's keeping the case open on the chance someone may have information that the dog was still alive when it was filmed. Calls to the McLennan County Sheriff's Office and the McLennan County District Attorney's Office were not returned. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Zoe Campos left home to pick up her mother from work on Nov. 17, 2013, but never made it. The family of the Lubbock woman last heard from her a day later. Since then, nothing. "Knowing I haven't seen her or heard her voice in three years, or even just the fact that I don't even feel any closer to getting answers to getting her home," her mother, Melinda Campos told KLBK-TV. "All the time, I'm always dreaming about her, dreaming about things we used to talk about things we did." HIGH PROFILE: UH student, son of congressman, found safe Not long after the disappearance, Campos' aunt, Monica Rivas, spotted the then-18-year-old's car being driven by a man she didn't know. By the time police arrived, the car had been abandoned. Detective Adam Freeman said there's no concrete leads in the investigation, but it isn't a cold case. "Some leads are just hearsay that turn out to be not correct, but there are leads everyday that come in," Freeman said. A MYSTERY: Spring woman drops off child, vanishes Campos's family held a vigil for her on Nov. 16 at a Lubbock high school and say they hope to have answers about where Zoe Campos is. They also have a Facebook page dedicated to her disappearance. "I'm willing to help, I'm willing to do anything just like the Lubbock community has been doing for me," Melinda Campos said. 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. James Joyce and Italo Svevo: The Story of a Friendship, by Stanley Price (Somerville Press, 276 pp. $19.50) That the sense of place animates good writing is a truism of which our reading continually reminds us: no Warwickshire, no Shakespeare; no London, no Dickens; no Staffordshire, no Arnold Bennett. In a 1956 essay entitled Place in Fiction, American short story writer Eudora Welty nicely captured how family engenders this ineradicable dynamic: There may come to be new places in our lives that are second spiritual homescloser to us in some ways, perhaps, than our original homes. But the home tie is the blood tie. And had it meant nothing to us, any other place thereafter would have meant less, and we would carry no compass inside ourselves to find home ever, anywhere at all. No writer better exemplifies this than James Joyce, whose experience as a young man in Edwardian Dublin colored nearly everything he wrote. Joyce would never forget his improvident, hard-drinking fathers faith in his untested abilities, and yet, as the eldest of ten in a family wracked with disarray, Joyce was also desperate to prove those abilities. In Dubliners (1914), his collection of short stories about the city and people that would be so vital to his art, Joyce gave voice to this desperation with a specificity that only family-infused place could confer: There was no doubt about it: if you wanted to succeed you had to go away. You could do nothing in Dublin. As he crossed Grattan Bridge he looked down the river towards the lower quays and pitied the poor stunted houses. They seemed to him a band of tramps, huddled together along the river-banks, their old coats covered with dust and soot, stupefied by the panorama of sunset and waiting for the first chill of night to bid them arise, shake themselves and begone. In Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916), Joyces alter-ego Stephen Dedalus declares, I go to encounter for the millionth time the reality of experience and to forge in the smithy of my soul the uncreated conscience of my race. He also commits to his diary an entry that is often taken to be something of his young creators artistic manifesto: I will try to express myself in some mode of life or art as freely as I can and as wholly as I can, using for my defense the only arms I allow myself to usesilence, exile, and cunning. While Joyce did become one of literatures most celebrated exiles, its questionable whether his flight was entirely motivated by artistic integrity. He fled to the Continent as much to escape his fathers drunken notoriety as to find his artistic voice. Or, perhaps, one should say, he could only find his artistic voice by first fleeing and then reimagining his fathers failures. Stanley Prices brilliant study of the friendship between Joyce and the Triestine novelist Italo Svevo shows how Joyce could only finish the story of his family in exile. In Ulysses (1922), Leopold Bloom, the Jewish Everyman whom Svevo was instrumental in helping Joyce create, charts the true trajectory of Joyces art: Think youre escaping and run into yourself. Longest way round is the shortest way home. One of Joyces Parisian friends, the surrealist poet Philippe Soupault, might have foreseen the premise of Prices book when he noted how Trieste provided Joyce with a necessary detachment; he felt himself far removed from Ireland, still distinguishing images and echoes of Dublin, but seeing, feeling, and hearing better from afar that city where he had loved and suffered. Yet, what most helped the young Irishman turn his Triestine exile to artistic account was his friendship with a man who in many ways was as extraordinary as Joyce himself. As the Parisian journalist Nino Frank put it, Perfectly Adriatic, Svevo had the Venetian Jews mischievous good nature and sharp subtlety, which are among civilizations finest virtues. Ettore Schmitz took the name Italo Svevo (Italus the Swabian) to signify his mixed heritage: Triestine by language, Austrian by citizenship, and German-Jewish by ancestry. Like Joyce, he came from a big family, of 16 childrenonly eight of whom survivedand had a father who suffered considerable financial reversals, though Svevos father lost his money through bad investments, not through habitual overindulgence in Irish whiskey. For 18 years, Svevo toiled as a bank clerk before marrying into a family that owned a successful marine paint business. Like Joyce, who brought the first cinema to Dublin with Triestine backers, Svevo had a flair for the entrepreneurial. When the Great War broke out, he persuaded all the wars combatants to buy his anti-corrosive paint for their warships. In 1907, two years after Joyce had settled in Trieste, Svevo became Joyces pupil at the Berlitz School to improve his English. He also became something of a father figure to the young Irish exile, playing Bloom to Joyces Stephen Dedalus. In return, Joyce memorialized Svevos wife, Livia, by drawing on her and her golden-red hair for Anna Livia Plurabelle in Finnegans Wake (1939), a statue of whom is now affectionately known in Dublin as the floozy in the Jacuzzi. If academics around the world still hold the author of that riddling book in some awe, the plain people of Dublin have never followed suit. When Joyce set him the task of critiquing A Portrait of the Artist, Svevo, Joyces senior by 21 years, summoned the courage to admit that he was a novelist himself, though neither of his novels had been noticed by the critics. (There is no unanimity, Svevo quipped, like the unanimity of silence.) The friendship of the two frustrated writers was sealed when Joyce, never lavish of praise, read A Life (1892) and As a Man Grows Older (1898) and declared Svevo the successor to Anatole France. Later, Joyce would encourage Svevo to persevere with what would become his masterpiece, The Confessions of Zeno (1923), a fictional send-up of psychoanalysis, whose hero continuously tries and fails to give up cigarettes. In addition to artistic encouragement, Joyce also generously acted as Svevos unpaid publicist, recommending the book to influential literary friends, whose glowing reviews turned it into an international success destime. In return, Svevo helped refine Joyces detailed understanding of all things Jewish. Joyce and Svevo, though far apart in age, had much in common. They were both genuine artists, willing to suffer any setback rather than displease their importunate muses. They were both masterly at making the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune serve their fiction. They were both fond of the ridiculous, even in the most tragic of circumstances. When Joyce fled Paris in 1940 ahead of the invading Nazis, the Swiss border authorities mistook him for a Jew, doubtless confusing him with his hero, Bloom, which caused Joyce to respond: Je ne suis pas juif de Judee mais aryen dErin (I am not Jewish from Judea but Aryan from Erin). As Price remarks, Even in this surreal predicament, Joyce was still able to pun bilingually. Both men were connoisseurs of cities. Joyce was deeply fond of Dublin, Trieste, and Paris, though dismissive of Rome, which he likened to a man who lives by exhibiting his grandmothers corpse. Svevo was fond not only of Trieste, which before the Great War was the fourth-largest city of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and one of Europes busiest ports, but also the cities where he conducted the family paint business, including Florence, Venice, and London. Indeed, after residing in London, Svevo became an Anglophile, convinced, as he wrote, that English kindness and good manners . . . constitute almost an unwritten law that complements [Englands] civil and criminal law. Though critical of colonialism, both were at home in the polyglot urbanity of the old imperial order. After the Austro-Hungarian Empire fell in 1918, Joyce was never comfortable in Trieste, which, under Italian rule, was forced to play second fiddle to Venice. Certainly, neither Joyce nor Svevo would have agreed with the caricature of the Empire put about by the framers of the Versailles Treaty: for them, prewar Trieste might have had its tensions, but it was never a part of any prison of the peoples. In this regard, they might have sympathized with Empress Zita, who was incredulous when told by her husband Karl that the empire was kaput. A sovereign can never abdicate, she declared. He can be deposed and his sovereign rights be declared forfeit. All right. That is force. But abdicatenever, never, never. Joyce, in particular, was partial to the Austro-Hungarian Empire for the same reason that he favored the British Empireit offered more civilized freedom than the nation-states concocted by the nationalists. He was particularly contemptuous of the Irish nationalists for betraying his beloved Charles Parnell, the Member of Parliament and advocate of home rule brought low by a divorce scandal. They did not throw him to the English wolves, Joyce noted in his best satirical vein: they tore him apart themselves. Moreover, since the British prime minister H.H. Asquith had awarded him an annual pension of 100 from the Civil List (or 3,500 in todays money) in August 1916, Joyce was never keen on surrendering his British passport. Both Joyce and Svevo were contented family men, largely because they had the good fortune to marry forbearing, intelligent women. The art critic, Carola Giedion-Welcker, one of Joyces closest female friends on the Continent, recalled how the learned novelist always admired the natural behavior of his wife and listened in fascination when she intuitively and spontaneously decided matters that he had scrutinized carefully from every angle, sine ira et studio (without anger or fondness). After Joyces death, when Nora Joyce (nee Barnacle) was asked about the many writers surrounding her husband, including Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, Ernest Hemingway, and Samuel Beckett, her reply was typically mocking: Sure, if youve been married to the greatest writer of them all, you dont remember the little fellows. Svevo was fond of Nora because she reminded him that his livelihood depended on keeping the hulls of ships free of barnaclesa standing joke between the two families. Svevo and Joyce were also bound together by the sorrows of family. The most moving chapter in The Confessions of Zeno involves the death of Zenos father, which Svevo based on his painful relationship with his own father. At one point, Zeno sees in the life of the deathbed a mysteriousness that transcends both sorrow and resentment, leading him to conclude with his accustomed seriocomic acuity: When you are actually dying you have other things to do than to think about death. Joyces last years were saddened by his daughter Lucias accelerating schizophrenia. Lucia and her father, Carl Jung observed, were like two people going to the bottom of a river, one falling and the other diving. Unlike Svevo, Joyce was unpersuaded by the promises of psychoanalysis, telling his friend, Psychoanalysis? Well, if we need it, lets keep to confession. The literary critic James Wood points out that this dismissive attitude toward the new science may not have disconcerted Svevo; after all, The Confessions of Zeno, in its whimsical way, constitutes a slyly critical pastiche, not an uncritical endorsement of psychoanalysis. Finally, both men were lapsed members of their respective religionsJoyce, Catholicism, and Svevo, Judaismthough Svevo was later baptized and married in the Catholic Church to please his Catholic wife. One aspect of Svevo that must have appealed to Joyce was his friends respect for religion, even if he found himself incapable of belief. In The Confessions, Zeno is shown studying the Christianity of his wife Augusta with some diligence before rejecting it. And yet the grounds on which he rejects it are striking: Augustas religion did not take time to acquire or put into practice. You bowed your knee and returned to daily life again immediately! That was all. Religion for me was a very different thing. If I had only believed, nothing else in the world would have mattered to me. When Price says that Svevo was hostile to all organized religion, he exaggerates what was, in fact, an attentive, even wistful skepticism. After all, when Joyce gave him the sermon passages in A Portrait to read, Svevo responded: I have read them with a very strong feeling and I know in my little town a lot of people who would certainly be struck by the same feeling. As for Joyce, plundering the doctrines and rituals of the Catholic Church for his own aesthetic purposes may not have brought him any closer to practicing the faith that he had abandoned as a youth in Dublin, but it did make him leery of apostasys pitfalls. When Stephen Dedaluss friend Cranly asks him why, given his impatience with Rome, he does not become a Protestant, Stephen replies: I said that I had lost the faith . . . but not that I had lost self-respect. What kind of liberation would that be to forsake an absurdity which is logical and coherent and to embrace one which is illogical and incoherent? Though Price draws freely on previous booksparticularly the revised edition of Richard Ellmanns unsurpassed 1982 biography of Joyce, P.N. Furbanks 1966 biography of Svevo, and John McCourts groundbreaking 2000 book, The Years of Bloom: James Joyce in Trieste 1904-1920he presents his subjects with such wit, insight, balance, and elan that one sees them as though for the first time. He also grounds his sympathyespecially for Joycein an admirable refusal to be bamboozled. Regarding Finnegans Wake, for example, which Joyces brother Stanislaus called a a driveling rigmarole, Price quotes one of the novelists more devoted acolytes, the translator Paul Leon, who admitted to a friend: Lately I have been spending a lot of time with literature. I have been working with James Joyce . . . . Ive found it wonderfully amusing to translate simple ideas into incomprehensible formulas and to feel it is a masterpiece. There are only a small number of truly first-rate books on Joyce, but Prices is one of them. If exile helped Joyce sort out his early family life in Dublinan inventorying integral to the springs and elaboration of his reminiscential art it was also what made him susceptible to sycophancy, which blinded him to the flaws of his later work. Yet, on this score, Price, in his generous, moving, commendable book, is right to give Elizabeth Bowen the final word: Let us strip from Joyce the exaggeration of foolish intellectual worship he got abroad, and the notoriety he got at home, and take him back to ourselves as a writer out of the Irish people, who received much from our tradition and was to hand on more. Photo of James Joyce by Hulton Archives/Getty Images AVON --- Animal complaint, Jaycox Road: A resident reported that a turkey flew into a window at 5:55 a.m. Oct. 28, breaking the glass and injuring itself in the process. Police had no further information at the time of the report. Disturbance, Julia Street: Police responded to a fight at a house at 6:59 a.m. Oct. 27. The caller said his ex-girlfriend was at the house and flicked a cigarette at the caller's girlfriend. Reports said police tried to make contact with the suspect at her Lake Drive home. Suspicious person, Stonyridge Road: Police received a call of an unknown car hauler parked on a property at 7:37 a.m. Oct. 27. Police found the driver asleep in the front seat. He told officers he was delivering a vehicle to a residence in Highland Park and had been having trouble negotiating the truck into the entrance of the development. Theft, Detroit Road: Police arrested a woman at 12:19 p.m. Oct. 27 when she was caught shoplifting by Kohl's store security. Hit/Skip, Center Road/Detroit Road: A woman reported seeing a car in front of her at a stoplight rear-end the vehicle in front of it and leave the scene. The caller was able to provide police with the make, model and license number of the suspect's car. Police were not able to locate the caller, the allegedly damaged car, or the suspect's car was anywhere in the area when officers arrived and there was "no debris in the roadway to support this call." No further information was available at the time of the report. Theft, Recreation Drive: A woman reported her purse stolen from the YMCA building some time between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Oct. 28. Police received a second call at 2:13 p.m. the same day regarding a theft from a car parked at the YMCA. Traffic crash, Detroit Road/Moon Road: Police reported a four-car crash with injuries at 4:46 p.m. Oct. 28. A Kia Sorento and a Ford F-250 were towed from the scene and one driver was cited in the crash. Suspicious person, Detroit Road: A store manager reported that a man was seen trying to return merchandise thought to have been stolen from another store location at 5:17 p.m. Oct. 28. No further information was available at the time of the report. If you would like to discuss the police blotter, please visit our crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- About 300 people marched Friday evening in a downtown Cleveland protest aimed at President-elect Donald Trump. Demonstrators from several different groups met about 5 p.m. in Public Square and gave speeches before marching about 6:45 p.m. The groups spoke out for women's rights, gay/lesbian rights and minority rights, and spoke against Trump's environmental policies. They chanted "Black Lives Matter," "Dump Trump," and other anti-Trump slogans. The group marched through downtown on Euclid Avenue, briefly stopping traffic at East 9th Street. About half of the protesters walked on the street that police blocked off, while the other half stayed on the sidewalk. They looped around East 21st Street and marched by theater-goers at Playhouse Square. More protesters joined the march while it was in progress, swelling the crowd to an estimated 300 people at its peak. They ended up back at Public Square, where the speeches were made. Some of the notable speakers were Kathy Wray Coleman, an activist who was arrested while giving a speech during protests at the Republican National Convention, and Khalid Samad, the head of the anti-crime group Peace in the Hood. Friday's march lasted about an hour. No arrests were made and there were no major clashes with police. The protest was much larger than one in Cleveland last week. That march drew less than 100 people. Watch the cleveland.com Facebook Live coverage of the event below. FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio -- A Fairview High School student is accused of sending an inappropriate video to a fellow student. John E Van Kuren III, 18, is charged with felony disseminating matter harmful to a juvenile after the female student reported the video to authorities, police said. Fairview Park police arrested Van Kuren on Monday. He was released on bond after appearing later that day in Rocky River Municipal Court, police said. Investigators seized Van Kuren's electronic devices after his arrest and have obtained warrants to search those devices, police said. Van Kuren could face additional charges once the investigation is completed. Anyone who has information pertaining to this incident should call Fairview Park police Detective Mark Miller at 440-356-4422 or Patrolman Edward Manion at 440-356-4415. To comment on this story, please visit the crime and courts comments page. Douglas Shine Death Penalty Phase Jurors choose death for Douglas Shine Jr. during a recommendation reading Saturday. (File photo) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A 21-year-old gang member should be executed for killing three people inside a suburban Cleveland barbershop and plotting from jail to kill a witness who planned to testify against him, a jury has recommended. Douglas Shine Jr. will become the second youngest person on Ohio's death row if Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Joan Synenberg accepts the jury's recommendation, which was announced Saturday. Synenberg will formally sentence Shine at 11 a.m. Dec. 5. "The jurors have lived with the horrific facts of this case for more than two months, and we respect their difficult decision," Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty said in a statement. "The outcome here guarantees that Douglas Shine Jr. will never again be free to kill, and shows that this community will not tolerate the indiscriminate gang murder of innocents." Prosecutors successfully convinced the jury that Shine's ability to launch a weeks-long assault on a rival gang member that ended in a shooting at a barbershop full of innocent bystanders outweighed an upbringing that was marred by neglect and undiagnosed mental and personality disorders. The same jury convicted Shine Nov. 4 in a string of shootings that prosecutors said started in January 2015 when Shine, a Heartless Felon, stole a handgun from a member of the Loyal Always gang. He fired 13 shots at a member of the gang and engaged in a shootout with another member that month. The next month, a hooded Shine burst into Chalk Linez Barbershop on Harvard Road in Warrensville Heights, clutching two pistols with extended clips, and opened fire into a crowd of people. He fired dozens of bullets, including 16 into Loyal Always member Walter Barfield as Barfield and Brandon White looked at plane tickets to Las Vegas on a cellphone, prosecutors said. Shine then walked over to Barfield's body and fired three execution-style shots into his head before he ran out of the shop, prosecutors said. Barfield and White, as well as the shop's head barber, William Gonzalez, were killed. Three more people were wounded. Four months later, White's brother, Aaron "Pudge" Ladson, was slain in his driveway as he prepared for a court hearing in an unrelated case. Ladson was sitting in his car just outside the barbershop at the time of the shooting. He recognized Shine as the barbershop gunman, and went to police days after the shooting. He likely would have testified at Shine's trial. Prosecutors played Ladson's videotaped statement identifying Shine to Warrensville Heights police during the trial, and seven more witnesses in the barbershop testified that Shine was the shooter. During the penalty phase of the trial, Shine's lawyers argued that he had no clear role model growing up to pull him away from the tug of gang influence. He was coerced into joining the Heartless Felons while in a youth prison, and was threatened when he tried to leave, his attorneys said. A psychologist and a social worker testified that they believed Shine suffered from undiagnosed mental and personality disorders and fell through the cracks of the social service safety net. "We have all come up in bad situations," Tye said. "But what separates us . . . is at least one person, a grandmother or auntie, who cares enough about you, to pull you away from it." Shine never had that person, Tye said. But Cuyahoga County prosecutors countered that growing up in a dysfunctional household did not excuse Shine's own choice to lead a life of escalating crimes that started when he was 9 years old. Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty told the jury that Shine made his own choices to carry a gun into the shop and open fire. He asked that jurors decide solely on the law, and decide whether the aggravating circumstances of Shine's conduct and his decisions outweighed the mitigating factors of his childhood and upbringing. "It would be morally dishonest to say a boulder outweighs a mountain," McGinty said. "These aggravating circumstances are mountains." The case marked what is likely the final time McGinty will address a jury as a prosecutor. McGinty was defeated in his re-election bid this year by former assistant prosecutor and Parma Safety Director Michael O'Malley. Shine was just the second person to go to trial facing the death penalty since McGinty took office in 2012. A Portage County judge on Tuesday sentenced 19-year-old Damante Graham to the death penalty after a jury convicted him in the shooting death of Kent State University student Nick Massa. If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Saturday's crime and courts comments section. Cleveland.com reporter Kaylee Remington contributed to this report. Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the age of the youngest person to receive the death penalty in Ohio. Douglas Shine Mitigation Jurors have decided whether to recommend a death sentence or life in prison for Douglas Shine Jr., who was convicted of killing three men in a barbershop in February and of conspiring to kill a witness. Shine is shown here with his attorneys, Thomas Shaughnessy, left, and Robert Dixon. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jurors have decided whether to recommend the death penalty or life in prison for Douglas Shine Jr., who was convicted of killing three people in a suburban barbershop and plotting the murder of a witness. The recommendation is expected to be read about 11:30 a.m. Saturday in Common Pleas Judge Joan Synenberg's courtroom. The jury, which has been sequestered since Friday afternoon, can either recommend that Shine be executed, imprisoned for life without parole, or imprisoned with parole eligibility after either 25 or 30 years. Synenberg will make the final decision whether to impose the death penalty at a later date. The same jury on Nov. 4 found Shine guilty of the Feb. 5, 2015 massacre at Chalk Linez Barbershop that left three men dead and three people wounded. The jury also found him guilty of two nonfatal shootings that happened a month earlier, and of plotting from jail to kill a witness to the barbershop shooting. Cuyahoga County prosecutors argued during the trial's death penalty phase that Shine, a "godfather" in the Heartless Felons gang, had the ability to orchestrate a weeks-long plan to execute a gang rival, to finish that plan by firing dozens of bullets inside a crowded barbershop and to plot the murder of a witness. Those actions represent a clear case for the death penalty, prosecutors said. But Shine's attorneys cast him as a boy who grew up in a loveless home, suffered from undiagnosed mental and personality disorders and slipped through the cracks of social service systems. William Gonzalez, Brandon White and Walter Barfield were killed inside the barbershop, and White's brother, Aaron Ladson, was shot dead in his driveway four months later. Shine's DNA was found on bullet casings from inside the barbershop, and cellphone records put him near the scene of each of the shootings, prosecutors said during the first phase of the trial. Seven witnesses from inside the barbershop identified Shine as the shooter, and recordings of phone calls Shine made while in jail showed him planning Ladson's death with Shine's brother, Kevin McKinney, prosecutors said. McKinney is scheduled to face trial in Ladson's death early next year. If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Saturday's crime and courts comments section. Cleveland.com reporter Kaylee Remington contributed to this report. cleveland police tape 2 Cleveland police are investigating the fatal shooting of a 25-year-old man. (File photo) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A man was shot dead Friday evening on the city's East Side, while three others were wounded in other incidents. The fatal shooting happened about 7:30 p.m. in the 13600 block of Rugby Road. The 25-year-old had multiple gunshot wounds to his legs and buttocks, police said. The man was taken to University Hospitals, where he died. His death marks the 115th homicide in Cleveland this year, five shy of last year's 120. Police said the shooting was related to another shooting that happened about the same time and about a mile north in the 13700 block of Denise Avenue. A 21-year-old man was shot in the chest and ankle in that incident, according to police. He was taken to the University Hospital in critical condition. Police have not said if they believe a double shooting that happened about a half hour later is connected to the other two cases. The double shooting happened about 8 p.m. in the 4800 block of Quincy Avenue. Two men were shot in the chest and stomach and were taken to MetroHealth Medical Center in critical condition, according to police. No other information about the shootings were released Friday night. If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Friday's crime and courts comments section. watch now With new money finally flowing back into the stock market, Jim Cramer placed his bet that money managers would send stocks soaring next week, depending on who President-elect Donald Trump appoints to key positions. Politics can outrun earnings on Monday if Trump names Mitt Romney as secretary of state, Cramer said. The pair is meeting on Saturday, and while a source close to Trump told NBC News that they will discuss the top diplomat position, there's no indication yet that Trump will offer it or that Romney will accept it. The market may rally on the perception that Trump is savvier about foreign policy than some people thought. "A name-brand Wall Street friendly Treasury secretary on top of tabbing Romney for state would send this market through the roof, that is if there even is a roof," the "Mad Money" host said. The only earnings exception was Novo Nordisk , which Cramer deemed the worst quarter of 2016. Ever since President-Elect Donald Trump won the election, Cramer has spoken with many investors who are confused on what to do with Apple 's stock. Going into the election, Apple had a remarkable run. The stock immediately fell to $105 from $111 in the wake of Trump's victory. It has since slowly climbed back up to $110. "People may be confused about what a Trump administration means for Apple, so let me dispel the confusion the positives far outweigh the negatives," Cramer said. With one look at United Airlines , Cramer said investors should never assume that winners will always be winners and losers will always be losers. United Continental was the black sheep of the airline industry. When the airline group faltered, United fell the most. When it climbed in the big airline rally in 2012 and 2013, United rose the least. Lately the company has gone through a remarkable transformation, and the stock has become the best performer of the group, up 19 percent for the year. "Under the leadership of Oscar Munoz, United Continental has tackled many of the problems that had plagued the company for years," Cramer said. Cramer recommended waiting for a pullback before buying the stock, given its recent run. People stand outside the Apple Store on Fifth Avenue on August 5, 2015 in New York City. Andrew Burton | Getty Images News | Getty Images watch now Could the Clinton Foundation's prodigious fundraising ability suffer a similar fate as Hillary Clinton's dashed political ambitions? During her bid for the White House, the nonprofit bearing the names of Clinton, the former president and their daughter came under withering scrutiny for its fundraising and management practices. The foundation, which operates a range of philanthropic projects around the world and pulled in more than $200 million in revenue in 2014, has raised around $2 billion since its foundingbut that money has come with a cost. Despite scoring relatively high in accountability and transparency by nonprofit watchdogs, the foundation nonetheless became a flash-point in the 2016 election. It was dogged by accusations of influence peddling, self dealing and conflicts of interests, due in large part to hefty contributions from foreign governments and other influential donors. Since the organization's inception, tens of millions from big donors have flowed to the organization, according to the Foundation's public database. As emails disclosed by WikiLeaks laid bare internal concerns about how the Clinton Foundation's funding might impact the former Secretary of State's run for the Oval Office, former President Bill Clinton announced in August that the nonprofit would reject corporate and foreign donations if Hillary Clinton prevailed in her campaign. watch now Its just a fact of life that people in the public eye attract money for all sorts of reasons. Once they are not in the public eye, the money starts to dry up. Leslie Lenkowsky professor, Indiana University Yet as the country prepares to inaugurate President-elect Donald Trump, the point may be moot at best, philanthropy experts told CNBC recently. That is because neither Clinton will occupy a prominent role in government in the immediate futurecurtailing the willingness of at least some big donors to try and curry favor with the foundation by writing large checks. Because Hillary Clinton is no longer seen as a president in waiting, contributors may look elsewhere and the foundation may have to rethink its scope and priorities, these experts say. The foundation did not respond to numerous requests for comment from CNBC. "I would expect there will be much greater difficulties in fundraising for the organization," Leslie Lenkowsky, a professor with Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University, told CNBC in an interview. Hillary Clinton "technically has no political prospects ahead of her. They're both important people, but dealing with a past president and future president were attractive to a number of donors," Lenkowsky said. Some of the largest checks came from a range of influential donors like the governments of Norway, Australia and Kuwait. "Some of that goodwill will disappear, [and] they will have to raise money the old fashioned way, which is proving they deserve it," he added. 'Sort of uncomplicated' Meanwhile, projects like earthquake-stricken Haitiwhich earned the foundation the scorn of grassroots Haitian activists that accused the foundation of mismanaging millions that did little to alleviate the poverty-stricken country's recoveryblemished the organization's reputation. A 2013 Government Accountability Office audit in found a litany of problems with the recovery efforts spearheaded by the Clinton Foundation. It's part of what Lenkowsky said was an example of the organization "trying to do too much." John Wonderlich, executive director of the Sunlight Foundation, argued that Clinton's aborted political ambitions could be a "double-edged sword" for the foundation, liberating it to become more of a traditional nonprofit that's less susceptible to conflicts of interest. "The Clintons had to create some sort of arm's length" between the organization and the prospect of a second Clinton White House, Wonderlich said, "but now there's no need for any arm's length. I can imagine this is a vehicle they pour themselves back intonow it's sort of uncomplicated," he added. "In a sense they might have an easier time fundraising, but [for potential donors] there's no longer the appeal of getting close to a future president," Wonderlich said. To be certain, the Clinton Foundation has a host of loyal contributors that are interested in the organization's work, and no one expects the money spigot to shut completely. Major donors include the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundationone of the organization's top donors which has given more than $25 million. November 18, 2016 Two NASA artifacts that were used to help astronauts who were landing from space, albeit on two different worlds in two different eras, have themselves landed at a museum near where they were last used. A Lunar Landing Research Vehicle (LLRV) that was used to practice lunar landings for NASA's Apollo program in the 1960s and a Crew Transport Vehicle (CTV) used to move astronauts from space shuttle orbiters after they landed in California in the 1990s have been loaned by the Armstrong Flight Research Center to the nearby Air Force Flight Test Museum on Edwards Air Force Base. The LLRV, which because of the way it looks, gave way to its nickname, the "Flying Bedstead," was a test craft flown by pilots to develop the techniques for vertical takeoffs and landings on the moon. The second of two LLRVs built, the Armstrong example first went into service at the California center on Oct. 30, 1964. A NASA LLRV is flown high over the South Base area of Edwards Air Force Base during a test flight in 1965. (NASA) The aluminum-alloy-framed LLRV was constructed around a central vertical jet engine that stood in for an Apollo lunar module's descent engine. The testbed at first incorporated an ejection seat and rocket-powered control thrusters. The controls and cockpit configuration were then modified to match three Lunar Landing Training Vehicles (LLTVs), a newer vehicle that integrated the design changes enabled by LLRV flight data. By the Apollo program's conclusion in 1972, one LLRV and two LLTVs had crashed, leaving the Armstrong center's LLRV as the sole survivor of its type. The late Apollo 11 astronaut, Neil Armstrong, the center's namesake since 2014, famously had to eject from the first LLRV on May 6, 1968 due to a control problem. The crash marked the last flight of an LLRV, in part because the LLTV was soon to enter service. The sole surviving late-model LLTV is displayed at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Workers drive the space shuttle Crew Transport Vehicle, or CTV, to the Air Force Flight Test Museum. (NASA/Lauren Hughes) NASA used the space shuttle program-era CTV to transfer astronaut crews from on board the orbiters to Armstrong's (then Dryden's) medical facilities after the shuttles touched down at Edwards Air Force Base. Flight surgeons performed basic medical examinations on astronauts inside the CTV. The vehicle, acquired in 1990, is a former people mover from Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia. The mover's interior was modified for it to support its role as a mobile medical facility. A similar CTV, used at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, was transferred to the Wings of Dreams Museum at the Keystone Heights Airport in Starke, Florida, in 2013. The Air Force Flight Test Museum in California, is free and open Tuesday through Friday for people with access to the Edwards Air Force Base, including visitors on public tours offered monthly. In addition to Armstrong's LLRV and CTV, which arrived at the museum Oct. 13, the facility exhibits a NASA M2-F1 "Flying Bathtub" lifting body and an SR-71A Blackbird high-altitude aircraft. Foundation adds another $25M to Kinder Institute The Kinder Foundation is giving the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy another $25 million, bringing its total to $60 million. Continue Reading Below Advertisement Yes, Trump exists in the Marvel Universe, and Luke Cage made him his bitch. And that brings us to the source of all of Wakanda's power and prestige: vibranium, a ludicrously strong metal that only exists within their borders. The Wakandans have used this one-of-a-kind substance to fuel their technological wonders, advanced weaponry, and sweet jungle-cat-themed battle-suits for centuries. Have they ever shared this revolutionary material with the world? Yes, of course: In the 1940s, while the Nazis murdered millions, Wakanda let the Allies have enough vibranium to make one oversized Frisbee. The creator of Captain America's shield, Howard "Iron Dad" Stark, even says: "What you're holding there, that's all we've got." Marvel Studios Continue Reading Below Advertisement "We had a little more, but the Brits misplaced their kettle." And that's it. That's the only time they've ever shared any vibranium. (We're ignoring any developments in Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D., because so does Marvel Studios.) Keep in mind, Captain America didn't exist yet when they sent the Allies that vibranium, so it wasn't like the King of Wakanda said "I'll give you enough of our precious metal to make a boss shield for your superman." He just sent along a teacup-sized portion and went back to completely ignoring the world. Imagine how easy World War II would have been if the Allies had indestructible tanks -- they could have cut through the Nazis' artillery like butter. And what's more, hoarding this technology, which could theoretically create vehicles that were impervious to damage, kind of places the blame for every car, train, and plane crash fatality squarely on Wakanda's shoulders. Soon thereafter, Siri alerts Mariana to the first meeting of creditors. Mariana attends via FaceTime after practicing with Siri on answering questions that Siri anticipates from the United States Trustee. A few weeks later, Siri notifies Mariana of her discharge, evidence of which Siri will store for Mariana together with the spreadsheets, copies of the documents filed with the bankruptcy court, and a recording of all conversations between Siri and Mariana relating to resolution of her financial difficulties. Siri proceeds over the next couple of days to interview and counsel Mariana as would today's consumer bankruptcy lawyer (and staff). Siri gathers the necessary data and completes the spreadsheets. She helps Mariana understand and compare Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 as well as possible non-bankruptcy options (e.g. resisting wage garnishment and stopping unwanted contact from debt collectors). She provides Mariana with the required credit counseling. After a few days reflection, Mariana instructs Siri to prepare the relevant documents for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Siri does so, obtains digital copies of Mariana's pay stubs, obtains Mariana's digital signatures, draws filing fees from Mariana's PayPal account, and files the necessary documents with the bankruptcy court. Siri: Let's start by creating some spreadsheets that show your income, your living expenses, your debts, and what you own. You will probably have to dig up some of this information and get back to me, but we can at least start now. Siri: I imagine that this is pretty stressful for you and I think it is a good idea to consider ways in which you might be able to deal with these problems. Mariana: I can't pay my medical bills and I got a notice from a collection agency about garnishing my wages. My credit card debts keep growing because I can't even pay the monthly interest, and my student loan debt is still large. Siri: I understand. I've talked with many other people who say the same thing, and many people file bankruptcy without consulting a lawyer. So let me see if I can help you. Why are you thinking about bankruptcy? In The Future of Professions: How Technology Will Transform the Work of Human Experts (Oxford 2015) , Richard and Daniel Susskind tell us: The shift [from professionals to increasingly capable machines] . . . can be characterized in many ways: as the industrialization and digitization of the professions; as the routinization and commoditization of professional work; as the disintermediation and demystification of professionals. Whatever terminology is preferred, we foresee that, in the end, the traditional professions will be dismantled, leaving most (but not all) professionals to be replaced by less expert people and high performing systems. Consider a small sample of the many seeds of this transformation already sprouting. IBM claims that Watson can analyze and interpret data, including audio and video as well as text, can learn to grow subject matter expertise, can personalize recommendations by understanding a user's personality, tone, and emotion, and can create chat bots that engage in dialogue. As one of many applications, IBM already licenses a Virtual Agent to act as a customer service representative that offers "a cognitive, conversational self-service experience that can provide answers and take action." Ross claims several major law firms as users of its artificial intelligence legal search system. Lex Machina offers "legal analytics," based on its mining of litigation data about judges, lawyers, parties, and cases, which help users predict litigation outcomes and create litigation strategy. Upsolve, briefly described by Dalie Jimenez in an earlier Credit Slips post, offers an interactive online questionnaire to assist New York debtors considering a pro se bankruptcy filing. The project is more fully described here. Work is in progress to enhance the questionnaire to guide users in choosing among surrender, redemption, reaffirmation, and ride-through if they enter Chapter 7 with a vehicle secured by a non-avoidable security interest a complicated decision tree, especially if further adapted to reach purchase money security interests in other types of personal property such as jewelry, appliances, furniture, or electronics. Several law schools have caught the wave. The Legal Design Lab based at the Stanford Law School and d.school, for example, is "working at the intersection of human-centered design, technology & law to build a new generation of products & services" to "promote a fair and just society, and to empower people." Neota Logic is collaborating with select universities to help students learn to develop applications that will provide legal assistance to people unable to afford legal representation, using Neota Logic's expert system platform. You can see three applications in action here, including a Debt & Eviction Navigator and a Mortgage Foreclosure Advisor. Under the leadership of Tanina Rostain, Georgetown law students work on these types of projects, described here, and Georetown holds an "Iron Tech Law Competition," described here. Also using the Neota Logic platform, and as part of an Apps for Justice Project, Lois Lupica at the University of Maine School of Law has worked with students to develop an application for use by tenants in a dispute with a landlord and another to assist legal services lawyers to gather information from family law clients. She discusses the applications in the ABI podcast "How Artificial Intelligence and Technology is Changing the Practice of Law" (Episode 191). If the application I have imagined becomes technically feasible and if it can be perfected to provide competent, even excellent, legal advice, it would respond to a vast unmet legal need. Gillian Hadfield has convincingly argued that no reasonably foreseeable amount of increased legal aid funding or pro bono representation will satisfy the public's unmet needs for legal assistance. Recent data from an unpublished U.S. Courts Table F-28, cited in the May 2016 issue of the American Bankruptcy Institute Journal, indicates 49,344 Chapter 7 pro se filings and 25,639 pro se Chapter 13 filings in 2015. The Chapter 7 pro se filings represented 9.2% of all Chapter 7 filings for the year and the Chapter 13 pro se filings represented 8.5% of all Chapter 13 filings for the year. These figures don't account for an unknown number of additional individuals who might benefit from either bankruptcy or non-bankruptcy options but whose lack of knowledge, confidence, or support prevents action. The application I have imagined could surely incorporate lessons learned from current or future studies of how self-help materials might more effectively overcome a debtor's barriers to understanding legal rules, concepts, and procedures and overcome a debtor's barriers to action, such as "overtaxed bandwidth," anxiety, and difficulty in making and implementing plans. See Greiner, Jimenez, and Lupica's "Self-Help Re-Imagined," generated as part of a more encompassing project of the Harvard Law School's Access to Justice Lab. Such an application likely would also divert at least some, perhaps many, paying clients from consumer bankruptcy lawyers. Our younger generations have grown up with the mantra that "there's an app for that;" comfortable interaction with digital devices for all manner of functions will soon be ubiquitous and second nature. We should consider, then, whether the application I have imagined, if feasible and competent, would provide service inferior or superior to that of a consumer bankruptcy lawyer. A digital assistant might better respond to a debtor's emotional and psychological state than some lawyers. Even now, Microsoft advertises its Emotion API that "analyzes faces to detect a range of feelings and personalize your app's responses." And here is a list of application program interfaces that allow the building of software and applications offering sentiment analysis. Some debtors may actually feel more comfortable, less ashamed, and less nervous sharing their financial and other concerns with a digital assistant than with a human being, in the privacy of their own homes, at their convenience, and without the meter running. (Cf. Shelly Turkle, "Alone Together," and Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age, reviewed here.) If a debtor is eligible for either Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, most consumer bankruptcy lawyers will offer that choice. If a debtor then asks for the lawyer's recommendation, the client-centered counseling literature recommends that the lawyer encourage the client to choose based on the client's own values and perspective, informed by the lawyer's description of the alternatives and of the advantages and disadvantages of each. A digital assistant could do the same, augmented by information (garnered from previous users nationwide) about the choices that others have made in the same or similar circumstances. Apart from critical threshold questions about feasibility and competence, several important and difficult questions about my imagined application remain, among them: What business model would enable the development of such an application and who would build it, monitor its accuracy and effectiveness, or assume responsibility for its "malpractice" (if any)? Would regulatory barriers to its use recede or adjust? In what cloud would a client's data such as the record of the conversation between the client and the digital assistant be stored? Would the data be protected by a duty of confidentiality (owed by whom?) and protected by an evidentiary privilege? News Finding Insights at the End of the Data Tunnel Nirav Sheth for Cisco Share this Data. It's the lifeblood of digital transformation. And managing data that's constantly flowing into your company requires combining capacity, performance and economics. Even more, finding insight inside that data comes down to how quickly and reliably you can work through it. Companies transforming for the digital era must capture these insights. Otherwise, the data is just noise leaving you stuck with little chance to move forward. Earlier this month we announced UCS-S for purpose built data intensive workloads. This is a strong addition to our data center portfolio, which is fueled by you. UCS-S enables your customers to activate, analyze, and act on data in real time and accelerate digital transformation. The Cisco UCS created the modern technology foundation you need for initiatives, such as private cloud, big data, and desktop virtualization. As part of Cisco ONE Enterprise Cloud Suite, it enables you to deliver the hybrid cloud environments your customers demand with lower costs and higher scale through automation. This means big opportunities for you by creating new business models and recurring revenue for your business. With our UCS as a platform approach, with blades, racks, HyperFlex (hyperconverged), converged infrastructure stacks, and, now storage optimized servers, you can deliver simplicity via UCS Manager, UCS Director, and, our Fabric Interconnects customers do not want multiple management silos. We know when we talk applications, we are talking business outcomes, and, when we talk business outcomes, we are not only expanding our opportunity, but, we are increasing the relevancy we deliver to our customers. Cisco's UCS-S Series is the next step in driving your profitability and enabling your customers to turn a challenge into a competitive advantage. And because it's a subscription-based solution, not only do you create value for your customers, you also position yourself as a trusted advisor for years to come. Get to know the new UCS-S Series . Opportunities with the new UCS-S exist whether you are focused on solution selling, consulting or data services. The time is now to unlock the active data opportunity and position your customers for success! Other Resources: Digital Innovation Cisco UCS Cisco ONE Enterprise Cloud Suite HyperFlex Hyperconverged Infrastructure Nirav Sheth is Senior Director, Global Partner Organization, Solutions, Architectures & Engineering Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Transport for London has said that it will be offering "unlimited" support to Croydon tram crash survivors, after two leading lawyers claimed some victims had been offered just six sessions of counselling. Helen Clifford and Trevor Sterling, who work for separate law firms, have been talking to survivors of the disaster in which seven people were killed and 51 injured on November 9 when a tram derailed at Sandilands Junction. The two lawyers have been trying to sort out professional counselling for clients who are suffering mentally from what they saw on that tragic morning. (Image: Grant Melton) Ms Clifford, who is a partner and head of personal injury at MW Solicitors , said that one of her clients had been told by Transport for London [TfL] that counselling sessions would be limited and not held face-to-face something that Ms Clifford labelled as unacceptable. She said: "I've been told by a client that TfL are only offering six sessions of counselling over the phone. It is pathetic. Counselling for PTSD [post traumatic stress disorder] is very specific. It [the offer] is like trying to put a band aid on a gaping wound. "These people are vulnerable, they have seen some incredibly distressing things and that's why I am trying to get these people the face-to-face help that they need, not something over the phone." Transport for London was alarmed by this claim and moved quickly to insist that there would be no limit on counselling sessions for those affected by the crash. A spokeswoman for the transport operator said: "We can offer a wide range of support, both financial and practical, including professional in-person counselling. "There is no time limit on this or restriction on the number of counselling sessions that we will support." Outlining the exact type of help that survivors and family members of victims would need, Ms Clifford said that her focus at the moment is the well-being of those impacted by the crash. She said: "The NHS do an amazing job, but with psychological [injuries] they are not so good. These people need help as soon as possible and with the right people. It needs to be someone approachable, someone who can be met in person. "We have an office in New Addington, and I know a lot of people who were affected come from that area. (Image: Grant Melton) "Compensation claims come later, of course there will be people who will need prosthetic limbs and they are certainly not cheap anymore but there are people who need help with more psychological injuries. The trauma that they can suffer from flashbacks is something that can be very, very significant." Another lawyer, Trevor Sterling, told the Advertiser that he too had heard about the alleged offer of just six counselling sessions and admitted it was concerning. Mr Sterling is a partner at Moore Blatch solicitors in Richmond and specialises in helping victims of major trauma. (Image: SWNS) Some of the people he has spoken to have serious injuries sustained from the tram crash. He said: "I heard about it [the six counselling sessions]. That is the only form of treatment that has been offered professionally. "The type of counselling that is needed for the people with these kinds of injuries, it can't be done with someone in a central location. "It has to be someone local. Someone who you can build up a good rapport with and not have any limit to it. (Image: Jim Bennett) "There are people who might not have had serious physical injuries, but they can remember everything. "There are people who live away from family and need the support of the community, these are the people who need help face-to-face and the appropriate counselling." An interim report into the crash was published on Wednesday. It revealed that the tram derailed when doing 43.5mph on a bend which had a speed limit of 12.5mph . TfL has promised that "rigorous safety checks" were carried out before the entire tram network reopened yesterday and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch is continuing to look into why the tram was travelling so fast. Mr Sterling has already spoken to one client who has a brain injury and will require neuro-rehabilitation. Some survivors are still in hospital and Mr Sterling is calling for an urgent rehabilitation fund to be established to help those with life-changing injuries that will prevent them from working and being able to support their own family like they once did. He said: "Although we welcome the recommendations in the RAIB's report and the offer from Transport for London to pay funeral costs for those who were fatally injured, we believe that support should extend to those who have suffered serious injuries. "A rehabilitation fund would support statutory provision, which is often lacking. For example, those victims requiring neuro-rehabilitation could potentially have a long wait on the NHS, and a rehabilitation fund can go some way to addressing this. "A rehab fund was established after the Alton Towers accident, and we are asking for a similar fund to be set up for the victims of the Croydon crash." Transport for London has been approached for a comment about a rehabilitation fund and the Advertiser awaits its response. *Have you been affected by the Croydon tram crash and not been offered the support you need? Get in touch with the newsdesk by calling 01737 305569 or by emailing thomas.mackintosh@croydonadvertiser.co.uk This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate In water-rich New England, where scenic lakes and rivers define the landscape and personality of the region, its hard to imagine a drought of historic proportions. But a drought more severe than any since the 1960s has been stressing water supplies in Connecticut and other states for the last 29 months, the result of higher than normal temperatures and a steady deficit in rainfall. Reservoirs particularly in Greenwich and Stamford are dangerously low, and the state late last month issued its first drought watch, calling for voluntary 15 percent reductions in water use. Some private wells have dried up, leaving homeowners with no water, and regional water companies are struggling to keep the clear liquid flowing through millions of household taps. Its a bad drought, said Peter Fazekas, a spokesman for the Bridgeport-based Aquarion Water Co. Stream flows are at levels expected to occur five times every 100 years. With overall rainfall at less than 80 percent of what normally falls statewide, reservoirs are feeling the impact, and mandatory and voluntary water reductions have been issued across the state. On average, reservoirs across the state are at 79 percent of capacity. More Information Rainfall totals in Fairfield County October 3.53 inches of rain 83% of the historical average of 4.54 inches Last 12 months 40.61 inches of rain 81% of the yearly average of 50.21 inches Last 24 months 87.67 inches of rain 87% of the yearly average of 100.42 inches Water restrictions Mandatory restrictions: Greenwich, Stamford, South Norwalk Electric and Water customers Mandatory restriction means no lawn irrigation, car washing and other heavy uses. Voluntary restrictions: all Aquarion water customers, Danbury and the Norwalk First Taxing District Voluntary restriction calls for a 10 to 15 percent reduction in water use. Drought status Drought watch: Residents and businesses are requested to voluntarily reduce water demand by 15 percent. Drought watch in effect for Litchfield, Hartford, Tolland, Middlesex, New Haven and Fairfield counties Drought advisory: Residents and businesses are asked to reduce water usage by 10 percent. Drought advisory in effect for Windham and New London counties USGS wells tell tale November groundwater levels 1. Salisbury18 feetavg. 13 feet 2. Southbury22 feetavg. 15 feet 3. Newtown11 feetavg. 7 feet 4. Greenwich45 feetavg. 15 feet 5. Clinton11 feetavg. 6 feet 6. Durham13 feetavg. 10 feet 7. Marlborough12 feetavg. 6 feet 8. Mansfield24 feetavg. 18 feet Low water facts Drought Watch in effect for Litchfield, Hartford, Tolland, Middlesex, New London and Fairfield Counties. Drought Watch: residents and businesses are requested to voluntarily reduce water demand by 15 percent. Drought Advisory: residents and businesses are asked to reduce water usage by 10 percent. Rainfall totals in Fairfield County: Fairfield Country in October received 3.53 inches of rain, 83 percent of the historical average of 4.54 inches for the month. Over the last 12 months, Fairfield County received 40.61 inches of rain, 81 percent of the yearly average of 50.21 inches Over the last 24 months, Fairfield County received 87.67 inches of rain, 87 percent of the yearly average of 100.42 inches Fairfield county towns and cities under mandatory or voluntary water restrictions. A mandatory restriction means no lawn irrigation, car washing and other heavy uses. A voluntary restriction calls for a 10 to 15 percent reduction in water use. Mandatory restrictions: Greenwich, Stamford, South Norwalk Electric and Water Voluntary restrictions: all Aquarion water customers, Danbury and the Norwalk First Taxing District See More Collapse Western Fairfield County has been particularly hard hit. Reservoir capacity in Greenwich is at 24 percent of capacity, and Stamfords reservoirs are at 34 percent of capacity. The water in a Greenwich well monitored by federal authorities was 45 feet below ground this month; normally, the water begins at 15 feet below ground. The state Department of Public Health recently authorized use of an 8,000-foot, above-ground temporary pipeline along the Merritt Parkway, to bring millions of gallons of water a day from larger, more robust reservoirs in the Bridgeport region to Stamford, Greenwich and New Canaan. While those reservoirs, built during the 1930s to support long-gone manufacturing, are retaining more water, they are still hovering around 60 percent of capacity. The temporary pipeline will link into existing pipe systems that bring water downstate. Its clear that the current drought is continuing to present challenges for Connecticuts public water suppliers, said Raul Pino, commissioner of the state Department of Public Health. I continue to encourage all Connecticut residents to conserve water during our continuing drought. Bone dry Some homeowners are discovering that their wells are drying up. Its a serious issue, said Nancy Brault, Director of Health in Monroe. We dont know how many (drained wells) are out there. Weve had at least five or six in the last week. Theyre all over. Steve Vavrek, the towns first selectman, said hes been contacted by well owners. I know about five of them came in asking about what they can do, Vavrek said. Its like if the power goes out. It hasnt happened to this extent across the state. Ive never experienced something this bad. State officials dont often use terms such as historic when describing events, but the lingering drought is drawing such descriptions. We have not seen this since the 1960s, said Douglas Glowacki, a state emergency management specialist, referring to the last major drought. There also was a severe drought in the 1920s. Some events have come close, but did not exceed this, Glowacki said. Glowacki said the drought officially began in June 2014, and has gone on for 29 months. This is the most recent of a long-term dry spell, and a rainfall thats 80 percent of normal, Glowacki said. Eventually, we will pull out of it. Glowacki said in the 1960s, the states rainfall was 27 to 36 inches below normal, and the current drought is close to that level at about 20 to 22 inches below normal rainfall. In Fairfield County, rainfall is 18 to 22 inches below normal. Other parts of New England and much of New York State are experiencing similar dry conditions. Portions of New York and New England have been in an extreme drought for 6 to 10 weeks, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in its most recent advisory. Drought conditions intensified during the summer of 2016, with extreme drought introduced in parts of New York and New England in August, NOAA said. It was the first time several of these areas had experienced (extreme) conditions since (drought monitoring) began in 1999. NOAA reported that New Hampshire has enacted water restrictions and bans; Maine is encouraging residents to conserve water; Massachusetts issued warnings ranging from drought advisories to emergencies; and New York State has four regions where conditions range from drought watch to drought emergency. In Connecticut, six of the eight counties Litchfield, Hartford, Tolland, Middlesex, New London and Fairfield are under a drought watch. Residents in those counties have been asked to conserve and cut water use by 15 percent. Mandatory restrictions banning the washing of cars, watering lawns and other heavy water uses are in effect in Greenwich, Stamford and parts of Norwalk. After three years of precipitation shortfalls, we are moving to a drought watch, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said last month as he announced the designation. It would be extremely helpful if residents could be mindful of their water consumption and take sensible steps to help stretch our water supply. Blame the weather Glowacki said the drought is the result of a consistent weather pattern that has kept the normal west-to-east flow of systems from picking up moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and other coastal regions, which translates into less rain. It is a pattern that is not scooping up enough moisture, Glowacki said. The jet stream is not moving from the north to pick up moisture. We expect the pattern to change and become more consistent. Glowacki said the unusual weather pattern was not initially apparent. We didnt notice it until last year when the reservoirs started to go below normal, he said. We get rainfall and people say this should not be happening. But 1 or 2 inches is not enough from a couple of storms, Glowacki said. In the 60s, it was just pure bad luck. I think now its much more the way the jet stream is moving. If there is not enough snowfall this winter, it could be a lot more serious in the spring. Glowacki said he does not believe the drought is related to climate change. Weather is short-term climate change, Glowaski said. Climate change is long-term and long-term climate change does not have an impact on short-term weather. So its the weekend after the election and Im in the Springdale section of Stamford, picking up a couple coffees to fuel my political post-mortem visit with the Depression Kid. Its one of those ubiquitous places, with a name that rhymes with Flunkin Robots and java that doesnt really stand up to any kind of taste test. But its there and Im here. Theres an older guy in a Navy ball cap, standing by the register, having his fun with the Latina behind the counter. Build a wall! he says loudly, looking at her, turning to take his cup to a table by the sunny front window. Hes smiling and having a good time, joking, glancing over at his seated buddy, for whom hes showing off. Build a wall! he says louder. Its a small shop and Im looking at the woman behind the register. It seems like she knows him and her smile isnt strained. The dudes friend seems slightly embarrassed. Build a wall, he says one more time. Hes kind of short, with a cheesy mustache. I feel like walking over and kind of crowding his space. Im concerned by this offensive dork, one of another in slew of little post-election celebrants whose public condescensions have stained the expensive quality of life here. This guys victory lap isnt quite as ominous as the swastikas that would be painted on the doors of Danbury homes a few days later. But you know, give a jerk a can of spray paint ... Low level chest-thumping is better left to beer-fueled guys in their 20s at sporting events. I flash back to a Yankees-Red Sox playoff game a few years back during which a couple drunks, each wearing $100 replica game shirts of their respective heroes, got into a fistfight in the field-level box seats at Yankee Stadium before they were hauled away by cops. The coffee guy looks old enough to get Medicare, a program that is going to be on the block, come Inauguration Day. Maybe hes a retiree with an actual pension. Theres a vanishing species of benefits. Certainly, hes on Social Security, the federal entitlement program that Republicans have been trying to attack, off and on, for decades now. Build a wall, he shouts one more time as I fork over $9.50 for the two coffees and doughnuts. Thats a dime less than the $9.60 minimum wage the woman at the register may be making. I look over at the guy in the Navy cap one more time, tempted to tell the septuagenarian to shut his offensive trap. Nothing like a breach of peace arrest first thing on a Saturday morning in the old neighborhood to make you feel alive. It would be a sad way to finally give up the fingerprints Ive been carefully protecting, figuring someday I might need to commit the perfect crime. So I skulk out the door and head to the car, rather than engage the guy in the Navy ball cap. This was the day before Donald J. Trump admitted that the wall might only be a fence in spots; a week before the man who bragged that he never settles lawsuits negotiated away his Trump University suit for a mere $25 million. The fact is, Trump was probably more surprised than anyone else the night his ship came in. Lets review, for the sake of the Navy cap and his fellow victory dancers. At the latest count, Hillary Clinton scored 897,524 votes from Connecticut voters to Trumps 673,196. Thats 54.57 percent to 40.93 percent, according to the Secretary of the States website. She has about a million more ballots in the national popular vote. Still, Trump won. So yeah, its time to get ready for a Republican administration and a Republican Congress. Its an awesome thing, this transition of power in the United States and we should all hope for the best. Unfortunately, its a moment when civility is on life support, along with facts and the truth. Ken Dixons column appears Sundays in the Hearst Connecticut Newspapers. You may reach him in the Capitol at 860-549-4670 or at kdixon@ctpost.com. Find him at twitter.com/KenDixonCT. His Facebook address is kendixonct.hearst. Dixons Connecticut Blog-o-rama is at blog.ctnews.com/dixon/ American filmmaker Oliver Stone to participate in Havana Film Festival Submitted by: Juana Cinema Havana United States 11 / 18 / 2016 The renowned American filmmaker Oliver Stone will present his latest film "Snowden" (2016) during the 38th edition of the Havana Film Festival, to be held from December 8 to 18 in this city. Ivan Giroud, president of the event, told the press that the film will arrive in Cuba after participating in important cinematographic contests in the world, such as the Festivals of Toronto, Canada, and San Sebastian, Spain. The movie, with Joseph Gordon-Levitt playing Edward Snowden, seeks to bring the viewer to the story of this computer specialist, who published from June 2013 classified documents on various surveillance programs of the American Government. Stone, interested since his inception by a personal political cinema, has addressed other key moments of American history such as the Vietnam War (Platoon); the assassination of John F. Kennedy (JFK); the Watergate scandal (Nixon); and the events of September 11, 2001 (World Trade Center). It is not the first time that he comes to Havana; the documentaries Comandante (2003) and his sequence Looking for Fidel (2004), both dedicated to the leader of the Cuban Revolution, were born from his previous visits in 2002 and 2003. With a significant presence of US feature films out of competition and some 400 movies from the continent, the 38th edition of the Havana Film Festival will return to the big screens of the Cuban capital. The list of American films includes Jackie, by Pablo Larrain; Jonathan Jakubowiczs Hands of Stone; and La La Land, by Damien Chazelle, the latter won the Peoples Choice Award at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). (acn) Japan signs water infrastructure contract for Eastern Cuban region Submitted by: Juana Asia Holguin Business and Economy 11 / 18 / 2016 Japanese ambassador to Cuba Masaru Watanabe signed a contract on Wednesday to set up a desalinization plant in the eastern Holguin coastal community of Caletones, Gibara municipality, in order to supply the people higher quality drinking water. Upon penning the document, the Japanese diplomat said that the works will be funded by the Japanese governments Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) at a cost of more than 120 thousand Euros. The community of Caletones is located at 29 km from the city of Gibara, where over 420 inhabitants have no access to drinking water sources. For this reason the Cuban water supply company has to use cistern trucks to provide them with water. The ambassador told ACN that his government is also considering other programs to help improve water quality in the western provinces of Mayabeque and Artemisa, both near the capital Havana. During his visit to eastern Holguin province, ambassador Watanabe met with university professors and students and was accompanied by officials from the Provincial Government. (acn) Somerset County Treasurer will 'do what it takes' for best returns Online sleuths have claimed the photos are a hoax, thought up by Bullen She is now talking to the other woman and said they would resolve it Ms Bullen said she was 'disturbed' by the copycat images The landscape, angle, poses and even the clothes were almost exact Another couple travelled to the same places and copied her shots Lauren Bullen and boyfriend Jack Morris capture their travels on Instagram The Australian Instagram star who claimed her photos were copied by a mystery follower has been accused of masterminding a hoax. Lauren Bullen, 23, travels the world posting glamorous photos to her Instagram account, but was 'disturbed' to find another woman had recreated her images right down to the finest detail. Since making the shocking discovery last week, Bullen has been inundated with messages of hate by people who claim the photos were part of a conspiracy she thought up in an attempt to gain publicity. Lauren Bullen (L), who travels the world posting breathtaking photos to her Instagram, was 'disturbed' to find another woman (R) had recreated her images to the finest detail 'Lauren's email address and Instagram ID appeared in Diana Alexa's profile', myrther In the week since the mimicked photos were first published, Bullen gained hundreds of thousands of new followers, prompting accusations she and the mystery woman had planned it together. One online sleuth accused Bullen and the other woman, known as Diana Alexa, of being connected based on a Google search. 'A Google search for "gypsea_lust Diana Alexa" yields this archived Twitter profile,' one user said. 'At one time Lauren's email address and Instagram ID appeared in Diana Alexa's profile.' Another person has even claimed the two women are sisters. 'Do a search, they're sisters. Staged this to get publicity and obviously it has worked,' one woman, from the US, said. Another claimed it was the same woman in both photos, and she had simply donned a brunette wig. One online sleuth accused Bullen and the other woman, known as Diana Alexa, of being connected based on this search result The photo from the copycat (R) was taken with the same view of the Sahara, from the same angle and even with the same pillows and decoration arrangement Her follower's photo was taken in the same pool, from the same angle and she was even wearing what appeared to be the same blue and white bikini Another shot by the same pool was also recreated almost exactly in a different pose The copycats sat at the same table wearing similar clothes and struck the same pose 'Do a search: they're sisters. Staged this to get publicity and obviously it has worked.' one user said 'Gypsea probably had a hand in setting up these shots,' another user claimed But Bullen has lashed out at her haters, claiming the story was legitimate and not a hoax in the slightest. The Instagram star told Daily Mail Australia on Saturday: 'What I've said is 100% the truth.' She admitted she had gained followers in the aftermath, but it was not worth the 'traumatising' experience. 'It's spinning and backfiring on me, I'm accused of faking it and I don't know what to do, I hate it,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'It's so tough, I have nothing to hide.' This photo was taken in the same pool with the arrangement only slightly different This picture has been perfectly recreated even down to the positioning of her hair In this shot in Morocco even the caption was copied In this copy, the second woman had to eat her own pizza as her partner was presumably taking the photo In response to the damning Twitter result linking the pair, Bullen said she 'didn't think anything of it'. 'My interpretation of it is that when you google two people's usernames, you'll get excerpts from both of their Twitter accounts,' she said. 'It's not rocket science.' Initially angered by the shock finding, Bullen said she and the mystery woman were now friends and spoke 'everyday'. 'I don't know much about her, but I found out she's Italian,' she said. 'I asked her today 'is Diana your real name?' and she said no, it was a nickname and she would never put her real name on the internet.' 'So I don't even know her real name.' This photo, taken of Ms Bullen by a friend, was recreated with the same outfit The angle is different but the photos are essentially the same The only difference in this photo is that the copycat is looking sideways and not hiding her face with her hair as Ms Bullen did Ms Mullen and Mr Morris both took photos at the top with the copycat adopting their pose This photo was taken from the same spot overlooking this famous landmark While the experience has been tough for Bullen, she said her Italian copycat was coping even worse. 'She says she's the laughing stock of her town, she's not having a good time with it,' she said. 'She says it's embarrassing and she's so humiliated. 'She doesn't sound like a threat, maybe one day we'll meet.' But she said the friendship started out on rocky ground. 'She said: "I'm not doing anything wrong and if you don't want your pictures copied you should make them private",' Bullen said. Bullen even released screenshots of her conversation with the mystery woman to Daily Mail Australia in an attempt to prove the story's authenticity. 'I found this account who is straght up copying your photos,' a friend told Bullen 'I can't wait for this to be over, it's driving me crazy,' Bullen said in the conversation 'And going on about a Twitter account from 2011, oh yeah I plotted this in 2011 come on,' Bullen said Advertisement Prosecco may be the nations fizzy wine of choice, but there was a time when Italian sparkling wine meant only one thing: Lambrusco Prosecco may be the nations fizzy wine of choice, but there was a time when Italian sparkling wine meant only one thing: Lambrusco. Despite its now undeniably naff reputation, back in the Eighties, at the height of its popularity, Brits drank millions of bottles of the stuff. It was sweet, frothy, low in alcohol and light on flavour. It was mostly white or rose and came with a relatively small price tag. It was cheap and we were thirsty. And it went brilliantly with cheese and pineapple on a stick. It was the sort of drink Dorien from TV sitcom Birds Of A Feather might have thought the classy alternative to Babycham, and Only Fools And Horses Del Boy might garnish with a glace cherry and an umbrella on Christmas Day. But tastes changed, new wines came on to the scene, and people moved away from cheap Lambrusco. Within a decade it was simply naff and, before long, was relegated to a small corner on the bottom shelf of the supermarket. Now, it looks set to make the kind of comeback an Eighties pop star could only dream of. This week, the Mail reported how it is even outselling Prosecco. In the supermarkets that stock it, its flying off the shelves, while celebrity chef Antonio Carluccio is spearheading its revival after stocking it in his new flagship London restaurant. Only this time, Lambrusco is unrecognisable because the real Lambrusco isnt sweet, or even white. In fact, it is as the Italians know (and love) it: dry, sparkling and red. The Italians have been drinking their Lambrusco like this for years, turning their expert noses up at the sweet, fizzy stuff exported to the UK and the U.S. for so long. Whats more, the Lambrusco name is actually steeped in history, revered by some of the most influential writers of Roman times. Cato the Elder noted the naturally high yields of the grape back in 160 BC and Pliny, too, was thought to be a fan. Despite Lambrusco's now undeniably naff reputation, back in the Eighties, at the height of its popularity, Brits drank millions of bottles of the stuff. It was sweet, frothy, low in alcohol and light on flavour. This week, the Mail reported how Lambrusco is even outselling Prosecco There are lots of different varieties of the Lambrusco grape, including Salamino (which owes its name to bunches similar in shape to a salami), Grasparossa and Sorbara. The best quality Lambrusco wine comes from smarter DOC (meaning Denominazione di Origine Controllata) regions mostly within Emilia Romagna in northern Italy, to the east of Bologna. One of the most highly regarded areas is called Grasparossa di Castelvetro, producing wines with plenty of colour and flavour. Another, Lambrusco di Sorbara, produces generally lighter styles. Most are given their sparkle from a second bubble-inducing fermentation done in a tank though a few smaller producers still make theirs the traditional way, fermenting them in the bottle. Flavours range from bright berry fruit to earthy, herby characters, often all in the same glass. Their naturally crisp, dry style makes them the ideal partner for the hearty food flavours of the Emilia Romagna region, including prosciutto, Parmigiano cheese and meaty pasta dishes. And the levels of alcohol are moderate rather than mind-blowing, sitting at around 11pc abv. These wines are absolutely made for quaffing, slightly chilled, while tucking into whats on the table with gusto. Specialist Italian wine retailers have been on the real Lambrusco case for a few years but, until relatively recently, it was hard to find these wines on supermarket shelves. Waitrose launched their first one in September this year. According to Xenia Irwin, wine buyer and Master of Wine, she thought it was time to introduce a proper Lambrusco to the range, one that the Italians would drink. The Lambrusco Pruno Nero, priced at 10.99, was destined to be a one-off parcel. But sales were so good a second order has already been placed in time for Christmas. Its so exciting now weve got hold, finally, of the real thing, says Irwin. Italian wine specialist Liberty Wines supplies some of Londons leading restaurants, and managing director David Gleave says that although he doesnt expect to sell as much real Lambrusco as the ersatz stuff, at least well have something delicious to drink that goes wonderfully with spaghetti Bolognese. Sounds perfect. Far from being a bad joke, authentic Lambrusco deserves to be taken seriously. Not too seriously, though this is a wine to be drunk with friends and food rather than discussed in great depth. Leave that to the claret lovers. Helen Veevers, 28, is accused of poisoning her tycoon father in Kenya over his alleged cheating On Tuesday, Helen Veevers will leave her home in Rochdale to travel to Kenya, a country that once held nothing but happy memories of her time there as a child. Yet now the thought brings only dread. The reason for her visit is an inquest into the death of her father, property tycoon Harry Veevers, at his home in Mombasa in February 2013. He had retired there to enjoy an idyllic life in the upmarket residential area of Nyali, taking daily trips to the white sand beach opposite a luxurious home. Helen, 28, has no idea when she will return to Britain. Indeed, depending on the inquests outcome, there is a terrifying possibility she may be thrown in a Kenyan prison because, along with her mother Azra Parvin Din, 68, and sister Alexandra, 26, she faces a quite extraordinary claim: that she poisoned her father with a pesticide called cyhalothrin. Their accusers are her half-brothers, Harrys sons from his first marriage, Philip and Richard, who have also alleged that corrupt local police colluded to cover up the death. They are sensational allegations which to her huge distress have been reported round the world; a story of feuding and murder among wealthy Kenyan expats has drawn inevitable comparisons with the White Mischief case of 1941, dramatised in a novel and Hollywood movie. Yet if the Earl of Errolls murder was all-too-real, the claims facing Helen Veevers are no more than a grotesque fabrication, she says: They are utterly ridiculous, just terrible, malicious and untrue. Indeed, her description is supported by a scientific report she commissioned from Dr Alexander Allan, a forensic toxicologist, that states none of the poison in question was detectable in the sample he analysed. For three years, Helen has remained silent, as she worked with her sister and mother to compile the evidence needed to refute her brothers allegations. Now, with the inquest approaching, she says she has no choice but to risk travelling to Kenya so that the scientific evidence can be presented and her father be finally laid to rest with dignity. Her father Harry Veevers (pictured with wife Azra) died at his home in Mombasa in 2013. It has been claimed that Helen, along with her mother and sister, murdered her father after he threatened to leave Azra for another woman The allegations are wide ranging and complex. They include the claim that she helped murder her father after he threatened to leave Azra for another woman although she says the supposed affair is another twisted fabrication. Most damaging is a Kenyan toxicology report purporting to find pesticide in Harrys body. On the basis of this which Helen says is badly flawed a police chief has recommended prosecution. Harry died intestate, leaving the family in uncertainty. All my mother, Alexandra and I want is for my father to rest in peace. Some sense of closure. For us its not about money, Helen says. My brothers discredited us to the point that the Kenyan authorities were persuaded to dig up our dad. Its an emotional attack on us. I feel violated. And I feel let down by the justice system there because it has allowed them to tell the world that there is a case against us, when there isnt. Theyd never have been able to do it here in Britain. Were terrified about going to Kenya, because so far my brothers have got away with these smears. But we have to go to present our evidence, she says. Her fears are well founded. An earlier inquest in September 2015, was abandoned before Helens lawyer could present any evidence because Helen had received intimidating text messages from a man who turned out to be the court clerk. The judge in that inquest has since been struck off for improper conduct in other trials. She is backed by her MP Simon Danczuk, who said last night: Im very supportive of Helen. Ive made representations with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to secure that the Kenyan authorities are fully aware that Britain is observing. Her half-brothers Philip and Richard (pictured) have made the accusations. They have also alleged that corrupt local police colluded to cover up the death Im concerned for Helens safety. The British Government is watching this case in detail. Theres a problem with corruption. Thats the truth of it. Helen believes the destructive dispute has its roots in childhood jealousy. Her father married his first wife very young, and divorced her in 1980 after having three children, Alison, Richard and Philip. He later met Azra, a woman of Indian heritage who was born in Uganda before moving to Britain and settling in Rochdale. They married in an Islamic ceremony because of Azras Muslim faith, and raised their two daughters, Helen and Alexandra, as liberal Muslims. Harry later converted. We were his princesses, says Helen, smiling. We were privileged, but we werent spoilt we were encouraged to work hard and taught we could achieve whatever we set our minds to. He wanted us to be good human beings. My dad always tried to be a good father to his other three children, but we werent close growing up. Now, I think my brothers feel they missed out on what my sister and I had, which was a close family unit with a father who doted on us. The Veevers made many trips to Kenya during Helens childhood, visiting Azras relatives, taking trips to the beautiful beaches. As her parents grew older, they began to spend increasing periods of time there. I havent been able to grieve properly because of what my brothers have put us through. Im devastated that because of them, my dads body was dug up and has been lying in a mortuary for almost two years Eventually, her parents moved to Mombasa. They built three houses next door to one another, living in one while the others remained empty as an investment. Helen stayed in Britain, training as an estate agent and working in Leeds. As the years passed, her fathers health declined. He had high blood pressure, angina, fibromyalgia and Menieres disease, an inner ear problem, she continues. It meant that every morning hed sit at breakfast with a little pouch full of pills to take, she says. He was often ill and I was worried about him but he was a real soldier and fought through it. On February 14, 2013, Harry complained of chest pains, but despite the arrival of a doctor he passed away, the cause of death judged to be a stroke or heart attack. He had not made a will. I knew hed been ill, but it was still a terrible shock, says Helen. I loved him so much and we were very close. I felt like my world had collapsed. Richard, Philip, Alexandra and Helen flew to Kenya together from Gatwick although it has subsequently been claimed, wrongly, that they were in Kenya at the time of the death. It was on landing there that the first signs of division emerged . The brothers said their father was buried without their knowledge; Helen and her sister say the brothers took part in the funeral. The brothers claimed there were strange marks on the body and that they have been advised they indicated poisoning; Helen says they have failed to present any evidence at all that this was the case. She accuses Richard of seizing control of the family properties and Harrys car without agreement, and renting out the house where Azra and Harry had lived without consent. If my brothers had real suspicions, why did they even bury him? she asks. Why did they not report a murder? Richard appointed himself head of the family without consultation and decided that he was the one who should take over and run our fathers estate. Helen and Alexandra returned to Britain to work, but Richard, who had been a martial arts instructor, decided to stay in Kenya and was told by the court he could stay in one of the familys empty houses but explicitly not in the family home. After a week, Alex and I had to go home, continues Helen. My mum followed us shortly after. The following week, Richard went to the house she shared with Dad. He removed all our personal belongings and moved in Spanish tenants against the orders of the court. When I called him, he said he needed the money to pay for a lawyer to sort out the probate. I told him that I could pay for that, but he wouldnt listen. He replied I am the eldest son. You should listen to me. He also told us that Kenya is not safe that he was protecting us. It was a clear attempt to scare us off. Helen returned to Kenya and obtained a court order instructing Richard to return their belongings and her fathers car. It also stated the money from renting the properties must go to the court until a settlement was reached. When he did not comply, she began contempt proceedings. Weve lost so much money and possession which are priceless in emotional value, including my dads belongings, she says. The confrontations culminated in an altercation at the house involving a machete. Alex was injured and a restraining order taken out against Richard. The Mail on Sunday has seen photographic evidence of a wound and has seen the order against him. Richard denies any attack took place. By January 2014, Richard and Philips claims persuaded the authorities to exhume their father. Samples from his body were tested by both the police and the Kenyan government, both purportedly finding traces of a carbonate pesticide suspected to be cyhalothrin. However, both reports were produced by the same scientist, Stephen Joel Matinde Weibe who had been hired by Richard. Helen finds this worrying. Moreover she says that the report contains basic errors in particular that cyhalothrin is not a carbonate. As for her brothers claim that Harry was planning to leave their mother for another woman, Helen says this is another falsehood, Last night a Mombasa-based lawyer representing Richard and Philip Veevers said: For the record, the accusations against my clients are denied. I would be most hesitant to accuse the Kenya courts of corruption. Neither Richard nor Philip would comment. As for Helen, she says: My dad brought me up to be strong and fight for what I believe in, so I need to do this for him as well as for us. I havent been able to grieve properly because of what my brothers have put us through. Im devastated that because of them, my dads body was dug up and has been lying in a mortuary for almost two years, so I cant even visit his grave. Reading so many lies about me and my family has been devastating. This is categorically not a murder investigation. It is an inquest. All I can hope is that this time we get to put forward the scientific evidence proving my father was not murdered. Im well aware that if the judge rules that it was an unlawful killing, the consequences for us could be serious. Dr Allan is happy to provide evidence via a satellite link, but Im worried that will be beyond the Kenyan court where funds are limited. We want our dads body to be reburied with dignity and to have some closure. Breastfeeding reduces the pain babies feel when they receive their childhood vaccinations, a major review has concluded. Feeding infants while they are being given a jab reduces crying time by an average of 38 seconds, scientists found. Breastfeeding distracts, comforts and soothes infants - and experts think endorphins in a mothers milk may also act as a painkiller. Breastfeeding reduces the pain babies feel when they receive their childhood vaccinations, a major review has concluded (file picture) The review, published by the influential Cochrane Library, combined the results of six studies, involving 547 babies up to the age of 12 months. The authors, led by experts at the University of Ottawa in Canada, said the findings could be used to make crucial vaccinations less traumatic for babies and parents. Infant vaccinations are essential, but painful, they wrote. They cause distress for the babies and often their parents, and can result in future anxiety and fear about needles. Breastfeeding when possible and feasible may also help to comfort babies and reduce their pain beyond the newborn period and throughout infancy. The World Health Organisation changed its guidance on vaccinations last year to recommend breastfeeding for the first time. In a position statement published in September 2015, it said: If culturally acceptable, breastfeeding of infants should be done during or shortly before the vaccination session. But the practice is rarely encouraged in this country, with officials insisting it is not always practical. The findings could be used to make crucial vaccinations less traumatic for babies and parents (file picture) Part of the problem is that far fewer mothers in Britain breastfeed their children than in other countries. The NHS suggests that women should feed their babies exclusively with breast milk until they are at least six months old, and then continue breastfeeding while gradually introducing other food. The practice is proven to reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes and infections. But one on five mothers in Britain never attempt to breastfeed, and more than half have given up within two months. Study leader Dr Denise Harrison, associate professor of nursing at the University of Ottawa, said: Breastfeeding can provide much more than nourishment. It provides comfort and it reduces pain. This is not just about distracting the child from the needle. We know that skin-to-skin contact is a factor, along with the heartbeat, the sound and smell of the mother and the pleasant taste of the breast milk. There are also endorphins in the breast milk that have an impact, but we do not know exactly the role they play. Previous research suggests that tryptophan, a naturally occurring amino-acid that is found in high quantities in breast milk, may play a role in reducing pain. Babies in the UK are vaccinated against a range of diseases in their first year, including diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio and meningitis. Uptake is genarally high, but every year between one in ten and one in 20 of British infants miss their jabs. The Cochrane review authors said pain is a key reason that mothers do not bring their child for their vaccination session. They found that breastfeeding was more effective at reducing pain than feeding the baby with water or a sweet sugar solution, or with expressed breast milk. Babies who were breastfed cried for between 14 seconds and two minutes when injected, the reviewed studies showed, with infants who were not breastfed crying for between 35 seconds and nearly three minutes. Overall, children who were breastfed cried for 38 seconds less. They also scored an average 1.7 points lower on a scale of pain scores, based on facial expressions and behaviour. Dr Harrison stressed that breastfeeding during vaccinations costs nothing, does not require special equipment and requires no extra training. We now have the evidence that breastfeeding reduces pain, she said. The WHO has made it clear it is in favour of mothers breastfeeding during vaccinations. Dr Rebeccah Slater, an expert in infant pain at Oxford Universitys Department of Paediatrics, last night welcomed the report. Breastfeeding is extremely comforting for an infant. When an infant has a distressing experience, such as a vaccination, they may be consoled more quickly if they are given the opportunity to breastfeed. Some parents do request that they breastfeed their baby when they come to clinics for vaccinations, blood tests or injections. When this is feasible the doctors and nurses will often try to support this practice. But Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at Public Health England said: Although breast feeding may help to pacify a child who has received vaccination, it is not always going to be possible to feed a baby at the point of immunisation. Homeward Bound: The Life Of Paul Simon Peter Ames Carlin Constable 20 Rating: If ever there is an award for the songwriter who hasnt followed his own advice, then Paul Simon will be the runaway winner: Slow down, you move too fast/You got to make the morning last/ Just kicking down the cobblestones/Looking for fun and feeling groovy On the evidence of this new biography, Simon has never slowed down, hardly ever looked for fun and seldom felt groovy. Even at the height of his success, when the Bridge Over Troubled Water album was at the top of the UK charts for a record-breaking 41 weeks, he was seeing a therapist four times a week, worried he still wasnt happy and wondering if he might be better employed doing something more worthwhile. Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel first met when they were classmates aged 11 and became friends when Simon played the White Rabbit and Garfunkel the Cheshire Cat in a school production of Alice In Wonderland His off/on, on/off musical partnership over the past 60-odd years with Art Garfunkel has been the cause of much angst. The two of them first met when they were classmates aged 11 and became friends when Simon played the White Rabbit and Garfunkel the Cheshire Cat in a school production of Alice In Wonderland. For one or two years, things went swimmingly. Aged 15, they even had a pop song in the charts, under the pseudonym Tom and Jerry. It turned out to be a singularly appropriate name. There was always a strong element of cat-and-mouse about their relationship, each fighting for the position of cat while pretending to be the mouse. Both of them were a combustible mixture of touchy and insensitive, which meant that shortly after they got together they began to break apart. Aged 16, Simon signed a deal to make solo records, and for the next two months somehow forgot to let Garfunkel know. Garfunkel never really forgave him. Twenty-five years later, during a major European tour, when Simon asked Garfunkel why he was cold-shouldering him, Garfunkel said that he still felt betrayed by that solo deal. I was 15 years old! Simon protested. How can you carry that betrayal for 25 years? How can you punish me for a mistake I made when I was a teenager? Youre still the same guy, said Garfunkel. From Gilbert and Sullivan to Lennon and McCartney, many musical partnerships have been riven with rivalry and resentment, but few have been as long-running or as divisive. Garfunkel could be haughty and dismissive, and Simon was unusually prickly. After Simon wrote Bridge Over Troubled Water, he presented it to Garfunkel, saying that it was perfect for his voice. Its a great song, Garfunkel replied. You wrote it, you sing beautifully, you deserve to do it. Somehow, Simon managed to take this as an insult. Its my best song and its not good enough for Artie to want to do it! he complained. Garfunkel did eventually sing it, of course, and his beautiful falsetto made it an instant classic. As with most things, Simon was in two minds about it. When they came to perform the song in concert, Simon would graciously insist on leaving the stage, giving Garfunkel the full spotlight, but at the same time he couldnt help feel a sense of envy at the thunderous applause: this was HIS song, and he could easily have sung it, but Garfunkel could never have written it. In the Seventies, Garfunkels good looks took him to Hollywood, and this fuelled further resentment in Simon, particularly as the filming of Carnal Knowledge coincided with the time they were meant to be working on a new album. Nor did Garfunkel help matters by barring Simon from the movie set. Part of him saw those movies as an opportunity to f*** me over, Simon told an interviewer. I mean, he really made me feel bad. They row, they split up, they get back together again, they row, they split up, they get back together again: this has been their routine for the past 60 years. Paul Simon began to go bald in his early 20s: Art Garfunkels full head of curly blond hair was yet another source of angst. But time is a great equaliser. After a while, Garfunkel went bald too. Garfunkel was less bothered by it, but at their 1981 concert in Central Park, Simon wanted to wear a hairpiece and insisted that Garfunkel should wear one too, or people might talk. Peter Ames Carlins biography of Paul Simon is rightly reverential towards the songs, but more picky towards the driven, complicated character who created them. Carlin writes in that irritatingly convoluted, mock-heroic style peculiar to deadly serious American rock journalists. At times it veers towards the unreadable. On page 2, for instance, we are told that the young Simon and Garfunkel were light-footed teen idols whose central, nay sole concerns involved girls, school, the joys of the former, the hassles of the latter, and the travails of both. No one could reach the end of that sentence without wondering what on earth it meant. But when you read it again, you realise that it doesnt really mean anything very much and that neither hassles nor travails are quite the right words for what the writer is trying to express. Paul Simon and Carrie Fisher (right) were married for less than a year but dated on and off for almost a decade after their divorce Often, Carlin confuses songs with sociology, suffocating the delights of the music in the earnest, know-all drapes of academia. In his view, Simons album Still Crazy After All These Years documents the cynicism of the post-Nixon era through eyes jaundiced by political disillusion, professional success and the stultifying comforts of home. These deathly flourishes are sometimes coupled with babyish hyperbole: There was no one in pop music to compare with him, he writes, or in all of popular culture, for that matter. Nevertheless, along the foggy way, plenty of interesting details emerge, not least about the months Simon spent in England at the start of his career in the early Sixties. He owes a debt to the Railway Tavern in Brentwood, where he played regularly. It was, writes Carlin, one of those cozy neighborhood pubs where the owner pulls pints of ale, bitter and stout for his customers without having to ask who wants what, while Essex itself was a patchwork of farms and suburban villages about 30 miles East of London. Move over, Dick Van Dyke! The Railway Tavern was also, incidentally, the place where Paul met his girlfriend Kathy Chitty, whom he immortalised not only in the sweet Kathys Song but also in perhaps his greatest song, America ( Kathy, Im lost, I said, though I knew she was sleeping). She came from Wales, which gives Carlin the opportunity to dip his pen in yet more purple ink. Kathys timorous facade hid a rugged soul. The Welsh winters were raw and long; the mountainous terrain there offered little but physical labor, much of it in the calamitous mines crawling into the earths crust. Death was not a stranger in Wales. Friends from those early days in England testify to the depth of his ambition. A club manager remembers him saying: If Im not a millionaire by the time I turn 30, I shall be very disappointed. The veteran folk guitarist Bert Jansch says he was very American. He used to say stuff like, Oh, Im gonna be really big one day and make lots of money . Ralph Streets Of London McTell paints a less benign picture. He had a reputation as a miserable little man and was not popular among other musicians, he says. But any personal failings Simon may have are more than excused by the beauty of his songs. Roka 37 Charlotte Street, London rokarestaurant.com Rating: Theres a select group of restaurants from resolutely grand to rather more, well, gritty where the menu is all but superfluous. And not simply beloved local places, whose doors you have darkened so often that their a la carte is seared deep into your soul. Although theres certainly enough of those. No, Im talking about sites of single-minded pilgrimage, where the Siren-like allure of one dish is such that theres no need for the agony of choice. Sure, once comfortably ensconced, with any pre-prandial nerves soothed by that first (and finest) glass of the day, ones eye may wander. At Roka, you dont have to put up with endless tables of elderly men entertaining their eternally nubile nieces. Which always tend to add grit to the oyster tempura Seasoned sashimi selection Kampachi sashimi no salada Towards the flirtatious charms of the specials, say a vast carabinieri prawn, violently red, its raw flesh sweet, soft and creamy. Or woodcock, simply roasted, its skull hewn open, and rapier-like beak tucked neatly under its wing. Plus theres always the supporting cast to consider, other dishes that both provide the advance guard, and bring up the rear. But really, at these fine destinations, you know exactly what you want. A dozen native oysters at Scotts, cool, plump and briny; bamboo steamers, piled high and filled with xiao long bao at Shikumen, the searing broth just about restrained within the pastrys silken folds; roast bone marrow salad at St John; goat keema at Gymkhana (with added brains); fragrant chicken in a pile of chillies at Bar Shu; fish gut curry, fierce and fetid, at Jane-tira; devilled kidneys at Hereford Road; eel and horseradish sandwich at Quo Vadis; veal chop at Assaggi; yellowtail with sashimi at Nobu... the list is as long as I am greedy. But at Roka (the old Charlotte Street one, rather than the snazzy new Mayfair branch), there are not one but two such dishes. First, those lamb cutlets, kankoku fu kohitsuji, if were going to be formal, cooked pink and plump as pillows. They wear the char of the grill, along with the sonorous honk of kimchee, where bleat of lamb meets roar of chilli. I gnaw them until the bone gleams. Then theres kani no kamameshi, a great wooden pot full of king crab and splendidly gloopy rice, a deeply soothing Japanese risotto, where the nursery meets the narcotic. But at Roka, temptation is found at every turn. FROM THE MENU King crab hotpot 16 Lamb cutlets 25.30 Rock shrimp tempura 14.90 Yakitori chicken 5.90 Black cod 12.90 Advertisement The sushi is generally excellent, the fish (be it the lascivious uni, or lavishly fatty chu-toro) as fresh as it should be, and beautifully cut. Plus the rice expertly cooked too, each grain both proudly separate, yet devoted to the common cause. Sashimi, too, is exemplary, sliced with a razor-sharp knife and an all-knowing hand. Tuna tartare, so often so dull, is served in a bowl of ice. And attended by a small spoon of caviar. A rather civilised, if extravagant, way to season. Rock shrimp tempura are clad in an ephemerally lacy tempura batter, rather than some thick flannel overcoat of chewily turgid gloom. Yakitori chicken has enough fat to raise it from the drearily dry to the lusciously lovely. While nasu dengaku (aubergine slathered with miso) is cooked until the flesh collapses into a silken mess, succumbing willingly to the brutal power of the coals. Even the black cod, usually so overpriced and underwhelming, teeters on that thin line between the rich and the downright obscene. Tuna tataki with apple mustard dressing Better still, standards are eternally, and consistently, high. Service is brisk, polished and smoothly professional. I must have been dozens of times over the years, and dont remember even the slightest of slips. Unlike its sister restaurant, Zuma, where things can be rather less reliable. Plus at Roka, you dont have to put up with endless tables of elderly men entertaining their eternally nubile nieces. Which always tend to add grit to the oyster tempura. Sure, Roka aint cheap. Fish of this quality never is, and even those lamb chops come in at a whopping 6 each. But the crab hotpot is 16, and plenty enough for two. The problem is that once youre there, a wandering eye can be quickly led astray. And the bill mounts up. Still, Roka is not an everyday sort of place (unless you made your billions at the end of the Nineties, from various Russian metals), rather an ever-reliable treat. It feeds a yen, fulfils an urge, and never lets you down. Two dishes to delight. In a restaurant to revere. The magic of Narnia and ET, the brilliance of Beyonce, the epic power of War And Peace... they all deliver for Call The Midwifes Trixie Words of wonder The book Ive enjoyed most recently is What I Loved by Siri Hustvedt. I had just finished The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, which was intimidatingly huge but the most fantastic book on art history, and so I was looking for something similar. Jessica Raine [Helens co-star from Call The Midwife] recommended it to me and I devoured it. Another book I really loved is Michel Fabers The Book Of Strange New Things which was written after his wife had passed away, and its a very clever and heart-wrenching ode to his loss. The book Ive enjoyed most recently is What I Loved by Siri Hustvedt Dont touch that dial Radio 4 was the soundtrack of my childhood my father always had it on in the kitchen. I vividly recall the Shipping Forecast and those beeps it just reminds me of my dad washing up with his rubber gloves on. Hearing the music for The Archers omnibus on a Sunday morning takes me back, too. I still listen to the station especially Patrick Marber and Peter Cullens late-night series Bunk Bed. Patrick wrote After Miss Julie, which I toured this year, so it was soothing to hear him when I got back from the show. Its brilliant yet so simple just two men having a chat before bed. The art in my heart Nick Fiddian Greens Still Water bronze statue at Londons Marble Arch is incredible. Its a sculpture of a horses head where the nose just touches the ground and it shoots up from there. Its so peaceful and modest. I have some etchings by Damon Albarns sister Jessica. She does beautiful drawings of bees some are dead and theyre so mournful and delicate. Im desperate to get one as a tattoo but Call The Midwife bosses would kill me. Nick Fiddian Greens Still Water bronze statue at Londons Marble Arch is incredible. Its so peaceful and modest Music to my ears Lemonade by Beyonce is brilliantly curated theres a real through line to it and such a variation of music. I cant get enough of Christine And The Queens. Im trying to learn her dance routines. Lemonade by Beyonce is brilliantly curated theres a real through line to it and such a variation of music Live, my favourite experience was singing with Elton John in 2000. Id just graduated from the Royal Academy of Music and Elton studied there too so he asked students to do his backing vocals. We performed at Wembley and the Albert Hall. The plays my thing I saw Arthur Millers No Villain at The Trafalgar recently. He wrote it when he was a student and it was brilliantly performed and staged. My favourite ever play is Jerusalem with Mark Rylance. It was so far into the run when I saw it but it seemed like the actors were saying the words for the first time. I was in awe. My favourite ever play is Jerusalem with Mark Rylance. It was so far into the run when I saw it but it seemed like the actors were saying the words for the first time. I was in awe My movie magic Truly Madly Deeply, with Alan Rickman and Juliet Stevenson, is one of my favourite films of all time. When Juliets character is playing Bachs Adagio on the piano and Alans on the cello as a ghost, its just so beautiful. But the best scene in movie history? Thats when Elliott meets ET for the first time. The best scene in movie history? Thats when Elliott meets ET for the first time My TV gold I loved The Chronicles Of Narnia on the BBC as a child, and it still has the power to make me feel like a child if I watch it now. The Darling Buds Of May is also special it reminds me of Sunday nights with my family, as wed all sit down and watch it it was a safe family drama. And the recent War And Peace was extraordinary. I loved The Chronicles Of Narnia on the BBC as a child, and it still has the power to make me feel like a child if I watch it now The recent War And Peace was extraordinary Taking a starring role on daytime TV drama used to be a sure sign that your acting career had hit the skids, yet that cliche is being demolished by a new generation of big-budget dramas that have attracted star names, critical acclaim and, more importantly, the kind of audiences ratings that prime-time shows would die for. Claire Goose already had an impressive CV before she was approached to play the lead in the daytime series The Coroner. Her breakthrough came in Casualty, which was followed by The Bill and four seasons as police detective Mel Silver, who cracked unsolved murders in Waking The Dead. But she made a shrewd decision to join the hit BBC1 show, whose second series begins tomorrow. Claire Goose in The Coroner The Coroner has comedy, romance and the sort of Moonlighting will-they-wont-they relationship between the two lead characters like Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd, says Goose, explaining its appeal. The programme, which has won a Royal Television Society award, is spearheading a new wave of quality daytime dramas traditionally a slot for quiz shows and Aussie soaps. Father Brown, an adaptation of the GK Chesterton novels, with the Harry Potter actor Mark Williams as a crime-solving priest, proved a huge hit, and around 50 per cent of all viewing on BBC1 and BBC2 now occurs before 7pm each day. These compelling new dramas appear in a rotating schedule in the post-lunchtime-news slot on BBC1. Claire in a photo shoot from 2002 Prior to The Coroner, viewers could have enjoyed a five-part adaptation of Wilkie Collinss The Moonstone and the latest series of Jimmy McGoverns Moving On. A new run of the medical drama The Doctor Blake Mysteries starts next month. At 41, Goose, a mother of two daughters, Amelia, seven, and Eveline, four, is almost of pensionable age as far as lead roles for women are concerned, with many female actors saying they find the parts starting to dry up as soon as they start to approach the big 4-0. Three more great daytime dramas 1 The Moonstone Lavish BBC costume drama that brought Wilkie Collinss detective novel to life earlier this month. John Thomson stars as Sergeant Cuff, whos on the trail of a priceless gem. All five episodes available on BBC iPlayer. 2 Moving On Drama series created by Jimmy McGovern, with guest stars including Sheila Hancock and Dervla Kirwan, which looks at people at key points in their lives. Series 8 episodes 15 available on BBC iPlayer. 3 Father Brown BBC adaptation of GK Chestertons perennially popular novels set in the Fifties, starring Mark Williams as the Catholic priest with a knack for solving mysteries. Theres a Christmas special and a new series starts in January. Advertisement Its difficult to know whether the periods I didnt work were to do with the fact that there wasnt any work, or because I was taking time out to be with my family, she says. Im lucky that Im doing The Coroner, because its a lead character and its a woman in her 40s. There are some older women doing series Gillian Anderson [aged 48] in The Fall, Sarah Lancashire [52] in Happy Valley and Emilia Fox [42] in Silent Witness but theyre the few exceptions. Goose, married to TV producer Craig Woodrow, clearly still carries the shows sex appeal in her 20s, she was once voted one of the worlds sexiest women. It was a very different culture back then. You didnt have social media, and the only way of publicising yourself was through television appearances and magazines. Today, around two million people watch The Coroner. We get the viewers youd assume 50-plus, shift workers, mums but we also get a much younger ones, says Goose. We watch television differently now. The Coroner went straight on iPlayer, so people would come home from work, put on iPlayer and think, That looks interesting. The show has that Sunday-teatime feeling of a family show: its something everyone can watch. ALBUM OF THE WEEK Alison Balsom Jubilo Warner Bros, out now Rating: The celebrated French trumpeter Maurice Andre loved to claim that the lung power required to play the trumpet as he did was sufficient to inflate a lorry tyre! The fragrant Alison Balsom looks too fragile to blow out the candles on her birthday cake, but in fact gives Andre a good run for his money in repertoire so beloved of French trumpeters, that for trumpet and organ. There are eight Bach chorales on her latest release, in which she is partnered by the veteran Stephen Cleobury playing the organ of Kings College, Cambridge. The world-famous Kings Choir join them for a charming performance of Jesu, Joy Of Mans Desiring, and Balsom and Cleobury sound especially fine in Sleepers Awake. The rest of this thoroughly enjoyable album is given over to baroque trumpet concertos or arrangements for trumpet and orchestra. Here, Balsom eschews the modern valved trumpet in favour of a baroque valveless instrument. Alison Balsom (pictured) looks too fragile to blow out the candles on her birthday cake, but in fact gives Andre a good run for his money And she sounds totally persuasive in music by Giuseppe Torelli, Johann Freidrich Fasch and an arrangement for trumpet and orchestra by Stephen Wright of Corellis famous Christmas Concerto, itself worth the price of this CD. The Academy of Ancient Music accompany attentively. Daniel Barenboim Beethoven Warner Bros, out now Rating: Anyone who is in any doubt that Daniel Barenboim is one of the greatest musicians of our time wont be after listening to this thrilling bargain box. This 35-CD set was recorded over a period of more than 30 years and comprises both studio and live recordings. Its a snip at 60 or less. Although in his early years he was most closely associated with Mozart, Barenboim says that even as a child, Beethoven was the composer who meant most to me. And this shines through in the Piano Sonata set he recorded in his 20s. He was almost sight-reading some of them, and perhaps these recordings should have disappeared quickly. But they didnt because theres so much life, energy and sheer interpretive genius in this cycle, so they have remained in the catalogue for almost 50 years. At 27, Barenboim also recorded the Piano Concertos, with Otto Klemperer, nearly 60 years his senior. I have always loved that set but I cant blame Warners for going here with Barenboims 1985 cycle with the Berlin Philharmonic. Although in his early years he was most closely associated with Mozart, Barenboim says that even as a child, Beethoven was the composer who meant most to me The following year, in Berlin, he recorded a radiant account of the Violin Concerto with Itzhak Perlman, who also joins him and the cellist Yo-Yo Ma for a deeply committed performance of the Triple Concerto. The Missa Solemnis from Chicago in 1993 and Fidelio from Berlin in 1999 may not be best in class, but they are very good, with distinguished soloists. For me, some of the most touching recordings are those he made in the late Sixties of the Cello Sonatas and the Piano Trios with his then wife Jacqueline du Pre. A bench headed by CJI TS Thakur pulled up the government for insufficient cash The Supreme Court raised an alarm on the situation prevailing post-demonetisation, saying 'frantic' public, tired of standing in long queues outside ATMs and banks, could indulge in riots if the Centre delayed measures to address their grievances. 'People are frantic. There may be riots... the newspapers are carrying reports about the difficulty faced by public. Please don't dispute it. "You have also reduced old currency exchange limit to 2000 from 4,500... we had asked you to give them relief but you have squeezed them further. Don't you have sufficient notes also?" a bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur asked Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, who was representing the Modi government. The AG immediately countered the stinging observations saying: "There will be no riots." "People were patiently standing in the queues and in fact the queues are getting shorter." People stand in a long queue to exchange their old currency Rs. 500 and 1000 at Indian Bank at Nehru Place Rohatgi even urged the CJI to go out during lunch breaks, and have a look at the queues outside the banks and ATMs. "Kindly go out in the lunch time and see for yourself," the AG told the Chief Justice and took objection to senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioner in the anti-demonetisation petition, for allegedly exaggerating the situation. "It's a political attempt in the court. I have seen your (Sibal's) press conference also. You are not appearing for a political party, but for a PIL petitioner. You are turning the apex court into a political platform," Rohatgi said. CJI's remarks came after Sibal questioned the government's preparedness and said Rs 23 lakh crore notes have to be printed and 14 lakh crore worth currency was frozen as from November 8. Petitioner's counsel Kapil Sibal said the situation is serious as the cash economy is freezed "Only about nine lakh crore currency is in circulation". "What lies inside ATMs and banks are people's legitimate money and they struggle to get it. Under what law can they be stopped from withdrawing their own money? "Banks are just trustees of the money... situation is serious... cash economy is being freezed... poor people are unable to buy anything... only 75,000 out of 2 lakh ATMs are working. People in remote areas of the country don't have access to ATMs or banks,' Sibal said. AG Mukul Rohatgi told the CJI to go out in lunch time to see how people are patiently standing in queues He also claimed 47 deaths related to demonetisation. The court was hearing a plea filed by the Centre for a direction to various High Courts in the country not to admit PILs on demonetisation issue on the ground that parallel proceedings added to the chaos and confusion. But the court refused to stop the high courts from hearing the petitions, asking 'how can we shut our doors to people. People going to different courts indicate the magnitude of the problem'. The High Courts in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Mumbai, Kerala and Chennai are also hearing PILs on the issue. On November 15, the Chief Justice had refused to interfere with the Central government's decision to demonetise Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 currency notes. The CJI had only sought an affidavit as to what urgent extra measures can be taken to put an end to the severe inconvenience people faced, saying the "public should not suffer at any cost". On pointed queries as to why the exchange limit had been reduced from Rs 4,500 to Rs 2,000 and if it was on account of shortage of notes, AG Rohatgi said: 'Difficulty was not just printing part, but movement of notes to banks and post offices its transportation and calibration of ATMs...' Detailing the latest measures taken by the government to ease the cash crunch, Rohatgi said manifold enhancement of withdrawal limit was being allowed for marriages and farmers. When Neeraj Pandey's short film Ouch! premiered to wide acclaim at the recent MAMI film festival, it underlined a significant fact. Ignored for long, the short film now finds takers among Bollywood bigwigs. The genre is no longer just about budding filmmakers who struggle to find producers for full length features. Neeraj Pandey's Ouch! starring Manoj Bajpayee and Pooja Chopra is a humorous account of an extramarital affair gone wrong Like Pandey, several big names such as Farhan Akhtar, Sujoy Ghosh, Vikas Bahl and Anurag Kashyap have explored the genre in the recent years. Many other established names have expressed desire to pursue the format. Bigtime Bollywood's growing interest in short films has to do with the fact that the genre has slowly developed a viable economic model, which allows quick returns against low budget. NET BENEFIT Unlike feature films, there is no box-office business for short films. Rather, social media video sharing websites such as YouTube and Vimeo have emerged as an easy outlet. The net, in fact, has created an entire business model for the short film. Big filmmakers, who are a brand name unto themselves do not have to try hard to garner subscription. Also, suddenly corporate funding is freely available - especially from brands that cannot otherwise freely advertise on screens big and small. RAAKH: The dark revenge drama by Milap Zaveri haunts with its gripping narrative and performances by Vir Das and Shaad Randhawa Several liquor brands, for instance, are bankrolling short films these days, because it allows them to garner publicity in a medium that is outside the reach of the censors. Filmmakers who are yet to become a brand name ideally tag onto a channel with a high volume of subscription on YouTube or Vimeo, or even sell their film to such a channel. Video on demand is also emerging as a popular way to exhibit shorts, although it is a way before the idea wholly catches on. CENSOR-FREE The censors have little or no hold on the internet, and that is another huge advantage for short film directors. "I was relieved not thinking about box-office numbers, or the censors," Shirish Kunder summed up while releasing his recent short Kriti, which won rave reactions upon being uploaded on YouTube, despite the now-dismissed plagiarism charges that initially hounded it. The Thief by Vishal Bharadwaj production is directed by his son Aasmaan and is based on a short story by Ruskin Bond "We could make whatever we wanted unlike feature films, and it is out in about three months," he added, about the smooth passage that short films see. It is something that allows an intense film as Kriti or Milap Zaveri's discomfortingly dark Raakh to find viewership without being hounded by possible censor interference. FEST FORMULA Another simple way that short filmmakers are increasingly discovering to popularise their ware are film festivals. Unlike a few years ago, short films are no longer side dish to the main course of full-length features at festivals ranging from Cannes to Sundance to MAMI. There is genuine interest for the format, as Pandey's Ouch! proved at MAMI. The involvement of several big names of Bollywood has only helped. Festival participation creates a distinct advantage. If you manage to win a top prize, it makes launching one's next film an easier affair. FILMMAKER FIRST For several filmmakers big and new, short films stand as reiteration of the fact that cinema, in the end of the day, is meant to be a director's medium. The notion is pertinent because Bollywood has traditionally been domain of the stars. No matter how gifted or successful a filmmaker is, he never emerges from the shadow of the star he or she is working with. Akshat Verma, who shot to fame writing Delhi Belly, directs Aditi Rao Hydari in the role of a modern-day Draupadi in short film titled Mama's Boys Short films, with their limited budget, do not need huge stars for success. The focus, rather, is on talent and specifics of a role. In this context the movement in the right direction was really started by Sujoy Ghosh in recent times, with his last year's superhit short Ahalya. The film has garnered over 12 lakh hits since being uploaded on YouTube in December 2015, despite being in Bengali. Shirish Kunder's film Kriti is a psychological thriller and has credible acting by Manoj Bajpayee, Radhika Apte and Neha Sharma Starring Radhika Apte and Bengali thespian Soumitra Chatterjee, the film's unabated viewership since release proves language or star cast are no bar for short film success. This is a point that Pandey's Ouch! affirms, too. The film features Manoj Bajpayee (who seems to have become a favourite of short filmmakers) and Pooja Chopra. Both actors have been cast on merit rather than glamour demands. "As a filmmaker, it is important to be able to showcase your work freely," Pandey said about his short film. COMEBACK PROP Pandey's words strike a significant note especially if you consider there are many major filmmakers who have been using the short film to prove themselves after a rough patch at the theatrical box-office. Shirish Kunder's Kriti, for instance, helped the filmmaker find favour with the discerning crowd after his big screen efforts Jaan-e-Mann and Joker bombed. Although the psychological thriller Kriti faced storm when a Nepali filmmaker named Aneel Neupane claimed its idea was stolen from his film Bob, Kunder was subsequently cleared of all such charges. Similar has been the case of Milap Zaveri, who drew all-round flak for his sex comedy Mastizaade starring Sunny Leone. The film was universally panned as being cheap and tasteless, but Zaveri's recent gripping short Raakh has helped reverse all such notions. Raakh, a crisp revenge drama soaked in blood, has won the writer-director many fans. BIG POTENTIAL The trend may yet catch up in India, but in the West short films are increasingly becoming ready material for big screen scripts. One of the earliest instances was South African director Neill Blomkamp's five-minute short of 2005, Alive In Joburg, which became so popular that it let the filmmaker expand it into the full-length cult sci-fi flick District 9 four years later. Similarly, Argentinian filmmaker Andres Muschietti's three-minute short of 2008, Mama, went onto to be converted into a globally successful full-length horror feature of the same name in 2013. Last year, Adam Sandler's live action-animation comedy Pixels was based on Patrick Jean's two and- half minute short of the same name. Short filmmakers abroad have realised copyright of their works can fetch substantial amount if sold to the right feature producer. The president of the Confederation of British Industry is to tell the Prime Minister that businesses desperately need to see a plan for Brexit. CBI boss Paul Drechsler will tell Theresa May when she attends the business bodys annual conference tomorrow that companies are not asking for a running commentary. We are looking for clarity and above all a plan. Companies want to know that Britain will not close our borders to Europes talent, he will say. Many businesses fear that they will end up in a regulatory no-mans land post-Brexit, while ports, airports and logistics firms are concerned about red tape associated with new trading rules with European partners. Straight talking: CBI boss Paul Drechsler will tell Theresa May that companies are not asking for a running commentary' They would need more warehouses to store more goods on-site, and more supply roads for the vehicles waiting to deliver them. At short notice this would be impossible, Drechsler will say. The Prime Minister is set to speak after Drechsler at the conference in London tomorrow. May is expected to outline sector-by-sector priorities for the European Union exit negotiations in her address to the employers body. Drechsler will also echo Mays calls for greater employee engagement in big firms. Firms should explain in public what steps theyve taken on employee engagement and representation, he will say. He will also reiterate the CBIs calls for a binding vote on executive pay for firms which repeatedly fail to deal with shareholders concerns. Former BHS owner Dominic Chappell is struggling to keep another business interest afloat and has admitted that it is running out of cash. The serial bankrupt is the sole director at Todex Corporation, a stock market listed business based in Las Vegas. Chappell acquired the company, originally a software developer, earlier this year. Sources suggest he may have wanted to use it as a vehicle for his retail assets and to gain a fast-track listing across the Atlantic known as a reverse takeover. Warning: Dominic Chappell admits Todex Corp may run out of cash Todex filed a warning with the US stock exchange authorities last month, stating: At our current revenue and burn rate, our cash on hand will last less than one month and thus we must raise capital by issuing debt or through the sale of our stock. There is no assurance that our existing cash flow will be adequate to satisfy our existing operating expenses and capital requirements. Chappell was appointed to Todexs board in April while battling to keep control of chain store BHS, which he bought for 1 from Sir Philip Green a year earlier. The Pensions Regulator has issued enforcement notices against Chappell and Green as part of action to plug the 571 million BHS pension deficit. Nationwide, Britains biggest building society, is coming to the rescue of towns across the country that have lost their last bank branch. On Friday, the mutually owned organisation confirmed it would return banking to the high street in Glastonbury, Somerset, possibly in time for next years music festival. The move, if a success, could spark other openings in towns where banks have pulled out, leaving residents and firms without branch banking. It backs a longstanding campaign by The Mail on Sunday to keep a strong banking presence on Britains high streets. Rocked: Residents protest about the closure of the towns last banks Apart from Nationwide, only Metro Bank has made a commitment to opening rather than closing branches. Since launching its first branch in the summer of 2010, it has expanded its network to 45 with three further openings in the pipeline. Most are south of Cambridge with a heavy concentration in London. Glastonbury lost its last two banks this year despite widespread protests by locals, including festival founder Michael Eavis. He described the closure of Lloyds, the last branch in town, as absolutely outrageous. Nationwide, which has just reported half-year profits of 696 million, is now under the direction of new chief executive Joe Garner. The ex-BT Openreach boss is determined to show that, unlike rivals, it has a deep ethic of care in its DNA. He told The Mail on Sunday: The good people of Glastonbury have been crying out for a bank. We can offer them something different, a building society. He also confirmed that if the branch proves a hit, it will pave the way for openings in other communities where access to banking services has been curtailed by closures. The move by Nationwide, which has about 700 branches, is welcomed by local MP James Heappey. The Conservative MP for Wells said: I am excited about it. I hope residents respond by switching business to the society. Timely: The branch may open before the 2017 festival, organised by Michael Eavis He said the only downside was that Nationwide does not offer a current account for small firms. Retailers suffer from bank closures because of their regular need to deposit cash. The Post Office provides business banking services, but they are limited. According to statistics compiled by defunct pressure group the Campaign for Community Banking Services, more than half of branches have shut since 1990. The result is 1,500 bankless communities. Research by The Mail on Sunday in August revealed that Bank of Scotland, Halifax, HSBC and Lloyds had put 121 branches on notice of closure. Most have now gone, though details of further closures are slowly emerging. Heappey says that in recent weeks HSBC announced two closures in his constituency, earmarked for early 2017, bringing the total to 12 since he was elected in May 2015. HSBC is also shutting its branch in Goring-by-Sea, West Sussex, in February, much to the ire of Jane Cockain, who works for family-owned estate agent Curtis and Son in nearby Findon Valley. When the Goring-by-Sea branch goes, it will leave Jane with no option but to go to Worthing to bank business cheques and cash. She says: To pay a cheque in will take a good 45 minutes by car. Its as if they dont want our business. St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez (above) made his initial court appearance Friday. He shot and killed a black man in July A Minnesota police officer who shot and killed Philando Castile during a July traffic stop plans to plead not guilty, as he was released on his own recognizance following first court appearance for manslaughter charge. St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez made his initial court appearance Friday, but he did not enter a plea, which is standard. He was charged this week with second-degree manslaughter in the death of 32-year-old Philando Castile, as prosecutors said the shooting wasn't justified. Yanez was released on his own recognizance and the next hearing is set for December 19. Defense attorney Tom Kelly said Yanez's defense team is disappointed in the charges and concerned by Ramsey County Attorney John Choi's statements that no reasonable officer would have acted as Yanez did. Scroll down for video Philando Castile (left) was shot by Yanez (right) during a July 6 traffic stop in the St. Paul suburb of Falcon Heights. Yanez was charged this week with second-degree manslaughter St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez's attorney Tom Kelly (above) leaves the Ramsey County Law Enforcement Center shortly after Yanez's first appearance in court on Friday 'We find those comments to be unnecessary beyond the scope of the criminal complaint and unfairly prejudicial,' Kelly said. When asked if defense attorneys would seek to move the case to another jurisdiction, he said it was too early to tell. Yanez, 28, had been with the St. Anthony Police Department for four years. Kelly declined to discuss the facts of the case, saying the matter should now be resolved through the judicial process. He said the situation has been stressful but Yanez is 'a very strong individual with a good moral compass and he's holding up.' Margaret Brooks, left, consoles Nakia Wilson, first cousin of Philando Castile, after she left the courtroom Friday. Wilson said she attended the hearing because she wanted to see the face of the person who killed her cousin Supporters of Yanez attended the hearing, as some of Castile's family members also were in the courtroom on Friday. Nakia Wilson said she attended the hearing because she wanted to see the face of the person who killed her cousin. She said she was nervous and sad, and had difficulty describing how she felt after seeing Yanez. 'I just want justice served for my cousin,' she said. Tyrone Terrill, president of the African American Leadership Council, a community group in St. Paul, said Castile's death was senseless. 'We were out there 30 minutes after he was shot. And to see the mental anguish and pain in our community I've seen grown men crying like I've never ever seen before,' he said. 'To see the pain and for no reason.' Terrill, who also attended the hearing, commended prosecutors for bringing charges and said he wants to see Yanez behind bars. 'He did not value Philando's humanity,' Terrill said. Castile was shot during a July 6 traffic stop in the St. Paul suburb of Falcon Heights after he told Yanez, who is Latino, he had a gun and a license to carry. Castile's girlfriend streamed his final gruesome moments live on Facebook. If Yanez is convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. A 21-year-old from suburban Chicago has been jailed for three years for trying to go to Syria to join the Islamic State. Mohammed Hamzah Khan, who could have faced up to 15 years in prison, was arrested at a Chicago airport in 2014 when he was just 19. With time served since his arrest, Khan will be released from jail late next year. Standing in orange jail garb - his mother and father on a nearby spectator's bench - Khan showed little emotion during Friday's sentencing hearing in Chicago. Mohammed Hamzah Khan, 21, was jailed for just over three years after he was arrested at a Chicago airport two years ago trying to flee to Syria to join the Islamic State. Federal judge John Tharp said the case highlighted the quandary of dealing with impressionable young Muslims in the U.S. who fall under the sway of the militant group's online recruiters. Tharp said he couldn't reconcile Khan's desire to join IS as a 19-year-old with portrayals by family and friends of him as caring and quick to help others. The judge's explanation was that Khan had led a 'sheltered' existence at his parents' home in Bolingbrook and so was 'vulnerable to being preyed on by terrorists.' 'The real issue here is risk: What is the risk that you pose to the public?' he said. Tharp said he couldn't gauge Khan's sincerity about now rejecting IS, but he agreed that counseling and education to broaden his world view is what Kahn needs most. A long prison term, the judge said, could make Khan more, not less dangerous, and wouldn't ensure he never looked to a terrorist group again. 'This isn't what our prison system was made to do,' Tharp added. Mohammed Hamzah Khan, (pictured in his passport photo) who could have faced up to 15 years in prison, was arrested at a Chicago airport in 2014 when he was just 19 Shafi Khan, (right) father of Mohammed Hamzah Khan, talks to reporters as he and his wife, Zarine (left) depart the federal courthouse after a judge sentenced their son on Friday Prosecutors had asked for a five-year sentence, saying Khan's cooperation in identifying two IS recruiters justified leniency. The defense had asked for the sentence Judge John Tharp ended up imposing. Kahn will also be subject to an exceptionally long 20 years of close monitoring that prosecutors characterized as among the strictest ever in the district. The 21-year-old's attorneys say he intends to enroll in college once he is released. Defense lawyer Thomas Durkin had argued that individuals such as Khan should not be written off without a second chance for succumbing to adept IS propagandists who wooed them over the internet. 'Do we give in to the fear that we cannot trust that this kid will ever change?' Durkin said. 'I think he deserves a chance.' Agents detained Khan with two younger siblings as they tried to board a plane at O'Hare International Airport. Agents detained Khan with two younger siblings as they tried to board a plane at O'Hare International Airport in 2014. He was accused of helping to indoctrinate his brother and sister Zarine Khan (left) and her husband Shafi (middle), parents of Mohammed Hamzah Khan, listen to attorney Thomas Durkin after their son was sentenced to just over three years in prison Prosecutors say Khan helped indoctrinate his brother and sister, who also aspired to live in Islamic State, though they were never charged. Khan left a letter before leaving for O'Hare expressing anger over U.S.-backed bombing of IS. Khan's mother, Zarine Khan, told reporters last year that IS had brainwashed her son. And she added about Islamic State: 'Leave our children alone!' Tharp said he couldn't accept that Khan's hope was to get a non-military job in Syria, saying the Islamic State would surely press any young man into fighting. 'I don't believe for a second... that you would go to Syria and work as a chef,' he said. Defense attorneys argued Khan now grasped that his ideas about IS were 'unrealistic' and that he no longer glorified its trademark brutality. Before adjourning, the judge contrasted the image of brutal executions in IS-controlled territory against Khan's treatment in Chicago federal court. A school bus crash in Tennessee has left 23 students in hospital and two in a critical condition after it crashed and rolled on an interstate off-ramp. The bus, which was carrying 43 students, crashed as it left Nashville's Interstate 65 northbound on Friday at 10.45 a.m when the driver lost control. Among those injured was a 17-year-old with a broken collarbone and two other students suffered arm injuries. Two of those who were injured were in a serious but stable condition in hospital, according to the Metro Nashville Fire Department. Twenty-three students were hospitalized after a Tennessee school bus crashed and rolled over on Nashville's Interstate 65 off-ramp on Friday morning Two of those who were injured were in a serious but stable condition in hospital Twenty three students were rushed to hospital in ambulances, while a further 20 were taken by bus as a precaution. 'A fast, coordinated response to a school bus crash today likely saved lives,' Brian Haas of the fire department said. 'Our team immediately declared it a mass casualty incident, alerting local hospitals that they could have a flood of patients. 'Two teens were critically injured in this crash, but fortunately none of the injuries appeared to have been life threatening. Both were on their way to the hospital within a few minutes of our arrival.' The bus crashed and flipped as it left Nashville's Interstate 65 northbound on Friday at 10.45 a.m when the driver lost control Among those injured was a 17-year-old with a broken collarbone and two other students suffered arm injuries Twenty three students were taken to hospital via ambulance and a further 20 were taken by bus as a precaution 'Especially when children are involved in a crash, we err on the side of caution. We get them to the hospital, make sure everything is OK.' Metropolitan Nashville Police Department spokesman Don Aaron said 43 students were on the bus, along with two chaperones and the driver. The bus was one of three headed from Chester County in western Tennessee to an academic and community service convention at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville at the time. Aaron said the bus has been in service for a year. The driver told police she had trouble steering and felt wind on the bus when she drove off the interstate. A total of 23 students were taken to hospital via ambulance following the crash Metropolitan Nashville Police Department spokesman Don Aaron said 43 students were on the bus, along with two chaperones and the driver Paul Warren has travelled to South Africa to retrieve his daughter's body The father of Melbourne woman Elly Warren is convinced his daughter was suffocated to death before she was found dead in a toilet block in Mozambique. Ms Warren, 20, was on a diving trip in Africa when her body was discovered in the toilet block near a market on Tofo Beach on November 9. She was due to fly home from the volunteer marine conservation trip the week she was killed. Scroll down for video The father of Elly Warren, 20, found dead in Mozambique says she was murdered by suffocation Her family was informed she was murdered but Mozambique police told Australian media her body did not show any signs of violence. Ms Warren's father, Paul, has now issued a statement saying his daughter was murdered. 'I have come to South Africa to bring my beautiful daughter, Elly, home,' Mr Warren said. 'Based on the facts I now know, I am absolutely certain that my daughter has been murdered by suffocation.' He asked for the media to respect the family's privacy as they bring Ms Warren home. Mr Warren thanked the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australian High Commission in Pretoria for keeping the family up to date with the facts connected to his daughter's death, and for their support. Paul Warren has travelled to South Africa to bring his daughter's body back to Australia Her body was found in a toilet block near a market on Tofo Beach on November 9 DFAT has said it is liaising with authorities in Mozambique who are responsible for investigating Ms Warren's death. It has been reported police in Mozambique said there were no signs of violence. 'She didn't have a scratch, didn't have a bruise on her indicating there was violence or rape,' police spokesman Detective Dauto told The Age. The community was reportedly shocked and said such an incident had never happened in the area before, The Age said. The 20-year-old was on a surfing trip and was due to return home the week she was murdered Friends have since paid tribute to the young Melbourne woman on social media A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help the Warren family with Ms Warren's funeral costs A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help the Warren family with Ms Warren's funeral costs. A friend of Ms Warren paid tribute to her on Facebook, writing that she was 'a beautiful girl with so much drive'. 'The most selfless, dedicated and passionate soul has been taken from us,' Luke Martello wrote on November 10. 'Everyone that knew Elly knows the incredible, breathtaking energy she had, which makes it so hard to believe that anything could stop it.' Rogue firms are to be banned from using cold calling to sell rip-off pension investments. In a major victory for the Daily Mail, new laws will threaten offenders with fines of up to 500,000. Pension firms will also be given powers to block outward transfers if they suspect a client is being cheated. Rogue firms are to be banned from using cold calling to sell rip-off pension investments. Nick Sayer, director of B2C Data, (pictured) boasted he had access to the investments and pension pots of a million people The crackdown from Chancellor Philip Hammond comes after the Mail revealed almost 11million pensioners are targeted by unscrupulous cold callers every year. Savers reported estimated losses of almost 19million to such scams in the 12 months to March. Under the new regime, all calls where a business has no existing relationship with an individual will be forbidden. This includes scammers targeting those who inadvertently opt in to receiving third-party communications. There is no way to stop fraudsters making unsolicited calls to the elderly. But it is hoped those receiving calls will hang up in the knowledge that they are being contacted illegally. The rules will be enforced by the Information Commissioners Office. Chancellor Philip Hammond also wants to make it harder to set up fraudulent pension schemes The Chancellor also wants to make it harder to set up fraudulent pension schemes. A Treasury official said: Research shows that scammers could be behind as many as one in ten pension transfer requests and the new framework will cut off scams at the source. 'With signs that pension fraud is on the increase, the Chancellor believes that introducing hard-hitting changes to stop scams before they occur is more important than ever. Campaigners say fraud has risen since George Osborne introduced freedoms in April 2015 allowing over-55s to withdraw thousands of pounds from their pensions pots. The scheme provides an alternative to buying an annuity on retirement many of which deliver poor financial returns. However there is mounting alarm that fraudsters are using the freedoms to trick people into parting with their life savings, most commonly by cold calling them with offers of once in a lifetime investment opportunities. In many cases the investment turns out to be non-existent and victims lose all or a significant proportion of their retirement savings. At least 2,000 frauds have been reported to the police. FUND GIANTS RAKE OFF 5BILLION FROM CHARGES Investment firms make 5billion a year from ripping off more than 11million investors with hidden fees on pensions and Isas, a report shows. The Financial Conduct Authority revealed that 14 of Britains biggest fund firms were raking in charges of more than 13billion. On this money they were making a profit of 5billion. Their average profit margin of 36 per cent is much higher than most businesses would expect. The FCA also found savers did not understand where their money was invested, or whether the fund was doing well. The investigation said there was hardly any competition among the fund giants, meaning that investors were left paying high charges without their knowledge. Frequently, the costs did not lead to bigger returns for the saver, the FCA found. Investment firms were accused of using disguised charges and leaving savers languishing in expensive funds. In the worst cases someone who invested 20,000 in the highest charging fund over 20 years would be 14,439 worse off than if they had put their money into a cheaper option. James Daley, founder of the consumer website Fairer Finance, said: Fund managers have been on a gravy train for years, getting paid enormous amounts of money despite performing dismally. It must be one of the only markets where you dont have to be any good at your job to get rich. Its about time something was done to clamp down on this industry. Around 10million individuals use an investment fund to save for their pension, and around 11million use funds for private saving and Isas. Chris Cummings, of trade body the Investment Association, said fund management firms had already taken significant steps to clean up the industry. He said the association would examine the FCAs proposals for restructured fees. Advertisement A Daily Mail investigation found that private and highly sensitive details of the pension pots of millions of people were being sold to unscrupulous cold-calling firms. Nick Sayer, director of one firm, B2C Data, boasted he had access to the investments and pension pots of a million people information that would be a godsend to scammers looking to target those planning to unlock their cash. Baroness Altmann, a former pensions minister, said: Its so important to help people before they have been scammed. Once they have been scammed you dont get the money back. Lawyers are claiming damages for alleged victims of child sex abuse they have not met. Some solicitors are even representing people who have never made a police statement let alone seen their tormentors convicted. A number of specialist 'abuse claims' solicitors are also touting for business in a newspaper aimed at prisoners. Critics say pursuing clients in prisons can encourage dubious claims but law firms insist many abuse victims turn to crime as a result of their suffering. A report by retired High Court judge Sir Richard Henriques, above, said famous people were vulnerable to 'compensation-seekers' and 'attention-seekers' The controversy came to light days after a report by retired High Court judge Sir Richard Henriques said famous people were vulnerable to 'compensation-seekers' and 'attention-seekers'. The latest revelations came in letters from a firm representing a number of men seeking damages from the 2 million estate of the late Labour peer, Greville Janner. At the time of his death in December, Lord Janner, 87, was facing a trial on 22 charges involving 13 alleged victims of historical child sexual abuse. In January, an independent report also written by Sir Richard blasted police and prosecutors, saying the peer should have been charged in 2007 with sexually assaulting three complainants. His family insist he is innocent. Since his death, the number of compensation claims made against the Janner estate has soared to 33. Claims of historical child sex abuse are being investigated under Operation Midland, which was triggered by a fantasist known as 'Nick' who falsely claimed to have witnessed three murders by an Establishment paedophile ring. The Daily Mail can reveal that in five 'letters of claims' to the Janner estate, sent since June, law firm Slater and Gordon accepts it has not met the claimants. In one it said it had been instructed to act on behalf of a man who alleges he was sexually assaulted by Lord Janner 'in or about 1979'. NOW SURVIVORS' GROUP QUITS INQUIRY 'CIRCUS' Professor Alexis Jay took over as chair of the child sex abuse inquiry after the resignation of Lowell Goddard One of the main victims' groups at the troubled historical child abuse inquiry branded the probe an 'unpalatable circus' as it formally withdrew yesterday. The Shirley Oaks Survivors Association called on panel members to resign 'for the sake of all those children who were abused'. The group's broadside prompted demands for another change at the top of the inquiry, already on its fourth chairman. Senior Labour MP Chuka Umunna said he did not have confidence in Professor Alexis Jay as the latest chair of the inquiry. A former senior lawyer at the probe Hugh Davies QC is said to have written a critique of its conduct through recent scandals, including disputed claims of a sex assault by its former lead counsel Ben Emmerson QC, who 'categorically' denies the allegations. Sosa, which represents 600 victims of abuse at children's homes run by Lambeth Council in South London, said: 'Now our members do not have to relive their worst nightmares in this stage-managed event which has now been contrived in such a way that it enables the guilty to wash their dirty hands, while the Establishment pats itself on the back.' The group said it feared Professor Jay was an 'uninspiring leader' and it does not believe she is the right person to uncover the truth behind allegations of historical abuse. Advertisement The firm wrote: 'We have not been able to meet personally with our client, who is an inmate.' It added: 'There is no police statement'. In some other cases, the firm says it is basing the damages claims on police interviews and statements. Lord Janner's son said families would not be bullied into settling cases Lord Janner's son Daniel Janner QC said: 'Even small families like mine, under attack, know what they are up to and will not be bullied into settling cases.' Slater and Gordon stressed it is 'not acting in any proceedings relating to Operation Midland'. A spokesman added that it has 'examined the evidence available to us in detail and discussed it at length with our clients.' The Mail can reveal that a number of law firms, although not Slater and Gordon, are advertising in Inside Time, the newspaper for the prison population. They include Jordans Solicitors of Dewsbury, Yorkshire. Partner Christine Sands said the firm recognises that 'a significant number of prisoners may have suffered from child sexual abuse'. Another law firm that advertises in the paper is Simpson Millar in Stockport. Partner Peter Garsden said: 'Statistics say that the vast majority of victims that come forward make truthful allegations.' Chris Saltrese, a lawyer who specialises in defending people falsely accused of sex offences, said: 'The Crown Prosecution Service and the police have made idiotic pronouncements that 'victims will be believed'. This has undoubtedly increased the flow of false allegations.' He was part of a group of three men who A female police officer has suffered a broken arm while she was arresting a man involved in a home invasion. A man, 25, was assaulted by four males armed with iron bars in the courtyard of his Petersham home, in Sydney's inner-west, at 12.30am on Saturday. The victim was able to run to his unit, but the men, aged 18, 19 and two 20-year-olds, force entry into the home and damage property before fleeing the scene. Scroll down for video A female from the traffic and highway patrol command located and arrested the fourth male involved in a home invasion in Petersham Police were able to arrested the three other men involved in the home invasion and attack on Gordon street Police lead foot pursuit of the men and three were arrested on Gordon street. Meanwhile, officers from the traffic and highway patrol command located and arrested the fourth male on Trafalgar street. The female officer assisting in the Trafalgar street arrest, sustained a broken arm. She was taken to The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and is undergoing surgery. The men were charged with aggravated break and enter, malicious damage and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The 19-year-old received additional charges of resisting police and assault occasioning grievous bodily harm. The group was refused bail and will appear at Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday. The officer was taken to The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and is undergoing surgery for her broken arm Matthew Hemphill witnessed the invasion and was himself attacked by the men, he told 9News that he was 'whacked' across the head with the metal bar causing him to fall on the floor. 'I started trying to punch him, trying to get away, they were trying to pull me in and I ran inside my door,' Mr Hemphill said. 'I definitely think they were trying to kill me, cause they were trying to stab me. He hit me in the eye with a metal bar as hard as he could. I mean you'd kill somebody doing that, you know,' he added. Meanwhile, in Glebe two female officers were attacked while arresting a 35-year-old man regarding a domestic incident. As they attempted to handcuff the man, he violently resisted and struck one of the female officers on the face twice with a closed fist. A 42-year-old male member of the public who was helping the officers with the arrest was tackled to the ground and received facial injuries. Additional officers were called to the scene to arrest the man. Barely a year ago, a carefree teenage girl was leading a normal life she loved reading, solving maths problems, listening to music and making her friends laugh. Her teachers described her as bright, intelligent, happy and friendly. To her friends, she was caring, bubbly and fun-loving. Her parents adored her. But in August 2015, she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and, month by month, week by week, her hopes of a long and happy life faltered and faded. The cryostat tanks inside the Cryonics Institute in Michigan where the British girl's body is being stored Three months ago, they were finally extinguished. After extensive in-patient treatment at a London hospital, she was told the illness was terminal and nothing more could be done. She was 14 years old. She knew she would never make it to her GCSEs, let alone university. She would never travel the world. She would never marry and have children. Her life was now measured in weeks and months, not decades. I am only 14 years old and I dont want to die, but I know I am going to die, she said. But instead of weeping in despair, she tried to be positive and began to research cryonic preservation, in the hope her body could be frozen until a cure could be found. As a result, she started looking forward again, but this time to a future beyond death. Her family and friends horrified by the thought of the untested and gruesome world of cryonics did their best to dissuade her. Her father, particularly, was appalled. Yesterday, looking worn and bowed, he gave the Mail his own bleak verdict on this tragic story and the family schism it caused. Most devastating of all, he revealed an awful parallel of his own to his daughters suffering he, too, has cancer. State of the art: An artists' impression of how the cryogenic capsules could look in the future To make things worse, he didnt get the chance to say goodbye to his daughter before she died on October 17 and had not seen her since 2007 because he is so bitterly estranged from her mother. As a result of her mothers hatred causing all this sadness between me and my daughter she died in the end without me being able to see her. Its so sad, the grieving man said yesterday, struggling to control his emotions as he spoke through an interpreter. We came to the end of the road after my child passed away, what is there left to say? he said. Its all ended, its finished. I am very sad about it. Im suffering from cancer myself. Judge Mr Justice Jackson made the decision to allow the girl's wishes to be granted upon her death and be cryogenically frozen Having set her heart on cryonics, the girl pressed on with dogged determination, scouring the internet, discussing what to do with her school mates. They weighed up the pros and cons of the three companies in the world (two in America and one in Russia) that store frozen bodies. Her school friends were so moved by her plight that they have since set up a Just Giving page to raise money for the Bone Cancer Research Trust. In the end, the girl, who for legal reasons can be described only as JS, chose the 37,000 most basic arrangement offered by the Cryonics Institute in America and contacted Cryonics UK, a non-profit volunteer organisation that offers the countrys only preparation service. There was no way her family could afford the fees. But then her maternal grandparents stepped in and raised the money. But that was just the first hurdle for JS. She was only 14 far too young to make a legally recognised will and she needed the permission of both parents to go ahead. This is where her story becomes still sadder. Having split in 2001 when she was a baby there was no united front at home. No parents standing shoulder to shoulder determined to protect her from false hopes. Indeed, they have spent much time over recent years battling with each other through the courts. According to her father, who last saw her when she was five: Her mother didnt allow me to have contact with my daughter. Ive ended up in court on ten occasions in an effort to see her. In 2002 our paths separated. Since then Ive been trying very hard to have contact with her through courts. I was able to see her in 2005 for about a year and a half. The last time I saw her was in 2007. The reason for this is purely her mothers doing. She said, No way, full stop, he says. And he adds: Its so sad, but my daughter didnt even know about the court proceedings. Offering hope: An employee at the Cryonics Institute in the US shows the reality of what being frozen looks like Inevitably, while engaged in legal battles with each other on other issues, her parents disagreed fiercely about their daughters decision to have her body cryogenically frozen her mother supporting her decision and her father vehemently objecting. When JS contacted him and asked him for permission, he refused point blank. Despite suffering from cancer himself, he was horrified by the moral, ethical and future financial implications of using cryonics and saw it as a lose-lose proposition that would not work and put the family through unnecessary distress and expense. Even if the treatment is successful and she is brought back to life in, lets say, 200 years, she may not find any relative and she might not remember things, he wrote in a legal document. She may be left in a desperate situation given that she is still only 14 years old and will be in the United States of America [where her body was to be stored]. But JS was prepared to make that leap of faith and do anything to make it happen. So she asked lawyer Zoe Fleetwood to begin proceedings in the Family Division of the High Court, applying for a ruling that her mother be the only person allowed to make decisions about the disposal of her body. By this stage, she was far too ill to get out of bed, let alone attend court. Instead, she wrote a moving letter explaining her request, and the reasons behind it, to Mr Justice Peter Jackson. It said: I think being cryo-preserved gives me a chance to be cured and woken up, even in hundreds of years time. I dont want to be buried underground. I want to live and live longer and I think that in the future they might find a cure for my cancer and wake me up. I want to have this chance. This is my wish. Application: The girl's lawyer Zoe Fleetwood said the court ruling had given the child great comfort as she lay dying Miss Fleetwood said the court ruling had given the child great comfort as she lay dying. To those of us who dont, thankfully, suffer from a terminal disease, cryogenic company websites look like something from a bad science fiction film. They offer an ambulance ride to the high-tech hospital of the future beyond the limitations of current medical science. Visitors are invited to imagine a world free of disease, death and ageing effectively the prospect of immortality. They make statements such as: The choice is yours do you take the chance at life?, give detailed explanations of the freezing process, promise that a revival is a real possibility, but are careful to offer no guarantees that anyone will eventually be brought back to life. The website for The Cryonics Institute in Michigan, where JSs body now lies suspended in freezing liquid nitrogen, is full of futuristic graphics and scientific explanations and offers a vision of the future in which death is no longer a permanent state. In their eyes, no one is actually dead at all, simply cryo-preserved. The site says: At the Cryonics Institute, we believe that day is inevitably coming and cryonics is presently our best chance of getting there. It adds: When present medical science has given up on you or your loved ones, we seek another solution. Utter claptrap? Undoubtedly. But to a terminally-ill 14-year-old girl with weeks to live, with a fractured family and a sorry lack of adult role models, it was undeniably attractive. It also presented an unprecedented case for any judge. While Mr Justice Jackson sympathised with her fathers misgivings, his duty wasnt to assess the merits or otherwise of cryogenic preservation, but a dying girls right and capability to opt for it. And so, on October 6, convinced she was a bright, intelligent, valiant young person with the mental capacity to bring the application, he ordered in her favour and granted an injunction preventing her father from attempting other arrangements for the disposal of her daughters body. The next day he visited her in hospital to bring the news she craved. She was thrilled. She started calling the judge my hero Peter Jackson! and told a relative: Im dying, but Im going to come back again in 200 years. Even her father, once so strongly opposed to her court application, backed down saying: I respect the decisions she is making. This is the last and only thing she has asked of me. So now, finally, JS was able to face her last days in peace, knowing that she might be granted a chance however small at further life. She died on October 17. The Cryonics Institute in Michigan, pictured, where JSs body now lies suspended in freezing liquid nitrogen A week later, as the Just Giving page set up in her memory raced towards its target of 1,000, her body was packed into a metal crate, loaded on to a plane bound for Michigan. There, it was placed into a vat of liquid nitrogen next to 142 other bodies and assorted dead pets, just as she had wanted. But sadly, this story does not ~ end there.It was revealed this week, when reporting restrictions were lifted, that JS did not have the peaceful death shed hoped for. Indeed, her deathbed was something of a circus. The UK cryogenics volunteers were allegedly under-equipped, disorganised and inexperienced. They apparently upset hospital staff and normal procedures as they rushed to replace JSs blood with antifreeze and cool her body to -70C. Her grieving father, meanwhile, was not allowed anywhere near her. But worst of all, throughout this period, JSs mother was apparently so busy fretting about the logistics and mechanics of the freezing process that she wasnt able to properly focus on her dying daughter during her final moments. It is a truly a desperately sad and sorry tale. Particularly because JS was clearly an extraordinary girl who, despite all the troubles she suffered terminal cancer, a broken family with feuding parents and an extraordinary legal battle she remained positive right up to the end, joking and laughing with friends, reminiscing about her days in school and inspiring so many others during her short, blighted life. It is quite understandable that she needed that shred of hope for the next life, however flimsy, to give her the courage to die. Volunteer: Tim Gibson, pictured, a letting agent and windsurfing enthusiast, leads Cryonics UKs emergency volunteer standby team The schoolgirls journey from an English hospital to a cryogenic storage unit on a bleak industrial estate in Michigan in Americas Midwest has been a fraught one. Around 90 people are members of Cryonics UK, ready to be shipped out to the US or Russia for cryonic storage when they die. Now the British teenager, known as JS, has joined their number thanks to a team of UK amateurs led by a letting agent from Sheffield. Members cover their costs of between 15,000 to 27,000 with life insurance, which can be had for as little as 50p a day, according to the charitys website. And the head of the UKs Cryonics movement, who assists in their transfer from hospital to cryogenic vat, is an unlikely medical visionary. Tim Gibson, a letting agent and windsurfing enthusiast, leads Cryonics UKs emergency volunteer standby team. Mr Gibson yesterday told the Daily Mail that, far from being cranks, his group are IT people, engineers, landlords, adding: People say were stupid but its populated by scientists and intelligent people. The groups attempts to carry out procedures on JSs body, however, went far from smoothly. In his ruling, Mr Justice Peter Jackson said medical staff at the hospital where she died found Cryonics UK were under-equipped and disorganised. The way the process was handled caused real concern to the medical and mortuary staff. However, Mr Gibson said his volunteers gave the 14-year-old the best chance of success. Resting place: The Cryonics Institute building in Michigan, where they girl's body has been preserved He added: Without us, the best she could have hoped for would be relying on a funeral director to pack her in dry ice and send her to America. Equipped with a second-hand ambulance, his part-time band of volunteers have been described as the Dads Army of British cryonics. When one of their members dies, they rush to the scene. They then carry out procedures on the body, including syringing out bodily fluids and injecting anti-freeze, and packing the body in dry ice for transportation. With the aid of a firm of undertakers, Cryonics UK then escorted JSs body out to an industrial estate in Clinton Township, Michigan. JUDGE CALLS FOR A NEW LAW TO CLOSE LOOPHOLE The case has highlighted the fact Britain has no regulations to cover cryonic preservation. This is because no one thought they might be needed, according to the judge who heard the dispute. The main law governing what happens to human remains that are not buried or cremated is the 2004 Human Tissue Act. This was brought in by Tony Blairs government after a series of scandals, including the retention of childrens organs at Alder Hey Childrens Hospital and flawed heart surgery on youngsters at Bristol Royal Infirmary. The act set up the Human Tissue Authority, which now regulates the removal, storage and use of human tissue. But it has no power to regulate the preparation and storage of bodies for cryonic preservation. The judge, Mr Justice Peter Jackson, called for a new law to prevent abuse of those whose bodies are frozen. What is proposed in this case is not regulated by the statute. It is thought that the present situation was not contemplated when the legislation was passed, he said. Advertisement The schoolgirls resting place for what could be the next two centuries is a far cry from a sleek vision of the future. The Cryonics Institute is a low concrete building on a drab industrial estate in the suburbs of Detroit. Its bland surroundings give no hint that dozens of bodies are held frozen inside in the hope that they will one day be reanimated. When the Mail visited yesterday, just one person was believed to be on duty at the facility, which is home to 140-plus people and 100 pets cats, dogs and some birds being kept at -196C (-321F) in giant vats. Life in deep freeze is anonymous. Inside the facility, there are no names on the tanks where clients are stored. Each 10ft high vat just says: Cryonics: Technology for life on the outside. Visiting family members have to ask a staff member to look up which one is their relative in the company records. Dennis Kowalski, the president of the Cryonics Institute, said relatives have in the past left flowers at the tank which holds their loved one. Mr Kowalski, speaking from his home, said each client has a file that is held in the office and family members can put personal effects in there, which they can pull out and look at when they visit. There is also a room similar to that found in a funeral home where visitors can look at photos of their loved one, or play videos of them on a supplied TV. He added: We have tried to soften the approach a little... we tried to make it like visiting someone at a cemetery. Mr Kowalski said the institute has a handful of paid employees but, like all the other directors, he does not receive a salary. His full-time job is as a paramedic in Wisconsin, a five-hour drive away, while other directors are lawyers and doctors. Defending the work of the Cryonics Institute, he said: People imagine that we are promising false hope but we are very explicit about what your chances are. We are approaching it like a science experiment - you dont know whats possible until you try. Idealists or charlatans deserving contempt? JOHN NAISH on the volunteers who have frozen a teenage girl Tim Gibson, 45, a student accommodation landlord from Sheffield, wants to live for ever. With his second-hand ambulance and amateur team of volunteers, he is on standby to help others across Britain to become immortal as well by freezing their freshly dead corpses in the hope that in the far-off future medical science will be able to revive them. Cryonics is unregulated here because no mention of freezing bodies is made in the Human Tissue Act 2004. Pictured is the Cryonics Institute in Michigan Gibson is a leading member of Cryonics UK. Sceptical experts dismiss the entire practice as cruel and costly charlatanism. But who can win an argument about the unforeseeable future? The flash-freeze team at Cryonics UK are happy to imagine tomorrows world as a wonderful Land of Oz where their outlandish hopes will come true. The volunteers have no medical qualifications. Gibsons training involved just a fortnights preparation at The Alcor Life Extension Foundation in Scottsville, Arizona, an organisation which terms itself the world leader in cryonics. He also spent some weekends learning updates. Yet the procedures they follow when preparing bodies for long-term storage in the United States seem dauntingly technical as well as gory. Some 126 people are signed up to the programme in the UK. Gibsons team has already processed ten. Their first job is always to convince hospital authorities that what they are doing is legal. Cryonics is unregulated here because no mention of freezing bodies is made in the Human Tissue Act 2004. Which means that once a death certificate is issued, the volunteers can get to work, provided the family of the deceased authorises it. The corpse is then put into dry ice. It takes 12 hours to lower it to -25C; another three to four weeks to get to -70C. The cadaver can then be flown for long-term storage in the US, pictured Outside London the hospitals are co-operative. In London they seem very stressed and worried about being sued, so they can be difficult, Gibson says. Buying a used ambulance has helped, he adds. Its much easier to park outside a hospital if youve got a big yellow vehicle with stripes down the side. Nevertheless, the hospital where JS was cryo-preserved has reportedly said that medical and mortuary staff were concerned about Cryonics UKs treatment of the teenagers body and accused it of being under-equipped and disorganised. Gibson disputes this. As soon as the client has been declared dead, his team begins its Frankenstein task by putting the body on a cardiac support machine to keep the heart pumping. They also inject a cocktail of stabilising drugs into the veins to forestall physical deterioration. Then they start cooling the cadaver in an ice bath. It takes between two and three hours to bring their body temperature down to 10C, where we can wash out their blood, Gibson says. They replace the blood by injecting what he terms medical-grade anti-freeze along with chemicals that remove water from the corpses cells. The process, which takes a further three to four hours, aims to prevent ice crystals forming. Spiky ice shards destroy human cells. The corpse is then put into dry ice. It takes 12 hours to lower it to -25C; another three to four weeks to get to -70C. The cadaver can then be flown for long-term storage in the US. But what happens next to these immortality-seeking frozen humans? Only the future can tell, of course. And that, as cryonics protagonists point out, could be hundreds or thousands of years away. But todays science indicates that all those who have been frozen will almost certainly never be roused. The limitations of current freezing techniques mean their long years of waiting appear in vain, because their brains would be beyond repair. Dr Arthur Caplan, a bioethicist at New York University, warns: I just dont think that what were able to do right now to preserve the brain is good enough to ever bring it back to life. No matter how smart scientists are in the future, you cant change mush into a functional brain. Over the past two years, advances in brain-freezing techniques have begun to nudge the scientific line but only from impossible towards almost entirely improbable The team at Alcor acknowledge this. They recently placed listening devices on the brains of clients cooling to -196 C when placed into liquid nitrogen. They heard sounds that indicate that tissue was fracturing. Thats damage happening, Aaron Drake, Alcors medical response director, told New Scientist in July. The Alcor scientists think they have a fix, which involves storing peoples brains at less-freezing temperatures. Its the brains that count nowadays, say the enthusiasts. Why drag your dead body into the future when its your mind, your memories, your personality that count? But can a frozen brain ever be revived? And if so, would it remember anything or just be a psychotically addled blank? Over the past two years, advances in brain-freezing techniques have begun to nudge the scientific line but only from impossible towards almost entirely improbable. The only cryogenic medical successes in the human world so far have been with tiny samples, such as frozen ovarian tissue removed from female cancer patients undergoing ovary-destroying chemotherapy. When the tissue was returned to the womens bodies, they were able to have babies. Mammal brains are a much larger and infinitely more complex challenge. But in February Robert McIntyre a scientist at the US cryonics research company 21st Century Medicine used a new technique to freeze a rabbits brain in a way that effectively turned it into glass. The Cryonics Institute in Clinton Township, Michigan, where the girl's body is being stored Using new forms of anti-freeze and preservatives, he was able to freeze the brain in a process called vitrification. This completely stops its molecules from moving, and its hoped that by doing so, it preserves the last moment when a persons mind, memories and personality existed. When the rabbit brain was sliced into tiny sections, examiners pronounced it perfectly preserved. McIntyres team is now working to do the same trick with a pigs brain, similar in size to a humans. But what use is a glass brain? You cant bring it back to life. As McIntyre acknowledges: My process is like soaking a book in epoxy resin and hardening it into a solid block. Youre never going to open the book again. Michael Hendricks, a neuroscientist at McGill University in Montreal, is a fierce critic of cryogenics. Earlier this year, in an article in the respected journal, MIT Technology Review, he pointed out that even scientists working to computer-simulate the brain of a small roundworm have found the task impossible. Hendricks says brains will always remain too complex. This is not least because they function using an immeasurable miasma of chemicals that constantly interact with neurons. Simply creating a working model of neuron connections will never recreate even the most simple of brains. A brave 13-year-old girl is speaking out for the first time after she was allegedly sexually assaulted while flying as an unaccompanied minor last June on an American Airlines flight. Mackenzie Miller and her mother, Rachel Miller, sat down with Inside Edition to discuss the horrific incident that reportedly occurred on a flight from Dallas, Texas, to Portland, Oregon in June. Rachel said she paid extra money for the airlines' Unaccompanied Minor Program that is designed to keep young passengers safe who are traveling without adult supervision or a parent, so that she wouldn't have to worry about her daughter being alone on the flight. 'From the beginning of the flight to when they found her crying - tears coming down her cheek and the man's hand in her crotch area - was approximately 30 minutes,' the family's lawyer, Brent Goodfellow, told Inside Edition. 'It was a horrible event for this young girl.' Scroll down for video Mackenzie Miller (left), 13, claims she was sexually abused by Chad C. Camp (right), 26, while on an American Airlines flight from Dallas, Texas to Portland, Oregon in June Police arrested Camp as soon as the plane landed in Portland. The family has filed a lawsuit against the airline seeking $10million in damages As soon as the plane landed, Chad Camp, 26, was arrested and charged with abusive sexual contact. He has pleaded not guilty. 'I would never think this would happen,' Mackenzie said. 'You see this stuff and you think, 'That's crazy,' and it happens to you, and it's just shocking.' The girl's mother not only agrees, but is also upset about what her child went through on the flight as she paid an extra $150 to ensure her daughter would be safe. 'You put your child in these people's hands and you promise them that they're going to be safe,' her mother Rachel told Inside Edition. 'You're not flying with them, but you're paying extra for somebody just to watch them and then it just all goes wrong. 'He was able to touch her. He was basically able to do whatever he wanted.' The family has filed a lawsuit against the airline seeking $10million in damages. When he boarded the plane last year, Camp - who had already consumed four drinks - was mumbling to himself and swearing near the girl, the lawsuit seen by Daily Mail Online claims. He has pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of abusive sexual contact. In the lawsuit, they claim Camp began to rub up against [victim], lean close to her and fondle her body with his hand' He 'began to rub up against [victim], lean close to her and fondle her body with his hand,' court documents say. 'This groping eventually progressed to Camp touching her upper and lower leg and finally to her crotch,' Goodfellow wrote in his lawsuit. Authorities have said an attendant on the Dallas-to-Portland flight was delivering snacks when she noticed Camp's hand in the victim's crotch area. She saw the girl shed a single tear and quickly separated the two. 'She was devastated,' Goodfellow said. 'And she didn't want to be on an airplane again when I talked to her after the flight. She didn't even want to be touched or hugged by her mom.' In a statement to Inside Edition, American Airlines says 'they fully cooperated with law enforcement in Mackenzie's case. They say they care deeply about young passengers and are committed to providing a safe travel experience.' Between 300,000 to 400,000 children fly alone across the country during any given weekend. However, in the past five years there have been 244 complaints about unaccompanied minors filed with the Department of Transportation, Inside Edition reported. For INSIDE EDITIONs full report, tune in on Friday, November 18. Check local listings for stations and times at www.insideedition.com. Advertisement The 21-year-old 'maniac' who doused himself in accelerant and set fire to a Commonwealth Bank branch had minutes earlier complained about being 'broke' and not having money for food. Witnesses inside the Springvale branch in Melbourne's southeast said the man became agitated after not having enough funds to withdraw money from the ATM. They claimed he told staff he was 'broke' and had 'no money for food', according to 9News. Another witness said the alleged attacker was angry not enough staff were available to help him. Scroll down for video The 21-year-old (pictured) who allegedly doused himself in accelerant and set fire to a Commonwealth Bank branch is reportedly a refugee from Myanmar in Australia on a bridging visa On Friday morning, the man became agitated after not having enough funds to withdraw money from from the ATM (pictured) at the Springvale branch in Melbourne's southeast 'Commonwealth Bank never pays enough staff to serve us customers. I have been waiting for one hour,' the witness claimed he said, to which a bank staff member replied 'it's not your business'. 'The guy eventually went home to take the flamethrower to burn everyone especially bank staff,' the witness wrote on his Facebook page. Australian Burmese Rohingya Organisation president Habib Habib said the man was by himself in Australia and had been struggling financially and mentally, worried about his family and immigration status. 'He was struggling mentally for the past year or two because his visa has not been processing,' he told the Sydney Morning Herald. 'He has been suffering and his friends say his welfare payment was not received and he couldn't pay his rent.' Mr Habib said there was not enough support for refugees with mental health issues, which were made worse by settlement issues. Victims of the Commonwealth bank attack were taken to the Alfred Hospital and one remains in a critical condition Refugee and asylum seeker advocate Pamela Curr said the man fled Myanmar due to the persecution of Muslim minorities, as he was of mixed Muslim heritage with Rohingya and non-Rohingya parents. He had mental health problems and may have discovered at the bank that his welfare payments had been cut off, sparking the anger that led to his alleged actions. Witness Mr Heeraman, who chose to keep his first name anonymous, said the man was frustrated he had no money in his account and was blocked from withdrawing money from the machine. 'He went to withdraw money earlier and had no funds available so he went back later to start havoc,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'The maniac blew up the ATM by setting himself and the machine alight. 'Some [locals] say he had financial problems and decided to take it out on the branch'. Police are yet to interview the man to determine his motives, because of the extent of his injuries. The 21-year-old Springvale man (second left with police officer) has been taken to hospital in a serious condition and is under police guard It was revealed in the wake of the disaster that the alleged attacker is a refugee from Myanmar in Australia on a bridging visa. The man is believed to have travelled from Myanmar alone by boat in 2013 as a 17-year-old and. He was placed on Christmas Island before being transferred to Melbourne on a temporary visa, the Herald Sun reported. The man is believed to have been asked to apply for a Temporary Protection Visa so he could work and gain access to Medicare and Centrelink, but has not yet applied. After being unable to withdraw his funds, he allegedly walked to the nearby Caltex service station to fill a plastic container with petrol. A witness told Daily Mail Australia he was 'loud and angry' when he returned minutes later to set fire to the ATM and the carpet inside the branch. CCTV footage has captured a man walking to a nearby service station with a large plastic container. He walks back toward the Commonwealth Bank, just minutes before the explosion Police are reviewing CCTV footage of a man, believed to be the offender, carrying a container of liquid toward the bank The man was seen walking past the Asmara cafe toward the bank with the container, just six minutes before the explosion At least 27 people were injured in Friday's blaze, with six rushed to hospital and one remains in a critical condition. Hero tradesman, Ash Atkin-Fone, who helped the victims escape the blaze said he heard the man arguing with bank tellers moments before the explosion. He said his 'instincts' immediately kicked in and he ran across the road to Optus, grabbed a fire extinguisher and tried to contain the blaze. 'This kid comes running out, all burnt, screaming his head off, skin coming off, blood everywhere,' Ash Atkin-Fone said. CCTV footage from a nearby cafe captured the moment a man walked past with a large plastic container toward a service station and headed back in the direction of the bank just six minutes before the explosion, The Age reported. Phalla Neary Khmer (pictured, left) was in the bank when the explosion went off with her teenage daughters, Claudia (centre) and Angel (right), and her two-year-old son, Fighter She posted to her Facebook page after being released from hospital late on Friday, thanking her family and friends for their support Footage shows a man, believed to be the offender, walking past Asmara Cafe with an empty plastic container to a service station and returning with it full of liquid. He is believed to have picked up the discarded container from out the front of the cafe. The Herald Sun understands the man bought petrol at the Springvale Caltex before taking it down the road and setting himself on fire. 'The site is currently closed but the we are assisting police with their inquiries, and will continue to do so wherever needed,' Caltex Australia spokesman Sam Collyer said. Tradie, Ash Atkin-Fone, has been called a hero after he ran into the blaze after he heard a 'big blast' and seconds later heard a child's screams from the Commonwealth Bank Phalla Neary Khmer was in the bank when the explosion went off with her teenage daughters, Claudia and Angel, and her two-year-old son, Fighter. She posted to her Facebook page after being released from hospital late on Friday, thanking her family and friends for their support. 'It has been a traumatic event, we greatly thank each and every one of you,' she wrote. Police said the alleged offender has been taken to hospital in a serious condition and is under police guard. A crime scene has been established and the arson squad is investigating. The six victims with severe burns have been taken to The Alfred hospital. Twenty-one other people ranging from a toddler to a person in their 80s, were treated for breathing problems all were in a stable condition. Pictured is the scorched ATM that was set on fire. More than 20 people have been injured, five with serious burns, after a fire at a bank in Melbourne The six victims with severe burns have been taken to The Alfred hospital and another 21, including children, were treated on the scene for smoke inhalation A woman tries to clean the eyes of a hysterical child that was involved in the bank fire in Melbourne Shocked victims were massively distressed after being involved in the blaze at the Springvale Commonwealth Bank Early reports say that a person set themselves alight inside the bank building on Friday morning The incident took place inside the Commonwealth Bank branch at Springvale Central Police and ambulance crews were called to the scene at 11:30am on Friday to treat the injured Commonwealth Bank said its 'response team' was working with emergency services Paramedics are treating people for burns and smoke inhalation at the scene Witness Daniel Chau told Daily Mail Australia he was grabbing lunch when he saw people running out of the bank with their faces covered in charcoal. 'I saw a man run out of the bank with his hands burnt, skin peeling off,' he said. 'The man was dragging his hand out of something. All I could hear was him screaming. He was screaming like mad. It was awful. Everyone was running and jumping around like mad. Another guy was covered in ashes. There was a lot of smoke. 'I was pretty surprised and shocked. I used to live in Springvale and I usually come here to buy my lunch but I've never seen anything like this. It was the first time I've witnessed something like this.' A young witness said she heard people crying in the bank. 'Those that have escaped, their faces are all black and [they are] suffocating... I feel so useless just standing outside holding buckets of water,' she said. Adam Coulshed, a local construction worker who was on site across the road from the bank, said there was a loud bang followed by plumes of black smoke. He said his co-worker helped put out the fire with a shopkeeper from a neighbouring Optus store. 'The man was trying to get money from an ATM at the time of the explosion,' he said. 'It was just black and there were people with blood [coming out of the bank].' Another woman said she received a distressing text message about her father who was caught up in the blaze. Emergency service workers gather branch of the Commonwealth Bank after a fire injured customers in Melbourne Commonwealth Bank said that their 'first priority is the safety of our staff and customers' Passersby were left stunned (left) as victims of the bank fire began emerging from the building (right) Victims were treated for their injuries and for shock by emergency services after the devastating fire One girl wrote on Facebook 'how proud' she was of her father who was in the bank during fire Another person wrote on their Facebook how they had just 'arrived at the post office across the road' just after the incident 'It's bloody awful. I just can't believe it,' eye witness Eric Sleuriot said after the incident 'My dad was in the middle of it, not realising he was helping who were hurt bad,' she said. 'How could someone walk in there and did what he did, praying for everyone. 'I'm really proud of you dad and I'm so happy you weren't hurt, nearly had me in tears, I love you dad.' Anthony Banh, who is the manager of Love Central Jewellery across the road from the bank, said he went outside immediately after people came running and screaming past the shop. 'I heard a loud bang - it sounded like firecrackers - there was smoke everywhere,' he said. 'A guy had severe burns on his face and arms and everything. There was another man crouched on the ground with severe burns.' Mr Bahn said he was scared there would be another explosion and kept his distance, but other people came running on the scene to help the injured and use fire hydrants to put out the flames. 'People were quite brave,' he said. 'I was shocked it took so long for the ambulance and firefighters to come.' Acting Inspector Jackie Poida (pictured) said it was 'too early to tell' what the man's motive was The tellers in Commonwealth Bank reportedly had to run through the flames to get out of the building Commonwealth Bank's response team is working closely with local authorities and emergency services In a statement, the Commonwealth Bank said its 'response team' was working with emergency services. 'We can confirm there was an incident at our Springvale branch today. Our first priority is the safety of our staff and customers and as a result the branch will remain closed for the rest of the day,' the statement read. 'Our response team is on site and we are working closely with local authorities and emergency services. 'We are deeply concerned for everyone who has been affected and we continue to work with local authorities and emergency services to provide any assistance required.' Springvale Road has been closed in both directions between Balmoral Avenue and Windsor Avenue. Tim Gibson, 45, a student accommodation landlord from Sheffield, wants to live for ever. With his second-hand ambulance and amateur team of volunteers, he is on standby to help others across Britain to become immortal as well by freezing their freshly dead corpses in the hope that in the far-off future medical science will be able to revive them. Gibson is a leading member of Cryonics UK. Tim Gibson, 45, a student accommodation landlord from Sheffield, who helps to freeze freshly dead corpses of people who want to be cryogenically frozen Sceptical experts dismiss the entire practice as cruel and costly charlatanism. But who can win an argument about the unforeseeable future? The flash-freeze team at Cryonics UK are happy to imagine tomorrows world as a wonderful Land of Oz where their outlandish hopes will come true. The volunteers have no medical qualifications. Gibsons training involved just a fortnights preparation at The Alcor Life Extension Foundation in Scottsville, Arizona, an organisation which terms itself the world leader in cryonics. He also spent some weekends learning updates. Yet the procedures they follow when preparing bodies for long-term storage in the United States seem dauntingly technical as well as gory. Some 126 people are signed up to the programme in the UK. Gibsons team has already processed ten. Their first job is always to convince hospital authorities that what they are doing is legal. Cryonics is unregulated here because no mention of freezing bodies is made in the Human Tissue Act 2004. Which means that once a death certificate is issued, the volunteers can get to work, provided the family of the deceased authorises it. Cryonics is unregulated here because no mention of freezing bodies is made in the Human Tissue Act 2004. Pictured is the Cryonics Institute in Michigan The corpse is then put into dry ice. It takes 12 hours to lower it to -25C; another three to four weeks to get to -70C. The cadaver can then be flown for long-term storage in the US, pictured Outside London the hospitals are co-operative. In London they seem very stressed and worried about being sued, so they can be difficult, Gibson says. Buying a used ambulance has helped, he adds. Its much easier to park outside a hospital if youve got a big yellow vehicle with stripes down the side. Nevertheless, the hospital where JS was cryo-preserved has reportedly said that medical and mortuary staff were concerned about Cryonics UKs treatment of the teenagers body and accused it of being under-equipped and disorganised. Gibson disputes this. As soon as the client has been declared dead, his team begins its Frankenstein task by putting the body on a cardiac support machine to keep the heart pumping. They also inject a cocktail of stabilising drugs into the veins to forestall physical deterioration. Then they start cooling the cadaver in an ice bath. It takes between two and three hours to bring their body temperature down to 10C, where we can wash out their blood, Gibson says. They replace the blood by injecting what he terms medical-grade anti-freeze along with chemicals that remove water from the corpses cells. The process, which takes a further three to four hours, aims to prevent ice crystals forming. Spiky ice shards destroy human cells. The corpse is then put into dry ice. It takes 12 hours to lower it to -25C; another three to four weeks to get to -70C. The cadaver can then be flown for long-term storage in the US. But what happens next to these immortality-seeking frozen humans? Only the future can tell, of course. And that, as cryonics protagonists point out, could be hundreds or thousands of years away. But todays science indicates that all those who have been frozen will almost certainly never be roused. The limitations of current freezing techniques mean their long years of waiting appear in vain, because their brains would be beyond repair. Dr Arthur Caplan, a bioethicist at New York University, warns: I just dont think that what were able to do right now to preserve the brain is good enough to ever bring it back to life. No matter how smart scientists are in the future, you cant change mush into a functional brain. Over the past two years, advances in brain-freezing techniques have begun to nudge the scientific line but only from impossible towards almost entirely improbable The team at Alcor acknowledge this. They recently placed listening devices on the brains of clients cooling to -196 C when placed into liquid nitrogen. They heard sounds that indicate that tissue was fracturing. Thats damage happening, Aaron Drake, Alcors medical response director, told New Scientist in July. The Alcor scientists think they have a fix, which involves storing peoples brains at less-freezing temperatures. Its the brains that count nowadays, say the enthusiasts. Why drag your dead body into the future when its your mind, your memories, your personality that count? But can a frozen brain ever be revived? And if so, would it remember anything or just be a psychotically addled blank? Over the past two years, advances in brain-freezing techniques have begun to nudge the scientific line but only from impossible towards almost entirely improbable. The only cryogenic medical successes in the human world so far have been with tiny samples, such as frozen ovarian tissue removed from female cancer patients undergoing ovary-destroying chemotherapy. When the tissue was returned to the womens bodies, they were able to have babies. Mammal brains are a much larger and infinitely more complex challenge. But in February Robert McIntyre a scientist at the US cryonics research company 21st Century Medicine used a new technique to freeze a rabbits brain in a way that effectively turned it into glass. The Cryonics Institute in Clinton Township, Michigan, where the girl's body is being stored Using new forms of anti-freeze and preservatives, he was able to freeze the brain in a process called vitrification. This completely stops its molecules from moving, and its hoped that by doing so, it preserves the last moment when a persons mind, memories and personality existed. When the rabbit brain was sliced into tiny sections, examiners pronounced it perfectly preserved. McIntyres team is now working to do the same trick with a pigs brain, similar in size to a humans. But what use is a glass brain? You cant bring it back to life. As McIntyre acknowledges: My process is like soaking a book in epoxy resin and hardening it into a solid block. Youre never going to open the book again. Michael Hendricks, a neuroscientist at McGill University in Montreal, is a fierce critic of cryogenics. Earlier this year, in an article in the respected journal, MIT Technology Review, he pointed out that even scientists working to computer-simulate the brain of a small roundworm have found the task impossible. Hendricks says brains will always remain too complex. This is not least because they function using an immeasurable miasma of chemicals that constantly interact with neurons. Simply creating a working model of neuron connections will never recreate even the most simple of brains. Prisoners will be able to avoid punishment for attacking guards simply by saying sorry or shaking hands. Inmates who lash out at warders could escape being told to serve extra days behind bars by taking part in restorative justice. By just apologising or trying to make amends to the staff member, they would lessen the risk of their sentence being extended. Prisoners will be able to avoid punishment for attacking guards simply by saying sorry or shaking hands (file picture) Ministers have quietly drawn up plans to introduce the system to speed up dealing with ill-discipline in prisoners who commit lower-level violence. Supporters of the initiative, also known as community resolution, claim it is a fairer way to deal with offenders while still giving closure to those they have wronged. But critics fear it allows thugs to get away with attacking guards. They said it was fresh evidence of ministers adopting a softer regime in jails in England and Wales. The move follows widespread anger over photographs published in the Mail this week that showed convicts at out of control HMP Guys Marsh in Dorset enjoying steak, alcohol and drugs. That was followed by the revelation that strict rules which stop jail inmates from getting too many perks were being torn up by the Ministry of Justice because they are too punitive. The latest measure, slipped out in a Government White Paper on prison reform earlier this month, involves tackling violence against staff. It pledged to encourage governors to take a restorative approach to lower-level violence where appropriate to resolve conflict between prisoners, and between prisoners and staff. Pilot schemes are already running at two Category C prisons housing inmates who cannot be trusted in open institutions. Ministry of Justice officials made clear that lower-level violence included prisoners verbally abusing their victims or throwing things. Striking a prison officer would still result in disciplinary action known as adjudication or, in more serious incidents, prosecution. The move follows widespread anger over photographs published in the Mail this week that showed convicts at out of control HMP Guys Marsh in Dorset enjoying steak, alcohol and drugs Restorative justice is to be used alongside prosecutions and disciplinary action which could punish a prisoner by extending their sentence, said the MoJ. Tory MP Philip Davies, a member of the Justice Select Committee, said: It would be better all round if we took a zero tolerance approach to violence against prison staff. An MoJ spokesman said: Physical assaults on staff will always be referred to the police. Restorative justice works with the tough sentencing measures which we have put in place to deal with assaults against our staff. The first night of Schoolies has kicked off and the celebrations have lived up to its wild reputation. Photographs have already surfaced from Friday night even before the first official day started on Saturday. They show worse-for-wear teenage girls passing out in bushes and others showing off their dance moves by dropping to the floor. Already a 17-year-old boy has been arrested by police on The Esplanade in Surfers Paradise, on Queensland's Gold Coast. Police allegedly found a small amount of tablets believed to MDMA and a sum of cash on the boy on Friday about 11.30pm. Scroll down for video A group of teenagers decided the best way to go cruising was to sit on the roof of their cars as they made their way around Kings Beach These young women cheersed their drinks in matching white shorts as they admired the view from their accommodation balcony A friend lying in the bushes seemed like it was a cause for celebration for these two women as they posed for a photo The 17-year-old has been charged with four drug related offences including possessing dangerous drug and possessing property used in connection with drugs. Renowned for being an often alcohol- and drug-fuelled affair, teenagers and their parents have been particularly warned this year to be on the look out for 'zombie drug' flakka, which has proven to be potentially deadly. Police are arming themselves ready to stop any unrest and have warned school leavers to not take drugs and act in an orderly manner. But the warnings have not stopped thousands of young people, who began flocking to locations including the Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Torquay and even Bali on Friday. Groups of females gather on the streets to celebrate while many dance to their own rhythm Toolies, older revellers who participate in Schoolies week but are not high-school graduates, are also known to be present at the parties It's not a party without a group of schoolies gathering together to dab for a photo These school-leavers piled into a van for the drive to their schoolies destination - but not before posing for a group photo Parties will be launched throughout the celebrations as the the former students continue their celebrations With school uniforms no longer needed they have turned into swim wear Long the most popular of Schoolies pilgrimages, the Gold Coast is gearing up for another enormous 2016 party. Notorious for its high rise apartment towers, revellers are often seen partying on sky-high balconies. Promoters of clubs have been selling tickets to Schoolies parties as the young teenagers begin to plan their weekends away from home. Other images flooding social media include young women using their uniforms as swimwear and joining the inevitable party on the street. The former students are happily posing for photos as their friends are seen lying on the floor obliterated from alcohol while others appear to be soaking up the sun while seated on the roof of their vehicles. Although many only travelled to Schoolies for a week, these Gold Coast partgoers made sure they were well equipped These Schoolies attendees bought upmarket versions of 'Shoeys' - the popular craze of drinking an alcoholic beverage from a shoe many school-leavers opted to go to places with warmer weather and donned swimwear for most of the day The young teenagers flock to alcohol shops to stock up on booze for the weekend Year 12 students have begun their annual pilgrimage to party hot spots in Australia and overseas as the almost month-long Schoolies festival gets underway Some some teens have gotten off to an early start with celebrations popping up on Friday night Schoolies runs over three weeks from November 19 to December 11 Schoolies swim in their school uniform at Mooloolaba Beach on Queensland's Sunshine Coast Notorious for its high rise apartment towers, revelers are often seen partying on sky high balconies 'Super moons:' Long the most popular of Schoolies pilgrimages, the Gold Coast is gearing up for another enormous 2016 party Year 12 students have to make annual pilgrimage to Schoolies from across Australia A year 12 student enjoying leavers in Surfers Paradise, Queensland A group of leaver embracing schoolies on the Gold Coast, Queensland With a strong police presence to be in place throughout the Schoolies celebrations, students are being warned of the consequences of any bad behaviour. 'We've got to trust their judgment, got to rely on them to make good decisions,' Chief Superintendent Terry Borland said. 'If they're going to put themselves in conflict, well certainly police will take action. 'What you do now may impact on what you do in the future. 'It's a choice issue.' Empty cans, Butter- Menthols, a digital camera and an empty salsa packet are pictured in this leaver's photo Queensland Ambulance staff prepare the medical response tent at the Schoolies Hub at Surfers Paradise on Friday With a strong police presence to be in place throughout the Schoolies celebrations, students are being warned of the consequences of any bad behaviour About 1,100 volunteers from various community organisations will be in and amongst the revellers, providing support and assistance. One of the most popular groups is the Red Frogs, which is expected to hand out four tonnes of the confectionery during the week-long party. A strong medical response will also be in place, with an on-site ambulance treatment centre (ATC) providing expert attention to those in need. Last year more than 500 people sought treatment at the ATC for a variety of ailments from exhaustion and illness to broken bones. Of those treated, about five per cent needed further treatment in hospital. School leavers from Queensland will officially kick off the party on Saturday, which runs over three weeks from November 19 to December 11 A leaver celebrating schoolies week at Hyams Beach in New South Wales Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman Justin Payne said anyone in need of medical assistance shouldn't be afraid to seek help, but avoiding risky situations was the best advice. 'It's a time to celebrate, it's certainly not a time to risk your health and wellbeing,' Mr Payne said. The RACQ is also warning Schoolies to stay safe on their way to and from celebration sites. These school leavers bought a bag of worms to spice up their tequila shots Schools out: Schoolies celebrations have begun across the country A group of school leavers celebrate by taking a dip in their school uniform Packed and ready for schoolies on the Gold Coast, Queensland Figures released to RACQ by the Department of Transport and Main Roads revealed more than 240 P-plate drivers were caught breaking passenger restrictions during the first half of this year. RACQ's Lauren Ritchie said P1 licence holders under 25 years of age were unable to drive with more than one peer passenger not in their immediate family between 11pm and 5am. 'The message to young drivers is simple: if you drive with a group of friends during restricted hours you're not being a good friend,' she said. 'You're putting your life and the lives of your friends in serious danger.' Schoolies runs over three weeks from November 19 to December 11. This young woman kicked off her first night with two drinks in hand and standing on a chair Adam Isaac, 22, is facing jail after admitting a string of child sex offences A paedophile who groomed two teenage boys on Minecraft is facing jail after admitting a string of child sex offences. Adam Isaac, 22, from Maesgwynne in South Wales, pleaded guilty to six charges of causing or inciting child prostitution or pornography, one charge of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and one charge of possessing indecent images. Merthyr Crown Court heard the offences were committed between August 2015 and January 2016 against two boys aged 13 and 14. Minecraft is an online game allowing players to construct structures from 3D blocks and is popular worldwide with more than 100 million copies sold. Sue Ferrier, defending, asked Judge Richard Twomlow for an adjournment for the preparation of a pre-sentence report. She said: 'He does understand that these are serious matters and he has been trying to address these issues himself.' The prosecution did not open the case against Isaac but will be applying for a sexual harm prevention order at the next hearing. Isaac was released on conditional bail until he is sentenced on December 16. Minecraft is an online game that allows players to build structures from 3D blocks (file photo) The judge told him: 'You have pleaded guilty to a number of serious offences. I am going to ask for a pre-sentence report so the court knows more about you. Prosecutors say the men were trying to makes Two nephews of Venezuela's first lady could face life in prison after they were convicted for trying to smuggle almost 2,000 pounds of cocaine into the US. A Manhattan federal court jury returned its verdict against Efrain Campo, 30, and his cousin Francisco Flores, 31, after less than a day of deliberations. The nephews of Venezuelan first lady Cilia Flores were charged with conspiring last year to import more than 1,700 pounds of cocaine into the United States. Lawyers for Campo and Flores argued no drugs traded hands and the men never intended to deliver any. They blamed a flawed Drug Enforcement Administration-led probe that relied on a longtime informant who was using and dealing cocaine as he helped build the case. A defense lawyer told the jury on Thursday in closing arguments that the first lady's nephews should be acquitted because a US sting operation was so deeply flawed that prosecutors had to take the rare step of notifying Jose Santos-Pena, the star witness, they were ripping up his cooperation deal because of his lies. 'He lied in your face!' attorney David Rody told the jurors. 'You saw a rare thing, a government cooperator get ripped up in court.' Rody said the testimony by the informant was crucial to the government's case against Flores and Campo. And he said it explains why the government didn't cut ties with him after learning in April that he had been dealing drugs for the last four years even as he was being paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to work as an informant for the DEA and others. US District Judge Paul A. Crotty said the defendants would not be sentenced before March, though no date was set. Defense attorneys requested time to challenge the conviction. Rody, representing Flores, declined to comment after the verdict. Efrain Antonio Campo Flores (second from left) and Franqui Fancisco Flores de Freitas stand with law enforcement officers on November 12 after their arrest Venezuelan first lady Cilia Flores (pictured speaking to supporters in December 2015) is the aunt of the two convicted smugglers Attorney Randall Jackson, representing Campos, said outside court that his client was 'obviously disappointed.' 'We're going to see what our next steps are,' he said. Prosecutors had urged jurors to look at other evidence in the case including statements the defendants made to federal agents and recordings of meetings. Lewis said jurors did just that, relying on transcripts of conversations involving the defendants and text messages to convict. Efrain Antonio Campo Flores, seated second from left, while appearing with his cousin Franqui Francisco Flores De Freitas, far right, are drawn in this courtroom sketch from December 2015 Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (left) and wife Cilia Flores are seen during a rally in October 2016 'Nobody was in love with the witnesses,' Lewis said. 'We clearly had some bad guys.' Assistant US Attorney Brendan Quigley said the defendants 'thought they were above the law.' 'They thought they could operate with impunity in Venezuela because of who they were and who they were related to,' Quigley said in a closing argument Thursday. 'They thought they could easily make tons of money sending drugs out of the country because, as defendant Flores said, the DEA is not here and the Americans don't come in here. But they were wrong.' An octopus in the most unlikely of locations in Florida had drivers doing double takes as they searched for a parking spot. The tentacled creature appeared in a parking garage in Miami after a 'King Tide', which is caused by climate change exacerbated by the super moon, and can cause flooding even without any rain. The picture was snapped on Monday and shows the creature splayed out in the center of the flooded garage. Experts told the Miami Herald, the octopus appears to be real and is likely a sign of tidal shifts caused by climate change. Scroll down for video An octopus was discovered in a parking garage in Miami Beach on Monday after a 'king tide' The 'King Tide' is caused by climate change exacerbated by the super moon. It can cause flooding even without any rain University of Miami associate biology professor Kathleen Sullivan Sealey told the Herald the octopus appears to be a common species in South Florida - either a small Caribbean reef octopus or a large Atlantic pygmy octopus. She said Floridians should get used to seeing sea critters popping up in unusual spots in the state. As the sea levels rise, more sea animals will make their way onto the land. Richard Conlin, who posted the video, said it wasn't just the octopus in the parking garage that stood out to him. A school of fish has also come up through the garage's drains as water flooded at area. Sealy said the octopus was probably hunting the fish and that's why it ended up in the garage. She said that when the garage was built the drains were well above sea level water marks but as the seas have risen, they are now partially submerged during high tides. Richard Conlin, who posted the video, said it wasn't just the octopus in the parking garage that stood out to him. A school of fish has also come up through the garage's drains Sealy also said that drainage pipes combine two things octopi love, which is a cramped dark space and fish. She told the Herald the octopus was probably hiding in the drainage pipe when the high tide pushed it into the garage. 'When that much sea water comes in the octopus is like "whats this?" and goes to explore and ends up in a bad place,' Sealy told the paper. Conlin said security in the garage picked up the octopus, put it in a bucket of seawater and released it in the nearby ocean. 'In the past the floor of the garage would be "damp" but this extreme flooding is new.... in the past 6 months there has not been a single day without some type of water seepage in the garage,' he wrote on Facebook. The problem appears to be worsening. The Supreme Courts most senior judge was urged to stand down from a hearing on Britains EU exit yesterday as it emerged his wife had posted anti-Brexit messages online. Pro-Brexit MPs accused Lord Neuberger, president of Englands highest court, of being compromised by his wifes tweets. Lady Neuberger had denounced the EU referendum as mad and bad and dismissed Ukip and Brexit as just a protest vote. Pro-Brexit MPs accused Lord Neuberger (left), president of Englands highest court, of being compromised by his wifes tweets (right, Lady Neuberger) Lord Neuberger is one of ten Supreme Court justices to decide on whether the Government can trigger Article 50 the mechanism for leaving the EU without parliamentary approval. His wife, 69, made the posts under her maiden name Angela Holdsworth. The High Court had ruled that Parliament must have a vote in a move critics said put Britain on course for a full-blown constitutional crisis. The Government is appealing the decision at the Supreme Court. In June, Lady Neuberger appeared to pre-empt the issue that her husband and his colleagues must decide, by repeating a Remain campaign groups message, the Daily Telegraph reported. It said: It seems unlikely that a PM could trigger Article 50 without Parliaments approval. In May, a month before the referendum, Lady Neuberger wrote: Ukip just a protest vote as, I fear, is Brexit for many. And a week before the vote, in June, she said: Referenda mad and bad. Pictured: The tweets posted by Lady Neuberger that have landed her husband in hot water Lady Neuberger, a former BBC producer, also criticised the BBC over its rules on impartiality just days before the historic vote. She tweeted: Need for balance can give weight & credibility to the unreliable. Three days after the poll she complained that too many voters had been misled into thinking various grievances would be resolved by leaving. They wont be. She also attacked the Prime Minister, branding Theresa May wrong, and, on November 1, accused her of jeopardising higher education by our new nasty reputation and obstinacy of PM in insisting temporary foreign students treated as immigrants. Last night Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said: I think he should stand down. This is a crucially important judicial decision for our country and it must be seen to be taken impartially. Another Conservative MP, Andrew Rosindell, said: This is embarrassing for the Supreme Court. His wifes views are injudicious and clearly his position is compromised. But a senior source told the newspaper the judge was absolutely confident there had been no breach in this case. The source added: This case is about a point of law and Lady Neubergers views are nothing to do with it. A Supreme Court spokesman said: Justices spouses are fully entitled to express personal opinions, including on issues of the day. Lady Neubergers passing comments on Twitter have absolutely no bearing on Lord Neubergers ability to determine the legal questions in this case impartially, according to the law of the land. The Supreme Courts judicial code of conduct states: They [the justices] will bear in mind that political activity by a close member of a justices family might raise concern in a particular case about the judges own impartiality and detachment from the political process. Radio 4 presenter John Humphrys reveals he thinks facial hair is ridiculous and disgusting Jeremy Paxman once accused the BBC of discriminating against men with beards. But it seems the humorous comment may have some truth as senior presenter John Humphrys reveals he thinks facial hair is ridiculous and disgusting. The Radio 4 mans comments came out yesterday on the Today programme in a feature about the function of mens whiskers. Humphrys, ignoring the comments of his guest beard historian Dr Alun Withey, said: Those of us who think beards are ridiculous and disgusting will continue to think so. More than half of men in the UK now sport some sort of facial hair, according to recent research, and an exhibition opened yesterday in London to celebrate beard mania in Victorian times. Dr Witney, a medical historian and beard expert from Exeter University was quizzed on the apparent benefits of beards. He said: The beard is and was important to masculinity. Its the ability to grow a beard thats important. In the Victorian period if you couldnt grow a beard you were accused of effeminacy. I even found a patent for a mechanical beard. There are all sorts of health benefits - it keeps you warm in winter, stops dust going down your throat and protects you from the sun. It has an SPF of around 21 apparently. It keeps the skin soft and keeps the bad stuff away. But despite the professors research subject Humphrys still chose to fire off the broadside. Three years ago Paxman returned from holiday sporting facial hair, sparking a media storm which resulted in the presenter saying the BBC discriminated against men with beards. Three years ago Paxman returned from holiday sporting facial hair, sparking a media storm which resulted in the presenter saying the BBC discriminated against beards He accused the BBC of being as pogonophobic as the late-lamented Albanian dictator, Enver Hoxha, who passed laws banning beards during his 40-year rule. Paxmans comments were quickly backed up by other senior presenters. Ben Fogle, who shot to fame on Castaway in 2000 before presenting Countryfile, said: Lots of stories about beardism out there. I was once told Id lose my job if I didnt lose the beard. Every time I grow one I get told to shave by television execs. TV hates a good beard. Robin Lustig, the retired presenter of Radio 4s World Tonight programme, said: I was told that if I seriously wanted to do more, I would have to get rid of my beard. A police station is believed to be the first in the country to be staffed entirely by volunteers and run by the manager of a local Waitrose. In its heyday Hucclecote Police Station had several full-time bobbies on the beat, and was managed by an experienced sergeant. But budget cuts mean the 9,000 residents of the village in Gloucestershire are now overseen by a team of 10 unpaid Special Constables, who are not trained to the same level as regular officers. Special Inspector Richard Godfrey (pictured) heads up a team of 10 volunteer Special Constables at Hucclecote Police Station Special Inspector Godfrey runs the police station around his full-time job as a branch manager at a Waitrose in Bath, Somerset Villagers have labelled the volunteers hobby bobbies and expressed fears that the idea could lead to rising levels of crime They are headed by Special Inspector Richard Godfrey, 29, who runs the police station around his full-time job as a branch manager at a Waitrose in Bath, Somerset. Gloucestershire Constabulary said it was likely the station was the first of its kind in the country, and blamed the move on a tough financial climate. But villagers have labelled the volunteers hobby bobbies and expressed fears that watered down police officers could lead to rising levels of crime. The village has already experienced violent crime. Just last month, Scott Hoare, 45, was jailed for attempted murder after storming into the local pub armed with a machete before being disarmed by pub regulars. Michael Hawkins, 70, said: Congratulations to the volunteers. However, our council tax and police tax are not being reduced, so why are we having to rely on volunteers in so many services nowadays? What is our money actually being spent on? Ex-policeman Robert Harris, 55, added: Im an ex-policeman myself. Back then you had volunteers and they were always in attendance with police officers. Now it seems we have watered down police officers in the form of specials. They dont have the experience or training. Special volunteer officers have powers of arrest and are trained in their spare time. They come from all walks of life and typically work a minimum of four hours a week supporting fully-trained officers in their local police force, wearing a similar uniform. Gloucestershire Police has defended its use of special officers, saying they help us retain form of community policing in a time of austerity. Special Inspector Godfrey said it was a challenge juggling being a policeman with his job as a Waitrose manager. Gloucestershire Constabulary said it was likely the station was the first of its kind and blamed a tough financial climate for the move Gloucestershire Police has defended its use of special officers, saying they help us retain form of community policing in a time of austerity. Pictured: A police car in the station car park He said: Its certainly a unique proposal. Its an idea we have been building for just over two years. Its quite a juggle - especially as I have a wife and day job. Its all sorts of hours trying to work it around my day job and its completely voluntary and unpaid. There is nothing my team cannot do that the regular force cannot do. We work hand in hand with the police but we are an independent, separate force. I started eight years ago. I was brought up in a military family and I wanted to contribute to the community and with this you truly can through community-based policing. When you get into it, it becomes a life changer. Special Inspector Godfrey added: Im really fortunate to live in a low level crime area. Bill Crowther, chairman of Hucclecotes policing panel, said the team of volunteers gives a much-needed police presence to the village. He added: Hucclecote police station stopped being an operational police station and since then they put the specials in there. On a trial they are now patrolling the streets and providing a presence. You might say they are amatuers but they are properly trained - they are fully functioning. If you asked me what would I prefer, Id say 2,000 extra police but we cannot have that realistically. We are lucky to have them there. Sharon Beattie, 46, manager of the local florists, said: Im surprised that its run by volunteers, Im a bit disappointed... Its quite a big community and there is quite a lot of people here, if it was done by people who know the area and knew potentially the hotspots and potential criminals. One female villager, who did not wish to be named, said: Its just a sign of the times. You used to get police officers from Hucclecote police station if you were burgled but now when you ring up to report it you only get a crime reference number, thats my experience. Special Inspector Godfrey (pictured) said it was a challenge juggling being a policeman with his job as a Waitrose manager Last August when I rang up when I was broken into and had two mountain bikes stolen I was given a crime reference number but it was never followed up. I would be interested to know how long it has been going on for, just because they are volunteers doesnt mean they are incapable and would do a worse job but I dont think they would command the same respect as a qualified police officer, unfortunately. Last years cuts to the forces budget means Gloucestershire Police is now ranked 20th out of 43 forces in the country for the number of officers who protect the public. New figures reveal that there is only one police officer on duty at night in Gloucestershire to protect every 5,400 people, in a county of nearly 900,000. On average Gloucestershire has 115 response officers available overnight. Gloucestershires police and crime commissioner, Martin Surl, said: This is not just about saving money. Of course we have a duty to explore ways of maximising our resources and providing best value for money but irrespective of outside financial pressures our Specials have proved their worth time and time again. They are highly valued, they provide a great service to Gloucestershire and that is why we are looking to double their numbers if we can. A spokesman for Gloucestershire Police added: The scheme was introduced as a pilot just over a year ago and was seen as a way of developing new ways of working in a tough financial climate while showing how much we value the work of our specials. The success of the pilot is still to be evaluated. Special officers are fully warranted officers who are trained in their spare time and can carry out a range of duties. Their training involves practical and electronic learning. There is a still a significant cost to training specials but the constabulary views this as offering significant value as it has helped us retain a form of community policing in a time of austerity. A 27-year-old woman who admitted to having sex with a dog burst into tears when she was told she will await her sentencing behind bars. Jenna Louise Driscoll's acts of bestiality with her dog were described as 'repulsive' and 'completely against the order of nature'. Judge Terry Martin made the remarks during sentencing submissions on Friday in the Brisbane District Court. She will be sentenced on Monday after pleading guilty to bestiality, drug trafficking, stabbing another woman with a fork and, on two separate occasions, biting a child. Jenna Louise Driscoll, 27, arrives at the Brisbane District Court in Queensland on Friday Defence barrister James Godbolt said his client had been affected by the public shaming of the bestiality charge and had stopped physically attending the University of Southern Queensland. 'It might be a sad reflection on society that the bestiality attracts more publicity whereas the serious offence of trafficking cannabis does not. It rather undermines the factor of general deterrence,' Judge Martin said. The court was told Driscoll ran away from home when she was 16, started a relationship with a man 12 years her senior and started smoking cannabis when she was 18. Video of the bestiality was found by police following a drug investigation in October 2014. Driscoll was formally charged in 2014 after police found videos of her having sex with a dog She arrived in court alongside her lawyer, staring at the ground ahead of her sentencing During a pre-sentence submission in court, defence lawyer James Godbolt said Driscoll had been publicly shamed and had sex with her dog at the request of her then partner who filmed the incident. Driscoll was pictured arriving home accompanied by an unidentified man and a pet dog. The dog, believed to be a pitbull terrier, climbed the stairs to Driscoll's cream coloured residence, where neighbours say she has lived for some time. Driscoll entered her house and remained for a very short amount of time, before leaving with the man in the sedan. The stabbing occurred in late December that year while the biting charges arose in 2015. She was 24 when arrested for trafficking and bestiality, and was also on a good behaviour bond for a minor drug offence and obstructing police. Prosecutor Dzenita Balic told Judge Martin that there were 'three acts of sexual intercourse' with the dog. 'It seems it was in connection to the attempted arousal of her partner,' Ms Balic said. The prosecution said Driscoll had 15 regular customers and six suppliers and also a phone purely for the purpose of selling drugs. The 27-year-old Queensland woman had been charged after police discovered three videos of her having inappropriate sexual contact with the dog Following her court appearance in 2014, Driscoll was pictured arriving home accompanied by a man and her dog Mr Godbolt asked his client being given a head sentence of two to two-and-a-half years, with it suspended. 'The trafficking is at the bottom end ... to support her own use of the substance,' he told the judge. 'She is not living the high life.' He said Driscoll works as a waitress and had submitted to a recent drug test to prove she was no longer addicted to cannabis. Advertisement A mother who was inside a Commonwealth Bank when an asylum seeker allegedly doused himself in accelerant and set the building on fire said she thought she was going to die. Phalla Neary Khmer was at the bank at Springvale, in southeast Melbourne, with her three children and watched in horror as the terrifying incident unfolded. 'A man came in the bank and started to pour petrol on himself and the front entrance and lit himself on fire,' she said. Scroll down for video Phalla Neary Khmer (L) was in the bank with her teenage daughters Claudia (C) and Angel (R) and her two-year-old son Fighter and watched in horror as an asylum seeker allegedly doused himself in accelerant and set the building on fire 'It was terrible, all I saw was a man on fire running up and down the hallway. His clothes were burnt and dropped off on to the carpet. Luckily the carpet didn't catch fire.' Ms Khmer said it was the scariest moment of her life as the emergency doors closed with herself and her teenage daughters Claudia and Angel and two-year-old son Fighter still inside. 'Those minutes when the door was closed, every light in the building turned off and everything was pitch black. All we had was our phone to call the police and family. I really thought I was gonna die,' she said. 'I can imagine what happened on 9/11. It was the scariest moment in my life. I can't believe the bank had no sprinklers.' Ms Khmer said it was the scariest moment of her life as the emergency doors closed with she and her family still inside and likened the inferno to 9/11 in a heart-wrenching account She posted to her Facebook page after being released from hospital late on Friday, thanking her family and friends for their support Ms Khmer said her daughter Claudia, who just graduated high school, escaped with two family friends before the bank was locked down, but heroically ran back inside to find her mother and siblings and ended up stuck in a different room. 'I didn't realise she was still in the building, [it was a] heartbreaking moment. My daughter, Angel, was so clever and brave at that time. She did everything to get fresh air for her baby brother,' she said. 'I thank God and good spirits for protecting me and my children that we survive with no injury.' After all four were released from hospital late on Friday night she took to Facebook to thank her family and friends for their support. 'It has been a traumatic event, we greatly thank each and every one of you,' she wrote. The 21-year-old 'maniac' who allegedly set fire to the bank had minutes earlier complained about being 'broke' and not having money for food. Witnesses said he became agitated after not having enough funds to withdraw money from the ATM. They claimed he told staff he was 'broke' and had 'no money for food', according to 9News. Another witness said the alleged attacker was angry not enough staff were available to help him. The 21-year-old (pictured) who allegedly doused himself in accelerant and set fire to a Commonwealth Bank branch is reportedly a refugee from Myanmar in Australia on a bridging visa On Friday morning, the man became agitated after not having enough funds to withdraw money from from the ATM (pictured) at the Springvale branch in Melbourne's southeast 'Commonwealth Bank never pays enough staff to serve us customers. I have been waiting for one hour,' the witness claimed he said, to which a bank staff member replied 'it's not your business'. 'The guy eventually went home to take the flamethrower to burn everyone especially bank staff,' the witness wrote on his Facebook page. Witness Mr Heeraman, who chose to keep his first name anonymous, said the man was frustrated he had no money in his account and was blocked from withdrawing money from the machine. 'He went to withdraw money earlier and had no funds available so he went back later to start havoc,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'The maniac blew up the ATM by setting himself and the machine alight. 'Some [locals] say he had financial problems and decided to take it out on the branch'. Police are yet to interview the man to determine his motives, because of the extent of his injuries. It was revealed in the wake of the disaster that the alleged attacker is a refugee from Myanmar in Australia on a bridging visa. The 21-year-old Springvale man (second left with police officer) has been taken to hospital in a serious condition and is under police guard CCTV footage has captured a man walking to a nearby service station with a large plastic container. He walks back toward the Commonwealth Bank, just minutes before the explosion The man is believed to have travelled from Myanmar by boat in 2013 and was placed on Christmas Island before being transferred to Melbourne on a temporary visa, the Herald Sun reported. The man is believed to have been asked to apply for a Temporary Protection Visa so he could work and gain access to Medicare and Centrelink, but has not yet applied. After being unable to withdraw his funds, he allegedly walked to the nearby Caltex service station to fill a plastic container with petrol. A witness told Daily Mail Australia he was 'loud and angry' when he returned minutes later to set fire to the ATM and the carpet inside the branch. At least 27 people were injured in Friday's blaze, with six rushed to hospital and one remains in a critical condition. Police are reviewing CCTV footage of a man, believed to be the offender, carrying a container of liquid toward the bank The man was seen walking past the Asmara cafe toward the bank with the container, just six minutes before the explosion Hero tradesman, Ash Atkin-Fone, who helped the victims escape the blaze said he heard the man arguing with bank tellers moments before the explosion. He said his 'instincts' immediately kicked in and he ran across the road to Optus, grabbed a fire extinguisher and tried to contain the blaze. 'This kid comes running out, all burnt, screaming his head off, skin coming off, blood everywhere,' Ash Atkin-Fone said. CCTV footage from a nearby cafe captured the moment a man walked past with a large plastic container toward a service station and headed back in the direction of the bank just six minutes before the explosion, The Age reported. Tradie, Ash Atkin-Fone, has been called a hero after he ran into the blaze after he heard a 'big blast' and seconds later heard a child's screams from the Commonwealth Bank Footage shows a man, believed to be the offender, walking past Asmara Cafe with an empty plastic container to a service station and returning with it full of liquid. He is believed to have picked up the discarded container from out the front of the cafe. The Herald Sun understands the man bought petrol at the Springvale Caltex before taking it down the road and setting himself on fire. 'The site is currently closed but the we are assisting police with their inquiries, and will continue to do so wherever needed,' Caltex Australia spokesman Sam Collyer said. Pictured is the scorched ATM that was set on fire. More than 20 people have been injured, five with serious burns, after a fire at a bank in Melbourne The six victims with severe burns have been taken to The Alfred hospital and another 21, including children, were treated on the scene for smoke inhalation Commonwealth Bank said its 'response team' was working with emergency services Police said the alleged offender has been taken to hospital in a serious condition and is under police guard. A crime scene has been established and the arson squad is investigating. The six victims with severe burns have been taken to The Alfred hospital. Twenty-one other people ranging from a toddler to a person in their 80s, were treated for breathing problems all were in a stable condition. Witness Daniel Chau told Daily Mail Australia he was grabbing lunch when he saw people running out of the bank with their faces covered in charcoal. 'I saw a man run out of the bank with his hands burnt, skin peeling off,' he said. 'The man was dragging his hand out of something. All I could hear was him screaming. He was screaming like mad. It was awful. Everyone was running and jumping around like mad. Another guy was covered in ashes. There was a lot of smoke. A woman tries to clean the eyes of a hysterical child that was involved in the bank fire in Melbourne Shocked victims were massively distressed after being involved in the blaze at the Springvale Commonwealth Bank The incident took place inside the Commonwealth Bank branch at Springvale Central Paramedics are treating people for burns and smoke inhalation at the scene 'I was pretty surprised and shocked. I used to live in Springvale and I usually come here to buy my lunch but I've never seen anything like this. It was the first time I've witnessed something like this.' A young witness said she heard people crying in the bank. 'Those that have escaped, their faces are all black and [they are] suffocating... I feel so useless just standing outside holding buckets of water,' she said. Another woman said she received a distressing text message about her father who was caught up in the blaze. 'My dad was in the middle of it, not realising he was helping who were hurt bad,' she said. 'How could someone walk in there and did what he did, praying for everyone. 'I'm really proud of you dad and I'm so happy you weren't hurt, nearly had me in tears, I love you dad.' Philip Hammond will next week promise to get Britain back into the black but not until after the next election Philip Hammond will next week promise to get Britain back into the black but not until after the next election. Guided by forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility he will confirm that, over the next five years, there will be a 100billion shortfall from figures contained in the March Budget. In Wednesdays Autumn Statement the Chancellor will say it is the result of slower growth and lower-than-expected investment hitting tax receipts. Instead of the deficit being rubbed out by 2019-20, as George Osborne had predicted, the country will still not have cleared it by May 2020. In September public sector net borrowing grew by 11.3billion and the gap between what the Government spends and takes in was 45.5billion. However, the Mail understands there will be no new austerity cuts in Mr Hammonds statement to try to bridge the gap. Instead, he will say that times have changed and he is prepared to borrow more to smooth the transition to post-Brexit Britain. That is likely to include billions of pounds of borrowing to fund road, rail and other infrastructure projects. But he is likely to refuse demands from NHS bosses for another huge spending boost. Allies say he will also drop former chancellor Mr Osbornes rabbit out of a hat approach, which turned big financial statements into a platform for his leadership ambitions. Instead, there will be a modest package of help for families who are just about managing to survive, so-called JAMS. There have been tense talks between No 10 and 11 in recent weeks with Mr Hammond arguing the best way to help JAMS is a stable economy which safeguards their jobs and helps wages grow. So he has agreed a modest package of extra help, which is expected to include a freeze on fuel duty. He will also honour the Tory manifesto pledge to raise the income tax threshold to 12,500 and to raise to 50,000 the threshold for the 40p higher rate of tax. Allies of Mr Hammond will also drop former chancellor Mr Osbornes rabbit out of a hat approach, which turned big financial statements into a platform for his leadership ambitions Also on the table are measures to encourage saving and more help with childcare. Mr Hammond will emphasise he is determined to restore the nations finances to a surplus meaning the Government no longer spends more money than it receives each year. But he will say that will not happen until Brexit is complete and its impact has been properly managed. Whitehall sources said his low profile statement would mark a sharp change in tone from the Osborne years. One said: There will be no building up to a crescendo or rabbits being pulled from hats. The Chancellor is going to take a sober, steady-as-he goes approach. There will be no grabbing of announcements from other departments. He is going to work with his Cabinet colleagues. Tory MP Stephen Hammond, a close friend of the Chancellor, told the BBC that Mr Osbornes tight targets will be softened. He added: The framework remains the same, that we intend to achieve a fiscal surplus within the life of the next parliament. His wife says he will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery with full Sgt. John Perry (pictured), 30, died on Saturday at Bagram Airfield when he stopped a suicide bomber from reaching his target The grieving father of a well-decorated Army soldier killed in Afghanistan says his family was booed by first class passengers for delaying a flight to meet his son's remains. Sgt. John Perry, 30, died on Saturday at Bagram Airfield when he stopped a suicide bomber from reaching his target, a soldiers' 5K Veterans Day run to benefit disabled veterans. His father, Stewart Perry, says his son, who was a combat instructor, and the others who died are heroes, as they may have saved more than 100 people's lives by stopping the bomber from reaching his target. The father, who is a Marine veteran, said he and his wife, Kathy and daughter, Anita, were flying on an American Airlines flight from Sacramento to Philadelphia with a quick transfer in Phoenix on Monday, The Record reported. From Philadelphia they traveled to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to receive his son's remains. Perry said the family's flight to Phoenix was 45 minutes late and the crew on-board feared the delay may cause them to miss their connecting flight and miss their son's arrival at Dover. Scroll down for video Stewart Perry (above), the soldier's grieving father, says his family was booed by first class passengers for delaying a flight they were on, which was heading to bring his son's body home The grieving father also said that his son's death underscores why the American flag is not just a symbol for protest, but it's sacred (memorial service pictured above) Video Courtesy KOVR Once the plane landed in Phoenix, the captain made an announcement for everyone to stay seated and to let 'a special military family' exit the aircraft first. The heartbroken father said that several passengers seated in first class booed and complained. 'Some people were saying 'This is just baloney,' and 'I paid for first-class for this?'' Perry told the newspaper. 'It was just disgusting behavior from people in first class; it was terrible to see. 'You could see the disappointment from the flight crew.' He said American Airlines 'did everything they could' to accommodate his family. The family made the connecting flight in Phoenix, as the next pilot stayed at that gate for 40 minutes so they could make it on board. He leaves behind his wife of eight years, Julianne, and two young children - five-year-old Lena and four-year-old Gavin (pictured above with his wife and children) His wife says he will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. The couple is pictured above together The elder Perry said he and his family were forced to tears when fellow passengers started to boo them on the plane. 'To hear the reaction of the flight being delayed because of a Gold Star family, and the first class cabin booing that was really upsetting, and it made us cry some more,' Perry emotionally told KOVR. Perry noted that Vice President Biden was one of many dignitaries at Dover Air Force Base to honor his son as his body returned to the U.S. 'We really appreciate what Vice President Biden did and his care. He stood on that flight line and saluted with his hand across his chest,' Perry said. The grieving father also said that his son's death underscores why the American flag is not just a symbol for protest, but it's sacred. 'It's not for protestit's for the death of the people that are saving us. That's what it's for,' he said. He also mentioned that there is a disrespect for the loved ones left behind by veterans and called out president-elect Donald Trump's campaign rhetoric and his remarks about the Khan family. 'One example would be Donald Trump speaking badly about a Gold Star family, who I now am, but it also bothers me that people don't want to talk about the terrorism that killed my kid,' the marine veteran father said. The soldier, who was deployed twice in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, had been awarded a Purple Heart Medal, a Bronze Star and many other awards and decorations. Perry was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Special Troops Battalion, 1st Sustainment Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. Pfc. Tyler Lubelt and two Army contractors were also killed in the incident on Saturday. His eight-year-old little sister, Anita Perry, is also mourning his loss. 'He was loving and caring and he did care for me,' the little girl told Fox40. 'I only met him two times, then he left for Afghanistan and he never came back.' He leaves behind his wife of eight years, Julianne, and two young children - five-year-old Lena and four-year-old Gavin. The couple first met in elementary school and eventually reconnected later on in life right before he joined the Army. His wife says he will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia with full military honors. His family members had a memorial service in their hometown for her husband on Thursday. A GoFundMe page started to help support the family has raised more than $20,500 as of Friday evening, surpassing the goal of $20,000. Police looking for fourth person who was in 'Lizard Man' apartment An ex-bikie known as the 'Lizard Man' wrote an apology note to his ex-girlfriend's parents before he killed her in front of two other people. Shelsea Schilling, 20, was discovered dead in a Southport apartment, on Queensland's Gold Coast, alongside Bronson Ellery, 24, who got his nickname because of his prominent facial tattoos. 'It clearly was a murder investigation. He had laid out all his guns. He's bashed her senseless,' a source told the Gold Coast Bulletin. The former Bandido bikie had several firearms which he had allegedly positioned in such a way to suggest he had been 'planning this for some time'. Scroll down for video Shelsea Shilling, 20, (left) and Bronson Ellery, 24 (right) were found dead in a Southport, Gold Coast apartment last Friday A young woman saw former Bandido bikie 'enforcer' Bronson Ellery (right) kill his ex-girlfriend Shelsea Schilling in a Gold Coast apartment, she has told police The heartbroken mother of Shelsea (left, with friend) has blasted the woman for watching the suspected murder-suicide without intervening She slammed the woman for not calling the police or ambulance after watching her daughter dying One of the witnesses spoke to police on Wednesday claiming she was in the Southport unit on Johnson Street and watched as the former bikie enforcer killed Ms Schilling. Ms Schilling's heartbroken mother Bonnie Markwell Mobbs took to Facebook to blast the woman for watching on as her daughter was murdered. 'This lady watched our beautiful Shelsea being abused and assaulted and die then left her there and didn't call the police or ambulance,' she wrote online. 'Then only to say something one week later. WTF [what the f***].' Police investigators believed Shelsea suffered a heavy blow to the head and was then suffocated by Bronson Ellery (pictured), according to her mother Ellery shows off his heavily tattooed face, including skull features and the number 23 She went on to clarify that the pair were not a couple, explaining that Bronson had breached a domestic violence order to be with her in the apartment. She also revealed that police investigators believed her daughter suffered a heavy blow to the head and was then suffocated. 'My daughter will get justice,' Bonnie Markwell Mobbs told Daily Mail Australia. Ellery allegedly wrote a letter saying sorry to Shelsea's family after the brutal attack. 'He said I'm apologising for killing your daughter. I loved her,' Ms Mobbs said. She said her daughter never used drugs and dismissed the idea Shelsea was going to 'runaway with that monster'. 'The day before Shelsea went missing she brought a lunch box and folder for work and all her belongings are in place.' Citing sources close to the investigation, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported Ms Schillings had suffered a blow to her head and had signs of asphyxiation. Shelsea reportedly quit her job at a Harbour Town dress shop, changed jobs, and disappeared in order to run from Ellery after he breached a domestic violence order she took out on him A younger, less tattooed Bronson Ellery The news outlet also reported a large gash was believed to have been found on the side of Ms Schillings' face. A Queensland Police spokesman would not comment on the disclosures as police are preparing a report for the coroner. Police have said a suicide note was found at the scene and investigators do not believe a third party was responsible for the double deaths. Ms Schilling ran in fear of her ex-boyfriend after he breached a domestic violence order she had taken out on him in 2015, according to those who knew her. When he breached the order in November the same year, police and court documents confirmed Ms Schilling reached out for help. A former work colleague of Ms Schilling said she quit her job at a Harbour Town dress shop, changed jobs, and disappeared in order to run from Ellery. He was sentenced to three months in jail for the domestic violence order breach, eligible for release in January 2016. But true to the pair's on-off toxic relationship, they rekindled their love in the weeks before they were found dead. A smiling Bronson Ellery is pictured here, with his face still partially visible In a powerful Facebook post Thursday Shelsea's younger sister who declined to be named said: 'The truth is out. 'Bronson Ellery assaulted and then murdered my beautiful sister in his Southport apartment. Before the latest claims, friends of Ellery and his former defence lawyer defended the young man as a 'good bloke' 'You not only took away a sister but a best friend and I hope you rot in hell'. The sibling - who the family asked not be named - said: 'I hope my sister brought happiness into your life like she did mine and anyone else who knew her. 'You will never, ever be forgotten and will always be missed'. Before the latest claims, friends of Ellery and his former defence lawyer have defended the young man as a 'good bloke'. Ellery's best friend Nick Blandthorn told the Gold Coast Bulletin: 'I found them both laying there... 'It looked very peaceful'. Shelsea's family is preparing for her funeral, which will take place on Monday. They're encouraging mourners to wear colours 'as Shelsea is a bright soul.' The investigation continues. For confidential support call the Lifeline 24-hour crisis support on 13 11 14 A white Alabama police officer was indicted on murder charges in the fatal shooting of a black man who died just yards from his front door. On Friday, a grand jury returned the indictment against Montgomery police Officer Aaron Smith for the February shooting death of 58-year-old Greg Gunn. The fatal confrontation began when the 23-year-old officer stopped Gunn as he was walking through his neighborhood shortly after 3am. White Alabama police officer, Aaron Smith (left) was indicted on murder charges in the fatal shooting of black man, Greg Gunn (right), who died just yards from his front door Smith's lawyer Mickey McDermott maintained Friday that Smith (left) acted appropriately after Gunn ran, fought back and then swung some sort of object at the officer Smith's lawyer Mickey McDermott maintained Friday that Smith acted appropriately after Gunn ran, fought back and then swung some sort of object at the officer. Friends said Gunn was walking home from his weekly card game to the house he shared with his mother. McDermott said Smith was a young officer, patrolling by himself in a high crime district, when he stopped Gunn because he thought he was suspicious. Gunn was hit with a stun gun three times, beaten with a baton and shot five times by Smith, a state investigator testified at a preliminary hearing in March, AL.com reported. Smith fired his weapon seven times. Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey announced the indictment in a press statement Friday. McDermott said Smith (center walking to court in March) was a young officer, patrolling by himself in a high crime district, when he stopped Gunn because he thought he was suspicious Gunn was hit with a stun gun three times, beaten with a baton and shot five times by Smith, a state investigator testified at a preliminary hearing in March. Gunn's brother, Franklin Gunn is pictured during a press conference with Mayor Todd Strange in February Prosecutors had charged Smith with murder shortly after the shooting, and a judge sent the case to a grand jury. A state investigator testified in a March hearing that Smith had given conflicting stories about what happened before he shot Gunn. 'It was Mr. Gunn's actions that resulted in his death,' McDermott said. McDermott said he believed Smith was charged because of 'emotion and politics'. A lawyer representing Gunn's family could not immediately be reached for comment. The fatal confrontation was not captured on Smith's body camera or dash camera. The shooting death roiled the Deep South city. Yellow lawn signs reading 'Justice for Greg Gunn' lined the streets in the neighborhood where Gunn was shot as protests (pictured) were held throughout the city Patrol car cameras automatically switch on when an officer activates his or her blue lights, but Smith didn't activate his patrol car lights. The shooting death roiled the Deep South city. Yellow lawn signs reading 'Justice for Greg Gunn' lined the streets in the neighborhood where Gunn was shot. More than 200 mourners packed a memorial service for the 58-year-old. Bailey in a statement said he wanted to stress that the indictment against Smith was not an indictment of the entire Montgomery Police Department or any law enforcement agency. Donald Trump is not happy Vice president-elect Mike Pence wasn't welcomed with open arms by Broadway on Friday night. Trump demanded that the cast of Hamilton apologize to Pence after they directly addressed him at the end of the show with a statement about their fears. The president-elect, who took to Twitter on Saturday morning to complain, claimed the cast had 'harassed' Pence. President-elect Donald Trump demanded that the cast of Hamilton apologize to the Vice president-elect after they stopped the show to address him directly about their fears 'Our wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing,' Trump wrote. 'This should not happen!' 'The Theater must always be a safe and special place. The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!' The Hamilton cast began their address, which was delivered by actor Brandon Dixon, by thanking Pence for coming to the show. Dixon, who plays Aaron Burr in the show, even told the audience there was 'nothing to boo here' and that the cast was 'sharing a story of love'. 'Vice president-elect Pence we welcome you and truly thank you for joining us here,' Dixon said onstage. Dixon then told Pence that the cast was a reflection of the Americans who were worried about their future following the presidential election. 'We sir, we are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights,' he said. 'But we truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our Americans values and to work on behalf of all of us. All of us.' 'We truly thank you for sharing this show, this wonderful American story told by a diverse group of men and women of different colors, creeds, and orientations.' Dixon was quick to defend the cast on Saturday morning, directly replying to Trump's tweets. 'Conversation is not harassment sir,' Dixon wrote. 'And I appreciate Mike Pence for stopping to listen.' Mike Pence was booed while taking in the award-winning show, Hamilton, in New York on Friday Dixon was quick to defend the cast on Saturday morning, directly replying to Trump's tweets Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, who helped write the statement to Pence, also tweeted his support for the cast and Dixon Pence was on his way out of the theater as Dixon spoke, and the actor pleaded for the Vice-president elect to listen to their message. 'I see you walking out but I hope you will hear us,' Dixon said before he began. A representative for the show later revealed that Pence stood in the hallway outside and heard the full statement. It was written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the show's creator, director Tommy Kail, producer Jeffrey Seller and the cast after they heard Pence was coming. Pence was loudly booed throughout the show by audience members, the jeers sometimes so strong that the show had to be stopped repeatedly. The booing was most likely linked to Pence's anti-LGBT stances throughout his political career, as well as Trump's election victory this month. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich took to Twitter to weigh in on the subject. 'The arrogance and hostility of the Hamilton cast to the Vice President elect ( a guest at the theater) is a reminder the left still fights,' he wrote. One audience member said that the cast had to repeatedly stop singing the number 'You'll Be Back (Reprise)' because the crowd jeered Pence on every line. 'Fully stopped the song for a minute while people lost their s**t,' the audience member tweeted. 'Never seen anything like it.' 'I'm at #Hamilton and so is Mike Pence. Crowd booed him like crazy,' another wrote. 'Crowd went NUTS at King George's lines "when people say they hate you" & "do you know how hard it is to lead?" He had to stop the song.' Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich took to Twitter to weigh in on the subject Two audience members tweeted about Pence being booed by the crowd during a specific point in one of the songs 'Vice-president-elect Pence we welcome you and truly thank you for joining us here,' Brandon Dixon said on-stage in a message to Pence Vice President-elect Mike Pence waves as he leaves the Richard Rodgers Theatre after a performance of Hamilton on Friday night And just when Pence thought his embarrassment was over, he emerged from the theater to find a group of angry protesters shouting in the New York street. Hundreds of demonstrators were seen outside chanting: 'F*** Mike Pence.' He then said Hamilton is a wonderful American story told by a diverse group of men, women, of different colors, creed, and orientation. Tickets to Hamilton, which racked up 11 Tony Awards earlier this year, are notoriously difficult for the average citizen to get their hands on. Re-sale market StubHub lists the cheapest ticket for Saturday night's show at a staggering $835. It is unclear how Pence secured a ticket. Pence (pictured leaving the theater) was booed throughout the show by those in the audience Police remove protesters from the streets after they shouted at Vice President-elect Mike Pence while he was leaving the Richard Rodgers Theatre after a performance of Hamilton Some on social media defended Pence after the booing, while others poked fun at him MIKE PENCE'S STRONG POSITIONS ON LGBT ISSUES Pence has been strongly anti-LGBT during his career as a politician, including when he signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law in 2015. Some of his other controversial moments include: Opposing the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Pence was against removing the policy from the military, and in an interview he said the armed forces was not the place to experiment with change. 'There's no higher priority for the national government than to provide for the common defense. We ought not to use the American military as a backdrop for social experimentation or debating domestic policy issues,' he said. 'The focus ought to be on readiness, it ought to be on recruitment, it ought to be on retention, unite cohesion.' Rejected Obama's directive on transgender bathrooms in schools Pence spoke out against the decision from Obama's White House, saying the government had no business getting involved in such matters. 'Policies regarding the security and privacy of students in our schools should be in the hands of Hoosier parents and local schools, not bureaucrats in Washington, DC,' he said. 'The federal government has no business getting involved in issues of this nature.' Pence votes against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007 The vice-president-elect hit back against the law, which would have outlawed discrimination based on sexuality in the workplace, by saying it 'waged war on freedom of religion in the workplace'. The bid failed in the house in 2013. Claims that gay couples were signs of 'societal collapse' Pence took aim at marriage equality in a 2006 speech, claiming that allowing gay people to get married could be the downfall of society. 'Societal collapse was always brought about following an advent of the deterioration of marriage and family,' he said, before adding that denying marriage equality was not discrimination, but rather 'God's idea'. Advocating for 'Conversion Therapy' for LGBT people Pence successfully ran for Congress for the first time in 2000. His campaign website included a section titled, 'Strengthening the American Family', in which he said federal funds should be steered towards the controversial method. 'Resources should be directed toward those institutions which provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behavior,' Pence wrote on the website. He also wrote: 'Congress should oppose any effort to put gay and lesbian relationships on an equal legal status with heterosexual marriage. Congress should oppose any effort to recognize homosexuals (sic) as a 'discreet (sic) and insular minority' entitled to the protection of anti-discrimination laws similar to those extended to women and ethnic minorities.' Advertisement Pence's motorcade was seen outside the Richard Rodgers Theater on Broadway shortly before 8pm, and he made it to his seat about 10 minutes later. 'At #Hamilton. Mike Pence is here and the entire theater just booed him,' a theater-goer tweeted. A video posted online showed Pence walking to his seat as security guards followed behind. An aide said Pence attended the show with his daughter Charlotte as well as his nieces and nephews, according to ABC News. The crowd could be heard booing, however there were also some cheers for the Indiana Governor. Pence waved to the crowd as he walked into the theater in New York, however he was booed by the audience Pence appeared to be holding a playbill in his hand as he walked into the New York theater The VP-elect also came under fire for attending the show on social media. 'Apparently, Mike Pence saw Hamilton tonight. The GOP is truly taking everything from me,' one person wrote. 'I'm delighted by Pence getting booed at #Hamilton, considering how much of Broadway he wants to subject to electroshock conversion therapy,' Suleikha Snyder said. 'Reminder that the current star of Hamilton is the incomparable Javier Munoz, an openly gay, openly HIV-positive actor. Pay attention, Pence,' Marc Snetiker wrote. Pence took his seat inside the theater shortly after 8pm, the time the evening show starts Pence was criticized for seeing the show on social media, with some pointing to his anti-LGBT stances as the reason why he should not watch it Hacker group Anonymous also tweeted: 'Hey NYC... Mike Pence is watching Hamilton RIGHT NOW. How bout a nice crowd outside to tell him he's not welcome? #NotMyPresident.' But some leaped to the defense of Pence. 'Pence is a good man. Not nice,' one person tweeted. 'Respect for the office - or themselves. Do we always have to show our vile hate everywhere?' another wrote. 'How ridiculous. What is wrong with people?' another added. Others on social media defended Pence from the barrage of criticism he was receiving for seeing the show Pence has been strongly anti-LGBT during his career as a politician, including when he signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law in 2015. The bill was widely slammed by critics, with some saying it legalized discrimination against LGBT people. He also opposed the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell', he has been accused of advocating 'conversion therapy', and in a 2006 speech said 'societal collapse was always brought about following an advent of the deterioration of marriage and family'. President Barack Obama speaks during a Democratic fundraiser following a special performance of the Broadway show 'Hamilton' at the Richard Rodgers Theater in New York, November 2, 2015 Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton and Lin Lanuel Miranda pose backstage with the cast at the hit musical 'Hamilton' on Broadway at The Richard Rogers Theater on July 2, 2016 in New York City Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also booed when he went to see the play in September, and one heckler shouted, 'Free Palestine'. President Barack Obama saw the play last year, and was welcomed backstage by the cast after the performance. Michelle Obama, along with Sasha and Malia, and Pence's predecessor, Joe Biden, have also caught the Broadway box office smash. The man who abandoned his five-year-old daughter at the Port Authority Bus Terminal after allegedly murdering his estranged wife has been caught by Federal Marshals, police said. U.S. Marshals N.Y./N.J. Regional Fugitive Task Force took Elmer Gomez Ruano, 32, into custody in Brooklyn at 1pm on Friday, the New York Daily News reported. Ruano was allegedly in a homeless shelter evading police but was kicked out for fighting. Officers saw him walking down the road near the shelter and arrested him, the Daily News reported. Scroll down for video Cops are have arrested Elmer Gomez Ruono, 32, after Stamford Police Capt. Richard Conklin said he was suspected in murdering his wife before abandoning his five-year-old daughter at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City Ruano was wanted when his five-year-old girl (pictured) was found inside the Port Authority Bus Terminal after her mother, Dionicia Bautista-Cano (right), 24, was found murdered in Connecticut, officials said 'He's in custody. Were not going to tell you how we got him, but we got him,' NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said. A witness to the arrest said Ruano didn't resist the officers. 'He just stood there, and the cops questioned him for a couple minutes. Then they put the cuffs on,' Jose Rodriguez, 60, told the post. A resident of the shelter said that Ruano was quiet and kept to himself while in the shelter. 'Were certainly very pleased. A team of investigators are on their way to New York City as we speak,' Stamford Police Capt. Richard Conklin said Friday It is unclear what Ruano will be charged with but on Monday his alleged victim Dionicia Bautista-Cano, 24, was identified by Stamford, Connecticut, police. Bautista-Cano was killed in a Glenbrook apartment on Monday, Stamford police Lt. Tom Barcello said. Authorities had to match her fingerprints with those on file at the G uatemalan Consulate, The Hour reported. It took police two days to positively identify that Bautista-Cano's (above) body, as they used her fingerprints to match her fingerprints with those on file at the Guatemalan Consulate, Bautista-Cano had just got back together with her estranged husband Elmer Gomez Ruono, 32, and the family of three had moved in together into a one bedroom apartment in Glenbrook as she had previously lived in Flemington, New Jersey. Police found her dead body lying inside the home on November 14 when the couple's five-year-old daughter, who was abandoned inside the Port Authority Bus Terminal, New York, led them to the property. The motive for her death appears to be domestic, and police called the couple's relationship 'very, very combustible.' They added that there were signs of a struggle around the woman's body. Police have not said how she was killed, but her death has been ruled a homicide. The young girl, who only speaks Spanish, has been placed in the custody of the state Department of Children and Families. Now, investigators are discussing the potential mental health risks of interviewing the woman's five-year-old daughter, who might have witnessed her mother being killed inside the Courtland Avenue apartment. Ruono (pictured) had been working at the Bedford Street Diner in Stamford, have applied for an arrest warrant 'We are dealing wtih a five or six-year-old child and we want to tread gingerly,' Barcello said according to The Hour. 'She just lost her mother and she doesn't even know it yet. And I don't even know if she can understand the concept of permanency, where mommy is not ever coming back. 'We are very concerned with the child's mental well being also. She is already going to have trauma for life, and we are trying to limit the impact of it.' The little girl was spotted by an officer on the second-floor concourse of the PABT. When police reviewed surveillance footage, they saw Ruono leaving the girl at the terminal early on Monday before fleeing the scene. The youngster, who described by Port Authority Police as being in a good condition and well fed, was taken home to the apartment by detectives who made the grisly discovery. The little girl is believed to have been abandoned by her father, who is a suspect in her mother's death. Police ruled her death as a homicide but have not said how she died Authorities say that the victim, and her daughter, had moved in with Ruono on Sunday and celebrated their move with a party for friends and family on Sunday night at the Courtland Avenue apartment. But a domestic dispute allegedly began after the party, and the victim was killed in the early hours of Sunday morning, police say. 'We know very, very little because they only moved here within the last day or two from New Jersey,' Conklin said. 'We are struggling to come up to speed on this very rapidly.' Police, who say Ruono had been working at the Bedford Street Diner in Stamford, have applied for an arrest warrant. He works for an international drug smuggling syndicate in A smooth African scam artist, dubbed 'Precious Max', used an online dating scam to trick women into smuggling heroin for an international drug business. Nigerian national Precious Chineme Nwoko is part of an active elaborate international drug smuggling syndicate that uses online dating to lure women into unwittingly move drugs, according to Fairfax Media and The Feed. Through his online dating tricks using platforms such as Facebook, Tagged, Badoo and Twoo, he lured dozens - possibly many more - of women across the globe. Scroll down for video Through his online dating tricks Precious (pictured) using platforms such as Facebook, Tagged, Badoo and Twoo, he lured dozens - possibly many more - of women across the globe Precious shared photos of his muscular physique in swimming pools and bars to interested women looking for a partner, Precious was swooning women with the promise of love and business Sharing photos of his muscular physique in swimming pools and bars to interested women looking for a partner, Precious was swooning women with the promise of love and business. A convicted drug trafficker and fraudster, Precious used fake photos of offices and fake passports to fool victims of his Khmer Arts and Craft business. Precious now resides in prison thanks to the Australian Federal Police, but still uses his online persona to send women gifts and trick women into smuggling drugs across the border, according to the publication. Before he was jailed, the mirage of dealing arts and crafts was used to augment his 'wine and dining' of women in an attempt to trick them into smuggling drugs, including heroin, out of Cambodia. One of the unidentified women Precious conned was luckily not prosecuted. After meeting online, the woman travelled to Phnom Penh to meet the scam artist posing as a South African businessman in the import and export trades. Nigerian national Precious Chineme Nwoko is part of an active elaborate international drug smuggling syndicate that uses online dating to lure women into unwittingly move drugs, according to Fairfax Media and The Feed After four days Precious proposed to the woman on the day she was to return to Melbourne with samples from his business for an Australian associate. Upon arriving in Melbourne, Customs found two kilograms of heroin sewn into a compartment and after realising what had happened she collapsed in shock. She was not prosecuted and the case was dropped in 2015, with authorities agreeing she was tricked by Precious. Another Australian was a Queensland mother who was sentenced to 23 years in a Cambodian jail after 2.2kg of heroin was found in her bag by Cambodian authorities. Yoshe Ann Taylor was arrested at Phnom Penh airport in September 2013 and has since spent three years behind bars, reported The Sydney Morning Herald. Precious now resides in prison thanks to the Australian Federal Police The 44-year-old was the unwitting victim of Precious Max who this time supposedly posed as an arts and crafts dealer. The relationship between the pair was well developed as Precious Max created an online relationship with Taylor for one year. Nwoko then offered to pay for Taylor's airline ticket to travel to Cambodia once a certain level of trust was established. It was during Taylor's third trip to country when Nwoko asked her to take some artworks back to Australia in her backpack. However Taylor did not get far after she was caught at the airport by Cambodia police who were tipped with information provided by Australian Federal Police, claim the publication. Nwoko was arrested shortly after Taylor. She is appealing her conviction and is due to find out on December 6. In June 2016, AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin was in Phnom Penh to sign a deal with Cambodian police on a deal to combat illegal drug trade. Commissioner Colvin said the aim of the deal is to 'protect our respective communities and to bring to justice those that seek to profit from transnational crime'. Precious (left) was jailed after a tip off from the Australian Federal Police to Cambodian authorities A man has been found dead in bushland almost 12 hours after he was in a horror helicopter crash with rescuers not realising a second person was on board. The body of the 25-year-old male was discovered at the crash sight in dense bush land about 30km from Mount Carbine, west of Port Douglas at 10am on Saturday, the ABC reported. The helicopter went down on Friday afternoon, sparking a huge bush fire and emergency services managed to rescue the pilot. But due to the pilot's deteriorated condition, he was unable to inform them a second person was on board until hours later. Emergency services at the crash sight in dense bush land where the body of a 25-year-old male passenger was found The passenger's body was found in Mount Carbine, west of Port Douglas on Saturday morning 'We had to make a significant number of inquiries and investigative leads and processes in order to obtain that there was a second person,' Senior Sergeant James Coates said. Senior Sergeant James Coates told the media the 25-year-old deceased man from Kewarra Beach north of Cairns was a sub-contractor hired for national parks and wildlife service to conduct maintenance work of remote area facilities. Sergeant Coates said up to 50 rescuers were involved with the rescue in the extremely harsh and inhospitable terrain, which he added was very difficult for rescue crews to get to. 'The passenger was located at the crash scene unfortunately due to the type and extent of the crash it made it extremely difficult to locate the deceased,' he said. What caused the crash is still unknown and the aircraft was subject to forensic investigation. The matter is now subject to a coronial investigation. A paramedic winched the 43-year-old male pilot who survived the crash. He was taken to Cairns Base Hospital (stock image) The 43-year-old male pilot, from Marlborough, survived the crash on Friday afternoon and was found thanks to a satellite system beacon that sparked a search and rescue. Emergency services located the pilot 50km west of Port Douglas thanks to a distress beacon linked to a MEOSAR satellite system and a paramedic was winched to the injured survivor, SBS reported. He was taken to Cairns Base Hospital in a stable condition where he was treated for injuries including a head laceration. Sergeant Coates said the pilot's current condition is critical, but stable. Multiple agencies were involved in the search, which was sparked after police received a call (stock image) Multiple agencies were involved in the search on Friday afternoon, which was sparked after police received a call concerning about the aircraft. A rescue helicopter from Townsville and a Rescue 510 helicopter were involved in the search, reported Perth Now. A father has recalled the moment he caught the man accused of pouring petrol on himself and setting a Commonwealth Bank on fire. Junior Dean was one of the first bystanders on the scene at the Springvale bank, in Melbourne's south-east, on Monday at 11.30am when an explosion injured 27 people. Mr Dean found the accused culprit in the rear of the bank attempting to send a message from his phone, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. Scroll down for video It's alleged that the man (centre) doused himself in accelerant and set himself alight sparking an explosion in the bank The father recalled seeing the man ready to flee on foot and the strong smell of petrol emitted - which was not present on victims. 'I could smell petrol on his body when I pulled him out,' Mr Dean said. 'I could see he was prepared to run. The staff and customers started to move away from him. I grabbed him by the shoulder and nudged him to the laneway fence.' Mr Dean questioned the accused why he started the fire before police arrived. Junior Dean recalled catching the man accused of starting the fire and the overwhelming smell of petrol Chilling CCTV footage has captured the moment a man walked toward a bank with a plastic container filled with liquid, minutes before it was set alight 'He said, "The bank moved me from here to here and I got sick of it",' Mr Dean said. Earlier chilling CCTV footage of the moment a man walked towards a bank with a plastic container filled with liquid, minutes before it was set alight, was revealed. The Herald Sun have revealed the man is Burmese refugee, Islam Nur. Footage shows a man, believed to be the offender, walking past Asmara Cafe with an empty plastic container to a service station and returning with it full of liquid. He was seen heading toward the bank just six minutes before the explosion. Police are reviewing the footage as part of their investigation into the fireThe footage shows the man walking quickly toward the service station, wearing an orange shirt and beige trousers. Footage shows a man, believed to be the offender, walking past Asmara Cafe with an empty plastic container to a service station and returning with it full of liquid A 21-year-old Springvale man (second left with police officer) has been taken to hospital in a serious condition and is under police guard A light brown liquid can be seen in the container as he walks back. It is believed he went to the Springvale Caltex to fill up the container he found discarded out the front of the cafe. A Caltex spokesperson said the service station was closed and staff were cooperating with police. The offender is believed to be an asylum seeker from Myanmar in Australia on a bridging visa, The Herald Sun reported. A hero tradesman credited with rescuing many of the victims after he ran into the inferno with a fire extinguisher, said he heard a man arguing with bank tellers just before smoke billowed out the doors. 'This kid comes running out, all burnt, screaming his head off, skin coming off, blood everywhere,' Ash Atkin-Fone said. A light brown liquid can be seen in the container as he walks back toward the bank Just after 5.30pm, an Alfred Hospital spokesperson confirmed six people were still being treated for burns, but only one patient was still in a critical condition. Witness Daniel Chau told Daily Mail Australia he was grabbing lunch when he saw people running out of the bank with their faces covered in charcoal. 'I saw a man run out of the bank with his hands burnt, skin peeling off,' he said. 'The man was dragging his hand out of something. All I could hear was him screaming. He was screaming like mad. It was awful. Everyone was running and jumping around like mad. Another guy was covered in ashes. There was a lot of smoke. Another witness said the man became agitated after he was unable to withdraw funds from the ATM and went to retrieve the petrol to set it alight. Hero tradesman Ash Atkin-Fone credited said he heard a man arguing with bank tellers just before smoke billowed out the doors The scene has been taped off as the Critical Incident Team investigates Video footage shows officers speaking with the man as he holds a knife Police are currently negotiating with the partially-masked man Police have arrested a knife-wielding man after a tense stand-off that lasted almost four hours in Flemington, in Melbourne's northwest. Video footage shows police negotiating with the partially-masked man earlier on Saturday in the lobby of an apartment building, 9News reported. The armed man, shirtless with long hair and sunglasses, appeared disoriented as he paced back and forth towards the elevators while officers surrounded him. Scroll down for video Police have arrested a knife-wielding man after a tense stand-off in Flemington, in Melbourne's northwes Video footage shows police negotiating with the partially-masked man earlier on Saturday in the lobby of an apartment building Heavily armed authorities later escorted the man outside the apartment block in handcuffs. Police arrived at the scene at around 1pm on Saturday after reports that the man had locked himself inside the apartment block on Racecourse Road. The area has been closed off as the Critical Incident Response Team investigates. Heavily armed authorities later escorted the man outside the apartment block in handcuffs Police arrived at the scene at around 1pm on Saturday after reports that the man had locked himself inside the apartment block on Racecourse Road The armed man, shirtless with long hair and sunglasses, appeared disoriented as he paced back and forth towards the elevators while officers surrounded him Donald Trump revealed that he may have been driven to success by a need to one-up his father's business success in a revealing edition of Fox News's 'OBJECTified' Friday. Invited to talk about his relationship with his father, Trump said: 'I don't think I wanted to outdo him, but maybe psychologically I did. You're always looking to do a little better than your parents deep down inside, maybe I did.' He also talked about being sent to military school to curb his rebellious nature and opened up about his dead brother Freddy - but avoided saying whether he or Melania wins their arguments. Memories: In Fox News's 'OBJECTified' Friday, Trump opened up about his past, saying that he 'probably' subconsciously wanted to one-up his father as a young businessman Proud: Trump said his father, Frank Sr (pictured right) was 'tough' but 'loving', and that the old man was 'proud' of what his son had achieved with his career The show, recorded a month and a half ago, saw Trump walking host Harry Levin around his home in Trump Tower, New York City, and showing off some of his most prized possessions. Among them were photos of his father, Frank Trump Sr. 'He was sort of everything,' Trump said of his dad. 'He was for me the mentor, best friend he had the whole ball game. Terrific.' And while he may have been in competition with his father - who made his fortune building and selling high rises in Queens, compared to the skyscrapers Trump has in Manhttan - he says his dad thought the world of him. 'He was very proud of the buildings I built and the success that I had,' he said. 'And he lived to be almost 93 years old so he got to see a lot of it.' Trump spent the earliest years of his life in a five-bedroom mock Tudor house in Queens, before the family moved to a more substantial mansion as his dad's fortune mounted up. He admitted that he was 'probably spoiled' as a child, but said his parents were 'tough' - though they never hit him. 'The wooden spoon,' Trump recalled, 'my mother would say "I'll get the wooden spoon!" But she never got it, she was a big talker that way. 'That wasn't their world, they were firm but very loving. My father was kind, very loving - but a tough guy.' That, he said, was why his father sent him to a military school - to curb his natural inclination for rebellion. Tough love: Trump was sent to military school as a teen because of his 'rambunctious' attitude. Here he's pictured left as a three-year-old and right in military school Captain: Trump (highlighted) graduated with the rank of Captain. His parents had hoped he would learn not to 'talk out of turn' - but his critics might question how well that took hold 'I was just somebody that was rebellious,' he recalled, '[but] compared to what you're reading about today this is minor stuff... in class I was smart person but I would be very rambunctious. I'd talk way out of turn.' Some might question how much the military school changed him in that regard, but it did have one effect on him, he said: 'I have a feeling for the military and it was partially because of that.' He also opened up about his older brother, Freddy Jr, who died in 1981 of complications related to his alcoholism. He was 'the best,' Trump said. 'Very handsome guy, everybody loved him, much better person than me - he had a tremendous heart and I have heart, I love people but he had something very special.' Trump himself said he avoided touching booze because he was so scared of going the same way, after Freddy's example. Special:' Trump said that his brother Freddy Jr (center) was 'special' and 'a much, much better person than me' - but he died in 1981 due to complications from alcoholism Strict: Trump says he tells all of his children not to drink, smoke or take drugs; he himself is frightened to touch alcohol in case he has a genetic predisposition to alcoholism 'The nice part is if you don't drink you dont have to worry about it,' he said. 'I do have a personality that youd carry me out of this room one day, you never know,' he said. When pressed, he elaborated: 'You don't know - you think you just drink a bit, in moderation, but if you have the gene I dont know if you can.' For that reason, Trump has demanded his children stay away from alcohol, drugs and cigarettes - though Donald Jr had a now-ended brush with boozy living that 'surprised' him, he said. He admitted, though, that Melania was the boss at home, and did the lion's share of raising their son, Barron. Levin asked whether Melania tended to win their arguments at home. 'She has great sense, great common sense, she has a certain understanding of the world thats pretty good,' Trump said, deferring. So it sounds like while Donald Trump will become the most powerful man in the world soon, he's no match for the most powerful woman. Fierce debate has been sparked on social media after an elderly man with a walking stick was left standing on a packed tube with no one offering him a seat. The man was on the London Underground Circle Line when fellow standing commuter Piotr Peter Skupny took the picture. Mr Skupny travelled for four stops watching the elderly man standing and holding on to both a pole and his walking stick, but no one ever offered him a seat. A pictured shared on a community Facebook page has sparked outrage after an elderly man was left standing for at least four stops with out ever being offered a seat on a circle line train on the London Underground He posted the image onto a community Facebook group called S*** London on Wednesday evening, where users can share images or stories showcasing their frustration with the capital. And it has sparked debate with more than a thousand reactions, and over 300 comments with most people expressing their outrage at the sight, whilst others say they have offered elderly people seats before and they have said no or even been offended by the offer. Christo Manmohan commented: I feel sick ,poor man ,these people think that one day they will be old and frail but don't think to offer there seat. Jeashper Bronslon said: Disgraceful, yeah a lot of kids lately haven't been taught proper manners but the older passengers have no excuse. Marta G Fernandez added: This image is disgusting. I would ask aloud to give up their seat at once. Unbelievable. But others believed the man had probably been offered a seat but had said no. Gav Parrott said: He may have refused a seat. This happened when I offered once. If he hasn't then shame on them. Some social media users expressed their disgust, but others argued the man had probably already been offered a seat but had refused Per Viktor Enstrom added: It's not uncommon at all that old people *doesn't* want seats that are offered, because it's often harder for them to sit/get up than it is to just stand for the journey. But of course it's more fun to just judge an entire trainload of people. Anthony Bennett agreed: Don't forget people that once on the move some elderly can't sit down because they can't get up again! The sister-in-law of a slain hitman has been charged with assaulting a Sky News reporter outside a Sydney court. Reporter Amy Greenbank almost suffered a serious eye injury when the wife of Tarek Assaad - who was denied bail on firearms charges on Friday - shoved a camera into her face. Footage taken immediately after the incident showed a trickle of blood running down Ms Greenbank's face and neck. Scroll down for video Reporter Amy Greenbank (left) almost suffered a serious eye injury when the wife of Tarek Assaad - who was denied bail on firearms charges on Friday - shoved a camera into her face Moments later, blood was seen streaming down Greenbanks's face from a wound just millimetres above her eye She later took to Twitter to reassure well-wishers, posting a smiling picture of her patched-up eyebrow with the caption: 'Eventful day but I'm fine. Thanks for all your well wishes!' NSW Police on Saturday said a 31-year-old woman arrived at Bankstown Police Station shortly after midday. She has been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and is due to front Bankstown Local Court on December 14. The brave journalist, who joined Sky as a weather reporter but is also an anchor for the news channel, required medical treatment after the clash. She was outside court after a court hearing for Tarek Assaad - the brother of murdered gangster Hamad Assaad. The sister-in-law of a slain hitman has been charged with assaulting a Sky News reporter outside Sydney court NSW Police on Saturday said a 31-year-old woman arrived at Bankstown Police Station shortly after midday The hijab-clad woman clashed with the media pack after her husband Tarek Assaad was denied bail on firearms charges Greenbank is used to encountering tough challenges when reporting, having travelled to the Middle East to interview Syrian refugees at camps in Jordan. She also covered a tsunami in Samoa in 2009 and was part of Sky News' coverage of typhoon Haiyan, which devastated the Philippines in 2013. Tarek Assaad was arrested on Thursday night at his house in Sydney, which is just a few doors down from where his brother was shot gunned down in October. A loaded Glock handgun and almost 30 rounds of ammunition was allegedly found in his home, as well as drugs including cocaine and steroids. Tarek Assaad (pictured) the brother of slain underworld figure Hamad Assaad was arrested by police on Thursday night at his home in western Sydney The arrests come less than a month after Hamad Assaad (pictured) was executed in his driveway on October 25 Officers from the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad search a vehicle during their raids on the two homes on Thursday night Hamad Assaad, a prominent underworld figure and renowned hitman, was shot dead in front of his young nephew In court on Friday, Assaad denied he knew the gun and ammunition was in his house and offered a $115,000 surety and said he would adhere to a night curfew to get bail. But Magistrate Elaine Truscott said it was hard to believe the wholesale tyre sales manager was unaware of their presence. 'I find it impossible to believe that the defendant did not know there was a loaded firearm in a drawer in his TV cabinet,' she said, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Because some of the ammunition was in his car parked outside, she said it appeared he may be 'intending to imminently use it'. A brazen thief repeatedly strolled into a warehouse and helped himself to large quantities of meat - because a witchdoctor had convinced him he was invisible. When he was eventually caught, police had to rescue the man from an angry mob who stripped him naked and beat him before attempting to lynch him. Thinking no one could see him, after being sold a charm by a witchdoctor, the butcher kept on visiting the warehouse and stuffed slabs of meat into his sack. The man repeatedly visited the warehouse, thinking he was invisible, and stuffed large slabs of meat into a bag Because he looked confident, staff thought he was there legitimately and did not question him - until it emerged that the equivalent of several cows and half a dozen sheep were missing. The next time the thief wandered in, a worker got suspicious and questioned him. But thinking he was invisible, he carried on until the warehouse worker started shouting: 'Stop! Thief!' The man was stripped naked and beaten by an angry mob which wanted to kill him for practising witchcraft At this point he was grabbed, beaten and stripped naked and already had a rope around his neck to be lynched before police arrived and rescued him. He was then taken to a jail in the city of Enugu in south-eastern Nigerian Enugu State where he is facing charges of stealing from the warehouse attached to a local abattoir. According to Egwuatu Chukz, who shared the photo, the Hausa man casually strolled into the warehouse, brought out a sack and started stuffing large chunks of meat into it, completely ignoring the fact that there were other people around. He said charms were found around the young man's leg, which locals also believed had been used to make him invisible on previous occasions. As a result they wanted to kill him for practising witchcraft. Police spokesman Ebere Amaraizu confirmed that an investigation was being carried out. A search and rescue operation is underway after a nine-year-old boy went missing following a jet-ski crash on a lake near Mount Isa in north-west Queensland. At around 11am, a 34-year-old man and his six-year-old son were riding the jet-ski when it crashed into the edge of Lake Moondarra, striking the nine-year-old boy as he stood on the bank. The man sustained head and spinal injuries and the six-year-old boy has suffered spinal and leg injuries, according to Queensland Ambulance. A search and rescue operation is underway after a nine-year-old boy went missing following a jet-ski crash on a lake near Mount Isa in north-west Queensland (pictured) A search and rescue operation is underway after a nine-year-old boy went missing following a jet-ski crash on Lake Moondarra near Mount Isa in north-west Queensland Both were taken to Mt Isa Hospital. Despite an extensive search of the area with a helicopter, ground and swift water rescue crews, the nine-year-old boy hasn't been seen since being hit by the craft in the shallows of the lake. Queensland Police Superintendent Kev Guteridge told ABC News that the jet-ski was being ridden at a very high speed, but are unsure of the circumstances of the actual crash. 'For some reason, the jet ski has collided with the bank, which also resulted in the young nine-year-old boy being struck by the jet ski at high speed, tragically as a result of that the boy we believe was thrown in the water he hasn't been sighted since.' 'The father and son who were located were thrown onto the bank after the impact.' Mount Isa Police are investigating the cause of the crash. Eastern part of Aleppo is being bombed by Russian-backed regime forces The video stops as an explosion - thought to be a rocket - is heard outside This Syrian baby was smiling contently at her father when a bomb exploded just outside their family home in the besieged city of Aleppo. The two-month-old girl grins and flaps her hands with pleasure as her father films, before the blast goes off moments later. The pair were reportedly unharmed, but the video - uploaded on Thursday - gives a disturbing insight into the suffering of civilians during the ongoing bombardment. The two-month-old girl grins and flaps her hands with pleasure as her father films The eastern part of the Syrian city is being bombed by Russian-backed government forces, who are determined to dislodge the rebels who control it. The explosion heard in the film is likely to have been a rocket or an artillery bomb. More than 250,000 residents live in the area being targeted by regime forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad. Assad's forces have dropped barrel bombs - crude unguided explosive devices which kill indiscriminately and have been condemned by human rights groups. On Friday, rescue workers said it was too dangerous to move around bomb-scarred neighbourhoods because of intense artillery fire. 'I have never heard such intense artillery bombardments,' said Najib Fakhoury, head of the White Helmets volunteer rescue group in the rebel-held Ansari district. Shortly after the father began filming, a blast went off outside their home, prompting him to stop filming Regime shelling of one of east Aleppo's few functioning hospitals put it out of service late yesterday. The rebels hit back by firing rockets into government-held areas of the city, killing five people including two girls, according to State media. Details have surfaced on the lavish and lawless lifestyle of Pasquale Barbaro, who was executed and left in a pool of blood on the street this month. Sources have described a heated-exchange between the underworld figure and a leader of the notorious Brothers 4 Life (B4L) gang in Sydney's upscale Rockpool Bar and Grill in July, reports Sydney Morning Herald. B4L kingpin Khaled Hamzy - the sibling of the group's notorious Bankstown chapter leader Mohammed - provoked Barbaro over a jail-yard brawl while he was dining with a girlfriend. Chantel Baptista, a professional dancer, broke her silence on Friday when she told Daily Mail Australia she was grieving for her slain lover and his family. It is not known if she was the woman reportedly with Barbaro on the night of the Rockpool incident. Scroll down for video Details have surfaced on the night Pasquale Barbaro (left) was confronted while eating out. Barbaro's flame Chantel Baptista (right) broke her silence over his killing on Friday, telling Daily Mail Australia she was grieving his death The conflict stemmed from a brawl between Brothers 4 Life kingpin Mohammed Hamzy (pictured) and Barbaro in jail, in which Mohammed's came out on top An eyewitness to the confrontation said Barbaro, who amassed legions of enemies for his arrogant manner, shied away from a physical confrontation. 'He always had bodyguards because if there was dramas he would never sort it out himselfHe was a weakling,' the unnamed source told the publication. The conflict reportedly arose from a brawl between Mohammed Hamzy and Barbaro in jail, in which Mohammed's came out on top. Barbaro nonetheless mouthed off about the fight, driving B4L members to demand a $300,000 payment from Barbaro to maintain peace, which he paid. However tensions boiled over when Khaled stumbled into Barbaro in the plush restaurant, another instance of his high-stakes lifestyle coming to crises. 'There are many people that would have wanted to knock him for what Pasquale did to them,' the source said. The heated exchange took place inside Sydney's upscale Rockpool Bar and Grill (pictured) in July Ms Baptista, a professional dancer, broke her silence on Friday told Daily Mail Australia she was grieving for her slain lover and his family Inside sources say Barbaro had no shortage of enemies in the underworld circles he ran in On Friday Ms Baptista's Facebook was met with an outpouring of support from family and friends. 'I am grieving I'm really sad for his family too,' Ms Baptista told Daily Mail Australia. Barbaro tried in vain to run for his life before he was executed with a shot to the head at about 9.40pm on Monday. Almost a year before the day to his death, Barbaro miraculously survived another attempt on his life - walking away unscathed from a hail of bullets in Leichhardt. Barbaro was executed and left in a pool of blood on the street of Earlwood earlier this week Police from the NSW Public Order and Riot squad arrive at the scene of the fatal shooting Two other men who share Barbaro's name - his grandfather and his cousin - suffered the same fate as the heavily-tattooed criminal. Pasquale 'Peter' Barbaro, 58, was stabbed and shot in 1990 as his new wife begged for his life in Brisbane. A four-year-old boy is being treated for shock after he witnessed his father being torn apart by a tractor. The man was killed after a shaft caught his jacket and pulled him into the machinery. His young son was found standing next to the tractor shouting: 'Daddy, wake up.' The 28-year-old had taken his son with him because he planned to finish as soon as possible and take the boy to his sister's house for a family party. The 28-year-old had taken his son with him because he planned to finish as soon as possible and take the boy to his sister's house for a family party The man, identified only as Slavoljub R., was hooking up a pump to his tractor when the tragedy happened. The accident happened in the town of Velika Plana in central Serbia, when Slavoljub was disposing of manure. A neighbour called Nenad discovered the scene. The accident happened in the town of Velika Plana in central Serbia, when Slavoljub was disposing of manure He said: 'The boy could not have approached him. He saw that his father had died. The kid stood by the tractor, shouting "Daddy, wake up!"' A relative of the deceased said: 'He bent over the PTO (power take-off) shaft to fix something when the machine pulled his jacket and killed him. The poor man was calling for help, but other than the child there was no one.' The jaw-dropping avalanche scene in Planet Earth was recycled from the first series 10 years ago. The BBC showed the impressive shots as part of a minute-long sequence last Sunday. The next scene then cut to a family of bears emerging from the remains of an avalanche, to illustrate the problems the natural phenomenon has on the species. Presenter Sir David Attenborough describes the bears' situation by saying: 'The debris from an avalanche is clear evidence this slope is still dangerously unstable.' While many will have linked the same avalanche they watched to the family of bears emerging, it appears the footage of the snowslide was picked out from the archives of the first series in 2006. While many will have linked the same avalanche they watched to the family of bears emerging, it appears the footage of the snowslide was picked out from the archives of the first series in 2006 The second episode of Planet Earth II saw a huge chunk of the mountainside thunder south, prompting Sir David's interesting interpretation of the word The jaw-dropping avalanche scene in Planet Earth was recycled from the first series 10 years ago Viewers were gripped by the sight of brown bears emerging from their winter hideaway with their newborn cubs Watch how you go! Attenborough's 'avalanche' came into play frequently as he narrated a scene which showed two tiny cubs trying not to get caught up in a snow slide But the BBC insists it make no connection between the two scenes. The show's executive producer Mike Gunton told Daily Mirror: 'We don't ever say that those bears are on the same slope as the avalanche that you just saw. 'We are saying generically that avalanches are a problem.' A spokesman for BBC added: 'In Natural History programming, we sometimes augment our sequences with footage which was originally shot for other productions. 'We are always conscious of the need to manage budgets on our projects carefully. 'Sharing or re-using footage is one of the ways we ensure the licence fee payer gets the best value for money, and enables us to use our budgets to maximise the amount of truly extraordinary, new animal behaviour and natural phenomena in our series' Educating the nation, one word at a time: many fans of the show took to Twitter to comment on the way Sir David, 90, said 'avalanche' - and opinion was largely divided The scene was also criticised last week for the way Attenborough pronounced 'avalanche'. On Monday night the naturalist found himself becoming a figure of fun on social media over his pronunciation of the word avalanche. A record-breaking 10.6million viewers tuned in for the second installment of Planet Earth II on BBC 1 on Sunday night and plenty could not resist ribbing Sir David claiming he pronounced the word as 'averlaunch'. It was used frequently during an exhilarating segment that saw grizzly bears emerge from their dens after hibernating high up on snowy slopes. Attenborough opened the segment with the line: 'An avalanche; a 100,000 tonnes of snow travelling at 80mph, capable of smashing everything in its path.' They emerge in spring and the mothers must lead their newborns down to the valleys where the spring melt comes earliest and they can finally begin to feed on new growth. Viewers suggested that his pronunciation was actually more like: 'averrlarnche', with a particularly soft French twist on the end of the word. How a Planet Earth II cameraman was turned into a human eagle The Planet Earth II team managed to film golden eagles, which are found throughout the mountain ranges of Europe, Russia, north-west Africa, Asia and North America - and have outstanding aerial speed and manoeuvrability for their large size The latest episode provided a great challenge for the crew, who wanted to give viewers intimate glimpses into the secretive lives of mountain animals, which are amongst the most elusive in the world. The Planet Earth II team managed to film golden eagles, which are found throughout the mountain ranges of Europe, Russia, north-west Africa, Asia and North America - and have outstanding aerial speed and manoeuvrability for their large size. After the show aired, the team amazed audiences as they explained how they parachuted through the skies in a bid to mimic the movement of a golden eagle to get the very best camera shots. Golden eagles are one of the few birds powerful enough to fly at high altitude in the world's great mountain ranges. Sunday night's Planet Earth II episode showed a stunning equally stunning sequence that saw the bird sparring with an opponent To experience the beautiful but perilous world through the eyes of a majestic golden eagle, Planet Earth II turned to a very special camera team. Their partnership was filmed over the course of a winter in the high Alps. The footage they returned with captured a glimpse of this high altitude world, from the perspective of a soaring eagle. Justin Anderson, Mountains Episode Producer, said: 'We wanted to film golden eagles swooping in the mountains at 200mph. 'We got the footage, but to get the perspective of the bird, we employed a world champion paraglider, fitted him out with cameras and crossed over into the world of extreme sport. 'New territory for us and a real learning experience for everyone. We needed a shot of him buzzing down the side of a mountain, and we got it in the end by getting him to fly tandem with a cameraman who had never flown before. He made a very high pitched scream on the way down!' Advertisement It's also not the first scene that has been revealed as fake. In footage that appeared to show a wild golden eagle's view of a mountainous habitat was actually filmed using a captive bird that lives in a wildlife sanctuary in France. The tame eagle, known as Slovak, was filmed swooping over the Alps at speeds of up to 200mph - taking viewers with it via a 'lipstick' camera strapped to its back. In a video on its website, the BBC confirms that Slovak, who resides at the Park les Aigles du Leman, was turned into a cameraman using his professional bird trainer. In the second hour-long episode on Sunday, the predator, which boasts a seven-foot wingspan, was seen dive-bombing through the mountains to feed on the corpse of a red fox; footage viewers said left them 'lost for words.' Some viewers expressed their disbelief, with Charl writing: 'Man, Planet Earth 2 was mental last night. They strapped a camera to an eagle. GANDALF VISION OR WHAT?' Advertisement The first official week of Schoolies has gotten off to a wild start with school-leavers brawling, vomiting and passing out before 8pm. A total of 13 people were arrested in just 12 hours on the Gold Coast and police, the SES and paramedics were in full force at Surfers Paradise on Saturday. A young man was pictured in tears with blood pouring down his face as he was handcuffed by police officers and another woman surrounded in vomit was comforted by Red Frog volunteers as she sipped water. Scroll down for video A young man is escorted by police with his face covered in blood after appearing to be in a brawl Two teenage boys were captured as the police appeared to go through their bags, pulling out small plastic zip lock bags Worse for wear? One teenage girl was unable to keep down fluids as she sat down for a break with a vomit bag A girl is wheeled away by paramedics as SES workers hold a plastic bag over her mouth On Saturday night, the teenage party-goers took to Surfers Paradise once more to dance the night away. Two male teenagers shot dirty looks at police officers who appeared to ask to search their backpacks. On Friday night one 17-year-old male Schoolie was arrested on The Esplanade in Surfers Paradise around 11.30pm after police allegedly located a small amount of tablets believed to be MDMA and a sum of cash on him. He has been charged with four drug related offences including possess dangerous drug, possess property used in connection (with drugs) and possess proceeds. There were 12 people arrested on 23 charges which were non-schoolies. The majority of the non-schoolies arrested related to public nuisance and drug possession offences. Others struggled to keep fluids down and required vomit bags as the night went on. Earlier in the day the high school graduates were seen relaxing on the balconies of their residences. A man attending Schoolies is escorted away by police A schoolies partygoer is handcuffed and escorted by the police The schoolies partygoer is loaded into a paddy wagon The bruised and bloodied teen is in tears as he is escorted by police with blood all over his face The first official day of Schoolies has kicked off and the celebrations have lived up to its wild reputation But year 12 students already began their annual pilgrimage to Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast on Friday night In trouble? The teenage boy appears to be questioned by the police officer Two teenage boys stick up their middle fingers to the camera while police appear to be searching their belongings High school graduates danced the night away, dropping to the dance floor and lifting their hands in the air Photos showed teenage girls passed out in bushes and others showing off their dance moves by dropping to the floor A group of boys in tropical clothing walk down a strip in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast where the festivities are held On Saturday night, the teenage party-goers took to Surfers Paradise once more to dance the night away Thousands of revellers pack a mosh pit to dance the night away in celebration of the end of high school Earlier in the day the high school graduates were seen relaxing on the balconies of their residences Schoolies runs over three weeks from November 19 to December 11 For many, the night was over before it even started A man and woman pose for the camera on their balcony as the sun sets on the first night of Schoolies A local captures the massive crowds at Surfers Paradise for end of high school celebrations Two friends with cups in their hands getting ready for first night of Schoolies Two girls pose for the camera on their apartment balcony on the first night of Schoolies Tourists visiting the Gold Coast snap up a photo with the police Girls hang out on their apartment balcony during the day as they wait for festivities to begin A teenage boy sits on top of his friend's shoulders as he dances to the music in a mosh pit Giant inflatable balls bounce across the mosh pit as partygoers dance Colourful, neon lights light up the stage as teenagers engage in festivities A teenage girl passionately dances along to the music in a mosh pit on the Gold Coast Party rock is in the house tonight! Teenagers from around Australia jump for joy in the mosh pit to celebrate the end of HSC exams An aerial shot captures the raving beach side parties at Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast for Schoolies 2016 A group of girls sporting halter neck crop tops and short shorts pose before going out to party A group of teenage girls take a group selfie during Schoolies celebrations with police patrolling the area in the background A Schoolies partygoer carries a box of Corona Extra beer with his shoes atop A girl points in shock and two young men look at a phone during Schoolies festivities Police had to be called in to control excited pilgrims who flocked to an Indian village to see a statute of Jesus Christ seeping 'holy water'. Believers gathered in Kharodi, near Mumbai, to collect fluid flowing off the figurine's feet. Words of the apparent miracle spread quickly after it was noticed by locals in the predominantly Catholic village. Believers gathered in Kharodi, near Mumbai, to collect fluid flowing off the figurine's feet Words of the apparent miracle spread quickly after it was noticed by locals in the predominantly Catholic village People collected the water to take away and use for its supposed healing properties. Greg Periera, a resident of nearby village Malwani, said people were travelling from miles away to witness the phenomenon. He said: 'The pictures and videos of the statue soon went viral as devotees from Andheri and Bandra rushed to the spot to check for themselves. 'We also saw people from far-off suburbs collecting holy water from the feet.' Only a very small number of similar occurrences have been accepted by the Catholic Church as valid miracles, with numerous others proven to be hoaxes. People collected the water to take away and use for its supposed healing properties Greg Periera, a resident of nearby village Malwani, said people were travelling fro miles away to witness the phenomenon. Pictured: 'holy water' dripping of one of the statue's feet But it has accepted some modern events as miracles, such as the recovery from Parkinson's Disease of Marie Simon-Pierre, attributed to the late Pope John Paul II. Claims of miracles that are never confirmed by the Church are common. An Islamic State leader has spoken out about his life as one of the world's most wanted terrorists in a startlingly frank interview. In the sensational interview, Rachid Kassim claimed beheading ISIS prisoners was 'a pleasure' and said the saddest thing about fleeing France for Syria was leaving his pet cat behind. He is one of the world's most wanted men after he was linked to a string of terror attacks in Europe, including the murder of a Catholic priest near Normandy in France, and the slaughter of a policeman and his partner near Paris. Rachid Kassim is one of the world's most wanted men after he was linked to a string of terror attacks in Europe Kassim gave his first on-the-record interview to Washington-based academic Amarnath Amarasingam, who researches jihadism French-born Kassim also appeared in a propaganda video for Islamic State just six days after Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhel murdered 86 people in the July Nice terror attack, which took place in on Bastille Day. In the footage he praised the attack, promised more atrocities in France, and beheaded a prisoner on film. The 29-year-old is also believed to have run an encrypted app called Telegram, used by jihadists to share tips on how to carry out terror attacks. French-born Kassim appeared in a propaganda video for Islamic State just six days after Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhel murdered 86 people in the July Nice terror attack Kassim praised the actions of Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhel, who murdered 86 people in the July Nice terror attack Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, a 31-year-old Tunisianm drove a truck into a crowd watching a fireworks display on Bastille Day The app was taken offline by French security services in September. Kassim gave the on-the-record interview to Washington-based academic Amarnath Amarasingam, who researches jihadism, the Mirror reports. When asked how it had felt to behead a prisoner, he said: 'To behead an animal, it would be difficult, with enemies of Allah, it is a pleasure.' Kassim, also known as Ibn Qassim. also revealed that he fled France after being placed under constant surveillance because of his radical views. Kassim has been linked to the murder of priest Jacques Hamel in the church of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, Normandy He left for Syria in the middle of the night, taking his wife and young daughter with him with just 1,500 Euros in his pocket. 'I thought of attacking France when I was there, and my family was afraid because of it,' he said. 'The cops knew about me. Every time I went jogging, there were always two cops following me. Then they hide. It was ridiculous. 'We left everything behind. Especially my cat. I had a wonderful cat that I left in Gaziantep. It was one of the saddest things about my hijrah (migration to Syria).' The terror leader, who said he does not fear the defeat of ISIS in Mosul, also claimed that any attempts made by western authorities to stop jihadists travelling to Syria would only result in more atrocities on home soil. 'We believe that even a small attack in dar ul-kufr (non-Muslim lands) is better than a big attack in Syria,' he said. 'As the door of hijrah closes, the door of jihad opens. If I stayed in dar ul-kufr, I would do an attack there.' He also used his first on the record interview to encourage his followers to carry out more atrocities. Jessica Knowles has revealed she and her estranged husband Nick are 'dating again' following their split earlier this year. This comes after a tumultuous year for the 28-year-old, after she suffered a miscarriage and was diagnosed with cervical cancer in June. Adding the pair were 'taking things slowly', Jessica revealed DIY SOS presenter Nick wanted to reunite at the time she received her diagnosis, but it was 'too much' for her. Scroll down for video Jessica Knowles said: 'We are getting to know each other again. In a way it feels like entering a new relationship' Jessica with her son Eddie: The television presenter has had a difficult year, but says she and her husband Nick are working on their marriage Earlier this week Nick Knowles also revealed the pair were happily working on their marriage again and ensuring their two-year-old son remains their priority Jessica told The Mirror's Emily Retter: 'We are getting to know each other again. In a way it feels like entering a new relationship.' Nick and Jessica - who share a 26-year age gap - wed in Rome in 2012, and announced their separation in January, however, this week he was spotted moving personal items back into her home. In July, the 28-year-old TV presenter announced she had been diagnosed with cervical cancer, and later revealed that Nick had been helping her through the illness. Two months later, Nick was seen cosying up to Gemma Oaten at the TV Choice Awards. Just three days after she and Nick announced their split, Jessica suffered a miscarriage. Shortly afterwards, her grandmother died. Jessica said her husband had wanted to reunite their family sooner, telling The Mirror: 'Nick made it clear at that time that he wanted to be a family, back together. 'But I didn't want to. To try and rebuild a marriage and relationship while dealing with cancer was too much.' Just three days after she and Nick announced their split, Jessica suffered a miscarriage. Shortly afterwards, her grandmother died DIY SOS star Nick Knowles has been spotted moving personal items into his estranged wife Jessica's home Nick Knowles said: He continued: 'Our essential point has to be our son Eddie, he's a real joy' Earlier this week Nick Knowles also revealed the pair were happily working on their marriage again and ensuring their two-year-old son remains their priority. Speaking on Tuesday's episode of Lorraine, the 54-year-old DIY SOS presenter confirmed his wife had accompanied him to the ITV studios for the chat, as he revealed: 'W e're working on our relationship.' To try and rebuild a marriage and relationship while dealing with cancer was too much He continued: 'Our essential point has to be our son Eddie, he's a real joy.' Touching on their reconciliation, he added that they had been keeping busy, explaining: 'Throughout difficulties - Jess went through a terrible time with cancer and now she's an ambassador at Jo's Trust and shes doing an incredible job with that - but we're always travelling in and out in London... 'We're not going to work out our relationship in the public eyes but we remain the best of friends and first and foremost we are parents to Eddie.' 'Best friends': In July, Jessica was diagnosed with cervical cancer, and revealed that Nick had been helping her through it Stepping out together: Speaking on Tuesday's episode of Lorraine , the 54-year-old DIY SOS presenter confirmed his wife had accompanied him to the ITV studios for the chat Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten claimed she and the DIY SOS presenter did enjoy a romance, which ended suddenly once their relationship became public knowledge. She told The Mirror they were in bed together as the pictures of their cosy moment appeared, which allegedly lead him to change his demeanor. Gemma explained: 'In an instant he completely changed. It was all about him and how it was going to affect his family. It was really cruel as he said it didn't matter for me.' She continued: 'I felt sick. I said, 'do you want to throw away what we have got? We have done nothing wrong.' But he just dropped me like a ton of bricks.' 'Dropped': The Emmerdale star claims she enjoyed a romance with Nick Knowles, which ended suddenly once their relationship became public knowledge On the move: Touching on their reconciliation, Nick added that they had been keeping busy by focusing on their son and Jessica's work as a cancer charity ambassador Back on track: Nick and Jessica - who share a 26-year age gap - wed in Rome in 2012, and announced their separation in January Meanwhile, Nick retaliated in a lengthy Twitter statement, during which he claimed: 'The story is something that happened (in the space of less than one week) during a turbulent, traumatic time and more to the point - whilst we were separated. 'It is unfortunate we are having to relive it purely so someone can financially gain from exploiting our private life. ' He then told The Mirror: 'I have a relationship with Jessica and we are best friends. We are working through things. An Italian man who walked out on his wife and daughter has been hit in the pocket - being told to pay maintenance for the family's two pet dogs. But he will retain the right to walk the dogs, under an arrangement being put before a court. The 46-year-old sales agent recently separated from his 42-year-old wife in the city of Vicenza in the north east of the country. The sales agent has been told he needs to pay for the care of the two dogs, but will be allowed to walk them as part of the arrangement (Stock picture) The couple, whose names have not been revealed, have agreed to part amicably but went to court to legally separate and sort out their financial arrangements. The husband has agreed that his estranged wife and their 10-year-old daughter should continue living in the marital home. He also agreed to pay a monthly unspecified sum in maintenance to help cover their living costs. Lawyer Paola Mari told the court that he had then also been asked to pay an extra 75 Euros (65) a month for the care of the family's two pet Labradors. In return, the husband would be allowed to regularly visit the dogs and take them for walks, added the lawyer. They claim he did not complete his 88 days of rural farm work Chris Porter, 21, jumped from a balcony during the hostel murder this year A young British man who fractured both his ankles leaping from the balcony to escape a murderous rampage by a crazed knifeman at a hostel in Australia says he is about to be deported. Chris Porter, 21, claims Australian officials have told him he has failed to complete the farm work that would have allowed him to extend his visa and stay in Australia for another year. But Mr Porter says he was unable to complete the work that fulfils the requirements of the working holiday visa because of the injuries he sustained during the horrifying attack in August. 'It's really frustrating. I have done everything by the book, and I feel like I'm being punished for it,' Mr Porter said. Chris Porter is facing deportation on January 2 after he did not complete his 88 days of rural work he claims 'It's not my fault I cannot finish the work, it's entirely down to the circumstances. I just did what I thought was right that night.' Mr Porter jumped from the balcony of Shelley's Hostel in Home Hill, Queensland, a as alleged killer Smail Ayad went on a rampage and stabbed two other British backpackers, Mia Ayliffe-Chung and Tom Jackson. Ms Ayliffe-Chung was killed on the spot and Mr Jackson died from his injuries less than a week later. Mr Porter, who warned girls at Shelley's Hostel to get inside and lock their doors during the frenzied attack, claims he is facing deportation because he did not complete his standard 88 days of rural work to be eligible for a second year holiday visa. An online petition has been set up to ask Australian immigration minister Peter Dutton MP to allow Chris to stay in the country past his January 2 deportation deadline An online petition has been set up to ask Australian immigration minister Peter Dutton MP to recognise Chris' heroic acts and allow him to stay in the country past his January 2 deportation deadline. It is claimed his injuries, fracturing both his ankles leaving him unable to walk properly for a month-and-a-half, stopped him from completing strenuous farm work to extend his visa. Chris (pictured left) said he wants to remain in Australia, where he is working as a nightclub promoter in Surfers Paradise in Queensland Mr Porter said he wants to remain in Australia, where he is working as a nightclub promoter in Surfers Paradise in Queensland. His brother Aaron also lives in Surfers Paradise. It was not immediately clear why Mr Porter is able to work as a nightclub promoter but not to return to farm work. Under Australian regulations, only certain types of work allow for a visa extension - usually labouring jobs such as fruit-picking in rural and remote areas. Despite seeking help from the the British consulate, which told him to write to immigration explaining his situation, Mr Porter said he still faces deportation in the new year. 'Australian immigration said they cannot make exceptions because they have never done it before,' he said. 'It's ridiculous they won't take anything into consideration.' Daily Mail has contacted the Department of Immigration for a comment. Two suspected ISIS terrorists, who authorities say were willing to carry out attacks in Spain, have been arrested in Barcelona and Madrid. The Moroccan pair were 'dangerous' and 'directed and controlled' by the terror group, Spanish Ministry of Interior officials said. The two men, who have not been named, are said to have isolated themselves from the rest of society and limited their contact with the outside world through 'radical jihadist profiles' on the internet. Two suspected ISIS terrorists, who authorities say were willing to carry out attacks in Spain, have been arrested in Barcelona and Madrid They were held during dawn raids today in the Spanish capital and Roda de Ter in the province of Barcelona an hour's drive north of the Catalan city. A Spanish Ministry of Interior spokesman, referring to ISIS by its acronym DAESH, said in a statement: 'They were fully integrated into DAESH, following their instructions and their plans of actions to the letter.' The men were held during dawn raids today in the Spanish capital and Roda de Ter in the province of Barcelona Officials described the pair as being in a 'state of pre-alert for the possible commission of terrorist attacks in Spain.' The Ministry of Interior spokesman added: 'They were also active on the Internet and social media with the aim of radicalising and recruiting new conscripts. Today's operation brought the number of suspected Islamic terrorists held in Spain since the start of last year to 215 'They divulged a wealth of radical material including propaganda material designed to fill western societies with fear.' Today's operation brought the number of suspected Islamic terrorists held in Spain since the start of last year, when the country went onto a level 4 terror alert, to 215. Earlier this month four people suspected of trying to recruit so-called Caliphate Cubs - child soldiers as young as 12 to fight for ISIS - were held in Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta. Prostitutes have been comparing notes on clients, and getting advice on pricing, in an online forum. The site sees escorts warn about dangerous men - with sex workers recounting horrific ordeals, including being robbed, attacked and threatened. They also open up about clients who refuse to pay and raise awareness of stalkers and men who remove condoms during encounters. Sex workers have opened up about their experiences, and rate clients to warn about dangerous men In one horrifying post this month, an anonymous user posted on the site, called Support and Advice for Escorts (Saafe), about being chased by two men in what she suspected was a turf battle. After being driven off the road in a terrifying-sounding car chase, the escort wrote: 'The cowards drove off before we could get a licence plate and left me and my driver for dead. 'We believe they were after money or stupidly assumed I had driven there alone, one of the two. The site also includes a section to discuss issues relating to sexual health, as well as threads asking about dating customers, tips on how to unwind, and whether working while on your period is acceptable 'We also believe this was maybe gang related and they didn't like other escorts on their turf, with how quiet things are right now we believe these animals are getting desperate to line their own pockets and don't care about killing off the competition.' She continued that she would be avoiding Essex, as it is 'simply to dangerous' to make a living there. Another thread this month warns about a robber in Bedford, while another recounted a 'rough' man in London. In each case, the phone numbers of the clients are shared, with the last two numbers missing. After reading one warning, an escort posted to the woman who warned of a dangerous client: 'I want to thank you for posting this, he has just text me, I searched the number and this post has popped up so I am not booking him in, you saved me.' Hailing 2016 the year of 'two big political revolutions' Nigel Farage said Angela Merkel and Barack Obama are 'in denial' over the public's rejection of the political establishment. Speaking on Fox News, the UKIP leader said Obama and the German Chancellor 'simply can't face up to the fact that their worldview has taken an absolute beating in the year of 2016'. He has taken to social media to call 2016 'the year of political revolution' and the 'underdog' with the Brexit vote in the UK and the election of Donald Trump in America. Scroll down for video The year of the underdog? Nigel Farage said Angela Merkel and Barack Obama are 'in denial' over the public's rejection of the political establishment In denial: The UKIP leader said Obama and the German Chancellor 'simply can't face up to the fact that their worldview has taken an absolute beating in the year of 2016' The politician tweeted: 'First Brexit, continued with Donald Trump's win, more to come!' The UKIP politician was speaking ahead of the election in Austria, as the latest polls show the anti-EU Freedom Party candidate Norbert Hofer is ahead of his Independent rival Alexander Van der Bellen in the May election. Mr Farage told Fox News: 'The poor darlings are in denial. 'They simply can't face up to the fact that their worldview has taken an absolute beating in the year of 2016. 'It began with Brexit, the first brick out of the wall and now we have a Trump presidency in the USA.' Farage has taken to social media to hail 2016 'the year of political revolution' and the 'political underdog' with the Brexit vote in the UK and the election Donald Trump in America After Hillary Clinton was defeated in the American presidential election, Mr Farage wrote on Twitter: 'Obama/Merkel's worldview has taken a beating in 2016' He tweeted: '2016 has been the year of political revolution. Nation state democracy is back on the map!' He added: 'And let me tell you, in two weeks time we have a re-run of the Austrian Presidential election and the last contest was scrapped because of electoral fraud and the possibility of a right-wing Austrian nationalist candidate winning. 'And we also have a Referendum on December 4 in Italy were [Matteo] Renzi, the Prime Minister, is going for a power grab which I think is going to be rejected. 'So the news for Obama and Angela is: there is more of this to come.' Mr Farage has taken to social media to express his delight at the political changes of late Nigel Farage said: 'So the news for Obama and Angela is: there is more of this to come' And after Hillary Clinton was defeated in the American presidential election, Mr Farage wrote on Twitter: 'Obama/Merkel's worldview has taken a beating in 2016. 'First Brexit, continued with @RealDonaldTrump's win, more to come!' Advertisement Princess Charlene of Monaco looked radiant in a beautiful white gown as she joined her husband Prince Albert II for their annual National Day celebrations. The National Day of Monaco is also known as The Sovereign Prince's Day and is annually celebrated on November 19th. Princess Charlene wore a stunning white dress as she arrived at a gala with Prince Albert who appeared to be dressed in a traditional military dress uniform. Princess Charlene and Prince Albert II of Monaco looked effortlessly elegant as they arrived at a gala to celebrate The National Day of Monaco Prince Charlene looked every inch the fairytale Princess in a white gown next to Prince Albert who wore a dress uniform The Princess kneels down to talk to a young girl at the gala on the National Day of Monaco, also known as The Sovereign Prince's Day Pictured: Princess Charlene of Monaco, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Princess Caroline of Hanover, Andrea Casiraghi and Tatiana Santo Domingo attend a Gala during the Monaco National Day Princess Charlene blows a kiss to the crowds with her adorable twins. Pictured, Prince Albert II (right), Princess Charlene (left) and children Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella on National Day, in Monaco On 10 December 2014, her twins were born. Daughter Gabriella Therese Marie was born first followed by her brother Jacques Honore Rainier. Due to male-preference cognatic primogeniture, Jacques is first in line to the throne. Waving to the crowds the happy family smile in the sunshine with their twin children dressed both in white National Celebration Day: From left to right, Princess Caroline of Hanover (Prince Albert's older sister), Princess Stephanie of Monaco (Prince Albert's younger sister), Sacha Casiraghi (the son of Prince Albert's nephew Andrea Casiraghi), Princess Charlene of Monaco and Prince Albert II of Monaco in the Monaco Palace Courtyard today Standing outside the palace Prince Albert II salutes to the crowds as his wife Princess Charlene smiles and looks on Wearing all black but with a statement hat with red flowers Princess Charlene has once again shown her class and style The 38-year-old Princess has been spotted at events around Monaco in the lead up to National Day including visiting Red Cross headquarters and giving parcels to refugees. The date of the National Day is traditionally determined by the reigning Prince. The previous Princes often chose the day of the saint they were named after. However, when Prince Albert II ascended the throne he ended this tradition by choosing the same day as his father Prince Rainier III. The date of the National Day is traditionally determined by the reigning Prince and is held annually with fireworks and a mass service. Pictured left to right Louis Ducruet ( the son of Princess Stephanie of Monaco), Princess Stephanie of Monaco, Princess Alexandra of Hanover (child of Princess Caroline), Princess Caroline of Hanover, Sacha Casiraghi ,Princess Charlene of Monaco,a guest, Andrea Casiraghi (child of Princess Caroline), India Casiraghi (Andrea Casiraghi's second child) ,Tatiana Santo Domingo (wife of Andrea Casiraghi), Charlotte Casiraghi (child of Princess Caroline), Pierre Casiraghi (son of Princess Caroline) and Beatrice Borromeo (a member of the ancient aristocratic House of Borromeo) From left to right: Louis Ducruet,Princess Stephanie of Monaco, Princess Alexandra of Hanover,Princess Caroline of Hanover,Sacha Casiraghi,Princess Charlene of Monaco attend the Monaco National Day Celebrations With matching red nails Princess Charlene and the Monaco royal family walk to their transport to the Cathedral of Monaco National day is typically celebrated with fireworks over the harbour the evening before and a mass in the St. Nicholas Cathedral the next morning. The people of Monaco may celebrate by waving the Monegasque flag. The former Olympic swimmer, who married Prince Albert in 2011 after meeting him some 11 years earlier at a swimming meet in Monaco, was wearing all black except her hat today. Arriving at the Cathedral of Monaco, the former Olympic swimmer, smiles wearing matching pearl earrings and necklace Princess Charlene holds her black clothes as her coat glimmers in the Monaco sunshine on National Day of celebrations Members of the clergy enter the Cathedral of Monaco before a mass during the Monaco National Day Celebrations on November 19, 2016 in Monaco Princess Charlene of Monaco arrives the Cathedral of Monaco before a mass during the Monaco National Day Celebrations on November 19 Princess Charlene married Prince Albert in 2011 after meeting him some 11 years earlier at a swimming meet in Monaco Prince Albert II of Monaco,Princess Caroline of Hanover, Princess Stephanie of Monaco and Princess Charlene of Monaco arrive at the Cathedral of Monaco before mass Waving to the crowds outside the Cathedral of Monaco Princess Charlene and Prince Albert in his royal attire Prince Albert and Princess Charlene leaving the Cathedral after mass smiling and both holding their gloves Standing with her husband, the natural beauty accented her ice blonde hair with pearl studded earrings and necklace to her day-time glamour. The Princess was in London last weekend as she attended several events including a Remembrance Day service with her brother Gareth Wittstock and the England rugby match at Twickenham with Prince Harry. Princess Charlene of Monaco and Prince Albert II of Monaco greet the crowd from the palace's balcony during the Monaco National Day Celebrations on November 19, 2016 in Monaco Prince Albert II, Princess Charlene and children Prince Jacques (right) and Princess Gabriella (left) who both look very calm and used to the limelight at the age of two Princess Charlene lovingly sweeps the hair from Prince Jacque's head, who is the next in line for the Manaco throne Princess Charlene and Prince Albert swap children and both look lovingly at their two-year-old son and daughter Don't look down Prince Jacques! Princess Charlene and Prince Albert in black contrast their beautiful twins wearing white THE MONACO ROYAL FAMILY TREE AND WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THEM For hundreds of years the Monaco royal family has descended from the House of Grimaldi apart from during French occupation between 1793 and 1814. The House of Grimaldi, descended from Otto Canella, a Genoese statesman, and taking their name from his son Grimaldo, were an ancient and prominent Guelphic Genoese family. Members of this family, in the course of the civil strife in Genoa between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, were banned from Genoa in 1271 and took refuge in Monaco. Francois Grimaldi seized the Rock of Monaco in 1297, starting the Grimaldi dynasty, under the sovereignty of the Republic of Genoa. The most recent Princes of Monaco include Rainier III (who reigned 19492005), who was the grandson of Louis II (1922 1949) and now his son Albert II (2005 incumbent), whom has been regent for his father since 2005. By convention, sovereign European houses are reckoned in the male line.[citation needed] Therefore, since 1731, it has been determined genealogically that it was in fact the French noble House of Goyon-Matignon that ruled as Princes of Monaco until 1949. Advertisement Princess Caroline of Hanover greets the crowd from the palace's balcony during the Monaco National Day Celebrations with her youngest grandchild India Casiraghi sucking her thumb Princess Stephanie of Monaco, Louis Ducruet and Princess Alexandra of Hanover greet the crowd from the palace's balcony Prince Harry with Charlene, Princess of Monaco at the England v South Africa, Rugby Union, Old Mutual Wealth Series, Twickenham Stadium, London, on November 12 Michael Gove is among the Conservative MPs calling on Theresa May to complete a 'hard Brexit' Theresa May faces calls from within her own party to quit the European single market and the EU's customs union and complete a 'hard Brexit' as soon as possible. Former cabinet member Michael Gove is among the Tories to have signed a letter calling on the PM to take a tough stance as Britain leaves the European Union. Other well-known Conservative Party figures backing the approach include former Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers, ex Culture, Media and Sport Secretary John Whittingdale and Dominic Raab. Today The Sun reports that dozens of Tories have signed the letter, which will be published 'in the coming days'. It is being organised by prominent Leave campaigner Steve Baker, the paper reports, and would give Britain more freedom to negotiate trade deals with the rest of the world, including the US. The Prime Minister has yet to publicly state whether she wants Britain to remain in the single market. Her aides say she is considering all options. Since July 13, when Mrs May made her first speech as prime minister, subtle changes have emerged in the way she describes her priorities for talks with the EU. Early on in her tenure, the Conservative leader said she wanted 'the right deal' or 'best possible deal' on the trade of goods and services with the rest of the EU. Britain's total trade with the EU - imports and exports - is equivalent in size to more than a quarter of its economy. At the Conservative Party conference in October, Mrs May said: 'I want it to give British companies the maximum freedom to trade with and operate within the single market and let European businesses do the same here.' But at the Conservative Party conference in October, she said: 'I want it to give British companies the maximum freedom to trade with and operate within the single market and let European businesses do the same here.' This week Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Britain would like to keep access to the single market while clamping down on migration. Advertisement A photographer has immortalized the troubling spirit of America's 1980s in black and white pictures - taking his camera to strip clubs, drag shows and KKK rallies and interacting with the era's 'misfits'. Billy Howard, a mental health photographer based in Atlanta, Georgia, captured the essence of Ronald Reagan and Madonna's decade, when the era's new brand of conservatism was embraced by some and proudly rejected by others. In one photo, a woman wearing a balconette bra and panties, a stack of bills tucked into her garter, can be seen holding out her hand to a bar customer so that he can kiss it. She is smiling and rolling her eyes. Another snap features a woman in underwear and sandals, looking into the camera, while a poster behind her promises a 'happy hour', 'beer' and 'dancing girls'. Photographer Billy Howard, based in Atlanta, Georgia, has captured the essence of the 1980s in a series of pictures. He immortalized the era that saw Ronald Reagan and Madonna rise to power - and the singer's fashion influence is apparent here One of Howard's photos features a woman wearing a balconette bra and panties, a stack of bills tucked into her garter, who can be seen holding out her hand to a bar customer so that he can kiss it. She is smiling and rolling her eyes Howard, who titled the essay 'Love, Lust and Loss: A Photographic Memoir of the 80s' took his camera backstage at clubs and drag shows. A performer is pictured staring at a mirror at the makeup table The series features these two twin-like characters in matching outfits, with flowery cardigans and coordinated frilly blouses Howard, who said the people in his photos are 'the counter-point to society's more benevolent misfits', snapped these two women in bathing suits in what looks like a residential neighborhood, as one of them reaches inside the car Another snap (left) features a woman in underwear and sandals, looking into the camera, while a poster behind her promises a 'happy hour', 'beer' and 'dancing girls'. Pictured right, a woman stares into Howard's camera The woman posing in front of a bar in the previous photo makes a second appearance in this picture, this time with two other people -including a baby - in what appears to be a backstage area The photo essay takes a different turn with snaps of KKK supporters, including a grandmother in a car with her grandchild and a sign that reads: 'Join the KKK and fight for race and nation.' A black policeman can be seen in another picture keeping order at a KKK rally, with a crowd of hooded white silhouettes in the background. The 1980s saw two Klansmen convicted for the 1981 murder of black teenager Michael Donald, who was 19 years old when his attackers beat him, strangled him and left his body hanging from a tree in Mobile, Alabama. Klansman Henry Hays was executed for the murder and James Knowles, the other attacker, was sentenced to life in prison. Howard, who said the people in his photos are 'the counter-point to society's more benevolent misfits', told Featureshoot that photographing members of the Ku Klux Klan had reinforced his own belief in inclusiveness against 'a pallet of hatred'. Having a camera, Howard said, enabled him to interact with 'those people your mother warned you about' for the whole photo essay. He plans to turn the photo essay, titled 'Love, Lust and Loss: A Photographic Memoir of the 80s', into a book with the help of his wife, designer and book producer Laurie Shock. The series takes a different turn with photos of Ku Klux Klan members. A black policeman can be seen looking into the distance as he works at a KKK rally, with a crowd of white hooded silhouettes in the background A grandmother (left) makes an appearance in Howard's series, sitting in a car with her grandchild while a sign on her vehicle urges others to join the KKK. Pictured right, a woman smiles at the camera while wearing a white pointed hat Howard's photos, which include this snap of a woman in fishnet stockings and low boots petting a dog, capture the essence of Reagan's, when the era's new brand of conservatism was embraced by some and proudly rejected by others In one of Howard's snaps, a woman can be seen in a revealing outfit, also with a stack of bills tucked in her garter, standing in what looks like a bar or a club next to a man in jeans and a cowboy hat This woman, part of Howard's series, glances straight at his camera while posing on a bed in a bra and embroidered pants Another woman leans against a pool table in a bikini bottom and a cropped T-shirt reading: Get good to go at the boardwalk' This woman is immortalized in a portrait, staring into Howard's camera in earnest, in simple jeans, sneakers and a sweater Several portraits, like this one, feature people looking straight at Howard while the picture gives hints of their personalities An adorable six-year-old boy has met President Obama in the White House after a letter he wrote offering to help and befriend a young Syrian refugee boy went viral. Alex Myteberi, dressed in a dapper new suit, was wide-eyed as he shook hands with Obama for the first time in the Oval Office last week. The young boy wrote a letter to Obama in August asking the President if a five-year-old Syrian boy affected by the civil war could come and live with his family in Edgemont, New York. President Obama met an excited six-year-old Alex Myteberi at the White House last week after he wrote a letter offering to help a young Syrian refugee boy that went viral Omran Daqdeesh became an iconic image of the horrific conflict in Syria after he was pictured covered in blood and dust after his house in Aleppo was destroyed in a blast. 'Remember the boy who was picked up by the ambulance in Syria?' Alex wrote in his letter to Obama. 'Can you please go get him and bring him to our home? Park in the driveway or on the street and we will be waiting for you guys with flags, flowers, and balloons.' He said he would teach Omran English, invite him to birthday parties and share his toys. 'We will give him a family and he will be our brother,' Alex wrote. Alex - along with his parents Valbona and Elton and sister Catherine - were touring the White House when Obama unexpectedly arranged to meet them Alex wrote a letter to Obama in September asking the President if a five-year-old Syrian boy affected by the civil war could come and live with his family in Edgemont, New York Omran Daqdeesh became an iconic image of the horrific conflict in Syria after he was pictured covered in blood and dust after his house in Aleppo was destroyed in a blast Alex and his family, including little sister Catherine, were visiting the White House when Obama unexpectedly thanked him for being 'so nice and kind'. 'I liked what you wrote so much that I ended up reading it to everybody. You being so nice, and kind, hopefully makes other people think the same way. So I was very proud of you,' Obama told the excited six-year-old boy. The Myteberi family did not know they were meeting Obama when they were invited to tour the White House. The meeting was captured on video and posted on social media by the White House. 'It was an emotional and amazing surprise. Alex loved the moments with the president,' his mother Valbona Myteberi told The Journal News. Alex's letter to Obama went viral after it was shared on social media by the White House Obama used Alex's letter as part of an international speech at the Leaders Summit on Refugees at the United Nations in September Alex offered to teach the five-year-old Syrian boy English, invite him to birthday parties and share his toys if he could come and live with his family in America 'He is a shy little boy, but when he saw the president, his eyes lit up and he was completely drawn to him. Catherine, too, ran immediately to him and they both followed President Obama to the Oval Office with big smiles on their faces.' Obama used Alex's letter as part of an international speech at the Leaders Summit on Refugees at the United Nations in September. 'He teaches us a lot,' Obama said in the speech. A woman has recalled the horrific moment a man set himself on fire inside the Springvale Commonwealth bank and tried to 'touch' everyone as they ran for their lives. Jos has recounted the moment she saw a man light himself on fire and 'start running like crazy' prompting people to head to the exit but struggle to get out at a Melbourne Commonwealth bank. She said the man was like a 'maniac' and when the bank was blanketed in darkness and only the flames were visible - it was like hell, The Herald Sun reported. Scroll down for video Footage shows a man, believed to be the offender, walking past Asmara Cafe with an empty plastic container to a service station and returning with it full of liquid Chilling CCTV footage has captured the moment a man walked toward a bank with a plastic container filled with liquid, minutes before it was set alight 'He was like a maniac. His eyes were like crazy eyes. I thought I was going to die,' she told the publication. 'It was like hell. I haven't been there, but it felt like hell,' Jos said. 'He was wanting to touch everyone while he was on fire.' Jos said everyone headed to the rear door, which would not open, and people turned to calling loved ones in fear. Despite fearing she was going to die, Jos made it out of the bank and was treated for smoke inhalation. The man believed to be the offender is Nur Islam who arrived in Australia in 2013 and was processed through Christmas Island and Queensland. Weeks leading up to the incident Mr Nur was visiting banks and pleading for money, according to The Herald Sun. A 21-year-old Springvale man (second left with police officer) has been taken to hospital in a serious condition and is under police guard The publication revealed the 21-year-old Myanmar asylum seeker's Medicare payment was shut down after he was told he had to renew his income support but left the line because it was too long. His housemates claimed Mr Nur was not himself for months and was often found wandering the backyard at night after mentioning he had seen a ghost. Mr Nur was living with Joseph, who he had met three years ago, and was sleeping in his living room. Joseph said Mr Nur's financial troubles might have been an added stress. 'I think he got really broke, that's why he thinking differently,' Joseph said. A father has recalled the moment he caught the man accused of pouring petrol on himself and setting a Commonwealth Bank on fire. It's alleged that the man (centre) doused himself in accelerant and set himself alight sparking an explosion in the bank Junior Dean was one of the first bystanders on the scene at the Springvale bank, in Melbourne's south-east, on Monday at 11.30am when an explosion injured 27 people. Mr Dean found the accused culprit in the rear of the bank attempting to send a message from his phone, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. The father recalled seeing the man ready to flee on foot and the strong smell of petrol emitted - which was not present on victims. 'I could smell petrol on his body when I pulled him out,' Mr Dean said. 'I could see he was prepared to run. The staff and customers started to move away from him. I grabbed him by the shoulder and nudged him to the laneway fence.' Mr Dean questioned the accused why he started the fire before police arrived. Junior Dean recalled catching the man accused of starting the fire and the overwhelming smell of petrol 'He said, 'The bank moved me from here to here and I got sick of it',' Mr Dean said. Earlier chilling CCTV footage of the moment a man walked towards a bank with a plastic container filled with liquid, minutes before it was set alight, was revealed. The Herald Sun have revealed the man is Burmese refugee, Nur Islam. Footage shows a man, believed to be the offender, walking past Asmara Cafe with an empty plastic container to a service station and returning with it full of liquid. He was seen heading toward the bank just six minutes before the explosion. Police are reviewing the footage as part of their investigation into the fireThe footage shows the man walking quickly toward the service station, wearing an orange shirt and beige trousers. A light brown liquid can be seen in the container as he walks back. It is believed he went to the Springvale Caltex to fill up the container he found discarded out the front of the cafe. A Caltex spokesperson said the service station was closed and staff were cooperating with police. The offender is believed to be an asylum seeker from Myanmar in Australia on a bridging visa, The Herald Sun reported. A light brown liquid can be seen in the container as he walks back toward the bank A hero tradesman credited with rescuing many of the victims after he ran into the inferno with a fire extinguisher, said he heard a man arguing with bank tellers just before smoke billowed out the doors. 'This kid comes running out, all burnt, screaming his head off, skin coming off, blood everywhere,' Ash Atkin-Fone said. Just after 5.30pm, an Alfred Hospital spokesperson confirmed six people were still being treated for burns, but only one patient was still in a critical condition. Witness Daniel Chau told Daily Mail Australia he was grabbing lunch when he saw people running out of the bank with their faces covered in charcoal. 'I saw a man run out of the bank with his hands burnt, skin peeling off,' he said. 'The man was dragging his hand out of something. All I could hear was him screaming. He was screaming like mad. It was awful. Everyone was running and jumping around like mad. Another guy was covered in ashes. There was a lot of smoke. Another witness said the man became agitated after he was unable to withdraw funds from the ATM and went to retrieve the petrol to set it alight. Hero tradesman Ash Atkin-Fone credited said he heard a man arguing with bank tellers just before smoke billowed out the doors Australian drug smuggler Schapelle Corby will leave Bali in just six months after she serves the remainder of her drug trafficking sentence. The convicted drug smuggler, who has spent the last 12 years in Bali, will visit parole officers for the last time on May 27 next year, The Daily Telegraph reported. In the next few months Parole Board officials and Indonesian Immigration will organise meetings to finalise details of her release. Scroll down for video Australian Schapelle Corby (pictured) will leave Bali in just six months after she serves the remainder of her drug trafficking sentence The convicted drug smuggler, who has spent the last 12 years in Bali, will visit parole officers for the last time on May 27 next year (she is pictured on the phone to her sister Mercedes from Kerobokan Jail in 2005) n the next few months Parole Board officials and Indonesian Immigration will organise meetings to finalise details of her release When her sentence expires on May 27 she will be deported from Indonesia and likely banned from returning to the country for a time, the publication reported. The Parole Board chief Titiek Sudaryatmi will coordinate the process with Immigration and the Australian consulate. Corby was released from Kerobokan Prison in February 2014 after serving nine years for couriering 4.2 kilograms of cannabis. After she was found guilty by a judge to smuggling drugs in May 2005, her sister Mercedes moved to Indonesia where she started a family. She refused to leave the country until her younger sister was free. But after spending more than a decade by her sisters side, Mercedes returned to the Gold Coast earlier this year with her three children, Wayan, 17, Nyeleigh, 15, and nine-year-old Nyoman after splitting with her Balinese husband Wayan Widyartha. Her older two children have taken up work at restaurant Laneway Bar and Dining, which Mercedes started with friend and former pro-surfer Trudy Todd. After spending more than a decade by her sisters side, Mercedes (pictured centre with her family) returned to the Gold Coast earlier this year with her three children, Wayan, 17, Nyeleigh, 15, and nine-year-old Nyoman Her older two children have taken up work at restaurant Laneway Bar and Dining (pictured), which Mercedes started with friend and former pro-surfer Trudy Todd Mercedes doesn't know if Schapelle would want to take part in the 'family business', saying her sister would probably enjoy being in front of the bar Mercedes doesn't know if Schapelle would want to take part in the 'family business', saying her sister would probably enjoy being in front of the bar. 'She will come and sit here and drink beer, probably,' she told the Gold Coast Bulletin. Two New York men face manslaughter and other charges in the deaths of two young brothers under their watch who fell over a 70-foot waterfall. Chad Staley, 32, and Tyler Jennings, 34, led a group of boys away from a designated trail at Letchworth State Park in Castile in June. They had gone into the water to get a better view of the falls when the two boys were washed away. Six-year-old Preston Giangregorio and his nine-year-old brother, Dylan Giangregorio, were killed. Preston was in kindergarten and Dylan was in the third grade. Jennings was their uncle by marriage. Two New York men face manslaughter and other charges in the deaths of two young brothers, six-year-old Preston and nine-year-old Dylan (pictured together), under their watch who fell over a 70-foot waterfall Chad Staley and Tyler Jennings were with a group of boys that left a designated trail at Letchworth State Park in Castile in June. They had gone into the water to get a better view of the falls when the two boys were washed away The deaths were not only tragic but '100 [per cent] preventable,' Wyoming County District Attorney Donald O'Geen said in a statement. A news release said: 'It is alleged that the two defendants and the five children made their way towards the Lower Falls so that they could see the falls up close. 'They made their way above the falls where the children were allegedly allowed to enter the water. 'The five children ranged in ages from [five] to 12 years. It is then alleged that while the children were in water above the falls they began to lose their footing due to the strong current. 'The defendants were unable to keep the children and themselves from going over the falls. Mr. Staley was stuck on [the] brink of the falls for almost two hours until he was saved by the Rope Rescue team.' Preston and Dylan are survived by their sister Madison and their single mother Sarah, according to a memorial fund GoFundMe page Staley and Jennings were each indicted Tuesday on manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide charges According to the release: 'It took a couple of days to recover their bodies after a very thorough and heroic effort by law enforcement officials from multiple agencies. 'The other three children and the two defendants who also went over the falls suffered non-life threatening injuries.' O'Green said: 'It is also important to note that the signage in any park mean something. They are they to give notice, warning and assistance so that your stay can be enjoyable and safe. 'In the area where this occurred the signage is clear and unmistakable.' 'It is a miracle that [four] other people did not die from going over the falls and it is because of the quick work of first responders and the specialized rescue teams that the fifth person was rescued before serious injury or death occurred,' O'Green said. The boys are seen together in a photograph from a GoFundMe page A GoFundMe page for a memorial fund says: 'Family picnic turns to tragedy... Dylan and Preston had every intention of having a family picnic with their 3 cousins and moms and uncle at Letchworth Park on Saturday June 11th. 'But fate was not on their side... After a horrible accident in which all 5 children were swept over the lower falls at the park Dylan and Preston could not be rescued.' The boys' grandmother Solangee Betancourt-Cruz told WHAM that the youngsters were scared of Jennings, their uncle through marriage. She said: 'I would give my life for their mother, Sarah, to have her children back again. I know she loved them kids. Those kids were her world and she did everything for them.' Staley and Jennings were each indicted Tuesday on two counts of felony second-degree manslaughter, two counts of felony criminally negligent homicide, and 10 misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child. A week-old newborn girl who went missing after her mother was shot to death was found alive Saturday in Dallas, police said. Sofia Victoria Gonzalez Abarca was found alive and healthy while two adults were taken into custody, Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay said Saturday morning. Investigators on Friday evening identified a suspect in what they called a 'homicide/abduction' and determined that the suspect had fled to Dallas. Sofia's mother, 27-year-old Laura Abarca-Nogueda, was found fatally shot at her home in Wichita, Kansas on Thursday. Sofia Victoria Gonzalez Abarca (pictured) has been found found alive and healthy in Dallas, Texas, Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay said Saturday morning Laura Abarca-Nogueda (pictured with her daughter), 27, was found shot dead Thursday in Wichita, Kansas. Sofia went missing and was recovered Saturday in Dallas, Texas Sofia, who is now in protective custody, will be returned to her family as soon as possible, Ramsay said according to the Wichita Eagle. The suspects knew the mother, according to Ramsay, who declined to elaborate further at a news conference. The two adults were being interviewed Saturday. No one had been charged as of the morning. Police and the FBI had been looking for the child since Thursday, the day Abarca-Nogueda's live-in boyfriend, Sofia's father, came home from work and found her body. The boyfriend wasn't being looked at as a suspect. Law enforcement received a tip about 4:30 am Saturday that the child was in Dallas and served a search warrant, Ramsay said. 'This is the best possible outcome to a very sad case,' Ramsay said at a news conference. The investigation remains active and there could be more suspects to come. Abarca-Nogueda was a 'loving mother', 'devoted girlfriend' as well as a 'caring sister, daughter and aunt, according to a Go Fund Me page set up to cover her funeral expenses. Abarca-Nogueda's live-in boyfriend, Sofia's father (pictured with them), found the mother's body at their Wichita apartment Thursday. He was not being looked at as a suspect Law enforcement received a tip about 4:30 am Saturday that Sofia (pictured) was in Dallas and served a search warrant, Ramsay said Doctors removed the coin surgically; Knox says it was corroded by then But she took him to the hospital, where she says an X-ray revealed the coin Little EJ, of Long Beach, California, had 103-degree fever and belly rash An eight-month-old baby had a coin stuck in his throat for 37 days before anyone noticed, his mother has claimed. Little EJ, of Long Beach, California, had a 103-fever and a rash on his abdomen. The energetic, playful baby became withdrawn and listless, according to his mother Samantha Knox. She says she took him to several doctors, who attributed his symptoms to a viral infection and didn't find the penny lodged in his throat. Knox says she eventually took him to a children's hospital, where an X-ray revealed the coin in EJ's esophagus. Scroll down for video Little EJ (pictured), of Long Beach, California, had a coin lodged in his throat for 37 days before anyone notice, his mother Samantha Knox has claimed EJ became withdrawn and listless and had a 103-degree fever as well as a belly rash before an X-ray revealed the coin (pictured). Doctors removed it during surgery Doctors took the penny out during surgery and Knox claims it was corroded by the time it was returned to her. 'This very small object could've potentially been the worst outcome for my son,' she told CBS Los Angeles. Knox told the station she doesn't know how the coin got stuck in EJ's throat. The symptoms, according to her, began in June. She believes the penny could have been found sooner and has complained to the Medical Board Of California about Healthcare Partners, the provider where she says she took EJ at least five times. Knox says the penny (pictured on an X-ray when she says it was lodged in EJ's throat) was corroded by the time doctors returned it to her after removing it surgically Knox also sought reimbursement of her medical bills and loss of paid time off. 'I was diligent, I was committed to ensuring that my son's health was my highest priority and I didn't feel as though any body else considered those facts,' Knox said. Healthcare Partners, who said their investigation didn't find the coin was stuck in EJ's throat when she brought him, told KTLA: 'Anytime a patient brings a concern to our attention we examine the facts surrounding the issue. 'There are times however when a claim simply does not align with the facts.' TV presenter Phillip Schofield is well known for voicing his opinion without fear of backlash but this time he was left stunned when his positive tweet about Children in Need turned into a row about Buckingham Palaces 369million makeover. The This Morning presenter who is on our screens daily with co-presenter Holly Willoughby tweeted last night how proud he was that: An astonishing total for #ChildrenInNeed 46+ million is incredible... Sir Terry would be so proud. More than 2,000 people have liked the tweet so far, however a few people were quick to mention yesterdays announcement of the 369million refurbishment of Buckingham Palace. TV presenter Philip Schofield (pictured with co-presenter Holly Willoughby) outraged by his positive tweet about Terry Wogan and Children In Need prompting negative twitter attacks Phillip was expressing his pride in the amount raised for Children In Need 2016 after the death of its champion Terry Wogan in January One user Rhona Welsh was one of the first to reply saying @Schofe Meanwhile taxpayer doing up house of richest woman (#42 Billion) in the World whilst disabled allowances slashed! #Getreal (sic). But social media users quickly slammed the tweet by referencing the Buckingham Palace refurbishment which was announced yesterday too on the same day of the charity telethon But she wasnt the only one sharing that view as more tweets mentioning the palace followed with one user @KH5151 claiming there was no need for charity @Schofe all this in the day where Buck Palace is getting a 359 mill face lift !!! #joke #noneedforcharity Others posted the same negative views and even claims against the BBC Phillip did not hesitate in responding to the tweets and said: bit of a blinkered view I'm afraid! A) she doesn't live there, it's an office, B) we own it c) biggest tourist attraction in London (sic). Phillip responded to the negativity until it all got too much with hundreds of comments There was also plenty of support for The Cube and Mr and Mrs host but it didn't stop him getting upset Others even used the tweet as a platform to accuse the BBC of covering up historical child abuse. Until The Cube and Mr and Mrs game show presenter gave up and tweeted today: So bored with my twitter Mentions, it's like the comments section of an online paper, populated mostly by the perpetually angry and outraged This morning he shared how annoyed he was that it came to this and that he is reading less responses these days from his followers I post a positive tweet about the amazing Children in Need total and get flooded by moaners, I read less and less these days sadly. The annual Children In Need programme last night was the first since the death of Sir Terry Wogan who was the charities longstanding champion presenter. In addition a musical tribute to the radio host and tv presenter who died in January from cancer was held earlier in the week with the likes of Olly Murs, Beverly Knight and Take That performing Sir Wogans favourite songs. Children in Need Rocks was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Children in Need BBC show and a special Children in Need Rocks concert were held in memory of Terry Wogan and all he did to support the UK charity that helps children in poverty Children In Need currently supports 2,400 projects across the nation and aims to protect children in the UK. Since its creation in 1980, the charity has raised more than 600 million. On the same day of the telethon, it was revealed that the Queen is set to have the builders in at Buckingham Palace for the next ten years at a cost of an eye-watering 369 million funded by public money. But on the same day of the charity's programme it was revealed that 369million is to be spent upgrading the pipes, wires and boilers at risk of failing at Buckingham Palace The bill for the work, the biggest refurbishment undertaken at her official London residence since before the Second World War, will be met by taxpayers via the Sovereign Grant - the annual fee paid by the Government to the monarch which this year came to 42million - with a third of the cash set aside for maintaining Royal palaces. Advertisement This was once a huge industrial operation, but astonishing new images show the impact years of neglect has had on an abandoned steelworks. Taken inside a former plant in Belgium, the images show forgotten control rooms and the grounded claws of once-powerful machines. Other photographs in the collection show a dusty forklift truck that has been left to rust. The pictures were taken by urban explorer Sascha Jung, who said: 'I love being in deserted locations because I love the atmosphere, the smell and the silence because no one else is there. 'Nature takes everything back in the end and these pictures make you want to look at it relentlessly. 'Many of these abandoned places and objects tell a story that you can capture with a photo.' Photographer Sascha Jung said: 'I love being in deserted locations because I love the atmosphere, the smell and the silence because no one else is there' Abandoned machinery has been rusting in the former industrial plant in Belgium for more than two decades The huge structure was once a huge steel operation, but now lies abandoned after workers downed tools for the last time The building has been empty for 25 lies, and these images reveal the state of the machinery inside The control room, where equipment has been untouched for 25 years after the plant was closed Huge industrial equipment was used to transport large amounts of metal when the plant was in operation 25 years ago Lines of machines in the building which once employed hundreds of workers, but now sits empty after it was closed Large machines have been left to rust inside the building, which has not been in use for quarter of a century The photographer stated: 'Nature takes everything back in the end and these pictures make you want to look at it relentlessly' Workers used to pack into the building in its heyday, but now the inside is neglected and the huge machines have been left to rust The facility has been left to rust for quarter of a century after the plant in Belgium closed The plant now looks eerie as the equipment has been left unused for years after the plant was abandoned The photographer said: 'Many of these abandoned places and objects tell a story that you can capture with a photo.' They use diggers to turn over and rip open the A mafia group is carrying out daring robberies of security vans in Italy using ambushes involving bazookas and burning lorries. The gang has netted millions of euros by targeting motorways around the town of Cerignola in Puglia, according to a report in The Times. They have carried out 15 heists in the past five years, which were creatively and carefully planned according to local police, and are currently striking around once every six months. The gangs are using daring tactics reminiscent of a heist movie like the Fast and the Furious The town has a strong tradition for robberies and the crews have now become very creative, afraid of nothing and the best in Italy, Piernicola Silvis, the police chief in nearby Foggia, told The Times. According to the report, the usual tactic is to scatter nails on a motorway to slow down an armoured van carrying cash. A stolen lorry is parked across the road behind this and set on fire to block traffic before a gang of 10 to 20 robbers fire guns at the van's bulletproof windows and use a digger to turn it over in order to rip open the underside of the vehicle. The robbers get away in cars, driving through holes they have cut into the motorway barriers, to escape into the countryside. Lorries are set on fire and used as a tactic to stop the traffic in the real-life crimes in Puglia According to a report in the Italian newspaper La Republica, the daring gang has evaded police checkpoints and wire taps. There have been recent, unsuccessful raids in Cerignola to try to capture them. In June 2014, when they tried to steal a safe from the offices of a security van company, the police arrived and ended up in a gun battle with the thieves, who were armed with heavy weapons. A source told The Times: They know every detail, they have inside information and only hit vans carrying lots of cash." Franco Roberti, Italy's chief mob prosecutor claimed in a report recently that the Cerignola mafia is "impenetrable." It specialises in robberies and, according to a report on the Italian website lanotiziaweb.it, citizens of the town are worried about their safety in the light of the crimes, which have hit national headlines. While speaking in Peru in front of world leaders for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit on Saturday, President Obama said to give 'the new president-elect a chance'. As the president tried to tie up loose ends of his foreign policy agenda at APEC, he found that other world leaders at the town-hall style meeting in Lima were more focused on Donald Trump. 'Don't assume the worst. I think it will be important for everybody around the world to not make immediate judgments, but give this new president-elect a chance to put their team together, to examine the issues, to determine what their policies will be,' Obama said. 'How you campaign is not always how you govern.' Global hand-wringing over America's next president has taken much of the wind out of Obama's final overseas trip. Adopting an altruistic tone, Obama has offered frequent reassurances that the U.S. won't renege on its commitments. Yet he's been at a loss to quell concerns fully, given new signals from Trump that he intends to govern much the way he campaigned. While speaking in Peru in front of world leaders and youngsters for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit on Saturday, President Obama said to give 'the new president-elect a chance' President Obama was introduced by Cyntia Paytan Riveros, 31, (pictured) a fellow of the Young Leadership Initiatives of the Americas The initiative benefits emerging entrepreneurs and activists During APEC, Obama did receive on warm welcome from Cyntia Paytan Riveros, a professional fellow at Obama's Young Leaders of Americas Initiative (YLAI). She introduced the president before he joined her on stage, as she held her hands out to welcome the president and the two then hugged. She has been a fellow of YLAI since August, according to her Linkedin page. On it she describes how the initiative 'empowers entrepreneurs and innovative civil society leaders to strengthen their capacity to launch and advance their entrepreneurial ideas and effectively contribute to social and economic development in their communities'. She continues: 'President Obama launched the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative to build linkages between young leaders across the hemisphere. YLAI will help address the opportunity gap for youth, especially women, by empowering entrepreneurs and civil society leaders with the training, tools, networks and resources they need to transform their societies and contribute more fully to economic development and prosperity, security, human rights and good governance in the hemisphere.' She adds: 'The inaugural cohort was selected in August 2016 and included 250 entrepreneurs and young leaders between ages 18 and 35 from 36 countries across the Western Hemisphere.' According to her Linkedin page Riveros says she has: 'More than 10 years of experience of leading social projects and be involved in volunteer actions for local and global organizations related to education and environment as a member, coordinator and co-founder. Riveros, who works as a consultant in social responsibility and sustainable development, introduced the president before the two shared a close embrace (pictured) Riveros has been a fellow of President Obama's Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) since August, according to her Linkedin page Obama's visit to Peru, the last stop on his trip, has brought those concerns to the forefront: Much of Latin America is on edge about a potentially dramatic shift in U.S. immigration policy under Trump. And Asian leaders gathered in Lima for are trying to game out what Trump's presidency will mean for trade with the world's largest economy. 'We're going to have a busy agenda,' Obama said as he sat down with leaders of countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the sweeping free trade deal with Asia that Obama painstakingly brokered. It was unclear whether their agenda was really as busy as all that. Vehemently opposed to the Pacific agreement and similar deals, Trump has vowed it won't be ratified on his watch. In an acknowledgement of that political reality, the White House has stopped actively lobbying Congress to try to pass it. In fact, Obama didn't mention the trade deal at all as reporters were allowed in briefly for the beginning of his meeting with TPP nations, which include Mexico, Chile, Japan, Australia and Vietnam. Instead, Obama called it a useful occasion to talk about creating jobs, opportunity and prosperity. To be sure, any president would have less to discuss with other leaders in the final months than when years of governing stretch ahead. President Barack Obama (left with Peru President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski) attended the APEC summit in Peru on Saturday Obama (pictured, with Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto) has tried to reassure world leaders that the U.S. will uphold its partnerships and obligations under a Trump administration Obama also tried to ease the concerns of his fellow leaders who fear a Trump presidency may stomp on crucial trade deals Obama's typically jam-packed schedule on foreign trips has been notably lighter on this trip, with long stretches of downtime. Yet Trump's election, with the sharp shift in approach it's expected to bring, has put a spotlight on Obama's lame-duck status. Obama has made it a tradition to attend the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. His attendance this year was designed to reinforce the importance of that venue, even though it's unlikely at this stage of his presidency he will secure any new major agreements with other countries or shift direction in any major ways. His visit also offered a chance for a round of farewell meetings, including with President Xi Jinping of China, a sometimes U.S. rival. Xi commended Obama for 'active efforts' to grow U.S.-China ties. Obama, with just a hint of nostalgia, noted it was their last meeting, and called the two countries' relationship the most consequential in the world. Before returning to Washington, Obama will sit down Sunday with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. He also will participate in a pull-aside with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Obama's chief antagonist on the world stage, was also in Lima, but the White House did not expect them to have any substantive interaction. In addition, National Security Adviser Susan Rice (second left) condemned the 'horrific attacks' against Syrian hospitals and aid workers 'in the strongest possible terms' on Saturday in Peru Hospitals were knocked out of service on Friday and the death toll rose to at least 20 on Saturday (pictured, Civil Defense workers and Syrian citizens carrying a dead body Saturday) By this point, Obama has come to terms with the fact that his remaining weeks in office will be overshadowed by the provocative businessman who soon moves into the home Obama's family now occupies. In Greece and Germany, the first two stops on his trip, Obama was similarly trailed by questions about Trump and whether he'll really follow through with threats he leveled during the campaign, such as potentially refusing to defend NATO allies who don't pay enough of the alliance's costs. So far, while Trump has vowed to run a unifying administration, he's given few indications he plans to abandon his campaign promises. Obama (left) and Russia's President Vladimir Putin (right) may take the opportunity in Peru to discuss the Syrian conflict Those hoping for a more moderate Trump 2.0 have been disappointed by his first selections for top jobs: Rep. Mike Pompeo, a fierce critic of Obama's Iran deal, for CIA director; retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, an advocate for closer ties to Russia and a more militant response to Mideast extremism, for national security adviser; and Sen. Jeff Sessions, an immigration hardliner, for attorney general. Trump's protectionist stance on trade was clearly on the minds of other leaders attending the economic conference. Xi, speaking before his meeting with Obama, made an impassioned call against protectionism as Chinese state media said Trump's trade-bashing could drag the world into 'deeper economic distress.' Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto defended his country's trade relationship with the U.S., but took a cautious approach to Trump's pledge to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement. 'In the face of Trump's positioning, we're now in a stage of favoring dialogue as a way to build a new agenda in our bilateral relationship,' Pena Nieto said. The White House also had strong words for Russia after airstrikes in eastern Aleppo knocked out several medical facilities on Friday, including a children's hospital where incubated babies had to be evacuated. National Security Adviser Susan Rice demanded an immediate halt to the bombings while Obama and Russia's President Vladimir Putin may take the opportunity in Peru to discuss the Syrian conflict, according to a Kremlin spokesperson earlier this week. The US demanded an immediate halt to Syrian strikes in eastern Aleppo (pictured, the Seif al-Dawleh neighborhood in Aleppo on Saturday) Speaking from Peru, Rice condemned the 'horrific attacks' against Syrian hospitals and aid workers 'in the strongest possible terms', adding that there was 'no excuse' for them. The White House is now putting the onus on Russia to lower the violence and help humanitarian aid get to besieged Syrians. Rice's condemnation came while Obama and Putin are both in Peru, where reports earlier this week indicated they would discuss the Syrian conflict. Syria's ally Russia announced its own offensive on the rebel-controlled Idlib province and Homs province in central Syria on Tuesday. At least 20 people were killed on Saturday, the fifth day of renewed assaults by Syrian warplanes on eastern Aleppo districts. Four medical facilities were hit in airstrikes on Friday before the Omar bin Abdul Aziz hospital was destroyed, leaving the enclave of 275,000 people without access to surgery and other care, the Guardian reported. An air raid hit a children's hospital, where medical staff worked in the dark to rescue several newborn babies who were still in incubators, Al Jazeera reported. A statement issued late Friday by the opposition's Aleppo Health Directorate said that all hospitals in east Aleppo are out of service because of the bombings. 'The intentional destruction of infrastructure for survival has made the besieged steadfast people, including children, elderly and men and women, without medical facilities to treat them,' the statement said. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said not all hospitals in east Aleppo neighborhoods are out of service but people are finding difficulties reaching them because of the intensity of the shelling. 'Aleppo is being wiped out in front of the eyes of the world,' medical official Mohammed Abu Rajab said in an audio message to The Associated Press from inside the city. 'It's not only hospitals that are out of service. All liberated areas in Aleppo are out of service. Entire buildings have been completely destroyed,' Abu Rajab said. Residents said hundreds of artillery shells and dozens of airstrikes have hit the city, increasing the misery of its residents who have been suffering from lack of food and medicine because of the siege imposed by government forces and their allies in July. The Observatory said Syrian government warplanes and artillery struck more than 20 neighborhoods in east Aleppo killing 27 people and wounding many others. Protesters in Peru took to the streets while their country was on the world stage during the APEC summit this weekend The Aleppo Media Council, an activist collective, said 20 people, including children, were killed in Saturday's violence in the country's largest city and former commercial center. Pro-government media, meanwhile, reported rebel shelling on government-held parts of the city, saying they killed two and wounded others. The latest deaths raise to more than 130 the number of people killed in northern Syria since Tuesday. Obama is meeting in Peru on Saturday with leaders from 11 countries that joined the U.S. to negotiate the Trans-Pacific Partnership, an agreement unlikely to be ratified under Trump. But Obama emphasized opportunities to create jobs and said the meeting served as a good chance to talk about expanding prosperity. Global concerns about Trump's pending ascension to the world's most powerful office will be a key topic of discussion. The Trump issue overshadowed the president's interactions with world leaders earlier this week in Athens, Greece, and Berlin. As the APEC summit took place, protesters rallied in the streets of Lima. Maternity hospital employees who have not been paid by the state for several months went on strike, while fishermen protested government regulations they say would stop them from being able to feed their families. He plans to have surgery to remove breasts before treatment ends in 2017 A 20-year-old transgender marine will be one of the first to be formally recognized by his command as a man after the U.S. military lifted a ban on those serving. Lance Corporal Aaron Wixson, from Tulsa in Oklahoma, enlisted as a marine in 2014 when he was still identifying as a woman, CNN reports. After years of discomfort, Wixson was this year diagnosed with gender dysphoria - a disorder that sees a person identify differently to the gender they were born. Transgender Lance Corporal Aaron Wixson, 20, enlisted as a marine in 2014 when he was still living as a woman but will soon be recognized as a man by the U.S military after treatment Soon after, the field artillery radar operator informed his command that he was transgender and, with their help, started hormone replacement treatment within the military healthcare system. Wixson is now aiming to have surgery to remove his breasts before his hormone treatment ends in May next year. Under a new military policy that came into effect in October, Wixson can change his name and gender in the Defense database and start dressing like a man when his treatment plan is complete. 'I'm really grateful to be able to serve openly in the Marine Corps as transgender,' he told CNN. 'When you get to be yourself you're a much more effective member of the team. Wixson, who grew up as a girl named Arielle (left), started hormone replacement treatment within the military healthcare system earlier this year Under a new military policy that came into effect in October, Wixson can change his name and gender in the Defense database and start dressing like a man when he finishes treatment Wixson said he struggled growing up before he was diagnosed with gender dysphoria because he always wanted to dress as a boy and loved playing all types of sports Wixson, who was born a girl named Arielle, said he struggled growing up because he always wanted to dress as a boy. He came out as a lesbian in high school thinking that would resolve his struggles. The marine said his family and military colleagues have been supportive of his decision to under the gender transition. The Department of Defense overturned a ban on transgender service back in June. 'Transgender Americans may serve openly, and they can no longer be discharged or otherwise separated from the military just for being transgender,' Defense Secretary Ash Carter said at the time. He also announced that transgender-related care and medical treatment would be covered under the military's heath care plans. A six-year-old boy has been rescued from the rubble of a bombed Aleppo building after being trapped for four hours. Volunteer first responders desperately dug through the rubble to reach the child, whose mother was killed in the strike. Twenty others were killed as airstrikes pounded rebel-held eastern Aleppo on Thursday, the third day of a renewed air campaign. A six-year-old boy has been rescued from the rubble of a bombed Aleppo building after being trapped for four hours The strikes are part of a major Syrian and Russian offensive launched earlier this week on opposition-held areas that has killed dozens The strikes were part of a major Syrian and Russian offensive launched earlier this week on opposition-held areas that has killed dozens. The activist-run Public Services Authority said a water plant in Bab al-Nairab was struck with a barrel bomb. The plant was damaged but is still operating. 'This regime uses any means to add pressure to civilians. It has bombed bakeries and hospitals and has not made an exception for water and electricity,' said a spokesman. Airstrikes on Wednesday struck the city's central blood bank and a children's hospital. Medical facilities have repeatedly come under attack during the Syrian conflict, with 126 such incidents this year alone, according to the World Health Organization. Doctors Without Borders said the children's hospital and a specialized surgical hospital were hit by Wednesday's strikes. 'Hospital staff managed to move children-including prematurely born babies-from cots and incubators to the basement of the building in order to shelter them from the bombing,' said the aid group, which sponsors both hospitals. The Oxfam aid group said the more than 250,000 residents of eastern Aleppo have limited food and clean water as winter approaches, and are at risk of disease outbreaks. Civil Defense workers and Syrian citizens carry a dead body in the neighborhood of Seif al-Dawleh in Aleppo No U.N. aid has reached eastern Aleppo since July No U.N. aid has reached eastern Aleppo since July, and the U.N. has warned that supplies will run out this week. Oxfam said it helped move a generator to the besieged area on Wednesday to improve the water supply. 'Clean water is vital, but it won't stop starvation, never mind protect people from indiscriminate aerial attacks,' said Andy Baker, who is leading Oxfam's Syria response. The Syrian Civil Defense said 28 people were killed in and around Aleppo on Thursday. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of local activists, put the death toll at 25. At least 70 people were killed in northern Syria on Tuesday and Wednesday. Russia says it is not bombing Aleppo as part of the offensive announced this week, but is instead targeting insurgents in Idlib and the central Homs province. Meanwhile, the Russian military said airstrikes in the rebel-held province of Idlib earlier this week killed at least 30 members of an al-Qaeda-linked group, including three commanders. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking to reporters at an economic summit in Lima, Peru portrayed Russia's airstrikes as limited and only targeting Islamic State fighters fleeing the Iraqi city of Mosul and attempting to cross into Syria. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said the strikes targeting al-Qaida took place in Idlib on Tuesday, and were launched from Russia's only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, which recently deployed to the Mediterranean Sea. The activist-run Public Services Authority said the Bab al-Nairab water plant was struck with a barrel bomb At least 70 people were killed in northern Syria on Tuesday and Wednesday He said three leading members of the al-Qaida-linked Fatah al-Sham Front - Muhammad Helala, Abu Jaber Harmuja and Abul Baha al-Asfari - were among those killed. He said al-Asfari had overseen the group's attempts to break the siege of Aleppo. Al-Asfari had led a moderate rebel group in 2013, and it was not clear if or when he joined the al-Qaida-linked group. An opposition media group known as All4Syria reported that the two other named militants were killed Tuesday in an airstrike in the village of Kfar Jalis, in the Idlib countryside, that also killed six civilians. The Observatory's chief Rami Abdurrahman said the airstrike on the jihadi stronghold killed six leading militants, without identifying them. The same village was struck Thursday, the Observatory said, killing six civilians from the same family. The Russian Defense Ministry said long-range bombers dispatched from Russia fired cruise missiles at Islamic State and al-Qaida targets in Syria during a 7,000-mile flight. A wounded infant waits to receive medical treatment at the Sahra hospita Wounded people receive medical treatment at Sahra Hospital It said fighter jets from the carrier and an air base in Syria also took part in the strikes. It did not say where the strikes took place, but said they destroyed command facilities, ammunition depots and weapons factories. Months of negotiations between the U.S. and Russia failed to cement a long-term cease-fire in Aleppo, which has become the focus of the war between Syrian President Bashar Assad and rebels fighting to topple him. Al-Qaida's Syrian affiliate is fighting alongside the rebels, but the Islamic State group has no presence in Aleppo. Britain's International Development Secretary has condemned the 'sickening' bombing in Syria which has reportedly left rebel-held areas of Aleppo without a functioning hospital. Priti Patel condemned Russian and Syrian 'inhumanity' as forces loyal to president Bashar al-Assad bombarded besieged areas of the northern city for a fifth-day running. Syrian civil defence volunteers, known as the White Helmets, pull a body from the rubble A Syrian civil defence volunteer carries an injured man Debris of buildings are seen after the war crafts belonging to the Assad Regime and Russian forces are belived to have carried out airstrikes on residential areas in Aleppo Rescue workers ran through the streets in the aftermath of the strikes A building was totally collapsed after the bombing It came after a day of air strikes which hit four hospitals, and late on Friday the opposition's Aleppo Health Directorate said all hospitals in the rebel-held east of the city were now out of service. The claim was disputed by the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which said not all east Aleppo hospitals were out of service but acknowledged that people were finding it difficult to reach them amid intense shelling. Ms Patel condemned Russia and Syria for creating a 'deliberate humanitarian crisis'. 'The bombing of the last functioning hospital in Aleppo is part of a systematic campaign to remove even the most basic of services left in the city,' she said. 'This sickening act is part of a humanitarian catastrophe that will leave hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians already desperate for food without access to medical care. 'The inhumanity shown by the Russian and Syrian regime has created a systemic and deliberate humanitarian crisis that cannot be ignored. 'Russia has the power to allow the aid so desperately needed into the city, if it does not the world will hold it to account for the barbarous result.' More than 175,000 salmon were boiled alive at More than 175,000 salmon are thought to have been boiled alive when disease treatment at a fish farm went horribly wrong. The salmon died when their water was excessively overheated by lice treatments at a farm owned by Marine Harvest, one of the world's s largest fish farming companies, in Scotland. The accidental deaths have cost the Norwegian multinational an estimated 2.7 million and there are calls for those responsible to be prosecuted for animal cruelty, reports the Telegraph. The salmon died when their water was excessively overheated by lice treatments at a farm owned by Marine Harvest, one of the world's s largest fish farming companies, in Scotland The news broke just a month after Prince Charles (pictured) visited and praised Marine Harvest's Loch Leven farm for its 'sustainable practices' Marine Harvest supplies salmon to several supermarket, including Sainsbury's and Tesco, and it is feared the destruction of more than 600 tonnes of fish could force prices up significantly as demand increases in the run up to Christmas. Some 95,400 salmon were killed at Marine Harvest's Loch Greshornish farm on the Isle of Skye in July and August, when fish were treated for lice with a new device called a Thermolicer. It works by bathing fish briefly in lukewarm water, killing the parasite's which have a low tolerance for a sudden change in temperature. No chemicals are used in the process and the fish should be completely unharmed, according to Scottish Sea Farms which invested more than 4m in the equipment this summer. However, a memo from government officials to Scottish rural economy minister Fergus Ewing show, that while the treatment killed 95 per cent of the lice it also caused 'significant salmon mortalities'. Another 20,000 salmon were killed at the company's Loch Greshornish fish farm using a different chemical attempt to rid them of sea lice. And more than 60,000 salmon were killed by hydrogen peroxide being used to treat them for amoebic gill disease at Marine Harvest's fish farm off the Isle of Harris. Marine Harvest supplies fresh salmon and smoked salmon to several supermarket, including Sainsbury's and Tesco The news broke just a month after Prince Charles visited and praised Marine Harvest's Loch Leven farm, which houses over 550,000 salmon, for its 'sustainable practices'. Experts are being more and more concerned that lice are becoming increasingly resistant to chemical treatment and farmers are forced to resort to potentially risky measures to get rid of the parasites. Steve Bracken, Marine Harvest's business development manager, told the Telegraph: 'We regret any loss of fish and are always mindful of the welfare of the fish and aim to continuously improve our methods to address changing environmental circumstances. Visitors to a Christmas market described it as a 'shambles,' saying they were greeted with gridlocked traffic, a boggy field and a two-hour wait to see Santa - who didn't even have a grotto. The first day of the Bakewell Winter Wonderland and Christmas Market near Derby sparked a furious reaction from families after opening on Friday. Tickets cost 7 each on the gate for both adults and children, with an additional 5 to park. But visitors complained about 'awful' mud and a total lack of organisation in a flood of posts on social media today. Visitors to a Christmas market described it as a 'shambles,' saying they were greeted with gridlocked traffic, a boggy field and a two-hour wait to see Santa - who didn't even have a grotto The first day of the Bakewell Winter Wonderland and Christmas Market near Derby sparked a furious reaction from families after opening on Friday The mud was awful at the Bakewell Winter Wonderland, complained families who visited, paying 5 each. They also griped about a lack of Christmas cheer and very long queues Jean Sanderson, who visited the Bakewell Winter Wonderland with her grandchildren, was greeted with mud, an un-built Santa's grotto and upset children - 'a horrendous day,' she said. An 'utterly disappointed' Helen Merionwen Reeves-Howard complained there was 'not an ounce of Christmas cheer. Even if there was proper live music, and not just a poor imitation of Keith Lemon, it wouldn't have been heard over the extremely loud tacky fairground rides.' She also complained in her post on Facebook that she spent an hour in gridlocked traffic waiting to park. 'The mud was awful but that can be excused with a little forward planning from the organisers, a few bales of straw didn't help much. All in all a poor day out,' she said. Jean Sanderson, who visited this afternoon with family and friends including her two granddaughters, told MailOnline: 'It was a horrendous day. I feel for the families with children and the disabled. 'It was not what we expected - no atmosphere and they had not even built the Santa's grotto. Children were waiting, upset. We didn't stay long as there was nothing there.' She said she has been refunded for her tickets. Tickets cost 7 each on the gate for both adults and children, with an additional 5 to park Wonderland visitor Gill Gray posted this photo along with the comment: 'An hour in the queue for Santa and still waiting!' Other visitors complained that Santa did not have a grotto either But visitors complained about 'awful' mud and a total lack of organisation in a flood of posts on social media today Jill Goodwin wrote on Facebook: 'I'd advise anyone that is interested in this event with small children not to attend.' Jill Goodwin wrote on Facebook: 'I'd advise anyone that is interested in this event with small children not to attend. I spent 50 on tickets for a family day out and I wish I'd spent it on taking them out for fish and chips and a walk round Bakewell instead. 'The organisers of this event should be ashamed. My daughter was so excited as it was an inset day and we'd been showing her all the updates of what was there. 'Reality - a boggy mud, stalls set out to make it look bigger, rides from the local fair that visits a half opened Santa's grotto placed in the middle of a bog where pushchairs weren't thought of (and) more burger vans and alcohol vans than the whole fair, stalls and activities put together.' Customers attending the Bakewell Winter Wonderland were told to wear wellies Motorists queued for hours to park for 5 and found that the venue was very muddy indeed There was a torrent of complaints posted on the event's Facebook page today by visitors Liz Gallagher said her eight year old daughter was taken to the fair by her grandparents who paid 5 for 'what can only be described as a complete shambles of a car park. They queued for almost two hours to see Santa.' The organisers posted on Facebook on Friday that there had been 'a lot of set backs this morning due to the mini hurricane' They added: 'we can only apologise for any inconvenience, caused however we cannot avoid the awful weather we have experienced.' Liz Gallagher said her eight year old daughter was taken to the fair by her grandparents who paid 5 for 'what can only be described as a complete shambles of a car park. They queued for almost two hours to see Santa.' Wendy Batters wrote: 'An absolute disgrace ten inches deep in mud in parts and one tractor going around dropping one bale of straw on to the mud. I doubt 1,000 bales would have had any impact. 'The staff were inundated with people complaining but no one with any authority was available to speak to us or anyone else who was complaining. I was suitably dressed in wellies but was being sucked under the mud in parts and I witnessed an adult lose her boot in the mud. Small children stood no chance at all and my push chair is totally ruined. We gave up after 20 minutes and came home.' The event runs until Sunday, November 20, then reopens for December 9-11. The organisers posted on Facebook on Friday that there had been 'a lot of set backs this morning due to the mini hurricane,' adding that 'we can only apologise for any inconvenience, caused however we cannot avoid the awful weather we have experienced.' They warned guests to wear wellies. Still requested that $3 million worth of guns be destroyed instead of sold But company filed for bankruptcy and Maxfield struggled to get the money Babysitter accidentally shot him trying to unload gun; left him paralyzed Brandon Maxfield has died from quadriplegia at home in Willits, California An anti-gun advocate who was left paralyzed after getting accidentally shot in the face has died of complications from paralysis aged 29. Brandon Maxfield, who had quadriplegia, died at home in Willits, California last week and was buried on Saturday. A babysitter accidentally shot him in the chin and spine when he was just 7 years old while trying to unload the gun. Maxfield fought to take down the gun manufacturer, Bryco Arms, and its owner Bruce Jennings. He won a record $24 million jury award in 2003 but the company filed for bankruptcy, meaning Maxfield struggled to collect the sum. Anti-gun advocate Brandon Maxfield (pictured), 29, died at home in Willits, California last week of complications from quadriplegia and was buried on Saturday But $3 million worth of Bryco's guns were still destroyed at his request rather than sold - even though the money could have gone to him. Doctors were unsure whether Maxfield would survive the injuries that left him paralyzed as a child. Maxfield, who was left paralyzed from the neck down and needed a ventilator to breathe at night, later vowed to get Bryco's cheap guns off the streets, hoping that no one would suffer another accident as tragic as his. The babysitter had been trying to unload the .380-caliber pistol when it discharged. Maxfield's attorney, Richard Ruggieri, told the court that the gun would usually jam if someone tried to remove a bullet when the safety was on. Maxfield (pictured left before being paralyzed and right with his mother) was accidentally shot by his babysitter aged 7 due to a defective gun, which the babysitter was trying to unload Bryco, according to Ruggieri, decided not to spend money to fix the problem and instead changed the instructions, telling gun owners to disable the safety before unloading the pistol. This, according to Ruggieri, was like telling drivers to unfasten their seat belts right before a crash. Jennings declared bankruptcy after a jury awarded Maxfield $24 million - and moved into a 3,000-square-foot home with an airplane hangar, the Los Angeles Times wrote. The company could have sold 20,000 guns for up to $3 million, which could have gone towards Maxfield's payment - but Maxfield refused and instead requested that the guns be destroyed. A jury awarded Maxfield (pictured aged 17) $24 million after he sued gun manufacturer Bryco Arms. The company's owner, Bruce Jennings, filed for bankruptcy Maxfield (pictured aged 17 with his grandmother, center, and his mother, right) refused to let $3 million worth of Bryco guns be sold and instead requested they be destroyed 'I was proud of him,' Ruggieri told the Los Angeles Times. 'He channeled all of his energy into his belief that what happened to him should never happen to anyone else.' Jennings is currently serving a 10-year sentence in prison for distributing child pornography. Maxfield, who loved music, video games and the WWF, was a straight-A student who graduated from Willits High School with a 4.0 GPA. His hero was Christopher Reeve, who became a quadriplegic after a horseback riding injury. Maxfield, who had a brief marriage, visited Hawaii on a cruise and traveled to Las Vegas as well as the East and Northwest coast. Family friend Mike Harkins said that Maxfield's health had declined lately and that he had issues with his lungs and circulation. Scientists and conspiracy theorists across the world have been left stunned after Nasa cameras picked up a mysterious blue sphere moving in front of the Sun. Facebook user Pamela Jonhson, who lives in Mexico, shared the images from a link to Nasa's website, claiming the Sun reacted to the object. The images, taken from Nasa's STEREO satellites which orbit the Sun, show the large spectacle in clear view - before it goes missing from other frames. Scroll down for video A huge blue sphere seen in front of the Sun by Nasa cameras has mystified scientists and sent UFO hunters into uproar However, the object has now disappeared from view and has not been seen again Pamela Johnson claims the Sun started reacting to the object on November 15, and there are several frames from the feed missing throughout the following days. The images left internet users divided as to whether or not this was anything exceptional. A YouTube account named mrfaithandphysics said: 'It certainly does look exceptional and I'm stumped. 'I'd say rouge planet, but we don't see it moving and then it's gone.' The footage then goes grainy, with the mysterious object appearing to disappear from view The images, taken from Nasa's STEREO satellites which orbit the Sun, show the large object in clear view Another, mrreg II, added: 'I have downloaded the images from SECCHI HI1 and this is strange. This 'anomaly' can only be seen on images from 11.17, but there are missing several both before and after its appearance. 'But just consider this: The light on the tallest 'lightrod' is the planet Mercury. This 'anomaly' seem to be behind it.... And Mercury is 4,880 km across...' However, a more skeptical Mike Sovereign said: 'ok if you ask me, nasa would never be so careless to allow something like this to reach the public . And it looks like something is projecting this.' image in space , hallographic perhaps or project blue beam.' I had tried to prepare myself mentally, but I had no bag. I wasnt suitably dressed: I was in a suit. And now I was locked in a tiny cubicle, being hurled from side to side as the van lurched around corners. I felt sick, both physically and psychologically. If you treated animals the way we treat prisoners on their way to jail, animal rights groups would be incensed. And this was only the beginning. Consultant surgeon David Sellu is describing the worst day of his life November 5, 2013 when he was transported to Belmarsh in London, one of Britains toughest high-security jails, to start a two-and-a-half-year sentence for killing a patient in his care. David Sellu (pictured with his wife Catherine) was convicted of manslaughter in 2013 over the death his patient James Hughes and sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison His exemplary 40-year career, his professional and social standing, his familys financial security all were wiped out by the Old Bailey jurys verdict that Mr Sellu was guilty of gross negligence manslaughter in causing the death of James Hughes, 66. Last week, 16 months after this newspaper exposed how vital evidence that might have cleared Mr Sellu was hidden from his trial, the Court of Appeal quashed his conviction. But the damage is done. His career is in tatters. His reputation ruined. And the totally degrading trauma of being locked up 22 hours a day in a jail containing rapists and murderers has taken a heavy toll. His story is a shocking indictment of the blame culture afflicting Britains hospitals, which is seeing increasing numbers of healthcare workers thrown to the legal wolves with potentially devastating consequences for patients. It also chillingly illustrates how easy it is for a public-spirited professional to find himself on the wrong side of the law. I feel no jubilation, only a little relief, says Mr Sellu, 69, speaking exclusively to The Mail on Sunday at his West London home. Courteous and softly spoken as he recalls his long ordeal, he shudders, occasionally rubbing his eyes to hide his tears. I still cant sleep properly. Im on beta-blockers to stop my heart racing. And I feel like a pariah. Ive had to cope with headlines that called me Doctor Death and Killer Surgeon. That doesnt go away. The Crown Prosecution Service knows they made a hash of this case. My hope now is that they will think twice before trying to criminalise others working in healthcare. Mr Sellus journey to the top of Britains medical profession began in a poor village in Sierra Leone. He is the eldest of ten children, born to rice-farmer parents who had no education. His chance came when his slightly wealthier aunt, who lived in Bo, the nearest town, offered to pay for him to go to school there and put him up. It was an excellent school and I got good grades. Eventually, I won a national scholarship to study in England, Mr Sellu says. He entered Manchester University medical school in 1968. Once he qualified, his progress was assured. He took up successive posts in Manchester, London and Southampton. In 1981, he married Catherine, an intensive care nurse he met at Hammersmith Hospital in London. The couple have four children. Mr Sellu worked for the Clementine Churchill in Harrow, owned by healthcare giant BMI. A damning report, which might have cleared the surgeon was hidden by senior BMI staff Mr Sellus reputation as a meticulous, unflappable surgeon steadily grew, and in 1993 he was headhunted to become an NHS colorectal consultant at Ealing Hospital. Later he also worked part-time at the private hospital where Mr Hughes died the Clementine Churchill in Harrow, owned by healthcare giant BMI. He has also spent months as a volunteer surgeon in the country of his birth. When the police started investigating Mr Sellu, they combed through his record, searching for evidence that the death rate among his patients was abnormally high. There was none, and many colleagues gave glowing testimonials about his skill and experience. Mr Sellu first saw Mr Hughes a building firm boss from Northern Ireland on February 11, 2010. Five days earlier, Mr Hughes had been given a replacement knee, but had developed worsening pain in his abdomen. Mr Sellu agreed to see him as a favour to the surgeon who did the knee op largely because, at a private hospital at night, there was no one else, other than the more junior resident medical officer. The junior doctor thought Mr Hughes had cramp, and had given him muscle relaxants. Mr Hughes was in agony: clearly they were not working. In fact, Mr Hughes had a perforated bowel a life-threatening condition. But Mr Sellu was not able to operate until the early hours of February 13. By this time, Mr Hughes was critical, and never recovered consciousness. Im still very sorry for his family, Mr Sellu says. They lost a husband and a father. Ive analysed what happened a thousand times, and with the benefit of hindsight, there are things I might do differently. But there were reasons for the delay in operating that had absolutely nothing to do with me for example, there was no rota for emergency anaesthetists. It was not until after Mr Sellu was convicted that the hospital sent an email to its doctors suggesting a rota be formed. An inquest into Mr Hughess death opened in October 2010, but the coroner quickly halted it, and ordered police to begin a criminal investigation of Mr Sellu. The consultant found himself being interrogated hour after hour, being asked repeatedly about the tiniest details of the case. They were looking for discrepancies, trying to trip me up, so they could say I was a liar, Mr Sellu says. They had a crime and a suspect, and they were trying to prove their case. But as this newspaper revealed last year, all this time a crucial document was hidden: a secret report by senior BMI staff compiled after Mr Hughess death. This so-called root cause analysis found there were inadequate procedures at the hospital when routine cases became emergencies, delays in getting scans, X-rays and an anaesthetist, and a failure to monitor Mr Hughess condition. After his trial, November 5, 2013 Mr Sullu was transported to Belmarsh in London, one of Britains toughest high-security jails Mr Sellu was charged with manslaughter. He could no longer work, even in the NHS. Imagine, youve been working all your life, and suddenly your salary is stopped, and youre told you may have committed a criminal act, he says. In 2012, his six-week trial began. The secret report was never shown to the jury. According to the prosecution, Mr Hughes died because of Mr Sellus laid-back attitude. The jury deliberated for more than three days. When it came to sentencing, Mr Sellu says: I felt the handcuffs go on my wrist. I looked up at my family. There was a lot of sobbing, but they were trying to make encouraging gestures. I was taken down to the cells, and my barrister gave me a pep talk, saying I had nothing to worry about and would soon be in an open prison. And then they took me to Belmarsh. There was further humiliation to come: a long wait to be processed, and a strip search. It was totally degrading, admits Mr Sellu. Finally, he was taken to a cell with three other prisoners and two sets of bunks, with almost no space between them. The shared toilet was open the stench was the first thing I noticed and they were locked in the cell for 22 hours a day. Mr Sellu says: I was trying to stay strong because my family were going through hell too. But I was on the top bunk, freezing, with one tiny blanket. The bed was very narrow, and every movement by the guy on the bottom bed was magnified. I barely slept at all. Throughout my career I made life-and-death decisions, and now every aspect of my life when I could wash, what I could eat was controlled by someone else. I was terrified. I had been warned not to let other inmates know I was a doctor, because they might have assumed I was some kind of Harold Shipman [the serial-killer GP who murdered more than 200 patients] and sought retribution. I was in a tiny space with three strangers, with one panic button by the door. My family could not send books. All I could do 22 hours a day was sit on my bunk, legs dangling, or try to sleep. Last week, the Court of Appeal said the trial judge failed to tell the jury how only truly exceptional negligence could rank as manslaughter. Cases of healthcare workers being accused of criminal conduct are increasing, with at least three convicted in the past two years After a month, Mr Sellu was moved to Highpoint, a high-security jail in Suffolk, where conditions were better, and finally, in the months before his eventual release in 2015, to an open prison. He served a total of 15 months. But even after being freed, his life was in limbo: I felt ashamed to walk past my neighbours. And, of course, I could not work. Last week, the Court of Appeal said the trial judge failed to tell the jury how only truly exceptional negligence could rank as manslaughter, and how they might determine whether this had occurred. Yet cases of healthcare workers being accused of criminal conduct are increasing, with at least three convicted in the past two years. Mr Sellu says two things helped lift his morale after being convicted. One was this newspapers investigation, and the other was a campaign chaired by his Ealing colleague Jenny Vaughan, a consultant neurologist. Dr Vaughans petition gathered 3,000 signatures, many from top doctors and former patients. Dr Vaughan says: Of course we are pleased with the decision. But as a doctor, Im interested in what makes patients safer, so that lessons are learned. The threat of criminal charges only promotes cover-ups. Mr Sellu highlights another danger: The potential consequence of my prosecution is that in cases where a patient may die, a surgeon might walk away rather than operate because that will be safer for the doctor. Some patients who might live will lose their chance of survival. Mr Sellu still has to face the General Medical Council. But despite his appeal victory, his desire to practise his hard-won skills has gone. Sometimes I think of the patients I could have treated while I was in prison. But I dont want to go back to surgery. Id like to do some teaching, some writing and research. Prince Harry will arrive in Antigua on Sunday It is often joked that the smell of fresh paint heralds a visit by a member of the Royal Family. And Clarence House in Antigua was a case in point last night as builders raced against the clock to finish restoration work ahead of Prince Harry's arrival today. The 200-year-old former residence of the Commissioner of the Royal Navy Dockyard complete with its own throne, an antique commode built into a chest of drawers was a favourite spot of Princess Margaret, who spent part of her honeymoon there. Harry is due to officially open the building this afternoon as he kicks off his Caribbean tour. The 32-year-old Prince will enjoy local music and sample cocktails 'with a Caribbean twist'. But as locals prepared to welcome Harry, not everyone was buzzing with excitement. A gloomy Meghan Markle was spotted out and about, prompting suggestions that she was missing her Prince after a visit to London to see him earlier this month. She is unlikely to make an appearance on this tour and will not have a chance to see her partner for more than a fortnight. Wearing sunglasses and a long purple trench coat, actress Miss Markle, 35, was spotted in downtown Toronto where she films her television drama, Suits. Back in Antigua, 30 painters, stonemasons, electricians and carpenters have been working frantically to complete a three- year project to rebuild the historic house after it was badly damaged by a hurricane in 1998. British businessman Peter Harrison pledged 2.4 million to restore the property to its original glory. The 200-year-old former residence of the Commissioner of the Royal Navy Dockyard was a favourite spot of Princess Margaret Antique: Clarence House has an 18th Century throne inside a chest of drawers Preparations are still on going to finish the restoration work before the arrival of Prince Harry When The Mail on Sunday visited yesterday, some workers were still laying bricks outside. Others were cutting metal for the railings and burning lead over a fire to weld them into place. Tiles were being laid outside while staff polished the wooden floors and builders shifted debris in trucks. Trustee Reginald Murphy, who is overseeing the restoration, said the Royal visit came as a surprise. 'It has been a bit hectic,' he said. 'There were rumours, but we didn't know Prince Harry was going to come here until the last month. We were aiming to complete this in the first couple of weeks in December, so we moved it forward a month.' Missing him already... Meghan Markle, Prince Harry's girlfriend, is home alone A unique feature of the renovated building is the 18th Century chamber pot built into a chest of drawers. Dr Reg Murphy said: 'You pull out the drawer and then you sit on it to do your business. Poor people would have just shoved it under the bed, but this was a more fancy option. 'If Prince Harry wants to test it, then he is welcome to have a go. Advertisement A snow storm has caused 340 crashes in Minnesota, injuring 37 and killing at least one as it swept across the state. Heavy, wet snow has caused more than 550 spinouts since Thursday night, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. Ler Gay, a 42-year-old man from Fulda, died in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 59 Friday. Winter Storm Argos was expected to move further into the Northeast and the Great Lakes over the weekend, with chances of snow in New York state and northern New England. Scroll down for video A snow storm has caused 340 crashes in Minnesota, injuring 37 and killing at least one as it swept across the state. Pictured, traffic slows as heavy snow begins to fall on Friday in St Cloud Heavy, wet snow has caused more than 550 spinouts since Thursday night, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. Pictured, a snow plow clears a section of St Cloud's Veterans Drive Friday Transportation officials recommended no travel in parts of southwestern Minnesota due to whiteout conditions and roads covered with blowing snow. Pictured left, traffic slows in St Cloud Friday; right, workmen repair power lines in Sartell Snow began falling rapidly in northern Minnesota Friday, piling up higher than a foot in some areas. Extreme weather caused power outages, with 4,000 customers losing power. The power cooperative, which serves counties in central and north-central Minnesota, pulled crews off the roads and shut its offices down, the Star Tribune reported. Transportation officials recommended no travel in parts of southwestern Minnesota due to whiteout conditions and roads covered with blowing snow. The wintry storm sent cars and semitrailers into ditches along Interstate 94 in western Minnesota. Snow and high winds made it difficult for vehicles especially big rigs to get up hills on the interstate around Dalton, Jerimiah Moerke with the Minnesota Department of Transportation told the Fergus Falls Daily Journal. At least one semitrailer jackknifed on I-94 between Fergus Falls and Evansville. Extreme weather caused power outages, with 4,000 customers losing power in Minnesota. Pictured, a man walks in the snow near the entrance to the St Cloud Public Library Friday More than a foot of snow piled up in some parts of Minnesota. Pictured, a resident shovels his sidewalk Friday in St Cloud Low visibility, ice, snow and slush were the main causes for crashes and spin outs on the interstate, according to Minnesota State Patrol trooper Jesse Grabow. A motorcyclist died Friday morning in Forest Lake, Minnesota. The pavement was dry at the time, KARE reported. Snow was also reported in parts of Nebraska and the Dakotas. Northern Nebraska residents were digging out after half a foot of snow fell in some areas, as the wintry blast moved from the Rocky Mountain region into northern Plains states. Six inches of snow fell in Newport overnight Thursday, National Weather Service meteorologist Cody Moldan said. Three to more than five inches of snow fell in other parts of northern Nebraska before the storm moved northeast Friday morning. Temperatures dipped into the lower 30s, with high winds making conditions feel colder. The National Weather Service had issued a blizzard warning for Friday in eastern parts of North and South Dakota and western Minnesota, as well as winter storm warnings for other parts of those states and Nebraska. The wintry storm sent cars and semitrailers into ditches along Interstate 94 in western Minnesota. A semi is pictured on the interstate Friday after going off road. No injuries were reported Another semi (pictured) ran off into the median Friday on the snow-covered Interstate 94 , as drivers had poor visibility Winter Storm Argos was expected to head eastward over the weekend, hitting New York state and the eastern Great Lakes. A man is pictured walking during the snow storm in St Cloud Friday One person died in a single-vehicle crash in Colorado Thursday as heavy snow closed Interstate 70 in several locations, the Denver Channel reported. Extreme weather also caused a collision between a semi-truck and up to 15 other vehicles. Icy roads may have been a factor in another crash that left one dead, authorities told the Denver Channel. Winter Storm Argos was expected to head eastward over the weekend. Snow and winter storm warnings were issued from northern Michigan to Vermont and upstate New York, the Weather Channel wrote. The Adirondacks in New York and the eastern Great Lakes were expected to receive the most snow between the weekend and Monday night, with forecasters predicted more than a foot of accumulation. The Duchess of York has launched an astounding lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch The Duchess of York has launched an astounding lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch, demanding more than 25 million over the cash-for-access sting that destroyed her reputation. In explosive court documents, Fergie claims undercover reporter Mazher Mahmood tricked her when she offered to introduce him to Prince Andrew for 500,000. But in a vigorous counterattack, lawyers for Mr Murdochs publishing company accuse her of dishonesty and attempted fraud, and describe her case as defective and embarrassing. The staggering 25 million figure reflects what the Duchess believes she lost in earnings after her reputation was demolished by the incident. She is also seeking an additional undisclosed sum for the serious distress and upset the story caused. Mahmood, also known as the Fake Sheikh, posed as an Indian businessman when he secretly filmed the Duchess agreeing to set up the meeting with her ex-husband. In the 2010 sting she was also recorded accepting 27,600 to show commitment to a proposed investment. At one point she told the reporter: I can open any door you want. But the writ claims Mahmood who was jailed last month for tampering with evidence in the collapsed drugs trial of pop star Tulisa Contostavlo invaded the Duchesss privacy and used deceit to induce her to make unguarded statements to her detriment. She says that when the News Of The World ran the story, it took her comments out of context, causing serious embarrassment, humiliation, distress and reputational damage and huge financial losses. News Group Newspapers, which published the now defunct tabloid, insists that the story, which was headlined Fergie Sells Andy for 500k, was both true and in the public interest. A 21-page defence document alleges that the Duchess was prepared to enter into a corrupt arrangement to secure access to Andrew. It says she suggested to Mahmood that commercial favours could be bought from a member of the Royal Family and that her ex-husbands trade envoy role could be exploited provided the price was right and the money went to her and not the Duke of York. Fergie claims undercover reporter Mazher Mahmood tricked her when she offered to introduce him to Prince Andrew for 500,000 Until now details of the legal action, launched seven months after Mahmood was charged by police, have remained private, but last week a High Court judge ordered that they could be made public. Sarah Ferguson, as she then was, married Andrew in 1986. But the couple separated in 1992, two months after photographs were published showing her having her toes sucked by financial adviser John Bryan. After the couple divorced in 1996, she received 2 million in a settlement and went on to draw 2 million a year as a WeightWatchers ambassador from 1996 to 2007. After that she no longer enjoyed a guaranteed income but made money from books, the US lecture circuit and endorsements. The writ reveals astonishing details of her earnings. In the year before the cash-for-access scandal she made 750,000 from speaking engagements and media work. Yet at the same time she was reportedly on the brink of bankruptcy. In the year after the article appeared her earnings dropped to 54,000 and the following year she made nothing at all. The Duchess has lost approximately 510,000 each year of expected income from speaking engagements and articles in the media, says the writ. And two TV animation projects, Fergies Farm and Tea For Ruby, foundered because the international humiliation and a storm of adverse publicity scared off potential investors. The writ, lodged at the High Court, says that she lost the opportunity to pursue these projects which would, it is claimed, have generated 22 million from 2010 to the present day. The Duchess estimates her financial loss to date at 25,060,000. In addition... the Duchess suffered serious distress and upset for which she is entitled to compensation. YOU'RE A GENIUS, SHE SAID AS HE FLASHED THE CASH Relaxing with a glass of wine in a Mayfair apartment in May 2010, the Duchess of York believed she was in the company of a wealthy Indian businessman. Instead she was sitting opposite an undercover News of the World reporter, the notorious King of Sting Mazher Mahmood. Between them piled high on a coffee table were wads of $20 notes (or 27,600). When Mahmood had produced the money which he said was a deposit Fergie exclaimed: Oh my God, you are a genius! She said the cash would go towards paying school fees for an old friend in the States. Relaxing with a glass of wine in a Mayfair apartment in May 2010, the Duchess of York believed she was in the company of a wealthy Indian businessman Earlier, as the pair had talked over a 223.25 meal at Mosimanns private dining club in Belgravia, the conversation switched from business to her daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie. Fergie asked him more than once if he was a journalist and evidently accepted his assurances that he was not. Any lingering doubts evaporated when Mahmood promised the money was waiting for her at the apartment. At one point during their meeting she declared: Im a complete aristocrat. Love that, dont you? I love it. Its tremendously fabulous. Their deal was sealed just before midnight. Fergie and Mahmood first met at a hotel in New York a week earlier. At no point did she check his credentials. Advertisement But News Group Newspapers say that even if the Duchess did suffer financial losses, they were caused by her own illegality. In particular, they cite her attempts to gain a pecuniary advantage by deception and to commit fraud. After the story was published, the Duchess apologised for a serious lapse of judgment and said that her financial situation was under stress. In a televised interview with Oprah Winfrey a few weeks later, she further explained her behaviour by saying that she had been drinking and was in the gutter at that moment. Buckingham Palace said at the time that Andrew categorically denied any knowledge of meetings between Mahmood and his ex-wife, with whom he remains on friendly terms. The News Of The World targeted the Duchess after hearing from a source that she had introduced a genuine businessman to Andrew and was expecting to gain what she apparently called a lick of the spoon financial kickbacks that would save her bacon. After the story was published, the Duchess apologised for a serious lapse of judgment and said that her financial situation was under stress At the time she was facing much-publicised financial difficulties, including claims for unpaid bills amounting to almost 200,000. Her New York company Hartmoor, founded to encompass various ventures, folded the previous year with debts of 650,000. Mahmood is named as a defendant in the writ along with News Group Newspapers (NGN), former News Of The World editor Colin Myler and ex-News International legal affairs manager Tom Crone. Last month, the reporter was jailed for 15 months for conspiring to pervert the course of justice following over the collapsed drugs trial of former X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos. Following the verdict, it was announced that 18 civil claims were being launched against Mahmood which could total as much as 800 million. When the Duchess encountered him at The Mark Hotel in New York on May 13, 2010, he was posing as a wealthy businessman called Mohsin Khan. The meeting was arranged by a friend of the Duchess, a clairvoyant called Azra Scagliarini. Mahmood claimed to be from Tata Equity, part of the Indian conglomerate, the Tata Group. The two sides differ on who first mentioned Andrew. Fergies legal team say Mahmood raised the subject after expressing interest in financially backing her business ventures. But the newspapers lawyers said it was the Duchess who introduced the idea of Mahmood meeting the Duke. The defence document says: She said she would go this week and talk to Andrew, who Id like you to meet. She told Mahmood: You need to talk to Andrew... you need to talk to him because you two are exactly the same. Five days later the Duchess and Mahmood met again, this time at Mosimanns private dining club in Belgravia, London, where her assistant, Camilla, presented the reporter with a confidentiality agreement to sign. He did not do so. The writ says Mahmood stated he was willing to invest the sum of 500,000 in her business ventures, although this is denied by NGN. But NGN say in the defence document: The Duchess proposed that she and Mahmood would agree a percentage that she would receive on any deal that Mahmood arranged following his discussions with the Duke of York. The Duchess also raised the figure of 500,000 as an introduction fee for arranging a meeting with the Duke of York. Immediately after their meal at Mosimanns they went to a Mayfair apartment hired by Mahmood and resumed their discussions. The Duchess was recorded accepting $40,000 (27,600) in cash from Mahmood to pay an ex-employee. According to the newspapers lawyers, the Duchess said: If you want Andrew, the five hundred is fine but thats on big business and you do wire transfer. She mentioned it again later saying: You send it to the bank account that I tell you to send it to... then you open up all the channels that ever you need. Whatever you want, then you meet Andrew and thats fine. Thats when you really open up whatever you want. Later she added: I can open any door you want. And I will, for you. However her lawyers say when the article which caused enormous distress was published her comments were taken out of context. This is denied by NGN, which says she dishonestly made false representations... to make a gain for herself, namely a very substantial fee. Mahmood was jailed last month for tampering with evidence in the collapsed drugs trial of pop star Tulisa Contostavlo NGN also deny the Duchess claim that there was no public interest in running the story, arguing that the Duchess was prepared to enter into a corrupt arrangement to secure access for a previously unknown person she hardly knew to the Duke of York. She was also prepared to exploit his position as Britains trade ambassador. And the NGN document adds: The Duchess represented to a previously unknown person that commercial favours and inside information could be bought from a member of the Royal Family, and the role of a UK ambassador for trade could be turned to account for private profit, provided the price was right and the money went to her and not the Duke of York. The newspaper also believed that after taking a fee for the introduction, the Duchess would have a powerful incentive to obtain valuable secrets from Andrew to sell for a profit. And it contends that she did not have a reasonable expectation of privacy, as she claims, as the story concerned her business dealings not her private life. Her statements about securing access were, it says, untrue and, as the Duchess knew, dishonest. She repeatedly told Mahmood she was in a desperate financial situation, about to go bankrupt, and was financially inept, the defence says. Advertisement 'Be joyful! smiled the Tahitian barman mixing passion fruit mojitos, as surf washing over the distant reef went pink in the setting sun. Visitors to Tahiti and its islands have seldom had a problem feeling joyful ever since, in 1767, Samuel Wallis and the crew of HMS Dolphin became the first Europeans to land here, followed by James Cook, William Bligh and their men. No wonder Bligh called it paradise. Diana Preston was wowed by the natural beauty of Tahiti, a dreamy South Pacific Ocean island in French Polynesia, pictured These early British arrivals anchored in Matavai Bay, a curve of black volcanic sand protected by a narrow spit known as Point Venus, so-called because Cook set up an observatory here to monitor the planets transit across the sun. Bligh chose the same spot to grow seedlings of bright green uru breadfruit that the government had dispatched him aboard HMS Bounty to collect, with famously fateful consequences. Monuments on Point Venus commemorate their visits. So does the Tahitian dance hivinau the name is said to derive from the heave ho of sailors hauling the anchor winch. Its easy to see why Tahitis exuberant beauty seduced them all. Scarlet flame trees, spiky wild ginger and purau a wild hibiscus that blooms and dies in a day overhang the road twisting up through the Papenoo Valley to a volcanic crater. Dense groves of pandanus palms, and papaya and banana trees conceal basalt and coral platforms called marae, where islanders performed sacred rituals. In Cook and Blighs time, Tahiti sometimes fought with neighbouring Moorea, sending out tattooed warriors in long war canoes. These days, things are more friendly, and heart-shaped Moorea is a just short catamaran ride across the 7,500ft-deep trench that separates them. Diana also took an astonishing underwater walk, pictured, wearing a helmet with an air pipe attached to the mother boat To the first foreign visitors, the exotic fruits dangling from the trees, needing no cultivation and just waiting to be plucked, must have seemed like Eden. I got a similar feeling in Mooreas tropical plantations when I tasted tart star fruit, super-sweet pineapple, and noni, the knobbly fruit of the universal medicine tree, which is said to cure all aches and pains. An equally abundant world lies beneath Mooreas lagoon. The snorkelling is fantastic but I also took an underwater walk. Wearing a helmet with an air pipe attached to the mother boat, I plodded back and forth while black-and-blue striped Picasso triggerfish with yellow lips so pouting that they looked as if they had been injected with collagen, clownfish, and pointy-nosed angelfish peered at me. Moorea is a good jumping-off point for Tahitis Leeward Islands to the north-west. Lush Raiatea a brief plane hop away shares a tranquil lagoon with Tahaa, its smaller but equally luxuriant neighbour famed for its vanilla. As our boat skimmed across the lagoon, our garlanded guide Davita whose elaborate tattoos of turtles, crocodiles and canoes make David Beckhams body art seem understated serenaded us with his guitar. Diana's guide Davita, pictured, who taught her to weave baskets and advised her on the etiquette of swimming with sting rays He taught us to weave baskets from palm leaves and grate white coconut flesh with a machete, and he also advised on the etiquette of swimming with rays (avoid the barbed tails but stroke their soft, silky underside very gently) and black-tipped reef sharks (dont point or hold your hand out). Then he let us loose in the warm waters to become the least graceful part of a balletic performance of toe-nuzzling rays and wide-mouthed sharks. As we swam, on the horizon the unmistakable cloud-dusted finger of rock of Mount Otemanu on Bora Bora pointed skywards. With its crystalline waters and palm-crested motus islets within the reef this island is perhaps the most glamorous and glitzy. She also spent the day volunteering for a green turtle rescue project, helping prepare them for release, left, and witnessed plenty of other underwater creatures, right Its the place to wear a bikini studded with lustrous black Tahitian pearls if you can afford it! Yet its also home to a rescue project where green turtles poisoned by pollution, or perhaps minus a flipper after being trapped in fishing nets, are prepared for their return to the ocean. A day spent learning to feed and care for these creatures is very therapeutic. Bora Bora offers an experience unique in French Polynesia the chance to ride an aquabike. It allows non-divers, non-snorkellers, non-swimmers or people with disabilities a chance to access the deep. Refreshing passion fruit mojitos were the order of the day A glass dome with an air supply is placed over each two-person scooter. Then the platform on which the scooter sits is lowered into the water to a depth of 15ft and its time to go. As a barracuda slunk past us into deeper waters, we followed our guide at a sedate rate of two or three knots through canyons of pink and purple corals colonised by darting jewel-bright fish and giant sea cucumbers. Fellow aquabikers were honeymooners attracted by the islands romantic languor. More mature couples also come to celebrate anniversaries in a place where locals, every bit as beautiful and graceful as figures in Gauguins paintings, still wear flowers in their hair and welcome visitors with garlands. Some hotels even have their own romance concierge to arrange Polynesian-style wedding ceremonies, the delivery by canoe of breakfasts to over-water bungalows, or torch-lit dinners for two on the beach, featuring local delicacies such as red tuna carpaccio. Nearby Huahine has a different vibe, powerfully evoking the Polynesian seafarers who first settled on these islands. Circular stone traps show how they once caught fish, while among groves of rosewood and iron trees is a marae dedicated to Oro, the god of war. It was sometimes used for human sacrifice before battle. Of all the places Ive visited in my life, Egypt has been the most fascinating. Ive explored almost the whole country: Cairo and the Pyramids, Alexandria, the temples of Luxor and Karnak, the Valleys of the Kings and the Queens and the Nobles. Ive travelled to Aswan and all the way down to Abu Simbel in the far south. Michael Portillo has explored almost the entirety of Egypt, including Cairo and the Pyramids, pictured Ive also been to Sharm-el-Sheik, and from there into the Sinai, where I visited St Catherines Monastery. Sadly, this area is currently off-limits to travellers as the Foreign Office warns against visits. If, like me, youre interested in history, Egypt is a place of wonders. Its the land of many civilisations, including Greek, Roman, Christian and Muslim. So many ancient structures are still brilliantly intact; they invite you to understand a completely different way of looking at life. This was a civilisation that depended on renewals: the renewal of the day; the renewal of the harvest; the renewal of the river, which made the surrounding countryside fertile. It was a civilisation that was drawn towards the idea of reincarnation. There is so much to see, but many holidaymakers are worried about safety. The Foreign Offices principal source of anxiety is Sharm-el-Sheik airport UK airlines are not currently flying there for security reasons. Great Continental Railway Journeys presenter Michael Portillo, pictured The area in and around Sharm-el-Sheik itself, however, is considered safe, as is Cairo, Luxor and the resort of Hurghada. As far as flying to Sharm-el-Sheik is concerned, the British position has not changed since last October, when a Russian passenger jet was brought down. The positions of some other national authorities have altered, so you can fly there from Belgium, Germany and Turkey, for example, and British airlines seem to be lobbying to resume flights. If you are a fan of my BBC series Great Continental Railway Journeys, youll probably not be surprised to learn that one of my great aspirations is to travel on Egypts railways. There are trains from Suez, Alexandria, Port Said and various point on the Nile Delta, allowing travellers to pass through Cairo and Luxor. Its an obvious journey for us to do, particularly as Egypt is included in the 1913 guide used by George Bradshaw that we feature in our programme. Weve already been to what Bradshaw calls the Holy Land and weve also headed to Morocco. The British built the railways: Egypt was a very important place strategically because of the Suez Canal and its Mediterranean ports. And in 1913, the British would have been extremely worried about the growing alliance of Turkey and Germany, which gave rise to a very important theatre in the First World War. Her stunning figure caught the eye of hunk Antonio Banderas back in 2014. But Nicole Kimpel was keeping herself under wraps as she stepped out hand-in-hand with her Hollywood heartthrob boyfriend on Friday. The couple looked as loved up as ever as they were spotted stopping for lunch together in Madrid, Spain. Couple: Nicole Kimpel was keeping herself under wraps as she stepped out hand-in-hand with boyfriend Antonio Banderas on Friday Antonio, 56 - who has been dating the 36-year-old Dutch investment consultant since getting together shortly after his 19-year marriage to actress Melanie Griffith ended - kept his fashion choices classic. He teamed blue denim jeans with a black shirt and biker jacket. The star added sand-coloured boots and a pair of sunglasses to complete his easy-chic style. Hand in hand: The couple looked as loved up as ever as they were spotted stopping for lunch together in Madrid, Spain He's recently finished studying fashion at London's Central Saint Martins, and has since created his own menswear line. Nicole was swamped beneath a cream scarf, and voluminous shirt. She showcased her slim legs in skinny black jeans and added a pair of comfortable yet stylish black pumps. Jean genie: Antonio, 56 - who has been dating the 36-year-old Dutch investment consultant since getting together shortly after his 19-year marriage to actress Melanie Griffith ended - kept his fashion choices classic Relaxed: He teamed blue denim jeans with a black shirt and biker jacket Covered up: Nicole was swamped beneath a cream scarf, and voluminous knit Air kisses: She showcased her slim legs in skinny black jeans and added a pair of comfortable yet stylish black pumps as she greeted a female pal Speaking of his former marriage, the Spanish star told E! News: 'My life changed very much during the last two years, personal reasons,' 'The possibility of reinventing myself was there, and so I said, "Probably this is the moment that I can do this."' The Automata actress and the Spanish heartthrob share a 19-year-old daughter Stella, who, he says, was especially rebellious. 'I told my kids sometimes, but in fact, the reality is I learned from them more. They were not very obedient, but I learn from them,' admitted Antonio. 'Especially from my little one, Stella. And at the beginning I thought it's not the thing that's actually making her look better, but then I realized it was part of a tendency. 'Because I saw her coming home with a bunch of her friends and they were all in the same style, so it's a tendency. Everybody's going there for some reason. It's very interesting how people, we all, react to tendencies.' He was looking worse for wear after a night out on the Gold Coast during Schoolies Week last year. But with this year's end of high school celebrations officially kicking off on Saturday night, Instagram star Kurt Coleman has given young revellers some words of advice. 'Have a good time, just have fun, no drugs. Have a few drinks, don't get hectic,' the 19-year-old told The Project. Scroll down for video 'Just have fun, no drugs': Instagram star Kurt Coleman has given Schoolies revellers some words of advice as the party officially begins on the Gold Coast on Saturday Meanwhile, the Gold Coast native revealed he won't be joining the celebrations unless he has security guards by his side. 'If I was going to go out clubbing or something I'd (definitely) get security because people are just hectic,' he told the program. 'Some people want to throw stuff at me and I'm like 'no, don't touch me, I don't deserve this'.' Worse for wear: Kurt had a big night out on the Gold Coast during Schoolies Week 2015 Last year, the social media sensation was pictured partying a bit too hard. He was spotted falling to the ground during his outing while friends and members of the public tried to lend him a helping hand. The social media enthusiast was also seen struggling to present his ID to security guards outside of a venue, blankly glaring down at his wallet before pulling it out. Man down! The social media sensation was spotted falling to the ground during his outing 'Some people want to throw stuff at me': Kurt also revealed he won't be joining this year's celebrations without a security guard School leavers from Queensland officially kick off the party on Saturday, but some some teens have gotten off to an early start - with some celebrations taking place on Friday night. Notorious for its high-rise apartment towers, the Gold Coast often sees revellers partying on sky high balconies. Renowned for being an alcohol and drug-fuelled affair, teenagers and their parents have been warned this year to be on the look out for 'zombie drug' Flakka, which has proven to be potentially deadly. And they're off! School leavers from Queensland officially kick off the party on Saturday, but some some teens have gotten off to an early start with celebrations popping up on Friday 'Make good decisions': Police have warned party goers there will be consequences for antisocial behaviour With a strong police presence expected throughout Schoolies celebrations, students are being warned about the consequences of antisocial behaviour. 'We've got to trust their judgment, got to rely on them to make good decisions,' Chief Superintendent Terry Borland said in a statement. 'If they're going to put themselves in conflict, well certainly police will take action.' She is known for being an ageless beauty. Reese Witherspoon proved her age-defying looks even more so when she stepped out for lunch in Brentwood with teen daughter Ava, 17, on Friday. The 40-year-old Wild star and her eldest appeared as though they could be sisters as they coordinated chic ensembles at the Brentwood Country Mart. Mother daughter doppelgangers! Reese Witherspoon matched looks when she stepped out for lunch in Brentwood with teen beauty Ava, 17, on Friday The Academy Award-winning actress donned the Amaryllis Floral skirt from her own Draper James line which retails for $235. She wore a black turtleneck sweater and polished knee-high black leather boots with matching shoulder bag. A pair of dark oversized shades sat neatly on her nose and shielded her piercing blue eyes from the southern California rays. Ageless A-lister! The 40-year-old Wild star and her eldest appeared as though they could be sisters The Walk the Line starlet's first child from her marriage to ex-husband, Ryan Phillippe, 42, looked as though she had just stepped off the runway. She slipped into a chic black sweater with matching light wash skinny jeans and lustrous red high heel boots. Ava's silky blonde tresses were swept up in a high messy bus and she opted for a deep crimson lip for a pop of colour. Coordinating cuties! Reese and Ava matched chic ensembles in black and red with stylish leather boots Reese also shares son Deacon, 13, with Ryan, who she tied the knot with in 1999 until the couple divorced in 2007. In 2011 the Legally Blonde star married Creative Artists Agency's head of motion picture talent, Jim Toth, and the couple welcomed their son, Tennessee, four, in September 2012. And while Reese could have been mistaken for her daughter's twin on Friday, she also took to Instagram and posted a few humourous snapshots with her dogs in 'twinning' looks. 'Twinning'! On Friday, Reese took to Instagram and posted a throwback with her dog in matching sweaters 'Since yesterday I posted a photo of my dog and I matching, today I figured ... #FBF #Twinning,' the blonde beauty captioned a throwback on Friday of herself wearing a similar sweater as her little furry friend. And on Thursday Reese shared an adorable picture with a grey French Bulldog which read: 'We get mistaken for sisters all the time ... #ProudMom.' When the New Orleans-born beauty isn't running her Southern-inspired clothing line, Draper James, or catching up on her regular sweat sessions, she's focused on her upcoming acting projects. Beauty and the Bulldog! On Thursday Reese shared an adorable picture with a grey French Bulldog which read: 'We get mistaken for sisters all the time... #ProudMom' The multi-talented star has been busy producing and starring as Madeline Mackenzie in Big Little Lies, which began filming in January. The HBO series - which premieres next year - also features Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, Shailene Woodley, and Alexander Skarsgard. Based on Liane Moriarty's 2014 novel, Big Little Lies centers on a group of mothers 'whose perfect lives begin to unravel.' The busy star is also currently filming Disney's A Wrinkle In Time with Chris Pine, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Zach Galifianakis. In a letter directed at supporters of president-elect Donald Trump, Fifth Harmony's Lauren Jauregui has come out as bisexual. In the emotional letter, she proclaimed her bisexuality but also scolded Trump voters, saying that they are hypocrites and that their 'words are worthless'. 'To every single Trump supporter trying to say that voting for Trump does not mean that you are racist, homophobic, sexist, xenophobic, a**holes that you just like the way he didn't really care what people thought and just said whatever he wanted that he wasn't a politician, so he wasn't part of the establishment and didn't have corrupt money backing him In a letter directed at supporters of president-elect Donald Trump, Fifth Harmony's Lauren Jauregui has come out as bisexual (pictured September 13) The 20-year-old songstress announced in a Billboard op-ed she penned Friday: 'I am a bisexual Cuban-American woman and I am so proud of it!' 'This is for you: 'Your words are worthless, because your actions have led to the single-handed destruction of all the progress we've made socially as a nation,'the 20-year-old songstress announced in a Billboard op-ed she penned Friday. She also said Trump supporters are 'un-Christ like' and continued to explain how his election made her feel unsafe. Jauregui also said she is not ashamed of who she is and is happy to be a part of a community that is accepting. 'I am a bisexual Cuban-American woman and I am so proud of it!' 'I am proud to be part of a community that only projects love and education and the support of one another. 'I am proud to be the granddaughter and daughter of immigrants who were brave enough to leave their homes and come to a whole new world with a different language and culture and immerse themselves fearlessly to start a better life for themselves and their families,' she wrote. In the emotional letter, she proclaimed her bisexuality but also scolded Trump voters, saying that they are hypocrites and that their 'words are worthless' The X Factor alum's admission came a week after she locked lips with a pretty brunette at the New Orleans nuptials of Mia Almaguer and Erik Jauregui on November 11. Lauren's photobooth smooch quickly went viral, shocking her captive combined 5.7M social media followers. The Latin Times identified the mystery woman as Lucia Vives, the daughter of Colombian crooner Carlos Vives and his second wife Herlinda Gomez. Jauregui's coming out essay was only marginally used to announce her sexuality and mostly condemned supporters of Trump. Reception: The X Factor alum's admission came a week after she locked lips with a pretty brunette at the New Orleans nuptials of Mia Almaguer and Erik Jauregui on November 11 Snog session: Lauren's photobooth smooch quickly went viral, shocking her captive combined 5.7M social media followers Nepotistically privileged: The Latin Times identified the mystery woman as Lucia Vives, the daughter of Colombian crooner Carlos Vives and his second wife Herlinda Gomez 'You have, with your pure ignorance and refusal to understand the way the government and the world works, allowed a power-hungry business tycoon to take over the United States of America,' the All In My Head belter wrote. 'If I could tell every Trump supporter two things, it would be to travel and read a history book... 'Realize that your white skin is the result of immigration from Europe, that the only true "Americans" are Native Americans, who are indigenous people that inhabited this land before these conquerors from other countries (England, France, Italy, Spain) wiped them out almost entirely.' 'Travel and read a history book': Jauregui also used her op-ed to blast 'hypocrite' supporters of President-elect Donald Trump (pictured Friday) The All In My Head belter wrote: 'You have, with your pure ignorance and refusal to understand the way the government and the world works, allowed a power-hungry business tycoon to take over the United States of America' Lauren continued: 'None of us belong here but all of us deserve the right to feel safe and live our lives in peace. To not have to worry about potentially dying, or being electro-shocked, or beaten, or raped, or emotionally abused because our existence and/or choices for ourselves upset someone else. This is the world Trump is fostering.' The five-piece girl group will perform their single That's My Girl at the American Music Awards airing on ABC this Sunday from LA's Microsoft Theater. Meanwhile, 5H's record Work from Home featuring Ty Dolla Sign scored anomination for AMA's collaboration of the year trophy. 5H: The five-piece girl group will perform their single That's My Girl at the American Music Awards airing on ABC this Sunday from LA's Microsoft Theater (pictured July 5) She could certainly do the Khaleesi run in less than 12 parsecs. Emilia Clark has been cast in the upcoming Han Solo spin off movie. The 30-year-old will become part of the Star Wars universe in an as-yet unspecified role when the standalone film is released in 2018. From dragon to Falcon: Emilia Clark has been cast in the upcoming Han Solo spin off movie The actress shot to fame as Mother of Dragons, Daenerys Targaryen in the HBO smash hit drama Game Of Thrones. She also played the young Sarah Connor in 2015's Terminator Genysis. She will join Alden Ehrenreich, who will play the twenty-something year-old smuggler in the story set before the events of A New Hope. Before Clarke, the most recent cast announcement was Atlanta star Donald Glover, who will fill Billy Dee Williams' shoes as the young Lando Calrissian. New class: She will join Alden Ehrenreich, who will play the twenty-something year-old smuggler in the story set before the events of A New Hope. Atlanta star Donald Glover meanwhile will fill Billy Dee Williams' shoes as the young Lando Calrissian The original: Harrison Ford portrayed the roguish smuggler in the original trilogy, as well as JJ Abrams' The Force Awakens, where he met his fate at the hands of his own son Ben AKA Kylo Ren, played by Adam Driver The film is an origin story of sorts of the young Han and his eventual Millennium Falcon co-pilot Chewbacca. In Star Wars canon, the Wookiee planet of Kashyyyk is captured by the Empire and forced into slave labour in the construction of the first Death Star; Chewie swears a life debt to Solo when he frees him from his captors. Han later wins his famous ship from Lando in a game of cards. The unburnt: The actress shot to fame as Mother of Dragons, Daenerys Targaryen in the HBO smash hit drama Game Of Thrones Harrison Ford portrayed the roguish smuggler in the original trilogy, as well as JJ Abrams' The Force Awakens, where he met his fate at the hands of his own son Ben AKA Kylo Ren, played by Adam Driver. Since Disney bought Lucasfilm for $4billion in 2012, it has revealed plans to release at least three anthology films so far in the Star Wars Universe, aside form Episodes VII, VIII and IX. Rogue One, which tells the story of the Rebel Alliance's acquisition of the Death Star plans, hits theaters on December 16. A third film, rumoured to revolve around the bounty hunter Boba Fett, is scheduled for release in 2020. She jetted to her Australian homeland last month ahead of her role in the Sydney Theatre Company's stage production of Speed-the-Plow. And Rose Byrne, 37, couldn't be happier to be spending time Down Under with her actor partner Bobby Cannavale and their nine-month-old son Rocco. 'It is so lovely being back. We are just enjoying it so much being home with the family and friends,' she gushed to the Daily Telegraph this week. We are just enjoying it so much being home': Rose Byrne, 37, couldn't be happier to be spending time Down Under with her actor partner Bobby Cannavale and their nine-month-old son Rocco Confirming that Rocco will enjoy his first ever Christmas in Australia, the Bridesmaids star added: 'It's been great to be here with our son.' Rose recently opened up about her motherhood experience to Nine, saying she hates missing out on Rocco's night-time routine due to her acting schedule with the Sydney Theatre Company. She did however explain that she was lucky to have her days freed up to spend with the youngster. Baby's first Christmas! Confirming that Rocco will enjoy his first ever Christmas in Australia, The Bridesmaids star added: 'It's been great to be here with our son' 'I think the best advice I've been given about motherhood is that it's just messy. There's no way to do it that's perfect,' Rose explained. 'And it's also the best thing I've ever done in my life,' she gushed. Rose and Bobby, who welcomed their first child into the world in February, made a splash on the Australian social scene on Wednesday night's GQ Men Of The Year awards on Wednesday night at the Ivy Ballroom. Balancing act! Rose recently opened up about her motherhood experience to Nine, admitting that she hates missing out on Rocco's night-time routine due to her acting schedule with the Sydney Theatre Company New parents: The pair welcomed their first child into the world in February Rose and her man, best known for his role in crime drama Third Watch, were pictured in a loved-up snap on Bobby's Instagram page taken that evening. He captioned the pic: 'With my beautiful lady @maryrosebyrne at last nights Australian #gqmoty2016 celebrating our friend Jon Hamm, GQ's Man Of The Decade!!!' Rose wore a strapless lace frock to the red carpet event, while Bobby looked suave in a black suit and maroon tie. She previously revealed that she's not yet ready to date after having her heart broken on The Bachelor. But Rachael Gouvignon is certainly enjoying turning heads as she makes the most of her newfound fame, with the brunette beauty giving onlookers an eyeful in a plunging dress while attending an exclusive event in Perth on Friday. The 31-year-old beauty flashed her ample cleavage in a mauve-coloured bodycon dress that highlighted her slender frame and radiant glow. Scroll down for video Busty: Rachael Gouvignon continues to bask in her newfound fame, with the brunette beauty giving onlookers an eyeful in a plunging dress while attending an exclusive event in Perth on Friday With one hand on her hip, Rachael beamed for the camera while posing at The Cottesloe Beach Hotel. Despite having been rejected by Richie Strahan on the hit Channel Ten dating show earlier this year, the Perth resident appears to have embraced single life and is often pictured attending glamorous events. In addition to making her mark on Perth's social scene, Rachael has begun philanthropic work - namely volunteering for a campaign led by Perth charity Dogs' Refuge Home. Social butterfly: Despite having been rejected by Richie Strahan on the hit Channel Ten dating show earlier this year, the Perth resident appears to have embraced single life and is often pictured attending glamorous events 'I'm so excited to be volunteering tomorrow for @dogsrefugehome at the @perthroyalshow,' she previously told her Instagram followers. In September, she revealed that she is too scared to date after being rejected by Richie, 32. 'I've been too scared to see anyone,' she told The Daily Telegraph. Close to her heart: In addition to making her mark on Perth's social scene, Rachael has begun philanthropic work - namely volunteering for a campaign led by Perth charity Dogs' Refuge Home 'You can't really go and have dinner together. It's the simple things in life that I like to do, be outside and in public, and that's not allowed. So there's no point in even pursuing anything yet.' The support worker revealed her heartbreak after Richie sent her packing after hometown visits episode. 'I was pretty upset I had really fallen for him,' she said. Not ready for love: 'I've been too scared to see anyone,' she previously told The Daily Telegraph Frustrated: 'You can't really go and have dinner together. It's the simple things in life that I like to do, be outside and in public, and that's not allowed. So there's no point in even pursuing anything yet,' she said After failing to get a rose from Richie, the brunette posted on Instagram: 'My heart is full of excitement for what is to come, although feelings of sadness have snuck up on me today knowing that this amazing experience has come to an end. 'I am so thankful to have met such an amazing man @richie_strahan and wish nothing more than all the happiness in the world for whoever he ends up with. 'I have walked away with amazing lifelong friendships that I treasure so dearly.' She's the former Big Brother star known for showing off her enviable figure on social media. And Skye Wheatley was at it again on Friday, taking to Instagram to showcase her VERY ample bust in a tiny black lace bra. 'Shhhhhlick rick,' the 24-year-old social media star wrote alongside the photo she shared with her 273,000 followers. Busting out! Former Big Brother star Skye Wheatley shared a snap on Instagram on Friday, showcasing her VERY ample bust in a tiny black lace bra The blonde beauty's busty display certainly turned heads and grabbed the attention of The Bachelor's Olena Khamula, who commented: 'Wow girl... beautiful.' No stranger to cosmetic surgery, Skye sparked rumours on Friday that she had once again gone under the knife after her nose looked much smaller in a snap she shared online. In May, she told a follower on Instagram that she was planning to have a nose job procedure. Did she get it done? Skye Wheatley shared an Instagram selfie on Friday (L), which showed her nose looking much smaller than it did earlier this year (R) 'Hahaha 100% it's gotta be done,' she wrote, when a fan asked if she was planning to get her nose done. Last year, the plastic fantastic model flew to Thailand and paid $28,000 for a breast augmentation to fix her 'wonky' chest. But the surgery was a disaster, leaving Skye with a 'double bubble' in one breast. Botched: Last year, Skye spent $28,000 on a botched Bangkok boob job which left her self confidence shattered 'I've lost all my confidence and I never want to get naked with a boy again. I hate what that surgeon has done to me,' she told The Daily Telegraph. In August, Skye told Daily Mail Australia that she had found a Sydney surgeon to correct the surgery for approximately $28,000. 'I'm having to fork out a lot of money to fix my boobs...they're too big and fake and are still wonky,' she said. The former Gold Coast barista recently claimed she had received more lip fillers to achieve a plumper pout. She's graced our screens as ABC News Breakfast weather presenter for nearly a decade. But Vanessa O'Hanlon bid a teary farewell to the program in her last appearance on Friday. 'Saying goodbye is never easy... I'll supply the Kleenex,' she wrote alongside a snap she shared on Instagram, adding the hashtag 'last day.' Scroll down for video 'Saying goodbye is never easy': Veteran ABC News Breakfast weather presenter Vanessa O'Hanlon bid a teary farewell to the program in her last appearance on Friday In another post, she paid tribute to her long term friend and colleague. 'It got a little teary after the news tonight saying goodbye to one of the nicest news men around Ian Henderson,' she wrote. Vanessa now heads to Channel Nine as the face of news in Canberra, Wollongong and western NSW. 'It got a little teary': Vanessa paid tribute to her her long term friend and colleague Ian Henderson The veteran presenter made headlines earlier this year when she got a case of the giggles when live on air. When a colleague was hit with a camera while she was presenting the weather, she 'lost it', unable to continue without laughing. She said: 'Very, very sorry, someone's just been hit by a camera.' New adventure: Vanessa now heads to Channel Nine as the face of news in Canberra, Wollongong and western NSW Trying to continue with the weather update, she was unable to stop her giggles and said: 'Sorry I've lost it.' Eventually ABC News Breakfast host Michael Rowland walked onto the set. 'Well done, what a pro,' he said before wrapping the segment and throwing back to his co-host Virginia Trioli. 'I've lost it!' She made headlines earlier this year when she got a case of the giggles on live TV As the National Weather presenter on ABC News Breakfast and ABC News 24, Vanessa has reported on some of the World's most significant weather events. The Melbourne-born presenter also wrote and narrated documentary 'Eye of the Storm'. She kick started her career after honing her skills in radio at stations in Darwin, Shepparton and Alice Springs. It has been nearly a decade since they played the famous mother-daughter duo. And on Friday Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel reunited for the premiere of their Netflix revival Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life in Los Angeles. The 35-year-old actress who played Rory Gilmore stunned in a chic ruffled gown while Lauren opted for a skintight cocktail dress. Scroll down for video Beauties in black! Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham attended the Los Angeles premiere of Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life on Friday Alexis made a showstopping appearance in a full-length black number with several ruffled layers. Her halter-style frock included eyelet detailing along the front and around her waistline. She dazzled in the garb which was adorned with silver stitching throughout and sparkled in the light. Feminine frock: The 35-year-old actress made a showstopping appearance in a full-length black ruffled gown Slender star! The award-winning actress showcased her flawless figure in the halter-style number Lauren, 49, was an ageless beauty in a low-cut figure-hugging black dress that showcased her ample decolletage. The Golden Globe nominee added a pair of sky high black stilettos and matching small clutch which rounded out her nighttime look. Kelly Bishop, 72, was an ageless beauty and looked phenomenal in a shimmering emerald and black cocktail dress. Ageless beauty! Lauren, 49, flaunted her svelte physique and ample decolletage in a skintight plunging garb Gorgeous gals! Kelly Bishop, 72, reunited with her on screen daughter and granddaughter as she posed for a snapshot with Alexis and Lauren Forever young! Kelly looked phenomenal in a shimmering emerald and black cocktail dress Sean Gunn, 42, and Yanic Truesdale, 46, opted for casual chic ensembles in light trousers with lustrous blazers. Hollywood hunks Tanc Sade, 36, and David Sutcliffe, 47, were polished to perfection in tailored dress suits. Scott Patterson, 58 - who plays Luke Danes - was a silver fox as he sported a bit of scruff while attending the premiere with wife Kristine. Good company! The cast and crew including writer and directors Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino (center) posed for a group snapshot Effortlessly cool: Sean Gunn, 42, and Yanic Truesdale, 46, opted for casual chic ensembles in light trousers with lustrous blazers Hot couple! Scott Patterson, 58 - who plays Luke Danes - was a silver fox as he sported a bit of scruff while attending the premiere with wife Kristine Hollywood hunks! Tanc Sade, 36, and David Sutcliffe, 47, were polished to perfection in tailored dress suits Danny Strong, 42, looked handsome in a navy suit jacket but opted for a level of comfort with black trainers. He attended the star-studded premiere with actress Caitlin Mehner who looked radiant in an off-the-shoulder crimson gown. Aris Alvarado opted for comfort in light wash jeans with a black sweater and polished dress shoes. Red hot! Danny Strong, 42, looked handsome in a navy suit as he attended the premiere with actress Caitlin Mehner who looked radiant in an off-the-shoulder crimson gown The new mini-series will see the return of several supporting players from the original show which ran from 2000 until 2007. Lauren, who starred as Lorelei Gilmore will reunite for the reboot with Alexis, who played her daughter Rory. Along with the Connecticut ladies, Rory's most devoted boyfriend, Dean Forester - played by hunk Jared Padalecki - will make an appearance along with her ex Milo Ventimiglia who plays Jess Mariano. Showstopper! Actress Vanessa Marano, 24, flashed a hint of cleavage in a plunging black blazer Laid-back look! Aris Alvarado opted for comfort in light wash jeans with a black sweater and polished dress shoes Edward Herrmann, who played Lorelei's father Richard Gilmore, died of brain cancer on New Year's Eve 2014 and the series will show the loss of his character, as well. Also returning for the revival is Keiko Agena who will reprise her role as Rory's best friend Lane Kim. The four 90-minute episodes of the Netflix series Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life will premiere on November 25. Beaming blonde! Sally Struthers, 69, was all smiles in a sequinned charcoal grey dress with a fitted black blazer She represented Great Britain during the glamorous Miss. Universe pageant in 2013. And Amy Willerton proved why she was one of the elite few to be given that honour as she stepped out at the Chain of Hope Gala Ball in London on Friday night. The 24-year-old commanded attention in a semi-sheer fringed Celia Kritharioti gown which showcased her model statistics to perfection. Scroll down for video Stealing the spotlight: Amy Willerton, 24, commanded attention in a Celia Kritharioti gown as she stepped out at the Chain of Hope Gala Ball in London on Friday night The gothic-inspired number hugged on to her svelte frame and flashed snippets of her skin under the tiered fringes. Amy oozed old Hollywood glamour as she styled her glossy locks into statement waves that fell down one side - framing her fluttery eyes and deep purple pout. Boosting her 5 ft 9 in height, the Bristol born beauty opted for a pair of open toe strappy heels which flaunted her dark pedicure. Completing the look was chained clutch bag on one arm and her beau Daniel Day on the other arm. Statement gown: The semi-sheer fringed Celia gown showcased her model statistics to perfection as she worked the red carpet Sexy: The gothic-inspired number hugged on to her svelte frame and flashed snippets of her skin under the tiered fringes Gorgeous: Amy oozed old Hollywood glamour as she styled her glossy locks into statement waves that fell down one side - framing her fluttery eyes and deep purple pout Daniel, who is believed to be dating Amy since September of last year, looked handsome in a satin-collared suit, crisp white shirt and bow-tie. The young couple are smitten with each other with Amy recently opening up in an exclusive chat to MailOnline about the confidence she gets from her man. Amy told MailOnline: 'It's going really well and I'm very happy.' And it isn't difficult to see why the hunk has taken to Amy who came fourteenth in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women in 2015, just behind selfie-queen Kim Kardashian. Arm candy: Completing the look was chained clutch bag on one arm and her handsome beau Daniel Day on the other arm Standing tall: Boosting her 5 ft 9 in height, the Bristol born beauty opted for a pair of open toe strappy heels which flaunted her dark pedicure Working hr angles: It isn't difficult to see why Amy's carved a successful modelling career for herself At 17, Amy held the Miss Bristol title and went on to win Miss Bath in 2011, Miss London in 2012 and then reaching the top 5 in the Miss England contest. She then became the first Miss.Great Britain representative to reach the top ten of Miss.Universe in 2013. Later that year, it was reported that Amy spent 'thousands of pounds' on treatments - including skin peels, micro-needle treatments and vitamin injections - before her appearance in I'm A Celebrity. The beauty queen said: 'When I did pageanting I got to play with all of the make-up under the sun and try out all of the looks. 'But I think after many years of searching for my perfect look, I preferred something more natural.' Hunk: Daniel, who is believed to be dating Amy since September of last year, looked handsome in a satin-collared suit, crisp white shirt and bow-tie It's going really well and I'm very happy': She spoke exclusively to MailOnline about the confidence she gets from her boyfriend Amy was best remembered from the jungle for her romance with The Only Way Is Essex's Joey Essex - which she later dismissed as a showmance. Luckily Amy has since found true love with sunglasses entrepreneur Daniel, revealing: 'It's going really well and I'm very happy.' Meanwhile, supermodel Naomi Campbell also attended the Chain of Hope Gala Ball which aims to raise money for children with heart disease in developing and war-torn countries, and brought in over 2 million last year. This year the ball, which was hosted by actor Colin Salmon, was celebrating its 20-year anniversary. She never fails to turn heads on a night out. And Danielle Armstrong ensured she'd have all eyes on her on Friday night as she slipped into an elegant midnight blue gown for The Chain of Hope Annual Ball at Grosvenor House in London. Beaming broadly on her arrival, the TOWIE star, 28, seemed in good spirits as she headed into the charity bash - which raises money for children with heart disease. Scroll down for video Bluetiful! Danielle Armstrong ensured she'd have all eyes on her on Friday night as she slipped into an elegant midnight blue gown for The Chain of Hope Annual Ball at Grosvenor House Featuring an elegant high neck, the gown billowed over her ample bust in a halter style. The buxom blonde's ensemble also flattered her womanly figure by skimming her body in soft pleats, while she cinched in her middle with a metallic belt. Styling her bob into tousled waves and adding a slick of peach lipstick, the reality star oozed the famous Essex glamour she is so known for as she posed up a storm at the bash. Chic and cheerful: Beaming broadly on her arrival, the TOWIE star, 28, seemed in good spirits as she headed into the charity bash - which raises money for children with heart disease Danielle oozed confidence at the event, a far cry from the fragile state she found herself earlier this year when her confidence was so low at one point, she was unable to leave her hotel room. Speaking to MailOnline, the boutique owner explained that she was feeling insecure about filming TOWIE in Mallorca as she felt 'huge' standing alongside co-star Megan McKenna. Only making matters worse, she then suffered a cyber attack by vile trolls who openly expressed similar comments on her Instagram photos. What a waist! The buxom blonde's ensemble also flattered her womanly figure by skimming her body in soft pleats, while she cinched in her middle with a metallic belt Blonde beauty: Styling her bob into tousled waves and adding a slick of peach lipstick, the reality star oozed the famous Essex glamour she is so known for as she posed up a storm She explained: 'I could see I was bigger than [Megan]' she said, adding: '[Trolls] were saying what my insecurities were but ten times worse. People saying I "looked like a bloke", would "kill themselves if they had my thighs"... 'I remember sitting in my room and I broke down crying. I couldn't come out of my room.' Speaking about her then-boyfriend James Lock, she revealed: 'As a bloke he didn't get it. He was like "Dan they're waiting for you" 'I knew Ferne McCann, Jess Wright and Vicky Pattison would know what I'd be thinking - that's why you need good mates that are in the industry - because no one else understands. 'James at the time just didn't understand - he constantly would say he didn't like skinny girls, he liked thighs and a bum.' Dainty and demure: Proving that less can be more, Danielle's gown featured a high neck which billowed over her ample bust in a halter style Bow selector: Danielle's gown was backless in design and fastened at the nape of the neck with a large bow ensuring she flashed some flesh whilst remaining demure But despite her man's words of support, she admitted they had no effect on her well-being as she added: 'It doesn't matter how many times your boyfriend says you look good, its your insecurities.' Having suffered at the hands of such cruel trolls, Danielle has now vowed to stop letting the hateful words affect her as much. She continued: 'After you've had your cry you get yourself back together and get over it. We'll make sure we go out looking amazing after!' She's previously said her relationship with daughter Pixie is more like two sisters. And Roxy Jacenko was living her mantra as she enjoyed a girls' weekend with the four-year-old Instagram star. The PR maven shared a photo of herself and Pixie getting pampered Double Bay, writing in the caption: 'Salon Saturdays'. Scroll down for video 'Salon Saturdays': Roxy Jacenko shared a photo of herself and four-year-old daughter Pixie getting pampered Double Bay, Sydney over the weekend In the Instagram photo, four-year-old Pixie is shown getting her hair cut while Roxy poses for a selfie in the mirror. The Ministry of Talent founder, 36, is known to post frequent updates about her family and work life on social media. She previously told 60 Minutes that sharing photos online is an important part of her job as a leading fashion publicist. And her latest update suggests it's business as usual for Roxy, despite the release of a biography featuring unflattering details about her past. Mummy goals! Roxy has previously said her relationship with Pixie is more like two sisters Blonde Ambition: Roxy Jacenko Unfiltered by columnist Annette Sharp draws upon the Sydney publicist's rather colourful personal life. The unauthorised book sheds lights on Roxy's past relationships, her husband Oliver Curtis' insider trading trial, and the Jacenko family feuds. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia back in August, Roxy claimed she knew 'very little' about the biography. Moving on! Roxy's Instagram post follows the release of a biography featuring unflattering details about her past. Pictured with children Pixie and Hunter and husband Oliver Curtis She has previously called the author, a longtime journalist for The Daily Telegraph, 'quite ill informed'. Roxy also said at the time she 'had no intention of participating' in the project. In the book's acknowledgements, Sharp confirmed that her subject had 'denied repeated requests for an interview'. He has been providing the man candy in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Outta Here. But Jordan Banjo's mum has revealed he worked hard to get his ripped body, after school bullies drove him to pile on the weight as a young teenager. According to his mother, the 23-year-old dancer made the decision to shed seven stone after Diversity won Britain's Got Talent in 2009. Scroll down for video 'Jordan has lost seven stone, he looks completely different to what he did before' Jordan's proud mum Danielle said of his weight loss after Diversity won BGT in 2009 Speaking to The Mirror, Danielle said: 'Jordan has lost seven stone, he looks completely different to what he did before. He's confident and funny but he suffered with his weight. When he was with the group, he blended in and no one realised how big he was. 'He doesn't think he's good-looking. From 12 to 16 he put the weight on, he was the only mixed kid in school and got bullied, so he would comfort eat. It was psychological bullying, name-calling, horrible stuff. 'We had to tell him to calm down. Now he is fine, he's got it under control and has found that balance.' 'From 12 to 16 he put the weight on, he was the only mixed kid in school and got bullied, so he would comfort eat' Jordan's mum revealed of his pre-fame years Coming into his own: Jordan has continued to strive, taking part in this year's jungle stint And Jordan has continued to strive, taking part in this year's jungle stint. The talented dancer, who is used to being surrounded by his group and family, has been battling with emotional moments. 'When we're on tour I'm always with my Mum and brother. I feel homesick, I literally keep finding myself getting emotional, I hate it,' he was seen telling fellow campmate Lisa Snowden. But he has been seen throwing himself into the tasks, sending viewers into hysterics on Friday night's show as he, Wayne Bridge and Adam Thomas screamed louder than anyone else during the latest critter-filled challenge. Manly? Jordan, Wayne Bridge and Adam Thomas screamed louder than anyone else during the latest critter-filled challenge Mancandy: The jungle hunk has fitted right in with the attractive jungle tribe Jordan was born to English former Ballet dancer Danielle, who helps manage Diversity, and Nigerian professional boxer Funso Banjo. Prior to forming Diversity in 2007, Jordan was a member of Swift Moves Juniors along with fellow Diversity members Sam Craske and Warren Russell. The talented dancers won BGT in 2009, and Jordan and Perrie Kiely became presenters for Got To Dance in 2013. That year Jordan dated Little Mix's Jesy Nelson, and the following year he and Perri hosted their own television show called Jordan and Perri's Ultimate Block Party before the duo hosted the the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards 2014. She turned heads over Halloween when she stepped out in an array of skimpy Halloween costumes. But Tara Reid opted to go more casual as she hit celebrity hotspot Catch in LA on Friday night for a bite to eat. The American Pie star, 40, covered her petite figure in relaxed attire and appeared in good spirits as she arrived at the venue. Scroll down for video Relaxed: Tara Reid opted to go more casual as she hit celebrity hotspot Catch in LA on Thursday night for a bite to eat, covering he slender figure in loose attire Flashing a glimpse of her slim legs, she wore fitted ripped jeans, adding height in wedge trainers. Teaming the low-slung denim with a loose-fitting colour-block top, the actress diverted attention from her slender figure which has been under the spotlight lately. And wearing her platinum blonde locks perfectly blow-dried, she brightened up her make-up with a splash of magenta lipgloss, accentuating her blue peepers with black eyeliner. Cheese! The American Pie star, 40, covered her petite figure in relaxed attire and appeared in good spirits as she arrived at the venue in ripped jeans and a loose sweater Last month Tara worried onlookers when she 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. She then opted for a Christmas themed bralet and micro-skirt an outfit that once again drew attention to her worryingly slight frame during an appearance at the annual Trick or Treats magazine bash. Slim: Last month Tara worried onlookers when she displayed her tiny frame at the Maxim magazine Halloween Party in Los Angeles Revealing a pair of slender legs and super slim waistline, Tara inevitably caught the eye as she climbed from the rear of her car and made her way inside. 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.' Their single Shout Out To My Ex soared to the top of the charts for three weeks. And Little Mix proved they weren't going to slow down following the success of the feisty tune as they arrived at BBC Radio 2 in London on Saturday to promote their new album, Glory Days. The winning X Factor band's Perrie Edwards certainly boasted the raciest of all four ensembles as she flashed her impossibly toned abs in barely-there bralette. Scroll down for video Awesome foursome: Little Mix arrived in style at BBC Radio 2 in London on Saturday to promote their new album, Glory Days Sexy songstress: The winning X Factor band's Perrie Edwards, 23, certainly boasted the raciest of all four ensembles as she flashed her impossibly toned abs in barely-there bralet The South Shields star, 23, looked every inch the sex-kitten in the lingerie inspired garment which flaunted her tanned physique. Teaming the look with a pair of cool high-waisted trousers, Perrie worked her angles in a pair of towering strappy black heels. With her hair tied up in two funky, teased plaits - framing her striking features - Perrie posed up a storm as she was joined by her equally stunning band-mates, Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirwall. Thirwall opted for an animalistic flair in a pair of racy thigh-high snakeskin print boots, which she teamed with a black shirt-dress. Enviable frame: The South Shields star looked every inch the sex-kitten in the lingerie inspired garment which flaunted her tanned physique Stylish lady: Teaming the look with a pair of cool high-waisted trousers, Perrie worked her angles in a pair of towering strappy black heels Sssexy: Jade Thirwall opted for an animalistic flair in a pair of racy thigh-high snakeskin print boots, which she teamed with a black shirt-dress Jesy, who recently slammed rumours she had parted ways with her fiance Jake Roche, was very much the rock chic in an all-black ensemble. Her look consisted of a logo-print top, ripped skinny jeans and bomber jacket and she piled her locks up into a bun to show off her choker. Leigh-Anne also opted for some raunchiness as she risked flashing a peek of her underboob in a cropped turtleneck knit. She posed for selfies with fans and worked the cameras with her shiny biker jacket, as did the rest of the girls, before the sauntered in to discuss their fourth studio album. Perrie in particular looked in high spirits, despite supermodel Gigi Hadid beseeching her to 'get over' her split with Zayn Malik. Edgy: Jesy, who recently slammed rumours she had parted ways with her fiance Jake Roche, was very much the rock chic in an all-black ensemble Sneak peek: Leigh-Anne also opted for some raunchiness as she risked flashing a peek of her underboob in a cropped turtleneck knit Riding high: The pals seemed to have great fun as they posed in a blue car Having a laugh: Perrie and Jesy put their romantic troubles behind them as they shared a giggle Good pals: The pair had clearly got closer over recently Photo op! She posed for selfies with fans and worked the cameras with her shiny biker jacket Too much to handle: Perrie was clearly overwhelmed by the amount of support from fans Sources tell Hollywood Life that the 21-year-old model of the moment had issued the plea after it came to light that Little Mix's number one hit, Shout Out To My Ex allegedly contained lyrics regarding 'f**king some model chick'. Former One Direction hunk Zayn, 23, is said to have split from the blonde beauty via text message in August 2015 after four years together leading to the alleged jibes, which Gigi has reportedly responded to. The Bradford-born heartthrob started dating supermodel Gigi just a few months after he and Perrie parted ways and it has now been reported that the Californian beauty was hinted at in the chart-topping track. In the early version of the song, obtained by News. Au, the lyrics were: 'Heard he been f*****g some model chick/ Yeah that sh*t hurt I'll admit/ But f**k that boy I'm over it. Heard he in love with some other chick/ Yeah yeah, that hurt me, I'll admit.' Talented: The pair are currently riding off the success of their latest single Shout Out To My Ex which soared to the top of the charts for three weeks Honed: Since winning X Factor in 2011, the girls have perfected the art of posing Drama: Gigi Hadid recently beseeched Perrie to 'get over' her split with Zayn Malik in light of Little Mix's number one hit, Shout Out To My Ex, which allegedly contained lyrics regarding 'f**king some model chick' Since news of the lyrics arose, sources claim Gigi has hit out at 'immature' Perrie: 'Gigi wishes Perrie would just move on and leave her and Zayn alone. She thinks the song and the lyrics are immature... 'He's been down-playing it to Gigi, and telling her not to give it any energy or thought, and that it just comes from a place of jealousy.' Writing in Little Mix's book, Our World, earlier this year, Perrie said of the split: 'It was horrible, the worst time of my life. A four-year relationship, two-year engagement ended by a simple text message. 'Just like that. Even though things my career were going really well, it was incredibly difficult for me.' The NRL's upcoming season is facing stiff competition from touring musical acts. The Sunday Telegraph claims rugby league officials are moving games to the suburbs and New Zealand for the upcoming season. The reported decision for the venue change is that Justin Bieber and Adele have booked out Sydney's ANZ Stadium. The Sunday Telegraph claims NRL officials are moving games to the suburbs and New Zealand for the upcoming season due to Justin Bieber and Adele concerts taking place at ANZ Stadium Adele is performing at the 83,500 capacity venue on March 10, with Justin's show taking place just five days later. The publication states it will be 'impossible' to transform ANZ Stadium back into a rugby league field in time. The 2017 season draw will confirm ANZ Stadium, which hosts the NRL Grand Final, will not be used in rounds two and three. Adele is performing at the venue on March 10, with Justin's show taking place five days later - making it 'impossible' to transform ANZ Stadium back into a rugby league field in time An NRL spokesperson told The Sunday Telegraph that 'the concerts created logistic problems in creating the draw'. They continued: 'We have worked around the unavailability of the ground and the release of the draw is still on schedule for next week.' ANZ Stadium General Manager of Business Development Greg Sleigh also confirmed 'the stadium is unavailable for round two and three'. 'The stadium is unavailable for round two and three': ANZ Stadium's representative confirmed the music concerts had affected the 2017 NRL season's games at Sydney's Olympic Park Last month, Justin announced he will visit Australia and New Zealand for his Purpose World Tour in March. He last performed Down Under almost four years ago during his Believe Tour in 2013. Justin will be joined at all shows by Dutch DJ Martin Garrix for the shows. Winter's fast-approaching, but Miami weather doesn't appear to have got the memo. Padma Lakshmi took advantage of the high temperatures on Saturday, bringing her daughter out for a trip to the beach. The 46-year-old showed off her impressively toned bikini body as she frolicked in the water with six-year-old Krishna. Scroll down for video Hand in hand: Padma Lakshmi enjoyed a trip to the beach with her daughter Krishna in Miami on Saturday For her day at the beach, the Top Chef hostess had picked out a white two-piece with long white frills dangling from its top. She'd accessorised with a gleaming gold medallion, and left it on even when she waded into the sea. When her daughter got into the water, her mother made sure to hold her hands for a moment and ensure she was being safe. Accessorising: The 46-year-old occasionally wore a pair of aviator sunglasses When you got it: She'd donned a cleavage-baring bikini with a healthy amount of fringe When you got it: Her swimsuit showed off her svelte physique Mother and daughter both seemed to be having a lovely time as they gamboled about the pleasant beach. Krishna at one point kicked a bit of water at her mother, who turned and seemed to playfully blanch a bit. At another point, Lakshmi accepted her fate, spreading her arms as her daughter continued to knock a bit of a spray toward her. Playful: At one point, the mother-of-one blanched playfully as her 6-year-old kicked water at her Here ti is: At another, she'd resigned herself to her fate, spreading her hands Yet the Easy Exotic author found some time to enjoy herself alone in the ocean as well, shutting her eyes as she floated on her back. On occasion, especially when out of the water, she donned a stylish pair of aviator sunglasses with purple lenses and gold-coloured rims. Safety first: The Easy Exotic held her daughter's hands as she wore her goggles, seeming to have briefly gone underwater No mind: The former Mrs Salman Rusdhie left her gold medallion on even in the water Background: Krishna's father is Adam Dell, whose brother Michael Dell founded the famous computer company that bears his surname Her only child is the daughter of Adam Dell, whose brother Michael Dell founded the famous computer company that bears his surname. As she's explained in her memoir Love, Loss And What We Ate, she was initially unsure who her baby's father was when she discovered she was pregnant. The options were Dell and the late IMG CEO Teddy Forstmann, both of whom she'd been dating concurrently after her 2007 divorce from Salman Rushdie. Doubling up: Lakshmi had dated Dell at the same time as IMG CEO Teddy Forstmann Confusion: As a consequence, when the pregnancy began, it was unclear who the father was, though a DNA test later established it was Dell A paternity test proved venture capitalist Dell to have sired Krishna. In 2011, he sued Lakshmi in the Manhattan Supreme Court, both for custody and to have his name added to his daughter's birth certificate. In March 2012, they arrived at a settlement. Per Page Six, he'd managed to up his visitation rights and his share of custody. Moreover, he's now secured his spot on that contentious birth certificate, and Krishna's surname is now Lakshmi-Dell. Relaxation: A bit of her time at the beach allowed the erstwhile model to rest her eyes Serenity: The Chennai native looked the image of calm as she floated on her back A number of Hollywood celebrities have voiced their support for the cast of Broadway musical Hamilton after they urged vice president-elect Mike Pence 'to uphold American values.' On Saturday morning, president-elect Donald Trump demanded the cast apologize to his running mate for harassing him. Immediately, Chrissy Teigen, who made her Twitter feed private in October, briefly made it public again to slam Trump in a series of tweets. 'Wow @realdonaldtrump is right. I cant believe they would subject poor, innocent Mike Pence to such abhorrent, evil hate speech,' she tweeted sarcastically. Reaction: Chrissy Teigen made her Twitter feed public again to post a series of messages after Donald Trump demanded the cast of Hamilton apologize for 'harassing' Mike Pence Pence was in the audience for the hit show Friday night where he was booed by some in attendance as he took his seat and implored by show's star to protect the 'inalienable rights' of all Americans. Model and cookbook author Chrissy, 30, went on to respond to Trump's tweets calling the Hamilton cast 'rude' and saying the theatre should be a 'safe and special place.' 'Look who wants a f***ing safe space now. The very thing him and his supporters make fun of as liberal political correctness. God, what a POS,' she wrote. She then accused him of fanning the flames in order to draw attention away from the fact he has settled his Trump University lawsuit for $25 million rather than proceed with a trial. Anger: The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model dind' tmince words about the president-elect Smoke and mirrors: The 30-year-old suggested Trump was using Friday night's event to deflect attention away from his Trump University settlement Speaking out: Chrissy Teigen was quick to respond to Donald Trump's tweets demanding the Hamilton cast apologize to Pence, and she was joined by Bryan Cranston and Don Cheadle Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston lent his voice to the criticism that followed Trump's tweets. He pointed out that the Hamilton cast had behaved 'respectfully, and from the heart' in addressing Pence. '@realDonaldTrump obviously you didn't see the tape,' he tweeted. Watch the video: Breaking Bad and Trumbo star Bryan Cranston responded via Twitter to point out that the actors on stage had behaved impeccably towards the vice president-elect Not buying it: Actor Don Cheadle also defended the Hamilton cast and accused Trump of trying to stir up controversy Don Cheadle also took to Twitter to clarify that it had been audience members who had booed, not the actors on stage, and that the musical's star Dixon had, in fact, asked the audience not to boo Pence. 'Addressed VP as, "sir." Nice spin, though. Way to gin it up,' Cheadle said. Others who tweeted their reaction included Scandal star Kerry Washington, comedienne Chelsea Handler and actress Brooklyn Decker. Supportive: Scandal star Kerry Washington added her two pennyworth to the debate, praising the Hamilton cast for reminding the incoming administration of its constitutional obligations Wake up and smell the coffee: Comedienne Chelsea Handler also had something to say via her Twitter feed She jetted into Miami, Florida, with her boyfriend on Thursday. And on Friday night, Kesha put her legal woes behind her to belt out her hits on stage at the Ice Palace Film Studios for charity. She was part of the Best Buddies Miami Gala, themed Rock Legends, that raises funds to help people challenged with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For a good cause: Kesha put her legal woes behind her to belt out her hits on stage at the Ice Palace Film Studios in Miami, Florida for charity The 29-year-old hitmaker rocked out in a black cowboy-style jacket with a red fringe and little else as she belted out her hits. Kesha remains locked in a legal battle with producer Dr. Luke, aka Lukasz Gottwald, with whom she signed a recording contract when she was 18. She filed suit in 2014 asking to be released from her recording contract, claiming he had 'drugged and raped her.' Dr Luke denies any and all claims of abuse and filed a countersuit for breach of contract and defamation Fringe benefits: The 29-year-old hitmaker flaunted her curvy figure in a black cowboy-style jacket with a red fringe and little else as she belted out her hits at the Best Buddies Miami Gala, In February, a judge in New York denied Kesha's request for an injunction on her recording contract that requires her to release three more albums for Dr Luke's Kemosabe label under Sony Music. The decision left her locked in another legal round of appeals. In August she dropped the suit in California but is pursuing it in New York. Meanwhile, Sony confirmed to BuzzFeed News in September that Kesha's long-delayed follow-up album to 2012's Warrior is 'moving forward' after she submitted 28 songs over the summer. Giving it her all: The gala, this year themed Rock Legends, raises funds to help people challenged with intellectual and developmental disabilities Hair-raising gig: The blonde put her heart and soul into the event. Kesha is locked in a legal battle to get out of her contract with producer Dr. Luke, claiming he 'drugged and raped her' Kesha also toured this summer, kicking off the first of 18 gigs in Las Vegas on July 23 and wrapping at the Mad Decent Block Party in Los Angeles on October 1. Meanwhile, the star is building anticipation for her new album with her 5.5 million combined social media fans. On Thursday she posted a tweet saying: 'Dreaming of my next album tour... the RAINBOW tour!' Gigi Hadid is a day away from hostessing the American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Yet on Sunday, she didn't betray the slightest hint of tension as she and her co-host Jay Pharoah took a break from rehearsal for a photo-shoot. The 21-year-old had slipped into a cleavage-baring red dress as she and the 29-year-old posed with one of the show's trophies. The prize itself: On Saturday, Jay Pharoah and Gigi Hadid stood for a photo-shoot at rehearsal ahead of their gig jointly hosting the American Music Awards Dab hand: This summer, the 21-year-old had hosted the 2016 iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards in Toronto Her hair had been teased into waves, and the frill-streaked outfit hung rather loosely over her pencil thin frame. She accessorised with a gold choker and complemented her ensemble by way of bright red lipstick and red leather shoes. Meanwhile, her confrere had slung a large silver cross over a grainy grey T-shirt that bared his toned arms. Location, location, location: The awards show will take place at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday night Jewellery wise, he'd also popped an earring onto his left ear. He mugged for the camera, pouting as he held the trophy. For part of the suit, he flung an olive green bomber jacket over his look, which included slimming black trousers. Pharaoh is, of course, no stranger to TV comedy, having entertained fans on Saturday Night Live from 2010 until his departure this year. Back at TV comedy: Meanwhile, the 29-year-old was on Saturday Night Live from 2010 until his departure this year For her part, the sister of Bella Hadid is becoming a bit of an experienced hand in the field of awards show gigs. This summer, she was mistress of ceremonies at the 2016 iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards in Toronto, managing to work her way through five costumes. The American Music Awards will feature a bit of intrigue this year, inasmuch as famous exes Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber will be pitted against one another in the contest to be garlanded Artist Of The Year. Intrigue: Their hiring was announced by the awards show organisers on November 4th Bieber, however, is on tour at present, so he'll put in his appearance via satellite from a stopover in Zurich, whilst Gomez will arrive at the Microsoft Theater in person. Their fellow contenders for Artist Of The Year were unveiled by on the award show's website Monday, and are Rihanna, Carrie Underwood and Ariana Grande. Originally, the AMAs had listed ten nominees, to be whittled down by audience votes. The eliminated contestants were Adele, Beyonce, Drake, Twenty One Pilots and The Weeknd. Showing what she's got: For their photo-shoot, the sister of Bella Hadid wore a cleavage-baring red jumpsuit One of the presenters at Sunday's event will be Heidi Klum, who on Saturday was quick to share her excitement with her fans via Instagram. The 43-year-old uploaded a promotional image of herself in a black top with a plunging neckline, looking slightly startled as she stood in front of a dark brick wall. Neon letters above her blared: 'TOMORROW,' and details in text at the bottom of the frame reminded fans the show would air on ABC at 8/7c. He last appeared as Finn in the Gilmore Girls nearly a decade ago. But Australian actor Tanc Sade returns to Stars Hollow in Netflix's mini series Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life. The 36-year-old was in high spirits as he attended the show's premiere at the Regency Bruin Theatre in Los Angeles on Friday. Scroll down for video Hiatus: Australian actor Tanc Sade attended the Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life premiere at the Regency Bruin Theatre in Los Angeles on Friday He was pictured alongside co-stars Alexis Bledel, Lauren Graham and Matt Czuchry, while in another snap, he was seen cosying up with Alan Loayza and Nick Holmes. Taking to Instagram after the event, Tanc spoke of his unlikely friendship with Nick, who played Robert Grimaldi in the hit series. 'I booked Gilmore Girls six weeks after moving to the US. Nick Holmes was one of the first actors I met and he took an instant disliking to me. They're back! The show returns for a four-part mini series. (Pictured L-R: Alan Loayza, Nick Holmes and Tanc Sade) 'Who knew 12 years later we'd still be... friends. Love you mate!' Gilmore Girls wrapped up in 2007 after seven stellar series. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia earlier this year, Tanc spoke about the 'emotional' reunion nearly a decade later. 'He took an instant disliking to me': Tanc (right) revealed Nick (centre) didn't like him when they first met more than a decade ago 'I think we all did it for the love of it. It was such a special time with such a special group of people,' he said. 'It was emotional, it was hilarious and it was like putting on a comfortable pair of shoes that you have had since high school,' the star described the reunion. Tanc added: 'It was such a blast when I first worked on that show, it was the first show I ever worked on in America. All star cast: (L-R) Tanc Sade, Alexis Bledel, Lauren Graham, Matt Czuchry at the premiere on Friday 'The fan base for that show is like nothing I have ever seen before, I get fan mail daily for a show that was airing 10 years ago. 'It has now taken on this whole new following of young woman who have connected with these characters.' The Netflix series is set to premiere on November 25. They found love in front of a number of cameras while filming The Bachelor reality series earlier this year. Now five months after first declaring their love for each other, Alex Nation has finally introduced her young son Elijah to her beau Richie Strahan. The 31-year-old ex-Bachelor confirmed his meeting with five-year-old to the Sunday Confidential at the Cerrone jewellery boutique opening in Melbourne last week. Scroll down for video Moving forward: Alex Nation has introduced her young son Elijah to her beau Richie Strahan, five months after finding love on The Bachelor According to the newspaper, the ropes access technician and the school boy were introduced earlier this month during a trip to Melbourne and the meeting was documented by cameras. 'It is believed a magazine deal was done to cover the meeting,' the publication reported. Last month, Alex revealed the first introduction between Richie and Elijah had happened in a rather unconventional way. Following in mum's footsteps: According to reports, the ropes access technician and the school boy were introduced earlier this month and the meeting was documented by magazine cameras Just like they did: If the meeting was in fact documented on cameras in a magazine deal, then Richie met Elijah just like Alex did The mother told TV Week of the meeting: 'I swear to god my ovaries exploded, it was cute!' However, the 'cute' interaction between her two boys wasn't a traditional face-to-face meeting, instead it occurred over FaceTime. At the time, Alex told the publication they're still figuring out the right time for Richie to meet her five-year-old in person. Through the screen: Last month, the couple revealed the first introduction between Richie and Elijah happened with a FaceTime phone call After months of being with Alex without an introduction, Richie said he was 'really excited' to chat with the dimple-smiled youngster. Alex added Richie had become a big hit with her son, as he often asks to speak to him instead of her. The rope access technician said: 'The little guy has me wrapped around his finger already, but I wont tell him that!' The reality stars also revealed they've started working on joint Christmas plans, and alluded that Richie would be buying little Elijah a present. Donald Trump looms large over future of climate action From across the Atlantic, Donald Trump eclipsed a UN conference which fought valiantly in Marrakesh to preserve momentum on curtailing climate change amid fears the mogul will fragment the global effort and starve it of cash. World leaders, CEOs, negotiators and activists at the two-week meeting, which closed Friday, were clearly unsettled by the pending White House takeover of Trump, who has vowed to withdraw the US from a hard-won global agreement on climate change. Analysts say a US exit would make it harder to achieve the 196-nation pact's goals to limit planet warming, and likely result in a shortfall of billions of dollars promised to help developing countries fight against climate change and cope with its impacts. American students protest outside the UN climate talks in Marrakesh in reaction to Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election Fadel Senna (AFP/File) "The biggest impact, I think, is on financing... the US federal government's commitment to continue to finance clean energy," Alden Meyer of the Union of Concerned Scientists told AFP. "The thing that people seem to be most concerned about is: will the US fulfil the remaining $2.5 billion of the $3 billion pledge President Obama made to the Green Climate Fund (GCF)?" The fund supports projects to make the shift away from greenhouse gas-emitting fossil fuels to renewable sources. Trump, who has described climate change as a "hoax", remained mum for the duration of the conference on whether he will execute his pre-election threats. Amid the uncertainty, delegates to the 22nd UN climate conference put on a brave face. Heads of state and cabinet ministers attending a "high-level segment" from Tuesday to Thursday this week reaffirmed their countries' determination to push ahead, with or without Washington. But no-one could ignore the elephant in the room. "The process has taken a huge hit following the US election results," said climate activist Mohamed Adow of Christian Aid, which represents the interests of poor countries at the UN negotiations. "There is a lot of uncertainty about what's going to happen next." Trump's election has recalled the shock of 2001, when George W Bush refused to ratify the Paris Agreement's predecessor, the Kyoto Protocol. His action was a major blow to the global effort to rein in planet warming that scientists warn threaten the human way of life. - Americans the biggest losers - Washington was instrumental in negotiating the structure and contents of both agreements, striking tough bargains which made for often combative negotiations. Many fear that after years of trust-building, a US retreat may revive old enmities between rich and developing nations at the UN process, possibly unleashing more withdrawals. "Certainly, it could embolden some of the least progressive actors," said climate diplomacy expert Liz Gallagher of the E3G think-tank. A handful of countries, including major emitters India and Saudi Arabia, needed serious convincing to get on board with the Paris Agreement. Finance for climate aid is a particularly hot-button issue, with developing nations putting pressure on rich countries to ramp up contributions and deliver on what they have promised. The US provided $2.7 billion in international climate finance in 2014, according to the Washington-based World Resources Institute. It pledged last year to double finance for developing country adaptation projects -- from $400 million in 2014 -- for shoring up defences against climate change harms. Of the $3 billion pledged for the GCF, $500 million has been delivered so far. Washington also pays a big chunk of the operating budget of the UN climate body, under whose umbrella the Paris Agreement was negotiated. Another concern, analysts say, is the core target enshrined in the Paris Agreement: to halt global warming "well below" two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial era levels. If the US does not achieve it's own pledge of cutting emissions by 26-28 percent from 2005 levels by 2025, the collective goal will move further out of reach. "We knew before the election that it was going to take additional actions by the next administration to meet the target," said Meyer. "It's not very likely in my mind that Mr Trump would take additional actions." All agree that if Trump acts on his threat, states, cities and businesses in the US and elsewhere will have to pick up the slack. On Wednesday, more than 360 major companies called in an open letter for a "continuation of low-carbon policies" and investment in a renewable energy economy. And representatives from the states of Vermont, Washington State and California -- the 7th largest economy in the world -- stressed they were committed to renewables for the long haul. "As states we are doing the job," said Deborah Markowitz of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. Many in Marrakesh stressed that market forces, not politics, may be what ultimately guarantees a low-carbon future. "If in the worst case the United States were to withdraw its leadership, the biggest losers will be the people of the United States," Erik Sondheim, executive director of the UN Environment Programme, told AFP. "All those new, remarkable fascinating jobs will go to other places." Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama urged the United States to play its part in rescuing his Pacific island state -- and the world at large -- from climate change Michael Bradley (AFP/File) 2016 'very likely' hottest year on record: UN Thomas SAINT-CRICQ, Jean Michel CORNU, Kun TIAN (AFP) Trump demands apology over "Hamilton" slight President-elect Donald Trump demanded an apology Saturday from cast members of the Broadway hit "Hamilton" after his VP-elect was booed at a performance and told the new administration must respect America's racial, cultural and social diversity. Trump complained the cast had been rude to Mike Pence and harassed him during the late Friday performance. "This should not happen!" Trump tweeted. "Apologize!" On Twitter, #BoycottHamilton was quickly the top trending hashtag. The diverse cast of award-winning Broadway musical "Hamilton" called on Vice-President elect Mike Pence to "uphold our American values and work on behalf of all of us" Dominick Reuter (AFP) Critics taking part in the online debate said the cast were arrogant "liberals" who had no right to insult the VP, for instance. Defenders ridiculed the idea of boycotting the show, noting it is sold out for months. The wildly popular hit musical, which won 11 Tony Awards in June, follows young colonial rebels who became America's founding fathers, celebrating diversity and immigrants' contribution to the nation. The show's lead actor, Javier Munoz, is openly gay, HIV positive and a cancer survivor. Among other concerns, activists worry that the Trump's administration will be hostile to gay rights. Brandon Victor Dixon, who plays vice president Aaron Burr, read a statement to Pence during the curtain call that echoed some of the main concerns critics have voiced since the Republican firebrand won the election on November 8. With that, a performance about a revolution and the dawn of a young nation became even more political. Pence is a stalwart Christian conservative from the Midwest. Thanking him for attending the performance, Dixon asked him to "hear us out." "We, sir, we are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights, sir," Dixon said. "But we truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and work on behalf of all of us. All of us." Hamilton, Dixon told Pence, was performed by "a diverse group of men, women of different colors, creeds and orientations." The audience cheered and loudly applauded. - Audience goes 'nuts' - The crowd had greeted Pence with a mix of boos and cheers when he entered the theater before the show. During the performance, the audience gave a standing ovation at the line "immigrants we get the job done," theatergoer Christy Colburn tweeted. "Crowd went NUTS at King George's lines 'when people say they hate you' & 'do you know how hard it is to lead?' He had to stop the song." Although Pence was leaving the auditorium when Dixon began reading his statement from the stage, he stood by the entrance to hear the entire message, the New York Times reported. He made no comment. Trump complained about it all in a tweet Saturday morning. "Our wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing," he wrote. "This should not happen!" "The Theater must always be a safe and special place," he added in another message. "The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!" Dixon responded by tweeting, "conversation is not harassment sir. And I appreciate @mikepence for stopping to listen." Trump has deployed polarizing rhetoric to describe immigrants, vowing to build a wall along the US border with Mexico and ban Muslims from entering the United States. The bombastic real estate billionaire -- who faced widespread condemnation within and outside his party during his campaign when a video emerged of him making lewd boasts about groping and forcing himself on women -- has so far appointed staunchly conservative older white men to major posts in his future administration. Javier Munoz, the lead actor of Broadway hit musical 'Hamilton', is openly gay, HIV positive and a cancer survivor Ilya S. Savenok (Getty/AFP/File) Toure at the double as Man City beat Palace Yaya Toure marked his first Premier League game of the season by scoring both of Manchester City's goals in a 2-1 win away to Crystal Palace on Saturday. Toure's goals, allied to a strutting display patrolling a City midfield of which he used to be the leader, saw the Ivory Coast midfielder make a compelling case to manager Pep Guardiola as the visitors maintained their title challenge at Selhurst Park. Toure has been effectively frozen out since Guardiola's pre-season arrival at Eastlands. Manchester City's Yaya Toure (C) celebrates with Kevin De Bruyne (L) and Fernandinho (R) after scoring his second goal against Crystal Palace on November 19, 2016 Olly Greenwood (AFP) Apart from a Champions League outing against Steaua Bucharest in August -- largely irrelevant after City's 5-0 win in the away leg -- Toure had not worn a City shirt since the final game of last season. But few would have known it by his work against the Eagles. Bristling with intent and even pressing defenders to appease Guardiolas concerns over his work-rate, Toure demonstrated his confidence has not been dulled by repeatedly sitting in the stands. His first goal arrived six minutes before half-time. Toure exchanged passes with Sergio Aguero inside the home area and, with the Palace defence standing off, he did the same with Nolito before rifling home a rising shot which clipped James Tomkins on its way into the net. The goal came five minutes after Guardiola had called Toure and Kevin De Bruyne over to the touchline for an animated tactical discussion during a break in play. Then, after Connor Wickham had drawn Palace level midway through the second half, Toure slipped his marker at an 83rd-minute corner and calmly side-footed his side to victory. - Kompany blow - That stoppage was caused by a worrying collision between City keeper Claudio Bravo and club captain Vincent Kompany, who was shadowing the run of Palace striker Christian Benteke. Kompanys head was rocked back by a combination of his keepers right knee and thigh. It appeared to be more a case of whiplash than concussion. He continued for five minutes before dropping to his haunches and having to be led from the field, the latest in a depressing series of early departures from matches for the 30-year-old. Kompany will be doubtful for Citys Champions League trip to Borussia Moenchengladbach as a result. There was little else of note in an insipid first half. That the second period was more open and exciting owed much to the bravery of Palace manager Alan Pardew, who took off ineffective winger Andros Townsend and gave Benteke a strike partner in Wickham. That change stretched the play and meant more chances were created at both ends of the pitch. It also gave Jason Puncheon the licence to drift out to the wing, as he did 11 minutes after half-time, skipping past Bacary Sagna to the by-line before clipping over a cross which Benteke headed within Bravo's reach. The momentum of the game swung in the space of 30 seconds in the 66th minute. City almost made it 2-0 when a De Bruyne cross was guided goalwards by Aguero. Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey parried the flick but needed the help of right-back Joel Ward who scampered back to clear the ball off the line and upfield. The ball eventually found Wilfried Zaha whose jink inside ended with a slipped pass for Wickham to drive the ball past Bravo. If that equaliser gave Palace hope of a first Premier League point in five matches, it also set the stage for Toure to round off his return from exile. Unfortunately for Pardew and Palace, defeat meant their slide down the table continued. As in recent games, they could consider themselves unfortunate to lose, but that is a habit of which they will want to rid themselves soon. Manchester City fans celebrate with players on the pitch after they score their second goal against Crystal Palace on November 19, 2016 Olly Greenwood (AFP) Crystal Palace's Connor Wickham (R) vies with Manchester City's Fernandinho on November 19, 2016 Olly Greenwood (AFP) UN 'appalled' by Syria violence, urges Aleppo access Top UN officials said Saturday they were "appalled" by escalating violence in Syria, and urged immediate access to Aleppo, where government forces are waging a ferocious assault to retake rebel-held districts. "The United Nations is extremely saddened and appalled by the recent escalation in fighting in several parts of Syria," the UN's humanitarian coordinator for Syria Ali al-Za'atari and regional humanitarian coordinator Kevin Kennedy said. In a statement, they called on "all parties to cease indiscriminate attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure". A Syrian youth pushes his bicycle past a burning house on November 19, 2016 following a reported air strike on Aleppo's rebel-held neighbourhood of Bab al-Nayrab Ameer Alhalbi (AFP) The comments came as government bombardment rocked rebel-held east Aleppo, where more than 250,000 people are living under regime siege. The bombardment, which began on Tuesday, has killed nearly 100 people, according to a monitor, and forced hospitals and schools to close. Za'atari, the most senior UN official based in Damascus, and Kennedy said the organisation had a plan to provide east Aleppo with assistance. "The UN has shared with all parties to the conflict in Aleppo and member states concerned a detailed humanitarian plan to provide urgently needed assistance to the inhabitants of east Aleppo, and conduct medical evacuations for the ill and injured," they said. "It is imperative all parties agree to the plan and allow us to secure immediate, safe and unimpeded access to provide relief to those most in need in east Aleppo, but equally in all other parts of Syria where there are people in need." The UN has not accessed east Aleppo since government forces surrounded the rebel-held side of the city in mid-July. Moscow has organised several brief truces intended to encourage civilians and surrendering rebels to leave east Aleppo, but few have done so, and the UN has said it was unable to organise secure aid deliveries or evacuations within such short windows. Russia is a key ally of the government in Damascus and has waged a military campaign to bolster President Bashar al-Assad's government against rebels. Moscow says it is not currently bombing Aleppo, though earlier this week it announced a "major operation" in neighbouring Idlib province, as well as in central Homs province. Fekitoa brace dashes Irish hopes of All Blacks double Two tries from Malakai Fekitoa dashed Irish hopes of successive wins over world champions New Zealand as the All Blacks prevailed 21-9 in an engrossing hugely physical encounter at Lansdowne Road on Saturday. Fekitoa's second try killed off the contest making up for his being sin-binned early in the second-half -- man of the match Beauden Barrett scoring the other 11 including a try. "It feels a bit better (compared to Chicago) that was a real test match!" said newly-crowned world player of the year Barrett. New Zealand's centre Malakai Fekitoa (L) covers Ireland's flanker CJ Stander in Dublin on November 19, 2016 Paul Faith (AFP) "We had to dig deep and the boys are exhausted." Ireland's Conor Murray told Sky Sports: "All credit to New Zealand for holding on in there. We tried our best and full credit to our lads. We gave away a couple of sloppy scores." "We gave them, not an easy lead, but a couple of sloppy scores. We tried to fight back, but credit to them for holding us out." The All Blacks, intent on avenging the 40-29 defeat in Chicago a fortnight ago, came sprinting out of the blocks from the kick-off immediately pressurising the Irish and scored a try within three minutes. Barrett saw space on the left and produced a trademark cross kick pass to Fekitoa and he opted to go on his own to touch down for his seventh Test try. Barrett converted for 7-0. Ireland weren't rattled one bit and stormed back, Jamie Heaslip feeding Sean O'Brien who charged for the line but was just held up by Barrett -- the Irish eventually won a penalty and Sexton slotted it over for 7-3. However, they were to lose star young centre Robbie Henshaw -- one of the standout players from the Chicago victory -- seconds later as he took a high hit from Sam Cane which flattened him. The contact gained the Irish a penalty inside their own half but coach Joe Schmidt looked less than happy that Cane wasn't sin-binned for the challenge. Henshaw to the relief of all raised his arm as he was stretchered off. His replacement Garry Ringrose had barely settled before a moment of individual brilliance and vision by Barrett saw him cut inside Conor Murray and sprint clear only for Sexton to catch him and claim he had prevented him from touching down cleanly. One camera angle said he was correct and another that Barrett had indeed touched down -- the television match official controversially ruled it a try and Barrett converted for 14-3. Sexton, so influential in Chicago with Murray, was the next Irishman to depart this war of attrition shaking his head having lasted just 17 minutes as he walked down the tunnel and was replaced by Paddy Jackson. The momentum shifted back to the hosts when Aaron Smith was sin-binned in the 17th minute for two infractions and a superb passage of play with Jackson and Heaslip involved had the All Blacks on the back foot -- again they came away with just the penalty as Jackson slotted it over for 14-6. It came at a cost in personnel to the Irish as a third player CJ Stander had to go off. Somehow the hosts held back the waves of New Zealand attacks with superb and courageous defence led by captain Rory Best and it was having an effect as the All Blacks discipline deteriorated with referee Jaco Peyper punishing them regularly. This ill-discipline -- similar to Chicago -- cost them early in the second-half as Fekitoa's wild high tackle on Simon Zebo saw him sin-binned but the world champions line held repelling the Irish time after time. Jackson reduced the deficit to just five points as they approached the hour mark. However, the killer blow for all their efforts came with 15 minutes remaining as a brilliant move involving Barrett and TJ Perenara saw Fekitoa go in -- Barrett converting for 21-9. Again it was not without controversy as Best demanded Pyper look at a replay for a forward pass but he was turned down and shot a killer look at the South African referee. Ireland's scrum half Conor Murray (C) catches the ball during their match against New Zealand at the Aviva stadium in Dublin on November 19, 2016 Paul Faith (AFP) Xi says US-China ties at 'hinge moment' Presidents Barack Obama and Xi Jinping met for the final time Saturday, with the Chinese leader warning the period after Donald Trump's election is a "hinge moment" in relations between the two powers. Without referring to Trump directly, Xi spoke of his hope for a "smooth transition" in a relationship that Obama described as "the most consequential in the world." The two men were meeting in Lima, Peru on the margins of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. China's President Xi Jinping speaks during a session of the APEC CEO Summit, part of the broader Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Lima on November 19, 2016 Rodrigo Buendia (AFP) During a vitriol-filled election campaign Trump frequently took a combative stance against China, blaming Beijing for "inventing" climate change and rigging the rules of trade. The White House, surprised by Trump's lack of details on the issues, has urged world leaders to give Trump time to get his feet under the desk. For much of Obama's presidency, China and the United States have slowly improved cooperation and tried to limit the fallout from disputes, all while vying for influence in the Asia-Pacific. China has been quick to seize on the failure of a US-backed Pacific trade deal to push its own version of the pact -- excluding Washington at the APEC meeting. Xi -- who the White House sees as perhaps the most powerful Chinese leader since Deng Xiaoping or even Mao Zedong -- said he wanted to see cooperation continue. "I hope the two sides will work together to focus on cooperation, manage our differences, and make sure there is a smooth transition in the relationship and that it will continue to grow going forward." The two men have met nine times since Obama took office in early 2009. Obama said he wanted to "take this opportunity to note our work together to build a more durable and productive set of bilateral ties." "I continue to believe that a constructive US-China relationship benefits our two peoples and benefits the entire globe," he said at the start of the meeting. "We've demonstrated what's possible when our two countries work together," he said, citing an agreement to tackle climate change. - Areas of tension - Obama also acknowledged that his eight years guiding US-China relations have seen difficulties. That period has seen tensions in particular over China's seizure of territory it claims in the South China Sea, as well as over the treatment of US firms in China. Obama said he expected a "candid conversation on areas where we continue to differ, including the creation of a more level playing field for our businesses to compete, innovation policies, excess capacity and human rights." One area of continued tension concerns how hard to push sanctions against North Korea over its ballistic and nuclear weapons programs. Obama said he and Xi "are united on our strong opposition to North Korea's provocations, and we will intensify our efforts to de-nuclearize the Korean peninsula." The US is pushing for further sanctions to choke off funding to North Korean weapons programs. Pyongyang has launched multiple tests to develop a miniaturized nuclear warhead and a missile capable of delivering that deadly payload to the United States, alarming the White House. Beijing has long dragged its heels on sanctioning its allies in Pyongyang, fearing a flood of refugees if North Korea's economy collapses. But earlier this year Beijing moved to sanction a conglomerate based in China's frontier city of Dandong that did an estimated $530 million in trade with North Korea between 2011 and 2015. Obama has looked to his National Security Advisor Susan Rice -- who backpacked around China in the late 1980s -- to guide much of the relationship. The White House points to some tangible progress from those efforts, including tying China to limited norms on cybersecurity after a series of hacking scandals and measures that increased the number of Chinese visitors to the United States. "There is real value in, first of all, more engagement with China, more diplomacy, more channels and multifaceted discussions. And often, not always, that can yield progress," Rice told AFP ahead of the meeting. Democratic congressman wins close race in California SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Democratic U.S. Rep. Ami Bera won his bid for a third term to represent a Sacramento, California-area district that national Republican leaders had targeted. Bera faced a tough challenge from Republican Scott Jones, the Sacramento County sheriff who raised his profile by criticizing President Barack Obama's immigration policies. Election results updated Friday showed Bera widening his lead to more than 2 percentage points in California's 7th district, which has been one of the most closely matched in the nation in each election since the boundaries were drawn in 2012. FILE - In this Oct. 18, 2016, file photo, Democratic U.S. Rep. Ami Bera responds to questions during his debate with his Republican challenger Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones for the highly competitive 7th Congressional District seat at the KVIE television studios in Sacramento, Calif. Bera won his third term to represent a Sacramento-area district that national Republican leaders had targeted. Election results updated Friday, Nov. 18, showed Bera widening his lead over Republican Scott Jones, the Sacramento County sheriff who raised his profile by criticizing President Barack Obama's immigration policies. (Jose Luis Villegas/The Sacramento Bee via AP, File) Bera has eked out a narrow victory each time. "It's been my honor to serve this community, first as a doctor and for these past four years as a member of Congress," Bera said in a statement. Jones said in a statement that it's now nearly impossible for him to come from behind and he conceded to Bera. "Although there were difficult aspects of the race, I do not regret running and am extremely proud of the campaign that we ran," Jones said. Bera's father was sentenced to a year in prison in August for illegally funneling nearly $270,000 to his son's campaigns. Ami Bera wasn't charged and denied knowledge of his father's activities, but Jones tried to tarnish him through corruption allegations. Jones withdrew his endorsement of Donald Trump after a tape surfaced of the presidential candidate bragging about his advances on women. Bera attacked Jones over allegations that he made unwanted sexual advances toward a subordinate more than a decade ago. Jones denied the allegations. Bera's victory left just one congressional contest too close to call. Republican Darryl Issa holds a narrow lead in the 49th district north of San Diego. Issa, the wealthiest member of Congress and a top foe of President Barack Obama, faces a tough challenge from Doug Applegate, a personal injury attorney and retired Marine colonel seeking office for the first time. Issa led Applegate 51 percent to 49 percent Friday. In the Central Valley, Heath Flora defeated fellow Republican Ken Vogel for an open seat in the state Assembly. The contest was one of just four legislative races that featured two Republicans. Under California's election law, the top two finishers in the primary advance to the general election regardless of party. Two state legislative races remained too close to call, including a crucial Senate contest in Southern California that will determine whether Democrats have a two-thirds supermajority in the upper chamber. Democrat Josh Newman trailed Republican Ling Ling Chang by about 1,400 votes. He was 5,000 votes behind earlier in the week. Democrats already passed the two-thirds threshold in the Assembly. If they can get the same edge in the Senate, they can raise taxes and pass emergency legislation without Republican support. Four people have been charged in the videotaped beating of a man as bystanders yelled 'Don't vote Trump', Chicago police say. Julian Christian, 26, along with 21-year-old Rajane Lewis, 20-year-old Dejuan Collins and a 17-year-old girl who wasn't identified were each charged with vehicular hijacking in the November 9 incident, authorities say. Christian is from Broadview, Illinois, and Lewis and Collins are from Chicago. (Left to right) Julian Christian, Rajane Lewis, and Dejuan Collins were each charged with vehicular hijacking in the November 9 incident The attack happened in the 1100 block of South Kedzie Avenue The attack happened in the 1100 block of South Kedzie Avenue, ABC30 reports. David Wilcox, 49, says he was attacked after another car scraped his. He says he was beaten after parking and asking the other driver if they had insurance. He told the Chicago Tribune: 'The car pulled up next to me, we side-swiped each other, but they hit my car. I put the car in park, the light was red, I got out of the car. 'One of the guys - African-American at the bus stop - said "Yeah, that's one of those white boy Trump supporters." 'And I said "What does that have to do with this accident? I just want to exchange insurance." David Wilcox, 49, says he was attacked after another car scraped his. He says he was beaten after parking and asking the other driver if they had insurance 'And then, the next thing I know, the guy said "Don't worry about it, we're gonna beat his ass." 'And then punches were thrown and the next thing I know, I had five people on me, and I fell to the ground, I was kicked in the head, they were in my car, stealing all my stuff. 'I tried to go to the car, I got hit some more, I tried to get into a defensive stance to try to ward them off a little bit, hold them back, and then another guy said "Get the car! Get the car!"' Wilcox (pictured) acknowledges he supports President-elect Donald Trump, but says he told no one in the crowd that You voted Trump, you voted Trump! spectators scream at the victim in the video Someone drove off with Wilcox's car during the attack on Chicago's West Side - and Wilcox hung on for approximately one mile, ABC 30 reported. Wilcox acknowledges he supports President-elect Donald Trump, but says he told no one in the crowd that. He told the Chicago Tribune: '[Trump] might not speak perfectly politically correct, but he's the best man for the job. He's the one that's going to bring back jobs, the trade, get the people that are here illegally out.' A witness has claimed that prior to the attack Wilcox used a racial slur, which Wilcox denies, ABC30 reports. Kin gather at Philippine dictator Marcos' tomb amid protests MANILA, Philippines (AP) Family members and followers of Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos gathered for a vigil at his tomb on Saturday, a day after his secrecy-shrouded burial at a heroes' cemetery triggered widespread protests three decades after the strongman's ouster. Marcos' widow, Imelda, clad in black, thanked supporters and local officials who traveled by bus from Marcos' northern home province to pay their respects. She said they had given her family strength as they kept the hope for nearly 30 years to have Marcos buried at the country's Heroes' Cemetery, which is reserved for former presidents, national artists and soldiers. Thousands of pro-democracy activists who rallied in Manila on Friday said the decades-long debate over Marcos' final resting place was far from over, and they were planning more protests in the days and weeks ahead. Imelda Marcos, widow of the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos, addresses hundreds of supporters following a mass at his graveyard Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016, a day after Marcos was buried in a secrecy-shrouded ceremony at the Heroes' Cemetery in suburban Taguig city, east of Manila, Philippines. Long-dead Marcos was buried Friday at the country's Heroes' Cemetery in a secrecy-shrouded ceremony, a move approved by President Rodrigo Duterte that infuriated supporters of the "people power" revolt that ousted Marcos three decades ago. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) President Rodrigo Duterte, who gave the go-ahead for the burial, appealed for calm. "I know Ferdinand will at last be at rest here at the Heroes' Cemetery," Imelda Marcos said in front of a black tomb surrounded by wreaths of white flowers. "But I know we still have a lot of criticisms to face." Her daughter, Ilocos Norte provincial Gov. Imee Marcos, and son Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. also thanked supporters and apologized for keeping the burial secret. The son said there were reports that anti-Marcos groups would create trouble. The burial threatens to open old wounds in the Philippines, where Marcos' 20-year iron-fist rule was marked by massive human rights violations and corruption. He was ousted in "people power" street protests in 1986 that sent him and his family into exile in Hawaii, where he died three years later. Vice President Leni Robredo, who ran in May elections under Duterte's rival party, questioned why the burial was carried out even before a Supreme Court decision allowing it has become final. "We are alarmed by the brazenness of its execution," she said in a speech. "Hidden wealth, hidden human rights abuses, and now a hidden burial with complete disrespect for the rule of law." Bonifacio Ilagan, a left-wing activist who was detained and tortured during Marcos' rule, said the dictator was buried "like a thief in the night." "This is so Marcos style. I want to rush to the cemetery to protest this. I feel so enraged," Ilagan told The Associated Press on Friday. A lawmaker considered asking the Supreme Court to exhume the newly buried Marcos. But Duterte, who is attending an Asia-Pacific summit in Lima, Peru, said through his spokesman that "hopefully both sides will exercise maximum tolerance and come to terms with the burial." The powerful Marcos family has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, and after returning from U.S. exile in 1991, Imelda Marcos and two of her children eventually ran for public office and won stunning political comebacks. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ran for vice president in May and lost by a slim margin to Robredo. In 1993, Marcos' body was taken to his hometown in Ilocos Norte, where it was displayed in a glass coffin and became a tourist attraction. But his family fought for his remains to be transferred to the Heroes' Cemetery. Duterte backed Marcos' burial, saying it was his right as a president and soldier. With the Philippine flag at half-mast in the background, hundreds of supporters attend a mass at the graveyard of the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016, a day after Marcos was buried in a secrecy-shrouded ceremony at the Heroes' Cemetery in suburban Taguig city, east of Manila, Philippines. Long-dead Marcos was buried Friday at the country's Heroes' Cemetery in a secrecy-shrouded ceremony, a move approved by President Rodrigo Duterte that infuriated supporters of the "people power" revolt that ousted Marcos three decades ago. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) A portrait of the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos is placed beside his granite tomb as hundreds of supporters attend a mass at his graveyard Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016, a day after Marcos was buried in a secrecy-shrouded ceremony at the Heroes' Cemetery in suburban Taguig city, east of Manila, Philippines. Long-dead Marcos was buried Friday at the country's Heroes' Cemetery in a secrecy-shrouded ceremony, a move approved by President Rodrigo Duterte that infuriated supporters of the "people power" revolt that ousted Marcos three decades ago. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) Hundreds of supporters attend a mass at the graveyard of the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016, a day after Marcos was buried in a secrecy-shrouded ceremony at the Heroes' Cemetery in suburban Taguig city, east of Manila, Philippines. Long-dead Marcos was buried Friday at the country's Heroes' Cemetery in a secrecy-shrouded ceremony, a move approved by President Rodrigo Duterte that infuriated supporters of the "people power" revolt that ousted Marcos three decades ago. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) Hundreds of supporters attend a mass at the graveyard of the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016, a day after Marcos was buried in a secrecy-shrouded ceremony at the Heroes' Cemetery in suburban Taguig city, east of Manila, Philippines. Long-dead Marcos was buried Friday at the country's Heroes' Cemetery in a secrecy-shrouded ceremony, a move approved by President Rodrigo Duterte that infuriated supporters of the "people power" revolt that ousted Marcos three decades ago. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) Imelda Marcos, the widow of the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos, top left in black, addresses hundreds of followers after a mass at his graveyard Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016, a day after Marcos was buried at the Heroes' Cemetery in suburban Taguig city, Philippines. Family members and followers of the late President Marcos have gathered for a vigil at his tomb a day after his secrecy-shrouded burial at the country's cemetery triggered protests. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) Hundreds of followers attend a mass at the graveyard of the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016, a day after he was buried at the Heroes' Cemetery in suburban Taguig city, Philippines. Family members and followers of the late president have gathered for a vigil at his tomb a day after his secrecy-shrouded burial at the country's Heroes' Cemetery triggered protests. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) El-Sissi says don't 'jump to conclusions' on Trump CAIRO (AP) Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has praised U.S. President-elect Donald J. Trump, saying that his inflammatory statements from the campaign trail do not necessarily reflect the actions he will take as president. El-Sissi, in an interview with Portuguese news agency LUSA released on Saturday, said, "let's not jump into conclusions or worry" about future U.S. actions or policies in the Middle East. The army chief-turned-president was interviewed prior to his upcoming Nov. 21 visit to Portugal. El-Sissi was among the very first foreign leaders to congratulate Trump's on his presidential victory. FILE - In this Sept. 20, 2014 file photo, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi listens during an interview with The Associated Press at the presidential palace in Cairo. Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi is praising U.S. President-elect Donald J. Trump saying Trump's words as a presidential candidate will be different from his actions as a president. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File) "We have to distinguish between the rhetoric that takes place within presidential campaigns and the real and actual administration of a country after the inauguration," he said. "There will be a chance for more thorough readings." El-Sissi's remarks echoed sentiments that have been circulating on local and regional media, with columnists speculating that Trump campaign rhetoric such as his call for a ban on Muslims entering the U.S. will be watered down. Trump and el-Sissi have already shown a certain bond. Trump said there was "good chemistry" when they met on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in September. El-Sissi said Trump would "without a doubt" make a strong leader. El-Sissi, who was elected in 2014 after leading the military ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, has painted himself as a regional leader in the fight against Islamic militancy a stance that echoes Trump's priorities. The prospect of warmer relations with Trump comes after years of relative chill between el-Sissi and outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama. After the ouster of Morsi and the subsequent lethal crackdown on Islamist supporters, the Obama administration voiced criticism and briefly suspended part of the Egypt's robust American aid package. Egypt's pro-government media have often railed against Obama, accusing the U.S. of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood and other dissident groups. Many of those pro-government media outlets are now cheering Trump's victory. Observers believe that Trump is less likely to take Egypt to task over human rights. Instead, he could offer el-Sissi international political support as the Egyptian leader battles Islamic State group-linked militants in the Sinai peninsula and in neighboring Libya. Ogilvy leads Australian Open by 2 shots after round 3 SYDNEY (AP) Former U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Australian Open after soaring up the leaderboard with an 8-under 64 in Saturday's third round. Ogilivy, who ended the day with an 11-under tally of 205, faces a tough last round at Royal Sydney in which he will be hotly pursued by a chasing pack which includes American star Jordan Speith and his Australian compatriots Aaron Baddeley and Rod Pampling. Two-time champion Baddeley, former world No. 1 Spieth and New Zealander Ryan Fox will go into the last round tied at 9-under, two shots behind Ogilvy while recent PGA Tour winner Pampling is a shot further back at 208 8-under after 54 holes. Baddeley had a 5-under 67 Saturday, while Spieth shot a 4-under 68. Leading Australian Adam Scott is also lurking in a threatening position, four shots off the lead after rounds of 73, 65 and 71 gave him a share of sixth place at 7-under 209. Ogilvy had six birdies in an outward 30 Saturday as he took advantage of calm morning conditions. After beating par at the first, second, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth holes, he then didn't have another birdie until the 16th hole when he grabbed the outright lead. The 2010 Australian Open champion then widened his lead to two shots with a superb approach which left him with a tap-in birdie at 18. "To be honest, I didn't really see 64 on the first tee," Ogilvy said. "But after going out so well on the front nine I kind of started seeing a score like that. It's always a nice feeling. I'm back in the mix." The day's other big mover was Australian Jake Higginbottom who also used a morning tee-time to shoot 6-under 66 to move to 7-under for the tournament. "It was actually pretty breezy this morning," said Higginbottom, who won the 2012 New Zealand Open as an amateur. "I played well. "They call it moving day for a reason and it's always nice being in contention." Spieth struggled with his putter in the opening round but has come into contention as he has steadily come to grips with the poa annua greens at Royal Sydney. "I like the position we're in," Spieth said. "Maybe we can make a few mid-range putts tomorrow. "I made one mid-range, really, this week, and that was my putt on 14 today. I made a couple of putts from about 10, 12 feet as well. So if we roll in a few and those guys are kind of backed up on the tee, that can put pressure on and it can actually be advantageous being the group in front. Pope decries 'virus' of polarization over race, faith VATICAN CITY (AP) Pope Francis warned against what he called a "virus of polarization" and hostility in the world targeting people of different nationalities, races or beliefs, as he led a ceremony Saturday giving the Roman Catholic Church 17 new cardinals from six continents. The consistory ceremony in St. Peter's Basilica formally inducted the churchmen into the cardinals' ranks. Francis used his homily to also caution the new "princes of the church," as cardinals are sometimes called, to guard against animosity creeping into the church as well, saying "we are not immune from this." New Cardinal Dieudonne Nzapalainga, Archbishop of Bangui, Central African Republic, receives the red three-cornered biretta hat during a consistory inside the St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. In the ceremony to formally give the Catholic church 17 new cardinals, Francis lamented how immigrants, refugees, and those from different races or faiths are increasingly seen as enemies. (L'Osservatore Romano/pool photo via AP) The pope spoke of "our pitiful hearts that tend to judge, divide, oppose and condemn" and cautioned somberly against those who "raise walls, build barriers and label people." Earlier this year, when asked about the plan by Donald Trump, then a Republican U.S. presidential candidate and now president-elect, to build a wall to keep Mexicans and others from illegally entering the U.S., the pope replied that anyone advocating building walls isn't a Christian. Francis, in a message a few days earlier to U.S. bishops, had urged them to help heal a society facing growing polarization. On Saturday, after receiving his red hat, Mexican Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, archbishop of Tlalnepantla, expressed concern about Trump's plans, including deporting large numbers of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, soon after assuming the presidency. "You can't divide a family. You can't divide a community. You can't divide the world," the prelate said in reply to a question by The Associated Press about Trump. The Mexican churchman added: "One thing is the election campaign. Another thing is reality." In Saturday's homily, Francis commented on how "we see, for example, how quickly those among us with the status of the stranger, an immigrant, or a refugee, become a threat, take on the status of an enemy. An enemy because they come from a distant country, or have different customs. An enemy because of the color of their skin, their language, or social class." He added: "The virus of polarization and animosity permeates our way of thinking, feeling and acting." Francis also lamented the tendency to "demonize" one's opponents, "so as to have a 'sacred' justification for dismissing them." Cardinals serve as papal advisers and someday elect popes' successors. Popes look to cardinals who share their approach to the church's mission in the world. Indianapolis Archbishop Joseph Tobin is among the newly made cardinals. Tobin defied the governor of the U.S. state of Indiana, Mike Pence, by welcoming Syrian refugees. Tobin in January will become archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, while Pence will be installed as U.S. vice president. Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich, after being made a cardinal at Saturday's ceremony, said the church has a special role in trying to bring people together across the political spectrum. He noted that on Sunday, Masses are celebrated in 26 languages in his diocese. "People feel disenfranchised" from sharing in the common good, the cardinal said in an interview with The Associated Press. Another American in the latest crop of cardinals is Irish-born Archbishop Kevin Farrell, who led the Dallas diocese before Francis appointed him to head the Vatican office dealing with family issues. At a post-ceremony reception, Farrell acknowledged that polarization is felt within the church, too. "We've become gods on both sides gods on the left, and gods on the right, and neither one of these are correct," Farrell told an AP reporter. The clash of mentalities between the conservative camps and the so-called progressives chosen by Francis has played out publicly in recent days. Four prominent, disgruntled cardinals, including a U.S. prelate, Raymond Burke, who is one of Francis' most vocal critics, in a letter to the pope aired their doubts about his more compassionate approach to the contentious issue involving divorced Catholics. They fear his approach could sow confusion among the faithful. Church teaching forbids divorce, and says Catholics who remarry without annulments of their earlier marriage are essentially adulterers who can't receive communion. In a document earlier this year, Francis suggested that clerics could decide case-by-case if these Catholics could receive Communion. Farrell, asked about the tensions over the divorce issue, appeared to be open toward the pope's prescription for more compassion. "There is no situation in life that's black and white. Anybody that's lived in this world will have encountered those situations in their personal lives," Farrell said. The new cardinals, who pledged loyalty to the pope, come from Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, and North and South America. One of them, an 88-year-old Albanian priest, Ernest Simoni, spent 18 years in prison because of his faith during the communist regime in his homeland. Since cardinals are usually bishops already, Francis bestowed a rare honor in giving that rank to Simoni, a simple priest. When Francis visited Albania in 2014, he was brought to tears when Simoni told him how he was persecuted. The pope's envoy to Syria is now Cardinal Mario Zenari. The Italian archbishop remarked how the bright crimson hue of the cardinals' cassocks and of the square, peaked headgear evokes the color of the blood spilled by innocent children killed in the five-year-old civil war there. Also among the new cardinals is Archbishop Dieudonne Nzapalainga, of Bangui, Central African Republic. Last year, Francis visited Nzapalainga's country, bloodied by sectarian violence between Christian and Muslim militants. Thirteen of the 17 new cardinals are under 80 years old and thus eligible to vote in a secret conclave for the next pope. Francis has now appointed 44 of the 120 cardinals young enough to elect his successor. The others were named by the previous two pontiffs, John Paul II, whom Francis made a saint, and Benedict XVI, who retired in 2013, and generally reflect a more conservative leaning on church issues. After the ceremony, the new cardinals and Francis took minibuses to the monastery on Vatican grounds where Benedict lives so they could greet him. One of the cardinals, an 87-year-old bishop from Lesotho, Africa, was too frail to come to Rome for the ceremony. ___ Daniela Petroff contributed to this report. ___ Frances D'Emilio is on Twitter at www.twitter.com/fdemilio New Cardinal Carlos Osoro Sierra meets journalists in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Pope Francis on Saturday decried what he called a polarizing surge in much of the world to exclude people with different nationalities, races or beliefs as enemies, as he led a ceremony welcoming 17 new cardinals from six continents.(AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) New Cardinal Mario Zenari, Apostolic Nuncio in Syria, receives the red three-cornered biretta hat during a consistory inside the St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. In the ceremony to formally give the Catholic church 17 new cardinals, Francis lamented how immigrants, refugees, and those from different races or faiths are increasingly seen as enemies. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) New Cardinal Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo, of Venezuela, center, meets with faithful in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Pope Francis on Saturday decried what he called a polarizing surge in much of the world to exclude people with different nationalities, races or beliefs as enemies, as he led a ceremony welcoming 17 new cardinals from six continents. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) A cardinal holds a red three-cornered biretta hat before a consistory inside the St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Pope Francis has named 17 new cardinals, 13 of them under age 80 and thus eligible to vote in a conclave to elect his successor. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) New Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, participates into a meeting of the new cardinals with faithful and relatives in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Pope Francis on Saturday decried what he called a polarizing surge in much of the world to exclude people with different nationalities, races or beliefs as enemies, as he led a ceremony welcoming 17 new cardinals from six continents. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) A view of of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, before the start of a consistory, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Pope Francis has named 17 new cardinals, 13 of them under age 80 and thus eligible to vote in a conclave to elect his successor.(AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, pool ) New Cardinal Joseph William Tobin, Archbishop of Indianapolis, arrives for the consistory inside the St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Pope Francis has named 17 new cardinals, 13 of them under age 80 and thus eligible to vote in a conclave to elect his successor. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Cardinals and bishops wait for the start of a consistory in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Pope Francis has named 17 new cardinals, 13 of them under age 80 and thus eligible to vote in a conclave to elect his successor.(AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, pool ) Pope Francis, second left, talks with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in the former Convent Mater Ecclesiae at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. After the basilica ceremony, the new cardinals and Pope Francis took two mini-buses to the monastery on Vatican grounds where Benedict lives to greet the emeritus pontiff. (L'Osservatore Romano/pool photo via AP) Pope Francis, right, hugs Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in the former Convent Mater Ecclesiae at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. After the basilica ceremony, the new cardinals and Pope Francis took two mini-buses to the monastery on Vatican grounds where Benedict lives to greet the emeritus pontiff. (L'Osservatore Romano/pool photo via AP) Pope Francis, left, and new cardinals sit on a mini-bus as they leave for the former Convent Mater Ecclesiae at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. After the basilica ceremony, the new cardinals and Pope Francis took two mini-buses to the monastery on Vatican grounds where Benedict XVI lives to greet the emeritus pontiff. (L'Osservatore Romano/pool photo via AP) Egypt's press union head receives 2 years in prison CAIRO (AP) An Egyptian court on Saturday sentenced the head of the journalists' union and two of its board members to two years in prison and a 10,000 pounds (around $650) fine each for harboring two wanted journalists. The ruling against Yahia Qalash, the head of Egypt's press union, and board members Khaled el-Balshy and Gamal Abdel-Rahem, comes after a seven-month trial. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the conviction, saying the ruling is a "punishment" and called upon authorities to ensure that journalists work without "fear of reprisal." The case goes back to April when the security forces raided the syndicate to arrest two journalists, who were wanted over protests against the president's decision to transfer Egyptian sovereignty of two strategic Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. The move infuriated journalists. They staged protests and demanded the interior minister's resignation, as well as a presidential apology. Instead, Qalash and two others were detained and charged for harboring the wanted men inside the press syndicate building. Following the verdict, heavy security forces were deployed to the headquarters of the syndicate in downtown Cairo, amid calls for protests. Later in the day, dozens of journalists staged a sit-in outside the syndicate and chanted slogans, such as: "Are we in a state or a jungle?" Courts have since struck down and annulled el-Sissi's decision to transfer the islands to Saudi Arabia. Also on Saturday, a Giza Court sentenced in absentia three TV presenters to three years in prison each, on charges of spreading false news, disturbing public safety, and inciting sectarian tension. The three TV hosts, Mohammed Nasser, Moatz Matar, and Hisham Abdullah, are vocal el-Sissi critics and believed to be pro-Islamist. Their TV shows appear on el-Sharq network, which is said to be financed by Qatar and aired from Turkey. Turkey and Qatar are rivals of Egypt's el-Sissi, giving refuge to leaders and members of the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood group, from which ousted President Morsi hails. Defendants tried in absentia in Egypt typically receive maximum penalties, but receive an automatic retrial usually ending with lighter sentences if they turn themselves in. The crackdown on press and speech freedoms intensified under Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, who led the military ouster of the Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. Many journalists and TV hosts were banned from appearing on TV, deported, or had their shows canceled. Reporters and photographers were arrested, detained, and tried over alleged links to Islamists. El-Sissi has been intolerant of criticism in the press and repeatedly said that stability and national security were a prerequisite for democracy. The tight security grip might have proven effective in preventing large-scale violence from reaching central Cairo, however smaller, low-level attacks have persisted. Elsewhere, a six-year-old child was killed Saturday and a second injured when a home-made bomb exploded in the child's apartment in Cairo's slum district of Menshiyat Nasr, where the city's garbage collectors work. Activists: Intense bombing of Syria's Aleppo kills 20 BEIRUT (AP) Government bombardment of besieged rebel-held neighborhoods in Aleppo killed at least 20 people Saturday, the worst since airstrikes resumed earlier this week, said Syrian opposition activists, as the U.S. called for an end to the bombings. Saturday was the fifth day of renewed assaults by Syrian warplanes on eastern Aleppo districts, a rebel-held enclave of 275,000 people. The onslaught began Tuesday, when Syria's ally Russia announced its own offensive on the northern rebel-controlled Idlib province and Homs province in central Syria. The bombing on Saturday came after a day of airstrikes that hit four hospitals in east Aleppo. A statement issued late Friday by the opposition's Aleppo Health Directorate said that all hospitals in east Aleppo are out of service because of the bombing over the past days. This photo provided by the Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows Civil Defense workers and Syrian citizens carry a dead body in the neighborhood of Seif al-Dawleh in Aleppo, Syria, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Government bombardment of besieged rebel-held neighborhoods in the northern city of Aleppo killed at least 20 people Saturday Syrian opposition activists said, a day after the health directorate said all hospital in opposition areas have been knocked out of service. (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP) "The intentional destruction of infrastructure for survival has made the besieged steadfast people, including children, elderly and men and women, without medical facilities to treat them," the statement said. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said not all hospitals in east Aleppo neighborhoods are out of service but people are finding difficulties reaching them because of the intensity of the shelling. The White House meanwhile demanded an immediate halt to Syrian strikes on eastern Aleppo. White House National Security Adviser Susan Rice said the U.S. is tracking reports about health conditions. Speaking in Peru, Rice said the U.S. condemns the "horrific attacks" against hospitals and aid workers "in the strongest possible terms". Rice added there was "no excuse" for the attacks. The White House is putting the onus on Russia to lower the violence and help humanitarian aid get to besieged Syrians. It says President Barack Obama joins other leaders in Europe, and those gathering for an Asia economic summit in Peru over the weekend, in demanding a halt to bombings. Opposition activists said Saturday's death toll has been the worst since the aerial campaign resumed on Tuesday. Residents said hundreds of artillery shells and dozens of airstrikes have hit the city, increasing the misery of its residents who have been suffering from lack of food and medicine because of the siege imposed by government forces and their allies in July. "Aleppo is being wiped out in front of the eyes of the world," medical official Mohammed Abu Rajab said in an audio message to The Associated Press from inside the city. "It's not only hospitals that are out of service. All liberated areas in Aleppo are out of service." "Entire buildings have been completely destroyed," Abu Rajab said. The Observatory said Syrian government warplanes and artillery struck more than 20 neighborhoods in east Aleppo killing 27 people and wounding many others. The Aleppo Media Council, an activist collective, said 20 people, including children, were killed in Saturday's violence in the country's largest city and former commercial center. Pro-government media, meanwhile, reported rebel shelling on government-held parts of the city, saying they killed two and wounded others. The latest deaths raise to more than 130 the number of people killed in northern Syria since Tuesday. The U.N. said in a statement released in Damascus that it "is extremely saddened and appalled by the recent escalation in fighting" in several parts of Syria, calling on all sides to cease indiscriminate attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructures. It said the U.N stands ready to assist people in east Aleppo "as soon as access is granted by all parties." It said it has shared with all parties to the conflict in Aleppo and concerned member states a detailed humanitarian plan to provide urgently needed assistance to the inhabitants of east Aleppo, and conduct medical evacuations for the ill and injured" confirmed both Syria Humanitarian Coordinator Ali Al-Za'tari and the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis Kevin Kennedy. "It is imperative all parties agree to the plan and allow us to secure immediate, safe and unimpeded access to provide relief to those most in need in east Aleppo, but equally in all other parts of Syria," they said. Meanwhile, an aircraft believed to be American killed late Friday a senior official with al-Qaida's affiliate in Syria known as Fatah al-Sham Front northwest of the country along with two other people, according to the Observatory and jihadi websites. A militant website and jihadis said the man was Egyptian citizen Abu Abdullah al-Muhajer, an Afghanistan fighting veteran who has been recently working closely with Fatah al-Sham Front's leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani. Al-Muhajer, whose real name was Abdul-Rahman Ali, joined the early jihad and then subsequent infighting in Afghanistan, according to the website, which provided a profile. It said he went on to Pakistan to study for a post-graduate degree in Sharia law and fled again to Afghanistan after being sought by Pakistani police. He worked as a preacher there and was close to the late al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and his successor Ayman al-Zawahri. After the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, he fled to Iran and spent several years in prison before he was released. The Observatory confirmed that an Egyptian commander with the al-Qaida affiliate was killed along with two people when their vehicle was struck with a missile fired from an aircraft. The U.S. has killed several top al-Qaida officials in Syria since the start of 2015. Last month, a drone attack killed top Egyptian al-Qaida veteran Ahmed Salama Mabrouk. ___ Associated Press writer Maamoun Youssef in Cairo contributed to this report. This photo provided by the Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows Civil Defense workers using a drill to dig through rubble in search for victims in Aleppo, Syria, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Government bombardment of besieged rebel-held neighborhoods in the northern city of Aleppo killed at least 20 people Saturday Syrian opposition activists said, a day after the health directorate said all hospital in opposition areas have been knocked out of service. (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP) This photo provided by the Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows Civil Defense workers and Syrian citizens inspect damage buildings after airstrikes hit the Seif al-Dawleh neighborhood in Aleppo, Syria, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Government bombardment of besieged rebel-held neighborhoods in the northern city of Aleppo killed at least 20 people Saturday Syrian opposition activists said, a day after the health directorate said all hospital in opposition areas have been knocked out of service. (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP) Political risks come with control of Washington for GOP WASHINGTON (AP) For Republicans, there will be no one left to blame. As they prepare to take control of the White House and both chambers of Congress next year, Republicans are celebrating the opportunity to enact a new agenda for the country, including lowering taxes, securing the border and repealing President Barack Obama's health care law. But with that opportunity comes massive political risk: If President-elect Donald Trump and congressional Republicans don't deliver, they will face a serious reckoning with voters. That could begin with the 2018 midterm elections, when every House member and one-third of the Senate will be up for re-election. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., stands with fellow Senate Republican leadership at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, following a closed-door Republican policy luncheon. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) "The American public has clearly said that they want to go a different direction," said Republican Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado. "And if we are not effective in moving in that different direction, they will take the opportunity away from us, and they will return it to the Democrats." Said Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, speaking Friday at the Federalist Society: "It's time to put up or shut up. There are no excuses." That sobering reality has been sinking in for GOP members of the House and Senate as they begin the early stages of planning an agenda for next year. Republicans point out that although they will control a majority in the Senate with 52 votes, that's well short of the 60-vote supermajority needed to advance most major initiatives, including Supreme Court nominees. So although Republicans would be able to use a legislative maneuver to send a health care repeal to Trump's desk with just a simple majority, other major objectives, including immigration and border enforcement, would require some degree of cooperation from minority Democrats. That could give Senate Democrats' new leader, Chuck Schumer of New York, veto power over major chunks of Trump's agenda. And it's led to a call from some House Republicans for their Senate colleagues to try to push through a rules change to eliminate the 60-vote filibuster barrier. "They're either going to have to modify that rule, or they're going to have to face the wrath of the voters," said Rep. Matt Salmon, R-Ariz., who is retiring at the end of this year. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is an institutionalist who has shown no enthusiasm for such a move. But Republicans fret that a shortage of votes in the Senate is not likely to be a winning political excuse to most voters who picked an outsider in Trump to bring wholesale change to Washington, and now want to see that happen. "We can talk about not having 60 in the Senate, but I think that our time to show that we can govern is now," said GOP Rep. Tom Rooney of Florida. The Republican role on health care seems particularly risky to some in the party. Democrats have born severe political consequences for pushing through the Affordable Care Act in 2010. They lost control of the House in that year's midterm elections, and Republicans have used the health care issue ever since to rally their base and attack Democrats. But if Republicans repeal it, as they are determined to do, they will be the ones responsible for whatever comes next. And given the enormous complexity of the U.S. health care system, which accounts for fully one-sixth of the U.S. economy, the potential for complications looks immense. Even after six years, Republicans have failed to unite around a single alternative to Obamacare, or a solution to ensure that the 20 million Americans who gained health coverage under the law don't suddenly lose it. Schumer warned in an interview Friday that repealing the health care law would turn into "a political nightmare" for Republicans. And even while cheering the opportunity to undo the health law, House Speaker Paul Ryan acknowledged in a news conference this past week that, "It's too early to know the answer to, 'How fast can Obamacare relief occur?'" Many Republicans believe Democrats overreached in the early years of the Obama administration, when they controlled the White House and both chambers of Congress. Voters took Democrats' majorities away, and now Republicans are mindful of making the same mistake themselves. Rather than a rightward lurch, "It's paramount right now in American politics to build a plurality coalition, because we are still a country of great diversity," argued Paul Schumaker, who was North Carolina GOP Sen. Richard Burr's chief re-election consultant this year. And even as Republicans prepare to enact a governing agenda, it's unclear in some cases what that agenda will be, because some of Trump's promises clash with goals set out over the years by Ryan and other congressional Republicans. For example, Trump has promised to protect Medicare; Ryan has proposed turning it into a voucher-like program for future retirees. Trump is proposing a $1 trillion infrastructure bill; most conservatives balk at major new government spending. As for Democrats, even from their defensive crouch they're eyeing the political upside that could result from full Republican control of the nation's capital. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who is facing a rare leadership challenge from Democratic colleagues distraught about the election results, tried to reassure her caucus this past week that midterm elections in an opposition president's first term offer a singular chance for political gain. "Trump is president, we have a bigger opportunity to take the Congress, just following history, in our generation of being involved in politics," said the California Democrat. ___= Associated Press writers Tom Beaumont in Des Moines, Iowa, and Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington contributed to this report. Outgoing Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind., left, speaks with Sen.-elect Todd Young, R-Ind., right, as they leave a Senate Republican conference leadership election meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, left, and Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H. leave a Senate Republican conference leadership election meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, after Senate Republicans re-elected Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky. to be majority leader for the upcoming 115th Congress. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., left, and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., followed by Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., walk to their caucus organizing meeting to elect their leadership for the 115th Congress, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) No bones about it, group wants to preserve doggie haven ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. (AP) At Dog Mountain, canines and their human owners can take walks on a 150-acre Vermont hillside, enjoy several ponds, attend dog parties and even visit a chapel and an art gallery. Now, a group is hoping to preserve the doggie haven and the vision of Stephen Huneck, the late artist and children's book author who founded it. The Friends of Dog Mountain recently received a $75,000 federal grant that will used to transfer the property to nonprofit ownership and for fundraising and development efforts. "The mission is to preserve, steward and protect both Dog Mountain as a public access and asset for future generations to enjoy with their dogs," said Scott Buckingham, acting director of the nonprofit Friends of Dog Mountain. In this Nov. 16, 2016 photo the inside of the Dog Chapel at Dog Mountain shows where dog owners have grieved their lost pets by placing notes on the walls in St. Johnsbury, Vt. Dog Mountain is a 150-acre haven for canines that includes trails, several ponds, the chapel and a gallery of artwork by the site's late founder artist and children's book author Stephen Huneck. A Vermont group is trying to preserve the site that draws visitors from around the country and world. (AP Photo/Lisa Rathke) Huneck and his wife, Gwen, purchased the property in 1995, transforming the barn into an art studio, and later opening the dog chapel, which welcomes "all creeds, all breeds, no dogmas allowed." Huneck, whose whimsical dog-centric prints, sculptures and furniture showed his love of the animals, envisioned the chapel as a ritual space to help people achieve closure after their dogs die. And based on the vast amount of loving notes on the chapel walls from pet owners to lost pets, it has achieved his vision. Dog Mountain, where dogs can go leash-free, remains popular with animal lovers. A USA Today reader contest recently picked the destination as the #1 dog friendly tour or activity. The Friends of Dog Mountain hopes the property can continue to flourish and become an "economic and cultural asset" to the St. Johnsbury, Vermont area. Ideas include redoing the barn and holding programs for artists in residence, offering children's art and therapy dog training, said Buckingham. A local arts organization wants to hold a concert series at Dog Mountain dogs welcome of course. Dog Mountain has had its financial struggles and its recent history is a tragic one. Huneck, after a battle with depression, killed himself in 2010. Gwen kept Dog Mountain going but after three years, she took her own life. The gallery's creative director said she finds joy in the fact that the destination keeps operating in their honor. "It's such a joyous place. It's too bad there's that little bit of a shadow of sadness," said Amanda McDermott. But McDermott is hoping the Friends of Dog Mountain effort will help to alleviate some of that. Catrina Nuite, of Brattleboro, was visiting her son when she stopped by with her dog and her son's dog. She said she visits from time and time and likes "the people, the dogs and the land." Carolsue Cummings, of Surf City, New Jersey, placed a note in the chapel this week after losing her 16-year-dog. She and her husband and her daughter and son-in-law who live in Vermont also visited the gallery. "This is just so nice and so interesting," she said. Roaming around the gallery is Sally, a black lab that belonged to Gwen Huneck. She's been adopted by McDermott, who says the comfort people receive by touching and loving a dog is great. Sally provides that comfort to visitors. "It's a prescription that I think everybody needs in this type of world," McDermott said. In this Nov. 16, 2016 photo the Dog Chapel at Dog Mountain is seen in St. Johnsbury, Vt. Dog Mountain is a 150-acre haven for canines that includes trails, several ponds, the chapel and a gallery of artwork by the site's late founder, artist and children's book author Stephen Huneck. Inside, the chapel walls are covered with notes from pet owners about their dogs who have died. A Vermont group is working to preserve Dog Mountain which draws visitors from around the country and world. (AP Photo/Lisa Rathke) In this Nov. 16, 2016 photo Scott Buckingham, acting executive director of Friends of Dog Mountain, a group that is working to preserve the facility, stands in a building on the 150-acre haven for canines in St. Johnsbury, Vt. Dog Mountain offers trails, several ponds, a chapel and a gallery of artwork by the site's late founder, artist and children's book author Stephen Huneck. Friends of Dog Mountain has received a federal grant and plans to transfer the property into nonprofit ownership. (AP Photo/Lisa Rathke) In this Nov. 16, 2016 photo Amanda McDermott, creative director at the Stephen Huneck Gallery at Dog Mountain, a 150-acre haven for canines that includes trails, several ponds, and a dog chapel stands in the gallery at St. Johnsbury, Vt. A Vermont group is working to preserve the site following the deaths of its founder, Huneck and his wife. A Vermont group is working to preserve the site that draws visitors from around the country and world. (AP Photo/Lisa Rathke) The Latest: Obama reporters separated from motorcade LIMA, Peru (AP) The Latest on President Barack Obama's final official foreign trip (all times local): 11:30 p.m. Reporters covering President Barack Obama's visit to Peru have had an unexpected change of plans. They were separated from the rest of his motorcade after he attended a dinner for world leaders attending an Asia-Pacific summit. U.S. President Barack Obama, right, and China's President Xi Jingping, left, sit with members of their delegations for a meeting during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Lima, Peru, on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) Three vans carrying a TV crew, still photographers and wire service and other reporters were became separated Saturday as Obama departed the gala dinner at Parque de la Reserva. The vans managed to catch up to the motorcade as Obama arrived at his hotel. Confusion apparently set in at the dinner venue as multiple motorcades were trying to leave at the same time. Obama is in Peru to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum. It's the third and final stop on his last overseas trip as president. Obama has a full schedule of meetings plus a news conference on Sunday before he heads back to Washington. ___ 5:30 p.m. Chinese President Xi Jinping (shee jihn-peeng) says he hopes there is a smooth transition to the next U.S. president and that he hopes the relationship between the United States and China will continue to grow. Xi is meeting with President Barack Obama during an Asia-Pacific economic summit. The two leaders spoke to reporters briefly before their meeting. Xi says the two are meeting at a "hinge moment" in the U.S.-China relationship. He says he hopes the two nations will focus on cooperation and managing their differences. Obama says the two nations have played a pivotal role in addressing climate change. He also says the two leaders are united in their opposition to North Korea's provocations, and they will intensify efforts to de-nuclearize the Korean Peninsula. Obama says he also expects a candid conversation on areas where the two leaders differ. ___ 4:45 p.m. President Barack Obama is praising Peru for its success in dramatically reducing poverty in recent years. So says the White House in a statement. The White House says Obama acknowledged the progress in a meeting with President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski of Peru. Peru is the host of an Asia-Pacific summit that Obama is attending. The White House says Obama and Kuczynski also affirmed commitments made by the two nations under a 2009 trade pact. In particular, they discussed steps Peru is taking to combat illegal logging. Peru is home to the second largest chunk of the Amazon rainforest after Brazil and a major focus of the fight against illegal logging. Under the terms of the U.S.-Peru free trade agreement, regulators have more tools to bring accountability to a timber industry whose exports are overwhelmingly illegal. ___ 4:20 p.m. The White House says President Barack Obama is urging world leaders to continue their work to advance a 12-nation trade agreement called the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Obama has failed in his efforts to get Congress to approve the agreement before he leaves office. President-elect Donald Trump made opposition to the pact a centerpiece of his campaign. As part of his final foreign trip, the president met with leaders of the 11 other nations participating in the TPP effort. The White House says Obama urged his counterparts to ensure that trade agreements work to reduce inequality. Obama is holding out hope that Trump will warm to trade deals once he's in office. Obama says TPP will level the playing field for American workers and advance America's interests in an economically dynamic and growing region. ___ 3 p.m. President Barack Obama is citing Chile, Peru and Columbia as examples of nations that are growing faster and doing better economically because of a new level of freedom and openness. Obama is speaking to about 1,000 young adults at a town hall-style gathering in Peru during the final foreign trip of his presidency. Obama was asked by one man from Venezuela about how to create a world that doesn't have to choose between peace and democracy. Obama says the evidence of recent decades suggests that countries that silence their critics go backward economically because they hide mistakes rather than solve them. He says countries with repressive governments "rot from within." Meanwhile, he says, freedom allows people to start businesses and organizations designed to improve society. ___ 2:50 p.m. President Barack Obama is trying to ease concerns in Latin America that his successor will stomp on trade deals. As he's done at many turns in his final trip abroad as president, Obama is asking foreigners to give Donald Trump a chance and not to assume he will upend U.S. policy. He told people at a town hall-style meeting in Peru on Saturday that there are likely to be new tensions over trade, given Trump's stance against the Trans-Pacific Partnership and other deals liberalizing commerce across borders. But he predicts that once Trump looks closely at trade in office, he'll see the benefits more than he does now. Obama says there could well be some modifications to trade deals. But he says he does not anticipate major change on U.S. policy on Latin America. ___ 1 p.m. President Barack Obama is emphasizing opportunities to create jobs as he meets with leaders of countries involved in a sweeping trade deal that is now in jeopardy. Obama is meeting in Peru with leaders from 11 countries that joined the U.S. to negotiate the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The agreement appears unlikely to be ratified due to opposition by President-elect Donald Trump. Obama says the meeting is a good chance to talk about expanding prosperity. He didn't elaborate or discuss prospects for ratifying the deal as reporters were allowed in briefly for part of the meeting. Obama supports trade deals as a way to boost U.S. exports and create American jobs. But Trump criticized the Pacific agreement during the presidential campaign, saying such agreements hurt American workers. Democratic rival Hilary Clinton said she was against it, too. ___ 11:30 a.m. The White House is demanding an immediate halt to Syrian strikes on eastern Aleppo after the opposition's Aleppo Health Directorate said the bombings have put all hospitals there out of service. White House national security adviser Susan Rice says the U.S. is tracking those reports about health conditions. She says the U.S. condemns "horrific attacks" against hospitals and aid workers "in the strongest possible terms. Rice says there's "no excuse" for the attacks. The White House is putting the onus on Russia to lower the violence and help humanitarian aid get to besieged Syrians. The White House says President Barack Obama joins other leaders in Europe and those gathering for an Asia economic summit in Peru over the weekend in demanding a halt to bombings. ___ 11:15 a.m. President Barack Obama is meeting with Peru's president, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. The two leaders are sitting down on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific economic summit in Lima. They exchanged pleasantries but made no substantive remarks as reporters were allowed in briefly to witness the start of their meeting. Their meeting comes as leaders in Latin America are anxious about the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump. He's vowed to take a hard line on immigration and his early selections for top advisers and Cabinet officials have reflected that expected approach. Obama plans to take questions from young leaders later Saturday in Lima. ___ 11 a.m. President Barack Obama will close a three-nation, post-U.S. election tour the same way he opened it. He wants to reassure world leaders that U.S. democracy isn't broken and everything will be fine when Donald Trump succeeds him next year. Obama is in Lima, Peru, at an annual Asia-Pacific summit. Global concerns about Trump's pending ascension to the world's most powerful office after a surprise win will be a key topic of discussion. The Trump issue overshadowed the president's interactions with world leaders earlier this week in Athens, Greece, and Berlin. Two women react after greeting U.S. President Barack Obama, right, who earlier spoke at a town hall with Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) in Lima, Peru, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Obama, who is in Peru to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), will close a three-nation, post-U.S. election tour the same way he opened it: by reassuring leaders from around the world that U.S. democracy isn't broken and that everything will be fine when Republican Donald Trump succeed him next year. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) US President Barack Obama remarks about the crowds' reaction to him taking off his suit jacket at a town hall with Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) in Lima, Peru, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) US President Barack Obama, right, and Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto, left, attend a meeting with leaders of participating countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in Lima, Peru, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Obama will close a three-nation, post-U.S. election tour the same way he opened it: by reassuring leaders from around the world that U.S. democracy isn't broken and that everything will be fine when Republican Donald Trump succeeds him next year. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) US President Barack Obama meets with Peru's President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Lima, Peru, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Obama will close a three-nation, post-U.S. election tour the same way he opened it: by reassuring leaders from around the world that U.S. democracy isn't broken and that everything will be fine when Republican Donald Trump succeeds him next year. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) This photo provided by the Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows Civil Defense workers and Syrian citizens inspect damage buildings after airstrikes hit the Seif al-Dawleh neighborhood in Aleppo, Syria, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Government bombardment of besieged rebel-held neighborhoods in the northern city of Aleppo killed at least 20 people Saturday Syrian opposition activists said, a day after the health directorate said all hospital in opposition areas have been knocked out of service. (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP) Two women react after greeting U.S. President Barack Obama, right, who earlier spoke at a town hall with Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) in Lima, Peru, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Obama, who is in Peru to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), will close a three-nation, post-U.S. election tour the same way he opened it: by reassuring leaders from around the world that U.S. democracy isn't broken and that everything will be fine when Republican Donald Trump succeed him next year. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) President Barack Obama walks down the stairs from Air Force One during his arrival at Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima, Peru, Friday, Nov. 18, 2016. Obama traveled to South America to attend the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) President Barack Obama boards Air Force One during a refueling stop at Lajes Field, Azores on the island of Terceira, Friday, Nov. 18, 2016. Obama left Europe and is heading to South America to attend the annual Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, taking place in Lima, Peru. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) President Barack Obama walk across the tarmac after stepping off Air Force One during a refueling stop at Lajes Field, Azores on the island of Terceira, Friday, Nov. 18, 2016. Obama left Europe and is heading to South America to attend the annual Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, taking place in Lima, Peru. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) US President Barack Obama smiles as he walks on stage at a town hall with Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) in Lima, Peru, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) US President Barack Obama speaks at a town hall with Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) in Lima, Peru, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) US President Barack Obama answers questions at a town hall with Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) in Lima, Peru, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) US President Barack Obama speaks at a town hall with Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative, YLAI, in Lima, Peru, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Obama, speaking on the margins of an Asia-Pacific summit, said tensions over trade are likely under the new Trump administration and trade pacts may be modified. But he predicted that once the administration sees how the deals are working, "they'll determine that it's actually good both for the United States and our trading partners." (AP Photo/Esteban Felix) U.S. President Barack Obama smiles during a speech at a town hall with Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) in Lima, Peru, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix) Beetle reintroduction paying off in southwest Missouri ST. LOUIS (AP) A colorful beetle that was once common in southwest Missouri is showing signs of a comeback, thanks to a joint effort by the St. Louis Zoo and conservation organizations. The zoo said 850 American burying beetles, which disappeared in the state in the 1970s, have been found in traps it placed eight times as many as were found in 2015. The zoo, Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Missouri Department of Conservation have collaborated since 2012 to breed the beetles at the zoo and periodically reintroduced at Wah'Kon-Tah Prairie, which is about 80 miles northwest of Springfield. This 2010 photo provided by the St. Louis Zoo shows an American burying beetle. A colorful beetle that was once common in southwest Missouri is showing signs of a comeback, thanks to a joint effort by the St. Louis Zoo and conservation organizations. (Ray Meibaum/St. Louis Zoo via AP) Bob Merz, who directs the zoo's Wildcare Institute Center for Conservation of the American Burying Beetle, said he was "thrilled" by the latest census. "We believe with adequate research on what has caused this animal to disappear the species may again thrive in Missouri, and the surveys for the beetles have offered very positive signs for their future survival," Merz said in a statement. The beetle was once found in 35 U.S. states and southern Canada. By 1989, only one population was known, in Rhode Island, and it became the first insect designated as a federally endangered species. Since then, additional populations have been found in Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Nebraska and Arkansas. Experts don't know what precipitated the beetle's decline, but scientists speculate it may have been due to pesticides, habitat loss and destruction, or competition by other scavengers of dead animals. The only Missouri population is the one reintroduced at Wah'Kon-Tah. Researchers this year found 377 beetles in Missouri that had been notched on their hard wing covers, which distinguishes captive-bred from wild beetles. The zoo said 473 un-notched beetles were found offspring of reintroduced beetles. "We have moved from finding only a handful of beetles in the early years to finding 110 last year and now 850 in 2016," Merz said. The beetle is up to an inch-and-a-half long, with a shiny black body and orange-red markings. Experts say it is useful for helping to remove dead and decaying animals naturally. Hundreds of people protest against Trump in French capital PARIS (AP) A few hundred people have protested in Paris against U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, expressing their concern about whether he will respect human rights, women and minorities. Protesters, including many Americans living in France, took to the streets Saturday in the Eiffel Tower neighborhood behind a large banner "Paris against Trump." Youssef Al-Moughrabi, born in California and studying in Paris, told The Associated Press that "we are not contesting election results. But in every democracy I believe there is a government and there is an opposition, in a healthy democracy, and we are the opposition." People hold banners and shout slogans against US President-elect Donald Trump, in Paris, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. A few hundreds of critics of Trump have marched through Paris to express concern about his respect for human rights, women and minorities. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Many placards could be seen in the crowd with messages against racism, misogyny, Islamophobia, "homophobia" and "white nationalism." A woman holds a banner during a demonstration against US president-elect Donald Trump, in Paris, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. A few hundreds of critics of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump have marched through Paris to express concern about his respect for human rights, women and minorities. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) A woman holds a banner during a demonstration against US president-elect Donald Trump, in Paris, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. A few hundreds of critics of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump have marched through Paris to express concern about his respect for human rights, women and minorities. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) People hold banners and shout slogans against US President-elect Donald Trump, in Paris, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. A few hundreds of critics of Trump have marched through Paris to express concern about his respect for human rights, women and minorities. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) People hold banners and shout slogans against US President-elect Donald Trump, in Paris, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. A few hundreds of critics of Trump have marched through Paris to express concern about his respect for human rights, women and minorities. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) A woman holds a banner during a demonstration against US president-elect Donald Trump, in Paris, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. A few hundreds of critics of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump have marched through Paris to express concern about his respect for human rights, women and minorities. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) People hold banners and shout slogans against US President-elect Donald Trump, in Paris, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. A few hundreds of critics of Trump have marched through Paris to express concern about his respect for human rights, women and minorities. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) 4 killed in crash of air-ambulance flight in northern Nevada ELKO, Nev. (AP) An air-ambulance plane taking a heart-disease patient to a Utah hospital crashed in a parking lot in northern Nevada, killing all four people aboard and sending up explosions and flames. Three crew members and a patient were killed in the Friday night crash in Elko, American Medflight said Saturday in a statement. The victims were pilot Yuji Irie; medical staff members Jake Sheppard of Utah and Tiffany Urresti, 29, of Elko; and patient Edward Clohesey of Spring Creek, Nevada, Elko Police Chief Brian Reed said. Reed did not have ages or hometown information for Irie and Sheppard. He did not have an age for Clohesey. Flames rise from the wreckage of an American Medflight plane, Friday, Nov. 18, 2016, after it crashed in Elko, Nev., on Friday, Nov. 18, 2016. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation safety board will investigate the fiery crash in northern Nevada in which all four people aboard the air-ambulance flight were reported killed. (Toni R. Milano/The Daily Free Press via AP) Urresti was a volunteer firefighter in Elko, the chief said. Her death "hit pretty close to home," he said. Clohesey was being taken by American Medflight from Elko to the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Reed said. Elko police Lt. Rich Genseal said the twin-engine plane apparently "experienced mechanical problems" as it was climbing after taking off on the 230-mile flight to Salt Lake City, then lost altitude and crashed, the Elko Daily Free Press (https://goo.gl/IPmcIu ) reported. The twin-engine plane crashed in a mining company's parking lot near a casino and other businesses near Elko Regional Airport and Interstate 80. American Medflight, which is based in Reno, Nevada, did not immediately respond to email and telephone requests for comment. But President John Burruel said in a statement that the company was cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration as they investigated the crash. "As an air medical family, we are mourning the loss of our crewmembers and patient. Their families have been notified, and they are in our thoughts and prayers," Burruel said. Tiffany Urresti's parents, Debbi and Jim Urresti of Elko, said she was a former hospital ER nurse who dreamed for years of working as a flight nurse. Urresti achieved her dream, starting work for American Medflight two months ago, and she was engaged to be married in May, Debbi Urresti said. "She found the love of her life." Local authorities did not immediately respond to email and phone requests for comment, but Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer said nobody on the ground was hurt. "There was not a lot left of the aircraft," Elko Fire Chief Matt Griego said after the flames were extinguished. A photograph published by the Elko Daily Free Press (https://goo.gl/15cSe3 ) showed mostly burned wreckage on pavement in front of a line of vehicles, including at least one charred pickup. The plane's tail was one of the few recognizable parts. Hillary Walker, a manager at a grocery store about 200 yards from the crash, told the Las Vegas Review Journal (https://goo.gl/u4DxT7 ) that the crash caused parked vehicles to catch fire and then dozens of rounds of ammunition to go off. Walker noted that said a number of vehicles in the parking lot for mine workers likely had ammunition in them. "It's hunting season out here," she said. Dr. Rodney Badger of Northeastern Nevada Cardiology told the Daily Free Press that the plane had just taken off from the nearby airport to transport a patient to the University of Utah Medical Center. Badger said his patient suffered from coronary artery disease and was experiencing chest pains and rapid heartbeat around 5:30 p.m., after which the decision was made to transport him to Utah. McCain to Trump: Waterboarding won't be reinstated HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (AP) A leading Republican voice on national security matters said Saturday he doesn't care what President-elect Donald Trump says, the United States will not reinstate waterboarding. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said at the Halifax International Security Forum that any attempt to bring back harsh interrogation techniques such as waterboarding, which simulates drowning, would quickly be challenged in court. "I don't give a damn what the president of the United States wants to do or anybody else wants to do. We will not waterboard. We will not do it," McCain said to applause during a panel discussion. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., laughs while speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum in Halifax on Saturday, Nov.19, 2016. (Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press via AP) McCain, who was tortured as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War, said extreme interrogation techniques are banned under U.S. law and the Geneva Conventions. During the campaign, Trump said he would push to change laws that prohibit waterboarding, which was used against suspected terrorists during the George W. Bush administration. McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, said waterboarding doesn't work and makes it hard for the U.S. to claim moral superiority. "What does it say about America if we're going to inflict torture on people," he said. McCain also expressed support for the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico and said the United States should not back out of the not-yet-implemented Trans-Pacific Partnership. As a candidate, Trump said NAFTA should be renegotiated and opposed the TPP, arguing that such trade agreements cause significant job losses in the U.S. "I think we are going to pay a terrible price for abandoning the TPP," McCain said. "You are going to see Chinese assertion of economic influence in the region, and possible dominance. All of these countries are now going to join with China in trade agreements and we're going to be out in the cold. Historians will judge us very harshly." In its eighth year, the Halifax International Security Forum has attracted top defense and security officials from Western democracies. Trump has dominated the discussions. Rose Gottemoeller, NATO's Deputy Secretary General, said in a panel discussion that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had spoken with Trump on Friday. "The two men agreed about the enduring importance of the NATO alliance and the enduring importance of increased defense spending," Gottemoeller said. Trump suggested during the campaign that he might review NATO members' financial contributions before deciding whether to honor commitments under the alliance's mutual defense clause. He also raised concerns among U.S. allies with his effusive comments about Russian President Vladimir Putin. Bank regulator imposes tighter restrictions on Wells Fargo WASHINGTON (AP) A federal banking regulator has imposed tighter restrictions on Wells Fargo & Co., requiring the banking giant to get advance approval from regulators before making a wide range of business decisions. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which oversees national banks, announced the action in a statement late Friday. The OCC will require the bank to get prior approval before making changes in its board of directors and senior executive officers and also before making "golden parachute" payments to departing executives. In a brief statement, the OCC did not offer any explanation of why it was altering the terms of the agreement it had negotiated with the bank in September. In that document, Wells Fargo agreed to pay $185 million fine to settle charges involving unauthorized customer accounts. In a statement concerning the new restrictions, Wells Fargo said it would comply with all requirements imposed by its regulators. "This will not inhibit our ability to execute our strategy, rebuild trust and serve our customers, and continue to operate the company for the benefit of all our stakeholders," the bank said. On Thursday, Wells Fargo disclosed signs that customers are pulling back from doing business with the bank following the disclosures of the sales practices scandal in which bank employees opened up to 2 million bank and credit card accounts without customer authorization. After the practices came to light, the San Francisco company has been reporting monthly customer traffic figures at its branches, something a bank typically would never share. The goal was to provide the public, and more importantly investors, a look into how Wells was being affected by the scandal. In its latest report, new customer account openings fell 44 percent in October from a year earlier, while account closures rose 3 percent from the previous year. The bank saw a 50 percent drop in credit card applications. Wells' own customer service metrics also plunged, with "customer loyalty" scores dropping to 52.3 percent, down more than 10 percent from a year earlier and from August, the month right before the settlement was announced. Farage rules out peerage 'at this moment in time' Nigel Farage has ruled out accepting a peerage and sitting in the House of Lords - at least until he gets "old". It comes after Theresa May on Wednesday refused to say whether talks had taken place over a peerage for the 52-year-old interim Ukip leader. But Mr Farage, who has failed in several attempts to get elected to the Commons, has now ruled out accepting a seat in the Lords. Nigel Farage says he would not accept a peerage until he gets 'old' He told BBC Radio 4's Any Questions: "A, it's not going to happen and B, it's not what I want in my life at this moment in time. "When I'm old, you know, I might think about it." Mr Farage became the first British politician to meet US President-elect Donald Trump and believes his "connections" could be useful to the Government if it wants to secure a trade deal with the US. Theresa May will use the Queen, pictured, as her 'secret weapon' to win over Donald Trump by asking Her Majesty to invite the President-elect to Windsor Castle Theresa May will use the Queen as her 'secret weapon' to win over Donald Trump by asking Her Majesty to invite the President-elect to Windsor Castle, it emerged today. Whitehall and Buckingham Palace are working on plans to invite the new US president - a keen fan of the Royal Family - to the UK next summer and a formal invitation will be sent out after his inauguration in January. It will give Mrs May an opportunity to steal a lead on her European rivals and to discuss plans for a post-Brexit free trade deal with the US. It will also allow the Prime Minister to forego Nigel Farage's offer to be a link man with the President-elect after a rising number of Tories said she should take advantage of the Ukip figurehead's contacts with team Trump. Downing Street were left scrambling to repair and build relations with Mr Trump's team after his shock election victory. Mrs May and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson were among several senior members of the Government to publicly criticise Mr Trump when he called for Muslims to be banned from the US during the race to be the Republican nominee last year. But his unexpected victory earlier this month sent the Foreign Office into overdrive to drum up connections with the billionaire President-elect and Mr Johnson is set to travel to meet his inner team before the end of the year. Mr Trump told Mrs May during their phone call last week that he was a 'big fan' of the Queen and he told Nigel Farage and his group of friends last week that he is 'looking forward' to meeting the Queen. Whitehall and Buckingham Palace are working on plans to invite Donald Trump, pictured yesterday in New Jersey, to the UK next summer and a formal invitation will be sent out after his inauguration in January Offering Mr Trump a stay at Windsor Castle, pictured, would allow Mrs May to swat away claims that Mr Farage has closer links to the controversial tycoon, which have been dismissed by Downing Street Now Mrs May wants to use his love of the Royal Family to her advantage and is planning to invite him for a state visit, ministers and Whitehall officials told the Sunday Times today. An insider on the plans told the newspaper: 'The government has decided that their secret weapon to get in with Trump is to offer him an early visit to the Queen, him and [his wife] Melania staying at Windsor Castle.' Another said the Queen is 'key' to Mrs May's relationship with Mr Trump and described Her Majesty as 'the biggest public weapon you have'. Offering Mr Trump a stay at Windsor Castle would allow Mrs May to swat away claims that Mr Farage has closer links to the controversial tycoon, which have been dismissed by Downing Street. A state visit to the UK for Mr Trump will offer Mrs May, pictured in Berlin on Friday, an opportunity to steal a lead on her European rivals and to discuss plans for a post-Brexit free trade deal with the US Mr Farage, Ukip donor Arron Banks and his former aide Raheem Kassam were among a group that visited Mr Trump in New York last week. The interim Ukip leader became the first UK politician to meet the President-elect since his election victory. Mr Trump told the group he 'can't wait to come over to England' and said his mother would be 'chuffed to bits when I meet the Queen'. Inviting Mr Trump on a state visit to the UK next year would also provide a potential opportunity to warm up the apparently anti-global trade president-elect over the idea of a post-Brexit trade deal. A Downing Street spokeswoman said: 'No visit has been organised but the Prime Minister is looking forward to welcoming the president-elect to the UK when he chooses to visit.' The PM has been invited to visit Mr Trump at the earliest possible opportunity and she is expected to travel to the US after he is inaugurated on January 20. But a state visit by Mr Trump to the UK would allow her to roll out the red carpet and offer a meeting with the Queen. A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: 'State visits and other meetings with overseas heads of state are organised on the advice of the Government.' It came as Mrs May faced fresh calls to deliver what will be seen as a 'hard Brexit' from a group of 60 Conservative MPs including prominent former cabinet ministers. Cameron-era ministers Michael Gove, Iain Duncan Smith, John Whittingdale and Theresa Villiers urged the PM to pull Britain out of the European single market and the customs union. They claimed getting out of the single market free trade zone was crucial for the UK to become free of Brussels regulations. Pulling out of the customs union, which sets common tariffs for goods from countries outside it, would be the only way to strike trade deals with other nations, they said. Eleven Labour, DUP and Ukip MPs also reportedly backed the call. Nigel Farage became the first UK politician to meet the President-elect since his election victory. They posed for a pictured outside Mr Trump's famous golden door in Trump Tower in New York A Government spokeswoman insisted there were 'no binary choices' in the UK's future trading relationship with the EU and that the Government would pursue a bespoke deal rather than an 'off the shelf' solution . She added: 'That's why the Government is painstakingly analysing the challenges and opportunities for all the different sectors of our economy. 'The Prime Minister has been clear that she wants UK companies to have the maximum freedom to trade with and operate in the single market - and to let European businesses do the same here.' Shadow chancellor John McDonnell accused the Tories of pursuing a 'Trump-lite' hard Brexit 'with a minuscule increase in infrastructure investment, a pernicious immigration policy, the destruction of workplace rights and environmental protections, alongside a race to the bottom in taxes for the rich and in wages for the rest of us'. He also defended his speech earlier this week in which he committed Labour to not blocking or delaying Brexit, saying the party has long advocated changes to single market regulations such as state aid rules and 'enforced deregulation and privatisation'. Writing in The Observer, Mr McDonnell said: 'As a democrat, I respect the referendum result. Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish take the lead in Ghent Six Day Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish moved into the lead with a dominant display on day four of the Ghent Six Day event in Belgium. In what Wiggins has hinted will be his last competitive race, the British pair pulled a lap clear of their nearest challengers to sit top with two days remaining. Five-time Olympic champion Wiggins is racing in the city of his birth, and although last month he suggested that he will prolong his career for another season after finishing second at the London Six Day, on Monday he told reporters to ask him on Sunday whether this would be his last race. Mark Cavendish, left, and Sir Bradley Wiggins teamed up for three race wins on Friday If it is, the chances of him signing off in style improved as he and Cavendish won the team elimination race after starting the day in third. The pair then won the day's first madison, with Wiggins claiming victory in the derny final. Olivier Giroud stuns Manchester United as Arsenal pinch a point at Old Trafford Olivier Giroud's powerful late header secured Arsenal a fortuitous draw as they rode their l uck to snatch a point at Manchester United. United have spent much of the international break in the headlines, whether for manager Jose Mourinho's treatment of Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw or captain Wayne Rooney's late-night antics when away with England. Such issues looked to be behind them as Juan Mata gave United a deserved lead, only for substitute Giroud to head home in the 89th minute and grab Arsenal a 1-1 draw. It was their first and only attempt on target. Olivier Giroud, second from right, silenced Old Trafford Mourinho will be furious after United slipped to a third successive home league draw for the first time since 1992, with the extension of his stranglehold over Arsene Wenger counting for little. Wenger has still never beaten a Mourinho side in the league. It was a remarkable end to a match in which Arsenal were so poor, with the United boss sure to be frustrated by his side's struggles in front of goal and the decision not to award Antonio Valencia a first-half penalty. Wenger, too, may be unhappy after Matteo Darmian avoided a second booking, although the Arsenal boss was sure to leave Old Trafford far the happier. Mourinho and Wenger, who have endured such a tempestuous relationship over the years, shook hands at the start and end of a topsy-turvy match. Late challenges and intelligent defending restricted both teams from open play early on, with set-pieces looking their best bet. Mata curled a left-footed free-kick wide for United and Alexis Sanchez somehow managed to direct a close-range header away from goal and team-mate Aaron Ramsey's reach. It was a glaring miss from a player whose movement and endeavour was proving a nuisance, although the Chilean - who had been a doubt after a hamstring complaint - was left on thin ice after a clumsy challenge on Ander Herrera resulted in a yellow card. Darmian joined him in referee Andre Marriner's notebook as play became edgy and increasingly disjointed, with the United full-back perhaps fortunate not to pick up a second yellow card after catching Carl Jenkinson in the 33rd minute. The officials were coming under increasing scrutiny as the first half wore to a close, with Mourinho apoplectic after his team's penalty claims were ignored. Valencia flicked the ball through Nacho Monreal's legs and went down under pressure from the Arsenal defender, but Marriner waved away his appeal to the chagrin of the Old Trafford faithful. Petr Cech's reactions prevented frustration quickly turning to elation when Mata made space and got away a low shot destined for the bottom corner. The Arsenal goalkeeper turned that behind and again had to be alert four minutes before the break, tipping away an Anthony Martial attempt before comfortably denying the Frenchman from the resulting corner. Referee Marriner was jeered as the teams made their way off at the break, with Mourinho's re-emergence for the second half suggesting he learned from United's last home league game when anger at the officials earned a sending-off and one-match touchline ban. The Portuguese's side restarted brightly as Martial and Michael Carrick had scuffed efforts, and a blocked Marcus Rashford shot drew claims from the Stretford End that a penalty should have been given for handball against Shkodran Mustafi. As the chances began to dry up, and Phil Jones denied Laurent Koscielny getting a close-range header away, Mourinho plumped for substitute Rooney, with Martial going off and Rashford pushed wide. It added an extra edge and coolness as United looked to make the breakthrough, with that hard work paying off in the 68th minute. Pogba played in the overlapping Herrera, whose intelligent cutback was met by a first-time strike by Mata to send the crowd wild. The Spaniard was booked for celebrating with the crowd, before Marcos Rojo's powerful header went close to doubling United's lead. Toothless Arsenal looked set for defeat, only to catch United cold in the dying stages. Liverpool held at Southampton but remain top Liverpool were forced to settle for a goalless draw at Southampton on Saturday as they dominated the hosts without being able to find a breakthrough. Jurgen Klopp's side remain top of the Premier League, ahead of Manchester City by virtue of scoring more goals, but could be replaced at the summit by Chelsea if the Blues can win at Middlesbrough on Sunday. The visitors dominated large periods of the contest at St Mary's, as former Saints trio Dejan Lovren, Nathaniel Clyne and Sadio Mane all started for Liverpool. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp saw his side held Roberto Firmino was guilty of missing the best chance to wrap up the points for Liverpool to secure their spot at the top, while Charlie Austin headed wide for Southampton, who offered very little going forward. Another former Southampton man, Adam Lallana, was missing after picking up an injury in England's draw with Spain on Tuesday night but it was Mane - who scored twice as Ronald Koeman's Saints came from two goals behind to win this fixture 3-2 last season - who had the best chance in the opening half an hour. The Senegal international hit Georginio Wijnaldum's pass first time only to see Fraser Forster leap to his left and paw his shot away. Coutinho, fresh from a stunning goal for Brazil, attempted one of his trademark strikes but could only scuff it wide before Virgil van Dijk did well to prevent Mane breaking through on goal. The visitors were now on top, with Southampton only offering glimmers on the counter-attack, and Wijnaldum flashed a shot over from 25 yards on the stroke of half-time. Mark Clattenburg had irked the home fans with a number of decisions in the first half but they were lucky the official did not award Liverpool a penalty right after the interval. Can, making his 100th appearance for the Reds, lofted a ball over to Roberto Firmino, who had his shirt pulled by Van Dijk and went down, only for Clattenburg to turn away. Saints skipper Jose Fonte did just enough to put off Coutinho moments later as the forward burst through but shanked a shot well wide as the Portugal international slid in. Charlie Austin had arguably Southampton's best chance as he headed Cedric's cross wide under pressure from Clyne shortly after Joel Matip had been inches away from connecting with a free-kick to put Liverpool ahead. Can dragged a shot wide from the edge of the box as Klopp became ever-more animated as he barked instructions from the touchline. And the German's mood was not helped when Firmino was played in by Coutinho but could only shoot wide when clean-through as he attempted to finish with the outside of his boot. Daniel Sturridge was introduced and almost provided an immediate impact as he dug out a cross to the back-post which Clyne headed wide. Priti Patel condemns bombing of 'last functioning hospital in Aleppo' The International Development Secretary has condemned the "sickening" bombing in Syria which has reportedly left rebel-held areas of Aleppo without a functioning hospital. Priti Patel condemned Russian and Syrian "inhumanity" as forces loyal to president Bashar al-Assad bombarded besieged areas of the northern city for a fifth-day running. It came after a day of air strikes which hit four hospitals, and late on Friday the opposition's Aleppo Health Directorate said all hospitals in the rebel-held east of the city were now out of service. Priti Patel condemned Russia and Syria for creating a "deliberate humanitarian crisis" The claim was disputed by the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which said not all east Aleppo hospitals were out of service but acknowledged that people were finding it difficult to reach them amid intense shelling. Ms Patel condemned Russia and Syria for creating a "deliberate humanitarian crisis". "The bombing of the last functioning hospital in Aleppo is part of a systematic campaign to remove even the most basic of services left in the city," she said. "This sickening act is part of a humanitarian catastrophe that will leave hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians already desperate for food without access to medical care. "The inhumanity shown by the Russian and Syrian regime has created a systemic and deliberate humanitarian crisis that cannot be ignored. Brutal All Blacks take revenge for Chicago upset as Ireland cry foul in Dublin Ireland bossed territory and possession but failed to repeat their Chicago heroics as they lost 21-9 to an ill-disciplined New Zealand in Dublin. Joe Schmidt's side failed to convert a host of half-chances to add to the historic 40-29 win they achieved over New Zealand in the United States a fortnight ago, letting the All Blacks off the hook at the Aviva Stadium. New Zealand had Aaron Smith and Malakai Fekitoa sin-binned while conceding 14 penalties but still managed to escape with the win. New Zealand's Malakai Fekitoa scores his side's third try against Ireland Centre Fekitoa plundered two tries to add to his yellow card, with world player of the year Beauden Barrett back on form to claim a score of his own. Ireland boasted 67 per cent possession and 70 per cent territory, but only wound up with three penalty goals to show for it. The All Blacks were stung by their first-ever defeat to Ireland at Soldier Field. While New Zealand are hardly back on form, they did sneak out of Dublin with the win. A furious Ireland side felt Barrett's match-winning try came courtesy of a forward pass, leaving captain Rory Best stalking referee Jaco Peyper for a television match official (TMO) review that never came. New Zealand unleashed full fury from the outset, retaining their kick-off and hurtling into every skirmish. Murray miscued his grubber to undermine an excellent Ireland turnover, and the All Blacks pounced. Barrett's skimmed crossfield blast dropped sweetly for Fekitoa, who stepped inside Murray and bundled home. The out-of-sorts Aaron Smith threw a wayward pass to hand Ireland a chance next though, then knocking on at a lineout to boost the hosts' hand still further. Jamie Heaslip powered over counterpart Kieran Read, and Sean O'Brien thundered for the whitewash. The Leinster man surely saw himself scoring - but somehow Barrett hauled him in to hold him off the ground. CJ Stander bullocked on from the scrum, but was again denied over the line. Ireland opted for pragmatism, with Sexton converting a penalty to trail 7-3. Ireland then lost Robbie Henshaw, wiped out unwittingly by Sam Cane as he spun in a tackle. Sexton was left incredulous that Cane was not hit with more punishment than a simple penalty. "What? A penalty? But the player's on the stretcher," Sexton told referee Jaco Peyper. Henshaw raised a thumbs-up to the crowd as he departed on a motorised cart, with Leinster's greenhorn Garry Ringrose forced into the number 12 slot for just his second cap. Barrett chipped Ireland's line, collected and fired off a no-look pass - but Andrew Trimble read it, and so nearly intercepted for what would have been a canter home. The Ulster wing's knock-on denied that attack, but New Zealand were shortly on the scoresheet again. Barrett ghosted in off a scrum under worryingly little resistance, save Sexton's last-gasp tackle that proved in vain. TMO Jon Mason responded in the affirmative when asked by Peyper "Can you see grounding on the grass?" when it appeared Sexton had rolled Barrett and stopped him dotting down. Scrum-half Aaron Smith then landed New Zealand in further hot water, conceding two quick penalties for offside and deservedly being sent to the sin-bin. Johnny Sexton pulled up with a hamstring injury and Paddy Jackson entered the fray, further disrupting Ireland's backline. Ardie Savea replaced Sam Cane as the injuries piled up. Ireland wasted a gilt-edged platform with a cheap offside rolling a maul, then Jackson punted a penalty as the hosts had to settle for a three-point gain from the yellow card. CJ Stander bulldozed Fekitoa, but his night was quickly cut short due to a suspected concussion. The Munster star failed a head injury assessment (HIA) and did not return, with Josh Van der Flier into the action. Barrett was denied a second try when rightly judged to have knocked on in dislodging the ball from Jackson's grasp. And so the tie remained finely poised with New Zealand 14-6 ahead at the break. Fekitoa was sin-binned for a crude high tackle on Simon Zebo, leaving New Zealand down a man for the second time in the match. Ireland wasted two penalty lineouts, first from a cheap knock-on and then after Van der Flier forced an offload that simply was not on. O'Brien blasted through Ireland's line, Zebo's grubber bamboozled the back-three and Rob Kearney swept in. Again New Zealand escaped without their try-line being breached though, as Kearney just could not send Donnacha Ryan home. Jackson fired over a penalty amid yet more Irish pressure, to leave New Zealand leading 14-9 on the hour. Finally Ireland were within one score - but then New Zealand turned it on. Fekitoa eased home thanks to Barrett's fine inside-ball offload to TJ Perenara. Referee Peyper immediately awarded the try, much to Ireland's fury. Replays suggested Barrett's pass moved forward, but Peyper had few qualms in opting not to call on the TMO. Ireland captain Best took the hugely unusual step of approaching Peyper while Barrett lined up his conversion, breaking standard protocol of remaining behind the try-line. Ex-JPMorgan executive who fled to Argentina pleads guilty in U.S. By Nate Raymond NEW YORK, Nov 18 (Reuters) - A former JPMorgan Chase & Co executive who spent eight years on the run in Argentina pleaded guilty on Friday to U.S. charges that he embezzled $5.4 million from clients at the bank and at a prior employer, UBS AG. Hernan Arbizu, who became involved in a tax-evasion probe involving JPMorgan, pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court to charges including wire fraud and embezzlement. He was extradited in June from Argentina. "I knew what I was doing was wrong," he said in court. "I'm very sorry and am ashamed by my actions." The 48-year-old citizen of Argentina faces a mandatory-minimum two-year prison sentence and a maximum of 422 years. But under a plea agreement, Arbizu agreed to cooperate with prosecutors, which his lawyer, Guy Lewis, said could help him avoid further prison. What that cooperation entails, Lewis said, "remains to be seen." JPMorgan declined to comment on Friday. Arbizu was first indicted in 2008, the same year he was fired by JPMorgan, where he was a vice president in its private banking division. He worked at UBS from 2002 to 2006. While at JPMorgan, Arbizu oversaw more than $200 million of client assets and was responsible for managing relationships with high-net-worth Argentine customers, according to the bank. Prosecutors said that from March 2007 to April 2008, Arbizu initiated 12 wire transfers from clients at UBS and JPMorgan totaling nearly $5.38 million, about half of which came from a single JPMorgan account. In lawsuits JPMorgan filed against Arbizu in 2008 and 2009, the bank said he wired the $2.8 million to an account at UBS to conceal the millions of dollars that he had previously stolen from one of its customers. JPMorgan said that after it discovered evidence of the wire transfers, Arbizu, then living in Connecticut, fled to Argentina, taking with him confidential data on clients. That data later became the basis of a tax evasion investigation and raid by Argentina authorities of JPMorgan's office in Buenos Aires in 2008 after Arbizu handed over a list of customers. No case against JPMorgan appears to have resulted. WHO declares end of Zika emergency but says virus remains a threat By Stephanie Nebehay and Julie Steenhuysen GENEVA/CHICAGO, Nov 18 (Reuters) - The World Health Organization on Friday declared that Zika no longer constitutes an international emergency, but it stressed a need for a long-term effort to address the virus, which has been linked to birth defects and neurological complications. Officials on WHO's Emergency Committee made clear the Zika still constitutes a global public health threat. They warned the virus, which has been found in 60 countries since the outbreak was identified last year in Brazil, will continue to spread where mosquitoes that carry the virus are present. Removing the international emergency designation will put Zika in a class with other diseases, such as dengue, that pose serious risks and require continued research, including efforts to develop effective vaccines. But some public health experts worried that losing the "international emergency" label could slow research into the virus, which continues to cause infections in the United States and elsewhere. WHO in February declared Zika a public health emergency of international concern - a designation under international law that compels countries to report outbreaks. The moved was part of an effort to determine if Zika was linked to reports in Brazil of the severe birth defect microcephaly and the neurological disorder Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Traditionally, Zika had only been thought to cause mild symptoms. That goal has been met, said Dr David Heymann, chair of the Zika Emergency Committee and a professor of infectious disease at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, in a conference call with reporters following the committee meeting in Geneva. Because research has now shown that Zika and microcephaly are linked, "the committee felt that what is best now is a very robust technical response to the virus, and that would require work within WHO," he said. The U.N. health agency maintained recommendations including that people exposed to the Zika virus should take preventive measures for six months to avoid sexual transmission. "It remains crucially important that pregnant women avoid traveling to areas with local transmission of Zika, because of the devastating complications that can occur in fetuses that become infected during pregnancy," the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said in a statement. Some experts, expressed concern that losing the "international emergency" designation might result in less support for research into the virus. "I think WHO's decision is unwise," said Lawrence Gostin, a global health law expert from Georgetown University. "Although Zika's spread has waned, it still holds the potential for an explosive epidemic. If it were to reemerge in the Americas or jump to another part of the world, it would significantly threaten a new generation of children born with disabilities such as microcephaly." Gostin said the international response to Zika has been "lethargic" and WHO's decision will give countries even less reason to invest in preparedness and research. At the press conference, Dr. Peter Salama, executive director of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme, insisted that WHO is "not downgrading the importance of Zika." By framing Zika as a longer program of work, Salama said, "we are sending the message that Zika is here to stay and WHO's response is here to stay in a very robust manner." Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, said public health emergency declarations help direct the world's attention to a disease, and the Zika emergency designation accomplished that goal. But much work remains to be done, including the development of a vaccine, he added. The removal of the emergency declaration "doesn't change that fact." BRAZIL HARD HIT There have been some 2,300 confirmed cases worldwide of babies born with microcephaly, most in Brazil, but the figure is most likely a "significant under-estimate", Salama said. Heymann said the Brazilian government is conducting studies to look for additional factors that could explain the high number of cases there, particularly in the northeastern part of the country, but so far those studies have turned up nothing. Salama said 28 countries and territories have now reported microcephaly and 19 countries have reported Guillain-Barre Syndrome. He said it is "very likely we will see many reports of microcephaly, including countries in Latin America such as Guatemala and Colombia." The U.S. CDC said WHO's announcement does not change the urgent need to better understand Zika's impact on fetuses and infants, to develop better diagnostics and to make vaccines that can prevent infection and spread of disease. Snap's youthful founders show no fear in race to IPO By Heather Somerville SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Snap Inc, the red-hot messaging company, is seen by many tech investors as the next Facebook or Google, but its youthful founders are pushing far more aggressively than its predecessors in moving from scrappy startup to public company. At a time when it is fashionable in Silicon Valley to stay private as long as possible, Snap is planning an initial public offering valuing it at more than $20 billion just two years after it first began to generate revenue, even though it has plenty of cash and ample opportunity to raise more on the private markets. It is expected to be the biggest U.S. tech IPO since Facebook Inc's 2012 debut. It is also defying convention by declining to bring in "adult supervision" to help 26-year-old co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Evan Spiegel and 28-year-old co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Bobby Murphy manage the company. Imran Khan, a former Credit Suisse banker who played a big role in the Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd IPO in 2014, is emerging as a key figure in his role as chief strategy officer. Some investors remain concerned, however, that the combination of an inexperienced management team and a sky-high valuation could be problematic. "It is a very clearly inexperienced team leading a company that's asking for two things: a huge valuation and a very aggressive multiple," said Max Wolff, a market strategist at 55 Capital. "Once you start asking public investors for 30x earnings, the tolerance for mistake, misadventure and learning on the job goes down." Questions about the management team have lingered after a string of senior executives left following short stints with the company. High-profile departures include Emily White, who joined as chief operating officer from Instagram at the start of 2014 and quit after just more than a year, according to her LinkedIn profile. Mike Randall, who joined Snap from Facebook, left last year after less than a year as head of business and marketing. A spokesman for Snap declined to comment. The executive ranks have since stabilized, and executives such as finance chief Drew Vollero and hardware guru Steve Horowitz have decades of experience. Still, the departure of Jia Li, one of the highest-ranking women at the company and its head of research, to join Alphabet Inc's Google this month left another high-level opening. "I think Snapchat struggles with leadership," said Dave Carvajal, an executive recruiter for tech companies. "Just because something is a great idea, it still has the very real challenge of bringing in the right people." Spiegel, an enigmatic figure who choose to locate the company in the Southern California beach town of Venice rather than Silicon Valley, has not followed the example of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who partnered early on with Sheryl Sandberg, a former Treasury Department official and Google executive. Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin initially ceded the CEO role to veteran technology executive Eric Schmidt. "I think (Spiegel) is a sole dictator type," said Lyon Wong, co-founder and partner at venture firm Spectrum 28, and former partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, a firm that made multiple early investments into Snap. Hemant Taneja, a managing director at the venture capital firm and Snap investor General Catalyst, pointed to Khan as a key figure in the run-up to the IPO. "I think that hire was critical and they work very well together," Taneja said. "He has taken a lot of things off of Evan's plate so he can focus on what he does best." Taneja said the turnover may be more indicative of Spiegel constantly upgrading the talent in his ranks. "I think that Snapchat does everything in an unconventional way," Taneja said. "Comparing it to Facebook or another company is an incorrect way to think about it." Wolff also noted that the company may yet bring in more experienced managers and board members ahead of the IPO. IPO AS MARKETING Snap, valued at about $18 billion, has raised roughly $2.5 billion from investors including mutual fund Fidelity Investments, Sequoia Capital, T. Rowe Price and Alibaba. It raised $1.81 billion as recently as May, according to regulatory filings. The windfall of cash just six months ago, however, did not slow Snap's IPO talks, which have been ongoing for at least a year, according to sources familiar with the matter. An IPO early next year may help Snap capture pent-up investor demand after a prolonged IPO drought, while also getting out in front of other hotly anticipated debuts from Uber Technologies Inc and Airbnb. "It could be easier to tell your story because everyone will be focused on you and ready for you to make your move," said Hans Tung, managing partner at GGV Capital. "There will be a lot of demand for this stock." Some investors said the marketing boost and visibility that comes with an IPO is crucial to help Snapchat get more users outside the United States - and outside its dominant user base of millennials. Snapchat says it has more than 150 million daily active users. "The goal of the company is to grow as fast as possible," venture capitalist Wong said. "And there are no more 16-year-olds for them to get onto the platform." An IPO will give the company a more mature image that will appeal to advertisers, investors said. Snap has told investors to expect $1 billion in advertising revenue in 2017, according to sources familiar with the matter. Boult strikes late after Wagner achieves milestone Nov 19 (Reuters) - Trent Boult grabbed three late wickets after Neil Wagner collected his 100th test victim to put New Zealand firmly in control of the first match against Pakistan at the close of the third day's play on Saturday. The visitors were reduced to 129 for seven in their second innings, a lead of 62 runs, with Asad Shafiq on six and Sohail Khan on 22 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Until the last 45 minutes on play, the visitors had taken the day's honours by inching into the lead and setting themselves up to build on Sunday. Boult, however, took the catch to dismiss Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq (13) then got the wickets of Azhar Ali (31), Sarfraz Ahmed (2) and Mohammad Amir (6), giving his side the chance to finish off the test on Sunday and take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. The 30-year-old Wagner had earlier become the second fastest New Zealander to the 100-wicket mark, achieving it in his 26th test. Richard Hadlee, the country's most prolific wicket taker with 431, took 25 tests to reach 100. Pakistan's seamers had dragged their side back into the game when they captured seven wickets in the first session to bowl the hosts out for 200. Sohail (3-78), Rahat Ali (4-62) and Amir (3-43) shared the wickets after the hosts had resumed on 104 for three only to be bundled out with just a 67-run lead. Pakistan were content to slowly chip away at the deficit, losing opener Sami Aslam for seven just after lunch. Azhar and Babar Azam continued to grind away until well into the final session before Wagner's short-pitched tactics paid off when Babar gloved a ball down the leg side to wicketkeeper BJ Watling to become the left armer's 100th test wicket. Wagner then captured the prolific Younus Khan (1) with a perfect bouncer that he was unable to avoid and the ball flew through to Watling to leave Pakistan in trouble at 64 for three. Azhar, who scored a triple century against West Indies in Dubai last month, guided Pakistan into the lead when he deflected Wagner past gully for a boundary before he and Misbah looked to consolidate. Misbah, however, was caught in the deep by Boult off Tim Southee for 13, before the left armer took three wickets in three successive overs. Saudi soldier killed by missile from Yemen hours before ceasefire DOHA, Nov 19 (Reuters) - A Saudi soldier was killed on Saturday by a missile fired by Yemeni rebels across the border into the kingdom's southern Asir province, the interior ministry said. The Iran-allied Houthis, who are battling the internationally recognised government of Yemen's President Abd Rabbu Mansour al-Hadi, often fire mortars into southern Saudi regions and test Saudi defences with guerrilla-style incursions. The attack came hours before the Saudi-led coalition that is supporting Hadi in the war, announced a ceasefire in a bid to end a conflict that has displaced millions of people and caused a humanitarian disaster. The 48-hour truce is due to start at noon (0900 GMT) on Saturday. The Houthis were not immediately available to comment on the attack. A news agency controlled by the group said Saudi jets early on Saturday bombed an area of farmland in Yemen's southern Shabwa province. Egypt jails journalists' union chief, two others for 2 years By Mohamed Abdellah and Amina Ismail CAIRO, Nov 19 (Reuters) - An Egyptian court sentenced the head of the journalists' union and two board members to two years in prison on Saturday for harbouring colleagues wanted by the law and spreading false news, judicial sources and their lawyer said. Amnesty International condemned the sentences as "a new stage of a crackdown on media and freedom of expression". The verdict comes amid efforts by Egyptian authorities to quell rising dissent against army general-turned-president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as the economy deteriorates. The journalists' union said late on Saturday it would appeal the verdict against its head, Yehia Qalash, and the two board members, Khaled al-Balshy and Gamal Abdel Rahim. A bail of 10,000 Egyptian pounds($623) has been set for each of them. "The three of us have been put on trial (but) the target is the whole syndicate," Qalash earlier told reporters. Dozens of journalists gathered outside the syndicate headquarters in Cairo to protest the verdict, while riot police and armoured vehicles filled the streets near the building. "Down with military rule," yelled the protesters, referring to what they see as the expanding influence of the army under Sisi. Some carried signs that read "Journalism is not a crime". Inside the building, union officials agreed to convene an open meeting for journalists on Wednesday to discuss the implications of the court ruling, described by the syndicate in a statement as "very shocking and surprising". It is the first time in the syndicate's 75-year history that a head of the union has gone on trial. CRACKDOWN Prosecutors ordered the three men to be questioned in May after what their lawyer Sayyed Abou Zeid said at the time was a police raid on the syndicate headquarters to arrest two opposition journalists who had taken refuge there. The arrests of Mahmoud El Sakka and Amr Badr sparked protests from journalists and Qalash demanded the interior minister be sacked. The interior ministry denied any police raid had occurred but confirmed the arrest of Sakka and Badr, who work for an opposition website and were wanted on criminal charges. Commenting on Saturday's verdict, Amnesty's Mohamed Ahmed, a researcher on Egypt and a human rights lawyer, told Reuters: "Qalash, al-Balshy and Abdel Rahim should have never been arrested or put on trial for doing their job," "Egypt is one of the worst countries in terms of detention of journalists and comes second after China," Ahmed added. Egyptian authorities have cracked down hard on the Islamist, secular and liberal opposition alike since Sisi, then the army chief, toppled elected Islamist president Mohamed Mursi in 2013 after mass protests against his rule. Hundreds have been killed and thousands have been arrested, including journalists. Last year Sisi told CNN in an interview in New York that Egypt has "unprecedented freedom of expression". A 29-year-old Chinese national drowned in the sea off Udupila, Weligama yesterday while he was sea bathing with a group of foreigners, Police said. They said the victim was identified as Zhang Jing from China. His body is lying at the Matara Hospital. The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka (MCSL) said today it was seriously concerned about the statement made in Parliament by Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapaksa about the Muslim community. MCSL said in a statement that they strongly objected to the misplaced statement by the minister as facts given by him were reported in the media more than one year ago when a Sri Lankan combatant died fighting with ISIS and added that there have been no new reports of any others involved after this incident. It is believed that one family had gone to Syria to provide humanitarian support to the war wounded and refugees. Some of the men are alleged to have joined or forced to join the fighting forces of ISIS. The Muslim community, including the Muslim Council, Jamiathul Ulema and other organizations cooperated with the government in identifying the families to provide the necessary support for the intelligence agencies to investigate. Those who have gone to Syria as quoted by Mr. Rajapaksa include women and children, the statement said. It said Minister Rajapakses statement comes at a very opportune time to certain extremist elements bent on tarnishing the image of the Muslim community for reasons only best known to them. The Thableeq Jamath, Sunnath Jamath, Thowheed Jamath and Jamaithe Islam and several other organizations are all Muslim religious and social service organisations. They do not promote any form of violence as implied by the Minister Rajapaksa. Certain parts of his statement are verbatim of the hate speech spewed by the extremist priest Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, MCSL President N. M. Ameen said. He said the Muslims of Sri Lanka has a long history of peaceful co-existence and have stood with the Sri Lankans at good times and at times of adversity. The entire Muslim community has condemned the un-Islamic comments of the Secretary of the Sri Lanka Thowheed Jamath, Abdul Razick. Twenty-three Muslim Religious and Civil Society organizations headed by the All Ceylon Jamiathul Ulema issued a statement condemning the speech made by SLTJs, he said. He said as alleged by the Minister, no Muslim international school invites extremists to indoctrinate its children with fundamentalism. Such has been the language of certain countries who created terrorists out of Madrasas in Pakistan to achieve their own ends. We urge Hon. Wijedasa Rajapaksa to provide the evidence and take immediate action against anyone may have violated the laws of the land irrespective of ethnicity or religion, Mr. Ameen challenged the Minister. He said the Muslim community was seriously alarmed about the re-emergence of the racist campaign that was carried out by extremist Buddhist monks since the end of the war in 2009. The statements made by the Hon Minster would only help to disturb peace and promote the interests of certain vested interests to destroy our country. We urge the Minister and the Government to investigate this and take appropriate action, he said in a statement. As the stories came to an end, the gymnosophist smiled. Such wonderful stories. Of heroes who go on adventures, kill monsters, rescue damsels, and eventually return home, or establish new cities. What about you, Alexander? You have killed monsters and rescued damsels. Do you wish to go home now, or create a new home? Olympus it shall be for me, Alexander replied. Onward I shall go . . . To the edge of the world, where no man has gone before, and there I shall earn the love of the gods. But I fear that my life will end as it did for Theseus and Oedipus and Heracles and Jason and Achilles and Agamemnon - in tragedy. So it has been before. So it will be again. What do you mean? asked Alexander. Every hero thinks his path is unique and original. Tragedy is discovering that all paths have existed before. This land you are about to enter is named after Bharat, a great king, who conquered the world and then climbed the tallest mountain in the world to hoist his flag and declare to the world his great achievement. But on reaching the peak he found there hundreds of flags, of kings before him, each one assuming he had conquered the world. I have never heard of this Bharat. Are you saying he conquered the world before me? When? Why have I never heard of him? I dont believe you. I dont think this Bharat existed, Alexander argued, his temper rising. You have never seen Olympus. Yet you believe that Olympus exists. You and I, we believe in different things. Thats not true. We are not so different. We believe in the same things. Like Olympus, dont your people also speak of a city of gods where heroes are entertained? And of a place of punishment and suffering, after death, like Tartarus? Swarga! Naraka! You are right. You have indeed heard much. But not all, said the gymnosophist calmly. In Swarga, ones hunger is indulged. In Naraka, one experiences eternal hunger. But then there is Kailasa, the abode of Shiva, where one outgrows hunger. And finally, there is Vaikuntha, where attention is paid to other peoples hunger. Different heavens for different lives. Different lives? I dont understand. Olympus: An Indian Retelling of Greek Myths; Penguin Random House India; Rs 499. You told of me of the Styx, the river that separates the land of the living from the land of the dead. You cross this river just once. There is another river, the Vaitarni, that separates the land of the living from the land of the dead. You must cross her many times, so that you live many lives, and experience different destinations. In Swarga and Naraka, ones stay is temporary. In Kailasa and Vaikuntha, you can live forever. Great feats grant us a place in Elysium. What takes you to Kailasa and Vaikuntha? asked Alexander, curious. Understanding, replied the gymnosophist. The sky turned golden, and a hundred green parrots descended on nearby trees. Alexander did not respond for some time, distressed by what he was hearing. Did achievement not matter at all? The leader of the Greeks finally spoke. Action, I feel, matters more than understanding. I still dont believe our worlds are as different as you claim they are. Surely Vishnu on his eagle is like Zeus, as is the thunderbolt-wielding Indra, and Shiva who dances wildly is like Bacchus, and Krishna who fights the bulls and lions and multi-headed snakes is Heracles. Surely Kartikeya is your Ares, and Kama your Eros. You look at the flesh, not beyond, at the literal meaning of the word, not its metaphor. Dont you want to change the world - make it a better place? asked Alexander. What is better for you may not be better for me. Why do you presume to know my needs? Every plant is different. Every animal is different. Every human being is different. Our worlds are different. You see your world as chaotic and so strive for order. I see my world in a flux, like the sea, changing endlessly, maybe not at my pace, or to my will, but always changing. You wish to control change, because you are convinced you can. I dont wish to control this changing world, because I know I cant, said the gymnosophist. Who is right? Cant we both be right? The point of life is to be remembered for our extraordinary deeds, insisted Alexander. The value of our life is the sum total of our achievements. When you live only once, the denominator of your existence is only one, and so what you say is true. When you live many lives, the denominator of existence is infinite, and achievements have no intrinsic value. Eventually, we will all be forgotten. I will be remembered forever, till the end of time, roared the mighty Greek warrior. The gymnosophist shook his head this way and that with a smile, annoying Alexander who asked, Why are you bobbing your head that way? Its the Indian headshake. It means you are probably right, or probably wrong. Who knows? Varuna has but a thousand eyes, Indra a hundred, you and I only two. Alexander, who found comfort in certainty, did not like the answer. He walked away, determined to inspire his army and take them further east. But Alexanders men had other plans. They were tired, restless and wanted to go home. Then by a different route! We shall not retrace our steps, insisted Alexander, when he finally conceded. And thus the great Greek army sailed down the River Sindhu to the sea and then along the coast back to Babylon, from where they would make the journey to Greece. As he moved down the river and along the coast, Alexander thought of the Styx and Vaitarni. One which you cross only once, and another which you keep crossing again and again. Was his life predetermined by karma, or by the Fates, or by the gods, or was it a consequence of his own hubris? Would he return again? As they pressed onwards, Alexanders beloved friend and companion, Hephastion, died of fever. Alexander wept for days. A huge bonfire was lit to cremate his body. The flames touched the skies. Will I meet him in Elysium? Will I be alone in Olympus? Will we return here again, as birds or kings, always together like Achilles and Patroclus? he wondered. Alone on his throne, surrounded by angry Greeks who refused to bow to him, and confused Persians who wanted to bow to him, the great student of Aristotle felt like the Greek heroes, despondent after an adventure. Was this it? Yet another frontier, yet another edge of the world, yet another war? Would he, like Icarus and Phaeton and Bellerophon, be cast down to earth for daring to rise up to the sky? Or would he be carried up, with his beloved like the Discouri, or alone like Heracles, Ganymede and Odysseus? Why did he not feel in control? Slowly, as the sun rose, Alexander realised that no matter how much he wanted to determine the course of his life, the world often took decisions for him. He had conquered the world, almost. And the world had conquered him, almost. Alexander shook his head this way and that, imitating the gymnosophist, and smiled. Rare is the dignitary who visits India but does not make the obligatory visit to Agra to be photographed, along with his or her spouse, against the backdrop of the magnificent Taj Mahal. The Mughal era tomb made of once pristine marble inlaid with gems (which have been stolen long ago by a variety of marauders) has transmogrified into a symbol of abiding love, one of the wonders of the world. President Barack Obama skipped his scheduled visit to Agra last year because American sharpshooters were not allowed in the premises of the monument, and the US security agencies were convinced danger lurked around every corner. The unstated fine print of their assessment was that the American President was unsafe in a Muslim-dominated area. So instead of spending a day in Agra, Obama flew to Saudi Arabia. Extremists If Muslim dislike of America, imagined or real, was the reason that kept Obama away from Agra and the Taj Mahal, it should have surely stopped Israel's President Reuven Rivlin from even considering a visit to the city. It would be silly to believe, or even suggest, that India's Muslims are comfortable with the idea of Israel. They aren't, and they are not alone. The usual suspects, a gaggle of far-Left extremists and Marxists, issued a statement condemning Rivlin's visit to India. The statement hilariously demanded that India should join the "Boycott, Divest, Sanction" movement against Israel a movement which has little to do with Palestinian aspirations and is really about anti-Semitism. But Rivlin did visit Agra and he did get himself photographed, along with his wife, in front of the Taj Mahal. The mellow winter sunlight added a certain grace and dignity to the picture. What added poignancy was his comment after visiting the Taj Mahal: "A beautiful place where you can see that 'love is as strong as death'." Israel's President Reuven Rivlin and his wife Nechama during a visit to Taj Mahal. (Photo: PTI) To quote from the Song of Solomon that appears in the Tanakh, or Hebrew Bible, while appreciating the beauty of an Islamic tomb would require both courage and innocence. Or, we could say, it needed chutzpah and Rivlin showed he was not lacking in it. That was only one of the many surprises of this visit by an Israeli dignitary. The other notable surprise was Rivlin's visit to Teen Murti to pay homage to Indian soldiers who fought for and fell at Haifa. Most Indians would not know the history of the Teen Murti monument; the Israelis do. History tells us that during World War I, Haifa was captured by the British 15th Imperial Cavalry Brigade comprising regiments of the Hyderabad, Mysore and Jodhpur Lancers, represented by the three bronze statues at Teen Murti. Much as Lutyens's Delhi would want it, Teen Murti is not about Jawaharlal Nehru. Support As visits go, Rivlin's week-long sojourn will no doubt serve to bring India closer to Israel. The two countries will celebrate the 25th year of diplomatic relations in 2017, a relationship that should have been forged in 1948, but was kept in abeyance because Nehru's foreign policy had no place for Israel. It required the first non-dynast Congress Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao for India to abandon Nehru's disastrous path to isolation and irrelevance, and embrace Israel. A lot has been achieved in this quarter century despite India being hesitant about walking the full distance. Israel, on the other hand, has given help unquestioningly. We desperately needed ammunition during the Kargil conflict, Israel shipped the shells to us overnight. We needed air-surveillance platforms, Israel provided them to us. With Russia faltering as India's primary supplier of weaponry, Israel stepped into the gap. A lot more can be added to the list from agricultural and water technology to high end satellite technology and sensors on borders to monitor movements. Yet, a distance has dogged the relationship. India has gracelessly and needlessly voted against Israel at international fora, even during the current BJP regime. There's a slow shift happening with India abstaining from voting against Israel at UNESCO, but that needs to become the norm. Friendship Israel has been pleading for a free trade agreement which would no doubt give a huge boost to bilateral trade that now stands at $5 billion. But we are stuck in the groove, unwilling to push ahead and sign on the dotted line. Yet we want Israel to provide us with high-end technology that goes beyond agriculture and water, assist us in combating terrorism, and help us acquire top-class cyber security know-how to be battle ready for wars of the future. There's a political deficit too. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was supposed to visit Israel, but it was President Pranab Mukherjee who stood in for him. It is now to be seen whether Modi actually does visit Israel in 2017, having done the round of Arab states in the first two years of his term. In the past, friendship with Arabs, such as it is, was to the exclusion of Israel. That was supposed to change to friendship with Arabs but not by excluding Israel. We have sort of reached halfway there, but that's neither here nor there. There's no halfway house in foreign relations for a rising power. That's for the timid and feckless who deserve neither power nor responsibility. A recent report published in Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, compiled by Hans M Kristensen and Robert S Norris, suggested in nutshell that Pakistan has developed an estimated stockpile of 130 to 140 warheads for delivery and will be the fifth largest nuke capable nation by 2025. Earlier it was thought that Pakistan had around 100-110 warhead, but the latest update means the neighbour is ahead of India in nuke capabilities. Not only this, Pakistan may become the world's third-largest nuclear weapon state in a decade from now, says the report titled "Pakistan is expanding its nuclear power". It is also converting some of its fighter jets, including F-16s, to deliver nukes as well as developing short-range nuclear capable missiles for the purpose of dominating any attempted invasion by Indian troops. The report also emphasised that Pakistan continues to expand its nuclear arsenal with more warheads, delivery systems, and a growing fissile materials production industry; with several delivery systems in development, four plutonium production reactors and its uranium enrichment facilities expanding, Pakistan's stockpile will possibly increase further over the next 10 years. Speculation that Pakistan may become the world's third-largest nuclear weapon state - with a stockpile of some 350 warheads a decade from now - is not the least exaggerated because that would require a build up two to three times faster than growth over the past two decades, the authors have said. And, if tomorrow, Pakistan is cleared a designated terrorist state, then it will be a rogue state with a substantial nuclear arsenal. Pakistan's short-range nuclear strikes can be seen as a potential threat for India, and certainly interest New Delhis defence, diplomatic and military establishment, since they could be launched if Islamabad merely perceives the threat of an all-out invasion by the Indian military establishment. Consequently, Kristensen suggested that even quick "surgical strikes" by India will have to make it "appear" to Pakistan as though there is no danger of an all-out pan-national aggression of Pakistan by India. In October 2016, a Pakistan think tank sounded a warning. A study titled, "Indian un-safeguarded Nuclear programme" suggested that India has sufficient material and the technical capacity to produce between 356 and 492 nuclear bombs. Published by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), the study is co-authored by four nuclear scholars including Adeela Azam, Ahmed Khan, Mohammad Ali and Sameer Khan.The worry that remains for India as several attacks on Pakistani military establishments have shown is that its nuclear arsenal could end up in the hands of Islamist terrorists. Do these revelations indicate that Pakistan has now reached what is known as a "full-spectrum nuclear deterrent posture"? Since Pakistan has faced several deadly terror attacks in recent times, the Nawaz Sharif government has announced a ban on two militant groups linked with the Taliban and al Qaeda for their involvement in several terror attacks across the country. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a splinter group of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, and Lashkar-i-Jhangvi Al-Alami (LeJ) were banned after the most recent attacks in Balochistan and Sindh provinces, including last week's assault at a sufi shrine in Balochistan, which killed more than 50 people. The United States had said that Pakistan needs to ensure more effective action against terror groups operating from its soil. As of now, it is being seen as a repetition of its warning to a state that has time and again sidestepped, even acted against US interests, but continues to receive its backing - strategic and financial. Washington "recognises" the sacrifices of the people and the armed forces of Pakistan in countering terror. Every transgression is usually followed by the POTUS condemning it and emphasising that Islamabad must take effective action against terrorist groups. However, neither has Pakistan's policy of using terror as an instrument of terror policy changed nor has US's bankrolling of Pakistan ceased. What a Democratic POTUS could not do may have been left for a Republican POTUS to sort out, with the support of a Republican Congress more amenable to its president's views. Before I came to India for the very first time, everybody warned me about the culture shock I was to get. "It's poor", "it's dirty", "it's crowded". "It" being India, it was supposed to be a lot of things we don't have and don't want in Germany. Well that was ten years ago. I didn't get a culture shock and kept coming back to India almost every two years. This year though is a special journey for me. For the first time, I didn't come back as a tourist. I came as a journalist, to work in the country I fell in love with exactly 10 years ago. And nobody prepared me for this. Don't get me wrong, I didn't face a catastrophe, but this is not exactly what I expected either. Who am I? I work as a journalist and producer for a German public broadcasting company. Here in India, I got the chance to work with India Today TV, or Headlines Today - as the channel was known to most people. I am a news producer like any other here at India Today TV. But that's where any comparison comes to a screeching halt. The first thing that was utterly different was the sheer size of the newsroom. Around 150 people work here in an open space. From my first second in the newsroom, the atmosphere reminds me of a busy, buzzing beehive with various levels of energy shifting throughout the day. The work is fast paced, highly-focused and, at times, aggressive. At the peak of their schedules in the afternoon, people would literally start screaming at each other: "Location, location" or "where is the package?", even bordering on the abusive, "why the hell are you so slow?" It intimidated me from the start. In my newsroom, 15 people work at a time and screaming is as unnecessary as it is unwanted - unless one really messes up, or two airplanes crash into the World Trade Centre. It might not sound like the cliche, but for Germans it's crucial to retain the composure. Germans don't scream. Not even in a newsroom. The screaming, however, was not the only big difference. The one thing that left me most puzzled was that almost every day, out of the blue, people in the newsroom would stand up and start clapping or cheering; more and more people would join them, so that in about 30 seconds, the whole newsroom would ring with applause. And it would die down as suddenly as it had started. I reckoned it must have to do with a huge success, an important decision by the government, or a good statement by a politician at a news conference. But I never quite figured out what everybody was applauding about. But that's only one of the many mysteries of the newsroom. Since most of the communication within a team is done via e-mail and WhatsApp (when not screaming at each other), I just caught snippets of conversations. Like the tip of an iceberg poking out from the water surface, it was impossible for me to comprehend the whole situation and process. Also, the language in which everybody communicates with one another, as well as the anchors and reporters on air, seems to be simply more than English. It rather is a kind of argot or secret code - a wild mixture of Hindi, English and also a lot of "abbr.", sorry, abbreviation and special terms. "GDP", "LoC", "lakh" and "crore" are some of the codes I had to crack before beginning to understand news in India. After some time, I could at least make sense of the written news. And that was the time I totally failed on air. I am not talking about a specific news channel in India - this is mostly true for the entire TV news scene in India. Even though I had followed Indian TV every now and then, I mainly focused on advertising (which I always found amazingly funny) and the movies. But focussing on news now, my brain experienced a new level of sensory overload. It got bombed with information. Everything was too fast, too much and too loud. One anchor, one reporter, at times three split screens with four different images feeding information, mainly on the same news, but sometimes even reporting entirely different news! To top it all, there would be at least three written inserts, carrying short cues about what the reporter/anchor had actually shouted at me three seconds ago. And there would always be a "breaking news" in red letters flashing on the screen, again, screaming "this is important!" My brain surrendered and went to autopilot, I couldn't listen to people shouting at me while all those different inserts and breaking news demanded my undivided attention as well. I frantically pressed the mute button on TV and took a deep breath. So much about my first encounter with Indian news. It wasn't a culture shock, it was more a journalistic shock. When the Indian government declared 86 per cent of the country's currency would no longer be legal tender overnight, the newsroom lost no time. Credit: Reuters My German brain is used to one anchor reading the news, and in a split screen you would have a picture or a still supporting the news. The split screen, back home, would switch into moving images, then switch to full-screen reporting of a news piece. No inserts. No breaking news. Actually, nothing is breaking news, unless it's discussed in different panels and then finally decided by the editor-in-chief - even if it means that thousands of social and digital media websites must show pictures of two planes crashing into the twin towers for hours on end. Too slow? Certainly. But that's how we do news at my office in Germany. Of course, this also backfires. If we really have a breaking news scenario, it takes at least half a day to book a camera team and even then our anchors or reporters may not be available at such short notice. This was something which really surprised and impressed me about the Indian newsroom. When the Indian government declared 86 per cent of the country's currency would no longer be legal tender overnight, the newsroom lost no time. It took my colleague ten minutes and three calls to get a cameraperson, the news anchor and locations to shoot for reporting the developments the very next morning. Everybody is available, nobody complains about working the extra hours. It seems that the fast paced atmosphere also comes with enormous passion and, more importantly, the efficiency to respond swiftly to any case or situation - something I would want to take back to my dinosaur of a company in Germany. Having spent four weeks in the newsroom, I reached the end of my last days here. I came to the conclusion that the work of German and Indian TV journalists is not so different after all. Yes, the presentation on TV is different, as is the atmosphere in the newsroom. But the content and the very soul of our work, as well as the struggle, is basically the same. We live in times when news travels faster than we report it. Facebook, Twitter, and almost every other social media network being a fast source of information makes people believe that everybody knows everything about a situation. Some news channels always seem to be a step ahead, even relaying rumours and assumptions as information. So who wants to watch news anyway, when it is outdated? This seems to be a question that concerns news all over the world and has all of us in a tight grip, pushing us to be faster, sooner, just better than everybody else. But we should take a closer look at the motivation. It should not be a race about who is the fastest. There should always be enough time for research, for finding the story in the story, to uncover, to expose, to basically inform people, and not just tell them what is easily said or what they would like to hear. Asked about the situation of journalists, veteran journalist Vipul Mudgal recently quipped: "News is what someone somewhere wants to suppress, the rest is basically advertising." S&P 500 3,856.10 DOW 32,653.20 QQQ 275.11 The 9 Essential Pages Your Ecommerce Website Must Include Under $5 a Share (Ad) Its Still Not Too Late To Get Into Energy Stocks Strong Q3 Driving Growth At S&P 500 Component Citizens Financial Under $5 a Share (Ad) Online Lender SoFi Jumps 14% On Better-Than-Expected Q3 Results Intuitive Surgical Stock is Both a Legacy and Next-Gen Play Under $5 a Share (Ad) Why American Water Works May Not Want a Fed Pivot President: Moldova will defy Russian pressure, stay pro-West S&P 500 3,856.10 DOW 32,653.20 QQQ 275.11 The 9 Essential Pages Your Ecommerce Website Must Include Under $5 a Share (Ad) Its Still Not Too Late To Get Into Energy Stocks Strong Q3 Driving Growth At S&P 500 Component Citizens Financial Under $5 a Share (Ad) Online Lender SoFi Jumps 14% On Better-Than-Expected Q3 Results Intuitive Surgical Stock is Both a Legacy and Next-Gen Play Under $5 a Share (Ad) Why American Water Works May Not Want a Fed Pivot President: Moldova will defy Russian pressure, stay pro-West S&P 500 3,856.10 DOW 32,653.20 QQQ 275.11 The 9 Essential Pages Your Ecommerce Website Must Include Under $5 a Share (Ad) Its Still Not Too Late To Get Into Energy Stocks Strong Q3 Driving Growth At S&P 500 Component Citizens Financial Under $5 a Share (Ad) Online Lender SoFi Jumps 14% On Better-Than-Expected Q3 Results Intuitive Surgical Stock is Both a Legacy and Next-Gen Play Under $5 a Share (Ad) Why American Water Works May Not Want a Fed Pivot President: Moldova will defy Russian pressure, stay pro-West S&P 500 3,856.10 DOW 32,653.20 QQQ 275.11 The 9 Essential Pages Your Ecommerce Website Must Include Under $5 a Share (Ad) Its Still Not Too Late To Get Into Energy Stocks Strong Q3 Driving Growth At S&P 500 Component Citizens Financial Under $5 a Share (Ad) Online Lender SoFi Jumps 14% On Better-Than-Expected Q3 Results Intuitive Surgical Stock is Both a Legacy and Next-Gen Play The Safest Option in Trades! (Ad) Why American Water Works May Not Want a Fed Pivot President: Moldova will defy Russian pressure, stay pro-West S&P 500 3,856.10 DOW 32,653.20 QQQ 275.11 The 9 Essential Pages Your Ecommerce Website Must Include Under $5 a Share (Ad) Its Still Not Too Late To Get Into Energy Stocks Strong Q3 Driving Growth At S&P 500 Component Citizens Financial Under $5 a Share (Ad) Online Lender SoFi Jumps 14% On Better-Than-Expected Q3 Results Intuitive Surgical Stock is Both a Legacy and Next-Gen Play The Safest Option in Trades! (Ad) Why American Water Works May Not Want a Fed Pivot President: Moldova will defy Russian pressure, stay pro-West S&P 500 3,856.10 DOW 32,653.20 QQQ 275.11 The 9 Essential Pages Your Ecommerce Website Must Include Under $5 a Share (Ad) Its Still Not Too Late To Get Into Energy Stocks Strong Q3 Driving Growth At S&P 500 Component Citizens Financial Under $5 a Share (Ad) Online Lender SoFi Jumps 14% On Better-Than-Expected Q3 Results Intuitive Surgical Stock is Both a Legacy and Next-Gen Play The Safest Option in Trades! (Ad) Why American Water Works May Not Want a Fed Pivot President: Moldova will defy Russian pressure, stay pro-West BlackRock, Inc. is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors including corporate, public, union, and industry pension plans, insurance companies, third-party mutual funds, endowments, public institutions, governments, foundations, charities, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, official institutions, and banks. It also provides global risk management and advisory services. The firm manages separate client-focused equity, fixed income, and balanced portfolios. It also launches and manages open-end and closed-end mutual funds, offshore funds, unit trusts, and alternative investment vehicles including structured funds. The firm launches equity, fixed income, balanced, and real estate mutual funds. It also launches equity, fixed income, balanced, currency, commodity, and multi-asset exchange traded funds. The firm also launches and manages hedge funds. It invests in the public equity, fixed income, real estate, currency, commodity, and alternative markets across the globe. The firm primarily invests in growth and value stocks of small-cap, mid-cap, SMID-cap, large-cap, and multi-cap companies. It also invests in dividend-paying equity securities. The firm invests in investment grade municipal securities, government securities including securities issued or guaranteed by a government or a government agency or instrumentality, corporate bonds, and asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities. It employs fundamental and quantitative analysis with a focus on bottom-up and top-down approach to make its investments. The firm employs liquidity, asset allocation, balanced, real estate, and alternative strategies to make its investments. In real estate sector, it seeks to invest in Poland and Germany. The firm benchmarks the performance of its portfolios against various S&P, Russell, Barclays, MSCI, Citigroup, and Merrill Lynch indices. BlackRock, Inc. was founded in 1988 and is based in New York City with additional offices in Boston, Massachusetts; London, United Kingdom; Gurgaon, India; Hong Kong; Greenwich, Connecticut; Princeton, New Jersey; Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Sydney, Australia; Taipei, Taiwan; Singapore; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Washington, District of Columbia; Toronto, Canada; Wilmington, Delaware; and San Francisco, California. The following companies are subsidiares of Prudential Financial: 210-220 E. 22nd Street SSGA Owner LLC, AIG Edison, AIG Star, AREF Cayman Co Ltd., AREF GP II Pte. Ltd., AREF GP Ltd., ASPF II - Feeder Fund GmbH, ASPF II - Verwaltungs - GmbH & Co. KG, ASPF II Management GmbH, ASPF III Scots L.P., ASSURANCE, AST Investment Services Inc., Adlerwerke CB Investment LLC, Administradora de Fondos de Pensiones Habitat S.A., Administradora de Inversiones Previsionales SpA, Aoba Life Insurance Company, Aoba Life Insurance Company Ltd., Asia Property Fund III GP S.a.r.l., Assurance IQ LLC, Assurance Intelligence LLC, BSC CP LP, Braeloch Holdings Inc., Braeloch Successor Corporation, Brazilian Capital Fund GP Limited, Broad Street Global Advisors LLC, Broome Street Holdings LLC, CB German Retail LLC, CLIS Co. Ltd., COLICO INC., Capital Agricultural Property Services Inc., Chadwick Boulevard Investment Holdings Co. LLC, Cibecue LLC, Coconino LLC, Colico II Inc., Columbus Drive Partners L.P., Commerce Street Holdings LLC, Commerce Street Investments LLC, Coolidge LLC, Coral Reef GP, Coral Reef L.P., Coral Reef Unit Trust, Cottage Street Investments LLC, Cottage Street Orbit Acquisition LLC, DICKENS AVENUE HOLDINGS VI LLC, DICKENS AVENUE PARTNERS VI Ireland L.P., DICKENS AVENUE PARTNERS VI US L.P., Dale/P Minerals Limited Partnership, Don Cesar Investor LLC, Dryden Arizona Reinsurance Term Company, Dryden Finance II LLC, EVP II GP S.a r.l., EVP II Horizon GP S.a r.l., EVP II Sprint GP S.a r.l., Edison Place Senior Note LLC, Essex LLC, EuroCore GP S.a r.l., European Value Partners GP S.a.r.l., Everbright PGIM Fund Management Co. Ltd., Flagstaff LLC, GA 1600 Commons LLC, GA 333 Hennepin Investor LLC, GA BV LLC, GA Bay Area GP LLC, GA Bay Area Investor LLC, GA Belden LLC, GA CLARENDON LLC, GA Cal Crossings LLC, GA Collins LLC, GA E. 22nd Street Apartments Holdings LLC, GA East 86 Street LLC, GA JHCII LLC, GA MENLO PARK INVESTOR LLC, GA Manor at Harbour Island LLC, GA Metro LLC, GA TRITON INVESTOR LLC, GA W Paces LLC, GA/MDI 333 Hennepin Associates LLC, GIBRALTAR BSN HOLDINGS SDN BHD, GIBRALTAR INDIA SOLUTIONS LLP, Gateway Holdings II LLC, Gateway Holdings LLC, German Retail Income CP LP, Gibraltar BSN Life Berhad, Gibraltar International Insurance Services Company Inc., Gibraltar International Service LLC, Gibraltar Reinsurance Company Ltd., Gibraltar Universal Life Reinsurance Company, Glenealy International Limited, Global Portfolio Strategies Inc., Gold GP Limited, Gold II L.P., Gold L.P., Graham Resources Inc., Graham Royalty Ltd., Green Harvest Asset Management LLC, Green Tree GP, Green Tree L.P., Greenlee LLC, Halsey Street Investments LLC, Hirakata LLC, IVP Fund GP LLC, Impact Investments Bridges UK S.a.r.l, Inter-Atlantic G Fund L.P., Inversiones Previsionales Chile SpA, Inversiones Previsionales Dos SpA, Ironbound Fund LLC, Jennison Associates LLC, Kyarra S.a r.l., Kyoei Annuity Home Co. Ltd. Kabushiki Kaisha Kyouei Nenkin Home, LINEUP LLC, Lake Street Partners IV L.P., Lotus Reinsurance Company Ltd., MC GA COLLINS HOLDINGS LLC, MC GA COLLINS REALTY LLC, MC Insurance Agency Services LLC, Manor at Harbour Island LLC, Marble Canyon LLC, Maricopa LLC, Market Street Holdings IV LLC, Montana Capital Partners, Morenci LLC, Mulberry Street Holdings LLC, Mulberry Street Investment L.P., Mulberry Street Partners LLC, Mullin TBG Insurance Agency Services LLC, MullinTBG Insurance Agency Services, National Family Assurance Group LLC, New Savanna, Northbound Emerging Manager Fund A LP, Northbound Emerging Manager Fund II - A LP, Orchard Street Acres Inc., PAI Bay Farm LLC, PAI Bayrock Groves LLC, PAI Belvidere Farms LLC, PAI Big Cypress Farm LLC, PAI Corcoran 640 Ranch LLC, PAI DeKalb Farm LLC, PAI Delano 1500 Ranches LLC, PAI Desert Falcon Farms Manager LLC, PAI Flicker Orchard LLC, PAI Good Hope Farm LLC, PAI Hawk Creek Ranch LLC, PAI Hills Valley Ranches LLC, PAI Holly Hill Groves LLC, PAI Hunt Farm LLC, PAI Jackson Bayou Farm LLC, PAI Lake Placid Groves LLC, PAI River Bend Ranches LLC, PAI Wallula Gap Vineyard LLC, PCP V Cayman AIV GP L.P., PEREF II Co-Invest 1 GP S.a r.l., PEREF II GP S.a r.l., PFI EM-Tech Fund I LLC, PG Business Service Co. Ltd, PG Collection Service Co. Ltd., PG Friendly Partners Co. Ltd., PGA Asian Retail Limited, PGA European Limited, PGI Co. Ltd, PGIM AC Co-Invest GP Pte. Ltd., PGIM AVP IV GP S.a r.l., PGIM Advisory Shanghai Co. Ltd., PGIM Agricultural Investments GP LLC, PGIM Australia Pty Ltd, PGIM Broad Market High Yield Bond Fund L.P., PGIM Broad Market High Yield Bond Partners LLC, PGIM Capital Partners Management Feeder VI LLC, PGIM Capital Partners Management Fund VI L.P., PGIM Custom Harvest LLC, PGIM DC Co-Invest GP Pte. Ltd., PGIM DC JV GP Pte. Ltd., PGIM DC Solutions LLC, PGIM European Financing Limited, PGIM European Services Limited, PGIM Financial Limited, PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives Fund II L.P., PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives Fund L.P., PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives GP LLC, PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives II GP LLC, PGIM Foreign Investments Inc., PGIM Holding Company LLC, PGIM Holdings Limited, PGIM Hong Kong Ltd., PGIM INDIA ASSET MANAGEMENT PRIVATE LIMITED, PGIM INDIA TRUSTEES PRIVATE LIMITED, PGIM IRELAND LIMITED, PGIM Inc., PGIM International Financing Inc., PGIM Investments Ireland Limited, PGIM Investments LLC, PGIM Japan Co. Ltd., PGIM Korea Inc., PGIM LTIF Berlin GP S.a r.l., PGIM LTIF Berlin MLP S.ar.l., PGIM LTIF GP S.a.r.l., PGIM Limited, PGIM Loan Originator Manager Limited, PGIM M Campus GP S.a r.l., PGIM Management Partner Limited, PGIM MetaProp Investor LP LLC, PGIM Netherlands B.V., PGIM Overseas Investment Fund Management Shanghai Company Ltd, PGIM Private Capital Ireland Limited, PGIM Private Capital Limited, PGIM Private Placement Investors Inc., PGIM Private Placement Investors L.P., PGIM QUANTITATIVE SOLUTIONS LLC, PGIM REF EUROPE SCSp, PGIM REF Europe GP S.a r.l., PGIM REF Europe Member LLC, PGIM REF Intermediary Services Inc., PGIM Real Estate CD S.a.r.l., PGIM Real Estate Capital VII GP S.a r.l., PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest GP LLC, PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest GP S.a r.l., PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest L.P., PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest SCSp, PGIM Real Estate Co-Invest Holdings LLC, PGIM Real Estate Debt GmbH, PGIM Real Estate Finance Holding Company, PGIM Real Estate Finance LLC, PGIM Real Estate France SAS, PGIM Real Estate Germany AG, PGIM Real Estate Global Debt GP LLC, PGIM Real Estate Global Master Fund GP S.a r.l., PGIM Real Estate Inmuebles II S de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate Inmuebles S. de R.L. de C.V, PGIM Real Estate Italy S.r.l., PGIM Real Estate Japan Ltd., PGIM Real Estate Loan Services Inc., PGIM Real Estate Luxembourg S.A., PGIM Real Estate MVP Administradora IV S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate MVP Administradora V S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate MVP Inmuebles IV S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate MVP Inmuebles V S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate Management Luxembourg S.a.r.l., PGIM Real Estate Mexico S.C., PGIM Real Estate S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate U.S. CORE Debt Fund GP LLC, PGIM Real Estate U.S. Debt Fund GP LLC, PGIM Real Estate UK Limited, PGIM Scots Limited, PGIM Securities Investment Trust Enterprise, PGIM Senior Loan Opportunities Management (Feeder) I LLC, PGIM Senior Loan Opportunities Management Fund I L.P., PGIM Shanghai Company Ltd., PGIM Singapore Pte. Ltd., PGIM Strategic Financing LLC, PGIM Strategic Investments Inc., PGIM Taronga Investor GP LLC, PGIM U.S. Agriculture Fund LP, PGIM USPF VI Manager LLC, PGIM Wadhwani LLP, PGIM Warehouse Inc., PGLH of Delaware Inc., PIFM Holdco LLC, PIIC Limited, PIISC Holdings UK Limited, PIM KF Blocker V Holdings LLC, PIM USPF V Manager LLC, PLA Administradora Industrial SRL, PLA Administradora LLC, PLA Administradora S. de R.L. de C.V., PLA Asesoria Profesional II S. de R.L. de C.V., PLA Asesoria Profesional S.de R.L. de C.V., PLA Co-Investor LLC, PLA Mexico Industrial Manager I LLC, PLA Mexico Industrial Manager II LLC, PLA Retail Fund I Blue LP, PLA Retail Fund I Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund II Aggregating Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund II LLC, PLA Retail Fund II LP, PLA Retail Fund II Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund II U.S. Carry/Co-Invest LP, PLA Services Manager Mexico LLC, PLAI Limited, PMCF Holdings LLC, PMCF Properties LLC, PPPF General Partner LLP, PR GA SCP Apartments LLC, PRAMERICA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED, PRAMERICA PRECAP VI GP LLP, PRAMERICA PRECAP VI GP SCOTS FEEDER LLP, PRECO Account IV LLC, PRECO Account Partnership IV LP, PRECO III GP LLP, PREFG Hanwha Manager LLC, PREI Acquisition I Inc., PREI Acquisition II Inc., PREI Acquisition LLC, PREI HYDG LLC, PREI International Inc., PRIAC Property Acquisitions LLC, PRICOA Management Partner Limited, PRISA Fund Manager LLC, PRISA II Fund Manager LLC, PRISA II Pooled Manager LLC, PRISA III Fund GP LLC, PRISA III Fund PIM LLC, PRREF Debt Fund Manager LLC, PRREF II Fund Manager LLC, PRU 3XSquare LLC, PRUCO LLC, PRUDENTIAL CAPITAL ENERGY PARTNERS MANAGEMENT (FEEDER) LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP MEMBER LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP REIT LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP VENTURE 2 LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP VENTURE LLC, PT PFI Mega Life Insurance, Passaic Fund LLC, Pine Tree GP, Pine Tree L.P., Platinum GP Limited, Platinum II L.P., Platinum L.P., Pramerica Business Consulting Shanghai Company Limited, Pramerica EVP CP LP, Pramerica Financial Asia Headquarters Pte. Ltd., Pramerica Financial Asia Limited, Pramerica Fixed Income Funds Management Limited, Pramerica Fosun Life Insurance Co. Ltd., Pramerica Holdings Ltd, Pramerica Hong Kong Holdings Limited, Pramerica Insurance Agency China Company Ltd., Pramerica Luxembourg CP GP S.a.r.l., Pramerica PRECAP I GP LLP, Pramerica PRECAP II GP LLP, Pramerica PRECAP III GP LLP, Pramerica PRECAP IV GP LLP, Pramerica Pan European Real Estate Scots LP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital I GP Scots Feeder LLP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital I Scotland Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital II Scots Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital III Scots Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital IV GP Limited, Pramerica Real Estate Capital IV GP Scots Feeder LLP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital IV Scots Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital V Netherlands GP LLP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital V Scots Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital VI Scots Limited Partnership, Pramerica Scots CP GP LLP, Preco III Scotland Limited Partnership, Pru 101 Wood LLC, Pru Alpha Partners I LLC, Pru Fixed Income Emerging Markets Partners I LLC, PruVen Capital Partners Fund I L.P., Pruco Assignment Corporation, Pruco Life Insurance Company, Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey, Pruco Securities LLC, Prudential 900 Aviation Boulevard LLC, Prudential Affordable Mortgage Company LLC, Prudential Agricultural Property Holding Company LLC, Prudential Annuities Distributors Inc., Prudential Annuities Holding Company Inc., Prudential Annuities Inc., Prudential Annuities Information Services & Technology Corporation, Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation, Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Captive Company, Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Term Company, Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Universal Company, Prudential Bank & Trust FSB, Prudential Capital Energy Opportunity Fund L.P., Prudential Capital Energy Partners L.P., Prudential Capital Energy Partners Management Fund L.P., Prudential Capital Partners Management Fund IV L.P., Prudential Capital and Investment Services LLC, Prudential Chile II SpA, Prudential Chile SpA, Prudential Commercial Property Holding Company LLC, Prudential Equity Group LLC, Prudential Financial Inc., Prudential Fixed Income Global Liquidity Relative Value Partners LLC, Prudential Fixed Income U.S. Relative Value Partners LLC, Prudential Funding LLC, Prudential General Services of Japan Y.K., Prudential Gibraltar Agency Co. Ltd. Prudential Gibraltar Agency Kabushiki Kaisha, Prudential Global Funding LLC, Prudential Holdings of Japan Inc., Prudential Huntoon Paige Associates LLC, Prudential IBH Holdco Inc., Prudential Impact Investments Mortgage Loans LLC, Prudential Impact Investments Private Debt LLC, Prudential Impact Investments Private Equity LLC, Prudential Insurance Agency LLC, Prudential International Insurance Holdings Ltd., Prudential International Insurance Service Company L.L.C., Prudential International Investments Advisers LLC, Prudential International Investments Company LLC, Prudential International Investments LLC, Prudential Investment Management Services LLC, Prudential Japan Holdings LLC, Prudential Legacy Insurance Company of New Jersey, Prudential Mortgage Asset Holdings 1 Japan Investment Business Limited Partnership, Prudential Mortgage Asset Holdings 2 Japan Investment Business Limited Partnership, Prudential Mortgage Capital Asset Holding Company LLC, Prudential Mortgage Capital Funding LLC, Prudential Mortgage Capital Holdings LLC, Prudential Multifamily Mortgage LLC, Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC, Prudential Newark Realty LLC, Prudential QOZ Investment Fund 1 LLC, Prudential Realty Securities Inc., Prudential Retirement Financial Services Holding LLC, Prudential Retirement Holdings LLC, Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company, Prudential Securities Secured Financing Corporation, Prudential Seguros Mexico S.A. de C.V., Prudential Seguros S.A., Prudential Select Strategies LLC, Prudential Servicios S. de R.L. de C.V., Prudential Structured Settlement Company, Prudential Systems Japan Limited, Prudential Tax Services LLC, Prudential Term Reinsurance Company, Prudential Trust Co. Ltd., Prudential Trust Company, Prudential Universal Reinsurance Company, Prudential Workplace Solutions Group Services LLC, Prudential do Brasil Seguros de Vida S.A., Prudential do Brasil Vida em Grupo S.A., Prudential/TMW Real Estate Group LLC, Pruservicos Participacoes Ltda., QMA JP EM All Cap Equity Partners LLC, Quartzsite LLC, Residential Services Corporation of America LLC, Rio CP LP, Rock European Real Estate Holdings S.ar.l., Rock Global Real Estate LLC, Rock Kensington Limited, Rock Marty GP S.a r.l., Rock Oxford S.a r.l., Rock UK Real Estate II S.a.r.l., Rockstone Co. Ltd., Rosado Grande LLC, Ross Avenue Energy Fund Holdings LLC, Ross Avenue Minerals 2012 LLC, SCP Apartments LLC, SENIOR HOUSING PARTNERS VI GP LLC, SENIOR HOUSING PARTNERSHIP FUND VI GP LLC, SHP IV Carried Interest LP, SHP V Carried Interest L.P., SMP Holdings Inc., SVIIT Holdings Inc., Sanei Collection Service Co. Ltd. Kabushiki Kaisha Sanei Shuuno Service, Senior Housing Partners V LLC, Senior Housing Partnership Fund V LLC, Sterling Private Placement Management LLP, Stetson Street Partners L.P., Strand Investments Limited, TBG Insurance Services Corporation, TENSATOR HOLDINGS LTD, TF Proveedora S.C., TMW ASPF I Verwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG, TMW ASPF Management GmbH, TMW Management LLC, TMW Real Estate Group LLC, TMW Realty Advisors LLC, TMW USPF Verwaltungs GmbH, TRGOAG Company Inc., The Gibraltar Life Insurance Co. Ltd., The Keynes Dynamic Beta Strategy US Fund GP LLC, The Prudential Assigned Settlement Services Corp., The Prudential Brazilian Capital Fund LP, The Prudential Gibraltar Financial Life Insurance Co. Ltd., The Prudential Home Mortgage Company Inc., The Prudential Insurance Company of America, The Prudential Life Insurance Company Ltd., The Prudential Real Estate Financial Services of America Inc., The WMF Group, Thurloe Commercial Guernsey Limited, USPF V - Verwaltungs - GmbH & Co. KG, USPF V Carry LLC, USPF V Co-Invest LLC, USPF V Investment LP, United States Property Fund VI GP S.a r.l., VIP Australia Holding Company LLC, VIP Australia Trustee Pty Ltd, Vailsburg Fund LLC, Vantage Casualty Insurance Company, Wabash Avenue Holdings V LLC, Wabash Avenue Partners V L.P., Wadhwani Capital Limited, Waveland Avenue Holdings I LLC, Waveland Avenue Partners I Ireland L.P., Waveland Avenue Partners I US L.P., Wellness Services Ecossistema De Bem Estar Ltda., Wellness Services SRL, Yamato Life, and Yavapai LLC. Read More 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 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company provides solutions that allow customers to capture, analyze, and act upon data seamlessly in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Japan. The company offers general purpose servers for multi-workload computing and workload-optimized servers; HPE ProLiant rack and tower servers; HPE BladeSystem and HPE Synergy; and solutions for secondary workloads and traditional tape, storage networking, and disk products, such as HPE Modular Storage Arrays and HPE XP. It also offers HPE Apollo and Cray products; and HPE Superdome Flex, HPE Nonstop, HPE Integrity, and HPE Edgeline products. In addition, the company provides HPE Aruba product portfolio that includes wired and wireless local area network hardware products, such as Wi-Fi access points, switches, routers, and sensors; HPE Aruba software and services comprising cloud-based management, network management, network access control, analytics and assurance, and location; and professional and support services, as well as as-a-service and consumption models for the intelligent edge portfolio of products. Further, it offers various leasing, financing, IT consumption, and utility programs and asset management services for customers to facilitate technology deployment models and the acquisition of complete IT solutions, including hardware, software, and services from Hewlett Packard Enterprise and others. Additionally, the company invests in communications and media solutions. It has a partnership with Striim, Inc. to offer high performance and mission-critical solutions with real-time analytics. It serves commercial and large enterprise groups, such as business and public sector enterprises; and through various partners comprising resellers, distribution partners, original equipment manufacturers, independent software vendors, systems integrators, and advisory firms. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company was founded in 1939 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. American Homes 4 Rent is a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on the US rental industry. The company is a leader in the single-family home rental industry and "American Homes 4 Rent" is fast becoming a nationally recognized brand. The company is known for high-quality rental homes, providing good value and tenant satisfaction while generating profits for investors. The primary investment objective is to provide attractive risk-adjusted returns through dividends and capital appreciation. The company plans to achieve its objective through the disciplined acquisition of new properties, by expanding its own construction and neighborhood building efforts, growing its geographically diverse portfolio, efficient property management, building a strong brand, and maintaining a sound capital structure. The company was founded in 2011 by David Singelyn and his partner. Mr. Singelyn has served as a Trustee and CEO since 2012. The company began by acquiring homes in underserved areas and remodeling them to modern standards. The firm has since expanded its operations to construction and now builds planned communities tailored to different lifestyles as well. The company went public in 2013 and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. American Homes 4 Rent is an internally managed Maryland real estate investment trust focused on acquiring, developing, renovating, leasing, and operating attractive, single-family homes as rental properties. The company operates through a network of offices and the website AH4R.com. The company owns more than 55,000 properties across 22 states featuring move-in-ready and pet-friendly homes for individuals and families of all sizes. All previously used properties have been renovated to a high Certified Property standard that brings them to a like-new condition. Interested parties can view listings by area on the website and even use the site to fill out applications and sign leases. Properties are located in communities that fit a variety of lifestyle needs including fences, marble countertops, and even attached 2 and 3-car garages. The communities are located in hand-picked neighborhoods with features including access to commerce, schools, and amenities like lawn care, pools, trails, and fitness centers. Tenants are afforded many benefits by renting through American Homes 4 Rent. The first and most obvious is the freedom and flexibility of a mortgage-free lifestyle. On top of that, tenants can pay rent or schedule maintenance on their homes through the website, and dedicated service representatives are available 24/7. The following companies are subsidiares of Pfizer: AH Robins LLC, AHP Holdings B.V., AHP Manufacturing B.V., Agouron Pharmaceuticals LLC, Alacer, Alpharma Holdings LLC, Alpharma Pharmaceuticals LLC, Alpharma Specialty Pharma LLC, Alpharma USHP LLC, American Food Industries LLC, Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Anacor Pharmaceuticals Inc., Angiosyn, Array BioPharma, Ayerst-Wyeth Pharmaceuticals LLC, BIND Therapeutics Inc., BINESA 2002 S.L., Bamboo Therapeutics, Bamboo Therapeutics Inc., Baxter International - Marketed Vaccines, BioRexis, Bioren, Bioren LLC, Blue Whale Re Ltd., C.E. Commercial Holdings C.V., C.E. Commercial Investments C.V., C.P. Pharmaceuticals International C.V., CICL Corporation, COC I Corporation, Catapult Genetics, Coley Pharmaceutical GmbH, Coley Pharmaceutical Group, Coley Pharmaceutical Group Inc., Continental Pharma Inc., Covx, Covx Technologies Ireland Limited, Cyanamid Inter-American Corporation, Cyanamid de Argentina S.A., Cyanamid de Colombia S.A., Distribuidora Mercantil Centro Americana S.A., Encysive Pharmaceuticals, Encysive Pharmaceuticals Inc., Esperion LUV Development Inc., Esperion Therapeutics, Excaliard Pharmaceuticals, Excaliard Pharmaceuticals Inc., Farminova Produtos Farmaceuticos de Inovacao Lda., Farmogene Productos Farmaceuticos Lda, Ferrosan A/S, Ferrosan International A/S, Ferrosan S.R.L., FoldRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Foldrx Pharmaceuticals, Fort Dodge Manufatura Ltda., G. D. Searle & Co. Limited, G. D. Searle International Capital LLC, G. D. Searle LLC, GI Europe Inc., GI Japan Inc., GenTrac Inc., Genetics Institute LLC, Greenstone LLC, Haptogen Limited, Hospira, Hospira (China) Enterprise Management Co. Ltd., Hospira Adelaide Pty Ltd, Hospira Aseptic Services Limited, Hospira Australia Pty Ltd, Hospira Benelux BVBA, Hospira Chile Limitada, Hospira Deutschland GmbH, Hospira Enterprises B.V., Hospira France SAS, Hospira Healthcare B.V., Hospira Healthcare Corporation, Hospira Healthcare India Private Limited, Hospira Holdings (S.A.) Pty Ltd, Hospira Inc., Hospira Invicta S.A., Hospira Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, Hospira Ireland Sales Limited, Hospira Japan G.K., Hospira Limited, Hospira Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Hospira NZ Limited, Hospira Nordic AB, Hospira Philippines Inc., Hospira Portugal LDA, Hospira Produtos Hospitalares Ltda., Hospira Pte. Ltd., Hospira Pty Limited, Hospira Puerto Rico LLC, Hospira Singapore Pte Ltd, Hospira UK Limited, Hospira Worldwide LLC, Hospira Zagreb d.o.o., ICAgen, Idun Pharmaceuticals, Industrial Santa Agape S.A., InnoPharma, InnoPharma Inc., International Affiliated Corporation LLC, JMI-Daniels Pharmaceuticals Inc., John Wyeth & Brother Limited, Kiinteisto oy Espoon Pellavaniementie 14, King Pharmaceuticals Holdings LLC, King Pharmaceuticals LLC, King Pharmaceuticals Research and Development LLC, Korea Pharma Holding Company Limited, Laboratoires Pfizer S.A., Laboratorios Parke Davis S.L., Laboratorios Pfizer Ltda., Laboratorios Wyeth LLC, Laboratorios Wyeth S.A., Laboratorios Pfizer Lda., MTG Divestitures LLC, Mayne Pharma IP Holdings (Euro) Pty Ltd, Medivation, Medivation Field Solutions LLC, Medivation LLC, Medivation Neurology LLC, Medivation Prostate Therapeutics LLC, Medivation Services LLC, Medivation Technologies LLC, Meridian Medical Technologies Inc., Meridian Medical Technologies Limited, Monarch Pharmaceuticals LLC, Neusentis Limited, NextWave Pharmaceuticals, NextWave Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, P-D Co. LLC, PAH USA IN8 LLC, PF Americas Holding C.V., PF Asia Manufacturing B.V., PF PR Holdings C.V., PF PRISM C.V., PF PRISM Holdings S.a.r.l., PF Prism S.a.r.l., PFE Holdings G.K., PFE PHAC Holdings 1 LLC, PFE Pfizer Holdings 1 LLC, PFE Wyeth Holdings LLC, PFE Wyeth-Ayerst (Asia) LLC, PHILCO Holdings S.a r.l., PHIVCO Corp., PHIVCO Holdco S.a r.l., PHIVCO Luxembourg S.a r.l., PN Mexico LLC, PT. Pfizer Parke Davis, Parke Davis & Company LLC, Parke Davis Limited, Parke Davis Productos Farmaceuticos Lda, Parke-Davis Manufacturing Corp., Parkedale Pharmaceuticals Inc., Peak Enterprises LLC, Pfizer, Pfizer (China) Research and Development Co. Ltd., Pfizer (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Pfizer (Perth) Pty Limited, Pfizer (Thailand) Limited, Pfizer (Wuhan) Research and Development Co. Ltd., Pfizer AB, Pfizer AG, Pfizer AS, Pfizer Africa & Middle East for Pharmaceuticals Veterinarian Products & Chemicals S.A.E., Pfizer Anti-Infectives AB, Pfizer ApS, Pfizer Asia Manufacturing Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Asia Pacific Pte Ltd., Pfizer Atlantic Holdings S.a.r.l., Pfizer Australia Holdings B.V., Pfizer Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Pfizer Australia Investments Pty. Ltd., Pfizer Australia Pty Limited, Pfizer B.V., Pfizer BH D.o.o., Pfizer Baltic Holdings B.V., Pfizer Biofarmaceutica Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Pfizer Biologics (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd, Pfizer Biologics Ireland Holdings Limited, Pfizer Biotech Corporation, Pfizer Bolivia S.A., Pfizer Canada Inc., Pfizer CentreSource Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Chile S.A., Pfizer Cia. Ltda., Pfizer Colombia Spinco I LLC, Pfizer Commercial Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Commercial Holdings TRAE Kft., Pfizer Commercial TRAE Trading Kft., Pfizer Consumer Healthcare AB, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare GmbH, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare Ltd., Pfizer Consumer Manufacturing Italy S.r.l., Pfizer Corporation, Pfizer Corporation Austria Gesellschaft m.b.H., Pfizer Corporation Hong Kong Limited, Pfizer Croatia d.o.o., Pfizer Deutschland GmbH, Pfizer Development LP, Pfizer Development Services (UK) Limited, Pfizer Domestic Ventures Limited, Pfizer Dominicana S.R.L, Pfizer ESP Pty Ltd, Pfizer East India B.V., Pfizer Eastern Investments B.V., Pfizer Egypt S.A.E., Pfizer Enterprise Holdings B.V., Pfizer Enterprises LLC, Pfizer Enterprises SARL, Pfizer Europe Finance B.V., Pfizer Export B.V., Pfizer Export Company, Pfizer Export Holding Company B.V, Pfizer Finance Share Service (Dalian) Co. Ltd., Pfizer Financial Services N.V./S.A., Pfizer France International Investments, Pfizer Free Zone Panama S. de R.L., Pfizer GEP S.L., Pfizer Global Holdings B.V., Pfizer Global Supply Japan Inc., Pfizer Global Trading, Pfizer Group Luxembourg Sarl, Pfizer Gulf FZ-LLC, Pfizer H.C.P. Corporation, Pfizer HK Service Company Limited, Pfizer Health AB, Pfizer Health Solutions Inc., Pfizer Healthcare Ireland, Pfizer Hellas A.E., Pfizer Himalaya Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Holding France, Pfizer Holding Ventures, Pfizer Holdings Corporation, Pfizer Holdings Europe Unlimited Company, Pfizer Holdings G.K., Pfizer Holdings International Corporation, Pfizer Holdings International Luxembourg (PHIL) Sarl, Pfizer Holdings North America SARL, Pfizer Hungary Holdings TRAE Kft., Pfizer Inc., Pfizer Innovations AB, Pfizer Innovations LLC, Pfizer Innovative Supply Point International BVBA, Pfizer International LLC, Pfizer International Markets Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer International Operations, Pfizer International S. de R.L., Pfizer International Trading (Shanghai) Limited, Pfizer Investment Capital Unlimited Company, Pfizer Investment Co. Ltd., Pfizer Investment Holdings S.a.r.l., Pfizer Ireland Investments Limited, Pfizer Ireland PFE Holding 1 LLC, Pfizer Ireland PFE Holding 2 LLC, Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Ireland Ventures Unlimited Company, Pfizer Italia S.r.l., Pfizer Italy Group Holding S.r.l., Pfizer Japan Inc., Pfizer LLC, Pfizer Laboratories (Pty) Limited, Pfizer Laboratories Limited, Pfizer Laboratories PFE (Pty) Ltd, Pfizer Leasing Ireland Limited, Pfizer Leasing UK Limited, Pfizer Limitada, Pfizer Limited, Pfizer Luxco Holdings SARL, Pfizer Luxembourg Global Holdings S.a r.l., Pfizer Luxembourg SARL, Pfizer MAP Holding Inc., Pfizer Manufacturing Austria G.m.b.H., Pfizer Manufacturing Belgium N.V., Pfizer Manufacturing Deutschland GmbH, Pfizer Manufacturing Deutschland Grundbesitz GmbH & Co. KG, Pfizer Manufacturing Holdings LLC, Pfizer Manufacturing Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Manufacturing LLC, Pfizer Manufacturing Services, Pfizer Medical Technology Group (Belgium) N.V., Pfizer Medicamentos Genericos e Participacoes Ltda., Pfizer Mexico Luxco SARL, Pfizer Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pfizer Middle East for Pharmaceuticals Animal Health and Chemicals S.A.E., Pfizer New Zealand Limited, Pfizer Norge AS, Pfizer North American Holdings Inc., Pfizer OTC B.V., Pfizer Overseas LLC, Pfizer Oy, Pfizer PFE ApS, Pfizer PFE AsiaPac Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Australia Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Australia Pty Ltd, Pfizer PFE B.V., Pfizer PFE Baltic Holdings B.V., Pfizer PFE Belgium SPRL, Pfizer PFE Brazil Holding S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE CIA. Ltda., Pfizer PFE Chile Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Colombia Holding Corp., Pfizer PFE Colombia S.A.S, Pfizer PFE Commercial Holdings LLC, Pfizer PFE Croatia Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Eastern Investments B.V., Pfizer PFE Finland Oy, Pfizer PFE France, Pfizer PFE Global Holdings B.V., Pfizer PFE Ireland Pharmaceuticals Holding 1 B.V., Pfizer PFE Italy Holdco 2 S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Italy Holdco S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Pfizer PFE Limited, Pfizer PFE Luxembourg S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Mexico Holding 3 LLC, Pfizer PFE Netherlands Holding 1 C.V., Pfizer PFE New Zealand, Pfizer PFE New Zealand Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Norway Holding S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE PILSA Holdco S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Peru Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Peru S.R.L., Pfizer PFE Pharmaceuticals Israel Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Pharmaceuticals Israel Ltd., Pfizer PFE Private Limited, Pfizer PFE S.R.L, Pfizer PFE Service Company Holding Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer PFE Singapore Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Singapore Pte. Ltd., Pfizer PFE Spain B.V., Pfizer PFE Spain Holding S.L., Pfizer PFE Sweden Holding 2 S.a.r.l., Pfizer PFE Sweden Holding S.a.r.l., Pfizer PFE Switzerland GmbH, Pfizer PFE Turkey Holding 1 B.V., Pfizer PFE Turkey Holding 2 B.V., Pfizer PFE UK Holding 4 LP, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 1 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 2 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 3 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 4 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 5 LLC, Pfizer PFE spol. s r.o., Pfizer PFE Ilaclar Anonim Sirketi, Pfizer Pakistan Limited, Pfizer Parke Davis (Thailand) Ltd., Pfizer Parke Davis Inc., Pfizer Parke Davis Sdn. Bhd., Pfizer Pharm Algerie, Pfizer Pharma GmbH, Pfizer Pharma PFE GmbH, Pfizer Pharmaceutical (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Pfizer Pharmaceutical Trading Limited Liability Company (a/k/a Pfizer Kft. or Pfizer LLC), Pfizer Pharmaceuticals B.V., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Global B.V., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Israel Ltd., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Korea Limited, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals LLC, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Pfizer Pigments Inc., Pfizer Polska Sp. z.o.o., Pfizer Private Limited, Pfizer Production LLC, Pfizer Products Inc., Pfizer Products India Private Limited, Pfizer Research (NC) Inc., Pfizer Romania SRL, Pfizer S.A., Pfizer S.A., Pfizer S.A. (Belgium), Pfizer S.A. de C.V., Pfizer S.A.S., Pfizer S.G.P.S. Lda., Pfizer S.L., Pfizer S.R.L., Pfizer SRB d.o.o., Pfizer Saidal Manufacturing, Pfizer Sante Familiale, Pfizer Saudi Limited, Pfizer Seiyaku K.K., Pfizer Service Company BVBA, Pfizer Service Company Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Services 1, Pfizer Services LLC, Pfizer Shared Services Unlimited Company, Pfizer Shareholdings Intermediate SARL, Pfizer Singapore Holding Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Singapore Trading Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Spain Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Specialties Limited, Pfizer Strategic Investment Holdings LLC, Pfizer Sweden Partnership KB, Pfizer TRAE Holdings Kft., Pfizer Trading Polska sp.z.o.o., Pfizer Transactions Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Transactions LLC, Pfizer Transactions Luxembourg SARL, Pfizer Transport LLC, Pfizer Ukraine LLC, Pfizer Vaccines LLC, Pfizer Venezuela S.A., Pfizer Venture Investments LLC, Pfizer Ventures LLC, Pfizer Worldwide Services Unlimited Company, Pfizer Zona Franca S.A., Pfizer spol. s r.o., Pharmacia, Pharmacia & Upjohn Company Inc., Pharmacia & Upjohn Company LLC, Pharmacia & Upjohn LLC, Pharmacia & Upjohn S.A. de C.V., Pharmacia Brasil Ltda., Pharmacia Hepar LLC, Pharmacia Holding AB, Pharmacia Inter-American LLC, Pharmacia International B.V., Pharmacia LLC, Pharmacia Limited, Pharmacia Nostrum S.A., Pharmacia South Africa (Pty) Ltd, PowderJect Research Limited, PowderMed, Purepac Pharmaceutical Holdings LLC, Redvax, Renrall LLC, Rinat Neuroscience, Rinat Neuroscience Corp., Roerig Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda., Roerig S.A., Sao Cristovao Participacoes Ltda., Searle Laboratorios Lda., Serenex, Servicios P&U S. de R.L. de C.V., Shiley LLC, Sinergis Farma-Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda., Site Realty Inc., Solinor LLC, Sugen LLC, Tabor LLC, The Pfizer Incubator LLC, Therachon, Thiakis Limited, Treerly Health Co. Ltd, US Oral Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd, Upjohn Laboratorios Lda., Vesteralens Naturprodukter A/S, Vesteralens Naturprodukter AB, Vesteralens Naturprodukter AS, Vesteralens Naturprodukter OY, Vicuron Holdings LLC, Vinci Farma S.A., W-L LLC, Warner Lambert, Warner Lambert Ilac Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Warner Lambert del Uruguay S.A., Warner-Lambert (Thailand) Limited, Warner-Lambert Company AG, Warner-Lambert Company LLC, Warner-Lambert Guatemala Sociedad Anonima, Warner-Lambert S.A., Whitehall International Inc., Whitehall Laboratories Inc., Wyeth (Thailand) Ltd., Wyeth AB, Wyeth Australia Pty. Limited, Wyeth Ayerst Inc., Wyeth Ayerst S.a r.l., Wyeth Biopharma, Wyeth Canada ULC, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare LLC, Wyeth Europa Limited, Wyeth Farma S.A., Wyeth Holdings LLC, Wyeth Industria Farmaceutica Ltda., Wyeth KFT., Wyeth LLC, Wyeth Lederle S.r.l., Wyeth Lederle Vaccines S.A., Wyeth Pakistan Limited, Wyeth Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Company, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals FZ-LLC, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals LLC, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Limited, Wyeth Puerto Rico Inc., Wyeth S.A.S, Wyeth Subsidiary Illinois Corporation, Wyeth Whitehall Export GmbH, Wyeth Whitehall SARL, Wyeth-Ayerst (Asia) Limited, Wyeth-Ayerst International LLC, and Wyeth-Ayerst Promotions Limited. Read More A proposed ordinance under debate in Carlisle Borough would make it public policy to foster equality and equal opportunity with a volunteer human relations commission, a complaint procedure and a mediation process. Up for vote on Dec. 8, the Borough of Carlisle Human Relations Ordinance would make it unlawful for anyone to engage in discrimination related to employment, housing and commercial property or any public accommodation where it is not currently prohibited by other state or federal laws. Pennsylvania's Human Relations Act which the ordinance largely mirrors currently provides these protections, including protection from discrimination at public accommodations, to all of these classes of people except sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. Carlisle's proposed ordinance would expand protection to those three groups. The ordinance defines public accommodation as the ability of an individual to access food, beverages, lodging, resort or amusement which is open to, accepts or solicits the patronage of the general public. It does not apply to accommodations that are, by nature, distinctly private." The ordinance would outlaw prohibited acts of discrimination based on race, color, religious creed, ancestry, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, handicap or the use of a guide or support animal because of blindness, deafness or handicap. Such acts would include retaliation against a person who opposes discrimination or a person who has made a charge, testified or assisted in the investigation of alleged discrimination. It would also include acts that aid, abet, incite, compel or coerce others into committing discrimination. There is only one exception to the rules set forth in the ordinance. Notwithstanding any other provision of this ordinance, it shall not be an unlawful practice for a religious corporation or association to commit any of the acts, the ordinance reads. If a person feels they have been discriminated against in violation of the ordinance, the commission can attempt to mediate the claim and reach an amicable resolution. Council member Sean Shultz, who is also an attorney, said the commission largely is set up to divert cases away from the courts through alternative dispute resolution. If an amicable agreement can not be reached, the aggrieved person can file a claim in the Court of Common Pleas. Individuals who feel they have been discriminated against on a basis aside from sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression can file a claim based on the state law or the local ordinance. Claims for discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression would be brought based on the new ordinance, Shultz said. "The Court of Common Pleas can be the provided administrator for local ordinances," Shultz said. The court can impose penalties up to $50,000 if it finds the ordinance has been violated. The penalties are based on the state Human Relations Act and change as the state law changes. The ordinance was advanced Nov. 10 from the Employee Relations and Citizen Participation Committee to Borough Council. Council voted 5-2 to direct borough solicitor Keith Brenneman to review, approve and advertise the anti-discrimination ordinance, which would provide protections to those in the LGBTQ community and create a four-person Human Relations Committee. Councilors Perry Heath and Connie Bires voted against the action, as well as against the subsequent motion, which tabled a resolution Heath proposed after the ordinance was initially introduced. His resolution, like the ordinance, was advanced out of the ERCP commission earlier that night. By tabling the resolution, it will be discussed along with the anti-discrimination ordinance during councils Dec. 8 meeting, where action on one or both items could potentially take place. The commission If the ordinance is adopted on Dec. 8, council would have the authority to appoint a four-member commission of borough residents or business owners to staggered terms of three years each. That way the terms of different members would expire each year. By adopting the ordinance, council is saying the commission would be supported by volunteer efforts and unpaid staff with an operating budget as close to zero cost as possible, according to the wording. If council decides to allocate funds in the future, the ordinance states the commission can only exceed budget with council approval. The four commission members would serve as volunteers and would be required to attend training sessions on not only the function of the commission under the borough ordinance, but on the operation of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and the terms, conditions and provisions of the state Human Relations Act. Every year, the commission would pick a member to serve as the chairperson responsible for directing the training and for coordinating the groups activities, meetings and operations. This chairperson would designate one member to receive a complaint and conduct an intake meeting with the party making the complaint. This designated member would not be allowed to participate in any mediation or vote on the disposition of any complaint for which he or she handled the intake. The complaint procedure The ordinance would also establish a procedure for individuals to file complaints and for the commission to process what is submitted. This procedure would start with any person aggrieved by any practice made unlawful under the ordinance. The commission would be allowed to develop and distribute a standard form individuals could use to prepare and submit a complaint. A complaint filed not using the form would still be acceptable so long as the alleged facts are clearly stated. The commission would have the option of providing a consultation service with a volunteer trained to assist individuals in discerning the facts relevant to their complaint. The aggrieved person would have 180 days from the date of the last act giving rise to the complaint to submit the paper work either in person at the borough managers office or by mail addressed to the borough manager or the commission member designated to handle intake. Each complaint must include the name, phone number, mailing address and email address of both the aggrieved person and the parties they allege committed an act of discrimination. The complaint must also include a concise statement of the facts including the date, time and location of the alleged incident; a list of the people involved and a description of the act or acts. Any complaint submitted to the borough manager must be forwarded to the commission chairperson within 10 days. The manager must mark each complaint with the date on which it was received. Within 30 days of receiving a complaint, the commission must send a copy of the document to the person or persons charged with a prohibited act under the ordinance. The commission must also send a notice to the person making the complaint to verify that the paper work had been received and processed. If the complaint alleges discrimination, as defined under state or federal law, the notice would also include information on how the person could file a complaint with the state Human Relations Commission, the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, whichever one applies. Both parties will receive written notification of their option to proceed to voluntary mediation so they could resolve whatever gave rise to the complaint. The person or persons charged with discrimination would have 30 days upon receiving the complaint to file an answer with either the borough manager or the designated commission member. Mediation process Within 30 days of receiving that answer, the commission must refer the matter to a recognized alternative dispute-resolution service. The parties would be responsible for any costs associated with the mediation. The ordinance states dispute-resolution could take the form of a service offered through Cumberland County, the county bar association or any professional mediation service provider. The matter could also be referred to a licensed member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association who would be willing to offer the service to the commission as a volunteer. The parties involved may jointly select the mediator. If they cant agree, the commission has the authority to act as the mediator with a minimum of two eligible commission members. The public would not be allowed to attend the private mediation sessions. The commission would deem the complaint resolved if the mediation results in an amicable resolution. It will then notify the parties that the complaint has been dismissed. However, the parties would have the right to carry the matter over into the county Court of Common Pleas if the complaint is not resolved through mediation. Any person found in violation of this ordinance may be subject by county court or by any court to penalties spelled out under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. The borough specifically mentions how anti-discrimination protections are extended to include actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Sentinel reporter Joshua Vaughn contributed to this story. Most students dread a visit to the school office and the prospect of being written up by the principal. But at Letort Elementary School in Carlisle, positive office referrals for being respectful, responsible, caring and trustworthy can earn a child a special trophy at the end of a marking period. They get written up for making good, smart choices, Guidance Counselor Ann Gerras said. The principal meets with them. I meet with them. An office referral is mailed home to parents. Twelve students in grades K-5 were honored Friday with Character Education trophies. Each student was encouraged to bring along a classmate to share in the fun of a pizza party luncheon sponsored by Ahold USA, owner of the Giant Food store chain. The Carlisle headquarters of Ahold recently held a food drive and then donated the items to Letort a Title I school with a large percentage of economically disadvantaged students, Gerras said. Arrangements were then made between school officials and Ahold to have company representatives meet students recognized for displaying positive character traits. Friday was also Spirit Day at Letort and students at the school were wearing fake mustaches. Ahold representatives were invited to join in on the fun as they shared a meal with the students. The school has since distributed the food to needy families. Here is the revised Human Relations Commission ordinance proposed for the Borough of Carlisle and posted Nov. 1 on the borough website: BOROUGH OF CARLISLE CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA Section 1 Short title. This ordinance shall be known as the "Borough of Carlisle Human Relations Ordinance." Section 1-2 Purpose; declaration of policy. A. The Borough of Carlisle finds that it is of high public importance to adopt appropriate legislation to insure that all persons, regardless of actual or perceived race, color, religious creed, ancestry, sex, national origin, handicap, use of guide or support animals because of blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the user or because the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide animals, or sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, enjoy the full benefits of citizenship and are afforded equal opportunities for employment, housing and public accommodation. B. The Council of Carlisle Borough hereby declares it to be the public policy of the Borough to foster equality and equal opportunity for all citizens, regardless of actual or perceived race, color, religious creed, ancestry, sex, national origin, handicap or use of guide or support animals because of blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the user or because the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide animals, or because of an individual's sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, in all matters affecting employment, housing and commercial property and public accommodation, and to safeguard the right of all persons to remain free from discrimination or discriminatory practices in any of the foregoing aspects of their lives. C. Nothing in this ordinance shall be construed as supporting, endorsing or advocating any particular doctrine, point of view, or religious belief. On the contrary, it is the express purpose and intent of this ordinance that all persons be treated fairly and equally and that all persons in Carlisle Borough be guaranteed fair and equal treatment under law. D. This ordinance shall be deemed an exercise of the police power of the Borough of Carlisle, as provided under the Pennsylvania Municipal Code, for the protection of the public welfare, prosperity, health and peace of the community of Carlisle Borough. Section 1-3 Definitions; construal of terms. A. The following words and phrases, when appearing in this ordinance, shall have the meanings given to them under this section: Borough Means the Borough of Carlisle, County of Cumberland, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Borough Council Borough Council of the Borough of Carlisle. Discrimination Any discriminatory act(s) taken by any person, employer, entity, employment agency, or labor organization, with respect to or involving a transaction related to employment or public accommodations, on the basis of a person's actual or perceived race, color, religious creed, ancestry, sex, national origin, handicap or use of guide or support animals because of blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the user or because the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide animals, or because of an individual's sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Discriminatory acts All acts or actions defined in the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act[1] as unlawful discriminatory practices as related to employment, public accommodations, publicly offered commercial property or housing accommodations on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religious creed, ancestry, sex, national origin, handicap or use of guide or support animals because of blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the user or because the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide animals, or because of an individual's sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. The below rights are hereby recognized as and declared to be civil rights, which shall be enforceable as set forth in Section 4 of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. (1) Employment The opportunity for an individual to obtain employment for which he is qualified. (2) Public accommodation The opportunity for an individual to access food, beverages, lodging, resort or amusement which is open to, accepts or solicits the patronage of the general public, but shall not include any accommodations that are in their nature distinctly private. (3) Commercial property or housing The opportunity for an individual to obtain any commercial property or housing accommodation for which he is qualified. Employee Does not include any individuals who, as a part of their employment, reside in the personal residence of the employer. Employer Any person who employs one or more employees, including the Borough, its departments, boards and commissions, and any other government agency within the jurisdiction of the Borough, save those of any government agency whose laws may be deemed preemptive of this ordinance. Gender identity or expression Self-perception, or perception by others, as male or female, including an individual's appearance, behavior, or physical characteristics, that may be in accord with, or opposed to, one's physical anatomy, chromosomal sex, or assigned sex at birth, and that shall include, but is not limited to, persons who are undergoing or who have completed sex reassignment, are transgender, or are gender-variant. Ordinance This ordinance, which shall be referred to as the "Borough of Carlisle Human Relations Ordinance." Person Any natural person, fraternal, civic or other membership organization, corporation, general or limited partnership, proprietorship, limited-liability company, or similar business organization, including the Borough, its departments, boards and commissions, and any other for-profit and nonprofit organization. Sexual orientation Actual or perceived homosexuality, heterosexuality and/or bisexuality. [1] Editor's Note: See 43 P.S. 951 et seq. B. Any terms of this ordinance not expressly defined herein shall be construed in a manner consistent with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. Section 1-4 Prohibited acts. A. Discrimination in employment, housing and commercial property or any public accommodation is prohibited under this ordinance. B. Retaliation against any individual because such person has opposed any practice forbidden by this ordinance or because such person has made a charge, testified, or assisted in any manner in any investigation or proceeding under this ordinance is prohibited under this ordinance. C. Aiding, abetting, inciting, compelling or coercing the doing of any act declared by this ordinance to be an unlawful practice, or obstructing or preventing any person from complying with the provisions of this ordinance, is prohibited under this ordinance. Exception. Notwithstanding any other provision of this ordinance, it shall not be an unlawful practice for a religious corporation or association to commit any of the acts as defined in Section 1-4 of this ordinance. Section 1-5 Human Relations Commission. A. Pursuant to the authority set forth under 962.1 of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, 43 P.S. 962.1, there is hereby established a Human Relations Commission for the Borough of Carlisle, which shall be known as the "Borough of Carlisle Human Relations Commission." B. The Borough of Carlisle Human Relations Commission shall consist of four members, who shall be appointed to terms of three years by the Carlisle Borough Council. The terms of the members of the Commission shall be staggered, such that the terms of 1/3 of the members of the Commission shall expire each year. All members of the Commission shall be residents or business owners of the Borough of Carlisle and shall serve without compensation. C. The Chairperson of the Commission will designate one member as needed to receive a complaint and conduct an intake meeting with the complainants. The member charged with this duty shall not participate in any mediations involving parties to the complaint for which they handled the intake, nor shall this member vote on complaints brought in front of the Commission. D. The Human Relations Commission shall, annually, designate one member to serve as Chairperson of the Commission. The Chairperson shall be responsible for coordinating the activities, meetings, and operations of the Commission, as set forth under this ordinance. The Chairperson shall also report, from time to time, to the President of the Board of Commissioners regarding the activities of the Commission. E. Members of the Commission shall, as soon after their appointment as practical, attend such training and education seminars or sessions as deemed necessary to acquaint themselves with the functioning of the Borough of Carlisle Human Relations Commission under this ordinance, as well as the terms, conditions and provisions of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, and the operation of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. Such training and education shall be as directed by the Chairperson and shall be performed in conjunction with the State Human Relations Commission. F. The Carlisle Borough Human Relations Commission shall have all of those powers necessary to execute the duties set forth under this ordinance, provided that such powers shall not exceed those exercised by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. G. The Carlisle Borough Human Relations Commission shall operate within the scope of funds that may be allocated, on an annual basis, by the Borough Council and shall not exceed the annual allocation in any year, except upon prior approval by the Borough Council. In adopting this ordinance, the Borough Council hereby expresses its intention that the operation of the Carlisle Borough Human Relations Commission under this ordinance shall be supported by volunteers, unpaid staff, and volunteer efforts and shall be as close to "zero cost" to the Borough as reasonably feasible. Section 1-6 Procedures for filing complaints. A. Any person claiming to be aggrieved by a practice that is made unlawful under this ordinance may make, sign and file a verified complaint, as provided under Subsection B of this section, alleging violations of this ordinance. Such complaint shall, at a minimum, contain the following information: (1) The name, telephone number, mailing address and e-mail address (if applicable) of the aggrieved person(s); (2) The name, telephone number, mailing address and e-mail address (if applicable) of the person(s) alleged to have committed the prohibited practice; (3) A concise statement of the facts, including pertinent dates, time, locations, people, and acts involved constituting the alleged discriminatory practice; (4) Such other information as may be required by the Commission. B. Complaints may be filed in person at the office of the Borough Manager or by mailing such complaints to the Borough offices to the attention of the Borough Manager or the member of the Commission designated to handle intake. All such complaints must be received by the Borough within 180 days of the occurrence of the last act giving rise to the complaint, or such complaint shall be dismissed as untimely. C. The Borough Manager shall transmit all complaints received to the Chairperson of the Commission not later than 10 days after receipt of the complaint. The Borough Manager shall conspicuously mark the face of the complaint with the date the document was first received in the Borough offices. D. The Commission may promulgate forms for use by persons wishing to file a complaint; however, complaints that are prepared without the use of an approved form shall be deemed acceptable under this ordinance so long as the facts set forth under Subsection A of this section can be clearly determined from the document submitted as a complaint. E. The Commission may provide for a process by which persons seeking to file a complaint may consult with a volunteer or other staff person affiliated with the Commission who is trained to assist the prospective complainant in discerning the facts relevant to the prospective complaint. Such process shall also include referral of additional information to the prospective complainant concerning the content of this ordinance, the content of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, and the availability of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission as an additional venue within which the prospective complainant may seek redress when possible. Section 1-7 Notifications by Commission; filing of answer by respondent. A. Within 30 days of the receipt of a complaint, the Commission shall: (1) Send a copy of the complaint to the person(s) charged with a discriminatory act or practice under this ordinance (the "respondent"), together with a copy of this ordinance. (2) Send a notice to the complainant, informing him or her that the complaint has been accepted and processed by the Commission. If the complaint alleges discrimination on a basis proscribed under federal or state law, the notice shall also inform the complainant of his or her right to file a complaint with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission or the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, as well as the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, where applicable. (3) Notify the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission of the filing of any complaint that may be deemed to be within the jurisdiction of that Commission, as required under the Human Relations Act. (4) Include a notice to both the complainant and the respondent(s) of their option to elect to proceed to voluntary mediation in order to resolve the matters giving rise to the complaint. B. The respondent(s) shall file a written verified answer to the complaint within 30 days of service of the complaint. An answer shall be filed in the same manner as a complaint. Section 1-8 Mediation. A. Within 30 days of receipt of an answer to a complaint or, where no answer is filed, within 60 days of service of the complaint upon the respondent(s), the Commission shall proceed in accordance with the following options, in the event that both parties have consented to mediation under Section 1-7 A(4): (1) The Commission shall refer the matter to a recognized alternative dispute-resolution service, which same service may be provided through Cumberland County, the Cumberland County Bar Association, or any other professional mediation service provider, or may refer the matter to a licensed member of the Pennsylvania Bar who may be willing to perform service to the Commission as a volunteer mediator. Any costs or expenses that may be associated with the mediation shall be the responsibility of the parties. (2) The parties shall jointly select the mediator, however, the Commission shall retain the authority to act as the mediator in the event that the parties have agreed to mediation but cannot jointly agree on a mediator. Mediation sessions conducted by the Commission may proceed with a minimum of two eligible Commission members. Mediation sessions shall remain private and not otherwise subject to public attendance. B. When mediation has resulted in an amicable resolution of the complaint and the complaint is resolved, the Commission shall notify the parties that the complaint has been dismissed and shall record the result of the mediation in the notice of dismissal. C. In the event that the complaint has not been resolved through mediation, the parties are entitled to proceed to the Court of Common Pleas in Cumberland County. Section 1-9 Nonlimitation of remedies. Nothing contained in this ordinance shall be deemed to limit the right of an aggrieved person to recover under any other applicable law or legal theory. Section 1-10 Effect on other filings. This ordinance shall have no jurisdiction over matters that are the subject of pending or prior filings made by an aggrieved person before any state or federal court or agency of competent jurisdiction. Section 1-11 Violations and penalties. Any person who shall violate any provision of Section 1-4 of this ordinance may be subject by the Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas, or by any court of competent jurisdiction, to the penalties enumerated in Section 9(f)(1) and (2) and Sections 9.2, 9.3, 10 and 11 of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.[1] The penalties contained in this ordinance shall mirror any future changes to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act as adopted by the General Assembly and approved by the Governor. A. This ordinance extends the protections of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to include actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. B. The penalties included in the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act shall be extended to include all protected classes enumerated in the Borough of Carlisle Human Relations Ordinance. Ask a supporter of President Barack Obama to list his greatest achievements and they will likely mention one of the following: Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) which has insured 20 million Americans. Repealing of Dont Ask, Dont Tell allowing members of the LGBT community to openly serve in the military. Authorizing the strike to kill Osama bin Laden. Supporting the auto industry after the market crash of 2008-2009. What about his greatest failures: Our ineffectiveness against ISIS. The humanitarian crises in Syria. The Benghazi embassy disaster. An NPR discussion caught my attention last week when the speaker said Obamas greatest failure was his inability to translate his personal popularity into enthusiasm for the Democrat party. In 2008 Obama won the election over John McCain by 9.5 million votes 69.5 million to 60 million. In 2012 he recorded 66 million votes to defeat Mitt Romney who tallied 61 million votes. Closer than 2008, but still a solid win. Comparatively, Hillary Clinton received 61 million votes to President Elect Trumps 60 million. Here are the shocking realities of Obamas eight years. When Obama was elected in 2008, compared to post 2016 election: The number of Democrat governors has gone from 38 to 16, including blue state Vermont. Democrats in the U.S. Senate went from 58 (plus two independents who caucused with them) to 46. Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives went from 257 to 194. Control of state legislatures also shrunk with the Democrat Party now controlling only 11 state Senates and 18 state Houses. Republicans have 37 and 31 respectively. State legislature membership flipped dramatically. In 2008 there were 1064 Democrat state senators and today there are 818. State representative losses are worse declining from 2,964 to 2,332. Combined, the loss of state house seats is roughly 900. The Democrat party now has only six trifectas (control of the governorship and both state chambers) in only six states, down from 15 in 2008. Conversely, Republican trifectas have increased from nine to 25. It is difficult to determine exactly what got this ball rolling downhill, but my own analysis is that in each election since 2008 the ball has picked up speed and continues to roll over the party each election cycle. The losses did not come in one large wave but rather in a steady stream, election after election, pacing with the presidents unilateral actions, i.e. executive orders that did far more to change the political landscape than any legislative action. As the president pressed his will on the American people they fought back with the most effective weapon available the ballot. The president will leave office with the Democrat party at its weakest point in the history of the party. There is a great lesson here for President-Elect Trump and the Republican Party. President Trump can act metronomically, swinging just as fast and far to the right as President Obama did left, but risking the same outcome; or he can act in a measured way that respects our nations divided electorate. In Trump-speak, the president can go for the kill while his opponent is weak, or he can opt to build a lasting brand by building a coalition. He can be selfless or selfish, but he must realize that the 2018 and 2020 elections will determine who has the power to redistrict and therefore reshape American politics for decades to come. This will be President Trumps Robert Frost Two Roads moment, and I pray he takes the road less traveled, and finds the reward as just as fair. A woman who operated a psychic readings business in Albemarle County was sentenced Friday to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay $5.4 million in restitution to the clients she defrauded. More than two years after authorities raided her business, Readings by Catherine, on U.S. 29, 42-year-old Sandra Marks appeared in federal court in Charlottesville on Friday to be sentenced after pleading guilty to fraud and money laundering. According to her April 2015 indictment, which originally charged her with 31 counts of wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud and one count of money laundering, Marks business offered services such as astrological and spiritual readings to clients who had suffered from emotional distress and mental disorders and, based on false promises, obtained money, jewelry and other valuables from those clients in the process. Marks would tell her clients that she had spoken to spirits and learned of a curse or dark cloud surrounding the clients families, according to the indictment. She would then bury a box of the clients money or valuables and cleanse the box through prayers, rituals or meditation, telling the clients that money was the root of all evil. Prosecutor Ron Huber said Friday that while Marks promised the money and valuables would be returned to the clients once they were cleansed, that end of the deal was never kept, with her instead using the money to fund a lavish lifestyle. Providing relief was never in Ms. Marks plans, Huber said. In court, Huber spoke about the victims of Marks scheme, noting that one who suffered from ALS had been forced to go back to work up until the Friday before she died. Another victim, a senior, also had gone back to work to recoup his losses. One victim submitted a letter to the court that was read aloud during Fridays hearing. The victim gave Marks $750,000 under Marks pretense that the victims parents were evil and that the money would help to cleanse the victims bloodline. When the victim asked for her money to be returned, she was intimidated by Marks, whom the victim called manipulative, cunning and evil. Im embarrassed to say I fell for her scheme, the victim said in the letter. She cannot be trusted. Huber said he worried that Marks would return to her fraudulent ways upon release, and said her husband was equally culpable for the damages. Speaking on behalf of his client, attorney Bill Dinkin said Marks had fully cooperated with police upon her arrest, and had even provided damning information against her husband, with whom she was extremely close. Dinkin also spoke at length about how Marks had come from a gypsy culture and that she had a dysfunctional home that limited her to getting only a first-grade education, which she had risen above in order to start a family and make a living. He said some clients had contacted him, saying Marks service had brought them some spiritual peace. Judge Glen Conrad said Friday that the case was not a typical white collar offense, and noted that Marks had done well for herself, considering her background. That said, he shared Hubers concern that Marks might fall back into her fraudulent ways, because there is not a Better Business Bureau for palm readers that could inhibit her from starting a new psychic readings business. On top of that, Marks had indeed defrauded clients of millions of dollars, he said. Were talking about awfully big chunks of money, Conrad said. Ultimately, Conrad sentenced Marks to 30 months in prison and ordered her to pay restitution of $5.4 million. She already has served 16 months at the Central Virginias Regional Jail. Upon release, she will be under a strict supervision for three years. Updated at 6:30 p.m. One person is in custody after an incident on Lake Monticello Road on Friday afternoon left a man with gunshot wounds. Fluvanna County sheriffs deputies are investigating the incident, which began around 1:30 p.m. Friday. Authorities are looking for two to three additional suspects, one of whom may be in a light-grey Lexus SUV with a blue handicap placard on the window. He is described as a light-skinned black man with possible injuries, according to a spokeswoman for the Sheriffs Office. Authorities are currently working the scene and are still putting the pieces together, according to Sheriff Eric Hess. He said the property owner at the scene of the incident was shot twice in the leg and suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The victim was transported to the University of Virginia Medical Center, Hess said. Fluvanna County schools were placed on modified lockdown for about an hour, before buses began to transport students at 4:30 p.m. All afterschool activities were canceled. Anyone with information is asked to call the Fluvanna County Sheriffs Office at (434) 589-8211. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fluvanna County sheriffs deputies are investigating an incident on Lake Monticello Road in which a victim allegedly suffered a gunshot wound. The incident began around 1:30 p.m. Friday. Authorities currently are looking for one to three suspects, one of whom may be in a light-grey Lexus SUV with a blue handicap placard on the window. He is described as a light-skinned black man with possible injuries, according to a spokeswoman for the Sheriffs Office. Fluvanna County schools also were placed on modified lockdown for about an hour, before buses began to transport students at 4:30 p.m. All afterschool activities were canceled. The man who informed on the members of his gang that killed a reserve police captain will only serve three more years in prison after pleading guilty to federal racketeering charges. Devante Bell, 22, was sentenced to a total of 66 months behind bars on Friday in federal court in Charlottesville for his part in the 99 Goon Syndikate, an affiliate of the Bloods street gang. Bell was one of nine people indicted in connection to the 2014 abduction and slaying of Waynesboro reserve police Capt. Kevin Quick. In September, four of those nine were given life sentences for Quicks killing. Earlier this year, Bell agreed to provide information to the federal government about the gang in exchange for a reduced prison sentence. He pleaded guilty to a racketeering charge, with other charges related to his participation in a string of robberies around Central Virginia being dismissed. In court Friday, a judge said he agreed that Bells participation in the gang was not so substantial as to warrant a sentence within the sentencing guideline range of 97 to 121 months. Earlier this month, prosecutor Ron Huber filed a motion to have Bells sentence reduced as a result of his compliance with the federal investigation into the gang, saying Friday that Bell cooperated within days of his arrest and provided particularly difficult testimony against his former gang affiliates, including one of his own brothers. Speaking to his role within the gang, Bells attorney, Lloyd Snook, said his client had been an early member of the gang, young and impressionable at the time of its inception and pressured into its midst by his older brother. During his time with the gang, he participated in several robberies with Anthony White, who was sentenced in September to 83 months on the same federal racketeering charge. Snook noted that no one was hurt in the robberies, although Huber countered that emotional damage likely was inflicted on the victims. That said, Bell still did not convey the same braggadocio and erratic behaviors as the others indicted in the gang, and had attempted to retreat from its activities by the time he was arrested, Snook said. Judge Glen Conrad said Friday that he recalled hearing Bell testify in open court against his former associates, and that he understood the difficulty of giving up damning information about his own brother. Clearly, you did not want to be there, Conrad said. I know it wasnt an easy thing to do. Despite Bell living outside of federal laws for a short period of time, Conrad granted the governments motion for a reduced sentence. With Huber recommending 73 months of prison time and Snook asking for a 44-month sentence, Conrad elected to sentence Bell to 66 months. With 30 months already served, Bell will only face three more years in prison. Upon his release, he will be on supervised release for three years. Conrad also imposed a $500 fine, in the hopes that Bell will begin a work detail in prison, and added that he will have to pay $12,369 in restitution to the victims of his robberies. Two more individuals in the Quick case are scheduled for sentencing in Roanoke later this month. The public is invited to get served by local police as officers serve up burgers to collect donations for Special Olympics Virginia. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and again from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Albemarle County police officers and other local law enforcement will be at the Red Robin in Fashion Square mall, serving up burgers. The Albemarle department has been involved in the Tip-A-Cop fundraiser for many years. On Saturday, the officers will help take orders, serve food and bus tables. Customers can place a separate tip for Special Olympics in an envelope on their table. The tip is in addition to the normal gratuity left for the server, and the donations are tax deductible. Updated at 8:39 p.m. A University of Virginia police officer accused of yelling Make America Great Again into his vehicles public address system has resigned. We believe any reasonable person would conclude that the inappropriate use of the PA system undermines the departments goals and objectives and is detrimental to the departments operation and the efficiency of the department, read a joint statement from UVa Police Chief Michael A. Gibson and Patrick D. Hogan, UVas chief operating officer. During the investigation of this incident, the officer responsible for making the address over the PA took responsibility for his actions and has resigned, the statement said. An investigation by the university determined that two other officers initially implicated in the incident did not use the PA system. The university originally put three officers on administrative leave in connection with the incident, which took place in the early hours of the morning after the presidential election. Students who were unhappy about the direction the elections had taken reported hearing the officer shouting the slogan used by President-elect Donald Trump on the campaign trail into a megaphone, said UVa President Teresa A. Sullivan. Recounting the incident to the universitys Board of Visitors earlier this month, Sullivan said it was a part of a rising tone of incivility on Grounds during the divisive election season. The incident angered some students on Grounds, including a group of demonstrators who temporarily took over a Board of Visitors meeting in the Rotunda. The protesters mostly were concerned about the fate of undocumented students and workers once Trump takes office, asking the UVa administration to do what it can to protect them. But they also saw the open support for Trump by officers as a troubling sign. Gibson and Hogan said they want to make sure everyone at UVa is treated with dignity and respect by the universitys police force. UPD remains committed to the highest professional standards in law enforcement and will work tirelessly to enhance the safety of our living and learning environment, they wrote. Dear Editor: In reference to the Backroad and byway pooling column in The Sentinel, Nov. 12, I am making a bold prediction, that the polling methods used in this election will, in upcoming history and soul-searching articles, draw parallels to the fatal polling mistake made by the Literary Digest in the 1936 election. That election of 1936 had Republican Alfred Landon running against Franklin D. Roosevelt. In the middle of the Great Depression, 9 million or more people were unemployed and telephones were a luxury. The Literary Digest generated a list of 10 million names obtained from telephone directories, magazine subscribers, clubs and associations and other sources, then mailed a mock ballot to names on this list and asked that the marked ballot be returned to the magazine. Out of 10 million mailings, 2.4 million mock ballots were received. The prediction was 57 percent for Landon and 43 percent for FDR. In the election FDR won, 62 percent to 38 percent. Clearly the massive sample size was slanted toward that class of voters who had telephones and disposable income enough to belong to clubs and associations. By default their method excluded lower incomes and the unemployed. Even in this massive sample, selection and non-response bias badly skewed the results It will be curious to see how the pollsters will be writing about their methods, selection bias and outcomes in the upcoming months and whether they will be drawing parallels to the Literary Digest of 1936. John J. Bartko Newville BLACKSBURG Steve Bannon, now in the national spotlight as a Donald Trump administration appointee, got early political experience winning a campaign for Virginia Techs Student Government Association president in 1975. Bannon, recently appointed as Trumps chief strategist, got his bachelors degree in urban affairs in 1976 from Tech, where he also served as the SGA president in his senior year. Hes been a lightning rod for controversy since working on Trumps campaign and managing the controversial Breitbart.com, which hes called the platform for the alt-right. His appointment was largely met with criticism from both conservative and liberal groups. What was he like when he as at Tech? Some of those interviewed for this story who voted for Bannon at Tech said they liked him. He was very approachable and very engaging, said Mark Krivoruchka, a classmate who worked a little bit on Bannons campaign. He was popular. He was very articulate and good looking, said Mike McLaughlin, one of Bannons opponents for the student body presidency. I remember he had very attractive young ladies around him all the time. Bannon won the SGA election with 2,676 votes, compared with 1,080 and 688 for the second and third place finishers, according to a 1975 Roanoke Times article about the race. SGA Candidates usually deal in Platitudes, Promises and Slogans, read a campaign flier for Bannons candidacy, now archived in Techs Newman Libraries Special Collections. We believe the concerns of our campus are too serious to be dealt with so evasively. The campaign became somewhat divisive and contentious on campus, some of his classmates said. It just wasnt fun, said Marshall DeBerry, who finished third in the election and hasnt interacted with Bannon since then. It was very negative stuff. Upon reflection, Trumps campaign seemed somewhat similar to the student body presidential campaign I faced in 1975. According to Bannons campaign flier, he was focused on improving student life policies, the library and making more housing available for Tech students. Darell Nevin, Bannons former roommate at Blacksburgs Stonegate Apartments, said he remembered Bannon running as the anti-establishment candidate in what he recalls as a competitive election. Things now are colored by the past, Nevin said. He hasnt spoken to Bannon in decades, he said. DeBerry said he didnt remember a lot of specifics from the campaign. Most of what he remembered was what he called misdirection from Bannon, specifically during a debate at the Squires Student Center broadcast by campus radio station WUVT. DeBerry, who recently retired as a federal employee, said many students in the audience heckled him during the debate and cheered when Bannon spoke. McLaughlin, who finished second in the race, remembers a simple explanation for the atmosphere at the debate. There was free beer, he said. Thats why most people came. *** McLaughlin and fellow classmate Krivoruchka, neither of whom have maintained any kind of relationship with Bannon, didnt remember much controversy. Krivoruchka said that in the wake of the Watergate scandal and resignation of President Richard Nixon, it was a chaotic time period that lent itself to rigorous debate. All students were highly idealistic, like they are today, he said. They all want to save the world and he [Bannon] wanted that, too. Nevin said the quotes and articles about his former roommate have been amazing to see. Its also been ugly, he said. McLaughlin said Bannon was an outgoing and personable student. He said they worked together in the Student Senate, where McLaughlin became an Engineering College senator after losing the presidential election. Over the years, Bannon maintained a relationship with his alma mater. As recently as 2010, he was a member of the National Campaign Steering Committee, a group designed to raise money for Tech. He also was listed as a member of a College of Architecture and Urban Studies advisory committee in 2002. The university, upon questions from The Roanoke Times, released this statement from spokeswoman Tracy Vosburgh: A number of people have reached out to university officials to make sure we know that Mr. Bannon graduated from Virginia Tech but we have not heard a groundswell of feedback from alumni, students, faculty or staff. On social media, as you have probably noticed, weve seen a mix of reactions. *** Former Tech rector and Roanoke lawyer John Rocovich said he is delighted to have an influential person in Trumps administration come from the university. As for criticism of Bannon, Rocovich said he doesnt really believe the spin doctors. I think its just wonderful for Virginia Tech to have a graduate so high up in the White House, he said. Bannons mere status as a Tech graduate was one of several reasons cited by Techs Faculty Senate during a meeting last week to unanimously pass a resolution affirming the universitys pillars of community, which support principles such as diversity, the right to open expression and rejecting prejudice. The resolution was passed as a message of support to any who may feel increasingly marginalized. McLaughlin, Bannons former competitor and peer at Tech, said he got along then with the now-controversial Bannon, so news and reactions involving Bannon in recent weeks are surprising. The Steve Bannon I knew at Virginia Tech is not the one I see portrayed in the media, he said. Roanoke Times staff researcher Belinda Harris and The Associated Press contributed to this story. India and UK sign three Bilateral Advance Pricing Agreements Published: November 19, 2016 The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) signed three Bilateral Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) with the Competent Authority of United Kingdom (UK) to reduce tax litigation. Earlier both countries had exchanged mutual agreements amongst them under the Mutual Agreement Procedure (MAP) Article of the India-UK Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC). With this, CBDT so far has entered into 111 APAs. These three APAs cover international transactions in the nature of payment of intra-group service charges and pertain to the telecom industry. They also have a roll-back provision. What is Advance Pricing Agreement (APA) Programme? The APA Programme was introduced by Finance Act, 2012 with a view to provide a predictable and non-adversarial tax regime and to reduce litigation in Indian transfer pricing arena. Rollback of APAs was announced in the Budget in July 2014. An APA is usually signed between taxpayer and central tax authority on an appropriating transfer pricing methodology for determining the value of assets and taxes on intra-group overseas transactions. An APA can be entered into for a maximum of 5 years at a time. It seeks to introduce certainty in tax law by reducing compliance costs and make tax regime investment friendly. It provides certainty to taxpayers regarding transfer pricing that aim to avoid disputes between taxpayer and tax regulator. What are benefits of APAs? Boost to economy and ease of doing business. Provide alternative path to the investors with rollback provision to reduce litigation Strengthen Governments mission of fostering a non-adversarial tax regime. Month: Current Affairs - November, 2016 Topics: Advance Pricing Agreements Business CBDT Economy India-UK National Taxation Latest E-Books A woman who operated a psychic readings business in Albemarle County was sentenced Friday to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay $5.4 million in restitution to the clients she defrauded. More than two years after authorities raided her business, Readings by Catherine, on U.S. 29, 42-year-old Sandra Marks appeared in federal court in Charlottesville on Friday to be sentenced after pleading guilty to fraud and money laundering. According to her April 2015 indictment, which originally charged her with 31 counts of wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud and one count of money laundering, Marks business offered services such as astrological and spiritual readings to clients who had suffered from emotional distress and mental disorders and, based on false promises, obtained money, jewelry and other valuables from those clients in the process. Marks would tell her clients that she had spoken to spirits and learned of a curse or dark cloud surrounding the clients families, according to the indictment. She would then bury a box of the clients money or valuables and cleanse the box through prayers, rituals or meditation, telling the clients that money was the root of all evil. Prosecutor Ron Huber said Friday that while Marks promised the money and valuables would be returned to the clients once they were cleansed, that end of the deal was never kept, with her instead using the money to fund a lavish lifestyle. Providing relief was never in Ms. Marks plans, Huber said. In court, Huber spoke about the victims of Marks scheme, noting that one who suffered from ALS had been forced to go back to work up until the Friday before she died. Another victim, a senior, also had gone back to work to recoup his losses. One victim submitted a letter to the court that was read aloud during Fridays hearing. The victim gave Marks $750,000 under Marks pretense that the victims parents were evil and that the money would help to cleanse the victims bloodline. When the victim asked for her money to be returned, she was intimidated by Marks, whom the victim called manipulative, cunning and evil. Im embarrassed to say I fell for her scheme, the victim said in the letter. She cannot be trusted. Huber said he worried that Marks would return to her fraudulent ways upon release, and said her husband was equally culpable for the damages. Speaking on behalf of his client, attorney Bill Dinkin said Marks had fully cooperated with police upon her arrest, and had even provided damning information against her husband, with whom she was extremely close. Dinkin also spoke at length about how Marks had come from a culture that limited her to only getting a first-grade education, which she had risen above in order to start a family and make a living. He said some clients had contacted him, saying Marks service had brought them some spiritual peace. Judge Glen Conrad said Friday that the case was not a typical white collar offense, and noted that Marks had done well for herself, considering her background. That said, he shared Hubers concern that Marks might fall back into her fraudulent ways, because there is not a Better Business Bureau for palm readers that could inhibit her from starting a new psychic readings business. On top of that, Marks had indeed defrauded clients of millions of dollars, he said. Were talking about awfully big chunks of money, Conrad said. Ultimately, Conrad sentenced Marks to 30 months in prison and ordered her to pay restitution of $5.4 million. She already has served 16 months at the Central Virginias Regional Jail. Upon release, she will be under a strict supervision for three years. Brian Brumfield-Horner is spirited about the alcoholic beverage that is distilled from malted grains, especially barley or rye. Thats why he recently launched The Culpeper Whisky Club for which he is recruiting likeminded members. A 2008 graduate of Culpeper County High School, 27-year-old Brumfield-Horner recently moved back home with his wife, who he met while living in Radford. Shes a hospice nurse and hes studying computer science at community college. In deciding to launch the whisky club, Brumfield-Horner hopes to meet friends and host monthly tastings. He rattled off tons of facts about the alcohol that has various names and varieties including scotch and bourbon and is spelled differently depending on if its American whiskey or European whisky. The Culpeper Whisky Club will taste a little bit of everything, said Brumfield-Horner, including locally produced moonshine, also known as white lightning. My first drink was whiskey and Ive been enthralled with it ever since, he said. It was the American oak and the complexity of all the different types of finish. No two are same. Brumfield-Horner has ambitions of being a whisky ambassador and his passion for the drink is not about getting drunk. Its about the tasting and social aspect that led him to launch the local club. Its for everybody of any experience level, Brumfield-Horner said. Theres definitely a social aspect to it, but it will be nonpolitical. We will never be talking about politics. It will be all about the whisky and the history of it. The new club will not have a membership fee and members will pay a nominal amount per month to try three to four whisky brands per tasting. Tasting whisky is a good way to relax and unwind, Brumfield-Horner said, who prefers his straight up. I hear ice is blasphemous, but I like ice in mine, he said. The requirements for joining The Culpeper Whisky Club are minimalmembers must be 21 or older and interested in meeting new people. Tastings will likely include snacks and good conversation. A venue is still being sought, but Brumfield-Horner said that would be determined as he gauges interest in the club. Its not about getting hammered, its about an experience, he said. To join The Culpeper Whisky Club, message Brumfield-Horner at the Facebook page. He has a bottle of Lagavulincrafted on the Scottish isle of Islay ready for the first tasting. According to a Google search, the closest type group to Culpeper is The Delmarva Whiskey Club of Delaware. That club exists to enjoy whiskeys from around the world, learn about the whiskey industry and to get together with other whiskey drinkers, according to its website. My Depression-era mother always advised, Be careful of what you wish for. Granted wishes sometimes have unintended consequences. With the election over, my Facebook page and email inbox no longer suffer tsunamis of financial appeals or memes. I now can actually find emails from friends and relatives. In the news, we receive reports of how the newly forming administration is doing, what historical milestones it has met, who is in and who is out. During the campaign, we saw President-elect Donald Trump repeatedly shuffle his campaign staff. It appears that the transition staff is going through the same process. Former transition team leader Gov. Chris Christies Bridgegate seems to have tainted him in the eyes certain insiders. Sending the father of Trumps son-in-law to jail didnt help. Although Christie was amazingly loyal to Trump during the campaign, apparently loyalty doesnt win over revenge. Vice President-elect Mike Pence now heads the transition team. This is the same Indiana Gov. Pence who signed a bill that requires women to conduct a funeral if they have a miscarriage. The President-elect promised in the closing weeks of the campaign to drain the swamp in Washington. This is a great cry for a campaign slogan, but his job now is to govern and we already see well-connected political insidersoil and gas lobbyists, lawyers, but not so many conservative think-tank experts and members of the foreign policy establishmentjoining the transition team. It might have been attractive to elect someone without experience or expertise, but most realize that he better have a good co-pilot. House Speaker Paul Ryan may see himself as that co-pilot. The Congress has spent eight years obstructing President Barack Obamas agenda, blocking, tackling and otherwise throwing sand in the gears of the government. Now, the Congress may finally realize it is supposed to be a positive part of the government. Nevertheless, 7th Congressional District Representative David Brat and the shrunken Freedom Caucus have already begun attacking the House leadership. Brat writes on Facebook, When the American people chose a political outsider to be their president, they made it very clear that they are fed up with typical politicians who say one thing to get elected and then govern as if their constituents have short memories. The people are watching closely and they expect their elected representatives to deliver Well see if Ryan can make the House toe a consistent policy line, if there is one.. Steven Bannon, appointed as White House Strategist and Senior Counselor, might also see himself as that co-pilot. His years as a Wall Street insider, however, fade in the view of many who focus on his recent role as head of Breitbart News, the premier website of the alt-right, a loose-knit group of white nationalists and supremacists who are unabashed anti-Semites and racists. This position doesnt require congressional approval, but will attract considerable distracting scrutiny. Republicans spent months during the campaign encouraging Trump to pivot to a more presidential style. He resisted, believing that being as provocative as possible gained him his popularity. No one has a clue how he envisions the role of the president, how he will interact with members of Congress and how he will deal with allies and adversaries. Shortly after the election, Trump tweeted just had a very open and successful presidential election. Now professional protesters, incited by the media, are protesting. Very unfair! Not a ringing endorsement of free speech. Later he complimented the demonstrators on their passion for our great country. Is Trump becoming a politician? Well see. One thing that is hard to see is the restoration of the coal industry, one of Trumps big campaign promises. It is not government regulations that hurt coal; it is economics. Just as battleships shifted from coal to oil, coal must compete with even cheaper oil and gas industries. The strong dollar and low-cost competitors reduce the U.S. export market. Even the coal industry is giving up on miners. Thats why the industry is turning to chopping the tops off mountains. This approach needs fewer miners. Western coal is cheaper than eastern coal for the same reason. The massive coal dust explosion at the West Virginia Upper Big Branch coal mine in April 2010 killed 29 miners. Before this explosion, federal regulators cited the mine for dozens of safety violations. When the boss cuts corners on safety to save money, you know you are in a dying industry. As sympathetic as we may be to them, miners voting for Trump wont bring back the coal industry in the east. They would be better advised to go to North Dakota and protest the oil and gas pipelines. That industry, combined with wind and solar, is what threatens their livelihoods. Looking at how the transition is unfolding, a conservative foreign policy insider wrote, one bad boss can be endured. A gaggle of them will poison all decision making. He advises that people of talent and experience should not volunteer to serve in this administration. No living president supported Trump; top elected Republicans did not endorse him. Watching the transition will be interesting. Looking at the consequences of this election, Im reminded of my mothers voice saying, Be careful of what you wish for The Parkland Health Center Foundation hosted a Foundation Celebration Banquet on Oct. 6. A highlight of the festive evening was the presentation of the first Joyce Buchheit Excellence in HealthCare Award to Dr. Edward DuMontier. Dr. DuMontier recently retired from Medical Arts Clinic after serving as a physician in the area for 27 years. The banquet was attended by foundation board members, hospital staff, and numerous colleagues, friends and family members of the honoree. Dr. DuMontier was selected for the prestigious Joyce Buchheit Excellence in HealthCare Award following an exemplary career as a physician during which he cared for and saved the lives of countless patients. Dr. DuMontier is known for giving unselfishly of his time for the advancement of health care in our region. Born in OFallon, Missouri, Dr. DuMontier earned his Bachelor of Science degree and Doctor of Medicine degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. He did further study at University of Arkansas College of Medicine in Little Rock, and completed his family practice residency program there. He served in the United States Army and was the Chief of Family Practice at the 5th General Hospital in Stuttgart, Germany. His next step was to care for patients at Hays Army Community Hospital at Fort Ord in Monterey, California. Dr. DuMontier, his wife Carol and their three children made their home in Farmington where Dr. Du began seeing patients at Medical Arts Clinic in 1989. During his 27-year career in Farmington, he was on the staff of Parkland Health Center, serving as chief of staff in 2000-01 and again in 2006-07. In addition, he served as advisor of the cardiopulmonary department and chaired numerous vital committees over the years. Dr. DuMontier is also a longstanding member of Parkland Health Centers Board of Directors. Dr. DuMontier retired from Medical Arts Clinic on July 28, 2016, and will continue to see patients on a part-time basis through the Veterans Administration. He and his wife have two grandchildren. Tom Karl, president of Parkland Health Center, said, Dr. DuMontier has sacrificed personal time with his family and friends, and given unselfishly of his time for the advancement of health care in our region. He is truly deserving of this award & recognition. Joyce (Wood) Buchheit is a member of the Parkland Health Center Foundation Board of Directors and the BJC HealthCare Board of Directors, as well as a past member of the Parkland Health Center Board of Directors. Her leadership and support of Parkland Health Center and the Foundation have had an immeasurable impact on health care in St. Francois County. In 2010, the Missouri Hospital Association presented Mrs. Buchheit with the Excellence in Governance Award in recognition of her contributions to the healthcare community. The Joyce Buchheit Excellence in HealthCare Award will be awarded each year by the Foundation in recognition of an individual or a groups efforts to advance health care in our area. Following the banquet, Mrs. Buchheit reflected, I was very pleased to have the award named for me, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of being the first recipient of the award than Dr. DuMontier. His career has been focused upon providing the best diagnosis and treatment for the most patients and in the most appropriate setting. I was also very pleased to see the broad community support for the Foundation. The Parkland Health Center Foundation is a 501(c)3 charitable organization that was established in 2009. Its mission is to secure philanthropic support to enhance Parklands ability to provide extraordinary care. The Foundation has provided multiple philanthropic gifts to the hospital, including the Sentinelle Vanguard S-Series breast coil that enables breast MRIs; a digital radiology room equipped with Siemens Ysio Wi-D digital X-ray equipment; expansion of the Cancer Center, and the Vocera Voice Communication Project. Parkland Health Center is part of BJC HealthCare which also includes St. Louis Childrens Hospital and Barnes-Jewish Hospital, the teaching hospitals for Washington University School of Medicine. For additional information about Parkland Health Center or the Foundation, please call (573) 756-6451 or visit www.parklandhealthcenter.org. WASHINGTON D.C. - USA - Independent NGO, The American Population Society has come up with ten useful tips for black Americans and how they do not have to get themselves into positions of discomfort. 1) Dont break the law. Maybe this first point should have been disseminated to 40% of the US prison population who are black, especially when the black population of the United States is only 12%. 2) Get an education. If one is educated, there is more probability that employment will follow. 3) Learn to speak properly and communicate in an effective manner. Knowledgeable people who have either educated themselves or been educated at a higher institution can effectively negotiate situations when they arise. People who are educated do not get themselves into positions of distress and danger because they are not stupid. They prefer to make money utilising their brain power and knowledge. 4) Do not listen to rap music or other forms of music which caricatures black Americans as thugs and gangsters. Rap music was created by white music executives not only to make large amounts of money for themselves off unintelligent illiterate people but as a way of stereotypical caricature, to put simply, rap thug music celebrates and encourages black people who commit crimes and go to jail. 5) Get a broad education in all forms of knowledge from the classics onwards. Learn about history, science and mathematics. The arts should be classical with temperate amounts of contemporary emphasis. 6) Stop calling yourself African American. This is a politically correct creation that only serves to divide you from the general populace. You are an American. You are not African, you must ditch this part of your description as the term African American is in fact a tainted moniker describing someone of low status, low education, an indolent entitlement culture and having an inherently violent thieving disposition. 7) To move forward one must first acknowledge the past, but not dwell on the past. Slavery amongst blacks was not a good thing, however it is not the continued responsibility of other races to constantly hear about something that has been superseded by time, especially since history proves that Africans sold their own kind to the slave ship owners. If one keeps dwelling on the issue of slavery, you are still a slave, and have not yet broken free from your chains. 8) Dress in a manner that suits someone of status. You must therefore ditch the low hanging baggy trousers with one leg rolled up and the medallions, gold teeth etc, etc. 9) Breed responsibly. If you cannot afford anything, there is no need to breed otherwise you are simply a burden to society and create hardship for yourself and your children. If you are educated, and can pass on an education to a child, and have a means of financial support you can breed. The statistics for fatherless blacks in America are atrocious, and this is why President Obama has been embarking on a program of mass abortion amongst the black populations. At least this effort is reducing some of the burden on the country, but a lot of work still has to be done. Responsible breeding only comes with education and knowledge, the ignorant and base of society do not have the ability to make decisions about themselves let alone their children. 10) Do not riot. People who riot over perceived injustices are uneducated, unintelligent and ignorant. Because their meta model of the world is so limited they can only express themselves with violence and anger. Rioting and looting amongst the black population is used as a form of blackmail against the rest of the civilised populace. Furthermore, there are rogue sectors within some governmental departments that welcome rioting by the easily controlled uneducated, unintelligent angry blacks, because this gives them carte blanche to install more prohibitive laws onto everyone else. Injustices can be addressed through discourse, reasoning and through the proper channels. Rioting only serves to extend the stereotype of the blacks in America. FLORIDA - USA - Officials who create TSA operating procedures have said that the organisation should incorporate sensual massage oils into the routine of checking passengers before their flights. We think it could relax passengers and put them at ease before their flight. We can understand that they may feel a little agitated when they are roughly treated by our oaf TSA personnel. But I have to inform you all that all the TSA staff have been retrained and re-branded. We want to have a soft loving image, not the rough unkind one that is portrayed by the media, Johnson Pistolgrip, head of the TSA, told Fox news. By having aromatic oils at hand during the search procedure, the invasive searches that take place are less stressful. How about a gentle massage with some organic Ylang Ylang and arousing Pimento Berry with a twist of Indonesian Sandalwood oil rubbed gently into your butt crack and balls then some hand relief to ease you on your flight to Chicagos OHare airport? TSA agent, Ed Mulroney, asks a 78-year-old wheelchair bound retiree, Jimmy Smitts, before he gets to the departure lounge. After the dirty deed is done, the TSA agent wipes down and starts on his next client. Presiding 24th Circuit Judge Sandy Martinez feels like the St. Francois County Auditors Offices public pressure and criticism of her not completing new software training has forced her to speak out about issues she has encountered. Training on the new Tyler accounting system was discussed at length during a heated Nov. 1 St. Francois County Commission meeting where Auditor Bret Burgess spoke about the need to have all county offices using the system. Judge Martinez says she is the only department head who has not been trained on the system. Forgery? Judge Martinez believes it was in June that Burgess office began approaching her about training to move from a paper system to the new Tyler system. She said she was asked to schedule a time for training but ran into problems doing so. She requested that her administrative assistant be trained and then her administrative assistant could train her at a later date. She said on the day of the administrative assistants training it had to be put off another two weeks because they forgot to give (the employee) security clearance. A week after the training she met with the assistant to begin training. However before they did anything, Judge Martinez asked why she hadnt received any purchase orders in about a month. She wondered if the purchase orders were stuck in the system awaiting her approval. They immediately called Burgess office but were told he was out of the country and Chief Deputy Auditor Jan Petty was out sick. However, an employee told them that someone had been using Judge Martinezs electronic signature on the juvenile office purchase orders. I become alarmed someone is forging my signature, Judge Martinez said. While she believed at the time that this was just an accident, she was alarmed that this would cause problems in the future with state and federal funding if the problem was not fixed. Days later, Judge Martinez contacted St. Francois County Treasurer Kerry Glore to find out why the purchase orders had been paid if Judge Martinez did not authorize the payments. She ended up in a phone conference call voicing her concerns to both Glore and Presiding Commissioner Harold Gallaher. She told them that the problem needed to be fixed to make sure this couldnt happen again. She said she asked for the original receipts so the receipts could reflect that the purchase orders were previously incorrectly approved but would now be correctly approved. I was still under the impression it was just a mistake or a glitch, she said. After being told initially that Burgess would only provide her with copies of the receipts, she contacted Prosecuting Attorney Jerrod Mahurin, who also acts as the countys attorney. A short time later, she met with Burgess, Chief Deputy Auditor Jan Petty and two juvenile office employees about the situation. She said she explained to Burgess and Petty that she was very concerned someone had signed off on purchase orders using her electronic signature. She said Petty became very belligerent with her and told her that the judge should also be seeking answers from other county employees. She said they were met with a lot of friction when trying to get answers. Judge Martinez said she talked to this other employee and learned Petty announced in May that she would be signing off the judges purchase orders until Judge Martinez completed the training which would be offered in June. She said it was then apparent to her that the misuse of her electronic signature was not a mistake, but an intentional act. She says she again spoke to the prosecuting attorney, who then contacted the Missouri State Highway Patrol to conduct a forensic investigation into tens of thousands of dollars approved by someone other than the judge. Legal counsel concerns Mahurin said his concerns are multi-faceted. He wants to make sure a crime has not been committed and also wants to make sure the money has been allocated correctly. At this point there is no determination or accusations that a crime has been committed. He said it involves a substantial amount of federal and state money which requires transparency. He said the forensic team will determine if a crime has been committed and if the accounting system is secure and appropriate. He is awaiting their report, which he will review, before determining whether to contact the state auditor or the Missouri Attorney Generals Office. He said the majority of the investigation is complete. Employees of the auditors office were interviewed prior to the county commission meeting when Burgess discussed his deadline. Mahurin said the commissioners, too, were aware of the concerns at the time of the meeting. Mahurin said with this being under investigation, he ordered Judge Martinez not to speak to Burgess or Petty; not to train on the system and not to log onto the system. Judge Martinez said she doesnt even know if she has ever been given security clearance to log onto the system. Judge Martinez said she is thankful that Wilkinson and the other commissioners intervened and set aside Burgess deadline. She indicated she does not understand Burgess insistence to impose the system when there seems to be a serious flaw. She doesnt want to log onto the system until someone can tell her that the system has been fixed so that no one can forge my signature. She said it is clearly forgery. She said the only question is what the intent was. Mahurin said right now they have no assurance or no way to prevent someone from authorizing the judges signature without being able to catch it. Mahurin said these incidents pose a huge liability for the judge because if any audit were to be done she could be blamed for findings related to the purchase orders with her signature. He said the county could also lose funds. He said he is trying to protect both the judge and the county. Judge Martinez hopes the state auditors office can provide the county with some guidance on how to rectify the situation. The bottom line is you cannot forge another persons signature, she said. Even if its the best of intentions, its wrong, Mahurin added. Glitches in implementing Commissioner Gallaher said moving to the computerized accounting system was a massive change. He said it was not a perfect transition but he didn't expect it would be. He said when they started the computerized accounting system there were some glitches with approvals, training hap-hazards and times when the software failed. He said the parent company of the software has fixed one thing and he hopes other things will be fixed, as well. He said there's one button they all avoid like the plague because it always causes problems. He said they are investigating to make sure no money was improperly spent. He doesn't believe one dollar went to the wrong place. He doesn't believe there was any intended misuse of the system. "I hope not," he said. "I don't see how anyone could have gained anything." A mistake When asked about the judge's allegations against his office, Burgess said he wants people to know his comments during the commission meeting were honest and authentic. His office began implementing the software early summer, staggering the training for offices. He said there are three departments, that due to their nature of business, have the most purchase orders and those offices are the sheriff's department, road and bridge and the juvenile office which is overseen by Judge Martinez. He said staff at the juvenile department was among the first to be trained on the system and the staff was very cooperative. He said the confusion came when the judge hadn't completed the training and she wasn't aware that her staff had begun using the software and had stopped using paper purchase orders. He said it was a failure in communication. He said he didn't tell juvenile department staff to stop using the paper system and no one told the judge that they had stopped. He said at some point the judge found out that four or five purchases were made that she didn't sign off on. His office had made the thumb stamp approval. He said his department and the commissioners, thinking they were working on a dual system, were approving things probably too quickly just to get bills paid. He said the mistake was made when his department didn't double-check with the county clerk's office to make sure there was indeed a written purchase order signed by Judge Martinez. "Where we went wrong was not making sure there was a written one signed by Judge Martinez," he said. He said the purchase orders were for justifiable, typical expenses. "We approved them to be paid." "We don't create purchases, we just approve them," he added later. Burgess said when he met with Judge Martinez after he returned from an out-of-country trip she was very upset. He said she had never seen the new system to understand how it works. He added that she was very upset with his staff but not at Associate Commissioner Patrick Mullins who had approved one of the larger purchases. He added that state law says a department cannot make a purchase without a signing authority. He said in the past this hasn't been followed in St. Francois County and he's been trying to change that. He said a purchase order is designed for after requisition. He said department staff should not buy something or commit to buy something and then submit a purchase order to the department head. He said the software system will help put a requisition system in place for purchases of more than $999. Concerns with implementation He said it is a new system and his staff are learning as they go, too. He said after several attempts to get the judge and the drug court to train on the accounting system, he issued a deadline. He said setting that date at least "got me across the finish line with drug court." The county operates on a January to December fiscal calendar. He is worried about having an auditor finding if they are not all on the accounting system by the end of the year. Burgess said he asked the commission to give him an option because he is out of options now. He's hit a barrier and he said they need to move forward. He said finally after a lengthy discussion at that meeting, Gallaher was the one to speak up and say he would "reach out and talk to" Judge Martinez. Burgess said he just needs 5 to 10 minutes with the judge to show her where to sign her thumbprint. He can't understand why the judge still refuses to be trained. He also doesn't understand the need for the MSHP to investigate, when it is clear it was not criminal. He said it's amazing that the MSHP investigated this but he can't get them to investigate other crimes that may have been committed. "We did some things wrong ... some minor things," Burgess said. "We're not talking about forging a signature." "We already admitted to our mistake," he said. "It was not a crime ... at the end of the day we need to be on the system," he said. He said St. Francois County calls itself a first class county now but it's been living in the stone ages. He said in the two years as county auditor he's met resistance to get new policies and software. He said when he took office there were a number of issues to be resolved and findings from an outside auditor. He said there was no worse time to come in as an auditor. Burgess said he knows he has made some mistakes but he believes the county is now in a better place than he found it. He said the software system has been a monumental task but it's been working so much better for the departments who are on board. Burgess, who has hinted at resigning, is extremely frustrated that the commission is setting aside the approved policies because one judge won't sit down and train. A Mineral Point man was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash Thursday afternoon at 4:55 p.m. off Route F in Washington County. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Anthony Villmer, 30, was riding his 2001 Yamaha YZF-R1 northbound on Route F south of Harmony Lane when he went off the right side of the road, overturned and was ejected. As election evening began in Midtown Manhattan, people who wanted Donald Trump to win -- loyal Republicans who risked the scorn of conservative critics to work hard on Trump's behalf -- were not only not sure he would win, they were actively trying to imagine the best-case scenario for his defeat. About 4:30 in the afternoon, I ran into a well-connected Republican operative on Sixth Avenue. She thought Florida didn't look good -- Trump would have to make up too many votes to counter a heavy Hispanic turnout. But North Carolina looked good, as did Ohio and Iowa. All that was OK, but without Florida -- no Trump victory. We talked about whether Trump would surpass 206 electoral votes, which was Mitt Romney's losing total in 2012. The answer was yes -- just winning Ohio would do that trick. And beating Romney might quiet some of those NeverTrumpers who predicted Trump would lead the GOP to an utter blowout loss of historic proportions. But then the Republican expressed doubt about her doubts. "I'm more nervous than I was in 2012," she said. Back then, at 4:30 in Boston, she knew full well that Romney would lose. This time, although the road looked tough for Trump, there was enough of an air of unpredictability about the results that, even though she thought Trump would falter, she wasn't nearly as sure as four years ago. At the Hilton Midtown, where Trump would hold his election-night event, a Republican strategist who had worked on the Dole campaign, two Bush campaigns, the McCain campaign, and the Romney campaign had little confidence Trump would win, but felt sure he would exceed Romney. Even a close loss would have value, he explained, because it would likely force the Beltway Republicans who refused to help Trump to look into the mirror and ask whether they could have done more to elect a GOP president. That's the kind of thinking that was going on in the early evening of the most extraordinary election night in U.S. history. Trump supporters wanted Trump to win -- that's why they were there -- but there were doubts galore. Even Jeff Sessions, the Alabama senator whose early endorsement was a huge boost for Trump, seemed unsure about a Trump victory. Sessions said that in the last few days he visited Trump county headquarters in Arizona and Virginia. He was struck by the intensity of the support there. "The feelings of the American public are legitimate, and the politicians need to hear it," Sessions told me. "This isn't going away. This isn't a one-time thing." The implication was that, even if Trump lost, Trump's focus on working Americans would go on. All the while, the Trump campaign was expressing optimism. I ran into Jason Miller, the communications director, the night before the election and the morning voting began. He said Trump strategists felt very good not just about Florida but about North Carolina and Ohio and Michigan and Pennsylvania and other Rust Belt states. At 9:00 p.m., as some Trump fans were still contemplating an unhappy night, another Trump adviser, Boris Epshteyn, said optimism was "sky-high" at Trump Tower. Of course they would say that. But it turned out the optimism was right on the money. "I think it's a long shot," said another Trump volunteer, this one from Virginia. But there was one thing that kept hope alive for him. In this race, he said, "The metrics that usually apply don't apply." By about 10:00 p.m., the news began to brighten: Florida was looking better. So was North Carolina. And Ohio. I ran into Sessions again. Like everybody else, he was in better spirits. "When I endorsed Donald Trump, I thought our candidate needed to appeal to the upper Midwest," he said. "Otherwise, we'd never get elected president. And so he carried Indiana by a huge vote, he carried Ohio by a nice vote..." I asked whether his worry was that the Republican Party had become too centered in the South to win a national election. "There's not enough votes," he said. "California is not doable. New York is not doable. When I endorsed Trump, I thought he brought that to the table. And added to your more conservative states, that can put you over the top." Everyone's nerves settled as the minutes ticked by. The big TVs all around were playing Fox News, which had Trump at 254 electoral votes -- just 11 away from victory. The problem was, nothing happened for a long time. Some supporters became frustrated with the slow pace of vote counting. Trump seemed stuck. The audience became frustrated with Fox for not calling the race, not knowing that no other news organization had called it either. They heard the report that Hillary Clinton would not speak to her rally, about a mile away, and then they watched as top aide John Podesta took the stage to vow to wait for more returns before Clinton spoke on Wednesday. Then more waiting. Word spread that Trump was coming to the Hilton. The race still had not been called, but it would have been completely unlike Trump to stiff an audience that had waited hours to see him. By the time Trump walked onstage to deliver a graceful victory speech -- it was nearly 3:00 a.m. -- the Associated Press and other media organizations had called the race, proclaiming him the president-elect. Yes, there were some people there who said they knew all along he would win. But Trump's supporters had spent months looking at the same polls as everybody else. When it turned out those polls were wrong, and their man was racing to victory, Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning made for a very, very happy shock. Byron York is chief political correspondent for The Washington Examiner. 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Ireland United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe New Delhi: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today called for focus on higher agriculture productivity through use of the latest technology and high-yielding crop varieties to help double farmers' income by 2022. He also said there is a need to revisit the incentive structure of farming, besides focusing on reducing wastage and improving marketing of farm produce. Jaitley was speaking at his first pre-Budget consultative meeting with representatives of agriculture groups. The finance minister said that "in order to ensure future increases in agriculture output and double the farmers' income by 2022, focus should be on higher agriculture productivity, especially in view of the limitation on expanding crop area". Jaitley emphasised on leveraging technology especially for high-yielding and resistant variety seeds, efficient utilisation of water for irrigation, adoption of latest IT to increase resilience to nature by phasing sowing, watering and harvesting operations. In order to increase price benefits for farmers, Jaitley said it is necessary that the farmers are provided timely market information. He pitched for developing software applications, both computer and mobile based, that link farmers to consumers. Along with the use of the latest technology to raise productivity, Jaitley said there is also a need to revisit the incentive structure of farming. He said there should be focus on reducing wastages and enhancing farmers earnings as well as improving marketing of farm produce. "The finance minister said that for efficient implementation of the National Agriculture Market, there is need to integrate the more than 550 regulated mandis in the country by 2017 for which the states need to reform the APMC Act," an official statement said. At the meeting, many suggestions were received from representatives of different agriculture groups. One of the major suggestions was to "provide sufficient funds to District Cooperative Banks where most of the farmers have their bank accounts". The farmer groups also sought higher allocation in the Budget for agriculture and new schemes to bail out farmers from debt. They wanted banks to be directed to implement the scheme of differential rate of interest to the agriculture sector both in letter and spirit and said cargo hubs and dry ports should be encouraged at the production centre of agri products. Other suggestions included announcement of awards for new technological innovations in the agriculture sector and cold chain provision for horticulture and minor vegetables. The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal, Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa, DEA Secretary Shaktikanta Das, Financial Services Secretary Anjuly Chib Duggal, Agriculture Secretary Shobhana K Pattanayak and Animal Husbandry Secretary Devendra Choudhry, among others. Mumbai: Katrina Kaif has resumed the shooting of Jagga Jasoos after promoting her last release Baar Baar Dekho. The film also stars her rumoured ex boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor and several reports of how the ex lovers would eventually manage to finish the shoot of the film have been doing the rounds. 'Jagga Jasoos' has been in the news for the professional and personal equations between the lead actors and ex lovers, Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif, during the making of the film. Katrina has been sharing pictures from the sets of the film. Recently, the actress shared a new picture on her Facebook account with caption, "The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination." Jagga Jasoos is slated to release next year. New Delhi: Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat was tear-gassed and beaten up by three masked intruders on late night of November 11 in her Paris apartment. Mallika was with a male friend when three masked thugs raided her flat. Recently, the actress spoke to a leading daily about this incident and also posted a strong message on her Instagram account which read, "It takes more than 3 masked men to take me down, I am a strong woman." According to reports, soon after Mallika arrived at her residential building in the 16th arrondissement of Paris with her friend, they were attacked by three unidentified thugs. The three masked intruders without saying a word, sprayed their victims with tear gas before punching them. As soon as the attackers ran away, Mallika and her friend instantly called the emergency services for help. An investigation against the masked criminals has been launched. Reports further reveal that the detectives are working on the theory that the criminals raided Mallikas flat in an attempt to rob her. This is not the first time that a celebrity has been attacked in the French capital. Barely a month ago, reality star Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint in Mallikas neighbouring flat. It has been reported since a substantial amount of time now that Romanian actor-television presenter Iulia Vantur is Salman Khans girlfriend. When Iulia had recently come to India, she had made several public appearances with Salman, first at Preity Zintas wedding reception, followed by accompanying him for the shoot of Tubelight in Ladakh, along with pictures of her with the Khan family. It was also reported that the couple would get married soon. However, in the last few months, reports surfaced that the couple have parted ways and that was one of the reasons Iulia had returned back to Romania. Iulia recently won an award for Successful Woman in Romania and at the event she refused to talk about her rumoured relationship with Salman with the media. However, Iulia finally opened up about it in an interview to a Romanian publication when she reveals that she has no plans of marrying the superstar and that 'cultural differences' was one of the reasons of her returning back. When asked if she had got married during her India visit, Iulia, in her local language said, I have been married, and I have left my previous husband in the past. But then I was in India, neither did I marry, nor did I part ways with anyone. God forbid! Iulia also went on to talk about her difficulty in adjusting with the Indian culture. I started to sing in Hindi, and took singing lessons. I worked hard for many years and it bothers me that only my private life has been discussed. The last time I stayed in India for five-six months, it indicated a lot of things that I do not want to address. But the Indian mentality is really different, the culture, the people. Everything is different. You do not have as much privacy, because you stay with many people in one house. I also did not realise that I had to dress a certain way on the streets. Now, I understand that my clothing was too lowcut, It would be now interesting to see if Iulia returns to India or if things could work out between her and Salman. Mumbai: The legal battle between Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut is far from over. A report in a Mumbai tabloid on Thursday stated that the case was likely to be closed for lack of evidence to indicate who had written the amorous mail to Kangana posing as Hrithik Roshan. But sources close to Hrithik claim the case is far from over. Hrithik wont rest in peace until hes proven innocent. The allegation suggesting he had a relationship with Kangana Ranaut have hurt and humiliated him. He has two growing sons whom he is answerable to. He wont sleep properly until his name is completely cleared in this matter. The actual battle begins now. A statement from Hrithik Roshans legal team released after Kanganas legal advisers claimed the case was over, states that the case against Kangana Ranaut is far from over. It is categorically asserted that there is unimpeachable evidence to suggest that there was no relationship of any kind between Mr. Roshan and Ms. Ranaut and that Ms. Ranaut persistently hounded Mr. Roshan on emails with the intention to entice him into a relationship. The investigation in fact continues and Mr. Saxena (Joint Commissioner of Police, Crime) has informed Mr. Mahesh Jethmalani, Senior Counsel advising Hrithik Roshan that "the case is not yet closed. Investigation is still going on." Sources close to Hrithik say, it is no longer an issue regarding who sent the amorous email to Kangana Ranaut pretending to be Hrithik. The issue is, Hrithik didnt send the mail, and he will prove it in a court of law, says the source. With the Namma Pride event happening today, hundreds of members from the LGBT community are fervently gearing up to participate in it. Among those is software developer Sriram Kumaran, who works in the city. As a gay man, Sriram got the opportunity to travel to Orlando to attend an LGBT workplace equality conference. Calling his trip to Florida, a life-changing one, Sriram says, When I was nominated to attend the conference, I had to tell my manager about my sexuality. I hadn't revealed it to my colleagues because I'm not the kind to flaunt my sexuality. But I made a bold move and told him, and surprisingly he was very welcoming. At the conference, Sriram witnessed around 3000 members from the LGBT community from all over the world. A shy and reserved person by nature, Srirams time at the conference was a monumental transformation for him. Thats because I had to speak in front of so many people. At the conference, we had to explain to them about what we do in India to make the lives of LGBT employees better and how we sensitise our allies. We had a lot of workshops and discussed about other countries where homosexuality is illegal. It was a learning experience where I got to build relationships and friendships. We also had an interesting interaction with an openly gay British parliament member, he shares. In a country where a lot of people shun homosexuality or are ignorant about it, growing up as a gay boy wasnt easy for Sriram. I didnt have anyone who was gay around me. Id often put myself in a corner and wouldnt mix too well with others. I grew up with an inferiority complex. But when I moved to the US, it opened my eyes to the LGBT community there. I saw hundreds of people in California go to the streets and talk about it this gave me a purpose in life and I thought if it can happen in America, why not in India. Sriram reveals that he came out to his parents when he was 27 when they were thinking of getting him married. I e-mailed them and told them I was gay. I told them I wasnt going to marry a woman and spoil her life and mine. They were in denial. I cant really blame them as they didnt know about homosexuality when growing up. Even now, we dont talk about it although they wish that Id change my mind and marry a girl, he says. On a parting note, Sriram hopes that section 377 is done away with. He adds, There is a lot of transphobia here which has to go. There was a news channel that portrayed homosexuals in a really bad light. We want the media to be sensitive to our rights and portray us in good light. Chandigarh: Self-proclaimed godwoman Sadhvi Deva Thakur on Friday surrendered herself to the police in Haryana after a case was registered against her for killing a woman and injuring three others during a wedding in the state. Thakur, who is known for her love for guns, was invited at a wedding last week in Karnal town and began to fire guns along with some other men at the venue during the celebrations, killing the grooms aunt. According to reports, Thakur has claimed innocence and said the case is a conspiracy against her. "I am innocent, I need urgent medical attention, it's a conspiracy against me, there were other people who were firing," she said. However, she was caught on camera wearing saffron coloured clothes and shooting a gun in front of a stage at the wedding venue. Although in the video, one can only see her firing shots in the air and nobody is seen injured. She allegedly shot the grooms aunt by mistake and fled the scene as soon as the woman collapsed. Police said that it was a case of celebratory fire gone wrong but they are charging the godwoman with murder. Pakistani troops on Tuesday targeted Indian posts with heavy firing and shelling for four hours along the LoC in Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir, forcing Indian troops to retaliate. (Representational image) Jammu: Pakistan Army on Saturday targeted several posts and civilian areas along the LoC in Nowshera and Sunderbani sectors of Rajouri district with mortars and small arms fire, drawing retaliation from Indian troops. The firing in Sunderbani is the second ceasefire violation by the Pakistani side in less than six hours. Earlier today Pakistan Army violated the ceasefire in Nowshera sector and in the afternoon they started firing in Sunderbani sector targeting Indian posts and civilian areas. "Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation in Nowshera sector from 1030 hours using 120 mm mortars and small arms fire.Our army is giving a befitting response to Pakistani fire," a Defence Spokesman said. He said there has been no loss of life, injury or damage to property reported so far even as the exchange of firing continued. "Pakistan Army resorted to ceasefire violation in Sunderbani sector using 120 mm mortars, automatic and small arms from 1410 hrs," the spokesman said. "Our troops are giving a befitting response," the spokesman said. In another case, the police has booked a case against an unidentified courier company in Kharkhana for cheating a woman. Hyderabad: The cyber crime unit of the Hyderabad police is pursuing cases of courier companies in the city that operate in tandem with online fraudsters. A lecturer from Secunderabad complained to the cyber crime police that she had uploaded her profile onto a matrimonial website. She got a reply from a person who made a fake profile of himself to match her requirements, and contacted her through mail. He said he would courier her a diamond necklace worth Rs 9 lakh, showed her a fake necklace online, and asked her to pay Rs 2 lakh as courier charges. After she made the payment, the man disappeared. In another case, the police has booked a case against an unidentified courier company in Kharkhana for cheating a woman. Ms Daisy Samuel, who works for a private company, said, I received a call stating that I had won a Samsung J series mobile through a mobile number lucky draw. The actual price of the phone was Rs 13,000, but I was offered it for Rs 4,000. She said that a week after the call, she received a parcel. The courier asked me to make the payment first, without allowing me to open the box. When I opened the box, I found an idol, Ms Samuel said. She complained to the Kharkhana police but there was no record of the mobile company or the courier service. After investigations it was found that the private courier was operating on behalf of the fraudsters. I lost Rs 4,000, she said. A senior officer with the Hyderabad cyber crime unit wouldnt provide any more information as investigations were on. He said, There are a few fake couriers, but there are also a few that unknowingly support the online fraud. We are investigating a particular courier that has cheated many persons, he added. Hyderabad: Two men allegedly murdered their younger brother and tried to kill another brother at Madhapur. Police is probing the human sacrifice angle apart from family feud. The suspects, Birendra Prasad Misra and Mahendra Prasad Misra, hit one victim with a blunt object and tried to slit the other victim's throat. The victim, Devendra Prasad Misra, 24, died inside the rented room where the brothers lived. The second victim, Dharmendra Prasad Misra, was rescued by locals and sent to hospital. The suspects fled when public gathered. Police said the incident took place in Siddiqui Nagar on Friday night. Either they fought over personal issues or it was human sacrifice, said inspector R. Kalinga Rao. The four brothers were extremely religious and used to conduct strange rituals. We also came to know that they behaved strangely. People used to call them psychos, the inspector said, adding that they have to look into all possibilities to find out the motive behind the murder. We are probing the human sacrifice angle and feud. Details will come to light after grilling the suspects, said another official. The eldest brothers lover was also at the spot when the incident occurred. Police is inquiring if she had anything to do with the murder. The four brothers belonging to MP were working as guards at MNCs in Hyderabad. The police arrested Birendra and Mahindra on Saturday. Police booked a case of murder against the suspects. Bengaluru: Realising the sorry plight of people in villages which have no banks, officials of Vijaya Bank, the lead bank in Mandya district, are visiting villages daily to help people exchange Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes. This has come as big relief for rural people who otherwise have to go to the district headquarters or other villages having banks. Already, the staff has visited three villages and is planning to cover another 10-15 villages in the coming days. Mr M. Sridhar Murthy, regional manager and Mr Suhas, chief manager, regional office, Vijaya Bank were behind the launch of the scheme. On day one, the staff visited Santhekesalagere village situated five km away from Mandya town, along with a vehicle to ferry Rs 100 and Rs 2,000 currency. They drove to the local panchayat office where panchayat employees informed local villagers about the arrival of bank staff to exchange the notes. As many as 230 people took advantage of the service. Mr Suhas told Deccan Chronicle that they visited B Hosur village where over 150 villagers exchanged old notes. He said the ceiling on note exchange remains the same in villages, the only difference is that banks are going to villages instead of rural people coming to cities. On an average, Rs 10 lakh worth old currency has been exchanged daily in the last three days. The officials are also carrying a scanner machine to scan documents produced by villages for exchange of notes. Mr Suhas said the staff are going to the houses of the old and physically challenged who are unable to visit the nearby panchayat offices for exchange of old notes. Besides, the pension of social benefit schemes are also disbursed to them at their doorsteps. Bengaluru: Treading with caution on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to demonetize Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said the state government was not against such measures or steps to curb black money, but criticized the Union government for lack of preparatory measures. He told the media here the state government was truly supportive of steps to curb black money in the market. But the Union government should have ensured adequate stock of other currency notes so that farmers, petty businessmen, and the poor do not suffer. Now, they are adversely affected by demonetisation of notes of higher denomination, he added. The Chief Minister also disclosed that he wrote twice to Union finance minister, Arun Jaitely, about inconvenience caused to the common man, but did not receive any response to both the letters. Listing problems faced by people belonging to different sections of the society, he said Patients visiting private hospitals are also affected most as hospitals are not accepting old Rs 500 and 1000 currency notes. And farmers have not been able to repay their loans borrowed from co-operative banks as these banks are not accepting Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes. Leaders of the Youth Congress have staged protests against the decision to demonetize currency as the move had triggered chaos at banks with anxious customers waiting several hours to either exchange notes or withdraw cash from their accounts. Panel: probe siphoning of scheme money An audit panel appointed by the state government to probe illegal stashing of money released to Karnataka under central sponsored schemes has recommended a further probe to rule out siphoning of money outside the 108 bank accounts, said Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H K Patil. Talking to reporters on Friday, he said a committee headed by Mr Punati Sridhar, an IAS officer was constituted after the department received information about illegal stashing of money in accounts. The Sridhar Committee found that Rs 1335.89 crore had been stationed in 1128 accounts of banks. In Syndicate Bank alone, Rs 495.89 crore had been stashed in a dummy account by BWSSB. For further investigation, the government appointed an audit panel headed by Mr B.N. Shivarudrappa. The committee backed findings of the Sridhar Committee. Expanding the ambit of the probe, the Cabinet decided to probe funds received by the state from the Centre from April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2015. Anti-sabotage team, with help of a sniffer dog, inspects the train after they received a hoax bomb call in the city on Friday. (Photo: DC) Chennai: A call to the GRP helpline on Friday afternoon about a bomb on a train carrying Sabarimala pilgrims created a flutter and led to a high alert being announced on trains to Kerala. According to police sources, at about 3.35 pm, the GRP helpline received a call from a woman, who identified herself as Srimathi, claiming that an associate of a terrorist was aboard a train to Sabarimala with a bomb. The Chennai Central Trivandrum Express had just left Chennai when a call to 1512 informed us of a bomb on a Sabarimala train. The train was stopped at the next station, Katpadi, at 5.30 pm and an anti-sabotage team, including the dog squad carried out a thorough check on the train, said a GRP official. After a thorough checking of the train, it left Katpadi after 6.20 pm.RPF, local police and GRP have been working together to track the caller, who has been traced to a PCO near the railway station at Tiruvottriyur. We are checking the video footages near the railway station to know who the woman was, said an RPF official. After the call, all trains towards Trivandrum, the Trivandrum Mail, Alleppey Express, and a special train have been put on high alert with more RPF and police escorts aboard. SRINAGAR: Two Army and BSF jawans and a woman resident were injured when the Pakistani troops targeted Indian forward posts and civilian areas in Naushehra and Sundarbani sectors along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmirs Rajouri district on Saturday. A report, not confirmed officially, said the facing troops traded fire also in Uri-Chakothi area of the de facto border on Saturday evening. Meanwhile, Pakistan army claimed that an Indian Quadcopter was shot down by it after the camera-fitted drone allegedly intruded into PoKs Rakhchakri sector along the LoC at 4.45 pm (local time). Indian Quad Copter shot down by own Aagahi Post in Rakhchakri Sec. Had intruded 60 Ms in Pak side of LOC, fell near own Agahi Post & taken over, Lt. Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa, director-general of Pakistans Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces, tweeted. Earlier, the authorities in Muzaffarabad said that four civilians including three girls were killed and two more wounded after a mortar bomb fired by the Indian troops landed inside a private house in Kerni village of Charhoi sector of the PoKs Kotli district on Saturday. In Rajouri, the police and Army officials said that sepoy Kala Singh of the Armys 8 Sikh Li, a BSF jawan Laltu Singh ( of 126 Battalion) and 55-year-old resident Shanti Devi were injured in the Pakistani shelling in Sunderbani and Noushehra sectors of the LoC on Saturday. Also, two residential houses were damaged and a buffalo died in the Pakistani shelling in Noushehras Makri village, they added. The officials said that the Pakistani troops resorted to heavy unprovoked firing in Kalsian, Jhangar and Namb Karali areas of Nowshera sector in the morning. Later in the afternoon, the facing troops targeted the Indian forward posts and civilian areas with 120 mm mortars, automatics and small arms also in neighbouring Sunderbani sector. The fire was returned befittingly using the same calibre weapons, a defence spokesman added. The Army and the BSF sources said that there have been as many as 286 incidents of firing and shelling along the LoC and International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistani troops that have resulted in the death of 26 people, including 14 Army and BSF personnel, since the surgical strikes on terrorist-launch pads across the de facto border on September 29. On the other hand, the Pakistan has blamed India for each violation of the November 2003 ceasefire agreement that took place during past over seven weeks. On Saturday, it said that, at least, 26 civilians have been killed and 107 others wounded in the last two months due to the Indian forces firing along the LoC and the International Border (called Working Boundary by Islamabad). Nagpur: A 51-year-old employee of State Bank of India (SBI), handling cash counter at a city branch, died after he collapsed during a rush of people who had come to exchange the demonetised currency notes, a bank official said. The deceased, identified as Rampantula Venkatesh Rajesh, was posted as a customer service assistant at Gandhi Nagar branch of SBI in south-western part of city. Branch manager of the bank, S Nausadkar, confirmed the incident. According to family members of the deceased, who was an ex-serviceman, he had complained of chest pain on Thursday night. "His wife had advised him to visit a doctor and not to go to bank. However, citing work pressure, he went to the office. "In the afternoon, when there was a huge rush of people at the bank, he started sweating profusely and soon collapsed," a family member said. Nausadkar said, "After Rajesh collapsed, he was immediately taken to a nearby private hospital. There, doctors tried to save him, but was declared dead half an hour later." Ambajhari police is in the process of registering a case of accidental death. Mumbai: Teams of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), along with the Mumbai Police, on Saturday morning launched raids on 10 premises of Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) run by controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik. The NIA spokesperson said the premises were raided at 6 am on Saturday with the help of local police. The investigating agency had also filed an FIR against Naik and others under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act on Friday. "We are searching a few residential premises and a few office premises of Zakir Naik," said the spokesperson. This comes just days after the Home Ministry said the IRF and its members, particularly, founder and President Zakir Naik, had been encouraging and aiding its followers to promote or attempt to promote, on grounds of religion, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious communities in a gazette notification. "The central government has received information that the statements and speeches made by Zakir Naik, the President of IRF are objectionable and subversive in nature as he has been extolling the known terrorists like Osama Bin Laden, proclaiming that every Muslim should be a terrorist and claiming that if Islam had indeed wanted, 80 per cent of Indian population would not have remained Hindus as they could have been converted "if we wanted" by sword," the notification said. The Home Ministry said through speeches and statements, Naik has been promoting enmity and hatred between different religious groups and inspiring Muslim youths and terrorists in India and abroad to commit terrorist acts. It said such divisive ideology is against India's pluralistic and secular social fabric and it may be viewed as causing disaffection against India and thereby making it an unlawful activity. "Statements of some terrorists arrested in the terrorist attack incidents or arrested ISIS sympathisers revealed that they were inspired by the fundamentalist statements of Naik, clearly indicating the subversive nature of his preachings and speeches," the notification issued by Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry Sudhir Kumar Saxena said. The Central government is of the opinion that the aforesaid activities of the IRF and its President Zakir Naik are highly inflammatory in nature and prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between various religious groups and communities, the Home Ministry notification said. "...if urgent steps are not taken there is every possibility of many youth being motivated and radicalised to commit terrorist acts leading to promoting enmity between different religious groups. "The Central government, having regard to the above circumstances, is of the firm opinion that it is necessary to declare the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) as an unlawful association with immediate effect," it said. New Delhi: A Delhi court on Saturday once again granted permission to former TERI chief R K Pachauri, accused in a sexual harassment case, to travel abroad. Pachauri, currently on bail, was allowed to travel to Dominican Republic from November 22 to December 5 by Metropolitan Magistrate Shivani Chauhan, after he moved an application. The court allowed the application, filed through Pachauri's counsel Ashish Dixit, noting that the probe was complete and charge sheet has already been filed in the case. "The investigation is complete and charge sheet has already been filed. The accused has been granted permission to travel abroad on several earlier occasions and has complied with the directions given by the court. "In these circumstances, the accused is permitted to travel as per his itinerary... subject to furnishing a local surety of Rs 2 lakh to the satisfaction of this court," the court said and directed him to give an undertaking that he shall appear in court in person or through counsel and not dispute his identity at a later stage. It also asked him to file a copy of his travel tickets and intimate the court after his return or any changes in his travel itinerary. The court had on July 11 granted regular bail to Pachauri and allowed him to travel abroad after he appeared in pursuance to summons. Pachauri has been allowed by the court to travel over a dozen times to various countries including USA, UK, China, Japan, France, Kazakhstan, Bolivia, Kuwait, Mexico, Somalia and Saudi Arabia, during pendency of probe and proceedings. The former TERI chief was summoned as accused by the court after it took cognisance of the charge sheet filed against him for allegedly sexually harassing an ex-colleague. The court, while taking cognisance of the charge sheet, had said there was sufficient material to proceed against him under sections 354A (sexual harassment), 354B (assault against woman with intent to disrobe), 354D (stalking), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult modesty of woman) and 341 (wrongful confinement) of the IPC. The charge sheet, filed by Delhi Police on March 1 last year, had arrayed 23 prosecution witnesses, many of whom are present and former employees of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). Pachauri was granted an anticipatory bail in the case on March 21 last year and an FIR lodged against him on February 13 last year. New Delhi/Mumbai/Kolkata: The sabre-rattling between parties on rival sides of the political divide over demonetisation showed no signs of softening on Saturday with the government accusing Congress of engaging in "fear mongering" and the latter hitting back calling the exercise a "not well thought out move" whose after-effects will last long. Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who was fielded by the government to mount an assault on the opposition on the issue, rejected the charge that demonetisation of high-value currency notes had hit the common man and insisted that despite facing problems people were backing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's action targeted against black money. "Congress is trying to create fear in the common man's mind. It is not needed. It is fear-mongering," she told reporters in Delhi, responding to the opposition party's claim that it will take seven to eight months for the situation to stabilise. Sitharaman rejected the opposition charge that there was panic in the government following the launch of demonetisation drive which was reflected in fresh announcement of measures for easing people's problems. The government, she said, had undertaken as much preparatory work as it could before announcing the decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1000 bills. However, senior Congress leader and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram did not concur with the government's claim and termed the exercise as "not well thought out" and whose after-effects will last longer than expected. He also wondered if the government had consulted "the only knowledgeable economist" in the dispensation CEA Arvind Subramanian before announcing it. "You are seeing the first-order effects of withdrawing, sucking out 86 per cent of the currency in circulation from the market. The first order will continue for several weeks now. Then you will see the second-order effects," Chidambaram said in Mumbai. "My suspicion is the only knowledgeable economist in the government, Dr Arvind Subramanian, was not consulted," he said. Talking about the first-order effects, he said there are many people now living with very little money and not consuming, which means produce, especially perishable items like vegetables and fruits, are not being sold. Chidambaram said the second-order effects are already visible in places like Tirupur and Surat, where lay-offs and retrenchments have started. The second-order effects will be more prominently felt if farmers, who have sown their farms, do not have money to buy fertiliser and hire labour. "So I think the consequences will certainly be negative," he said. "The PM's time out for 50 days might ease the liquidity crisis at individual's hands, but it won't solve many other problems. "Take a simple arithmetic...they demonetised 2,200 (total volume) crore Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. The capacity of all printing presses taken together is 300 crore per month. So, even if you print note for note, it will take seven months. If you print smaller denominations notes like Rs 100 for Rs 500, it will take five times more time...Think somebody didn't think through...that's not unusual for government," Chidambaram said. BJP president Amit Shah, who was in Uttar Pradesh, lashed out at the opposition for criticising the demonetisation decision, saying those who had questioned what the Modi government was doing about delivering on the promise of tackling black money were now attacking it. "Ever since the Modi government came to power, opposition parties have been making a hue and cry over what will be done on black money... they asked, you (Modi) made a poll promise that black money will be finished...what have you done till now. "What was the first step which was taken by the Modi government? It costituted an SIT against black money. It has now demonetised Rs 500 and RS 1000 notes. Now there is hue and cry for roll back of the move. Why?" he asked. Shah said the opposition was "crestfallen" because of demonetisation and parties like Congress, SP, BSP, AAP, and TMC had come together on the issue. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh asserted that demonetisation would bring about probity in political and administrative work, besides reducing the gap between the rich and poor. He said the problems being faced by the people were for a short time as the government was making efforts to normalise the situation. "Naturally, this decision will result in curbing economic sources of the corrupt and terrorists. It will also increase probity in political and administrative works," Singh said. "It is a historic and brave decision taken in national interest. Terrorism, extremism and naxalism will come down. Such decisions are taken by people who are doing politics not only for forming government but also in the interest of society and nation building," he said. TMC leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has demanded withdrawal of the demonetisation drive, accused the Modi government of discriminating against her state by not releasing the new Rs 500 bills. "They have sent 500 rupees notes to Rajasthan but they are not sending the 500 rupees notes to Bengal. The Central government has totally failed to act. Rural India is dying, they don't use (credit/debit) cards. What will they do? The whole of rural India is crying, farmers are crying. If food is not available, what will the common people eat? Plastic?" Banerjee said in Kolkata. The West Bengal Chief Minister claimed that three persons have died in the state because of the demonetisation. Banerjee visited the Reserve Bank of India's regional office in Kolkata and urged its regional director Rekha Warriar to ensure adequate cash was available at all ATMs and banks. Banerjee said she will speak to leaders of other opposition parties to chalk out the next course of action. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also accused the Centre of launching the exercise without adequate preparation. As a result, the common man has been subjected to "grave inconvenience", Siddaramaiah said in Mangaluru, adding he is yet to receive a reply from the Prime Minister to a letter requesting him to make it mandatory for private hospitals to accept the old higher denomination notes. DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi announced in Chennai that his party will form a 'human chain' on November 24 to protest against the "haste" with which the government launched the exercise. "Because of the haste in implementing the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, and the sudden decision made (by Prime Minister Narendra Modi) on November 8, there is no end to the difficulties being faced by the people," the DMK chief said in a statement in Chennai. He said while Chief Ministers of other states had strongly condemned the exercise, the Tamil Nadu government did nothing to ease the problems of the people. BJP's oldest saffron ally Shiv Sena, however, continued to be unsparing in targeting the government on the issue. Days after Rajnath Singh voiced BJP's unhappiness over the frequent barbs against the government by the Sena during his telephonic talks with its chief Uddhav Thackeray, the fractious ally today came out in support of Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad being targeted by the NDA for drawing a comparison between the Uri terror attack casualties and the deaths in queues at banks and ATMs after demonetisation. "Will the truth change if Azad apologises?" asked an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana'. "In the Uri attack, 20 jawans were martyred. Due to the demonetisation, 40 brave patriots have lost their lives. The difference is in the attackers. Pakistan attacked us in Uri, while in the case of demonetisation (deaths) it was our own rulers," Sena, which shares power with BJP both at the Centre and in Maharashtra, said. New Delhi: If anything will indicate the peoples reaction to the Centres shock withdrawal of two high-value banknotes, it will be these by-elections to four Lok Sabha and 10 Assembly seats, which were held in seven states and the union territory of Puducherry. The day of reckoning will be November 22 when results are announced. The government has said people support the November 8 move despite some inconvenience as the target is black money, corruption and counterfeit currency. Opposition parties have claimed deaths in queues in front of banks and ATMs while depositing Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes. The Congress already swept on Friday the panchayat polls in Gujarats Unjha. Necessitated by deaths and resignations, two Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal and one each in Assam and Madhya Pradesh are up for grabs. By-polls are also being held for three Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu, two in Tripura, one each in Assam, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh and Puducherry. Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has hit the streets of Delhi protesting against the governments move, which she says will hurt landless farmers and labourers. Most opposition parties and even some NDA constituents such as Shiv Sena have been protesting the governments demonetisation move. In Tamil Nadu, by-polls are being held in Thanjavur, Aravakurichi and Tiruparakundram seats. Bhopal: Counter-insurgency forces on Saturday raided a Naxal camp in Becha Kilam jungle in Abujhmad, said to be capital of outlawed CPI (Maoist) in India, in Chhattisgarhs south Bastar district of Narayanpur and gunned down at least five ultras following an encounter. In a joint operation involving security personnel of districts of Kondagaon and Naraya-npur, security forces stormed the Maoist camp in the forested village of Becha located inside Abujhmad area early on Saturday morning and busted it in an hour-long operation, Bastar police said. The counter-insurgency operation led to decimation of Military Company No. six of CPI (Maoist) and killing of at least half a dozen Naxals. However, we could recover bodies of five Maoists along with their weapons, Narayanpur district superintendent of police Abheeshek Meena who camped at Becha to provide a safe corridor to retreating parties engaged in the operation, said. Mr Meena along with Kondagaon SP Santosh Singh was superivising the joint operation. Incidentally the counteri-nsurgency measure comes in the wake of recent visit of Chhattisgarh home secretary B. V. R.Subramanyam and counterinsurgency officers to Abujhmad area. Hyderabad: The GHMC plans to construct 12,000 public toilets in phases, and provide water and electricity and connect them to sewer lines. The corporation will hand over the toilets to non-profit organisations for maintenance. The GHMC had earlier installed about 100 prefabricated bio urinals in the central and west zones. It did not help much due to poor maintenance. A GHMC official said, Due to lack of space to construct permanent toilets, the corporation introduced bio urinals. No private firm came forward to maintain them, though tenders were called thrice in one year. A survey done by the urban development ministry and Swachh Bharat Mission in the city concluded that the cost of maintenance per toilet was Rs 1,200 per day, which included the salary of the caretaker. GHMC commissioner Dr B. Janardhan Reddy said, The GHMC will construct 12,000 individual toilets, each of which will cost about Rs 12,000. The GHMC will pay Rs 8,000 and the Centre the remaining Rs 4,000. I have directed the urban development wing of GHMC to look for different workable solutions with regard to toilet maintenance. The civic body has come under fire for maintaining its public toilets so poorly that even those who intend to use them are put off by the poor conditions. There are a few public toilets for women. Besides, many of the city male residents think nothing of relieving themselves in the open even in crowded places. Hyderabad man did not have even Rs 1 crore, I-T department officials said. Hyderabad: The startling disclosure of Rs 10,000 crore of undeclared income under the Centres Income Disclosure Scheme (IDS) made by an unidentified individual in Hyderabad has turned out to be fake. He did not have even Rs 1 crore, I-T department officials said. This finding deals an embarrassing blow to the Centres claim of unearthing about Rs 65,000 crore of undeclared income through the voluntary IDS. It also calls into question the authenticity of other disclosures made under the scheme. I-T department sources were not ready to disclose the details of the applicant, except for saying that it was a fake disclosure and the same had been conveyed to headquarters. TRS Legislative Council member T. Bhanu Prasad, a builder, said, The so-called disclosure by one individual of Rs 10,000 crore is nothing but a fake, I am told by I-T officials. They are keeping his identity a secret. Traders claim is to draw attention: I-T According to income-tax department sources, the individual runs a small business. His IDS application for Rs 10,000 crore was said to be the single largest amount declared under the scheme nationwide. When I-T officers checked the veracity of the disclosure, they found that the trader made the startling declaration just to attract attention and did not have even Rs 1 crore. Questions are now being asked whether the IDS was a ruse to convert black money to white. There are fears that those holding black money could approach IDS applicants to convert their stash into white by paying the 45 per cent penalty. I-T department sources, however, say this is not possible as the details of the IDS-2016 applicants are secret, and they will keep a strict watch just as they did in the case of the errant trader. The amnesty scheme, IDS-2016, ended on September 30 and the central government claimed that it had received disclosures from over 64,000 people across India for an amount of Rs 65,250 crore. That figure will now fall to Rs 55,250 crore following the discovery of this fraudulent filing. The first instalment of the penalty, amounting to 25 per cent, must be paid by the end of November. We will come to know about the actual remittance of amounts by individuals by then, an I-T department source said. The announcement that one individual had declared Rs 10,000 crore in unpaid taxes had led to a furious exchange of allegations between the Telugu Desam and the YSRC in Andhra Pradesh. AP minister Devineni Uma Maheshwara Rao and other prominent leaders of the Telugu Desam alleged that the person who had declared the sum was YSRC chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. The YSRC in turn alleged that the declaration might be from Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and his son Nara Lokesh. New Delhi: After demonetising Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, the government is considering depositing Rs 10,000 in the Jan Dhan accounts, particularly those with zero balance. This grand, populist gesture of turning a political jumla into a tangible benefit for people, could be carried out before the crucial elections in UP, Punjab and Goa. There are nearly 25 crore Jan Dhan accounts in the country, of which nearly 5.8 crore are zero-balance accounts. The move is expected to cost the government nearly Rs 58,000 crore. Analysts have calculated that the demonetisation move will result in a windfall of Rs 3 lakh crore to the RBI. Highly-placed sources said that after targeting black money hoarders, the government has to send a signal to poor farmers, among others, that the benefits are being passed on to them. A reward for their hardship, perhaps. Jan Dhan deposits will prove to be game changer This step, if taken, could be a game-changer and impact Assembly elections expected to be held by April next year. With regard to the issue of the BJP alienating its core vote bank of traders and middle class because of the shock announcement of demonetisation sources said that the saffron high command is of the view that while one can win one election with middle class support, for an encore its the garib and the kisan whose support is essential. To win subsequent general elections, one has to reach out to the poor and the farmers, a senior BJP strategist told this newspaper. It may be noted that the main agenda of the Modi government at the moment is empowerment of the poor. Saffron pundits are worried about the impact of the political gamble the Prime Minister has taken before the crucial Assembly polls. Rural economy across the country, which runs mainly on cash, has been severely hit following the demonetisation. Reports pouring in from Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and other states indicate that as a consequence of demonetisation, farmers have no cash to buy manure or seeds ahead of the cropping season. The Punjab agricultural market has registered a downward trend in Ludhiana. The saffron high command feels that if the government loses UP polls, the Prime Ministers image and credibility could be permanently damage. Thrissur: An 18-year-old college girl fell into a well and died after a pack of stray dogs reportedly chased her at Kadangodu near Erumappetti here on Friday morning. The deceased Greeshma, daughter of Haridasan Mepparambathu of Kadangodu, got panicky after seeing the stray dogs and ran away, but accidentally fell into the well, as per the statements of the local people. The police said Greeshma, studying in Aryabhatta College, Guruvayur, was returning to her house after buying milk. The incident took place in an isolated arecanut farm and there were no eyewitnesses to the incident. Mr A.A. Thankachan , additional SI, Erumapetti, said the people told the police that they heard the barking of the dogs and the cry of Greeshma. By the time they rushed to the spot, she had fallen into the well. Though some persons jumped into the well, they could not save her life. The body was taken out by the fire force personnel and handed over to the relatives after autopsy at Kunnamkulam Taluk Government Hospital. Doctors have warned that ATMs being used by thousands of people daily to draw money in the backdrop of demonetisation of high-value currency notes, could be a new source of infection. Hyderabad: Doctors have warned that ATMs being used by thousands of people daily to draw money in the backdrop of demonetisation of high-value currency notes, could be a new source of infection. Bacteria and viruses that can cause respiratory tract infections, skin allergies and fungal infections could adhere to machine buttons, screens, exterior of the card reader, writing surfaces, signage and also light panels. With the temperature inside the cubicle maintained at below 30C, there is a good chance for the bacteria, virus and other microbes to survive for a longer time. Dr P.N. Reddy, a senior general physician, said, "The surface of the ATM harbours germs from human touch, mainly from improperly washed hands and from the respiratory tract system. Droplets released by a person suffering from cold, viral flu or from other diseases settle on the machine and via touch it spreads around." With frequent use, the surface of the machine remains hot, encouraging growth and multiplication of various organisms. From November 10, ATMs have been in constant use as customers try and access their money. A bank manager on condition of anonymity said, "As per our contract, daily cleaning work like dusting of the machine and cleaning the floor is carried out by the cleaning staff. On weekends, it is the security guard who does the cleaning inside the kiosk. Complete vacuum cleaning and cleaning with liquid are carried out by specialised agencies once in three months. But in the present rush for money, we have not been able to carry out the basic services." Dust mites, small particulate matter from vehicles, even deposits of food allow parasites to breed inside the machine unit. Allow old notes to buy chicken, eggs: IndustryAllow The poultry industry has urged the state government to allow the use of old currency notes to purchase eggs and chicken at least for the next 20 days in a bid to stave off a crisis. Industry representatives met finance minister Etela Rajender on Saturday at Secretariat on the issue. They told the minister that the industry was losing `40 crore per day with no buyers due to currency crisis. Telangana Poultry Traders Association president G.Ranjith Reddy said, The government has been accepting old currency notes to pay taxes, utility bills and arrears. This has been beneficial for both government and people. The same facility should be extended to the poultry industry, which is reeling under a severe crisis with no buyers since November 9. We are losing business due to the currency crisis. We are not in a position to repay loans. The poultry industry provides livelihood to a significant section of the population in the rural areas. The rural economy will be hit if the industry collapses," Mr Reddy added. He said the state produces 4 crore eggs and 15 lakh kgs of chicken per day, which cannot be stored for long. This has resulted in about 80 per cent loss to poultry production, he said. Thrissur: The issues faced by the marginalised and the poor can be addressed effectively through decentralisation of power, local self-government minister K. T. Jaleel has said. Speaking at Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) here after inaugurating an international conference on Saturday, he said the importance of decentralised administration was of utmost importance because it could make an impact on the lives of the lower strata of society. The theme for the conference was marginalisation, poverty and decentralisation. The decentralised governance had been a hallmark of rural India since Vedic period, which is evident from the mention of Sabha and Samiti in our scriptures. Panch, the five representatives of the village community, continued to have autonomy in village governance. They performed not only administrative function but also judicial duties. Historical records also reveal that the position of Sabhas and Samitis and panchayats remained undisturbed till British Raj. Though different dynasties didn't affect the autonomous functions of the traditional village governance system, the British toppled it with the centralization of power, he said. It was the dawn of the freedom that rekindled the hopes of decentralisation and Gandhiji played pivotal role re-establishing village autonomy through his ideal of Grama Swaraj. Nehru who adopted the Five-Year Plan from Russia introduced Panchayat Raj. The real test of the effectiveness of the mandate of the decentralisation, however, depends on the successes of states which took up this task seriously. It is now high time to evaluate the strength and weakness of the system. By introducing decentralisation, society could jointly resist the economic and political dominations of the corporate and upheld the dignity of every citizen." The minister also launched PG diploma course in child-friendly governance initiated jointly by KILA and UNICEF. Bangladesh rural development minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, chief secretary S.M. Vijayanand, Anil Akkara MLA, KILA director P.P. Balan, and other foreign dignitaries were present. The MPs expressed shock over the timing of the attack on Indian fishermen as it came just a couple of days after fishermen of both countries met and agreed on no violence and no loss of life while handling the issue. (Representational image) Chennai: The recent incident of two Indian fishermen allegedly attacked by Sri Lankan Navy represents a major escalation in the manner in which the extremely sensitive issue was being handled, the AIADMK told Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday while asking him to convey New Delhis strong protest to Colombo. In a memorandum submitted to Mr Modi, the AIADMK MPs led by Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai demanded that the Union Government immediately retrieve Katchatheevu Islands, which was ceded to Sri Lanka by the India in 1974. Such an incident of firing has not occurred in the past several years and represents a major escalation in the manner in which the Sri Lankan Navy is dealing with an extremely sensitive livelihood issue of Indian fishermen, the MPs said in their memorandum. Two fishermen hailing from Karaikkal region were injured when Sri Lankan naval personnel fire on them on Thursday when they were fishing off Kodiakkari coast. The MPs expressed shock over the timing of the attack on Indian fishermen as it came just a couple of days after fishermen of both countries met and agreed on no violence and no loss of life while handling the issue. Clearly, the response from the Indian side to this incident has to be immediate and effective. On behalf of our leader, the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Puratchi Thalaivi J. Jayalalithaa, we strongly urge you to direct the Ministry of External Affairs to summon the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India and convey our strong protest against this shocking incident, the memorandum said. The AIADMK MPs said the fisherfolk in the state were in a state of shock over the incident and asked the Prime Minister to immediately abrogate the 1974 Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement that ceded the Katchatheevu Islands to Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, AIADMK MPs protested against the firing on fishermen in the Lok Sabha, while they raised slogans against Centre's indecision on formation of Cauvery Management Board. While several opposition members were in the Well of the House demanding an adjournment motion on the demonetisation issue, the AIADMK members were also there to protest the latest incident of alleged firing on Tamil fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy. Patna: The BJP-led NDA on Saturday released a 'report card' on the completion of one year of the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar and said the dispensation has proved to be a big "failure" on all fronts, especially so on law and order. Releasing the 'report card' titled 'Ek Saal, Bura Haal', senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi launched a scathing attack on the maha-gathbandhan government saying it has been in news for "all wrong reasons" in the past one year. "The situation in Bihar has become worse in just one year... We (NDA leaders) have come out with a report card one day in advance, so that the Chief Minister can answer our questions," Modi told reporters here. The Nitish-led government, in which Lalu Prasad's RJD and the Congress are allies, completes a year in office tomorrow and it would also present its report card showcasing its achievements. The practice of presenting report cards every year was started by Nitish Kumar in 2006 after he became Chief Minister in November 2005. The Chief Minister should present a report card of one year and not of 11 years as BJP was also the part of the government for around seven-and-half-year when the government earned laurels globally, while now this state government has earned name for all wrong reasons in the past one year, Sushil said. Union minister and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Minister of State and RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha, Hindustani Awam Morcha(S) president and former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and other senior BJP leaders including state BJP chief Mangal Pandey were also present on the occasion. Sushil Modi said had the Opposition not objected and raised the issues of bail granted to Shahabuddin, Raj Ballabh Yadav and Rocky Yadav, the state government would not have gone to the Supreme Court against them. "Why is agriculture, health, education and industries missing from the CM's 'Nischay'?" he asked, while seeking answers to what happened to the Rs 1.52 lakh crore 'agriculture roadmap', 'Mission Manav Vikas', 'Mahadalit Vikas Mission' and 'Vision Document 2025'. Sushil also termed Kumar's students' credit card scheme a repackaging of the Centre's scheme. Alleging that criminals have dominated the entire one year of the grand alliance government and the Chief Minister seemed helpless, the senior BJP leader said it was evident from the crime figures, which have "increased" after prohibition came into effect. Quoting figures from the website of the police department, he claimed the number of kidnappings for ransom has gone upto three in August this year from one in April this year. Similarly, rape incidents have increased to 103 in August 2016 from 61 in April. The number of murders have gone up to 228 in August from 192 in April, Sushil said, adding incidents of riots have increased to 1,017 in August from 809 in April. Taking potshots at the grand alliance government, Ramvilas Paswan said development has taken a back seat while cold war was on among the allies. "The CM should issue a white paper on the numbers of Dalit and Mahadalit families and how many of them have got three decimals of land," he said while predicting that the Nitish Kumar-government would fall in two-and-half years. Giving "negative marks" to the Nitish government, former CM Manjhi said, "The government did nothing in one year. Going by its performance, it will not even get a zero mark. It may even get negative marking." Lucknow: BSP president Mayawati today cautioned Muslims in Uttar Pradesh that their interests were not safe with the Samajwadi Party, which is mired in family feud, and voting for it will mean strengthening the BJP. "The 'sarv samaj' including the Muslims should understand that their interests were not safe in Samajwadi Party....Voting for SP which today stands divided into two factions means strengthening BJP and helping it win elections," Mayawati said in a statement. The BSP supremo has been reaching out to Muslims in a big way, especially as the public feud between Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his uncle Shivpal Yadav threatened to drive away loyal voters of Samajwadi Party in the poll-bound state. Attacking the Samajwadi Party, Mayawati alleged that ever since it came to power, "goonda, mafia, corrupt and communal elements are ruling the roost and jungleraj is prevailing" in Uttar Pradesh. The BSP chief said that the ongoing tussle in the Samajwadi Party family has further harmed the law and order situation. Mayawati also lashed out at Akhilesh for making "lofty claims" and launching schemes such as Dial-100 and asked him to desist from making any further announcements, "the benefit of which he will not be able to extend to the people". Dial-100 is aimed at reducing the police emergency response time. After lying low for some months, BJP MP Subramanian Swamy has launched a fresh attack against finance minister Arun Jaitley. After the Narendra Modi governments decision on demonetisation of high denomination currency notes led to widespread chaos across the country, Mr Swamy got an opportunity to renew his demand for Mr Jaitleys exit from the government on the plea that his ministry had not made adequate arrangements for sufficient funds in banks. While Mr Swamys diatribe against Mr Jaitley is understandable, a large number of unhappy BJP members are also said to be in agreement with the controversial MP. Mr Jaitley, however, is unfazed as he enjoys the full support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Moreover, the same BJP members, who are privately criticising the finance minister, are lining up to give him suggestions on how the government can mop up black money, including the revival of the Income Declaration Scheme, which allows people to declare their unaccounted funds. Others are seeking the ministers advice on handling large amounts of money, ostensibly on behalf of a relative or a friend. But Mr Jaitley can see through the ruse. Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad triggered uproarious scenes in the Rajya Sabha last week when he pointed to the number of people who had died waiting in queues outside banks to access their money, stating that these many deaths were not reported even after the terror attack on an Army base in Uri. Needless to say, the BJP members seized upon this statement to launch a frontal attack against Mr Azad. I&B minister M. Venkaiah Naidu, who was agitated over Mr Azads statement, got into a slanging match with Congress Rajya Sabha member Jairam Ramesh. While Mr Naidu insisted that the Congress leader had crossed the lakshman rekha, Mr Ramesh argued that the BJP minister was deliberately distorting Mr Azads remarks. The heated exchange continued for some time till Mr Ramesh ended it by telling the voluble Naidu: The trouble is that you have always misunderstood me while I have never understood you. When Congress leader Amarinder Singh was Punjab CM, he had unilaterally terminated a river-sharing agreement with Haryana, which also involved the construction of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal. Although the decision had embarrassed the Congress-led ruling coalition then, Mr Singh had consolidated his position both in the party and the state by emerging as the champion of Punjabs interests. Mr Singh got a fresh opportunity to position himself as the chief protector of his home state when he resigned his Lok Sabha seat when his 2004 decision was struck down by the SC and addressed a series of press conferences vowing to fight for the people of Punjab. But Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, who is hoping to steal a march over the ruling SAD and the Congress in next years Punjab Assembly elections, moved quickly to deny Mr Singh the privilege of emerging as the hero of Punjab. His tech-savvy party lost no time in using social media to circulate an old photograph, which shows that Mr Singh was present when Indira Gandhi laid the foundation stone of the SYL canal at Kapoori village in 1982. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjees proposal that all Opposition parties march to Rashtrapati Bhavan on November 16 to petition against the Modi governments decision to ban high-denomination notes, got support from the AAP, the Shiv Sena and the NC only. The others, including the Congress and the Left parties, stayed away as they obviously did not want to give credit to Ms Banerjee for taking a lead in this matter. Although Kejriwal participated in the march, he was obviously not willing to allow Ms Banerjee to grab all the limelight. When Mr Kejriwal and Ms Banerjee addressed a joint meeting at New Delhis Azadpur mandi last week to highlight the suffering of the common man, the West Bengal CMs photograph was missing from the posters at the venue while there was only a passing reference to her in the speeches made by the AAP leaders whose main focus was on Mr Kejriwals role in the battle against the Modi government. But Ms Banerjee sent out a clear message to Mr Kejriwal that he should not assume sole ownership of this issue in her speech. Stating that there were no leadership issues in the crusade for the poor, Ms Banerjee declared, I am even willing to accept the leadership of a rickshaw puller in this fight. Congress cadres may be agog that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will be joining the campaign for the Uttar Pradesh elections soon. However, the long shot strategy is not likely to have any immediate impact as early pre-poll indicators give the Congress seats in the single digit as a distant fourth, behind the BSP, BJP and SP. Any performance above such low expectations may be creditable and Priyanka might even claim the honour if that happens. She is the last trump card the Grand Old Party holds and it must play that card ahead of a crucial poll defining which way the nation may be inclined to vote in a BJP versus the rest scenario. If the Congress is to battle it alone since a mahagathbandhan on the lines of Bihar may not be possible in Uttar Pradesh, it then needs all the help it can get to stay relevant on the national scene. If Priyanka does not enter the fray now, after taking two years to mull over getting into active politics, she might be letting down a party that has laid much store by the Nehru-Gandhi family. While Priyankas entry might lead to the redefining of Rahul Gandhis role as the star campaigner, there is little reason to believe the Gandhi family would ever fall out in public as the SPs Yadavs did. The national party, with only a minor victory to speak of in Puducherry, has much ground to cover if it is to retain any hope of leading a united Opposition against the BJP in 2019. If Priyankas entry rekindles hope, she would have achieved something. Two of the things Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he would bring to New Delhi were decisiveness and governance. He has other qualities also of course and people voted for them just as they did for these two named above. Mr Modi is not a dynast and he has worked his way to where he is based only on merit. He has the reputation of being honest and there are no reports of high-level corruption in the Union Cabinet as there were in the time of Manmohan Singh. However, these two qualities have been on display in recent days and we should look at how they have affected India. Decisiveness is the ability to take decisions quickly and firmly. This is often seen as a virtue. Being indecisive is seen as a weakness though often indecision is only another name for thinking something through carefully. And if there is uncertainly or turbulence beyond tolerable limits, one does not decide. On the other hand, the virtue of being decisive can also be seen as certitude, meaning being sure one is right intuitively rather than through knowledge. Sanjay Gandhi was also decisive. He was barely a literate (10 standard dropout) man who was given great power. He wielded it poorly and Indians suffered in unimaginable ways for his arrogance and his confidence that he knew what was right for all of us. The second ability, governance, can be described by another word used by military historians. That word is grip. It means the ability of a general to be in total charge of his command. Knowing what his side is capable of and being prepared. Julius Caesar had grip and he had control over his armies in a time when communications was poor and supply lines very long. Though his record in battle is mixed, Gen. Montgomery is thought to have had grip. He was not clueless as many other generals on the British side in the Second World War were. Mr Modi showed us his decisiveness when he acted to make useless the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes Indians held. This was sold as an act that would end or severely attack black money. We have not yet been told how that will happen except for Mr Modi saying that the corrupt and the wealthy sitting on piles or warehouses of cash would now only have worthless paper. Those who have run business, and I have owned and run a manufacturing and a services business, know that black money does not work like that. It is used, just like white money is used, as a means to expand business. It is held in goods and in property. In the purely liquid form, as cash, it is not particularly useful. The second reason given was that it would dent terrorist activity because that was being done by counterfeit money. Almost anything today can be sold as a good idea to Indians if it can be attached to terrorism. The media is less likely to question it. Anyway, so Mr Modi showed a flash of decisiveness. As a result of it we are living through days when the wretched of India, the hundreds of millions of poor who live on cash alone, are being used in an experiment. The Opposition is terrified of Mr Modi, with a couple of parties excepted, and that means that the demonetisation has not itself been opposed so far. Because this terrorism thing was stuck to it, the Congress is too afraid to demand a rollback. They are not sure of the public mood and believe that there is enthusiasm for the act. Meanwhile, this act of casual cruelty is bringing suffering and trauma to millions. Watching the Gujarati news channels I was struck by how the English ones seem to be reporting from another country. Mr Modi has told us the suffering Indians are going through will be justified by the dividend we will reap on January 1. We shall see. But meantime, having shown us decisiveness, he now needs to show us governance. The government has bumbled along since Mr Modis triumphant announcement. It has been doing things seemingly in reactive mode. It has been raising and lowering withdrawal limits, relaxing rules for some states arbitrarily, and introducing ad hoc administrative measures like inking of fingers. Where is the talent and ability needed to bring calm to the chaos that anyone could have anticipated when the government makes a move of this magnitude? It would not be incorrect to say that at the moment it seems to be missing. This is his chance. With the country in a crisis that directly affects not a handful of people (as terrorism does) but hundreds of millions we will know if Mr Modi has grip. The Tiangong 2 was carried into space on September 15. China's Shenzhou 11 space capsule landed safely in the northern region of Inner Mongolia on Friday with two astronauts aboard, state media said, completing the country's longest manned space mission to date. China Central Television showed images of the craft - whose name translates as "Divine Vessel" - on the ground flanked by Chinese flags and support teams. State news agency Xinhua said the capsule had touched down "successfully" just after 2 p.m. The two astronauts, Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong, spent 30 days aboard the Tiangong 2 space laboratory, or "Heavenly Palace 2", which China is using to carry out experiments ahead of a longer-range plan to have a permanent manned space station around 2022. They did not immediately emerge from the capsule as CCTV said they were undergoing medical examination, but mission commander Zhang Youxia, who is also a senior military official, said in a televised speech that they were in "good condition". "The Tiangong 2 and Shenzhou 11 flight duties were a complete success," Zhang said. Tiangong 2 will remain in its orbit and next docks with Tianzhou 1, China's first cargo spacecraft, which is set to be launched in April next year, according to state media. In a manned space mission in 2013, three Chinese astronauts spent 15 days in orbit and docked with a space laboratory, the Tiangong 1. Advancing China's space program is a priority for Beijing, with President Xi Jinping calling for the country to establish itself as a space power. The US Defense Department has highlighted China's increasing space capabilities, saying it was pursuing activities aimed at preventing other nations using space-based assets in a crisis. China has been working to develop its space program for military, commercial and scientific purposes, but is still playing catch-up to established space powers the United States and Russia. It insists the program is for peaceful purposes. China's Jade Rabbit moon rover landed on the moon in late 2013 to great national fanfare, but soon suffered severe technical difficulties. The rover and the Chang'e 3 probe that carried it there were the first "soft landing" on the moon since 1976. Both the United States and the Soviet Union had accomplished the feat earlier. China will launch a "core module" for its first space station some time around 2018, a senior official said in April, part of a plan for a permanent manned space station in service around 2022. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. When a holiday in Portugal was planned this year, I was glad about being able to put to use the little Spanish I had picked up during an earlier trip to Spain. Of course Portuguese is the official language of the country, but Id always assumed (like many others, apparently) that a reasonable chunk of the population understands Spanish. My Airbnb host politely corrected me when she said, Here we say obrigada, not gracias. It accompanied a smile, which indicated that its a correction she makes far too often. It is one of the first things that strike you about Portugal. The people, although extremely warm, are consciously trying to break away from the shadows of their older brother. And since Portugal embraced tourism very actively only in the past decade or so, you can see how the locals try hard to establish an identity of their own. We set out to explore Portugals second largest city of Porto in the most pocket-friendly way that has emerged, thanks to the tourism boom in this part of the world through a free walking tour. Its when a certified guide takes you across town on foot, often giving priceless nuggets of a place. In the end, you tip them depending on your experience. After three days of walking around the city, heres how we suggest you explore Porto. Wine trail For lovers of vino, heres a precious piece of trivia. Port wine, one of Portugals most famous exports, comes from here. For 10 Euros, you could visit one of the oldest wine cellars in the area and watch a few films on the process of winemaking, before eventually sipping on a couple of glasses of the delicious produce. Apart from the red, white and port, Porto also offers a rare type of green wine vinho verde. It isnt literally green in colour, but refers to wine that is crisp and young. Tram ride Like many other cities in Europe, Porto is stuck in a time warp. It has no modern buildings, only old structures with hilly cobbled streets and a tram that whistles past every few minutes. You know how the window seats in the direction of the ride are always the most coveted? Trams in Porto are particularly accommodating of this, since the seats can be shuffled to face the direction of the ride every time it changes its route! Even if you have nowhere to go, wed reckon you hop onto it for a ride across town. After walking up and down the slopes of the city, a tram ride would do your tired feet much good. Vibrant streetside Porto is a colourful city, thanks to its many graffiti adorned walls. Since most buildings are old and dilapidated, artists here are trying to draw attention towards the walls. Therefore, unlike other parts of the world, the art here isnt very underground. The government here in fact, rewards the best artist with an entire public wall space to paint his next creation. Most streets are lined with bars and restaurants, often with more options for non-vegetarians than the vegetarians. Pork and fish are particular favourites. For the Potterheads Porto hosts one of the most beautiful bookstores in Europe, Livararia Lello. It is an urban myth that J.K. Rowling was inspired by this magnificent edifice when she drew a picture of Flourish and Blotts, a bookstore in the Harry Potter universe that she described as a place where the shelves were stacked to the ceiling with books as large as paving stones bound in leather; books the size of postage stamps in covers of silk; books full of peculiar symbols and a few books with nothing in them at all. Livararia LelloRowling lived in Porto for two years, during which she taught at a school and met her to-be husband. While it has never been officially confirmed if the bookstore really provided a backdrop for the story, but the serpentine queue outside the building sure indicates that everyone wants to believe so. Gaia Across the Douro river is the city of Gaia that bears no resemblance with Porto, thanks to its new buildings, tar roads and a pristine beach. It almost feels like a different part of the country given that the two share no physical traits. The two, like most neighbours, share a mock rivalry too. Our tour guide told us that while Porto is clearly the better of the two, Gaia has one thing that Porto lacks a better view of Porto! Wed have to agree on that one. The company had a market value of about $337 billion at close. Social media giant Facebook on Friday set a $6 billion buyback programme for its Class A shares, beginning in the first quarter of 2017. Facebook's shares were up 1.1 per cent at $118.24 in after-hours trading. The company had a market value of about $337 billion at close. The company also said Chief Accounting Officer Jas Athwal had resigned, effective February 17. Athwal has spent nearly nine years at the company and was formerly the director of revenue at Yahoo. The company said it planned to launch a search for a replacement. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Novartis has abandoned a 2016 goal to start testing its autofocus contact lens on people. Novartis has abandoned a 2016 goal to start testing its autofocus contact lens on people, though it said the groundbreaking product it is making with internet giant Google is "progressing steadily." "It is too early to say when exactly human clinical trials for these lenses will begin," a spokeswoman for the Basel-based drugmaker said in an email on Friday. "This is a very technically complex process and both sides are learning as we go along. We will provide updates at the appropriate time," she said. Novartis Chief Executive Joe Jimenez said last year his company's Alcon eye care unit was on track to begin testing in 2016. In 2014, Jimenez said he hoped the lens would be on the market in about five years. Novartis and Google joined forces two years ago to develop two kinds of "smart" contact lenses: An autofocusing lens for people with presbyopia, or far-sightedness, and another for measuring blood glucose levels in diabetes patients. The lenses are now being developed with Alphabet Inc.'s life sciences unit Verily, which was carved out from Google in 2015. Measuring blood sugar via the eye could allow diabetics to stop having to prick their fingers, while an autofocus contact lens would help people whose ability to focus is impaired when their eyes age. It is unclear when testing for the diabetes lens will start. Since the partnership with Google was launched in 2014, Alcon's sales have slid and its leadership team has been replaced. New division head Mike Ball has been tasked with halting the revenue decline in advance of a possible sale of the unit. But Novartis said that did not bar investment in innovative projects such as the lens effort with Google. "Advancing innovation such as the smart lens technology, is a key part of Alcon's growth strategy," the spokeswoman said. "The 'smart lens' technology has the potential to transform eye care and further enhance our pipeline ... in the contact lens and intraocular lens space." Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. The website was launched in 2007 just after the major music torrent website, oink.cd which is also taken down by British and Dutch authorities. It took nearly 10 years, but the authorities have finally managed to shut down the biggest online invite-only torrent website, What.cd. The news was confirmed on website's twitter handle. The tweet reads "We are not likely to return any time soon in our current form. All site and user data has been destroyed. So long, and thanks for all the fish." French technology news site Zataz reported on Thursday that the nation's National Gendarmerie office nabbed the servers that hosted the site's database, IRC, and trackers. Zatag also doesnt exactly list the day of websites seizure, a cursory Twitter search shows user complaints of What.cd "tracker outages" beginning November 16. The website was launched in 2007 just after the major music torrent website, oink.cd which is also taken down by British and Dutch authorities. Oink.cd was launched alongside the splinter site called waffles.fm and both were resembled as "OiNK's Pink Palace." Although it wasnt confirmed that which site picked up a larger number of users, but what.cd appears to have lasted longer than its contemporaries, with waffles.fm exploring a new domain which isnt public. Some Reddit users have complained that waffles.cd has appeared to have gone dark as well, but no major reports about that site's closure or seizure have appeared just yet. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Cairo: Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi has praised US President-elect Donald J. Trump, saying that his inflammatory statements from the campaign trail do not necessarily reflect the actions he will take as president. El-Sisi, in an interview with Portuguese news agency LUSA released on Saturday, said, "Lets not jump into conclusions or worry" about future US actions or policies in the Middle East. The army chief-turned-president was interviewed prior to his upcoming Nov. 21 visit to Portugal. El-Sisi was among the very first foreign leaders to congratulate Trump's on his presidential victory. "We have to distinguish between the rhetoric that takes place within presidential campaigns and the real and actual administration of a country after the inauguration," he said. "There will be a chance for more thorough readings." El-Sissi's remarks echoed sentiments that have been circulating on local and regional media, with columnists speculating that Trump campaign rhetoric, such as his call for a ban on Muslims entering the US will be watered down. Trump and el-Sisi have already shown a certain bond. Trump said there was "good chemistry" when they met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September. El-Sisi said Trump would "without a doubt" make a strong leader. El-Sissi, who was elected in 2014 after leading the military ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, has painted himself as a regional leader in the fight against Islamic militancy, a stance that echoes Trump's priorities. The prospect of warmer relations with Trump comes after years of comparative chill between el-Sisi and outgoing US President Barack Obama. After the ouster of Morsi and the subsequent lethal crackdown on Islamist supporters, the Obama administration voiced criticism and briefly suspended part of the Egypt's robust American aid package. Egypt's pro-government media have often railed against Obama, accusing the U.S. of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood and other dissident groups. Many of those pro-government media outlets are now cheering Trump's victory. Observers believe that Trump is less likely to take Egypt to task over human rights. Instead, he could offer el-Sisi international political support as the Egyptian leader battles Islamic State group-linked militants in the Sinai peninsula and in neighbouring Libya. "I believe that President Trump will be vigorously engaged with the issues in the region," el-Sisi said. "As a matter of fact, Trump has shown deep and great understanding of what is taking place in the region as a whole and Egypt in particular. I am looking forward and expecting more support and reinforcement of our bilateral relations." Donald Trump denied the allegations and said during the campaign that he would not settle. (Photo: AP) San Diego: For more than six years, Donald Trump fought hard against a lawsuit in which former customers of his now-defunct Trump University accused him of fraud. Less than two weeks after being elected president, he agreed to a $25 million settlement. "We definitely detected a change of tone and change of approach" after the election, plaintiffs' attorney Jason Forge said when the agreement was announced Friday. About 7,000 students would be eligible for refunds if U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel approves the settlement. Under the terms, the Republican president-elect admits no wrongdoing in settling two federal class-action lawsuits in San Diego and a lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, a Democrat. The agreement came 10 days before jury selection was scheduled to begin in San Diego in the oldest case, which was filed in April 2010. The complaint accused Trump University, which wasn't an accredited school, of defrauding students who paid up to $35,000 a year to enroll in programs that promised to share Trump's real estate secrets. Trump denied the allegations and said during the campaign that he would not settle. He told supporters at a May rally that he would come to San Diego to testify after winning the presidency. "I could have settled this case numerous times, but I don't want to settle cases when we're right. I don't believe in it. And when you start settling cases, you know what happens? Everybody sues you because you get known as a settler. One thing about me, I am not known as a settler," Trump said at the time. Two days after the election, Trump's lead attorney in the San Diego cases, Daniel Petrocelli, said he was "all ears" to settlement talks and accepted an offer to have U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Miller of San Diego broker negotiations. Forge said the agreement was reached an hour before a hearing for Curiel to weigh Trump's latest request to delay the trial until after the Jan. 20 inauguration. The plaintiffs' attorney said Miller's role as a mediator was "very critical." "We were at each other's throat for 6? years and were able to find the common ground with them and do something good there," Forge told reporters. The agreement canceled the trial and lifted what would probably have been a major headache for Trump as he works to fill key executive branch positions and get acquainted with foreign leaders. The trial was expected to last several weeks, guaranteeing daily news coverage of a controversy that dogged him during the campaign. Trump's political rivals seized on the lawsuits to try to portray him as dishonest and deceitful. Trump brought more attention to them by repeatedly assailing Curiel, who oversaw the San Diego cases. Trump suggested the Indiana-born judge's Mexican heritage exposed a bias. The thousands of former students covered by the San Diego lawsuits will be eligible to receive at least half and possibly all their money back, as much as $35,000, Forge said. The plaintiffs' attorneys waived their fees. Schneiderman called the agreement a "stunning reversal" for the president-elect, saying Trump "fought us every step of the way, filing baseless charges and fruitless appeals and refusing to settle for even modest amounts of compensation for the victims of his phony university. Today, that all changes." Trump's attorneys said the settlement allows the president-elect to focus full attention on his transition to the White House. "He was willing to sacrifice his personal interests, put this behind him, and move forward," Petrocelli said. Alan Garten, the Trump Organization's general counsel, said he had "no doubt" Trump would have prevailed at trial. The lawsuits allege that Trump University gave nationwide seminars that were like infomercials, constantly pressuring people to spend more and, in the end, failing to deliver on its promises. The San Diego trial would have been pinned on whether a jury believed Trump misled customers by calling the business a university and by advertising that he hand-picked instructors. Court documents unsealed in May revealed strategies for enticing people to enroll even if they couldn't afford it. The documents outlined how employees should guide people through "the roller coaster of emotions" after they express interest and told employees to be "very aggressive during these conversations to in order to push them out of their comfort zones." Transcripts of about 10 hours of Trump depositions provided additional material to rivals, though Curiel denied a request to release video of Trump's testimony that would have likely been used in campaign attack ads. Trump acknowledged in the depositions that he played on people's fantasies, and he could not recall names of his employees despite his advertising pitch that he hand-picked them. Trump has repeatedly claimed a 98 percent customer satisfaction rate on internal surveys. Plaintiffs countered that students were asked to rate the product when they believed they still had more instruction to come and were reluctant to openly criticize their teachers on surveys that were not anonymous. The settlement came a day after watchdog groups and ethics experts who served in both Republican and Democratic administrations sent a letter to Trump urging him to make a clean break from his business to avoid "embroiling the presidency in litigation." One of the authors, Richard Painter, an ethics lawyer at the White House under Republican President George W. Bush, said the Trump University settlement might backfire if lawyers think Trump is eager to settle to avoid court cases while president. "The plaintiffs' lawyers," he said, "are going to smell blood in the water." New York: There's no doubt which side the fashion world supported during the US presidential campaign. For years, First Lady Michelle Obama and Democrats' vanquished presidential candidate Hillary Clinton have been favourites with fashion designers who dressed them in clothes aimed at evoking their values. But New York-based French designer Sophie Theallet has gone a step further, throwing down the gauntlet by refusing to dress future first lady Melania Trump because of the political views of her husband, President-elect Donald Trump. Theallet is urging other designers to follow her lead. "As one who celebrates and strives for diversity, individual freedom and respect for all lifestyles, I will not participate in dressing or associating in any way with the next first lady," she wrote in an open letter published Thursday. "The rhetoric of racism, sexism and xenophobia unleashed by her husband's presidential campaign are incompatible with the shared values we live by." "I am well aware it is not wise to get involved in politics," Theallet added. "That said, as a family-owned company, our bottom line is not just about money." The letter has prompted a flood of reaction on social media, much of it negative. Theallet, 52, who has worked in the United States for more than fifteen years, is a regular fixture at New York's fashion week. Her feminine designs have appealed to Michelle Obama, who provided welcome publicity by donning several of her dresses since 2009. "She has contributed to having our name recognized and respected worldwide," Theallet wrote of the current first lady, indicating purpose behind Obama's fashion choices. "Her values, actions and grace have always resonated deeply within me." The amendment was passed by 76 votes in favour, 72 against, 26 abstentions. (Photo: Representational Image) United Nations: India has opposed a UN resolution calling for a moratorium on the death penalty, saying it goes against Indian statutory law and the sovereign right of every country to determine their own legal system. But it supported an amendment reaffirming sovereign right to develop domestic legal systems. India's representative Mayank Joshi said every state had a sovereign right to determine its own legal system, which was why he had voted for the amendment. But the counsellor at India's UN Mission said he had voted against the resolution "because it contravened statutory law in India." The resolution was, however, adopted with 115 votes in favour to 38 against, with 31 abstentions following an "intense discussion," said a statement on the UN website. The amendment was passed by 76 votes in favour, 72 against, 26 abstentions. Explaining India's stance on the issues, Joshi said, "In India, the death penalty is exercised in the 'rarest of rare' cases, where the crime committed is so heinous as to shock the conscience of society." He said Indian law provides for "all requisite procedural safeguards, including the right to a fair hearing by an independent court, the presumption of innocence, the minimum guarantees for the defence, and the right to review by a higher court". He said the resolution "sought to promote a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty." "My delegation therefore, has voted against the resolution as a whole as it goes against Indian statutory law," he said. Death sentences in India must also be confirmed by a superior court and an accused has the right to appeal to a High Court or the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court of India has adopted guidelines on clemency and the treatment of death row prisoners and that "poverty, socio-economic, psychic compulsions, undeserved adversities in life" constituted new mitigating factors to be considered by courts in commuting a death sentence to life imprisonment, he added. The President of India in all cases, and the Governors of States under their respective jurisdictions, have the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence. In the past 12 years, only three executions, all of them of terrorists have been carried out in India. Military operations to oust the Islamic State from its self-declared caliphate in Syria and Iraq are scattering the extremist group's fighters and supporters. (Photo: Representational Image/AFP) New York: Intelligence experts estimate that the Islamic State extremist group has between 60 and 80 operatives planted in Europe to carry out attacks, the Dutch counter-terrorism coordinator said on Friday. Dick Schoof said in an interview with The Associated Press that would-be fighters are also heeding messages from the militant group "asking them not to come to Syria and Iraq, but to prepare attacks in Europe." One result is that over the last six months the number of "foreign terrorist fighters" hasn't grown, he said, but the fact that they're not traveling "does not mean that the potential threat of those who would have traveled is diminished." Schoof said military operations to oust the Islamic State from its self-declared caliphate in Syria and Iraq are scattering the extremist group's fighters and supporters. This will probably lead to a gradual increase of refugees that will pose a danger to the national security of the Netherlands and other European countries, he said. Schoof said even though the Netherlands hasn't been hit by a major attack by Islamic extremists such as those in Belgium and France, "the chance of attack in the Netherlands is real." "We have seen 294 terrorist fighters go overseas in Iraq and Syria and there are still 190 over there," he said. "And what happened in France and Brussels and Germany could happen to us." There are probably between 4,000 and 5,000 European "foreign terrorist fighters" in Iraq and Syria, Schoof said. While the number from the Netherlands, a nation of 17 million people, may seem low, he said, "whether there's 190 or 350, I think the number is big enough to worry." Schoof said the Netherlands' program to deal with the threat balances "repression and prevention" and relies on strong cooperation between local and national authorities. On the "repression" side, he said, fighters returning from Syria or Iraq are taken into custody, and courts have recently handed down six-year prison sentences in several cases. The government also takes away passports, freezes assets, and has beefed up security measures and the police force, he said. On the prevention side, Schoof said, there's a lot of family support, with local authorities deciding the best interventions and providing education and psychological help if needed - but there also could be arrests. Jozias van Aartsen, the mayor of The Hague, said building trust and having close relations with the Muslim community is very important. "They are Dutch citizens," he said. "There are some in the Netherlands who say shut down mosques. That's absolutely wrong policy." But Van Aartsen said there is a need for vigilance. "The apparatus of local government can be very important as a watchdog against radicalization," he said. Schoof stressed that the Netherlands does not tolerate "anti-democratic behavior." "We try to prevent hate preachers coming in by not giving them a visa," he said. The government is also concerned about the development of an ultraconservative strain of Islam known as Salafism, he said. Last week, Schoof said, the Federation of Mosques, without any urging, sent a letter to all mosques in the country saying "the mosques themselves must realize that hate speech should not be accepted in the mosques." "Those are important signals that you can build on in your trust relationships," he said. Lima: Barack Obama faced tough questions Saturday about Donald Trump's victory on the last foreign visit of his presidency, to a summit of Pacific leaders that has been upended by the US election and concerns about China's rise. The US president and other top world leaders, including China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin, are in Lima, Peru for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit whose staid agenda has been hijacked by the Republican billionaire's shock election win last week. On Saturday, Obama will meet leaders of the 12 countries negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, a vast US-led trade accord that Trump opposes and now faces an uncertain future. Although the White House admits the chances of passing the deal are slim, Obama will urge leaders to give the new president time to formulate his policy. From Obama down, officials have stressed that the election has not changed US economic and strategic interests, and that Trump may yet recalibrate his views. But there is little chance Trump's Republican allies in Congress would ratify TPP anytime soon. "That is a real blow to US interests, economically and strategically, in terms of our position in Asia, but I think that is the reality, that the US is not going to be participating," said Matthew Goodman, an expert on Asian economics with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "But there are 11 other countries in TPP and I think that it is possible that they will agree to go ahead and pass TPP," he added in an interview, saying the others could "tweak" the agreement to keep it alive without US participation. Turning to China Some allies are turning their attention to a rival Chinese-backed free-trade agreement. Japanese leader Shinzo Abe, who took domestic political risks to back TPP, visited Trump in New York on Thursday to hear from the president-elect himself. The real estate mogul has prompted concern in Japan and South Korea in particular by questioning decades-old mutual defense obligations that underpin their security. National Security Advisor Susan Rice said ahead of Obama's visit that allies should expect those obligations to hold. "It is manifestly in the United States' interests for these alliances to endure and to be a source of confidence to our partners and for them to understand that they don't need to come out from under the US umbrella," she told AFP. Stressing that she did not want to speculate about Trump's foreign policy, she sought to reassure key US allies in NATO and the Pacific Rim that they will not be abandoned. Many Pacific countries are clamoring for deeper trade ties with the rest of the world. But in the United States and throughout the West, opposition is growing to deals that many say have contributed to jobs being sent overseas. Obama is likely to make the case that globalization is a fact of life, and modern trade deals with sturdy environmental and labor provisions -- help shape that trend in the right direction. Nuclear Korea Obama is also set to hold talks with the leaders of Russia, Canada, Australia, Peru and, crucially, China's Xi, the final meeting between the leaders of the world's two largest economic powers. The sit-down will also deal with efforts to stop North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear programs, US officials say. Obama is expected to press for an increase in the pace and severity of sanctions against North Korea, which is trying to develop a miniaturized nuclear warhead and a missile capable of delivering the weapon to the United States. Beijing has long dragged its heels over sanctioning its allies in Pyongyang, fearing a flood of refugees if North Korea's economy collapses. But earlier this year, China moved to sanction a conglomerate based in its frontier city of Dandong that had an estimated $530 million in trade with North Korea between 2011 and 2015. Pramila Jayapal has said President-elect Donald Trump has made it clear that he will continue to prey on the fears of ordinary Americans. (Photo: AP) Washington: Pramila Jayapal, the first-ever Indian-American woman elected to US House of Representatives, has said President-elect Donald Trump has made it clear that he will continue to prey on the fears of ordinary Americans. Jayapal, 51, warned she intends to be ready to stand and fight every step of the way, if Trump does not abandon the divisive rhetoric of his campaign. Immediately following Trumps election, there have been more than 300 hate crimes reported across the US, she said. By selecting Steve Bannon as chief strategist and now Senator Jeff Sessions for Attorney General, Trump has made it clear that he will continue to prey on the fears of ordinary Americans instead of uniting us as a country, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all, Jayapal said on Friday. She alleged Bannon has overseen a website that publishes views that are clearly racist and reflect calls for a white supremacist agenda that have absolutely no place in the US. I denounce President-elect Trumps appointment of Steve Bannon, and call on him to revoke this appointment, Jayapal said, adding that the announcement of Sessions as Trumps choice for Attorney General simply continues the pattern. Senator Sessions was not confirmed for a federal judgeship even by a Republican-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee because of his history of racially charged actions and statements. It is untenable to have him as the appointee for the most important post in the country for civil rights and the upholding of our constitutional values, she said. As the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Sessions has opposed immigration reform as well as essential bipartisan proposals to reform the criminal justice system, she alleged. Appointing him as Attorney General would send a terrifying message to people across the country about the next Administrations commitment to civil rights, criminal justice reform and constitutional rights, Jayapal said. Though Trump has won the election through the electoral college, he should not forget that a majority of Americans rejected the pervasive racism and misogyny of his campaign by choosing another presidential candidate, she said. If Trump intends to be a President for all of the US, he must abandon the divisive rhetoric of his campaign and choose appointees who will uphold our constitutional values and the core ideas of inclusion and diversity. If he does not do so, I intend to be ready to stand and fight every step of the way and to build the movement that can stop these disastrous rollbacks to decades of progress, Jayapal added. Washington: President-elect Donald Trump's choice for CIA director is Mike Pompeo, a hard-line Republican congressman from Kansas who heavily criticised the Iran deal, blasted Hillary Clinton over the attack on a US diplomatic outpost in Libya and believes Edward Snowden is a traitor. Before starting the job, Pompeo would have to be confirmed by the Senate. One issue that could dominate a confirmation hearing is Pompeo's views on using harsh interrogation techniques on detainees. Trump has backed these techniques, saying: "We should go tougher than waterboarding," which simulates drowning. During the campaign, Trump suggested that he would push to change laws that prohibit waterboarding and other harsh techniques, saying that banning them puts the U.S. at a strategic disadvantage against Islamic State militants. Pompeo, 52, was elected to Congress during the tea party wave of 2010. He was appointed to the House Select Benghazi Committee to probe the 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic outpost in Benghazi that killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans. The panel's final report this summer sharply criticized the Obama administration for a series of mistakes but produced no new evidence pointing to wrongdoing by Clinton, who was secretary of state at the time. Pompeo and fellow Republican Jim Jordan of Ohio, however, issued a separate report slamming Clinton and the Obama administration. Pompeo told reporters that the former first lady and senator was "morally reprehensible." He also has been a fierce critic of Obama's nuclear deal with Iran, which granted Tehran sanctions relief for rolling back its nuclear weapons program. And he has said that Muslim leaders are "potentially complicit" in terrorist attacks if they do not denounce those made in the name of Islam. "They must cite the Koran as evidence that the murder of innocents is not permitted," he said in a 2013 House floor speech. A member of the House intelligence committee, Pompeo denounced Snowden, a former National Security Agency contractor who stole and leaked highly classified documents to journalists, revealing the NSA's bulk collection of millions of Americans' phone records. During an appearance on C-SPAN in February, Pompeo said Snowden should receive the death penalty for his actions. "He should be brought back from Russia and given due process and I think the proper outcome would be that he would be given a death sentence for having put friends of mine, friends of yours who serve in the military today at enormous risk because of the information he stole and then released to foreign powers," Pompeo said then. Despite their opposing views on many issues, Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the ranking Democrat on the House intelligence committee, congratulated Pompeo. "Mike is very bright and hard-working and will devote himself to helping the agency develop the best possible intelligence for policy makers," Schiff said. "While we have had our share of strong differences - principally on the politicization of the tragedy in Benghazi - I know that he is someone who is willing to listen and engage, both key qualities in a CIA director." Pompeo was born in Orange, California, and lives in Wichita, Kansas. He enrolled as a teenager at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. and graduated first in his class in 1986. According to biographical information on his House web site, Pompeo served as a "cavalry officer patrolling the Iron Curtain before the fall of the Berlin Wall." He is a graduate of Harvard Law School and was editor of the Harvard Law Review. After college, he set up Thayer Aerospace and was its chief executive officer for more than 10 years. Later he was president of Sentry International, a company that sold equipment for oil fields and manufacturing. He recently led a House Republican task force that found intelligence assessments approved by senior leaders at U.S. Central Command exaggerated the progress of anti-terrorism efforts they ran against IS militants. House GOP leaders formed the task force after lawmakers learned that an unnamed analyst assigned to the command had filed a formal complaint alleging that intelligence about the Islamic State group had been manipulated. Pompeo said in a statement this week that no one has "yet been held responsible." Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee conducted their own inquiry, which found problems but no evidence that intelligence had been politicized. A spokesman for CENTCOM had declined to comment further because the task force and inspector general inquiries are still proceeding. Pompeo has received more than $40,000 from the political action committee of Koch Industries, not including individual contributions from its employees, according to a review of federal campaign finance records. The firm is run by major political donors Charles and David Koch. He initially supported Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., for the Republican nomination for president, but then promoted Trump's bid for the White House. Washington: Top Democratic lawmakers and rights bodies have slammed President-elect Donald Trump's reported plan to reinstate a database of immigrants from Muslim-majority countries. National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) is a post-9/11 program that required travellers to the US from specified Muslim-majority countries to immediately register with the federal government or face deportation. Reinstating failed programs that target Arabs and Muslims in our country is exactly what ISIS was cheering on election night when America, a beacon of freedom in the world, gives in to fear and begins chipping away at civil rights, our enemies are emboldened and their ranks swell with new recruits, Senator Dick Durbin said. Back in 2002, I called for this program to be terminated because there were serious doubts it would help combat terrorism. Terrorism experts have since concluded that this program wasted precious homeland security funds and alienated Arab- and Muslim-Americans. Failed programs like this are the exact wrong approach to combating terrorism, and I will fight to ensure it never returns, Durbin said. The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Co-Chairs Raul M Grijalva and Keith Ellison, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chairwoman Judy Chu, CPC Vice Chair Congressman Mike Honda, and CPC Vice Chair Mark Takano slammed Trump surrogate, Carl Higbie, for suggesting that Japanese- American internment camps could serve as a precedent for the creation of a Muslim registry. These remarks are beyond disturbing. This is fear, not courage. This is hate, not policy, Honda said. Since Trump was elected president, thousands of Americans have voiced fears over what our country might look like in the coming years. Last night, one of his surrogates showed us why so many people are afraid of a Trump administration. The fact that our incoming President has considered internment as a model for how to move forward with the Muslim community is absolutely shocking. We cannot allow it to be normalised or enacted, Ellison said. Grijalva said it took the US decades to own up to the stain of Japanese internment, providing compensation to more than 100,000 people who suffered through it and formally apologising through the Civil Liberties Act in 1988. To say this heinous treatment should be precedent for any policy is horrific, and Trump should denounce it immediately. Any proposal to force American-Muslims to register with the federal government, and to use Japanese imprisonment during World War II as precedent, is abhorrent and has no place in our society. These ideas are based on tactics of fear, division, and hate that we must condemn, Chu said. I am horrified that people connected to the incoming Administration are using my familys experience as a precedent for what President-elect Trump could do, said Takano. Congresswoman Luis V Gutierrez, a Member of the Judiciary Committee and is Co-Chair of the Immigration Task Force of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said the roundup of men from mostly Asian, Middle Eastern and African countries was one of the darkest chapters of the George W Bush years. It was a strategy to scare immigrants and yielded zero concrete terrorism leads that led to conviction. Racial, ethnic, religious and gender profiling is exactly the wrong approach to law enforcement and counter-terrorism, he said. The internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II was a historic injustice and nothing like it should ever happen again. The protection of our Constitution is not conditional; it applies to all of us. We cannot allow hate speech, racism, and anti-immigrant sentiment to become the new norm in our country, and we must continue to speak out against hate and prejudice. An inclusive and vibrant America is worth fighting for, Senator Mazie Hironohe said. Meanwhile, the South Asian Bar Association (SABA) has also denounced the suggestions of a registry for non citizen Muslims in the US. While once just a campaign promise, this xenophobic and un-American idea has been thrust back into our national consciousness by Carl Higbie, former spokesperson for a Super PAC supporting the President-Elect, SABA said in a statement. Higbies suggestion that internment camps that imprisoned countless Japanese-Americans during World War II is a precedent for a possible Muslim registry, presupposes the lawfulness of a program thats only lasting impact is that of shame, regret and embarrassment, it said. SABA said this proposed registry is rooted in NSEERS that required certain foreign citizens and nationals to continuously check-in with US Authorities. After repeated criticism and documented ineffectiveness, NSEERS was abandoned in 2011, leaving a legacy of deporting individuals who had committed no crimes and had no links to terrorism, it said. SABA called on Americans of all backgrounds to reject the notion that registration and potential mass incarceration of residents of this country solely based upon nationality, race or religion, without justification, cause or purpose is acceptable. Discrimination towards any community cannot be condoned and we hope the President-Elect and the pending administration uniformly reject such proposals. The perpetuation of hate solely serves to continue the divisiveness that tears at the core of our values of equal protection and freedom for all individuals, it added. Washington: President-elect Donald Trumps choices for leadership posts threaten national unity and promise to turn back the clock on progress for racial, religious and sexual minorities, civil rights leaders and others said on Saturday after his nomination of Sen. Jeff Sessions for attorney general. Comments attributed to Mr Trumps picks, also including alt-right architect Stephen Bannon as senior adviser and chief strategist and former Army Lt. Michael Flynn as national security adviser, serve to embolden everyday Americans to lash out at members of minority groups, they said. Mr Sessions, of Alabama, was denied a federal judgeship in 1986 after hearings in which he was accused of making racially charged remarks as a U.S. attorney. According to transcripts, he was accused, among other things, of joking that he thought the Ku Klux Klan was OK until he learned they smoked marijuana, and of calling a black assistant U.S. attorney boy. Mr Bannon led the Breitbart website, which has been condemned as racist, sexist and anti-Semitic. In a 2011 radio interview, he said conservative women infuriated liberals because they would be pro-family, they would have husbands, they would love their children, contrasting that against a slur for lesbians. Meanwhile, vice president-elect Mike Pence was booed at a performance of the award-winning Broadway musical Hamilton, whose cast called for Mr Trumps incoming administration to work on behalf of all Americans. Mr Trump has demanded an apology. The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologise! he tweeted. New York: China desperately needs the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as it will help in pushing Beijing to the next stage of globalisation, but since the project passes through regions claimed by India, China therefore needs to make peace with New Delhi. A report in Forbes states that Beijing is committed to the USD46-billion project as it will eventually serve as the express link between Western China, the Middle East, and Africa. But with the corridor passing through 'Indian' territory, it has raised several hackles in New Delhi and a vociferous protest has erupted from the Indian government against the project. China, however, seems oblivious to India's objections and has charged ahead with it plans. Instead of mending fences and appeasing the Narendra Modi-led government, it has done exactly the opposite and has blocked India's several efforts to join the elite Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG). Besides that, China has brazenly taken Pakistan's side on the Kashmir dispute, which clearly explains why India has sided with the United States in the South China Sea dispute. Things can take a turn for the worse for Beijing if "pro-Indian forces in Pakistan" sabotage China's CPEC route, which creates the horrific possibility of an all-out open altercation between China and Pakistan on the one side, and India and its allies on the other. Officials said that since the borders were closed following the Paris attacks in November 2015, those arriving in the country illegally were considered as not having entered France at all. (Photo: Representational Image/AP) Nice: France has illegally expelled a number of minors and dozens of adults to Italy, rights groups and a lawyers' union said on Saturday. The expulsions occurred after a group of youngsters requested protection and access to child services in Breil-sur-Roya, a town on the French-Italian border. The allegation was made by representatives of France's Human Rights League, the Network for Education without Borders (RESF), Amnesty International, immigrant support group Cimade and the French lawyers union SAF at a joint press conference in Nice. On November 11, "12 youngsters made a request for protection" in Breil-sur-Roya, said Mireille Damiano, a lawyer with the SAF. "But although eight of them were rehoused, four others were sidelined" then illegally sent back to Italy by the police, she said. The following day, another 58 people had also requested protection, but most of them were put on a train to Italy, the groups said, denouncing the French authorities for "illegal abuses of process". Getting help for those caught in such a situation was tricky, they said, given the need to physically meet with such minors in order to take testimony from them. Earlier this week, Nice prosecutor Jean-Michel Pretre said that since the borders were closed following the Paris attacks in November 2015, those arriving in the country illegally were considered as not having entered France at all. "These people must be immediately sent back be they adults or minors," he said on Monday. But his argument was challenged by the associations who said France must consider "the best interests of the child". They also flagged growing concerns over the situation on the French-Italian border where "hundreds of people" were surging into the Roya valley, "among them a very large number of minors." Dressed in red robes, the 'princes of the Church' knelt before the pontiff to pledge their allegiance in a solemn ceremony. (Photo: AP) Vatican City: Pope Francis created 17 new cardinals from across the globe on Saturday, elevating them in a time-honoured ceremony to an elite body that advises and elects popes. Three of them are from the US, while others come from corners of the world where the Catholic Church needs a boost. Dressed in red robes, the "princes of the Church" knelt before the pontiff to pledge their allegiance in a solemn ceremony. Thirteen of them are under 80 and therefore eligible to take part in the next secret conclave to elect or become the head of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. They are known as cardinal electors. History's first Latin American pope is famed for wanting to reach out to far-flung dioceses often overlooked by Rome and he has shunned European candidates almost entirely, favouring low-key, pastoral figures or men he knows. The cardinal electors come from Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Central African Republic, Italy, Mauritius, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Spain, the United States and Venezuela. Francis warned them against falling victim to a "growing animosity" between people, including within the Church, in a possible reference to divisions within the hierarchy over Francis's bid for a more open, forgiving Church. He also urged them to fight growing xenophobia in the world and protect those such as refugees, who are often classed as enemies. Our greatest wealth "How many situations of uncertainty and suffering are sown by this growing animosity between peoples, between us! Yes, between us, within our communities, our priests, our meetings," he said. "We come from distant lands; we have different traditions, skin colour, languages and social backgrounds; we think differently and we celebrate our faith in a variety of rites. None of this makes us enemies; instead, it is one of our greatest riches," he said. The pope gave each man a three-cornered red hat, telling them that the colour symbolises "your readiness to act with courage, even to the shedding of your blood" for the Catholic Church. They were also handed a gold ring of their high office. The new cardinals were to head to the Mater Ecclesiae monastery inside the Vatican to visit retired pope Benedict XVI. The unexpected pick of three Americans reverses a trend that saw Francis pass over US candidates in his first two consistories. By choosing archbishops Blase Cupich of Chicago, Joseph Tobin of Indianapolis and Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas, Francis has "engineered what may prove to be a seismic shift in the Catholic hierarchy in the United States," wrote expert John Allen on the US Catholic website Crux. The three, from the Church's "progressive wing", may help counterbalance a strong conservative presence among US cardinals, particularly at a moment when the authority of reform-minded Francis is being challenged by US-led traditionalists. Honorary red hats The youngest of the new cardinals is 49-year old Dieudonne Nzapalainga, the archbishop of Bangui, who organised the pope's 2015 visit to Central African Republic, where Francis opened the first "Holy Door" outside of Rome. Some come from areas where Catholics are a distinct minority: Patrick D'Rozario of Bangladesh comes from a country where Christians represent just 0.03 percent of the total population, and only fifty percent of those are Catholics. The sole Italian cardinal-elect is Mario Zenari, who is currently the papal envoy to Syria. Among the four "red hats" over 80, who are given the title for service to the Church, is Albanian priest Ernest Simoni, who reduced Francis to tears in 2014 when he recounted the two decades he spent imprisoned for his faith during Albania's brutal communist rule. Another of the over 80s, Sebastian Khoarai from Lesotho, was not present because of ill health. Francis has now named 44 cardinal electors, just over a third of the total of 120 allowed by Church law. London: Three prominent members of British Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative Party on Saturday urged her to drop the government's appeal against a court ruling that parliament must approve the process to trigger Brexit. Oliver Letwin, former head of the government's Brexit preparations, former law officer Edward Garnier and former attorney general Dominic Grieve all warned that the Supreme Court appeal could delay the triggering of Article 50 of the European Union's Lisbon Treaty, which begins formal exit talks. The comments come a day after the court ruled the devolved Scottish and Welsh governments will be allowed to intervene in the appeal, due to take place next month. Letwin told BBC Radio 4 that the government should scrap the appeal and instead deliver a "fast and tightly timetabled and constrained bill" to parliament, avoiding "any risk of the Supreme Court deciding to accord the devolved administrations some rights or even some veto powers". Garnier called on May to "avoid an unnecessary legal row" that could pit judges against the government and involve a "lot of unnecessary expense." Grieve added that he "can't see the point in the government continuing with the case and, if they enact primary legislation, they will get it through parliament." All three were in favour of Britain remaining in the EU, but pro-Brexit former cabinet minister Owen Paterson also urged the government to shelve the appeal. "I wouldn't have a bet on the government winning this one," he told BBC Radio 4. "It is not good to have a confrontation with the courts." May initially wanted to use her executive powers to trigger the start of the process without parliamentary approval by the end of March, but the High Court ruling could delay the process. The initial ruling prompted outrage among Brexit supporters and parts of the conservative press, with one tabloid branding the judges "Enemies of the people", an attack that sparked a fierce controversy. The concern among the pro-Brexit camp is that pro-European lawmakers will seek to water down the break with the EU and derail May's timetable. Spanish authorities say the pair allegedly focused on the recruitment of young Muslims with the goal of inciting the execution of terrorist acts. (Photo: Representational Image/AFP) Madrid: Spanish police have arrested two Moroccan men for allegedly serving as recruiters for the Islamic State group. Spain's Interior Ministry said police arrested one man in Madrid and the other in the town of Roda de Ter near Barcelona on Saturday. Spanish authorities say the pair allegedly "focused on the recruitment of young Muslims" with the goal of "inciting the execution of terrorist acts." Police say the two suspects used social media to spread IS propaganda that included "videos of violent acts chosen to justify the cruelty shown toward the victims." Spain says 163 suspected Islamic extremists have been arrested in the country since 2015. A 52-year-old married Royal Naval officer in the UKs Portsmouth city has been dismissed for stalking a trainee woman pilot for four years. (Representational image) Portsmouth: A 52-year-old married Royal Naval officer in the UKs Portsmouth city has been dismissed for stalking a trainee woman pilot for four years, which left the victim with severe anxiety. According to a report in Mirror, Lieutenant Commander Andrew Thompson started stalking the trainee, Hannah Leask, after meeting her in September 2011. He "bombarded" the trainee with Facebook messages, emails, letters, and gifts, including boxes of chocolates, perfume and a graduation present. Captain Alison Towler, prosecuting, said, "She has lived in constant dread of him getting in contact with her, she became secretive and embarrassed and she lied to people to cover up a situation over which she had no control." In March 2014, Leask sent him several messages, asking him to stop contacting her as he continued to stalk her. "The more and more it went on, I became increasingly frustrated and stressed and intimidated," she said. Judge Advocate General Jeff Blackett said Thompson's behaviour was "abnormal". "This is a very serious matter, it's even more serious because of your rank differential, you clearly abused your rank," Blackett told Thompson. Thompson lives near Salisbury, Wiltshire, with his wife and two children. He was awarded six-month prison and a 30-day rehabilitation at a court martial hearing held at Portsmouth Naval Base. He has also been asked to pay a compensation of 5,000 to the victim. The offensive to retake IS-held Mosul, which was launched on October 17, is the biggest military operation in Iraq since American troops left in 2011. (Photo: AP) Mosul: A senior military commander says Iraqi troops are facing stiff resistance from Islamic State militants as they push deeper into eastern Mosul. Maj Gen Sami al-Aridi of the Iraqi special forces says his troops moved early on Saturday morning into the Muharabeen and Ulama neighbourhoods after fully liberating the adjacent Tahrir neighbourhood on Friday. Al-Aridi said IS militants are fighting back with snipers, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar rounds. Thick black columns of smoke were seen billowing from the two areas. The offensive to retake IS-held Mosul, which was launched on October 17, is the biggest military operation in Iraq since American troops left in 2011. If successful, the retaking of Mosul would be the strongest blow dealt to IS' self-styled caliphate stretching into Syria. The deaths brought the civilian toll in five days of regime bombardment of eastern Aleppo to at least 92, according to the Observatory which said however that many of the wounded were in serious condition. (Photo: AP) Beirut: At least 27 civilians were killed in regime air strikes, barrel bomb attacks and artillery fire on the rebel-held side of Syria's Aleppo city on Saturday, a monitor said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported massive bombardment across the eastern side of the battered city, five days into a renewed government assault on opposition-held districts. "There's barely a neighbourhood that has been spared in the east," said Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman. The deaths brought the civilian toll in five days of regime bombardment of eastern Aleppo to at least 92, according to the Observatory which said however that many of the wounded were in serious condition. Aleppo has been divided since mid-2012 between rebel control in the east and government control in the west, and the opposition side has been surrounded by the regime for nearly four months. The siege has created food and fuel shortages in the east, and the renewed bombardment has damaged or destroyed multiple medical and rescue worker facilities. The Pakistani military said Pakistan and Indian border troops exchanged fire across the Line of Control in two other sectors on Saturday, the Inter-Services Public Relations said. (Photo: Representational Image) Muzaffarabad: Three children were killed and three others injured on Saturday when mortar shells fired by Indian forces hit a village along the Line of Control (LOC) in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, officials said. "Two girls and their brother died when mortar shells fired by Indian troops hit their house in Kotli district along the Line of Control (LOC)," Raja Arif Mehmodd, a local administration official, told AFP. He said the eldest girl was aged 10 and the youngest girl aged five. "All belonged to the same family," he added. Meanwhile, the Pakistani military said Pakistan and Indian border troops exchanged fire across the Line of Control (LoC) in two other sectors on Saturday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. "Indian troops resort to unprovoked firing in Tander and Baroh areas of Bhimber sector today," said a statement issued by the military adding that no loss of life was reported in the latest exchange of fire. On Friday, Pakistan's navy said it had "pushed" an Indian submarine away from Pakistani waters, as tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals continue to smoulder over unrest in the disputed Kashmir region. Tensions across the long-disputed de facto Himalayan border reached dangerous levels in September, when India blamed Pakistani militants for a raid on an army base that killed 19 soldiers. India said it had responded by carrying out "surgical strikes" across the heavily militarised border, sparking a furious reaction from Islamabad, which denied the strikes took place. There have since been repeated outbreaks of cross-border firing, with both sides reporting deaths and injuries including of civilians. Up to 30,000 people have been displaced by violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state, half of which occurred during the last week when dozens of people died in clashes with the military, the UN said. (Photo: Representational Image) Dhaka: Bangladesh coast guards prevented 125 Rohingya Muslims from entering its territory as the group attempted to escape violent unrest in neighbouring Myanmar. Authorities patrolling the Naf River, which separates Bangladesh's southeastern border from western Myanmar, pushed back a group of Rohingya trying to enter the country late Friday, local Coast Guard official Nafiur Rahman told AFP. "There were 125 Myanmar nationals in seven wooden boats. They included 61 women and 36 children. We resisted them from entering our water territory," Rahman told AFP. He added that all of the passengers were Rohingya who tried to enter Bangladesh amid an uptick of violent clashes in neighbouring Myanmar's Rakhine state. Another coast guard officer said he saw two bodies floating in the Naf River during a patrol. Up to 30,000 people have been displaced by violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state, half of which occurred during the last week when dozens of people died in clashes with the military, the UN said Friday. Troops have poured into a strip of land along the Bangladesh border, an area which is largely home to the stateless Muslim Rohingya minority, since coordinated attacks on police posts last month. The resurgence of violence in Rakhine has deepened a crisis that has already threatened to derail the new administration led by Myanmar's democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi. Rakhine has sizzled with religious tension ever since waves of violence between the majority Buddhist population and the Muslim Rohingya left more than 100 dead in 2012. Around 10 heavily armed militants stormed Karachi airport in June, 2014 and were killed by army commandos and personnel of other security forces during an operation lasting about five hours. (Photo: AP) Islamabad: Pakistani authorities will next week exhume bodies of ten attackers involved in Karachi airport attack that took place two years ago. A medical board, under the supervision of a judicial officer, will exhume the bodies of 10 unidentified attackers buried at the graveyard run by the Edhi Foundation on November 22. The decision followed after a judicial magistrate in Karachi directed the health authorities to constitute a medical board since police moved court for the exhumation of the bodies for DNA testing. The four-member medical team will collect samples for DNA tests to establish the identity of the killed assailants. Around 10 heavily armed militants stormed Karachi airport in June, 2014 and were killed by army commandos and personnel of other security forces during an operation lasting about five hours. They were buried at an Edhi-run cemetery and their identity remained unknown. Around 25 people, including personnel of the Airport Security Force, police and Rangers, were killed in the audacious gun-and-explosive attack. Three men are facing trial before an anti-terrorism court for allegedly providing logistic support, funds and weapons to the attackers. Beijing: Chinese state media warned US President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday against flip-flopping on trade deals in Asia, as Asia-Pacific leaders gathered for a summit amid fears that growing protectionism will stunt global economic growth. During the raucous election campaign, Trump fuelled concerns among many of the United States' trading partners by pledging to renegotiate trade accords such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and impose tariffs on imports from countries such as China. "Turning his trade-bashing campaign talks into actual policies could bash any hope that the Asia-Pacific will finally have its much-wanted free trade deal," said a commentary in the official Xinhua news agency on Saturday. "Worse, it could drag his country and the wider world into deeper economic distress," added the agency, which is a barometer of government thinking. Xinhua also said that the exclusion of China from the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement was not about boosting trade and instead was US President Barack Obama's strategy to make sure Washington "rules supreme in the region." Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Pacific Rim leaders are meeting at the annual Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Peru this weekend. Though Obama championed the TPP as a way to counter China's rise, his administration has now stopped trying to win congressional approval for the deal that was signed by 12 economies in the Americas and Asia-Pacific, but excluded China. Without U.S. approval the agreement as currently negotiated cannot come to fruition. China's Xi is selling an alternate vision for regional trade by promoting the Beijing-backed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which as it stands excludes the Americas. Chinese state media has warned Trump against isolationism and interventionism, calling instead for the United States to actively work with China to maintain the international status quo. "The billionaire-turned-politician needs to prove that derailing the global economy has not been one of the reasons why he ran for U.S. president," Xinhua said. Both Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad have been listed as banned entities since January 14, 2002. (Photo: Representational Image) Islamabad: Pakistan has banned two militant groups linked with the Taliban and al-Qaeda for their involvement in several terror attacks across the country. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a splinter group of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, and Lashkar-i-Jhangvi Al-Alami (LeJ) were banned after recent deadly attacks in Baluchistan and Sindh provinces, including last week's assault at a sufi shrine in Balochistan that killed over 50 people. A spokesman for the interior ministry said the decision to ban them was made only a few days ago, Dawn reported. Referring to a revised list of banned groups available on the website of the National Counter Terrorism Authority, a top official in Sindh's security establishment said: "The two outfits were added to the list on November 11." A security official said the government banned them once it became clear that they were not ready to shun violence. The list also shows that Jamaat-ud Dawa has been listed since January 17, 2007 as group "under observation", which means its status can be changed as "banned" if there was enough evidence that it was involved in violence. However, both Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad have been listed as banned entities since January 14, 2002. The LeJ, a Sunni terrorist outfit, has roots in Punjab province and has a history of carrying out sectarian attacks in Baluchistan, particularly against the minority Shias. The group recently claimed that it killed 61 people, mostly young cadets, during an attack on a police training centre in Quetta, the capital of the restive Balochistan province, in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Pakistan. Two LeJ militants were recently arrested for killing Amjad Sabri, one of Pakistan's finest Sufi Qawwals, in a sectarian attack in June. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar had claimed responsibility for a suicide attack at the government-run Civil Hospital in Quetta in August that had killed at least 75 people, mostly lawyers, and injured 115 others. Colombo: Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Saturday assured Parliament the new Constitution will be drafted in consultation with all political parties and people would get a chance to approve it. Wickremesinghe made the remarks while presenting the reports of six sub-committees to the Constitutional Assembly. The sub-committees were appointed to look into matters pertaining to the new Constitution. The sub-committees deliberated on different areas of Constitutional provisions and will report to the main Steering Committee. Leader of the Opposition and Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader R Sampanthan also said the Constitution needs to be approved in a nationwide referendum. He said people must be given the chance to take part in the process and "people must be asked to approve it (Constitution)". The new Constitution will replace the current executive president headed constitution adopted in 1978. The government expects the new Constitution to address the demand of Tamil minorities for political recognition. With the defeat of the Tamil Tigers in 2009 the Tamil groups have opted for maximum devolution as opposed to LTTE's goal of a separate Tamil homeland. Wickremesinghe, while presenting the reports, also voiced support for the Constitution to be finally approved by the people. He said the final form of the constitution was yet to be determined and one of the contentious issues was the position of the executive president. "We have to consider if the change of the presidential system would lead to instability," Wickremesinghe said. "No party has a majority in the House so this will have to be an all political party effort and at the end of it we will give people the chance to approve it," he said. Leader of the Joint Opposition Dinesh Gunawardana said their group had submitted a 14-point plan. He asserted that they would not agree on diluting the unitary nature of the state or diluting the position given to the majority religion of Buddhism. "We would not agree to any bulldozing of the process. Things must not be done in a hurry," he said. The current government in a pre-election pledge in the January 2015 presidential election said constitutional reforms would be a key item in its reform agenda. A 21-member steering committee consisting of parliamentarians from across all political parties has been set up. The government's Constitutional reform process began in January this year. The whole Parliament was converted into a Constitutional assembly with cross-party participation. Colombo: Former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said a closer relationship between the US and Russia under Donald Trump's presidency would help solve most of the world's problems. "I believe their (Trump-Russia) relationship would result in solving most of the problems", Rajapaksa told reporters marking his 71st birthday in Colombo on Friday. Talking about impact of Trump's presidency on Sri Lanka, Rajapaksa said, "We hope US interference in our country would decrease (under Trump)." Rajapaksa's 10-year rule saw a thorny relationship with President Barack Obama's administration. The Democratic Party government led as many as three UN Human Rights Council resolutions on the Rajapaksa government's human rights accountability. Rajapaksa blamed his 2015 election defeat on certain international governments. A PhD student of the University of Hyderabad (UoH) today slit his wrist apparently due to exam pressure, varsity officials said. However, some students alleged that he took the step as he was humiliated by a faculty member. The incident took place this evening. "Moses Abhraham, a PhD student in the university's ACRHEM department, suddenly took out a blade and slit his wrist. He was immediately taken to the health centre on the varsity and later shifted to a private hospital. Now, he is safe...Doctors said there is nothing to worry about," Pro-Vice-Chancellor of UoH, Vipin Srivastava, told PTI tonight. This evening, one of his teachers was teaching him and some others on research methodology on how to prepare their presentation for exams scheduled in two days. He suddenly took out a blade and slit his wrist and took everyone by surprise, Srivastava said. "I have been informed that the student has expressed apology for this act...maybe it was due to exam pressure or something else," he said, adding that the teacher is also shaken in view of his act. He further said the student stays outside in an apartment with his friends. Meanwhile, students alleged the faculty at the department allegedly did not allow Moses to attend seminars and had asked him to change his research area. Earlier this year, the suicide of research scholar Rohith Vemula on the campus had rocked the UoH. The suicide had triggered a huge political controversy. In a bid to cash in on the inconvenience experienced by the people due to Central governments demonetization policy, the Samajwadi Party has decided to include it in its agenda for the forthcoming Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh due next year. The state Samajwadi Party (SP) president Shivpal Singh Yadav said his party will raise the issue (demonetisation) during its poll campaign. The decision has adversely impacted the common people. The poor, labourers and small traders have been badly hit, he added. Shivpal said the ban on the co-operative banks from exchanging the old currency notes had hit the farmers hard in the state. The farmers find themselves cheated by the Modi government, he said at a party meeting here on Friday. He said millions of farmers were dependent on the co-operative banks for sowing and harvesting their crops besides marketing their produce. The SP leader, who also chaired a meeting of the partys women wing, asked the women to teach the BJP a lesson in the Assembly polls. The housewives are having a difficult time after the demonetisation. They are facing difficulties in taking care of their families, Shivpal added. The SP sources said Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, during his rath yatra across the state, will also harp on the problems faced by the people, especially in the rural areas. The party leaders feel that demonetisation has affected the common people and provided the party an issue to hit the BJP. On Friday, Akhilesh also appealed to the Centre to allow the co-operative banks to exchange the banned currency notes and also start lending process as the sowing season had already started. The party workers also on Friday held demonstrations to protest demonetisation and squatted on the railway tracks near Allahabad. A day after giving an ultimatum to the Centre to roll back the currency ban, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said he was sad that the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had bluntly refused a rethink on demonetisation. Kejriwal said the decision showed that government had lost connect with people.I am very sad that FM has plainly refused to even review and consider rollback. Modi govt has lost connect wid people n has become very insensitive, Kejriwal tweeted. The remarks came in the backdrop of Delhi BJP writing to President Pranab Mukherjee to annul a Delhi Assembly resolution ciriticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi on demonetisation. On Thursday, Kejriwal and West Bengal Chief Minsiter Mamata Banerjee demanded the roll back of demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in the next three days and also threatened to launch a nationwide agitation. Kejriwal also exhorted his supporters to give a strong response to supporters of BJP and Modi who are welcoming the demonetisation process, which has taken over 40 lives and put millions of people to inconvenience. Dont be scared of them. Reply and shut them up, Kejriwal tweeted. AAP legislator from Chandni Chowk Alka Lamba criticised the Centre for wasting resources on demonetisation. The country appears to be helpless instead of strong. Had Modiji channelized the time and power of 125 crore people for some constructive work, said Lamba in a tweet in Hindi. Meanwhile, the AAP government has decided to waive off entry fees on trucks bringing essential supplies to the whole sale fruit and vegetable markets, till November 24. A file regarding this has been sent to Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung for approval, tweeted Development Minister Gopal Rai. Rai said the decision was taken after Kejriwal got a feedback that truckers were suffering a cash crunch and perishable goods were under threat of getting wasted in trucks parked on border. In another development, Leader of Opposition in Assembly Vijender Gupta wrote to President Pranab Mukherjee protesting against the illegal, unparliamentarily and undignified resolution passed in the Vidhan Sabha session held on November 15. Gupta, who was marshalled out of the House on November 15, said the Assembly went beyond its jurisdiction. The Assembly resolution said that the Prime Minister had delivered a huge blow to the common people and economy of the country by announcing the demonetisation scheme. The BJP leader urged the President to direct the Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel to annul the resolution which he said was against the democratic principles. The resolution clearly made indecent and baseless allegation of receipt of bribes by the persons holding high offices from certain industrial houses, he said. Japan on Friday donated five high-tech microscopes to a city-based charitable society working in the area of eye ailments, with its envoy saying that such facilities should be used especially for ameliorating the condition of the underprivileged people. The Japanese Embassy donated the medical equipment to Venu Eye Institute and Research Centre under the Grant Assistance Grassroots Project of that country. We are glad to know that the equipments we had donated earlier are being properly used and maintained. And, so we decided to give another grant. And, these equipments should be used especially for the underprivileged patients. Medical fees are very high and so the institute should reach out to the underprivileged society for getting them better treatment and care and for preventing them from getting blindness, Ambassador of Japan to India, Kenji Hiramatsu said. Joint Director and Medical Superintendent of the institute, Dr Abhishek Dagar, said, this was the third grant given by the Japanese government. We have given grants earlier under the scheme for schools, check dams, medical facilities in Delhi and outside. And, so this new grant Friday is also a symbol of the friendship between India and Japan, Kenji said. The Ambassador was later given a tour of the facilities there and he also witnessed a cataract surgery, performed by a team of doctors, using the new equipments. The 100-bedded facility, set up over 30 years ago, has besides a base hospital in Delhi, five satellite hospitals. There are 37 million people blind in the world. One-third of these blind people live in India. 80 per cent of blindness is avoidable (cataract and refractive errors). Majority of the blind live in rural areas, while most of the eye care services and facilities are available in urban areas, according to the institute. Home Minister Rajnath Singh today spoke to Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and took stock of the situation in the wake of ambush by militants in which three army personnel were killed and a few others injured. During the 10-minute telephonic conversation, Sonowal briefed the Union Home Minister about the militant attack, the situation arising of the incident and the steps taken to nab the culprits. "I am deeply anguished by the death of army soldiers in an attack in Tinsukia and pray for speedy recovery of the injured. We are monitoring the situation," Singh said. Three jawans were killed and four others seriously injured in the ambush by a joint group of ULFA(I) and NSCN(K) militants at Pengeri in upper Assam's Tinsukia district today. A group of about 15 militants attacked an army convoy early this morning and severely damaged two vehicles killing one jawan on the spot and seriously injuring six others, a defence spokesman told PTI. Two of the injured succumbed to their injuries on way to the hospital, he said. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today said that the report of Justice S N Dhingra Commission, set up to probe the grant of licences for change in land use (CLU) in Gurgaon, including to a Robert Vadra- owned firm, will be made public in the next Assembly session. "The report will be made public in next Assembly session," Khattar said. The Chief Minister said that the report has mentioned certain issues which require further investigation. "Therefore, the government is considering to chose a suitable agency for the same," he told reporters. Notably, the Dhingra Commmission had submitted its 182- page report to Chief Minister Khattar here on August 31 on the last day of the tenure of the Commission. Earlier, BJP led Haryana government, on June 30, had extended the term of the single-member commission by two months till August 31, 2016 after Justice Dhingra, a retired judge of Delhi High Court had sought six weeks more time to submit its report. The Khattar government had in December last year also extended the commission's term for a period of six months and later its term had been further extended. The commission was set up on May 14, last year, to probe the issues concerning the grant of license(s) for developing commercial colonies by the Department of Town and Country Planning to some entities in Sector 83, Gurgaon including mutation of land deal between a firm M/S Skylight Hospitality, owned by Robert Vadra, and realty major DLF. The Rs 58-crore deal related to 3.5 acre land in Gurgaon's Shikohpur village was sold by Vadra to DLF. Meanwhile, Khattar today also said that it was on November 1, 2016 that the present state government restored the power of the Director, Town and Country Planning to issue Change of Land Use (CLU) and licences, whereas earlier these powers used to be with the Chief Minister. This, he said, was one of the recommendations of the Dhingra Commission. He reminded that all the Chief Ministers, who ruled the State after 1991, retained these powers with themselves. In reply to a question concerning the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, the Chief Minister said that the Supreme Court would now take up the case on Monday. "After a recent all-party meeting, a written request was made to the President of India to seek an appointment with him on this issue and whenever he would give the appointment, a delegation of all political parties would meet him," Khattar said. When his attention was drawn that tension could build up if the farmers in Punjab could start levelling the land for filling up of the SYL canal in Punjab territory, Khattar said that even earlier similar act was committed and at that time the Supreme Court had appointed the Punjab Chief Secretary and Director General of Police as receivers. In reply to a question whether there was any proposal of the Haryana government to give salary to its employees in cash in view of demonetisation of old currency notes of higher denomination, Khattar said that the issue was under consideration and the employees may get a part of their salary in cash. AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was today shifted to a private room in a ward of Apollo Hospital here after she was admitted in the critical care unit on September 22. AIADMK spokesperson C R Saraswathy said Jayalalithaa was shifted to a ward. "We really thank God. Our honourable Chief Minister has been shifted to a ward. She has started a healthy life again," she told reporters here, adding "today is our Deepavali." AIADMK workers distributed sweets and danced outside the hospital premises, after hearing the news of Jayalalithaa being shifted to a private room in the hospital from the critical care unit.. Referring to the views of Apollo Hospitals chairman P C Reddy that Jayalalithaa has recovered fully and is taking normal food, she said, "now honourable CM has been shifted to a ward. Very soon she will come home, we are very happy there are no words to express our feelings...we are so happy... we thank all the people who prayed for our Amma." Jayalalithaa was admitted to Apollo Hospitals on September 22 after she complained of fever and dehydration. She was put on a comprehensive line of treatment including antibiotics, respiratory support and passive physiotherapy. A team of doctors of Apollo, Dr Richard from a London hospital and speciality doctors from AIIMS Delhi attended on her. Kidney has no religious labels, this is what External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, undergoing treatment for renal failure, tweeted while thanking a Muslim man who offered her his kidney. 64-year-old Swaraj has been offered kidneys by scores of people since Wednesday when she said on Twitter that she was in hospital due to kidney failure and was undergoing tests for a transplant. "Thank you very much brothers. I am sure, kidney has no religious labels," she tweeted. Her remark came in response to a tweet by Mujib Ansari who offered his kidney to her while adding that he is a Muslim and a supporters of BSP in Uttar Pradesh. "@SushmaSwaraj mam I am a BSP supporter and a Muslim,bt I want 2 donate my kidney 4 u,4 me u r like my mother figure, May allah bless u," he said on twitter. Another Muslim Nyamath Ali Shaik also offered his kidney to Swaraj saying he was ready to donate his kidney, if need be. Another Twitter follower Jaan Shah also said he was ready to offer his kidney to her. Swaraj has been flooded with wishes from politicians cutting across party lines as well as from a cross-section of society. She has been undergoing treatment for renal failure at AIIMS. Swaraj also exuded confidence of being able to come out of the health condition with good wishes of people and blessings of God. Singapore Airlines (SIA) has announced plans to introduce its new types of aircraft on its Indian routes, beginning from 2017. The flag carrier of Singapore will be launching Airbus A350 services in India in 2017, while its yet-to-be inducted Boeing 787-10X is expected to be coming to India in 2018. Currently, the airline operates a fleet of Boeing 777 and Airbus A330 aircraft in India, a few of which, will be replaced by the said new planes, once the latter get inducted into serviced routes. Today, the all-wide-body fleet of Singapore Airlines boasts of 105 aircraft 34 777s, 19 A380s, 26 A330s, and six A350s. In totality, weve ordered 67 A350 aircraft, of which, 20 aircraft would be inducted into our fleet by the end of the next financial year. In terms of the Boeing 787-10X, weve ordered 30 planes, which are yet to come on board, Singapore Airlines General Manager (India) David Lim informed DH. The A350, a state-of-the-art airliner regarded for its full-efficiency, has been deployed on long-haul routes. But, considering India as an important destination, Singapore Airlines has decided to bring it here. The 787, however, is itself a medium-haul airliner, and will be deployed in the country. Explaining about the Indian market and Singapore Airlines differentiation, Lim said, India is a medium-haul destination. During the Northern winter 2016, we have had 104 flights from India to Singapore a week (including Silk Air flights), over the last Northern summers 95. Singapore has become a major leisure destination, and a transit hub. People connect to the West Coast, by transiting at Singapore, flying onward to Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the US, among others. For instance, people wanting to fly from Bengaluru to San Francisco, may do so via Singapore, from where theres a direct SIA flight. Recently, the airline also introduced the Ruchi Thali for Business Class guests on the India-Singapore sector, offering a whole range of full-course Indian meals on-board. The offering was launched on the Delhi and Mumbai flights on October 30, and will be launched on the Bengaluru flight in the first quarter of the next fiscal, Lim added. Overall, globally, Singapore Airlines has seen a load factor 80%. After the successful launch of the all new Fortuner, Toyota Kirloskar Motor has organised an experiential drive camp to give a first-hand experience of the new Fortuners on-road and off-road prowess to its customers. The Fortuner Experiential Drive Camp began on November 11, 2016, in three major cities of Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai. Through this camp, Toyota will be able to offer close to 1,500 existing Fortuner customers an experience of the new SUVs off-roading capabilities while driving it on off-roading terrains like steep inclines, descents, slush, deep water and some articulation. Taking a leaf out of Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments' book, the Nitish Kumar regime in Bihar is mulling over a proposal to request the Karnataka government to arrange nine elephants under an animal exchange programme. Reason: It is rattled over the reports that at least four tigers have been lost to poachers in the Valmikinagar Tiger Reserve (VTR) on Bihar-Nepal border in the last two years. These elephants from Karnataka, if handed over to Bihar, will be eventually deployed in the vast forest area of VTR in the West Champaran district to patrol the tiger reserve and protect the big cats from poachers. The move comes close on the heels of the Uttarakhand governments decision to deploy 12 elephants from Karnataka at Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve (near Nainital) for a similar purpose. Under this plan, six elephants were brought from Bannerghatta, four from Dubare and two from Muthodi. To make pachyderms comfortable, the mahaouts from Karnataka were also sent to Uttarakhand. Bihar too wants a similar exercise, as it suspects that the poachers from Uttar Pradesh, dealing in tiger skin and organs, which are in high demand in the international market, especially in China, often enter Madanpur through Nepal and kill the dwindling species. It is, therefore, necessary that elephants are used in patrolling the tiger reserve area. Often many areas in deep forest cannot be reached by vehicles. The situation is worse during rainy season. It is under such circumstances that patrolling by elephants becomes helpful, field director of VTR RB Singh told DH. If the proposal fructifies, then some of the elephants, the older ones, could be used for taking the tourists on a jungle safari during tourist season. Actually, Bihar has its only tiger reserve at Valmikinagar, which is about 380 km from the state capital. It is not only home to big cats but also to rhinoceros and crocodiles. According to the census conducted in 2006 (using the camera-trap method), the number of tigers in the Valmikinagar reserve was eight. But as per the 2014 census data, the VTR had 28 big cats. Their numbers, however, dwindled between 2014 and 2016 when five tigers were reportedly lost to poachers. In fact, the first such glaring case was reported in August 2008, when a tiger was killed after it got entangled in a trap laid by poachers in Naurangia village in Madanpur. It was suspected that poachers from Uttar Pradesh entered Madanpur and killed the big cats. Valmikinagar is nearly 100 km from Bettiah, the northern most district of Bihar, sharing its border with Nepal. From Bettiah, one has to go to Bagaha and after covering 30 km from Bagaha one can enter the VTR at Rampur. As one crosses the dense jungle area, one can see the steep ravines and knife-edge ridges. The road nearly 30 km runs through the forest leading to Gandak barrage. The great Gandak and Masan rivers collect all the water from a number of tributaries. The Valmikinagar sanctuary spread over 900 sq km is the 18th tiger reserve in the country. It was ranked fourth when there were only eight tigers. Now with the information that the VTR has 23 tigers, its ranking would alter in the days to come. Earlier, tigers in the reserve zone were counted on the basis of pugmarks an old method. But the government has installed cameras to capture their movement and count tigers with more accuracy, said Bihars Forest and Environment Secretary Vivek Kumar Singh, elated over the quantum leap in number of big cats. The VTR is divided into two forest divisions and eight forest ranges. Each range needs one elephant while the special tiger protection team deserves to have at least one elephant, the VTR director said. Each tiger needs 40 sqkm to roam around and does not allow other big cats to enter its territory. But since most of the sanctuary borders are heavily populated, it creates great pressure on the big cats in case they move to the periphery, said another forest official. The request for elephants has come almost two years after Madhya Pradesh too sought nine elephants from Karnataka for monitoring tigers and patrolling in various tiger reserves. Of the nine pachyderms, some of them were deployed at the Sanjay Gandhi Tiger Reserve in Sidhi, while others were stationed at Bandhavgarh, Satpura and Panna National Park in Madhya Pradesh. Forest department sources here say that getting elephants from Karnataka should not be a problem as the southern state is estimated to have more than 7,000 elephants and of late, animal-human conflict has increased. Due to increase in such conflicts, some organisations have demanded suitable action. Under such situations, it will be better if the services of excess elephants are used in other states, said the forest official. Right now only nine pachyderms were required to patrol in the VTR, he added. The effects of what is commonly known as demonetisation are now fully playing out. But what we get to see is the impact in the proximate areas largely the urban centres where the media has been able to reach out. As time passes, we will begin to see how agricultural markets are collapsing, trucks are getting stranded and economic activity is slowing down. We are told that this is okay, we need to bear this in the interest of the nation. This argument is false for a large part. While it may affect people having unaccounted wealth, it disproportionately affects the honest tax payer. The importance of currency is in its fungibility or interchangeability. All other assets are specific assets they have a way of identifying ownership. From a mobile phone to a motorbike, there are identity markers that establish the ownership of the asset. Currency is owned by the bearer, which gives it the nature of fungibility. The sudden move by the government is making a fungible asset into a specific asset, even if it is for a short period, by identifying currency with the bearers identity and income. The ridiculous act of applying indelible ink on somebody who has swapped old currency with the new ones undermines the basic nature of currency. There is a difference between income, which is to be accounted and taxed, and holding of currency, which is a medium of transaction. By making each citizen to stand in the queue and asking them to account for currency and prove that this holding is a result of a legitimate means is as ridiculous as taking a declaration from each driver that s/he has not jumped any signal while driving. The currency bears the promise of the government. This move has broken that promise the promise to pay the bearer a sum written on the currency and signed by the RBI governor. The government is now the biggest defaulter in the country for not honouring the promise, even if it is for a brief time. A loan that is not repaid when it is due is a default. The RBI is defaulting on its promise by not paying the bearer the amount. It is bad enough not to honour that commitment for a brief period on the currency, but to deny access to what is obviously accounted money kept in a demandable deposit in the bank in a form that is convenient to the customer is evil, sinister and immoral. Let us for a moment assume that people who voluntarily stand in the queue for movie tickets, in temples for darshan or for a bottle of alcohol should be willing to stand in the line to get their own money to wear a badge of patriotism and nation building. The question is: How long? When do I earn my badge of patriotism and nation building? For anybody doing elementary math, the dimensions of the crisis should have been evident from the word go. There are two aspects to the preparation that was needed to be handled for an operation of this size: Was the replacement currency printed and adequately in stock to be released into circulation? Was the network and logistics ready to handle this in the shortest possible time? The answer on both the counts is a resounding no. Saumitra Chaudhuri, former member of the erstwhile Planning Commission, has shown calculations to indicate that the printing and distribution could take all the way up to May 2017 to replace the stock that was removed with a single announcement. Is six months a fair period to stand in queue for demonstrating our patriotism? And at the end, do we actually get the denominations that are liquid enough to carry on the day-to-day transactions? The distribution logistics assuming the currency supply is in place is currently working to full capacity and breaking down. We can see this at bank branches and ATMs. The government machinery surely was not ready to launch this surgical strike. Assuming that there is enough supply of currency, just the replacement of the massive amount of currency would take four months in the least a figure that can be easily calculated based on the first few weeks performance numbers put out by the banks. This is a terrible implementation strategy. Effects of bad planning And the effects of bad planning and implementation are there for everyone to see. There have been deaths. The agricultural sector, which has been reeling from consecutive droughts, is going to see a man-made disaster. Farmers are unable to sell their produce and the trucks are unable to transport the stocks. This has implications on food availability and food prices in the medium term. While celebrating the opening of Jan Dhan accounts, the financial inclusion drives and technology roll out, all of which were helping the poor, we suddenly find that a migrant worker is unable to deposit money in his wife/father/brothers account because a cash deposit to another account has to be accompanied by an authorisation. The cash stashed away by a poor housewife is struggling to find an outlet because she does not have identity papers or a bank account. The government is at a loss and it is evident in its constant flip flop. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that the limit of Rs 4,500 for exchange of currency across the counter was not a one-time limit, but because of logistics, the banks may choose to make it a one-time limit. The next we hear is that it is indeed a one-time limit to be identified with indelible ink. Then the limit is reduced to Rs 2,000. Now, we hear that petrol pumps will dispense cash against swiping of debit cards, a good move because it addresses, though minimally, the distributional logistics. While all this can be tinkered on a day-to-day basis, it does not address the basic problem that there is not enough currency to circulate. Secrecy was the word and the weapon used by the government to justify the mess. Now, we know that the veil of secrecy ensured that there was no sane advise or inputs to the decision makers. No wonder the situation is in a mess. The shortage of currency and the resultant mess is turning out to be an opportunity for operators and touts to cash in on the asymmetry reigning in the market place. Is the current `surgical strike providing opportunities for generating further unaccounted income? That is the worst irony. (The writer is a visiting faculty at the Centre for Public Policy, IIM-Bangalore) The governments Nov 8 decision to abolish high denomination currency notes appears to have opened a Pandoras box. More than 10 days into the announcement, the government is still grappling with the logistical nightmare of its implementation greatly inconveniencing millions of common people. If the prime minister fails to contain its adverse fall out on the economy and the citizenry, the BJP may have to pay a heavy political price in the upcoming elections in five states, including the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh (UP). The bold initiative peppered with nationalistic spirit was also a trap for the Opposition as anyone opposing a decision meant to curb black money would be seen as unpatriotic and corrupt. Even as the BJP is planning to make it a campaign issue in the upcoming elections, Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, while trying to expose the prime ministers selective crusade against corruption, said that Modi as Gujarat chief minister received Rs 25 crore bribe from a corporate entity. He flashed some documents before the media to this effect early this week, though the BJP trashed the allegation. The BSP and the Congress are expected to flag this issue in UP to target Modi. The BJP managers calculate that the demonetisation will help the party electorally as it would severely cripple the money power of its principal opponents - the BSP, SP and the Congress in UP where polls are just three months away. Several Opposition parties have gone public charging the BJP of having leaked the currency plans to certain party functionaries and business houses close to it, and that the BJP had enough time to discreetly manage its election funds. Crying foul, the Opposition has sought a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into demonetisation and an inquiry into the leak. While Modi himself had said he was preparing for the currency reform for the last 10 months, Power Minister Piyush Goel had informed the Rajya Sabha that a decision to his effect was taken by the RBI board on October 20, and that the prime minister announced the decision on November 8, 18 days later. According to reports, many banks recorded a huge and unusual surge in deposits in the month of September. Does it mean that some big sharks and the BJP had prior information about the impending economic surgery? In UP, both the BSP and SP have already shortlisted a majority of their respective candidates. Mayawati is known to collect Rs 1 crore from each candidate as donation. The BJP says both BSP and the ruling dispensation - the SP have been severely hit by the demonetisation move and that they may now be forced to resort to traditional way of electioneering. The BJP, plush with cash, has the advantage of running a high-voltage campaign. Reverse polarisation Even as the elites, sections of middle and lower-middle class blindly back demonetisation due to ideological reasons, a reverse polarisation of the numerically strong poor, marginalised, working class and farmers, who are facing the brunt of the reform, cannot be ruled out. The poll outcome in the key state of Uttar Pradesh will determine whether Modis gamble will pay off in the next parliamentary polls. Never in the history of independent India have people died outside banks and ATMs trying to withdraw their legitimate and hard-earned money. Serpentine queues outside banks across the country of poor, marginalised and the middle-class citizens extreme shortage of lower denomination cash and the anger welling up against the establishment are reminiscent of Moscow in 1991-92 soon after the break-up of the Soviet Union. However, the aftershock of badly implemented reform could spoil the BJPs party in 2019. The people are hassled, first three days of Parliament washed out, the Opposition, by and large, is united and even the BJP allies like the Akali Dal and the Shiv Sena are becoming restive now. After the initial gung ho, the BJP managers appear to have realised that the government has committed a blunder and that the gathering storm might rob them of the anticipated political advantage. That is why the entire party, the RSS and the government machinery are being mobilised to counter the Opposition propaganda that the government is anti-poor, while the BJPs cyber army keeps the patriotic narrative little inconvenience is a sacrifice for the greater good of the country - afloat. Nationalism matrix sans economic upliftment of the common man is not enough to win elections. Anti-Congressism of the past may slowly be giving way to anti-BJPism, a worrying development for the ruling party at the Centre. (The writer is a New Delhi-based political commentator) Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday announced loan at zero per cent rate of interest for women self-help groups (SHGs). Speaking at the launch of statewide birth centenary celebrations of prime minister of India late Indira Gandhi at Nehru Maidan here, Siddaramaiah described the sop for women SHGs as a gift to women folk on Indira Gandhis centenary fete. A government order (GO) in this regard will be issued after the (legislature) session. The farmers are already enjoying the benefit of loan at zero percent rate of interest from cooperative societies and women are given loan at 4% rate of interest, he said. Reiterating the decision to hike milk procurement price for farmers by Re 1 from existing Rs 4 to Rs 5 per litre of milk, Siddaramaiah said the new price will come into effect from December 10. The state produces 70 lakh litres of milk daily and spends Rs 3 crore on subsidy. Singing paeans of Indira Gandhi, Siddaramaiah announced that Indira Gandhis birthday will be henceforth celebrated as a day of unity and integrity, with the party committed to spread the message of Congress Nadige Samarasayada Kadege from Ullal to Udupi. Siddaramaiah lauded Indira Gandhis decision to wage war against Pakistan to liberate East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in 1971. No less than 90,000 Pakistani soldiers were held as war prisoners. Atal Bihari Vajpayee had then described her as Durgi, he added. Siddaramaiah unveiled a life-size statue of former prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru installed at the other side of Nehru Maidan. Chijioke Stephen Obioha This morning, at 6am, the execution of Chijioke Stephen Obioha took place . I am not even sure if his family from Nigeria were able to attend. Soon it will be all forgotten together with Chijioke's name, but for the many of us who fight and campaign to eradicate this barbaric practice of death by hanging, and for those of us who challenge the mandatory death penalty for drug trafficking in Singapore, our work will go on. And it must. Violations to Humanity In Singapore, when drug possession and trafficking is presumed, the burden of proof shifts to the defendant . This is an abhorrent violation of fair trial rights, specifically the presumption of innocence. International law also requires that the use of the death penalty be restricted to the "most serious crimes". The UN Human Rights Committee has on numerous occasions found that drug-related offences do not meet the criterion of "most serious crimes". Siding with the Traffickers? I have written, spoken and fought against the death penalty for drug-related crimes for several years now. In this time, I have been confronted with several questions from the other side of the camp. Some queried my determined obsession to defend these accused persons. "They are just drug traffickers, scums of the earth who bring vile filth to our country." "Drug traffickers deserve the noose, not mercy." "They knew the law, they chose to break it." "Innocent people can be hurt or killed by the drugs." "Do you have a soft spot for traffickers?" "By siding with the accused, you generate false hope." Let me be absolutely clear that I wish all drug traffickers are caught and brought to justice - drugs should never enter this island I call home. There is no doubt that all those who are behind the trafficking of drugs should be caught and brought to justice - not just the mules/couriers, but also the drug lords. But justice cannot be gained by the taking away of another person's life. "An eye for an eye" or "lex talionis" is believed by many to be poetic justice, but for many like me, it is barbaric, unethical and amoral. Many feel that retributive justice is the best response to a crime, but to me, the death penalty attains nothing, deters nothing and solves nothing. Right to Punish v The Right to Kill The debate on death penalty is complex because it isn't shaped by just logic and ideology but is rigged with emotions and personal experience. A provocative topic, it serves no purpose in a modern society and efforts should be refocused to address the core issues which result in the crime in the first place. There is consensus that criminal offending is a symptom of greater societal problems. Using violence to address these symptoms does not abate the problem - in fact, the act of execution as a punishment only further endorses the use of violence. There are several pertinent reasons why I hope the government resists the temptation to simply look tough on crime by preserving the mandatory death penalty. Below are some: An argument that many make in support of death penalty is that it 'acts as deterrence'. But if we were to believe in the studies carried out by many organisations including human rights watch groups like Amnesty International, we can easily conclude that this is untrue. Well-planned crimes like terrorist activities and pre-meditated murders are carried out with the knowledge of the consequences because they don't really care about the punishment. Singapore-based Human Rights, anti-Death Penalty lawyer M Ravi I fail to see how death penalty is a deterrent to the drug lords and underworld dons when the trafficking is carried out mainly by youths who are incredibly marginalised, vulnerable to exploitation, manipulation, and coercion. I remember reading somewhere a description that with death penalty, the "mailman dies and the drug lord laughs". I doubt the message of deterrence is even audible to the originators in the crime chain. Death penalty therefore fails miserably in reducing crime. There is a risk that it creates irreversible mistakes for people who are being framed or being "sacrificed" in the event that the perpetration does not proceed as planned. Another reason for challenging death penalty is that we can never be sure that we will never execute the wrong person. Some people fall victims to the death penalty even when they are innocent because the criminal justice system is functioned by humans (whether judges, investigating officers or lawyers) who are fallible. They can make mistakes or bear discrimination and history is littered with examples of people on death row who had their innocence proven only at the very last moment. As a society, we shouldn't wait for a wrongful execution to happen before we call for its abolition. Miscarriages of justice cannot be remedied and are irreversible by nature. Proponents of the death penalty believe that through execution, the perpetrator never returns back to the society to cause it harm again. Yes, true, but so does life sentence without the possibility of parole as it exists in Singapore, and it is done so in a more humane fashion. Anyone who feels that a criminal would enjoy his stay in jail for the rest of his life and be eternally thankful is mistaken. Jails are horrific places. Finally, but not lastly, I strongly believe that there has to be some limit on punishment - this limit is certainly crossed when we decide to take the life of a person. Yes, we have the right to punish, but humanity fails in dire proportions when it starts believing that it also has the right to kill. Facts from Amnesty International: In July 2014, Singapore carried out its first 2 executions since 2012, when 2 men were hanged after they had been convicted and mandatorily sentenced to death for drug trafficking. Their executions ended a moratorium on death penalty established in July 2012 to allow Parliament time to review the country's laws. Since then, there have been 5 other executions, including 3 for drug trafficking. At least 5 new mandatory death sentences were imposed in 2015, 4 for drug trafficking and 1 for murder. At least 23 people remained on death row at the end of 2015. As of today, 140 countries have abolished the death penalty in law or practice; in the Asia Pacific region, 19 countries have abolished the death penalty for all crimes and a further 8 are abolitionist in practice. "With every cell of my being and with every fiber of my memory I oppose the death penalty in all form. I do not believe any civilized society should be at the service of death. I don't think it's human to become an agent of the Angel of Death." - Holocaust Survivor, Elie Wiesel, 1986 Nobel Peace Prize Winner | 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: The Independent, M Ravi / Singapore Anti-Death Penalty Campaign, November 18, 2016 Alarmed by reports about cash shortage in the villages, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is sending out senior bureaucrats to assess the ground situation. On Saturday, he said teams should fan out into the hinterland, gauge the problem for two days, and submit a report by November 25. On his instructions, cabinet secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha has short-listed names from the ranks of deputy secretaries and additional secretaries to visit 29 states and seven Union Territories, a senior official told DH. Bigger states like Uttar Pradesh get three officials, while Union Territories get one each. Other states get two officials each. The teams will tour the villages, interact with people and the authorities, and provide direct feedback to the cabinet secretariat. The Prime Ministers Office will rely on the information thus gathered to tackle what the Supreme Court has described as a crisis that could trigger riots. The extended date for accepting old notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations for utility payments ends on November 24. Interestingly, a conference at the DRDO auditorium on Saturday, to sensitise senior government officials on the Goods Service Tax (GST), was interrupted by Rajiv Kumar, establishment officer of the department of personnel and training, to announce Sinhas decision. Sinha was present at the conference. SOS from states A Central minister said the government had received distress messages from states like Maharastra, Kerala and Odisha, detailing problems encountered by people, farmers and traders because of low penetration of the banking system in rural areas. Denying the situation was as alarming as was being projected, the minister admitted wholesale transactions had slowed down across the country. Besides the opposition, the Supreme Court and the Kolkata High Court have come down heavily on the Centre after hearing about people standing in queues for hours outside banks and ATMs. The Union home ministry has directed the intelligence agencies to keep an eye outside banks, as it fears harried people might be incited to riot. Intelligence inputs suggest things may spiral out of hand in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, where the ruling parties are openly criticising the government for failing to alleviate the sufferings of citizens. The Intelligence Bureau has alerted their state units and spotters have fanned out in troublesome districts as the Modi government can ill afford a backlash ahead of Assembly polls in five states. Even two days after the government made an announcement on easing norms for withdrawing money for weddings, the banks have not received any operational guidelines from the Reserve Bank of India to disburse the cash. The finance ministry on Thursday had relaxed the rules for wedding and farm withdrawals, with the ceiling fixed at Rs 2.5 lakh per wedding, per family. In absence of operational guidelines from the RBI, we are unable to give Rs 2.5 lakh for marriage purposes. We are awaiting direction from the RBI, said Punjab National Bank managing director Usha Ananthasubramanian. She said the banks were expecting the guidelines by Monday. We expect the norms by Monday, and hopefully by Tuesday, branches should start disbursing money for marriages. We understand that the amount can be drawn only by the person getting married or his/her parents, she said. She said banks were also awaiting clarity on whether the limit of Rs 2.5 lakh would apply separately to the girls and the boys family or otherwise. Officials from other banks also expressed similar concerns in disbursing money for the purpose. Those getting ready for wedding ceremonies, however, made beelines for banks to get cash after they were informed about the governments announcement. Issue echoes in pre-Budget meet The issue of demonetisation reverberated in Finance Minister Arun Jaitleys first pre-Budget meeting on Saturday. Farm sector representatives suggested an urgent need to provide sufficient funds to district cooperative banks where most of the farmers have accounts, DHNS reports from New Delhi. Jaitley had earlier emphasised on higher agriculture produce in order to double farmers income by 2022. The meeting was held in the backdrop of reports that wheat sowing in Punjab was impacted due to demonetisation. Growers claimed that they were unable to buy seeds and other inputs due to the cash crunch. The focus should be on higher agriculture productivity, especially in view of the limitation on expanding the crop area, Jaitley said. He said in order to increase the price benefits, it was necessary that the farmers were provided timely market information and developing software applications, both computer and mobile-based, that linked farmers to consumers. The eight-day annual extravaganza International Film Festival of India (IFFI), when magic of movies light up screens mesmerising cinephiles from world over - kicks off in Panaji, Goa, with the screening of renowned Polish film-maker Andrej Wajdas final film Afterimage (Powidoki). The eminent auteur passed away recently and IFFI is paying homage to the great director. Renowned filmmaker Ramesh Sippy of Sholay fame is the chief guest as the jamboorie unspools at the sun and sand-kissed Goa on Sunday. Afterimage is a biopic which presents a stark account on avant-garde artist Wladyslaw Strzeminski, who, during the tumultuous four years of Sovietisation of Poland was at its heights, bravely stood against the oppressive regime championing the cause of art at personal liberty and freedom. What however makes this years IFFI special is the Sanskrit film Ishti which opens the Indian Panorama Section by retired Sanskrit professor G Prabha. Set in the middle of 20th century Kerala, the film spotlights on the reform movement in the Namboodiri community whose young Namboodiri Brahmins staunchly stand against the age-old evil custom of the elderly Namboodiri marrying young girls for the money and jewels they bring, in order to run his growing family. This not only resulted in young widows but kept the womenfolk away from getting education. Further, IFFI, after a long, long time, has turned out to be a promising one for Kannada cinema, which, besides the three films in the Indian Panorama Section Ananya Kasarvallis Harikatha Prasanga, Pawan Kumars U Turn and T S Nagabharanas Allama - will also see Raam Reddys Thithi wowing audiences. In another special, IFFI brings back Free Beach Screenings. The open air screenings will see some blockbuster movies being screened at Miramar Beach every day at 7 pm. They include the commercial hit and critically acclaimed Marathi film Sairat, a star-crossed love saga where caste comes into play, Mahesh Manjrekar's Natsamrat, which has actor Nana Patekar essaying the role of a retired stage actor, S S Rajamoulis Telugu film Magadheera, Sanjay Leela Bhansalis epic historical romance Bajirao Mastani, Salman Khan starrer Sultan by Ali Abbas, Raja Krishna Menons Airlift about successful evacuation of Indians from Kuwait during 1990 war, Ramesh Sippy's iconic Sholay. Amid the raging debate over a common civil code and triple talaq (divorce by pronouncing talaq thrice in one go), the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, an apex body of Muslims in the country, has inducted nine new women members. According to sources in the board here, the decision was aimed at removing misconceptions about the rights of Muslim women in the Shariat (Islamic law) and increase awareness about them. Sources said the board, whose three-day meeting began in Kolkata on Friday, could entrust its women members with the task of reaching out to Muslim women across the country and make them aware of the personal laws on the issue of marriage and divorce. The induction of more women members assumes significance in the wake of the board deciding to approach Muslim women on the issue of triple talaq and the common civil code. The board had in 2010 increased women representation in its executive committee from one to five. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has strongly opposed the Uniform Civil Code and any change in the Shariat, saying it was not required. It has also launched a signature campaign to muster support from the community on its decision. The board has claimed that its campaign has received an overwhelming response from the community. The AIMPLB would be sending the signatures to the Law Commission to convey the message that the community did not want the Shariat to be tampered with. Incidentally, the All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board (AIMWPLB) has opposedthe triple talaq saying it had made the lives ofMuslim women hell and has sought the enactment of a Muslim marriage law in accordance with the Shariat. The police have decided to reopen the case of an attack on Jyothi Uday, a Corporation Bank staffer, inside an ATM kiosk in 2013. The police submitted an undetected report to the court a few months ago. The police have not given up the case. We would reopen the case based on any information in future, K S R Charan Reddy, Additional Commissioner of Police (West), told DH. Many cases were reopened in the past based on fresh information and such cases were taken to their logical end. The same will happen in Jyothis case as well, he said. Another senior officer said, The probe is still on. We have done our best to arrest the suspect. However, the case has consumed much time. The police blame the media for helping the suspect remain at large. The media widely publicised the attack and the measures by the police in tracing the suspect. This helped the suspect remain at large, the officer said. Three police commissioners, Raghavendra Auradkar, M N Reddi and N S Megharikh, three additional commissioners of police Hemanth Nimbalkar, M Chandrashekhar and Charan Reddy, and two DCPs B R Ravikanthegowda and Sandeep Patil and a host of ACPs investigated the case. The officers believe that the suspect may no longer be alive. He either died of natural causes or committed suicide. The Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu police invested the best of their energies. The efforts should have generated some information about the attacker. The lack of information may be attributed to his death, said the officer. The police checked the background of every prisoner, checked the information on all prisoners in every prison across South India. They used the anti-Naxal network to trace the suspect in forests. They circulated 40,000 posters containing the suspects details in Kannada, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. Even a bounty of Rs 5 lakh for information leading to his arrest was put up. However, the efforts were in vain. Jyothi Uday, then section manager in charge of cheque truncation system at Corporation Bank, Service Branch, Mission Road, suffered severe head injuries in the attack. She had entered the ATM kiosk at NR Square near the BBMP headquarters around 7.10 am on November 19, 2013, to withdraw cash when a machete-wielding man entered, pulled a gun out of his bag and threatened her. When she resisted, he attacked her with a sickle and she passed out. He then snatched her cellphone and fled. She underwent a neurosurgical operation to get the bone fragment in the brain removed. Her brain coverings were repaired, while the fractured skull bones were reset. She also underwent plastic surgeries for the reconstruction of her nose and facial injuries. She could not resume duty for about three months. Jyothi and her husband C Uday Kumar said they have stopped pursuing the case. They also said they were not informed about the submission of undetected report to the court. Contrary to reports that the new 500-rupee notes would be released by this week, the low-denomination bills remain elusive in Bengaluru. A spokesperson for the State Bank of Indias branch on Lavelle Road said that he had no idea when the notes would be released. On the possible reasons for delay in arrival of the notes, he said, The printing of notes is an arduous process. Transporting them to Bengaluru also takes time. The notes are possibly on the way. I am hopeful that by the end of the week, ATMs will be recalibrated. Account holders would be relieved and crowds will reduce in banks. T S Ramachandra, a spokesperson for Canara Bank, however, claimed that the market was not affected much by the lack of 500-rupee notes as plenty of Rs 100 notes are available. The crowds have also reduced in the last few days, he added. A senior official in the Finance Department said the higher-ups had indicated that they could receive the first consignment of the new 500-rupee notes on Monday. In a telephonic conversation with DH, a staffer from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) office in Mumbai speculated that the notes could arrive in Bengaluru by Saturday night or Sunday morning. The RBIs Bengaluru branch remained open till 5 pm on Saturday, which is usually a holiday, to keep the currency flowing to banks which were flooded with cash-strapped people. A panel discussion organised on Saturday by the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) to discuss the aftermath of demonetisation highlighted the difficulties being faced by traders. Members of the FKCCI spoke about the problems they face while swapping old notes or withdrawing cash at banks and ATMs. Ramesh Chandra Lahoti, president, Bangalore Wholesale Food Grains and Pulses Merchants Association, said banks were asking for Aadhaar card even if someone was just depositing old notes. Another member of the FKCCI feared that small- and medium-scale industries would collapse if the shortage of low-denomination notes was not addressed immediately. Ravichandran Ramaswamy, Director of Income Tax (Intelligence and Criminal Investigation), who was one of the panelists, claimed that the country would benefit from demonetisation in the long run. FKCCI president M C Dinesh suggested short-term and long-term measures to mitigate the hardship caused by demonetisation. Bank literacy, digital literacy, increase in cash withdrawal limit, and circulation of low-denomination notes through micro ATMs, banks and ATMs are some of the steps the government should take, he said. Rangaswamy said the suggestions given at the discussion be forwarded to the government for appropriate action. The police arrested a man for duping two unemployed youths by posing as the personal assistant of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister G Parameshwara. The suspect is Umesh, a resident of Nandini Layout. He reportedly cheated two youths from Vijayapura of Rs 2.5 lakh. According to the police, Umesh had told the youths that posts were vacant in the Libraries Department and the government was planning to fill up the posts. Umesh promised to get them the jobs if they paid him money. The victims paid him Rs 2.5 lakh in the presence of Vibhuthipura Mutt Mahanthalinga Shivacharya Swamiji. Umesh was introduced to the victims by the swamiji. ff his mobile phone and vanished after collecting the money. The swamiji himself lodged a complaint. Umesh was a former Karnataka Finance Corporation employee and was fired after he misappropriated the companys funds, said the police. Film production technology is so advanced now that a risky, fatal stunt with a real person would be plain foolish and extremely dangerous. Now, why did this wisdom not surface before Kannada cinema lost two of its versatile artistes to an eminently avoidable aerial misadventure? That, really, is a mystery. But, isnt it an unpardonable breach of trust that an industry with enough experience and maturity did not evolve foolproof mechanisms to safeguard the life of its artistes? Or is this accident only a blip waiting to be forgotten in a hurry? Poor safety at shooting locations is now a reality, however uncomfortable that truth might be. The drowning of two actors at the Thippagondanahalli reservoir on November 7 is a dead give-away of a system gone horribly wrong. Veteran filmmakers, action directors and fight masters are now vocal, drawing attention to the serious lack of safety precautions at shooting sites. Overwhelmingly, they are in favour of adopting technological props to free stunt artistes from doing impossible tasks. The tragedy at Thippagondanahalli was the height of stupidity, recalls S V Rajendra Singh Babu, president Chalanachitra Academy. The directors gross negligence claimed two lives. There were no safety measures at all in place there. Beyond control Such accidents can happen even when adequate safety measures are in place. But that cannot be an excuse to ignore safety. Babu still remembers a shooting scene when the late actor Vishnuvardhan miraculously escaped a dangerous leap from a helicopter. The scene was for Muttinahara shot in the Himalayan region. Directors are not always in control. Babu draws attention to a stunt artistes death in Mumbai a year ago. The loco-pilot of a train had failed to apply the brakes in time as dust rushed into his cabin and blinded him. The engine crushed the stuntman to death on the spot. Necessary safety measures were in place in this case. So, where did things go wrong? Post-shooting special-effects and camera tricks might have saved the stuntmans life. But that is an afterthought. The answer could be in minimising risky human takes. Sahasa Kalavidara Sangha president Vinod echoes this view. Directors and producers encourage fighters to do dangerous sequences without sufficient safety measures. They only eye commercial aspects risking artistes lives. We are in an era where everything can be done inside a studio with technology, he explains. Stunts without dupes But this logic does not always cut ice with some directors. As fight master Different Danny points out, they insist that stuntmen do dangerous sequences without any dupes. Movies are promoted by advertising such risky techniques to ensure a visual treat for the audience, contends Danny. Neither the director nor the producer who demand such dangerous stunts from the fighters show any concern for their safety, says Danny. He had experienced it firsthand. Shooting for the film Hai Bangalore in Seshadripuram, he had sustained severe injuries on his waist. This brings the debate back to the original question: Why cant technology be used to enhance audience appeal at reduced or no risk at all to anyones life? Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce president Sa Ra Govindu offers an answer: Budgetary constraints. He explains this play of market: Limited market and budget come in the way of using technology for action sequences. Kannada film industrys market is restricted within Karnataka. The use of technology for action sequences demands huge finances. Producers then prefer stuntsmen instead. Need for planning But Babu adds that it is not about technology alone. Directors, he says, should plan everything before the shooting begins. They should discuss and check out all aspects related to safety. Proper planning and preparation will surely prevent incidents such as the Mastigudi one. Budgetary constraints have left earnings of stuntsmen and stunt masters in Karnataka are meagre when compared to Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Danny explains, Stunt artistes in Telugu and Tamil movies are paid up to Rs. 15 lakh, while stunt directors receive upto Rs 70,000. In the Kannada film industry, stuntmen get only Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000. There are even cases where the artistes are not paid at all! Ironically, Danny says he was paid only Rs 250 for a stunt scene in Hai Bangalore, but ended up spending over Rs 3 lakh for treating his injuries. The equation now becomes clear. Technology is costly. So, prefer stuntmen who come cheap. But there is a problem. Of the 150-odd stunt artistes in the Kannada film industry, only about 30 are active. Fight master Danny puts this in perspective: About 120 stuntsmen are down with multiple injuries and are unable to be part of any shooting. They are crippled for life. ROOPA IYER Kannada film director The two artistes who died were struggling actors willing to do anything they were told. Their lives were thus taken for granted. This is a lesson for the film industry. SUMANA KITTUR, Filmmaker If Anil and Uday said that they could not swim, why were they made to jump? It is tantamount to murder S V RAJENDRA SINGH BABU President, Chalanachitra Academy The tragedy at Thippagondanahalli was the height of stupidity. The directors negligence claimed two lives. There were no safety measures at all there. Sa Ra GOVINDU President, KFCC Limited market and budget restrict use of technology for action sequences. Kannada film industrys market is restricted. Technology demands huge finances. V VINOD President, Sahasa Kalavidara Sangha Directors and producers encourage fighters to do dangerous sequences without sufficient safety measures. They only eye commercial aspects risking artistes lives. Blog Hinangai While there is much discussion in Guam about the economic benefits of increasing the islands military presence, the damages/dangers that they represent are rarely mentioned. This blog, a supplement to the Peace and Justice for Guam Petition, is meant to counter that by providing information about the US military in Guam, with the hopes of steering policy away from a dangerous unilateralist course to more sustainable notions of regional development and a strengthening international solidarity. After thousands of her bees were poisoned, a Del Mar beekeeper is asking the community to be careful with pesticides, particularly on flowering plants. Months after Janet Wilsons hives were poisoned last summer, both have still not yet recovered. Bees are crawling, not flying, on the roof deck of her Del Mar home, where she and her husband, Nigel Hook, keep their two hives. Bees fly; they dont crawl, Wilson said. Because of the mass poisoning, theyve been weakened. There are bees that are being born that cant fly. After her husband bought her a Flow Hive for Christmas, Wilson started taking classes last spring by Hilary Kearney, whose company Girl Next Door Honey teaches people about beekeeping and helps them start hives. Ive always been interested in bees, Wilson said. She was inspired to finally collect and harvest honey when the Flow Hive was released. The beehive invention allows beekeepers to harvest honey without opening the hive and with minimal disturbance to the bees. Im learning so much, she said. Wilson began keeping bees in April. She started off with one hive and by June had expanded to a second hive. Both thriving hives grew to about 50,000 bees each. And then in late June, the poisoning happened. Wilson was out of town when the incident happened. Because of the relatively short lifespan of honey bees, the couple routinely find a few dying or dead bees on their rooftop. Worker honey bees have a lifespan of only six weeks during honey production seasons, when they forage for food, store nectar, feed larvae and produce honey. When Hook came home and discovered thousands of dead bees, however, he knew something was wrong and immediately called Kearney, who had helped Wilson start her bee colony. Kearney said it was obvious that the bees had been poisoned. Pesticide bee poisoning is a common problem, she said, and it usually occurs when pesticide is used on flowering plants. When bees forage they forage on just one kind of flower at a time, explained Kearney, who has had her business for four years. A lot of times, if theres a big source with a singular type of flower, theyll send a lot of bees there. Because both of the independent hives were poisoned, Kearney believes the poisoned source must have been a large flowering shrub, likely within a three-block radius. Honey bees can travel up to three miles, she said, but usually stay within a mile. Theyll go as far as they have to, to get nectar and pollen, Kearney said. Because both of them were going to it makes me think that it was something that was closer. To prevent bee poisoning, Kearney said that people should always read pesticide labels carefully and use them properly. Pesticides, she said, should be used at night so that the chemicals have time to dissipate. She said people should also avoid using pesticides on or near flowering plants. Ideally, you wouldnt apply anything at all ever, but if you have to, you would apply it in the evening because then it has all night to dissipate before anything would access it, Kearney said. Ideally, you would also not treat something that was flowering. You want to wait until it is done blooming. Kearney estimates that 30,000 bees died. A few of them made it back, but most of them died outside the hive, near the hive, and probably thousands more died in the neighborhood, she said. Since the poisoning occurred, Wilson has been feeding her bees sugar water. So many of the older, flying bees died, leaving the younger bees without a food source. The only thing you can really do after is cross your fingers, Kearney said. Theres not a lot you can do to help the bees. Not long after the incident, Wilson went to a council meeting and asked city officials to help her spread awareness about the dangers of pesticides, particularly on flowering plants. Del Mar staff later posted an announcement on the citys website, asking community members to not use pesticides on flowering plants. Dont spray flowering plants, Wilson said. Once its happened once, its probably going to happen again, Kearney said. The only way you can stop it is just to educate people. In an effort to better educate the public, Wilson plans to eventually host an informational meeting at her house and start a pesticide exchange campaign at the Del Mar Farmers Market. She is also scheduled to talk with the Del Mar Rose Society in February. In addition to using pesticides correctly, Kearney said people who want to be proactive can also plant plants specifically for pollinators. TOKYO The United States plans to return to Japan roughly half of a large U.S. military training area in the southern island prefecture of Okinawa on Dec 22, a Japanese government source said Thursday. The return of land within the U.S. militarys Northern Training Area in the villages of Kunigami and Higashi would mark the largest return of land used as a U.S. base there since the 1972 reversion of Okinawa to Japan from U.S. control. It would reduce the acreage of land occupied by U.S. military facilities in Okinawa by 17 percent, shrinking the prefectures burden from hosting 74 percent of all U.S. military facilities in Japan to 70 percent in terms of land area. The United States agreed in 1996 to return about 4,000 of the approximately 7,800 hectares occupied by the training area, provided helipads are relocated from the portion of the base to be returned to areas to be retained. Ahead of the actual land return, the Japanese and U.S. governments are making preparations to hold a ceremony on Dec. 20 to commemorate the return, the source said. As Japan still has to study the level of pollution in the areas to be returned, the land could actually be returned after a year or a year and a half, according to the source. The central government hopes to make progress in the long-stalled plan to relocate a key U.S. base by highlighting the land return as its way of easing the base-hosting burden of Okinawa. The government and Okinawa remain at odds over the transfer of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from a crowded residential area in Ginowan to a less populated area in Nago, both within Okinawa. Okinawa, where the bulk of U.S. military facilities in Japan are concentrated, has been urging the government to relocate the Futenma base outside of the prefecture. The Japanese Defense Ministry began construction work for six helipads in 2007. After two of the six helipads had been completed by 2014, work was suspended due to protests. The work resumed in July, but protests around the construction site have persisted due to noise and other concerns over their use by Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft. While protests related to U.S. bases are not uncommon in Okinawa, the protests near the training area have been particularly intense with violent confrontations between riot policehundreds of them dispatched to the prefectureand protesters. KYODO Recreational crabbing closed from Tillamook Head to California border Tweet Friday, November 18, 2016 Newport, Ore.-- The Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced the immediate closure of recreational and commercial bay crabbing from Tillamook Head to the California border due to elevated levels of domoic acid. This includes Dungeness and red rock crab harvested in bays and estuaries, off docks, piers, jetties, and the ocean. Elevated domoic acid levels were found in the viscera of Dungeness crab collected between Cascade Head and Cape Falcon, triggering a biotoxin closure. The remaining areas of the coastline are being closed out of precaution while more samples are being processed. Additional sample results will be used to inform the reopening areas and the opening of the ocean crab fisheries, which are scheduled to open December 1. Crab harvesting from Tillamook Head north to the Columbia River remains open, although it is recommended that crab always be eviscerated prior to cooking. Evisceration includes removing and discarding the internal organs and gills. Despite the closure, crab and shellfish products sold in retail markets and restaurants remain safe for consumers. Domoic acid or amnesic shellfish toxin can cause minor to severe illness and even death. Severe poisoning can result in dizziness, headaches, vomiting and diarrhea. More severe cases can result in memory loss and death. Shellfish toxins are produced by algae and originate in the ocean. Toxins cannot be removed by cooking, freezing or any other treatment. ODA will continue to test for toxins in the coming weeks. Removal of the advisory requires two consecutive tests in the safe range. For more information, call ODAs shellfish safety information hotline at (800) 448-2474 or visit the ODA shellfish closures web page. ### Chaminade blowout shows new Buckeyes they still have much to learn Russia has started cracking down on professional networking site LinkedIn, after a state watchdog found it broke a law on personal data storage. "The social networking site LinkedIn has been added to a register of violators... and submitted for blocking by internet operators," Roskomnadzor communications watchdog said in a statement on its website. According to televised comments of Roskomnadzor's spokesman Vadim Ampelonsky, "in the course of today a large number of internet providers should block" the site. LinkedIn said in a statement sent to AFP that it was "starting to hear from members in Russia that they can no longer access LinkedIn". With the news, the hashtag LinkedIn topped the trends on Twitter in Russia. "Roskomnadzor's action to block LinkedIn denies access to the millions of members we have in Russia," the US-based company said. "We remain interested in a meeting with Roskomnadzor to discuss their data localisation request." President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists Thursday that the blockage was "in strict accordance with the law" and the Kremlin would not interfere. The US-based company was acquired by Microsoft for $26 billion in June in the biggest ever deal for a social media company. "The United States is deeply concerned by Russia's decision to block access to the website LinkedIn," US Embassy spokeswoman Maria Olson said, Reuters reported. She added, the rule for harmed competition and the Russian people, and said the US would like to see Russia restore LinkedIn access immediately. "This decision is the first of its kind and sets a troubling precedent that could be used to justify shutting down any website that contains Russian user data," Olson said. According to some analysts, the rule might expand to other foreign sites in Russia, such as Facebook and Twitter if they did not host data on Russia-based servers, according to Reuters. India is in the process of developing new sea routes and shipping services connecting various countries, with a view to enhancing regional connectivity from the strategic and trade perspectives, and also to enhance maritime cooperation with neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand. These services are reviewed and restructured as per the viability study, giving due regard to the availability of cargo for a given port-pair at desired freight levels, transit time and other such considerations which impact the service schedule and profitability, minister of state for shipping Pon Radhakrishan said. Besides, the minister stated, the government has taken various steps as part of the preventive / mitigating security measures to deal with sea-piracy. He said the Directorate General of Shipping has issued elaborate guidelines for anti-piracy measures (best management practices or BMP), including safe house / citadel for vessels anti-piracy measures to be implemented on Indian ships. For security reasons, plying of sailing vessels in waters south or west of the line joining Salala and Male has been banned. Besides, the Indian Navy has been providing escort service to merchant ships in the Gulf of Aden since 2008. The Navy has also enhanced vigil in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EFZ) and westward up to 65 degree east longitude. India has actively been participating in the security meeting of the International Maritime Organisation Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) and other international fora. The Directorate General of Shipping has been sensitising Indian merchant ships, shipping companies and other departments / associations on ways to deal with piracy, and conducting Seafarers Piracy Awareness module / training programme of two days duration for seafarers to provide guidelines in Best Management Practices Version 4 issued by the International Shipping Industry, the minister pointed out. A single bout of sleep apnoea impacts the human body's ability to regulate blood pressure. In a recent study measuring the impact of simulated sleep apnoea on humans, researchers at UBC's Okanagan campus found that just six hours of the fluctuating oxygen levels associated with sleep apnea can begin to deteriorate a person's circulatory system. UBC's Glen Foster, seen holding breathing apparatus in his lab, is researching the health impacts of sleep apnea / Image: UBC Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. The condition can result in frequent periods of decreased oxygen levels in the body, known as intermittent hypoxia. "While it is well established that sleep apnea is linked to high blood pressure, our study shows this condition has an impact on the cardiovascular system that can begin within a single day," says Glen Foster, an assistant professor of health and exercise science. "After just six hours of fluctuating oxygen levels, similar to what happens with sleep apnoea, the body's ability to regulate blood pressure is impaired. "These changes occurred almost immediately in healthy young adults who were not experiencing the cumulative effects years of sleep apnea could bring about." As part of his study, Foster examined the impact of intermittent hypoxia on the cardiovascular system in 10 healthy young adults. Study participants wore a ventilating mask for six hours and oxygen levels were altered to mimic sleep apnea symptoms. The study found that sleep apnea compromised the function of a person's baroreceptors--biological sensors that regulate blood pressure. It also found damaging blood flow patterns in the legs, which over time could impact vascular health. "These findings suggest that interventions for people suffering sleep apnea should occur as soon as the condition is diagnosed," adds Foster. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, 5.4 million Canadians are either diagnosed with or at high risk for sleep apnoea. FOCUS ON DEFENSE CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND OCEANIA Saturday, November 11, 1916 90 Lives lost- 1 survivor One of the most dreadful tragedies in the recorded history of the sea took place on Friday evening of last week at the entrance to Carlingford Lough when the outward bound Greenore steamer " Connemara" and a Collier inward bound to Newry collided in the channel and they went to the bottom almost immediately with some 90 souls, of whom 51 were passengers. Though the collision occurred within a few miles of Greenore it was unnoticed from the Co.Louth shore in the darkness and the storm that wasthen raging, and was unknown to the L. and N.W.R. officials until Saturday morning: and though the ships sunk within half a mile of Cranfield point on the Down Coast, so furious was the storm that only one man of all living freight of the two vessels reached the shore alive. Since this sole survivor was below decks when the crash came he could give no account of what led to the collision. All those who could have described it are gone. The men on the Carlingford bar light had not a sufficiently clear view to be able to account for what seems likely to remain a mystery. It was at first stated the Collier had a heavy load which would have rendered her less unmanageable: and that, being unable to steer close in the comparatively narrow channel and buffered by a fierce gale and tremendous seas, she rammed into the Connemara amidships. The survivor, however, who was a fireman on the Collier, states that the vessel was not unmanageable. Possibly an examination of the wreck may throw some light on the affair. All that is at present certainly known is this: The Connemara left Greenore at a few minutes after eight, carrying a pretty full cargo, including live stock, and 51 passengers, as well as the crew of 34. The wind was then blowing a hurricane from W.S.W against a strong ebb tide, and a heavy sea was running. About 24 miles from Greenore pier she passed the tall lighthouse marking the Carlingford bar and entered the comparatively narrow channel or "gut" leading seawards. This channel is about 300 feet wide, cut through a rocky bottom, and in such conditions of wind and waves as obtained on Friday night affords no great amount of seaways for vessels passing each other. About half a mile beyond the bar the Connemara met the Newry steam collier Retriever inward bound from Garston with coal. Both vessels were showing their lights and there is no reason to suppose that the want of care is to be attributed to the men on the bridge of either craft. But for some reason which apparently we must seek in the almost unexampled violence of the storm and the comparative narrowness of the channels, the vessels crashed into each other. According to one account the stem of the collier cut into Connemara's side right to the funnel, probably letting a raging torrent of water into the ship's vitals and causing an explosion which would account for the mutilated condition of so many of the bodies found. The Connemara heeled over and sank like a stone- some accounts say in 2 minutes, some in 7 minutes. The Retriever floated for 15 minutes and was driven northwards of the channel before the gale, settling down in shallower water and not before a disciplined attempt was made to get out of the boats. But in such a sea no boat could hope to live. Those that reached the water capsized. The solo survivor a non swimmer, got to shore clinging to the keel of an upturned boat and, of course, in a condition of exhaustion and collapse. It is stated that the man in charge of the lights on the top of the tall column at the bar, looking out over the raging water to seaward observed, though dimly that something serious had occurred, and he at once discharged two fog signals to warn people on the shore. So terrible was the storm that the signals were unheaded by anyone on the Greenore shore, but pilot Peter Morgan of Cranfield, heard them and called out a neighboring farmer named Wm Hanna. Wrestling the gale they made their way to the beach, on which a furious sea was breaking, but though they peered seaward they could make out nothing. In normal circumstances they should have been able to discern the lights of the outgoing steamer, and the absence of any signs awakened the keenest anxiety. Wreckage began to come ashore: and this aroused the two men to a keener watchfulness. Presently in the raging surf the figure of a man was seen, and running into the water at no small risk to themselves the men brought out the lifeless body of James Boyle, fireman on the "Retriever." It was him from him the watcher learned the full extent of the disaster. He was carried to Mr Hanna's house and cared for: and soon the dreadful news was brought to other dwellers along the shore, who turned out in hope of finding other living creatures among the wreckage now fast piling along the beach. But no other living soul was found. Through that night and next day scores of dead bodies- 58 in all up to Sunday after noon - were washed in while the beach from Kilkeel to Cranfield was piled with freight and pieces of wreckage. Many dead cattle came ashore and some few alive which wandered into the fields in search of pasture. The dead bodies which were washed ashore were brought to a building at Cranfield where they were reverently placed; and on Sunday the building was visited by relatives of the drowned seaman and by many people who had or had reason to believe they had, relatives among the passengers on the Connemara. It was inevitable that under the circumstances many painful scenes should be witnessed. One of the women whose body was washed ashore was clinging to a little blue eyed baby and even in death it was difficult to relax her hold. Some of the women who visited the shed became hysterical and falling on their knees they hugged the bodies of relatives whom they recognized. One of the most pathetic of the many painful scenes which occurred was witnessed on Sunday afternoon, when an old man from Crossmaglen, passing along the row of corpses, with their upturned faces, recognized his daughter, and, unable to control his grief , he fell down beside her, "oh, my child, my poor child." He covered her face with kisses, and had eventually to be gently removed. Many of the bodies were totally unrecognizable owing to the manner in which they had been mutilated by the waves and the heavy boulders. It is quite possible that some of those on board succeeded in swimming close to the shore and that they were then taken up by the heavy waves and thrown against the huge stones piled in enormous shapeless masses on the beach. There were men whose heads had been wrenched from their bodies, women whose arms or legs were missing, and poor little helpless children whose features had been horribly bruised. Some of the bodies were altogether devoid of clothing. Among the passengers on the Connemara were 17 young women who were travelling to Liverpool, and thence to Canada or the States. A complete list of the names of the passengers is not available, because it had not been prepared at the time the vessel left Greenore. There were, however, on board 3 or 4 soldiers, whose names and addresses have been ascertained by means of identification discs and papers which were found in their pockets. Miss Williams, the stewardess, was to have been married shortly , and this was to been her last trip on the Connemara. A women passenger was on her way to England with her three children, for the purpose of welcoming her soldier husband on his return from the front. Nearly the whole of the members of the crew of the Connemara resided in Wales. At low tide on Saturday the two vessels were lying at a distance of little more than a stone's throw from the shore. The Connemara , with her sides clearly exposed above the water, was to be seen directly opposite the residence of the men in the in the employment of the Irish Lights , while the Retriever was lying about 50 yards away, slightly towards the Louth coast. From the position of the vessels it would seem as though after the collision the Retriever reversed her engines and went astern. It is extraordinary, having regards to the proximity to the shore of the two steamer, that only one out of 94 souls on board should have survived. Sole Survivor's Story James Boyle, the sole survivor of the catastrophe, a stalwart young sailor of 21, resides at Warrenpoint. He had a truly miraculous escape from death, having been washed up on the beach in a completely exhausted condition after the small boat in which he managed to get away from the wreck had thrice capsized. To a Press representative he stated that the voyage from Garston to the Irish coast was quite uneventful. The sea was rough, there being a heavy broken swell, but on many occasions he had made the passage when worse conditions prevailed. He first sighted the Connemara when she was between the lighthouse and Greenore, and she was then about half a mile distant from the Retriever, which had s slight list owing to the cargo having shifted, but was completely under control and responded readily to helm. The vessels were on their proper course at that time; at least the Connemara appeared to be all right, and he knew the Retriever's position was correct because they had just got the leading lights, which indicated the entrance to the channel-in line. Both ships showed lights. He thought the Connemara was about to pass, and went down into the cabin to attend to the fire. Suddenly he heard the Retriever's whistle sounded thrice, and, realizing that something unusual was happening, he rushed up the stairway, but before he could reach the deck there was a collision, and the impact was so great that the ship shivered from stem to stern. Gaining the deck he found that the bows of the Retriever had cut deeply into the side of the Connemara, penetrating nearly to the funnel. "Things happened quickly then," added Boyle, but there was no confusion or panic aboard the Retriever. Captain O'Neill, who was on the bridge- he had been there since 3 O'clock that afternoon- shouted the order -" All hands to the boats." Wm Clugston , Joe Donnan and I went to the starboard side to get a boat, there were 2 boats - and there Jos O'Neill joined us. We got the boat ready for putting off, and then stood by. Joe Donnan said he would go below for lifebelts, and he advised those who were wearing sea-boots to take them off. That was the last I saw of him, although I hear his voice a few minutes later crying , " Cut her away, cut her away." The Retriever gradually took a heavy list to starboard, swinging the boat well out from the side. I was holding on to the rope ready to jump into her. It was then I heard Donnan shout, and I cut her away, springing in at the same time. I don't know what became of the others. I drifted away clear of the steamer, which had gradually parted from the Connemara after the collision. The mail boat sank in about seven or eight minutes. I heard no shouts from her, and cannot tell you what happened aboard her but just before she went under she was very low in the water, and seemed to be on fire. "I saw the Retriever listing further and further." he proceeded and then she went to the bottom. My boat was tossed about for half an hour or so, and then a huge wave came and overturned her. I can't swim, but I managed to cling on somehow, and eventually got astride the keel. I was gradually carried in towards the shore, going straight towards a light upon which my gaze was fixed, and then another huge wave swept me into the sea again, and the same wave righted the boat. I got back into her, and then when I reached the surf the boat capsized for the third time. I thought I was lost, but I felt the sand under my feet and managed to crawl nearer safety on hands and knees. The moon was shining brightly at the same time - and indeed even from the Retriever I could see the shore quite distinctly and nearly all the time I was drifting I could make out the forms of men on the beach. I shouted to men to come to my assistance and was giving up however, thinking they did not hear me, when Mr Hanna and Tom Critchley picked me up." Coastguard William Wise, of Kilkeel, in an interview with a reporter said Friday night was wild with a strong W.S.W. wind blowing dead along the shore, and the master of a vessel like the Retriever would naturally hug the coast line in order to take advantage of any little shelter it afforded. I knew Captain O'Neill, of the Retriever well. Probably no man had a better knowledge of the lough: he knew literally ever stone and turn in it. The captain of the Connemara was equally skillful, and which the only theory which I can advance is that one of the vessels became unmanageable and crashed into the other doing such damage that neither remained afloat for any length of time. Inquest on the Victims An inquest on the victims was held in the Courthouse, Kilkeel on Monday. The jury returned a verdict of found drowned in the case of the 58 bodies which have already been recovered. At the opening of the inquest Mr H G Burgess said he desired on behalf of the Chairman, Directors and General Manager of the L and N W R Co, to express their most sincere sympathy with the relatives and friends of the passengers, officers and crew of the Connemara, who had sustained such a bad bereavement. The company deeply regretted the disaster. Mr W E Matthews, Superintendent of the Company at Greenore, who was the first witness. He said the Connemara left Greenore at 8.50 on Friday evening. There were 50 passengers on board, a crew of 31, 3 cattlemen and 1 luggage guard. The night was stormy, but everything was in the usual trim. In answer to Mr Collins, the winesss said they did not receive at Greenore of the disaster till 9 o'clock the following morning, and consequently no steps could be taken to send out a lifeboat so far as Greenore was concerned. The Only Survivor James Boyle, the only survivor of the disaster, was the next witness. As soon as he had been seated in the witness chair he broke down completely and sobbed aloud. He said the Retriever left Garston at 4.35 on Friday morning, bound for Newry with a charge of coal. There nine all told in the crew. The wind was south-east up till 12 noon, with a moderate breeze. The wind changed to S.S.W. They were abreast of Skerries lighthouse at 10.45, and about that time the vessel was put on the steam-steering gear. Between 5 and 6pm the cargo shifted owing to the storm, but nothing to cause any uneasiness on board. They came in sight of the lighthouse at 6.30 pm and it was blowing heavily on them They got their lights up about the Hellyhunter buoy. The captain was steering at the time. Some time after they sighted the Greenore boat coming out, and witness saw the masthead light burning. Just at that time he had to leave the deck and proceeded to the captain's cabin. While there he heard three short blasts from the Retriever's whistling and the ringing of the telegraph, which indicated that his vessels was about to go astern. Before opening the cabin door he heard the collision and rushed on deck. The vessels were then in contact. There was a heavy sea, and it was blowing hard. The Retriever came clear of the Connemara and grounded of the north side of the channel. Coroner- Would you say the cargo of the Retriever had shifted again? Witness- no; there had been further list. District inspector- What did you see of the Connemara? Witness- She was settling down and sunk in about seven minutes. What order was given on board your vessel? Witness- "All hands to the boats." Witness then described how he, Olugston and Joe Donnan got ready and Donnan's shouting to any who had heavy boots to take them off. The retriever took a list to starboard and the boat swung off of its own accord. He had hold of the rope and swung into the boat. He heard Joe Donnan's vote again shouting "Cut Her Away." The Retriever listed the further to starboard heavily and went down. He saw nothing more of the crew after that but he manged to drift ashore in the boat which in its course to the shore was capsized twice, the waves washing on to the keel after she was first overturned. When he reached the surf he crawled on his hands and knees as far he could get. Mr Mullan- Which side of the Connemara was struck by the Retriever? Witness- I could not give you a definite answer. I did not see her sheering off either. The jury brought in a verdict of found drowned, and expressed deep sympathy with the relatives of the victims. The U.S. Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin Aeronautics a contract worth over US$1.2 Billion for the upgrading of 134 South Korean F-16 fighters. The Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) plans to upgrade both the F-16C/D Block 50/52 fighter aircraft with brand new radar and avionics suite. The contracr negotiated is a fixed-price incentive-fee contract, managed under the foreign military sales program expected to cost about $2.5 Billion. The work will be performed by Lockheed Martin at ots Firt Worth TX plant. The upgrading is scheduled to complete in nine years, (November 2025). Seoul initially picked BAE Systems for this upgrade, but in November 2014 terminated that contract following major price increased that incurred during the development phase, before the program reached production. A year later, in December 2015 South Koreas Defense Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) announced the formal selection of the original aircraft manufacturer Lockheed Martin to upgrade these Korean F-16s. The upgrades are based on the advanced F-16V configuration. The main subcontractors for the program are Northrop Grummans AN/APG-83 scalable agile beam radar. A modern commercial off-the-shelf (COTS)-based avionics subsystem, a large-format, high-resolution center pedestal display and a high-volume and high-speed data bus. The new Modular Mission Computer (MMC) is a single high-performance computer that replaces the fighter jets three original computers, to deliver enhanced computing power to the aircrafts avionics and weapon systems. Other avionic systems being upgraded include the JHMCS II helmet cueing display system, IFF, self protection, networking, and armament modernization. The total program worth $2.5 billion also covers new weapons integration including GBU-39 small diameter bonbs, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and laser JDAM. We truly appreciate the trust and confidence the Republic of Korea has placed in us with this contract, said Susan Ouzts, vice president of Lockheed Martins F-16 program. These upgrades are a critical piece of South Koreas national defense and highlight Lockheed Martins commitment to the full lifecycle of the F-16, from production to through-life sustainment. Letter represents the voices of more than 10 million people asking the president-elect to speak out against hateful acts and ideology. Labor, civil rights and faith leaders, along with many others, called on President-elect Donald Trump to take a much stronger stance against hate-fueled acts of harassment, vandalism, property destruction and assault that have happened since his election. More than 100 groups representing more than 10 million people have signed on to a letter to the president-elect from American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and Southern Poverty Law Centers Maureen Costello, who leads the Teaching Tolerance project calling on Trump to denounce the hate acts and the ideology that is driving them. The letter was delivered to the president-elect on Friday. You can read the letter HERE, but heres an excerpt: In the months leading up to your election, your campaign rhetoric found an audience with those who would use our differences to divide us. Throughout the campaign, you and your supporters directed hateful language at people based on what we look like, where our families come from, who we love, how we worship, our abilities, our gender, and other factors that make up our identity and expression in the world. In the days since your election, we have seen people seemingly emboldened by your victory committing harassment, vandalism, property destruction and even assault based on those differences. Many of these acts have been carried out in your name. Though you may not condone this behavior, your silence gives tacit permission to those who perform these acts. The presidency is about many things. Chiefly, it is about setting an example through your leadership. You have said that you will be the president for all Americans, Mr. Trump. We ask that you keep your promise by loudly, forcefully, unequivocally and consistently denouncing these acts and the ideology that drives them. The letter was announced at a press conference that featured speakers Weingarten, Costello, the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, Nancy Zirkin of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Scott Kasten, a Minneapolis teacher, and Austin McCoy, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan where a student wearing hijab was threatened with being set on fire. Weingarten spoke with passion and eloquence about the need for president-elect Trump to be far more forceful in his denouncement of the more than 700 hate-filled acts carried out since the election, many explicitly in his name. This is not a political matter; this is a matter of moral responsibility. Acceptance, inclusion and the right to live without fear of bullying, intimidation or assault should be a common bond for all of us. America in 2016 cant allow the normalization of hate. That is why we stand with so many others, calling on the president-elect to act and to demonstrate leadership and moral responsibility by vigorously and unequivocally denouncing these acts of hate to help end the dangerous and divisive environment that was created during the campaign and in its aftermath. The Rev. Barber, president of Repairers of the Breach and architect of the Moral Mondays movement, said Trump must repent and take responsibility. Mr. Trumps campaign has been one of unbounded vulgarity against people of color, immigrants, women and people of different faiths. He must repent, take responsibility and challenge those who have been emboldened by his words, and he must also change the direction of his policies that undermine the cause of justice and civil rights. Anything less than this will continue the deep distrust and apprehension we have regarding his presidency. In the words of the Rev. Barber, its not about right or left its about right and wrong. Through his silence, president-elect Trump is endorsing the acts of hate and violence being carried out across the country. Particularly alarming is the increase in incidents in schools, including grade schools. Where do young people learn to behave this way? From their parents and, perhaps even more to the point, from what they see in the media. A Presidents role is to lead and to set an example. For the good and the safety of our country, now and in the future, president-elect Trump must speak out decisively to condemn acts of violence. Everyone must call on him to do so, to guard against the normalization of hate and harassment. Speaking of which: Donald Trump tweeted on Saturday morningHamilton, which delivered a respectful statement at the end of a performance Pence attended on Friday. The statement asked him to reflect on the diversity of the cast as representative of the entire country he has been elected to help govern. Watch the video and decide for yourself, but it seems clear that our president-elect doesnt truly understand what harassment is. And at the time of his tweet, he still hadnt acknowledged the letter asking him to denounce actual hate. 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Alarmingly, this could be the first mammal species wiped out due to human-induced climate change. The Bramble Cay melomys have vanished from its 350m-long cay home in the Torres Strait due to sea-level rise and weather events. Photo credit: Queensland Government The researchers came to the conclusion after failing to find a single specimen of the melomys, also called the mosaic-tailed rat, from its only known habitat. A thorough survey effort involving 900 small mammal trap-nights, 60 camera trap-nights and two hours of active daytime searches produced no records of the species, confirming that the only known population of this rodent is now extinct, the study states. Sea-level rise and weather events in the Torres Strait region, which lies between Australia and the Melanesian island of New Guinea, was determined as the root cause of the loss. The scientists said that the events destroyed the animals sole habitat on Bramble Cay, a small vegetated coral cay in northern Australia. Research showed that Bramble Cay had reduced dramatically in size from approximately 2.2 ha in 2004 to only 0.065 ha, equivalent to a 97 percent loss in the span of 10 years. The key factor responsible for the extirpation of this population was almost certainly ocean inundation of the low-lying cay, very likely on multiple occasions, during the last decade, causing dramatic habitat loss and perhaps also direct mortality of individuals, the study states. Significantly, this probably represents the first recorded mammalian extinction due to anthropogenic climate change, the team concluded. Anthropogenic means caused or influenced by humans. The location of Bramble Cay. Photo credit: Queensland Government The Melomys rubicola was first discovered by Europeans in April 1845, when Lieutenant Yule, commander of the HMS Bramble, and his crew shot the large rats for sport. Anecdotal information obtained from a professional fisherman indicated that the last known sighting of the Bramble Cay melomys was in late 2009. The 2015 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species indicates that climate change could have led to the extinction of the Little Swan Island hutia, a rodent previously found on the Honduras. However, the Queensland scientists pointed out that its demise was actually due to a cat that was introduced to the island. In a sign of hope for the melomys, the study pointed out there could be another population of the species in neighboring Papua New Guinea. Consequently, at this stage, it may be premature to declare the Bramble Cay melomys extinct on a global scale, the report said. The Center for Biological Diversity said theres an extinction crisis underway that threatens our planets biodiversity. Our planet is now in the midst of its sixth mass extinction of plants and animalsthe sixth wave of extinctions in the past half-billion years, the organization noted. Were currently experiencing the worst spate of species die-offs since the loss of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Although extinction is a natural phenomenon, it occurs at a natural background rate of about one to five species per year. Scientists estimate were now losing species at 1,000 to 10,000 times the background rate, with literally dozens going extinct every day. It could be a scary future indeed, with as many as 30 to 50 percent of all species possibly heading toward extinction by mid-century. Human activities such as climate change, deforestation and wildlife trafficking could drive species off the planet. Unlike past mass extinctions, caused by events like asteroid strikes, volcanic eruptions and natural climate shifts, the current crisis is almost entirely caused by ushumans, Center for Biological Diversity added. In fact, 99 percent of currently threatened species are at risk from human activities, primarily those driving habitat loss, introduction of exotic species and global warming. Leonardo DiCaprio: Climate change is the most fundamental and existential threat to our species" https://t.co/PbB7uqEPp8 @BraveNewClimate EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) December 6, 2015 YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE May Shatters Yet Another Monthly Heat Record as CO2 Levels Soar Chiles Salmon Industry Using Record Levels of Antibiotics to Combat Bacterial Outbreak Noam Chomsky: The Doomsday Clock Is Nearing Midnight Is it Too Soon to Consider Removing Giant Pandas From the Endangered Species List? The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued its decisions Friday on whether federal and Hawaii state laws preempt Hawaii counties authority to regulate genetically engineered (GE) crops and pesticide use. Of significance to state and local communities throughout the U.S., the Ninth Circuit ruled that federal lawspecifically, the Plant Protection Actdoes not prohibit states and counties from passing local laws to regulate and ban commercially-grown GE crops. Todays decision to allow states and counties to ban or regulate GE crops is an important victory for GE-free seed sanctuaries and small communities and farmers around the country, George Kimbrell, senior attorney for the Center for Food Safety, said. In granting its decision the court recognized potential harm to farmers and environment from the widespread planting of GE crops, asserting, the cultivation and testing of GE plants raise several well-documented concerns. Notably, the court affirmed, transgenic contamination has previously caused significant economic impacts on farmers of conventional, non-GE crops. The court acknowledged as well that the cultivation of GE crops also may raise environmental concerns, such as harm to beneficial plants and animals caused by the increased use of pesticides sometimes associated with testing and growing GE crops, the proliferation of superweeds and other pests resistant to pesticides, and the reduction of biodiversity. The court went on to declare: The regulation of commercialized crops, both of GE and traditional varieties, remains within the authority of state and local governments. At the same time, however, the court ruled that under Hawaii law, counties and municipalities do not have the authority to regulate GE crops (as some in other states do), and that Hawaii state law places such authority in the hands of the State alone. Were disappointed that the court misinterpreted Hawaii law and concluded the Hawaii legislature decided Hawaii counties lack any such authority, Earthjustice attorney Paul Achitoff said. The legislature did not, and the decision leaves Hawaii unprotected from the harms the Ninth Circuit acknowledged. We believe that when Hawaiis state courts have an opportunity, they will reject the Ninth Circuits conclusion on this point and allow Hawaiis people to protect themselves, since the State certainly hasnt protected them. The court also ruled that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) alone has the authority to regulate field trials and experimental GE crops; neither states nor local governments can ban or approve. This is particularly troubling to communities in Hawaii, since the many field trials and associated pesticide use in Hawaii poses significant risks to local citizens and the environment We are extremely disappointed with the ruling that some experimental GE field trials can only be regulated by USDA, and are considering all legal options. Most importantly, we continue to stand and fight with the people of Hawaii against these chemical companies, Kimbrell said. Attorneys with Center for Food Safety and Earthjustice, who represented local residents, conservation groups, and Hawaii County in the proceedings, are analyzing the full scope of the courts decisions and will be considering options that would protect Hawaiis people, farms and the environment. As a mother and a resident of Kekaha, Kauai, I will continue to stand up and protect my family and my community, said Malia Kahaleina Chun, a mother, educator and Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner. It is our responsibility to insure that our keiki have access to clean air, clean water and to aina that sustains them. Virtually all of the Arctic and much of the Atlantic coast of the U.S. will become off limits for offshore drilling, the Interior Department is expected to announce as soon as today as part of a new five-year drilling plan. A file photograph shows an offshore drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Photo credit: Paul Buck / EPA Along the Atlantic coast, the oil industry and some Republican governors are in favor of offshore drilling, but there has been a huge outpouring of protest from coastal communities. More than 100 coastal cities and towns signed resolutions asking the Obama administration to shut down plans for new drilling. The Pentagon also recently came out strongly against Atlantic drilling, saying it could interfere with the Navys work along the coast. The announcement comes after President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared last week they would adhere to science-based standards for new oil and gas ventures in the Arctic. For a deeper dive: New York Times, The Guardian, Washington Post, Bloomberg, VICE News For more climate change and clean energy news, you can follow Climate Nexus on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for daily Hot News. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE 182: Total Number of Climate Deniers in Congress By Carey Gillam News that President-elect Donald Trump has asked U.S. Rep. Mike Pompeo to be CIA director shows just how dark the days ahead might be for Americas burgeoning food movement, which has been advocating for more transparency and fewer pesticides in food production. Pompeo, a Republican from the farm state of Kansas, was the designated hitter for Monsanto and the other Big Ag chemical and seed players in 2014 when the industry rolled out a federal effort to block states from mandating the labeling of genetically modified foods. Pompeo introduced the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act in April of that year with the intention of overriding bills in roughly two dozen states. In bringing the bill forward, Pompeo was acting on behalf the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), which represents the interests of the nations largest food and beverage companies. The bill, which critics called the Deny Americans the Right to Know Act, or the DARK Act, went through two years of controversy and compromise before a version passed and was signed into law by President Obama this summer. The law nullified a mandatory labeling bill set to take effect in Vermont in July of this year, and it offered companies options to avoid stating on their packaging whether or not a product contained GMO ingredients. Pompeo has shown himself to be a puppet for special interests. If he accepts Trumps offer to head the CIA, it could spell a significant setback for consumers, according to Andrew Kimbrell, executive director of the Center for Food Safety. The worst choice I can think of, Kimbrell said of Pompeo. Far from draining the swamp, Pompeo is the ultimate swamp creature. He is little more than a puppet for the big chemical and biotech companies. Consumer groups have pushed for mandatory labeling for years because of concerns that genetically engineered crops on the market now carry potential and actual risks for human health and the environment. A chief concern has to do with the fact that most GMO crops are sprayed with the herbicide glyphosate, the chief ingredient in Monsantos Roundup. The World Health Organization has declared glyphosate a probable human carcinogen, and residues of glyphosate are increasingly being detected in commonly consumed foods. The Trump transition team answer for those consumer concerns about pesticides doesnt look reassuring either. Trump has named Myron Ebell, director of the Center for Energy and Environment at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, to lead transition efforts at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Thats happy news for the agrichemical industry because Ebell appears to be a big fan of pesticides. His groups SAFEChemicalPolicy.org website champions the safety and benefits of chemicals used in agriculture and elsewhere, and discounts research that indicates harm. The EPA is supposed to protect us from dangerous chemicals, not defend them, as Ebell would almost certainly do if he ran the agency, the Environmental Defense Fund said in a statement. March 20, 1926 Nov. 15, 2016 Vernon Edward Pound, known to his friends as Vern, 90, of Albany, formerly of Ontario, Oregon, died Nov. 15, 2016, at the Mennonite Home. He had a long life and was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and uncle. Vernon was born on March 20, 1926, in Conway, Missouri, to Dan and Arline (Smith) Pound. He was the third child of five, growing up in Valley, Nebraska, until the family moved to Emmett, Idaho. Vernon joined the Army Air Corps in 1944 where he was trained as a tail gunner, ran a military hotel, a post office and was a trained lab technician. After the military he obtained his bachelors degree in education from Southern Idaho College of Education. He taught in Idaho, Nevada and Oregon, finally settling in Ontario where he was a teacher for 25 years. Vernon met his future wife, Mary (Dudley) Pound, in 1957 while they were both working at a cherry packing shed for the summer. They married in June 1958. Vern was a wood worker, built an addition to the house and enjoyed making wood creations for family and friends. He was on a bowling league for many years and looked forward to his bowling night with his friends. Music was very important to him and he had a beautiful voice and sang in many choirs. Later in life he taught himself to play the bassoon and played in the community orchestra at TVCC. He is survived by his wife, Mary, of 58 years; and his children, Mary of Alexandria, Virginia, Michael (Marcia Strahn) of Nampa, Idaho, and Kathleen Poole (Tim) of Seaside. There are two grandchildren, Aaron (Amy) Poole and Anna Poole, and a great-granddaughter, Harper Poole. He is also survived by his sisters, Naomi Delashmutt and Lorine Slabaugh, and many nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his infant daughter, Anna Arline; parents Daniel and Arline Pound; sister Marjorie Sobers; and brother Daniel Warren Pound. A Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Albany. Interment will be at a later date in Emmett, Idaho. Memorial contributions may be made to Samaritan Evergreen Hospice and the Mennonite Village Foundation in care of Fisher Funeral Home, 306 Washington St. S.W., Albany, OR 97321. Online condolences for the family may be posted at www.fisherfuneralhome.com. TT promoted at Motorcycle Live event Bike fans gather at Motorcycle Live in Birmingham Motorsports fans will be meeting some of the stars of the Isle of Man TT as the annual Motorcycle Live event takes place in Birmingham. The exhibition gets underway today and runs until next Sunday, with the final day being a special TT Day. The Isle of Man stand at the NEC will give fans the chance to meet riders and watch footage from this year's races, as well as book transport to come to TT 2017. Outright lap record holder Michael Dunlop, John McGuinness and Ian Hutchinson are among a string of riders scheduled to appear over the course of the nine-day event. Problem gambling to be discussed in Keys An MHK wants to know what Manx companies with gambling licences are doing to help those with gambling problems. Economic Development Minister Laurence Skelly will be ask to supply details of charitable donations by such companies to help support those addicted to gambling. Douglas North member David Ashford will also ask how much money has been spent on researching problem gambling over the last three years. The answer will be given at next week's sitting of the House of Keys. Steps forward That popular daily target of 10,000 steps is a worthwhile goal, but a new study at Oregon State University suggests that if you find that unattainable, dont despair a smaller number, especially at moderate or greater intensity, can lead to health benefits too. Its especially helpful if 3,000 of the steps come at a brisk pace, and limiting sedentary time also plays a role in healthy readings for cholesterol and other risk factors. Some physical activity is better than none, and typically more is better than less, said John Schuna Jr., assistant professor of kinesiology in OSUs College of Public Health and Human Sciences. When it comes to steps, more is better than fewer, and steps at higher cadences for a significant amount of time are beneficial. A good target for healthy adults is 150 minutes per week spent at 100 or more steps per minute. And in terms of time spent sedentary, less is better you want to spend as little time not moving as possible within reason. Antibiotic use Oregon is seeing declines in unnecessary antibiotic use for treating respiratory infections, but people continue to needlessly use these bacteria-fighting drugs on viral infections such as colds and bronchitis, a new Oregon Health Authority report has found. Unnecessary use of antibiotics on viruses can lead to dangerous antibiotic resistance, which makes these drugs less effective when they are most needed. According to the 2016 report, Antibiotic Prescribing in Outpatient Settings in Oregon, there has been a 29 percent decline in oral antibiotic use in Oregon since 2008, and an 8 percent decline between 2014 and 2015. Still, antibiotics were used to treat nearly half of uncomplicated bronchitis cases, even though most of these infections are typically due to viruses, not bacterial infections. Endometrial cancer An increased risk for endometrial cancer can run in families in some cases, but its rare. More commonly, this kind of cancer is linked to risk factors such as obesity, age and having other underlying medical conditions. At this time, no screening test is available for endometrial cancer. Researchers are, however, studying a test that could help detect this type of cancer in its earliest stages. Endometrial cancer begins in the uterus, within the layer of cells that form the uterine lining, called the endometrium. Endometrial cancer sometimes is referred to as uterine cancer. If you are worried about endometrial cancer or if you notice any abnormal vaginal bleeding such as bleeding after menopause, bleeding between periods or unusual blood-tinged discharge make an appointment to see your doctor to have it evaluated. In most cases, when endometrial cancer is caught early, it is a highly treatable disease. Outbreak watch A recent outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome in Saudi Arabia has public health officials monitoring the viral respiratory disease. Mayo Clinic infectious diseases specialist Dr. Pritish Tosh says MERS is an emerging infectious disease that tops his watch list. I pay special attention to the Middle East respiratory syndrome that came out several years ago and has a high mortality, especially if it infects somebody who already has medical comorbidities or is already sick, he says. Weve had outbreaks that have spread from the Middle East, so it can spread from person-to-person. ... We are paying close attention to these novel respiratory infections. And paying attention, Tosh says, to what might be the next pandemic virus. Influenza pandemics have happened and will continue to happen. They seem to only happen when people arent expecting them, and, so, we should really always be expecting them." Robert Downey Jr. is already the epitome of being an Iron Man, the character, the looks and the suit fits him well, especially that this role made him to the major movie stardom. But if there is someone who will make him change his mind about doing the 4th franchise of Iron Man, it would be no other than his best bud, director Mel Gibson. Luckily, the actor-turned-director shows interest in doing "something different" when he was asked about making this project for Marvel Studios. Robert Downey Jr.'s statement left fans to wonder who will be the next Tony Stark if Mel Gibson declines to direct Iron Man 4. On Christian Today, Downey's saying that he would do Iron Man 4 "if pal Mel Gibson will helm it" has developed a threat of shortage for the Tony Stark role. But since Mel Gibson has given a hint of interest in the Marvel franchise, Robert Downey Jr. may eventually get what he wants for Tony Stark's possible last show. On the other side of the coin, Mel Gibson can do the lead role, given his award winning acting skills from "Braveheart" and more, but has already declined the superhero role based from reports of GameNGuide. Mel Gibson said on possibly directing Iron Man 4 that "It might be fun" by "figuring out a way to be different with that", thus the "Blood Father" actor/director will do a bit of a twist here and there for the single-themed film. Genre-wise, Gibson is not really boxed in a single theme which would be helpful should he take on the film as the MCU usually likes to feature a variety of genres. Getting Mel Gibson in Iron Man 4 is not only for money sake or fame, but it is just one of the many samples of Robert Downey Jr.'s friendship with Mel Gibson. It has been known how Gibson has helped Downey Jr. during the latter's moments in drug and alcoholic dependency. Same is true for the Sherlock Holmes actor when he publicly pleaded to forgive Mel Gibson when he was entangled with scandals. In the state of Chhattisgarh, a different set of laws prevails. It appears to grant complete impunity to the police and law enforcement. And denies fundamental rights to its citizens and those from other parts of India. You do not need anything like the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Chhattisgarh. The police there already have special powers without anyone questioning their use. If you happen to be an individual or a group that dares question these powers, or expose the impunity with which the police act, you are liable to be arrested, intimidated, harassed and even charged with murder. Thus, it was not entirely unexpected that on 7 November, Delhi University professor Nandini Sundar and three others were charged by the Chhattisgarh police with the murder of an Adivasi man even though there was no evidence that they had any connection with his death. On 4 November, in village Nama of Sukma district, Shamnath Baghel was killed by unidentified assailants. On 7 November, the police claimed that his wife, Vimala, had filed a first information report (FIR) naming Sundar and others as well as Maoists who control parts of the district of murdering her husband. The fraudulent FIR stood exposed when within days of it being lodged, Vimala told a television channel that she had not seen the assailants. A few days later, villagers told a print reporter that they did not think Sundar and others, who had visited the village in May as part of a fact-finding team, had anything to do with the murder. None of this made a difference to the Chhattisgarh police. For having filed this story, the Chhattisgarh correspondent of Hindustan Times was threatened. When he tried to speak to Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) S R P Kalluri to get his response, he was told, In any case, we dont care a damn about what you write. Please can anyone tell me if it is necessary to submit a tax return if your only income is rental income which, once expenses have been deducted, is less than the annual personal allowance. Thanks in advance. Friday, November 18, 2016 The nonprofit organization Compassion & Choices has made great strides over the past few years to make medical aid in dying available to mentally capable, terminally ill patients in the U.S. Barbara Coombs Lee, the president of Compassion & Choices, just announced a new initiative: Truth in Treatment. Compassion & Choices is igniting a social movement to end an epidemic of over-treatment at the end of life. Truth in Treatment will help people with advanced illnesses maintain control of their healthcare. In a recent email, Coombs Lee wrote: I always feel honored when a supporter shares how they lived their life talks about their family, their hopes and what they are most proud of. But one thing thats troubled me for some time is hearing what happens when an illness progresses in spite of treatment and treatments become less and less effective. Often people submit to unwanted tests, treatments and even hospitalizations without fully understanding the benefits and burdens of such care. Americans have lost control of our healthcare destiny and we as individuals often lose control of our time and energies as illness advances and the end of life comes into view. We have accepted diminished standing in the patient/doctor relationship. We keep silent about our hopes, worries, and questions. Far too often, without even realizing it, our medical decisions are made for us. Our healthcare system often puts us on a conveyor belt that ignores our priorities and prescribes procedures that cause needless pain and suffering even after these procedures no longer provide a path back to health or even extend life. No one asks, What is most important to you, now, in the precious months remaining in this precious life? Too often we medicalize our life when we would rather humanize it. That is why today I am proud to announce a transformative new initiative shaped by Compassion & Choices supporters: Truth in Treatment. This initiative will empower millions of Americans who are not being heard by our healthcare system. It seeks nothing less than to shift fundamental attitudes and restore a vision of patients as authorities on their own values and preferences. It will reframe the patient/doctor relationship so doctors can turn those preferences into realities. It will build a habit of asking questions and considering treatment alternatives, long before any illness becomes life-limiting. Truth in Treatment is a long-term, consumer-driven movement to achieve lasting change. It has the potential to benefit hundreds of millions of lives and move mountains of entrenched behaviors and attitudes. This is social change, and we intend to do it just as weve done with the very concept of medical aid in dying over decades of strategic and passionate advocacy. With supportive tools and guidance, Truth in Treatment will help people build trusting, candid relationships with their doctors, ask discerning questions and use the answers to make fully informed treatment decisions. As more people initiate conversations with their doctors and make informed treatment choices in line with their values and priorities, it will become the norm, rather than the exception, that individual patients decide how much medical treatment to accept and what to decline. And it all starts with you. The most potent agents of change are individuals, each expecting to be informed about treatment alternatives, and prepared to decide what medical care is right for them, right now and later, in the setting of serious and progressing illness. Check out the Truth in Treatment website, and let your wishes be known! President-elect Donald Trumps pledge to build a wall along the southern border with Mexico got crowds chanting during his campaign rallies, but his election comes at the same time Texas and Mexicos oil and gas industries are increasingly intertwined. Hundreds of miles of pipeline are under construction to carry Texas natural gas to Mexico, and Mexicos historic reform of its energy industry is seen as a boon for Texas-based oil and gas companies, which expect not only to drill Mexicos vast oil and gas reserves but to supply services, equipment and expertise. A presidential election that championed increasing American isolation complicates that relationship. Thomas Tunstall, a research director at the University of Texas at San Antonio, thinks Trump will have to walk back some of the harsh language on Mexico. I think certainly hes going to have to come off of a lot of that rhetoric. Its not productive when you look at the actual numbers and trade flows, said Tunstall, who has studied the economic impact and potential for oil and gas development in Texas and Mexico. You think about the whole border with Texas. Theres a lot of trade. Theres going to be a lot of back-and-forth migration. It tends to be cyclical. Rhetoric is one thing. Actually passing laws that would echo that would be problematic at best. Mexicos state oil company, Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, has controlled nearly every aspect of the nations oil production and distribution since 1938, but Mexican officials decided in 2013 to end the monopoly and started to open bidding on its onshore and offshore fields. Mexico also hasnt been able to develop its own oil and gas fields quickly enough to keep up with demand as its economy grows and electricity generation switches from fuel oil to natural gas. Enter Texas, which has an abundance of cheap natural gas to send across the border. There are at least four major pipeline projects in the works to move natural gas from Texas to Mexico: the Trans-Pecos Pipeline in the Big Bend Region; the Comanche Trail Pipeline, which originates near Fort Stockton in West Texas; the Nueces-Brownsville pipeline that crosses South Texas; and the Nueva Era project, which would carry gas from Webb County in South Texas to Monterrey. Brandon Seale, president of Howard Energy Mexico, a subsidiary of San Antonio-based Howard Energy Partners, said he couldnt speak to potential trade agreements between the U.S. and Mexico but that construction of the companys Nueva Era pipeline is on track. Its expected to start delivering gas to the Monterrey area in late 2017. Attorney Alejandra Bueno, an expert on Mexican energy reform, said her first impression is that a Republican president would open the door to more energy reform business opportunities, not restrict trade. Its very, extremely hard to predict what will happen. As you know, the surprise factor has been huge in this election, and now perhaps we will have an administration with lots of surprises as well, Bueno said. The Republican sweep of the presidency and both houses of Congress is generally seen as a boost for the U.S. oil and gas industry, as well as the battered domestic coal industry. But trying to figure out how campaign language translates into specific policy isnt easy, said Michael Webber, deputy director of the Energy Institute at the University of Texas at Austin. Trumps energy policy is not well defined and understood, Webber said. The energy world is reacting with ambiguity. We dont like not knowing whats going to happen. It makes it hard to make multibillion-dollar decisions. Trump has promised to rewrite trade deals and has called the North American Free Trade Agreement the worst trade deal the U.S. has ever signed. But any increase in the development of Mexicos oil and gas assets would also boost Texas, Webber said. Mexico is already Texas most important trade partner. More than 37 percent of Texas exports went to Mexico in 2015. Webber said he expects some volatility in the energy sector until policies are settled. It will take time for a judgment to be formed of the Trump administration, said Simon Flowers, chief analyst with Wood Mackenzie, by email. Like many, we await the detail in the policy to come to the fore. In a research note to clients, Wood Mackenzie said a U.S. administration friendly to oil and gas could open more areas to drilling, create a rush to produce, and inadvertently cause too much oil to flow to market a possible unintended negative consequence for oil prices, the firm said. Trump has been vocal about supporting coal mining jobs. Webber said its not clear how to accomplish that, though perhaps tax subsidies or handouts would be a strategy to help coal, which has been hurt chiefly by the abundance of cheap natural gas in the U.S. and a boom in shale drilling. How do you protect coal? Coal competes with natural gas, Webber said. Natural gas and renewables are beating it in the market. Natural gas employs more people than coal. Voter Guide: What to know for the midterm election Your guide to the Texas and San Antonio races and candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot. Tunstall its a guessing game to figure out what Trump will do. It was lot easier to figure out Hillary Clintons policies, Tunstall said. Make America great again is very vague. To be fair, Tunstall said it was also hard to figure out what Barack Obamas slogan, Change we can believe in, meant, too, in terms of policy. If the rhetoric is vague, people can imbue it with whatever policy they want, Tunstall said. jhiller@express-news.net Twitter: @Jennifer_Hiller Although President-elect Donald Trump claimed a hard-won victory Thursday night to persuade Ford Motor to keep making a small Lincoln SUV in a Louisville, Kentucky, plant rather than move its production to Mexico, Fords decision to maintain production in Kentucky will have no effect on jobs at the factory: The plant is already operating virtually around the clock at full capacity. The decision, which Ford said it made before Trump spoke by phone Thursday with William Clay Ford Jr., the companys executive chairman, will simply keep the current product mix in place at the factory. The Louisville plant will continue making a far larger number of Ford Escapes, a small SUV that is essentially the same, if less luxurious, vehicle as the Lincoln MKC, which Ford said it also would continue to make in Louisville. Ford, which during the election campaign was a frequent target of Trumps criticism for moving jobs to Mexico, was no doubt waving a political olive branch by deciding to keep Lincoln MKC production in Kentucky. But the move was largely symbolic. Trumps vows to protect manufacturing jobs in the U.S. helped him win the support of working-class voters, including many factory workers in Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky. He sought to underscore the message Thursday night. Just got a call from my friend Bill Ford, Chairman of Ford, who advised me that he will be keeping the Lincoln plant in Kentucky no Mexico, Trump wrote in a Twitter message. In a subsequent post, he wrote: I worked hard with Bill Ford to keep the Lincoln plant in Kentucky. I owed it to the great State of Kentucky for their confidence in me! Both posts overstated certain issues. Ford never planned to move the Louisville plant to Mexico. It only intended to shift the production of the MKC, which represents less than 10 percent of the plants total output. The MKC is a more expensive version of the Ford Escape, which is a much bigger seller than the MKC and alone is enough to keep the Louisville plant running at full capacity. Moreover, the decision to keep the MKC in Louisville was made before the two men spoke Thursday, not as a result of their conversation, according to Ford. We have been reviewing the sourcing of this product, and Bill Ford spoke to the president-elect yesterday and shared our recent decision to keep Lincoln MKC in Kentucky, a Ford spokeswoman, Christin Baker, said in a statement Friday. We are encouraged the economic policies he will pursue will help improve U.S. competitiveness and make it possible to keep production of this vehicle here in the U.S. Fords chief financial officer, Robert L. Shanks, held a conference call with analysts Thursday morning in which he expressed hope that Trumps policies would provide an environment where it makes economic sense to build back up manufacturing jobs here. But how Trump governs may be a bit different from his campaign rhetoric, Shanks said. So lets just wait and see. During the campaign, Trump heavily criticized Ford for deciding to shuffle its manufacturing operations so that all its small cars are made in Mexico. At times, he even suggested hitting the company and others with a 35 percent tariff on vehicles imported from Mexico. Ford has countered that moving small-car assembly to Mexican plants would have no effect on U.S. jobs. For example, a factory in Wayne, Michigan, that now makes the weakly selling Ford Focus compact will be retooled to make trucks and SUVs, which are selling briskly. Ford says the higher profit margins on trucks and SUVs allow the company to absorb the higher labor costs of building the vehicles in the United States. The Wayne plant is expected to remain fully staffed with 3,700 workers. The Louisville plants workforce would remain unchanged even if the MKC were moved to a new factory. The factory employs 4,500 hourly workers and is operating on three shifts, producing vehicles, mostly Ford Escapes, almost around the clock. In the first 10 months of this year, the plant made nearly 300,000 Ford Escapes and just over 37,000 Lincoln MKCs. In the auto industry, plants are considered to be operating at 100 percent capacity if they are running two shifts a day. Most typically produce 200,000 to 250,000 vehicles a year. Voter Guide: What to know for the midterm election Your guide to the Texas and San Antonio races and candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot. DETROIT President-elect Donald Trump claimed Thursday that he convinced the chairman of Ford Motor Co. not to move an assembly plant from Kentucky to Mexico. But Ford never intended to move the plant, just production of one of the vehicles it makes. Trump said in a tweet that Bill Ford, the companys executive chairman, telephoned him with the news that a Lincoln plant would stay in Louisville. Instead Ford decided to keep production of the Lincoln MKC small SUV at the Louisville Assembly Plant. Ford had previously said it would move production of the MKC out of the plant in order to build more Ford Escapes there. A factory in Cuautitlan, Mexico, was likely to get the MKC. Under a contract negotiated last year with the United Auto Workers, Ford agreed to invest $700 million in the Louisville plant in return for moving the MKC production. Because Escape production would increase, no Louisville jobs would be lost. Its possible the decision to keep the MKC in Kentucky was made before the election because Escape sales have been falling since July and additional production capacity in Louisville may not be needed. Ford spokeswoman Christin Baker said she didnt know when that decision was made or if Trump had any impact on it. I worked hard with Bill Ford to keep the Lincoln plant in Kentucky. I owed it to the great State of Kentucky for their confidence in me!, Trump said in the tweet claiming credit for Fords decision. Ford and Trump have engaged in a yearlong feud over the automakers plans to move production south of the border. The company plans to shift small-car production from suburban Detroit to Mexico to improve profitability of the lower-priced cars. CEO Mark Fields said Tuesday that the presidential election didnt change the companys plan. Trump wants to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement and has called for a 35 percent tariff on goods shipped from Mexico in an effort to preserve U.S. manufacturing jobs. Ford plans to move production of the Focus and C-Max small cars to Mexico from a plant in Wayne, Michigan. But jobs at the Wayne plant would be preserved because its getting a new SUV and small pickup truck. Bill Ford met with Trump during the summer and spoke with him Thursday, Baker said. We are encouraged that President-elect Trump and the new Congress will pursue policies that will improve U.S. competitiveness and make it possible to keep production of this vehicle here in the United States, she said in an email. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Even though most of America is still basking in the glow and leftovers of Thanksgiving, we all know the next time many of us will gather together around the dining table will be, oh, about three days short of 12 months from today. That may change as meal delivery services make it easier for more Americans to rejuvenate the idea of family mealtime. Its already worked for Monica Cavazos. Not long ago, she decided she wanted to spend time with her husband and their three children, not in the kitchen slicing and dicing, cooking and cleaning. Nor did she want to feed them fast food or meals from the supermarket freezer department. So for the past two years or so, the part-time physician has subscribed to The Good Kind, a local meal delivery service. Twice a week she receives a package containing enough food to feed her family three healthy, prepared meals. One recent package include a frittata, barbecue salmon, couscous pilaf, chicken and dumplings, butternut squash soup and more. Cavazos concedes her three kids, 8, 12 and 16 years of age, didnt originally jump for joy when first served such healthy meals. And, although theyve gotten used to eating most of The Good Kind food (they devour the kale chips), theyre still thrilled whenever pizza night at the Cavazos household rolls around. Meal delivery services like The Good Kind, are all the rage throughout the food world. According to Forbes.com, its now a $1.4 billion business. For many particularly the well-heeled who spend an above-average amount of time thinking about what they eat the idea of receiving an ever-changing selection of healthy, chef-prepared meals is the best of both worlds between cooking it yourself and eating out. Generally, these services operate in one of two ways. They either deliver packages containing fully prepared meals that need only be heated in the oven or microwave, or else they contain the ingredients necessary measured out, premixed and already chopped to make a complete meal, some assembly required. Most of the meal delivery noise comes from national companies such as industry leaders Blue Apron and Plated. Recently, the San Francisco organic startup Sun Basket received $15 million in financing from Microsoft founder Paul Allens Vulcan Capital. And not to be outdone, living-the-good-life doyenne Martha Stewart has aligned herself with Martha & Marley Spoon which, for $180 will send you everything you need, including the turkey, to prepare what the Associated Press calls a decadent Thanksgiving feast. But increasingly, smaller local companies, often chef-run, are entering the fray. They pride themselves on serving as much locally produced food as possible and also having a smaller carbon footprint because theyre not shipping boxes across the country. In addition to The Good Kind, which is the brainchild of Tim the Girl catering honcho Tim McDiarmid, local delivery services are offered by Elizabeth Johnsons organic food restaurant Pharm Table, Sue Sheff (get it? sous chef?) which serves heartier but still healthy fare and, on a one-time basis, the ChefCrate package of favorite ingredients, kitchen tools and recipes constructed by serial restaurateur, Jason Dady. Heres is more detail about those options and what you get for your money: Name: The Good Kind Contact: eatgoodkind.com, 210-439-0030, info@eatgoodkind.com Delivery options/cost: Individual package (feeds one adult for approximately three days) $69 Couples package (feeds two adults for approximately three days) $129 Family package (feeds a family of four for approximately three days) $239 $10 additional for delivery outside Loop 410 Orders must be placed by noon Friday for Monday afternoon delivery and by noon Tuesday for Thursday afternoon delivery. Description of service: Fully prepared heat-and-serve meals change seasonally and are available as either chefs choice or create-your-own menu from available dishes. Sample menu: Fruit & Mint Market Frittata Breakfast porridge w dried fruits & Nuts Tuscan Seafood Stew Caesar Salad Roasted Pork Loin & Apples Garlicky Greens Garbanzo Vegetable Curry Saffron Rice Egg Salad Edamame Dip Sweet Treat *** Name: Sue Sheff Contact info: suesheff.com, 210-843-5155, Sue@SueSheff.com Delivery options/cost: Two person plan (feed two people two meals) $50 Full family plan (feeds four people two meals) $96 Orders must be placed by Friday for Tuesday delivery Description of service: Select from a number of entrees and receive color-coded ingredients that come complete with cook-it-yourself recipes. Several menu items meet the Por Vida! standards for calories, fats, added sugar and salt established, in part, by the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District. Sample menu: Steak and Brie Grinder with Cranberry Relish Pan Seared Sirloin with Compound Butter and Creamed Spinach and Farfelle Chicken and Dumplings Cardamom Rubbed Chicken with Kale and Roasted Maple Cranberries Rubbed Sage Pork on Pasta with Pumpkin Sauce Steak Diane with Roasted Broccoli and Crushed Potatoes Coconut Curry Shrimp on Rice Puttanesca with Roasted Cod *** Name: Pharm Table Weekly Convenience Bags Contact info: pharmtable.com, 210-802-1860, elizabeth@pharmtable.com Delivery options/Cost: Vegan bag (feeds one person for three to five days) $85 Protein bag (feeds one person for three to five days) $99 Description of service: Heat-and-eat (or eat cold) dishes are made from organic, anti-inflammatory ingredients Sample menu: Ayurvedic Meal Starter Lentil stew soup Kobucha squash and coconut moqueca Berbere Red lentil soup Macrobiotic salad of quinoa, carrot ribbons, hemp seed hummus, house kimchi Green goddess kale salad of curly kale, collards, pepitas, sumac, sweet potato, okra Ras al hanout chickpea salad of Moroccan chickpeas, curly kale, shredded carrots and dates Indian Kitchari Thai green curry Chinese stir-fry with turmeric ginger rice Carrot quinoa tamales Creamy Kale dip Lemon cashew cheesecake Orders can be picked up Tuesdays 3 p.m.-5 p.m. or Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Pharm Table, 106 Auditorium Circle. Deliveries ($10 inside Loop 410, $20 outside Loop 410) are scheduled directly with the customer *** Name: CrateChef by Jason Dady Contact info: cratechef.com, info@cratechef.com Delivery options/Cost: Three box subscription shipped every two months, $132, plus $6 shipping Description of service: Chef-curated subscription service delivers boxes that include ingredients, kitchen tools and exclusive recipes individually selected by a changing rotation of well-known chefs. Decembers chef is San Antonios Jason Dady, proprietor of such restaurants as Tre Trattoria, Two Bros. BBQ Market and Shuck Shack. Sample menu: Dadys box includes: Kewpie mayonnaise Gochujang brown rice red pepper paste Cuisine Perel blood orange vinegar Mitica Marcona almonds from Spain Susies's South Forty Confections Texas Trash Premium Microplane grater/zester Kuhn Rikon Original Swiss peeler Recipes for Market Salad with Burrata, Pimento cheese dip/spread, Gochujang chile paste- and soy-marinated short ribs with sesame A letter from Dady explaining his selections. rmarini@express-news.net Twitter: @RichardMarini This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CHAPEL HILL, N.C. Joey Halloway has four kids, two shaggy dogs and a husband. So she appreciates the finer points of owning a minivan. When youre sitting in it, its like the best thing ever, she said. There are 16 cup holders. But the Orange County mom, 45, is also a highly creative person who handcrafts 350 holiday cards each year in her home studio just north of Chapel Hill. Every time I walked up to it, I died a little death, she said of the 2007 Honda Odyssey. Like, Im that mom. I drive a minivan. So, because shes creative, and because she sometimes has trouble remembering where she parks You try finding it in the parking lot of Target, she said she put some bright polka dots on the side panel. That was nine years ago. Since then shes peeled and unpeeled farm animals, Disneys Phineas and Ferb and, about a year ago, Snoopy and the Peanuts gang. Even Pig-Pen and his cloud of dust. The giant vinyl stickers, which she gets online and sometimes makes herself, dont hurt the paint. And its not just Halloway who now easily spots the Honda minivan with 177,000 miles as it carries the four kids, two shaggy dogs and husband around town. People leave notes; a napkin on her bulletin board thanks her for making a strangers day. People pull alongside and take pictures. Or last week, on the way to a cross-country meet, stick their hands out a passing cars window, thumbs up. Still, with her oldest now in high school, Halloway wondered if it might be time to take the stickers off for good. So she asked her daughter about it. She was like, Eh, Mom, youre embarrassing no matter what you do. A personal struggle It wasnt that long ago that cartoon car art was the least of Halloways concerns. The Duke University graduate she designed her own major focusing on environmental policy for developing nations has struggled since childhood with depression, at times so crippling she worried she might one day no longer be able to care for her kids. A year ago, somebody had to take care of me, she said. I thought I was going to die. She had undergone electroconvulsive therapy, in which small electric currents are run through the brain. It helped relieve her symptoms, but it also affected her memory, so she stopped. I was desperate, she said. I needed to do something. Halloway did online research and asked about ketamine, an anesthetic used by combat medics that had been shown to reduce some patients depression and suicidal thoughts. Slow ketamine infusions have been beneficial for some people with depression when other treatments have failed, said Michael Hill, a professor of psychiatry and director of Inpatient Psychiatry Services at the Universityy of North Carolina. It is not FDA approved (for treating depression) but is an off-label, legitimate use of ketamine. When people respond to ketamine, they usually do it quickly, after a treatment or two, Hill said. How long the effect will last, even with occasional booster treatment, is unclear at this point. It is generally well tolerated and seems safe, though data is limited. Halloway had nothing to lose and, when she could not find a local practitioner, traveled to Atlanta for treatment. The infusions, which she now gets in Raleigh, N.C., worked so well that she became an advocate and now works as operations manager for Ketamine Treatment Centers, a network of private practices that provide the therapy. Ketamine doesnt work for everyone, she said, but its helped her. So she talks about it. There are a lot of people out there suffering, she said. Theyve run out of options. Totally s blast Stuart Halloway, a software developer and president of Durham, N.C.-based Cognitect, said ketamine has had a huge impact on his wifes mental health. To have found a medicine that was well understood in other contexts, it was a slam dunk that we would try it, he said. The couple has talked with their children about Joeys depression, and also about the prejudice that keeps some people with mental illness from speaking openly about it, he said. The holiday cards, an annual Easter party and car stickers helped Joey find purpose and create value, when she felt little joy in her life, her husband said. Now, theyre more a reflection of how fun my wife is, said Stuart, 48, who adds that he sometimes even forgets that Charlie Browns on the door when hes driving the minivan. And then someone slows down and smiles. Its a blast, he said. Its totally a blast. With Snoopys doghouse starting to peel, Halloway will soon start scouting a new cast of characters. We make suggestions, the kids and I, Stuart said, smiling. Theyre mostly ignored. Halloway knows the four kids and husband, if not the two shaggy dogs, would like a say. But its not gonna happen. Im like, uh-uh, she said. My car I get to pick. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Alma Vazquez and her 5-year-old twin daughters, Daniela and Gabriela, speak Spanish at home. The girls are beginning to learn English in kindergarten at Woodlawn Academy, but Vazquez wants them to be equally proficient in both languages. So Vazquez went to Twain Middle School this week to hear about its transformation next year into a dual-language-only academy. Traditional bilingual education differs from dual-language education in that it teaches English at the expense of Spanish, Mario Ferron, dual-language coordinator for the San Antonio Independent School District, told about a dozen Spanish-speaking families. In the process, Spanish-speaking students fall behind in school, lose their identities and become ashamed of their backgrounds, Ferron said. And there is evidence that dual-language instruction correlates with greater mental flexibility, critical thinking capacity and communication skills. If they see their language, their culture, their family as inferior, they end up seeing themselves as inferior, Ferron said in Spanish. We dont have to pay all that price to learn English. Immediately after the information session, Vazquez got on a computer in the library and filled out an application for the twins to attend. Its true. They forget Spanish and the desire to be Mexican or Hispanic stops growing, Vazquez said in Spanish. Twain next year will enroll dual-language students from prekindergarten through second grade and eventually expand to serve students through the eighth grade. By the time next years pre-K students graduate middle school in 2024, SAISD will offer a high-school program to continue their dual-language education, administrators said. SAISD leaders hope the new school will help satisfy two of the districts goals: to increase dual-language offerings and to woo back middle-class and affluent families, such as those in the Monte Vista, Alta Vista, Tobin Hill and Beacon Hill neighborhoods surrounding Twain who are sending their children to private and charter schools. I think it will be a good thing, not just for my son but for the neighborhood, said Vanessa Russell-Evans, who has lived within walking distance of Twain for seven years and whose son, Campbell Evans, will be in kindergarten next year. I support public schools and I was worried we would have to send him to private school. The Mark Twain Dual Language Academy, as it will be named next year, will capitalize on the popularity of Bonham Academy in Southtown, which offers a dual-language track and has a waiting list. But unlike Bonham, or any other dual-language traditional public school in Bexar County, Twain will not offer an English-only track, said Olivia Hernandez, SAISDs assistant superintendent for bilingual education. Students within Twains boundaries, which will be redrawn next year, will attend the dual-language school by default unless their families opt to send them instead to neighboring SAISD schools, Hernandez said. Ferron said the program will begin with 80 percent of instruction in Spanish and 20 percent in English during prekindergarten and kindergarten, with the balance slowly shifting to about half and half by the fourth grade. Subjects will switch back and forth between Spanish and English year after year to ensure development of content-related vocabulary in both languages, Ferron said. In response to questions at informational meetings Tuesday in the school library, Ferron said elementary school students will be able to take state standardized tests in their dominant language. By the sixth grade, he said, the students will be fully proficient in both languages. The students will start taking college-level Advanced Placement Spanish classes in middle school and will graduate high school with the Texas Seal of Biliteracy, Ferron said. Twice as many families showed up for the information session conducted in English. Ferron stressed to them the importance of bilingualism in a changing world. This is what your children are going to need to have good jobs in the future, he said. We are going to be preparing your students to be citizens in the globalized society of the 21st century. English-only is not enough anymore. To both groups, Ferron said the schools primary aim is to give students the cognitive benefits of learning two languages at once. Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD has graduated 100 percent of its dual-language students for the past eight years, Ferron said. Almost 99 percent of them were admitted to college immediately after graduation, he said. As a group, they had higher grade-point averages than their peers in mainstream education and higher rates of participation in college entrance exams and AP exams, Ferron said. Russell-Evans said her desire to enroll her son was partly a reaction to the outcome of the presidential election, referring to the controversial statements President-elect Donald Trump has made about Mexicans and other minorities. Im a mother of a white male, so I think its an important thing, she said. I have a big responsibility to make sure his role model isnt the next president. amalik@express-news.net Twitter: @AliaAtSAEN Courtesy photo A rugged peak in the Davis Mountains of West Texas has been protected forever, thanks to The Nature Conservancy and a global private equity firm. The jagged, jutting rocks of Sawtooth Mountain rise to an elevation of 7,686 feet in the Chihuahuan Desert in Jeff Davis County and are visible from a scenic road that stretches between Texas Highways 166 and 118. WASHINGTON President-elect Donald Trump moved quickly Friday to begin filling national security posts at the top echelons of his administration, selecting a group of hawks and campaign loyalists who reflect the hard-line views that defined his run for president. Trump said he would nominate as attorney general Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., who has been a fierce supporter of a crackdown on undocumented immigrants. The president-elect also moved to install Michael T. Flynn, a retired lieutenant general who has said that Islamist militancy poses a global existential threat, as his national security adviser. And as director of the CIA, Trump selected Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan., who harshly criticized Hillary Clinton during the House investigation of the 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya. All three are regarded, in some ways, as outliers from conventional Republican thinking, shunned at times for strident statements, controversial positions or highly partisan moves. The flurry of announcements indicated that Trump was gaining control over a transition operation that had been entangled in infighting during its early stages. The results were the first seeds of an administration-in-waiting that will break starkly with that of President Barack Obama. Transition officials said Trump would meet over the weekend with an array of potential Cabinet members and other advisers as a signal that he wanted to build a diverse team, without regard to political affiliation or support for his presidential bid. Among them are Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee and one of his partys harshest critics of the president-elects campaign, who is a contender for secretary of state, and Michelle A. Rhee, a Democrat who pursued sweeping reforms during her controversy-filled tenure as the District of Columbias chancellor of schools. But there was no evidence in Fridays selections that Trump, who has hinted that he might pursue a more centrist agenda once he sits in the Oval Office, is inclined to moderate his approach on key questions of national security and civil rights. In a statement Friday, Trump called Sessions a world-class legal mind, and added that Pompeo would be a brilliant and unrelenting leader for our intelligence community. Of Flynn, he said: I am pleased that Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn will be by my side as we work to defeat radical Islamic terrorism, navigate geopolitical challenges and keep Americans safe at home and abroad. Both Sessions and Flynn were early and fervent supporters of Trumps presidential campaign, even as many establishment Republicans were criticizing Trump for inflammatory statements and dismissing his chances of winning the nomination. Pompeo initially supported Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida in the Republican primary, but switched after it became clear Trump would be the nominee. Pompeo is also close to Vice President-elect Mike Pence, who is heading the transition effort. In 1986, Sessions who, if confirmed, would be charged with safeguarding civil rights in the United States was blocked from becoming a federal judge by the Senates Republican-controlled Judiciary Committee because of previous racially charged comments and actions. In testimony before the committee, former colleagues said Sessions had referred to the NAACP, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and other civil rights groups as un-American and Communist-inspired. An African-American federal prosecutor, Thomas H. Figures, said at the time that Sessions had referred to him as boy, and testified that Sessions had said the Ku Klux Klan was fine until I found out they smoked pot, a remark Sessions later dismissed as a joke. Aides to Trump dismissed the past statements, and described Sessions as a champion of civil rights, citing as evidence a number of desegregation lawsuits he filed while serving as a U.S. attorney in Alabama, his votes to extend the Voting Rights Act and to confirm Eric Holder as the first African-American attorney general, and his efforts to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Rosa Parks. Sen. Sessions is someone whos universally respected across party lines in the United States Senate, said Jason Miller, a spokesman for Trumps transition team, calling him very well qualified for this position. Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., said in a Twitter post that Sessions was well liked and well regarded, even by those who dont always agree with him. He added, I look forward to supporting his nomination. Other Republican senators and conservative groups likewise rallied behind Sessions, while Democrats have pledged to keep an open mind on confirming him. But, in a reflection of the tough questions he is likely to face in his confirmation hearing, civil rights groups and their champions in Congress condemned the choice. Given some of his past statements and his staunch opposition to immigration reform, said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the new Senate minority leader, I am very concerned about what he would do with the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice, and want to hear what he has to say. Trumps selection of Flynn, which does not require Senate confirmation, was similarly cheered by conservative organizations and met with alarm by Democrats. He has called Islam a political ideology that has metastasized into a malignant cancer. After building a reputation as a respected military officer, he was fired by Obama after he had served two years as chief of the Defense Intelligence Agency. Flynn has since been a vociferous critic of a Washington elite he contends has refused to name radical Islam as the enemy, and is therefore doomed to fall short in defeating it. His statements about Muslims are profoundly un-American as well as damaging to the fight against terrorism and national security, said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a member of the Intelligence Committee. He has indicated an openness to torture and the destruction of an entire city, both of which are clearly illegal, not to mention immoral and destructive to Americas global leadership. Wyden said that the president-elect, who last week chose Stephen K. Bannon, who has promoted hard-right nationalism as the chairman of Breitbart News, appeared to be building a White House leadership that embodies the most divisive rhetoric of his campaign. Pompeo, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and Harvard Law School, was elected to Congress in 2010 with substantial financial backing from a political action committee funded by Koch Industries, based in Wichita, Kansas. He has criticized Obamas decisions to shut down the CIAs black-site prisons and to require all interrogators to strictly adhere to anti-torture laws. In 2014, he accused Obama of refusing to take the war on radical Islamic terrorism seriously. After the House Select Committee on Benghazi found no new evidence of wrongdoing by the Obama administration or Clinton, who was the secretary of state at the time of the attack, Pompeo and another Republican member of the committee, U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, said they were convinced there had been a cover-up, and they filed a 48-page addendum that included far harsher criticism of the administration and of Clinton. Other Republicans, including the committees chairman, declined to add their names to the document. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., called Pompeo very bright and hardworking. While we have had our share of strong differences principally on the politicization of the tragedy in Benghazi I know that he is someone who is willing to listen and engage, both key qualities in a CIA director, Schiff said. ________ Mark Mazzetti, Michael S. Schmidt and Charlie Savage contributed reporting. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Does President-elect Donald Trump really need someone to amplify his voice? For better or worse, thats how Brad Parscale has defined himself. Im his megaphone, Parscale told me this week from Trump Tower in New York. In some ways, its a suitable metaphor for the San Antonio ad executive who rose to prominence as Trumps digital director. Using a database called Project Alamo, Parscales local operation targeted 14.4 million persuadable voters in key swing states leading up to the election, according to an article by San Antonio Express-News Staff Writer Bill Lambrecht. A more apt description of Parscale, though, might be Trumps whisperer. According to an Oct. 27 article in BloombergBusinessweek, Trumps team in San Antonio worked to discourage idealistic white liberals, young women, and African Americans from voting for Hillary Clinton, in part by delivering negative ads through Facebook dark posts nonpublic posts whose recipients the campaign controlled. For instance, the campaign sent certain black voters an animated ad of Clinton calling African Americans super predators, using audio from her original 1996 sound bite, according to the article. Only the people we want to see it, see it, Parscale told Bloomberg. Stagnant turnout by Democrats suggests the whispering might have worked. Overall, Democrats simply did not turn out to vote as they did for President Barack Obama. About 12 percent of the electorate this year was African American a drop from four years ago, when 13 percent was black. Democratic pollster Cornell Belcher reported that 8 percent of African American voters under 30 chose a third-party candidate: protest votes that doomed Clinton, he said. In the Bloomberg article, an anonymous source on Trumps team went so far as to call the campaigns efforts voter suppression operations. This week, Parscale refuted that characterization. This campaign did not take part in any kind of suppression, he told me. I dont know who said that, but we didnt take part in it. We dont target races, he added. Thats not something we did. You cant buy it like that. In fact, Facebook does offer what it calls ethnic affinity marketing, giving advertisers the option to exclude specific groups by race. More likely, Parscale delivered negative ads to voters it identified as unreliable Democrats, not quite the legal definition of suppression. (Actual voter-suppression initiatives such as photo-ID requirements and limits on early voting likely did dampen Democratic turnout in battleground states such as Wisconsin, Ohio and North Carolina.) Parscale declined to comment on whether data showed the dark ads drove down turnout. The Trinity University alum preferred to focus on the Trump campaigns positive messaging. The fact is we turned out the right people and we created the excitement and we keyed that in to the right individuals who wanted change, he said. The campaign came down to positive change. Change, trade and urban renewal. Parscale also touted his role in producing a two-minute ad described as Trumps closing argument. It was my idea, concept, producing, said Parscale, adding he wanted viewers to feel the movement. Some felt the ad was anti-Semitic, as it featured Trump decrying global special interests over footage of Clinton, George Soros, Janet Yellen and Lloyd Blankfein all Jewish, except Clinton. Many others, according to Parscale, were inspired. I had lots of people calling me and walking into my office, he said, saying that video really helped them understand why they wanted to vote for Donald Trump. bchasnoff@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Residents of a neighborhood in Schertz are threatening to sue local developer Chris Price, who they say has hoarded control of their homeowners association, hiked their annual fees and used the proceeds to build another master-planned community. In the past two years, annual homeowners fees have almost doubled, to $540 from $275, at Sedona, a modest neighborhood of 169 homes thats mostly quiet except for the occasional roar of a jet from nearby Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. Residents dont see where the money has gone their drainage ditches are inadequate, causing streets and backyards to flood during storms, they say. A small park is poorly maintained, with rocks tumbling off a water fountain that hasnt worked for years. The residents, many of whom are elderly or ex-military, say the higher fees have hurt their property values and caused them to cut back on groceries and visits to their grandchildren. Im having to actually take money every paycheck to make sure I have money to pay my HOA, which is not what I expected to do, said Patty Cullum, who has lived in Sedona since it opened in 2009. I dont understand why thats happening. Show me why I have to pay all this. Price, a 30-year veteran of the real estate industry who has developed master-planned communities in Austin and El Paso, said in an emailed statement that his company recently hired a new management company for the homeowners association and has asked it to be more transparent with residents. We are committed to creating a harmonious master-planned community that is inclusive of our neighbors, Price said in the statement. We have worked together with Sedona for many years to integrate their established community with a vision for a larger, connected neighborhood. Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, a nonprofit that offers legal services to homeowners, has accused Price and his partners of breaking state HOA laws. The nonprofit sent a letter to Prices attorney this week offering to open negotiations for a settlement, according to Legal Aid attorney Molly Rogers. The residents want control of the HOA, a reduction in their fees, a limit on future increases and the return of some of their previous payments. If the negotiations fail, Legal Aid plans to help the residents take Price to court. Rogers said a negotiated settlement would be best for everyone, and shes hopeful one can be reached. There are certainly questions that (residents) have that are valid that need to be answered. I hope the association can provide those answers, she said. If not, were going to use all the tools available to help these homeowners. The spiraling HOA fees seem to have sprung from Sedonas incorporation into The Crossvine, a 504-acre master-planned community that Prices partnership, Schertz 1518 Ltd., is building around the neighborhood. Development of Sedona began in 2006, and Price took over around 2011. The Crossvine has larger homes and more ornate landscaping than Sedona. Homes in Sedona were assessed this year in the high $100,000s and low $200,000s, while The Crossvines are priced from around $230,000 to $374,000, according to its website. Price and his partners saw an opportunity to reinvent Sedona as a high-end master-planned community after it failed during the recession, according to the website of Prices real estate company, Price Cos. They have taken the name Sedona off the entrance and replaced it with The Crossvine. But Sedona residents say they never signed up to live in an upscale community with high HOA fees. Residents of Sedona and The Crossvine each pay around $540 a year in fees, Rogers said. Sedona residents say its unfair for them to pay the same amount when The Crossvine has better amenities and their homes differ so much in value. They have little street lamps everywhere. We dont, said Brooke Davis, who moved to Sedona last year. They built a nice mail center with covered boxes. We cant even get our grass cut. The last new home in Sedona was sold in 2013, but Price and his associates still control the HOA board. Residents say Price has maintained control by not publicizing the board meetings and holding them in hard-to-find places. In his statement, Price said all HOA meetings have been held legally and that Sedona residents have always been present. A Sedona resident recently joined the board, occupying one of three seats, according to Prices statement. He said only one Sedona resident applied for two open seats after he notified residents of the election through emails and letters. The residents say otherwise; nobody ever remembers getting that, Cullum said. Earlier this year, Sedona residents submitted an open records request to get financial documents from the HOA. One of them was a contract that Price signed on behalf of both the Sedona and The Crossvine HOAs requiring Sedona residents to pay $35,000 a year to use amenities in The Crossvine. The documents also show that the HOA attributed the fee hikes to a doubling of landscaping costs for Sedona, Rogers said. Residents say they have trouble believing that their landscaping costs could have doubled, considering the condition of their neighborhood. Every time it rains our whole yard is flooded, and were losing part of our backyard, resident Chad Schneider said. Price was also involved in the construction of the Central Park and Triangle mixed-use developments just north of Austins downtown, according to the Price Cos. website. He also helped develop the 4,500-acre Paseo del Este master-planned community in El Paso. Price said in his statement that his goal is to bring about a positive resolution to this issue, so that we can all move forward in our effort to building a welcoming and open environment. But Sedona residents say they consider it unlikely that Legal Aid will be able to negotiate a settlement with Price and his partners. I hope so, but Im going to be honest I dont think so, Cullum said. If he was (willing to negotiate), why couldnt he have done it by today? Why has he waited so long? rwebner@express-news.net @rwebner Brexit may open the door for British farmers to grow genetically modified crops, according to plans being drawn up by ministers. Agriculture minister George Eustice said in a written parliamentary 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. Only one type of genetically modified crop has ever been grown commercially in Europe due to concerns amongst EU member states. A variety of maize, MON 810, was genetically modified to be more resistant to pests. Paul Temple, a mixed farmer, said that 'the benefits are there to be seen' Political opposition to the technology among other member states in Europe resulted in only one GM product being licensed since 1998. Paul Temple, a mixed farmer, said that 'the benefits are there to be seen.' He went on to say that 'science is fundamental to future production' and that 'it will be required when you see the kind of pressure on demand that is constantly building.' "The UK leaving Europe means we are open for business," Mr Temple said, "the benefits of GM crops are there to be seen, 90% of the world's soya is GM, the majority of the maize crop is GM, there's GM cotton grown - all showing significant benefits, and farmers have a free choice. Farmers would not choose to grow these unless they saw benefits. A US economist said the adoption of GM traits across the world is the nearest thing the world has had to a free meals." 'No risk' Controversies about GM technology remain 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, with even the likes of Pope Francis criticising 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?" Fifteen senior medics have written to the UK government calling for urgent action to tackle the 'routine misuse' of antibiotics in farming. Signatories to the letter, which was published today in The Telegraph to coincide with World Antibiotic Awareness Week, include the President of the Royal Society of Medicine - Babulal Sethia, the President of the British Medical Association - Professor Pali Hungin, and the Presidents of ten Royal Colleges and Societies. Coordinated by the Alliance to Save our Antibiotics and Medact, the letter states: We urge the government to immediately introduce a UK-wide ban on the routine preventative mass medication of animals, and to urgently curb farm use of the critically important antibiotics. 'Clear need for domestic policies which ensure that antibiotics are used judiciously in human and animal medicine' Use of antibiotics in intensively farmed livestock, particularly of pigs and poultry, accounts for nearly 90% of all farm antibiotic use in the UK. It remains legal in the EU to routinely administer antibiotics to whole groups of livestock before any disease has been diagnosed within the group. Professor Maureen Baker, Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said: GPs and our teams are doing an excellent job of reducing prescriptions for antibiotics, with the latest NHS figures showing a 2.6m decrease in UK general practice last year. But its not just the healthcare sector that has responsibility for curbing resistance to antibiotics; the agriculture sector must also play its part. If antibiotics continue to be given to livestock when they are not needed it will put patients at risk all over the world. We support the recommendations outlined in this letter and would urge the Secretaries of State to take them into serious consideration. 'There is a real risk that, if we do nothing, modern medicine as we know it will be undermined,' said Leadsom Banning of routine antibiotic use in farming In March 2016, the European Parliament voted for an EU-wide ban to all routine antibiotic use in farming. Forthcoming negotiations between the Council of Ministers, the European Parliament and the European Commission will consider this proposal. Letter signatories urge the UK government to take a strong stand in these discussions, and to ensure that, post-Brexit, such measures are enshrined in UK law. Professor Jane Dacre, President of the Royal College of Physicians said: In the light of the UKs forthcoming exit from the EU, there is a clear need for unambiguous domestic policies which ensure that antibiotics are used judiciously in human and animal medicine. The use of important antibiotics to routinely mass medicate groups of livestock does not constitute judicious use, and should have no place in any antibiotic-reduction strategy for the UK. MPs have also recently spoken out on this issue. Following the revelations in September of multi-drug resistant E.coli on supermarket meat, 57 MPs from across the political parties have signed an Early Day Motion calling on supermarkets to ban the routine preventative use of antibiotics in their supply chains. However, only Waitrose has so far clarified that it prohibits such practices. Professor John Middleton, President of the Faculty of Public Health concluded: The evidence linking the overuse of antibiotics in farming and resistance in human bacterial infections is extremely compelling. It is clear that more needs to be done to limit veterinary prescribing. The government must now listen to, and act on, the concerns of the medical community - and place public health at the heart of considerations around the future UK farm antibiotic-use policy. 'Modern medicine as we know it will be undermined' Andrea Leadsom, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, said: "There is a real risk that, if we do nothing, modern medicine as we know it will be undermined." "The UK will work closely with different individual sectors to ensure that appropriate sector specific reduction targets are agreed by 2017 so that future reductions are greatest where there is most scope. Encouraging best practice and responsible use of antibiotics, which safeguard animal health and welfare, is a must," the government report said. Earlier this year, Dairy UK launched a package of new measures for the dairy industry as part of its ongoing commitment to the prudent use of antibiotics. The aim is to deliver "safe and wholesome" dairy products to consumers across the UK, according to the trade association. The UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has also pledged to help countries develop strategies for tackling the spread of antimicrobial resistance in their food supply chains. The misuse of drugs, associated with the emergence and spread of antimicrobial-resistant micro-organisms, places everyone at great risk, the FAO has said. And British pig producers are making progress in the sector's commitment to record and control the use of antibiotics in the industry, data shows. In less than two months, antibiotic data for over 1.2m pigs has already been contributed by pig producers to the British pig industry's new on-line medicine book. "The levy-funded on-line electronic medicine book is the most important strand of the Stewardship Programme," said Dr Georgina Crayford, who leads the National Pig Association's recently-launched Pig Industry Antibiotic Stewardship Programme. The pork industry is urging producers to send in their 2015 on-farm antibiotic usage data, 'in any shape or form', before the end of the year, to help the industry set realistic reduction targets this spring. This comes as news of antibiotics sales for use in livestock reported to be at a four-year low, putting the UK on track to meet ambitious targets to tackle antibiotic resistance, according to a government report. Martin Smith AHDB Pork veterinary team manager said: These reduction targets, which will run for 10 years from 2018, will add to mounting Government pressure on producers. The industry will be setting these targets in less than six months and they could have a big impact on production. At the moment, were in the dark about usage as we only know total antibiotic sales data for pigs and poultry combined. This obviously doesnt give us an accurate picture of pig-specific use and thats why we need the help of each and every pig farmer. Its vital that producers help us to help themselves and they can do this by sending in their data so it can be used to benchmark and help set informed, realistic and achievable targets. I cant stress enough how important it is that we pull together and take a united approach. Mr Smith said AHDB Pork had developed the eMB-Pigs website to enable producers to provide aggregated and anonymous records of on-farm antibiotic usage. To date, uptake from producers has been good but we really need to get at least 70% of total pig production figures. Thats why were happy that producers send us their data and well upload it anonymously to the system. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visits troops at Fort Bragg The commander of Fort Bragg and the 18th Airborne Corps said, "Welcome Home," to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin when he arrived on post Tuesday. Adam Driver trained as a bus driver for his 'Paterson' film role. Adam Driver The 32-year-old actor - who recently admitted he hates watching himself act on the big screen - has starred in numerous acclaimed movies, including playing main villain Kylo Ren in sci-fi blockbuster 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'. But before he stepped on set to shoot scenes for his latest role - playing a 32-year-old bus driver and amateur poet in new film 'Paterson' - Driver made the decision to take bus driving lessons to help him convey the role as accurately as possible. In an interview with The Daily Telegraph newspaper, he said: "I took a three-month course in New York, which is complicated, to parallel park, you know ... In Queen's the bus driver got very angry. He's like, 'There are stupid kids, they're stupid because they're ignorant, they haven't developed yet." Speaking about why he decided to have bus driving lessons, Driver explained: "I decided to do it, on my own. It seemed like his (Paterson's) physical life was very important. He has this very well-worn groove of a daily routine, so I didn't want to be thinking about what button or handle to be using to drive a bus." Driver's character lives his life by strict routine that follows the same pattern every day - which includes walking his dog to a bar for one beer every night - until a disaster threatens to wreck his happy life with his wife. Driver will appear in two more 'Star Wars' sequels and his career is going from strength-to-strength but no matter how successful he becomes he is adamant he won't let being a movie star change him. He said: "Nothing's going to change me, just because of working on a big movie. Nothing says, 'OK now you have to be a different person.' " Driver's next project is depicting one of two Portuguese Jesuit priests in Martin Scorsese's 'Silence', a role which required him to lose 30 lbs. Matthew McConaughey is set to star in 'White Boy Rick'. Matthew McConaughey The Oscar-winning actor is in negotiations to join the indie drama, which tells the true story of teenager Richard Wershe Jr, who ran a hugely successful drug empire in Detroit in the 1980s, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Matthew is in talks to play Wershe's father in the Yann Demange directed movie. Meanwhile, Matthew recently received the Caldwell Vineyards Maverick Actor Tribute Award at the Napa Valley Film Festival. The award is given to those with outstanding acting and cinematic storytelling contributions within the film industry, and was presented to Matthew after a glittering 20-year career which has seen him win countless awards including an Oscar for his role in 'Dallas Buyers Club'. Speaking previously about the award, the festival's co-founder Marc Lhormer said: "Vintner John Caldwell is the original Napa Valley maverick winemaker, and Matthew McConaughey is the epitome of a maverick when it comes to his work in the film industry. "Matthew boldly inhabits each character that he plays on screen, and we are just delighted to showcase his latest film and to honour him at the festival this year." The festival also hosted a private screening of Matthew's newest project 'Gold', which was open only to members of the festival's Patron Circle and Vintner Circle. The movie is based on a true story and centres around unlucky prospector (McConaughey) on a desperate search for gold in Indonesia. The Real Housewives is a franchise and series of shows that has entertained reality show lovers for over a decade now. Though we all love seeing the wives get along and have fun times together, the moments we remember most is when they're at one another's throats! With that being said, let's take a look at five of the most memorable Real Housewives feuds to hit the small screen so far! 1) Teresa Giudice versus Danielle Staub This was the feud to start ALL feuds. Teresa Giudice and Danielle Staub weren't getting along at the best of times and, when the first season of New Jersey ended with a table flip heard around the world, everybody knew they were in for a bumpy ride moving into season 2. Teresa wouldn't let her argument with Danielle stop despite the latter not really willing to engage, with scenes of T chasing Danielle through a country club forever cemented in fans' memories. Though they didn't get along at all during their time on the show, the pair are now buddied up and recently took an Instagram snap doing yoga together. They do say time heals all wounds! 2) Brandi Glanville versus Lisa Vanderpump What started out as an unlikely friendship, when Lisa Vanderpump defended rough around the edges Brandi Glanville upon her introduction on the show, turned into a bitter rivalry. Vanderpump wasn't willing to hear Brandi out once their relationship had crumbled, but Brandi wasn't going to let her go without a fight, calling her 'manipulative' and the 'ultimate chess player'. The feud continues to rumble on, as Brandi recorded a video message slamming Vanderpump and sent it in to be played at the most recent Beverly Hills reunion, despite being fired from the show. Awkward! 3) Kyle Richards versus Camille Grammer Another Beverly Hills rivalry which came a little earlier in the series was that between Kyle Richards and Camille Grammer. Though Camille was labelled the 'most hated housewife of all time' on magazine covers following the first season of RHOBH, she quickly turned viewers around and won the hearts of people watching. During their time feuding, perhaps the most memorable point came when Camille invited her 'psychic' friend over to what is now dubbed the 'dinner party from hell'. Pushing for a psychic reading, Kyle was told some things she might not have wanted to hear, such as 'your husband will never emotionally fulfil you'. Awesome car crash TV! 4) Bethenny Frankel versus Jill Zarin Another friendship turned rivalry is that between Real Housewives of New York members Bethenny Frankel and Jill Zarin. The two were so close for so long, but when Bethenny began to find huge success with her business ventures, things began to turn sour. Bethenny tried to sort things out with Jill, but Jill was unwilling to talk on a number of separate occasions. When Jill eventually wanted to talk, Bethenny decided her former bestie had run out of chances. It was hard to watch as their friendship was so special when it was alive, but in the long run, the toxic relationship is probably best left swept under the carpet. 5) Gina Liano versus Andrea Moss Making its way to Australia, the Real Housewives franchise really picked some incredible cast members for The Real Housewives of Melbourne! It looked as if the cast of the show were turning on fan favourite Gina Liano during filming, not knowing that it would backfire on them all, Andrea Moss especially. Andrea decided to quit the show after the first series, but not before Gina managed to wipe the floor with her on several occasions. That deck of cards certainly did come tumbling down! What's your favourite Real Housewives show? Let us know in the comments section below! by Daniel Falconer for www.femalefirst.co.uk find me on and follow me on SPOKANE, WASHINGTON -- (Marketwired) -- 11/18/16 -- Reg Technologies Inc. ("Reg") or (TSX VENTURE: RRE)(OTC PINK: REGRF) or ("the Company") REGI U.S., Inc. ("REGI") or (OTC PINK: RGUS) or ("the Company") The Board of Directors of Reg Technologies Inc. ("REG") is pleased to announce that all motions put forward for approval at its Special Shareholders meeting on November 18th, 2016 were passed, specifically, 1. The transaction of Reg Technologies Inc. with Regi U.S., Inc. (" REGI" ) pursuant to the provisions of Section 301(1)(b) of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and upon the terms and conditions set forth in an asset purchase agreement dated September 16th, 2016 between REG and REGI (the "Transaction Agreement") attached as Schedule "B" to the management information circular of REG dated October 12, 2016 was approved and adopted. 2. The execution and delivery by REG of the Transaction Agreement was ratified and approved. This completes the consolidation of all assets, specifically all IP, "Intellectual Property" into a single company. REGI is a US based company, trading on the OTCQB under the symbol RGUS. Paul W Chute, President of both companies, applauds this move to a more consolidated and focused organization as an important step in the resurrection of our RadMax technology. This consolidation of assets not only has significant benefits in cost saving, focus of efforts, and efficiency, but better protects our intellectual property and facilitates development and marketing arrangements with other companies. REG's asset sale to REGI is a Win-Win for all Shareholders of both companies. Regi U.S., Inc. will issue an aggregate of 50,591,350 of its restricted common shares to REG for distribution as a Dividend in Kind to all REG shareholders of record date November 18th, 2016. This distribution process should commence within three weeks and be completed by Christmas, 2016. Please see our new website radmaxtech.com for detailed information relative to this transaction and other developing news and activities. Going forward all Reg Technologies Inc. shareholders of Record Date November 18th, 2016 will have their REGI shares trading on OTCQB with the symbol RGUS. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Reg Technologies, Inc. Paul Chute, President and CEO Regi U.S., Inc. Paul W Chute, President and CEO ABOUT REG TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND REGI U.S., INC. Reg Technologies Inc. and REGI U.S., Inc. are developing for commercialization an improved axial vane type rotary engine known as the RadMax rotary technology used in the revolutionary design of lightweight and high efficiency engines, compressors and pumps. The RadMax engine has only two unique moving parts, the vanes (up to 12) and the rotor, compared to the 40 moving parts in a simple four-cylinder piston engine. This innovative design makes it possible to produce up to 24 continuous power impulses per one rotation that is vibration-free and extremely quiet. The RadMax engine also has several capabilities allowing it to operate on fuels including gasoline, natural gas, hydrogen, propane and diesel. For more information, please visit radmaxtech.com READER ADVISORY Statements in this press release regarding the business of Reg Technologies Inc. and REGI U.S, Inc. (together the "Companies'") which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties, including management's expectation on closing the second tranche of the private placement, certain of which are beyond the Companies' control. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove accurate, and actual results and developments are likely to differ, in some case materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Readers of this press release are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on a number of assumptions that may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to: the impact of competitive products and pricing, the Companies' dependence on third parties and licensing/service supply agreements, and the ability of competitors to license the same technologies as the Companies or develop or license other functionally equivalent technologies; financing requirements; changes in laws, rules and regulations applicable to the Companies and changes in how they are interpreted and enforced, delays resulting from or inability to obtain required regulatory approvals and ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, the impact of general economic conditions in Canada, and the United States, industry conditions, increased competition, the lack of availability of qualified personnel or management, fluctuations in foreign exchange, stock market volatility and market valuations of companies with respect to announced transactions. The Companies' actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements, including those described in Reg Technologies' financial statements, management discussion and analysis and material change reports filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available at www.sedar.com, and its Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov, and REGI's Form 10-KSB annual report filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits, including the amount of proceeds, that the Companies will derive therefrom. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to the Companies or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Companies do not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. 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. Contacts: Investor Relations 831-888-7797 ir@radmaxtech.com Paul W Chute 253-514-6114 pchute@radmaxtech.com 7520 N. Market St., Suite #10. Spokane, WA, 99217 NEW ORLEANS, LA--(Marketwired - November 18, 2016) - Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, the former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until January 6, 2017 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM), if they purchased the Company's securities between February 19, 2016 and October 27, 2016, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. What You May Do If you purchased shares of Exxon and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com). If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by January 6, 2017. About the Lawsuit Exxon and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. The alleged false and misleading statements and omissions include, but are not limited to, that: (i) Exxon's internal reports recognized the environmental risks caused by global warming and climate change; (ii) because of these risks, Exxon would not be able to extract its claimed existing hydrocarbon reserves and, therefore, a material portion should have been written down; and (iii) Exxon employed an inaccurate "price of carbon" -- the cost of regulations such as a carbon tax or cap-and-trade system -- in evaluating its future oil and gas prospects to materially overstate the value of its reserves. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include the Former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is a law firm focused on securities, antitrust and consumer class actions, along with merger & acquisition and breach of fiduciary litigation against publicly traded companies on behalf of shareholders. The firm has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. Contact: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Lewis Kahn Managing Partner lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com 1-877-515-1850 206 Covington St. Madisonville, LA 70447 NEW ORLEANS, LA--(Marketwired - November 18, 2016) - Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, the former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until January 9, 2017 to file lead plaintiff applications in securities class action lawsuit against The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL), if they purchased the Company's securities between October 30, 2014 and August 3, 2015, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. What You May Do If you purchased shares of Allstate and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com). If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by January 9, 2017. About the Lawsuit Allstate and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On August 3, 2015, Allstate announced disappointing second quarter 2015 financial results, reporting a third consecutive quarter of increased auto claims frequency, a 57% decline in operating income, and operating earnings per share that were $0.34 below analysts' consensus estimate. Allstate's CEO stated that the lower quarterly profit was "driven by a deterioration in auto insurance margins" and "[a]uto insurance margins decreased as higher claim frequency and severity more than offset average auto insurance price increases." On this news, the price of Allstate's stock plummeted. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include the Former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is a law firm focused on securities, antitrust and consumer class actions, along with merger & acquisition and breach of fiduciary litigation against publicly traded companies on behalf of shareholders. The firm has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. Contact: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Lewis Kahn Managing Partner lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com 1-877-515-1850 206 Covington St. Madisonville, LA 70447 The much-talked about Global Citizen Festival concert headlined by British rock band Coldplay scheduled for the evening of 19 November and which looked to be cancelled, is back on track, after the organisers have obtained the Mumbai fire department's permission. However, the Chief Fire Officer of the fire department released a statement saying that the NOC was already issued along with recommendations on fire safety. A compliance report of the same is awaited. Once the compliance report is submitted, full NOC will be issued. Earlier, highly-placed sources in the state administration said that the event organisers were denied permission by the Mumbai fire department to perform. Coldplay's show, which will see the use of pyrotechnics a staple at the band's gigs needs clearance from the Mumbai fire department, to ensure it's safe. Apart from Coldplay, rapper Jay-Z and a host of Bollywood stars, including Ranveer Singh, Katrina Kaif, are also scheduled to perform. Organisers had also reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his presence at the show. According to sources close to the PM's office in Delhi, Modi chose to stay back in the capital to attend winter session of Parliament. He acceded to address the crowd by video link, sources said. While Firstpost was unable to obtain a reaction from the NGO Global Citizen, its CEO Hugh Evans is beating down all possible doors to obtain the required permission. The Coldplay concert in Mumbai has evoked a mixture of reactions, thanks to the debate surrounding ticket prices, which are priced from Rs 5,000 , and will go up to Rs 12,000. The concert has been an ongoing story since 2015, as Ankita Maneck writes in this piece for Firstpost , when Coldplay frontman Chris Martin travelled to India along with actress Freida Pinto, on behalf of the NGO Global Citizen and the Global Poverty Project. Soon enough, it was confirmed what Martin was in India for: To set up the India chapter for the Global Citizen Festival (of which the Coldplay frontman is curator). Incidentally, Wizcraft one of the organisers of the Coldplay concert which had also organised a Make in India event in Mumbai earlier this year came under the scanner when a major fire broke out at the stage of Maharashtra Night programme. Actor Mallika Sherawat has opened up about the attack on her in her Paris home by claiming that though the incident was traumatic, it has humbled her as well. In an interview to CNN, she says that there are millions of women, children, and underprivileged people everywhere who are at the risk of criminal attacks all the time. It has really hit home there are millions of underprivileged men and women who face this terror on a daily basis. So the incident has also been very humbling, says Sherawat. She adds that nobody should face this fear of getting robbed anytime, the mental, physical and emotional torture that one goes through or the fear of looking over your shoulder all the time. Six weeks ago, Hollywood sensation Kim Kardashian was also robbed at gunpoint in the 16th arrondissement, one of the more posh localities of Paris. While Kardashian had left the city immediately, Sherawat says that she does not blame the city for the attack. It can happen anywhere. It can happen to anyone public, non-public, man, woman or child. A crime is a crime. I am not going to change the way I live because of the attack. I am not going to be cowed down by it. I am a strong woman, she says. On the contrary, Sherawat states that support has poured in from all quarters, whether it is the local police, friends, social media and even strangers. The other day an old woman came up to me. I am assuming she must have read about the attack somewhere. She just came up to me and asked me gently if I was okay. To get such kind of support from the community is really great. Sherawat and her French boyfriend Cyrilee Aluxefans were attacked by a group of intruders in her apartment building rue de la Faisanderie in the 16th arrondissement. They sprayed tear gas on both of them and then began to beat them. They tried to snatch Sherawats bag but soon backed off when the actor protested. Sherawat has suffered multiple bruises and marks and Aluxefans, a businessman, has suffered minor injuries, according to the news report by CNN. If there is any immediate casualty to Prime Minister Narendra Modis demonetisation exercise, announced on 8 November, that could possibly be for the countrys cooperative banks, which are struggling to stay afloat. Besides damaging the health of this sector, PM Modi also risks losing political goodwill if he chooses to let these institutions die as they primarily deal with people at the bottom of the pyramid. Though inefficient, cooperative banks are still critical for the last mile in rural India. This will continue for at least the next 5-10 years till larger banks/payment banks/small finance banks take firm hold in rural India. Post demonetisation, the cooperative banking sector is gasping for breath on account of a severe liquidity crisis. Soon after the demonetization announcement, cooperative banks were asked not to accept the old Rs 500, Rs 1,000 currency note deposits or exchange those notes with the new currency notes. This meant that these lenders could only deal with permissible denominations of Rs 100 and below or take deposits in new currencies that are hardly available in the system. This has effectively left many smaller cooperative banks with a few thousand rupees of funds. There is practically no business in the bank for last one week or so. It is going to be tough, said an official with one of the primary cooperative banks in Kerala, a state where cooperative banks play a crucial role in taking the banking services to the last mile. Cooperative banks are particularly important for farmers and lower income groups who want small ticket loans in less time in relation to larger banks. The banking correspondents (BCs) system hasn't worked well so far though. Banking correspondents are agents of banks who operate in areas where there are no bank branches. The BCs collect deposits and offer loan products on behalf of the banks. According to data from Nabard, there are 32 state cooperative banks, 370 district central cooperative banks as on 31 March 2015. The number of primary agricultural credit societies (PACS), the smaller ones, as on 31 March 2014, stood at 93042, as per the latest data available. Why cooperative banks were restricted? There are a couple of reasons why the government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) did not allow cooperative banks to accept or exchange old notes for the new currency. First, the checks and balances at these banks arent perceived to be strong enough to counter efforts to push black money into the banking system. Staffers, too, arent trained well. These banks arent as tightly regulated as scheduled commercial banks. Most of these banks are indirectly controlled by politicians or local businessmen. Hence, there is, of course, reason to worry to let these banks participate in such a massive exercise. But, by choking funds to cooperative banks and prolonging the crisis (it has already been more than 10 days), can inflict significant damage to the health of several cooperative banks, which are already on the verge of closure. The tiny ones are more vulnerable. Why cooperative banks should matter to us? Cooperative banks have been the trusted centres to bank for millions of farmers and middle, low-income people for long. Despite all their negative sides, these institutions are known to offer them easier loan and deposit products and hence is the favourite institution for the poor. Restricting them to conduct business, as happened post-demonetization, will have major impacts on these banks: It damages the business of cooperative banks and their financial health. The cooperative sector has largely been a failure on account of the accumulated losses, etc, but that situation is beginning to change after an overhaul initiated by the RBI and NABARD in 2010. Many inefficient corrupt banks have been shut and the remaining are good enough to continue. Consider this: State cooperative banks across the country have deposits to the tune of Rs 1,02859 crore as on 31 March 2015 as against Rs 1,04369 crore as on 31 March 2014. They have a total loan outstanding of Rs 1,14545 crore as on 31 March 2015 with an impressive loan recovery percentage almost 95 percent. On the profitability front too, the sector has done relatively well, of late. Of the total, 29 state cooperative banks posted total profit of Rs 1,105 crore during 2014-15 as against Rs 926 crore by 27 state cooperative banks during 2013-14. Their NPAs stood at 5.02 percent of their total loans and advances outstanding as on 31 March 2015 as compared to 5.53 percent as on 31 March 2014. In absolute terms, their NPAs stood at Rs 5,746 crore during 2014-15 as against Rs5699 crore during 2013-14. Also, these banks accumulated losses decreased to Rs 617 crore as on 31 March 2015 from Rs 696 crore as on 31 March 2014. Similarly, primary agriculture credit societies (PACS) too have an impressive record of deposit-lending operations, at least in recent years. Total members of PACS as on 31 March 2014 aggregated Rs 13.01 crore of which, borrowing members at Rs 4.81 crore constituted around 39 percent. On the deposit side, these banks mobilized Rs 81,895 crore as on 31 March 2014, indicating a growth rate of 34 percent over the previous year. Currently, all these banks are under stress on account of severe cash crunch and most of them are not functioning. As mentioned earlier, following restrictions, there has been hardly any business in cooperative banks across the country. Also, since there are no new funds, their lending operations and even ATM services have been it hard. Even large multi-state cooperative banks, like Mumbai-based Saraswat cooperative bank are struggling to get funds for routine transactions of normal customers. The bank sent a text message to its customers on Friday saying, Dear Customer, There is an inadequate supply of currency notes. Hence, we may not be able to allow cash withdrawals in part or full depending on the availability of cash at a particular branch. The situation is likely to improve soon. We request your kind co-operation - Saraswat Bank. Second, the whole chaos will takes away the trust of common man from cooperative banks. Customers will think twice again before depositing their hard-earned money or taking a loan against their property from a local cooperative bank. The question is: What does Narendra Modi-government want to do with these banks and how does it plan to restore normalcy in the sector? The current cash crunch in the sector will likely continue for at least a few weeks, if not months since the government is struggling to execute demonetization even within the commercial banking sector. Or is that the government just does not care about the crisis in cooperative sector triggered by its own policy action? In states like Kerala, there have been massive protests already. Besides giving a major jolt to the cooperative banking sector, the PM will also risk the wrath of millions of common people - customers, who have deposited money in these banks. As far as the crisis is concerned, the situation is precarious since most of these banks (especially PACS) are left with very few funds in acceptable denominations. Their credibility has also taken a hit since people will now be scared to park their money in future in these banks due to uncertainty.The current crisis could take the shape of a permanent impairment if cash crunch continues for a few months. It will take a long time for them to recover. LIMA Chinese President Xi Xinping pledged on Saturday to further open the world's second-largest economy, as leaders of Asia-Pacific countries gathered in Lima to find new free-trade options while the United States is expected to take a more protectionist stance.The annual APEC summit got under way in Lima just over a week after Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election, casting doubt that the largest-ever U.S.-proposed trade deal, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), will come to fruition. President Barack Obama championed the TPP as a way to counter China's rise, but his administration has now stopped trying to win congressional approval for the deal that was signed by 12 economies in the Americas and Asia-Pacific, excluding China. Without U.S. approval the agreement as currently negotiated cannot come to fruition.Trump campaigned strongly against free-trade deals, vowing to pull the United States out of the TPP and promising to impose tariffs on imports from some countries.China's Xi is selling an alternate vision for regional trade by promoting the Beijing-backed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which as it stands excludes the Americas."China will not shut its door to the outside world but open more," Xi said in a keynote address.With the TPP all-but dead following Trump's victory, China's talks on RCEP are seen as the only viable path toward the broader a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) that APEC aspires to. "We are going to involve ourselves in economic globalization and we back FTAAP," XI said. "We're going to ... make sure the fruits of development are shared."The administration of President Barack Obama has warned that the RCEP would not include protections for workers, the environment or intellectual property.Despite China's overtures, some APEC members are determined to press on with TPP.Peru and Japan signed a joint statement pledging to work harder to put into force the 12-nation accord. Mexico, Japan, Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore, however, aim to continue with TPP with or without the United States, Mexico's Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said on Friday.The 21 members of APEC have also finished a study for a regional free-trade area that was designed to examine lessons learned from TPP and RCEP talks, but they will not discuss it until the next annual summit in Vietnam.Though most were careful not to criticize Trump directly, leaders at APEC, which ends on Sunday, universally warned of the dangers of turning away from globalization and free trade. Asked about the dangers of protectionism, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said, "It is the way to poverty." "We know - we have seen this film before," he told journalists on Friday. "The world did this in the 1930s after the Great Depression and in fact made it much worse."Trump has called the TPP a job-killing "disaster" and a "rape of our country." (Reporting by Rosalba O'Brien, Mitra Taj and Caroline Stauffer; and Leslie Adler) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Nate Raymond | NEW YORK NEW YORK A former JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) executive who spent eight years on the run in Argentina pleaded guilty on Friday to U.S. charges that he embezzled $5.4 million from clients at the bank and at a prior employer, UBS AG.Hernan Arbizu, who became involved in a tax-evasion probe involving JPMorgan, pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court to charges including wire fraud and embezzlement. He was extradited in June from Argentina."I knew what I was doing was wrong," he said in court. "I'm very sorry and am ashamed by my actions."The 48-year-old citizen of Argentina faces a mandatory-minimum two-year prison sentence and a maximum of 422 years. But under a plea agreement, Arbizu agreed to cooperate with prosecutors, which his lawyer, Guy Lewis, said could help him avoid further prison. What that cooperation entails, Lewis said, "remains to be seen." JPMorgan declined to comment on Friday.Arbizu was first indicted in 2008, the same year he was fired by JPMorgan, where he was a vice president in its private banking division. He worked at UBS from 2002 to 2006.While at JPMorgan, Arbizu oversaw more than $200 million of client assets and was responsible for managing relationships with high-net-worth Argentine customers, according to the bank. Prosecutors said that from March 2007 to April 2008, Arbizu initiated 12 wire transfers from clients at UBS and JPMorgan totalling nearly $5.38 million, about half of which came from a single JPMorgan account.In lawsuits JPMorgan filed against Arbizu in 2008 and 2009, the bank said he wired the $2.8 million to an account at UBS to conceal the millions of dollars that he had previously stolen from one of its customers. JPMorgan said that after it discovered evidence of the wire transfers, Arbizu, then living in Connecticut, fled to Argentina, taking with him confidential data on clients.That data later became the basis of a tax evasion investigation and raid by Argentina authorities of JPMorgan's office in Buenos Aires in 2008 after Arbizu handed over a list of customers. No case against JPMorgan appears to have resulted.The case is U.S. v. Arbizu, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 08-cr-615. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by Steve Orlofsky) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Rosalba O'Brien and Mitra Taj | LIMA LIMA Leaders of Pacific rim nations scrambled to find new free trade options on Friday as a looming Donald Trump presidency in the United States sounded a possible death knell for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).After lower-level meetings, U.S. President Barack Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin were due to arrive at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit that brings together leaders whose economies represent 57 percent of global gross domestic product. While campaigning for the presidential election which he won, Trump labeled the TPP a job-killing "disaster" and called for curbs on immigration and steeper tariffs on products from China and Mexico.Though Obama championed the TPP as a way to counter China's rise, his administration has now stopped trying to win congressional approval for the deal that was signed by 12 economies in the Americas and Asia-Pacific, but excluded China. Without U.S. approval the agreement as currently negotiated cannot come to fruition.China's Xi is selling an alternate vision for regional trade by promoting the Beijing-backed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which as it stands excludes the Americas.The Obama administration said China would be happy to take over the United States' role as global free trade promoter."We see people around the table here right now talking about if the TPP does not move forward then they're going to have to put their eggs in the RCEP basket," U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman told journalists. Froman said that RCEP would not have labor and environmental protections that are written into TPP.Mexico, Japan, Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore, however, aim to continue with TPP with or without the United States, Mexico's Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said."We determined that our countries will press ahead with this agreement independently of what Washington decides," Guajardo said of the trade deal on Mexican radio. DIFFICULT TO EXCLUDE U.S. Alan Bollard, the APEC secretariat's executive director, said it was premature to write the TPP off, and that excluding the United States could prove difficult."Actually there were concessions given to the U.S. in those negotiations that they may not want to sign up to without the U.S. in it," he said in an interview. "Without the U.S., it does change the economics of the whole thing quite a bit." The 21 members of the (APEC) summit have finished a study for a regional free trade area but will not discuss it until the next annual summit in Vietnam, Peruvian Trade Minister Eduardo Ferreyros said. Both the TPP and RCEP were seen as pathways toward an APEC-wide agreement.Though most were careful not to criticize Trump directly, leaders at APEC, which ends on Sunday, universally warned of the dangers of turning away from globalization and free trade."To anyone who wants to propose protectionism I suggest that you read the history books about the 1930s," Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said.Sun Xiao from China's Chamber of International Commerce blamed unequal distribution of free trade's benefits for rising protectionism, and suggested it would be different under Chinese leadership."If there was a bigger role for China we would promote the principle of joint participation and shared benefits to ensure free trade arrangements can benefit all," he said. (Reporting by Rosalba O'Brien, Teresa Cespedes, Caroline Stauffer, Ursula Scollo and Mitra Taj in Lima, Additional reporting by Natalie Schachar in Mexico City; Writing by Caroline Stauffer and Rosalba O'Brien; Editing by Alistair Bell and Mary Milliken) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Patrick Rucker | WASHINGTON WASHINGTON A leading U.S. bank regulator on Friday reversed course and positioned the agency to claw back pay of former executives at Wells Fargo & Co after a phony-accounts scandal.The lender must also now seek prior approval before naming new bank leadership, said the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the main regulator for federal banks. Friday's move may target executive pay at Wells Fargo at a time when some lawmakers complain bank bosses have not paid a fair price for their part in financial scandals.Wells Fargo in September agreed to pay $190 million to settle charges that bank employees opened as many as 2 million accounts without customers' knowledge.The fraud went on for at least five years, said the San Francisco-based bank that fired 5,300 employees involved. Congressional hearings followed news of the scandal and John Stumpf, the firm's chief executive officer, resigned.Meanwhile, the September settlement with Wells Fargo remained relatively lax.The OCC exempted Wells Fargo from some controls on "golden parachutes" in that agreement. The move Friday evening voids those earlier allowances and puts Wells Fargo under toughened standards for oversight, the OCC said."The OCC informed the Bank today that it has revoked... relief from specific requirements and limitations regarding rules, policies, and procedures for corporate activities," the agency said in a Friday evening statement.A Wells Fargo official said on Friday that the bank is on track to restore its reputation and business."This will not inhibit our ability to execute our strategy, rebuild trust and serve our customers," said spokeswoman Jennifer Dunn. Stumpf and Carrie Tolstedt, former head of retail banking, did relinquish about $60 million in stock, in the wake of the scandal, according to a Reuters review of securities filings.But the pair also stood to take home more than $350 million in compensation, according to filings.NEW TERMS Friday's move is an about-face for the OCC which had settled the Wells Fargo matter without imposing the toughest controls on executive payouts. Wells Fargo "is not subject to the limitation on golden parachute and indemnification payment," according to the September settlement.That allowance on executive pay appears in an eight-page stipulation that also exempts the bank from "requiring OCC approval of a change in directors and senior executive officers."If the OCC has asserted its right to screen Wells Fargo executives it could have asked that incoming executives satisfy tests of "experience, character or integrity," according to banking rules.Regulators gained the right to freeze executive payouts at troubled banks after the savings and loan crisis of the 1980s and 1990s but exemptions are common.The OCC has granted an exemption on "golden parachute" standards roughly half the times it issued cease-and-desist orders this year, according to a Reuters tally. ANSWERS LAWMAKERS In Congress, lawmakers on Friday urged Wells Fargo to come clean about the scope of the phony-accounts scandal.Democrats on the Senate Banking Committee had asked Wells Fargo to share emails, memos and meeting minutes from the bank's inner workings but the firm largely declined.On Friday, those lawmakers published Wells Fargo's response to dozens of questions about the scandal which the bank said it was still investigating.Sherrod Brown of Ohio said he was not satisfied by the reply from Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo did tell lawmakers that in 2012 there was an internal probe over problematic sales practices included examining whether accounts were "a poor fit for the customer."The settlement covered only accounts that may have been opened without customer authorization. It did not address accounts that were authorized but might have been a poor fit."It seems unlikely that Wells Fargo can restore the trust of its customers if it continues to ignore or dodge basic questions about the causes and consequences of the fraud that it permitted for years," Brown said in the statement. (Reporting by Patrick Rucker; Additional reporting by Dan Freed in New York; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Maya Palit The past 10 days have been fraught with harrowing stories about people across the country struggling with the aftermath of demonetisation. A recent essay by the former Chairman of the National Statistical Commission Pronab Sen even speculated that the overnight action might well have destroyed the informal sector permanently while also having a hugely adverse impact on chit funds and other non-banking lending institutions. It is now a familiar story. But add to this the chaos of an economic blockade and you have the nightmare that Manipuri citizens are living through at the moment. The United Naga Council (UNC) had organised a 48-hour strike a total shutdown in Naga territories in Manipur from 30 October midnight to protest the Manipur governments proposition to create two new districts, Sadar Hills and Jiribam, in regions that include Naga ancestral land. This is a decision that apparently goes against the four MOUs, signed between 1981 and 1998, which were agreed upon by the Naga organisations and the Manipur government. An article in the Morung Express argues that the Manipur governments inconsistent stance as regards the Naga and Kuki communities might be largely responsible for the extremity of the current situation. The 48-hour strike immediately transitioned into an indefinite economic blockade imposed on Manipurs two national highways on 1 November. Two weeks later, there are no signs of it being lifted and citizens are understandably despondent. The horror of the situation can be gauged by Imphal resident Raees Ahmed being quoted in The Citizen today: We are going to die like this, he laments, having forked out Rs 700 for two litres of petrol for his vehicle. Reports from last week said there was no more diesel, kerosene or LPG cylinders available in Manipur. Frustratingly, some 150 oil tankers are stranded in Assam and 1,800 trucks with food supplies being unable to pass beyond the Manipur border, although fuel tankers carrying fuel and consumer items, including food stuff, were escorted into the State by police commandos on 16 November. Unsurprisingly, the black market has gone into overdrive. Though several petrol pumps remained closed early into the blockade, petrol was already going for Rs 250 a litre in Imphal and higher than that in surrounding districts. The blockade has hit schoolchildren. Exams are round the corner and school vans have suspended services because of unavailability of fuel, and two major newspapers decided on 17 November to halt publication of the 20 dailies Imphal brings out because they have run out of money. Mary Beth Sanate, a human rights activist based in Churachandpur, a district in southwestern Manipur, says that the high cost of petrol and diesel has created immense problems for women vendors. Autorickshaws have doubled their fares. The prices of onions, potatoes, garlic and fruits that come from outside the state have spiralled, so even if the women were able to avail themselves of transport and sell their produce, they would find themselves with an unviable profit margin. Sanate adds that the already grim situation has been exacerbated by demonetisation. A significant number of women in the districts make a living by selling eatables imported from Burma or cooked meals door-to-door. Some women sell the clothes they weave. For half a month now, they either havent got their stocks or havent been able to make it to the state capital. Their incomes have stopped. Demonetisation is making things worse each day, and its been the hardest on single mothers. School examinations are approaching and all tuition fees are due this month. One of my neighbours, a widow, waited at the bank for three days and couldnt withdraw money for her childs fees, she says. Playwright and theatre director Swar Thounajam agrees that the worst affected groups are women vendors. She points out that those from outside Imphal usually travel to the city early morning when trading begins around 4.30 am. They catch the line buses to reach the Khwairamband bazar,the iconic womens only market in Imphal. Naturally, with the national highway being blocked, this system has been completely disrupted. Post-demonetisation, women who run kiosks and shops dont have to return to customers and hence are forced to shut their establishments. Instead of selling their ware to keep home fires burning, they now find themselves standing in queues before banks as early as 4 am for precious cash, says Thounajam Women, who were part of a marup (an informal lending system popular in the Meitei community where 15 to 30 women come together, borrow money and pay back Rs 5,000 or Rs 10,000 a month), are in even worse trouble, with no legal tender available, she adds. And then there are women rendered effectively unemployed by demonetisation those who sell cinema tickets in black in Imphal, for instance. Desperate with their precious income cut off overnight, they are apparently taking up work as stand-ins in the ubiquitous, snaking cash queues at banks in return for a small commission. Meanwhile, citizens in Manipur, furious with the United Naga Council, have initiated a counter-blockade. Last week, a large number of women were allegedly amongst the protestors intercepting cars on the Imphal-Ukhrul road and other parts of the state, gunning for the UNC, which they accuse of destabilising life in the state. A woman, who lives in a part of Ukhrul with a high Naga population, says it was in full force in her area: The counter-blockade by the valley people is even worse than the economic blockade. They are attacking Naga people, seizing their bags and their belongings. Needless to say, this ruthless backlash against the Naga peoples and the sudden demonetisation could well be the last straw for Manipurs citizens, already burdened by the cessation of transport, loss of daily wages, price increase of vegetables and essential commodities, and the scarcity of stocks for reselling. Now that the Centres attempts at intervention in the UNC-Manipur government conflict have not headed anywhere, there seems to be no end to their misery. The Ladies Finger (TLF) is a leading online womens magazine delivering fresh and witty perspectives on politics, culture, health, sex, work and everything in between. I don't care about Arvind Kejriwal and it doesn't matter for me at all even if he is a "chief minister" as a politician. A veteran (former) academician who watched his theatrics since the days of the ill-fated India Against Corruption told me that the Aam Aadmi Party was "the most dangerous infection on India's body politic and society". Think about it: his first stint as Delhis chief minister was remarkable for setting the ignoble record of a sitting chief minister taking to the streets like an irresponsible anarchist, his aide-de-camp Somnath Bhartis infamous "midnight urine test", and in general, doing everything but discharging his constitutional duty of governance. Small wonder then that he decamped in haste, earning widespread public ire as a "bhagoda". And as we see, even in his second innings, hes back on the street. It takes hard work, patience, and calmness, and an ability to deal with, sustain and digest monotony, to govern. The easy route is what Kejriwal is familiar with: constitutional nihilism (for example, his notorious confrontation with Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung which could have been avoided), campaigns targeting the Prime Minister, maintaining radio silence on the record number of AAP MLAs being arrested and disqualified and the "internal inquiries" that have unfailingly absolved even the most criminal of his partys elements. Indeed, when you get a nihilist as a chief minister, your state plunges into smog-encompassed chaos. The October cover story of Open magazine, dedicated to the unravelling of Kejriwal exposes how he has almost turned Delhi into a surveillance state. The story also claims that AAP made possible a near impossibility in traditional Indian politics: it drastically lowered old entry barriers to parliamentary politics that had been raised over the decades by parties that tended to handpick poll contestants either from prominent families or party cadres". But the route that AAP took to lower "old entry barriers" to politics was marked at every step by cynicism and flagrancy: it continues to regard itself above the Constitution. No wonder that it continues to attract disgruntled elements from across the spectrum comprising of existing political parties, wheeler-dealers, journalists, and NGO do-gooders. Indeed, its reasonable to say that Kejriwals style of operation resembles that of the head of an NGO-in-perpetual-protest. This style of operation initially helped him score spectacularly but this is a gift that stops giving sooner than later as he mustve learnt (or has he?) when he launched his tirade against PM Modis demonetisation. This latest version of anti-Modi stance truly marks the moment "when life came to a full circle for Kejriwal": the doughty anti-corruption crusader has now transformed himself as a champion of anti anti-corruption. And his newfound best comrade-in-arms in this endeavour is Mamata Banerjee, the "first angry respondent" against Modis demonetisation announcement. Together, they have embarked on a historic fight against the move. Indeed, with good reason, because both have much to worry about. The PMs demonetisation exercise is believed to have choked the supply of illegal money in the upcoming elections. To give only the latest instance, we can examine some of the deadly revelations (also see this Firstpost story for example) emanating from West Bengals Malda district as a great hub of fake currency and black money, which has now been rendered useless. Needless to say, this will have an impact on future elections, not just in West Bengal but across India. Indeed, its an open secret that the use of illicit money to bribe voters has almost become de rigeur in Indian politics. Former chief election commissioner, SY Qureshi reportedly said last week that political parties start mobilising money months before elections are announced. However, As elections are due in early 2017, the money must have begun to circulate already, he said. But a bribe of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, even if distributed already, will be of little use now. But Kejriwals woes run far deeper. In July this year, the Income Tax department raided the house of AAP MLA Kartar Singh Tanwar and found Rs 130 crore worth of unaccounted money. After smarting under this for a month, Kejriwal hit back with a promise that he would put an end to 'raid raj'". One could also cite the cases of AAP MLAs Amanatullah Khan (his office was raided by the anti-corruption officials with regard to a recruitment scam), MLA Gulab Singh and MLA Ritu Raj Govind. Helpfully, The Indian Express has provided a complete (and perhaps growing) list of all AAP MLAs on the wrong side of the law". Meanwhile, the fleetingly short public memory the same public which was once seduced by his only poll promise of sending all corrupt politicians to jail has helped ensure that his promise lies permanently in cold storage. The most recent instance of Kejriwal trying to pull his cleaner-than-thou act on Captain Amarinder Singh on Twitter grandly exploded on his face. But then even that doesn't seem like a cause for Kejriwals current worry. Could it be that that Kejriwal and his outfit have run out of cash? Why else would AAP pull out of the upcoming Mumbai and Chandigarh civic polls within a week of demonetisation? And even as I write this, Daily Mail has reported an explosive story captioned Black Day for Kejriwal in which, among other things, Kejriwals ex-colleague blogged about his former boss relationship with a colleague 16-years younger". However, Firstpost cannot independently verify the claims made in the blog. On the same day, UNI reported that Rajya Sabha MP Subhash Chandra has sued Kejriwal for criminal defamation. And if this was not enough, in a classic case of fools rushing in where angels fear to tread, Kejriwals foolhardy move of trying to instigate people against demonetisation (watch this video) has earned him the spontaneous public sloganeering of Kejriwal chor hai (Kejriwal is a thief). That should ideally tell him a thing or two but then he epitomises the classic proverb that says that you cannot wake up a man who pretends hes fast asleep. The author's views are personal. Mumbai is no different from other towns and cities in India when it comes to facing a severe cash crunch, with most of the banks struggling to meet people's requirement of notes. This is even as a significant number of ATMs have remained in operation since PM Narendra Modi announced the demonetisation exercise on 8 November. All ATMs of cooperative banks, including the multi-state ones have not been functioning for the last 10 days. Of the remaining ATMs run by private and government banks, only half are working, according to a senior official from the finance department. In the last 10 days, people have been spotted in long queues in front of banks from two to six hours a day. According to an Additional Chief Secretary of the Mantralaya, there are 3,900 ATMs and 2,100 of banks, including cooperative, government, private and foreign banks in Mumbai, of which 40 percent of the banks belong to multi-state cooperative scheduled banks and District Central Cooperative (DCC) banks. All scheduled bank and DCC bank ATMs have been forced to close since 8 November's demonetisation move. The remaining 60 percent of ATMs belong to private, national and foreign banks, he added, on the condition of anonymity. Firstpost has checked ATMs in Mumbai and found that those belonging to multi-state scheduled banks, including The Saraswat Co-operative Bank Ltd, Abhyudaya Co-operative Bank Ltd , TJSB Sahakari Bank Ltd, Janta Sahkari Bank Ltd, Cosmos Bank, Apna Sahkari Bank, Shamrao Vithal Cooperative Scheduled Bank, Punjab & Maharashtra Co-operative Bank, Janakalyan Sahakari Bank Ltd, Mumbai District Central Co-operative Bank Ltd, Jaoli Sahakari Bank Ltd, The Greater Bombay Co-operative Bank Ltd and many others have been closed. Talking to Firstpost, Punjab & Maharashtra Co-operative Bank's (PMC) Manager Madhavi Gholkar confirmed that all the ATMs across Mumbai have been closed due to the inadequate supply of currency notes. "We have 122 branches in Maharashtra. Andheri is old branch of PMC and more than 50,000 customers are with us. But till yesterday, hardly 20 percent of customers withdrew money as per RBI guidelines," she said. Saraswat Bank has also been sending text messages to customers saying, "There is an inadequate supply of currency notes. Hence we may not be able to allow withdrawals in part or full, depending on the availability of cash at a particular branch. The situation is likely to improve soon. We request your kind co-operation." The chairman of the Mumbai District Central Co-operative Bank Pravin Darekar told Firstpost that they have more than 20 ATMs in the city but in the last 10 days all hold insufficient amounts of money. "So we closed them to avoid facing customers' anger." Darekar also mentioned that they will file a PIL against the ban that DCC banks cannot accept old currency notes. "The DCC Banks in Maharashtra are in a bad situation when RBI decided not to accept Rs 500 and 1,000 notes after demonetisation. There are 31 districts banks with 4,500 branches all over the state. Rs 65,000 crore money was deposited and Rs 45,000 crore worth of loan money given to customers," added Darekar. "In the first three days, DCC banks received Rs 3,000 crore worth old currency notes in denominations of 500 and 1,000. So we have serious questions about this amount," he said. Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam said that they require 2300 crore worth of currency notes to fulfill the country's demand. But right now only Indian government mint can only produce 300 crore pieces of currency notes a month. This means the serious crunch of currency notes in the country will take next seven months minimum, Nirupam said. "From Sunday onwards, we will tell people that demonetisation is fraud and implemented without preparation," he claimed. The police and banks have made a large haul of fake currency in Kashmir, including that of 100 rupee notes, while security agencies maintain that separatists are "receiving hawala money" through local businessmen here. According to police officials, tracking hawala money of the separatists was difficult as they receive funds in genuine notes "through local businessmen". Moreover, they add, that the demonetisation of 500 and 1,000 rupee notes could have little effect, as not only have large captures of 100 rupee notes been made here, but police have also seized machines owned by local criminal gangs, with which they have been printing out other denomination notes as well. According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the large haul of fake currency also includes 100 rupee notes. NCRB data reveals that in 2012, 633 currency notes of Rs 1,000 denomination were recovered by the Reserve Bank Of India (RBI) and police, while the capture of 100 rupee notes was higher in volume 1842. The seizure of 500 rupee currency notes was highest at 4,713, and the total recovery of fake currency seizure was Rs 31.7 lakh during the year. On the contrary, in 2013, the total recovery of fake currency was worth Rs 35.2 lakh and the 1,000 rupee denomination was 1,598 notes, while 500, 100 and 50 currency notes were 3,544, 1,562 and 34 in number. In 2014, the currency seized amounted to Rs 20.2 lakh, of which Rs 1,000 currency notes numbered 218, 500 denomination notes at 3,423, while 100 and 50 rupee notes were 999 and 7. In 2015, as per the NCRB report, 13 cases of fake currency capture were registered by police. However, according to police officials, fake currency was largely benefitting local criminal networks in the state. According to senior police officials, it was rare that the fake currency was used by separatists, who depend on hawala and receive the money from Pakistan through their contacts and even businessmen. "Some of the businessmen have contacts from across the border and the money is supplied to separatists through transactions, which are done through business deals involving multiple countries. It is a possibility that those who are involved in the cross-local trade also get the money from Pakistan which makes it to the separatists here," a senior police official said. Inspector General of Police, Jammu Range, Danish Rana, said that the fake currency was not only "reaching" militants, but was also used by local criminal networks. "Number of times we have recovered the machines which are used by local criminal gangs to produce fake currency. The production of fake currency wrecks the economy." He, however, said that there were other "funding sources for the separatists, including the hawala money in which the currency is not usually recovered. There are many modus operandi that are used for hawala transactions. It is like betting in which we mostly recover some papers containing instructions in coded format and the mobile phones and rarely recover money. There may be businessmen involved in hawala racket who may be receiving funds from foreign countries for the separatists." According to police officials, in many cases, the banks have provided the information about the deposit of fake currency notes, which later lead to capture of a large amount of money. A senior police official said that they "were earlier intimated by a private bank about the deposits of fake money made by a group of 10 people which came from Pakistan. We made the seizure of over Rs 10 lakh and the money was surprisingly not for militants, but to run some businesses here," said the official. Superintendent of police, Sopore, Harmeet Singh, said that the there are many cases in which the fake currency notes were supplied from across the border "to be provided to the militants through local contacts". Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, North Kashmir range, Uttam Chand, said, "Hawala means and fake currency was largely funding the militancy in Kashmir." He added that the "move to demonetise the currency notes may help in the longer run as the vigil on the activities of people stashing away black money intensifies." However, officials said that even if the government has scrapped 500 and 1,000 denomination notes here, it was not difficult for "those involved in fake currency rackets to use alternate denomination notes". An 18-year-old boy walked into the clinic of clinical psychiatrist Dr Purnima Nagaraja this week. This engineering student in Hyderabad said he was tormented by the thought that he had not received his weekly pocket money of Rs 1,200 from his father. "I cannot eat a snack or drink tea. I cannot borrow more as I am yet to clear off my previous debt at the college canteen. I feel guilty because even the canteen owner does not have money,'' he told Dr Nagaraja. He could pay at the clinic because it accepted old notes or a promissory note in cases where no money was at hand. Attendance at most colleges in and around Hyderabad has fallen by about 50 percent because there is no change to pay public transport like a bus or autorickshaw. Driving your own vehicle also adds to cost as the petrol bunk will give you fuel only in big denominations, as there is no change. It may seem rather strange that in these times of cash crunch, people are actually reaching out to psychiatrists but this is seen as the first reaction to a stress caused by acute anxiety. What can a shrink possibly offer as a solution? Experts say in most cases, people are only looking to have a person to listen to their financial woes and the sense of despair arising out of that. "With the kind of rumours floating around on social media, people are feeling very anxious and in some cases, there are turning even paranoid,'' says Dr Nagaraja. "Like one, that says all lockers will now be opened in the presence of an Income Tax official. Or another that says, all phones are being tapped.'' Add to that the videos of people burning money circulating on WhatsApp; articles both praising and critiquing the decision to demonetise confuses and scares people all the more. Particularly because the management of the economy with its complicated jargon is not easy for everyone to understand. In many cases, worried families are bringing their aggrieved members to psychiatrists for crisis intervention. A father whose daughter's wedding is fixed in November came to meet Dr C Venkata Suresh, a psychiatrist at Hyderabad's Yashoda Hospital, this week. He was undergoing acute stress due to his inability to access his own money kept in the bank. This was before the government relaxed the withdrawal limit to Rs 2.5 lakh for a wedding. "I counselled him that he will get his money back, told him that this is for nation building. In this case, I had to give him a tranquiliser to calm his mind because he was very nervous,'' says Suresh. Another patient, who had applied for a US visa, got panic attacks because of the situation and was slipping into a depressed state of mind. Psychiatrists say the feeling of happiness, contentment, and well-being is controlled by a chemical called serotonin. Its levels dip when the mind is under acute stress. They warn that a prolonged spell of disruption and worry could lead to impulse control disorder, which is an urge that could harm oneself or others. Most of the other patients being referred are those who are used to handle a lot of cash daily and are feeling disoriented when the currency flow has almost dried up. These are mostly traders and shopkeepers who now keep asking "how long is this going to continue'' Experts say this is a new experience for mainland India as it is not used to an unstable economy or a situation in which rationing of some kind takes place. News is being consumed far more than usual for the latest updates. The government's decision to change the withdrawal limit thrice in the last ten days has led to doubts if it knows the roadmap well. Psychiatrists believe that the present crisis has also led to a trust deficit, with everyone suspecting the other of stashing unaccounted cash. "Everyone sees each other as a crook, with suspicion,'' says Dr Nagaraja. "The fabric of trust is slowly broken, which is not good for society in the long run.'' Experts say it is important for this crisis to get over in a week or two. Already many are resorting to obsessive hoarding of Rs 100 notes, which is a disorder arising out of frustration. Tempers are running high and the Supreme Court has already cautioned the government that there could be riots on the streets if the currency is not provided in the banks soon. It is a market that at the best of days sees flurry of business activity with no time for even a small talk with anyone. Now that rush has slowed down considerably. The vegetable market in Vashi (formerly the APMC market) is slowly picking up though losses have mounted due to demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes and traders left with no small notes to give in place of the annulled notes. Riaz Mohammad Hussain, who has been an onion and potato wholesaler and running his family business for around 50 years, is hoping that the market turns around the corner soon and the hustle and bustle returns. We have given credit to people but mostly the buyers are giving us old notes. We dont take any of these annulled notes, he says. To get a clear picture of the business, consider this: Hussain normally sells 500 bags of potatoes and onion daily which has now come down to just 50 bags daily due to the unavailability of new currency notes from banks. Onions are being sold at Rs 8 a kg in the wholesale market and are not finding buyers at the price due to lack of currency denominations that will be accepted by the dealers. The Modi government's decision, announced on 8 November, to replace Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination currency with new ones post midnight took people by surprise. The government has said the move is aimed at tackling black money, fake currencies and corruption. In his address on television, the PM said the notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 "will not be legal tender from midnight tonight" and these will be "just worthless piece of paper." The Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes constituted 86 percent of the value of the total currency in circulation. Though everyone welcomed the move, the subsequent cash drought in ATMs and bank branches, has caused panic among the public at large. Shortage of new currency notes From a daily run of 1500 trucks carrying fruits and vegetable, the number has come down to 1000 at the Vashi market. There are around 4000 traders license holders and unlicensed at Vashi. Each trader would need at least 1 truck-load of either fruits or vegetables. Each truck carries around 10 tons of fruits or vegetables at an estimated price of Rs 2 lakhs. The traders dont have new currency notes to give the farmers in exchange for goods. We cannot sell the produce to dealers on the annulled notes as that would mean a huge problem for us, says Ashok Hande, chairman, fruits and traders association, Vashi. Some fruits like apples can be stored for some days but the issue is now the store rooms in the market are full. We have told farmers not to send their produce to the market anymore. Of the 1000 trucks that come daily, 100 trucks with produce goes waste either the fruits and vegetables rot because there are no takers on account of the cash crisis due to demonetisation, he says. Hande estimates that each vegetable and fruit market in the city would be suffering around Rs 8-10 crore loss daily. This would go up to Rs 3-4 crore in Pune and around Rs 5-7 core in Nagpur and much higher at around Rs 20 crore in Delhi. This is a national waste, he says. The traders say that the restricted money available from the banks are not helping them either. PM Modi had said people holding notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 can deposit the same in their bank and in post office accounts from 10 November until 30 December. The government had initially said customers can exchange up to Rs 4,000 of their old currency notes at the banks. This later increased to Rs 4,500 only to be cut to Rs 2,000 on Thursday. Similarly, ATM withdrawal limit was first set at Rs 2,000, which was later increased to Rs 2,500. Even after 10 days post-demonetisation, the ATMs and bank branches are struggling to meet the panic-driven cash demand from regular customers. Part of the reason for the cash drought is that people are hoarding money anticipating difficult days ahead. To understand the picture, one needs to look at only State Bank of India alone, the country's largest lender by assets, which saw withdrawals to the tune of Rs 18,665 crore, Rs 5,776 crore in exchange of old currency notes and deposits of Rs 1.14 lakh crore up to 16 November. The farmers who send their produce through middle men to the Vashi market have been most hit, says Ashok Walunj, a trader of onions and potatoes and former director, APMC. The dealers have the annulled notes which we cannot accept and hence the produce that is now coming to the market is in far lesser quantities, he said, adding that even if a trader wants to change Rs 2,000 denomination notes, there are no takers. No one has the time or space to run around looking for change, he says exasperation seeping through his voice. Lack of planning The governments move to flush out black money is ambitious, the traders said. Their complaints against the government is like the rest of India that points to lack of planning on the part of the government. India is not Canada or the US where online transactions are a way of life, said Tajli, a wholesale vegetable vendor. People here will use the latest Android phone but be wary of using the computer, he said. Balkrishna Shinde, fruit trader at Vashi would have a daily turnover of Rs 8-10 lakhs before the demonetisation was announced. Now, he says, he is struggling to make Rs 1,000 daily. "No one has the new currency notes to trade in for goods and the old notes cannot be accepted either," he says. Businesses trade in lakhs at the market and the Modi government issuing restricted amount of Rs 2000 notes and Rs 100 notes in short supply has hit them hard. Business in the market has gone down to 30-40 percent on a conservative estimate but traders are furious at the lack of business only because of the lack of currency notes in the denominations that can be used as legal tender. When the government can have an entire machinery in place for voting schools, municipal schools, etc to conduct elections or make Adhaar cards, could they not have done the same by deploying bank managers and staff to dispense the money that is rightfully theirs? asks Hussain. It is not the traders at APMC or the dealers who are suffering but the farmers whose produce is not being sold and are rotting due to lack of buyers because of lack of legal tender, he pointed out. Tajli points out that the traders have to pay interest to the banks. "We still have to pay it. But there are no mathadi workers to be found here to load and unload the sacks of vegetables from trucks. No one has new currency to pay daily wages. He says that the situation is slowly limping back to normalcy with new currency notes. "However it will be at least six months before the business can go back to the pre-monetisation phase," he said. While hoping that the government may step up efforts to bring in normalcy on the currency front in the coming days, other trader community at APMC are keeping their fingers crossed, although deep inside they know it will take at least four to six months before business gets back to normalcy. Data support from Kishor Kadam A narrative has gained currency of late that the demonetisation drive is akin to using a Bofors gun to kill a mosquito. Proponents of this theory the entire ecosystem of our intelligentsia who has never accepted Narendra Modi as India's Prime Minister, the privileged urban class and the opposition base their theory on two arguments. One, whatever be the size of India's shadow economy and here they reveal deep skepticism about latest World Bank figures that put it around 23 percent of the GDP black money is too entrenched in our system to be ferreted out by inconveniencing people. They believe that there was no need for such a radical step that puts in jeopardy so many lives. Hidden in this charge is the assumption that black money does not visibly harm the poor, the marginalised and it certainly wasn't a problem big enough to have triggered this amount of chaos. Having consistently labelled the prime minister as "all talk and no action", "a propagandist who works the headlines", post 8 November this amorphous group has amusingly shifted to advocating status-quoism. Notwithstanding the political positioning at work here, the efficacy of Modi's inordinately risky and deeply disruptive move to root out black money is however a legit question. The jury is still out whether there were less painful methods that could have brought similar results. But that is part of a larger, ongoing debate. In this piece, we will tackle the second argument against demonetisation. The theory that de-commissioning of notes, as a way to snuff out the fake currency racket, is too much ammo for too insignificant an objective. This argument is deeply flawed and reveals a total lack of understanding of what fake currency racket is, how it functions and the terrible cost it forces on us. It is also a callous argument to make in a country where more security forces die due to left-wing extremism and insurgency movements than even cross-border terrorism. The move to decommission higher denomination notes was as much targeted towards black money as demolishing this Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) industry that fuels terror networks in and around India, provides oxygen to forces of insurgency and serves to also destabilize the Indian economy. The tentacles of this industry spreads across Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and China. Through a complex network of smuggling that involves banks, couriers and even diplomatic channels, these notes are then circulated throughout India. An India Today report by Gaurav C Sawant states how Pakistan which imports printing paper and ink far in excess of its own requirement and uses it to print FICN in government presses in Punjab and Balochistan province uses the counterfeit currency to fund terror modules in several parts of India including Maharashtra and Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Bengal and Bihar. According to the report, Pakistan's ISI routes these high-quality fake notes through Nepal, Bangladesh, Dubai, Thailand and even China. Another article in Firstpost details the intricate functioning of ISI's FICN network through retired brigadier-rank officers of Pakistani Army like Lala, who procured and supplied 'RBI' (ISI's code name for fake India notes) through an intricate network of couriers and smugglers. The report quotes intelligence agency sources as saying that Modis action against black money has demolished a section of the ISI headquarters in Rawalpindi. The direct route for FICN, says the report, ran through Munabao-Khakrapar and the Attari border while the indirect route saw money coming to India through the UAE, Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Singapore before arriving in Kathmandu and Dhaka. And this is just one part of the FICN industry. The other major hub lies within India in West Bengal's Malda, the border district where fake currency is smuggled in from Bangladesh. Subrata Nagchoudhury's report in Scroll details how many residents in Kaliachak have gone into a state of shock since the prime minister outlawed the high value notes. The lucrative trade running into crores has stopped almost overnight with rumours abounding of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 bills being dumped in rivers and fields. According to Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, an estimated Rs 70 crore worth of fake currency is pumped into India every year and Rs 400 crore of such notes is known to be in circulation in the country at any given time. Addressing a news conference in Delhi on Friday, the minister said: "Smuggling of fake Indian currency notes from three international borders Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal has completely halted after the evening of 8 November". The collateral damage, according to Rijiju, also included proceeds from illegal sale of drugs, opium, arms and hawala transactions. This choking of funds has resulted in Naxals going into a panic mode with reports emerging of Maoists using the Jan Dhan accounts of poor villagers to park or exchange their extortion cash which by some estimates runs into Rs 7000 crores in Bastar region alone. Latehar SP Anoop Birtharay told PTI that leftist extremists are using villagers to deposit their money into bank accounts so that it can be converted into legal currency. According to data from South Asia Terrorism Portal, since 2005 till 13 November, 2016, a total of 7,270 people have died due to Maoist insurgency attacks. The figure includes 2934 civilians, 1850 security forces personnel and also 2486 extremists. Well, may the Left and Congress shout on the floor of the House that fake currency constitutes only 0.02 percent of the total currency in circulation but to use reductionist logic and shrink the role of fake currency in fuelling cross-border and left-wing terrorism in India is intellectual dishonesty of the worst kind. New Delhi: A Delhi court on Saturday once again granted permission to former Teri chief RK Pachauri, accused in a sexual harassment case, to travel abroad. Pachauri, currently on bail, was allowed to travel to Dominican Republic from 22 November to 5 December by Metropolitan Magistrate Shivani Chauhan, after he moved an application. The court allowed the application, filed through Pachauri's counsel Ashish Dixit, noting that the probe was complete and charge sheet has already been filed in the case. "The investigation is complete and charge sheet has already been filed. The accused has been granted permission to travel abroad on several earlier occasions and has complied with the directions given by the court. "In these circumstances, the accused is permitted to travel as per his itinerary... subject to furnishing a local surety of Rs 2 lakh to the satisfaction of this court," the court said and directed him to give an undertaking that he shall appear in court in person or through counsel and not dispute his identity at a later stage. It also asked him to file a copy of his travel tickets and intimate the court after his return or any changes in his travel itinerary. The court had on 11 July granted regular bail to Pachauri and allowed him to travel abroad after he appeared in pursuance to summons. Pachauri has been allowed by the court to travel over a dozen times to various countries including USA, UK, China, Japan, France, Kazakhstan, Bolivia, Kuwait, Mexico, Somalia and Saudi Arabia, during pendency of probe and proceedings. The former Teri chief was summoned as accused by the court after it took cognisance of the charge sheet filed against him for allegedly sexually harassing an ex-colleague. The court, while taking cognisance of the charge sheet, had said there was sufficient material to proceed against him under sections 354A (sexual harassment), 354B (assault against woman with intent to disrobe), 354D (stalking), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult modesty of woman) and 341 (wrongful confinement) of the IPC. The charge sheet, filed by Delhi Police on 1 March last year, had arrayed 23 prosecution witnesses, many of whom are present and former employees of The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri). Pachauri was granted an anticipatory bail in the case on 21 March last year and an FIR lodged against him on 13 February last year. Jammu: Pakistani army targeted Indian posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district on Saturday morning with mortars and small arms fire. According to an ANI report, Pakistan also targeted Indian soldiers in an unprovoked ceasefire violation in Sunderbani Sector (Jammu and Kashmir) using 120 mm mortars, automatics and small arms from 14.10 hours in the afternoon. #FLASH: Unprovoked Ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Sunderbani Sector (J&K) using 120 mm Mortars, automatics and small arms from 1410 hrs ANI (@ANI_news) November 19, 2016 "Pakistan army resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation in the Nowshera sector from 1030 hours using 120 mm mortars and small arms fire. Our army is giving a befitting response to the Pakistani fire," a defence spokesman said. He said that there has been no loss of life, injury or damage to property reported so far even as the exchange of firing continued. On Thursday, Pakistani army had targeted Indian posts and civilian villages along LoC in the Pallanwala sector of the Jammu district. Pakistani troops on Tuesday targeted Indian posts with heavy firing and shelling for four hours along the LoC in Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir, forcing Indian troops to retaliate. The 2003 India-Pakistan ceasefire agreement has virtually become redundant with a whopping 286 incidents of firing and shelling along LoC and IB in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistani troops that have resulted in death of 26 people, including 14 security personnel, since the surgical strike on terrorist launch pads in PoK. But certainly for the present age, which prefers the sign to the thing signified, the copy to the original, representation to reality, the appearance to the essence...illusion only is sacred truth profane. Nay, sacredness is held to be enhanced in proportion as truth decreases and illusion increases, so that the highest degree of illusion comes to be the highest degree of sacredness. Feuerbach, preface to the second edition of The Essence of Christianity. The difference between a spectacle and reality lies at the very core of politics the kind where illusions are created to gain an advantage. A tactic, which the Left brigade is fond of and has employed during the current crisis in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi, where a first year MSc Biotechnology student, Najeeb Ahmed, has been missing for more than a month. The debate between reality and representation could be seen as one based on the age-old discomfort with establishing the real meaning of truth. The question what is the truth? seems redundant owing to the fact that truth can never be. There can simply be a process of validation of the truth. But first of all we ought, perhaps, to justify our assumption that the object of a theory of truth can only be to show how propositions are validated, Alfred J Ayer wrote in Language, Truth and Logic. Thus, the process of validation and the consequence of such validation could easily be used to create an illusion. The idea of playing with emotions bases itself on something that we often experience but barely understand. The theory of emotions comes to our aid in an attempt to explain some of the very basic events that take place around us, of which we are sometimes involuntarily a part. The current crisis in JNU opens up a series of discussions studded with a bunch of questions. The focus of the mainstream opinion, generated by the Left-oriented viewpoints, emphasises upon the condition of distress that Najeeb's family are forced to live in. They have presented it as a saga of a mother who is facing every difficulty in finding the whereabouts of her son. Are these the same people who celebrated the death of 76 CRPF jawans six years ago? What about the mothers and kinsmen of those souls? Did they not go missing forever? How many of those who now present themselves to be ready sentinels in service of Najeeb's family had reached out to the family of those martyrs? Thats the nature of contradiction in which these vanguards of Left politics live. Even a trace of critical thought would compel one to think about the concept of empathy, which seems to be missing at the base of this constructed drama. The Left bear no sign of remorse for the violence perpetrated in order to meet their own ends. They seldom concern themselves with the number of lives that the Gulags had claimed. But their ability to create situations has mostly to do with the standards of morality that the larger society seems to uphold. Treading on the path bordered by a fundamental contradiction between the significance of culture in society, they begin to accept the prevalent ethical standards of society with the solitary goal of destabilising the current order. They can even go till the madness of erecting an anarchic order in the society. The current example, of this destabilising force rallying behind Najeeb's family, seems to remind of the importance of family in ones life by some unknown, unseen prophet. Otherwise, family to them is an obsolete institution, discarded and outdated that fulfils no purpose except acting as an instrument of repression that aids other organs of the superstructure in subjugating the masses. Why are they so worried about someones family in this case? Thats what one should clearly see as the spectacle. Thus, it could be clearly stated that the group of people who are instrumental in creating this spectacle have nothing to do with empathy or family. The series of contradictions manifest themselves in the kind of stage management that each of these vanguards trained in. The spectacle they created during the 9 February incident when Kanhaiya Kumar and other students were charged with sedition for raising anti-India slogans could be seen as a preceding link to the current episode. It was well-known to them that media persons were present on campus. Then, why did they raise such slogans? Was it a deliberate attempt to go against the state and brew up some controversy? What followed was portrayed as an event of State repression which then translated to sympathy for those pledged to destroy India. Thus, those caught on the wrong foot raising slogans against India became victims and the actions of the sovereign, which it was forced to employ, were painted as cruel. Thats perfect situationism. It reminds us of the students uprising in France and the protests that took place at Columbia University in the late 1960s. The events that took place in France in May 1968 show us a pretty fair picture of where the current situation could lead to. It could be exactly what the current anarchistic turn in student politics of JNU could be aiming for. The 1968 revolution in France drew support from students, teachers, as well as workers. It was the largest general strike to have ever occurred in France, with the number of participants reaching as high as 11 million. But as Neil Smelser had said in 1971: Any social movement must be based on some precipitation factors. In the context of the 1968 revolution in France, the precipitation factors seem to be quite benign in nature. A handful of students led by Daniel Cohn-Bendit began the 22 March Movement in the form of minor deliberations upon class discrimination in the French society and the bureaucratic clout over the University of Nanterre. An occupy kind of protest at the University of Nanterre came to an end without violence, though not without police action. The events of 22 March 1968 became the precipitation factor for what was to come in a couple of months time. The brief history cited here seems to mirror the recent tactics employed by student politics at JNU. The Left have tried to forge an alliance of anarchic elements at the pan-India level and raise an occupy movement, but it has failed. They have also spent a lot of effort in producing someone like Daniel Cohn-Bendit, but in vain. Hence, the hidden agenda of Left politics in JNU is nothing but an extension of the doctrine of situationism and the tactics employed by the New Left about forty years ago. (The author is former joint secretary, JNU student union. All views expressed are personal) Authorities on Friday morning froze bank accounts of Mumbai-based Islamic International School (IIS), an institution set up and run by controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, a person associated with Naik said. Soon thereafter, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday carried out searches at 10 places in a case registered against Naik's NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) in Mumbai. The searches began on Saturday morning with the help of local police after a case was registered by the NIA's Mumbai branch on Friday night under 153-A of IPC (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion...and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and various sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Last week, the government had banned IRF for five years for its alleged links with terrorist activities. "It was said that the government will ensure that the school's students and functioning will not be affected. But the actions prove otherwise," the person said. "By freezing the school's account, it isn't able to meet the day-to-day expenses, that includes students meals, classroom expenses, petty cash, stationery and numerous other small but important activities any school undertakes on a daily basis. This is the school's own bank account. Freezing it can only have one purpose," the person said. The school describes itself as an institution which was "conceived, planned and developed by Dr Zakir Naik... a visionary par excellence." Naik is the chairman of the IRF Educational Trust and President of the Islamic Research Foundation in Mumbai. The website of IIS says Naik has visited several 'Islamic' and 'other' educational institutions worldwide and interacted with many experts on school and university education to grasp their approach towards Islamic orientation, teaching methodology, curriculum implementation and management. "The pragmatic insights gained from these meetings and latest research and learning on effective education strategies help in the continuous improvement and development of IIS, to be contemporary and Islamic... to fulfill the students' educational needs for this 'duniya' (world) and the 'Aakhirah' (hereafter)." The school also has a branch in Chennai. Earlier, the state police had raised concerns about the running and curriculum of the school in a report submitted to the state government. Youths from Malavani in western suburbs who had left their home to join Islamic State earlier this year were also allegedly inspired by the preaching of the televangelist. Police had arrested some members of IRF for allegedly motivating and radicalising group youths from Kasargod in Kerala to join the Islamic State. The speeches of Naik, who is currently out of the country apparently to evade arrest, are banned in the UK and Canada as well as in Malaysia. With inputs from PTI The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday carried out searches at 10 places in a case registered against controversial preacher Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) in Mumbai. The searches began on Saturday morning with the help of local police after a case was registered by the NIA's Mumbai branch last night under 153-A of IPC (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion...and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and various sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. NIA and Police teams at Zakir Naik's IRF office in Mumbai pic.twitter.com/rtI996aUpP ANI (@ANI_news) November 19, 2016 On Friday, Mumbai Police handed over a copy of the central notification banning IRF for five years to the office-bearers of the city-based NGO. The Union cabinet had approved a proposal to outlaw the IRF on Tuesday for its alleged terror activities. In a gazette notification, the home ministry had said the IRF and its members, particularly, the founder and its president Zakir Naik, has been encouraging and aiding its followers to promote or attempt to promote, on grounds of religion, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious communities. IRF came on radar of investigative agencies after one of the terrorists in Dhaka attack had allegedly posted on social media that they had been inspired by Naik's speeches. Youths from Malavani in western suburbs who had left their home to join Islamic State earlier this year were also allegedly inspired by the preaching of the televangelist. Police had arrested some members of IRF for allegedly motivating and radicalising group youths from Kasargod in Kerala to join the Islamic State. The speeches of Naik, who is currently out of the country apparently to evade arrest, are banned in the UK and Canada as well as in Malaysia. 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. An educational trust run by Naik has already been prevented from receiving foreign funds and agencies are looking into their activities. With inputs from PTI When Pramila Jayapal got elected last week, she became the first Indian American Congresswoman, who will serve in the House of Representatives. The 51-year-old Democrat has represented the 37th legislative district in the Washington State Senate since 2015, and beginning 3 January 2017, when she takes her oath of office, Pramila will represent Washington's 7th congressional district in the 115th United States Congress. In recognition of her work with immigrants, the White House conferred on Pramila the Champion of Change award. Back in Bengaluru, India, her proud parents her 74-year old writer mother Maya Jayapal and her 85-year old marketing professional father MP Jayapal spoke to Firstpost with pride, of their daughters journey from Chennai, India to the US Congress. Born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Pramila spent her childhood in Jakarta and Singapore and went on to pursue her undergrad studies in America when she was just 16 years old. She became a civil rights activist, serving as the executive director of OneAmerica, a pro-immigration advocacy group, formed after 9/11. Like her writer mother, Maya too leaned towards literature and has written the book Pilgrimage: One Woman's Return to a Changing India, about her sojourn in India in 1995 and even now, writes articles and poetry. Pramila is the younger of the Jayapals two daughters. Susheela, 54, their older daughter, is a lawyer and works in Portland. Pramila took up English literature and economics for her Bachelor's degree at Georgetown University and did her MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. She worked in a banking company on Wall Street for a couple of years, before stepping into activism and then into politics. Reminiscing about Pramilas childhood, Jayapal says, "We call her Munna". Maya explains how the nickname stuck: "When we were in Jaipur and I was carrying my second child, our maid used to say 'chhota munna ayega', and when Pramila was born, my older daughter Sushi started calling her Munna. The Jayapals spent 24 years abroad 11 years in Jakarta and 13 years in Singapore. Their girls studied in the Jakarta international school, before they both went to America to pursue their higher studies at 16. "I was lucky, as both my sisters were in the US and my sister in Washington DC is a doctor and was their local guardian. But, you know, now when I look back, I think, we pushed them to be independent probably a couple of years earlier. Maybe they were too young, but they have turned out all right. But I do feel sorry that we didnt keep up speaking Malayalam at home... Pramila understands Malayalam but cant speak it. However, Pramila has an ear for languages. She picked up Thai its a tonal language like Chinese when she worked in Bangkok for a brief while. When she came back to India for two years on a fellowship, she and her husband went to Mussoorie and she picked up Hindi and speaks it fairly fluent Hindi now," says Maya. About Pramilas years as an activist, Maya says, "After 9/11, people were ringing Pramila up and telling her 'Why dont you do something?' and she started the Hate Free Zone, later changed to OneAmerica. She wanted to publicise the fact that all aliens were not terrorists, nor dangerous and that they were individual human beings. She ran this organisation for 10 years, then she got tired of fighting from the outside and wanted to see what she could do from the inside. She came into politics only two years ago. I dont think any of us thought that she would become a politician. She was always interested in social justice, always was forthright. Maybe in a subtle way, as parents, we fostered it, by giving them permission to do what they wanted to do." Asked whether they had seen in Pramila the making of a politician, Maya says, "Pramila was always a good organiser, was very good at persuading people to her point of view. Shes always been very forthright. The other day a friend who had worked with my father, Balakrishnan Menon, who was the director, vigilance and anti-corruption in Tamil Nadu, was saying, 'Pramila is beginning to look like your father.' My father had a reputation for being blunt and not giving in to pressure. He used to tell the grandchildren that you have been given a pack of cards when you were born and you have no choice there. But what you do with it, is important. My father was impactful, sought social justice, spoke what he felt, was frank to the point of bluntness. Although Pramila has learnt to word her feelings more diplomatically now, if anybody has influenced her, it would be her grandfather. When she got elected, both of us said the same thing: 'I wish acchan had been around'. Jayapal adds, "Yeah, we never thought of her becoming a politician. I am very happy with what shes done. I was never worried about what the future would hold for her... I sort of felt that she would be working in a company, not necessarily a politician. Actually, I am very proud of both our children, I feel they have done well, worked well, studied well. And I want to add that both our children didnt change their names after their marriage. Theyre still Pramila Jayapal and Susheela Jayapal. Theyre very proud of their names." When asked whether she was afraid or worried for her daughter, Maya says, "Yes, there is concern. When she was with Hate Free Zone and was handling minorities, I asked her whether it was dangerous for her and she said, 'Mom I get death threats; my office staff show me only the worst things. But it is something I want to do. I want to make a difference.' Sometimes, I wish she had gone for a safe job, but Pramilas intention was not to go in for a safe job, she was always interested in social justice." Pramila lives in Seattle with her husband Steve Williamson, an officer and director of UFCW 21, and their dog Otis, while their son Janak visits home when he is on break from Wesleyan University. "Pramila met Steve on the bus, when they were replicating the journey that Martin Luther King took. Steve has kept her grounded, he follows the Buddhist philosophy, meditates and has provided balance in her life. He is very supportive and always there for her," says Maya. About Pramilas 19-year-old son, Janak, who was born in Mumbai, the proud grandmother says, "He was born at six months, weighed only 750 gm. Its amazing that he has grown up to be this handsome man. Hes a musician, took up African American literature. He told me on Skype the other day, 'Amamma, I am very proud of my mother, shes going to be on that phone more than ever'. When asked what comes next in the journey for their Congresswoman daughter, Maya says, "I dont know her plans yet, whether she will move to DC or commute from Seattle. She is going through her one-week orientation right now. I know she wants to improve the status of women, she wants to build a community college, subsidise education for more people. I see this only as the beginning of a journey for her. Theres so much more coming up for Pramila." As for the Jayapals, they are looking forward to their own journey to the US to be with their daughter for her swearing in on 3 January as the first Indian American Congresswoman to serve in the US House of Representatives. Patna: On Saturday, the BJP-led NDA released a 'report card' on the completion of one year of the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar and said the dispensation has proved to be a big "failure" on all fronts, especially so on law and order. Releasing the 'report card' titled 'Ek Saal, Bura Haal', senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi launched a scathing attack on the maha-gathbandhan government saying it has been in news for "all wrong reasons" in the past one year. "The situation in Bihar has become worse in just one year... We (NDA leaders) have come out with a report card one day in advance, so that the Chief Minister can answer our questions," Modi told reporters here. The Nitish-led government, in which Lalu Prasad's RJD and the Congress are allies, completes a year in office tomorrow and it would also present its report card showcasing its achievements. The practice of presenting report cards every year was started by Nitish Kumar in 2006 after he became Chief Minister in November 2005. The Chief Minister should present a report card of one year and not of 11 years as BJP was also the part of the government for around seven-and-half-year when the government earned laurels globally, while now this state government has earned name for all wrong reasons in the past one year, Sushil said. Union minister and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Minister of State and RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha, Hindustani Awam Morcha(S) president and former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and other senior BJP leaders including state BJP chief Mangal Pandey were also present on the occasion. Sushil Modi said had the Opposition not objected and raised the issues of bail granted to Shahabuddin, Raj Ballabh Yadav and Rocky Yadav, the state government would not have gone to the Supreme Court against them. "Why is agriculture, health, education and industries missing from the CM's 'Nischay'?" he asked, while seeking answers to what happened to the Rs 1.52 lakh crore 'agriculture roadmap', 'Mission Manav Vikas', 'Mahadalit Vikas Mission' and 'Vision Document 2025'. Sushil also termed Kumar's students' credit card scheme a repackaging of the Centre's scheme. Kolkata: On Saturday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the NDA government at Centre of pursuing "discriminatory" politics against West Bengal by not releasing new 500 rupees notes in the state. "They have sent 500 rupees notes to Rajasthan. But they are not sending the 500 rupees notes to Bengal. The Central government has totally failed to act. Rural India is dying, they don't use card. What will they do? The whole of rural India is crying, farmers are crying. If food is not available what will the common people eat? Plastic??" Banerjee said, accusing the Centre of pursuing "discriminatory" politics. The West Bengal Chief Minister lauded the Supreme Court for expressing reservation on Centre's plea for direction that no court except apex court hears pleas on demonetisation notification. On Saturday Banerjee visited the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regional office in Kolkata and spoke to the RBI regional director Rekha Warriar and urged her to ensure that cash is available at all ATMs and Banks. "I told her to ensure that cash is available at all the banks and ATMs. Common people should not face harassment. They should not be harassed. Don't say that you are trying. Because the word 'trying' is a vague word. It is a word used to shield negligence and incompetence. I am not blaming you. Where from will you give notes, if the Centre has not provided?" Banerjee told Warriar. The TMC supremo along with party leaders visited the ATMs outside the RBI office in Kolkata and spoke to commoners. She also visited Burrabazar area in Kolkata and spoke to businessman and shopkeepers. "People cannot access their savings account. This is being restricted. Is their money safe? The country wants to know," she said. Banerjee also lauded the Supreme court's observation about demonetisation. On Friday, the Supreme Court dubbed as a "serious issue" the long queues outside banks and post offices and expressed its reservation on the Centre's plea seeking a direction that no other court in the country should entertain petitions challenging the 8 November notification. New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday paid tribute to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 100th birth anniversary. "Remembering Indiraji: a warrior, a revolutionary, a woman of conviction, compassion and sacrifice. My grandmother, my friend, my ever guiding light," Rahul Gandhi tweeted after paying floral tributes. Remembering Indiraji:a warrior,a revolutionary,a woman of conviction,compassion & sacrifice.My grandmother,my friend,my ever guiding light pic.twitter.com/IcpKGNsdd7 Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) November 19, 2016 While the Congress party in its message to the only woman prime minister of India, in a tweet said, "Indian National Congress pays tribute to the Iron Lady of India, Smt.Indira Gandhi on her birth anniversary today." I would need a couple of rebirth to tell the whole story of Indira Gandhi: Cong President Sonia Gandhi pic.twitter.com/6C2lfecKFd ANI (@ANI_news) November 19, 2016 "Indiraji shared her birthday with another Iron Lady, who died fighting the British. Our humble tribute to Rani Laxmibai," party's another tweet said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid tribute to Indira Gandhi on her birth anniversary. "Tributes to former Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi on her birth anniversary," Modi tweeted. Tributes to former Prime Minster Smt. Indira Gandhi on her birth anniversary. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 19, 2016 Indira Gandhi was the only child of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru was born on 19 November, 1917 in Allahabad. She served as Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms from January 1966 to March 1977 and a fourth term from 14 January, 1980 until she was assassinated on 31 October, 1984. "We should not be ashamed of talking about Indias indigenous contributions in science," says A Jayakumar, secretary general, Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA), the science and technology wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), adding, "There had been deliberate attempts by the past governments to ignore our contributions. The truth should come up." Previously known as Swadeshi Science Movement, VIBHA wants the Narendra Modi-led NDA government to proactively chart policy to initiate research and development (R&D) in the field of Indias indigenous scientific achievements in the past (read ancient period). It is also seeking amendments in the new National Education Policy. A mechanical engineering graduate and an MBA, Jayakumar had been a long-time sangh pracharak. He speaks with the Firstpost on various aspects of promotion of swadeshi science. Edited excerpts: What are VIBHA's plans to create awareness on swadeshi science and technology among students? VIBHA has been working towards popularising, propagating and creating awareness about Indias indigenous contributions in the field of science and technology amongst students. Nothing much has been done by previous governments in this direction. As a result, students have been found to be losing interest in pure science. While the number of engineering and medical graduates has been increasing, year after year, its just opposite in applied science and technology streams. Days are not far when we may have to import scientists due to a dearth of top R&D institutions (in India). This is not a presumption but studies have shown this trend. Weve asked the government to emphasise on developing innovative technology that can be used for common masses. The need is to tell our young students about the rich scientific heritage of India and its contribution. It should be a part of the syllabus. Besides, collaborating with Vijnana Prasar an autonomous body under the department of science and technology we're conducting a national examination, Vidyarthi Vijnana Manthan, for school students on 20 November to evaluate their knowledge on Indias contribution to science. Whats this examination Vidyarthi Vijnana Manthan all about and how is it going to help students in future? VIBHA has published two books Indian contributions to science and Notes to myself: APJ Abdul Kalam, which will help students know about Indias heritage in science and inspire them. Much before Galileo and other Western scientists, Aryabhatta revealed astronomical facts 1,500 years ago without using scientific instruments. It speaks of the genius India had. Though this examination started four years' ago, this time we're going on a large-scale, as more than 2,000 schools (62 schools in Delhi) will be participating in it at 1,130 centres. After selecting 240 winners at state-level, 18 students will finally be selected at the national level. These winners will be provided mentors and every student will get an opportunity to select a mentor of his or her choice. Based on the area of interest, students will be taken on a 10-15 day visit to R&D institutions. Were also planning for scholarships in future. Are you planning to design any curriculum for the school students in the science stream? Is it going to be different from what is taught across the country at present? We have sought a few amendments in the syllabi of Class 5 to 12, as the new education policy is not comprehensive. We have asked to include Indias indigenous scientific development, contributions in Ayurveda, Yoga, Vaastu-Shastra, Indian way of bio-diversity, etc. The government needs to do more in R&D of Ayurveda. Now, this stream of medicine is the last choice, whereas, in the West, it's in big demand. RSS has often been accused of saffronising India's education system by imposing its ideology. Will VIBHAs initiatives fall prey to the same attack? Here I want to clarify that RSS never interferes in any government policy. Nobody can safforise or colour a scientific aspect, because science is neutral and based on facts. The science fraternity does not get carried away by politics or political ideologies. We dont have concrete records of scientific achievements in ancient India. Even, if its true, how is it going to help students who are studying modern science? Personally, I'm against propagating claims made in Puranas or elsewhere without any scientific base. But, simultaneously we shouldnt be hesitant in talking about our proven scientific achievements. Like that of Aryabhatta or Varahmihir. Centuries ago Indian mathematician and astronomer Madhava of Sangamagrama invented the infinite series which James Gregory later developed (known as Gregory series) in 1667. In Germany, its taught as Madhav-Gregory series, contrary to India whereas students are taught only as Gregory series. We want that the truth behind India's scientific achievements and contributions should be known globally, rather than keeping it concealed as happened post-Independence. Unlike, China, we are still continuing with the baggage of British rule. While China could promote its traditional Chinese medicine globally in a big way, India failed to do so with its Ayurveda. Its a sorry state of affair. Despite references to astronomy, metaphysics, atom, Pushpak rath (aircraft), missiles, Brahmashtra (lethal weapon of mass destruction), plastic surgery, etc, in ancient texts, it is the modern Western science that has actualised these concepts. Why did scientific progress stop in ancient India after achieving those levels? We had lakhs of manuscripts on scientific inventions a major part of it is with Germany. We have developed a Traditional Knowledge Digital Library, but why no research has been initiated? Once, APJ Abdul Kalam had told me that unless government initiates R&D on traditional knowledge, it would be limited to lectures only and make claims. The society wont be benefitted. The government should ensure that research work is initiated in the state-of-the-art research centres in the country. The truth should come out. Why is it that even after seven decades of Independence, no progress has taken place in teaching and research in advanced science and technology in India in Sanskrit or vernacular languages? If any language fails to deal with science, itll die. Sanskrit is the only Indian language that dealt with higher level of science. VIBHA is propagating science in regional languages. We are conducting this science examination in regional languages as well. Do you think the governments in the past deliberately ignored it? Yes, there had been deliberate attempts by the previous governments to ignore Indias indigenous contributions in science and technology. No priority and importance was given to it. No one wanted India to be a self-reliant country. Our ancient achievements cant be dumped as a hoax, without finding out the truth. By Rozanna Latiff and Praveen Menon | KUALA LUMPUR KUALA LUMPUR Thousands of anti-government protesters are expected to gather in Malaysia's capital on Saturday to demand the resignation of scandal-tainted Prime Minister Najib Razak, despite the arrest of activists and opposition leaders just hours before the rally.The demonstration is unlikely to shake Najib, who has denied wrongdoing and weathered the crisis, consolidating power by cracking down on dissenters and curbing media groups and activists. Maria Chin Abdullah, the chairperson of the election reform group Bersih, which drew about 200,000 people to the streets in a similar protest last year, was arrested on Friday. At least five opposition leaders and student activists were also picked up by the police.But the group said the protest would go on.In a speech uploaded on his website on Friday, Najib said the protesters were "a tool of the opposition"."Their movement is deceitful. It is clear that these street protests are in fact the opposition disguised as an independent NGO working to unseat a democratically elected government," said Najib, who is in Peru to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. The activist group has also called for rallies in the cities of Kota Kinabalu and Kuching on the Malaysian side of Borneo.Fear is mounting of clashes between Bersih and a pro-Najib group called Red Shirts, who are also holding demonstrations and have threatened to target Bersih supporters. Some Red Shirts leaders have also been arrested.Both gatherings are illegal, the police said, adding they would not hesitate to use tear gas or water cannon if things got out of hand.Police have blocked roads leading to the venue. "These bans are unlikely to stop activists from holding street rallies but will discourage participation from the larger population fearing police action," the Eurasia Group consultancy said in a note.Amnesty International said the arrested leaders must be released immediately and the rally be allowed to go ahead peacefully.Last year, more than 200,000 attended a similar rally organised by Bersih, after the Wall Street Journal reported that nearly funds from 1MDB was diverted into the personal bank account of the prime minister.Najib ran into further trouble this year when lawsuits filed by the U.S. Justice Department in July said more than $700 million of misappropriated funds from 1MDB flowed into the accounts of "Malaysian Official 1", whom U.S. and Malaysian officials have identified as Najib. Najib has taken steps critics say aim to limit discussion of the scandal, such as sacking a deputy prime minister, replacing the attorney-general and suspending newspapers and blocking websites. He retains significant support within the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), and from the long-ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.A six-week campaign by Bersih ahead of the rally has been marred by several violent confrontations with the Red Shirts, and anonymous death threats have been sent to Bersih chairwoman Maria.Mahathir Mohamad, a former prime minister and fierce critic of Najib, on Wednesday called on Malaysians to join the Bersih rally.However, Mahathir will not be attending due to prior commitments abroad, his aide told Reuters. (Editing by Nick Macfie) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Lucknow: On Saturday, BSP president Mayawati cautioned Muslims in Uttar Pradesh that their interests were not safe with the Samajwadi Party, which is mired in family feud, and voting for it will mean strengthening the BJP. "The 'sarv samaj' including the Muslims should understand that their interests were not safe in Samajwadi Party.... Voting for SP which today stands divided into two factions means strengthening BJP and helping it win elections," Mayawati said in a statement. The BSP supremo has been reaching out to Muslims in a big way, especially as the public feud between Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his uncle Shivpal Yadav threatened to driveaway loyal voters of Samajwadi Party in the poll-bound state. Attacking the Samajwadi Party, Mayawati alleged that ever since it came to power, "goonda, mafia , corrupt and communal elements are ruling the roost and jungleraj is prevailing" in Uttar Pradesh. The BSP chief said that the ongoing tussle in the Samajwadi Party family has further harmed the law and order situation. Mayawati also lashed out at Akhilesh for making "lofty claims" and launching schemes such as Dial-100 and asked him to desist from making any further announcements, "the benefit of which he will not be able to extend to the people". Dial-100 is aimed at reducing the police emergency response time. By Angus McDowall | BEIRUT BEIRUT All hospitals in Syria's besieged rebel-held eastern Aleppo are out of service after days of heavy air strikes, its health directorate and the World Health Organisation (WHO) said, though a war monitor said some were still working.White House national security adviser Susan Rice said the United States condemned "in the strongest terms" the latest air strikes against hospitals and urged Russia, an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, to take steps to halt the violence.Intense air strikes have battered the eastern part of the city since Tuesday, when the Syrian army and its allies resumed operations after a pause lasting weeks. They launched ground attacks against insurgent positions on Friday. The war monitor, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said at least 27 people, including children, had been killed in eastern Aleppo on Saturday by dozens of air strikes and barrel bombs and dozens of artillery rounds. Warplanes, artillery and helicopters continued bombarding eastern Aleppo on Saturday, hitting many of its densely populated residential districts, the Observatory said. There were intense clashes in the Bustan al-Basha district, it added."This destruction of infrastructure essential to life leaves the besieged, resolute people, including all children and elderly men and women, without any health facilities offering life-saving treatment ... leaving them to die," said Aleppo's health directorate in a statement sent to Reuters late on Friday by an opposition official. Elizabeth Hoff, the WHO representative in Syria, said on Saturday that a U.N.-led group of aid agencies based over the border in Turkey "confirmed today that all hospitals in eastern Aleppo are out of service". FEAR The monitoring group said some hospitals were still operating in besieged parts of Aleppo but said many residents were frightened to use them because of the heavy shelling. Medical sources, residents and rebels in eastern Aleppo say hospitals have been damaged by air strikes and helicopter barrel bombs in recent days, including direct hits on the buildings. "The United States again joins our partners ... in demanding the immediate cessation of these bombardments and calling on Russia to immediately deescalate violence and facilitate humanitarian aid and access for the Syrian people," Rice said in a statement.Both Russia and Assad's government have denied deliberately targeting hospitals and other civilian infrastructure during the war, which began in 2011 and was joined by Russia's air force in September 2015. The charity Doctors Without Borders said in a message there had been more than 30 hits on hospitals in eastern Aleppo since early July. "Doctors are few and medical supplies are depleted, with no possibility of sending more supplies in," it said. Health and rescue workers have previously been able to bring damaged hospitals back into operation but a lack of supplies is making that harder. The Syrian war pits Assad and his allies Russia, Iran and Shi'ite militias against Sunni rebels including groups supported by the United States, Turkey and the Gulf monarchies and also jihadist groups.Aleppo, for years split between a rebel-held east and government-held western sector, has become the fiercest front. During the summer, pro-government forces managed to besiege the districts held by insurgents which are home to about 270,000 people, according to the United Nations. Syrian state television said on Tuesday the air force had targeted "terrorist strongholds and supply depots" in Aleppo. Russia has said its air force is only conducting air strikes in other parts of Syria. The Damascus government describes all the rebels fighting it as terrorists.An army offensive backed by a major aerial bombardment from late September to late October killed hundreds, according to the United Nations, and tightened the siege, leaving eastern Aleppo with little food, medicine or fuel. A rebel counter-attack early this month involved shelling that killed dozens of civilians, the U.N. said, but it quickly petered out and the army and its allies, including Hezbollah and Iraqi militias, reversed all insurgent gains in about two weeks. (Editing by Gareth Jones) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. New York: Unfiltered racism being directed at Republican South Carolina Governor Nikki Randhwa Haley, a second generation Indian-American, is grotesque. The long knives are out for Haley after she met president-elect Donald Trump in Trump Towers in New York on Thursday amid mounting speculations that she could be his pick for a cabinet position. Ann Coulter, a vitriolic American conservative writer and author of "Adios, America: The Left's Plan to Turn Our Country into a Third World Hellhole," was furious that Haley was in the running for secretary of state, and immediately took to twitter to hurl racist insults at Haley. "If Trump wants an Indian Sec of State, how about Tonto?" Coulter tweeted to her over one million followers. If Trump wants an Indian Sec of State, how about Tonto? Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) November 17, 2016 Tonto is a fictional character, an ugly caricature of a grammar-challenged Native American, who was the loyal sidekick to the Texas Ranger who fought outlaws in the American Old West. Aside from Coulter's Tonto barb, she earlier told Fox News that Haley was a "bimbo" and Trump should deport Haley while vetting immigrants. "She is an Indian woman who was accidentally elected because she's pretty and isn't very bright," Coulter had said in January during a Fox News radio show where a shocked host John Gibson called out Coulter's racist and sexist comments. There may be unvarnished racists like Coulter who have called Haley everything from "rag head" to "bimbo," but saner voices in America have spoken up for Haley. Republican representative Mark Sanford said Haley had been a "very capable governor" and would do a good job as secretary of state if nominated. "I dont think the cabinet needs to look like a Benetton commercial, but I think that having folks of different ethnic backgrounds matters, particularly in that role, given were 5 percent of the worlds population and most of the world doesnt look like us," Sanford told MSNBC. Shes of Indian descent. I think that that would really matter. Haley made history as the first female and Indian-American governor of South Carolina. During this election cycle, she was critical of Trump and endorsed his former presidential rival Florida Senator Marco Rubio. In October, she became a late endorser of Trump saying she would vote for him even though she was "not a fan." "This is no longer a choice for me on personalities because I'm not a fan of either one," the 44-year old Indian-American governor said at a news conference while referring to Trump and Hillary Clinton. "What it is about is policy," Haley said. "So when I look at all of those, I come back to say that the best person based on the policies, and dealing with things like Obamacare, still is Donald Trump." A shooting star in the Republican Party, Haley who is in her second and final term as governor, was elected in 2010 as the youngest governor in the US. A daughter of Sikh parents who migrated from India and built a successful clothing company, Haley acknowledged her Indian roots while taking her oath of office. The Indian ambassador was a special guest at her swearing in ceremony in 2011 and Haley has worked with the Indian embassy in Washington to build trade ties with India. In 2014, Haley won re-election with the largest number of votes for a South Carolina gubernatorial candidate in over two decades. In her evocative memoir, Cant Is Not an Option, Haley has written about toughing it out and growing up Indian in a small conservative, monochromatic white town in South Carolina. New York: Vice President-elect Mike Pence on Friday was the latest high-profile person to attend the Broadway hit Hamilton, but he became the first to get a sharp message from a cast member from the stage. Actor Brandon Victor Dixon, who plays Aaron Burr, the nation's third vice-president, gave a speech Friday for his political descendant after the curtain call, telling Pence the multiracial and multicultural cast is worried about the Donald Trump administration. "We, sir, are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights," Dixon said. "We truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and work on behalf of all of us. All of us." Pence ducked out before Dixon finished the unprecedented message. But a show spokesman said the Republican stood in the hallway outside the entrance to the auditorium and heard the full remarks. The vice president-elect's appearance at the Richard Rodgers Theatre triggered both cheers and boos when he slipped into row F in the prime orchestra seats. "Vice President-elect Pence, I see you walking out, but I hope you will hear us, just a few more moments. There's nothing to boo here, ladies and gentlemen," Dixon said from the stage. "We're all here sharing a story about love." Outside, many protesters jeered, including one woman who held up a sign with a line from the musical that always gets a cheer: "Immigrants, we get the job done." Dixon's speech, which ended with a plea to donate to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, brought down the house. Hamilton, which won 11 Tony Awards, has been praised by politicians and rap stars alike, influenced the debate over the nation's currency and burst through the Broadway bubble like none other. Tonight, VP-Elect Mike Pence attended #HamiltonBway. After the show, @BrandonVDixon delivered the following statement on behalf of the show. pic.twitter.com/Jsg9Q1pMZs Hamilton (@HamiltonMusical) November 19, 2016 The first family has been big boosters of the show. President Barack Obama took daughters Sasha and Malia to see it last year after first lady Michelle Obama caught it last spring. Pence's predecessor, Vice-President Joe Biden, also has seen it. The show is by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the musical's book, music and lyrics. It stresses the orphan, immigrant roots of Hamilton and has a terrifically varied score, ranging from pop ballads to gospel to sexy R&B. It has been cheered for reclaiming the nation's founding story by a multicultural cast. The Alexander Hamilton that Pence saw was Javier Munoz, an openly gay actor. Pence supported numerous efforts to ban gay marriage as governor of Indiana and opposed unfettered federal funding for HIV and AIDS treatment. After Pence left, Jeffrey Seller, the show's lead producer, said he hopes the politician would share the show's message of empathy: "I hope that maybe it inspires him to feel for those not like him." Seller, a Tony Award winner who has produced such shows as Rent and Avenue Q, said such notable Republicans as former Vice-President Dick Cheney and presidential speechwriter Peggy Noonan have come to Hamilton. "This show is absolutely for Republicans as well as Democrats, and we would like to host any Republican who would like to see the show," he said. New York: Intelligence experts estimate that the Islamic State extremist group has between 60 and 80 operatives planted in Europe to carry out attacks, the Dutch counter-terrorism coordinator has said. Dick Schoof, in an interview with The Associated Press, said that would-be fighters are also heeding messages from the militant group "asking them not to come to Syria and Iraq, but to prepare attacks in Europe." One result is that over the last six months the number of "foreign terrorist fighters" hasn't grown, he said, but the fact that they're not traveling "does not mean that the potential threat of those who would have traveled is diminished." Schoof said military operations to oust the Islamic State from its self-declared caliphate in Syria and Iraq are scattering the extremist group's fighters and supporters. This will probably lead to a gradual increase of refugees that will pose a danger to the national security of the Netherlands and other European countries, he said. Schoof said even though the Netherlands hasn't been hit by a major attack by Islamic extremists such as those in Belgium and France, "the chance of attack in the Netherlands is real." "We have seen 294 terrorist fighters go overseas in Iraq and Syria and there are still 190 over there," he said. "And what happened in France and Brussels and Germany could happen to us." There are probably between 4,000 and 5,000 European "foreign terrorist fighters" in Iraq and Syria, Schoof said. While the number from the Netherlands, a nation of 17 million people, may seem low, he said, "whether there's 190 or 350, I think the number is big enough to worry." Schoof, who was in New York to speak at a roundtable on "returning foreign terrorist fighters," said the Netherlands' program to deal with the threat balances "repression and prevention" and relies on strong cooperation between local and national authorities. On the "repression" side, he said, fighters returning from Syria or Iraq are taken into custody and prosecuted, and courts have recently handed down six-year prison sentences in several cases. The government also takes away passports, freezes assets, and has beefed up security measures and the police force, he said. On the prevention side, Schoof said, there's a lot of family support, with local authorities deciding the best interventions and providing education and psychological help if needed but there also could be arrests. Jozias van Aartsen, the mayor of The Hague, said building trust and having close relations with the Muslim community is very important. "They are Dutch citizens," he said. "There are some in the Netherlands who say shut down mosques. That's absolutely wrong policy." But Van Aartsen said there is a need for vigilance. "The apparatus of local government can be very important as a watchdog against radicalization," he said. By Darya Korsunskaya, Svetlana Reiter and Vladimir Soldatkin | MOSCOW MOSCOW The arrest of Russia's economy minister on bribery charges has sown fear across the Moscow political elite that a wider purge may be coming of other senior officials.Several officials who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity described a febrile atmosphere inside government ministries following the detention of Alexei Ulyukayev, the first serving cabinet minister to be arrested in decades.Russia's Vedomosti newspaper, citing an unnamed senior security source, published names of other officials that it said had been under surveillance by domestic intelligence agencies looking for evidence of graft.They included Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich and an aide to Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov. Representatives of Dvorkovich and Shuvalov did not respond to requests for comment.Asked about further repercussions, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he saw no connection between the Ulyukayev case and others in the government, and that only investigators could say if other officials were under surveillance. The investigative committee, the state body which investigates major crimes, denied in a statement that it had other suspects in the case and said media reports about further arrests were ill-informed. But officials say privately that they believe more arrests may be coming. One government official drew a parallel with purges of senior Communist Party figures in the Soviet Union, which often ended with the victims shot or sent to a labour camp. He noted that state investigators had said Ulyukayev had been under secret surveillance for a year before his detention, and said this was contributing to the wider sense of fear. "All of us now are under scrutiny," he said.Some of his acquaintances had considered leaving the state bureaucracy, but they were fearful this would not make them immune from arrest, he said: "You can't run away." ROSNEFT ROLE Ulyukayev has been charged with extorting $2 million in bribes. He is under house arrest pending trial. His lawyer, Timofei Gridnyev, said his client denied the charges.The anxiety among the ruling elite, officials said privately, was fuelled in part by the circumstances of Ulyukayev's arrest, which took place inside the offices of the state oil firm Rosneft, whose boss Igor Sechin has clashed with Ulyukayev and other top officials over policy.They said this sent a message that the prosecution was backed by Sechin, a powerful lieutenant of President Vladimir Putin, and so was likely to be pursued forcefully. Russian prosecutors have publicly acknowledged that Rosneft played a role in Ulyukayev's case, saying the company alerted investigators in a timely fashion to evidence of wrongdoing.According to a law enforcement source and a government source, investigators have been collaborating for months with one member of Sechin's security detail, ex-intelligence officer Oleg Feoktistov, to build a case against Ulyukayev.A Rosneft spokesman did not respond to a request for comment on the company's role in the case, or the roles of its boss Sechin and his bodyguard Feoktistov. Sechin and Feoktistov could not be reached directly.Several government sources who spoke about the case to Reuters said there was no evidence that Sechin or Rosneft had any motive in assisting the investigation beyond helping fight corruption.Sechin's Rosneft became Russia's biggest oil company early in Putin's rule after swallowing assets seized by the state from Yukos, a privatised firm whose boss Mikhail Khordokovsky was jailed for fraud. Sechin has known Putin for decades and has never denied reports that he, like Putin, served years ago overseas as a Soviet spy. He is considered one of the leading figures in the Kremlin faction of former security forces veterans given top jobs running state companies under Putin.The United States has put him on a sanctions blacklist as a member of Putin's inner circle culpable for Russia's military intervention in Ukraine.While no evidence has been publicly produced that Ulyukayev was framed, that has not stopped many officials inside government ministries from reaching the conclusion that other foes of Sechin could be next.Ulyukayev, along with other senior figures in the government of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, had tried to block Rosneft's plans to take over a smaller state owned oil company, Bashneft.Some sources in the government or close to it told Reuters on condition of anonymity that they believed Sechin was pursuing a vendetta against people close to Medvedev.Said one: "It's a message to other ministers. 'If you keep arguing back, you'll end up in the same place'" as Ulyukayev ended up.Medvedev's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Additional reporting by Anastasia Lyrchikova, Olesya Astakhova, Denis Pinchuk, Katya Golubkova and Tatiana Ustinova; writing by Christian Lowe; editing by Peter Graff) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Lima: Barack Obama begins the final foreign visit of his eight-year presidency Saturday in Peru, facing tough questions from assembled Pacific leaders about Donald Trump's election victory. Obama is in Lima for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit that is likely to focus heavily on Trump's shock victory. On Saturday, he will meet leaders of the 12-country Trans- Pacific Partnership, or TPP, which Trump has opposed and now faces an uncertain future. White House officials admit the chances of passing the deal are slim, but Obama will urge leaders to give the new president time to formulate policy. From Obama down, officials have stressed that US economic and strategic interests have not changed as a result of the election, and Trump may yet recalibrate his views. "It's only been 10 days since the election," said US Trade Representative Michael Froman. He warned of "serious" strategic and economic costs if the United States walks away from the deal, designed to be a cornerstone of US influence in the Asia-Pacific region. But there is little chance of Trump's Republican allies in Congress ratifying TPP anytime soon. "I think that is a real blow to US interests, economically and strategically, in terms of our position in Asia, but I think that is the reality, that the US is not going to be participating," said Matthew Goodman, an expert on Asian economics with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "But there are 11 other countries in TPP and I think that it is possible that they will agree to go ahead and pass TPP," he said in an interview, adding that they could "tweak" the agreement to keep it alive without the US. Some allies are turning their attention to a rival Chinese-backed free trade agreement. Japanese leader Shinzo Abe, who took domestic political risks to back the US trade deal, visited Trump in New York on Thursday to hear from the president-elect himself. Trump has sparked concern in Japan and South Korea in particular by questioning decades-old mutual defense obligations that underpin their security. Ahead of Obama's visit, National Security Advisor Susan Rice told AFP allies should expect those obligations to hold. "It is manifestly in the United States's interests for these alliances to endure and to be a source of confidence to our partners and for them to understand that they don't need to come out from under the US umbrella," she said. While stressing that she did not want to speculate about Trump's foreign policy, she sought to reassure key US allies in Nato and the Pacific Rim that they will not be abandoned. Many Pacific nations are clamoring for deeper trade ties with the rest of the world. PRISTINA A Kosovo opposition activist found dead in his cell this month committed suicide and no one else was involved, a prosecutor said on Friday.Astrit Dehari's death triggered street protests after his nationalist Vetevendosje (VV) party called it murder, accused the government of failing to protect him and demanded an investigation."All the evidence ... shows that this case was a suicide, prosecutor Syle Hoxha told journalists late on Friday.Dehari, 26, was arrested with five other members of the hardline nationalist party in September on suspicion of being involved in a rocket-propelled-grenade attack on parliament. The attack was launched as lawmakers were preparing to vote on a border deal with neighbouring Montenegro, a condition of getting visa-free access to the European Union. No one was injured. VV, the largest opposition party, opposes the deal, saying it hands over about 8,000 hectares of Kosovo territory to Montenegro.Prosecutor Hoxha said authorities had examined all the video footage and questioned 17 people. But they had found no evidence or a crime. (Reporting by Fatos Bytyci; Editing by Andrew Heavens) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Stephanie Nebehay and Julie Steenhuysen | GENEVA/CHICAGO GENEVA/CHICAGO The World Health Organization on Friday declared that Zika no longer constitutes an international emergency, but it stressed a need for a long-term effort to address the virus, which has been linked to birth defects and neurological complications.Officials on WHO's Emergency Committee made clear the Zika still constitutes a global public health threat. They warned the virus, which has been found in 60 countries since the outbreak was identified last year in Brazil, will continue to spread where mosquitoes that carry the virus are present.Removing the international emergency designation will put Zika in a class with other diseases, such as dengue, that pose serious risks and require continued research, including efforts to develop effective vaccines.But some public health experts worried that losing the "international emergency" label could slow research into the virus, which continues to cause infections in the United States and elsewhere.WHO in February declared Zika a public health emergency of international concern - a designation under international law that compels countries to report outbreaks. The moved was part of an effort to determine if Zika was linked to reports in Brazil of the severe birth defect microcephaly and the neurological disorder Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Traditionally, Zika had only been thought to cause mild symptoms.That goal has been met, said Dr David Heymann, chair of the Zika Emergency Committee and a professor of infectious disease at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, in a conference call with reporters following the committee meeting in Geneva.Because research has now shown that Zika and microcephaly are linked, "the committee felt that what is best now is a very robust technical response to the virus, and that would require work within WHO," he said.The U.N. health agency maintained recommendations including that people exposed to the Zika virus should take preventive measures for six months to avoid sexual transmission."It remains crucially important that pregnant women avoid travelling to areas with local transmission of Zika, because of the devastating complications that can occur in foetuses that become infected during pregnancy," the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said in a statement. Some experts, expressed concern that losing the "international emergency" designation might result in less support for research into the virus."I think WHO's decision is unwise," said Lawrence Gostin, a global health law expert from Georgetown University."Although Zika's spread has waned, it still holds the potential for an explosive epidemic. If it were to reemerge in the Americas or jump to another part of the world, it would significantly threaten a new generation of children born with disabilities such as microcephaly."Gostin said the international response to Zika has been "lethargic" and WHO's decision will give countries even less reason to invest in preparedness and research.At the press conference, Dr. Peter Salama, executive director of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme, insisted that WHO is "not downgrading the importance of Zika." By framing Zika as a longer program of work, Salama said, "we are sending the message that Zika is here to stay and WHO's response is here to stay in a very robust manner."Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, said public health emergency declarations help direct the world's attention to a disease, and the Zika emergency designation accomplished that goal.But much work remains to be done, including the development of a vaccine, he added. The removal of the emergency declaration "doesn't change that fact." BRAZIL HARD HIT There have been some 2,300 confirmed cases worldwide of babies born with microcephaly, most in Brazil, but the figure is most likely a "significant under-estimate", Salama said.Heymann said the Brazilian government is conducting studies to look for additional factors that could explain the high number of cases there, particularly in the northeastern part of the country, but so far those studies have turned up nothing.Salama said 28 countries and territories have now reported microcephaly and 19 countries have reported Guillain-Barre Syndrome. He said it is "very likely we will see many reports of microcephaly, including countries in Latin America such as Guatemala and Colombia."The U.S. CDC said WHO's announcement does not change the urgent need to better understand Zika's impact on foetuses and infants, to develop better diagnostics and to make vaccines that can prevent infection and spread of disease. (additional reporting by Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago; editing by Catherine Evans and Cynthia Osterman) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Google had initially rolled out Google Play Store to some Chromebooks soon after the Google I/O event. The only Chromebook with Android app support was the Asus Chromebook Flip previously. However, after a long gap, the company started rolling out developer update to Chrome OS that will support Android app to some Chromebooks including Dell Chromebook 13, HP 13, Samsung Chromebook 3, and ASUS C301SA users. Moreover, the Google has also promised to roll out the update for wide range of Chromebook in future. In order to have access to Google Play Store, the user needs to upgrade to the developer channel. In order to run the developer version of Chrome OS, you need to head on to About Chrome OS -> More info -> Change channel and select the developer channel. Once you change, the device automatically installs the update and prompt you to restart it immediately. However, the developer version is not stable and you might face issues time to time as well. Before installing this update, make sure to back backup your important files. Source | Via Being a great investor requires finding the most promising companies in places where most people aren't looking. Whether you choose companies in beaten-down industries, obscure stocks that fly under the radar, or well-known industry giants that are hiding in plain sight, the ability to identify investment opportunities that have what it takes to produce strong returns can make a huge difference in your investing results. Below, we take a look at Sherwin-Williams (SHW -0.11%), Kohl's (KSS -3.77%), and Nucor (NUE 2.38%) as promising stocks that many people haven't looked at closely. Don't ignore this stock's recent 12% drop Neha Chamaria (Sherwin-Williams Co.): Sherwin-Williams' stock has lost almost 12% in the past three months, with much of the drop coming after the paint maker announced its third-quarter earnings on Oct. 25. It isn't hard to see why: Sherwin-Williams' sales and earnings per share grew only about 4% and 3% each year over year, missing analysts' estimates. The company also downgraded its full-year earnings guidance. So why should you still consider Sherwin-Williams? For two reasons: expanding same-store sales and strong growth plans. Sherwin-Williams' same-store sales from its core paints business climbed 5% during the first nine months of the year, which means the company is generating higher sales from stores that have been open for more than a year. That's pretty good, considering that Sherwin-Williams opened 55 new paint stores during the period. In other words, Sherwin-Williams' top line is growing because customers are flocking to its stores and not just because it has added new stores. That store expansion also highlights Sherwin-Williams' focus on growth. But all eyes are on its impending acquisition of Valspar, a deal that will expand Sherwin-Williams' global footprint substantially, especially in the high-potential Asia-Pacific region. It's worth mentioning here that costs associated with the acquisition were partly responsible for Sherwin-Williams' muted Q3 earnings and lower guidance. But beyond that, Sherwin-Williams' expects the acquisition to save $280 million in annual costs by 2018 and be immediately accretive to earnings. Meanwhile, Sherwin-Williams might offer a small dividend yield of 1.3%, but investors can sleep well at night knowing it's a Dividend Aristocrat that has raised its dividend for 37 consecutive years. Chances are, you wouldn't want to overlook Sherwin-Williams anymore, especially after its recent drop. A department store worth buying Tim Green (Kohl's Corp.): Shares of department store Kohl's soared after the company reported its third-quarter results. While revenue and comparable sales continued to slump, there was plenty of good news. Per-share adjusted earnings grew, driven by a decline in operating expense and share buybacks, and CEO Kevin Mansell pointed to encouraging trends as the company enters the holiday season. Kohl's, like many retailers, is struggling to attract customers to its stores. This doesn't seem to be a problem specific to Kohl's, instead plaguing many of its peers as well, including Macy's and Nordstrom. Kohl's has been able to manage costs and inventory effectively, and its ample cash flow has fueled share buybacks that have knocked down the share count substantially. The company still expects to produce as much as $4 in adjusted earnings per share this year, putting the stock price at about 13 times earnings. Kohl's is no longer expanding its store base, but that doesn't mean that it can't be a good investment. Many investors have completely overlooked retailers, and department stores in general, due to widespread weakness. Kohl's stock has been in a funk for more than a year, but the company has shown that it can maintain profitability despite weak sales. With a potentially solid holiday season ahead, Kohl's is an overlooked stock to consider. Steel your resolve to find great stocks Dan Caplinger (Nucor): The steel industry got hit hard in recent years, and Nucor was among the many stocks in the industry that suffered as a result. A decline in the amount of construction and infrastructure activity worldwide, especially in formerly hot emerging-market economies like China, sent steel prices down sharply, and that led to falling revenue and difficulties in earning profits for many players in the steel industry. However, Nucor has stood out in the steel industry because of its ability to remain profitable even when other steel producers were taking massive losses. Nucor's electric arc technology distinguishes it from other players in the industry, many of which use blast furnaces that aren't as easy to bring into and out of production when industry conditions warrant such changes. Nucor also has negotiated terms with its employees that many feel are more favorable than what other steelmakers face. Going forward, Nucor's ability to use scrap metal rather than raw iron ore pellets will be an advantage when iron ore prices recover. Nucor has quietly risen more than 50% so far in 2016, but it still pays a 2.5% dividend and has a track record of more than 40 years of consecutive dividend increases. For those who believe that industrial America is due for a bounce, Nucor looks like it's in prime position to benefit. Fortune ranks her as the second most powerful woman in business today. The publication also ranks her as the 14th most powerful woman in the entire world. The company she runs occupies the 44th position on the Fortune 500 list. Simply said, PepsiCo (PEP -0.45%) Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi needs no introduction. After a hugely successful career, Nooyi took the helm at the beverage giant in late 2006. In her more than a decade at the helm, Nooyi has more than doubled PepsiCo's revenue while also aggressively diversifying the company's product portfolio as demand for healthier foods upended the industry. Like Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, Indra Nooyi is a leading voice on leadership, business, and diversity in the workplace. Here are nine inspirational and interesting quotes from Indra Nooyi that will make you a more insightful investor and person. Indra Nooyi quotes on leadership Without question, Nooyi's work ethic and personal leadership have been fundamental in making her the great CEO she is today. Nooyi's family played a critical role in cementing her legendary work ethic. Growing up in India, if the young Nooyi claimed she was unable to perform a task, her grandfather would reportedly make her write "I will not make excuses" 200 times. In light of this, it should come as no surprise that Nooyi's deeply instilled sense of responsibility remains as fierce as ever, a sentiment she captures nicely in the following two quotes: The distance between number one and number two is always a constant. If you want to improve the organization, you have to improve yourself and the organization gets pulled up with you. That is a big lesson. I cannot just expect the organization to improve if I don't improve myself and lift the organization, because that distance is a constant. Just because you are CEO, don't think you have landed. You must continually increase your learning, the way you think, and the way you approach the organization. I've never forgotten that. This hands-on management style has served Nooyi well at a time of great upheaval for the broader beverage and snack food industry. Steering PepsiCo toward a healthier and more diversified mix of products required that Nooyi gain the support of her employees throughout the company. Indeed, Nooyi views the ability to inspire people as one of the most important qualities of a leader: Leadership is hard to define and good leadership even harder. But if you can get people to follow you to the ends of the earth, you are a great leader. Indra Nooyi on women and minorities in business As a woman and a minority in an executive role, Nooyi is uniquely qualified to speak about the racial and gender disparities in the workplace. Interestingly, though, Nooyi's traditional Indian upbringing can at times make her viewpoints seem at odds with more common perspectives toward diversity in the workplace, as the following quote illustrates: What I would not do is flaunt my Indianness by wearing a saree to work every day, because it distracts from the job. So, I would not do that. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Social events are different. If I feel comfortable in a saree for a social event, I wear it. Nooyi's characteristic brutal honesty also extends to women's ability to balance career achievement with family life. In discussing Anne-Marie Slaughter's article "Why Women Still Can't Have It All" in 2014, Nooyi expressed her views on work-life balance for women, echoing the sentiment of the original article: I don't think women can have it all. I just don't think so. We pretend we have it all. We pretend we can have it all. My husband and I have been married for 34 years. And we have two daughters. And every day you have to make a decision about whether you are going to be a wife or a mother, in fact many times during the day you have to make those decisions. However, this isn't to say Nooyi holds a negative view of diversity in the workplace. Case in point, she fully recognized the benefits of leveraging the diverse perspective of all PepsiCo employees to help improve the company: Most companies target women as end users, but few are effectively utilizing female employees when it comes to innovating for female consumers. When women are empowered in the design and innovation process, the likelihood of success in the marketplace improves by 144%! Indra Nooyi on business and PepsiCo PepsiCo's place in the middle of the public health crisis surrounding obesity also makes the CEO an interesting public figure. Rather than skirt the issue, Nooyi prefers to meet the challenge head-on: One of the world's biggest public health challenges, a challenge fundamentally linked to our industry: obesity. However, as the head of one of the world's largest soda companies, Nooyi cannot simply shutter the sugary products to which PepsiCo owes its roots. Instead, she advocates meeting somewhere in the middle, as you can see here: We make a portfolio of products, some of which are "fun for you" and some of which are "good for you." We sell sugary beverages and chips, but we also have Quaker Oats, Tropicana, Naked Juice, and Izze. We're reducing the salt, sugar, and fat in the core products. And we've dialed up the good-for-you offerings because societal needs have changed. In a broader sense, the actual process of overhauling PepsiCo's product offerings also contained lessons about how the business world as a whole has changed in recent years. Echoing a consistent refrain among business leaders today, Nooyi believes that the pace of innovation and disruption has accelerated, as the following words demonstrate: It's been a long time since you could talk about sustainable competitive advantage. The cycles are shortened. The rule used to be that you'd reinvent yourself once every seven to 10 years. Now it's every two to three years. There's constant reinvention: how you do business, how you deal with the customer. With her decades of experience at the highest levels of the corporate world, PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi is uniquely qualified to discuss business, leadership, and diversity in the workplace. Understanding these important issues is critical for investors everywhere, so hopefully you found these Indra Nooyi quotes interesting and informative. What happened Oil prices rallied this week, ending Friday up more than 3% on renewed hope that OPEC members would come to a deal to cut and cap crude output. That ended a run of four straight weekly declines and ignited a rally in oil stocks. That said, rising crude prices were far from the only catalysts driving oil stocks higher this week, and the biggest gainers each had company-specific positives that accelerated their rallies. Those stocks, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, were Western Refining (WNR), Aegean Marine Petroleum (NYSE: ANW), California Resources (CRC), EP Energy (EPE), and Enerplus (ERF 0.06%): So what Western Refining led the way this week after fellow refiner Tesoro (ANDV) bought it in a cash-and-stock deal that valued it at $6.4 billion. The transaction will create a refining, marketing, and logistics leader that will control 6% of the country's refining capacity. Tesoro believes that the deal will be 10% to 13% accretive to earnings per share by 2018, while driving robust growth opportunities going forward, especially for crude oil logistics assets in the Permian Basin. Fueling Aegean Marine Petroleum's rally were its expectations-beating third-quarter results. The company earned $0.36 per share, which was $0.03 higher than the consensus forecast, due to rising oil prices and higher sales volumes. Further, the company sees the potential for stronger sales ahead due to the increase in the Baltic Dry Index, which suggests that dry bulk traffic could soon begin to grow, which would lead to more fueling opportunities for Aegean Marine Petroleum. California Resources' stock jumped this week after George Soros revealed that he had purchased a stake in the oil producer. While Soros only opened a small position, and it was just one of several oil stocks he bought last quarter, the purchase was viewed as showing his confidence in the company's future. While rising oil prices helped fuel EP Energy's move this week, the company also benefited from an action it took to bolster its liquidity. On Wednesday, the company announced that it was offering $350 million of senior notes due in 2023 to pay down its revolving credit facility as well as for general corporate purposes. However, thanks to healthy market demand, it upsized that offering a day later to $500 million and extended the maturity to 2024. One factor driving that demand was the fact that EP Energy's credit rating agency changed its credit outlook from negative to stable because the new notes would boost the company's liquidity and support its ability to increase capital spending next year. Finally, Canadian oil and gas company Enerplus jumped after reporting solid third-quarter results and a positive outlook for 2017. One of the highlights of the quarter was the company's success at pushing its operating costs down 25% year over year. In addition to that, Enerplus released its preliminary guidance for 2017, saying it sees liquids production increasing by 15%, driven by 25% production growth in North Dakota. Enerplus expects to achieve that healthy growth rate while remaining within cash flow at $50 oil, thanks to its ability to cut costs. Now what The oil sector is starting to grow a bit more optimistic that OPEC will get its deal done, which should lead to a better oil price environment next year. That is optimism is enabling some oil companies to raise capital due to increased investor support, while others are growing more confident about releasing growth-focused forecasts. That said, there's still a concern that the OPEC deal could fall through, which would detail this enthusiasm, especially if the cartel members reverse course and unexpectedly boost output. Pardon the pun, but the marijuana industry is growing like a weed. Heading into Election Day, half of the country had already approved medical cannabis, and another four states (along with Washington, D.C.) had approved the sale of recreational pot. After Election Day, four more states had gained recreational approval (California, Nevada, Maine, and Massachusetts), while residents in Florida, North Dakota, and Arkansas approved their respective medical cannabis initiatives/amendments. According to New Frontier Data, in partnership with ArcView Group, the legal weed industry could be worth $21 billion by 2020, up from an estimated $7.9 billion in 2016. We only need to look at rapidly changing opinions on marijuana to understand why we're witnessing a "green revolution." National pollster Gallup, which has measured public opinion on pot from time to time over nearly five decades, found in its 2016 survey that 60% of respondents want to see it legalized nationally, an all-time high. It's also more than double the 25% approval rating cannabis received just two decades ago. Even the pot industry has its shortcomings But marijuana's expansion hasn't been without its fair share of speed bumps. In August, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency denied two petitions that would have possibly rescheduled cannabis. The DEA cited a lack of understanding of the safety of the drug, minimal understanding of its chemical makeup, and a lack of clinical evidence of its medical benefits, as reasons why it was choosing to leave its scheduling unchanged. Keeping pot as a schedule 1 substance means it remains federally illegal and is not recognized as having medical benefits. This DEA decision also perpetuated two substantial disadvantages for the industry, including an inability for marijuana-based companies to take normal business deductions on their taxes and a difficulty in securing basic banking services ranging from checking accounts to lines of credit. Both factors work to slow the pot industry's expansion efforts. Last week, in the wake of election euphoria, the marijuana industry hit yet another speed bump. This study could leave marijuana users "heartbroken" At the annual scientific conference of the American Heart Association, researchers from St. Luke's University Hospital Network released their findings from a large, backward-looking clinical study. Needless to say, the findings may be a bit "heartbreaking" for regular marijuana users. Lead investigator Dr. Amitoj Singh and his team attempted to connect the dots to see whether there was a link between marijuana use and stress cardiomyopathy. Stress cardiomyopathy is a sudden weakening of the heart muscle that can affect its ability to pump blood throughout the body. As the name implies, it's often brought about from emotional or physical stress, and in rarer cases can lead to more serious effects, such as cardiac arrest. Using National Inpatient Sample data between 2003 and 2011, researchers analyzed patient admissions and outcomes with stress cardiomyopathy, paying close attention to those cases where the patient was an identified marijuana user. In all, 33,343 patients were examined, 210 of which were noted marijuana users. What the researchers found were two very distinct groups. On one hand, the non-users with stress cardiomyopathy tended to be older women who had a host of cardiovascular risk factors to begin with, such as diabetes, hypertension, and hyperthyroidism. However, the marijuana users were typically young males with far fewer cardiovascular risk factors. The researchers noted that the marijuana users were three times as likely (2.4% vs. 0.8%) to go into cardiac arrest than the patients who didn't use marijuana, and they were four times more likely (2.4% vs. 0.6%) to require an implanted defibrillator to detect and correct an abnormal heart rhythm compared to non-users. With this initial data, researchers were able to dig a bit deeper and exclude all of the known causes of stress cardiomyopathy to establish that marijuana itself could be the cause. Their findings showed that weed led to an almost two times-greater likelihood of stress cardiomyopathy. At the same time, Singh and his team also note that some of the marijuana users smoked tobacco and other illicit substances, too, so pointing the blame solely at marijuana may be premature. According to Singh, "This is a retrospective study, so we cannot determine causation. Further research is needed to evaluate this study, especially considering the current increase of recreational marijuana in our country." A fitting reminder of the challenges that lie ahead Even though the researchers at St. Luke's University Hospital Network were crystal clear that more analysis needs to be conducted, this study, like the many before it, stands as a glaring reason why Congress and the DEA aren't likely to legalize medical cannabis anytime soon. One of the more interesting Catch-22s of pot is that lawmakers on Capitol Hill want to see more all-encompassing clinical data that lays out the benefit and risk profile of the drug. Yet the restrictive nature of weed's scheduling makes it very difficult for universities and researchers to get their hands on the drug to conduct tests. Further, even if tests are conducted, they're not likely to be accepted as valid by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This one-door-leads-to-another approach could slow down medical marijuana's progress at the federal level for years to come. Even if medical cannabis is rescheduled, it isn't necessarily a reason to jump for joy. Rescheduling marijuana could mean putting the drug under the strict regulation of the FDA. The FDA has the power to control marketing and packaging, and would almost assuredly oversee the growing and processing of medical cannabis -- and most importantly, it could require that strictly controlled and costly clinical trials be run to confirm the purported medical benefits of pot. Small businesses would probably struggle to survive in such a high cost regulatory environment. Thus while it may be encouraging to see America "go green," it's important that as investors we embrace a longer view. Namely, that the marijuana industry still has plenty of hurdles to overcome before it's a long-term, viable, and investable business model. Virginia's top state income tax rate of 5.75% is toward the lower end of states that have an income tax, but with the maximum rate applied to all taxable income above $17,000, it's fair to say that most people will pay this rate. Fortunately, there are several Virginia-specific tax breaks that can save you money, and here are three you definitely don't want to miss. A double tax benefit for college savings An excellent way for Americans to save for college expenses is a 529 savings plan. As I've written before, these plans work like a Roth IRA in the sense that contributions are not deductible on the federal level, but any qualified withdrawals are tax-free. Some states offer additional tax incentives for 529 savers, and Virginia happens to be one of them. The Virginia529 inVEST plan allows contributions of up to $4,000 per account, per year to be excluded from the contributor's Virginia income. This gives participants a double tax benefit, with a deduction on some of their contributions and tax-free withdrawals for qualifying expenses. Virginia's 529 plan has some rather attractive features in addition to the tax benefits. For starters, its $500,000 account limit is among the most generous in the country and should take care of four years' worth of expenses at pretty much any college in the U.S. Additionally, the plan's investment options have relatively low expense ratios in the range of 0.04% to 0.67% and a management fee of just 0.10%, so more of your investment gains stay in your account. Long-term care insurance Virginia offered a tax credit for long-term care insurance premiums, but it was repealed in 2013. Fortunately, these expenses are still deductible from your federal adjusted gross income (AGI) for Virginia state tax purposes. To be eligible for the deduction, the expenses in question must not have already been claimed as a deduction on your federal tax return. Long-term care insurance premiums are considered a medical expense, and all taxpayers who itemize can deduct medical expenses in excess of 10% of their AGI (7.5% if over 65). At Virginia's top tax rate, this implies a discount of $57.50 for every $1,000 in long-term care insurance premiums paid, for most taxpayers. As I've written before, long-term care insurance can be a great idea to protect your retirement savings, even before any tax incentives. Child and dependent care If you were eligible to claim a credit for child and dependent care expenses on your federal tax return, you are also eligible to deduct those expenses on your Virginia state tax return. The limits for the deduction are the same as the limits for the credit -- $3,000 for one dependent, and $6,000 for two or more. Here's an overview of the federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit and its eligibility requirements, but in a nutshell, the credit is worth 20% to 35% of your qualified expenses, up to the limits. To be eligible, the child must be under 13 years old, and you must be working, looking for work, or attending school full-time while the expenses were incurred. One potential mistake to avoid is entering the federal credit amount on your Virginia return instead of your actual child care expenses. For example, if your federal credit is 20% of $3,000 in expenses, this translates to $600. However, be sure to enter the $3,000 on your Virginia tax return, not $600. Doing so could cost you over $100 in Virginia taxes you shouldn't have to pay. Take advantage These tax breaks can be pretty lucrative, so be sure to take advantage. This is especially true if you have been saving for your child's education in another type of account, or have been putting off getting long-term care insurance. By saving in a 529 plan and taking advantage of the long-term care and child and dependent care deductions, you could put hundreds of dollars back in your pocket every year. Merrill Edge Self-Directed Best for: Customer support Merrill Edge is a solid choice for virtually any type of retirement brokerage account, with a wide variety of account types and thousands of no-transaction-fee mutual funds. Merrill Edge is an especially good fit for Bank of America customers, as the bank owns Merrill and the investment side is well integrated with the banking functionality of its platform. TD Ameritrade Best for: Research With a full suite of educational and research offerings available, investors looking for any type of retirement brokerage account should enjoy TD Ameritrade. TD Ameritrade has excellent customer support, no minimum deposits, and one of the best selections of no-transaction-fee mutual funds in the industry. The broker's web-based and mobile trading platforms are very easy to learn, and more advanced investors will appreciate TD Ameritrade's thinkorswim software. Ally Invest Best for: Low fees Ally Invest is a good broker for investors who want a simplified, user-friendly investment platform, especially those who want to invest in mutual funds, as Ally's standard $9.95 commission is one of the lowest in the industry. Ally is a full-service bank as well, so it could be a smart choice for investors who want to keep their banking and investment accounts at the same institution. SoFi Invest Best for: Low fees Investors who need a traditional, Roth, or SEP-IRA and want a high-tech, fully integrated financial app to manage their investments and banking needs should take a look at SoFi Invest. With no minimum deposits, the ability to buy fractional shares of stock, and a user-friendly platform, SoFi is an especially good choice for investors who want to get started with their retirement accounts. SoFi is most appropriate for investors who want to invest in stocks and ETFs, as the platform doesn't currently support mutual funds and bonds. E*TRADE Best for: Mobile platform E*Trade is an excellent choice for investors who want a retirement account with tons of investment options and educational resources. E*TRADE offers many different retirement account types, has thousands of fee-free mutual funds, and even has a network of physical branch offices for investors who need face-to-face guidance. For investors who don't want to choose individual stocks and funds for themselves, E*TRADE offers a terrific robo-advisor platform as well. Fidelity Best for: Investors Investors who want a full-featured brokerage account for their retirement savings need look no further than Fidelity. Fidelity offers plenty of retirement account types, lots of no-commission mutual funds (including Fidelity's own), access to international stock exchanges, and the ability to buy fractional shares of stocks. It also has an extensive branch network for investors who want face-to-face guidance. Charles Schwab Best for: Retirement investors Investors who want a full-featured broker with lots of investment options and account types for their retirement savings may find a good fit with Charles Schwab. Investors can buy fractional shares of stock, plenty of no-commission mutual funds, and can also take advantage of Schwab's full suite of banking products like checking accounts and credit cards in the same place as their retirement accounts. Schwab also has about 340 branch offices, making it an excellent choice for investors who may want face-to-face help. Vanguard Best for: Index funds Investors who want to use mutual funds extensively in their retirement strategies should appreciate Vanguard. Vanguard offers thousands of no-transaction-fee mutual funds, including its own low-cost index funds (which are rarely on fee-free lists elsewhere). Vanguard has several retirement account types, and also allows investors to buy and sell stocks, ETFs, and options. Losses have piled up at the $533 million Ninh Binh plant, with a thousand workers facing an uncertain future. Ninh Binh fertilizer plant, built and run by state-owned chemical group Vinachem, has been mostly empty and quiet over the past few months. Despite an investment of more than half a billion dollars, the plant has not been making money, with the future of its 1,000 workers hanging on the line. The plant, along with four other ineffective projects, could be sold or put through bankruptcy proceedings to protect the state assets, Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh told legislators on November 15. The ministry is reportedly working with the government and will make a decision soon. Construction of the plant began in 2008 with a total investment of VND12 trillion ($533 million). The state-owned chemical corporation Vinachem chose a Chinese company as the main contractor. The project went into operation in 2012, aiming at providing 560,000 tons of urea fertilizers per year for the entire northern region. However, between 2012 and early this year, losses have piled up to VND2 trillion ($88 million), which is attributed to high production costs amid falling prices on the market. Equipment and machinery imported from China break down frequently, requiring huge repair costs. In March this year, the plant suspended operations to repair its production lines, causing 400 employees to be out of work. The plant resumed production again in June, but at only 60 percent of the designed capacity. Hundreds or workers have remained jobless. Entrance doors are rarely open. Multiple production lines and warehouses havent been used for months. The on-site dock where raw materials and fertilizers are shippped in and out is quiet now. Two conveyor belts connecting the docks and the plant have also stopped working. Vinachem has called for help from the government but there's no solution. Related news: > As Vietnam probes yet another loss-making state firm, former exec disappears > Heavy losses force Vinachem to close fertilizer plant Canadian manufacturers want their access to the U.S. market protected at all costs if Canada renegotiates the NAFTA trade deal with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, even if that means losing the trilateral partnership with Mexico. Amid fears a Trump administration will tear up the North American Free Trade Agreement, the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters group is lobbying Canada's Liberal government to prioritize the U.S.-Canada trade relationship, saying a bilateral side deal with Mexico could be worked out separately. "We spoke to our members, and based on trade stats alone, the priority has to be the U.S. market," said Mathew Wilson, senior vice president at the CME, which represents some 10,000 manufacturers. Some 75 percent of Canadian exports go to the United States. "Mexico is still an important market for Canadian exporters and bilateral business, but if anything did happen with NAFTA, we expect the Canadian government would be able to, fairly quickly, negotiate a deal with both Mexico and Canada," Wilson added. The group has reached out to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and is in discussions with Canadian trade officials to ensure the U.S. market remains open to Canadian exporters, whose business is enmeshed with U.S. manufacturers after 22 years under NAFTA. Trump railed against NAFTA during his campaign, calling it a U.S. job killer. The leaders of Mexico and Canada will hold talks this weekend on the potential impact a Trump presidency could have on NAFTA. Trudeau said last week he was "more than happy to talk about" NAFTA, a day after Canada's ambassador to the United States said Ottawa would be "happy" to renegotiate the trade pact. Wilson said some 100 Canadian manufacturers and exporters participated in a conference call with U.S. manufacturers the day after the Nov. 8 U.S. election to plan the sector's next steps. In a letter to Trudeau, the group said: "Canada must focus its efforts on ensuring continued access to this critical market and on the opportunities that Mr. Trump's presidency will offer." Mexico was not mentioned in the three-page letter. But Canada's auto sector, which is heavily integrated with both the U.S. and Mexican industries, said only a trilateral deal would work for Canadian automakers and parts suppliers. "It (the North American auto industry) really only works if there are no borders," said Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association, which represents Canadian independent parts makers. "A revision of NAFTA for the auto sector - there's likely zero support for it." (Additional reporting by Allison Lampert in Montreal; Editing by Peter Cooney) BEDMINSTER, N.J., Nov 19 (Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump will meet on Sunday with billionaire investor Wilbur Ross, a possible candidate for commerce secretary in the new administration, a spokesman for Trump's transition team said on Saturday. Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, will also meet with others on Sunday, including New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Kris Kobach, the Kansas secretary of state and architect of anti-immigration efforts who says he is advising Trump on immigration issues. A Trump transition team official said a senior appointment could be announced soon. (Reporting by Steve Holland; Writing by Alistair Bell; Editing by Leslie Adler) They could have made their point and actually helped unify the country. But no, the cast of Hamilton had to demonstrate they were self-centered left-wingers without courtesy or discretion when they stepped forward after a Friday night performance to have one of their number directly address Vice-President Elect Mike Pence, who had attended the show. It was ironic that Brandon Victor Dixon, the actor portraying Vice President Aaron Burr, who killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel, delivered the rebuke. Burr was later suspected of having conspired to traitorously divide the western states and territories from the nascent United States. We, sir, Mr. Dixon said, we are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights. We truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us. It is a measure of Mike Pences basic decency that after being booed by a few self-righteous New Yorkers in the audience, who probably dont know anyone who voted for Trump except maybe their doorman, that Mr. Pence stayed, patiently listened to Mr. Dixons supercilious lecture, and then gently took his leave. Imagine if Mr. Dixon has not displayed such anger at the election but instead found just a few ounces of grace and delivered something along these lines. We, sir, are the part of the diverse nation that is America. With the election now past, we all hope for your administrations success in defending our planet, our children, and the inalienable rights of every American. We are grateful you came and hope this show inspires you as you work on behalf of all the people of our common country. Mr. Dixon would have made his point but without being condescending or rude. It is a measure of Mike Pences basic decency that after being booed by a few self-righteous New Yorkers in the audience, who probably dont know anyone who voted for Trump except maybe their doorman, that Mr. Pence stayed, patiently listened to Mr. Dixons supercilious lecture, and then gently took his leave. It would have been so easy for Mr. Dixon to have made his point and helped the country heal while doing so. So easy, but apparently that was not the actors purpose. Shame. The heads of the Pentagon and the countrys intelligence community think President Obama should remove National Security Agency Director Adm. Michael S. Rogers, according to The Washington Post. Rogers, meanwhile, is purportedly being considered by President-elect Donald Trump to replace Clapper as the director of national security, which oversees all 17 U.S. intelligence agencies. The recommendation by Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter and Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper Jr. to oust Rogers was reportedly made last month, several U.S. officials told the newspaper. The chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), sent a letter late Saturday asking Carter and Clapper to appear before the panel to discuss the report. Obama could be delaying such action because hes already trying to work through another Clapper-Carter recommendation -- create separate chains of command at the NSA and the U.S. militarys cyberwarfare unit. The Post story follows Rogers traveling Thursday to New York to meet with Trump without notifying superiors, which purportedly upset top administration officials. The White House, Pentagon and Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment. Click here to read more from The Washington Post. Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi says that President-elect Donald Trumps words during his presidential campaign will be different from his presidential actions. The Egyptian president said in an interview with Portuguese news agency LUSA released on Saturday, "let's not jump into conclusions or worry" about future U.S. actions or policies in the Middle East. "We have to distinguish between the rhetoric that takes place within presidential campaigns and the real and actual administration of a country after the inauguration," el-Sissi said. "There will be a chance for more thorough readings." El-Sissi has painted himself as a regional leader in the fight against ISIS, a stance that echoes Trump's priorities. El-Sissi believes "without a doubt" that Trump would make a strong leader. Previous relations between Egypt and the U.S. have been rocky after the U.S. voiced criticism and briefly suspended part of the countrys robust American aid package following Egypts ousting of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi and the subsequent lethal crackdown on Islamist supporters. Egypt's pro-government media support Trumps presidential win. Many believe Trump will be able to offer international political support as the Egyptian leader battles ISIS. "I believe that President Trump will be vigorously engaged with the issues in the region," el-Sissi said. "As a matter of fact, Trump has shown deep and great understanding of what is taking place in the region as a whole and Egypt in particular. I am looking forward and expecting more support and reinforcement of our bilateral relations." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Footloose friends and family members will appreciate these grown-up toys to help them document their travelsand stay entertained along the way. Editor's Note: This article also appeared in the December 2016 issue of Consumer Reports magazine. Phiaton BT 220 NC If youre looking for an inconspicuous way to block out the world around you, this pocket-size pair of Phiaton BT 220 NC Bluetooth noise-canceling earbuds just might be the ticket. They have a clip-style remote control, combine elements of in-ear and earbud design, deliver excellent sound, and have good active noise reduction. 1MORE E1001 Triple Driver The small, sleek 1More E1001 earphones are one of the few portable models that deliver excellent sound quality. Theyre also great to look at and come with nine earpieces in a variety of sizes to help you find a comfortable fit. Hunter QLS-03 Hermetically sealed hotel rooms can have notoriously dry air. The petite, packable Hunter QLS-03 humidifier is small enough to stash in your suitcase and sit on your night stand, quietly adding much-needed water vapor to the air. It mists in any direction you want, and because the tank is an inverted water bottle, all you have to take along is the base. Canon EOS Rebel T5i If youre looking for very good video capability combined with the versatility of a digital SLR at an affordable price, the Canon Eos Rebel T5i should top your list. Its automatic features will please novices, and its manual controls let savvier sorts get creative. Image quality is very good, and it comes with a swiveling touch-screen LCD, which makes shooting and playback a breeze. Nikon Coolpix P900 This full-featured cameras 83x optical zoom lens can capture craters on the moon. The Nikon P900 is pricey but versatile enough to capture distant wildlife on safari as well as sweeping landscapeswithout the hassle of having to change lenses. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV This point-and-shoot packs an impressive number of features into a surprisingly petite and easy-to-use package. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV comes with a Zeiss lens, is excellent in low-light settings, and records 4K video as well as most any camera weve tested. Its also nicely designed, with an electronic viewfinder that saves space by hiding until needed, then popping up like an onboard flash. Michelin Defender For climates where snow is an infrequent annoyance rather than a daily challenge, a set of all-season tires is the way to go. In our tests of 16 models, the Michelin Defender was the best overall, with solid four-season performance, grip in wintry and rainy conditions, crisp handling, and a quiet ride (size tested, 215/60R16). Plus, based on our treadwear test, you could expect tread life up to 90,000 miles. Sony FDR-AX33 Whether documenting a walk atop the Great Wall or someone walking down the aisle, this Sony Handycamis up to the job. It shoots excellent 4K (Ultra High Definition) video, and it has very good audio quality and an image stabilizer to smooth out any shake or jitter. It also has a large LCD as well as an electronic viewfinderand even takes excellent still images. Amazon Kindle Oasis w/ Special Offers (WiFi) "Thinner and lighter than any other Kindle, the Oasis e-reader is the ideal indulgence for literary travelers. Its nonglare screen makes for easy reading on the brightest beach, and the eight-week battery life means you could get through 'War and Peace' and 'Ulysses' on a desert island with juice to spare. Though the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is slightly heavier and has a shorter charge, it's a solid second choice at less than half the price."Kevin Doyle, Executive Editor Copyright 2005-2016 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc. No reproduction, in whole or in part, without written permission. Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this site. Need to get to London in less than four hours? Virgin mogul Sir Richard Branson is one step to closer to bringing the next generation of Concorde-style jet engines to the masses-- or at least travelers who can afford a $5,000 ticket. On Tuesday, Branson and Denver-based Boom Technology unveiled a new prototype for a supersonic passenger jet that can take passengers from New York to London in just 3.5 hours, reports The Guardian. I have long been passionate about aerospace innovation and the development of high-speed commercial flights, Branson said Tuesday at the prototype's unveiling ceremony. As an innovator in the space, Virgin Galactics decision to work with Boom was an easy one. Were excited to have an option on Booms first 10 airframes. Through Virgin Galactics manufacturing arm, the Spaceship Company, we will provide engineering and manufacturing services, along with flight test support and operations as part of our shared ambitions. SUPERSONIC AIRCRAFT PROMISES TO FLY FROM NEW YORK TO LONDON IN 11 MINUTES Blake Scholl, Boom's founder and CEO (who happens to be a former pilot and Amazon.com executive) is ready to bring supersonic jet travel back into the mainstream. Test flights will begin next year in southern California, Scholl said, with plans to launch the first commercial departures in 2023. he also said he's confident that these flights will be different than the Concorde due to advances in technology and lighter materials. The company plans on fabricating the planes with lightweight carbon fiber composites-- which it says makes it a quieter and more fuel efficient jet. The XB-1, nicknamed the "Baby Boom," has a cruising speed of Mach 2.2-- 1,451 miles per hour-- which is 10 percent faster than the Concordes previous speed of Mach 2. It's also 2.6-times faster than the average commercial airliner. At $5,000, tickets on the Baby Boom jet would cost about the same as tickets in business class," Scholl says. I dont know a single person who wouldnt want to get there in half the time, rather than have some free champagne, he said. It wont be a bucket-list purchase any more. There is a huge market and the margins are enormous. 7 URBAN ADVENTURES FOR SERIOUS THRILL-SEEKERS The Baby Boom will have around 50 seats, whereas the Concorde had 92 to 128. Boom says it plans to initially fly from London to New York, San Francisco to Tokyo and Los Angeles to Sydney. The Concorde, a British-French supersonic jet operated commercially from 1976 to 2003. The Alaska National Guard is organizing a search Saturday for a 16-year-old boy who disappeared nearly a week ago after dropping of his girlfriend. KTUU-TV reported Friday that high school student David Grunwald, of Palmer, is the son of a retired Alaska Air National Guard member. His parents reported him missing late Sunday when he hadnt returned home and wasnt answering his cell phone. Alaska State troopers said on Tuesday they found the teens Ford Bronco torched and ditched up a rough trail on Bald Mountain Ridge, the Alaska Dispatch News reported. The trail is a popular four-wheeling area in the mountains north of Wasilla, according to the news website. YOUNGEST SON OF REP. JOHN CONYERS FOUND SAFE Air National Guard Lt. Col. Candis Olmstead said the meeting place for people who want to help in Saturdays search is a church in Palmer. Edith Grunwald told KTUU she is desperate for any information about her son. "The more time goes by the less likely things are going to be positive," she told the station. She said her son left the house to drive his girlfriend home Sunday after they did homework and ate hamburgers for dinner. "He called me around 7:00 [p.m.] and he said 'I have to bring her out to the Butte,' because her dad lives out in the Smith Road area in the Butte," Grunwald said. "And I know it takes a little extra time to go out there and he said 'I might be a little late' and I said 'well then let's plan on 9:20 [p.m.]." MISSING UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND STUDENT FOUND SAFE IN TEXAS, POLICE SAY That was the last time she spoke to him. "It's horrible," Grunwald told the station. It shouldn't happen to anybody. I've never felt anything like this before. David's a good kid. Kids are important to all of us, you know." Duties of between 8.5 and 34.2 percent are likely to be imposed on Vietnamese aluminum extrusions. Australian authorities are likely to impose high anti-dumping duties on Vietnamese aluminum extrusions following an investigation. According to a notice issued this week by the Vietnam Competition Authority, duties of between 8.5 and 34.2 percent are expected to be added on Vietnams extrusions, which are products coming from aluminum alloys and used in a wide range of industries. The Australian Anti-Dumping Commission has recently wrapped up its anti-dumping and countervailing investigation on aluminum products imported from Vietnam and Malaysia. The official conclusions have not been announced and a final decision will be made by January 18. But preliminary findings are pointing towards high duties. The commission started its investigation in August, following a request from Capral Limited, an Australian aluminum extrusions manufacturer. Capral claimed that that Vietnamese aluminum extrusions producers have received subsidies from the government with preferential taxes and other favorable conditions. This allows them to sell their products at low prices and causes injury to the Australian aluminum industry, according to the company. The normal tariff rate for aluminum extrusions imported from Vietnam and Malaysia is 5 percent. Related news: > Turkey to impose anti-dumping duty on Vietnamese polyester yarn > Vietnamese steel faces anti-dumping lawsuits > US concludes anti-dumping investigation of Vietnamese steel firm The hunt for a fugitive accused of shooting at police in South Carolina turned deadly when law officers tracked the suspect to southeast Georgia, where an attempt to arrest him erupted in gunfire. The brief shootout at a mobile home in rural Long County killed a deputy U.S. marshal as well as the man his team was trying to apprehend. The U.S. Marshals Service said Patrick Carothers, deputy commander of the agency's Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, died after being shot twice as the officers entered the mobile home. "Pat is a hero," David Harlow, deputy director of the Marshals Service, said in a statement Friday offering condolences to Carothers' wife and five children. Carothers had served 26 years with the agency. The slain suspect was identified as Dontrell Montese Carter, 25. He had been wanted in Sumter County, South Carolina, since Sept. 18 on charges of attempted murder of police officers, domestic violence and illegally discharging a weapon. The agency said Carothers and his team had tracked Carter to a mobile home just outside Ludowici, about 55 miles southwest of Savannah. Carothers was shot as they were entering the home. Law officers returned fire and shot Carter multiple times, the Marshals Service said. Both men were taken to area hospitals, where they were pronounced dead. Carter had been on the run since he fled South Carolina in mid-September. The Sumter County Sheriff's Office said at the time that officers tried to arrest Carter after receiving calls that he had assaulted his girlfriend and fired gunshots into the home of a relative who tried to intervene. Carter ended up leading officers on a car chase, the sheriff's office said, and fired shots at the officers as he left his vehicle and escaped on foot. Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis offered condolences in a statement Friday. His office declined further comment. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch, in a statement Friday, said she was "deeply saddened" by Carothers' death. "He stayed true to his oath to the last, laying down his life to keep his community safe and his neighbors secure," Lynch said. "I know that his legacy will live on in the proud annals of the U.S. Marshals Service and in the memory of his fellow law enforcement officers from coast to coast." The father of an Army soldier killed in Afghanistan says he and his family were booed as they flew to meet his sons body coming home. Sgt. John Perry, 30, was killed in a suicide attack at Bagram Airfield on Saturday, along with Pfc. Tyler Iubelt and two American contractors. Stewart Perry told KOVR-TV his son stopped the suicide bomber short of his target and may have saved hundreds of lives. Perry told the Army Times the booing took place on an American Airlines flight that landed in Phoenix Monday. Perry and his family were flying from Sacramento to Dover Air Force Base. The captain told everyone to remain seated to let the Perry family leave first to make their connection. US SOLDIERS KILLED IN SUICIDE BOMBING AT BAGRAM AIRFIELD IDENTIFIED When he made that announcement, there was some hissing and some booing behind us, Perry told the Army Times. Perry, a Marine veteran, doesnt remember the captain telling everyone the reason they had to stay seated. He recalled the captain mentioned military personnel. But he said he believes the passengers knew there was a Gold Star family on board. The woman sitting directly behind us touched me on the shoulder and asked if I was the father of the soldier killed in Afghanistan, he told the Army Times. However, Perry told The Stockton Record that he didnt know if the passengers knew there was a Gold Star family on board. He did say the captain told passengers a special military family had to leave first. Perry added, It was just disgusting behavior from people in first class. It was terrible to see. 4 AMERICANS KILLED IN SUICIDE BOMBING AT US BASE IN AFGHANISTAN Perry said the pilot of the plane that would take them east made sure he and his family made the connection. To hear the reaction of the flight being delayed because of a Gold Star family, and the first class cabin booing that was really upsetting, and it made us cry some more, he told KOVR. Sgt. Perry will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. Inmates at Illinois' major women's prison have been called "crazy" and "worthless" by corrections officers, are sometimes placed in an unpadded open-bar "crisis cage" and receive harsher discipline than men for similar offenses, a study released Friday says. The federally funded review conducted for the Illinois Department of Corrections found that the mostly nonviolent women at Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln are often classified as higher security risks than necessary, which with disproportionate discipline needlessly extends their stays. Segregation is overused as a punishment and the women get few chances to prepare for community re-entry, contributing to a recidivism rate of 50 percent higher than the state's prison population as a whole, according to the report. The National Resource Center on Justice Involved Women's assessment is harshly critical of the 2013 decision by former Gov. Pat Quinn's administration to close a women's prison in Dwight and move nearly 2,000 women into Logan, which was designed for 1,500. The "poorly planned, rushed and chaotic" move "set the tone for the culture that exists at Logan today," it said. Corrections director John Baldwin pledged additional staff training. Illinois is one of about a dozen states to undergo the assessment, for which states had to compete. The report advocates taking a different approach to incarcerated women because of their different emotional responses to stress and their histories. Ninety-eight percent of imprisoned Illinois women have experienced physical abuse, 75 percent have been sexually abused, and 85 percent have encountered emotional abuse. At the time of the review, 42 percent of the inmates qualified as seriously mentally ill. Although women make up only a fraction of the population at Illinois' overburdened prisons, making life better at Logan is worth the effort, said Donna Collins, a Rhode Island state prison administrator who has helped implement gender-response changes in that state and was among the speakers scheduled to address a forum Friday in Chicago. "Women are the backbone of the family," Collins said. "You're hurting the community if you continue to re-incarcerate women." The study said there is inadequate training for staff members to deal with women's emotional responses. In interviews, staff members called inmates "crazy" and said they "talk too much," resulting in more discipline and good-conduct credit days taken away. But women are more relational and prefer to discuss things, as opposed to men, who tend to shut down, Collins said. And women often don't relate well to prison security staff because they were typically at odds with authorities on the street, said Colette Payne, who spent five stints in prison beginning at age 14 and was part of the assessment team. "If I've been raped and you are yelling at me like my abuser, I see you as that person," said the 49-year-old who now runs a support group for former women inmates. "I'm looking at you like you're my abuser, that's where the tension comes in." Payne was shocked to see the use of the so-called "crisis cage," where women are placed in a stand-alone cell without privacy or padding; the department has pledged to replace it. The report notes that inmates making "crisis calls," in which they feel a threat to themselves or others, increased dramatically from early 2014 to late 2015, and monthly suicide attempts increased tenfold since the Logan consolidation. The report praises the state Corrections Department for agreeing on necessary change and constructing a mental-health unit at the prison. Baldwin, who also addressed the Chicago forum, called the haphazard 2013 consolidation "a setup for failure" and said the agency is adding staff training, "from how to work with women who have a mental illness to how to be more effective in communicating with offenders." Ed Caumiant, corrections liaison for the prison guards' union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said the union is ready to work with the department on adequate staffing as well as training. Deanne Benos, a former Corrections assistant director whose Chicago-based Women's Justice Initiative coordinated the project, said one reason Illinois succeeded in the competitive grant process was Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's criminal justice reform pledge. He wants to reduce the prison population by 25 percent by 2025. "Meaningful changes can be made with limited resources," Benos said. "Even changing some of the rules and operational practices at Logan can have a dramatic impact on the facility." A French judge will hear the case of a newborn boy who was given the same name as an Islamic radical who killed seven people in 2012. The child's name, Mohamed Merah, was brought to the attention of Nice authorities at the beginning of the month. It's the same name as an Islamist extremist who killed seven people in attacks on a Jewish school and French paratroopers in the southwestern Toulouse region. Nice mayor Philippe Pradel and regional president Christian Estrosi said in a statement Saturday that the family choice of the first name "may be contrary to the child's interest." A family affairs judge will decide whether the family needs to change the first name of the child. Aussie robbed by men disguised as flirty women in Saigon The duo, already arrested, admits to snatching phones from many other tourists in the backpackers district. Police in Ho Chi Minh City arrested two robbers dressed as women who flirted with an Australian man and snatched his phone in the backpackers area on Friday. The men, 29 and 41, drove a motorbike and approached the victim, who was walking on Pham Ngu Lao Street in District 1 early in the morning, police said. One of them started walking alongside the foreigner, groped him and then snatched the phone from his pocket. The duo quickly fled on their motorbike, but they were caught by police soon later. Both admitted that they had used the same trick on many male tourists walking in the area. Ho Chi Minh City is a popular destination among foreign visitors. While the city is generally believed to be safe, street crimes targeting foreigners have remained an issue. Foreign arrivals to Ho Chi Minh City increased 12.2 percent from a year ago to more than 2.43 million in the first six months, according to the citys tourism department. A September survey by MasterCard named the city among 20 fastest-growing tourist cities in the world since 2009, with 9.22 percent annual growth. Two men arrested in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday for allegedly snatching a phone from an Australian man. Photo by VnExpress/Quoc Thang Related news: Filthy toilets and robberies: Deputy PM names tourism nightmares in Vietnam Nuclear Power in Taiwan, Market Outlook to 2030 - Capacity, Generation, Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles WiseGuyReports.com adds "Nuclear Power in Taiwan, Market Outlook to 2030, Update 2016 - Capacity, Generation, Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles" reports to its database. -- The report provides in depth analysis on global nuclear power market with forecasts up to 2030. The report analyzes the power market scenario in Taiwan (includes thermal conventional, nuclear, large hydro, pumped storage and renewables) and provides future outlook with forecasts up to 2030. The research details nuclear power market outlook in the country and provides forecasts up to 2030. The report highlights installed capacity and power generation trends from 2006 to 2030 in Taiwan nuclear power market. A detailed coverage of nuclear energy policy framework governing the market with specific policies pertaining to nuclear is provided in the report. The research also provides details of active nuclear reactors in the country, market size of major equipment and company snapshot of some of the major market participants. Get Sample Report @ https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/729539-nuclear-power-in-taiwan-and-company-profiles Scope - A brief introduction on global carbon emissions and global primary energy consumption. - Historical period is during 2006-2015 (unless specified) and forecast period is for 2015-2030. - Overview on the global nuclear power market with installed capacity and generation trends, installed capacity split by region in 2015, installed capacity split by major nuclear power countries in 2015 and investment trends. - Power market scenario in Taiwan provides detailed market overview, installed capacity and power generation trends by various fuel types (includes thermal conventional, nuclear, large hydro and renewables) with forecasts up to 2030. - Details of Taiwan nuclear power market with installed capacity and generation trends, installed capacity by reactor type, installed capacity share by contractor/owner and information on major active and upcoming projects. - Key policies and regulatory framework supporting nuclear power development. - Company snapshots of some of the major market participants in the country. Reasons to buy - The report will enhance your decision making capability in a more rapid and time sensitive manner. - Identify key growth and investment opportunities in Taiwan nuclear power market. - Facilitate decision-making based on strong historic and forecast data for nuclear power market. - Position yourself to gain the maximum advantage of the industry's growth potential. - Identify key partners and business development avenues. - Understand and respond to your competitors' business structure, strategy and prospects. Table of Contents 1 Table of Contents 2 1.1 List of Tables 5 1.2 List of Figures 6 2 Executive Summary 7 2.1 Nuclear Power to Grow at a Slower Pace than Other Power Generating Sources 7 2.2 Thermal Power Accounts for Three-Fourth of the Power Capacity in Taiwan 7 2.3 Taiwan Plans to Decommission Nuclear Power Capacity by 2025 9 3 Introduction 10 3.1 Carbon Emissions, Global, 2001-2015 10 3.2 Primary Energy Consumption, Global, 2001-2025 12 3.3 Report Guidance 15 4 Nuclear Power Market, Global, 2006-2030 16 4.1 Nuclear Power Market, Global, Overview 16 4.2 Nuclear Power Market, Global, Installed Capacity, 2006-2030 17 4.2.1 Nuclear Power Market, Global, Installed Capacity Share by Region, 2015 and 2030 19 4.2.2 Nuclear Power Market, Global, Installed Capacity Share by Country, 2015 and 2030 21 4.3 Nuclear Power Market, Global, Power Generation, 2006-2030 23 4.3.1 Nuclear Power Market, Global, Generation Share by Region, 2015 and 2030 25 4.3.2 Nuclear Power Market, Global, Generation Share by Country, 2015 and 2030 27 5 Power Market, Taiwan, 2006-2030 29 5.1 Power Market, Taiwan, Overview 29 5.2 Power Market, Taiwan, Installed Capacity, 2006-2030 30 5.2.1 Power Market, Taiwan, Cumulative Installed Capacity by Fuel Type, 2006-2030 30 5.2.2 Power Market, Taiwan, Share in Cumulative Installed Capacity Split by Source Type, 2015 and 2030 32 5.3 Power Market, Taiwan, Power Generation, 2006-2030 34 6 Nuclear Power Market, Taiwan, 2006-2030 36 6.1 Nuclear Power Market, Taiwan, Overview 36 6.2 Nuclear Power Market, Taiwan, Installed Capacity, 2006-2030 37 6.3 Nuclear Power Market, Taiwan, Power Generation, 2006-2030 39 6.4 Nuclear Power Market, Taiwan, Project Based Analysis, 2015 41 6.4.1 Nuclear Power Market, Taiwan, Top Operational Nuclear Reactor, 2015 41 6.4.2 Nuclear Power Market, Taiwan, Top Active Nuclear Reactor Sites, 2015 42 6.5 Nuclear Power Market, Taiwan, Investment Analysis, 2015 43 6.5.1 Nuclear Power Market, Taiwan, Deal Volume vs. Deal Value, 2006-2015 43 7 Power Market, Taiwan, Regulatory Scenario 45 7.1 Overview 45 7.2 Power Sector Policies 46 7.2.1 The Electricity Act 46 7.2.2 The Petroleum Administration Act 46 7.3 Renewable Energy Development Act 46 7.4 Renewable Energy Targets 47 7.5 Renewable Energy Incentives 47 7.6 New Offshore Wind Power Development Incentive Program 48 7.7 Taiwan Smart Grid Deployment Project 49 7.8 Greenhouse Gas Management and Reduction Act 49 8 Nuclear Power Market, Taiwan, Company Profiles 50 8.1 Company Snapshot: Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC 50 8.1.1 Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC - Company Overview 50 8.1.2 Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC - Business Description 50 8.1.3 Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC - SWOT Analysis 51 8.1.4 Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC - Major Products and Services 56 8.1.5 Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC - Head Office 58 8.2 Company Snapshot: Taiwan Power Company, Ltd. 59 8.2.1 Taiwan Power Company, Ltd. - Company Overview 59 8.2.2 Taiwan Power Company, Ltd. - Business Description 59 8.2.3 Taiwan Power Company, Ltd. - SWOT Analysis 60 8.2.4 Taiwan Power Company, Ltd. - Major Products and Services 64 8.2.5 Taiwan Power Company, Ltd. - Head Office 64 8.3 Company Snapshot: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Inc. 65 8.3.1 GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Inc. - Company Overview 65 8.3.2 GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Inc. - Major Products and Services 65 8.3.3 GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Inc. - Head Office 66 8.4 Company Snapshot: Bechtel Corporation 67 8.4.1 Bechtel Corporation - Company Overview 67 8.4.2 Bechtel Corporation - Business Description 67 8.4.3 Bechtel Corporation - SWOT Analysis 69 8.4.4 Bechtel Corporation - Major Products and Services 73 8.4.5 Bechtel Corporation - Head Office 74 Access Report @ https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/729539-nuclear-power-in-taiwan-and-company-profiles Get in touch: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/4828928 Twitter: https://twitter.com/WiseGuyReports Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Wiseguyreports-1009007869213183/?fref=ts For more information, please visit http://www.wiseguyreports.com Contact Info: Name: Norah Trent Organization: WiseGuy Reports Address: Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar Pune - 411028 Maharashtra, India Phone: +1-646-845-9349 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/nuclear-power-in-taiwan-market-outlook-to-2030-capacity-generation-investment-trends-regulations-and-company-profiles/146691 Release ID: 146691 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) The one and only fixed price market in Saigon Food is not sold by weight, its sold by the basket or plate. A market on National Highway 1 in Binh Tan District has been popular among manual workers as well as poor people in Saigon for more than a year now. The unique feature of the market is that items are displayed on single plastic plates or baskets so traders dont need to use weighing scales and customers dont need to bargain. According to traders, they have an unwritten rule that a plate of fruit and vegetables is fixed at VND5,000 ($0.2), while baskets of shrimp or fish are fixed at VND20,000 ($0.9) and VND30,000 ($1.3) respectively. "Nobody sells food at lower or higher prices. At this market, we all charge the same prices, said a vegetable trader. This unique selling style benefits both buyers and sellers. Construction worker Nguyen Huu Hanh told VnExpress that every day, after picking up his child from school, he drops by the market to buy food. Were just low-paid workers. Thanks to the market, we can easily buy food to live on, said Hanh. Kieu, a fishmonger, also said that she has been doing a brisk trade as consumers seem to prefer this quick-trading style. The market, with no official name, is open from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Nguyen Related news: > Where Hanoi blossoms at night > 7 things to try for newcomers in Saigon > 6 coffee shops with the best view of Saigons walking street Biopreservation, Bio-banking, Regenerative Medicine, Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), Market Size, Share, Report, Analysis, Trends & Forecast to 2022 According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Biopreservation Market is accounted for $2.17 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach $4.75 billion by 2022 growing at a CAGR of 11.84% during the forecast period. -- Rising healthcare costs, improved research and development in the field and rising usage of regenerative medicine are some of the factors boosting the market growth. However, huge cost of advanced techniques is one of the key factors hampering the market. Access the complete report at: http://www.strategymrc.com/report/biopreservation-market By cell provider's volume, Tumor cells segment dominated the global market with largest share in 2014 due to several applications in research & development. By geography, North America dominated the global market with more than 40% of the share in 2014 owing to therapies in biomedical research and rise in the population requiring diagnosis in this region. However, the Asia-Pacific market is anticipated to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. Some of the key players in Biopreservation market include Qiagen N.V., Biolife Solutions, Inc., Lifeline Scientific, Inc., Biomatrica, Inc., Taylor-Wharton Cryogenics LLC, Custom Biogenic Systems, Inc., BioCision, LLC, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, Cesca Therapeutics Inc., Atlanta Biologicals Inc, Princeton CryoTech Inc., VWR Corporation, Core Dynamics Ltd, So-Low Environmental Equipment Co., Inc., LABVANTAGE Solutions, Inc., Biogenics, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Panasonic Corporation. Make an inquiry at:: http://www.strategymrc.com/report/biopreservation-market Applications Covered: o Bio-banking o Human sperms o Human eggs o Veterinary IVF o Regenerative Medicine o Gene therapy o Cell therapy o Other Regenerative Medicines o Drug Discovery o Other Applications Biospecimens Covered: o Stem Cells o Human Tissue Samples o Organs o Other Biospecimens Products Covered: o Media o Nutrient Media o Pre-formulated o Growth Factors and Supplements o Home-brew o Sera o Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) o Equipment o Incubators o Consumables o Centrifuges o Temperature Control Systems o Accessories o Liquid Nitrogen (LN2) Tanks o Other Equipments Cell Providers Volumes Covered: o Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) o CD34+ cells o Tumor cells o Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC) o CD19+ cells o Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESC) o Other Cell Providers Volumes End Users Covered: o Hospitals o Biobanks o Gene Banks o Other End Users Regions Covered: o North America o US o Canada o Mexico o Europe o Germany o France o Italy o UK o Spain o Rest of Europe o Asia Pacific o Japan o China o India o Australia o New Zealand o Rest of Asia Pacific o Rest of the World o Middle East o Brazil o Argentina o South Africa o Egypt What our report offers: - Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments - Market share analysis of the top industry players - Strategic recommendations for the new entrants - Market forecasts for a minimum of 7 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets - Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations) - Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations - Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends - Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments - Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/StratisticsMRC Follow us on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stratistics-market-research-consulting-pvt-ltd?trk=mini-profile About Stratistics MRC We offer wide spectrum of research and consulting services with in-depth knowledge of different industries. We are known for customized research services, consulting services and Full Time Equivalent (FTE) services in the research world. We explore the market trends and draw our insights with valid assessments and analytical views. We use advanced techniques and tools among the quantitative and qualitative methodologies to identify the market trends. Our research reports and publications are routed to help our clients to design their business models and enhance their business growth in the competitive market scenario. We have a strong team with hand-picked consultants including project managers, implementers, industry experts, researchers, research evaluators and analysts with years of experience in delivering the complex projects. For more information, please visit http://www.strategymrc.com/ Contact Info: Name: James Lamb Email: info@strategymrc.com Organization: Stratistics Market Research Consulting Pvt Ltd Address: SMRC Sales Office, 17049 King James Way, Gaithersburg, MD, 20877, USA +1-301-202-5929 Phone: +1-301-202-5929 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/biopreservation-bio-banking-regenerative-medicine-laboratory-information-management-system-lims-market-size-share-report-analysis-trends-forecast-to-2022/146666 Release ID: 146666 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) Bioabsorbable Stents, Polymeric Stents, Metallic Stents, Peripheral Artery Disease, Coronary Artery Disease, Market Size, Share, Report, Analysis, Trends & Forecast to 2022 According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Bioabsorbable Stents Market is accounted for $0.35 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach $3.56 billion by 2022 growing at a CAGR of 39.2% during the forecast period. -- Factors such as expanding geriatric population, increased usage rate of these stents and rise in cardiovascular surgeries are boosting the market growth. However, strict regulations and huge cost of these stents are hampering the market. Access the complete report at: http://www.strategymrc.com/report/bioabsorbable-stents-market By absorption rate, slow absorbable stents segment dominated the global market with largest share owing to the longer duration of drug discharge within the arteries. By region, North America accounted for largest market share. However, Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness highest CAGR, due to rising awareness in the region. Some of the key players in Bioabsorbable Stents market include Arterial Remodeling Technology SA, Boston Scientific Corporation, Medtronic, Abbott Laboratories, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Kyoto Medical Planning Co., Ltd., Amaranth Medical, Inc., Stentys SA, Elixir Medical Corporation, Arterius Limited, REVA Medical, Inc., Xenogenics Corporation, Microport Scientific Corporation, Tepha, Inc., C. R. Bard, Inc., Terumo Corporation, Meril Life Sciences and Biotronik. Make an inquiry at:: http://www.strategymrc.com/report/bioabsorbable-stents-market Drugs Covered: o Limus-Based Drugs o Paclitaxel Product Types Covered: o Metallic Stents o Natural o Polymeric Stents Applications Covered: o Peripheral Artery Disease o Coronary Artery Disease End Users Covered: o Cardiac Centers o Hospitals Absorption Rates Covered: o Fast-Absorption Stents o Slow-Absorption Stents Regions Covered: o North America o US o Canada o Mexico o Europe o Germany o France o Italy o UK o Spain o Rest of Europe o Asia Pacific o Japan o China o India o Australia o New Zealand o Rest of Asia Pacific o Rest of the World o Middle East o Brazil o Argentina o South Africa o Egypt What our report offers: - Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments - Market share analysis of the top industry players - Strategic recommendations for the new entrants - Market forecasts for a minimum of 7 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets - Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations) - Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations - Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends - Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments - Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/StratisticsMRC Follow us on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stratistics-market-research-consulting-pvt-ltd?trk=mini-profile About Stratistics MRC We offer wide spectrum of research and consulting services with in-depth knowledge of different industries. We are known for customized research services, consulting services and Full Time Equivalent (FTE) services in the research world. We explore the market trends and draw our insights with valid assessments and analytical views. We use advanced techniques and tools among the quantitative and qualitative methodologies to identify the market trends. Our research reports and publications are routed to help our clients to design their business models and enhance their business growth in the competitive market scenario. We have a strong team with hand-picked consultants including project managers, implementers, industry experts, researchers, research evaluators and analysts with years of experience in delivering the complex projects. For more information, please visit http://www.strategymrc.com/ Contact Info: Name: James Lamb Email: info@strategymrc.com Organization: Stratistics Market Research Consulting Pvt Ltd Address: SMRC Sales Office, 17049 King James Way, Gaithersburg, MD, 20877, USA +1-301-202-5929 Phone: +1-301-202-5929 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/bioabsorbable-stents-polymeric-stents-metallic-stents-peripheral-artery-disease-coronary-artery-disease-market-size-share-report-analysis-trends-forecast-to-2022/146660 Release ID: 146660 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) Retinal Vein Occlusion Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Pipeline Review H2 WiseGuyReports.com adds "Retinal Vein Occlusion - Pipeline Review, H2 2016" reports to its database. -- Retinal vein occlusion is a blockage in one of the veins returning blood flow from the retina. The retina is where images are converted to nerve signals. The primary symptom of retinal vein occlusion is a sudden painless change in vision. Predisposing factors are atherosclerosis, macular edema, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and age. Get Sample Report @ https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/740558-retinal-vein-occlusion-pipeline-review-h2-2016 Report Highlights Pharmaceutical and Healthcare latest pipeline guide Retinal Vein Occlusion - Pipeline Review, H2 2016, provides comprehensive information on the therapeutics under development for Retinal Vein Occlusion (Ophthalmology), complete with analysis by stage of development, drug target, mechanism of action (MoA), route of administration (RoA) and molecule type. The guide covers the descriptive pharmacological action of the therapeutics, its complete research and development history and latest news and press releases. The Retinal Vein Occlusion (Ophthalmology) pipeline guide also reviews of key players involved in therapeutic development for Retinal Vein Occlusion and features dormant and discontinued projects. The guide covers therapeutics under Development by Companies /Universities /Institutes, the molecules developed by Companies in Phase III, Phase II, Preclinical and Discovery stages are 1, 4, 7 and 1 respectively.Retinal Vein Occlusion. Retinal Vein Occlusion (Ophthalmology) pipeline guide helps in identifying and tracking emerging players in the market and their portfolios, enhances decision making capabilities and helps to create effective counter strategies to gain competitive advantage. Additionally, various dynamic tracking processes ensure that the most recent developments are captured on a real time basis. Scope - The pipeline guide provides a snapshot of the global therapeutic landscape of Retinal Vein Occlusion (Ophthalmology). - The pipeline guide reviews pipeline therapeutics for Retinal Vein Occlusion (Ophthalmology) by companies and universities/research institutes based on information derived from company and industry-specific sources. - The pipeline guide covers pipeline products based on several stages of development ranging from pre-registration till discovery and undisclosed stages. - The pipeline guide features descriptive drug profiles for the pipeline products which comprise, product description, descriptive licensing and collaboration details, R&D brief, MoA & other developmental activities. - The pipeline guide reviews key companies involved in Retinal Vein Occlusion (Ophthalmology) therapeutics and enlists all their major and minor projects. - The pipeline guide evaluates Retinal Vein Occlusion (Ophthalmology) therapeutics based on mechanism of action (MoA), drug target, route of administration (RoA) and molecule type. - The pipeline guide encapsulates all the dormant and discontinued pipeline projects. - The pipeline guide reviews latest news related to pipeline therapeutics for Retinal Vein Occlusion (Ophthalmology) Reasons to buy - Procure strategically important competitor information, analysis, and insights to formulate effective R&D strategies. - Recognize emerging players with potentially strong product portfolio and create effective counter-strategies to gain competitive advantage. - Find and recognize significant and varied types of therapeutics under development for Retinal Vein Occlusion (Ophthalmology). - Classify potential new clients or partners in the target demographic. - Develop tactical initiatives by understanding the focus areas of leading companies. - Plan mergers and acquisitions meritoriously by identifying key players and it's most promising pipeline therapeutics. - Formulate corrective measures for pipeline projects by understanding Retinal Vein Occlusion (Ophthalmology) pipeline depth and focus of Indication therapeutics. - Develop and design in-licensing and out-licensing strategies by identifying prospective partners with the most attractive projects to enhance and expand business potential and scope. - Adjust the therapeutic portfolio by recognizing discontinued projects and understand from the know-how what drove them from pipeline. Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 List of Tables 5 List of Figures 5 Introduction 6 Retinal Vein Occlusion Overview 7 Therapeutics Development 8 Pipeline Products for Retinal Vein Occlusion - Overview 8 Retinal Vein Occlusion - Therapeutics under Development by Companies 9 Retinal Vein Occlusion - Pipeline Products Glance 10 Late Stage Products 10 Clinical Stage Products 11 Early Stage Products 12 Retinal Vein Occlusion - Products under Development by Companies 13 Retinal Vein Occlusion - Companies Involved in Therapeutics Development 14 Aerpio Therapeutics, Inc. 14 Clearside BioMedical, Inc. 15 Formycon AG 16 Kala Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 17 Mabion SA 18 NicOx S.A. 19 Ohr Pharmaceutical Inc. 20 Precision Ocular Ltd 21 ThromboGenics NV 22 Retinal Vein Occlusion - Therapeutics Assessment 23 Assessment by Monotherapy Products 23 Assessment by Combination Products 24 Assessment by Target 25 Assessment by Mechanism of Action 27 Assessment by Route of Administration 29 Assessment by Molecule Type 31 Drug Profiles 33 (aflibercept + triamcinolone acetonide) - Drug Profile 33 Product Description 33 Mechanism Of Action 33 R&D Progress 33 aflibercept biosimilar - Drug Profile 36 Product Description 36 Mechanism Of Action 36 R&D Progress 36 AKB-9778 - Drug Profile 37 Product Description 37 Mechanism Of Action 37 R&D Progress 37 HO-10 - Drug Profile 41 Product Description 41 Mechanism Of Action 41 R&D Progress 41 LKA-651 - Drug Profile 42 Product Description 42 Mechanism Of Action 42 R&D Progress 42 loteprednol etabonate - Drug Profile 43 Product Description 43 Mechanism Of Action 43 R&D Progress 43 NCX-422 - Drug Profile 46 Product Description 46 Mechanism Of Action 46 R&D Progress 46 NCX-434 - Drug Profile 47 Product Description 47 Mechanism Of Action 47 R&D Progress 47 ocriplasmin - Drug Profile 48 Access Report @ https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/740558-retinal-vein-occlusion-pipeline-review-h2-2016 Get in touch: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/4828928 Twitter: https://twitter.com/WiseGuyReports Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Wiseguyreports-1009007869213183/?fref=ts For more information, please visit http://www.wiseguyreports.com Contact Info: Name: Norah Trent Organization: WiseGuy Reports Address: Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar Pune - 411028 Maharashtra, India Phone: +1-646-845-9349 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/retinal-vein-occlusion-pharmaceutical-and-healthcare-pipeline-review-h2/146589 Release ID: 146589 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) Smart Gas Meter Market worth 2.27 Billion USD by 2021,at a CAGR of 7.24% Factors such as government policies & mandates in developed economies and accurate billing & improved customer service are driving the market worldwide. -- The report "Smart Gas Meter Market by Type (Automatic Meter Reading and Advanced Metering Infrastructure), by End-User (Residential, Commercial and Industrial) and by Region - Global Trends & Forecast to 2021", The smart gas meter market is expected to grow from an estimated USD 1.59 Billion in 2016 to USD 2.27 Billion by 2021, at a CAGR of 7.24% from 2016 to 2021. Factors such as government policies & mandates in developed economies and accurate billing & improved customer service are driving the market globally. Browse 65 market data tables with 44 figures spread through 117 pages and in-depth TOC on "Smart Gas Meter Market" Download Free PDF Brochure: http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=256341634 Residential customers the largest end-users of smart gas meters The smart gas meter market in this report has been classified based on end-users into three segments, namely, residential, commercial, and industrial. The residential segment accounted for the largest market size, in terms of value, in 2015. The global gas pipeline network construction in the residential segment accounted for 1,054 kms (approx.) in the past 5 years with another 100 kms expected to be constructed in next 2-3 years, which would boost the smart gas meter market. AMR segment would dominate the global smart gas meter market The Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) segment is estimated to be the largest market for smart gas meters in 2016. It is a metering technology that collects consumption data from the gas meters and transfers it to a central database (in the utility station) for billing and other purposes (one-way communication only). Popular in North America and Europe, other regions have also started to implement this metering infrastructure. It is less costly when compared to Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), and hence has a higher market size. However, the AMI market is projected to grow at the highest rate because of its technological superiority. North America: the dominant market for smart gas meters North America dominates the smart gas meter market, and Europe is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period. In North America, the growth of the smart gas meter market could be attributed to factors such as investments in smart grid and gas pipeline networks. Meanwhile, several smart gas meter rollouts are taking place in countries such as the U.K., Spain, and France. This, coupled with the EU's (European Union) plans regarding carbon emission reductions, would drive growth in the European region. To provide an in-depth understanding of the competitive landscape, the report includes profiles of companies, namely, Itron, Inc. (U.S.), Honeywell International, Inc. (U.S.), Apator Group (Poland), Landis+Gyr (Switzerland), Diehl Metering (U.K.), Sensus (U.S.), EDMI Limited (Singapore), Chongqing Shancheng Gas Equipment Co., Ltd. (China), Dandong Dongfa Group (China), Raychem RPG (India), and Master Meter (U.S.). Dominant players are trying to penetrate developing economies and are adopting various methods to grab the market share. This study estimates the global market of smart gas meters, in terms of USD, till 2021. It also offers a detailed qualitative and quantitative analysis of this market. This report provides a comprehensive review of major market drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges of the market. The report also covers various important aspects of the market such as value chain, Porter's Five Forces model, competitive landscape, market dynamics, market estimates in terms of value, and future trends in the smart gas meter market Speak to Analyst: http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalyst.asp?id=256341634 Stakeholders: The stakeholders included in this report are as follows: o Smart gas manufacturing companies o EPC contractors o State and national regulatory authorities o Gas distribution utilities o Government and industry associations o State- or government-owned corporations "The study answers several questions for the stakeholders, primarily which market segments to focus in next 2-5 years for prioritizing efforts and investments". Request for Customization: http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomization.asp?id=256341634 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is the largest market research firm worldwide in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to a multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. M&M's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical infographics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers. We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository. For more information, please visit http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/smart-gas-meter-market-256341634.html Contact Info: Name: Rohan Organization: MarketsandMarkets Source: http://marketersmedia.com/smart-gas-meter-market-worth-2-27-billion-usd-by-2021at-a-cagr-of-7-24/145842 Release ID: 145842 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) Global Authentication & Identification Market is Expected to Grow at CAGR of 16.56% to 2020 Biometric Authentication & Identification Global Market - The research report highlights market research and industry analysis driven by in-depth business relevant news. -- Global Biometric Authentication & Identification has emerged as one of the fastest growing market around the globe. As the population and organizations are becoming more concerned towards the cyber security and safety, biometric authentication and identification provides a secure terminal which helps to keep place and data safe from unauthorized access. In fast couple of years, the physical security breaches have increased and due to this the global market of Biometric Authentication & Identification has rose sharply. The global market of Biometric Authentication & Identification has been valued at US $11.76 billion in the year 2015 which is expected to grow at US $25.31 billion by end of forecasted period with CAGR of 16.56%. Request Sample Report @ https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/748676-global-biometric-authentication-identification-market-forecast-to-2020 By Geography, The market is dominated by North America which has been valued at US $3.78 billion in year 2015 and expected to become the second largest by the end of forecast period. However, Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at rapid CAGR of 19.92% during the forecast period and also APAC region is expected to become market leader by the end of forecast period as the demand for Consumer Electronics is increasing in these regions. Asia-Pacific is expected to reach at market size of US $7.65 billion by 2020 from US $3.09 in 2015. Key Players The Key Players in the market of are- 3M, Anviz Global Apple, Inc., Aware Inc., Bio-Key International, Inc., Cognitec Systems, Crossmatch Technologies, Diamond Fortress Technologies, Fingerprint cards AB, Fujitsu Global, Fulcrum Biometrics, HID Global, Iris ID Systems, Inc., Kaba Group, M2SYS Technology, Morpho S.A., NEC Corporation, Precise Biometrics AB, Sensory, Inc., S.I.C. Biometrics Inc., Synaptics Inc. and Tyco International Ltd. among others. Access Report @ https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/748676-global-biometric-authentication-identification-market-forecast-to-2020 Global Biometric Authentication & Identification Market Analysis & Forecast, From 2016 To 2022 o To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 5 years of the various segments and sub-segments of the global Biometric Authentication & Identification market o Upcoming technologies, high growth geographies and countries were identified o Regional and country specific demand and forecast for Biometric Authentication & Identification were studied o Key segments covered in the report are: Modality, Motility, Application and Geography. o Unit breakdown for all different classification was finalized; and same was referred for forecasting, keeping few assumptions into factor o For all the regions: forecast demand for all applications were identified and then with historical figure, data collected through primary and annual reports were triangulated to derive the regional market size o Historical trend is identified to forecast and estimate the future value data Target Audience o Biometric Device Manufacturers o Biometric Device Suppliers o Software Developers o Government o Private Institutions o Security Service Providers Key Findings o The Global Authentication & Identification Market is expected to grow at CAGR of 16.56% from 2015 to 2020. o The fingerprint modality dominated the market in 2014 and is expected to grow over $10.90 billion by the end of the forecast period o By Applications, The Government segment accounted for $5.1 billion in 2015 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 10.79% from 2015 to 2020 o By Region, Asia-Pacific is expected to dominate the market by end of forecast period. Regional and Country Analysis of Biometric Authentication & Identification Market Estimation and Forecast North America has been the largest contributor to the revenue in the global market and is expected to grow over $7.20 billion by 2020. Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at a CAGR of 19.92% from 2015 to 2020 and dominate the market. The demand of biometrics product in this region is due to the government initiative of nationwide enrolment and ID issuance in countries such as India and China. Also, in Japan a huge number of biometrics ATMS have been deployed and still the process is going on. The reports also cover country level analysis: o North America o US o Canada o Europe o UK o Asia - Pacific o China o India o Japan o Rest of the World o Middle East o Saudi Arabia o UAE o Israel o Africa o Latin America ...CONTINUED Buy this Report @ https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=748676 For more information, please visit http://www.wiseguyreports.com Contact Info: Name: NORAH TRENT Email: info@wiseguyreports.com Organization: WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTD Address: Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers, Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune - 411028 Phone: +91 841 198 5042 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/global-authentication-identification-market-is-expected-to-grow-at-cagr-of-16-56-to-2020/146877 Release ID: 146877 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) Global Denture Adhesive Market Size, Business Growth, Prospects and Opportunities Report 2016-2021 Global Denture Adhesive Outlook - Research Report, by End Users (Clinics, Hospitals, and Medical Institutions), by Types (Paste and Powder) - Forecast to 2021 -- Global Denture Adhesive Market Report: Introduction Dentures are replaceable stand in for missing teeth and the tissues surrounding it. Dentures are available in two types, complete and partial. The complete dentures are used when all of the patient's teeth are missing whereas the partial dentures come into use when some of the natural teeth remain. Denture adhesive are powders or pastes which are placed on the dentures so as to make sure that the denture remains at the same place. If the dentures are used there is no requirement if denture adhesives. Denture Adhesives at times contain zinc to enhance the adhesion. The US Dental adhesive market alone is expected to register a growth at around 7% per year for upcoming years. Global Denture Adhesive Market Segmentation The Global Denture Adhesive Market can be segmented on the basis of- o Types- Paste and Powder o End User- Clinics, Hospitals and Medical Institutions. Request a Sample Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample-request/global-denture-adhesive-research-report-by-forecast-to-2021 Global Denture Adhesives Growth Influencer Recent Trends in the Denture Adhesives market indicate towards heavy growth in the Denture Adhesives market. Increasing number of dentists in Europe, North America and other developing nations, growing awareness regarding healthcare are some of the key growth influencers for the Denture Adhesives market. Advancement in technology, new developing techniques can also result in the growth of the Denture Adhesives market. A major chunk of this increase in demand of denture adhesives can be credited to the increasing aging population in the world as it is much more likely for aged people to require dental procedures. Expansion of the wound care management factor is one of the main factor that the Denture Adhesives Market is expected to grow. Global Denture Adhesive Market: Prominent Market Players o Ultra dent Products o Fixodent o Baxter International o Stryker Corporation o DENTSPLY International o Procter and Gamble o Colgate o 3M o Sea bond Access the market data and information presented through data tables and figures spread 104 pages of the project report. Avail in-depth table of content (TOC) & market synopsis on "Global Denture Adhesive - Research Report, by Application and by Geography- Forecast to 2021" Access Report Details @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/global-denture-adhesive-research-report-by-forecast-to-2021 Brief Table of Contents for Global Denture Adhesive Market 1. Report Prologue 2. Introduction 2.1 Definition 2.2 Scope of the Study 2.2.1 Research Objective 2.2.2 Assumptions 2.2.3 Limitations 2.3 Market Structure 2.4. Market Segmentation 3. Research Methodology 3.1 Research Process 3.2 Primary Research 3.3 Secondary Research 3.4 Market Size Estimation 3.5 Forecast Model 4. Market Dynamics 4.1 Drivers 4.2 Restraints 4.3 Opportunities 4.4 Mega Trends 4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators 5. Market Factor Analysis 5.1 Value Chain Analysis 5.2 PORTERS Five Forces 5.3 demand & supply: gap analysis 5.4 Pricing Analysis 5.5 Investment Opportunity Analysis 5.6 Merger and Acquisition Landscape 5.7 UP-Coming trends in Global Denture Adhesive Market 5.7.1 Market trends 5.7.2 Technological trends 5.7.3 Insurance & Regulations 5.7.4 Others 6. Global Denture Adhesive Market by End Users 7. Global Denture Adhesive Market by Types CONTINUED... Get In-depth Table of Contents (TOC), List of Figures and Tables @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/request-toc/global-denture-adhesive-research-report-by-forecast-to-2021 About Market Research Future: At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions. In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members. For more information, please visit https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/ Contact Info: Name: Akash Anand Organization: Market Research Future (MRFR) Address: Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune - 411028 Maharashtra, India Phone: +1 646 845 9312 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/global-denture-adhesive-market-size-business-growth-prospects-and-opportunities-report-2016-2021/147321 Release ID: 147321 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) Throat Cancer Market to Provide Over USD 7 Billion Revenue Post 2016 Throat Cancer Market Information, by Types (Pharyngeal Cancer and Laryngeal Cancer), by Treatments (Surgery, Radiation Therapy, Chemotherapy, Others) - Forecast to 2022 -- Market Research Future has a Half Cooked Research Report on Global Throat Cancer Market. The Global Throat Cancer Market is expected to reach around USD 7 Billion during the forecasted period. Market Highlights The Global Throat Cancer Market has been examined as a swiftly growing market and expected to grow at a tremendous rate. Globally there is huge demand for throat cancer treatment in various regions. The factors that drive the throat cancer market are the rising aging population, growing demand for advanced cancer therapies, increasing government funding in the healthcare sector, and growth of cancer care facilities in emerging countries. Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 50 market data tables and figures spread over 80 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on "Throat Cancer Market Research Report - Global Forecast to 2022" Access Report Details @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/throat-cancer-market-research-report-global-forecast-to-2022 Market Research Analysis: It has been found that throat cancer is caused due to various problems one of which is smoking and drinking. These factors are growing the throat cancer market rapidly. Developing healthcare industry plays a major role in the growth of this market as new drugs, therapies and treatments have been evolved since the occurrence of throat cancer, which makes these treatments popular and the demand for these treatments will grow eventually. Request a Sample Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample-request/throat-cancer-market-research-report-global-forecast-to-2022 Global Throat Cancer Market Players: The major players of this market are Amgen Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene Corporation, Eli Lilly And Company, Engeneic Ltd, F. Hoffmann-la Roche AG, Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis, Pfizer Inc., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd and others. The market is classified and analyzed on the basis of various segments including geographies, which consist of; Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. Out of all, North America accounts for the largest share in the market. In addition, Europe and Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing segment in the throat cancer market. The Early Diners are Offered Free Customization - Up to 20% on this Report. Make an Enquiry for this Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/throat-cancer-market-research-report-global-forecast-to-2022 Browse Related Reports: Global Oral Mucositis Market Information by Type (Chemotherapy Induced-Oral Mucositis, Radiotherapy Induced-Oral Mucositis, Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Others), End Users (Hospitals, Clinics, Research Institutes and Others) - Forecast to 2027 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/global-oral-mucositis-market-research-report-forecast-to-2027 About Market Research Future: At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions. In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members. For more information, please visit https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/ Contact Info: Name: Akash Anand Organization: Market Research Future (MRFR) Address: Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune - 411028 Maharashtra, India Phone: +1 646 845 9312 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/throat-cancer-market-to-provide-over-usd-7-billion-revenue-post-2016/147602 Release ID: 147602 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) Gluten Free Food Market by Type, Product, Application, Region and Forecast to 2021 ReportsWeb.com added "Global Gluten Free Food Market Research Report 2016" to its vast collection of research database. The report is spread across 110 pages and supported by 20 company leaders. -- The Global Gluten Free Food Market Research Report 2016 is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Gluten Free Food Market. This report studies Gluten Free Food in Global market, especially in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan, focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, covering Boulder brands, Hain Celestial, Hain Celestial, Kellogg, Kraft Heinz, Pirate Brands, Dr Schaer, Mrs Crimble, Freedom Foods, Orgran, Pastariso, Amy's Kitchen, Enjoy Life Foods, Ener-G Foods Inc, Food For Life, Hero Group, Raisio, Farmo, Nature's Path Foods and Schneekoppe. Request a Sample copy of this research @ http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001411431/sample Market Segment by Region, this report splits Global into several key Region, with sales, revenue, market share and growth rate of Gluten Free Food in these regions, from 2011 to 2021 (forecast), like North America, China, Europe, Japan, India, Southeast Asia. Gluten Free Food Market Split by product type, with production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, can be divided into Type I, Type II, Type III. View more details about this report @ http://www.reportsweb.com/global-gluten-free-food-market-research-report-2016 Few points from Table of Contents 1 Gluten Free Food Market Overview 2 Global Gluten Free Food Market Competition by Manufacturers 3 Global Gluten Free Food Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2011-2016) 4 Global Gluten Free Food Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016) 4.1 Global Gluten Free Food Consumption by Regions (2011-2016) 4.2 North America Gluten Free Food Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016) 4.3 Europe Gluten Free Food Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016) 4.4 China Gluten Free Food Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016) 4.5 Japan Gluten Free Food Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016) 4.6 Southeast Asia Gluten Free Food Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016) 4.7 India Gluten Free Food Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016) 5 Global Gluten Free Food Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type 5.1 Global Gluten Free Food Production and Market Share by Type (2011-2016) 5.2 Global Gluten Free Food Revenue and Market Share by Type (2011-2016) 5.3 Global Gluten Free Food Price by Type (2011-2016) 5.4 Global Gluten Free Food Production Growth by Type (2011-2016) 6 Global Gluten Free Food Market Analysis by Application 6.1 Global Gluten Free Food Consumption and Market Share by Application (2011-2016) 6.2 Global Gluten Free Food Consumption Growth Rate by Application (2011-2016) 6.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities 6.3.1 Potential Applications 6.3.2 Emerging Markets/Countries 7 Global Gluten Free Food Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis 7.1 Boulder brands 7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors 7.1.2 Gluten Free Food Product Type, Application and Specification 7.1.2.1 Type I 7.1.2.2 Type II 7.1.3 Boulder brands Gluten Free Food Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016) 7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview 7.2 Hain Celestial 7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors 7.2.2 Gluten Free Food Product Type, Application and Specification 7.2.2.1 Type I 7.2.2.2 Type II 7.2.3 Hain Celestial Gluten Free Food Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016) 7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview 7.3 General Mills 7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors 7.3.2 Gluten Free Food Product Type, Application and Specification 7.3.2.1 Type I 7.3.2.2 Type II 7.3.3 General Mills Gluten Free Food Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016) 7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview 8 Gluten Free Food Manufacturing Cost Analysis 9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers 10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders 11 Market Effect Factors Analysis 12 Global Gluten Free Food Market Forecast (2016-2021) 13 Research Findings and Conclusion 14 Appendix Buy a copy of complete 105 pages report @ http://www.reportsweb.com/buy&RW0001411431/buy/2900 Browse Related Reports: Global Gluten-Free Packaged Food Sales Market Report 2021 - http://www.reportsweb.com/Global-Gluten-Free-Packaged-Food-Sales-Market-Report-2021 Global Gluten Free Food Market Professional Survey Report 2016 - http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001293497/sample For more information, please visit http://www.reportsweb.com/global-gluten-free-food-market-research-report-2016 Contact Info: Name: Sameer Joshi Email: sales@reportsweb.com Organization: ReportsWeb Address: Pune, India. Phone: +1-646-491-9876 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/gluten-free-food-market-by-type-product-application-region-and-forecast-to-2021/147568 Release ID: 147568 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) Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pumps Market Global Key Vendors, Manufacturers, Suppliers and Analysis Market Report 2027 Global Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pump Market Information Report by application (Pharmaceutical, Cosmetics, Mining, Marine ), valves and by Region - Forecast to 2027 -- Market Scenario Global Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pumps Market. Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pumps market is expected to grow with the CAGR of about 4.2% from 2016 to 2027. Increased widespread application in the Chemical industry is one of the key factors which are contributing to the growth of the Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pumps Market. Rapid development of Global infrastructure and investment in cosmetics and pharmaceutical are some of the other factors which contribute to the growth of the air operated double diaphragm pumps. Ball Valves held the major share within the Global Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pumps Market On the basis of valves the market has been segmented as Flap and Ball. The ball valves are expected to dominate the market with a market share almost more than 50%. Higher efficiency and better performance of the Ball valve is one of the primary factors contributing to the ball valve segment. Recent industrial trend showcase higher demand for ball valves as compared to other valves. The companies in this market have adopted various strategies such as mergers and acquisitions, expansions, and new product developments to append their market share. Key Players Some of the key players in the Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pump Market are o Graco, o Warren Rupp, o Wilden, o TAPFLO, o ARO, o DellMeco, o Verder, o Murzan, o Debem, o Depa. Request a Sample Copy @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample-request/global-air-operated-double-diaphragm-pumps-market-research-report-forecast-to-2027 Key Findings The key findings of the report "Global Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pump market" includes: o Increasing incidence of rapid integration in the Food and Beverage Industry. o Geographically, Europe dominates the AODD pump market o Water Treatment and Chemical industry dominate the market in terms of market share. Intended Audience o Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pump manufacturing companies o Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pump service providers o Industry Consultants and Investment bankers o Government as well as Independent Regulatory Authorities "Analysis also includes consumption. Import and export data for Regions North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India." Segments The air operated double diaphragm pump market can be segmented On the basis of sector applications as Pharmaceutical, Cosmetics, Mining, Marine, Water Treatment, Food and Beverage. On the basis of valves the market has been segmented as Flap and plate Ask for your specific company profile and country level customization on reports. This report includes a study of strategies, of major market players. It includes the product portfolios, developments of leading major players such as Baker Hughes, Cameron International, Halliburton, Weatherford, Natonal Oilwell Varco, and others. This research report has provides the insights, on various levels of analyses such industry analysis, market share analysis leading market players and their profiles. Browse full report with in-depth TOC @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/global-air-operated-double-diaphragm-pumps-market-research-report-forecast-to-2027 Table of Content Introduction 1.1 Definition 1.2 Scope of Study 1.3 Research Objective 1.4 Assumptions & Limitations 1.5 Market Structure: 2 Research Methodology 2.1 Research Process 2.2 Primary Research 2.3 Secondary Research 3 Market Dynamics 3.1 Drivers 3.2 Restraints 3.3 Opportunities 3.4 Challenges 3.5 Macroeconomic Indicators 4 Market Factor Analysis 4.1 Porter's five forces model 4.1.1 Bargaining Power of suppliers 4.1.2 Bargaining Power of Customer 4.1.3 Intensity of Competitor's 4.1.4 Threat of New Entrants 5 Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pumps Market, By Valves 5.1 Introduction 5.1.1 Ball 5.1.2 Flap 6 Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pumps Market, By Application 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Water Treatment 6.3 Marine 6.4 Chemicals 6.5 Pharmaceutical 6.6 Mining 6.7 Food & Beverage 7 Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pumps Market, By Operations 7.1 Introduction 7.1.1 Sigle Acting 7.1.2 Double Acting 8 Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pumps Market, By Region 8.1 Introduction 9 Company Landscape 9.1 Introduction 9.1.1 Mergers Acquisitions 9.1.2 Collaborations 9.1.3 Release/New Product Launches 9.1.4 Other (Expansion, Updates, Partnership) 10 Company Profile Continue... Purchase a License Copy @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=891 List of Tables TABLE 1 EMEA AIR OPERATED DOUBLE DIAPHRAGM PUMPS MARKET, BY REGION 2011-2027, TABLE 2 EMEA AIR OPERATED DOUBLE DIAPHRAGM PUMPS MARKET FOR MINING, BY REGION TABLE 3 EMEA AIR OPERATED DOUBLE DIAPHRAGM PUMPS MARKET FOR MARINE, BY REGION TABLE 4 EMEA AIR OPERATED DOUBLE DIAPHRAGM PUMPS MARKET FOR WATERTREATMENT, BY REGION TABLE 5 EMEA AIR OPERATED DOUBLE DIAPHRAGM PUMPS MARKET FOR PHARMACEUTICAL, BY REGION 2011-2027, (MILLION) TABLE 6 EMEA AIR OPERATED DOUBLE DIAPHRAGM PUMPS MARKET FOR CHEMICAL, BY REGION 2011-2027, (MILLION) TABLE 7 EMEA AIR OPERATED DOUBLE DIAPHRAGM PUMPS MARKET FOR FOOD & BEVERAGES, BY REGION 2011-2027, (MILLION) TABLE 8 EMEA AIR OPERATED DOUBLE DIAPHRAGM PUMPS MARKET FOR OIL & GAS, BY REGION TABLE 9 EMEA AIR OPERATED DOUBLE DIAPHRAGM PUMPS MARKET, BY VALVES TABLE 10 EUROPE AIR OPERATED DOUBLE DIAPHRAGM PUMPS MARKET, BY VALVES TABLE 11 MIDDLE EAST AIR OPERATED DOUBLE DIAPHRAGM PUMPS MARKET, BY VALVES Continue...... List of Figures FIGURE 1 Supply chain: AODD pumps FIGURE 2 Porters five forces Continued... Related Report Global Drilling and Completion Fluids Market Research Report - Forecast to 2027 Considering the oil and gas industry is recovering from the recent price crisis, the growth in the oil and gas industry is imminent which would result in a complimentary increase in the demand in the Drilling and Completion Fluids market. Know more about this report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/global-drilling-and-completion-fluids-market-research-report-forecast-to-2027 About Market Research Future: At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. For more information, please visit https://www.marketresearchfuture.com Contact Info: Name: Akash Anand Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com Organization: Market Research future Address: Hadapsar, Pune - 411028 Phone: +1 646 845 9312 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/air-operated-double-diaphragm-pumps-market-global-key-vendors-manufacturers-suppliers-and-analysis-market-report-2027/147564 Release ID: 147564 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) Self-Service BI Market may reach to $ 7.31 Billion by 2021 [175 Pages Report] Self-Service BI market categories the global market by type as software & services, by application as sales & marketing management, customer engagement & analysis, predictive asset maintenance, by business function, by deployment model, by vertical, & by region. -- According to a new market research report "Self-Service BI Market by Type (Software, Services), Application (Sales & Marketing Management, Customer Engagement & Analysis, Predictive Asset Maintenance), Business Function, Deployment Model, Vertical, & Region - Global Forecast to 2021", the self-service Business Intelligence (BI) market is estimated to grow from USD 3.61 Billion in 2016 to USD 7.31 Billion by 2021, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 15.2%. Browse 79 market data tables and 62 figures spread through 175 pages and in-depth TOC on "Self-Service BI Market - Global Forecast to 2021" Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report. The major forces driving the self-service BI market are the ease of use for non-technical staff, increasing need for in-depth competitive insights, and expanding volume of business data. The self-service BI market is growing rapidly because of the transformation from traditional BI techniques for analyzing business data to advanced techniques and massive surge of structured and unstructured data. Human Resources business function is expected to grow at the highest CAGR Self-service BI tools and services are used for various business functions, which include marketing, finance, sales, operations, and Human Resources (HR). HR is expected to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period, among all business functions, due to the increasing need for HR departments across industry verticals to understand the complex interaction between staffing levels, competencies, compensation structures, workforce profile, and other factors, which would help them maximize their return on human capital. Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) is estimated to have the largest market size in 2016 The self-service BI market is also segmented into various industry vertical. Out of them, the adoption of self-service BI is expected to be the highest in the BFSI vertical as the volume and variety of data in this vertical is increasing day by day with the growing demand of IT systems for financial transactions in banks and other financial services institutes. Download PDF brochure @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=226871366 North America is expected to dominate the self-service BI market during the forecast period North America is expected to hold the largest share of the self-service BI market in 2016 due to the technological advancements and early adoption of BI solutions in the region. The market in APAC is expected to grow at the highest CAGR between 2016 and 2021. The primary driving forces for this growth are increasing technological adoption and huge opportunities across industry verticals in APAC countries, especially India, China, and Japan. The report also encompasses different strategies, such as mergers & acquisitions, partnerships & collaborations, and product developments, adopted by major players to increase their share in the market. Some of the major technology vendors include Microsoft Corporation (U.S.), IBM Corporation (U.S.), Oracle Corporation (U.S.), SAP SE (Germany), SAS Institute (U.S.), Tableau Software (U.S.), MicroStrategy (U.S.), TIBCO Software (U.S.), Qlik Technologies (U.S.), and Zoho Corporation (U.S.). Make an Enquiry @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=226871366 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is the largest market research firm worldwide in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to a multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. M&M's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical infographics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers. We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository. For more information, please visit http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/self-service-bi-market-226871366.html Contact Info: Name: Mr.Rohan Organization: MarketsandMarkets Source: http://marketersmedia.com/self-service-bi-market-may-reach-to-7-31-billion-by-2021/147553 Release ID: 147553 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) Pro-democracy group Bersih stage 1MDB protest, calling for Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to resign, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia November 19, 2016. Photo by Reuters/Edgar Su PM Najib is alleged to be involved in a billion dollar corruption scandal. Tens of thousands of protesters, undeterred by the arrests of opposition leaders, marched in Malaysia's capital on Saturday demanding that Prime Minister Najib Razak step down. Protesters clad in yellow shirts marched through the heart of Kuala Lumpur bringing traffic to a standstill in several tourist spots, wrapping up peacefully in front of the iconic Petronas Twin Towers after an initial plan to assemble at Independence Square was thwarted by police. Najib has faced criticism since the Wall Street Journal reported last year that around $700 million from state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) was diverted into the personal bank account of the prime minister. Najib ran into further trouble when lawsuits filed by the U.S. Justice Department in July said over $3.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB, which was founded by Najib, and that some of those funds flowed into the accounts of "Malaysian Official 1", whom U.S. and Malaysian officials have identified as Najib. The demonstration is unlikely to shake the prime minister, who has denied wrongdoing and weathered the crisis, consolidating power by cracking down on dissenters. Eleven activists and opposition leaders were arrested on Friday and at least two more were detained at the rally. The deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said there could be more arrests in the coming days. Maria Chin Abdullah, the chair of pro-democracy group Bersih that organised the rally, was detained under Malaysia's Security Offences (Special Measures) Act, or Sosma, her lawyers said. The law was introduced in 2012 to protect the country from security and extremist threats. Laurent Meillan, acting regional representative of the United Nations Human Rights Office in South-East Asia, said the use of Sosma was very concerning. "Security legislation should not be used against peaceful demonstrators. We call for the immediate and unconditional release of Maria Chin Abdullah and other activists," Meillan said. Another Bersih leader, Hishamuddin Rais, and artist Fahmi Reza were also arrested. "We are not here to bring down the country. We love this country! We are not here to tear down the government, we're here to strengthen it," Bersih deputy chair Shahrul Aman Shaari told the crowds gathered at the National Mosque. Najib has taken steps which critics say aim to limit discussion of the scandal, such as sacking a deputy prime minister, replacing the attorney-general, suspending newspapers and blocking websites. Najib retains significant support within UMNO and from the long-ruling Barisan Nasional coalition. A man holds up a poster as pro-democracy group Bersih stages a 1MDB protest, calling for Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to resign, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia November 19, 2016. Photo by Reuters/Edgar Su 'Arrest us all' Turnout was lower than a similar rally last year, with police saying that about 15,500 Bersih supporters took part, while news portal Malaysiakini estimated around 40,000. As many as 200,000 people showed up last year at one point. Police had said the rally is illegal and that they would not hesitate to use tear gas or water cannon if things got out of hand. State news agency Bernama said about 7,000 policemen would be on duty near the protest areas. Still, spirits were high among those that gathered, with drums heard along with speeches, songs and chants by participants calling for a clean Malaysia and people power. Former Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamad, Najib's fiercest critic, joined protesters in front of the Twin Towers. "Let him come and arrest us all. We will stand up for our leaders including Maria Chin who has been arrested for the wrong reasons," said 91-year-old Mahathir. Muhyiddin Yassin - the former deputy premier who was sacked and now leads a new party chaired by Mahathir - was also present, leading the crowds in chants of "Step down Najib!" "Our country is being governed by clowns and crooks. So I'm here to protest against our prime minister," said the artist Reza before being arrested. Azalina Othman Said, a minister in the Prime Minister's Department, on Saturday said it was unlawful for any party to try to unseat an elected government via street protests. Fears of clashes between Bersih and a pro-Najib group called Red Shirts mounted earlier this week after the latter threatened to target Bersih supporters, though no major clashes were reported on Saturday. The pro-Najib group also rallied on Saturday and police estimated that about 2,500 supporters of Najib turned up. Jamal Yunos, an UMNO member and leader of the Red Shirts, was arrested on Friday. He had warned of a repeat of racial riots in 1969 that killed hundreds in clashes between Malays and ethnic Chinese. Ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities formed the bulk of the Bersih rally, similar to last year. Related news: > Malaysia PM Najib defeats former mentor Mahathir's challenge in twin by-elections > Malaysia's 1MDB plans ''robust response'' in debt row Variable Frequency Drives Market worth 27.11 Billion USD by 2021, at a CAGR of 6.9% The global variable frequency drives market is projected to witness high growth on account of growing urbanization & industrialization and rising government mandates for energy efficiency. -- The report "Variable Frequency Drives Market by Power Range (Micro, Low, Medium, High), Voltage (Low & Medium), Application (Pump, Fan, Compressor, Conveyor, Elevator, Extruder & Others) and Region - Global Trends & Forecasts to 2021", The global variable frequency drives market is projected to reach USD 27.11 Billion by 2021, from an estimated USD 19.38 Billion in 2016, at a CAGR of 6.9% from 2016 to 2021. Browse 76 market and 54 figures spread through 138 pages and in-depth TOC on "Variable Frequency Drives Market" Download Free PDF Brochure: http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=878 Top market players from the industry have been studied in order to track developments, technologies, and other key business strategies that define the market environment. The global variable frequency drives market has been analyzed based on type, voltage range, application, power range, and region. The report covers key regions including North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, South America, and Africa. Rising electricity prices, along with increased demand for electricity and energy, is currently driving the variable frequency drives market. In addition, high potential of variable frequency drives to reduce energy consumption and enhance efficiency of the system provide a huge opportunity for retrofit applications. Government regulations to limit consumption through the use of more efficient equipment are also adding to the growing demand for the device. Low voltage variable frequency drives are expected to lead the market The low voltage variable frequency drives segment is expected to hold the largest share compared to medium voltage. The former has become popular mainly because of its ease of operation and size; its size is 25%-40% less than medium voltage drives. Moreover, medium voltage drives are complex and difficult to handle or replace in case of a failure during an operation. Pumps held the largest application segment of variable frequency drives market Pumps are expected to have the maximum deployment of variable frequency drives during the forecast period. This growth is attributed to rapidly increasing industrial activities, growth of the construction sector, especially in Asia-Pacific & other developing countries, and growing oil & gas production in the U.S. & the Middle East. Asia-Pacific held the maximum demand for these drives for pumps in 2015, and is expected to lead the market during the forecast period. Asia-Pacific: The largest market for variable frequency drives The Asia-Pacific region holds the largest market for variable frequency drives, driven by growing urbanization and industrialization in the region. Huge investments in infrastructure development are also driving the variable frequency drives market in Asia-Pacific. The other major drivers include increasing power demand and strict government regulations on energy efficiency. To provide an in-depth understanding of the competitive landscape, the report includes profiles of some of the leading players in the variable frequency drives market, namely, ABB Ltd. (Switzerland), Crompton Greaves (India), Emerson Corporation (U.S.), General Electric (U.S.), Siemens AG (Germany), Schneider Electric SA (France), Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Japan), and Honeywell International, Inc. (U.S.), among others. Speak to Analyst: http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalyst.asp?id=878 The report segments the market on the basis of Voltage Range - low voltage (690 V and below) and medium voltage (above 690 V); Application - pumps, fans, compressors, conveyor, elevators, and extruder; Power micro, low, medium, and high power drives, and Region - Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa. The market ecosystem of variable frequency drives includes raw material suppliers, comprising electronic/electrical components, metals, and sensors among others. In the later stage, manufacturing of variable frequency drives takes place where all raw materials are assembled. These devices are then distributed to distribution utilities, industries, and T&D companies. Stakeholders: The report caters to following stakeholders: Variable frequency drive manufacturers, dealers, and suppliers Manufacturing, oil & gas, mining, and process industries Consulting companies in the energy and power sector State and national regulatory authorities "Study answers several questions for the stakeholders, primarily which market segments to focus in the next 2--5 years for prioritizing efforts and investments". Request for Customization: http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomization.asp?id=878 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is the largest market research firm worldwide in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to a multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. M&M's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical infographics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers. We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository. For more information, please visit http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/variable-frequency-drive-market-878.html Contact Info: Name: Rohan Organization: MarketsandMarkets Source: http://marketersmedia.com/variable-frequency-drives-market-worth-27-11-billion-usd-by-2021-at-a-cagr-of-6-9/147541 Release ID: 147541 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) Fundwise Capital Launches New Startup Funding Program For Any New Business Because Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat all secured funding via venture capital many new business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs believe that the venture capital model is the best way to fund a startup to launch a business. Reality is that only 1 to 2 percent of entrepreneurs actually secure venture capital, so what are the other 98% of entrepreneurs to do. -- Fundwise Capital is introducing a new startup funding program to fill that void and help all new entrepreneurs by providing creative finance solutions for entrepreneurs. Meet Tara Tara is a successful hair stylist who decided it was time to open her own salon. Venture capital would not help. Local banks said no, so she began to search online. As she searched she came across merchant cash advances, high rate loans, and crowdfunding, but none of those options were affordable or made sense for her business. Finally she came across the new startup funding program offered by Fundwise. It consisted of unsecured credit lines with low, affordable monthly payments. Because the money was unsecured, meaning no collateral was necessary, it looked like the answer to her funding search. When creators fund a startup it is vital to make sure the monthly payments are affordable, these revolving credit lines had affordable monthly payments and because the funding was revolving that meant she would only have to pay back what she used. Use of Funding Tara had calculated that she would need about 40k in order to acquire high end furniture, launch new marketing campaigns and secure the equipment she would need to run a top tier salon. She also wanted to have additional money on hand for working capital since often it takes longer than expected to begin generating sales. "It is important for entrepreneurs to know exactly what the requested funding will go to," explained Tara. Good Credit is Key To qualify all Tara needed to have was a decent credit score, within a few minutes she was pre-approved for the 40k that she needed with this new funding option. Within 24 hours she was connected with her own funding manager who introduced her to Fundwise Capital's proprietary funding system, which is essentially an online portal with funding education and access to the top funding options for new businesses. Fundwise clients are given lifetime access to the portal so that they have access to funding in the future as well as the present Over the next two weeks Tara was able to secure over $50,000 in funding from revolving credit lines. Creative Financing For the most part startups and newer businesses are generally ignored by banks and sba lenders, so new entrepreneurs need creative funding. The Fundwise Capital startup funding program has proven effective for enterprising individuals to find funding solutions. This program has already helped hundreds of new businesses across the country to launch their venture One of the most effective funding instruments for newer businesses is revolving credit lines with affordable monthly payments which is an integral part of the program. In addition to credit lines the program also includes unsecured term loans and more traditional lines of credit. The Bottom Line At the end of the day entrepreneurs need funding professionals just like they need accountants for taxes and attorneys for legal matters. This unique funding option has helped to solve the unique challenges entrepreneurs face by creating custom funding plans to help them fund any new business looking for a jump start. Regarding her experience Tara said that she was in desperate need of funding for her new business. Leo and the Fundwise team helped her and provided exactly what they promised, while educating her along the way. This startup funding program can be an integral part of jump starting any new business. Contact Info: Name: Fundwise Capital Email: info@fundwisecapital.com Phone: 8887410441 Organization: Fundwise Capital Source: http://www.prreach.com/pr/26676 Release ID: 147759 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) SimulationExams.com Releases CCNP Route Practice Tests SimulationExams.com, a leading practice tests provider, released Cisco CCNP Route practice tests with over 300 questions and flash card explanation. November 19, 2016 (FPRC) -- SimulationExams.com released CCNP Route exams conforming the to latest 300 101 exam objectives. As you might be knowing, CCNP is the professional level certification offered by Cisco and widely recognized in the industry. The CCNA (Short for Cisco Certified Network Associate) is the basic requirement for appearing for CCNP (Short for Cisco Certified Network Professional). As the name implies, CCNA/CCNP are focused towards developing world class networking engineers meeting today's global networking challenges. The practice tests offered by SimulationExams.com include 300+ highly relevant questions with answers and flash card explanations. The question bank conforms to the exam objectives as given below: 1.0 Network Principles 10% 2.0 Layer 2 Technologies 10% 3.0 Layer 3 Technologies 40% 4.0 VPN Technologies 10% 5.0 Infrastructure Security 10% 6.0 Infrastructure Services 20% The topics had been thoroughly revised in comparison with the previous exam. Our practice tests simulate actual exam environment closely, so that candidates are better equipped to take the actual exam with confidence with thorough preparation. About CCNP: CCNP is the mid-level certification offered by Cisco, and one needs to pass the following to obtain CCNP certification: 1. CCNP Route (300-101) 2. CCNP Switch (300-115), and 3. CCNP TShoot Pre-requisites: You need to pass CCNA certification to appear for CCNP exams. The certifications are valid for 3 years, and a candidate needs to re-qualify for validity extension. Disclaimer: SimulationExams.com is a group website of Anand Software and Training, a privately held company, based in Bangalore, India. Simulationexams.com is not related to Cisco Systems (R) or any other company. All trademarks are duly acknowledged. CCNP, CCNA, and CCENT are trademarks of Cisco and duly acknowledged. Send an email to Vijay of r +918026634450 Recent Press Releases By The Same User Simexams.com Releases Computer Based Exam Software (Wed 12th Feb 20) Certexams.com CCNA Practice Tests for 200-125 (Thu 30th Jan 20) SimulationExams.com Releases New Comptia A+ Core Practice Tests (Mon 10th Jun 19) CertExams.com Updates CCNA NetSim with More Features and Devices (Wed 13th Mar 19) TutorialsWeb.com Re-designed to be a Fully Responsive Website (Sat 15th Sep 18) CertExams.com Updates Network+ LabSim (Tue 7th Aug 18) Start Dropshipping Business Wholesale Product Supplier Guide Site Launched SaleHoo has launched a new site offering guidance on how business owners can start buying wholesale products to sell as part of a dropshipping business. Dropshipping allows site owners to list and sell products without ever handling them in person. -- A new site has launched helping business owners to find and locate the best low cost products to sell on popular websites like Amazon, Etsy and eBay as part of their dropshipping service. Called SaleHoo, it provides access to over 8,000 genuine wholesale dropship suppliers and 1.6 million products at genuine wholesale prices. It also offers guidance for people who don't know what products they want to sell or how to find trusted suppliers. More information can be found at: http://www.dropshiplife.tk. Signing up to SaleHoo offers customers access to a number of different pages, including a market research lab, access to SaleHoo stores, a seller training center and community forum where they can interact with other sellers and share insights and knowledge. The SaleHoo site explains that the service provides key information to help people set up and establish their own business, and emphasises that the secret to ensuring success is to find the right products at low prices. Often doing this can be confusing for new startups, and it's for this reason that SaleHoo was created in order to help people find the products they want at the prices that are best for them. It allows people to avoid searching on Google, which leads to results cluttered with scammers, and find wholesalers who sell a wide range of products. The site goes on to emphasise the importance of finding products that other people aren't necessarily selling, but will have instant market appeal. Through using the tools provided, business owners can be provided with a list of the best wholesalers and also be told ahead of time how likely they are to be a hit. Dropshipping offers businesses the chance to get off the ground and provide a service or product with ease, without having to order in products in bulk. Businesses can get started immediately, listing products online and generating sales quickly and efficiently, while the sellers they link up with do the heavy lifting, including packaging and posting the products. Full information on SaleHoo can be found on the company website, which goes into detail about each of the services provided. For more information, please visit http://www.dropshiplife.tk Contact Info: Name: Rick Edmiston Organization: Smile Vending Address: 3/12 Crawford st Phone: 0499074015 Release ID: 147430 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) Construction in Sweden Global Market Segmentation and Major Players Analysis 2022 WiseGuyReports.com adds "Construction in Sweden - Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020" reports to its database. -- Synopsis Following three years of contraction, the Swedish construction industry recovered in 2014, and registered a growth rate of 12.1% in real terms. The recovery continued through 2015, and is expected to remain in place over the forecast period (2016-2020), with investments in infrastructure construction, healthcare, manufacturing, educational facilities and housing projects continuing to drive growth. Economic recovery will also be a driver, and should increase the demand for residential and commercial buildings. Get Sample Report @ https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/746192-construction-in-sweden-key-trends-and-opportunities-to-2020 The government's focus to develop the country's infrastructure under the National Reform Program 2016 is also expected to drive forecast period growth. Under this program, the government introduced the Active Industrial Policy, the Long-Term Energy Policy, the Investment to Build Sweden Plan, and a policy of knowledge-based education for all. Under the Active Industrial Policy, the government aims to reduce unemployment, strengthen Swedish competitiveness in the manufacturing sector, and increase exports by attracting foreign manufacturing companies. Under the Long-Term Energy policy, the government will focus on the development of renewable energy infrastructure, with the aim of becoming 100% fossil fuel free by 2040. The government is also planning to invest SEK8.3 billion (US$987.4 million) into a knowledge-based education plan to develop educational infrastructure and facilities. In real terms, the industry's output value is forecast to rise at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.67% over the forecast period; up from -0.05% during the review period (2011-2015). Summary Construction in Sweden - Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020 report provides detailed market analysis, information and insights into the Swedish construction industry including: o The Swedish construction industry's growth prospects by market, project type and construction activity o Analysis of equipment, material and service costs for each project type in Sweden o Critical insight into the impact of industry trends and issues, and the risks and opportunities they present to participants in the Swedish construction industry o Profiles of the leading operators in the Swedish construction industry o Data highlights of the largest construction projects in Sweden Scope This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the construction industry in Sweden. It provides: o Historical (2011-2015) and forecast (2016-2020) valuations of the construction industry in Sweden using construction output and value-add methods o Segmentation by sector (commercial, industrial, infrastructure, energy and utilities, institutional and residential) and by project type o Breakdown of values within each project type, by type of activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition) and by type of cost (materials, equipment and services) o Analysis of key construction industry issues, including regulation, cost management, funding and pricing o Detailed profiles of the leading construction companies in Sweden Reasons to Buy o Identify and evaluate market opportunities using Timetric's standardized valuation and forecasting methodologies. o Assess market growth potential at a micro-level with over 600 time-series data forecasts. o Understand the latest industry and market trends. o Formulate and validate strategy using Timetric's critical and actionable insight. o Assess business risks, including cost, regulatory and competitive pressures. o Evaluate competitive risk and success factors. Key Highlights o Real estate property prices are expected to remain buoyant over the forecast period, due to the increasing demand for residential and non-residential buildings. According to the Statistiska centralbyran (SCB), the real estate property price index at 1981 base prices rose by 11.1%, going from 700.5 in 2014 to 778.5 in 2015. The residential property price index grew by 10.8% over the same period, going from 590.3 to 654.0. o According to the SCB, the total number of permits issued for the construction of residential buildings increased by 17.4%, going from 7,175 units in 2014 to 8,422 units in 2015. This was preceded by an annual growth of 28.6% in 2014 and 10.9% in 2013. They rose by 0.3% during the first half of 2016, going from 4,352 in January-June 2015 to 4,357 in January-June 2016. o Sweden is facing a housing shortage. Consequently, in its 2016 budget, the government announced plans to provide financial support and build 250,000 houses by 2020. It also announced aid for municipal authorities, housing for the elderly and more student accommodation schemes. This is expected to drive the growth of the residential construction market. o The infrastructure construction market is expected to benefit from the National Transport Plan 2014-2025. Through this, the government is planning to spend SEK674.0 billion (US$80.0 billion) on transport infrastructure by 2025. o With the aim of becoming the world's first fossil fuel free nation, the government is planning to produce 100% of the country's energy from renewable sources by 2040. Accordingly, it plans to increase electricity production from 17.5TWh in 2015 to 28.4TWh by 2020. Table of Contents 1 Executive Summary 2 Industry Outlook 2.1 Commercial Construction 2.2 Industrial Construction 2.3 Infrastructure Construction 2.4 Energy and Utilities Construction 2.5 Institutional Construction 2.6 Residential Construction 3 Key Issues and Developments 4 Market Data Analysis 4.1 Construction Output and Value Add 4.1.1 Construction output by project type 4.1.2 Construction output by cost type 4.1.3 Construction output by activity type 4.1.4 Construction value add by project type 4.2 Commercial Construction 4.2.1 Commercial construction output by project type 4.2.2 Commercial construction output by cost type 4.2.3 Commercial construction output by activity type 4.2.4 Commercial construction value add by project type 4.3 Industrial Construction 4.3.1 Industrial construction output by project type 4.3.2 Industrial construction output by cost type 4.3.3 Industrial construction output by activity type 4.3.4 Industrial construction value add by project type 4.4 Infrastructure Construction 4.4.1 Infrastructure construction output by project type 4.4.2 Infrastructure construction output by cost type 4.4.3 Infrastructure construction output by activity type 4.4.4 Infrastructure construction value add by project type 4.5 Energy and Utilities Construction 4.5.1 Energy and utilities construction output by project type 4.5.2 Energy and utilities construction output by cost type 4.5.3 Energy and utilities construction output by activity type 4.5.4 Energy and utilities construction value add by project type 4.6 Institutional Construction 4.6.1 Institutional construction output by project type 4.6.2 Institutional construction output by cost type 4.6.3 Institutional construction output by activity type 4.6.4 Institutional construction value add by project type 4.7 Residential Construction 4.7.1 Residential construction output by project type 4.7.2 Residential construction output by cost type 4.7.3 Residential construction output by activity type 4.7.4 Residential construction value add by project type 5 Company Profile: NCC AB 5.1 NCC AB - Company Overview 5.2 NCC AB - Business Description 5.3 NCC AB - Main Products and Services 5.4 NCC AB - History 5.5 NCC AB - Company Information 5.5.1 NCC AB - key competitors 5.5.2 NCC AB - key employees 6 Company Profile: Peab AB 6.1 Peab AB - Company Overview 6.2 Peab AB - Business Description 6.3 Peab AB - Main Services 6.4 Peab AB - History 6.5 Peab AB - Company Information Access Report @ https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/746192-construction-in-sweden-key-trends-and-opportunities-to-2020 Get in touch: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/4828928 Twitter: https://twitter.com/WiseGuyReports Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Wiseguyreports-1009007869213183/?fref=ts For more information, please visit http://www.wiseguyreports.com Contact Info: Name: Norah Trent Organization: WiseGuy Reports Address: Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar Pune - 411028 Maharashtra, India Phone: +1-646-845-9349 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/construction-in-sweden-global-market-segmentation-and-major-players-analysis-2022/147498 Release ID: 147498 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 Elderly Companionship Home Care Companion Aides Nursing Report Launched A new report has been launched by Miami Home Care Services offering insight into the benefits of home care aides for the elderly. Aides can offer a wide range of services, including home assistance, transportation and companionship. -- Miami Home Care Services, a specialist care provider for elderly citizens in Miami, has announced the launch of a new report focusing on the benefits of home care aides. It explains that often elderly citizens can need extra help while they recover for an injury, or may simply need help to ensure good mobility around their home. In these instances, contacting expert staff like those provided at Miami Home Care can help to provide a better life for loved ones. More information is available on the Miami Home Care website at: http://miamihomecareservices.com. Miami Home Care Services has an established history as an expert live in and home care provider for Miami seniors in need of help. They offer qualified home care aides who can take care of every need, whether a customer or their loved ones needs assistance in daily living. The company website explains that the home care aides provided by Miami Home Care are sourced from a pool of the best caregivers in the industry, and it's for this reason that they're able to be so beneficial in the lives of the elderly people they work for. Candidates undergo a thorough screening process to ensure they have the required expertise necessary in order to be able to complete the job in the best way possible for the resident. One of the reasons the report gives for the benefits of home care aides for seniors in need is that there are a large number of services they can offer. A full list of services is provided on the Miami Home Care website, which details how expert staff can assist with activities of daily living, and help with home maintenance and modification, as well as transportation, companionship, and a range of other services. When elderly people are struggling to walk, feed and bathe properly, they can get peace of mind and safety through working with Miami Home Care Services and the aides that they provide. In addition to this, the company can help with transportation to and from important locations, whether it's food shopping or visiting family. For more information, please visit http://miamihomecareservices.com%20Contact Contact Info: Name: Lisa Kaufman Organization: Miami Home Care Services Address: 1031 Ives Dairy Road Release ID: 147517 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. "There is no doubt that if the TPP fails it will be a huge win for China, politically and economically." A summit of top world leaders was urged Friday to defend free trade from rising protectionism after Donald Trump's election victory stoked fears that years of tearing down barriers to global commerce could be reversed. Trump, who triumphed in last week's U.S. presidential vote, successfully tapped the anger of working-class voters who feel left behind by globalization, vowing to protect American jobs against cheap labor in countries like China and Mexico. As a summit of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group got under way, host President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski of Peru urged the region's leaders to robustly defend free trade, while the U.S. sought to reassure worried allies. "In the U.S, and Britain, protectionist tendencies are taking over," Kuczynski told APEC leaders. "It is fundamental that world trade grow again and that protectionism be defeated." Trump's victory came after Britain's surprise "Brexit" vote in June to leave the European Union, adding to deep uncertainty about the post-war world order and the future of free trade. The sentiment also exists on a far smaller scale in Peru, where several dozen protesters -- including Amazon natives in indigenous headdress, gathered Friday in Lima to condemn free trade agreements and the "capitalist beast." Trump has notably vowed to scuttle U.S. President Barack Obama's key trade initiative in the Asia-Pacific, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), leaving a vacuum that China, which was excluded from the deal, is keen to fill. A delegate at ministerial meetings held on Thursday and Friday said APEC ministers had expressed concern over growing protectionism in the United States, and that the mood had been somber. The official, who asked not to be named, said U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman had sought to assure ministers that American core interests don't change from administration to administration. "Unequivocal message" Trump is not at the summit but he looms large over the meeting of APEC, a free-trade club founded in 1989 that represents nearly 40 percent of the world's population and nearly 60 percent of the global economy. In a clear jab at the billionaire mogul's anti-trade stance, Kuczynski said that "anyone who wants to promote protectionism (should) read an economic history of the 1930s." The center-right economist urged his fellow leaders to deliver an "unequivocal message" in support of free trade. Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong echoed the sentiment, urging more, not less, trade in the face of "a nativist response in developed countries by those who blame globalization for making them worse off." The U.S. election has left China, a country the United States once considered a threat to free-market capitalism, as the unlikely leader of the movement for open trade. Chinese President Xi Jinping is holding a strong hand as he meets Obama and other APEC leaders this week. "There is no doubt that if the TPP fails it will be a huge win for China, politically and economically," said Brian Jackson, a China economist at consultancy IHS Global Insight. Even longtime U.S. allies in the Asia-Pacific region now say they are keen to get on board with Chinese-backed alternatives to TPP. Beijing is pushing an APEC-wide Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) and a 16-member Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which includes India but not the United States. World business leaders gathered on the sidelines of the summit bemoaned TPP's "grim prospects" and urged governments to pour resources into FTAAP, said Sun Xiao, an official with the China Chamber of International Commerce. And amid mounting criticism that globalization has benefitted only the wealthiest, IMF chief Christine Lagarde defended trade as a major engine of growth. "We hope it continues to be -- but it has to be inclusive growth," she added. Related news: > What did Donald Trump say about trade with Vietnam? > Obama administration suspends Pacific trade deal vote effort > Free trade deal to boost EU-Vietnam trade by 50 pct During the winter of 1999, Cassinelli Landscaping and Construction was awarded the contract to construct a small park and plaza area between the Nevada State Museum in Carson City and the old bank building north of Caroline Street. The bank building is now the location of the museum gift shop and additional exhibit space. The Nevada State Museum building was the former United States Branch Mint from 1870 to 1893. The mint was established to process the vast wealth from the Virginia City Comstock mines into coins for use throughout the American West. In addition, thousands of trade dollars were minted here for trade with foreign countries. Between the two buildings had been the railroad spur where the Virginia and Truckee railroad delivered gold and silver bullion to the mint and shipped out finished coins for distribution. As work progressed, my crew and I tore out the entire block of Caroline Street where the railroad yard, the blacksmith shop and foundry had once stood. We used a backhoe to remove the old curbs, sidewalks and pavement. As we dug deeper into the excavations, we started digging up rusty tools, railroad spikes, horseshoes, bricks and other old remnants of the past. Part of the project was to construct a trash-bin enclosure using some of the original sandstone blocks from the mint foundry. Adrian OBrien, my equipment operator, was digging the footings for the enclosure when he stopped and informed me that he had uncovered some rusty old bearings. I went over to see if I could identify what they were. The items he was digging up were solid cylinders of iron, slightly tapered at one end, about 2 1/2 long and 2 in diameter. They weighed nearly a pound apiece and were extremely rusted. I immediately recognized that the items were some of the original coin dies from the Carson City Mint. I took a 5-gallon plastic bucket about half-full of the dies home with me that evening and contemplated what I should do with them. Numismatist friends of mine told me the dies with an original Carson City Mint mark were worth thousands of dollars apiece, depending on condition. On the other hand, I knew if I tried to sell any of them, they easily could be traced back to me, because I was the only one being allowed to dig up the site where they could be found. I opted to do the right thing and report the find to the museum personnel. Because they were found on state property, they rightfully belonged to the State of Nevada. Archaeologist Gene Hattori was called to conduct an archaeological dig of the site to recover the coin dies. He brought in a team of specialists with ultrasound metal-detecting equipment and plotted several hot spots that showed potential of having considerable buried metal. I assisted him by using the backhoe to uncover some of these areas to reveal the artifacts buried beneath. Most of the dies were extremely rusted. A few had some lettering and stars visible, but not much detail. All had an X ground into them for cancellation, except the dime dies, which had a single slash across the face. The X, or slash, usually was placed so the date was still visible. Gene asked me to uncover one of the hot spots that was especially tantalizing. When I dug down, I uncovered a large sheet of what was either tin or rusted sheet metal. Gene carefully removed the metal and exposed a nest of coin dies. They were in nearly perfect condition because the soil and moisture had not been in contact with the dies, so they hadnt rusted. For two days he removed the dies until he felt he had recovered enough of them for study. He then asked me to use the equipment to fill in the excavations so future archaeologists could examine the site at a later date. By the time I covered up the site and paved over the area, the archaeologists had recovered more than 500 of the Carson City coin dies. The dies included silver dimes, 20-cent pieces, quarters, half dollars, silver dollars, trade dollars, $5 gold, $10 gold and $20 gold. Both obverse and reverse (heads and tails) dies were recovered. Often, there was more than one set of dies for a denomination of the same date. Many had the date and denomination visible. A few had the CC mint mark visible. Many others had either a single C or CC stamped on the side of the die to identify them as dies prepared by the Philadelphia mint for use in the Carson City Branch Mint. All dies were manufactured in Philadelphia and shipped by railroad to the branch mints in those days. The employees of the old mint obviously had obviously canceled the dies with an X or a slash across the surface, as is required by law for any dies to be discarded. Rather than melting them down or disposing of them in some other fashion, they simply dug a hole and buried them in the ground near a shed just outside the foundry building or possibly the blacksmith shop. The dates on the dies all were in the 1870s. There was at least one large cluster of rusted dies fused together like concrete. Its on display at the museum, as are some of the dies that have been cleaned and restored. A few of the dies in good condition actually were used to stamp some coins complete with the cancellation mark. This was discontinued when it was found the old dies could be damaged by the pressure required to stamp the coins. 'Hawaii Five-O' Season 7 Spoilers: It's Not Yet Over For McGarrett & Rollins After All; Midseason Premiere Boasts of Big Cliffhanger Hawaii Five-O EP Peter Lenkov teases that there will be more of Steve McGarrett (Alex OLoughlin) and Catherine Rollins (Michelle Borth) relationship in the coming episodes of Season 7. This, after fans thought the relationship had its closure in the previous episode. Lenkov also hinted that the mid-season finale will have a cliffhanger which he claims has never been done in the show before. According to Lenkovs recent interview with TV Guide, they are not looking at the McGarrett and Rollins romance as totally over but a story the show is telling along the way. Fans either love or hate Catherine and both sides have been very vocal about it. The showrunner added that they see Catherine as being a part of the entire arc of the Hawaii Five-O franchise. Lenkovs comments seem to run contrary to OLoughlins previous declaration that the two characters breakup is for good and finally found its closure in the previous Hawaii Five-O episode. The actor also said that McGarrett really likes his present girlfriend whom he described as a great girl. OLoughlin added that McGarrett will be an idiot to just jump back into a relationship with Catherine. Meanwhile, ever since the beginning of Hawaii Five-O, it has always been known to have major mid-season finales where one of its main characters is always left in impossible situations. It will be the same this year according to Lenkov in his interview but this time with a big cliffhanger. In episode 10 of Hawaii Five-O Season 7, the sister of Danny Danno Williams (Scott Caan) will come to Hawaii for a company trip. Lenkov said that Danny and his sister (Missy Peregrym) will be seen in some heavy drama scenes reports Broadway World. As for the mid-season finale for Hawaii Five-O Season 11, Lenkov teased that they are building to a big cliffhanger in episode 11. For the first time in the shows history, the show will sort of end on a cliffhanger midseason. The showrunner further revealed that Chin Ho Kelly (Daniel Dae Kim) will be mainly involved in the mid-season cliffhanger. Chicxulub Crater News: Asteroid Strike Made Instant Himalayas, Wiped Dinosaurs From Earth; Niches For Life Created Researchers have discovered that asteroid strike made instant Himalayas or craters. The impact reportedly killed dinosaurs but created niches for life. Meteorite Crashed On Yucatan Peninsula & Killed Dinosaurs The secrets of the cataclysm that wiped out the dinosaurs are now revealed. Researchers sought this project and drilled beneath the seabed crater Chicxulub, a meteorite that is more than 10 kilometers in diameter has caused the stratospheric gap 66 million years ago. It crashed in the area that is now called Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico) and deleted the dinosaurs from the face of the Earth. The event that occurred at the end of the Cretaceous period marked the extinction of several species, not just the dinosaurs. All material up into the atmosphere would have darkened the sky and cooled the planet. Chicxulub Crater: Similar To Moon's Peak Rings Sciencemag says that scientists have conducted mission and instruments to understand the Chicxulub. This NASA lunar mission showed that the peak rings within the Orientale impact basin are similar to Chicxulub. Researchers have also found that Chicxulub's peak ring and the crater is similar to what is seen on Moon, Mars, and Mercury. According to BBC, the phenomenon that created Chicxulub is described as a 15-kilometer wide stony asteroid instantly punching a cavity in the Earth's surface some 30km deep and 80-100km across. Chicxulub is unique and has a well-preserved ring. This crater is the scar and impact of the phenomenon that is still seen on Earth. Researchers are particularly interested in a feature of the crater that scientists call "peak ring." Chicxulub Latest News & Update: Researchers Drilled Craters The researchers also sailed 30 kilometers offshore to a drilling rig that plans to drill up to a kilometer and a half below the seabed. This effort deepened the understanding of the formation of impact craters on earth and other planets and their environmental and ecological effects. The study platform, similar to oil, shall be based upon three piles. In the first week of drilling, it provides reach 500 meters below the floor of the Gulf of Mexico. Gradually, over the next two months, they will burrow a kilometer, and collect samples of microfossils, minerals, and different genetic traits. Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Relationship Latest News and Updates: 'Suits' Actress Appears in 2015 Gangster Movie Filmed in London New photos of Prince Harry's girlfriend, Meghan Markle, have again resurfaced online. This time, the images were from her 2015 movie entitled "Anti-Social." Real-life plot In the gangster movie shot in London, Markle played the character of Kirstin, who had a tumultuous relationship with her boyfriend Dee, played by Gregg Sulkin. The movie was based on the Graff Diamonds robbery which really happened in Britain in 2009. Dee's brother was one of the diamond thieves who waged war over daredevil raids in their place. Markle was believed to have shot the scenes of the film in London a year before she met and started her relationship with Harry. Matching bracelets The couple was earlier romantically linked after they were seen wearing matching bracelets. The 35-year-old actress posted photos of her wearing the bracelet on her Instagram page. The prince was also photographed in some events he attended wearing the blue accessory on his wrist. Prince Harry and Markle reportedly started their relationship earlier this year when the royal prince visited her in Canada where she is shooting her TV series "Suits." Prince Harry's admission After rumors of their relationship started, the Prince issued a statement confirming that Markle was his "girlfriend.." He, however, asked the public to respect their privacy as he did not want their relationship to be "damaged." The official statement went on to say that the actress suffered abuse and harassment from a lot of people because of the news of their relationship. "Some of this has been very public - the smear on the front page of a national newspaper; the racial undertones of comment pieces; and the outright sexism and racism of social media trolls and web article comments," it furthered. Prince Harry has become extremely concerned with the safety of Markle and her family. What do you think of this royal romance for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry? 'Star Wars' Prequel Latest News & Update: 'Game of Thrones' Emilia Clarke Joins The Han Solo Spin-Off Film; Does This Affect Her Character In The HBO Series? "Game of Thrones" Mother of Dragons, Emilia Clarke will be joining the cast of the spin-off film of "Star Wars" for Han Solo. Clarke will join her fellow British actor Alden Ehrenreich which will play Han Solo in the soon to be named "Star Wars" film spin-off. Emilia Clarke will be the female lead in the Han Solo "Star Wars" film that will begin before the "Star Wars: A New Hope" film occurred. The prequel will be focusing during the time Han Solo an Lando Calrissian were still "space smugglers", according to the Guardian. Before Emilia Clarke was announced as a lead star, Donald Glover was confirmed to play Lando Calrissian last month. "This new film depicts Lando in his formative years as a scoundrel on the rise in the galaxy's underworld," the Star Wars prequel studio, Lucasfilm said. "Selma" star Tessa Thompson was first rumored to be the lead in the "Star Wars" prequel alongside Power Ranger's Naomi Scott and Zoe Kravitz who also auditioned for the role. Emilia Clarke's co-star in the "Game of Thrones", Jessica Henwick, was also reported to have auditioned for the role. Variety reported that Emilia Clarke joining the "Star Wars" prequel will not affect her filming "Game of Thrones season 7". Fans of the HBO series has nothing to worry about because sources from the "Game of Thrones" said that all the main character from the show is confirmed to return. This season of "Game of Thrones" has reduced the number of episodes which concludes that there won't be any problems for Emilia Clarke to shoot from "Star Wars" to "Game of Thrones". Clarke starred in some films like "Me Before You" this year and "The Terminator Genysis" in 2015. The "Star Wars" prequel featuring Emilia Clarke will be released in 2018. One year after "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" and two years after "Star Wars: Rogue One". The film is also the first franchise that does not involve the character Skywalker. How To Deal with Fake News? Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg Is Making Effort To Detect Misleading News In a recent report, Facebook and Google announced they will pull out ads from websites that spread fake news. Now, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is working hard to detect fake news on Facebook News Feed. On Friday, Nov. 18, Zuckerberg announced how his company weed out fake news amid the criticism over Facebook's role during the U.S. 2016 election. There's a report released this week that showed that there are many Facebook users engaged with misleading stories than legit reports, CNBC reported. Zuckerberg said that the amount of misinformation was small, however, the company took this seriously. He added that the company will work hard to enhance its ability to detect fake news. Since Facebook and Google were among the outlets that being blame over the victory of Republican US elected President Donald Trump. After the storm of debate over spreading of fake news, the two giant tech companies announced they will remove ads from websites that produce malicious news. A spokesperson of Facebook said they will update policies to prohibit fake news from earning money with ads in its network, according to Gizmodo . Although they find a way discourage webmaster to produce fake news, however, the company has no plans to remove these from its news feed. How to deal with Fake News? Tired of seeing fake news on news feed even you're not following that site but many of your friends shared this malicious news? Here the simple ways to deal with it! In a list created by Recode, it includes, "Do nothing, "Leverage algorithms and artificial intelligence", "Put the computers to work," "Human curation by employees," and "Crowdsourcing." Do Nothing Zuckerberg mentioned in defense of Facebook, that "truth is in the eye of the beholder." So it means, not all content that might be considered false could be also false to the other people. However, people should be cautious about spreading unvalidated information to prevent further damage. Hence, Zuckerberg urges people to "do nothing" when faced with fake news. Valve News & Update: Gaming Company Facing $3M Fine for Breaking Australian Consumer Law Valve, the American video game developer and distribution company, is in trouble after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) slapped it with $3M fine for violating laws regarding refunds. It was revealed that from 2011-2014, the gaming firm failed to set-up an advertised refund policy on Steam. The ACCC had directed Valve to pay the fine since Steam, its outlet store for games, lacks the said policy which is strictly required. Although an appeal is being done, the order may be final as the company already lost the case. For its defense, Valve reasoned that they are an American company so they cannot be required to conform to such rule. They said that there is no need for them implement the rule because Valve is a foreign firm after all. In addition to the fine, the ACCC was also pushing for Valve to launch a 1-800 number so that Australian customers can easily make their request for refunds. But later, the commission yielded to the argument that this is unfeasible for gaming company's side. However, the Australian courts is firm with imposing the $3M fine which Valve tries to rebuff and asserted that a $250,000 penalty is the more appropriate amount. The gaming company explains that Valve's conduct was intended to mislead or deceive consumers so the penalty should not be that harsh. In response, the Escapist Magazine quoted presiding Judge Edleman as saying, "Your proposed penalty of $250,000 isn't even the price of doing business, it's next to nothing is it?" In any case, the ACCC filed this case against Valve in 2014. The commission points out that the company is not abiding by the Australian Consumer Law, specifically the regulations on refund, repair and replacement of goods. Now, the courts ruled in favor of ACCC and since there is a dispute with regards to how much fine it should be, the court must decide on the exact amount to be paid as penalty for the offense. Judge Edelman is scheduled to hand down the final ruling on Valve penalties in either December or January 2017. The Elko Daily Free Press is counting down the days until marijuana is legal in Nevada by answering questions concerning the law. Q: If an employee tests positive for marijuana after Jan. 1 is his or her job secure? A: Depending on the employer, testing positive for marijuana could mean the employee faces a suspension or loss of a job. The passage of Question 2 means people 21 and older can possess up to one ounce of marijuana, but that law does not negate drug policies of companies. Many companies, including Newmont Mining Corp. and Barrick Gold Corp., already have policies that do not allow for the use of marijuana. Newmont said its policy ensures a substance-free workplace. Components of the policy include pre-employment drug and alcohol screens as well as random workplace screens, the company stated. In addition, screening occurs for reasonable suspicion and post-incident situations. Newmont also already prohibits any drug or alcohol use in the workplace regardless if medically authorized marijuana is involved. Other companies, such as Cashman Equipment, also have drug policies. When asked if the company was concerned about marijuana becoming legal in Nevada, Kate Gallagher, the marketing communicator for Cashman said, no. If an employee tests positive for marijuana, there will be consequences, she said. In 2017, people should check with their employer before lighting up after work. iPhone 8 Release Date, Latest News & Update: Specs, Features & Price Spilled! Exciting Details Revealed! Check Them Out Here! After its release of newest smartphone flagship this year, Apple is indeed in the process of creating another advanced smartphone said to be launched later next year. This is the iPhone 8. But wait, it is rumored to be released in not only one but multiple versions. Keep reading for more exciting details! iPhone 8 Specs, Features & Price Spilled After Apple revealed that they will be preserving iPhone SE 2's launching, details for iPhone 8 spilled! Forbes noted that the newest smartphone flagship of Apple in 2017. KGI Security Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that the new 2017 iPhones will come in three variants. One of the latest smartphones is an OLED model and the other two are TFT-LCD units. Both iPhone models will be in 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch size. Ming-Chi Kuo noted that OLED and 5.5-inch TFT-LCD iPhones will carry a dual camera. Having these unveiled details, the said iPhone 8 brings both good and bad news. iPhone 8 Advantages Apple has finally adapt OLED. It is definitely great news for everybody as OLED works without a backlight. This technology can make the phone thinner and lighter than IPS LCD. This also achieves higher contrast ratio than LCD that can give the best visual register. iPhone 8 would make a major step up in embracing OLED. iPhone 8 Disadvantages iPhone 8 OLED screens are harder to produce. Though there's a level of difficulty in generating this kind of high-end screen, there are still manufacturers who make displays in huge numbers. In fact, Samsung Co., Sharp Corp., LG Display Co., and Japan Display Inc. are four biggest producers of OLED. Bloomberg noted that South Korea may not be able to create enough displays because of low yield rate, Samsung will be the only supplier for the new screen next year. The iPhone 8 is rumored to be available at around $800 to $900. Fans will surely be excited to know more about iPhone 8. Stay tuned for more. Samsung Blue Coral Galaxy S7 Is Now Available In 4 US Carriers, Great Alternative For Note 7 Samsung Blue Coral Galaxy S7 is now available to 4 Carriers in the United States. It will not only satisfy the convenience of the users, but it will also be a patch of the defective battery issues of Samsung Note 7. As Samsung launched the Note 7 devices months ago, it was never easy to sell them due to defective battery issues. The blue color was an amazing part of the Note 7 making it appear a lot better, but due to the defective battery issue, it makes it impossible to grab hold the device until now. The previously proclaimed Blue Coral GS7 is now available on Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T. Samsung S7 is made out of unique color blue with gold trims. The specs as well as the price are the same with the Note 7. The carriers made the Blue Coral GS7 available at a whopping price of $800 or $30 per month on a two-year stretch. Releasing the Samsung Blue Coral S7 with different carriers will make up for the huge loss of the Samsung Note 7 which for now has halted the production. A lot of buyers missed the chance of availing the blue coral version of the Note 7, but they have the chance to grab hold of the color again, this time for the Galaxy S7. The exact date for the release of the Samsung Blue Coral Galaxy S7 is yet to be determined but it is certain that it will be sold by major carriers in the U.S. The only hint given is that they will release the device at the end of the year. Other than the beautiful and unique design of the colors blue and gold, the blue version of the Galaxy S7 has a 4GB of RAM, a Snapdragon 820 and a 5.5 inch 1440p curved display. The Samsung Blue Coral Galaxy S7 is a limited edition, so it won't probably cost buyers extra according to Android Police. According to GSM Arena, Galaxy S7 Edge Blue Coral color variant was officially announced on Nov. 1, 2016. It is also available in other markets like South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore aside from the U.S. The Corvallis City Council is scheduled to act Monday on a proposal to increase the street maintenance fee sevenfold to help the city address its backlog of surfacing and upgrades. The meeting is at 6:30 p.m. at the downtown fire station, 400 N.W. Harrison Blvd. The recommendation to increase the street maintenance fee came from a budget task force working to collect information on unmet needs and find ways to pay for them. The plan was unanimously approved at the task forces Sept. 28 meeting, and the City Council moved it forward at an Oct. 18 work session. The fee increase, which would take effect Feb. 1, would be phased in over two or three years and is designed to raise approximately $3 million per year for a variety of street maintenance and street reconstruction projects. Single-family residents currently pay 72 cents per month for street maintenance. The fee is based on a formula that looks at the number of vehicle trips a customer generates. Single-family residents would pay $5 per month once the phased-in increases take full effect. The same sevenfold increase would apply to other customers as well. For example, the fee for a fast-food restaurant with a drive-through would increase from $93.68 monthly to $650.55 and Oregon State University's fee would jump from $3,400 to more than $23,000. Also at Monday's meeting, councilors will: Hold a 7:30 p.m. public hearing on how to spend $500,000 in Community Development Block Grant/HOME federal funding. The citys Housing and Community Development Advisory Board has recommended awarding $350,000 to Corvallis Housing First to help the agency buy a property for permanent supported housing, $120,000 to Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services to help the agency pay for the Southwest Fourth Street shelter property it hopes to buy from Corvallis Housing First, and $33,650 to Community Outreach Inc. for a new boiler. Set utility rates for next year. The suggested rate increases are 1 percent for water, 1 percent for wastewater and 10 percent for stormwater. The rates, if approved, would increase the monthly bill of the average single-family customer by $1.29 and would take effect Feb. 1. Review and vote on adoption of the draft vision statement produced by the Imagine Corvallis 2040 project (see the online version of this story for the full text of the document). The council session will include a community comments segment in which the public can testify on any subject except the housing grants. Public testimony on the housing grants will be heard during the public hearing. Residents also can submit testimony on any topic in advance at www.corvallisoregon.gov/publicinput. Commission agenda Because of the Thanksgiving Day holiday, the council meeting is the only city government group to gather this week. But the Benton County Board of Commissioners will hold a a work session at 9 a.m. at the county boardrooms, 205 N.W. Fifth Ave. Agenda items will include a recommended salary schedule for nonrepresented employees. The commissioners and chief operating officer will report on their recent activities. The board will reconvene at noon in the same location for public hearings on three topics, two involving a right of way in the Country Estates Road District and the third on a possible ballot measure to form a taxing district to support the Benton County Extension Service. There will also be a second reading of an ordinance to amend the countys tobacco sales regulations. In response to neighborhood health fears, the state Department of Environmental Quality plans to install air quality monitoring equipment near a South Corvallis factory early next year. The department is scouting for locations in the vicinity of the Hollingsworth & Vose glass fiber plant at 1115 S.E. Crystal Lake Drive. Neighbors have expressed concerns about glass particles and other substances that might be coming out of the smokestacks at H&V, which is seeking a new air emissions permit after exceeding its pollution limits for years. State environmental regulators discovered late last year that the plant had been operating under the wrong class of air pollution permit for nearly two decades and had been putting out much higher levels of carbon monoxide and fluoride compounds than its permit allowed. The DEQ fined the company but allowed it to keep running the plant at current production levels while it applied for the appropriate permits. In a series of community meetings, area residents also voiced concerns about the potential health effects of breathing tiny bits of glass from the plant. While the DEQ regulates the total volume of particulate matter in H&Vs emissions, the agency had never attempted to measure how much glass fiber was actually getting past the plants scrubbers in part because periodic sampling and computer modeling suggested total particulates from the factory did not violate ambient air quality standards. We want to collect data that meets peoples needs, said Anthony Barnack, the DEQs ambient air monitoring coordinator. Were doing this because the neighbors requested it. Theyre our customer. Marilyn Koenitzer of Clean Corvallis Air, a group formed to push for improvements at Hollingsworth & Vose, said her organization welcomed the action from DEQ. Ive been writing emails to them for months about this issue, she said. I think were all pleased with their response. Barnack said the agency is working to identify a suitable location near the plant to place a nephelometer, a device that uses light-scattering technology to measure the density of airborne particulate matter. To determine how many of those particulates are glass fibers, the DEQ will also set up a device to trap particulates and then examine the samples under a microscope. Were working on the sample and analysis plan right now, Barnack said. The plan is expected to go out for internal review next month, with an external review and public comment period in January. Barnack hopes to set up the monitoring equipment in February, after the peak of the winter heating season has passed and the air is relatively free of particulates from woodstoves. Woodsmoke dominates most of Oregon in the winter for particulate, he explained. Thats a lot of what we pick up when we monitor. The monitoring project would likely need to run for six months to a year in order to get clear results, Barnack said, and would probably cost between $2,500 and $5,000. Data collected by the project will be forwarded to the DEQs regional office for use in establishing criteria for H&Vs future air emissions permit. Formerly known as Evanite Fiber, the Hollingsworth & Vose plant in Corvallis employs about 140 people and produces glass fibers for use in battery separators, filtration systems and other specialty products. Some 75 local high school students took to the streets of Corvallis Friday afternoon to express their dismay over the outcome of the presidential election and their opposition to some of the positions taken by Donald Trump during the campaign. Students began to gather about 1:30 p.m. outside Corvallis High School and started marching toward downtown shortly before 2. Chanting, cheering and carrying hand-lettered signs, they walked to the Benton County Courthouse for a 15-minute rally before making their way back to the school. While most of the protesters were Corvallis High students, about 10 were from Crescent Valley and at least two were from West Albany, according to participants. Corvallis High senior Jack Turner, marching in the front row with a sign that read Its not over, said he was one of about 10 organizers of Fridays event. Weve been making signs for a week, he said. Were here because of what we all believe in. Signs carried by protesters expressed views on a number of issues that became hot-button topics during the campaign, from immigration to the rights of women, ethnic minorities and Muslims. The main unifying feature of the march seemed to be solidarity with groups targeted for criticism by Trump during the campaign. Were here to protest the election of a leader who will make our country represent nothing but hate, said Corvallis High sophomore Madeleine Moreland, another one of the lead marchers. Farther back in line, junior Cy Taylor echoed those sentiments. Im here to promote love and equality over hate, he said. Everybody is saying this country is racist, and I want to show that were not. At the courthouse, the demonstrators faced the passing traffic on Northwest Fourth Street and chanted slogans such as Love trumps hate, Black lives matter, My body, my choice and Not my president. They got plenty of honks of support from passing motorists, but there were also some shouts of opposition. Kevin Bogatin, assistant superintendent for instruction with the Corvallis School District, kept an eye on the protest march, following along in his car. He said no disciplinary action was anticipated against the protesters, although anyone who skipped class to take part would be given an unexcused absence. We support their right to protest and to demonstrate, he said. Im just glad theyre doing it in a peaceful and positive manner. Bogatin addressed the demonstrators outside the courthouse, thanking them for not letting things get out of hand. Corvallis High junior Jonathan Ely did not join in the march, but took some time to watch the protesters gather outside the school before he walked back inside the building. He called demonstrations like the one on Friday part of the grieving process for people unhappy with the outcome of the election. For his part, Ely said, hell voice his opinion at the ballot box in the 2018 election. Ill be sure to take part in the midterms next time, he said. Its not yet clear if two cases of meningococcal disease involving Oregon State University students are related, but OSU officials have begun offering vaccinations to students against a particular strain of the disease. Both students are being treated at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis and are reported to be in good condition. University officials have declined to release their names, citing privacy restrictions. The first student fell ill on Sunday and has been diagnosed with the B strain of meningococcal disease. The second got sick on Wednesday, but initial test results failed to determine which strain is involved. The specimen needs more analysis, Deputy Benton County Health Department Administrator Charlie Fautin said on Friday. That will tell us more about the relationship or lack of relationship between the two cases. Fautin said scientists with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hoped to have an answer to that question in about a week. While meningococcal disease is not highly contagious, it can be fatal. To spread, it generally requires face-to-face exposure to an infected person for a cumulative total of at least four hours in the week before symptoms appear. Most incoming OSU students are required to be vaccinated against four common strains of the disease, but the vaccine does not protect against the B strain. Meningococcal-B vaccinations are now being offered to students under age 25 at the Student Health Services office in the Plageman Building, 108 S.W. Memorial Place. County health workers and OSU officials have been working to identify and locate anyone who may have had close contact with the two meningococcal disease patients. So far, about 160 people have been contacted and treated with antibiotics. An outbreak of meningococcal disease at the University of Oregon in early 2015 sickened seven people and resulted in the death of one student. Symptoms of meningococcal disease include high fever, a stiff neck, headache, exhaustion, nausea, rash, vomiting and diarrhea. Health officials say anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention. Fautin said its too soon to consider the Oregon State situation an outbreak, but its also too soon to say the threat is over. The Health Department is staying in close contact with OSU leaders as well as state and federal health officials and providing regular updates to area hospitals and medical clinics. We need to remain vigilant for awhile, Fautin said. While thousands of people were sharing his picture statewide, escaped Oregon State Hospital patient Jeffrey Appelt walked out of a Philomath home Friday morning and was immediately spotted by an officer whod known him for years. Philomath police arrested the 28-year-old Appelt during a traffic stop at around 11:44 a.m. Friday, less than 24 hours after the Oregon State Hospital reported that he went missing Thursday afternoon after entering a bathroom at Salem Hospital. Philomath Police Chief Ken Rueben said Appelt, who was the passenger in the vehicle that was stopped, was arrested Friday on a warrant for unauthorized departure. The driver, Kristy Nason, 40, of Philomath was arrested and charged with felony hindering prosecution. Rueben said the arrests followed a perplexing police chase that began earlier Thursday morning outside of the same Philomath home where Appelt was arrested on felony assault and firearm convictions in October 2015. Appelt was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital after being transferred from the Oregon Department of Corrections while serving the sentence on those charges. Rueben said a Philomath officer was sent to the home in case Appelt returned, but no one expected Appelt would return to Philomath after leaving the Salem hospital. Our officer was there and (Appelt) just came out onto the porch for fresh air, stood for a minute or two and walked back in. We were surprised, Rueben said. We were thinking theres no way this guy is going to come back to Philomath. He knows all of the officers, hes been arrested a number of times. Our guys know him and can recognize him on sight. We had an officer there and it was just happenstance that we saw him there. While the officer called in for backup, Nason pulled up to the building in a Jeep, picked Appelt up and the two drove off, Rueben said. The Jeep was then seen heading west on Highway 20 out of town. Thats when the incident turned bizarre, Rueben said. They realized the police were behind them, and I dont know why, but they turned around, Rueben said. They made a U-turn on Highway 20 about a mile west of town. The officer thought he was going to jump out and run. Instead, the Jeep turned south on Fern Road, headed west on Grange Hall Road and onto Highway 34. And thats when the chase ended, Rueben said. Appelt was arrested on a warrant for unauthorized departure and Nason was arrested after she reportedly told officers that she knew Appelt was a wanted fugitive. Its all very perplexing, Rueben said. Appelt, a Philomath resident who has an arrest record dating back to age 18, is expected to return to the Oregon State Hospital to serve the remainder of his 14-month prison sentence following the December 2015 felony assault and firearm convictions. Appelts criminal history includes felony convictions for vehicle theft (2006), eluding police officers (2007), weapon possession (2007) and burglary (2009). Update 3:15 p.m.: Philomath police arrested Jeffrey W. Appelt off Highway 34 near Philomath at 11:44 a.m. on Friday, according to an Oregon State Police press release. Appelt was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped and apprehended when an officer recognized him. Authorities are searching for a 28-year-old Philomath man and Oregon State Hospital psychiatric patient who was reported missing Thursday afternoon. Jeffrey W. Appelt was last seen at around 3:30 p.m. Thursday entering a bathroom at Salem Hospital, according to a press release from Oregon Health Authority. Authorities are considering Appelt to be a danger to others and are cautioning that Appelt should not be approached. Hospital officials are describing Appelt as 6 feet all, weighing 272 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue sweatshirt, khaki shorts and black and yellow Salomon sneakers. Oregon State Police is conducting the investigation and are asking anyone who sees Appelt to call 911 or 1-800-452-7888. Appelt, a Philomath resident who has an arrest record dating back to age 18, was sentenced in December 2015 to 14 months in prison following felony assault and firearm convictions. He was admitted to Oregon State Hospital in October as a civil commitment from Linn County after being transferred from the Oregon Department of Corrections. Appelts criminal history includes felony convictions for vehicle theft (2006), eluding police officers (2007), weapon possession (2007) and burglary (2009). This release is being sent on behalf of the Oregon State Hospital. An Oregon State Hospital psychiatric patient who was reported missing Nov. 17 has been found by the Philomath Police Department. Philomath police arrested Jeffrey W. Appelt, 28, off Oregon Route 34 near Philomath at 11:44 a.m. today. Appelt was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped, and the officer recognized him from past contacts. Appelt was arrested on a warrant for unauthorized departure and lodged in the Benton County Jail. No other charges were filed. Hundreds of people packed the Whiteside Theatre Friday night to hear writer, activist and political leader Winona LaDuke speak about social and environmental justice. LaDuke, an enrolled member of the Mississippi Band Anishinaabeg and two-time Green Party vice presidential candidate, recently visited the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota to protest the Dakota Access Pipeline. On Friday, she encouraged the capacity crowd to help "keep up the resistance" and fight for alternative energy, Native rights and to move away from "the insane fossil fuel system." "We've doubled our population, tripled our water use and quadrupled our energy use. That's pretty much unsustainable. We are the people who have the opportunity to transform back from that," she said. "It's going to take a while to change the system. But you all know that at a certain point slavery was legal in this country (and) women couldn't vote. Those things changed." LaDuke also brought up President-elect Donald Trump's campaign slogan to "make America great again." "It turns out my vision, and probably some of your visions too, about making America great and what that looks like may be a little different than Mr. Trump's," she said. "What I suggest to you humbly, people of Corvallis, is that it is possible that the Eurocentric education system is not going to solve this problem. We're going to need everybody at the table and all kinds of thinking for this." LaDuke said her vision of when America was great was when the country cared more about the rights of nature than the rights of corporations. She suggested that the country renew focus on alternative energy, reducing energy consumption, reforming the criminal justice system and emphasizing political changes on a local level. She finished with a quote from Nick Tilsen, executive director of the Thunder Valley Community Development Corp. in South Dakota: How long are you going to let others determine the future for your children? she asked. "Don't operate out of a place of fear. Operate out of a place of hope. Because with hope, everything is possible. The time is now." WEST WENDOVER A suspect in a Utah bank robbery allegedly pistol whipped a doorman, shot into a West Wendover strip club, and was critically injured in a shootout with police Thursday night, according to Elko County Sheriff Lt. Kevin McKinney. The shot shattered a mirror behind the bar and lodged into a wall in the club, said McKinney. The doorman suffered minor injuries from being pistol-whipped, but no other patrons inside the club were hurt. Officers arrived at the Southern X-Posure Club within two minutes and the suspect fled in a car. West Wendover Police pursued the man and at approximately 8:49 p.m. the suspect crashed his vehicle into a guardrail on the southeast corner of West Wendover Boulevard and Camper Drive. The suspect, later identified as 30-year-old Christopher Anthony Martinez, began firing at police officers and two officers returned fire. McKinney said more than two dozen shots were exchanged between the suspect and West Wendover police, then the firing stopped but the suspect continued moving around inside the car. Additional officers arrived on scene and established a perimeter. Area casinos, hotels, truck stops and businesses were put in lockdown mode. The standoff continued for about 40 minutes. At around 9:28 p.m. Martinez exited the passenger side of the vehicle and moved to the ground. The man refused commands to show his hands. Officers approached him and took custody. When Martinez was taken in officers discovered that he had received wounds in the chest and leg. He was transported by ambulance to a helicopter that flew him to a Salt Lake City hospital where he underwent surgery. According to the latest reports, Martinez is listed in critical condition. Police discovered a possible explosive device inside the suspects car, a large amount of cash and several firearms. The Elko County Bomb Squad used a robot to examine an improvised explosive device and the scene was declared safe around noon Friday, according to McKinney. We found some other firearms, a couple of long guns and a shotgun. And we also found what appears to be an IED, McKinney said. According to the Elko County Sheriffs Office, serial numbers on the bills match those of money that was stolen in an Ogden bank robbery at around 12:20 p.m. Thursday. Martinez is the same suspect captured on surveillance cameras during the robbery. ELKO A medical transport plane crashed into the Barrick Gold Corp. parking lot on Mountain City Highway Friday night, killing the patient and three crew members. The crash caused multiple explosions and sent up flames near a busy casino, motel, grocery store and senior housing complex. Dr. Rodney Badger of Northeastern Nevada Cardiology said the American Medflight plane had just taken off from Elko Regional Airport with a heart patient who was being transported to the University of Utah Medical Center. Allen Kenitzer of the FAA Office of Communications stated the Piper PA 31 aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances with four people on board. He said there were no injuries on the ground. We are devastated by this event and wish we had answers to the many questions being asked at this time, said a statement from American Medflight. The airport is located across the highway from the Barrick lot, one of several used by miners who are bused to and from the regions gold mines. Elko police Lt. Rich Genseal said authorities assume the crash occurred as the plane was taking off. There was not a lot left of the aircraft, Elko Fire Chief Matt Griego said after the flames were extinguished. As an air medical family, we are mourning the loss of our crewmembers and patient, said the statement from John Burruel, president and CEO of Nevada-based American Medflight Inc. "Their families have been notified and they are in our thoughts and prayers. Our priority at this time is to look after the well being of the affected family members and their co-workers and to be responsive to their needs. Badger said his patient suffered from coronary artery disease and was experiencing chest pains and rapid heartbeat around 5:30 p.m., after which the decision was made to transport him to Utah. Emergency crews were called around 7:30 p.m. and began blocking traffic from the highway and side streets. Witnesses in the Smiths shopping mall described a loud bang and felt the explosion as far away as Starbucks. Smoke could be seen from Smiths parking lot. Loud explosions were followed by a series of smaller ones as firefighters sprayed water on the flames and called in foam trucks. The crash occurred on the northeast side of the parking lot, which is next to Hampton Inn, Smiths Food & Drug, Gold Dust West casino, and an apartment complex for senior and disabled residents. Elko City Councilman John Patrick Rice said several cars were destroyed or damaged. The accident occurred between mining shifts, so it is unlikely anyone was in the parking lot when the crash occurred. Barrick buses en route from mines were directed to another company parking lot west of town. The flames were contained about an hour after the crash but no one was allowed near the scene. Kenitzer said the FAA and the NTSB will investigate. American Medflights website states it is the largest, most experienced fixed-wing air ambulance company in Nevada and Eastern California. The company says it has transported 10,000 patients over hundreds of thousands of miles over the Western United States. The company returned to Elko in 2014 after a six-year absence. Each American Medflight flight crew includes a pilot with a minimum of 4,000 hours of flight time, as well as a highly experienced flight nurse and paramedic, according to the company. Please check back with elkodaily.com for updates on this story as they become available. Exclusive: India to Soon Get 70,000 Public Wi-Fi Hotspots From All Telecoms News oi -Chakri Kudikala Citizens of India doesnt want to worry about the internet bills anymore. Indian Government is taking some serious steps to modernize the country. In a recent step to remove black money, PM Narendra Modi sacked the Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes, which is already creating waves in the country. And, he is now vying to digitize the country by introducing public Wi-Fi hotspots all over the country, which was long way coming as several rumors previously suggested the same. SEE ALSO: Listen to PM Modi's Speech on New Rs. 2,000, Rs. 500 Notes With This App But, we at GIZBOT, today brought up an exclusive information of how this actually works in the country. Take a look at the slides below to know more. To be Called Super Highway According to our sources, the yet-to-be-implemented service will be called as Super Highway', which essentially provides you faster speeds. A Total of 70,000 Hotspots The Indian Government is planning to setup a total of 70,000 hotspots across the country. So, every small city will be able to get this hotspot feature. Click Here for New Tablets Best Online Deals How it Works? For this project, the Government has called up all the telecoms in the country. And, there will be a standard refill pack of various denominations such as Rs. 5,00 or Rs. 1,000 with the same speed, but different validity. Each hotspot will be managed by a respective telecom network and if the area is covered by a different network, then the voucher purchase money will be given to that particular network. Common Payment Gateway And, it was also confirmed that the payment gateway will be common for this project. No separate gateway will be given to a particular telecom service. Expected Roll out? As of now, there is no information regarding the exact roll out of this project, however, the service might be live for public by the end of April 2017. Click Here for New Smartphones Best Online Deals Best Mobiles in India CONFIRMED: Nokia Android Smartphones Might be Unveiled at MWC 2017 News oi -Chakri Kudikala It is official now. Nokia, at their Capital Markets Day 2016 event has officially confirmed their eyes on re-entering into the smartphone business. Rumors have it all these days. But, the much-awaited news about Nokia's re-entry to smartphone business is official now. At the Nokia's Capital Markets Day 2016 held on November 15 exclusively for investors, the company, in their presentation has stated their entry to smartphone business as 'Nokia brand's return to smartphones'. SEE ALSO: Top 5 Selfie Smartphones to buy in India under Rs. 20,000 As we already know that Nokia is being purchased by a Finnish company, HMD Global, a six months ago. Taiwanese giant, Foxconn, in partnership with HMD Global will manufacture the Nokia phones and HMD will sell the Nokia-branded phones when they go official. So, this is how the process works. Nokia's partnership with Microsoft will end by this December, which means that HMD Global can release the phones with Nokia branding. In mid-August, an executive from Nokia confirmed that they are looking forward to launching three to four Nokia smartphones by the end of this year. However, rumors suggest that one of the first Nokia smartphones to be released will be the Nokia D1C. Having said that, we have already received the complete specifications of the smartphone, minus the display size and battery capacity. SEE ALSO: 5 Apps to Help you Survive through demonetization and long ATM and Bank queues The Nokia D1C is expected to feature a 5-inch or 5.5-inch display with a 720p resolution. Popular benchmark site, GeekBench says the smartphone will be powered by the entry-level octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 chipset along with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. There will be 13MP rear camera and an 8MP front-facing snapper. One of the interesting aspect in this Nokia D1C is that it will run Android 7.1 Nougat out-of-the-box. All said and done, Nokia is planning to hold an event on MWC 2017 from February 27 to March 2, where all these phones are expected to be unveiled. VIA Click Here for New Smartphones Best Online Deals Best Mobiles in India HP working with Microsoft to Launch a New Windows Phone in 2017 News oi -Rohit The duo are rumoured to manufacture a more customer-focused Windows Phone in 2017. HP and Microsoft are supposedly working together to launch a Windows smartphone in 2017. As per Phone Arena, the duo has joined hands to release a more customer-focused Windows Phone probably in February 2017. The upcoming Windows handset will be a budget handset catering the needs of consumers looking for an affordable Windows smartphone. SEE ALSO: Demonetisation: BSNL and MobiKwik Join Forces to Offer Cashless Bill Payments HP and Microsoft's role As per reports, HP will take care of the manufacturing and sales, while Microsoft will offer the financial support for the same. Now when Microsoft is in the picture, we can expect the upcoming handset carrying features matching the likes of Lumia smartphones, which have now become a thing of past. HP's second Attempt It is worth mentioning that HP's last Windows attempt- the HP Elite X3 failed to woo the consumers. That said, HP must be extra careful this time to make the upcoming handset a success. Expected Features If reports are to be believed, features like Glance, ClearBlack display, double tap to wake, and advanced camera functionality will be implemented in the HP's Windows Phone handset. We might see a dedicated camera app matching the likes of Lumia's camera in the HP handset. Click Here For New Laptops Best Online Deals Microsoft's Redmond The reports further mentioned that Microsoft's new Windows 10 Mobile handset Redmond is already out and is expected to be officially announced in February 2017. Windows mobile OS is here to stay While Android and iOS are known for their major market share in smartphone industry, Windows mobile OS still has a huge fan following who would love to see and buy a new Windows handset. HP and Microsoft will aim to target such audience and the affordable price tag can come as a neat trick to lure first time Windows buyers as well. It's too early to talk about the figures, but an affordable feature loaded Windows phone can fill the gap after Microsoft declared that it is killing the Lumia range of handsets in September 2016. 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 Carlisle School elementary students from Danville and Martinsville got a chance to learn about life on the farm Friday during the second annual Agriculture Day. Several community businesses and farmers visited the schools Piney Forest Road campus to give students a chance to learn about farming practices in the community. Agriculture is Pittsylvania Countys largest industry. Holly Gonzalez from Birch Fork Creek Apiary in Ruffin, North Carolina, presented to students about honeybees and their uses in agriculture and pollination. Students were able to watch bees work while Gonzalez showed off products made with honey and explained how hexagons make the hives stronger and more compact. Shady Creek Farm of Pelham, North Carolina, brought several animals to the school, including a miniature horse, a full-size horse and an alpaca. Suzanne Newcomb with Cherrystone Veterinary Hospital in Chatham also talked to students about animal health and let student hear the horses heartbeat. The Blairs welders from Tuggle-Farrier Inc. showed students how to shoe a horse and make a horseshoe. Finally, Eddy Parham from Loaded Goat Homestead showed off fresh vegetables to students and taught them about local produce. A 21-year-old Danville man was killed and two other teenagers injured in a shooting at a party Friday night in Danville. The killing marked the 14th homicide in the city this year. Police responded to the 200 block of Kemper Road near the Danville Community College campus for a shots fired call at about 10:20 p.m., according to a news release. Officers found Jacquel Tashan Stamps, of Danville, dead in a driveway suffering from gunshot wounds. His body will be sent to the Medical Examiner's Office in Roanoke for an autopsy. Police also found a 14-year-old who had been shot on Neatherly Lane, according to the news release. He was transported to the hospital for injuries and later released. A third victim, a 17-year-old male, arrived at the hospital by private vehicle. He was also treated and released. Emergency crews were observed on the campus of Danville Community College Friday night. Police crime tape was draped along the intersection of Kemper Road and Boswell Street. This homicide comes less than 24 hours after a Danville 15-year-old was killed on Piney Forest Road. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact Danville Crime Stoppers at (434) 793-0000, the Danville Police Department at (434) 799-6508 or at crimetips@danvilleva.gov. VANCOUVER, Nov. 18, 2016 - Mawson Resources Limited ("Mawson") (TSX:MAW) (Frankfurt:MXR) (PINKSHEETS: MWSNF) announces the voting results from the Company's Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held on Friday, November 18, 2016 (the "Meeting"). A total of 52,914,741 common shares were voted, representing 58.59% of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares. Shareholders voted in favor of setting the number of directors at six (6) and for the re-election of all director nominees. The percentage of votes cast for each director is as follows: Nominee Votes For % For Votes Withheld % Withheld Michael Hudson 52,898,741 99.97% 16,000 0.03% Nick DeMare 52,898,741 99.97% 16,000 0.03% David Henstridge 52,899,741 99.97% 15,000 0.03% Mark Saxon 52,899,741 99.97% 15,000 0.03% Colin Maclean 52,889,741 99.95% 25,000 0.05% Noora Raasakka 52,898,741 99.97% 16,000 0.03% At the Meeting, the Company's disinterested shareholders ratified and approved the extension of warrants that was previously announced by the Company on October 3, 2016. The Company was required to obtain specific approval of the extension of the warrants held by Sentient Global Resources Fund IV, L.P., an insider and control person of the Company. According to the votes cast by disinterested shareholders present in person or by proxy, a total of 19,311,562 common shares or 94.04% of the votes represented by disinterested shareholders were voted in favor of the extension of warrants. Additional details of the results of the Meeting will be provided in a Report of Voting Results to be filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Following the Meeting, the Board of Directors re-appointed Dr. Nicholas Cook as President, Mr. Hudson as Chairman and CEO, Mr. DeMare as CFO, and Ms. Mariana Bermudez as Corporate Secretary. The Board of Directors also appointed Messrs. Henstridge, Maclean and Saxon as members of the Company's Audit Committee. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. About Mawson Resources Limited (TSX:MAW, FRANKFURT:MXR, PINKSHEETS:MWSNF) Mawson Resources Ltd. is an exploration and development company. Mawson has distinguished itself as a leading Nordic Arctic exploration company with a focus on the flagship Rompas-Rajapalot gold project in Finland. On behalf of the Board, "Michael Hudson" Michael Hudson, CEO Forward-Looking Statement This news release contains forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Although Mawson 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: aim, believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate, and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Mawson cautions investors that any forward-looking statements 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, capital and other costs varying significantly from estimates, changes in world metal markets, changes in equity markets, planned drill programs and results varying from expectations, delays in obtaining results, equipment failure, unexpected geological conditions, local community relations, dealings with non-governmental organizations, delays in operations due to permit grants, environmental and safety risks, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Mawson's most recent Annual Information Form filed on www.sedar.com. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Mawson disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. /NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION DIRECTLY, OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES./ SOURCE Mawson Resources Ltd. Contact www.mawsonresources.com, 1305 - 1090 West Georgia St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 3V7, Mariana Bermudez (Canada), Corporate Secretary, +1 (604) 685 9316, info@mawsonresources.com OAKVILLE, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Nov. 18, 2016) - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES Saint Jean Carbon Inc. ("Saint Jean" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:SJL) is pleased to announce that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement financing (the "Offering") of up to 20,000,000 common share in the capital of the Company to be issued on a "flow-through" basis pursuant to the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each a "Flow-Through Share") at a price of $0.05 per Flow-Through Share. Closing of the Offering is subject to customary conditions, including receipt of all regulatory approvals, and is anticipated to occur on or before November 23, 2016. All Flow-Through Shares issued as part of the Offering will be subject to a four month and one day hold period. The Company intends to use the proceeds of the Offering on the Company's exploration and development expenditures on its mineral properties located in Quebec and to incur eligible Canadian Exploration Expenses that qualify as Canadian exploration expenses and "flow-through mining expenditures" for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and which will be renounced in favour of the holders with an effective date of no later than December 31, 2016. The Company intends to pay a cash finder's fee, to certain arm's length finders (each a "Finder"), equal to 10% of the gross proceeds raised under the Offering from purchasers introduced to the Company by each Finder. In addition, the Company intends to issue an option (the "Finder's Option") entitling each Finder to purchase up to such number of common shares in the capital of the Company ("Common Shares") as is equal to 10% of the Flow-Through Shares issued under the Offering from purchasers of securities introduced to the Company by each Finder. The Finder's Option will be exercisable for a period of 36 months from the closing date of the Offering at an exercise price of $0.05 per Common Share. About Saint Jean Saint Jean is a publicly traded carbon sciences company with interests in graphite mining claims on five 100% Company-owned properties located in the province of Quebec in Canada. The five properties include the Walker property, a past producing mine, the Wallingford property, the St. Jovite property, East Miller and Clot property. For information on Saint Jean's other properties and the latest news please go to the website: www.saintjeancarbon.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors Saint Jean Carbon Inc. - Paul Ogilvie, CEO and Director 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 STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, concerning Saint Jean's business and affairs. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "intends" "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" 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". Such forward-looking statements include those with respect to the Company's intention to complete the Offering and use the proceeds of the Offering as working capital to fund the continued development of the Company's business. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, and are naturally subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances that may cause actual results to differ materially. The forward-looking statements in this news release assume, inter alia, that the conditions for completion of the Offering, including regulatory approval will be met. Although Saint Jean believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct. There are risks which could affect Saint Jean's ability to complete the Offering, the impact of general global economic conditions and the risk that they will deteriorate, industry conditions, that required consents and approvals from regulatory authorities will not be obtained. Statements of past performance should not be construed as an indication of future performance. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors, including those discussed above, could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Any such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is provided as of the date of this press release, and Saint Jean assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. SPRING CREEK It appears Spring Creek residents will get a second chance to discuss being overcharged for their water usage in mid-December. A meeting was originally scheduled for Nov. 15 but was canceled about a week before the meeting was supposed to take place. Spring Creek Association President Jessie Bahr said she heard from one of her residents that Utilities Inc. had decided to cancel the meeting. I got a call from a property owner saying that he got a letter from Wendy Barnett, who is Utilities Inc. president, stating that they will not be having the public meeting they had already set up with property owners, she said. I made a few calls and confirmed that they werent going to have that meeting. In an email exchange between Barnett and Bahr, Barnett said Utilities Inc. was concerned about exposing customers personal information while discussing specific instances of overbilling in a public meeting. In my experience and from what I have heard from my customers, they want to know their personal impact to the problem and their personal solution; and then they want to know what we are doing to make sure that this cant happen again, she said in an email to Bahr. We have reached out to hundreds of customers personally (and telephonically), and will continue to do so; but, a personalized message to 5,000 customers cannot be done timely in such a fashion, nor can it be done at a public meeting. Barnett also said her company would consider a meeting at a later time but wanted to focus on getting the right information out to its customers who were confused about the charges on their water bill. Bahr said she is unsure why the meeting was delayed and does not see the benefit of holding a meeting at a later date after the original meeting time had been agreed upon. I dont see why a meeting would hurt, she said. It would only enhance the communication and give the members a sense that they are really looking into stuff. To help the association and their members through the process of getting the bills resolved, the association is getting help from Assemblyman John Ellison and Sen. Pete Goicoechea to help schedule a meeting that will include representatives from Utilities Inc., the Nevada Public Utilities Commission and Spring Creek residents. While Utilities Inc. is claiming that the in billing mistakes are the fault of one employee misreading the meters who is longer with the company, Goicoechea said he wants the company to take responsibility for the damage that has been done. We will have a meeting and it will be resolved, he said. It will be tough on Utilities Inc. because it was theyre employee and their mistake. I understand their under the PUC and they legally cant forgive water bills but were going to get this worked out in the next 30 days. Since Utilities Inc. is a private company Ellison and Goicoechea will not be able to impose any laws or regulations on the water company. Even though they cannot directly enforce better business practices on the water company, Ellison said they will still have an active role in communicating with the PUC. The PUC is the one thats going to hold all the cards because this is still a private company, he said. Theyre subject to the laws of the PUC so what (Goicoechea) and I can do is get strong answers out of the PUC and thats where were going to have our pull. With one meeting canceled by Spring Creek Utilities and the date and location of the next one not yet finalized, the association is hoping this meeting will go on as planned. Ellison is optimistic the meeting will take place in December but is still somewhat concerned Utilities Inc. may cancel this meeting as well. If they try to remove that meeting again, then they have a lot of questions to answer, he said. U.S. public service agencies are closely eyeing emerging technologies, chiefly advanced analytics and predictive modeling, according to a new report from Accenture, but like their counterparts globally they must address talent and complexity issues before adoption rates will rise.The report, Emerging Technologies in Public Service, compiled a nine-nation survey of IT officials across all levels of government in policing and justice, health and social services, revenue, border services, pension/Social Security and administration, and was released earlier this week.It revealed a deep interest in emerging tech from the public sector, finding 70 percent of agencies are evaluating their potential but a much lower adoption level, with just 25 percent going beyond piloting to implementation.Terry Hemken, an author of the report who leads Accenture's public service analytics department, said one key challenge is making these technologies relatable to business."We really need to simplify a lot of these emerging technologies to make them applicable to the business value," Hemken said.The revenue and tax industries have been early adopters of advanced analytics and predictive modeling, he said, while biometrics and video analytics are resonating with police agencies.In Australia, the tax office found using voiceprint technology could save 75,000 work hours annually.Closer to home, Utah Chief Technology Officer Dave Fletcher told Accenture that consolidating data centers into a virtualized infrastructure improved speed and flexibility, so some processes that once took weeks or months can now happen in minutes or hours.Nationally, 70 percent of agencies have either piloted or implemented an advanced analytics or predictive modeling program. Biometrics and identity analytics were the next most popular technologies, with 29 percent piloting or implementing, followed by machine learning at 22 percent.Those numbers contrast globally with Australia, where 68 percent of government agencies have charged into piloting and implementing biometric and identity analytics programs; and Germany and Singapore, where 27 percent and 57 percent of agencies respectively have piloted or adopted video analytic programs.Overall, 78 percent of respondents said they were either underway or had implemented some machine-learning technologies.The benefits of embracing emerging tech that were identified ranged from finding better ways of working through automation to innovating and developing new services and reducing costs.Agencies told Accenture their No. 1 objective was increasing customer satisfaction. But 89 percent said they'd expect a return on implementing intelligent technology within two years. Four-fifths, or 80 percent, agreed intelligent tech would improve employees' job satisfaction.Of the agencies that were putting advanced analytics or predictive modeling programs into place, 48 percent said supporting the work of employees was their main objective.Reducing risk and improving security were also listed as top expected benefits when agencies decide to move into emerging tech and revenue and pension/Social Security agencies indicated they had gone furthest in piloting and implementing these technologies.Hemken said the results of adopting emerging tech highlight the connection between improving employees' work lives and increasing consumer satisfaction. "In my respect, if you can make the job easier internally, it's going to have some intrinsic benefit in overall efficiency that is then passed on to the consumer," he said.But possibly the larger question is how agencies will address an ongoing talent gap."You really need a robust talent, you need that team inside that can take those lessons learned in piloting and bring that into production learning," said Hemken, who believes it represents a more significant problem than other challenges agencies face, including a lack of understanding from senior leadership and a need to update legacy systems and reskill employees.Agencies that can successfully motivate or offer challenging assignments to younger workers and the millennial generation may be more successful in closing that talent gap. "More often than not, what I hear inspires them is being able to work on the most difficult problem or work in an agency that continues to inspire them," said Hemken, who authored the report with Accenture's Chris Gray, its managing director of health and public service analytics lead in Europe, Africa and Latin America.In the U.S., the report noted that national agencies have made greater strides toward adoption than their regional and local counterparts a disparity Hemken said can be attributed to a need for greater leader adoption and more funding.Emerging technologies, the authors wrote, are only one part of a wider program of profound change where leadership, adaptability and skills will also play their part.Adopters should also consider five priorities as they weigh implementation: dealing directly with legacy systems; building business cases quickly; creating more interesting and productive jobs; being open to private-sector collaborations; and embracing the digital operating model.Industry connections could be crucial as 51 percent of agencies said they mainly look there to hire when developing intelligent technology projects.Value is key, Hemken said determining which technologies would be right for an agency but again, when it comes time to implement, talent needs to be on board to help."I think to close that talent gap, the public service needs to find innovative ways to attract the millennials," he said. "In some ways, they are going to have to look into the private sector and beyond to do that." Shifting political winds at the state level All politics is local In the presidential campaign, Secretary Hillary Clinton outlined a plan to improve infrastructure that included potentially more funding for broadband. Community broadband advocates were enlightened by this and foresaw likely involvement of public networks and public-private partnerships in the mix.The Donald Trump campaign conversely said very little about telecommunications. "Deals like this destroy democracy," said Trump in October of the anti-competitive nature of the proposed AT&T/Time Warner merger. Some might extrapolate, based on this statement and the populace messaging of his campaign, he might embrace community broadband as consistent with that messaging. Or he might not.To gauge how well community broadband might fair in the post-election new political world order, it helps to consider collectively federal, state and local politics. Advocates must aggressively engage in politics at all levels if they hope to keep up with giant incumbents that expect the political winds to blow in their favor.On the federal scene, we shouldnt expect broadband stimulus such as we saw in 2009. Despite promises that he would "drain the swamp" in Washington, the president-elect has staffed his transition team with lobbyists from K Street in D.C. It is probably safe to assume this includes incumbents lobbyists.With this type of influence and the resulting cabinet-level appointments, grant programs from agencies such as the FCC, the Rural Utilities Services and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development likely will heavily float to incumbents. Incumbents will use their influence to try to shut out funding for community broadband, wireless ISPs and smaller companies. Possibly cooperatives can get some pieces of the grant pies.Community broadband champions may be surprised by the actions of Republican governors and legislators who are late to the broadband party, as their Democratic counterparts have been driving community broadband for a while.In the past few months, Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin has made broadband a main priority, and believes public, private and other network options should be considered. The state has an ongoing grant program to facilitate these types of partnerships, and the University of Wisconsin - Extension is hosting a conference in December on public private partnerships Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin inherited a broadband public-private partnership from his Democratic predecessor and is supportive of this first statewide network project in the country. In a statement he said, Our administration is fully committed to the KentuckyWired project and we are excited at the possibilities before us as a result of its completion. The governors offices in several states with restrictions on public-owned networks are proactively reviewing current and future broadband policies, and pro-public broadband advocates should have seats at the table.At the state legislative level we are seeing an interesting tug of war play out between constituent interests and partisan politics. The increasing needs for economic development and K-12 education solutions that broadband can resolve are trumping the conservative orthodoxy that takes a dim view of government intervention.A grass-roots drive led by Wilson, N.C., and two state legislators will take on that states GOP-induced prohibition against community broadband. In Tennessee and Alabama, several Republican legislators are gearing up to aggressively tackle their respective state prohibitions against public broadband. We should expect to see some major grass-roots efforts in Tennessee. Even in conservative states without prohibitions, legislators are showing receptivity to the role of public broadband.As Congress legend Tip ONeill said several decades ago, the skill and successes you bring to the local political scene is what propels you to success at the state or national level. Right now, community broadband is locally a bipartisan objective and because of that it should achieve its notable successes.In Colorado, there is Dolores County where 76 percent of voters supported Trump while in Boulder County, Clinton received 71 percent of the votes. Sibley County, Minn., supported Trump 3 to 1, yet 10 cities and 17 townships are using their tax dollars as collateral for a community network. The city of Madison, Wis., is urban and decidedly liberal, and the city owns its broadband infrastructure while providing access for private ISPs to deliver services.The Trump administration may or may not acknowledge or fund community broadband to any significant amount, but that local bipartisan appeal can be translated into substantial gains at the state and regional levels. The key to success in any type of legislative strategy is to heavily play the local bipartisan card and also play a wicked game of hardball politics.Broadband represents economic survival in the farmlands, in the hood and a lot of places in between. Community broadband means education; it means telemedicine in places that incumbents stopped caring about long ago. And its not just about survival, its about taking advantage of new technologies to improve peoples lives.You need to build coalitions that vote for state senators or representatives who champion broadband policies that bring better, faster broadband to the community. Support your allies, convert opponents to allies, support your opponents opponents.Never forget legislators who side with incumbents at the expense of the community. Be aware of and respond to coalitions within the legislature that are good for broadband in the community, and create new coalitions where needed. Raise horse-trading to a blessed art form.While engaging your state legislatures, community stakeholders have to simultaneously focus on their Congress members and senators in Washington. Whether communities are urban or rural, the ability to rally bipartisan constituents who bring both election votes and campaign contributions is your best chance of getting community broadband a fair hearing on the national stage. Its nice to see Elkos Redevelopment Agency adopt a viable storefront improvement program. The plan approved this week will provide matching funds for projects in the $10,000 to $25,000 range, but we think the rate of decline downtown calls for a more focused and aggressive approach. Businesses have been leaving main street and more will follow even after removing the strip-joint bar from its midst. Is Elko serious about redeveloping blighted areas downtown, or will we end up putting lipstick on a pig? The lack of focus on the Redevelopment Agency was highlighted this week in the debate over a request for funds to help demolish buildings at 10th and Idaho streets to make way for a new attorneys office. Page Investments LLC/Lostra Engineering wanted $30,000 for demolition and infrastructure at the location, which is currently occupied by three dilapidated buildings. The company presented plans for a 4,300-square-foot Bradshaw Law building to go in their place. City Planner Cathy Laughlin supported the request, and RDA member John Patrick Rice fought hard for its passage, but the board ended up punting it to the Redevelopment Advisory Council for review. Opponents correctly pointed out that there was no program in place or precedence for such a deal. Its also several blocks from the core of downtown, in a neighborhood that has already seen significant renewal via private investment. Yes, there is plenty of blight within the redevelopment district, and the 10th and Idaho properties definitely qualify. But the RDA does not have a geographical or more specific list of priorities to fit such requests into. Shuffling proposals down the chain of command is likely to discourage developers. Sharing the costs of demolition, or even funding it outright, would be a legitimate use of RDA funds. Which brings up another issue that got tabled this week: the offer from the Pescios to donate the former Dupont/Cherished Friends building at Fifth and Idaho to the City. Its hard to imagine any other project having a more noticeable impact on the downtown district than this one. The building is literally falling apart, and beyond repair, so replacing it should be a top priority. As one reader commented at elkodaily.com, Doesnt it say something worth noting that one of the four main cornerstone properties in the very heart of Elkos downtown is not considered a great investment opportunity by the City itself? The RDA has limited funds to work with, and demolition bids came in at the $200,000-plus range. Any work would be complicated by the fact that the building shares walls with two other properties. At the other end of the block sits another building in even worse shape, after private reconstruction plans fell through. The result is a set of crumbling bookends on what is supposed to be the central showcase of downtown Elko. A few fancy facades wont be enough to spark renewal if the buildings beside them are falling apart. After more than a decade of existence the RDA should be getting a firmer grasp on its priorities. We need a better system in place to evaluate where the agency can get the most bang for its buck, before the next business packs up and leaves. Nanor Sefilyan withdraws from Sasna Dzrer foundation Nanor Sefilyan, wife of the Founding Parliaments member Jirayr Sefilyan, has posted on her Facebook page, explaining the reasons for withdrawing from the Board of Trustees of Sasna Dzrer foundation. 1. It is difficult for me to work at a foundation, which is called Sasna Dzrer and which states that it is not affiliated with any political party or ideology, but posts links, interviews, calls, which are wholly political and generally arent in line with the ideology of Sasna Dzrer and sometimes, even, contradict to the political views of Sasna Dzrer. As well as it is difficult to be a member of a board of trustees, where there are serious political disagreements between the members. 2. I cannot work at Sasna Dzrer foundation, where transparency isnt ensured for all the members. In particular, I mean PayPall account opened in Switzerland, which isnt clear for me under whose name it has been opened, as a result of which we witnessed the question posed by Shant Voskerchyan and all the disputes arising out of it. The members of the board of foundation should have respected each other and shouldnt have imposed their will; I couldnt put up with all this and as a result of it I decided to resign, writes Nanor Sefilyan. Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector 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 Google Ad 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 Google Ad The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022 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 Leanne Ready doesnt know what the future holds. She doesnt know whether shes done having children or whether she wants to expand her family. But she does believe that, should she decide shes done having children, she should have full access to affordable birth control. Its scary to think that, in the future, any form of birth control would be less accessible than it is now, Ready said. Its an uncomfortable feeling. But, following this months presidential election, in which Republican Donald Trump bested Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, many women have expressed concern about losing access to their reproductive rights, including birth control. As a result, some have asked doctors and other health care providers about getting long-acting reversible contraception, including intrauterine devices commonly called IUDs and implants. Judy Tabar, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, said the agency has seen an uptick in appointments to insert so-called permanent birth control following the election. However, in a statement, she remained optimistic that access wont change dramatically under the president-elect. We understand peoples real concerns about losing access to birth control, and truly hope all methods will be available, accessible and affordable to all women under the Trump administration, she said. Possible changes Though its too early to know exactly what, if any, changes Trump would make in access to reproductive services, he has expressed interest in retooling the Affordable Care Act the sweeping health care reform legislation also known as Obamacare. Among other things, the legislation provides most people with private insurance with access to birth control without copayment. Its unclear whether any potential changes to the law would preserve that. Trump also has expressed interest in appointing a Supreme Court justice (or justices) who would overturn the landmark abortion rights case Roe Vs. Wade and turn decisions about reproductive rights over to the individual states. Even at this stage, these plans have some advocates ready for battle, including Sarah Croucher, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut. Our organization is going to be fighting tooth and nail to make sure we dont go backward on these issues, she said. There is a political will in Connecticut to not lose access to birth control. Though she cant speak to the rest of the country, Croucher said politicians in Connecticut on both sides of the aisle have been receptive to discussions about womens health, and she is fairly confident that things will stay relatively stable in the state. One of the really positive things about Connecticut is that people are willing to talk about what makes for sensible policy around birth control and reproductive issues, Crowder said. Having said that, Croucher is hedging her bets when it comes to birth control. If I was planning to be on birth control for the next four years, I would get an IUD, she said. Available options The IUD is one of the more popular forms of long-acting reversible contraception, and has long been promoted by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and other groups as one of the most effective forms of birth control. An IUD is a small, T-shaped plastic device inserted into the uterus. There are two kinds of IUDs. Hormonal IUDs release the hormone progestin and, depending on the brand, last for anywhere from three to six years. A copper IUD doesnt contain hormones, and can last anywhere up to 12 years. During the first year of use, fewer than 1 in 100 women using an IUD or an implant will become pregnant, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. This rate is in the same range as that for sterilization. IUDs and similar devices are often recommended as they are long-lasting and, after insertion, dont require the patient to do anything to prevent pregnancy. However, there are possible side effects from the IUDs, ranging from irregular bleeding to perforation of the uterus during insertion to pelvic inflammatory disease. According to Google trends, searches for IUDs more than doubled between Nov. 8, the day of the election, and the next day. Ready said she knows many women who have looked into getting an IUD following the election, although shes not among them. Im not sure Im done having kids, but its not something Ive counted out down the road, she said. Still, Ready said the fact that the future of birth control may be in question is unsettling to her and other women she knows. Personally, I believe women taking this control over their bodies is something we should celebrate, she said. Birth control and reproductive rights are so personal ... I feel like this is a decisions between my husband and me, and, based on our decision, we should not be looked down upon or be financially burdened. Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector 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 Google Ad The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022 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 These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. There isnt lack of trust in the society During the joint sitting of the RA NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations and the RF FA Federal Councils International Committee, the Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) lawmaker, Head of the RA NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations Artak Zakaryan told journalists that military-political, military-technical issues, as well as situation of negotiation phase of the NK issue resolution and situation on the border were discussed at the meeting. Such discussions are important in different parliamentary platforms, so that we can keep an eye on security issues, as well as so that the members of the RF Federal Council know in the international delegations to what issues draw their attention. He highlighted that in the issues of the NK conflict resolution, the necessity of peaceful resolution, elimination of military escalation, maintenance of 1994-95 agreement will be accentuated, as well as necessity of fulfillment of agreements reached in St Petersburg and Vienna, Security issues in the countries outside South Caucasus will also be touched upon, as we have problems connected with Armenian community. The activities of some units of the RA Armed forces 4th arms corps together with the RF armed forces will also be discussed during the meeting. In reply to the question whether the Armenian side isnt concerned about the fact that this joint work of the armed forces doesnt enjoy public trust, Artak Zakaryan answered, Lets refrain from discussing public trust, there isnt lack of trust, no one can measure it. In order to resist the threats in the fast changing world, together with our strategic partner we should find solutions to them. The dust is starting to settle after the recall and discontinuation of the Galaxy Note7, but Samsung has seen it fit to remind consumers in the US that the Galaxy S7 family of smartphones is safe, just in case. A brief statement has been issued on the matter and it goes like this: Samsung stands behind the quality and safety of the Galaxy S7 family. There have been no confirmed cases of internal battery failures with these devices among the more than 10 million devices being used by consumers in the United States; however, we have confirmed a number of instances caused by severe external damage. Until Samsung is able to obtain and examine any device, it is impossible to determine the true cause of any incident. Samsung Galaxy S7 edge With holiday shopping season around the corner and Black Friday deals flying all over the place, perhaps Samsung's marketing team has decided it's best to reassure customers that a plain Galaxy S7 or an S7 edge may be the next best thing in the absence of a Note7. 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Advertisement This drama is about a prosecutor who tries to clear his name. He has been accused for the death of his wife and daughter. He also suffers memory loss which makes it harder to prove his innocence. This drama is expected to air at the beginning of next year. Konstantin Kosachev is concerned about situation over NKR Konstantin Kosachev, Chairperson of the Council of the Federation Committee on Foreign Affairs, is concerned about the situation over the NKR. During the joint sitting of the RA NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations and the RF FA Federal Councils International Committee, replying to the questions of Armenian journalists, he added, We followed April events with great anxiety. You know, Russia reacted to those events immediately; we did our best to ease the bilateral tension. Thank God, we managed to do it in a short period. There have been episodes in the NKR conflict resolution, when they hoped to achieve progress, We discussed that issue in detail with the RA MFA and MoD, and we understood that Armenian side is willing to move forward, in this sense the Azerbaijani side defers. We can see the mission of Russia there, where Azerbaijan and Armenia arrive at a common denominator. We are ready to cooperate in those negotiations. I am sure that our parliamentary format will have its big role in that. Of course, there is direct communication with our Azerbaijani colleagues; I will convey them everything discussed over the conflict resolution. After April events, emotions have already calmed down and thats why it is possible to resort to normal course of negotiations. From Grassroot Institute, November 18, 2016 To paraphrase Confucius, a prosperous society is where the rich get richer and the poor get richer! That is what is on my mind today as we contemplate what the Trump presidency might mean to the U.S. (and Hawaii) economy. Even experts like the Cato Institute's Dan Mitchell concede that it's difficult to know exactly what policy changes we can expect to see under Trump, but there are reasons for both caution and optimism. Mitchell, who recently addressed these issues as part of a Grassroot Institute event on Maui, points out that without any change in economic policy, our country is in "deep trouble." Entitlement programs like Medicare and Social Security are unsustainable and the federal debt continues to mount. If nothing else, Trump's promise to control spending can be considered a step in the right direction. His plan to enact a spending cap that allows the government to spend no more than 99% of the previous year's expenditures is a realistic and necessary goal. If we do not harness the government's reckless spending, we will inevitably see tax increases in the future. Trump has promised to cut taxes as well, but how that can be accomplished without cutting entitlement programs remains uncertain. Not only has the President-elect stated his unwillingness to make such cuts, but Mitchell argues that the window to do so is closing as the aging Baby Boom generation increases the number of people depending on government programs. Trump has also stated his support for protectionist trade policies. If not handled carefully, this approach could begin a trade war if other countries respond by heavily taxing U.S. exports. Such protectionist measures could end up having a negative effect on the economy. Ultimately, the best way to improve the lives of all Americans, from the very wealthy to the poor, is to make everyone richer. Mitchell wonders whether Trump will be able to pursue the short-term, unpopular measures that are necessary to create long-term prosperity. For anyone who hopes to see our citizens get richer, we have to hope the answer is "yes." E hana kakou (Let's work together!), Keli'i Akina, Ph.D. President/CEO ---30--- MN: Prospects for a Trump economy mulled Current Articles | Archives Saturday, November 19, 2016 Supreme Court: Challenge to Hawaii Council Candidates Eligibility Must be Heard By Robert Thomas @ 3:27 PM :: 4872 Views :: Office of Elections New HAWSCT Brief In Election Case: Voter Registration Appeal Is Timely Brought When Mailed by Robert Thomas, InverseCondemnation, November 18, 2016 Remember that decision by the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals that we posted a few months ago, after the Hawaii Supreme Court granted discretionary review? The case involved a question of how appeals are brought and filed in cases challenging a voter's registration. In Hyland v. Gonzales, the ICA held that an appellant who was challenging another voter's registration did not timely "file" his appeal, because he mailed it after the ten day statutory limitations period, and did not ensure it was delivered in that window. When we posted that case here, we didn't have a dog in the hunt. But later, we were asked by the Hawaii Pro Bono Appellate Project to represent the losing appellant, now that the Supreme Court had agreed to hear the case. We signed on and asked the court for supplemental briefing and oral argument. The court agreed, and today, we filed our Supplemental Brief, which argues: Petitioner, a resident of the island of Hawaii, timely brought his appeal to the Board of Registration by mailing it on Tuesday, October 14, 2014. This brief supplements Petitioners Application for Writ of Certiorari with three arguments: Personal service, or registered mail. The statute required the Clerk to serve his decision on Petitioner personally or by registered mail. Haw. Rev. Stat. 11-26(b) (Service of the decision shall be made personally or by registered mail[.]). The Clerk mailed his decision to Petitioner on October 2, 2014, but did not do so by registered mail. Instead, he chose to send it by the standard United States Postal Service. ICA Op. at 2 n.2. There is nothing presently in the record to show when Petitioner was personally served. Before dismissing Petitioners appeal for missing the statutes ten day deadline, the Board and the ICA should have required the Clerk to satisfy his burden to introduce evidence of when the ten day period began (the day he serv[ed] . . . personally Petitioner with his decision). In the absence of such evidence, the Board and the ICA could not have concluded Petitioners appeal was untimely brought or filed. Mailed = brought. Even if the Clerk opened the window by serving his decision on October 2, 2014, Petitioner timely brought his appeal because he mailed it to the Office of Elections on Oahu on Tuesday, October 14, 2014, twelve days later. [1] Section 11-26(b), when read in context of the entire statutory scheme of voter registration demonstrates that an appeal is brought and the case perfected, when the appellant mails the notice, even if it tales additional days for delivery. Emphasizing that point, the Office of Elections advised Petitioner that his appeal should be mailed to its Oahu address, and did not inform him he must ensure deliveryto the Board within the appeal window. If the appeal window began when the Clerk mailed the decision, and not when received by Petitioner it should likewise have ended on the day Petitioner mailed his appeal, not when the Board received it. Equal protection and due process.Finally, if the statute is read as requiring delivery within ten days, it could not be applied to Petitioner because doing so would trigger two constitutional problems: (a) there is no rational basis for Oahu challengers to have the full ten days, but their neighbor island counterparts who rely on the mail less time; and (b) the Clerk failed to inform Petitioner that mailing within the ten day limitations period would not perfect his appeal. The ICA, howeverinterpreting the term filed in the Office of Elections regulations (and not the term brought in the statute itself)concluded that mailing within the statutes time limit wasnt sufficient, because timeliness is measured from the date of delivery to the Board.[2] The ICA held that Monday, October 13, 2014 was the deadline for receipt. But that rationale deprived Petitioner of the full statutory appeal period, because Monday was Columbus Day and the postal service did not deliver mail. This means the ICAs actual deadline for receipt was Friday, October 10, 2014. To ensure the Board received his appeal by that date, Petitioner needed to have mailed it by Wednesday, October 8, 2014. The ICAs opinion and judgment should be vacated, and this case remanded to the Board for a decision on the merits of Petitioners appeal. -------------------------- [1] Section 11-26(b) required that an appeal be brought within ten days of service, and section 1-29 added two extra days because the tenth day was a Sunday. The following day was Columbus Day, a holiday when post offices were closed and there was no mail delivery. [2] ICA Op. at 5-6 (Thus, in order for Appellants appeal to be timely, Appellants were required to deliver their Appeal Letter to the Board within ten days of when the County Clerk properly mailed his adverse decision to them.) (emphasis added) (footnote omitted). The court permitted all parties to file supplemental briefs, and if any others do so, we'll post them here. Oral arguments in the case are set for January 19, 2017. PDF: Petitioner's Supplemental Brief, Hyland v. Gonzales, No. SCWC-15-0000053 (Haw. Nov. 18, 2016) HTH: Hawaii Supreme Court to hear Gonzales residency case CURRENT SITUATION Containment continues to increase on all fires, as crews work to secure containment lines ahead of the wind event tonight into tomorrow. Total large fire acreage today is at just over 45,000 acres, an increase of 1,621 acres from yesterday. High fire danger is expected tomorrow, with possible red flag fire weather warnings. The passing cold front will briefly increases humidity levels, but no rain is expected. Once the front passes, we can expect much higher spread risks Saturday as winds turn to the NW at 10-15 mph with gusts to near 30 mph and humidity dropping to the low 20s to low 30 percents Sunday. AIR QUALITY INFORMATION Air quality is forecast to improve tomorrow, as high winds will push smoke out of Western NC. A code orange air quality is forecast for much of western NC tomorrow. Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. FIRE PREVENTION North Carolina is offering a reward of up to $10,000 to be issued to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who are responsible for setting wildfires in western North Carolina. Anyone having information concerning these wildfires should contact Macon County Crimestoppers at (828) 349-2600 or Jackson County Crimestoppers at (828) 631-1125. BURNING RESTRICTIONS A total fire ban is in effect for all lands in the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests; however, commercially available heating equipment, portable lanterns, or stoves that use gas or pressurized liquid fuel are allowed. More information is at www.fs.usda.gov/detail/nfsnc/alerts-notices/?cid=fseprd524246. A North Carolina Forest Service ban on all open burning in all 25 Western NC counties. More information is at www.ncforestservice.gov/news_pubs/newsdesk_2016.htm# 1107161. TODAYS UPDATES ON MAJOR AREA FIRES For more information visit: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/state/34/ MAPLE SPRINGS FIRE (USFS-LAKE SANTEELAH AREA, GRAHAM COUNTY) The latest infrared flight showed a decrease in hot spots on the Maple Springs fire. Nearly all the remaining hot spots on the Maple Springs fire are located well inside the perimeter of the fire in the Joyce Kilmer Slickrock Wilderness. There are a few hot spots along the southern perimeter of the fire that helicopters will be dumping water on today. Acreage: 7,788 Containment: 51% Personnel: 342 Start Date: November 4 TELLICO FIRE (USFS-NANTAHALA GORGE AREA, SWAIN AND MACON COUNTIES) The most current infrared flight data indicated hot spots along dozer line in the Fairview area. Crews will work to strengthen containment lines and extinguish any hot spots within 100 feet of containment lines in this area. Fire crews on the remaining perimeter of the Tellico Fire will continue with mop up operations, clear containment lines of accumulated leaf fall, and patrol the perimeter. Special attention will be paid to patrolling around homes within the fire area. Acreage: 13,874 Containment: 81% Personnel: 464 Start Date: November 3 BOTELER FIRE (USFS-CHUNKY GAL AREA, CLAY COUNTY) Today firefighters will continue to secure fire lines and mop up areas near structures off Cedar Cliff and Jackie Cove Roads. This afternoon, warm temperatures, low relative humidity and increasing winds could increase fire activity and the potential for re-burn within the fire perimeter. Acreage: 8,967 Containment: 57% Personnel: 426 Start Date: October 25 CATHY GAP FIRE (USFS JACKSON/TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY LINE) The Cathy Gap Fire started around midnight on November 17, 2016. Initial attack firefighters and equipment from the Franklin staging area were dispatched. By late Thursday afternoon, utilizing hand crews, a bull dozer and burning operations, they had constructed containment lines around the fire. Friday, crews on the Cathy Gap Fire will continue to strengthen these containment lines, do mop up and patrol the perimeter. Acreage: 123 Containment: 0% Personnel: 35 Start Date: November 17 PARTY ROCK FIRE (NCFS-LAKE LURE AREA, RUTHERFORD, BUNCOMBE, AND HENDERSON COUNTIES) Several helicopters and a large air tanker supported firefighters as containment was completed last night down to Rumbling Bald Resort communities. A significant wind event is forecast for this weekend. Fire managers will have a large contingency of firefighting equipment including structure protection to patrol containment lines and the communities. Acreage: 6,712 Containment: 32% Personnel: 920 Start Date: November 5 CHESTNUT KNOB FIRE (NCFS-SOUTH MOUNTAINS STATE PARK, BURKE COUNTY) Air support has been critical to daytime operations with water and retardant drops. Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs), helicopters, and large air tankers were utilized. Additional resources are still being ordered and arriving daily. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has closed South Mountains Game Land north of N.C. 226. Acreage: 5,929 Containment: 29% Personnel: 262 Start Date: November 6 ROCK MOUNTAIN FIRE (NORTHWEST OF CLAYTON, GA) The fire is currently five miles southeast of the town of Shooting Creek, NC in the Southern Nantahala Wilderness. Crews and dozers continue working on a two mile segment of fireline to complete burnout on the slope above Tate City. Towns County fire department will continue to protect structures in Tate City. Acreage: 9,382- Containment: 30% Personnel: 559 Start Date: November 9 EVACUATIONS AND CLOSURES For current information on NCDOT closures please visit: https://tims.ncdot.gov/TIMS/ BURKE COUNTY Mandatory Evacuation: Residents along Bob Knob Road. Evacuation Shelter: Collett Street Recreation Center, 300 Collett St. Morganton HENDERSON COUNTY Mandatory Evacuations: Buncombe and Henderson County officials and fire managers have determined that re-entry by evacuated residents can occur this weekend. Re-entry for evacuated communities in Henderson County, Bat Cave and along Highway 9, will occur Saturday (November 19th) at noon. Windshield passes are required to enter these areas. Only affected residents and businesses can obtain a re-entry permit. Permits can be obtained directly from the Bat Cave Fire Department. The evacuation area affected by this notice will remain closed to visitors and through-traffic on Highway 74-A/64 until further notice. All evacuated Buncombe County residents will be allowed back into their homes effective noon on Saturday. No re-entry permit will be required. Evacuation Shelter: 7th Day Adventist Church at 2301 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville NANTAHALA NATIONAL FOREST CLOSURES Major closures on the Nantahala include: Southern Nantahala Wilderness (North Carolina) Nantahala National Forest lands east of Eagle Fork community to Southern Nantahala Wilderness boundary Nantahala National Forest lands south of US 64 and Allison Creek Road (SR 1448), to the Southern Nantahala Wilderness boundary (including the Standing Indian and Hurricane Creek areas) Nantahala National Forest lands west of the Nantahala Mountains ridge from Mooney Gap to Wallace Gap, and west to the Southern Nantahala Wilderness boundary (including the Appalachian Trail, side trails, and shelter sites) Nantahala National Forest lands north of US64 and east of State Road 1330 to Nantahala Ranger District boundary Nantahala National Forest lands south and east of State Road 1307 from State Road 1330 to US64 and the Nantahala Ranger District Boundary Joyce Kilmer Slickrock Wilderness Wesser Creek Trail Chunky Gal Trail Whitewater Falls Trail and portions of Foothills Trail Benton MacKaye Trail east of Beech Gap Appalachian Trail in Nantahala National Forest Call the US Forest Service office for more information on road and trail closures: 828-257-4200 Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pocket A young man threatened a business park security guard with serious harm, allegedly telling him he would get his address from an NCT centre and "see him later", a court was told. James O'Reilly (20) had driven into the premises when he was approached by the security man and "took umbrage" at this, it is claimed. Judge David McHugh adjourned the case against him at Blanchardstown District Court. Mr O'Reilly, with an address at Ard Mor Walk, Tallaght, is charged with threatening to kill or cause serious harm to the man. The offence is alleged to have happened at Citywest Business Campus, Naas Road, last February 13. The court heard that the DPP had directed summary disposal of the case at district court level, subject to the judge considering whether to accept jurisdiction. State solicitor Michael Durkan said a brief outline of the alleged facts could be given in evidence. Gda Shane Barry, of Rathcoole Garda Station, told the court that it was alleged Mr O'Reilly entered the business park in a car on the date in question. Disclosure The prosecution would say that he was spotted by security staff, who were known to him, and was approached. According to the officer, Mr O'Reilly "took umbrage" at this and told the security guard "he was going to the NCT in Naas to get his address and would see him later". Judge McHugh then said that jurisdiction had already been accepted and an order for disclosure of prosecution documents had been made. Defence solicitor Niall O'Connor said the disclosure documents had not been received and asked the judge to strike the charge out. Judge McHugh refused to do so and adjourned the case to December 8. He marked the adjournment peremptory against the State, meaning disclosure must be received by then. If not, he said, he would consider Mr O'Connor's application to have the case struck out. The defendant was remanded on continuing bail. The charge is under Section 5 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. Mr O'Brien has not yet indicated how he intends to plead to the charge. Former Priory Hall resident Stephanie Meehan has found happiness again and married, three years after her partner Fiachra Daly took his own life. The Dublin mother-of-two tied the knot with Richie, who she has known for years, and who she described as an "amazing support" to her and her children. Stephanie's life came crashing down when the scandal of the firetrap Priory Hall apartments in Donaghmede broke in 2011, only four years after they were built by former IRA hunger striker Tom McFeely. The residents had to be evacuated from their homes and years of blame and counter-blame were thrashed out in the courts. Stephanie was left devastated when Fiachra took his own life in July 2013 while under stress related to the property. Now, as Priory Hall faces a new beginning, so too does Stephanie, who confirmed to the Herald that she and Richie got married abroad on October 21. "Richie has been an amazing support to us and we are very happy," she said. "Fiachra's family were with us at the wedding and it was beautiful." Notorious Stephanie said she is now moving on with her life and said she also wishes all the new occupants of Priory Hall happiness in their new homes. Dublin City Council is spending more than 27 million on the reconstruction of the notorious complex. The first 43 apartments put on the market all sold in a matter of days, raising more than 7m for the authority. "They still have to work on the side where I lived with Fiachra," Stephanie said. "It was our first home and it was very exciting for us, so I really wish that the new owners will be happy there and that it now becomes the place it was supposed to be from the beginning. "People assume that I have nothing but bad memories of Priory Hall, but that's not the case. "I have great memories there until things went wrong. We suffered an awful tragedy and a tremendous loss because of it. It caused all the problems in my life in the end, but in the beginning it was good." Stephanie also said she hopes the homes are now being bought by locals who will be able to stay in the area. The famous dress worn by Marilyn Monroe when she sang "Happy birthday Mr President" to John F Kennedy has sold for a world-record price at auction, fetching $4.8m (4.52m). The sheer, flesh-coloured design, which features more than 2,500 hand-stitched crystals, had a pre-sale estimate of $3m (2.8m) before it went under the hammer at Julien's Auctions in Los Angeles. It was bought by museum chain Ripley's Believe It Or Not, surpassing the previous most-expensive dress sold at auction, Monroe's white costume from The Seven Year Itch, which went for $4.6m (4.3m) in 2011. "We believe this is the most iconic piece of pop culture that there is," said Edward Meyer, vice president of Ripley's Believe It Or Not. "In the 20th century I cannot think of one single item that tells the story of the 1960s as well as this dress. It's a new world record for a dress." Mr Meyer said it was likely the dress would go on display at Ripley's Believe It Or Not in Hollywood before touring to different branches around the world. Sewn The custom- made Jean Louis gown was so tight-fitting that Monroe was said to have been sewn into it before she performed for President Kennedy on May 19, 1962, ahead of his 45th birthday. The Hollywood star was found dead less than three months later, aged 36. Under a bright spotlight, Monroe walked on stage and peeled away her white ermine fur coat to reveal her dress in one of her last public appearances before her death from a drugs overdose. The performance sparked rumours of an affair between Monroe and the president, who was assassinated on November 22, 1963. "This dress, this story, this momentous occasion represents a truly defining moment in history," said Martin Nolan, executive director of Julien's Auctions. "This auction will remind the world why Marilyn Monroe remains an icon." Hundreds of items were put up for auction, including the cocktail dress Monroe wore in Some Like It Hot, which sold for $375,000 (354,000). A mass will be said in honour of tragic bride-to-be Majella Donoghue in her hometown as her family await the repatriation of her remains. The popular 30-year-old, from Tirrane, Belmullet, Co Mayo, died after falling ill on a flight home from a trip to South Africa last weekend, where she had become engaged to fiance Barry Doherty, from Ballina. The couple had enjoyed a dream holiday to celebrate their engagement before tragedy struck on their return. After landing at London's Heathrow Airport last Sunday, Majella was rushed to hospital, where she later died. Fr John Loftus, of St Brendan's church in Tirrane, said he will pay tribute to the "vivacious and kind-hearted" young woman at the village church tonight. Majella's family live next door. A steady stream of people have paid their respects to the Donoghue family as they wait for Majella's body to be brought home. "They're going through a lot of pain but they don't feel they are on their own as they wait for Majella to come home," Fr Loftus said as he comforted her devastated family last night. Majella is survived by her mother Mary, brothers Tommy, David and Brendan and sister Angela. Her twin brother Stephen is holding up as best as he can under the circumstances, Fr Loftus said. "They did so much together. He helped her in her charity work as well," he added. Clot The family doesn't expect her body will be repatriated until next week "at the earliest" said Fr Loftus. Majella's cause of death has not been released, but it is understood a post-mortem examination has been completed. It is suspected she may have suffered a blood clot in her lungs during the flight. Former colleagues at children's charities where Majella worked as a volunteer paid tribute to her as a devoted campaigner for children's rights who adored young people. Brian O'Neill, director of fundraising for the Christina Noble Children's Foundation in Dublin, said Majella was committed to improving the lives of impoverished children around the world and had travelled to Saigon to raise funds on their behalf. "Our hearts are broken. It's incredibly sad on all levels," he said. JD Wetherspoon has been granted permission for a city centre bar, which it hopes will create up to 50 new jobs. The pub and restaurant giant will be hiring between 45 and 50 staff for the new premises on Lower Abbey Street. It has been granted planning permission by Dublin City Council to develop and refurbish a former church at 12b and 12c Lower Abbey Street into a gastropub. The property was bought for 1.4m in 2015 after a bidding battle with Irish Life, which owns a neighbouring development. The plans include outdoor seating areas, and a glazed link to connect the two buildings. This will be the first foray by Wetherspoon into the city centre. Concerns Concerns had been raised over its plans to open a 100-room hotel and pub on Camden Street earlier this year. Wetherspoon has other premises in Dun Laoghaire, Blackrock, Swords, and Blanchardstown, as well as in Cork. "Our pubs in Ireland have proven very popular and we are buoyed by their success," a Wetherspoon spokesman said. "We don't see any issues with opening in the city centre." He said Wetherspoon would not now commit to the 30 additional outlets in Ireland that had been hoped for a number of years ago. "We are keen to open more pubs in the Republic of Ireland and will continue to search for sites, but won't commit to a number in five years," he said. The company does not yet have a date for when the new pub will open. No doubt about it, most mainstream pollsters thought the vote totals that rolled in during election night 2016 were intriguing, then stunning and, as dawn approached, almost unimaginable. How did the chattering-class insiders miss what was clearly widespread heartland support for New York billionaire Donald Trump? But there was one surprise left in the details of the early exit polls. In a race packed with soap-opera conflict and fiery rhetoric about personal ethics, morality and even faith, the experts looked at the role that religion played in 2016 and discovered to their shock that it was a rather normal modern election year. Actually, thats astonishing news, said Gregory A. Smith, who helps coordinate religion polling at the Pew Research Center. If you consider all of the tumultuous events during this election year and how much tension there has been and all of the other stuff thats been up in the air, its amazing that things were so steady in terms of religion and voting, with only a few numbers up or down a bit. Religious groups that have consistently supported the Republicans gave every indication they would back Donald Trump, and thats how things turned out, Smith said. The religious groups that traditionally back Democrats did so, but the turnout was down a bit. The religious groups that are usually divided were divided. The so-called God gap (also known as the pew gap) held steady, with religious believers who claimed weekly worship attendance backing Trump over Hillary Clinton, 56 percent to 40 percent. Voters who said they never attend religious services backed Clinton by a 31-point margin, 62 percent to 31 percent. As always, headlines focused on white evangelical Protestants, and early exit polls showed that 81 percent of them voted either to support the thrice-married and often profane Trump or to oppose Hillary Clinton. Earlier Pew Research Center polling found that 51 percent of white evangelicals who said that they would vote for Trump indicated that they were actually taking a stand against Clinton. Smith said that learning how many evangelicals actually supported Trump including Hispanics and African-Americans is a question many hope to answer with future waves of exit-poll numbers. Trumps support from white evangelicals wasnt all that unusual in comparison with the three previous White House races, in which white evangelicals backed GOP candidates to the tune of 78, 74 and 78 percent. Meanwhile, white Catholics supported Trump by a 23-point margin 60 percent to 37 percent compared with Mitt Romneys 19-point victory in that crucial swing-vote niche. Hispanic Catholics supported Clinton by a 41-point margin, 67 percent to 26 percent. Clinton also drew overwhelming support from the growing coalition of Americans who are religious liberals, unbelievers or among the so-called nones, people with no ties to any religious tradition. In the end, nearly 70 percent of religiously unaffiliated Americans voted for Clinton, compared with 26 percent for Trump. The percentage of religiously unaffiliated Americans continues to rise in the population, especially among young adults, said Smith. However, pollsters are curious whether higher numbers of young nones will eventually begin voting. There was early evidence that nones voted in higher numbers in Democratic primaries, supporting Sen. Bernie Sanders, than in the general election. What we have here is a large group of potential voters, he said. We have to see if they turn into actual voters. Clearly, this coalition of unbelievers and nones has become a major force in Democratic Party life, said John Green of the University of Akron, a veteran researcher on faith and public life. Pollsters will be searching in the deeper pools of unreleased exit poll numbers to see if that reality is affecting the partys historically broad coalition. For example, asked Green, its logical to ask if a drift to the left on cultural issues especially conflicts affecting religious liberty caused tensions with working-class Catholic voters in pivotal Rust Belt states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. A Democratic Party that heavily depends on unreligious voters for support may find it harder and harder to run campaigns that appeal to constituency groups in the party that are intensely religious, he said. That would include working-class Catholics, but there eventually could be tensions with evangelical Hispanics, with African-American churches and others. We will see. It's been 125 years since Dracula was published. And it's still scary. 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/ Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh will feature with Baahubali star Prabhas in his next film, a multilingual project. Directed by Y Sujeeth Reddy, the film will reportedly be made on a high budget, and will witness Mukesh play the protagonist as well as the antagonist. I took close to one year to finalise this project. What excites me about the film is the fact that the storyline is very complex, the role is challenging and I will once again get a chance to experiment. Im excited to work alongside Prabhas and share screen space with him, says Mukesh, who was in Bollywood film Wazir alongside actor Farhan Akhtar and Amitabh Bachchan. Neil, who got engaged to Rukmini Sahay in October, has started preparing for his role and will shoot the film in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. The film releases in the second half of 2017. Prabhass sequel to 2015s Telugu super hit film, Baahubali: The Beginning will release in April 2017. I have started preparation for my role already. I have a special tutor and I reserve an hour everyday for my diction training and then two hours at the gym for my physical training. I will also sport a brand new avatar for this film, says the actor, has been part of films such as Johnny Gaddar(2007), New York (2009), Jail (2009) and Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015). SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Its good news for all the Sanjay Dutt fans. The 57-year-old actor will start shooting for his next film in January 2017. When asked about his comeback on big screen, Munnabhai said, I will make a comeback in January, will start shooting. Dutt was then dining with his wife Manyata and twins Iqra and Shahraan. When asked if he was celebrating any special occasion, the actor took a dig at the ongoing demonetisation and said, I have lots of money today. Born on July 29, 1959, to late Bollywood actors Sunil Dutt and Nargis, Sanjay Dutt made his debut in 1981 with the superhit film Rocky. He was however sentenced to five years in prison on May 16, 2013 for possessing a weapon that had connection with the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case. He was released from prison after nearly three years on February 25, 2016 103 days early for his good conduct. He was last seen on the silver screen in the 2014 film PK. Dutts eventful life will soon be turned into a biopic starring Ranbir Kapoor, who will play him on screen. Follow @htshowbiz for more. Some books leave you open-mouthed. Amit Pasrichas India at Home is one of them. Shot over eight years, it features pictures of people from across the country ensconced in their homes. From grand nawabi palaces to rural homesteads to lavishly decorated tribal houses, ostentatious Chhattarpur farmhouses and minimalist apartments, the book presents incredibly rich snapshots of life in early 21st century India. India at Home; Amit Pasricha; Rs 10,000, 200pp; Panoraminc Its a cosmos inside everyones home. Weve got objects that were attached to, objects that have come down from generations, says Pasricha, who was driven by the documentarians urge to capture evanescence. Imams House, Hyderabad, Telangana. Mohmmed Faisal Ali Shah poses with his pet cockatoo for this portrait at his ancestral home in Hyderabad. Mohmmed Faisal is the custodian, or sajjada-nasheen -- a title held by nine generations of Faisals family -- of the Hazrat Yousafain Dargah, a Sufi shrine in Hyderabad. (Amit Pasricha) Everyones moving forward; everyones seen a saas-bahu set; everyones wanting to suddenly come up to speed into modern living So a lot of things are changing, he says. Several of these homes are no more; several have changed dramatically. People tire of their homes also, and their economics is constantly in flux People are migrating. With rural-urban migration, what happens to those homes? They are locked up or destroyed, he says adding that the aim was to find homes that told a part of a larger story. Read more: The Monumental India Book So each picture segues into the next: Kunwar Lav Bhargavas colonial mansion in Lucknow, with its stuffed tigers shot by an ancestor, is followed by one of a uniformed Jija Hari Singh, former Director General of Police, Karnataka, complete with gun in her living room with faux animal skin sofa throws. The next image features Sushma Iyengar and Sandeep Virmanis sustainable house in Bhuj, Kutch, with its many live gamboling cats. The reader follows the multiple threads in these pictures and emerges with fresh insights into contemporary India. Meitei Home, Imphal, Manipur. Laitonjam Kiran Singh, 45, with his wives Bijayanti, 40, on his right and Neezlata, 35. Having two wives is unusual but not forbidden among the Hindu Meiteis, and Laitonjam considers his family a very happy one. The house has two other rooms shared by the familys five children. (Amit Pasricha) The nation is Pasrichas favourite subject and he returns to it compulsively. His earlier books, The Monumental India Book and The Sacred India book can both be viewed as part of his ongoing exploration of the country. And like all committed photographers he has a neurotic need to hold on to the minutiae, to capture multiple stories within a frame. As a panoramist, he stuffs in even more information into his pictures so that the viewer is drawn into the lives in the portraits, even arriving at an imagined understanding of their relationships with each other and the depth of their feeling for their living space. Meghwal Bhunga, Ludiya, Kutch, Gujarat. Kalka Bhura with her five daughters. Her traditional Meghwal home is a beautiful mud and clay-daubed circular house frescoed and painted inside and out with geometric patterns and inset with pieces of mirror. On the traditional cupboards made out of clay for storing foodgrain are piled the coarse kharad rugs which Kalka has been quilting herself from the time she was six years old. Kalkas husband Bhanwar Bhura woos tourists to their home to buy the embroidered mirror-embellished cushion covers that his wife and their eldest daughter make. (Amit Pasricha) You are particularly taken by Kalka Bhuras wonderful circular Meghwal Bhunga house with its pile of exquisite handmade rugs piled atop clay cupboards. The sense of wonder is immediately followed by the troubling thought that, in a world moving towards homogeneity and a global culture, such structures will inevitably be relegated to museums. The thought has struck Pasricha too. Its a world thats disappearing and as a documentative photographer Im thinking, What a world were sitting on and not documenting! The start of 21st century living! Old Parsi Home, Nargol, Gujarat. Manijha Parvez Panthaki, 78, enjoys the pleasure of a late morning visit by her older brother Barabsha N Govadia, 82, who has been a priest at the Parsi Agiary in Nargol, Gujarat for the last 26 years. the siblings are seated in the front room of Manijhas house on Panthaki Street. Nargol is a coastal village near the town of Sanjan, where the Parsis first arrived on Indian shores in the seventh century. It has a large number of old, mostly empty, Parsi houses. (Amit Pasricha) He then moves to the larger idea of the essential futility of the attempt to grab the moment and the photographers need to click on nevertheless. These 10 years Im documenting constitute just a speck in an ocean of continuous living, he says. Amit Pasrichas India at Home is, in a sense, a heroic attempt to seize quicksilver Time, to freeze the moment so we can look back in wonder. It is this impulse that makes these pictures so appealing. It is what will make them endure. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON It is meant to be a kind of improvised Dutch music and dance. As it is, I have a limited understanding of international music. On top of it, half an hour before the show, there are just nine people at Bimhuis, the riverfront concert hall. It looks like my first evening in Amsterdam may be a flop. I head to the bar for a beer. By the time I finish the second pint, a sizeable crowd has gathered. I grab another pint of Grolsch blond and sit. The backdrop is a glass wall, through which the Eastern Dockland lights pour in, creating a magical effect. Two women take the stage. No microphone, no accompanying music. Monica Akihary starts playing with her voice and a young woman breaks into a slow dance. Then, two new artists emerge for a dance on drum beats. Fifteen minutes into the show, I find I have forgotten to take a sip. Two lessons learnt: never underestimate the power of music, and that of a Dutch beer! Bicycles are the favourite mode of transport for Amsterdammers (Saubhadra Chatterji) The overflowing platter Amsterdam offers a lot of choices except shopping to its guests in the evening. In one of the most densely populated cities of Europe, almost all shops pull down their shutters by sunset. But the city doesnt sleep early. At 9 pm, with temperatures falling rapidly, I enter Rijsel: a French-Flemish restaurant in a quiet neighbourhood by the Amstel river. The place is as lively as a good Roman Trattoria. All customers, except the two of us, are locals. They mix food and drinks with endless, loud chatter. Its a packed house on just another Wednesday evening. We order mussels, Flemish chicken roast with vegetables, and a fish soup. The server asks for my choice of poison. Dark beer, I reply. Five minutes later, she puts a bottle labelled Wild Jo on the table. I am worried when the food arrives. How can two of us eat so much? The portions are twice of what you get in a Delhi restaurant. Ruchira, my wife, suggests that we order less next time. I propose to increase my beer intake to help digest the food. As usual, she has the final say: We have to walk more. At the edge of the red-light district, in the oldest part of Amsterdam. The red lights above the window mark rooms for female sex workers while the blue lights signify transvestites (Saubhadra Chatterji) Sex, drugs and... Amsterdam has an excellent tram network, plus metro-rail and buses. But the best way to see the heart of Holland is to walk. Armed with a Rick Steves audio guide, I turn left from Damrak to Warmoesstraat for an Amsterdam landmark: the red-light district. Every city has its version of a sex trade hub, but Amsterdam takes it to a different level. On the one hand, its about in-your-face sleaze and soft drugs (coffee shops legally sell marijuana), on the other, its about a culture of freedom that makes Amsterdam arguably the most liberal city in the world. And it is possibly the only red-light area where a guy can take his wife or girlfriend! The walk starts near a shop with a yellow signboard that reads: Het Gulden Vlies. In English it means Golden Fleece Condomerie. It sells an amazing variety of condoms, including some that possibly can never be put to use. Irish pubs dot the area, but visitors are glued to the shops selling erotica. S&M starter kits, bondage materials, whips, masks you name the kind of sex and theres every product related to it. The lane named Wijde Kerksteeg leads to the core of the red-light zone that also houses a famous church (see how religion and prostitution co-exist). Busty women in fancy lingerie stand behind the glass in small rooms flooded with red light. If the light is blue, then its a transvestite, a guide explains to a tourist group. The trade is organised. The women are unionised and even have a child-care centre. We walk down to the neighbouring canal that offers a splendid view of the old city. This is one of the oldest parts of Amsterdam, founded after a dam was built on the Amstel in the 13th century. I find the original Bulldog outlet the first marijuana shop of Amsterdam. Armed with a proper menu, the shopkeepers patiently explain the specialty of every weed. They also prepare a joint for the customers. I come out of Bulldog better prepared to appreciate the laal batti culture. More windows light up. The area wakes up not just as a cauldron of sleaze, but also as a hotspot of culture. European and Latin American restaurants co-exist peacefully with sex shops. With a variety of gables, the facades of the traditional houses are a visual delight (Saubhadra Chatterji) Light and dark Just like its impossible to see the entire Louvre in a month, Rijksmuseum needs at least a week. We just have an hour, I tell my wife. So we head straight to the Gallery of Honour. The greatest paintings of the Dutch Golden Age are on display. At the end of the gallery is The Night Watch, Rembrandts most famous work. Nearby, Van Gogh has an entire museum dedicated to him. My wife gets so carried away by his Sunflowers and Almond Blossoms that she buys a bundle of souvenirs from the museum gift shop. In the upscale Jordaan neighbourhood, a hub of writers and poets, stands a renovated house on Prinsengracht, which reminds not only the city but the world about a dark period of human history. There is always a queue to enter the building. As we go inside, it transports us to 1942, when two Jewish families had to hide in a secret annexe of a building for two years until one morning in August 1944, when Nazi SS officers knocked down the doors. Behind a bookcase lies the secret path to the annex. On a wall, are pictures that Anne Frank pasted between 1942 and 1944. In the dingy rooms where two Jewish families stayed, my senses go numb for a few minutes. From the darkness of Anne Frank House, I step out into the bright October sun. And then, the bells of the Westerkerk church the only sound from the outside world Anne Frank could hear chime again. From HT Brunch, November 20, 2016 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In the pecking order of the cinema halls in Calcuttas Chowringhee-New Market area then, Tiger featured pretty low down on the list. It was crummy, the seats came with a free complement of unforgiving bed bugs, there were mosquitoes aplenty, and the crowd was usually rough. But Tiger had its other USP for us teenagers. Its entry policy was elastic, no questions asked. So at 15, face still devoid of any hair, I slipped in to watch a matinee showing of Vittorio De Sicas Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Ieri, Oggi, Domani). A-rated and erotic, and starring the stunning Sophia Loren, it had three stories, each about a couple and Loren played the woman in all three. But Tiger is embedded in our memories for another film we watched, half- crazed, dazed and drunk as only 20-year-olds can get. It was The Last Waltz. Tiger had a bar attached to the hall and its serving policy was as lax as the cinema halls admission norms. So that helped. The Last Waltz blew our minds. It was, as you probably know, a film on the last concert of The Band, a Canadian-American country/folk-rock, roots and Americana group that had cut its teeth by backing others, notably Bob Dylan on whose The Basement Tapes (1967) I first encountered their sound. The Band came into its own properly only after that and released many albums, including my favourite, Music from Big Pink. The Last Waltz was special. Robbie Robertson, the bandleader had got Martin Scorsese, the storied film director, to shoot what was going to be The Bands last concert, a breakup gig, at San Franciscos Winterland Ballroom. Rocks legendary impresario, the late Bill Graham organised the gig on Thanksgiving Day in 1976 (almost 40 years back to the date), preceded by a turkey dinner for thousands and with a galaxy of guests jamming on stage with the band: Bob Dylan played; so did Muddy Waters; Eric Clapton was there; Ronnie Hawkins showed up; as did Neil Young, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, and Neil Diamond; Paul Butterfield was there, as was Stephen Stills, Ronnie Wood and Ringo Starr. It was a mega gig. The film shot by Scorsese on 35-mm cameras was a little short of two hours. The album is much longer and if you have the deluxe copy that I do, it has 54 songs and runs for more than four hours. I took it out last Saturday, pairing it with a bottle of The Balvenie and proceeded to treat myself to a bender. The Last Waltz, right from the first song, Up on Cripple Creek to the encore (and on this version of the album, outtakes, rehearsals and so on) can be described pithily as a trip. A trip you have to go on. I played The Last Waltz that weekend after beginning to read Testimony, Robbie Robertsons recently published memoir to mark that concerts 40th anniversary. Robertson played guitar in The Band; and his bandmates included Rick Danko on bass and violin, Levon Helm on drums, Garth Hudson on the sax and keyboards, and Richard Manuel on percussion and keyboards. All of them, with probably the exception of Hudson, also sang. It was an outstanding band and Testimony is a captivating memoir. Robertson writes about his first meetings with Scorsese who was then in the midst of shooting New York, New York. In one of those, at an after hours nightclub, the film director came with the star of the film he was shooting, Liza Minnelli. He had a cold and a blocked nose and asked if anyone had a nasal spray. Robertson took a chance and offered some cocaine that someone had given him. Heres what he says Scorsese did: Without skipping a beat, he answered, No Ive got that, showing me his own little bottle of coke. I just need some Afrin or something. The two obviously hit it off and the film was made. The Band is a sadly underrated band. I dont really know why. The four Canadians and one American (the late Helm was from Arkansas) were geniuses. Their music was at once folky and psychedelic. And when they backed Dylan, it boosted his songs to even higher levels than where they already were at which is, as we all know, pretty high. And when they evolved as a proper band on their own, they touched yet another pinnacle. In Testimony, Robertson writes of the meticulous planning and rehearsals for the last one night stand that he and his mates had planned. Of persuading Dylan to agree not only to play but also to be shot on film; about how Van Morrison shunned the rehearsals and winged it; how Paul Butterfield superhumanly held a note on his harmonica for nearly all of Muddy Waters brilliant rendition of Mannish Boy; and of how he (Robertson) dipped his Stratocaster in molten bronze for the show. I could go on, sprinkling this with more anecdotes from the book, but Id recommend you read it. And heres the thing, if you havent heard or watched The Last Waltz yet, dont tell anyone you havent. And quickly get a copy. Id recommend a bender. It was rather satisfying. From HT Brunch, November 20, 2016 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Cashless times call for digital retail therapy. But how do you shop online without getting addicted? Heres help... As our banknotes turned worthless overnight last week, more and more of us are now taking the e-tail route for our fashion fix. Online stores are reporting sharp spikes in revenue, and many new customers are discovering that virtual shopping is convenient and fun. Ad executive Karan Shrikent knows that it can be dangerously addictive too. Ive shopped online on my phone when Ive been out with friends, on a drive, in the bathroom, and on holiday, he admits. Hes blown up `16,000 in one go on clothes and shoes because he couldnt stop adding items to his cart. A few months ago, he ended up spending another `10,000 online. I felt so guilty about it that every time the delivery man reached my office, Id lie and say I wasnt in, in the hope that the site would eventually cancel my order. Shrikent, like many, falls for discounts and deals. When one site began its sale last year, he stayed up in bed to shop the moment the discounts went live at midnight. I logged on at 12.02, he recalls. The app had so much traffic that my waiting time was 30 minutes. It made me feel terrible. I could see all these deals with wings on them, flying away from me. Thats where the problems start. A 2015 study by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience suggests that 4.7 per cent women and 3.5 per cent men admit to being addicted to online shopping. As you go from cash to cards, will your cart have riches or regrets? Heres help in a fast-refreshing world: Flirty in pink: Dress, shoes from Koovs.com (Photo by Rawky Ksh) Starting point Vanessa Patrick, a marketing professor and researcher at the University of Houston, finds that online shopping is driven by the same interplay of impulse and self-control as the real world. Only, its far more pervasive. In a regular store, a typical impulse buy is something small like gum or chips when you are at the cash counter, she says. Online, youre a click away from just about every product in the world. Everything is up for thoughtless purchase. Bhavya Chawla, chief stylist at Voonik.com, says the 24/7 nature of e-shopping means youre far more likely to browse when youre distracted or tired, and its much easier to buy what you didnt intend to. So how to fight the urge? Patrick suggests setting boundaries how much time and money you are comfortable spending before you begin. Then, make a mental note of what youre visiting a site for, a specific need, rather than letting yourself be swayed by what looks good. Cut through the clutter and temptation further by using search filters, says Chawla. Look specifically for what you want, a little black dress, evening shirt, animal print, sheer saris or types of sleeve and cut. Online, you cant touch, feel or try. All you have are pictures, so make them count. Zoom-in on zips, pockets and fabric, says Gurpreet Singh, whose company Browntape Technologies helps sellers showcase their goods on sites like Amazon and Flipkart. Good brands will ensure their items will be well-styled and shot, so youre not confused. A dream check: Jeans from Bhane.com; shoes from Jabong.com; jumper and shirt from Koovs.com (Photo by Rawky Ksh) Sifting smart Indian men use the most filters, says Singh. Women, on the other hand, prefer to see all their options. Singh was recently wondering why one particular blouse, manufactured by a seller in Jaipur, was selling well even though it never ranked high on the top of any list of filters. We tried top, printed top, Jaipur top, even the brand name, but it remained buried on page 10 and still sold well, he recalls. I asked women how long they scrolled before they got fed up. They said they browse to infinity. Women take four-five metro rides of scrolling before buying a `500 top! So if youre not strapped for time, it makes sense to spread out your browsing over several hours or even days before you pick what you like and have time to rethink your decision before you buy. On the woman: dress, clutch from Koovs.com; and heels from Oceedee.com. On the man: Jeans, jacket, t-shirt and shoes from Koovs.com (Photo by Rawky Ksh) Size it right Youre likely a Small in one brand, a Medium in another, a 10 on one label and a 19 in another. International brands also have different cuts for petites, plus sizes and tall frames. The only way to get an unseen garment to fit is to know your own measurements: chest, shoulders, waist, hips, legs, and use them against the sites size chart. Asian brands run shorter, to fit a woman who is 54. Their XL is usually the Indian size M, says Chawla. Be wary of labels like standard size or free size. Even if youre buying material for a kurta, the site should specify a size range. For womens wear, most international brands follow the misses sizing theyre even-numbered like 6, 8, 10 and they have more room on the bust and hips. Juniors sizing, on the other hand, comes in odd numbers and suit boyish frames best. Keep a three-inch buffer between your measurements and a garments. E-tail heads promise that sizing will be easier in the future. Expect the size guides of popular brands like Mango as a reference point for conversions. Manish Chopra, the creative head of Koovs.com, agrees that standard sizing is a problem. How can seven billion humans fit into 12 sizes? he asks. No body is perfect, points out Chawla. Men with an inverted-triangle frame (wide chest, slim hip) wont look good in styles to flatter a rounder body, she says. A good way to win the online size-guide guessing game? Take the advice of shopping addict Shrikent: Try in-store, buy online. Ive spent an hour at the mall trying out things from different brands to know how their sizes fit me, so I could buy them online later. Ethnic chic: Top from indieandlove.com; jeans from Bhane.com and stilettos from Koovs.com (Photo by Rawky Ksh) Final decisions Found something you like? Let the research begin! Zoom in to all the photos again what if the armholes are too tiny, the pleats unflattering or the waistline oddly high? Read every detail. Check the kind of collar, sleeve, fabric, lining, front pocket, print, says Singh. If the site mentions the models measurements, use that as a guide. Caucasians are typically taller, what falls mid-thigh on them may demurely skim your knee. If you like something, put it on hold, perhaps in a sites wishlist, and come back to it later to check if it still seems desirable, says Patrick. Delayed gratification techniques are a good way to deal with impulses. Singh recommends comparison shopping not just for price but for information: Another site may stock the same garment at a higher price, but take a look at it. It may have more photos and details about the product, so you can get more information. Green envy: Jeans, shoes from Koovs.com; and shirt from Jabong.com (Photo by Rawky Ksh) Many happy returns Most big marketplaces let you return unused items for free and refund you in store credit. Many will also refund to your bank account, taking the sting out of buyers remorse. At Indias top sites, about 20 per cent of the transactions are returns one in five items comes back. In Europe, customers buy 4-5 items together, with the intention of returns. In India its only 1 or 2. So dont feel bad about returning what didnt fit, didnt fit right or didnt fit the description. All experts recommend buying your chosen item in more than one size, and returning the one that doesnt fit, to buffer against sizing as well as stock. You can also use your own purchase history as your guide. The sites youve used will record your previous buys theyre a good indication of the sizes or styles you have liked and the ones you tend to return. If, like Shrikent, you give in to unnecessary (but un-missable) online deals, heres help. Patricks studies with goal-directed behaviour indicate that small pleasures, a blip of joy as minuscule as a cup of tea or a funny GIF at a weak moment, can steel you against impulses. Its better than hiding from the delivery man. Stylist: Mia; Hair and make up: Sitara Singh Art Direction: Amit Malik & Satarupa Paul; Models: Sitara Singh, Raghu Katal From HT Brunch, November 20, 2016 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch Pakistan provoked India yet again on Saturday morning with heavy firing on Indian posts and villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir. Rajouri is about 150 km northwest of Jammu. There is an unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistan army in Naushera sector from 10:30 am on Saturday morning. They are firing 120 mm mortars, automatics and small arms. The Indian army is responding befittingly to the enemy fire, Defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Mehta said An Intelligence source said, Pakistan army is resorting to heavy mortar shelling in Kalsian, Jhangar and Namb Karali areas of Naushera sector. There has been no let up in Pakistani shelling on Indian villages and posts since New Delhis surgical strikes on terror launch pads across the LoC in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on September 29. The 2003 India-Pakistan ceasefire has been reduced to tatters with Pakistani forces violating the agreement nearly 300 times since the surgical strikes. The shelling and firing by Pakistani troops have killed 26 people, including 14 security personnel, There have been 186 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along the 198-km long International Border (IB) in Jammu, while over 106 violations took place along the 744-km long Line of Control (LoC). India and Pakistan had agreed on a truce along the border in Jammu and Kashmir in 2003. On November 25, 2003, the Director Generals of Military Operations of India and Pakistan agreed to observe a ceasefire along the International Border, Line of Control and Actual Ground Position Line in Jammu and Kashmir. On Thursday, India issued a demarche on continued ceasefire violations along the LoC by Pakistan. It was the third demarche issued this month which said Pakistani forces had committed as many as 12 such violations between November 9 and 15. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The long queues at banks and ATMs, reports of people dying of shock at the demonetistion of currency, the restrictions on the amount of money which can be withdrawn in a day all these raised apocalyptic visions of an economy about to implode. One issue that has been raised again by people is what happens to women domestic workers, daily wagers and agricultural workers, many of whom are thought to have hoarded their savings in currency away from the grasp of their husbands or other family members. Indeed, such was the case with a lady who worked for me. Read: A cruel world: Widows of farmers who committed suicide face living death But before we kvetch and grumble, as is our wont, when any change is sought to be brought about and this one was indeed pushed through with little planning the situation as far as women are concerned is not as hopeless as is being made out. Yes, women will suffer enormous hardship in changing their currency nest eggs but the popular belief that Indian women have little access to formal banking is wrong. I have read in many learned periodicals that though a dazzling array of women lead many banks in India, the ordinary women are left out of the loop. Believe it or not, 358 million Indian women have bank accounts, that is a whopping 61%, a sharp jump from 2014, when only 48% of women had accounts. Now for the bad news. While so many women do have bank accounts, many of them still rely on the informal sector for transactions. This is due to many reasons, one being that banks tend not to lend very easily to women and therefore, they rely on traditional methods of accessing loans, that is from moneylenders. Read: 8 of 10 Mudra scheme borrowers are women Womens inclusion in banking has a huge impact on empowerment. Studies suggest that when a woman has ownership of an account and access to money, it is used in to benefit the familys health or educate children. Women are also found to be more regular in loan repayment than men. When the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana was set up, it was aimed at broadening financial inclusion and was not gender-specific. But a positive fallout of it seems to have been the eagerness of women to access banking. Whatever the drawbacks, here is an opportunity to build on this. One very powerful way of ensuring greater gender equality is through the financial route. But poor education levels have kept women away from availing themselves of not just banking but other financial services to which they are entitled. When we talk of Skill India and vocational education, it is rarely in the context of women. The government could easily push for a scheme to provide women job-related skills at the rural level. Women in rural areas have few opportunities beyond farming. If this were changed and they were to be trained in basic healthcare and education, not only would their literacy levels improve, it would have a domino effect on the whole socio-economic situation in rural areas. The government is very big on Make in India, but the focus has been on heavy industries and inviting foreign companies to set up shop in India and generate employment here. But, what stops the government from pushing more women into business ventures. I have often heard women put themselves down, saying they have no head for business. But I have observed micro-finance and credit schemes in remote tribal areas and womens ability not just to understand financial intricacies and also their adherence to the rules when it comes to paying back loans. Entrepreneurship should be encouraged much more at the rural level and the panchayat system should be made to work for women. Giving women sewing machines is a favourite with our political parties. As though women cannot conduct any business besides stitching clothes for people in the locality. Even in farming, much more investment must be made in women to enable them to understand and execute the business of farming. Read: Women vendors who exist on cash income hit hardest by demonetisation Women should be far more involved, again I speak of the rural areas, in management, marketing and maintaining books. These are not rocket science and gaining skills in these areas will help women break out of the dependency syndrome. Today, financial work, even in urban areas, is seen as a mans job. I have friends who proudly say that they leave all financial planning to their husbands. I have often asked these women what they would do if the husband upped and left one fine day, leaving them up the creek without a paddle. India has made a huge stride forward in empowerment with banking, hopefully, this crisis will impress upon more women how important it is to be in the formal banking sector and how this puts them more in control of their own destinies. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON When people who have been at the centre of critical developments write their memoirs and truthfully recount what happened it can make for fascinating reading. Shivshankar Menons essay on 26/11, which is part of his book Choices, published yesterday, proves my point. At the time he was foreign secretary and few people had a clearer or fuller idea of what was happening. Read: India, Pakistan tensions have not escalated: US He reveals that he pressed at that time for immediate visible retaliation of some sort, either against the LeT in Muridke or their camps in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, or against the ISI, which was clearly complicit. He says this would have been emotionally satisfying and some way towards erasing the shame of incompetence that Indias police and security agencies displayed in the glare of the worlds television lights for three full days. He writes that he urged both external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to seriously consider retaliation. Mukherjee seemed to agree. I, therefore, presume it was Dr Manmohan Singh who did not. Unfortunately, Mr Menon doesnt quite confirm that. Mr Menon is probably the first senior official to confirm retaliation was considered at the highest level although that ought not to be surprising but, more importantly, hes the only one to bluntly state the police and security agencies responded incompetently and shamed the country. Read: Pakistan hands over fresh dossier on Mumbai attacks Mr Menon lists six reasons why on sober reflection and in hindsight the decision not to retaliate militarily and to concentrate on diplomatic, covert and other means was the right one. Prima facie theyre pretty convincing. First, the fact of a terrorist attack from Pakistan with official involvement on the Pakistan side would have been obscured. Second, an Indian attack would have united Pakistan behind the Pakistan army, which was in increasing domestic disrepute (and) disagreed on India policy with the elected civilian government. Third, an attack on Pakistan would have weakened the civilian government which sought a much better relationship with India than the Pakistan army. Fourth, a limited strike on selected terrorist targets would have had limited practical utility and hardly any effect on the organization. Fifth, collateral civilian damage was almost certain. Sixth, if it led to war that would have imposed costs and setback the progress of the Indian economy. However, Mr Menon believes that should another such attack be mounted from Pakistan, with or without visible support from the ISI or the Pakistani army, it would be virtually impossible for any government to make the same choice again I personally consider some public retribution and a military response inevitable. So, I presume, he supports Mr Modis surgical strikes. The interesting paradox is that Mr Menon doesnt believe retaliation will actually end terror. The LeT will not be deterred by the controlled application of military force radical ideologies and religion cannot be defeated on the battlefield particularly if (they have) state support. So retaliation is to boost morale at home not really to tackle the problem. Read: Pak not doing enough: Western diplomats Mr Menons conclusion about Pakistan and India-Pakistan relations is devastatingly forthright. I am not so sure that its any longer within Pakistans capacity to stop terrorism now that it has so infected and become so entrenched in Pakistans society and state. Terrorism, he adds, is hard-wired into Pakistans society and polity, not just into the ISI. This leads him, inexorably, to the following sentence: India-Pakistan relations are one of the few major failures of Indian foreign policy. I wouldnt disagree. The views expressed are personal SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The India International Trade Fair has 7,000 participants displaying handicrafts and other wares at Pragati Maidan and It is open from 9.30am to 7.30pm. Heres what you can look out for. Spices, chutney from Maharashtra If you want to include new spices in your kitchen, visit the topmost floor of the Maharashtra pavilion. Green chilli thecha (a dry chutney) and garlic chutney that go best with rotis and vegetable curry flew off the shelves on Saturday. The vendors also sell peanut chutney, another hit among buyers. Kolhapur Kanda Lehsun Masala, made with onions and garlic, is a masala that can be used to a great effect in vegetable curry, said the vendors from Maharashtra. The price ranges from Rs 50 to Rs 100. Hand-woven garments Weavers from Bihar, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Punjab sell traditional dresses for men and women at the trade fair. Kanjivaram and tussar silk sarees at the Tamil Pavilion, embroidered silk sarees at the Bihar pavilion are a hit among the women. Tihar Jail products Products made by the inmates of Tihar Jail are available at the Digital Tihar exhibit at the three-storeyed Delhi pavilion. Visitors can buy cookies (Rs 42), rusks (Rs 55) and namkeen (Rs 20), and bedsheets (Rs400) woven by the inmates. This is one of the most crowded areas at the pavilion. Traditional cuisine Visitors will find traditional food items at stalls put up by cooks from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Sweet dishes such as Imarti, Rabdi Malpua and Moong halwa are sought after at these stalls. Another attraction for foodies is the Mughlai cuisine, consisting of chicken nihari, chicken dum biryani and chicken seekh kebab. Afghan rugs and dry fruits At hall 18, craftsmen from Afghanistan sell rugs and carpets. Afghan carpets, known for their design, are handwoven and each piece is different and. Most of them are thick woollen pieces. They can be used for many years, vendors said. Dry fruits such as walnuts, dates and almonds also drew crowds. IN A NUTSHELL Trade Fair Timings- 9.30am to 7.30pm Where to buy tickets? Online from the IITF website At Metro stations At Pragati Maidan (subject to availability) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Delhi Police are probing a mysterious letter delivered at Jawaharlal Nehru University four days ago, claiming that missing student Najeeb Ahmad was held captive in a village in Uttar Pradeshs Aligarh. The sender, apparently a woman, also claimed to have vital information about Najeeb. Joint commissioner of police (crime), Ravindra Yadav, said they checking the letters veracity and the claims about Najeebs whereabouts. Police sources said the letter was delivered on November 14 at Mahi Mandvi hostel, from where Ahmad went missing on October 15 following a scuffle allegedly with ABVP members the night before. Read | Missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed was emotionally disturbed: Cops The letter was received by the hostel president on Najeebs behalf as it was addressed to Najeeb. The hostel president informed Najeebs mother about the mysterious letter and later handed it over to her, said a police officer. Najeebs mother read the letter and informed the investigating officer about its contents. She gave the letter to the crime branch two days later. The writer of the letter claimed that Najeeb approached her for help after she saw him outside a mosque in Aligarh. She said Najeeb identified himself to her and claimed that he was held hostage at a village on the outskirts of Aligarh. Najeeb told her he had somehow managed to escape. The woman claimed that by the time she could inform the police or seek help from locals, Najeeb was taken away by some people, the officer said adding the woman had also mentioned an address in Aligarh where she can be contacted. On Thursday, a crime branch team was sent to Aligarh to meet the woman and to collect information about Najeebs whereabouts. However, the family living at the address mentioned said they did not write the letter. The letter neither mentioned the name of the village where Najeeb was apparently locked up nor about ransom money, the joint CP said. Read | Najeeb was mild-mannered, always studying, says missing JNU students roommate The police suspect it may have been a prank. We are trying to find out the location from where the letter was dispatched to JNUs address, he said. Delhi Police have raised the reward from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for anyone providing information that could help trace Najeeb. New Delhi Banks reserved Saturday for senior citizens and customers of home branches but it did not do much to ease the situation as people complained of long queues at many places. Officials in central and south Delhi said there was marginal decrease in queues outside banks but inside the madness remained. Banks officials in other parts of Delhi however said they continued to see a huge rush. Subhash Sharma (66), a resident of Laxmi Nagar and a retired school teacher, who was standing outside a state Bank of India branch said, If they had reserved the day for us, they should not have allowed younger customers. I have a joint pain but I stood in a queue for two hours. Dhananjay Malhotra (75), a resident of Old Rajender Nagar, said he had to wait for three hours and 45 minutes in a queue. The bank should have introduced a token or a receipt system so that we could have sat somewhere. Some senior citizens suggested banks should have reserved a weekday instead as working people were likely to throng banks on a Saturday. Others who got lucky said they were happy they could finally reach the cash counter after several attempts over the last few days. I was in a queue on two days but didnt get a chance to enter banks. Today, at least I could withdraw my money, said Arif, Aslam, 70, a resident of Daryaganj. The crowd at ATMs in parts of central, New Delhi and south Delhi areas declined marginally as mobile vans and petrol pumps dispensed cash in some areas. Banks and ATMs in east Delhi and Old Delhi, however, continued to see long queues. Around eight petrol pumps dispensed cash, including an Indian Oil pump in Jorbagh, an HPCL outlet Chanakyapuri and two company owned company operated pumps in Motinagar and Pitampura. All India Petroleum Dealers Association president Ajay Bansal said that around eight stations have started the facility but it would be introduced in 20 more in the next two days. Read: In Pics | The gold rush: Delhi braces the cold in the mad scramble for cash A petrol pump staff in Jorbagh, where the facility was first started said, We exhausted Rs 1 lakh in just five hours. SBI has kept a cap of Rs 1 lakh to be distributed by a petrol pump. A State Bank of India official said 20 mobile ATMs had been introduced across the city. One can withdraw a maximum of Rs 2000 from these mobile vans. Cash seized The Delhi police on Saturday arrested a man allegedly carrying a bag containing Rs 96 lakh in 1000 rupee notes in east Delhis Anand Vihar. According to the police, Nazer-e-Alam was about to board a bus at a terminal when he was stopped for checking. He was detained for questioning and as he was unable to give satisfactory answers, he was arrested. Alam told the police that he was taking the amount to Gorakhpur. He, however, could not give a satisfactory explanation for possessing such a large amount, an official said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A police team investigating the case of Najeeb Ahmad on Saturday traced the alleged sender of a letter that claimed the missing JNU student was in Aligarh. But when the police reached the senders address in the letter, they found a 70-year-old woman who said she could not read or write and had never heard of Najeeb. She was surprised when we landed at her residence and had no clue about Najeeb, a police source said. The mysterious letter was delivered at Mahi-Mandvi hostel of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on November 14. Also read | Mysterious letter claims missing JNU student held captive, cops suspicious The police said she had no idea about Najeebs case making headlines. The team even showed her the letter. She asked why she would claim to know about Najeeb, whom she have never seen, a police source said. The police team later returned to Delhi. Najeeb has been missing since October 15 with the police making little headway in the case. Also read | Najeeb Ahmed row: JNU Students blame Delhi Police for delay in efforts to trace him It was probably a prank. It seems that someone just used the address to send the letter to create panic. The investigators have been on their toes to find him but they are now falling prey to such pranks. It is a sensitive matter and should not be trivialized, a senior police officer said. The police have sent teams to Badaun, Bareilly and Vellore to search for Najeeb. We have been carrying out searches in Jamia, Zakir Nagar and areas where his friends and relatives stay. The search operation is still on. In other states, we have come out with advertisements in all local newspapers, cable TV channels and radios asking people to help us find him, a senior police officer said. The letter, addressed to Najeeb Ahmed, was received by hostel president Azeem. Azeem, later, informed Najeebs mother Fatima Nafees and handed it over to her who gave it to the crime branch. In the letter, the woman had written that she had seen Ahmed at a market in Aligarh. He sought her help saying that he had been locked up somewhere and had managed to escape. She mentioned an address where she could be contacted. Read more | Police detain protesting JNU students, their missing colleagues mother A 32-year-old woman was allegedly robbed by a group of three men, one of whom allegedly attempted to rape her in a moving train in Delhi on Saturday afternoon. Police said the woman was travelling from Bihar to Shahdara in the Jan Nayak Express that goes from Darbhanga to Amritsar. It was diverted to this route due to a fault in a railway line. Two policemen patrolling the area near the railway bridge in Shahdara heard the woman scream and got onto the train that was moving slowly. One of them, Shahbaz, was arrested from the spot and the woman was taken to the hospital for examination, additional DCP (New Delhi) Kumar Gyanesh said. According to the police, she was travelling with three other women who got down before her and she was alone. When the train reached the bridge, it slowed down and three men allegedly came inside. The woman said the men started going back and forth and then one of them snatched her purse. When she tried to resist, she was pushed. She said while two of them took the bag and jumped from the train, Shahbaz stayed back, a senior police officer said. She said Shahbaz started shutting the windows of the empty compartment and locked one of the gates. She said Shahbaz forced himself on her and touched her inappropriately. The woman fought back and continued to shout for help, a senior police officer said. Shahbaz was earlier arrested for theft and assault. The police are looking for his associates. The two policemen will be rewarded. We have roped in an NGO to counsel the woman, a police officer said. On my last visit to a bookstore I picked up Niralas autobiographical memoir A Life Misspent, newly translated into English by Satti Khanna. The books hero is a man named Kulli Bhatt, who, meandering through life, found meaning in political activism. Inspired by Gandhi and Nehru, he became a Congress party activist in eastern UP in the 1930s. Read: A history lesson for the Congress president On Niralas earlier visits to his town, Kulli Bhatt had taken him for long sessions of aimless chatter. Now, however, all he could talk about was politics and social reform. So Kulli told Nirala that we lack the presence of the Congress Party. We are a good-sized town, but people laugh here at the idea of an independent nation. We need to bring the Congress here. Once he became a full-time activist, Kulli Bhatt pushed himself running from village to village in the heat, signing up members of the Congress Party. A friend told Nirala that because of Kullis efforts, there isnt a village in the area now without [Congress] party members. Pursuing his partys cause, Kulli Bhatt would go days without food. His health failed him. His lower limbs have rotted. Kulli Bhatt fell seriously ill from these exertions on behalf of his party. Visiting him on his death-bed, Nirala met some Congress Party social workers on his way who were also headed to see him. I saw a group of untouchable children and a few parents by his door. Their eyes were despairing. Those who know the Congress in its present avatar will read these words with some bemusement. Where are the activists who work so tirelessly on its behalf? When a Congressman dies, does anyone except fellow party members mourn his passing? Kulli Bhatts work was animated by idealism and energy, two qualities that are conspicuously lacking in the Congress of today. And perhaps of yesterday as well. I was recently going through the web archive of the Economic and Political Weekly. In the course of my search, I came across a fascinating article published in the EPW on November 23, 1991, almost exactly 25 years ago. Entitled Indian National Congress: Its Place in Politics, it was written by Anil Nauriya, a lawyer-scholar whose ancestors had themselves striven, like Kulli Bhatt, to promote the Congress message in UP in the 1930s. Read: How Narendra Modi resembles Indira Gandhi Writing in the early 1990s, Anil Nauriya found the Congress poorly equipped to meet or arrest the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He thought that the real threat to the Congress Model (and to its foundational principles) at the present stage is essentially not from challengers like the BJP but from within its own ranks. Indeed, an inept Congress is a far more useful ally to the BJP than a resourceful (and cantankerous) VHP. Nauriya believed that the decline of the Congress was a product of a culture of cronyism. The wonderland of coteries and caucuses, he remarked, has distracted and distorted the politics of the Congress and even other parties long enough. And coteries by their very nature distort grassroots political processes. Chosen for specific superficial qualities, they exclude important points of view from their virtually captive leader. That gives rise to the pathetic phenomena of even governors, chief ministers and senior ministers being required to meet first with a member of a coterie who is then empowered to decide whether the captive leader should be troubled with the real problems of the nation. By the time the leader, whosoever he be, realises the inadequacy of his establishment, the damage is already done. In 1991 the incumbent Prime Minister was Narasimha Rao, a product entirely of the coterie culture developed by Indira Gandhi after she split the Congress in 1969. Before 1969, the Congress had independent-minded leaders as well as zestful party activists across India; after 1969, it was run by a High Command based in New Delhi. Rao himself had worked his way up through being a devoted loyalist of Indira and then Rajiv Gandhi; thrust unexpectedly into the office of Prime Minister, he then developed a coterie of his own, likewise disconnected from grassroots political processes. In the quarter-of-a-century since Nauriyas article was published, the coterie culture of the Congress has intensified in New Delhi, while party units have atrophied across India. The Gujarat riots and Sonia Gandhis perceived sacrifice won the party a temporary bump in the polls, but now it is once more paying the costs of operating in the wonderland of coteries and caucuses. Even Congress chief ministers have to curry favour with Rahul Gandhis advisers, which is why the partys state units across India are so moribund. Read: How the Congress lost the diaspora Writing in 1991, and at a time when the First Family was out of power, Anil Nauriya still hoped that the degradation could be arrested. The Congress, he wrote, had to tidy up a mess that has long prevailed in its house. I do not believe Nauriya has that hope anymore. As for Niralas Kulli Bhatt, were he to be reborn, he would see todays Congress as the faded, corrupted, photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy of an original for which he had so selflesslessly worked back in the 1930s. The English monarch Charles II is said to have told his subjects: I have been an unconscionable time dying, and I beg you to excuse it. The Congress party has taken far too long to die as well. Once so vital to the history of the nation, it has become an impediment to its future development. Its sluggish, purposeless, existence has constrained the emergence of the constructive and credible Opposition that the country so sorely needs. Now, a necessary (but of course not sufficient) condition for India to flourish may be that the Congress should first perish. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A new education policy proposed by the government could infringe upon the rights of minorities, a host of institutions representing different communities have said, expressing fears that right-wing ideology may replace secular views in text books. The institutions have raised concerns over reports on the BJP-led governments move to impose yoga, Sanskrit and the ancient gurukul system of learning, saying that they will increase marginalisation of the Muslim community. They have also urged the government to include educationalists from diverse regions and communities for framing the final policy. HT has copies of their inputs to the government. The human resource development ministry had sought suggestions on a proposed education policy from all sections for framing the final document, which is aimed at ushering changes in the structure of education from primary to higher. Opposition parties and minority organisations fear that the governments move to change the education policy was a ploy to impose Hindutva ideology in text books, rewrite history to erase names of people the right-wing ruling alliance sees as conquerors and mass murderers. Consultations on the policy started during the tenure of the previous HRD minister Smriti Irani. However, it courted controversy after some of the suggestions were found to be regressive by educationists. Her successor, Prakash Javadekar, restarted the discussion on by inviting suggestions from various political parties, educationists and institutions. The preamble of draft talks about Nalanda (700 BC) and then suddenly jumps to 1968. Why there is no mention of Muslim rulers?..., the state minority commission for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh said. The Chennai-based Muslim Higher Secondary School in Chennai said there was no need for a common national curriculum. (In a) country like India which has social, ethnic, cultural diversities, it is necessary to address these diversities in curriculum which a common curriculum cannot address. St Alphonsa English Medium School in Andhra Pradesh said the draft of the policy that has been put in public domain is creating insecurity and anxiety among minority. The draft of NEP-2016 does not recognise the contribution of minority communities in field of education, it said. A number of them have said that the proposed policy is creating a feeling of distrust and building up anxiety among minority institutions concerning their rights. The National Policy on Education was framed in 1986 and modified in 1992. The government is likely to appoint a committee headed by an educationist to draft the final policy document. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The cash crunch continues. Its been 10 days since Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes were demonetised. And, while most of us are sparingly spending cash, sometimes its inevitable. For instance, at wedding functions, when you have to give shagun (money given as gift) to the bride and groom. One way out is to give presents instead. But then, money would help the newlyweds buy what they really want. Fret not! Delhiites always have a solution. Just put cheques in the envelopes, instead! My friends son was getting married and we all gave cheques. There is no other and simpler way to give shagun, says Priya Arora, a 40-year-old homemaker. Another city resident, Mona Bhardwaj, did the same. Not just cheques instead of shagun money, many are also opting for digital wallets. Options abound, you can even opt for mobile wallets. I was cashless, so I gave a friend Rs 2,000 for his wedding through mobile wallet, says Akhilesh Sood, a 20-year-old hotelier. Paytm, MobiKwik, PayUmoney and many other digital wallets are now a way to go about gifting too. Moreover, India is now adapting to registering gifts. Websites are encouraging people to go for gift vouchers and online transactions. Several brides and grooms were on the fence. But after this move, many thought this was the need of the hour and went for registering their wedding gifts, says Sudha Maheshwari, founder of an online wedding gift registry. Even banks in Delhi are offering gift vouchers that can be used as debit card. I transferred money into my banks gift debit card and gave it to a friend, says Shruti Anand, a 26-year-old analyst. I told everyone to give cheques addressed to me. We couldnt mention it on the cards as they were already printed. We have got almost 40 cheques at the wedding reception held in Delhi, adds Shakuntala, whose son got married last week. Now thats a win-win situation, right? SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Wrap some of the six yards around your hips. Tuck them tightly into your petticoat waist. Tuck a few pleated inches into the front of your midsection so it falls neatly to your feet. Drape the rest around you one last time to let the end cover your bosom before falling over your shoulder. Youve just mastered the Nivi, Indias most popular sari-draping style. But dont stop there. By the first half of next year, if Malika Verma Kashyaps dream goes as planned, youll be able to discover and master 83 more styles from different regions and communities across the subcontinent through short, chic instructional videos. Who knows, you might just end up freeing the sari from its tightly pleated, boxed-in urban avatar. Bangalore-based Kashyap, who runs Border&Fall, an online platform for crafts, successfully raised more than 47,000 Canadian dollars on crowdfunding website Kickstarter last week, to build the first digital anthology on the sari. The videos will cover variations across India and instructions on how to wear them. About 98% of respondents in our sites survey think there are not more than 15 ways to wear a sari, she says. We want to help change that. Watch sari expert and textile historian Rta Kapur Chisti talk about Indias sari traditions Pleats please Kashyap says its understandable that the sari is now increasingly relegated to occasion wear in cities. Its only fair to account for the fact that trends keep changing; the anarkali was popular a while ago, kurtas had their moment, she says. It also has to do with what is considered aspirational. Young women tend not to share the sartorial choices of their mothers, and the dressing culture of many offices also favours the sari less. The Nivi drape itself started off as a fashion trend. By the early 1900s, the style that originated in Andhra Pradesh was already popularised across India after Raja Ravi Varmas imagery depicted women and goddesses in the flowy, over-the-shoulder style. As Indian aristocrats and educated classes opened up to socialising with the British, many Indian women found that their regional sari styles which exposed the shoulders, midriff , legs or back were out of place. Then, on a trip to Bombay, Jnanadanandini Devi, the wife of Rabindranath Tagores brother Satyendranath, took her cue from Parsi women. She added a shirt-like blouse and skirt-like petticoat to the garment, pulling the pallu over the left shoulder to leave the right hand free. Society women quickly adopted the more comfortable style. Read: A twist on the sari blouse and new ways to wear it Border&Falls videos draw from a bank of more than 100 styles documented in Martand Singh and Rta Kapur Chistis lavish, definitive 2010 book, Saris of India, and other books. We wanted to stay true to the regional drapes, For styles that had only minor variations weve focused on keeping the base drape, says Kashyap. Chisti, who runs a sari school on the drapes, weaves and history of the garment, and is on the projects advisory board, adds that the videos are a great way to loosen up Indias perception of the garment. The sari was not constructed to be worn in just one way, she says. In urban areas particularly, only one style dominates, so women who dont want to wear it end up not wearing saris at all. The longest yard Philanthropy for this kind of a project is difficult, Kashyap admits. Many larger institutions in India had trouble understanding that there are no immediate quantifiable metrics to measure the impact of a project like this, she says. They took to crowdfunding to allow the larger public to engage with the project. Money trickled in from 405 donors from around the world, 85% of the amount was raised outside India, largely from Canada, where Kashyap was raised, and the US. One Indian donor will match the final sum of CAD 47,000, giving Border&Fall close to Rs 50 lakh to get started. Paris resident Olivier Gillet, who designs and engineers instruments for electronic musicians and has been visiting the Border&Fall site for more than two years, pitched in with CAD 1,500 (Rs 75,500), simply out of curiosity. I find the concept of handloom textiles both terribly archaic and futuristic. I think about a post-scarcity world what will we do with our hands, what will we consider rare, what will have meaning? Maybe theres something to be learnt from hand-woven cloth, he says. The idea of a well-organised archive appealed to him too. Documenting sari drapes as a series of videos seems obvious, but as far as I know its never been done before. I really wanted the team to succeed. Read: Sari styles in fashion and Bollywood Gillets contribution entitles him to a reward from Border&Fall a sari from the design house Raw Mango, which he plans to give to his partner. Going with the flow The money will also fund three independent films, made by Vietnamese-origin Bon Duke, Delhi-based Pooja Kaul and Benglai filmmaker Q, which aim to document the garments past, present and future. Theyll be shot in February and released free across social media and on the Border&Fall website. Kashyap hopes the project will get Indian women to see that the sari is relevant, varied and adaptable to the 21st century. Some fashion designers have been championing the diversity of its drape, but mass retail, even e-commerce, reinforces the static Nivi drape - pleats in front and palav over the left shoulder , she says. When Border&Fall posted images of four unusual sari drapes on its Instagram recently, it prompted one Indian woman to comment that they were insulting the national garment. Everyone is protective of it, Kashyap says. But they need to see its other drapes are representative of India as well. Read more about the Kickstarter campaign here SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in a village in southern Kashmirs Pulwama district on Saturday even as protests erupted in the area. Officials said a joint team of police, CRPF and army cordoned off Begumbagh area of Kakapora in the afternoon after receiving reports about the presence of militants there. Media reports suggested at least three armed militants were holed up in the area. Till reports last came in, security forces were sweeping the area. Rayees Mohammad, Pulawma superintendent of police, said they cornered a militant in a house. The militant was killed just outside the house in a brief encounter. He seems to be a local. We are ascertaining his identity, Mohammad said. Residents pelted stones at security forces after news spread that the militant was a local resident. On November 9, two militants were killed in an encounter with security forces at Rafiabad in northern Kashmirs Baramulla district. Kashmir has been on the boil since the killing of Hizbul-Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. His death sparked violent protests in the Valley that killed many and wounded hundreds. Eleven Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested on Saturday by Sri Lankan naval personnel while fishing near Neduntheevu of the island nation. The fishermen from this town were detained this evening and taken to Kangesanthurai Port along with their two boats, police and state Mechanised Boat Fishermen Association leader P Sesuraja said. The Sri Lankan navalmen also chased away hundreds of other fishermen by allegedly pelting bottles and stones and warning through public address system, they said. Around 3,500 fishermen in 634 boats had put out to sea from here last night. Voicing concern over the latest arrests, Sesuraja said already nine fishermen, arrested earlier, were languishing in Lanka prisons while 115 impounded boats were yet to be released. The central government should intervene effectively and ensure that the fishermen were allowed to carry on their livelihood. By-elections are underway in 4 Lok Sabha constituencies and 10 assembly seats across 6 states and one union territory in what is seen as the first real test for the BJP-led government at the Centre following the demonetisation of high denomination banknotes. Among the four Lok Sabha seats are two from West Bengal and one each from Assam and Madhya Pradesh. By-polls are being held for three assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu, two in Tripura, one each in Assam, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh and the union territory of Puducherry. Polling began at 7 am on Saturday. In West Bengal, by-elections are under way in Cooch Behar and Tamluk Lok Sabha constituencies and in Monteswar assembly constituency. The ruling Trinamool Congress, BJP, Left Front and Congress have fielded their candidates in all three seats. Demonetisation has become a key issue in the last lap of campaign for the by-polls in West Bengal. Although chief minister Mamata Banerjee did not campaign for the by-polls, she has been in the forefront of political protest against the Centres demonetisation decision. While the TMC, CPI(M) and Congress leaders have also slammed the demonetisation move because of the inconvenience it has caused to the people, the BJP insists that by-elections would be a litmus test for political parties. Around 36% polling has been recorded (till 11 am in the state). The polling has been peaceful. There has been no untoward incident, an Election Commission official said. Voting is also on in three Tamil Nadu assembly constituencies Thirupparankundram, Aravakkurichi and Thanjavur, and one in Puducherry Nellithope. Nearly 7.54 lakh voters are expected to exercise their vote and decide the fate of 81 candidates in the fray in the constituencies of Thirupparankundram, Aravakkurichi and Thanjavur. Despite a large number of candidates, the battles is essentially between the ruling AIADMK and the main opposition DMK. In Puducherrys Nellithope, Congress leader and chief minister V Narayanasamy is up against AIADMKs Om Shakthi Segar. In Assam, more than 1.7 million electors will seal the fate of eight candidates in the fray for the Lakhimpur Lok Sabha constituency and Baithalangso assembly constituency. The Lakhimpur seat was vacated by Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal before the state assembly polls in April this year Assam: People queue up to vote for Lakhimpur lok sabha bypoll pic.twitter.com/soUuooTUON ANI (@ANI_news) November 19, 2016 By-polls are also being held for the Khowai and Barjala assembly seats in Tripura and Hayuliang assembly seat in Arunachal Pradesh In Madhya Pradesh, by-elections are being held for the Shahdol Lok Sabha constituency and Nepanagar assembly seats. Polling for by-elections to Shahdol Lok Sabha constituency and Nepanagar assembly seats in the state witnessed over 15% voter turnout registered till 9 am in both seats, poll officials said. Madhya Pradesh: Voting underway for Nepanagar assembly bypoll pic.twitter.com/9D8J3RfXIa ANI (@ANI_news) November 19, 2016 A total 17 candidates are in the fray for the Shahdol LS seat. There are four candidates for the Nepanagar assembly seat. The government has deployed 30 companies of armed police forces across the two constituencies for peaceful polling. After ten days of demonetisation of high value notes, there are shorter queues at many banks following some restrictions on exchange of defunct bills, but people still thronged ATMs due to the cash crunch. All banks will on Saturday serve only their respective customers and will not exchange the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes from customers of other banks. The restriction is not applicable on senior citizens and they can visit any bank to exchange old recalled currency notes. The exchange limit has already been reduced to Rs 2,000 (from Rs 4000) to ease some pressure on the cash demand. Finance minister Arun Jaitley said the rush at bank branches has come down significantly and that there is no panic. Queues have become extremely small and this is all over the country, Jaitley had said. To screen repeat customers, banks at many places are applying indelible ink mark on fingers of people who are exchanging notes. Read | Out in the cold at night: Cash rush brings life to a halt outside Delhi banks With the government and the Reserve Bank of India struggling to manage cash availability across the country, the small businesses -- including vegetable vendors, dhabas and small kirana stores -- that use cash as mode of transaction were among those hit. People faced inconvenience in purchasing milk, vegetables, medicines as they did not have adequate small currency notes. At various hospitals across the country, patients and their family members witnessed problems for buying medicines, food and availing transportation. Many daily labourers were rendered jobless as construction and other activities came to a standstill in the wake of cement, sand and other supplies not coming in. ATMs in Kolkata were stocked with cash but there werent many people lining up because it dispensed with just Rs 2000 notes. I have been running from one ATM to another over the past two days. But I am yet to find an ATM which could dispense some Rs 100 notes. Either the ATMs were shut down as they had run out of money or they had only Rs 2000 notes, said Amiya Halder a resident of Patuli in south Kolkata. The scene was just the opposite outside ATMs that were still dispensing Rs 100 notes as dozens lined up after receiving the news. To ease inconvenience, the government has allowed withdrawals up to Rs 2.5 lakh for weddings and up to Rs 50,000 for farmers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on November 8 surprised citizens by announcing demonetisation of 500 and 1,000 rupee notes and since then large number of seemingly unending queues before banks and post offices are seen in order to exchange these currencies. Read | As demonetisation woes spill over, petrol pumps to provide Rs 2,000 a day In order to encourage lawyers to render free legal assistance to the poor in high courts, the Centre is mulling making pro bono (voluntary) legal service as one of the yardstick to be considered for appointment of high court judges from among advocates. Pro bono publico, also used as just pro bono, is a Latin phrase for professional work undertaken voluntarily and without any charges. The government is planning to create a data base of those advocates who meet the age criterion of 45-55 years with minimum annual professional income of Rs 5 lakh (in five years), says a letter of the Centres department of justice, seeking data of the interested lawyers. Many of the lawyers in the Supreme Court (SC) and high courts have been seeking weightage to lawyers rendering pro bono legal assistance for designation as senior advocates and appointment as judges. After the SC struck down the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act in 2015, the government is in the process of finalising a memorandum of procedure on appointment of high court and apex court judges. It can be one of the criteria. But cant be a criterion over others (criteria), Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association president HS Brar said. He added that if a condition on rendering free legal assistance is imposed for designating senior advocates, it would be of great help to the poor. In the letter, the justice department has emphasised that voluntary representation by lawyers was their social responsibility. Pro bono is an important element in the provision of access to justice, as it provides people with the legal help they otherwise do not get, but also helps develop skill sets of lawyers. The government is exploring the possibility of laying emphasis on pro bono legal assistance provided by advocates to needy litigants as one of the proposed yardstick to be considered for appointment as judges of high court, says the November 10 letter, signed by law secretary Snehlata Shrivastava. RS Badhran, a member of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana said data has been sought of lawyers to enable department to form a data base. How and when they plan to implement it. There is no clarity as of now, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Saturday marked the 11th day since the government declared that two high-value banknotes would no longer be legal tender, resulting in a rush of customers outside banks and ATMs that is yet to show signs of subsiding. A string of administrative measures has since been deployed to mitigate public inconveniences resulting from the November 9 ban on Rs 1,000 and 500 banknotes, which accounted for 86% of the currency in circulation in the country, where cash is still used in 70% of the expenses. Click here for the full coverage of the ongoing demonetisation drive. Here are 10 things you should know before you head to a bank or ATM kiosk: ATM cash withdrawal capped at Rs 2,500 per day Rs 2,500 is the maximum amount you can withdraw from an ATM a day. For this, though, the machine has to be recalibrated to handle new Rs 500 and 2,000 notes. ATMs that have yet to be upgraded will dispense only Rs 2,000 per card. In view of the rush at banks, as most ATM kiosks continue to remain closed, the Supreme Court expressed fear that the situation could worsen and result in riots. Rs 2,000 from select petrol pumps Given the long queues at ATMs, select fuel pumps of state-owned oil companies have started keeping machines that people can use to withdraw up to Rs 2,000 using their debit cards. There are 2,500 such pumps across the country all of them use SBIs point-of-sale machines. The number of such outlets is slated to rise to 20,000 by Monday, when card-swipe machines from HDFC, Citibank and ICICI will join the scheme (originally suggested by the All India Petroleum Dealers Association). Rs 24,000 a week from savings account A savings account holder can withdraw up to Rs 24,000 per week from the bank. This ceiling includes cash withdrawn from ATMs. Read | Demonetisation: Civilians assist cops in managing crowds at banks, ATMs Rs 50,000 a week from current account Those with current accounts can withdraw up to Rs 50,000 in cash a week, provided the account has been in operation for at least three months. This move is primarily to address the routine needs of the business community, particularly small traders. Old notes valid till November 24 for key utilities There are certain expenses you can still meet using scrapped Rs 500 and 1,000 till November 24. These include payments towards bills for water and electricity, fees, charges, hospital bills, taxes and penalties payable to central and state governments (including civic bodies). Read | Shiv Sena defends Azads remarks on demonetisation deaths Exchange limit set at Rs 2,000 You can exchange demonetised Rs 1,000 and 500 notes at banks with valid currency worth Rs 2,000. The remaining amount must be deposited. Cash deposit norms Any amount may be deposited in banks in scrapped currency till December 30, but your PAN card details would be required if the total deposit over the allowed period amounts to over Rs 2.5 lakh. Withdrawal limit for marriage expense It is wedding season in India, making cash essential to meet varied needs related to the family event. On providing proof of an upcoming marriage, the groom, bride or their families can draw cash up to Rs 2.5 lakh in cash from their KYC-compliant bank account. Relief to farmers, traders It is also sowing season in the country, and the government has arranged ways for farmers to withdraw Rs 25,000 in cash per week (that can also be taken from a Kisan credit card). The amount is, nonetheless, subject to the kind of crop planned to be sown. Also, traders registered with the Agricultural Produce Market Committee can withdraw up to Rs 50,000 per week. Read | Farmers in Amritsar stage protest, burn PM Modis effigy Advance pay for central government employees Central government employees up to Group C can withdraw Rs 10,000 in advance from their salary. The amount will be adjusted with their November salary. Also Read | We did the math: Replacing all old currency will likely take several months Continuing his attack on demonetisation, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday alleged the Narendra Modi governments announcement to demonetise 500 and 1,000 rupee notes was not aimed at curbing black money but done to create black money. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader dubbed the central governments November 8 demonetisation move as the biggest scam, worth Rs 8 lakh crore. Modiji is not serious about curbing black money. His intention is not good. This decision is to create black money, Kejriwal said in a live video chat on his Facebook page. The AAP national convenor also alleged that the State Bank of India has waived off Rs 6,000 core loans sanctioned to 63 capitalists within the last three days after the demonetisation announcement. Vijay Mallya was one of these capitalists whose loan worth Rs 1,200 crore was waived off by the State Bank of India, Kejriwal alleged. Kejriwal said that Rs 8 lakh crore loan was sanctioned to big corporate houses run by these capitalists. He alleged that the corporate houses siphoned off the money or it was partly written off by banks. This demonetisation is a conspiracy. The government expects to net 10-11 lakh crore rupees by asking people to surrender the spiked currency and write off the bad debts, Kejriwal said. With complaints galore of hardships being faced by the public coming in following the governments decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denomination currency, the Centre on Friday formed a team of senior bureaucrats to visit all states to look at the situation on the ground. The team, comprising of 27 bureaucrats of additional secretary level, will visit every state to gauge the status of implementation of the decision. The department of economic affairs will decide the dates and duration of the field visit by the bureaucrats. Their mandate is to assess the problems being faced by the public/banks in implementing the governments decision and suggest measures to address the problem, said a senior government official who did not want to be identified. Though the move to target black money was well intentioned, the Centre was ill prepared to handle the chaos outside banks and ATMs soon after. There was political backlash as well. A united Opposition has disrupted the Winter Session of Parliament from day one. Even though the BJP has been claiming the support of the masses, there is growing concern that in smaller cities people have started to get restive. There are genuine problems being faced by people in villages where banks are at a considerable distance. But the mood is in favour of the PMs strike against black money, said a BJP functionary. The governments publicity wing, Press Information Bureau, is already going all out to counter the negative publicity surrounding the governments move through publicity outreach programmes across several media. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) booked controversial TV evangelist Dr Zakir Naik on the charges of inciting violence and promoting enmity between groups on the basis of religion and race. The booking on Friday follows the governments decision to declare Dr Naiks Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The NIA has registered an FIR against Dr Naik under the UAPA and he will soon be asked to join the investigation. If he doesnt, the agency will ask the court to declare him a proclaimed offender and set in motion to attach the properties of the IRF, said a senior home ministry official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Read | How controversial preacher Zakir Naik became a polarising figure in Mumbai Dr Naiks spokesperson Aarif Malik said the controversial Islamic preacher will join the investigation if called for questioning. We have always maintained that Dr Naik will always be available for any probe launched by any Indian law enforcement agency. Our position has not changed, said Malik from Mumbai. The NIA, along with the Mumbai police, on Saturday morning raided 10 premises of the IRF. We are searching a few residential premises and a few office premises of Zakir Naik, said an NIA spokesperson. Since the IRF has been declared an unlawful association, no person can become a member or office bearer of the association whose website says it is a registered non-profit public charitable trust or hold meetings or collect funds. A ban under UAPA is valid for five years. Read | 10 things we know about controversial preacher Zakir Naik and his unlawful NGO The decision to declare the IRF unlawful was approved in a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. However, the IRF said it would be argue before a central tribunal against the validity of the ban. Naik has been out of the country since reports emerged that his sermons influenced a few of the Bangladeshi attackers who targeted an eatery in Dhaka on July 1. Bangladesh has banned Naiks Peace TV, saying it incited the attack on a Dhaka cafe in which 22 people were gunned down. Arshi Qureshi, an employee of the IRF, is also being investigated on the suspicion that his speeches inspired some 20 people who disappeared from Kerala and are feared to have joined the Islamic State terrorist outfit. A separate complaint has filed against Qureshi by a Nagpada (Mumbai)-based father of a boy who was allegedly radicalised. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Centres claim of public support for its demonetisation decision move will be put to test in the by-elections to a Lok Sabha and four assembly seats across three states in the northeast that began 7am on Saturday. The bypolls are being held for the Lakhimpur parliamentary seat and Baithalangso assembly seat in Assam, Khowai and Barjala assembly seats in Tripura and Hayuliang assembly seat in Arunachal Pradesh. The Lakhimpur seat was vacated by Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal before the state assembly polls in April this year while former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Kalikho Puls suicide necessitated the Hayuliang by-poll. Puls widow Dasanglu Pul is the BJP candidate for the Hayuliang seat against Congress-backed independent Yomki Kri. The BJP, whose ally Peoples Party of Arunachal rules the frontier state, is as upbeat about the Hayuliang seat as it is about Lakhimpur LS and Baithalangso assembly seat in Assam. The party is relying on Congress turncoats Pradan Baruah in Lakhimpur and Mansing Rongpi in Baithalangso for victory. Baruahs main rival is the Congress Hema Hari Prasanna Pegu, a doctor but political novice, while Mansing Rongpi is up against Rupansing Rongpi of the Congress. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is chest-thumping about demonetisation. This election will be a test of how popular his Tughlaq-like policies are, former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi said. In Tripura, the Trinamool Congress has shaped as the ruling Left Fronts major rival for the first time. The bypolls for the Barjala seat became necessary after Congress MLA Jitendra Sarkar switched over to the CPM while Samir Deb Sarkar, who was the CPM legislator from Khowai, died earlier this year. In terms of number of voters, Hayuliang is the tiniest of the constituencies with just 11,003 voters. Three of its 81 polling stations Kibitho, Aphumna and Taflagam are close to the border with Tibet. The results of the bypolls are scheduled to be declared on November 22. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Amritsar will host the two-day sixth ministerial conference of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process, beginning December 3, Union minister of state for external affairs Gen VK Singh (retd) informed Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal in Delhi on Saturday. Over 40 foreign ministers and dignitaries of the heart of Asian countries, supporting countries and international organisations will participate in the conference. The deputy CM said the conference would give boost to Punjabs image and go a long way in helping it achieve a privileged position on the world map, especially in tourism and hospitality sectors. He said the conference would be a perfect chance to showcase the rich and glorious cultural heritage of Punjab to the visiting dignitaries, such as the newly inaugurated heritage street in the holy city. Sukhbir also mooted the idea of walk around the heritage street for the dignitaries. The key element of the conference will be challenge of terrorism in the heart of Asian region, especially Afghanistan, countering extremism, exploring cultural and civilisation similarities, and cooperation in the educational sector. The suicide attempt by Moses Abraham, a research scholar of the University of Hyderabad (UoH), once again heated up the atmosphere on the campus on Friday evening, with the student community alleging discrimination of the marginalised sections by the university administration. Abraham, 27, attempted suicide by slashing his wrist, allegedly unable to bear the humiliation meted out to him by his guide, Prof G Vaitheeshwaran. On Saturday, students from the UoH Students Union and Ambedkar Students Association, held a rally to protest the incident. While Abraham did not respond to repeated calls, UoH Joint Action Committee leaders said the student was a Dalit Christian and that he was a victim of discrimination by his research supervisor. He was allowed to attend seminars and asked the scholar to change his research subject all of a sudden. This might have caused depression in him, JAC leader Sannaki Munna said. University spokesman Prof Vipin Srivastava, however, told Hindustan Times that there was no caste angle. We do not know the reason why Abraham took the step. He was supposed to write an examination as part of the PhD programme on Monday and his supervisor was taking the class in the lab when the incident happened, he said. Srivastava said Abraham was not a boarder in the university hostel, but was staying in a separate room along with a friend outside the campus. The reason for his suicide attempt will be known only if he returns to the campus for classes, Srivastava said. The university hit the headlines in January when Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula, ended his life alleging caste discrimination. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Goa chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar has said in a TV interview that if cow meat is part of a citizens cuisine, a law should not stop him from consuming it. If one thing is a part of his (someones) cuisine, I should not oppose it. Finally, it is his discretion. He is not compelling me. He is not forcing me... when it is a part of somebodys cuisine, I cannot use law against it. I will not do that, Parsekar said in a popular TV talk show Walk the Talk aired by news channel NDTV. He said the Bharatiya Janata Party will accept this view in days to come. Even the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in Goa did not contradict his views on the subject, the chief minister said. My view has not been contradicted by any RSS volunteer or official (so far), he said. When asked how he handled the beef ban as CM of Goa, a state where Christians and Muslims account for more than 30% of the population, he said it was natural for him to respect the sentiments of the minorities. It was just natural for me. I did not tackle it in a political manner. My feeling was: We (should) respect each others sentiments, each others feelings, he said. The beef consumption issue gained nationwide attention after a mob lynched 52-year-old Mohammad Akhlaq and injured his son Danish after dragging them out of their home in Bishada village in Gautam Budh Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh on September 28, 2015, following rumours that they had slaughtered a cow and consumed beef. A top American lawmaker has said the economic reforms unleashed by India would not only boost its growth but also accelerate the Indo-US relationship. Reforms put in place has helped us realised this impressive growth. I see an opportunity here to accelerate this (India-US) relationship, Congressman Ed Royce, chairperson of the powerful House Foreign Relations, told a global meeting of Hindu businesses and entrepreneurs in Los Angeles. Royce, a Congressman of 24 years and one of the key founders of House India Caucus, said the Modi government has taken impressive steps to boost growth; increase and investment and double export. He said he would continue to strengthen this relationship. The top Republican Congressman was speaking on the contribution of Hindu entrepreneurs to US economy at the World Hindu Economic Forum here in Los Angeles. Into its fifth annual event, the World Hindu Economic Forum is an effort to bring Hindu entrepreneurs from across the world together, said its media coordinator Sushil Pundit. Nearly 500 delegates from across five continents have gathered here to cooperate and collaborate globally and help each other with market access, technology, innovation, and competitively priced capital for success in business. Prominent among the participants at this three-day conference are Mohandas Pai, Gururaj (Desh) Deshpande, Vandana Tilak and Mukesh Aghi. Founded by Swami Vigyananand, the previous WHEF meetings have been held in Hong Kong (2012), Bangkok (2013), New Delhi (2014) and London (2015). Hinduism is not a stagnant thing. It is something that gets redefined, Deshpande said. I am hopeful that Hinduism would continuously get redefined... My hope is that out of all this one day we would get a Vivekananda who would come and lead the world and bring about the much needed peace and harmony that the world needs at this time, he said. Addressing the gathering, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu lawmaker to the US Congress, said there has never been the kind of excitement to realise the full potential of India-US relationship. Gabbard underscored the importance of spirituality and seva by the business and entrepreneur community. We have an opportunity to make our offerings as actions, she said as she shared her own practice of karma yoga has taught her how to view success. In his remarks, Royce praised the contribution of the Indian-American community and mentioned the two Republican Indian-American governors Nikki Haley from South Carolina and Bobby Jindal who was the two-term governor of Louisiana. The contributions made by Indian-Americans have changed the perception the most, whether it is the IT sector, whether it was in the hospitality industry, or whether it is in the physicians community, he said. Former national security adviser (NSA) Shivshankar Menon has warned that the likelihood of Pakistan using tactical nuclear weapons against India has increased, which has given rise to the possibility of an all-out nuclear war between the neighbours. Menon told a TV channel that power to use tactical nukes would be devolved to lower ranking officers in the Pakistani Army that is increasingly religiously motivated and less professional. He said the Pakistan Army had consistently produced rogue officers staged coups against its own leaders. He indicated the use of tactical nukes by Pakistan could lead to a full-fledged nuclear conflict when India decides to mount a massive retaliation of its own. Commenting on defence minister Manohar Parrikars questioning of Indias no first use policy, Menon said the minister didnt have a right to articulate his personal opinion on nuclear policy in public, particularly when it contradicted the countrys official policy. He said Parrikars suggestion would not be in Indias interest, adding that threatening a nuclear response to a terror strike from Pakistan would be like threatening to kill a mosquito with a shotgun. Menon, who was Indias foreign secretary when the 26/11 Mumbai attack took place, said he was all for immediate visible retaliation of some sort after the attack. He said he had pressed for action against LeT in Muridke or their camps in PoK or against the ISI, which was clearly complicit. Menon said he then believed that retaliation would be emotionally satisfying and also go some way toward erasing the shame of the incompetence that Indias police and security agencies displayed. He said then foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee seemed to agree with him but didnt reveal then PM Manmohan Singhs response.htc Federal anti-terrorism investigators searched a dozen offices and homes linked to televangelist Zakir Naik on Saturday, recovering cash and potentially incriminating documents, a day after police charged the controversial preacher with promoting terrorism. Officers of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) swooped down early in the morning on the headquarters of Naiks Mumbai-based non-governmental organisation, Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), which was banned this week for five years under a tough anti-terrorism law. Investigators searched, among other places, Naik and his brothers homes, the offices of the groups womens wing and a media company based out of a squalid south Mumbai neighbourhood that Naik used to beam his often-inflammatory speeches in western-style suits. Read: How controversial preacher Zakir Naik became a polarising figure in Mumbai NIA chief Sharad Kumar told Hindustan Times that the raids were part of a legal process to restrict IRF and its members from using their funds and property till the courts rule. The raids are still going on. It may take another day or two to complete them and prepare an inventory of recoveries, a senior NIA official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to journalists. NIA and Mumbai police officers recovered cash worth Rs 12 lakh and gold ornaments from an IRF office. An NIA IT team from Delhi will inspect servers and communication devices found at Naiks Peace TV office. The federal agency is also set to ask Naik, who is believed to be now in Thailand, to join the investigation. If he doesnt join the probe, we will approach the court to declare him a proclaimed offender and move for attaching all his properties, said the NIA officer. Read: 10 things we know about controversial preacher Zakir Naik and his unlawful NGO The IRF, formed in 1990, came under the security scanner after at least one suspect in a deadly cafe attack in Dhaka in July said he had been inspired by Naiks speeches. The government order banning IRF this week said Naiks speeches extolled known terrorists like Osama Bin Laden and were subversive in nature because they inspired Muslim youth and terrorists in India and abroad to commit terrorist acts. The groups finances were already facing a separate investigation following alleged revelations that an IRFs guest relationship manager had links to a group of 22 men who went missing from Kerala and were believed to have travelled to the Middle East. The IRF also faces accusations of being part of a religious conversion racket in Mumbai. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has quietly washed its hands of the controversial Bhopal jailbreak case, saying the state government has already launched too many inquires and probes into the incident. We have told the Union home ministry that since the state government has already ordered too many probes and judicial inquiries, there was no need to involve the NIA in the matter. We have, in fact, listed all these inquiries while tendering our opinion to the home ministry, said an NIA official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Initially, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and home minister Bhoopendra Singh Thakur had announced that the NIA will be roped into to probe the jailbreak case, but the separate case of encounter will be judicially inquired into along with a state police criminal probe. Later, the state government developed cold feet over even transferring the jailbreak probe to the NIA. The hands of the MP government were tied as the state police had invoked sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act(UAPA) while filing an FIR in connection with the incident. The NIA Act mandates that all state governments are duty-bound to inform the Union home ministry if any FIR under the UAPA is registered in their jurisdiction. The home ministry, in consultation with the NIA, decides whether the case can be probed by the state police or if the NIA should take over investigation depending upon the gravity of offence and interstate ramifications. The MP government, to fulfil the legal requirement under the UAPA, had sent the FIR to the Union home ministry with a copy to the NIA. But now, the NIA has communicated to the home ministry that it was not interested in probing the case, added the official. Eight alleged SIMI operatives managed to break the Bhopal jail on night of October 31 by killing a prison guard but few hours later all of them were killed in a controversial encounter by the state police. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday accused the NDA government of pursuing discriminatory politics against West Bengal by not releasing new Rs 500 notes for the state and said she will decide her next line of action after talking to other political parties. They have sent Rs 500 notes to Rajasthan. But they are not sending the Rs 500 notes to Bengal. The central government has totally failed to act. Rural India is dying, they dont use card. What will they do? The whole of rural India is crying, farmers are crying. If food is not available what will the common people eat? Plastic? Banerjee said. The West Bengal chief minister claimed that three persons have died in the state because of the demonetisation move. She lauded the Supreme Court, which on Friday dubbed as a serious issue the long queues outside banks and post offices and expressed its reservation on the Centres plea seeking a direction that no other court in the country should entertain petitions challenging the November 8 notification. Banerjee visited the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regional office in Kolkata and spoke to the RBI regional director Rekha Warriar and urged her to ensure that cash is available at all ATMs and Banks. I told her (Warriar) to ensure that cash is available at all the banks and ATMs. Common people should not face harassment. They should not be harassed. Dont say that you are trying. Because the word trying is a vague word. It is a word used to shield negligence and incompetence. I am not blaming you. Where from will you give notes, if the Centre has not provided? Banerjee said. Banerjee also visited Burrabazar area in Kolkata and spoke to businessman and shopkeepers. The TMC supremo along with party leaders visited the ATMs outside the RBI office in Kolkata and spoke to commoners. People cannot access their savings account. This is being restricted. Is their money safe? The country wants to know, she said. Banerjee said she will speak to other political parties after the three-day ultimatum to the Centre gets over. Banerjee during her recent trip to Delhi earlier this week had given a three-day deadline to the central government to roll back the decision or face protest across the country. After the three -day deadline gets over, I will talk to other political parties and decide the next line of action, Banerjee said. Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday said that no dispute remains between his state and the neighbouring Punjab over the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal after the Supreme Court verdict over the issue. Punjab had enacted a law in 2004 cancelling the (tripartite) agreement on distribution of river waters. Now, the apex court has scrapped that legislation. No dispute is now left over the SYL issue, he said while talking to the media in Shimla. Khattar, who was on a private visit to Shimla, said an all-party delegation from Haryana will soon meet President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apprise them of the latest situation. He said Haryana should now get its share of river waters as several villages in the state are faced with water scarcity, particularly during summer season. Royalty concept of colonial times Reacting to Punjabs demand of royalty from other states for water sharing, Khattar said, Royalty is a concept of the colonial times in India. In an independent and democratic country, there is no logic of royalty for water sharing. Observing that efforts are being made by Punjab leaders to gain political mileage out of the SYL issue, he said, Since Punjab is going for assembly polls, political parties are trying to manipulate the issue in their own way. However, I think it is not going to affect polls in any manner. Not aware of BBMB issue To a question, Khattar said he was not aware of Haryanas role in payment of arrears to Himachal Pradesh for its share in the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) projects. The Supreme Court had directed Punjab and Haryana to pay Rs 4,200 crore to Himachal for its share in BBMB. This issue has never come under my consideration during my two-year tenure so far, he added. When it was pointed out that as per the Punjab State Reorganisation Act of 1966, Himachal has 7.19% share in projects under BBMB, he said, States should get their rights. Three soldiers were killed and three others were injured on Saturday in an ambush by suspected members of a hardline ULFA faction in Assams Tinsukia district, police said. This is the first major attack on security forces by the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (Independence) in the state since the BJP-led government of Sarbananda Sonowal came to power in May. Police said the heavily armed militants ambushed a two-vehicle army convoy in a forest area, about 510 km northeast of Guwahati, at around 5.30 am. The vehicles with army personnel were on their way to the oil town of Digboi. The three slain jawans identified as havildars Multan Singh and Rishi Pal and Naik Narpat Singh were from the 15 Kumaon Regiment. #NEOps. IED blast,Tinsukia Update. Three Soldiers martyred & Four Soldiers Injured. Search Operation is on @adgpi EasternCommand_IA (@easterncomd) November 19, 2016 According to officials, the army vehiclesa truck and a Maruti Gypsy--- were targeted with bullets and rocket-propelled grenades by militants hiding behind roadside trees and bushes. They also detonated an improvised explosive device (IED). When the jawans got down from their vehicles after the blast, they were attacked, said Guwahati-based Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Suneet Newton. The injured were airlifted to a nearby army base hospital with multiple wounds. Saturdays incident took place near the area where one person was killed and two others injured in an earlier attack on Wednesday, also by suspected ULFA (I). Deeply anguished to learn of the death of Army soldiers in a blast in Tinsukia. I pray for the speedy recovery of our injured soldiers. 1/2 Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) November 19, 2016 Spoke to Assam CM Sh. Sonowal who apprised me of the situation in the wake of blast in Tinsukia. MHA is closely monitoring the situation 2/2 Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) November 19, 2016 Our government will take firm action against terrorism. The perpetrators of this crime will be identified and brought to justice, chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal tweeted. Union home minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Sonowal and took stock of the situation during a ten-minute telephonic conversation. I am deeply anguished by the death of army soldiers in a blast in Tinsukia and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured, Singh said in Delhi. The ULFA (I), the only active faction of the outfit formed in 1979, has spurned several peace overtures by the state and central governments over the years. Led by the reclusive commander Paresh Barua, ULFA (I) professes to be fighting for an independent Asom, the name by which they call the state. More than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have lost their lives to the insurgency in Assam during the past two decades. (With agency inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON One of Odishas richest businessmen has been named as the main accused in the murder of a shipping company executive earlier this year. Mahimananda Mishra, who made his fortunes by providing labour for loading and unloading cargo or stevedoring at one of the busiest ports on the eastern coast, is wanted for the murder of an executive of the Seaways Shipping and Logistics Limited. Mahendra Swain was shot dead by hired killers on the morning of October 26, while he was on his way to his office in Paradip. The victims brother, Rajkishore, named Mishra and three executives of his firm Orissa Stevedores Limited in his police complaint. So far, police have arrested six men including Congress leader Bapi Sarkhel for allegedly harbouring and providing logistical support to the killers. Even as 63-year-old Mishra continued to elude the police, he filed an application seeking that the Odisha high court quash the lookout circular issued against him. Mishras involvement in the murder is crystal clear. He hired the criminals, and there is clinching evidence to prove that, said inspector general of police Soumendra Priyadarshi, who has been supervising the investigation. An amount of Rs 12 lakh was paid to the main killer, Rakesh Choubey, from Mishras office in September. We even have evidence that Choubey was taken for a spin by Mishra in his personal jet. Port sources said trouble started brewing in April last year, when Jindal Steel and Power Ltd cancelled its stevedoring contract with Mishra and awarded it to a consortium of three companies, including the Hyderabad-based Seaways Shipping and Logistic Ltd. The three companies formed a separate Utkal Stevedores Association to challenge the hegemony of Mishras Paradip Port Stevedores Association, which had been controlling all cargo operations at the port for over three decades. The stakes were high for Mishra because Paradip port had become Indias second-largest port in the last fiscal handling a record 76 million tonnes of cargo. Moreover, the port authorities are working on a Rs 20,000-crore expansion plan intended at snatching the top position from Gujarats Kandla port. Mishras stevedoring association was a cartel that effectively decided cargo-handling rates at Paradip port, arm-twisting even major corporates like Tata and Jindal into paying high rates. If any stevedoring company tried to defy him, Mishra would ensure that his work comes to a standstill. His goons kept everybody terrorised, said a senior shipping executive of a cargo company in Odisha. Consequently, many such firms steered clear of Pradip port. After Jindal awarded the contract to Utkal Stevedores Association, Mishra engineered a week-long shutdown of the port to protest the development. However, Paradip port authorities refused to succumb to his demands. Matters came to a head in October, when Seaways Shipping bagged a two-year contract from the Steel Authority of India Ltd to handle eight lakh metric tonnes of limestone imports at Paradip port. This was an affront to Mishra. Though he controlled 90% of the ports operations through friendly stevedoring companies in his association, he feared that his authority would be eroded if contracts are bagged without his nod. So he hired some people from Jamshedpur to eliminate Swain, and they started doing a recce from Vishwakarma puja this year, said a senior police officer, adding that Swain was even threatened over the phone by unidentified men. Meanwhile, there is no sign of Odishas stevedoring baron. Mishras phone became unreachable from the day after the murder. This proves his guilt to some extent, said a police officer. Mishra, a post-graduate in Arts from Utkal University, launched his stevedoring company in 1978. In the years that followed, he diversified into hospitality, education, mining, automobile dealership, chartered aviation and construction among others. According to shipping company officials, Mishra had even started stealing materials like coal, coke, flyash, gypsum and limestone from shipping consignments when stevedoring stopped being lucrative business. Today, with a business empire of Rs 12,000 crore, he is rumoured to be Odishas second-richest man. An unmanned Indian drone that intruded into Pakistan was shot down on Saturday, the Pakistan Army claimed on Saturday, a day after Islamabad said it had thwarted an Indian submarine. The Indian quad copter was shot down in Rakh Chakri sector of the Line of Control, the de-facto border between the two countries, the Pakistan Army said. The drone intruded 60 meters into the Pakistani side and crashed near the Aagahi post around 4:45pm, army spokesperson Gen Asim Bajwa posted on Twitter. Indian Quad Copter shot down by own Aagahi Post in Rakhchakri Sec.Had intruded 60 Ms in Pak side of LOC,fell near own Agahi Post&taken over Gen Asim Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) November 19, 2016 Last year, Pakistan said it had shot down an Indian spying device along the heavily guarded LoC, though New Delhi denied the claim. Saturdays incident came a day after Pakistans navy said it had pushed an Indian submarine away from Pakistani waters, as tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals continue to smoulder over unrest in the disputed Kashmir region. Ties between New Delhi and Islamabad have hit a new low in the aftermath of an attack on an Indian Army base in northern Kashmirs Uri that killed 19 soldiers in September. New Delhi blamed the brazen assault on Pakistan-based militants, a charge Islamabad promptly denied. The Indian Army also said it carried out surgical strikes on militant bases across the LoC in response to the Uri attack. Since then, repeated ceasefire violations at the border and civilian deaths on both sides have added to the tension. Pakistani officials said on Saturday that three children were killed and three others wounded when mortar shells fired by Indian forces hit a village along the LoC. The Pakistani military also said Pakistan and Indian border troops exchanged fire across the LoC in two other sectors. Pakistan can and must take more effective action against terror groups operating from its soil as no state should allow its territory to be used to launch attacks into another, the White House said. While recognising the sacrifices of the people and the security forces of Pakistan in fighting some militant and terrorist networks -- a fight which we support -- President Barack Obama has emphasised that Pakistan can and must also take more effective action against terrorist groups operating from its soil, a senior White House official said on Friday. The President has made it very clear that no state should allow its territory to be used by terrorists to launch attacks into another state, and we will continue to engage on this issue, he said in response to the We the People online petition that was signed by a record 665,769 people. The petition asked the Obama administration to declare Pakistan as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, according to a bill introduced in the US House of Representatives by two Congressmen Ted Poe and Dana Rohrabacher. Since the bill cited by the petition remains in draft, we will not comment on it here, he added. The State Department has also refused to comment on the bill. Read | White House petition on Pakistan alive, but not active I am not going to get into a discussion about that. We routinely discuss with our Pakistani counterparts the importance for continued focus and energy on the counter- terrorism efforts and the terrorism threat, particularly along that spine between the two countries. Our focus on this and the focus that we want to see Pakistan expend on it, that is not going to change, State Department Spokesman John Kirby said. The State Department, he said, has seen comments made by the incoming administration on counter-terrorism. I have seen some comments that they have made about a counter-terrorism focus. That is for them to address. Nothing changes about our focus on the importance of regional, collaborative and effective counter-terrorism operations and to our interest in seeing all the countries in the region likewise expend a great deal of energy and effort and leadership on that. I just cannot speculate about the future and I would not do that, Kirby added. On ties with India, he said that India is and will remain a key partner to America. We greatly value and respect the relationship we have with India today and the one that we have worked very, very hard at improving and strengthening, Kirby said, adding that it was a relationship that the Obama administration would remain focused on until the remainder of its tenure. He made these comments on Friday as he welcomed Indian ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna The State Department spokesperson also said that the strong bilateral relations between the two countries will need to continue. What happens after the inauguration of our new president is really for the new administration to speak to. But what it looks like, the form and content and shape, I could not possibly predict what that is, he said. Syeda Hameed, author and Padma Shri laureate, has said the UK government denied her a three-day visa to the country, forcing her to cancel a lecture on Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, a leader of Indias freedom movement, in Londons Nehru Centre. Hameed was to speak at the three-day event starting November 22, organised by UKs Ilmi Majlis, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the Nehru Centre, UK, the Indian high commissions cultural wing. A former Planning Commission member and a scholar on Azad, Hameed said she was upset to know the grounds on which her application was rejected. They said there was no proof that I was a writer. They said they were unsure about who would support me there during the trip. Hameed, who a key policymaker on minorities in the UPA administration, said the grounds were very frivolous. She has published over a dozen books. The British High Commission declined a comment. We dont comment on individual visa cases, an official said. Hameed, who has visited UK earlier, said she was keen on the visit because Azads role as a freedom fighter, his scholarship on Islam and a modernist outlook was important to share with the western world. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday quoted Nobel laureate Bob Dylan to hit out at critics of the governments decision to recall high-value banknotes, saying the times they are a-changin and asked them not to criticise what you cant understand. Modis swipe came 11 days after he announced a ban on Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 banknotes, a surprise decision that has left millions of Indians struggling to exchange the banned currency and withdraw cash from banks and ATMs. Earlier in the day, Congress president Sonia Gandhi took a dig at leaders who are in a quest for shortcuts to greatness, in what is seen as a veiled criticism of Modis demonetisation move that her party says has been executed badly. Party vice-president Rahul Gandhi also targeted Modi. The cold play while the poor suffer! he tweeted, referring to the British band Coldplay which performed in Mumbai after Modis address through video-conference. The Congresss fresh salvo came on a day when at least four more people died, allegedly due to exhaustion from queuing up for several hours to exchange banknotes. Read: If I sing youll ask for refund...in Rs 100 notes: PM Modi at Mumbai fest The government says the demonetisation was aimed at curbing black money and counterfeiting of currency. Officials said the income tax department has started seeking explanations from hundreds of individuals and firms that have deposited huge amounts of scrapped currency notes their accounts. Modi said it was part of his cleanliness drive. Border ke us paar ki safai ho, ya kale dhan se bhari tijori ki safai ho, sab kuchh jor shor se chal raha hai (Whether it is cleansing across the border or cleaning of lockers and treasuries filled with black money, everything is on), he said, drawing a parallel between the war on terrorism and black money. The Prime Minister described Dylan a shock choice for this years Nobel prize for literature as one of his idols and quoted an entire paragraph from his iconic song, The Times They Are A-Changin, which had become an anthem for pent-up frustration among American youth in the 60s. Read: Taxman is watching: I-T dept sends notices to those depositing huge cash Modi also saw the funny side of the demonetisation move, saying if he had to sing at a Coldplay event the youngsters would want your money back in 100-rupee notes. The Prime Minister doffed his hat at the youngsters, pointing out that addressing the crowd of over 80,000 was a welcome break from old files and cold Delhi. He also said it was smart to just address the audience instead of being there in person otherwise many of the youngsters would be lining up to ask for their money back and that too in Rs 100 notes. Besides the opposition, Modi has come under criticism from the BJPs ally Shiv Sena, which defended a controversial statement by Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad in Parliament. The difference is in the attackers. Pakistan attacked us in Uri, where in the case of demonetisation (deaths) it was our own rulers, the Sena said in an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana. Read: Why rural UP, small towns are ready to give Modi a chance on demonetisation Though there is no official confirmation, opposition parties are linking the death of more than 50 people to the demonetisation. Two of the deaths on Saturday were reported from Uttar Pradesh. Another man died in Rajasthans Jhunjhunu district while a woman was brought dead to a hospital in Haryanas Karnal. Though the queues in banks were relatively shorter on Saturday, officials said it could be because of certain restrictions including allowing only senior citizens to exchange old notes and catering to own customers. The government has struggled to fill the countrys more than two lakh ATMs as a bumpy execution of the scheme has left the poor, small traders, farmers and women with little cash in hand to even meet daily expenses. A south Delhi resident, Imtiaz Alam, was given Rs 10 coins weighing about 15 kgs when he withdrew Rs 20,000 from the Jamia Cooperative bank. Read: Demonetisation: Ten things to know before heading to a bank or ATM Congress party president Sonia Gandhis daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has not yet given her consent to campaign in Uttar Pradesh, though the party is hopeful she will agree to their request, party Rajya Sabha MP and Uttar Pradesh Congress campaign committee chairman Sanjay Singh said on Saturday. We have been requesting her to campaign for a long time now. We are hopeful that she will give her consent to campaign, Singh told IANS. And when she gives her consent, well let everyone know the plan, he added. As of now, she has not said yes..But we are confident that she will agree. Asked about media reports saying that Priyanka will play a major role in Uttar Pradesh assembly polls next year, he said: I am not saying it is incorrect or correct. Priyanka and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi attended the partys strategy meeting on Uttar Pradesh elections, in New Delhi on Friday. Priyanka had attended the partys strategy meeting on UP assembly elections in the past as well. Asked if anything has been finalised on the selection of candidates for the assembly polls in UP, Singh said: The process is going on. Very soon well announce the list. If it becomes necessary to announce anything, we will do it at that very moment, Singh said without giving further details. He also said that the next strategy meeting will be held after November 22. Asked about Congress polls strategist Prashant Kishors fate, Singh declined to say anything and said that only party General Secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Ghulam Nabi Azad can comment. On November 21, party president Sonia Gandhi, Rahul and Priyanka will be in Allahabad to attend a photo exhibition on former Prime Minister Indira Gandhis life to mark her birth centenary anniversary celebrations. Priyanka Gandhi has so far confined her electoral campaigning to constituencies of her mother and brother Rahul Gandhi (Rae Bareli and Amethi). Congress has been out of power in Uttar Pradesh for over three decades. The party has also not won any major state assembly poll since its debacle in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The Congress workers and the Janata Dal-United leaders, have welcomed reports of Priyanka Gandhi consenting to campaign for her party, in the upcoming 2017 UP assembly elections, while the BJP said the development may hurt her brother and party vice-president Rahul Gandhis credibility. Congress Uttar Pradesh unit chief Raj Babbar said on Friday that Priyanka has accepted the request of party leaders to campaign extensively in the state. It has been decided that she will campaign for UP elections. Whenever we will get her schedule, we will use her time accordingly, Babbar told reporters after a party meeting attended by Priyanka and Rahul on Friday. In the past too, Priyanka has attended the partys strategy discussions on UP for both Lok Sabha and assembly elections. Reacting to the reports, Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh said on Saturday, Congress workers will be happy if Priyanka Gandhi participates in poll campaigning. Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar said the party is ready and expecting her (to join). (but) It depends on Priyanka Gandhi whether she wants to participate in the elections and whether she will join or not, he added. The Janata Dal-United has welcomed the Congress partys decision. I am delighted if the Congress has decided to launch Priyanka Gandhi for campaigning in the Uttar Pradesh elections and it is only going to benefit the goal to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party, JD (U) leader Shyam Rajak said on Saturday. Our leader Nitish Kumar also reiterated the intention of the party, and with unity, we will defeat the BJP and Priyanka Gandhi will also play a crucial role, he added. However the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said Congress promotes Priyankas name whenever they feel Rahuls image is in trouble. Whenever the stock of Rahul Gandhi is down, the Congress floats this idea. All I can say is it shows that there is less credibility of Rahul Gandhi, therefore, Priyankas name keeps coming up now and then, BJP spokesperson Siddharth Nath Singh said. Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur will go to polls in February-March next year. Once the election schedule is announced, Babbar said, it will bring more clarity on Priyankas campaign plans. He had earlier claimed that Priyanka could campaign in all 403 constituencies of politically crucial UP if she has enough time. Congress leaders have maintained that Priyankas presence will boost confidence and re-energise not only party workers but also the people across the state. Till now, she has restricted her election campaign only in the family pocket boroughs of Amethi and Rae Bareli, represented by Rahul and Sonia. Officially, the party has insisted that a decision on Priyankas role in the upcoming assembly elections will be taken by her in consultation with the Congress chief and Rahul. She is going to play a major role. Let everything be finalised, UP Congress campaign committee chairman Sanjay Singh said on Friday. Pakistan provoked India yet again on Saturday, with heavy firing on Indian posts and villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir, injuring a soldier, a BSF constable and a civilian. There is an unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistan army in Naushera sector from 10.30am on Saturday. They are firing 120mm mortar shells, automatics and small arms. The Indian Army is responding befittingly to the enemy fire, defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Mehta said. An intelligence source said, Pakistan Army is resorting to heavy mortar shelling in Kalsian, Jhangar and Namb Karali areas of Naushera sector. Sepoy Kala Singh of 8 Sikh Light Infantry, BSF constable Laltu Hasda and a civilian named Shanti Devi were injured in the violation. There has been no let up in Pakistani shelling on Indian villages and posts since New Delhis surgical strikes on terror launch pads across the LoC in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on September 29. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Army claimed an Indian drone that intruded into its territory was shot down on Saturday. The Indian quad copter was shot down in Rakh Chakri sector of the LoC, the de-facto border between the countries, the Pakistan Army said. The drone intruded 60 metres into the Pakistani side and crashed near the Aagahi post around 4.45pm, army spokesperson Gen Asim Bajwa posted on Twitter. Last year, Pakistan said it had shot down an Indian spying device along the heavily guarded LoC, though New Delhi denied the claim. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In her first public appearance since her illness during a rally in Varanasi, Congress president Sonia Gandhi hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over demonetisation as she hailed late Prime Minister, her mother-in-law, Indira Gandhis legacy. Her sacrifice in preserving a united, diverse, egalitarian India will be remembered. All the more so at a time when, in the quest for shortcuts to greatness, we find leaders willing to undermine the very foundations of our national character, Sonia said at an event here to mark Indiras 100th birth anniversary. The speech is being seen as a jibe at PM Modi who is facing Opposition ire over his decision to demonetise high-value bank notes. Her party has upped its fight against the Prime Minister and stalled two days of the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament demanding the PMs clarification over allegations of information leaks about demonetisation. At the same event, President Pranab Mukherjee, delivering the Indira Gandhi Centennial Lecture, mentioned what Indira Gandhi felt about the role of the Opposition party. The Opposition has a role to oppose, to expose (the government). He steered clear of any political context. Mukherjee dwelled on his memories of working with Indira and narrated important events of her political life. He said that the lessons to learn from her life are how to turn every defeat into a stepping stone of success. There is perhaps no one who loved India and worked for her glory as vigorously as did Indiraji, Mukherjee said. Many in the party, drew inspiration from Indiras quotes amid signs of a lingering battle against the government. The voice that we heard from Rashtrapati Bhavan gave a lesson: be brave, said Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar in his vote of thanks. Sonia Gandhi also hailed her mother-in-law. Indira Gandhi was not a figure of history for me, she was my mother-in-law, lived under the same roof, shared joys and sorrows. Her speech was also a message to the current regime. She had a vision for India in the world of the twenty-first century, but it was not a soulless vision that came at the cost of our pluralist diversity. She saw an India that would not follow blindly the path laid by the West, Gandhi said, echoing the oft-traded Congress charges against the Prime Minister. On Indira Gandhis 100th birth anniversary, the event at Vigyan Bhavan marked a series of programmes for the next one year. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Journalist Abdul Mohamin wakes up every day with a new idea for a story. But the senior correspondent with the now-banned English daily Kashmir Reader has nowhere to write and get them published. I was walking through Downtown Srinagar the other day and realised so many stories are waiting to be written. But I cant write them for my paper, laments Mohamin. His paper was banned by the state government on October 2 for inciting violence in the backdrop of spiraling violence across Kashmir following the killing of militant leader Burhan Wani in July. In an order dated September 30, the Srinagar district magistrate said the contents of the newspaper tends to incite acts of violence and disturb public peace and tranquility but did not detail which specific report or article did so. Since then, the government has not officially said anything regarding revoking the ban. Earlier this month, the debate around banning media outlets revived after the Centre ordered NDTV India off the air for a day for allegedly broadcasting sensitive details during its coverage of the January Pathankot air base attack. But the order was put on hold after protests by mediapersons and civil society. But the continuing ban on the Kashmir Reader continues and observers have questioned the governments double standards. Kashmir Readers journalists meet in the deserted office almost every day and over cups of chai discuss stories that they cant file and ask each other if theres any update on the ban. They participate in regular protests against the ban organised by the media fraternity at Srinagars press enclave. The website of the Kashmir Reader has not been updated since October 2. (Waseem Andrabi /HT Photo) The website of the paper has not been updated since October 2 and the lead story on it remains: Govt bans publication of Kashmir Reader, says its publication can incite violence and disturb peace with a cover picture of the government order. There is an uncertainty regarding the ban getting revoked and thats telling upon the patience of our journalists. Some suspect that continuing the ban might be a ploy by the government to break the organisations backbone by making the livelihoods of employees difficult, said Hilal Mir, editor of Kashmir Reader. Apart from not being able to report or write, the 30-odd core employees of the newspaper and scores of others involved in peripheral activities such as hawkers, printing presses and drivers face immense uncertainty over the revoking of the ban and more importantly, a financial constraint. The October salary hasnt been released yet a major burden for those with families to support, employees say. When a reporters newspaper is not being published, then why will his sources talk to him? Whats the use? The reporter then might lose his sources and wont be updated regarding whats going on, Mohamin adds. Many of the journalists are freelancing as of now but they face a conundrum: If the ban continues, they will have search for a new job but it might be difficult to land one because prospective employers may not want to hire a journalist working for a banned publication. For photographers working with the paper, the ban has meant they have nowhere to publish the days news photos, which lose value the next day. Because the newspaper is banned, my everyday pictures are not reaching people. And mobile internet is also banned for over four months now, so most people cant check out my photos on social media either, said Faisal Khan, a photojournalist with Kashmir Reader. Kashmir Reader, with a circulation of over 5,000, was minimally dependent on ads from the government, unlike most newspapers, but was backed by a business house. The ban hurts. It was a brand of independent journalism at Kashmir Reader. The reporter got his freedom and chased facts without any bias, says Moazum Mohammad, a senior journalist with the paper. The ban has been harshly criticised by the Valleys media bodies, civil society and separatists, while international bodies like the Amnesty International, Pen International and Committee to Protect Journalists have called for revoking the ban. I dont think Kashmir Reader at any point of time incited violence. To incite means more than just a report or investigative piece. It means to provoke. The paper did not report the happenings differently to incite violence; it may have done further investigations into the events, said justice Hasnain Masoodi, former judge of the state high court and senior advocate at the Supreme Court. Masoodi added: It should be noted that the government order is open-ended. You may ban a book or some issues of a newspaper for the content it carried, but you cannot come up with an order to ban a newspaper saying that it may publish some incitement in the future. From July 8, when protests began in the Valley till the day the paper was banned, reporters and editors of the Kashmir Reader worked without a break. The newspaper was one of the first to report from the strife-torn south Kashmir region, the epicentre of the ongoing unrest. But now they have ample time on their hands. Hilal is spending his time reading Kashmiri novels, while Moazum is freelancing and binge watching the American television series House of Cards. Read| When the press came to a halt: Life in Kashmir without newspapers SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The lawyer for seven of the eight suspected SIMI members killed in a controversial encounter following their alleged jailbreak in Madhya Pradesh wants to keep his dead clients alive before the court. Lawyer Parvez Alam wants the trials to continue to prove that his clients were not terrorists. In normal course, trial is closed against an accused after death. Alam will request a Bhopal court not to close the trial against three of his clients in a case which was in an advanced stage. He intends to take the same route in other cases against his clients, whose killing by the police on October 31 was questioned by opposition and activists after the emergence of purported encounter videos. The MP government, subsequently, ordered a judicial probe into the encounter. Read | Surround, finish them all: Cops alleged conversation on SIMI encounter The eight suspected Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) men were accused in about 23 cases in MP. The cases included those for robbery, murder and escaping from prison twice in 2013 and 2016. They were also accused in bomb blast cases in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. On the next date of hearing in one of the cases on December 1, 2016, I will submit an application before the honorable court not to close the trial of three of my clients gunned down in the alleged encounter on October 31 morning, said Alam. On Thursday, he had requested chief judicial magistrate, Bhubhaskar Yadav, to allow the trial of three of his seven dead clients. It is my promise to ensure that even after death my clients are proved innocent, and their tag of terror is wiped out. Government counsel Rajendra Upadhyaya responded, Let the defence counsel move an application for trial of those accused who died in the encounter. Well suitably counter that in the court. Read | Cops murdered my son: SIMI operatives mother says encounter staged Alam said, Most of the cases are at evidence production stage. The prosecution has framed charges, including involvement in terror activities. Alams clients killed in the encounter were Sheikh Mehboob alias Guddu, Zaqir Hussain, Abdul Majid, Saliq alias Sallu, Aqeel Khilji, Mujeeb Sheikh and Amjad. Outside MP, some of those killed had been booked for the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts, a blast in Bijnor in West UP, robbery of Rs 46 lakh from a bank in Karimnagar (Telangana), a train blast in Chennai in 2014 in which a woman software professional was killed, and a blast outside a police station in Pune in July 2014. Four of the eight slain suspected SIMI men were also accused of murdering two police personnel and injuring four in Nalgonda (Telangana) in April 2015. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Strife-torn Kashmir sprang to life on Saturday as offices, shops and business establishments opened for full working hours for the first time since the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8. The Valley gained a degree of normalcy after 133 days of unrest, which claimed 91 lives, as separatist leaders called off their strike for the weekend. Separatists Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik gave the relaxation in shutdown after a meeting with members of civil society, senior citizens, lawyers and religious groups. In some areas of Srinagar, shops had defied the strike call and begun operations, but most of them did business only during the dusk-dawn relaxation period. Traffic on Srinagar roads witnessed an increase on Saturday as residents came out of their houses to attend to important business matters and visit markets. The ongoing board examinations that are being conducted under tight security have acted as a harbinger of normalcy in turmoil-hit Kashmir. However, the calm in the region could be short-lived as according to the separatists weekly protest calendar, there will be no relaxation in strike on Monday and Tuesday. There will be a 15-hour relaxation period on Wednesday and Thursday. Authorities restored mobile internet services on post-paid numbers on Friday night after they were suspended for over four months. But internet facility on prepaid numbers continued to be suspended till the time of filing this report. Increased turnout in schools For the first time since the unrest broke out in the Valley, government and private schools witnessed a huge turnout of students on Saturday. There was an improvement in the attendance of students in the government schools. Though we could not provide books for the next session but remedial classes are being held in the schools, said Aijaz Ahmad Bhat, director school education department, Kashmir, adding that he had requested parents to send their wards to the schools. Private schools association of Kashmir said most of the Valleys private schools opened on Saturday, with the exception of missionary schools and Delhi Public School, Srinagar. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah on Saturday announced that his party would give tickets to maximum young candidates in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls. Shah made the announcement while interacting with youths from nearly 200 colleges of the state through video conferencing at the citys Babu Banarasi Das College on Saturday evening. His declaration was timed with the launch of the first of the 1,500 odd youth-connect programmes titled UP ke mann ki baat that the BJP has decided to kick off in the poll-bound state. We will field maximum number of bright and talented youths in the UP polls, Shah said. Calling upon the youths to support the BJPs call for parivartan (change), Shah even allowed the youths a brief but rare peep into his private side when he answered queries on how he was as a student and whether he played pranks. If I get time, I will talk to you later on this, but I can tell you that even during our college days, we participated in a lot of agitations, he said to a query from a youth from Varanasi. Since his appointment as BJP chief in July 2014, Shah has promoted youth to key party posts in Uttar Pradesh. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Uttar Pradesh had among the highest number of first-time voters with nearly 2.5 crore young becoming eligible to exercise their franchise. He said the BJP government at the Centre couldnt have been possible without the 71 MPs that were elected on party tickets from the state. Shah exhorted the young to reject the SP and the BSP in the state polls. You have seen everyone else. Now, try us out. Its natural that you suspect politicians make empty promises. If we dont measure up to your trust, dont believe us. We assure you that after 2017 polls your vote would naturally come to us as we intend to free the state from the clutches of caste, communal and dynastic politics, he said. Asked about Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhis promise to voters that if elected to power, the party would write off loans of farmers, Shah said, Though my partys UP team would look into the issue (whether the BJP too would come out with a similar plan), we want to make farmers so strong economically that they would not want anyone to write off their loans. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Leaders of different political parties will keenly watch out for the number of votes BJP candidates secure in the four Lok Sabha and eight assembly constituencies that are electing their representatives on Saturday, which they think, may provide the first indication of the peoples mood following the troubles triggered by the note ban decision. These constituencies are in Assam (one each in Lok Sabha and assembly), Arunachal Pradesh (one assembly), Madhya Pradesh (one each in Lok Sabha and assembly), West Bengal (two Lok Sabha one assembly), Tamil Nadu (one assembly), Tripura (two assembly) and Puducherry (one assembly). I am sure that BJP will win wherever it won or got a good number o votes. The party will also put up a good show in those seats wherever the party did not put up a great show. For example, in Bengal, we are in a very strong position, but after this election, we will become the talk of the town. Our results will prove how the common people have come to support the party after the demonitisation decision, said Dilip Ghosh, the BJP state president. Different political parties think that the election result of the four Lok Sabha and eight assembly constituencies will provide the first indication of the peoples mood following the troubles triggered by Prime Minister Narendra Modis demonetisation move. (Ashok Nath Dey/HT Photo) Significantly, BJP lost all 17 seats in an election in an agriculture body in Panvel, Maharashtra where the party is in power. The result of four Lok Sabha and eight assembly constituencies will not reflect the total mood of the country and at the same time I would like to say that the demonitisation decision violates article 300A of the Constitution, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Trinamool Rajya Sabha member told HT. Former Bengal Congress president Pradeep Bhattacharya told HT that he was not very sure of the effect on the ruling party fortunes. The votes will not be held properly, so the effect cant be properly measured, said Bhattacharya. In Bengal there will be no positive effect of demonitisation on BJP votes. But elsewhere they may gain due to the claim that they are fighting black money, said CPI(M) state secretariat leader and MLA Sujan Chakraborty. In the last Lok Sabha election, BJP had put up a poor show in both Cooch Behar and Tamluk in Bengal. (HT Photo) The four Lok Sabha constituencies where election is going to take place on Saturday are Lakhimpur (Assam), Shadol (Madhya Pradesh), Cooch Behar and Tamluk (West Bengal). BJP won in Lakhimpur and Shadol Lok Sabaha constituencies in the last election. For Lakhimpur, BJP candidate secured 55.05% votes where in Shadol the BJP candidate got 54.22% votes. For the eight Assembly constituencies where election is going to be held, BJP won only in Nepanagar Assembly constituency in Madhya Pradesh. In the last Lok Sabha election, BJP had put up a poor show in the three constituencies in Bengal. It got nearly 5.5% votes in Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency, about 19% votes in the Cooch Behar Lok Sabha constituency, and 9% in the Monteswar assembly constituency. Read: By-poll voting in 6 states, 1 UT starts; Centres first test on demonetisation BJP is the ruling party in the states of MP and Assam. While BJP leaders are confident to gather nationwide support in the by-elections, Congress is confident that BJP has to face the wrath of the commoners in the by-election. People were facing grave problems with this dictatorial order. Both the common man and farmers were forced to stand in long queues. Farmers dont have enough money to purchase fertilizers and seeds, Madhya Pradesh Congress president Arun Yadav remarked earlier. For us, it is indeed a litmus test, said a senior state leader of BJP. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Half my friends are very critical of the Big Move and half my friends are aggressively for it. Between these groups, I am left very confused and dont know what to think of the demonetisation. As an ordinary citizen, I am for it and want this bold move to succeed. But naturally I wish that the vulnerable were better provided for. In this agitated state, I had reason last week to look at an old interview I did with the American Ramayana scholar, Paula Richman. I found in that conversation the strangest resonance with the differing narratives today. For instance, there are reportedly 300 traditional versions of the Ramayana and hundreds of oral narratives. Sitas fate upset so many people in the past that there are two kinds of Ramayanas in these traditional versions. Sita is either banished or theres a mangalam ending. There are more Ramayanas that favour a happy ending. In fact, as many know, theres this theory that the Uttara Kandam (the banishment) was added later, Richman had said. About the variations in the theme, she added, Some of the best stories relate to Lakshmans wife, Urmila. In the modern Malayalam play Kanchana Sita by Srikantan Nair, made into a film by Aravindan, Urmila whiles away her separation period by going to college. She sits with the most learned pundits to study the Dharma Shastras and by the time the 14 years are up, shes an expert. So when Rama banishes Sita, she has a big debate with him. He justifies the banishment as the will of the people and not his own dharma as a husband. But then, says Urmila, what about your own banishment? That was against the will of the people. But you insisted on upholding the kings personal commitment. Bhavabhuti had them meet and forgive each other and Ku Vem Pus Kannada story has Rama and Sita both going into the fire to purify their selves. In the East, the Shakta Ramayanas apparently have Sita going out to combat and vanquish a 100-headed cousin of Ravana who suddenly shows up after the battle, when Rama is too exhausted to fight. The South Indian Ramayanas, like Kambars or Ezhuthacchans, tend to be more lyrical and poetic, said Richman, while Kerala and Karnataka, because of Kathakali and Yakshagana, have the most talented Ramayana actors. Ravana gets a lot of respect in South India as a warrior, scholar, veena player and devotee of Shiva. He is not demonised but in fact tells Vibhishan, I know Rama is a good person, but I have to avenge my sister, Surpanakha. In the north, there is an anthology of devotees questions to Tulsidas, called the Sankhavali, which asks things like, What did they eat in the forest, Which mother did they bow to first? Every region has some format in which the complexities of this epic are repeatedly raised, summed up Richman. None of this consoles me about the sufferings of the tired and stranded. But as more information emerges about terrorists currently being stymied, it does give me grim perspective that truth has many realities. shebaba09@gmail.com The views expressed are personal SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Ramachandra Guhas session at Tata Literature Live! was a tad longer than the stipulated 60 minutes, but no one was complaining. The republic of India is what I regard as the most recklessly ambitious political experiment in human history, he said, in one of the numerous zingers with which the renowned historian peppered his talk on politics, history, and ideologies. He was speaking at the Tata Literative Live! festival, during the launch of his latest book, Democrats and Dissenters, which he called the fourth in a series of explorations about this reckless political experiment. The book was launched by John Horne, historian and professor of Modern European History at Trinity College Dublin. Where I come from in Ireland, we like to think history is popular. But Ive never seen an audience this size for a historian, Horne said, eliciting laughter from the packed house at NCPAs Experimental Theatre. Guhas book comprises 16 essays, including an analysis of the Indian National Congress the title is The Long Life and Lingering Death of the Indian National Congress he told an amused audience and another titled Tribal Tragedies in Independent India. Tribals have been shafted by successful political regimes in New Delhi and other states, Guha said. While Dalits and Muslims may be unequal citizens of our country, their predicament and concerns are talked about and debated... By all objective indicators, Adivasis are more discriminated against, poorer, and have less access to public resources than both Dalits and Muslims. Discussing Indian socialism, he took potshots at both the left and the right. In America, leftists wouldnt identify with their government. But in India, the left wing identified with other governments; first Moscow, then Beijing, then Havana, then Vietnam. And after all these failed, you ended up with Hugo Chavezs Venezuela, he quipped. When the last BJP government was in power, Murli Manohar Joshi was the education minister. Smriti Irani made me nostalgic for MM Joshi, he continued. Rahul Gandhi makes me nostalgic for Indira Gandhi. And I never thought Id say anything nice about Indira Gandhi, leave alone Joshi. The audience revelled in the straight talk. Ive read Guhas Gandhi Before India, said asset management analyst Priyankar Sarkar. And I appreciate the fact that he doesnt distort history, which is so easy to do. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Elections to six seats of the legislative council were held on Saturday, with old allies the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) facing off against each other on four seats. The results of the polls will be declared on November 22. The opposition has a majority in the upper house of the state legislature, with the NCP being the largest party there. The six seats Sangli-Satara, Yavatmal, Bhandara-Gondia, Pune, Nanded and Jalgaon are to be elected from local bodies. The six members of the upper house will retire on December 5. Of them, four are from the NCP and one from the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) each. The Congress and NCP had pitted candidates against each other for the Sangli-Satara, Yavatmal, Bhandara-Gondia and Pune seats. Talks between the allies fell through after the Congress announced candidates for all six seats. The NCP pitted five candidates. To ensure Congress candidate Amar Rajurkar was defeated in Nanded hometown of state Congress president and former chief minister Ashok Chavan the NCP had supported independent candidate Shyamsundar Shinde, a retired IAS officer. The BJP and Shiv Sena, however, did not pit candidates against each other. The BJP contested three seats, while the Shiv Sena is contesting one. In Nanded, the parties have declared their support for Shinde. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) remained neutral on poll day in Pune. The party refrained from voting as mark of protest, after its candidate was disqualified, making the fight between the Congress and NCP tougher. The MNS has 28 seats in the Pune Municipal Corporation. Sources said the parties failed to arrive at a seat-sharing arrangement as the Congress was firm on its demand for three seats, while the NCP offered only two. The parties will also contest against each other in the municipal council polls starting from November 28 in four phases. Both parties have asked their local units decide on potential alliances. They have stuck to their decision, despite the BJP and Shiv Sena announcing a statewide alliance for the polls. Polls will be held for around 212 municipal councils. They will be followed by elections for 10 major municipal corporations including Mumbai, Pune and Thane. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A man affiliated with the Indian Mujahideen (IM) was booked after he tried to escape from JJ Hospital, where he was brought for a check-up around 1.30pm on Tuesday. Police officials said Anwar Abdul Gani Bagwan, 33, was arrested eight years ago by the Mumbai Crime Branch for his links to the terrorist group. The accused is currently serving his sentence at Taloja Jail. As he was suffering from a skin infection, he was brought to a skin specialist at JJ Hospital, said an officer from the JJ Marg police station. After being examined, Bagwan pushed the four constables escorting him to the police van, and tried to escape. He ran for a kilometre before being nabbed by locals and handed over to the police, added the officer. He was remanded in judicial custody SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The ban on televangelist Zakir Naiks NGO, the Islamic Research Foundation, and the charges against him, are based on investigations by two agencies, the special branch (SB) of the Mumbai police and the Economic Offences Wing (EOW). The SB, which investigated Naiks activities and speeches, said it found they were subversive and liable to promote enmity between people of different religions. The second part of the investigation, conducted by the EOW, sought to uncover the sources of funding of IRF, which the government has declared an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The EOW found IRF used several lakhs of rupees that it received as religious funds for other purposes and thus violated the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, or FCRA. Most of the money received by IRF came from Saudi Arabia, the EOWs probe revealed. The two agencies will now take a closer look at the ownership and funding of the various entities that NIA officials raided on Saturday, including the offices of IRF and Harmony Media, which together employ 150 people. There is still lack of clarity on how the raided entities are linked with each other and how money flows between them, officials said. Naik has been in the spotlight ever since a newspaper in Bangladesh reported that two of the six terrorists who carried out terrorist attacks in Dhaka in June had claimed to have drawn inspiration from Naiks sermons. Naik, who has been in Saudi Arabia since July, said in a press conference with journalists in India over Skype that month that he would not be returning to India this year. The funding and activities of IRF proved to be equally detrimental for Naik as the organisation, claimed to have been floated for spreading Islam, was found to be violating the Foreign Currency (Regulation) Act. Funds meant for religious purposes were diverted elsewhere. IRFs connection to the missing 22 men from Kerala was also found when the father of one of the men lodged complaint with Mumbai police, said a police officer, who did not wish to be named. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Seventy-year-old Hariom Singh has a fractured hip but still arrived at a bank on Saturday to exchange the scrapped Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes. He stood in line for an hour waiting his turn, but could not continue to do so. His wife then stood in the queue in his place, but the bank closed for lunch and the couple had to wait further. Both of us came in an auto and found a long queue of senior citizens here in Navyug Market. Before this, I went to two or three other banks in the market, but there were long queues everywhere so we decided to exchange the notes at this branch. It is very difficult for me to stand in long queues due to my fracture, Singh, a resident of Sihani near Meerut Road said at the bank at Navyug Market. Similarly, 64-year-old Kamlesh Devi, who suffers from high blood pressure, came from Sadarpur with her husband, who stood in the queue in her place. I stood in a queue to deposit money and later stood in another queue to exchange old notes. There is no arrangement for senior citizens no separate queues or seating facility , she said. The Indian Banks Association had said on Friday that banks would serve only account holders on Saturday but senior citizens could continue to approach any bank to exchange old notes. However, many of the bank branches in Ghaziabad did not have any special provision on Saturday to facilitate senior citizens who were seen standing in queues. I stood in a line for over two hours. There was no place or arrangement made for any senior citizen to get some rest. I had to get the exchange form from inside the bank with a lot of difficulty and again stood in a different queue to exchange notes, said 63-year-old Mohammed Yameen of Hindon Vihar. Various bank customers reached their respective bank branches early in the morning to try to conduct transactions quickly. However, senior citizens still could not avoid the chaos even at the lead district branch of Syndicate Bank at Navyug Market. I came here at 1pm, but there was a heavy rush at the main gate that has an iron shutter in place. People, including women and senior citizens, were standing outside and no one was being allowed to move in. Those who arrived early did not offer to allow senior citizens to enter first, said Manohar Singh, a 53-year-old senior accountant from Lohiya Nagar. When asked, lead bank manager of Ghaziabad, RS Meena, said bank branches should have made adequate arrangements to facilitate senior citizens. I will get the issues inquired into and ask the branches to take appropriate measures to at least provide senior citizen-friendly facilities. I will also pursue the issue of streamlining queues with police officials. During Fridays meeting with the district magistrate, bank officials had also raised the issue of cash shortage. I hope more cash will arrive at different branches by Monday, he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Scarcity of cash is prompting banks to make their own rules for withdrawal and exchange of money. The government has allowed withdrawal of money up to Rs 24,000 but the banks are only allowing withdrawal of Rs 5,000. DIFFERENT BANKS: DIFFERENT LIMITS One of the bank employees pleading anonymity said, What will we do in the absence of cash. The cash is not coming in abundance. Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh gets finished within few hours, we have no other option. A customer Swaranjit Kaur said, The government had announced that families with marriages lined up can withdraw Rs 2.5 lakh but where is the cash, they run out of money in an hour. People are unable to withdraw even Rs 24,000, the limit that has been set by the government because the bank managers are giving fewer amounts instead, said Kaur. Most of the banks did not receive cash on Friday and were only depositing money. Oriental Bank of Commerce, Ladhowal road did not receive cash. It becomes difficult for us to tell them daily that there is no cash, said an employee pleading anonymity. The banks are running out of cash in just half an hour after getting cash leading to disappointment among the public. Most of the banks were also seen closed earlier than normal time as they also stopped deposition of money in garb of the excuse no cash. There is no use of queuing up here, we have already suffered a lot, I really hope the so called government does something for us, said Pankaj Kumar. Banks directed to follow instructions regarding cash withdrawal for weddings Deputy commissioner Kamal Kishor Yadav has directed the bank managers of the district to ensure implementation of Union governments instructions regarding cash withdrawal for wedding. He made it clear that as per the fresh guidelines issued by the Central government, only PAN card and self declaration was required for a withdrawal of Rs 2.50 lakh cash for marriage. Also as per the instructions there is no need for any attested application by the deputy commissioner concerned or by any other authority in this regard. It has come to our notice that many banks are refusing or are unaware of the latest instruction of the government regarding withdrawal of cash for weddings, said Yadav. Besides this the banks are insisting on further documentation such as attestation or forwarding letter from the DC/SDM for case withdrawal, which is not mandated as per the guidelines, said Yadav. The amount can be drawn by parents of the person getting married. The limit of Rs 2.5 lakh will apply separately for girls and boys family, said Yadav. Kapurthala DC orders banks to follow RBI rules Deputy commissioner Gurlavleen Singh Sandhu ordered the banks in the district to make sure that no customer suffers while withdrawing and exchanging of the new currency. He asked the banks to open extra counters and follow the rules of Reserve Bank of India (RBI). With the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) banning the district central cooperative banks (DCCBs) from exchanging and accepting the demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 banknotes, the Bathinda Central Cooperative Bank Limited is also feeling the heat. In the peak season, when farmers have to pay back the short-term agricultural loan (STAL) taken for the paddy crop after the sale of the crop, the ban on accepting the currency has left the bank management worried. The bank employees, under the banner of the Cooperative Bank Employees Federation Of Punjab, staged a protest inside the bank on Friday and submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi through the deputy commissioner to reconsider the decision in the interest of these banks. We had disbursed Rs 360 crore as short-term agricultural loan to farmers for paddy crop and the process for recovering the same was going on these days as farmers have sold the crop. But the ban on the banks to accept scrapped banknotes has stalled the whole recovery process, said Jasvir Singh Brar, chairman of the bank. As per bank officials, only Rs 114 crore out of the Rs 360 crore has been recovered. The farmers are making rounds of agriculture cooperative societies in villages. through which this loan has been sanctioned, to pay back the loan, but are being denied by the officials as the scrapped notes are not being accepted. Sukhpal Singh, secretary of Laleanna agriculture cooperative society, said, Farmers are coming to pay back the loan and take the advance for wheat crop, but since we cant accept the demonetised currency, the process has stopped. It has created a chaotic situation for farmers. The situation will result in increase in the number of defaulters, he said. The situation is impacting the whole process. Only Rs 45 crore has been disbursed as STAL for the wheat crop in the district till now, said a bank official, indicating that the sowing of wheat is being hit badly. The bank maintains equilibrium in sanctioning and recovering the short term loan and same is expected to be over Rs 300 crore for wheat crop. Over 60% of the farmers who have accounts with us have only one bank account and they are at the receiving end. The whole process is being choked, said Geetika Mani, district manager of the bank. The Bathinda Central Cooperative bank has 39 branches. There are 20 DCCBs in Punjab with over 800 branches. As per the federation, an amount worth Rs 13,500 crore has been disbursed by these banks as STAL and the recovery of the same will be affected badly by the decision. Meanwhile, the limitation on withdrawing the money from their accounts is continuing to affect the people. The marriage of one Kirandeep Kaur, daughter of Mahinder Kaur, 60, is scheduled for November 22, but her mother is quite worried. I need cash for my daughters marriage, but I am not getting the sufficient amount due to the restriction, despite having adequate amount in my account, she rued. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON It was a day of breaking stereotypes and about bringing a sexual minority into the mainstream as 24 transgenders took part in the citys first transgender fashion show at Panjab University (PU) on Friday. And it was an eclectic mix of participants. They comprised a 55-year-old who runs a beauty parlour at Uttar Pradeshs Saharanpur and an 18-year-old pursuing graduation at the citys co-education college among others. Those who walked the ramp were drawn from Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi besides Chandigarh. Moreover, it was not all about fashion. They also shared their stories about the difficulties they faced convincing their families and friends to accept them as they are. Ten transgenders from Punjab performed gidda. Discrimination runs deeper Bunty (55), who was the show-stopper, recalled that how her family members used to hide her when some visitor would drop at their house or their neighbours suggesting her parents to throw out or get her treated. She said, We were three siblings. The two others never accepted my behaviour. I always wanted to be a girl but nobody was ready to accept that. People still come to me and ask how I feel, said Bunty. Vishal Kainth, a first year student at the University Institute of Fashion Technology (UIFT), Panjab University, said, I was four when I realised that something was special in me and I had all feminine traits. Vishal said, I faced a lot of problems when choosing my stream after Class 10. I wanted to choose fashion designing but my parents believed that there will be more girls in the field and did not allow me to opt for that and sent me for a personality development course. A teacher sexually harassed me and I had to leave. It was the worst phase of my life. It was then when I had decided to go for fashion designing. There is a Femina beauty contest coming up for transgenders in Thailand and my aim is to win that contest for India. My family is still not supportive of what I want to do. Divyanshu Arya (18), a first-year student at Postgraduate Government College Sector 11, said the only thing she finds difficult is to change the mindset of people around who only know how to make fun of their community. Mahi Verma from Saharanpur, who also runs a beauty parlour, said she was once asked to be a sex worker and was even sexually harassed during her graduation days. Watch the video here: Universitys first transgender student also takes part Dhanajay Chauhan, the first transgender student at PU, was also one of the participants. She said, We are also humans and we expect the same treatment as others do. I appreciate that PU is working on providing special toilets for transgenders on the campus. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Hours after the flag march conducted by the police, burglars targeted two shops in Basti Jodhewal area on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday and decamped with valuables and cash worth lakhs of rupees. The police have been conducting flag march across the city to build confidence among the residents and reassure them about their safety and security. In the first incident, the burglars struck at RK Furniture and Electronic World at Gopal Nagar, Tajpur Road. Manoj Kumar, owner of the showroom, said on Friday morning the watchman informed him about the broken locks of the store and he immediately rushed to the store. The watchman told the police that he saw three people running from the showroom. Kumar added that the burglars have stolen 2 LED screens, microwaves, 10 home theatres and other appliances. It is second such incident in the past 48 days. He said he incurred a loss of Rs 1.50 lakh in the incident. Kumar lamented the police have been making claims of 24 hours patrolling in the city and also holding flag march with paramilitary forces but they have failed to curb the crime. The police held a flag march in the area on Thursday night. In second such incident, the burglars targeted Anshuman Footwear shop at Radha Swami Road. Pawan Kumar, owner of the shop, said on Friday morning when he went to his shop he was shocked to see that the locks were broken and the shop was ransacked. The burglars decamped with Rs 25,000 in cash and other valuables, including expensive shoes. CCTVs installed in the area have captured three suspects roaming around his shop. After the incidents, the police under the supervision of assistant commissioner of police (ACP, east) Saurav Jindal, SHO Basti Jodhewal at police station Gurbinder Singh conducted a flag march in the area. Inspector Gurbinder Singh said that the police have been investigating the matter and will arrest the accused soon. Senior Punjab Congress leader Sunil Jakhar on Friday slammed the Centre for barring cooperative banks from accepting Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 banknotes, saying such a step had totally crippled the rural and agrarian economy. Addressing a press conference here, Jakhar said the move had directly hit small and marginal farmers as most of them had accounts in these banks only. Where the farmers will now deposit their cash comprising the scrapped notes now? he asked. In one stroke, the Prime Minister has applied brakes on the agrarian economy, quite contrary to his electoral promise of ensuring two-fold increase in farmers income, Jakhar said. ON KEY POLL ISSUES Jakhar said that the Congress would not allow the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), especially the Badals, to take any political mileage over the SYL issue. Badals cannot escape the other key issues like the drug menace, illegal mining and law and order as these would remain in focus in the assembly elections, he said. SPEAKER COMPROMISED FOR TICKET TO SON Meanwhile, Jakhar accused assembly speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal of showing a bias towards the ruling Akalis in the House just for getting party ticket for his son in the coming assembly polls. Speaker Atwal Sahib refused to take up a no-confidence motion moved by the Congress in the monsoon session and compromised on fairness as he wanted ticket for his son, which the latter finally got, he said. The speakers son, Inder Iqbal Singh Atwal, has been fielded by SAD from Raikot constituency. When contacted, Atwal, said, Jakhars father (Balram Jakhar) had also served as speaker in the Lok Sabha, so he should have given a thought before saying so. He said he had always been giving the Opposition all the time and opportunity they deserved in the House. Criticising the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes by the union government, the activists of Kisan Sangharsh Committee staged a protest and burnt an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. The agitating framers staged a protest on Amritsar-Tarn Taran Road. They said that the decision is giving a tough time to the farmers and the people of Punjab. District chief Gurbachan Singh Chabha said that people are facing numerous problems due to this decision. And despite being in urgent need, people are being denied money by the bankers due to cash crunch. TO PROTEST OUTSIDE DC OFFICE ON NOV 12 Farmer leaders announced that a permanent protest will start outside Tarn Taran DC office regarding pending demands of the farmers. Chabha said, We demand loans of farmers and farm labourers should be waived off and the prices of crop should be according to the report of Swaminathan commission. They said that if the demands are not met soon, then the agitation will be intensified. After the government recalled Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 banknotes, many city jewellers are resorting to under-billing to some customers who are buying jewellery for more than Rs 2 lakh so that they do not face the income-tax department scrutiny. A senior income-tax officer said they found during a survey of Sector-22-based jewellery shops that most of the sale bills were of less than Rs 2 lakh and the jewellers didnt maintain details of the customers. As per rule 114-B of the Income Tax Act, Every person shall quote his permanent account number (PAN) in all documents pertaining to the transactions of sale or purchase of goods or services of amount exceeding Rs 2 lakh per transaction. The official said in case a customer bought jewellery worth Rs 50 lakh post ban announcement, numerous entries of Rs 1.75 lakh each were made in the sale books the same evening. There was a huge protest pan India recently against the governments policy of TDS but government rightly maintained its stand, he added. During the survey, our teams also checked and signed the sale books at various jewellery stores so that no more entries could be added in the back date, said the official. A senior officer said that people who declared their undisclosed incomes under the Income Tax Declaration Scheme (ITDS) 2016 are on the happier side. Not so indelible While there may be many who will be looking for alternatives to get another exchange of cash after being inked on the index finger, there are these beauty salons and make-up stores, which have a solution. Vaibhav Sharma, a resident of Sector 20, said, As I entered a local salon here, the barber told me not to worry if the bank puts an ink mark on my finger as he can remove it in less than a minute. He told me there is some percentage of alcohol in the shaving lotions which helps to remove such marks from the fingers. Meanwhile, the make-up stores are suggesting buying nail-polish removers to easily rub off the ink mark. Mahavir Jagdev, in a mail sent to the Hindustan Times said, On a suggestion of my home guard, I tried rubbing my finger with a damped cloth and it did come off. The guard told me that people indulge in multiple voting by rubbing off the ink mark this way. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Preparing for his daughters wedding, Manjeet Singh, a visually impaired father and the head master of Institute for the blind, became a victim of the ongoing cash crunch. He was denied cash despite the government announcing Rs 2.5 lakh extension as withdrawal limit for families where theres a wedding. Manjeet, while speaking with HT, said that he requested someone to accompany him to the bank as he cannot manage his movement without assistance. Then he waited for long, in a queue for his turn. And despite him carrying the wedding card, he was asked to get an affidavit as a proof that it is his daughters wedding. He said that even after he appraised the manager about the recent directive given by economic affairs secretary Shaktikanta Das, he was denied the money. Government has notified that one can withdraw up to Rs 2.5 lakh from bank accounts for wedding ceremonies. He said, The manager said to me humein koi circular nahi aya hai, aur paise hain hi nahi bank ke paas so we cant help you. (We havent received any circular, and we dont have any cash). I do not blame the manager. It is the government who should have been thoughtful about these issues before making the announcement. If they did not have sufficient cash, the announcement should have been delayed, he added. Majority of the banks are facing cash crunch, as there is hardly any cash flushing in from the RBI. There is dearth of new currency as well as lower denomination notes, then why was this announcement made? My daughters wedding is in a day and I am short of Rs 80,000, he added. Manjeets wife is also visually impaired and thus it is difficult for the couple to go to multiple banks. Immediately after the announcement, we reacted spontaneously and luckily made sufficient arrangement of cash in time. But we are still short of money and are facing hassle as movement is also not easy for us, said the duo. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON As Mansa Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA Prem Kumar Mittal has shown willingness to contest the upcoming elections from Ludhiana, several ticket aspirants within the party have shown willingness to contest the election from here which, many consider unsafe for the party going by the past record. In the last five assembly elections, Congress candidate Sher Singh Gagowal won in 92, lost it to SAD candidate Sukhwinder Singh Aulakh in 97 and regained it in 2002 and 2007. SAD then parachuted Prem Mittal from Ludhiana to contest from this seat in 2012, which he won by a margin of more than 1,300 votes. POTENTIAL CANDIDATES Prem Mittal was seen as the Hindu face of the party in this region. But, his tenure saw him being sidelined and ridiculed by the Badal family. In one such incident in November 2012, in a response to Prem Mittals request of developmental work, chief minister Parkash Singh Badal publicly asked him not to bother about development and keep attending funeral and marriage ceremonies in the constituency as the development work would be taken care of by Bathinda MP and his daughter-in-law Harismrat Kaur Badal. Last year, Mittal conveyed to Sukhbir Badal that he wanted to shift his political base to his home district Ludhiana. I am still a candidate for the upcoming assembly elections from Mansa though I will prefer to contest it from Ludhiana, said Mittal. Since then the party has been grooming Prem Kumar Arora, who was also appointed chairman of the district planning board. Arora, an established scrap dealer-turned-politician, got into news during 2014 general elections when Manpreet Badal and Bhagwant Mann had alleged that Sukhbir Badal has been harassing the Arora family for political funding and the former has even moved to Haryana. Later, after the elections, Arora joined the party and was elected the urban president of the party in Mansa, which many saw as a damage control move by the party to shun allegations of harassment. Last year he was appointed as chairman of the district planning board, which didnt go down well with many party workers. Though, he doesnt hold much of a clout in rural areas, he is now one of the most prominent faces of the party in the district. I am a rags-to-riches story in the city and I am quite hopeful that none of the party workers would have ever got hurt with my behaviour. I am an aspirant for the ticket and I am quite sure that I will take along everyone well. Another senior party leader from Bathinda has been eyeing the ticket from Mansa. Jagdeep Singh Nakai, an ex-MLA from Joga (erstwhile an assembly seat now merged in Mansa) and chairman of district planning board of Bathinda, has been frequently attending public and privately held gatherings in the district in the last couple of months. Taking a barb at his rival Arora, Nakai feels that newly entrant and businessmen-turned-politicians can never be sound leaders. If new entrants are promoted like this, it certainly betrays the old timers and party workers who have been working on the ground. Having sound educational qualification and considered close to deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal, Nakai, unlike his rival, doesnt shy away from claiming that he holds a formidable vote bank in Mansa. Former MLA Sukhwinder Singh Aulakh, currently the chairman of the Punseed, is seen as another aspirant. A must seen face managing the stage at sangat darshans in rural areas, the two-time MLA is known to be close to union food processing minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal. When he lost the elections in 2007, he was denied ticket in 2012 assembly elections, but and was later accommodated as the Punseed chairman. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Living with Leopards In the villages nestling along the Shivaliks, the old men do not die. They just fade away as they are banished to guard the fields at night from nilgai, wild boars, sambars and porcupines. The young men must be home with their wives so as to sow their wild oats! Bhaag Chand Bhaage is 72 years old and his one-acre plot on the jungle fringe is his home, hearth and family for most part of 24 hours. What is truly remarkable about Bhaage is his live and let live relationship with the leopards that reside in the jungles encircling his native village of Choti-Badi Nagal, about 15km from Chandigarh. In the last one year, leopards have gone past Chands jhungi (thatched machan-cum-resting place) five times. The Nagal leopards have been indulging in serial lifting of livestock like dogs, goats and cows since 2013 but have never attacked a villager. There is a perennial water hole next to Chands jhungi and thickly-forested ravines and nallahs lead down to it. The leopard holes up by day in the impenetrable ravines and tracks down to water and fields frequented by animals at night. The bagheera (leopard) comes down the ravines, takes a drink and then ambles down the dry rivulet in front of my jhungi after about 2-3am. The bagheera utters a low snarl while passing by my jhungi and then stops at the peepal tree in front of my land to rake, sharpen his/her claws and mark territory. I rattle my empty tins and shout loudly when the leopard is near but the animal has never attacked me. We understand each other well, Chand said. Dr Vidya Athreya, a noted human-leopard conflict mitigation expert, says media stories are sodden with leopard attacks and people wanting leopards to be captured and translocated. But tolerance for big cats was evidenced in indigenous folk/tribal cultures, such as the 900-year-old worship of the big cat deity, Waghoba, in Maharashtra and Central India. Colonial rule in India negatively influenced attitudes of tolerance. The British could not think of living with big cats, so they either shot them or kept them away from human habitation. But leopards and humans can peacefully share space and if villagers learn to guard livestock better, it will remove all scope for conflict, Athreya said. Foxing the big fish Rambilas emerges from the water to sift through his net; (right) the translucent prawns recovered by fisheries department officials from Rambilas net. The prawns were released back into the water by officials. (Photo: Vikram Jit Singh) At first sight, he looked like a weed-removal worker at the Sukhna lake. But his movements were deft in the cold waters as he moved backwards and in curious loops. On closer scrutiny, he revealed a blue net that he was dragging in the wake of his movements. He would draw the net out periodically, throw the weeds back into the water and retain the struggling, thrashing fish! I realised he was indulging in the illegal act of catching fish with nets and violating permit rules that forbid snaring fish below 20 cm in length. This is because smaller fish (minnows) and prawns are the food of birds and bigger carnivorous fish. I alerted the UT fisheries and animal husbandry department joint director, Dr Kanwarjit Singh, who immediately dispatched a team to nab the poacher, later identified as Rambilas from Kaimbwala village. He had taken a 10-day permit, valid from November 17, for recreational angling from the department that allows only use of a fishing rod and hook. But Rambilas was using the permit as a cover for illegal netting. On closer examination of his net, it revealed fresh water prawns known as jhinga and minnows. A cunning and veteran fisherman, Rambilas ultimate quarry was the fresh water eel or baam that resembles a snake. He was netting jhingas so that he could bait his rod with them and hook the fleshy and exotic-tasting eels that slide into the cavernous, submerged rocks, fortifying the lakes embankment. Rambilas understood fish well he knew the nets looping movements will sieve in jhinga, and that eels just cant resist a jhinga dangling on a baited hook. The killing fields Migratory Greylag geese and other ducks poisoned at Harike wildlife sanctuary. The two poachers are sitting in the front of the poisoned birds. (Photo: Mohd Shah Nawaz Khan/WWF India) Avian flu has been ruled out in the deaths of three peacocks at village Daun Ramgarh near SAS Nagar on November 15. The post-mortem carried out at the regional disease diagnostic laboratory (RDDL), Jalandhar, on the peacocks discovered lesions suggestive of pesticide poisoning. We have sent the visceral content of the peacocks to the Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, for determining the precise source of poisoning. Cases of confirmed avian flu from the region have originated from wetland birds such as domesticated ducks and not land-based birds such as peacocks, Dr Vinay Mohan, chief, RDDL said. Peacocks also die from such afflictions as Ranikhet disease, which also hits poultry. Former Punjab chief wildlife warden Gurmit Singh avers that deliberate poisoning by farmers of agrarian birds such as peacocks is a significant cause of mortality. Farmers dislike peacocks as they dig up freshly-sown seeds or snip at young wheat and vegetables. Around wetlands such as Harike, poachers scatter wheat seeds laced with pesticides and kill migratory birds such as bar-headed/greylag geese for food. Farmers also kill geese because these birds feed on their young wheat crop, Singh said. Apart from deliberate poisoning, birds such as partridges and raptors have been hit by contamination of water caused by pesticides and by secondary poisoning, which means the ingestion of live or dead prey harbouring residues of pesticides. Birds also die when they eat sown seeds which are laced with insecticides to protect against seonk (termites), Dr Mohan added. Will the ban on Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes impact the lucrative farmhouse market in Delhi NCR? It is no secret that the cash component in transactions for such properties range from anything between 25% and 60% with the largest investor segment comprising high net worth individuals. They are now likely to shy away from agricultural land deals and this might help soften market prices in the long term. Funding for developers is not permissible under RBI rules. Developers are not allowed to borrow money from the banking system for land acquisition under RBI guidelines. Financing, however, is permissible through NBFCs (non banking financial companies) and real estate funds. Transparency in the market will be welcome and would mean greater control over cash flows. This would be a positive signal for institutional investors to come in, giving banks more confidence to lend for land. Going forward, private equity funds and NBFCs could be encouraged to invest in this market due to the clampdown on black money and because of the low density residential plot policy (LDRP) of the Delhi government. This policy allows development of one-acre plots into three large high-end farmhouse residential units sold at reasonably affordable prices of Rs 3 crore to Rs 8 crore. As of now, the Delhi government and the municipal corporation of Delhi have yet to formalise and operationalise the process of building approvals. About 70 villages come under LDRP and 95 villages under the land pooling policy (LPP). Villages under LDRP include 23 in south Delhi and 47 in southwest and northwest Delhi. The Capitals Zone J/green belt comprises 7,000 hectares and the remaining 47 villages are spread across 15,000 hectares. Altogether, this comes to around 22,000 hectares. In the short term, institutional funding opportunity for this asset class is worth Rs 2,000 crore, say experts. The move to cleanse the system of black money can also encourage top-end developers of international brands to enter this segment. Currently, the minimum acreage required for an approved farmhouse is 2.5 acres for one approved dwelling unit. Under the new policy, the minimum land required will be 1 acre with three dwelling units. Hence, approved farmhouses would be available for anything between Rs 5 crore to Rs 10 crore as against the current value of Rs 10 crore to Rs 30 crore. Units too will be smaller (around 15,000 sq ft). Going forward, it will be easy to get farmhouse dwelling units at the price of high-end apartments and we are hoping that they will eventually get funded by banks or other financial institutions. High net worth individuals, especially CEOs of companies, may be encouraged to invest in this segment going forward, says Ramesh Menon of Certes Realty. Experts say that transactions may dry up immediately and prices may soften but policy triggers in the long run will help build the market and bring back investor confidence. Banks had since 2006 been debarred from lending money to developers to purchase land. Funding for agricultural land was also not permissible under RBI guidelines. Until now transactions are taking place as joint ventures, joint development or facilitating corporate divestments. But the demonetisation drive is expected to encourage institutional funding in this segment. Money that NBFC has for land acquisition could be used for transactions earlier funded by HNIs who are now disappearing from the market. Also, with RERA regulations getting implemented, there will be increased transparency in the market, which will encourage institutional capital to chase these markets, say experts. Ramesh Nair, COO business and international director, JLL India, has a contrarian view. Going forward, there will be less aggregation in land because of the confusion in the sector and that could have an impact on the supply. Reduction in supply will actually force prices to go up. Landlords who bought land at historical prices may actually want to hold on, he says. Though land is out of the ambit of institutional lending as of now, demonetisation may encourage institutional investors to come in, says Samantak Das, chief economist and national director research, Knight Frank (India) Pvt Ltd. Confusion may prevail for the next three to six months but going forward transactions will be more transparent and thats when banks may consider reviewing this asset class. A leading investment banker says that they are watching the situation and the space with an intent to participate in the opportunity in the future. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Bathing in Icelands Blue Lagoon has emerged the most popular bucket-list travel experience among Millennials in a new survey. After polling 5,000 young people around the world aged 18-35, youth travel outfit Contiki compiled The No Regrets Travel List which reveals the top 20 most coveted holiday experiences for 2017 among millennials. At the top of the heap is the Blue Lagoon, a milky blue pool of mineral-enriched bathing waters with purported health and skin-healing properties, set against Icelands dramatic backdrop. The water is self-cleansing and renews itself every 40 hours. Its not surprising to see Iceland at the top of the list, given the countrys soaring popularity as a travel destination. Thanks to aggressive and innovative tourism campaigns, Iceland has become top of mind among nature lovers and adrenaline junkies in recent years and expects to welcome 2 million tourists in 2017 five times the number it received in 2010. For perspective, the population of the country is 332,000. Icelands starring role in the wildly popular series Game of Thrones has also helped feed the mythology of the countrys landscape, often described as the land of fire and ice. Kissing at Paris iconic Eiffel Tower is an experience every lover would want to live. (Shutterstock) Here are the top 20 travel experiences among millennials for 2017: 1. Bathe in the Blue Lagoon in Iceland 2. See the Great Pyramids of Giza (Egypt) 3. Walk the Great Wall of China 4. Chill out on the beach in Byron Bay (Australia) 5. Learn how to make pizza in Italy 6. Road trip along Route 66 (USA) 7. Gondola ride in Venice (Italy) 8. Kiss at the Eiffel Tower (Paris, France) 9. Watch sea turtles lay their eggs in Costa Rica 10. Picnic in the French countryside The rule is simple: What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Period. (Shutterstock) 11 . Party in Las Vegas (USA) 12. Visit Yosemite National Park (USA) 13. Watch the sunrise over Uluru (Australia) 14. Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef (Australia) 15. See the Mona Lisa (Paris, France) 16. Try all the gelato in Rome (Italy) 17. See the Grand Canyon by helicopter (USA) 18. Cuddle a koala in Queensland (Australia) 19. Zipline through the rainforest in Costa Rica 20. Ride a bike through Amsterdam (Netherlands) Follow @htlifeandstyle for more. On Saturdays episode of Bigg Boss, host Salman Khan will be joined on the stage by Naagin actor Mouni Roy. Meanwhile, inside the house, Swami Om and Manveer Gurjar were targeted by the other housemates as being the khalnayaks of the week. Saturday in the Bigg Boss house signals the arrival of host Salman Khan, and before anything else, he asks the housemates to pick the khalnayak of the week, the one housemate who according to the everyone else, was the least liked because of their actions. While half of them choose Swami Om for ditching his own team in the lock down task, the other half choose Manveer, as he saved himself from being nominated instead of Monalisa. In the end, Swami Om is made to sit on the khalnayaks chair, and he receives a grilling from Salman, who accuses him of misbehaviour towards Monalisa, and also warns him that if he were to continue this way, it could get him beaten up. Salman Khan does the naagin dance with Mouni Roy. (COLORS) Once the grilling is over, Salman welcomes the guest of the week, TV actor Mouni Roy, star of the hit show Naagin, who is there to promote her new film Tum Bin 2, in which she performs an item song. Salman and Mouni laugh at Swami Oms antics. (COLORS) The two share fun moments and Salman even does the naagin dance on stage. To catch the rest of the action, tune in to Bigg Boss on COLORS at 9:30 PM on weekends. Follow @htshowbiz for more It wasnt just talk. If there was any doubt about whether Donald Trump meant business with his hard-line campaign pronouncements on immigration, race, terrorism and more, the president-elect went a long way to dispel them Friday with his first appointments to his national security team and at the Justice Department. Trumps trifecta in selecting Sen. Jeff Sessions for attorney general, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn for national security adviser and Rep. Mike Pompeo to lead the CIA sent a strong message that Americans are going to get what they voted for in electing a Republican whose campaign talk about national security matters largely toggled between tough and tougher. There has been ongoing mystery about what to expect in a Trump presidency: Even some of Trumps own supporters wrote off some of his more provocative campaign comments. Trumps own policy statements have zigged and zagged depending on the audience. And his first two appointments to the White House staff GOP Chairman Reince Priebus as chief of staff and onetime Breitbart News chief Steve Bannon as a senior adviser sent a mixed message with the choice of an establishment figure and a flame-throwing outsider. But Fridays picks offered a concrete indication that Trumps presidency may in fact be headed sharply to the right on issues of national security. If you believe in personnel as policy, its pretty clear where the arrows are pointing, says Calvin Mackenzie, a presidential scholar at Colby College in Maine. Princeton historian Julian Zelizer says the three choices all represent conservative figures with track records in government, not wildly out-of-the-box people who dont even come from the world of politics. Thats a message not just about him following through on his campaign promises, but its about partisanship, says Zelizer. Hes giving a signal to the Republicans to stick with him because hell deliver. Read| Donald kickstarts US rightward shift as he shapes Trump administration Trump still has plenty of big appointments yet to make, including secretary of state, that could telegraph other directions. And Congress, too, will have a say in setting national security policy. Trumps three latest all have sharply differed with Obama administration policy: Sessions, the Alabama senator and former federal prosecutor, is known for his tough stance on immigration enforcement. Hes questioned whether terrorism suspects should get the protection of the U.S. court system, opposes closing the detention center at Guantanamo Bay and has highlighted concerns about voting fraud, which the Obama administration sees as a non-issue. He has said Obamas counterterrorism policies have emboldened our enemies and those concerned about warrantless wiretaps have exaggerated the extent to which this is somehow violative of our Constitution. His appointment to a federal judgeship in 1986 fell through after he was accused of making racially charged statements while U.S. attorney in Alabama. Pompeo, the three-term congressman from Kansas, is an outspoken opponent of the Iran nuclear deal, has said NSA leaker Edward Snowden is a traitor who deserves the death sentence and has said Muslim leaders are potentially complicit in terrorist attacks if they do not denounce violence carried out in the name of Islam. Flynn stepped down as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency in April 2014 and said hed been forced out because he disagreed with Obamas approach to combatting extremism. Critics said hed mismanaged the agency. Flynn has pressed for a more aggressive U.S. campaign against the Islamic State group, and favors working more closely with Russia. The three appointments sync up with messages that Trump voters sent in the exit polls on Election Night. Trumps backers put a higher priority on addressing terrorism and immigration than did Clintons supporters. Three-fourths of them said the US was doing very badly or somewhat badly at dealing with IS. Just 2 in 10 thought blacks are treated unfairly in the US criminal justice system. Three-fourths backed building a wall on the southern border to control illegal immigration. Trumps positions, meanwhile, have gone through different iterations, continue to evolve and still have big gaps. On immigration, his views have arrived at a policy that sounds much like Washington as usual. The approach he sketched out in a post-election interview on 60 Minutes would embrace the Obama administrations push to deport the most serious criminals who are in the US illegally as well as the call by many Republican lawmakers to secure the border before considering any legal status for those whove committed immigration violations but otherwise lived lawfully. He even pulled back a bit on his vaunted southern wall, suggesting a fence may be enough for part of it. Trump the campaigner also moved away from his inflammatory vow to freeze the entry of foreign Muslims into the US, settling late in the race on extreme vetting of immigrants from countries and regions plagued by violent radicalism. Hes vowed to crush the Islamic State group, but he wont say how. Trump has also said he believes in enhanced interrogation techniques, which can include waterboarding and other types of torture that are against the law and that many experts argue are ineffective. Republican Rep. Devin Nunes of California, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, on Friday dismissed Trumps comments about waterboarding as the talk of a first-time neophyte running for office. Water-boarding coming back, I find that hard to believe, he said. Read| Trump presidency an opportunity for liberal politics to re-examine itself Vice president-elect Mike Pence was repeatedly booed at a performance of the award-winning Broadway musical Hamilton, whose alarmed and anxious cast made an unusual call for Donald Trumps incoming administration to work on behalf of all Americans. Trump later complained the cast had been rude to Pence and harassed him during the performance late on Friday. This should not happen! Trump tweeted. The wildly popular hit musical, which won 11 Tony Awards in June, follows young colonial rebels who became Americas founding fathers, celebrating diversity and immigrants contribution to the nation. The shows lead actor, Javier Munoz, is openly gay, HIV-positive and a cancer survivor. The crowd greeted Pence, a stalwart Christian conservative from the Midwest, with a mix of boos and cheers when he entered the theater before the show. Brandon Victor Dixon, who plays third US vice president Aaron Burr, read a statement to Pence during the curtain call that echoed some of the main concerns critics have voiced since the Republican firebrand won the election on November 8. With that, a performance about a revolution and dawn of a young nation became even more political. Thanking Pence for attending the performance, Dixon asked him to hear us out. We, sir, we are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights, sir, Dixon said. But we truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and work on behalf of all of us. All of us. Hamilton, Dixon told Pence, was performed by a diverse group of men, women of different colors, creeds and orientations. The audience cheered and loudly applauded. Pence ducked out before Dixon finished the unprecedented message but heard the full remarks from the hallway outside the auditorium. Pence ducked out before Dixon finished the unprecedented message but heard the full remarks from the hallway outside the auditorium. He made no comment. Outside, many protesters jeered, including one woman who held up a sign with a line from the musical that always gets a cheer: Immigrants, we get the job done. Dixons speech, which ended with a plea to donate to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, brought down the house. During the performance, the audience gave a standing ovation at the line immigrants we get the job done, theatergoer Christy Colburn tweeted. Crowd went NUTS at King Georges lines when people say they hate you & do you know how hard it is to lead? He had to stop the song. Trump complained in a tweet Saturday morning. Our wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing, he wrote. This should not happen! The Theater must always be a safe and special place, he added in another tweet. The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize! Activists worry the Trump administration will be hostile to gay rights. Trump has deployed polarising rhetoric to describe immigrants, vowing to build a wall along the US border with Mexico and ban Muslims from entering the US. The bombastic real estate billionaire who faced widespread condemnation within and outside his Republican party during his campaign when a video emerged of him making lewd boasts about groping and forcing himself on women has so far appointed staunchly conservative older white men to major posts in his future administration. Hamilton has been praised by politicians and rap stars alike, influenced the debate over the nations currency and burst through the Broadway bubble like none other. The first family has been big boosters of the show. President Barack Obama took daughters Sasha and Malia to see it last year after first lady Michelle Obama caught it last spring. Vice president Joe Biden also has seen it. The show is by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the musicals book, music and lyrics. It stresses the orphan, immigrant roots of Alexander Hamilton and has a varied score, ranging from pop ballads to gospel to sexy R&B. It has been cheered for reclaiming the nations founding story by a multicultural cast. Pence supported numerous efforts to ban gay marriage as governor of Indiana and opposed unfettered federal funding for HIV and AIDS treatment. After Pence left, Jeffrey Seller, the shows lead producer, said he hopes the politician would share the shows message of empathy: I hope that maybe it inspires him to feel for those not like him. Seller, a Tony Award winner who has produced such shows as Rent and Avenue Q, said such notable Republicans as former vice president Dick Cheney and presidential speechwriter Peggy Noonan have come to Hamilton. This show is absolutely for Republicans as well as Democrats, and we would like to host any Republican who would like to see the show, he said. One of the major reasons for a drop in Indian students coming to Britain in recent years is the closure of nearly 800 bogus colleges that enrolled international students but did not have the required infrastructure or standing, ministers have suggested. The bogus colleges were mainly in the further education sector that provides vocational skills and certification. They were closed after 2010, when Home Office evidence showed many Indian and other non-EU students enrolled with them were working instead of studying. Overall, there has been a drop of more than 50% in Indian students since 2010, but ministers told Parliament this week that after the crackdown on bogus colleges, the number of Indian students going to universities instead of further education colleges had gone up. Responding to a debate on international students at Westminster Hall, immigration minister Robert Goodwill said: The proportion of Indian students coming to study in the UK at a university increased from around 50% in 2010 to around 90% in 2015. This trend of smaller volumes of students with greater concentrations in higher education is likely to reflect the recent policy changes to clamp down on immigration abuse by non-genuine students and bogus colleges. The same figures were cited by minister of state for home Susan Williams in the House of Lords at the end of a debate that included a forceful intervention by Karan Bilimoria, who regretted that official rhetoric about student visas was adversely affecting a successful export sector. Another reason for the drop in Indian students was the closure in 2012 of the post-study work visa, popular among self-financing Indian students, who used it to gain work experience after their courses and to recover some of the cost of their study and stay. According to latest figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency, the number of Indian students fell from 39,090 in 2010-11 to 18,320 in 2014-15. Industrialist Swraj Paul told the House of Lords: This is the time to really encourage overseas students to come here. Not only do they benefit from the experience, but our own students benefit by interacting with people from different backgrounds. However, encouraging more overseas students is at odds with current immigration policy, so we have to find ways to make sure that they return to their own countries when their studies end. Bilimoria, who has been vocal inside and outside Parliament on the need to make it easier for Indian students to come to Britain, told the House: The government needs to change their attitude towards international students, because the impact of Brexit and the uncertainty it has caused are damaging the higher education sector, and the governments attitude is harmful and undermining. I think that the attitude to immigration is economically illiterate and that the governments attitude to international students is economically super-illiterate. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Top Democratic lawmakers and rights bodies have slammed President-elect Donald Trumps reported plan to reinstate a database of immigrants from Muslim-majority countries. National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) is a post-9/11 program that required travellers to the US from specified Muslim-majority countries to immediately register with the federal government or face deportation. Reinstating failed programs that target Arabs and Muslims in our country is exactly what ISIS was cheering on election night when America, a beacon of freedom in the world, gives in to fear and begins chipping away at civil rights. Our enemies are emboldened and their ranks swell with new recruits, senator Dick Durbin said, referring to the Islamic State. Back in 2002, I called for this program to be terminated because there were serious doubts it would help combat terrorism. Terrorism experts have since concluded that this program wasted precious homeland security funds and alienated Arab- and Muslim Americans. Failed programs like this are the exact wrong approach to combating terrorism, and I will fight to ensure it never returns, Durbin said. The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) co-chairs Raul M Grijalva and Keith Ellison, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus chair Judy Chu, CPC vice chair Congressman Mike Honda, and CPC vice chair Mark Takano slammed Trump surrogate, Carl Higbie, for suggesting that Japanese American internment camps could serve as a precedent for the creation of a Muslim registry. These remarks are beyond disturbing. This is fear, not courage. This is hate, not policy, Honda said. Since Trump was elected president, thousands of Americans have voiced fears over what our country might look like in the coming years. Last night, one of his surrogates showed us why so many people are afraid of a Trump administration. The fact that our incoming President has considered internment as a model for how to move forward with the Muslim community is absolutely shocking. We cannot allow it to be normalised or enacted, Ellison said. Grijalva said it took the US decades to own up to the stain of Japanese internment, providing compensation to more than 100,000 people who suffered through it and formally apologising through the Civil Liberties Act in 1988. To say this heinous treatment should be precedent for any policy is horrific, and Trump should denounce it immediately. Any proposal to force American Muslims to register with the federal government, and to use Japanese imprisonment during World War II as precedent, is abhorrent and has no place in our society. These ideas are based on tactics of fear, division, and hate that we must condemn, Chu said. I am horrified that people connected to the incoming administration are using my familys experience as a precedent for what President-elect Trump could do, said Takano. US President-elect Donald Trump on Friday agreed to pay $25 million to settle lawsuits that accused his now-defunct Trump University of fraud, sparing him the embarrassment of further legal wrangling as he prepares to enter the White House. A trio of suits brought by former students alleged that the training program -- which was not an accredited college or university, but was in operation from 2005 to 2011 -- fleeced students by tricking them with aggressive marketing. Students paid as much as $35,000 to enrol, wrongly believing they would make it big in real estate after being taught by the Manhattan moguls hand-picked experts, said the suits brought in New York and California. Trumps lawyers had countered for years that many students had given the program a thumbs-up and those who failed to succeed had only themselves to blame. But, with the president-elect apparently seeking to put the thorny matter to rest as he builds his cabinet, a deal was reached. Todays $25 million settlement agreement is a stunning reversal by Donald Trump and a major victory for the over 6,000 victims of his fraudulent university, New York state attorney general Eric Schneiderman said. I am pleased that under the terms of this settlement, every victim will receive restitution and that Donald Trump will pay up to $1 million in penalties to the State of New York for violating state education laws. A spokesperson for Schneidermans office said the settlement covers all three class-action lawsuits against Trump University -- two in California dating to 2010 and one in New York filed in 2013. Plaintiff attorney Jason Forge speaks after a hearing for a lawsuit against the now-defunct Trump University, in San Diego. (AP Photo) Robert Guillo, a 76-year-old New Yorker who spent nearly $40,000 on tuition alongside his son, had previously told AFP that the program was an absolute scam. I learned absolutely nothing, Guillo said. He fooled me for $35,000. Full attention on running country The agreement came just before a hearing in a San Diego federal court was about to begin to decide on a request by Trump to delay the trial. Jason Forge, one of the lead attorneys for the plaintiffs in the San Diego cases, hailed the settlement. This case has been unprecedented in so many ways, he told AFP. Its only fitting that it end with an unprecedented recovery for so many people. He added that the settlement proves the students had a valid case. This man fights for what he believes in and I respect that, Forge said, referring to Trump. So this settlement means he believed that the students deserved a real recovery. He said $21 million of the settlement would go to reimburse the Trump University plaintiffs in San Diego. The remainder would go to the attorney general in New York to reimburse plaintiffs in that case. Forge added that the aggrieved former students could expect their money within three to four months. Lead Trump attorney Daniel Petrocelli said his client had put aside his personal feelings to settle the matter. President-elect Trump is pleased to put this case behind him, Petrocelli told reporters in San Diego. We think its a victory for everybody. Trump agreed to the settlement without admitting any fault or liability, Petrocelli added. A Trump Organization spokesperson insisted that had the case gone to trial, Trump would have won. Daniel Petrocelli, lead attorney for President-elect Donald Trump, speaks after a hearing involving a lawsuit against the now-defunct Trump University in San Diego. (AP Photo) While we have no doubt that Trump University would have prevailed at trial based on the merits of this case, resolution of these matters allows President-elect Trump to devote his full attention to the important issues facing our great nation, the spokesperson said in a statement read on CNN. In February, Trump tweeted that the program had a 98% approval rating and that he would not settle out of principle. Trump also attacked the US-born federal judge handling the case in San Diego, Gonzalo Curiel, saying he could not be impartial because of his Mexican roots -- comments that outraged many. During the bitter presidential campaign, Trump had pledged to build a wall on the US-Mexico border and to expel millions of illegal immigrants -- comments, he claimed, had turned the judge against him. Iraqi troops faced stiff resistance Saturday from Islamic State militants as they pushed deeper into eastern Mosul, backed by aerial support from the US-led international coalition, a senior military commander said. Troops moved into the Muharabeen and Ulama neighborhoods after fully liberating the adjacent Tahrir neighborhood on Friday, said Maj. Gen. Sami al-Aridi of the Iraqi special forces. Al-Aridi said IS militants were fighting back with snipers, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar rounds. Thick black columns of smoke were seen billowing from the two areas, while dozens of civilians were seen fleeing to government-controlled areas. Shortly before noon, a suicide bomber emerged from a house in the Tahrir neighborhood and attacked security forces, wounding four troops. Later in the afternoon, another suicide car bomber hit the troops in Aden neighborhood, killing a soldier and wounding three others. Late on Friday, a group of IS militants attacked the village of Imam Gharbi south of Mosul, controlling most of it for hours before airstrikes from the US-led international coalition were called in, an officer said. The clashes and multiple suicide bombings left three policemen dead, including an officer, and four others wounded, he said. Nine IS fighters were killed, he added. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to brief media. On Saturday, after the fighting had quietened down, the Kuwaiti government in coordination with a local NGO distributed 1,000 boxes of humanitarian aid to residents of the Samah and al-Arbajiyeh district in eastern Mosul, which had been cleared of IS militants earlier. Residents sat on the ground in a long queue waiting to receive the aid. As they emerged from their districts, some opened their jackets and raised their hands in the air to show troops they were not wearing an explosive belt. Some waved white flags. We dont have any medical support, said Ibrahim Saad, a Mosul resident. There is no food, no water. I am not talking about electricity, but these three fundamental things are not available. he said. To the west of Mosul, government-sanctioned Shiite militias took full control of the Tal Afar military airfield Friday night, said Jaafar al-Husseini, a spokesman for the influential Hezbollah Brigades. Al-Husseini said the clashes almost destroyed the airport and that it will be an important launching pad for the troops in their advance. The extremist group captured Mosul, Iraqs second largest city, in the summer of 2014. The offensive to retake the city, which was launched on October 17, is the biggest military operation in Iraq since American troops left in 2011. If successful, the retaking of Mosul would be the strongest blow dealt to IS self-styled caliphate stretching into Syria. The Shiite militias are leading an assault to drive IS from Tal Afar, which had a majority Shiite population before it fell to the militants in the summer of 2014, and to cut IS supply lines linking Mosul to Syria. According to the United Nations, more than 56,000 civilians have been forced from their homes since the operation began out of nearly 1.5 million civilians living in and around Mosul. In the heavily damaged town of Bashiqa, about 13 kilometers (8 miles) northeast of Mosuls outskirts, Christians rang the bells of Saint Georges church for the first time to celebrate its liberation from IS, which was driven out earlier this month. Much of the town has been reduced to rubble from artillery strikes and air raids. Parishioners, peshmerga fighters and Kurdish officials sang hymns and played band music as they walked in procession into the church, which was heavily vandalized by IS fighters. Men prepared a large cross to mount on the rooftop, replacing one destroyed by the extremists. The first thing they did was break the cross, we want to replace it and tell Daesh that the cross is still here and we are not leaving at all, said Rev. Afram al-Khoury Benyamen, using the Arabic acronym to refer to the group. Bullet holes marked the walls inside the church courtyard, strewn with garbage and graffiti left by the extremists, including some of their names. Much of the churchs inside had been smashed, with rubble strewn across the ground and holy inscriptions covered with black paint. In an upper level, pews had been pushed back to make room for cushions and carpet beneath a broken window that had been used as a snipers nest, marked out by scattered spent bullet casings. Broken brass instruments and a torn bagpipe from the churchs boy scout band lay scattered across the site, with pills and syringes on the floor in one area. The church graveyard was desecrated, with graves broken into and tombstones smashed and painted over. Its good theyre gone, but how happy can we be? Look at this mess, said 22-year old Youssef Ragheed, a drummer from the band who had fled the town when IS controlled it but returned for Saturdays ceremony. Intelligence experts estimate that the Islamic State extremist group has between 60 and 80 operatives planted in Europe to carry out attacks, the Dutch counterterrorism coordinator said Friday. Dick Schoof said in an interview with The Associated Press that would-be fighters are also heeding messages from the militant group asking them not to come to Syria and Iraq, but to prepare attacks in Europe. One result is that over the last six months the number of foreign terrorist fighters hasnt grown, he said, but the fact that theyre not travelling does not mean that the potential threat of those who would have travelled is diminished. Schoof said military operations to oust the Islamic State from its self-declared caliphate in Syria and Iraq are scattering the extremist groups fighters and supporters. This will probably lead to a gradual increase of refugees that will pose a danger to the national security of the Netherlands and other European countries, he said. Read | Vanquished Islamic State fighters likely to carry out attacks in Europe Schoof said even though the Netherlands hasnt been hit by a major attack by Islamic extremists such as those in Belgium and France, the chance of attack in the Netherlands is real. We have seen 294 terrorist fighters go overseas in Iraq and Syria and there are still 190 over there, he said. And what happened in France and Brussels and Germany could happen to us. There are probably between 4,000 and 5,000 European foreign terrorist fighters in Iraq and Syria, Schoof said. While the number from the Netherlands, a nation of 17 million people, may seem low, he said, whether theres 190 or 350, I think the number is big enough to worry. Schoof said the Netherlands program to deal with the threat balances repression and prevention and relies on strong cooperation between local and national authorities. On the repression side, he said, fighters returning from Syria or Iraq are taken into custody, and courts have recently handed down six-year prison sentences in several cases. The government also takes away passports, freezes assets, and has beefed up security measures and the police force, he said. On the prevention side, Schoof said, theres a lot of family support, with local authorities deciding the best interventions and providing education and psychological help if needed but there also could be arrests. Read | Islamic State planning large scale attacks in Europe, warns Europol Jozias van Aartsen, the mayor of The Hague, said building trust and having close relations with the Muslim community is very important. They are Dutch citizens, he said. There are some in the Netherlands who say shut down mosques. Thats absolutely wrong policy. But Van Aartsen said there is a need for vigilance. The apparatus of local government can be very important as a watchdog against radicalization, he said. Schoof stressed that the Netherlands does not tolerate anti-democratic behaviour. We try to prevent hate preachers coming in by not giving them a visa, he said. The government is also concerned about the development of an ultra-conservative strain of Islam known as Salafism, he said. Last week, Schoof said, the Federation of Mosques, without any urging, sent a letter to all mosques in the country saying the mosques themselves must realise that hate speech should not be accepted in the mosques. Those are important signals that you can build on in your trust relationships, he said. A 21-year-old man accused of injuring himself and 26 other people by setting himself on fire with gasoline in a bank branch in Australias second-largest city was identified on Saturday as a Myanmar asylum seeker who had been waiting three years to be accepted as a refugee. The suspect, known by his friends as Noor, and five bystanders were taken to hospital with serious burns following the fire at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia branch in the Melbourne suburb of Springvale Friday morning, officials said. Another 21 people ranging from children to elderly in their 80s were taken to hospitals with breathing problems. Noor, who remained under police guard on Saturday, came to Australia by boat in 2013 with no family members and had been waiting to be granted a refugee visa ever since, said Pamela Curr, who recently retired from the non-government Asylum Seeker Resource Center outside Melbourne. Curr did not know why Noor had allegedly decided to set himself alight. But she said the Immigration Department was threatening to make thousands of asylum seekers financially desperate by cutting their benefits if their refugee claims were rejected. The department is going to starve thousands of people out of the country, or so they think, Curr said. A member of Myanmars minority-Muslim Rohingya community in Melbourne, Habib Habib, said Noor speaks Rohingya, although he might not himself identify as Rohingya. Noor had been struggling financially to help support his family in Myanmar with the government benefits he is paid every two weeks, Habib said. Asylum seekers are not legally allowed to work. Habib had been told that Noors latest benefit had not been deposited into his bank account when it was due on Wednesday and that Noor had returned to the bank each day in the hope of making a withdrawal. Noors friends had become concerned by the state of his mental health as years passed without his refugee claim being resolved. This system makes all of them crazy. Theyre in legal limbo, Habib said. Police have yet to announce a motive for the fire, which was quickly extinguished. Closed-circuit television footage showed Noor walking toward the bank carrying a plastic bottle of gasoline that he had bought from a nearby gas station moments before the blaze. Noor arrived in Australia shortly before July 19, 2013, when the government introduced a hard-line policy banning refugees who arrive by boat from that date from ever making Australia home. Since then, asylum seekers have been sent to Australia-run camps on the Pacific island nations of Papua New Guinea and Nauru. Noor was initially detained in an immigration camp on the Australian territory of Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean before he was relocated to Melbourne on a bridging visa while awaiting the outcome of his refugee application, Curr said. Barack Obama begins the final foreign visit of his eight-year presidency Saturday in Peru, facing tough questions from assembled Pacific leaders about Donald Trumps election victory. Obama is in Lima for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit that is likely to focus heavily on Trumps shock victory. On Saturday, he will meet leaders of the 12-country Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, which Trump has opposed and now faces an uncertain future. White House officials admit the chances of passing the deal are slim, but Obama will urge leaders to give the new president time to formulate policy. From Obama down, officials have stressed that US economic and strategic interests have not changed as a result of the election, and Trump may yet recalibrate his views. Its only been 10 days since the election, said US Trade Representative Michael Froman. He warned of serious strategic and economic costs if the United States walks away from the deal, designed to be a cornerstone of US influence in the Asia-Pacific region. But there is little chance of Trumps Republican allies in Congress ratifying TPP anytime soon. I think that is a real blow to US interests, economically and strategically, in terms of our position in Asia, but I think that is the reality, that the US is not going to be participating, said Matthew Goodman, an expert on Asian economics with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. But there are 11 other countries in TPP and I think that it is possible that they will agree to go ahead and pass TPP, he said in an interview, adding that they could tweak the agreement to keep it alive without the US. Some allies are turning their attention to a rival Chinese-backed free trade agreement. Japanese leader Shinzo Abe, who took domestic political risks to back the US trade deal, visited Trump in New York on Thursday to hear from the president-elect himself. Trump has sparked concern in Japan and South Korea in particular by questioning decades-old mutual defense obligations that underpin their security. Ahead of Obamas visit, National Security Advisor Susan Rice told AFP allies should expect those obligations to hold. It is manifestly in the United Statess interests for these alliances to endure and to be a source of confidence to our partners and for them to understand that they dont need to come out from under the US umbrella, she said. While stressing that she did not want to speculate about Trumps foreign policy, she sought to reassure key US allies in NATO and the Pacific Rim that they will not be abandoned. Many Pacific nations are clamoring for deeper trade ties with the rest of the world. But in the United States and throughout the West, there is growing opposition to deals that many say have contributed to jobs being sent overseas. Obama is likely to make the case that globalization is a fact of life, and modern trade deals -- with sturdy environmental and labor provisions -- help shape that trend in the right direction. Nuclear Korea Obama is also slated to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday for a final meeting between the leaders of the worlds two economic powers. US officials say the sit-down will also deal with efforts to stop North Koreas ballistic missile and nuclear programs. Obama is expected to press for an increase in the pace and severity of sanctions against North Korea, which is trying to develop a miniaturized nuclear warhead and a missile capable of delivering that deadly payload to the United States. Beijing has long dragged its heels on sanctioning its allies in Pyongyang, fearing a flood of refugees if North Koreas economy collapses. But earlier this year, Beijing moved to sanction a conglomerate based in Chinas frontier city of Dandong that had an estimated $530 million in trade with North Korea between 2011 and 2015. Pay attention, Delhi. China may have some solutions to cleaning up our air. Provincial governments across China are taking measures ranging from inspecting outdoor barbecues to halting production at industrial plants to reduce worsening air pollution, the official Xinhua news agency said on Saturday. China has adopted various measures over the years to reduce the blankets of smog which shroud many of the countrys northern cities in the winter. These could serve as pointers for the Indian capital, which woke up the day after Diwali on October 31 to find itself enveloped by one of its worst spells of smog that caused health problems and hazardous traffic conditions and disrupted daily life. An influential South-Asian rights group has terminated its ties with a major US airlines alleging that it was carrying out racial and religious profiling of Muslims, Arab and South-Asian passengers on its flights. Southwest (Airlines) employees have been racially profiling Muslim, Arab, and South Asian passengers in the last year, including at least five well-publicised incidents, South-Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) said on Friday. One well-covered incident involved kicking a University of California Berkeley student off a flight in April 2016 for saying Inshallah to his father on the phone, it said. Because the airline has treated our communities like second-class citizens, we have terminated our relationship with Southwest, SAALT said, adding that as a result of this termination it has lost $10,000 in grant money from the airlines. SAALT and our partners sent multiple communications to Southwest, including to CEO Gary Kelly, over the last year expressing our concerns. Disappointingly, all we received was one unsatisfactory response after another, said Suman Raghunathan, executive director of SAALT. Southwest made it clear they would issue no apology to the affected passengers nor would it address profiling in their corporate training guidelines and complaint procedures, Raghunathan said. In short, we saw no effort by Southwest Airlines to establish protection against racial and religious profiling of passengers on its flights. The airline continues to deflect any responsibility for its actions, even as the level of hostility against our communities continues to increase nationwide. So we said enough! and goodbye to Southwest, she said. Amid reports that she was a contender for a spot in Donald Trumps cabinet, Indian- American South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley stressed that the Republican Party needs to be inclusive and cannot afford to forget immigrants or people of colour. If we as Republicans are going to lead effectively and have staying power as a governing power, we must accept that Donald Trumps election was not an affirmation of the way Republicans have conducted themselves, Haley told a Washington DC audience on Friday. He ran against both parties, against a political system he argued was fundamentally broken, an argument the voters subscribed to in massive numbers. They rejected the political class of all stripes, Republicans included. And we have no one to blame but ourselves, the 44-year-old Republican leader said. Her remarks come amid speculation that she was a top contender for either secretary of state or secretary of commerce in Trumps cabinet. After the November 8 general elections, the Republican Party had not only taken control of the White House, but also retained its majority in the US House of Representatives and the Senate. It also won a record number of governors elections. Haley on Thursday had met Trump. In her first public remarks after that, Haley did not mention anything about her meeting but delivered a speech in which she reiterated her position on issues of ethnicity, race and religion, which are different from that of Trump. She recollected the immigration experience of her parents who came from India with just $8 in their pocket. Voters, Haley argued, rejected the political class, and we have no one to blame but ourselves because the party moved toward big government rather than away from it...Republicans lost their way. Haley said as a result of the impressive victory, the Republican party needs to do an autopsy of it as it would do during a defeat. The Republican Party, she said, must remind people that it is the party who will offer opportunities to all citizens, regardless of their race, gender or where they are born and raised. The two-term South Carolina Governor also praised the president-elect saying that though she was never a cheerleader for Trump, the Republican party has an unprecedented opportunity to enact conservative policies and must take advantage of his election. I did vote for him and was absolutely thrilled to see him win, she said. A Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemens government against Iran-backed rebels declared a 48-hour ceasefire to begin in Yemen Saturday, it said in a statement on the kingdoms SPA news agency website. It has been decided to begin a 48-hour ceasefire from 12:00 noon in Yemens timing (0900 GMT) on Saturday, the coalition statement said, adding that the truce could be renewed if the Houthi rebels and their allies abide by the deal and allow aid deliveries to besieged cities. The coalition announcement followed a request for a ceasefire by Yemens President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi -- himself based in Riyadh -- to Saudi King Salman, the statement said. Coalition forces will abide by the ceasefire, it said, but warned that should the rebels or troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh make any military moves in the area the coalition would respond. The naval and air blockade will also remain in place and surveillance jets will continue to fly over Yemen, it added. The coalition has been militarily supporting forces loyal to Hadis government since March 2015. There was no word yet from the rebels on whether they would abide by the new truce. US secretary of state John Kerry had announced a ceasefire that was to have taken effect on Thursday, but there was intense fighting Friday, eliminating hopes of warring parties abiding by the truce. The US chief diplomat had said after meeting with Houthi negotiators in Oman that they were ready to observe the ceasefire plan, but Hadis government said it was not aware of any new peace initiative. Since Thursday, more than 50 people have been killed in clashes between the rebels and loyalists on the outskirts of the third biggest city Taez, medical and military sources said. The United Nations says more than 7,000 people have been killed and nearly 37,000 wounded in Yemen since the Arab coalition began its military campaign last year. Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Seoul on Saturday in the fourth straight weekend of protest against embattled President Park Geun-hye. Park is resisting calls to step down amid an ongoing political crisis in which she is alleged to have let an old friend meddle in state affairs. The scandal has rocked Parks presidency and united Koreans in disapproval, culminating in a protest last weekend that saw a million people march on Seoul by some estimates. Saturdays protest was smaller as protest groups also organised demonstrations in regional capitals. Police said at least 155,000 people had packed into a central Seoul square early on Saturday evening for a candle-lit rally. Organisers said the number was 500,000. People chant slogans on a road leading to the Presidential Blue House during a protest calling South Korean President Park Geun-hye to step down, in Seoul on Saturday. (Reuters) Park has pledged to cooperate in an investigation into the scandal. Prosecutors are expected to bring indictments against Choi Soon-sil, Parks friend at the centre of the crisis, and two former presidential aides tomorrow. Not all Koreans are calling for the president to resign, however. A short drive away from the main protest, a group of conservative protesters gathered outside Seoul station in defence of the president. Sixteen million people elected this president to office. It does not make sense to simply ask for her withdrawal, said Geum Sang-chul, a 78-year-old pensioner and member of the Korean Veterans Association. Geum had joined a group of counter-protesters that police estimated at about 11,000-strong, while organisers said the number was higher. We can not give into the pro-North Korea supporters, said Geum, using a derogatory term that Korean conservatives have for the more progressive wing of Korean politics. Parks approval ratings have been at a record-low 5 percent for the last three weeks because of the scandal over her friend. A woman holds a lit candle at a protest calling South Korean President Park Geun-hye to step down, in Seoul on Saturday. (Reuters) Many of Parks remaining supporters, some of whom refer to themselves as the five percent, are loyal to Parks father, Park Chung-hee, a military strongman who ruled South Korea for 18 years until he was assassinated by his spy chief in 1979. Park Geun-hyes popularity and election as president stemmed in part from the symbolic connection to her father, who is still revered by older generations. If they really care about the country, they should consider the countrys image, said Lee Sang-soon, a 66-year-old pensioner. I am troubled by how the country is portrayed abroad by these protests. But Park remains highly unpopular across the country. Tens of thousands of people also gathered for dozens of demonstrations in regional cities on Saturday night, Yonhap news reported. High school students also joined the crowds in Seoul on Saturday, free to protest after finishing important national exams this week. Back-channel talks between the Indian government and some pro-Khalistan elements in Canada could commence as early as this month in the North American nation. The process began in November last year when Prime Minister Narendra Modi met overseas Sikhs during an official visit to Britain, and thereafter, London-based Jasdev Singh Rai emerged as a key interlocutor as he interfaced with groups in Britain and Canada. Among the measures that have been initiated before the talks is giving visas to some of those who were earlier on an Indian government blacklist. In Canada, there were hurdles in that area as well, as the procedure included asking visa-seekers to sign declarations certifying their adherence to the Constitution of India and disavowing Khalistan or an independent homeland for Sikhs. One of those involved in the process, once a prominent leader in the banned International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), said on condition of anonymity: I am a Canadian citizen, why should I be forced to accept the Indian Constitution? Read | Overseas Sikh bodies want talks with Modi government outside India There are also concerns among sikh groups that forswearing Khalistan may cause those who have agreed to talks to lose credibility within their local community in Canada. It is understood that visa applications without those conditions have now been accepted. Among issues that might be on the agenda for talks is some form of apology by the Indian government regarding Operation Bluestar, the storming of the Golden Temple by Indian troops in October 1984, and the anti-Sikh riots that followed the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. One participant in the process, who did not want to be named, warned it could be a long haul. We have to talk across major organisations, major temples, where people can make one agreement, he said. Initial groundwork was done by Rai in spring this year, but progress has been gradual because some hardline groups in Canada continue to oppose any reconciliation with New Delhi. Read | India alerts Trudeau govt of Khalistan terror camp in Canada Modi sought to address the fractious relationship between the Indian state and overseas Sikhs since Operation Bluestar during his visit to Britain a year ago. His meeting with UK-based Sikh leaders was described at the time as a breakthrough. The London meeting, opposed by some sections of the Sikh community, was followed by the release of some political prisoners, who had served their terms in Indian jails, and the removal of names from a blacklist of individuals who allegedly cannot visit India. National security adviser Ajit Doval was deputed at the London talks to carry forward the dialogue with overseas Sikhs. Read | Khalistani groups in Canada, ISI pose challenge to Modis Sikh outreach SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Nearly 200 nations agreed around midnight on Friday to work out the rules for a landmark 2015 global deal to tackle climate change within two years in a new sign of international support for a pact opposed by US President-elect Donald Trump. At the end of two-week talks on global warming in Marrakech -- which were extended an extra day -- many nations appealed to Trump, who has called climate change a hoax, to reconsider his threat to tear up the Paris Agreement for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Showing determination to keep the Paris Agreement on track, the conference agreed to work out a rule book at the latest by December 2018. A rule book is needed because the Paris Agreement left many details vague, such as how countries will report and monitor their national pledges to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Two years may sounds like a long time, but it took four to work out detailed rules for the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreements predecessor, which obliged only developed countries to cut their emissions. Paris requires commitments by all. The final text also urged rich nations to keep building towards a goal of providing $100 billion a year in climate finance for developing countries by 2020. Moroccan foreign minister Salaheddine Mezouar told a news conference that Marrakesh had been the start of turning promises made in Paris into action. We will continue on the path, he said, urging Trump to join other nations in acting to limit emissions. Greenpeace stage a protest outside the UN Climate Change Conference 2016 (COP22) in Marrakech, Morocco. (Reuters Photo) Fijis Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who will host next years climate meeting in Germany, invited Trump to drop his scepticism about climate change and visit the South Pacific nation to see the effects of stronger storms and rising seas. Trump plans to favour fossil fuels over renewable energies and has threatened to halt any US taxpayer funds for UN climate programmes. On Thursday, governments reaffirmed their commitment to full implementation of the Paris accord which seeks to phase out greenhouse gas emissions this century and to limit a global average rise in temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit). Not one country has said that if President Trump pulls the United States out of Paris, they will follow him, said Alden Meyer of the Union of Concerned Scientists. Environmental groups said the outcome in Marrakech was a step in the right direction, but many issues needed to be resolved over the next two years, including funds for developing nations. Rich countries have been trying to wriggle out of their pledges to help poorer countries meet the costs of coping with impacts and greening their economies, said Harjeet Singh at ActionAid. A man wearing a mask depicting US President-elect Donald Trump protests during a demonstration against climate change outside of the US Embassy in London, Britain. (Reuters Photo) Also on Friday, a group of 48 developing countries most at risk from climate change said they would strive to make their energy production 100% renewable as rapidly as possible, as part of efforts to limit global warming. US President Barack Obama landed in Peru for the last stop on his final foreign tour as the countrys head of state. Air Force One touched down late Friday in Lima after departing from Berlin and refueling in Portugal. Obama planned to start his schedule in Peru on Saturday morning by meeting with Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. Hell also hold a town hall with young people and have what is expected to be his final meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. On Sunday, Obama will attend an economic summit with Asian leaders in Lima, meet with Australias leader and take questions from reporters before returning to Washington. Obama arrives back at the White House early Monday. Also Read | Obama on farewell tour to Europe fearful of Trump effect The Wall Street Company JP Morgan Chase may have illegally breached a line while pursuing money-making deals in China. Federal officials and investigators declare that a resolution amounting to around $264 million have been sealed by the US-based organization and its Hong Kong branch. The case can be a glimpse into the unlawful practices done by American firms in the Mainland to establish business connections. It is highly likely that the incident will be used by authorities as basis to probe the activities of similar or related companies in China. According to Andrew J. Ceresney, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) head of enforcement, the investigation will not be the last. However, the road ahead will be uncertain under the new Trump Administration. Still, the probe sees a larger coverage considering that the sweeping approach, which was initiated last 2013, has included other banking institutions like Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank and HSBC. The latest scrutiny goes deep into JP Morgan's recruitment methods. It has been known that its Mainland division has employed children of Chinese officials to gain trade influence. An extensive examination will later unveil that the candidates are not qualified. The conscripts have only been handling minor or supplementary jobs. In its defense, the accused company states that the hiring of prominent employees has been an accepted norm in China. However, prosecutors have pointed out that JP Morgan's conscriptions are based on referrals by Chinese officials whose networks become relevant factors to closing business transactions. It has been learned that to be employed for the company, it is important that a business connection is in place. This procedure has allowed the financial institution to gain a hundred million dollars in revenues. Despite the broad corruption inside the organization, investigators credit JP Morgan for its full cooperation which is why the penalty handed down has been reviewed and adjusted. The bank has also taken disciplinary actions against nearly two dozen of its personnel that led to the eventual dismissal of six employees. Brian Marchiony, spokesman for JP Morgan, shares that the recruitment process has been terminated in 2013. Hiring procedures have also been enhanced. As part of the settlement package, the financial group will pay $130 million and $72 million to the SEC and the Justice Department, respectively. Another $61.9 million payout will be handed to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Kate Middleton has always been full of glamour and an epitome of perfection since she joined the royal clan. The Duchess of Cambridge has always been gleaning the limelight and has millions of competitors around the world, but this time it's her own sister, Pippa Middleton! The rifts between the two sisters continue to rise. It appears as if Pippa Middleton is pretty insecure about her own body and is recently trying to get back in shape so as to defeat her sister Kate in terms of fitness. While Pippa Middleton's routine is jam-packed with wedding shenanigans, she still has the time to visit the gym that guarantees her a well-shaped, curved figure so that she can take the lead from her sister. Pippa Middleton has her own anxieties. She obviously wants to be the bride of the time by maintaining a perfect figure with her toned legs. But based on recent speculations, Pippa Middleton is intimidated that Kate will overshadow her on Pippa's wedding day, making things worse between the sisters. According to Celebrity Dirty Laundry, Pippa Middleton wants to look chic and maintains that she is different from Kate. And is willing to take on painful, intense workouts for the sake of her body and health. According to Morning News, Pippa is doing so to become sexier than her sister. While talking about Kate, she has never been out of shape even after conceiving two children Prince George and Princess Charlotte. But she has never been spotted working out at the gym. However, Kate's younger sister is ready to break trends and she might be on the verge of setting a new record of being the sexiest bride to be. Based on the pouring rumors, it can be said that Kate and Pippa have a turbulent relationship. Which is why, Kate might not be a part of her sister's wedding. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON Offshore oil and gas development in the U.S. Arctic was put on hold Friday when the outgoing Obama administration announced it would not allow any new leasing there for the next five years. It was the latest in a series of moves by President Barack Obama to limit oil and gas production in areas that have historically seen little development while leaving open drilling in established areas like the Gulf of Mexico. "Given the unique and challenging Arctic environment and industry's declining interest in the area, forgoing lease sales in the Arctic is the right path forward," Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said in a statement. The announcement represents another blow to Houston's offshore oil and gas industry. The Arctic has long been viewed as a promising if challenging frontier, although it's unclear how long the moratorium would last under President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to increase U.S. oil and gas production. Republicans and industry officials said they would seek to rescind Obama's drilling decision under the new administration. The U.S. Arctic is estimated to hold 27 billion barrels of oil and 132 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, but frigid temperatures and ice flows have presented challenges since drilling opened up there in the 1980s. Companies including Shell and ConocoPhillips have made attempts to develop those waters, expanding beyond the nearby and long established Prudhoe Bay field with little success. The historic lows in oil prices since 2014 have only made prospects there dimmer. Shell announced last year it was pulling out of the Arctic after a costly exploration effort the lease rights alone cost the company $2.5 billion. Still, oil industry officials say if oil prices rebound, fortunes in the U.S. Arctic could improve. The last time the U.S. government sold leases there was 2008. With the Friday release of Obama's offshore plan for 2017-2022, it could be 15 years between lease sales. "That's an eternity when you're looking at investments in the Arctic," said Lucas Frances, spokesman for the industry group Arctic Energy Center. The decision on the Arctic was quickly denounced by Republicans Friday, who vowed to get their own offshore drilling plan in place once Trump takes office in January something Obama did when he first took over the presidency in 2009. A two-year wait? But doing so will likely take Republicans at least two years. Official reviews must be conducted; public comment obtained. "It's not just about Alaska. These were going to be good-paying American jobs," said Rep. Pete Olson, R-Sugar Land. "The voice of the American people spoke loud and clear last Tuesday. They want a change in how D.C. works. Clearly President Obama did not hear those voices." The offshore plan presented by Jewell Friday did not go as far as hoped by many environmentalists, who argued the country needs to wean itself off oil and gas to counter climate change. The plan will allow drilling in Alaska's Cook Inlet, which sits below the Arctic Circle. And there will be 10 lease sales scheduled for the Gulf of Mexico, the administration said. "The proposal makes available more than 70 percent of the economically recoverable resources, which is ample opportunity for oil and gas development to meet the nation's energy needs," said Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Director Abigail Ross Hopper. But the decision marked another victory for the "Keep it in the Ground" movement, which aims to limit the use of fossil fuels and has cheered decisions by the Obama administration not to allow oil and gas leasing in the Atlantic Ocean and to put a moratorium on new coal mines. Trump's victory last week, however, likely marks an end to that era. The president-elect has vowed to lift what he describes as overly restrictive environmental regulations enacted by Obama. Fighting 'all the way' "With a president coming into the office who's a friend of the fossil fuel industry, setting off limits now is important," said Athan Manuel, director of the lands protection program at the Sierra Club. "If Trump wants to start from scratch (on a new offshore plan), it will take two to three years. And we'll fighting him all the way." Ken Murphy, president and CEO of Mattress Firm, joined the company in 1998 as a retail sales associate in Greensboro, N.C. He climbed the ranks to become executive vice president of sales and operations in 2012, chief operating officer in 2014 and president in 2015. During the course of Murphy's career, Mattress Firm grew a small chain to the nation's largest mattress retailer. He guided the company's rapid expansion in recent years and oversaw its $3.8 billion acquisition by Steinhoff International in September. Now, he's driving the company's next phase of growth as it works to streamline its national operations. In the coming years, he expects the company to grow its e-commerce presence, expand its product lines and make it easier for customers to choose a mattress. Q: How have you changed as a leader since you joined the company nearly 20 years ago? A: As my own career progressed and I ultimately ended up leaving the front lines and taking on new challenges in the company, (I learned) that it's about being able to take on new challenges and remind yourself of some of the fundamental tenets of success that were important in a particular phase. Paradoxically, you have to be willing to let go of a lot and embrace the new challenge. That's true for an individual, and also for a company. Q: What are some of the biggest changes you've seen in the company? A: The obvious answer would be size, scope and scale. As we went through really fast growth, I think we have tried over the years to preserve some of the fundamental tenets of our heritage: Our connection with the consumer, our connection with the community, the importance of transferring enthusiasm in the products that we present, the importance of creating a new environment for our employees. But as the company has grown, the customer's buying habits (have changed). Q: What really drove the company's rapid expansion over the last several years? A: I think it's a couple of things. One is that we started small here in Houston a little over 30 years ago. We've been fortunate to find good favor with our customers, good favor with our employees, and good favor with the communities we operated in. I think it was this combination of being affirmed in how we tried to go to market and also recognizing the opportunity. If you think about it at a fundamental level, it's a purchase that isn't all that much fun for most people. It can be difficult, it can be cumbersome and it can be confusing, and we aspire to make it easy and simple. The opportunity, in a very, very fragmented business, to take our concept and really (expand) it border to border and coast to coast was a fun challenge and something we knew would be good for the company and good for our customers as well. Q: What makes the company competitive in all of the markets it's now in? A: There's the sheer purchasing power and the advantages that come with size and scale. We buy more from the suppliers and from the manufacturers than anyone else in the country, and because of that, we are afforded certain advantages either in pricing power or product development or technology. There is a suite of advantages that comes simply from being bigger today. Even before we got to this place, I would tell you that the most compelling attributes of our go-to-market model were more rooted in the realm of guest experience. For us, it would start with real estate and having conveniently located, bright, well-lit and open power shopping centers that we've placed our stores in. This is a tough thing to buy, and we have an incredibly professional sales organization. Q: What can customers expect to see from the company in the coming years as you move into the next phase of your development? A: Once we get past the business of integrating under one banner, you'll see an expansion of categories in the realm of sleep. Not just the mattress and box spring, but also pillows, sheets, comforters and duvets. We are in the process of piloting some things in that space today. Long term, you'll see this company continue to prune and optimize our store fleet. When leases expire, we'll look to get out of areas where we may be overcrowded or where we may have unproductive stores. Q: When are some of those leases set to expire? A: One of the great things about our business model is that the overwhelming majority of our stores are on relatively short-term leases, typically 5-7 years, and then we'll have options to renew. Today, the overwhelming majority we will renew. But in certain markets -- Houston is one to be sure -- we have certain areas that are just over-penetrated, and as those leases come up, we'll make decisions. It probably will take a couple of years. Q: What were some of the benefits of the Steinhoff acquisition, and can customers expect to see any changes as a result of that? A:I hope so. I hope that ultimately some of what Steinhoff brings to Mattress Firm will be passed directly onto our customers. At a base level, this is the first American operation for Steinhoff. They have long been participants in the industry. They own a variety of different retail outlets across the world in the bedding and home furnishing space, and they really like the Mattress Firm model. I think we have the chance to learn best practices from an even larger network of their companies. It's early days to be sure, but to this point, I couldn't be more pleased with what I've seen. PECOS T. Boone Pickens is 88-years-old. His hearing and vision are poor. He tires quickly. The oil and gas mogul admits he's made billions of dollars and lost billions. But seated in a witness chair in a West Texas courtroom for two days last week, Pickens said several hundred million of those dollars he lost were actually stolen and he wants them back. Pickens' company, Mesa Petroleum Partners, accuses another legendary oil and gas name, J. Cleo Thompson Co., and three Midland energy firms of conspiring together to cheat him out of ownership interests and profits involving more than 160 leases to drill for oil in the "Red Bull" area of Reeves and Pecos counties. Under oath, Pickens told jurors that the project with J. Cleo was "the biggest deal I was ever in." He called his former business partners "crooks." "You stole the property, is what you did," Pickens told the defendants with jurors watching. Lawyers for J. Cleo and the three Midland exploration and production companies Baytech, Delaware Basin Resources and Patriot Resources reject Pickens' claims and say they owe him nothing. Defense attorneys argued that Pickens initially invested about $1 million in their acquisition project in 2007, but then he voluntarily waived his 15 percent stake in future acquisitions related to the project because he had lost $2 billion in the stock market crash in 2008 and 2009. They contend that Pickens called J. Cleo "Jimmie" Thompson Jr. in late 2008 to say he wanted out, which Pickens denies. Thompson died in 2010. The case finishes its third week of trial Friday and might continue until after Thanksgiving. So far, 18 witnesses have testified. Legal experts say the case could come down to one witness and one question: Do jurors believe Pickens is telling the truth? "Jurors in complex business trials that feature an executive who is a dominant personality, such as Boone Pickens, often make their decision on whether they like or believe that executive," said Joel Reese, a partner at Reese Gordon Marketos in Dallas, who is not involved in the litigation. "If Pickens comes across strong, likeable and communicates a good message, it will resonate with jurors," Reese said. "If the defense can portray Pickens as a wealthy bully or a liar and unlikeable, then the defense will probably win." During two days on the witness stand, Pickens told the jurors that he didn't know he "was dealing with a crook" when he signed a "participation agreement" with J. Cleo Thompson and Baytech in 2007 to acquire and drill wells in oil rich Reeves and Pecos counties. "Of all the wells I drilled, this actually turned out to be the biggest prospect that I've ever been involved in," Pickens told jurors. "It's an experience I've never had in the business in 62 years, that I went into a deal and thought everybody in it was honest." Mesa's lawyers argue that Baytech and J. Cleo Thompson were required under the contract to offer Mesa all opportunities to participate in every interest that was acquired in the Red Bull area between 2007 and 2012. Lawyers for the defense showed Pickens and jurors numerous documents and refund checks allegedly showing that Mesa Petroleum knew it had opted out of the project as a partner. "Have you ever known a crook to try and give you your money back?" Gardere partner Geoff Bracken, who represents J. Cleo Thompson, asked Pickens. "I haven't had a lot of dealings with crooks," Pickens responded. "Not as many as you have probably." Tim McConn, a lawyer representing Baytech and DBR, showed Pickens a 2009 letter from the president of the two companies to a Mesa executive seeking confirmation that Pickens' company was opting out the agreement. "I never opted out of anything," Pickens answered. Pickens also denied he was short on money at the time. "There were also comments made that I didn't have enough money to do this," he testified. "I had hit a high-water mark of $4 billion in net worth, and I gave away $1 billion, lost $2 billion, and still had $1 billion left at this point." Texas oil drilling and employment indicators have trended upwards for months now, and on Friday they delivered a clear "pop." The state's oil and gas companies added 1,000 jobs in October, the first increase in nearly a year, while Houston climbed back to the record employment level it reached before the worst of the slump. The number of drilling rigs in U.S. oilfields jumped by double-digits this week, the largest weekly increase since the peak of the oil boom. Most went to work in the Permian Basin in West Texas. "We're starting to get a lot more traction," said Jeramie Wyatt, business development manager in Midland for Pel-State Services, a Shreveport company that provides fueling and lubricants for drilling and hydraulic fracturing. "You can see it from the interstate. There's rigs everywhere." Texas added 13,700 jobs in October, according to figures released by the Texas Workforce Commission on Friday, putting job growth for the year slightly ahead of 2015. Unemployment in the state slipped to 4.7 percent from 4.8 percent in September, holding below the national rate of 4.9 percent. The story was also sunny in Houston, which gained 13,400 jobs over the year - not as much as Texas' other major cities, but still decent for coming out of a historic oil bust. Metro employment returned to its high-water mark, achieved in January, at more than 3 million jobs. The region, however, still faces a slow recovery. While many energy companies have declared the worst of the bust over, some are still cutting jobs and spending. Crude prices have recovered, but are holding at less than half their 2014 peak. The world also remains awash in oil -- U.S crude inventories climbed by more than 5 million barrels last week -- and further gains in prices will likely depend on whether OPEC nations finalize an agreement to cut output at their meeting in Vienna in a little over week. "This is going to be a bathtub recovery," said Patrick Jankowski, regional economist with the Greater Houston Partnership. "A wide, flat bottom, and then we'll see some growth." Two years ago, U.S. oil prices were surging above $100 and drillers were pumping at rates unseen in 20 years. Oil prices started tumbling in the summer of 2014 as supplies outstripped demand, falling to a low of $26 a barrel in February. The rig count plummeted from 1,900 in 2014 to just over 400 last May, according to Baker Hughes. More than 200 oil production and service companies have gone bankrupt. In Texas, at least 100,000 oil and gas workers lost their jobs. But prices have recovered since February, breaking above $50 a barrel of several occasions over the past few months, but lately hovering between $40 and $50 a barrel. Crude settled in New York on Friday at $45.69, up 27 cents. Oil companies have added nearly 200 rigs since in May, bringing the total 588, compared to 757 a year ago. This week, U.S. drillers sent 20 more rigs into oil and gas fields, the biggest increase since May 2014, the Houston oilfield services company Baker Hughes reported Friday. Of the new rigs, 11 were put into operation in the Permian Basin, the hottest oilfield in North America. Analysts said that higher prices alone have not boosted the rig count Some oil production firms are ramping up for next year while a surge in acquisitions has also contributed to the increase. Companies, for example, have spent billions of dollars to buy prime land in the Permian. "They didn't buy that acreage to sit," said R.T. Dukes, an analyst at the energy research firm Wood Mackenzie. "They're going to develop it." The increased activity has helped stabilize the Houston economy, which overall is adding jobs a slow pace. Employment in Houston's oil and gas sector stayed largely flat, an improvement after deep losses earlier this year. The area's unemployment rate, not adjusted for seasonal variations in hiring, was 5.1 percent, up from 4.7 percent in October 2015. Jobs in heavy and civil engineering construction, which has lost 5.4 percent or 2,900 jobs over the year, showed signs of rebounding, likely due to the last surge in petrochemical plant construction on the east side of the city, which is expected to peter out in 2017. Retail employment, which typically starts to grow around this time of year as the holiday season approaches, had its biggest October for employment growth on record. Manufacturing employment also grew in October, trimming its year-over-year loss of 6,800 jobs or 2.8 percent. Jordan Blum contributed. President Tran Dai Quang and Esteban Lazo, President of the Cuban National Assembly of People's Power (Photo: VNA) He requested the two legislatures to continue supporting and monitoring the implementation of agreements made by the two governments, thus improving outcomes of joint projects, particularly in trade-commerce, investment, security-defence and diplomatic activities. Hailing recent socio-economic achievements of Cuba, President Quang reiterated that Vietnam persistently supports the revolutionary cause of the Cuban people. He conveyed the invitation to visit Vietnam from National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan to his host. For his part, Esteban Lazo affirmed that Cuba always attaches importance to valuable experiences Vietnam gained during its 30 years of renewal and is looking forwards to reinforcing ties between the two parties, states, national assemblies and peoples. He expressed his wish to visit Vietnam in 2017 to tighten solidarity and cooperation between the two national assemblies and peoples. The same day, President Quang met with Ricardo Cabrisas, Vice Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Economy and Planning. Ricardo Cabrisas briefed the President on Cubas socio-economic strategy to 2030 approved at the 7th Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba in April this year, stressing the countrys persistence in following the model of planned economy. Cuba appreciates Vietnams effective assistance in boosting food production capacity and developing the local fishery and coffee sectors, he said. The Cuban official noted his country wants to engage in more trade and investment projects with Vietnam and welcomed Vietnamese investors to operate in Cuba. The Vietnamese President said the two governments should closely work to implement their joint activities and cooperative mechanism. Quang said he looking forwards to the upcoming 34th meeting of the Vietnam-Cuba inter-governmental committee, which will review collaboration outcomes and set out new tasks in realisation of the bilateral trade cooperation programme for the medium term signed in 2014. He expected the Cuban Government to facilitate Vietnamese enterprises in the country, particularly in the sectors of telecommunications, oil and gas, tourism infrastructure, as well as construction material and consumer goods production. Both sides agreed to support each other at international organisations and multilateral forums. Also on November 16th, President Quang had a meeting with leaders of the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples and Cuba-Vietnam Friendship Association. Quang praised the two agencies contribution to the growth of bilateral ties, saying he is confident in their joint work to educate the younger generations about the two countries friendship./. TULSA, Okla. - Residents of a town hit by Oklahoma's strongest earthquake have filed a class-action lawsuit against dozens of energy companies, accusing them of triggering destructive temblors by injecting wastewater from oil and natural gas production underground. Pawnee residents filed the suit Thursday in district court against 27 companies, saying they operate wastewater injection wells even though they know the method causes earthquakes. The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount for property damage and reduced value, plus emotional distress. Magnitude 5.8 A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck the town of about 2,200 in September and the lawsuit claims 52 more have hit the area since. On Nov. 6, a magnitude 5.0 quake damaged dozens of buildings in nearby Cushing, a town that is home to one of the world's largest oil hubs. Oklahoma has had thousands of earthquakes in recent years, with nearly all traced to underground wastewater disposal. Some scientists say that the high-pressure injection of massive amounts of chemical-laced wastewater deep in the earth induces the quakes. Regulators have asked oil and gas producers to either close injection wells or reduce the volume of fluids they inject. Residents and environmental groups in neighboring states have sued energy companies curb or stop similar operations. Quakes in north central Arkansas all but stopped after the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission voted to ban wells for the disposal of natural gas drilling fluids in July 2011. In 2014, a Prague, Okla., resident sued two companies on the same grounds after a magnitude 5.6 temblor rattled her town in 2011. Two of the companies identified in the Pawnee lawsuit, Eagle Road Oil and Cummings Oil Company, did not immediately return messages seeking comment Friday. The other 25 companies were not identified in the suit. The lawsuit claims that companies are showing "reckless disregard for public or private safety," by continuing to operate the injection wells in the area. Children afraid "We have clients who don't allow their children to go upstairs because they're afraid the roof will fall in on them," said Curt Marshall, an attorney for the residents. "There's a lot of fear; when is the next big one?" A 2015 study by the U.S. Geological Survey suggested that Oklahoma's industrial activities, such as natural gas and oil production, have caused the sharp rise in earthquakes in the past 100 years. 'The National Book Foundation is woke," comedian Larry Wilmore declared last week as he hosted the National Book Awards. And sure enough, at Wednesday's ceremony to honor the year's best books, the personal and political were equally prominent. Three of this year's winners are African American, and all four winning books deal with issues of class, race and societal ills. The 67th annual prizes were awarded for the best in four categories - fiction, nonfiction, poetry and young people's literature. Here's a look at the winners. Fiction "The Underground Railroad" by Colson Whitehead Whitehead's book was scheduled to come out in September, but then Oprah chose it for her book club. The publication was bumped up a month, and since then "The Underground Railroad" has gotten steady (and positive) buzz from readers and reviewers. It's also been on the best-seller list since August. Whitehead's novel is the story of Cora, a slave on a Georgia cotton plantation, who risks everything to escape with a fellow slave on the Underground Railroad - which, in Whitehead's book, is an actual railroad, a secret network of tunnels and stations and trains that head north. The two escapees make stops along the way, encountering a different world each time, but when they discover they're being hunted, they have to flee for their lives. It's an adventure story that offers a raw, up-close look at the lives of slaves. Nonfiction "Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America" by Ibram X. Kendi Kendi, a historian, examines how anti-black, racist ideas have developed, spread and impacted American history. These beliefs didn't bubble up from the bottom, he says. Rather, they were invented (and perpetuated) by some of the brightest, most influential leaders in history. Kendi argues that we're not living in a post-racial society at all - that racist myths and beliefs are still strong and infiltrating our lives today. Poetry "The Performance of Becoming Human" by Daniel Borzutzky Borzutzky's poems delve into the stories of Chicago and Chile, two places he knows well. "When I wrote this book, I was thinking about my hometown of Chicago," he said, "and how it destroys itself, abolishes public services, closes psychiatric hospitals, privatizes or shutters its public schools, and militarizes its police that have murdered and tortured with degrees of impunity since the 1970s. "I was thinking about how Chicago is like the Chile my parents left in the 1970s, which destroyed itself by depleting public services, by privatizing and destroying its public schools, by privatizing and destroying its social security system, by murdering and torturing its citizens in the name of neoliberal progress. I was thinking about immigrants, refugees and workers in the U.S. and abroad who give up their lives to survive in economies that exploit them and make them invisible. And I was thinking about bureaucracies and the abuse of data and fake mathematical measures to justify the destruction of real people's lives. I was thinking about those who cannot survive the brutalities of our rotten economies." Borzutzky's book, by the way, was published by Brooklyn Arts Press, which is so small it's operated out of a New York City apartment. Young People's Literature "March: Book Three" by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell Rep. John Lewis, a congressman from Georgia, was a key figure in the civil rights movement. In the "March" trilogy, he tells his story - which, in many ways, is 20th-century America's story - in a series of graphic novels. This third book starts in the 1960s, when a 20-something Lewis worked with other young activists to fight voter suppression and end segregation. He spoke at the March on Washington; he coordinated efforts to register black voters during Mississippi Freedom Summer. And on Bloody Sunday in 1965, as he led a civil rights march across a bridge in Selma, Ala., state troopers beat him within an inch of his life. Lewis worked on this graphic novel with Andrew Aydin, who works for the congressman, and artist Nate Powell. When he accepted his award last week, Lewis recalled trying to get a public library card when he was 16; he was turned away because the library was for whites only. "March: Book Three" is the first graphic novel to win a National Book Award. Sometimes, when I am teaching my college students, I get excited about the classroom that goes beyond our walls: the city itself, Houston in all its sprawling glory, where you can get lost, turned around, all shook up. I tell my students the same thing, early and often: "If you go to this play, this reading, this performance, you will get extra credit." They give me that look, the one that asks, "Is it worth it?" And then I launch into my speech about how even if you don't love it, you still get to figure out what it all means, you learn something about great art or bad art and yourself. And you need to get out into the world sometimes to understand all those pages you are reading, and SHEESH just try it already, okay? Sometimes they go. They rarely regret it. 1. On the last day of October, I was all revved up: I was going to a new play called "This Is Modern Art" at The Landing Theatre Company. Sometimes I review things: plays, books, musicals. But this day I was just observing. I was invited by the director, Stephen Miranda. I loved this show for all sorts of reasons. The play takes place in Chicago, one of my favorite cities, and was commissioned by Steppenwolf. For tickets or information The Rocky Horror Show runs through Nov. 20. See More Collapse Depending on your point of view, it's about either defacing or decorating The Art Institute of Chicago with graffiti art. I had mixed feelings about that, but that was the point: You're forced to think about where art belongs and who gets to produce it. Afterward, I talked with two graffiti artists who helped with the set, and Anthony August, who plays "Seven," the lead in the play. On stage, he seems like he is in his late twenties, maybe thirties. In person, he tells me he is still in school so young, so much ahead of him. I talk to Katherine Rinaldi, who plays Selena, the female getaway car driver for the artists. And I talk to Stephen, the director. All these creative forces are so enthusiastic about this play, and they should be, as after I drive away, after talking to artists, I think about art, and what it is, and what it means, for a very long time. In class, after the election, my students talk a little about the anti-Trump protests. I don't say much. They aren't taking my class for my geopolitical analysis; and the less I talk, the more they will. But I do say one thing: Sometimes the biggest protests are in the most civilized places: the theater, the museum hall, the poem. Then we hear Bryan Cranston read the poem "Ozymandias" by Percy Bysshe Shelley. After all, we are studying the Romantics, those poets who loved the imagination, the individual, social justice. They wrote poems, said to forget all those endless rhymed couplets, forget bowing down. They had their own ways of redefining art. It wasn't drawing graffiti on the wall of The Art Institute of Chicago. But it was close. Courtesy of Theatre Under the Stars 2. On November 8, I head to the Hobby Center to see the TUTS production of Richard O'Brien's "The Rocky Horror Show." When I went to Klein Forest High School, sometimes we would go to the movie theater at the strip mall outside of our neighborhood and go to the midnight screenings of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." I remember dressing up in fishnet stockings, throwing toast at the screen, shooting water guns. It was fun. What I couldn't remember was the plot, and why I thought it was so great when I was a teenager. I was going with my friend Patricia. I wasn't reviewing like a critic, but I was kind of re-viewing, seeing something on the stage that I had always thought of as a movie. Once the show started, I realized that what was shocking in the '80s wasn't that shocking anymore, and why should it be? But I loved the singing and the choreography. I loved the costumes, the outrageousness of it, the high camp. I loved Houston favorite Susan Koozin as the narrator, a deep-throated choral voice who ominously explained to the uninitiated what the heck was going on. She was like a ringmaster for the circus of circuitous relationships that were spinning in front of our eyes. And then, like a bolt of lightning, Pierre Alexandre appeared as Frank, in costumes worthy of Cleopatra, with a voice that should be shooting up the top of the pop charts,and I knew that the show was a success because the transition from High Camp to High Glamp was fully and utterly complete. Equally impressive was straight man Brad, played by Scott Harrison. Brad and Janet are the innocent kids whose car breaks down, making them enter Frank's crazy haunted high-camp world, where anything goes and everyone sings about it. After the show, I talked to Harrison. He told me he is a lawyer. I reeled from that. For several years he worked at a large international law firm in Washington, D.C., doing energy and infrastructure finance. He was able to squeeze in one or two shows a year, but when he was cast as Mendel in Fiddler on the Roof, he quit his law job. Down the road, he said, he'd love to apply his finance and deal-making skills to theater production. "Are you Brad?" I ask. He says that he didn't know Rocky Horror before he auditioned for the show, but several friends had told him he'd make a perfect Brad. Now, halfway through the run, he understands exactly what they meant. 3. On the Ides of November (wow, I always wanted to write that), I got to hear Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Sharon Olds read from her new collection, Odes. She was reading at Christ Church Cathedral on Texas Avenue, a beautiful church in the heart of downtown. After the reading, I thought about how perfect that was: Olds had mentioned the Psalms as a huge influence on her poetry, with its "gorgeousness and sensuality in a moral setting." You don't hear phrases like that every day. I learned a lot from Olds just from her talking in the most informal of ways she says things that stay with you. She talked about the "church beat rhythm" that has served her well in so many poems. She reflected on the election: "That is the great thing about disaster; people send you poems." She confessed the roller coaster of feelings she has sometimes as a poet, ranging from "fairly humble and anxious" to "almost dangerous" when she departs from her typical poetic forms. Poetry is not for the faint of heart. I also ran into Houston poet Martha Serpas at the reading. The world can be small if if you let words lead you out of your garret. Serpas told me that she had been Olds' student. I marveled at how such a room could hold so many connections. I made a note to myself to tell my students that if you go to a reading, you will run into other interesting writers. Poets like to hear each other they keep their minds open to others' thoughts. That in itself I find inspiring these days. That's why we go out. It's like real-life extra credit. Bookmark Gray Matters. SHEESH just try it already, okay? Doni M. Wilson is an English professor and writer in Houston and has a high schooler named Christopher. You can find her on Facebook and Twitter. It felt like a power grab in Pasadena, a Latino city councilman told the judge. Shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated federal oversight for local elections, the mayor and a committee he'd appointed met behind closed doors to draw up a plan to reduce the voting power of Hispanics. The testimony came on the second day in the federal trial of a closely watched voting rights case challenging how Pasadena elects its city council. The mayor took the stand for about an hour at the end of the day and is expected to testify at length after the Thanksgiving break. But for most of Friday, Councilman Ornaldo Ybarra testified about the disparities in representation. Ybarra was not included in the closed door meeting, which had been scheduled to be open to the public. Ybarra said longtime Mayor Johnny Isbell approved of the gathering with police protecting the door. He said the mayor pushed the changes because he realized he no longer needed advance approval from the federal Justice Department to make revisions to the city charter. In 2013, voters narrowly passed a change to the city charter that converted two of the eight council seats from single-district elections to at-large. The Latino constituents who filed the federal voting rights suit allege that this 6-2 government structure impedes their voting power and ability to address unequal allocation of services, including street and sidewalk repair. In order to prevail, they must prove that Anglos voted in a racially polarized block defeating Latino-backed candidates. "He wanted a super majority that wouldn't question him on his pet projects," Ybarra told U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal. 'Night and day' Ybarra also said he heard secondhand accounts that the mayor and others were warning voters of "an invasion" of Hispanics in the city government: "It was all over Pasadena that if we didn't adopt this 6-2 council, there was going to be too many Hispanics on council." A defense attorney questioned whether the four-term councilman was certain of what the mayor meant by "invasion." The mayor had backed Ybarra's candidacy when he first ran for council in 2009. "Only the mayor and his creator know what his intent was, but the message and behavior were racially motivated," he said. Ybarra told the judge the north and predominantly Hispanic side of town where he has lived his whole life gets less city resources than the south side where the mayor and a largely Anglo population resides. "It's like night and day," he told the judge, noting several beautification projects on the south side. "Some sections of Pasadena look like a Third World country - the streets are old, the buildings are old, with no economic development." Splits into factions The council votes in harmony 99 percent of the time, he said, but when it comes to resources, it splits into factions. With the mayor's tie-breaking vote, Ybarra said, the Anglo-backed city council members voted to terminate a bus system - mid semester - that served low income north side residents, including students commuting to San Jacinto College. However the same majority supported adding a multi-million dollar lazy river to Strawberry Park for paying visitors, even though the free portion of the park lacked a decent track, fencing and parking, Ybarra said. Although Spanish surnamed registered voters are about half the population, voter turnout is uneven. A defense lawyer questioned whether he was equally swayed by non-race based organizations that backed his campaigns, including Democratic clubs and the Teamsters. Ybarra said he was not affiliated with any party and only voted on council based on his own convictions. When Isbell took the stand, he effectively said the same thing, that he voted his convictions. PUEBLO DE PALMAS Rosi Maria Sanchez is afraid of venturing outside her trailer in this sprawling colonia on the outskirts of McAllen where men in cowboy hats still meander about on horseback. Once, she used to skip breezily across the Rio Grande on America's last remaining hand-powered ferry for weekend shopping jaunts. Now this muddy ribbon of a river, just 40 yards wide at this point, has turned into an impenetrable wall. Her husband is stuck on the Mexican side in their house on the river from where they fled drug violence seven years ago. He was deported last year after he ran a stop light and officers saw his expired visa. But the cartel controls all river crossings here and he can't afford to pay them to come back. Now Sanchez, who is here illegally, worries a Donald Trump presidency means she and her daughters are next. "When we came here from Mexico, I told my husband it's too dangerous there," said Sanchez, who at 54 wears her silver hair in a high bun. "It turns out that it's the same here because they don't want us either." Such fear resonates across this colonia of several hundred people on the western edge of Hidalgo County where the region's 60 miles of border fence abruptly ends. More than 90 percent of the county is Hispanic, and it's home to one of the nation's most profitable border bridges, providing tens of thousands of jobs as part of bustling commerce thanks to the North American Free Trade Agreement, which Trump has said he would end. Now Hidalgo County sits at the forefront of Trump's campaign promises, which included not only building a wall on the Mexican border, but ramping up border security, deporting all immigrants here illegally, curbing legal immigration and overhauling international trade. "Everyone's concerned," said Luis Bazan, director of the Pharr International Bridge, the nation's sixth-busiest land port doing more than $30 billion in international trade. "This is our livelihood." Cutting the trade deal would crush this region, which has been intertwined with Mexico since the Spanish occupied it around 1750. Since the peso declined this year, plunging to a historic low after Trump's victory, the city of McAllen lost $4 million because fewer Mexican shoppers are spending money here, said its mayor, Jim Darling. "All of this rhetoric isn't helpful to us," he said. He said smugglers use Trump's talk about a wall and immediate deportation to encourage Central American migrants, who want to flee unrelenting violence at home, to come now before it is too late. Almost half of all arrests by Border Patrol agents occur in this sector that again is being overwhelmed by Central American migrants fleeing gangs and poverty, many of them seeking refuge in Houston. About 46,200 migrants were apprehended on the southwest border in October, up from about 39,500 in September and the most since the peak of the Central American crisis in June 2014, according to Department of Homeland Security statistics released last week. More than 40 percent were families or children traveling alone, and two-thirds were detained in this Rio Grande Valley sector, the nation's busiest. It's among the array of immigration challenges Trump will face when he takes office and one that has stymied not only the Obama administration but governments across the region that have largely been unable to stem the tide. "Up north, the image is that immigrants are flooding across the border illegally," Darling said. "They are, but they're flooding across the border in an asylum process that has been set up by law." Trump has said his "great wall" would keep out immigrants and that he would detain those who make it through until they are deported. But in reality, the nature of the current migration problem and laws passed by Congress will make that difficult. Around 11 a.m. on a recent morning, Border Patrol agents working a section of the riverfront known as Rincon Village found a group of about seven Central American migrants, including a 7-year-old girl, trudging through the thick brush. They didn't run away or hide but stood meekly as agents took down their information and called a van to pick them up. Barely 10 minutes later, a woman carrying a baby and clasping a young girl's hand was relieved to find the agents, who handed them bottles of water. "Don't drink so fast," one cautioned. As agents processed her, a group of nine migrants appeared. All of them were under 18 except for 21-year-old Transito Carmen Gavanriti, who rocked her 3-year-old son Alex while her 8-year-old niece, Andrea Mitchell, stood quietly beside her. Gavanriti said she left Honduras because her husband beat Alex. They were joining Andrea's mother in Georgia. By now, all of the Border Patrol processing vans were in use, so agents piled the group into one of their own vehicles. They'd gone just a few hundred feet when another 16 migrants appeared. Ten were children. All were from El Salvador, where more than 4,000 murders occurred this year and where the showdown between gangs and the government has prompted an exodus even greater than at the height of the 2014 crisis. From here, agents took the migrants to a processing facility. Then many families are released, most of the adults with ankle monitors to track their whereabouts, with a notice to appear in immigration court. A hearing can be months, even years from now as the courts are so backed up. Unlike Mexicans, who can immediately be bused back across the border, removing Central Americans is a complicated process because it includes arranging flights. If they say they fear returning, an asylum process is prompted by law if they pass a screening interview. In the meantime, there simply isn't enough space to detain them all. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, in a statement last week, said about 41,000 migrants are currently in immigrant detention facilities, which typically hold 34,000. He has asked for more space for single adults, but federal laws limit in which types of facilities and for how long families and children can stay. Many migrants end up in downtown McAllen at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where Sister Norma Pimentel has run a shelter since the 2014 influx. She said their numbers have skyrocketed in the last two months, on track to surpass record figures. About 300 arrive a day. "I see them as refugees," Pimentel said. "They're not a threat to the U.S.; they are asking for help." Outside, Sonia Barrera sat in a stifling blue tent trying to get her 5-year-old son, Ederson, to eat. The 28-year-old said she owned a clothing store in El Salvador and for the last nine years paid a monthly tax of $60 to a gang so she could run her business. In September, however, they demanded $500 a month or threatened to kill her son. Barrera filed two police complaints. The sergeant told her to go to the United States. Clutching copies of the police paperwork, she said she was going to New York to live with a neighbor while she requested asylum. "Come now, my love," she said, feeding Ederson some corn. "It's going to be a while before we're going to eat again." XXX Of all Trump's campaign promises, none was flashier than his promise to build a wall on the Mexican border. It's a prospect that's almost laughable to residents, politicians and law enforcement officials here in the Rio Grande Valley. They point out that 60 miles of fencing already exists and that much of the rest wasn't built in part because it cuts through private property or federally protected wildlife sanctuaries. Nor, they say, would a wall alone increase security. Border Patrol agents routinely find ladders of all sizes left on the other side of the area's existing fence. "An inanimate object like a wall means nothing. It's a razor wire, concrete and steel scarecrow that is very bad for business and sends a very bad message to neighbors down south and is not cheap," said Ruben Villarreal, a Republican and former mayor of Rio Grande City who unsuccessfully ran for Congress this year. Trump's team in recent days has appeared to back down on his promise of a concrete wall spanning the border, suggesting it might morph instead into additional fencing to supplement the 15 percent of existing steel fence in areas like San Diego, outside of Tucson, Ariz., and El Paso. They said it also could turn into more of a "virtual wall," using technology. Such a strategy would simply build on what already has been occurring since the federal government first focused on San Diego at the height of an immigration crisis there in 1994. In South Texas, Manuel Padilla Jr., chief of the Rio Grande Border Patrol sector, said extending the current fence makes sense in certain areas with the right vegetation. But more crucial to border protection is having agents in the field and proper technology. His region currently uses five Aerostats, hot air balloons with a visibility of a 5-mile radius, and 16 raid towers, with a visibility of a mile. They have none of their own cameras, however, relying on those from the Department of Public Safety. Federal conservation rules restricting roads running laterally in the brush also makes patrols difficult. But changing all that will not dent the current influx, he said, noting that 45 percent of the sector's 187,000 apprehensions last year were families and children looking for agents, not running away. "It doesn't matter if I bring 1,000 more agents or 200 more helicopters, that population is going to seek us to turn themselves in," Padilla said. "That is not a law enforcement solution. That is going to be a diplomatic, political solution." Despite perceptions that the southwest border is out of control, he said agents made more than 408,000 apprehensions last year, the fewest since peaking at 1.6 million in 2000. Trump also promised to remove all immigrants convicted of criminal charges on "day one." But in Pueblo de Palmas, Johnny Garcia scoffed at such a threat. The 22-year-old waded over the river just three days ago after being deported to Reynosa in June for smuggling three dozen immigrants. He served two years in federal prison for the crime. Garcia said he started in the smuggling business when he was 12 because it paid $9,000 a trip. But now the graduate of La Joya High School, whose mascot is a coyote, said he is tired. Technology has made smuggling increasingly difficult. "Back in the day it was easy," he said. "Now you're risking a 50-50 chance that you'll get caught." Still, he said if he was deported again he'd come right back or keep trying. Garcia glanced at a sheriff's deputy rolling slowly past his house, then shrugged. "It ain't never gonna stop," he said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate President-elect Donald Trump's choices for leadership posts threaten national unity and promise to turn back the clock on progress for racial, religious and sexual minorities, said civil rights leaders and others on Friday after his nomination of Sen. Jeff Sessions for attorney general. Comments attributed to Trump's picks, also including alt-right architect Stephen Bannon as senior adviser and chief strategist and former Army Lt. Michael Flynn as national security adviser, serve to embolden everyday Americans to lash out at members of minority groups, they said. 'Turn back the clock' Sessions, of Alabama, was denied a federal judgeship in 1986 after hearings in which he was accused of making racially charged remarks as a U.S. attorney. According to transcripts, Sessions was accused, among other things, of joking that he thought the Ku Klux Klan "was OK" until he learned they smoked marijuana, and of calling a black assistant U.S. attorney "boy." During the hearing, Sessions denied making some of the comments and said others were jokes taken out of context. "Every American should be concerned about the direction of the U.S. Department of Justice and oppose any nominee who threatens to turn back the clock on civil rights by 50 years," said National Urban League President Marc Morial. Bannon led the Breitbart website, which has been widely condemned as racist, sexist and anti-Semitic. Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway has called the accusations against Bannon "very unfair." Lennie Gerber, an 80-year-old resident of High Point, N.C., who led the fight against her state's ban on same-sex marriage, said she worried Trump's appointments will further incite such sentiments among the public. "Saying that kind of thing incites the racism and the anti-gay feelings in everybody else and says you're free to express these things," Gerber said. "These people who've been suppressed by the positive transformation that has gone on over the last few years are now feeling free to express themselves." Civil rights leaders are calling on Trump to rescind Sessions' nomination or for the Senate to reject him. Sessions requires Senate confirmation as attorney general, as does Kansas Rep. Mike Pompeo for CIA director, but Bannon and Flynn do not. Lack of diversity In August, Flynn spoke at an event in Dallas for the anti-Islamist group Act for America, calling Islam, a religion with 1.6 billion adherents, "a political ideology" and "a cancer." "Unfortunately, these very important picks in his administration send a troubling message indicating that the bigotry we saw expressed in the campaign will continue," said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The lack of diversity in the picks worries civil rights leaders. Trump has said he planned to reward loyalty, and demonstrated such with his nomination of Sessions, who was the first senator to endorse him. Washington attorney A. Scott Bolden said Trump is "0 for 4" on diversity. All four of his picks so far are white men. "The scariest part of his potential administration will be how his political debts to the alt-right will manifest itself in his administration and policies," Bolden said. "Jeff Sessions is one of those manifestations to really to bring injustice to America." WASHINGTON - President-elect Donald Trump moved quickly Friday to begin filling national security posts at the top echelons of his administration, selecting a group of hawks and campaign loyalists who reflect the hard-line views that defined his run for president. Trump said he would nominate as attorney general Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., who has been a fierce supporter of a crackdown on undocumented immigrants. The president-elect also moved to install Michael T. Flynn, a retired lieutenant general who has said that Islamist militancy poses a global existential threat, as his national security adviser. And as director of the CIA, Trump selected Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan., who harshly criticized Hillary Clinton during the House investigation of the 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya. All three are regarded, in some ways, as outliers from conventional Republican thinking, shunned at times for strident statements, controversial positions or highly partisan moves. The flurry of announcements indicated that Trump was gaining control over a transition operation that had been entangled in infighting during its early stages. The results were the first seeds of an administration-in-waiting that will break starkly with that of President Barack Obama. More Information Michael FlynnNational security adviser nominee; retired lietuenant general; ex-director, defense intelligence Jeff SessionsAttorney general nominee; junior senator from Alabama; former Alabama attorney general Mike PompeoPick for CIA director; U.S. Representative from Kansas; Republican National Committee member More insideDonald Trump settles university lawsuit for $25 million Page A15 Trump's staff, cabinet nominees draw widespread criticism Page A6 See More Collapse Transition officials said Trump would meet over the weekend with an array of potential Cabinet members and other advisers as a signal that he wanted to build a diverse team, without regard to political affiliation or support for his presidential bid. Among them are Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee and one of his party's harshest critics of the president-elect's campaign, who is a contender for secretary of state, and Michelle A. Rhee, a Democrat who pursued sweeping reforms during her controversy-filled tenure as the District of Columbia's chancellor of schools. Racial remarks But there was no evidence in Friday's selections that Trump, who has hinted that he might pursue a more centrist agenda once he sits in the Oval Office, is inclined to moderate his approach on key questions of national security and civil rights. In a statement Friday, Trump called Sessions a "world-class legal mind," and added that Pompeo would be "a brilliant and unrelenting leader for our intelligence community." Of Flynn, he said: "I am pleased that Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn will be by my side as we work to defeat radical Islamic terrorism, navigate geopolitical challenges and keep Americans safe at home and abroad." Both Sessions and Flynn were early and fervent supporters of Trump's presidential campaign, even as many establishment Republicans were criticizing Trump for inflammatory statements and dismissing his chances of winning the nomination. Pompeo initially supported Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida in the Republican primary, but switched after it became clear Trump would be the nominee. Pompeo is also close to Vice President-elect Mike Pence, who is heading the transition effort. In 1986, Sessions - who, if confirmed, would be charged with safeguarding civil rights in the United States - was blocked from becoming a federal judge by the Senate's Republican-controlled Judiciary Committee because of previous racially charged comments and actions. In testimony before the committee, former colleagues said Sessions had referred to the NAACP, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and other civil rights groups as "un-American" and "Communist-inspired." An African-American federal prosecutor, Thomas H. Figures, said at the time that Sessions had referred to him as "boy," and testified that Sessions had said the Ku Klux Klan was fine "until I found out they smoked pot," a remark Sessions later dismissed as a joke. Flynn's war on Islam Aides to Trump dismissed the past statements, and described Sessions as a champion of civil rights, citing as evidence a number of desegregation lawsuits he filed while serving as a U.S. attorney in Alabama, his votes to extend the Voting Rights Act and to confirm Eric Holder as the first African-American attorney general, and his efforts to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Rosa Parks. "Sen. Sessions is someone who's universally respected across party lines in the United States Senate," said Jason Miller, a spokesman for Trump's transition team, calling him "very well qualified for this position." Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., said in a Twitter post that Sessions was "well liked and well regarded, even by those who don't always agree with him." He added, "I look forward to supporting his nomination." Other Republican senators and conservative groups likewise rallied behind Sessions, while Democrats have pledged to keep an open mind on confirming him. But, in a reflection of the tough questions he is likely to face in his confirmation hearing, civil rights groups and their champions in Congress condemned the choice. "Given some of his past statements and his staunch opposition to immigration reform," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the new Senate minority leader, "I am very concerned about what he would do with the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice, and want to hear what he has to say." Trump's selection of Flynn, which does not require Senate confirmation, was similarly cheered by conservative organizations and met with alarm by Democrats. He has called Islam a political ideology that has "metastasized" into a "malignant cancer." After building a reputation as a respected military officer, he was fired by Obama after he had served two years as chief of the Defense Intelligence Agency. Flynn has since been a vociferous critic of a Washington elite he contends has refused to name radical Islam as the enemy, and is therefore doomed to fall short in defeating it. "His statements about Muslims are profoundly un-American as well as damaging to the fight against terrorism and national security," said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a member of the Intelligence Committee. "He has indicated an openness to torture and the destruction of an entire city, both of which are clearly illegal, not to mention immoral and destructive to America's global leadership." Wyden said that the president-elect, who last week chose Stephen K. Bannon, who has promoted hard-right nationalism as the chairman of Breitbart News, appeared to be building "a White House leadership that embodies the most divisive rhetoric of his campaign." Pompeo 'hardworking' Pompeo, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and Harvard Law School, was elected to Congress in 2010 with substantial financial backing from a political action committee funded by Koch Industries, based in Wichita, Kansas. He has criticized Obama's decisions to shut down the CIA's black-site prisons and to require all interrogators to strictly adhere to anti-torture laws. In 2014, he accused Obama of refusing "to take the war on radical Islamic terrorism seriously." After the House Select Committee on Benghazi found no new evidence of wrongdoing by the Obama administration or Clinton, who was the secretary of state at the time of the attack, Pompeo and another Republican member of the committee, U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, said they were convinced there had been a cover-up, and they filed a 48-page addendum that included far harsher criticism of the administration and of Clinton. Other Republicans, including the committee's chairman, declined to add their names to the document. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., called Pompeo "very bright and hardworking." "While we have had our share of strong differences - principally on the politicization of the tragedy in Benghazi - I know that he is someone who is willing to listen and engage, both key qualities in a CIA director," Schiff said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON - After six years of futility, Texas Republican Kevin Brady is feeling the adrenalin rush of repealing Obamacare. As the chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, the low-key congressman from The Woodlands will be the point-man for the replacement of President Barack Obama's signature health care overhaul, the top target of congressional Republicans and President-elect Donald Trump. "This is a blast," Brady said last week. "It's pretty exciting. It's pretty neat. It's hard to sleep." Amid the war whoops of repeal, however, there have been some mixed signals about what should come after the Affordable Care Act, the law that has expanded health insurance to an estimated 20 million Americans, including some 1 million Texans. Trump, echoing a House Republican blueprint that Brady helped roll out earlier this year, has hinted that he may want to keep the most popular features of the law. That includes protections for young adults now covered on their parents' plans and for patients with pre-existing medical conditions. By all accounts, replacing the ACA is going to be a tough political slog, and not just because of Democratic opposition. Since his election, Trump has backed away from the sort of total repeal promised by conservative rivals like U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, who ran for president promising to repeal "every word" of Obamacare. Some free-market conservatives still argue against any government mandate that guarantees certain kinds of coverage, while industry leaders who have invested heavily in the ACA system worry about the vagaries of any political transition and its unpredictable results. "We're in completely uncharted territory," said Larry Levitt, a Kaiser Family Foundation executive who tracks health care policy. "A law affecting this many people has never been unwound before." Mandate is a focus While there is little doubt that a newly-energized Republican-led Congress has the political muscle to pass an Obamacare repeal bill - and a president who will sign it - consumer and industry groups worry about a highly-politicized process that could take years to play out. Any pitfalls along the way could send insurers fleeing, and leave millions without coverage. "Just because we don't know yet what's happening yet, it's keeping us all awake at night," said Ken Janda, president and CEO of Community Health Choice, which will be one of three remaining plans on the federal exchange in the Houston area for 2017. Janda, who recently attended industry conferences in Dallas and Pittsburgh, said an orderly transition could be just as important as the final product that emerges from Congress. "It is a real concern that, if not handled appropriately, you could just have all the insurance companies have no choice but to bail out and leave people hanging," he said. At the center of the coming debate is Brady, whose committee will be charged with reversing the tax policies that form the architecture of Obamacare. The most notable is the "individual mandate," enforced by the threat of tax penalties against Americans who do not buy coverage. It is that mandate - along with the edict requiring large employers to insure workers - that has raised the most ire with Republicans. It has had mixed results adding hordes of young, healthy people to the insurance rolls, the linchpin Obamacare relies on to guarantee coverage to people with costly medical conditions. The spiking premiums on the Obamacare exchanges this year are viewed by many health care experts as a symptom of the law's enrollment struggles, even with the individual mandate. The Republican plan would break that linkage, replacing it with a combination of high-risk pools, portable tax incentives to buy low-cost insurance, and continuous coverage protection. "The individual mandate failed because it forced people to buy health care they didn't want and couldn't afford," Brady said. The test of any new Republican plan will lie in whether it improves access to health care, without government edicts, and at a lower cost. That is what Brady and his colleagues promise. "Unlike Obamacare, Republicans are not going to rip health care out of the hands of the American people," Brady said. "There will be an appropriate, deliberate transition so Americans can fully choose health care that works for them, rather than health care that works for Washington." New system of vouchers Brady dismissed the charge that Republicans are poised to dump millions of newly covered Americans from the insurance rolls, calling it "the new big lie in health care." A 37-page GOP outline drafted by Brady, Speaker Paul Ryan, and other House leaders this year envisions a new system of vouchers and state block grants to make up for the estimated 11 million indigent and low-income people who have benefited from Obamacare's expansion of Medicaid. Texas, which did not participate in the Medicaid expansion, leads the nation with an estimated 4.6 million uninsured people. For those higher on the income scale, the GOP plan promises to preserve employer-based insurance, expand health savings accounts, and the flexibility to buy insurance across state lines. For now, those promises remain enshrined in a 20,000-word sketch. There is no draft replacement bill with specific costs and timelines for policy experts to scrutinize. There is, however, political pressure to repeal Obamacare on Day One of the Trump presidency. "We should do it immediately," said U.S. Rep. Bill Flores, the outgoing head of the conservative Republican Study Committee, the largest group within the House GOP caucus. "I would think that we should do it right after the swearing in of the new Congress and have the repeal bill on the president's desk on January the 20th." While Brady says that he is focused more on "the solution" than the timeline for repeal and replacement, other insiders contemplate a transition that would take at least a couple of years. The Affordable Care Act's protections for people with pre-existing conditions, shelter from lifetime caps, and allowances for young adults to stay on their parents' plans until they turn 26, all remain politically popular. Brady calls them "common-sense protections." Trump, in a recent "60 Minutes" interview, called them "the strongest assets" of the law. They also would be the hardest parts to jettison. Since they do not have direct federal cost or revenue implications, under Senate budget rules they are the parts of Obamacare that remain subject to a likely Democratic filibuster. Carrots and sticks Still, some conservatives would like to see even the most palatable elements of Obamacare extinguished and replaced in some form. What that might look like remains to be seen. "I think Republicans would be making a mistake if they don't carve them out and find some other way to take care of them," said Blaine Winship, the lead trial counsel for the 26 states, including Texas, that mounted an unsuccessful legal challenge to the ACA before the Supreme Court. Winship argued that guaranteed coverage for pre-existing conditions is like insuring a car after a crash. Who would buy insurance until they get sick? "If the Republicans want to have a system in which we have a viable, active segment of private health care insurers," he said, "we can't be forcing the insurance companies under any circumstances to be having to do these kinds of things, and still call it insurance." The answer, according to Brady and Flores, would be some combination of carrots and sticks: the carrot would be the promise of low-cost insurance up front; the stick would be progressively expensive out-of-pocket costs the longer one waits to buy. For now, the details remain murky. "I don't know," Flores said, "we'll have to come up with something." Cruz, who campaigned on the repeal of Obamacare in its entirety, has been less emphatic about its replacement. "There's still plenty of time to discuss the best way to start over with health care reform," Cruz spokeswoman Catherine Frazier said. "The first priority is full repeal." Obama, in a news conference after Trump's victory, noted that health care costs under his law, though rising, have slowed from pre-ACA years, saving the federal treasury "hundreds of billions of dollars." "It's one thing to characterize this thing as not working when it's just an abstraction," Obama said. "Now, suddenly, you're in charge and you're going to repeal it." In the political cauldron of Congress, facing midterm elections in two years, some hard-line Obamacare foes worry that Trump and his Republican allies, despite all the campaign rhetoric, may go soft. "I worry that the vision isn't there well enough," Winship said. "That they will feel too constrained by the current expectations that people have had since 2012 or 2013, when Obamacare became the law of the land." Brady, for his part, suggested he is taking his cues from the election. "The dynamics have changed," he said. "I think Obamacare was a key reason President-elect Trump won, and he's made it clear he's interested in keeping the key patient protections." The Global Carbon Project, an international scientists group, reported this week that man-made carbon emissions blamed for our warming climate have leveled off after years of growth, giving hope that a worldwide campaign to fight the problem is finally bearing fruit. The scientists said the United States, the second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases behind only China, had cut its carbon emissions last year by 2.6 percent and is expected to reduce them another 1.7 percent this year, largely because of conversion from coal to natural gas for much of our electricity production. The good news followed the official start on Nov. 4 of the Paris Agreement, a United Nations-backed accord for a landmark global effort to reduce the emissions. The goal is not to prevent warming - because that is viewed as impossible at this point - but to limit it to 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit above pre-industrial times. The bad news is that the UN's World Meteorological Group (WMO) reported separately that 2016 likely will be the hottest year ever recorded, which would mean that 16 of the 17 warmest years on record have occurred in the 21st century, with the other in 1998. Global temperatures through September this year have been 1.58 degrees Fahrenheit (0.88 degrees Celsius) above the average of 57.2 F (14 degrees C) for the 1961-1990 period the WMO uses as a baseline, the group said. Even though greenhouse gas emissions, estimated at 80 million tons a day, are said to have leveled off, the WMO said they are at record high levels in the atmosphere. President Barack Obama, who was compelled to sign the Paris Agreement without the Senate's consent because of Republican opposition, has pledged to cut U.S. emissions 28 percent by 2025. Unfortunately, the other bad news is that this goal likely will not be achieved because Republicans, have said they will withdraw from the Paris Agreement and abolish or weaken the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan, which encourages power plant conversion from coal-fired to -leaner burning natural gas. The Republican Party platform calls the Clean Power Plan Obama's "war on coal." But one could just as easily call it a boon for cleaner burning natural gas, which is beneficial for Texas. House Speaker Paul Ryan said the Paris Agreement would be "disastrous" for the American economy. The same argument could be made for withdrawing because other nations are considering a tariff against U.S. goods if we get out. Meanwhile, Trump has said he would pull out of the accord because global warming is a hoax and that he would cut funding for the EPA. He appointed one of the nation's leading climate change deniers, Myron Ebell of the conservative Competitive Enterprise Institute in Washington, head of his transition team for the agency. Oddly, Big Oil stalwarts such as ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell and BP acknowledge that global warming is a serious problem. On the day it took effect, ExxonMobil called the Paris Agreement "an important step forward by world governments in addressing the serious risks of climate change." It boggles the mind that Trump and his party are so willing to dismantle a comprehensive program to reduce greenhouse gases, gut the EPA and forsake America's leadership role in what is essentially a global battle to preserve life as we know it. We would urge the president-elect to think seriously about the ramifications of his actions and to consult with and utilize environmental experts, not politicians, to formulate policy. The Myron Ebells of the world may not take this issue seriously, but those who don't ignore science do because they understand these most basic facts: The danger is real, and action must be taken. President Tran Dai Quang (R) and Peruvian counterpart Pedro Paplo Kuczynsky (Source: VNA) The Vietnamese President is in Peru to attend the 24High-level Week of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum from November 17-20 In order to take bilateral ties to a new height, both leaders agreed to increase the exchange of high-level visits as well as those at ministerial, local and business levels, and hasten the signing of cooperation agreements in diverse areas, especially in telecommunications and oil and gas. They pledged to offer all possible support to the two countries businesses to access Southeast Asian and Latin American markets. On regional and global issues of shared concern, the Vietnamese leader underscored the importance of strengthening collaboration to maintain an environment of peace and stability for development. The two Presidents expressed their satisfaction with the increasingly effective coordination between the two countries at regional and global mechanisms such as the APEC, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC). The guest suggested joint work to be continued to implement a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation within the APEC framework, thereby ensuring the success of the APEC Peru Year 2016 and APEC Vietnam Year 2017. Following the talks, host and guest witnessed the signing of three cooperation deals, including an MoU on fishing development, a cultural cooperation agreement and another one on the control of psychotropic substances, drugs and drug precursors. Earlier, President Quang attended and delivered a speech at an exchange with Peruvian businesses, briefing them on Vietnams economic integration, including its economic partnerships with 224 markets. The country has also signed 90 bilateral and six regional free trade agreements, and actively joined regional and inter-regional cooperation mechanisms. Vietnam is adopting a range of measures to improve business climate, making it easier for foreign investors, including those from Peru, to do business in the country, he said. The President affirmed Vietnams policy to enhance friendly and cooperative ties with Peru as one of the priority markets, adding that the Vietnamese State will continue refining legal framework to ensure the rights and interests of foreign investors. According to him, the bilateral trade ties are yet to match each sides potential due to geographical distance and limited investment. Therefore, the two nations should work harder to increase cooperation in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, construction materials, software services and mining. The Vietnamese President proposed the two countries firms pay more visits to each other to learn about the markets and discuss possible ventures./. Ex-cons and employability Regarding "Uplifting effort to help ex-cons find jobs" (Page A9, Tuesday), removing the box next to the question on most hiring applications that asks if applicants have a criminal record is a good thing, but I wonder how the person accounts for that time span between jobs when filling out the employment application. If the employer asks for an explanation, we are right back to either telling the truth or telling a lie. We all know now it is a Catch 22. If the ex-con checks the box in the application, "ever been convicted of a felony?" the company will not hire the person. If the ex-felon does not check the box and the company finds out, then they are immediately fired. Here's a suggestion: The state of Tennessee issues a certificate of employability for ex-felons who have turned their lives around. I strongly feel this approach could have a positive impact in Texas. David White, Houston Elections, then and now Regarding "Protesting" (Page A9, Tuesday), the letter writer professes that Republicans know the pain of the Trump protesters, because they had to accept Barack Obama. I was one of those Republicans who didn't vote for Obama, and yes, we didn't take to the streets saying we refused to accept the new president. But the scenarios are so different they can't possibly be compared. Obama's campaign was run on a theme of hope and change; Trump's message was based on fear and anger. My objection to Obama was regarding his policy strategies; many Trump protesters are legitimately afraid because he's attacked their entire race. Obama's message was consistent; Trump's message has been a roller coaster of contradictions, bizarre behavior and threats against a host of individuals and entities who dared to speak negatively about him. Obama's message didn't incite hate groups; Trump's victory has led to an increase in racial threats and violence. Anyone over age 40 has been around long enough to have lived through a few presidents we didn't like and didn't vote for. What the protesters are going through now is in a whole different league. These aren't Democrats who hate the thought of a Republican president; they are protesting against a man who has promoted fear and made threats. I don't blame them one bit, because the fact is that we have elected a giant question mark, and none of us has a clue what lies ahead. Susan Ellis Brittain, Houston A law enforcement officer was assaulted in a drug investigation Friday in Texas County. Joshua D. Eisenhouer, 18, of Cabool, is charged with nine different counts and is held in the Texas County Jail awaiting the filing of formal charges after he assaulted a law enforcement officer, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said. Eisenhouer is charged with felony possession of a controlled substance, felony attempting to escape from custody, felony resisting arrest,DWI (drugs), failing to obey a reasonable request by a highway patrolman, third-degree assault of a law enforcement officer, second-degree property damage, failing to stop at a red traffic light and having no insurance. A second man, John A. Clapper, 21, of Springfield, is charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and felony tampering with evidence. He was held and later released at the Cabool Police Department, the patrol said. The following are excerpts from reports generated by the Texas County Sheriffs Department: A deputy was dispatched at about 2 p.m. Nov. 17 after a woman reported squatters on her mothers Highway AF property at Licking. The officer observed that the property was clearly abandoned and there was no sign of any recent activity in or around a house or camper there. A deputy was dispatched at about 1:30 a.m. Nov. 12 regarding a request to assist an ambulance crew at a residence in a Tiffany Drive trailer park at Houston. The officer made contact with the crew there and was advised a man had fallen and they needed help lifting him. The man was helped in getting back into his bed. Texas County Jail admissions Nov. 14 Brandy M. Johnson writ (to appear before judge) Nov. 15 Sonja A. Ussery 48-hour shock Cody L. Worley stealing Nov. 16 Jasper D. Robbins driving without a license Nov. 17 Wesley E. Sartor DWI, sex abuse Gerald W. Toman burglary, assault Ardis F. Morton Jr. burglary A jury trial that concluded last week in Texas County resulted in a guilty verdict against an Illinois man who was accused of not paying for his existing children while starting a new family elsewhere. The jury found Bradley Wright, 30, of Bethalto, Ill., guilty of two counts of felony non-support. The jury assessed punishment of 60 days in the Texas County Jail on each count. Wright was found guilty for actions that occurred between Jan. 1, 2015, and July 1, 2016, when he refused to pay child support for his two children, ages 9 and 10. For both children, the amount was $35 per week. During the charged 18-month period, Wright only paid $100 for his children, both of whom resided in Texas County. He was apprehended after the case was filed and subsequently posted bond. After a thorough investigation by Child Support Enforcement Division officials, a probable cause statement and evidence was submitted for review to Texas County Prosecuting Attorney Parke Stevens Jr. Based on that evidence, Stevens filed a criminal complaint and requested a warrant for his arrest be issued. Stevens tried the case. This man knowingly refused to pay for his children but started a new family with two new children, he said. Judge William Hickle, presiding judge of the 25th Circuit, presided over the trial and assessed punishment in accordance with the jurys decision. The sentence was suspended and Wright was placed on probation so he can repay the missed child support. He has been ordered to pay over $300 a month or face 120 days in jail. Realistically, probation which gives the defendant time to repay his owed child support is a good sentence, and I believe the judge gave the right sentence. Stevens said. I want to express gratitude to Judge Hickle, the Texas County jurors, witnesses who testified, the Texas County circuit clerk and defense counsel for Mr. Wright. Only because of these individuals the criminal justice system allowed for justice to be served. By signing a husband-wife duo to four-year contracts, Texas County Memorial Hospital has filled two primary care positions. TCMH announced Friday that Jason and Teresa Loden will join the organization in 2018. Jason Loden, a general surgeon, will work full-time in the surgery department and Outpatient Surgery Clinic. Teresa Loden, a pediatrician, will work full-time at the TCMH Medical Complex in Houston. Both doctors will provide inpatient care. The hospital began looking last year for an additional full-time general surgeon to work alongside general surgeon, Linda Milholen, MD. TCMH said it contacted Jason Loden about a full-time position at TCMH, and he asked the hospital about also recruiting his wife to do pediatrics in Texas County. TCMH has not focused on recruiting a pediatrician in the past due to more pressing needs for physicians providing care for all ages. After Jason asked us about recruiting his wife, we asked our medical staff if they felt there was a need for a full-time physician specializing in pediatrics, said Wes Murray, chief executive officer at TCMH. Not only was all of our medical staff very much in favor of bringing a pediatrician on board, our employees spoke up in favor of adding a pediatrician to our ranks. With the addition of the Lodens, TCMH will fill its physician recruiting needs. Dr. Jason Loden will help us break in our new surgery department, and provide an additional foundation for growing our surgical services in the future, Murray said. Dr. Teresa Loden will help us fulfill our mission as a hospital; a pediatrician will provide more specialized care for area children. TCMH is in the process of building a new surgery department with two operating rooms, an endoscopy suite, and private recovery rooms. When the current surgery department relocates, the hospital hopes to move obstetrics to surgery and the intensive care unit to obstetrics, creating larger patient care spaces for all the departments. Our hospitals success is dependent upon a strong medical staff providing a variety of services to the communities we serve, Murray said. We need our area residents to choose local healthcare providers whenever possible to help us continue to grow and to retain our physicians and primary care services. The future of healthcare in Texas County is very bright. The Lodens grew up in Missouri Jason in Joplin and Teresa in Swiss. They met in college at Avila University in Kansas City, where they were both biology majors. They also attended medical school at AT Still University in Kirksville. After medical school, the Lodens did residency in Omaha at Creighton University. Teresa Loden completed her pediatric residency this summer. Jason Lodens residency is five years in length, ending in 2018. Teresa Loden is a full-time pediatrician at One World Community Health Center, a federally-qualified community health center serving a predominantly Spanish-speaking population and uninsured patient base in the Omaha area. She is currently fulfilling a requirement by the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) to work in a clinic with a medically underserved population in exchange for student loan forgiveness. Teresa Loden will fulfill the last two years of her NHSC requirement at the TCMH Medical Complex. The Lodens have two daughters. Elliana is two years old and Gabriella is a newborn. They sought an opportunity in a smaller town in Missouri that was near family and where they could both practice medicine. They hope to do some farming and enjoy outdoor activities when they relocate to Texas County in 2018. Dr. Bill and Pat Rice of Cabool will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25, at the United Methodist Church in Houston hosted by their children, David Rice and Cathy Rice. Bill Rice and Pat Arrowsmith were married Dec. 8, 1956, at Woodbridge, Va. They have two children and three grandchildren Omission of gifts is requested. Cards can be sent to: 5701 Highway M, Cabool, Mo. 65689. Guenther Steiner says the Haas F1 Team is not looking to change its current business model, as it is perfectly content with its close association with Ferrari. The US outfit has entered Formula One this year on the back a strong technical partnership with Maranello whereby the Scuderia supplies a number of parts to the American newcomers, including the engine. The collaboration has come under scrutiny from different quarters, especially after Haas enjoyed a dream start to F1 life with two consecutive points finishes in Australia and Bahrain. Asked whether there were any plans for the US team to build its own capability in future, Steiner said: No, we have a long-standing contract in place with Ferrari that we can continue the business model we are doing. We are going forward like this for the next few years and then we see, we rethink. But at the moment we are very happy with Ferrari, what they did for us over the year to get again to the point where we are now. Hopefully we finish eighth if [Renault] doesnt pull out something very special, and we hope we move up next year. But in the moment, for sure you always develop your team and you keep on getting better and more people in and that will happen but in general it stays like we are now. Fellow Ferrari-powered outfit Sauber questioned Haas model earlier this season, with team boss Monisha Kaltenborn wondering how it might diminish the constructor status of other teams. FEATURE: Eric Silbermann pays tribute to Ron Dennis From the cockpit: Felipe Nasr on two precious points in Brazil TECHNICAL ANALYSIS - Interlagos Scene at the Brazilian Grand Prix Quotes of the week - Interlagos Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter 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. Any company that does not see the value in employment branding is, frankly, doomed. From a recruitment standpoint, branding plays a critical role in getting top candidates to both apply and accept job offers. In employer branding, its important for employers to sell the job; but its equally important for them to provide a great experience to candidates throughout each step of the hiring process. These recruitment practices (communications, frictionless applications, and helpfulness) define the employer brand just as much as a branded career site. Either way, through marketing or process, branding has to begin the moment the candidate lands on a company website and must continue through letting them know whether theyre hired or not. Every step, every move a company takes with a prospective candidate needs to reflect that careful employment branding or the risk of losing that candidate increases. Grab Attention The job posting is often the very first impression employers are giving the candidate pool about their company. It is in these posts where branding needs to be most apparent. The job summary is a great place to insert some personality and allude to company culture. Employers should use it to give background about what their company is, what it does, how its done, and what it offers. This sneak-peak should offer anything from best places to work award wins, to healthcare coverage, to summer Friday... Exploring the flaws of executive recruitment and Talent Management Systems Suppose a multinational company needs an executive to lead its entry into a country that could experience spectacularly strong economic growth, but could also falter. The market has rough-and-tumble social, economic, political, and business environments, and a glacially slow judicial process in which national laws are deemed by the powerful and the connected as the starting points for negotiations. The two equally competent candidates lined up for the opportunity are of the same gender and age, and have comparable experience and ethical standards. They differ in only one way. Executive A comes from the multinationals home base, a largely mono-ethnic country where one religion dominates. Key national laws are benchmarks for other countries. People follow clear-cut political rules and civic values, ruefully accepting the inevitable fine that follows driving 6 kmph above the posted limit. At work, behavioral rules are unambiguous, as are business processes. Executive A has also successfully managed in countries that aspire to, but fall short of, such orderliness. Executive B comes from a country where multiple ethnic, linguistic, and religious traditions co-exist, sometimes uneasily. Red traffic lights merely suggest stopping. The judiciary usually, but not always, administers laws in accordance with accepted norms; the laws themselves are a mix of internationally ac... Lady Liberty was upstaged by another giant in New York City's harbour on Thursday. A humpback whale swam into the harbour and up to George Washington Bridge. It was visible from the Staten Island Ferry. The U.S. coast guard broadcast a warning to boaters in the area to steer clear of the marine mammal. Humpback whales can grow to as long as 16 metres in length. The whales are a rare site in the harbour. Advertisement Watch the video above. Follow The Huffington Post Canada on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Also on HuffPost OTTAWA The Liberals decision to renew funding to a controversial UN agency working with Palestinians was both praised and criticized this week as being the first noticeable split between Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus Middle East policy and that of his Conservative predecessor. International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced on Wednesday that Canada will restore funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine (UNRWA) after a multi-year absence, pledging $20 million this year and an additional $5 million for the special urgent needs of Palestinian refugees from the Syrian conflict in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and even Syria. Advertisement More than five millions Palestinian refugees face urgent needs, especially in health and education, she said at a press conference. It is a reality, and Canada cannot close its eyes to this situation. Like all our G7 allies, we have a role to play. Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) applauded the move, noting that in recent weeks UNRWA had cut staff and services because of budget shortfalls. The Trudeau government has finally differentiated itself from the [Stephen] Harper government in regards to the Middle East, CJPME president Thomas Woodley said in a news release. Advertisement "Canada cannot close its eyes to this situation." Conservative Senator Linda Frum, a big fundraiser in the Jewish community, shared CJPMEs press release on Twitter, calling the group Canadas top Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) organization and suggested that its praise for Trudeaus changing Middle East policy is proof the Liberals are not as committed to Israel as the Conservatives are. BDS campaigns, which are popular on some university campuses, are intended to pressure Israel to ends its occupation of Palestinian territory. JT promised Jewish community no daylight between his Israel policy & Harpers (minus the $ for Hamas-tied orgs.), she tweeted. In 2010, Harper cut funding to UNRWA after reports emerged that its schools were being used as storage facilities for Hamas rockets intended to kill Israeli civilians and its staff were diverting funds to the terrorist group. Even so, the Conservatives provided the group with $14 million in emergency food support in 2012. Bibeau stressed this week that the Liberals are aware of concerns about UNRWAs neutrality and that the government has negotiated regular updates for Parliament and more robust oversight, including: regular site visits, a systematic financial screening process for senior UNRWA staff, training for UNRWA employees on respective neutrality and the appropriate use of social media. Advertisement After winning the Liberal leadership in 2013, Trudeau tried to reach out to many in the Jewish community whose votes and party donations had fled to Tories. Wearing a yarmulke, he posed in front of Israeli and Canadian flags, telling them: The Liberal Party will have Israels back but not because its in our political interests to do so at home but because it is the right thing to do on the world stage. He appointed as chief Liberal fundraiser Montreal businessman Stephen Bronfman. And he spoke out against the BDS movement, saying it had no place on Canadian university campuses. Liberals promised to keep supporting Israel On the campaign trail last year, the Liberals also took great pains to tell the Jewish community that Canadas support for Israel would not waiver. Montreals Liberal candidate Anthony Housefather now the local MP assured constituents in Mount Royal for example, the riding with the second largest Jewish community in Canada, that the Grits votes on Israeli and Palestinian matters at the United Nations would not change. Advertisement The Tories, however, pointed to comments by Trudeau and later Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion who suggested Canada should become a more honest broker in the Middle East. Robert Libman, Housefathers Tory challenger in last years election, told HuffPost during the campaign, that that phrase is interpreted by many to mean watered down support for Israel as a way to to get along with the United Nations. Refuelled by Bibeaus announcement, the Conservatives and several candidates for the partys leadership sought to fundraise on the issue this week, calling the Liberals support for UNRWA troubling and a transparent attempt to regain a United Nations Security Council seat in 2021. Tories call the move 'despicable' Quebec MP and leadership candidate Maxime Bernier described the Liberals $25-million pledge as despicable. UNRWA gives money to Hamas. This terrorist group preaches violence against Israel, and excuses the killing of Jewish children, he wrote in fundraising email. Saskatchewan MP and fellow leadership contender Andrew Scheer suggested the Grits were pursuing an unprincipled foreign policy and asked supporters to sign a petition urging for UNRWA to be defunded. Advertisement Ontario MP Kellie Leitch, another challenger, sent an email titled: Have they lost their minds? Renewing funding to UNRWA sends a signal to Canadas friends and allies that is horrifying, she said. Meanwhile, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), which was consulted before Bibeaus announcement, said it continues to have serious reservations about funding UNRWA. Have they lost their minds? Hamas is notorious for diverting funds and materials provided by the international community intended for humanitarian aid to terrorist purposes, CIJA chair David J. Cape stressed. Still, he said, he appreciates the federal governments acknowledgement of his groups concerns and will continue to advocate for strong accountability measures to ensure Canadian aid isnt putting the security of Israelis at risk. Our approach is to be engaged, not disengaged, Bibeau told reporters. As a member of UNRWAs oversight board, she pledged, Canada will remain vigilant. Advertisement Also on HuffPost OTTAWA The Liberal government is preparing to expand the voting rights of non-resident Canadians, The Huffington Post Canada has learned. Canadians who have lived abroad for more than five years are essentially banned from casting a ballot right now. They cannot receive a special mail-in ballot, and although they can technically come to Canada vote in person, they have a near impossible task of proving residency here. Advertisement Two sources told HuffPost that Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef is looking at tabling legislation that would give expatriate Canadians the right to vote by special ballot no matter how long they have been away. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a case in February involving two Canadians who live in the United States and want to vote. Jamie Duong and Gillian Frank first challenged the law in an Ontario court and won in 2014, placing an estimated 1.4 million Canadians back on the voter rolls, but the Conservative government successfully appealed the ruling before last years election. In a statement last month, Monsef announced that the federal government had filed a memorandum of argument defending the current restrictions on non-resident Canadian citizens a move that angered many expats who felt the Liberals were betraying their campaign commitment. Advertisement During the 2015 election, the party told the Canadian Expat Association: We believe that all Canadians should have a right to vote, no matter where they live, and we are committed to ensuring this is the case. In her October statement, Monsef signalled that legislation would be introduced before the end of the year that would meet the needs of highly mobile Canadian citizens who live in todays increasingly interconnected world but she did not elaborate. 'I don't see how you can take off our rights' Greg Clark, a retired drama teacher from Alberta who recently moved to Arizona with his wife, a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen, praised the news. His wife spent 40 years living in Canada and was always allowed to cast a ballot in U.S. elections, Clark told HuffPost. I dont see how you can take off our rights, he said. The only justification he could understand, he said, was that he wasnt paying taxes and therefore he couldnt vote. Im 68 years old. It just sounds really unfair. The United States doesnt do that, if youre a citizen you can vote, no matter where you live. But not Canada. It just sounds so un-Canadian, Clark said. Advertisement The United States allows expats to vote, but their worldwide income is also subject to U.S. income tax. It shouldnt be up to the government to give or take away our right to vote." In an interview, Frank, one of the two men who initiated the case, called the impending changes fantastic. But he urged the federal government to stop fighting his court case so that the rights of expats could be made permanent and not subject to the whims of future governments. It shouldnt be up to the government to give or take away our right to vote. I think it should be a permanent feature guaranteed by the court, he said. Advertisement After the 2006 election, for example, Elections Canada restricted the right of expats to vote by no longer allowing those who visit Canada to restart the five-year clock. Melanie Wise, a spokesperson with Elections Canada, explained then that the agency had reviewed the parliamentary debate and found MPs intended that there be a five-year limit. We clarified that the five-year period begins from the date the elector leaves Canada to live abroad and remains in effect until the date the elector returns to Canada to reside. Merely visiting Canada does not constitute returning to reside, she wrote in an email. Frank said the agencys decision purged thousands of people from the voting rolls, although the agency could not confirm a precise number. Many countries have voting restrictions for non-residents Giving expats the right to vote no matter how long they have been away is bound to be controversial. Two years ago, when the Conservatives attempted to introduce Bill C-50, the Citizen Voting Act, very restrictive legislation designed to make it onerous for expatriates to vote, the Tories noted that many like-minded democracies place restrictions on voting by non-residents. Advertisement In Germany, non-residents can vote only if they have lived abroad for fewer than 25 years. In the Britain, the limit is 15 years; in Australia, its six years; in New Zealand, three. In Ireland, the Conservative government noted at the time, expats cannot vote at all. In other words, Canada generally has more generous enfranchisement than similar democracies, the Tories stated. I think the act of citizenship gives you the right to vote. I dont think we should have second-class citizens." Frank believes there should be no limit on the right of non-residents to vote. I think the act of citizenship gives you the right to vote. I dont think we should have second-class citizens. I dont think we should divide up citizens. I think that Canadians who care to learn who is running, who request a ballot, who fill it in, who send it in that act alone establishes their connection to the democracy and reaffirms their commitment and participation to it, he said. There are lots of Canadians who live highly mobile lives, who live part time in Canada or in proximity to the country, who continue to return, who continue to maintain property, who continue to pay taxes and who hope one day to return and who shouldnt be disenfranchised, he added. Advertisement The mark of citizenship is citizenship, it is not chronology or duration of time away, he said. We cant subdivide, because that is potentially arbitrary and punitive. Monsef exploring where expats should vote Monsefs office has also been discussing where expats should be allowed to vote. Former democratic reform minister Pierre Poilievre raised the spectre that expats could shop around for ridings, deciding where to cast a ballot in places that could help swing races. The law does not, however, allow expats to choose a new riding at every election. Once non-residents have registered a Canadian residency, they may vote in only that riding until they return permanently to Canada. Monsef is also expected to introduce legislation before years end to update the Tories controversial Fair Elections Act. The Grits intend to expand the mandate of the chief electoral officer so the office can better inform Canadians not only how and when to vote but why it is important to vote. Monsef also intends to change the identification requirements to allow those without ID to vote. The Tories had scrapped the use of vouching and the use of voter cards as proof of address. Also on HuffPost Maryam Monsef, Democratic Institutions Minister See Gallery Bloomberg via Getty Images The disbelief, confusion and outrage trickled through my social media feed as Friday morning journalism classes began at City, University of London. Incredulity ran like wildfire as myself and my classmates discovered that our own student union had decided that "there is no place for The Sun, Daily Mail or Express" on our campus. Advertisement And do you know what the most hilarious thing is about this ban? It is part of a policy to oppose social divisiveness. There's definitely no denying that a large proportion of City's students scoff, gasp and roll their eyes at the content of certain newspapers. "Every time I see a copy of The Sun on a shelf in the newsagents, I make sure I cover it up with just about any other newspaper," my Magazine Journalism colleague Hebe Hatton tells me as we speculate over the decision. However, that is not to say that each newspaper does not have value, regardless of its editorial content. It is certainly not the case that any one publication has more of a right to be sold, read or discussed on any university campus. Perhaps the biggest irony in this situation is that City, University of London is home to one of the best journalism schools in the country. Having studied at City for two months, what I am absolutely sure of is its involvement with a range of media organisations, and its acceptance of students from all walks of life. There are students from over 160 countries studying at City. Advertisement It is as dangerous for City to ban these newspapers as it would be to promote their most extreme, sensational headlines. We should be concentrating on promoting unity and solidarity in the face of the divides that are appearing across societies all around the world. In a world where there is so much hatred and division that a pussy-grabbing misogynist like Trump can be elected President of the United States, and where a vote for Brexit was seen by so many as a banishment of immigrants "back to their own country", we should be focussing on what unites us, not what views we would rather not bother ourselves with. These views exist, and banning the publication of them is a rather arrogant form of censorship, believing that one institution knows better about what the majority should be reading. The Sun, for instance, has the largest circulation of any daily newspaper in the UK, with 1,672,217 copies being distributed daily. It's been accused of misogynistic content, as well as demonisation of racial minorities, but it represents a large cohort of the country and, to a certain extent, their views. These views may not be shared by City's Student Union, but they are views nonetheless. How many hours have liberal-minded millenials spent exhausting ourselves trying to find some elusive middle ground on these views with various family members? Brexit, the refugee crisis, the US election. There is undeniably an exhaustive list of things to avoid discussing over the Christmas period, and it keeps getting longer. But it's time we stopped avoiding these discussions. It's time we concentrated on opening the floor for debate, and fighting for the consensus and unity we have so clearly lost. Advertisement I'm not saying that City's Student Union doesn't have a responsibility to oppose "fascism and social divisiveness in the UK media", it absolutely does. We all do. But what we must do is debate. We must try to understand each other. We must not silence any one voice in the hopes that it'll go away if we ignore it long enough. Henrik Sorensen via Getty Images 'I am going to make it through this year / If it kills me.' - The Mountain Goats, This Year Today is International Men's Day. CALM, Campaign Against Living Miserably, launches a new music project called 'Torch Songs', which invites any male musician to cover the song they go to for comfort and inspiration when life darkens. Advertisement The response from a narrow call out to UK artists has been overwhelming. Over 30 artists are participating in the coming weeks, led by the likes of Years + Years, The Vaccines and Twin Atlantic. A truly male chorus. Songs will be made available to radio and to stream on Spotify, iTunes and YouTube as well as on torchsongs.co.uk. UK songwriter Frank Turner has chosen to cover a song by John Darnielle, leader of cult US indie-folk act, The Mountain Goats, as his personal torch. Celebrated writers like Frank and his hero John give exquisite voice to the average man. Giving such raw expression to the emotional lives of normal people is a tradition dating back to the blues and the earliest folk music. Interestingly, the form known as a Torch Song arose from the tradition of French chanteuse singing laments of unrequited or lost loves - since co-opted by any writer singing from the heart. Now we've re-appropriated the thought for men as songs that guide us out of the dark. So why is that male voice so compelling for us? In 2016 CALM has just completed its first 10 years trying to surface and confront the horrifying facts of male suicide in the UK. In 2015, 75% of all suicides were men (NISRA, GRO, ONS 2015). In fact 4618 men took their own lives. That's a staggering 12 men a day, or one man every 2 hrs. Suicide continues to be the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45. While our work has contributed to the increase in awareness of these facts, now standing a little more than a 30% of the UK population, CALM continues to wrestle alongside the men it supports with the unflinching expectations on young men - that they prove themselves infallible, stoic and strong. What kind of real man shows weakness? Most alarmingly, to men in crisis choosing to take one's life is for them perhaps the greatest act of masculinity. Advertisement At the same time, it is commonly alleged that, unlike women, men simply cannot articulate what is going on beneath that robust exterior. Maybe worse they feel very little; and they certainly will not seek help when the darkness falls. So perhaps the driving forces of the statistics are genetic? Unlike those rare musicians, are men programmed to not speak up and share their innermost anxieties? In receiving over 6000 calls a month to our helpline, we would beg to differ. Men can find the words. They do want help and inspiration to find a way through. And yes, they are in touch with their emotions. Rather it's just the definition of their roles in the world that remain inflexible, whilst those of female counterparts continue to stretch. Men suffocate and cannot find the right space to say so. Which is why at CALM we have turned to musicians to re-appropriate the Torch Song as a means of offering some handles on this issue. To provide some guard-rails to guide us all out of the dark. Demonstrating the songs they go to for their moment of inspiration, which might in turn provoke public debate, create the cultural space and so mobilize men to speak up. Advertisement Many young men turn to music or writing as a means of navigating life's trials. As a Manager myself of four young male artists, their innate need to articulate their deepest thoughts is ever-present - as a means of exorcism, self-defense, or celebration of their genetic make-up. The music world has changed radically since the 80s and 90s heyday when music was paid for (how very quaint). Now artists like mine face the punishing insecurities of a life in music. But these men have a muscle they have to flex. In their minds, music is what they do. There is no plan B. It defines their masculinity as much as the Athlete or Captain of Industry. Their need to write and shape their identity around their words and musical form is genetic. And in so doing they can connect intimately to any listener, and if they achieve that kind of platform, to the masses. At the same time, I am father to an 11-year-old boy who has grown up in the midst of a barrage of musical influence. He too sees music as a way of putting voice to and framing his young life - right now it's largely Grime. For every artist he overhears in my world, he finds his own who connects directly to his burgeoning world-view. So in a year in which the music world has lost some its most enduring and distinctive male voices - Bowie, Prince, Cohen - it is time to celebrate the power of the male voice. Men do have a voice. They can and should use it. Whether considered a form of decompression or activism, that voice can connect with the ears of those willing to listen. Maybe we all should spend a little more time giving those voices the space to speak up? Advertisement Every man can make it through this year. No, it doesn't need to kill them. James Scroggs is Chair of Trustees for CALM HuffPost UK is running a month-long focus around men to highlight the pressures they face around identity and to raise awareness of the epidemic of suicide. To address some of the issues at hand, Building Modern Men presents a snapshot of life for men, the difficulty in expressing emotion, the challenges of speaking out, as well as kick starting conversations around male body image, LGBT identity, male friendship and mental health. U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Al) speaks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 18, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar Questions and Controversy Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), President-Elect Donald J. Trump's new nominee for United States Attorney General, was one of the chief opponents of the Shepard-Byrd Hate Crime Act passed by Congress in 2009 over his vigorous objections. Significant questions are arising about his nomination and the future of hate crime enforcement during the next administration because the Act specifically mandates the Attorney General's approval for all federal enforcement under its provisions. Senator Sessions' nomination has drawn sharp rebukes from civil rights advocates and some politicians. "It is unimaginable that he could be entrusted to serve as the chief law enforcement officer for this nation's civil rights laws," stated NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund President, Sherilynn Ifill. Previously, Mr. Sessions' nomination to the federal judiciary was rejected by the Senate, in part over alleged racially offensive comments, prior to his election as senator. He was eventually appointed to the very same committee that rejected his judgeship. Advertisement The Shepard-Byrd Hate Crime Act The federal hate crime law at issue was named after Mathew Shepard, a young gay Wyoming college student, who died in 1998 after being tortured and strung to a remote prairie fence and Texan James Byrd, an African-American who was chained and violently dismembered after being dragged behind a pick-up truck earlier that same year by white supremacists. The Act named in their memory expanded federal criminal law protections for violent racial hate crimes and added new protected categories such as sexual orientation, gender identity and disability. In addition, the statute allows funds and investigative resources to be directed by the Justice Department to local authorities to assist them with often onerous hate crime prosecutions. The legislation also expands the mandate of the Hate Crimes Statistics Act to cover gender and gender identity. To limit its use, unlike most federal criminal statutes, the new hate crime law specifically mandates various procedural conditions be established. These include the approval of the Attorney General, or a hand picked designee, for any prosecution to move forward. Since Senator Sessions opposes federal hate crime law, it remains an open question if he would act to derail the decision of career prosecutors to pursue cases. The Act was signed into law by President Obama in October 2009 and became operational the following year. The Act punishes violence and attempts involving bodily injury through firearms, fire, explosives, and other dangerous devices. Senator Sessions slammed the Act earlier in 2009, stating it is "a broad power that we give to the Attorney General and a broad statute I don't believe is compelled by the facts [about hate crime] that are happening in America today." In 2009 the FBI enumerated 6,600 hate crimes. Just this week the FBI released data showing 5,850 incidents, a 6.8 percent annual increase in reported hate crime overall, largely in line with our estimates. The data also confirmed our Center's previous estimate of about 260 anti-Muslim hate crimes nationwide, a 67 percent annual increase and the second highest level since recordation began in 1992. The Bureau of Justice Statistics previously estimated that the actual number of hate crime victimizations overall are far higher at about 294,000. The sparingly-used law, found at 18 U.S.C. 249, improved on another loophole-ridden, decades-old criminal civil rights statute, 18 U.S.C. 245, passed in 1968, in two main ways. First, it extended group protection to categories not covered in the older law like gender, gender identity, disability, and sexual orientation. Federal law previously covered only race, color, religion, and national origin. However, these new categories, like some earlier ones, are only protected in the new law when the bigoted crimes also affect interstate commerce. This is because of federal jurisdictional requirements found in the Constitution's Commerce Clause, Article I, Section 8; which establishes limits on Congressional legislative authority. In today's interconnected nation, this regulatory authority is quite broad, though not unlimited. Many of the most important federal civil rights laws banning racial and other forms of discrimination in employment and public accommodations, like hotels and restaurants, rely on this critical Constitutional clause. Advertisement Because of post-Civil War constitutional amendments, Congress has greater latitude to protect people from violent acts based on race, and this law expands those racial protections beyond the limited activity categories found in older laws. This now closed loophole was dramatically illustrated when a federal district court jury acquitted serial race killer Joseph Paul Franklin for the near fatal sniper attack on then Urban League President Vernon Jordan outside a Fort Wayne, Indiana hotel in 1980. While the jury was convinced that the attack was motivated by race, they nonetheless acquitted because existing law bootstrapped a requirement that the assailant also have committed the attack to interfere with Jordan's right to stay at the hotel. Sessions Questioned Need and Constitutionality of Hate Crime Law Senator Sessions, who previously served fifteen years as a federal prosecutor, delivered a blistering attack in a floor statement on the legislation before the Senate on July 20, 2009. Among his stated grievances: "I think two questions should be asked initially. First, is this a crime that uniquely affects a Federal interest, and can it be addressed by an effective and enforceable statute? Second, have local police and sheriffs' offices failed to protect and prosecute this vital interest?" Ironically, Alabama, Mr. Session's home state answers his second question quite well. It is among a handful of states with the worst record of hate crime recordation and enforcement by authorities of any in the Union. Despite having a hate crime law, in 2015, Alabama, with a population 4.9 million, recorded only 10 hate crimes, while neighboring Tennessee, with a population of 6.6 million counted 221 hate crimes. In 2009, Alabama counted only nine. According to the FBI few Alabama law enforcement agencies meaningfully participate in hate crime reporting. Advertisement Despite the Supreme Court's unanimous approval of both state hate crime laws in Wisconsin v. Mitchell, 508 US 476 (1993), and various other federal civil rights laws, Mr. Sessions railed against its passage. "The hate crimes amendment is unwarranted, possibly unconstitutional -- certainly, I believe it is unconstitutional in certain parts -- and it violates the basic principle of equal justice under the law. The hate crimes amendment to this bill has been said to cheapen the civil rights movement." The statute has not come up for a Supreme Court challenge in the six years it has been operational. What Happens When Billionaires Dominate the Charitable Sector? The last couple of years have been boom years for philanthropy. Total donations from individuals, foundations and corporations rose in 2015 to over $373 billion, a 10 percent increase since 2013. But behind this statistic is a troubling trend. The charitable sector is getting a growing number of mega-donations from wealthy donors and experiencing a parallel decline in donations by low and middle-income household. According to new study that we co-authored, Gilded Giving: Top Heavy Philanthropy in an Age of Extreme Inequality, the U.S. is moving toward a philanthropic sector dominated and controlled by billionaire mega-donors, their foundations, and donor-advised funds. This has dangerous implications for the independent nonprofit sector and the health of U.S. democracy. Advertisement Charitable contributions by the wealthy have risen significantly in the last decade. Between 2003 and 2013, itemized contributions from people making $10 million or more increased by 104 percent. The number of private grant-making foundations, mostly established by wealthy individuals and their families, doubled since 1993, from 43,956 to 86,726 in 2015. Meanwhile, charitable giving by low and middle-income donors has steadily declined. From 2003 to 2013, itemized charitable deductions by donors making less than $100,000 declined by 34 percent. Low-dollar and midrange donors to national public charities declined by 25 percent from 2005 to 2015. One explanation is rising economic inequality. There is a high correlation between donor declines and economic insecurity indicators such as declining wages, homeownership and employment rates. This top-heavy philanthropy is bad for the independent nonprofit sector as it contributes to funding unpredictability and a growing focus on wooing and maintaining a finite number of mega-donors. Depending on a small number of wealthy donors also increases the risk of mission drift, as donors press their particular interests and projects. Advertisement But the biggest peril is for our wider civil society and democracy. Private foundations can become blocks of concentrated unaccountable power with considerable clout in shaping our culture. They can become extensions of personal power, privilege, and influence for a handful of wealthy families. This can lead to a wide range of abuses. In 2013, the Minnesota-based Otto Bremer Foundation gave out $38 million in grants and paid their three trustees a total of $1.2 million to make the decisions. Two of the trustees, Brian Lipchultz and Daniel Reardon, paid themselves over $465,000 each. "It's just an outrageously high level of compensation for trustee service," said Aaron Dorfman, executive director of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy. "These institutions get tremendously preferential tax treatment," he told The Pioneer Press. "And because of the tax-exempt status they enjoy, the rest of us pay higher taxes and, in effect, subsidize nonprofit tax-exempt charitable foundations." Indeed, taxpayers have a legitimate interest in the conduct of private charities. The rest of us subsidize up to 50 cents of every dollar that wealthy donors shift into the charitable sector. The wealthier the donor and the bigger the gift, the greater the amount of tax revenue lost from income and estate taxes. Advertisement Some wealthy people use foundations and donor-advised funds as an extension of a tax avoidance strategy along side off-shore tax havens and opaque trusts that hide wealth. When reducing or avoiding taxes is a significant driver of philanthropic giving, the urgency of moving funds directly to charities on the ground becomes a secondary consideration. By creating and giving to private foundations, donors receive immediate tax deductions for the full amount of their donations, but are required to make only minimal payouts over time. A similar warehousing of wealth occurs with donor advised funds. The Fidelity Charitable Fund, an arm of Fidelity Investments, just surpassed United Way as the largest recipient of charitable contributions. These philanthropic assets that may sit for years or decades after the initial tax deduction has been taken and before any significant payout. Charity Watch estimates that the growth of donor-advised funds has delayed an estimated $15 billion in donations to public charities. In a troubling number of cases, wealthy families of all political persuasions have been able to deploy private foundation assets to advance a narrow set of interests under the guise of philanthropy. For example, donors can use large donations to private schools and universities to secure admissions for their progeny. Foundations in affluent public school districts allow parents to make tax-deductible contributions to support their children's schools, compounding inequalities between rich and poor school districts. Wealthy donors fund nonprofit think tanks and tax exempt advocacy groups that further a wealth-protection agenda in the political arena. As journalist Jane Mayer has documented in her book Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right, a segment of multi-millionaire donors have "weaponized philanthropy" to advance a self-interested public policy agenda of tax cuts, deregulation, and opposition to climate change policy. Advertisement The last time the legal rules governing the charitable sector were overhauled was 1969. Congress should modernize these rules, in this new era of inequality, to protect the independent sector, expand giving by low and middle-income households, prohibit the warehousing of wealth, and protect the integrity of our tax system. Rule changes could include increasing incentives for low and middle-income donors, capping the charitable deduction for high-end donors, and requiring greater board independence. Rules governing donor-advised funds should require timely distributions. Lawmakers should levy a lifetime cap on tax-deductible charitable giving to ensure that those who possess some of the largest fortunes in the United States cannot use such deductions to entirely dodge tax obligations through donations and bequests. To fundamentally address the perils of top-heavy philanthropy, the public must demand that policymakers reduce concentrations of wealth and power in our society at large. This includes closing loopholes and restoring steeply progressive income and wealth taxation. And under a Trump administration, we will be required to defend the federal estate tax, our nation's only levy on the inherited wealth of multi-millionaires and billionaires. Without action, we could drift further toward an oligarchy of wealth, with family-controlled becoming an extension of private power. Originally Published at Common Dreams. *** See the Gilded Giving report HERE. There is a kind of pain that not everyone experiences. The kind of pain that comes from communal abandonment. The kind of pain that maybe you would feel if one day you came to school and your whole friend group decided to embrace the kid who bullies you in class. And not only did they invite this bully into your friend group, but they made the bully in charge of your friend group. And not only did they make the bully in charge of your friend group, they tried to convince you that the bully was sincerely a good guy, that his abuse was accidental, that there was no intentionality in his blows. And further, that as a result of some shallow repentance, your pain and feelings about this bully are now illegitimate. And not only is your pain delegitimized, but they utilize God as a tool to do it. "God is in charge" they say, "you have no reason to fear your abuser, because God is on the throne". This scenario happened to me five, ten, fifteen times on the day of Trump's election. As I scrolled facebook, my Christian mentors and friends proudly declared their support for Trump. With every post, my heart broke -- shattered. I read an article the following day that said four out of five white Evangelicals voted for Trump, and though I wholeheartedly agree that the intersection of white supremacy and Christianity had a heavy-hand in producing the election results, those on my timeline that declared a vote for Trump as analogous to the "will of God" were multiracial. Advertisement This truth, the painful reality that Christians who truly love God could somehow skip over Trump's insidious, vile, racist, misogynistic, islamophobic, xenophobic, ableist, white supremacist rhetoric, made me realize that the problems within the Evangelical church, to some degree, transcend race. The Evangelical church has a heart problem; The Evangelical church has a fear problem. A fear of progress, a fear of standing with marginalized groups, a fear of stepping out of the strict boundaries that it has placed on the Love of God. In the face of a changing more accepting America, the Evangelical church had two choices: to stand at the forefront of progress, or to halt its advancement; They chose the latter. Why? Because the Evangelical church has become a two-issue establishment. An establishment that foregoes the basic needs of its congregation and hyper-focuses on how people navigate their bodies sexually. However, God is not a two-issue God. God is a God of the human condition, a God that examines us in our fullness. Donald Trump is not next to Godliness because he is anti-LGBTQ and anti-abortion, that simply makes him next to conservatism. And yes, normally I would agree with the response of Evangelical Christians, that one's Christian-character is not subject to their political candidate, but this time, this election, it is. God is bipartisan, but His call on us to love one another should influence our socio-political actions, specifically if our political behavior could interrupt another's basic human-rights. Advertisement To my white Christian friends that voted for Trump. Your vote makes you complicit in increased state violence against Black and Brown bodies, increased incarceration of Black and Brown bodies, increased violence against Black and Brown trans bodies, increased violence against Black and Brown Queer bodies, increased violence against Muslim bodies, increased racism towards Black and Brown immigrants, and the list continues. To my Black and Brown Christian friends that voted for Trump you are complicit with these same systems. This truth is problematic, and it is further disheartening that when these issues are brought to your attention that you dissociate your political decision from these adverse social consequences. Or worse, that you flip the conversation in such a way that my anger is not a result of your actions, but rather the manifestation of some Religious deficiency on my part. I am not "trusting God" or I am failing to "wait on God's justice." I am going to say this once, and once only, do not use the Bible to placate mine or other marginalized peoples' pain and trauma, it will not work and we are not satisfied. It is time for the Evangelical church to open up a conversation. A very real conversation about politics, race, and trauma, because although I saw Christians across the racial spectrum vote for Trump inside of my statistically insignificant bubble, Trump's overall Evangelical vote was astoundingly white. 81% of White Evangelicals voted for Trump, while 88% of African-Americans overall voted for Hillary. That is concerning, shocking, and frankly abhorrent. Advertisement I believe these statistics elucidate a lack of understanding within the Evangelical church of the ways in which racial justice aligns with God's justice. It is my hope to soon begin facilitating discussions that will show Evangelicals that God is not a two-issue God, that his reach is so much deeper than our sexuality and reproductive choices. That he is concerned for the whole body, and right now, the Christian body is in painful disarray. If you want to know why the country is divided, you need look no further than an article this week by Fox News' Sean Hannity. He claims he wants everyone to come together and give President-elect Donald Trump a chance, yet he can't help but lambast the very same people for the recent rash of protests popping up around the country. Like many conservatives, Hannity attempts to delegitimize the dissent by suggesting they are being organized by "professional protesters" as though there are no authentic reasons to oppose Trump. But the bigger and far more damaging issue here is that Hannity and other conservatives are labeling the people participating in these demonstrations as "crybabies". The problem with such righteous indignation and deriding some liberal's response to the election is the ignorance and hypocrisy it represents. If you take a look back at how conservatives conducted themselves over the past eight years, it makes you wonder where does someone like Sean Hannity get off calling anyone else a crybaby. Hannity himself once said of President Obama - "he's not my president". The same phrasing that conservatives are now chastising as un-American. Of course this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to duplicity of conservative rhetoric. For example, have conservatives forgotten the Tea Party protests that most conservative media outlets supported? Have they suppressed the memory of the people shouting down elected officials and getting in fist fights at town hall meetings? Have they contracted amnesia regarding the number of times Republican legislators symbolically voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act? Are they oblivious to the rapid increase in hate groups and militias not seen since Bill Clinton was in office? Are they ignoring the massive jump in gun sales after each of the two previous elections over irrational fears that guns would soon be outlawed? Have they blocked out their rallys supporting those who spoke out for denying same sex couples their rights guaranteed under the constitution? Don't they recall the rolling coal movement where conservatives removed the emissions controls from their vehicles in protest of government restrictions aimed at lowering CO2 emissions? Have their efforts to add restrictions to voters, who just happen to mainly vote for Democrats, slipped their minds? Don't they remember the daily and sometimes violent protesting outside of abortion clinics despite the issue being settled by the Supreme Court over four decades ago? And have they no recollection of the birther movement where a majority of Republicans supported the idea that President Obama wasn't born in the U.S. and therefore was not qualified to be president? So while Sean Hannity and others suggest that protesting after the election isn't how adults act, you'll have to forgive liberals if they have trouble accepting such criticism from a group of people who have spent the past eight years acting like a bunch of children who didn't get their way. The people flipping cars and damaging stores in protest don't represent the vast majority of the 68 million people that didn't vote for Trump. For most non-Trump voters, protester or not, there are plenty of legitimate reasons to oppose his policies. Dismissing these because your guy won the Electoral College certainly doesn't represent the best of a democracy. While Hannity and other conservatives think liberals should be embarrassed by the protesters, the people who should really be embarrassed here are those that are suddenly offended by vocal opposition to the government after nearly a decade of doing the exact same thing. If you want to bring the country together, admit that your side was no better than the Americans you are now calling crybabies; because, if you want to act like the adult in the conversation you're going to have to take a little personal responsibility for your own immature actions. I love movies about great heists, like Bonnie and Clyde, Heat, or Reservoir Dogs. The characters in these stories are fascinating, and even though they are scoundrels, you can't help but like them. I'll often find myself even rooting for them. But inevitably, they get caught, and I am reminded that crime doesn't usually pay. Of course, the bad guys usually get their comeuppance on the big screen. In the real world, some of the most audacious thieves get away with their crimes and misdeeds. Many of history's greatest heists have gone unpunished. Worse still, the punishment was administered to someone other than the perpetrator. And unlike the movies, the victims of these historical heists are not banks or museums, but ordinary people -- and the loot is usually a lot more than a few million dollars. The methods employed in these real-life crimes can be either overt or covert. Let me start with a well-known example from the history books. Advertisement In 1532, an illiterate, second-rate conquistador named Francisco Pizarro changed the course of history by conquering the Incan Emperor, Atahualpa. He achieved this with less than 200 men, by first tricking the Emperor, then holding him hostage until he revealed the location of his vast gold holdings. Pizarro then demonstrated his gratitude by executing Atahualpa for his lack of faith in Jesus and looting the wealth. It was the largest treasure trove any European had ever encountered. And the Spanish looting of the Incan treasures was the largest transfer of wealth in global history, up to that point. Incredibly, Pizarro pulled off this caper without firing a single shot. First the Spanish plundered the Emperor's massive collection of gold artifacts. They followed up by enslaving the Incan people, who were forced to mine whatever gold and silver they could find. Pizarro's campaign created the foundation of the Spanish Empire. However, it didn't take long for the Spaniards to make the same classic mistakes every great power in history makes. In just over 100 years, they squandered this new-found wealth on consumption and unnecessary wars, leading the empire into a spectacular series of bankruptcies. For a more recent and covert example of a real-life crime, scroll forward 600 years to the reign of an over-educated economist named Ben Bernanke, who also changed the course of history. As chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, he inherited the cozy relationship his predecessor Alan Greenspan had developed with Wall Street and took it to levels America had never seen before. Advertisement Under the guise of saving the economy from the 2008 financial crisis, Bernanke became the patsy for an elite group of Americans. It took but a few strokes of the keyboard to create trillions of dollars of new money out of thin air. In broad daylight and in just one decade, a very elite .1% of Americans undertook the largest and stealthiest transfer of wealth this world has ever seen. Again, not a shot was fired. This "easy money" was supposed to get the economy going. We were told that banks would lend to consumers, allowing them to buy homes, cars, etc. Companies would make capital investments; that would create jobs. It didn't quite work out that way. Unfortunately, free money was available ONLY to those who did not need it. If you were a blue-collar worker in Ohio or Wisconsin, borrowing became even more difficult than before the crisis. But for wealthy individuals, hedge funds, and corporations, banks were much more accommodating. In fact, the banks virtually threw money at them. And the best part was its cost -- practically free! I know many wealthy people who can borrow bucket loads of money at 2%. A wealthy individual can take that "free" money and buy real assets (stocks, real estate, art, toys) and watch those assets multiply in value, as they have done for the past decade. Incredibly, by 2015, the top .1% of the population owned 22% of total personal wealth in the U.S. That's the same amount of personal wealth owned by the entire bottom 90%. Since 2000 alone, the amount of wealth this relatively small group of elites added was a staggering $12 trillion! This group (approximately 300,000 people) is now worth a collective $20 trillion -- an amount that would make even Pizarro seethe with envy. Advertisement Corporations used the "free money" to buy back shares, refinance more expensive debt or pay dividends. In the process, shareholders, board members and CEOs grew richer. The Fed's promises fell flat -- the capital investments didn't materialize. Meanwhile, the trillions of dollars in corporate treasuries not used for share buybacks or paying dividends sit idle. And let's not forget what "free money" has done to encourage profligate spending by the national government. So, who were the victims of this crime? Mostly the savers who were getting 0% interest on their bank deposits and treasury bills. Also, anyone on a fixed income who was unable to compete with rising values in almost every asset class. In summary, the Fed's easy money policy has widened this unprecedented wealth gap. Easy money was an unnecessary, man-made distortion that had nothing to do with the real economy and only served to make the wealthy a lot wealthier. In the meantime, the middle class shrank and the average American's savings were lapped by rapidly rising asset prices. Although most people can feel the effects of this growing wealth gap, almost no one can explain how it came about. Central bank monetary policy is a very complex topic. So complex most politicians can't explain how it works or its effects. It's the type of covert theft where it's virtually impossible to identify the culprits. Why? Because it's not one person or a group of people -- it's an entire system that manufactures this outcome. Because there is no one to pin it on, it is the perfect crime. The worst part is that there seems to be no public discourse on this subject ... certainly not by the mainstream media. Advertisement And if the crime itself were not devastating enough, its byproducts make our future very scary. Given that most people only feel the effects of being left behind, it is relatively easy for unscrupulous politicians to prey on their fear and anger by creating scapegoats. Citizens who have watched their standard of living steadily erode then blame these scapegoats -- think immigrants, trade agreements, political opponents -- for everything that makes them feel disenfranchised. Throughout history, the rich and powerful have always preyed on the poor ... nothing new here. As long as the theft is kept to a minimum, people accept it as just the way things are. But with the U.S. now having the highest wealth inequality of the world's top 55 countries, no wonder the electorate is losing its mind. We are at a dangerous moment in history. This is not a movie, it's real. We are just seeing the beginnings of a growing appeal for radical political thought and the rise of demagoguery. If the trend continues, this anger can manifest into something far more dangerous. For a hint about possible outcomes, just consult any history book. Unfortunately, the damage is done and I don't expect the very wealthy to give back what they've gained, with a few exceptions. However, it's not too late. It might take a miracle, but the .1% could just rise to the challenge and show some foresight and compassion. There are many ways to utilize excess wealth, through either traditional philanthropy or by investing in education or industries that create real jobs at home. People protest the appointment of white nationalist alt-right media mogul, former Breitbart News head Steve Bannon, to be chief strategist of the White House by President-elect Donald Trump on November 16, near City Hall in Los Angeles, California. / AFP / DAVID MCNEW (Photo credit should read DAVID MCNEW/AFP/Getty Images) Commentary on the U.S. elections has shifted from postmortems to predictions; from how did Donald Trump win, to what will he do now that he has won. Projecting what any president-elect will do is often a fool's errand and in Trump's case is made even more difficult by the fact that it's not at all certain that he knows what he'll do. Running a government is different than running for office. Campaigning is, at least on one important level, an individual sport. A candidate can go out and say whatever works for an adoring audience. Governing, on the other hand, requires a competent and compliant team effort and the ability to manage or adapt to many competing social and political realities. As a result, turning promises into policy often involves messy compromise. Advertisement It already appears that the president-elect is tempering or even walking back from many of the positions he articulated during the campaign. Remember the "big beautiful wall that Mexico will pay for"? Well, it now appears that it won't exactly be a "wall," but very tough security at the border -- and Mexico won't be paying for it after all. And not all eleven million undocumented immigrants will be rounded up and deported, only the two to three million who have criminal records -- something President Obama has already been doing. Similarly, after being briefed on the provisions of "Obamacare," Trump now appears to have concluded that, instead of scraping the whole thing, there are some good aspects of the legislation that should be protected with improvements being made to make health care more affordable. It even appears that he is approaching the once reviled the "Iran Deal" a bit more cautiously, suggesting that instead of tearing it up, he may opt for more strenuous enforcement. The reality is that far from being the captain of the team, a president is often the captive of his team and of the world, as he finds it. In the first instance, the president must rely of the information he receives from those who he has appointed, just as he is dependent on their ability to execute his directives. That is why it is important to see who Trump appoints to sensitive administrative posts. While all we know about the President-elect's views are his top-of-mind pronouncements designed to elicit cheers at campaign rallies, his early roster of key staff appointments can provide some indication as to the direction his Administration may take on important issues. The fact that many are hardline ideologues is cause for concern. Advertisement The other factor that must be considered are the social and political realities that set the stage for the new president. While presidents set agendas for their administration, they are often judged not by how well they do in accomplishing the agenda they set, but in how effective they have been in responding to the agenda the world sets for them. Remember the ambitious Middle East program laid out by President Obama in his historic Cairo Speech. It was undone by an obstructionist Congress, an incorrigible hardline Israeli leader, and the unforeseen consequences of the "Arab Spring." While the president-elect has cryptically hinted that he seeks to cooperate with Russia in ending the conflict in Syria, his success depends on whether Congress will, in fact, work with him (some Republicans have already made it clear that they will not be supportive); whether or not Russia's interests, in fact, align with those of the U.S. (it appears that in anticipation of a more compliant Trump, the Russians are taking advantage by becoming even more aggressive in Syria); whether Iran will allow Russia to control their agenda; and whether Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and other regional partners will agree, as well. The president-elect has had multiple positions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Early on he said he wanted to remain neutral so he could be in a position to negotiate an end to the conflict. He also questioned U.S. aid to Israel and said he would not commit to taking a side on the issue of Jerusalem. As the campaign wore on, and after his scripted appearance at the annual AIPAC (the Israel lobby) conference, his position hardened into a lop-sided pro-Israel stance. He opposed a "Palestinian terror state", called for moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, and more, recently, his advisers have stated that Trump "does not believe that settlements are an obstacle to peace". Adding more confusion to this picture, just this week, in an interview, speaking of his interest in brokering a deal to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Trump said "I'd like to do it... for humanity's sake." But having been emboldened by Trump's victory, Israel's hardliners have begun to take steps to increase settlements and legalize the status of "illegal outposts." So even if the president-elect has had a change of heart and now wants to return to his more "neutral" posture, his own hardline staff and advisers and political forces in the U.S. and Israel will not make the effort an easy one. The bottom line is that it is not at all certain what Trump wants to do about these critical issues or what he can do. About the only thing that's clear to me is that this is a worrisome and unsettling state of affairs. What is of immediate concern on the domestic front are some of the appointments the president-elect has made and the policy direction they suggest. With General Michael Flynn as National Security Advisor, Steve Bannon as White House Senior Advisor, and Senator Jeff Sessions, as Attorney General -- we have every reason to fear for the impact they will have on civil liberties here in the U.S. The president-elect has walked back his "ban on Muslim immigrants." But with Bannon seeing the U.S. as leading the Judeo-Christian struggle against the East, Flynn saying that "Islam is a political ideology masked behind a religion, using religion as an advantage against us", and Sessions, who has demonstrated his contempt for civil rights and his anti-Muslim animus during his tenure in the Senate -- I am concerned that they will reinforce their boss' worst instincts. We may be one terrorist attack away from an unprecedented wave of repression. In the end, none of us really know what Donald Trump will do. What we do know is that he is uniquely unprepared for the job. That, coupled with his demonstrated impulsiveness and the frightening early choices he has made for key Administration posts, is enough to keep us worried about the fate of our nation. I am still baffled as are probably many around the world about what just happened in our American election. How could this so called dangerous and divisive man become president? Two words keep coming to me to explain this phenomenon: Blind Trust. Not just the so called Blind Trust that President Elect Donald Trump says will happen when he gives his businesses to his children, I am referring to the Blind Trust his supporters placed in him. To understand this anomaly we must look at the voting bloc that pulled the lever for him. Most are white, rural, working class people, many who have never voted before or are former Democrats and Union members. They are a disenfranchised, angry, and forgotten group that has been overlooked for decades going back to the 1980s when President Reagan allowed their jobs and factories to go overseas for corporate profit. Ironically, many of them are Reagan Democrats. Advertisement These blue-collar workers are still waiting to recover from the 2008 recession. Michael Moore, who warned of Trump's possibility of winning, chronicled in 1989 a documentary of this trend in Michigan called "Roger and Me." Moore is in touch with this angst and working class populism being from Flint, Michigan himself. He has recently released a documentary called "Trumpland" where he interviews Trump Michigan supporters at a town hall meeting. As Moore predicted the state went for Trump and it is usually a blue stalwart Democratic firewall. I don't believe all Trumpsters are racist, misogynist, and homophobic. They just want jobs and recognition and Trump's campaign rhetoric about bringing back steel and coal was music to their ears. No matter that the world is changing and these products are on the path of the iron forge and typewriter and cassette tapes and rotary phones. He promised through better trade deals to revive these industries despite climate change and technological advances. Blind Trust. We all should have had a clue to Trump's appeal to these folks when he was able to insult Senator John McCain as not a war hero and get away with it. In fact, his fans are so anti-establishment that they cheered every time he took on a career politician whether they were Republican or Democrat. They cheered when he called the media bad people. They cheered when he called his opponents liars and crooked politicians. They supported his war on "political correctness." His campaign followed no rules or standards of decency or ethics and the angry Trumpeters loved it. Trump is an equal opportunity insulter. They admired the way he never apologized or backed down from any incendiary remarks he made whether it was calling Mexicans criminals and rapists or wanting to ban all Muslims from entering the country. They consider our current president weak on foreign policy in leading from behind and not doing enough to combat terrorism and allowing too many illegal immigrants to enter our country including Muslims (even though this is largely untrue. Immigration from Mexico is down to zero and the amount of Syrian refugees is very small.) The more Trump put down President Obama the more they cheered. Blind Trust. Advertisement There have been studies made that showed that while Trump lambasted so many running against him as liars, he himself lied 78% of the time. His followers would never believe this because they felt he "told it like it is" and he would say politically incorrect things that other politicians never dared and that he was speaking their language. And President Elect Trump's admonishment of the media made his fans think they were the ones lying about him. Blind Trust. Trumpsters don't care that he has no government experience. In fact, they view that as an asset: the total outsider. Never mind the fact that he has influenced, or worked with politicians for decades to bolster his businesses, or hired illegal immigrants to build his buildings, or taken his factories overseas, or stiffed many contractors and workers, or bankrupted four of his casinos. They don't care. He said he was their voice. They would rather take a chance on the unknown than stick with the status quo. Blind Trust. As for Trump's promise to be the "law and order" candidate, they see that as someone who will support the police and put down rebellions from Black Lives Matter activists as well as bring back "stop and frisk" policies which is basically racial profiling. Despite Trump's outreach to the inner city communities saying how he will improve conditions (without specifics except for school choice), his followers believe he will keep them safe from minority uprisings. Ironically, his election has sparked spontaneous protests across the nation. Blind Trust. When the incriminating Access Hollywood tape came out that many thought would finally derail Trump's candidacy, the President Elect did something he hadn't done the entire campaign: apologize. He also dismissed his comments of being able to grope women as "locker room talk". His male supporters forgave him immediately. His female fans took a little longer but then they said Trump had repented and when the Director of the FBI came out 11 days before the election and said there were possibly more emails of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's to explore they switched back to their hero again. Never mind that it turned out to be nothing and James Comey found her not guilty again, the damage had been done. The dreams of having the first woman president were thwarted. Blind Trust. Some of these Trumpsters are the ones that candidate Barack Obama once said "clinged to their guns and religion." We can't underestimate the Evangelical Christian voters who are pro-lifers and Second Amendment folks. They were strong Trump supporters and he campaigned hard for their votes. Whether he will keep his promises to them remains to be seen. Blind Trust. Advertisement This is what brought us Donald J. Trump: Blind Trust. Blindness to the truth, blindness to his divisiveness, blindness to his inexperience, blindness to his narcissism, blindness to his vindictiveness, blindness to the dangerous rhetoric, blindness to his misogyny, blindness to his ties to the white nationalists and racists of the alt-right, blindness to his dangerous economic policies that will benefit the wealthy and create huge deficits that may take us back into a recession, blindness to his Russian ties, and blindness to the conflicts of interest he will have between running the country and supporting his world wide businesses (blindly trusted to his children.) We must never dismiss the angst and legitimate economic concerns of his rust belt supporters. That was something both parties are responsible for. But we have to do a better job of opening their eyes and uniting our country for all of our citizens. While Trump has called them the "silent majority", I don't believe that is true. Hillary Clinton did win the popular vote by close to 1 million. And 46% of the nation did not vote at all. But we must pay attention to the needs of all citizens and while I am skeptical that the President Elect can help these folks I will support him in areas of common interest as infrastructure building and LGBT causes and whatever else may benefit the country. But for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction and that is happening now all over the country as millions are mobilizing and coming up with plans on how to oppose our new president if the need arises. This past Tuesday, Barbara Boxer - the Senator from California and a 33-year veteran of the United States Congress - filed a bill to amend the Constitution to dissolve the Electoral College. Senator Boxer introduced the bill in order to make Hillary Clinton president. After all, Hillary Clinton lost the electoral vote but won the popular vote. Amending the Constitution requires a two-thirds majority of the U.S. Congress or two-thirds of states legislatures to propose an amendment. Three-quarters of the states through their legislatures or ratifying conventions then have to approve the Amendment. As of November 8, 2016, the Republican Party has a majority in the United States House of Representatives and the Senate. As of November 8, 2016, Republicans control thirty-two state legislatures. Considering the relative import of the Presidency, it seems unlikely that these Republican Majorities will support Senator Boxer's bill. I say this because I just do not want fans of the amendment to be disappointed when it definitely doesn't happen. Senator Boxer's proposed bill is a publicity vehicle and nothing more. It's actually a somewhat insulting publicity vehicle to anyone with a vague understanding of how the government works. Advertisement If you wanted Secretary Clinton to be President you should write a strongly worded letter to Senator Boxer tomorrow and condemn this act of political theater. If you wanted Donald Trump to win the Presidency you should write a thank-you note to Senator Boxer and every other establishment Politician on both sides of the aisle for making his upset victory possible. Such politicians have thrived in Washington D.C. for the past several decades. Rather than wielding their immense legislative power to help everyday Americans, they cheapened their mantle by mounting publicity stunts like this categorically impossible Constitutional amendment. Moreover, it worked. Heck, there is a reason Senator Boxer has been in Congress for over three decades. A far more mature and viable piece of legislation is a limit on Presidential War Power. Given, the expressed uneasiness of many Congressional Republicans toward a Trump Presidency and our Democratic President, such a measure could actually pass and not be vetoed. Moreover, the law would not require amending the Constitution of the United States of America. This is not a partisan issue. Such establishment tactics run rife on both sides of the aisle. Our representatives pull publicity stunts to swindle everyday Americans into thinking they are on their side and then bend over backwards to donors, special interests and lobbyists. Everybody wins except the everyday Americans. Voters, do you want to win elections? Grow up and show up. Show up to committee hearings, show up to canvass for your candidate and show up to vote. Don't be swindled by snake oil remedies into supporting establishment candidates. Before the time this article is published, Senator Boxer will have appeared on several news outlets claiming to be fighting for democracy, fairness and her constituents. Stop falling for this nonsense. This is not fighting. This is pure and simple politickin'. Senator Boxer knows this amendment cannot pass and it's time we call establishment politicians to the carpet for these half-baked publicity stunts. Advertisement Today more than ever, love is in order. As an Iranian-American Muslim woman of color living with a disability, I grieve for our country given the results of the latest presidential election. I was born in the United States. I love this nation. I have studied its laws and its flaws. As an author, attorney and activist, I have fought with my words and actions to make it a better place. But only recently have I come to realize that fighting isn't enough. Love is in order. As a longtime activist, I have spent decades fighting for justice and equality, often at a personal cost. I have received hate mail, death threats, rape threats and a seemingly endless array of nasty tweets, comments and Facebook messages. But worse than any of these has been the fact that for many years, my activism has often come exclusively from a place of ire and isolation. Today, I still ache and anger when I encounter injustice and bigotry. I still write, speak and show up in the street to protest it. But something fundamental has changed for me as an activist and as a human being lately, something that has allowed me to survive this vicious and divisive political era, sometimes in tears, but with my heart intact. Today, I prioritize love. Advertisement For two years now, I have been on a delightfully peculiar pilgrimage of my own making, studying an ancient mystic Persian poet who has fundamentally changed my modern manic life. Immersing myself in the verses of the 13th-century Sufi poet, Rumi, I've become reacquainted with timeless teachings in my own faith and culture that transcend both. Rumi advises, Love's nation of origin is separate from all creeds. For the lovers, God comprises all religions and nationalities. As a mystic, Rumi eschews borders, separations and divisions. Instead, he embraces unity, connectedness, and love. For him, ego is the ultimate saboteur. It makes us small and insecure, prone to arrogance and impermeable to love. It prevents us from connecting with each other and distances us from the Beloved--Who, ironically enough, rests within us. Advertisement Along this pilgrimage, I am learning to appreciate and implement Rumi's teachings under the expert tutelage of my 71-year-old father. For both of us, it has been an adventure like none other--to the point that now, in the midst of writing a book about the experience, I can't help but find Rumi everywhere. Today especially, I couldn't feel more grateful for this new habit. Upon hearing the election results, like so many around the world, I was shocked and appalled. I cried. I prayed. I paced. Soon enough though, true to form, Rumi came to my rescue. His words provided solace and succor in a moment of deep distress. You see, pretty much every part of my body, mind and soul experiences Donald Trump--that emotionally stunted xenophobic narcissist turned reality television star turned President-elect--as a visceral threat, ego incarnate. But Rumi has given me an opportunity to cope with this threat and the desperation it has evoked: a chance to implement one of the many lessons I've learned on my perpetual pilgrimage, a journey into the past that could be neither more relevant nor more reassuring in the present. In his six-volume masterpiece of more than 25,000 rhyming couplets, The Masnavi, Rumi counsels us thus: Welcome every guest, no matter how grotesque. Be as hospitable to calamity as to ecstasy, to anxiety as to tranquility. Today's misery sweeps your home clean, making way for tomorrow's felicity. Advertisement And so today, I try to welcome the calamity known as Donald Trump and all the anxiety he evokes--in the hopes that he will inadvertently sweep our country clean of bigotry--presumably and paradoxically by bringing its horrifying consequences to life. Considering the fact that so many Americans voted for this man, it's clear that his vicious vitriol (often directed squarely at people who share my religion, gender and/or skin tone) represents a much wider problem in American society, one Rumi specialized in treating: disaffection. Broken down, "dis" means "apart" or "away," and affection means "love." The implications of this sentiment, thus, spread far beyond politics. On so many levels, many of us have distanced ourselves from love. Our only hope for recovery--culturally, politically, personally and spiritually--is to reverse course. That is, to draw ourselves nearer to love and to draw our love nearer to those who lack it. In Rumi's words: If you're in love with Love, don't be bashful. Be brave and plant your flag. Extremism is not a word I like to associate myself with. I view extremism from any side and every side as the antithesis of intellectualism and enlightenment. I challenge myself on a regular basis to see every angle of an argument, especially when it's easy to pick a side. Trump's election was surprising, to say the least. It also threw me into a position I would normally view as extreme. Advertisement I declared on election night that anyone who voted for Trump is not a friend to me or people like me. I declared that they must have an ill will toward me, do not love me or wish for my success, happiness or prosperity. I declared that they are not "my people" - not inclusive, not intellectual, not kind, not free. How could you be if you voted for Trump? How could my people give power and a voice to someone who suggested he would be willing to place me into a registry because of the religion I choose to follow? How could my people give a voice and power to someone who would ban me from immigrating to this country, to pursue my hopes and dreams, to give me the chance to succeed, to give me the chance to fall and rise again? Advertisement How could my people give power and a voice to someone who cast the people of an entire nation as criminals, rapists, drug dealers and addicts? How could my people give power and a voice to someone whom as a woman would assault me and assume he would get away with it because he's famous and powerful? I could go on and on, but what is more stunning was the realization that came with the election of our new president: that Americans are more racist and hateful than I always believed. You see, I always defended America no matter where I was as a place that constantly gives me hope and love. I take great pride in my Egyptian heritage and in the teachings of my religion. But it's America that feeds my passion for justice and equality. It is America that lets me be who I am, fully and freely. It's not Egypt and it's not any other country. I admitted it's many shortcomings. There's no doubting America's bloody stains on our history. There's no dancing around its damaging foreign policy which has left us hypocritical and vulnerable. Advertisement But this country is ultimately a place that has given me strength and success, an open mind and full heart. This was my America, the America I unabashedly defended as the beacon of hope. It was never an America that preached and endorsed hate and division. It was never an America that falls backward while marching forward. I saw America as a mirror image of myself: hardworking, loving, proud, educated, sophisticated, enduring, resilient and strong, one that may fall but gets back up, one that may tear but sews itself back up, one that stands firmly on grounds of dignity and respect. My political views do not fall on the right. But I can understand, accept and respectfully disagree with those on the right. I would've been disappointed had, say, Jeb Bush won the election, but I wouldn't have taken it as a sign that those who voted for him are racist and hateful because racism, I thought, is not Republican or Democrat. Racism is not white or black. It is not Jewish, Christian or Muslim. It is not human. What if I as a Muslim had voted for a candidate who called for placing all Christians into a registry? What if I as a Muslim had voted for a candidate who belittled and insulted women and people with disabilities? What if I blew whistles of normalizing racism and intolerance? Advertisement What would you say of me? What would you do with me? These are the things we immigrants ran away from. We run toward America for hope, inclusion, freedom and opportunity. This election has done more than cast a large cloud of doubt on all of these values. It validated and legitimized extremism in America. It validated and legitimized racism, misogyny, bigotry, hate and division. You may say these are not part of what defines us as Americans. But they are now. This vote has given it voice and power. And if we're going to overcome that then we must wake up. Wake up Americans! Wake up to the reality that millions of us opted for hate, division and racism. Wake up to the fact that we after all aren't too different from the nations which we so arrogantly believe are in need of our democracy. Wake up to the fact that millions of us elected a president who values one set of humans more than others. Advertisement Wake up to the fact that we elected a candidate who would ban, marginalize and violate an entire group based on their religion. It's Islam today. It was Catholicism back then. It will be Judaism or even Christianity tomorrow. Wake up to the fact that we are repeating what we once called history. Wake up to the fact that we are repeating the history of nations of which we claim higher moral grounds. BRUSSELS --- Do the news media enjoy the confidence of anyone these days? In the United States mistrust was on the rise even before the recent presidential campaign. Elsewhere, news organizations are often seen as tools of political and financial elites, with little allegiance to the broader public. In the zones of conflict speckling the globe, journalists may be viewed as fomenters of sectarianism and their reporting as an obstacle to peace. Pretty grim. But these perceptions are not always accurate, and a multi-year European Union-funded project, Infocore, has been combing through millions of pieces of data to develop a comprehensive picture of part of this issue: the role of media in "preventing, managing, and resolving violent conflict." (Disclosure: I am a member (uncompensated) of Infocore's academic advisory board.) For three intensive days of meetings in Brussels this week, Infocore assembled an array of academics, media professionals, policy makers, and NGO representatives to review the project's findings about news media performance in tense areas ranging from Kosovo to Syria to Burundi and beyond. The verdict: far from perfect, but much that is encouraging. First, journalists continue to put themselves at enormous risk in order to tell the world about ongoing conflicts. This should not be forgotten, no matter how critical of the press one may be. That said, news organizations could do a much better job of ensuring that diverse voices are heard. Shutting out the opposition intensifies hopelessness and bitterness. This is related to the larger issue of recognizing that the public - particularly in this era of pervasive social media use - expects to be respected not just as news consumers but also as part of the news dissemination process. Further, NGOs (such as Doctors Without Borders) and political actors themselves now have increased capability to do end runs around traditional gatekeepers and so must be recognized as being more than part of the obsolete concept of "the audience." Infocore's findings are based on computer-assisted analysis of vast amounts of news content plus interviews with a range of constituencies that include journalists, public officials, and members of the public. In the content analysis, it is not surprising to find a heavy emphasis on covering the "bang-bang" aspects of conflict. As one participant put it, "Which do you think will get more media exposure, ISIS beheadings or people trying to negotiate peace?" The economic realities of the news business dictate a tilt in coverage toward content that will capture the mildly attentive reader or viewer. Working for peace, therefore, tends to be shortchanged. Infocore's work to date presents interpretations of evidence that should generate more hope than despair. But now all the players involved have much to do if Infocore's trove of information if to have real value. The challenge to academics is to make their findings understandable and useful to non-academics. The challenge to news professionals is to find ways to make peace as attractive as war in terms of journalistic content that will engage news consumers. The challenge to the public is to take conflict-related news seriously and recognize that the stories journalists produce are often grounded in life-and-death matters affecting millions of people. How these diverse constituencies respond to the news media's coverage of conflict will affect the future of the news business and the future of conflict. Both are exceptionally important and underscore the significance of Infocore's mission. Last Tuesday, November 8 marked the 27th year since the Berlin Wall fell. On the exact same day a man wanting to build a wall was elected as President of the United States. Americans in Berlin, as well as thousands of Germans and other Europeans, rallied together on Saturday to voice their concerns about the new president-elect of the United States. Peaceful Protest at the Brandenburg Gate On Saturday, November 12 at 4:00 p.m. in front of the Brandenburg Gate more than 2,000 Americans abroad, Germans, Europeans, refugees, and other global citizens stood in solidarity. We formed a peaceful movement to show the world we will not tolerate the injustice, intolerance, hate, and inequality that Trump has embodied throughout the presdential elections process. I had the great pleasure of co-organizing this event with Chantal Lamar and Ricarda Messner. We were able to quickly collaborate and organize everything over Facebook without even knowing each other beforehand, due to our passion for human rights, equality, and tolerance for all people. We held the rally in hopes that Donald Trump, and leaders in Germany, will be held accountable if they attempt to implement intolerant agendas. Advertisement Standing up for marginalized groups in America, Germany, and Europe "We want to send a sign of international solidarity. Let's use our power of international relations to stand up for the civil rights and democratic values of our friends who will be most affected by Trump's presidency (i.e. women, African Americans, Muslims, the LGBTQ community, the poor, victims of sexual assault, and other marginalized groups). In times of increasing xenophobia across America, Germany and Europe, we need to do our best to prevent equivalent actions which promote hate, intolerance, and violence against marginalized individuals." More protests are being planned in Germany Another similar protest "Pussy Grabs Back" took place on the same day at 1:00 p.m. at Hermannplatz in Berlin. More than 1,700 attendants were confirmed on their Facebook page. Activists in other cities throughout Germany, particularly Munich and Frankfurt, have contacted me in recent days for tips and feedback following our demonstration in Berlin. Many protests will be carried out in these southern German cities over the weekend. K-State's defensive effort against Oklahoma State one for the books Cat Zone Superintendent Doug Dias reviews minutes from a prior meeting during a Williamstown School Committee meeting in May. Documents Reveal Complaints Against Departed Lanesborough-Williamstown Superintendent WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. Documents outlining the "complaints or charges against" the former Lanesborough-Williamstown school superintendent show that he had lost the confidence of his top administrators along with that of several school committee members. Douglas Dias and the Lanesborough-Williamstown Tri-District parted ways after a lengthy closed-door meeting of all three elected school committees in the two towns on Nov. 7. This week, the Tri-District office, responding to a request for information from iBerkshires.com, released documentation about the complaints referenced on the agenda for the committees' executive session. Dias, who is no longer working in his former office at Mount Greylock Regional School, said Thursday that he was not aware the documents were released until iBerkshires.com's request for comment. Dias responded on Friday morning with a statement. "I am aware of the release of Committee agenda materials relating to complaints made by some unhappy administrators about me. While I was prepared to respond fully and in detail to these contested allegations, the committee and I have resolved my status to our mutual satisfaction. A response from me under those circumstances would do needless damage to the district and would not undo the damage done to me by the release of these internal complaints," Dias wrote in an email. "Rest assured I am disappointed that the relationship with my administrative colleagues did not develop as I had hoped or expected. This occurred in part due to differences of opinion as to leadership styles and expectations, and as a result of my personal, family circumstances, particularly the necessity of my tending to elderly and ill parents who are receiving care on Cape Cod." Mount Greylock Regional School Committee member Carolyn Greene, who chaired the committee at the time of Dias' 2015 hiring and last week's departure, said at the Nov. 7 meeting that the Tri-District remains strong despite the turbulence, and, on Thursday, she emphasized that the complaints against the superintendent did not involve students. "Some have asked whether the issues with Dr. Dias directly involved students," Greene said. "I would like to assure our families and community members that was not the case. These charges and complaints were administrative in nature. We all wanted Dr. Dias to succeed and regret this superintendency did not work out. We wish him the best in his future endeavors." Technically, the committees ended up not deliberating on the "complaints or charges" referenced in the posted agenda for the Nov. 7 meeting. Instead, they went directly to a subsequent item on the agenda to discuss Dias' contract. But Tri-District counsel Fred Dupere confirmed after the meeting that the latter topic (item IV on the agenda) grew out of discussions between himself and Dias' attorney about the former (item III). Two of the complaints against Dias already were public prior to the meeting. Mount Greylock School Committee members Steven Miller and Richard Cohen made their personal evaluations of the superintendent public after they came out on the short end of a 4-2 June vote to rate the first-year superintendent as "proficient." The documents released this week include a letter co-signed by the principals at Lanesborough Elementary, Mount Greylock and Williamstown Elementary and the assistant superintendent; a memo from the assistant superintendent; and a Nov. 2 email from the chairwoman of the Lanesborough Elementary School Committee. Taken as a whole, the documents paint a picture of a superintendent who was at best disengaged and non-responsive and at worst dishonest the same portrayal one gets from reading Cohen's and Miller's June evaluations. The Oct. 15 letter from the three principals and assistant superintendent of schools accuse Dias of a "lack of professional responsibility," "lack of vision" and "lack of leadership." "Collectively, we are concerned about his detachment from his professional responsibility; it is impacting his cognitive presence and his ability to invest in the schools and communities that support the schools," the four administrators wrote. "It is our belief that he is not fit for the role of Superintendent and the high expectations that the community has for our schools individually and collectively." Dias replied to the criticism in a Nov. 3 letter to the school committees in which he expresses his hope that the complaints not "distract the districts." Dias characterized his level of performance as "frustrating" because of the demands of caring for "parents having separate and debilitating medical issues requiring hospitalization." Dias went on to say that the shared superintendency arrangement in Lanesborough and Williamstown, where a single superintendent reports to three separate school committees, is a unique challenge unlike anything he experienced before arriving in the Berkshires. "There are challenges and adversities that I encounter for which my many years of experience had not prepared me," Dias wrote. "At the [Massachusetts Association of School Committees] Conference, I had a conversation with a superintendent who was presenting a seminar entitled 'Best Practices in the Boardroom with Dorothy Presser of MASC.' At Dorothy's suggestion, we talked after the session was over. "The superintendent shared with me that she found her meeting schedule, when coupled with the workload of leading two elementary and a middle/high school, was untenable. Last year, she gave her committees and ultimatum either they met every other month or look for a new superintendent. To her surprise, they agreed." As she neared retirement, the Tri-District's first superintendent, Rose Ellis, warned the school committees that finding a replacement would be difficult until the three schools combined as one K-12 district because of the demands of the Tri-District structure. Assistant Superintendent Kim Grady, who is carrying out Dias' former duties while the district looks for a new superintendent, signed the complaint letter with the three principals and wrote separately about her concerns. "When [Dias was] asked for goals to help us guide leadership team's goal, [we were] initially told, 'I have a plan,' " Grady wrote. "Never received a plan and helped more than once on his proposed goals for the year when he solicited no input from his leadership team on the visions they have for the district. "Professional responsibility failure to respond to emails and other methods of communication causing a breakdown in communication with his office and creating stress on his office staff and leadership," Grady's memo continued. The chairwoman of the LES Committee sent a page-long list of complaints to the district counsel, Dupere. Regina DiLego wrote, among other things, that Dias lied to her about administrative evaluations: "1. Told the LES chair when directly asked, in July that the principal's evaluation had been completed by June 30, 2016, and his raise was in place. 2. Assured the LES chair in September that the principal's evaluation had indeed been completed [in a timely manner], when in fact it was not done until Sept. 29, 2016. 3. Told the LES chair in July, when directly asked, that all administrative Evaluations had been completed by him by June 30th." DiLego also referred to the elementary school district's transportation and general education audits, which were requested in January by her committee. The latter "still has not occurred," she wrote. The former, the transportation audit, was completed after "a colleague of the Superintendent's was paid handsomely to create an ineffective schedule which must be redone as the colleague admitted he had no knowledge of how to effectively schedule for an elementary school." Cohen's and Miller's evaluation comments accuse Dias of poor communication, "a lack of understanding about the School Committee's state-mandated role in making educational policy decisions," and "haphazard" hiring and staff development, among other things. Miller, a resident of Williamstown, specifically referenced Dias' handling of* the ongoing controversy at the town's elementary school surrounding its special education preschool program. Neither the principals nor Grady directly mention the Side-by-Side program in their complaints, but each document includes references that could be interpreted as alluding to the controversy surrounding Dias' decision to cut the full-day special education program for the 2016-17 academic year. "[The] Superintendent doesn't have the history of the community and often will give misleading information which creates tension for leadership," Grady wrote. "Principals and Assistant Superintendent feel strongly that he is not engaging the community and school staff to keep them informed of district progress or regression which is allowing negative press that is impacting the culture and climate of the three districts," the joint letter from Grady and the three principals reads. At the very least, the circumstances of Dias' departure likely will bolster critics of the Side-by-Side decision, including Miller, who continue to raise the issue at Williamstown Elementary School Committee meetings. *This story was updated on Nov. 22 to reflect the fact that Dias' actions during the months that followed the announcement of the Side-by-Side cut and not the decision itself were referenced in the Nov. 7 meeting packet. Tri-District Superintendent Complaints by iBerkshires.com on Scribd Ukrainian government forces' positions in Donbas have been shelled 46 times mostly using weapons banned by the Minsk Agreements over the past 24 hours, the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) staff has reported. In the Mariupol sector, the militants fired 152mm tube artillery guns upon Talakivka, armored personnel carriers upon Shyrokyne and Berezove, tanks upon Shyrokyne, small arms, machineguns, and grenade launchers upon Maryinka, Pavlopil, and Talakivka, and mortars upon Vodiane, Novotroyitske, Krasnohorivka, Shyrokyne, Talakivka, and Pavlopil, the staff said in a bulletin posted on its Facebook account on Saturday morning. In the Luhansk sector, the militants fired small arms, grenade launchers, and mortars at Krymske and Zhovte, and a sniper also fired upon Stanytsia Luhanska, it said. In the Donetsk sector, Luhanske and Avdiyivka were shelled with large-caliber machineguns, grenade launchers, and mortars, it said. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko was questioned on November 18 in the investigation into crimes committed in January-February, 2014 against Euro-Maidan activists, presidential press secretary Sviatoslav Tseholko has told Interfax-Ukraine. "Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko testified on Euro-maidan case. The head of state several times said that he is interested in investigating into the Euro-maidan crimes and punishing criminals," Tseholko told Interfax-Ukraine on Saturday. An Interfax-Ukraine's source in the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) earlier said that Poroshenko was questioned on November 18 at the Presidential Administration. Earlier it was planned to question Poroshenko on November 29 at the PGO. Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada Chairman Andriy Parubiy at a meeting with British Ambassador to Ukraine Judith Gough has pointed out the importance of stepping up the overseeing function of the Ukrainian parliament. The press service of the Verkhovna Rada reported on November 18 Parubiy said at the meeting that relations between the two countries after the Brexit referendum have even improved. The ambassador said that cooperation at the parliaments' level should be expanded. It would help to increase the institutional abilities of the parliaments and exchange of experience, she said. Parubiy said that one of the elements of the concept to reform the parliament is the attraction of new young people to administration. He said that it is important to step up the overseeing function of the parliament. "The passed bills must start working and are implemented by the executive power agencies. This overseeing function should cover the anti-corruption, security and defense areas. We have started making steps towards civil control over spending in the area," he said. Parubiy informed Gough on the security and responsibility act to be signed by the coalition factions and opposition as a form of accordance. He expressed hope that most factions and lawmakers' groups would sign the document to give a signal of stability to society. John Travolta, known for blockbuster classic movies such as Grease, Pulp Fiction and Face/Off stars in a new riveting action thriller, Life on the Line. As Beau Ginner (Travolta), his sidekick Pok Chop and his crew of eccentric Lineman are scrambling to upgrade the electrical grid in their Texas county on the tight schedule required by their companys new contract. They work hundreds of feet in the air, on wires carrying as much as 500,000 volts of electricity, with death only inches away. Beau is haunted by the electrocution death of his younger brother, which left Beau raising his niece, Bailey (Kate Bosworth) on his own. Now Bailey is a young woman, and Beau is determined that she will go to college and have a life better than his. Bailey keeps delaying her college plans and cant seem to let go of her relationship with ex-boyfriend Duncan (Devon Sawa), a bad boy Lineman whom Beau loathes. What no one except Bailey knows is that she is pregnant by Duncan. Adding to her worries are another ex, Ron, who is obsessed with Bailey to the point of stalking her, and the rocky marriage of her friend Carline, whos husband Eugene is an emotionally fragile lineman and Iraq vet. As a major storm descends on the county, and the Lineman are forced to deal with a series of increasingly dangerous break-downs, all these relationships come to a turning point. Bailey confronts the consequences of her pregnancy; Eugene flirts with suicide; and Rons obsession with Bailey becomes something much more serious. In the darkness of a massive blackout, events come to a head, leaving both Bailey and Beaus lives on the line. A compelling action drama, Life on the Line also stars Sharon Stone, Ryan Robbins, Julie Benz and Gil Bellows. Life on the Line will open on November 23 in cinemas from CrystalSky Multimedia. The movie will also open at Starmall and Vista cinemas where the ongoing Movie Date Night promo offers 50% off for every movie ticket purchased every Friday and Saturday nights. Back to top Sign up to Roisin OConnors free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This 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 Roisin OConnors email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} With an empty, stripped-back stage offering little more than a laptop sat upon a rickety bar-room table, the Roundhouse looks as if its been hastily abandoned, pillaged, or looted tonight. In fact, all that seems to be missing is the sound of a distant police siren, the lingering smell of skunk and a loose scattering of half-noshed chicken bones. This scruffy, boiled-down backdrop provides the perfect setting for a Sleaford Mods gig after all, its exactly these kinds of diminished, infertile landscapes psychic, cultural, social and political which their unrelenting brand of techno-fused, performance-poetry chronicles, channels and emanates from. Bumbling onto the stage in skanky T-shirts and scratchy sweat pants, Jason Williamson and Andrew Fearn more resemble a pair of dishevelled lads whove just vaulted the perimeter fence at Pentonville than a band riding the dual highs of critical and commercial success. Their widening reputation as both music-scene miscreants and shouty-faced, satirist-supremos of austerity-era Britain has been honed and cemented in their most recent releases, the 2015 LP Key Markets, and 2016s TCR EP; but while its one thing to listen to Sleaford Mods, read about them or watch them on YouTube, its quite another to experience them live. Stepping up to the laptop wearing a nervous, naughty-boy grin, with a deft flick of his finger Fearn summons up a frenetic-energy flash of loops and beats. He retreats a few feet to the relative safety of stage left, where hell remain happily ensconced while Williamson gets out there and does his Im mad as hell and Im not gonna take this anymore thing . On the expansive terrain of the Roundhouse stage and minus any real visuals, theres a huge pressure on Williamson to provide a performance worthy of the 1500-plus audience assembled here tonight, and he certainly doesnt falter. For the next 80 minutes, he machine-guns his way through a collection of old favourites Jolly Fucker, Fizzy, Jobseeker as well more recent material Face to Faces, BHS, and TCR unleashing a dizzying performance of fist-clenching intensity. Crashing and cavorting around the stage, his body twitching and jerking as if unable to contain the full frisson of his own lyrics, there are moments when you think hes about to spontaneously combust. His unbounded energy seems to rapidly spread throughout the audience who, responding in like, chant their way word-perfectly through almost every song. You think you came to see us, says Williamson at one point. But we came to see you. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyArts email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} In Donetsk, otherwise known as the Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR), the self-proclaimed state in Ukraine, the Special Forces military unit, Sparta Battalion, holds its position at the Sergey Prokofiev airport to keep the city from Ukrainian troops. If you control the airport you control the city. The Ukrainian war has largely been forgotten by the world. But more than 10,000 have died in a combat that began in March 2014. In Donbass, the fighting between Donetsk and Kiev mostly happens in the evening. We found how these young soldiers are handling life in their position and how they occupy themselves during the day on the frontline. They managed to recreate some sort of cosy environment to feel almost at home, even if they are risking their lives every day to hold Donetsk in the new Republic. Recommended Sparks fly in Ukraine as Russia prepares for general election On the frontline the entire battalion is gathered in the shelter, which is surrounded by the remains of what used to be an airport. It was brand new in 2012; a modern building made of glass and iron. Today broken cables dangle from the girders of this ruin. But, inside, soldiers warm up near a fireplace, reading books or exercising to stay in shape. One fighter is sitting in front of the fire. Pets are keeping him company; a kitten and a big dog play beside him. Its quite odd, he says, that we might be interested in something other than the fighting on the frontline. Some guys in the battalion usually read books to relax between two offensives but its not my style. he adds, smiling with a proud attitude. He continues, Usually I train in order to stay ready to fight, and I do a lot of sport. The wrecked remains of what used to be the airports boarding hall (Joao Bolan) Physical exercise has a main place in Spartas everyday life; they practice all the time, partly because they are a new army and partly in case of a Ukrainian attack. The Information desk at the terminals first floor (Joao Bolan) Amid the tables full of AK-47 some halters lie on the ground. When we ask the soldier what he does to calm himself when he is scared on the field, he laughs. Im not scared of anything... Im a fighter! Just a few hundred metres southwest of the airport, Iverskaya cemetery is located in the area controlled by separatists (Joao Bolan) Some soldiers are pretty young like Denis, who is 22. The head of the squad, Dmitry, is in his early thirties; he never drops the pressure to relax. He admits, In my free time I spend my energy training to fight! A soldier gets ready for a routine check on the first and second floor of the terminal (Joao Bolan) Another guy, Mazai, is about the same age as Dmitry but takes the opposite view; he needs music to stay calm. When Im not fighting or training to fight, I like to play the guitar, he tells us while grabbing the dust-covered instrument from near the weapons to play a tune. Soldier moves to a contact position in the airport (Joao Bolan) Lim who is about to go and start his shift shows us an old book about Spartacus which lies open on a table. The 26-year-old explains, When Im not fighting I like to spend my time reading. War novels are his favourites. The author I prefer is Mikhail Sholokhov because he writes about combat. Sholokhov, the Nobel Prize-winning Russian writer, is best known for his epic novel about Cossacks, And Quiet Flows the Don, which was considered a major piece of socialist Soviet realism. A soldier take a break from the conflict (Joao Bolan) With the war and all the people who have left Donetsk there are a lot of abandoned animals, Lim says. He likes having Demon the kitten near him when he catches up on some sleep. When we find a cat or a dog we baptise it with ammunition and give it a battle name, its our custom! Adopted pets have a significant role in war; they often prevent many soldiers from dying. So even if fighters like to cuddle them, they keep in mind that these animals might not live long. They saved us many times especially with landmines, Lim says. When a dog jumps on a landmine its one more chance for the men not to get injured or be killed. Denis and Gilis of the Sparta Battalion (Joao Bolan) Walking through the rubble inside the former terminal, Denis says: I was very anxious before I came here, I should have a Russian spirit, it would be easier! Now with the adrenaline during the fighting its okay. He is the only one of the battalion who dares to express his fears. His family is his motivation for fighting. My mother, my sister and my girlfriend are in this city, I want them to be safe. The remains of an exploded Ukrainian tank (Joao Bolan) On what is left of the landing strip, 1.2 miles away from the Ukrainian army, Gilis points towards a flag flapping at the top of a destroyed building. This is Spartas flag, there is the letter M on it because it is dedicated to Motorola, our commander he is a DPR hero. Their famous chief was assassinated few weeks ago at his home in Donetsk. He was Russian and came to the DPR to fight for independence. The route from the parking lot to the main terminal (Joao Bolan) When the war began, no military structure existed in the Republic. Battalions such as Sparta were defending the self-proclaimed state, and have since been incorporated into the regular army. Now the squads are attached to the Ministry of Defence, they receive all sorts of supplies on a regular basis to make life a little more bearable: old rusty bullets, chocolate, cigarettes and food. Sparta Batallion members (Joao Bolan) The guys hang out at the dinner table, smoking cigarettes and drinking Coke. Such conviviality is a kind of survival mechanism on the frontline. A squad spend usually eight hours on a position, and though they rarely eat dinner all together because of the patrols, they create a strong brotherhood amid the chaos mingling duty and friendship. We are all like brothers, confides Lim, we would kill for each other. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The message issued to President-elect Donald Trump by the rest of the world at the close of the UN climate summit here in Marrakech was simple: Save us. It was fittingly voiced by the summits next hosts, Fiji, where rising sea levels as a result of man-made global warming are already causing islands to vanish beneath the waves. As the imperilled nation was unveiled as hosts of COP23, the Fijian Prime Minister conjured up the image of America coming to the rescue as it did in the Second World War - a plea which, it is hoped, will appeal to Mr Trumps penchant for a grand gesture. We in the Pacific, in common with the whole world, look to America for its leadership and for its engagement and assistance on climate change," Frank Bainimarama said. Just as we looked at America during the dark days of World War II... I say to the American people 'you came to save us then, it is time for you to help to save us now." Even the US delegation here joined in the applause that followed. So much of this years summit has been given over to considering how best to deal with the looming threat of a climate change denier in the White House, when it was supposed under "different circumstances to have been about implementing last years landmark Paris Agreement. But activists here say that only really tells half the story - and that in the background, big strides have been made towards combatting climate change. Mr Trumps election victory has been a wake-up call. It tells the global community it has been over-reliant on the good intentions and leadership of a single state or person. So this will be remembered as the COP where the most vulnerable states started to take control, instead of focussing on what deals they could get out of the richest nations. On the last day of the conference, a coalition of 48 developing states threatened in the near term by climate change - including the Marshall Islands, the Philippines and COP22 hosts Morocco - vowed to go beyond the commitments of the Paris Agreement and derive 100 per cent of their energy from renewables as rapidly as possible. Former US Vice President Al Gore said the commitment of the Climate Vulnerable Forum was a bold vision that sets the pace for the world's efforts to implement the Paris Agreement and move even more quickly to solve the climate crisis. There was good news too on one of the most difficult elements of the negotiations here and in Paris - how countries which are already suffering the impacts of climate change get compensated for the damage, and the measures they need to take to hold back the tide. These are the people - 40 million in Africa alone - who have to turn to charities like Oxfam when rising temperatures and record droughts destroy their livelihoods. Tracy Carty, Oxfams lead climate expert, told The Independent: It looks like there will be a positive outcome [here] on the adaptation fund, and an 80m funding goal was reached thanks to the support of Germany, Sweden, Belgium and Italy. But in saying that, I want to underline the fact that the establishment of funds doesnt deliver action. Money delivers action, and the amounts we are talking about are really small when compared to the amounts that are needed. Thankfully, I dont think Trump is going to be that interested in the adaptation fund. The President-elects shadow has loomed over every positive stride made at the summit - given Mr Trumps promise to cancel the USs involvement in the Paris Agreement. Climate change: It's "game over" for planet earth And so this COP will also be remembered as the year when non-state actors - local governments, regions, cities and businesses - started to harness what departing Secretary of State John Kerry called the people all over the world who are working for victory in this. Earlier in the week, more than 360 US businesses including Kellogs, Mars and Starbucks signed a joint letter calling on President-elect Trump to join them in re-affirm[ing] our deep commitment to addressing climate change. Representatives of individual US states attended the conference here to highlight their ability to push ahead with green initiatives - with or without the blessing of the federal government in Washington. And across the world, regions and cities are uniting in initiatives to share knowledge and represent the voices of progressive urban communities. Schemes like the EU-US Global Covenant of Mayors and the Under 2 MOU have members as disparate as Greater Manchester, Catalonia and Piedmont in Italy, and go beyond the state-level commitments of the Paris Agreement. Climate change is a matter beyond political affiliations, and global warming is not something you can bargain with, said Markku Markkula, president of the European Committee of the Regions. He said the world cannot succeed without the full involvement of cities and regions within the UNs climate process. 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Show all 10 1 /10 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A group of emperor penguins face a crack in the sea ice, near McMurdo Station, Antarctica Kira Morris 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Floods destroyed eight bridges and ruined crops such as wheat, maize and peas in the Karimabad valley in northern Pakistan, a mountainous region with many glaciers. In many parts of the world, glaciers have been in retreat, creating dangerously large lakes that can cause devastating flooding when the banks break. Climate change can also increase rainfall in some areas, while bringing drought to others. Hira Ali 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Smoke filled with the carbon that is driving climate change drifts across a field in Colombia. Sandra Rondon 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Amid a flood in Islampur, Jamalpur, Bangladesh, a woman on a raft searches for somewhere dry to take shelter. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable places in the world to sea level rise, which is expected to make tens of millions of people homeless by 2050. Probal Rashid 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Sindh province in Pakistan has experienced a grim mix of two consequences of climate change. Because of climate change either we have floods or not enough water to irrigate our crop and feed our animals, says the photographer. Picture clearly indicates that the extreme drought makes wide cracks in clay. Crops are very difficult to grow. Rizwan Dharejo 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Hanna Petursdottir examines a cave inside the Svinafellsjokull glacier in Iceland, which she said had been growing rapidly. Since 2000, the size of glaciers on Iceland has reduced by 12 per cent. Tom Schifanella 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A river once flowed along the depression in the dry earth of this part of Bangladesh, but it has disappeared amid rising temperatures. Abrar Hossain 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A shepherd moves his herd as he looks for green pasture near the village of Sirohi in Rajasthan, northern India. The region has been badly affected by heatwaves and drought, making local people nervous about further predicted increases in temperature. Riddhima Singh Bhati 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A factory in China is shrouded by a haze of air pollution. The World Health Organisation has warned such pollution, much of which is from the fossil fuels that cause climate change, is a public health emergency. Leung Ka Wa 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Water levels in reservoirs, like this one in Gers, France, have been getting perilously low in areas across the world affected by drought, forcing authorities to introduce water restrictions. Mahtuf Ikhsan Until the election of Mr Trump, the heads of every state except Nicaragua agreed to the terms of the Paris climate deal. But Wael Hmaidan, director of the Climate Action Network, told The Independent that the recent wave of populist political uprisings across the West showed just how those leaders had lost touch with the people they are supposed to represent. He said the deal agreed here in Marrakech was rich with positive developments - and one of the most important was a recognition that climate activists have to get better at increasing awareness. We are seeing in different elections around the world, that we are not engaging enough with various parts of the public," he said. We have our followers, we have those who understand climate change, but we dont engage the other side enough. Not every measure taken here in these two weeks can be said to be entirely Trump-proof. The US is among the countries to have set out ambitious long-term goals to drastically cut their emissions by 2050 - a goal which only stands a chance if the new President can be brought on board. Thats why appeals like Fijis are still being made. In spite of everything, people here still believe that Mr Trump can be made to see the opportunities available in reimagining the worlds energy consumption, and the risks if nothing is done. US climate veteran and director of strategy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, Alden Meyer, told The Independent the greatest achievement of the summit had been a world speaking as one with a loud and clear voice. The rest of the world intends to proceed with Paris, with or without the US, he said. Not because they are doing a favour to the United States or President-elect Trump, but because Paris is in their own national interests. They see the impacts of climate change mounting on their populations, and they also see the benefits of decarbonising their economies and enjoying the fruits of the clean energy revolution. Not one country has said that if President Trump pulls the US out of Paris, they will follow, he said, adding to the repeated suggestions here that America will become a pariah if it reneges on its climate commitments. For all the measured arguments and cautious words over these two weeks, the climate activists here have a hard side - and when it comes to saving the planet, you are either with them, or against them. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Campaigners have expressed extreme disappointment at the outcome of the United Nations climate change summit in Marrakesh, saying the nations most vulnerable to the effects of a warming planet. The Paris conference last year was widely regarded as a success, but this was based largely on promises to tackle the problem. Marrakesh was seen as the event at which those pledges would be turned into action. The planet has already warmed by 1C and at Paris it was agreed to try to limit this to as close to 1.5C as possible to avoid severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts. Yet environmental campaigners said the Morocco summit was again heavy on rhetoric and light on real progress, with rich countries failing to do enough to help the developing world. The recent election of Donald Trump, who has previously called global warming a hoax, has raised fears that the USs climate promises could be withdrawn. Isabel Kreisler, of Oxfam, said not enough money was being given to the worlds poorest countries to help them adapt to changes that are already happening because of global warming. Climate change is affecting poor states in Africa and Asia much more than the developed world, which built its wealth on the fossil fuels that caused the problem. We saw a stubborn refusal from developed country ministers and negotiators to fill the adaptation finance gap and face the fact that the [Paris] Agreement doesnt fully protect lives that will suffer the most from climate change," Ms Kreisler said. Adaptation finance is not just an abstract numbers game. Its about providing women farmers in Africa with seeds to plant drought-resistant crops and feed their families; its about building seawalls so millions who live in coastal areas survive rising sea levels. Ms Kreisler called for developed countries to live up to their end of the bargain. Millions of people facing extreme and erratic weather cant afford to keep waiting, she said. Lidy Nacpil, of the Asian Peoples Movement on Debt and Development, said: At the end of these two weeks we just want to express our extreme disappointment that no clear and concrete increases in climate finance pledges have been put forward by developed country governments. Weve heard so much talk about leveraging private sector funds to address climate finance needs, but private sector involvement is not a substitute for public finance. Substantive amounts of public finance are urgently needed this is especially true for adapting to climate change and addressing the impacts on communities. In Marrakech, all the developed countries did was try to evade and postpone their responsibilities, insisting on highly questionable methods for calculating their financial contributions to mask the paltry reality." And Andrew Norton, director of the International Institute for Environment and Development, said: The outcome of the UN climate talks means that the worlds poorest people in the most vulnerable countries will have to continue their wait for another two years before substantive decisions are made on how the Paris Agreement is put into action. Mr Norton also reflected Oxfams reservations about the disappointing progress on climate finance. The main obstacle is the lack of funding available to poor countries to adapt to the impacts of climate change, he said. It is vital that developed countries provide this finance to the poorest countries. Paris climate talks in pictures Show all 12 1 /12 Paris climate talks in pictures Paris climate talks in pictures A man is covered with a multi-coloured banner with the message, "Climate" as environmentalists attend a demonstration near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, during the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) that meets in Le Bourget, December 12, 2015 Reuters Paris climate talks in pictures French President Francois Hollande (C) and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius (R) applaud after a statement at the COP21 Climate Conference in Le Bourget, north of Paris, on December 12, 2015. The years-long quest for a universal pact to avert catastrophic climate change neared the finish line today with conference host France announcing that the final draft had been completed in the early hours of the morning. Getty Paris climate talks in pictures US Secretary of State John Kerry (C) speaks with China's Special Representative on Climate Change Xie Zhenhua (R) and officials at the COP21 Climate Conference in Le Bourget, north of Paris, on December 12, 2015. The years-long quest for a universal pact to avert catastrophic climate change neared the finish line today with conference host France announcing that the final draft had been completed in the early hours of the morning. Getty Paris climate talks in pictures Delegates and members of NGO's read and work on copies of 'The adoption of the Paris agreement' is pictured after the announcement of the final draft by French Foreign Affairs minister Laurent Fabius at the COP21 Climate Conference in Le Bourget, north of Paris, on December 12, 2015. The years-long quest for a universal pact to avert catastrophic climate change neared the finish line with conference host France announcing that the final draft had been completed in the early hours of the morning Getty Paris climate talks in pictures UN climate chief Christiana Figueres (C) speaks with French President Francois Hollande (L), United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (2ndL) and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius (R) after a statement at the COP21 Climate Conference in Le Bourget, north of Paris, on December 12, 2015. The years-long quest for a universal pact to avert catastrophic climate change neared the finish line today with conference host France announcing that the final draft had been completed in the early hours of the morning Getty Paris climate talks in pictures A Swiss Dominican priest poses with activists dressed as polar bears as activists gather for a demonstration to form a giant red line at the Avenue de la Grande armee boulevard in Paris on December 12, 2015, as a proposed 195-nation accord to curb emissions of the heat-trapping gases that threaten to wreak havoc on Earth's climate system is to be presented at the United Nations conference on climate change COP21 in Le Bourget, on the outskirts of Paris. Getty Paris climate talks in pictures Activists hold up a giant banner reading 'Climate justice' by association 'ourpowercampaign' during a demonstration near the Arc de Triomphe at the Avenue de la Grande armee boulevard in Paris on December 12, 2015, as a proposed 195-nation accord to curb emissions of the heat-trapping gases that threaten to wreak havoc on Earth's climate system is to be presented at the United Nations conference on climate change COP21 in Le Bourget, on the outskirts of Paris. Getty Paris climate talks in pictures Representatives of indigenous peoples demonstrate in Paris, France, as the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) continues at Le Bourget, December 12, 2015. Reuters Paris climate talks in pictures Environmentalists demonstrate near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, as the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) continues at Le Bourget, December 12, 2015. Reuters Paris climate talks in pictures Environmentalists demonstrate near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, as the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) continues at Le Bourget, December 12, 2015. Reuters Paris climate talks in pictures Activists form a giant red line during a demonstration on the Avenue de la Grande armee boulevard in Paris on December 12, 2015, as a proposed 195-nation accord to curb emissions of the heat-trapping gases that threaten to wreak havoc on Earth's climate system is to be presented at the United Nations conference on climate change COP21 in Le Bourget, on the outskirts of Paris ALAIN JOCARD/AFP/Getty Images Paris climate talks in pictures The slogan "No Plan B" is projected on the Eiffel Tower as part of the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) in Paris, France, December 11, 2015. Reuters The election of Mr Trump cast a shadow over the summit. As one of the biggest producers of emissions and the most powerful nation on earth, US leadership was crucial to the success of the Paris Agreement. But the President-elect has signalled his intention to withdraw from the pact. However, there were also signs that much of the world remains committed to climate action. The Paris Agreement has been ratified by 111 states, most recently the UK, and countries have overall been supportive at least in rhetoric. And Patricia Espinosa, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, hailed the progress at the Marrakech summit, known as COP22. The strength, the support for and the robustness of the Paris Agreement was furthered underlined, with nine more ratifications received at the UN in New York and the promise of many more to come," she said. Nations reaffirmed that the agreement is in their national interests and a key catalyst to a better, more prosperous future for their citizens. But young delegates to the event were left disappointed. Max Forshaw, 19, said: At COP22, the lack of urgency has further condemned young people, future generations and the worlds most vulnerable to food insecurity, water scarcity, extreme weather events and climate induced conflict. As young people, we will live with the consequences of these negotiations. This years inaction brings us one step closer to a future with a climate that is incompatible with dignified life. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Virtual and augmented reality is about much more than just gaming. Its a trend thats expected to grow rapidly and consume almost every part of our physical lives, including fashion. From notebooks to calendars, alarm clocks and cameras, objects that were once integral have all but disappeared into the digital landscape. Could our wardrobes be about to follow suit? It has even been suggested that technology could become so advanced and bizarre that we end up renting virtual clothes and jewellery for our augmented reality worlds. All those things we thought essential materially, disappeared into the virtual environment, Jody Medich, director of design at Singularity University told WIRED Retail. They have all gone into the screen - but in the future, we are going to be looking through that screen. Medich believes that augmented reality will be ubiquitous in just five years through our phones, headsets, or AR contact lenses and while that might sound a little hasty to some of you, its more realistic than you might think. The 7 things Back to the Future actually got right Show all 7 1 /7 The 7 things Back to the Future actually got right The 7 things Back to the Future actually got right Hoverboard Hoverboards - They might not be as aesthetically pleasing, go as high or work on all terrains, but they exist, and could give rise to hoverhouses. More here: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/the-hoverboard-is-real-and-it-could-give-rise-to-hoverhouses-9808021.html The 7 things Back to the Future actually got right Video calling Video calling - BTTF Pt. 2 got this right too, though they imagined it would still take place on a big screen rather than in the palm of your hand. The 7 things Back to the Future actually got right 3D movies 3D movies: Like them or loathe them, these now dominate multiplexes, even if their viral marketing aren't quite as intimidating as Hill Valley Holomax's Jaws 19. The 7 things Back to the Future actually got right Google Glass Google Glass bears a striking resemblance to Doc's glasses, though obviously he wore them way better. The 7 things Back to the Future actually got right Nike Air MAG Nike Air MAG: There are plenty of Nike sneakers that aren't dissimilar from Marty's MAGs, and the brand even released a limited edition run of them. In light of today's anniversary, it's rumoured to be plotting a mass market run. The 7 things Back to the Future actually got right Flying cars Flying cars: Yep, they exist. Albeit it not as accessible, ubiquitous and generally cool-looking - http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/aeromobil-flying-cars-could-be-on-sale-by-2017-10111039.html The 7 things Back to the Future actually got right Pepsi Perfect Pepsi Perfect: Earlier in the month, Pepsi savvily cashed in on today's anniversary with a limited edition run of the futuristic soda http://www.pepsi.com/en-us/d/featured/the-future-is-now-2 As early as 2014, VR was making huge waves in the fashion world when London Fashion Week offered users a front-row view of the catwalk with a 360 degree stream. More recently, Balenciagas Autumn Winter 2016 show was broadcast in virtual reality, while Hussein Chalayan released a panoramic video of his show; heck even Dior has its own VR headset. This technology will be ubiquitous - it wont affect little bits of our lives, it's going to affect every aspect of our lives. All those activities we do on our second screens are going to change in a radical way, says Medich. Instead of looking into a screen, we will be looking through the screen. When we do that, magical things will happen. VR has been making waves in fashion since 2014 People love the convenience of online shopping but its difficult to know exactly what youre getting or how well its going to fit. Could AR be the solution? Medich certainly seems to think so, referencing furniture retailer Wayfair, which used Googles Tango technology to build an app that can measure your environment. Tango knows the dimensions and can see the decor of my space, then suggest what types of end tables I will want. Then I can just put it there and see what it looks like. Imagine this but in a virtual retail world where you can be matched with products specific to your shape and personal style or where your bedroom becomes a fitting room and builds outfits based on exactly whats in your wardrobe. Why stop there? What about personal AI stylists or the ability to rent high-end clothing and jewellery that can only be viewed through AR lenses? If Merdich is right, the accessibility of luxury fashion could soon be available to every consumer. Of course, how and to what extent the medium will impact the fashion industry is yet to be determined but nonetheless it comes with endless possibilities. After passing a decision to ban the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people by the Supreme Court of Russia criminal cases will be opened for each meeting of the Mejlis, Deputy Head of the Mejlis Ilmi Umerov has said. "The Supreme Court of Russia decided to ban the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Despite the fact that we do not recognize this decision and despite the fact that the Mejlis is not a nongovernmental organization this is the elected representative body of Crimean Tatars, now criminal cases will be opened for each of our meetings. Until recently they imposed only small fines for participation in the banned organization," Umerov said. Sign up to IndyEat's free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our Now Hear This 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 IndyEats email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Just when you thought wed reached peak pop-up, a new one comes along that raises the bar to new heights. Literally. Former Noma chef and Tom Aikens protege James Sharman will this December be hiking to the base camp of Mount Everest to build a restaurant like no other. The ambitious venture is the latest in Sharmans One Star House Party series which will see him hosting dinners in 20 countries over 20 months. Every month, he and his team of four friends (including a former manager of Soho House and a chef from the Ledbury) spend three weeks planning and building a restaurant and one week serving food. Everest will be the 25-year-old chefs fourth location in the series, after Beijing, Ho Chi Minh, and Bangkok, and is without a doubt the most adventurous so far. Since we began travelling from country to country, the food we have fallen in love with the most has been the food created under unique or challenging circumstances, explains Sharman, adding that its been his experiences that have defined the food hes discovered and the way he remembers it. If cooking with the local ingredients wasnt going to be challenging enough, at Everest Base Camp the team will face the added difficulty of trying not to freeze to death. Sharman is planning on serving an authentic Nepalese menu, although details are yet to be revealed. There are spaces for 15 adventurous foodies to join the 14-day trip (taking place from 10-23 December), but if youre keen to bag a spot youll have to be prepared to hike to Everest Base Camp and shell out $1,050 (848). If Everest doesnt tickle your tastebuds though, Sharman has plenty of other exciting locations planned for future dinner including Reykjavik, Tasmania and Buenos Aires. And the innovative nature of the restaurants will prevail - in the new year, Sharman is planning to cook and serve a meal on a train travelling through Indias tea fields. Sign up to IndyEat's free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our Now Hear This 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 IndyEats email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Bourbon County Stout is something of a holy grail for craft beer fans. A winner of countless accolades including gold at the World Beer Cup, it is a rich, swirling black hole, packed full of so many flavours judges were forced to use new words to describe its taste when it first landed. Clocking in at a flooring 11 to 15% ABV, it is brewed and aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels for nine to twelve months, and each annual batch is so sought after even the empty bottles end up finding buyers online. Distribution of the small amount of Bourbon County Stout produced is usually kept to the US, but the beer is getting its first proper UK Black Friday launch in 2016. 100 bottles will be available at Clapton Craft Kentish Town in London on 25 November, and there are sure to be queues outside. The company's brewmaster described this years edition, which has an RRSP of 20, as featuring toffee and molasses, fresh tobacco and a bit of leather to go with the roast and barrel notes you are used to. Goose Islands connection to the UK goes back many years, starting literally with John Halls inspiration for creating the brewery back in 1988, Mike Siegel, Lead Innovation Brewer at Goose Island Beer Co., added. We were one of the first U.S. craft breweries to send beer to the UK over a decade ago, including a very small amount of the very first bottlings of Bourbon County Stout. That beers tremendous popularity forced us to pull back the UK allotment to serve our great fans in the US, but now for the first time since then, we return Bourbon County Stout to the UK. As someone who has been to the UK over 10 times, and 4 times in the last two years, I couldnt be more excited to share this beer with our great fans abroad. Cheers to you all! 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 }} Global sea ice is retreating at unprecedented speed with its impact already being felt across the globe, a leading scientist has warned. While ice in the Arctic is close to record lows, the Antarctic has seen sea ice running at lowest ever levels for this time of year since records began. Professor Peter Wadhams, head of the polar ocean physics group at Cambridge University, said rates of ice growth in winter had slowed and rising temperatures were causing it to melt faster in the summer, causing a dramatic reduction in area and thickness. He warned the global repercussions of the reduction of sea ice were already being felt, long before the ice has fully disappeared. As the ice area gets less, you're changing the albedo of the earth, which is the fraction of solar radiation that gets reflected straight away back into space, so you're absorbing radiation which warms the earth quicker creating a feedback effect as the ice retreats, he told The Independent. The only secure way of stopping the sea ice to retreat is stopping warming the climate and that is really by reducing our carbon dioxide emissions. The graph above shows Arctic sea ice extent as of November 1, 2016, along with daily ice extent data for four previous years (National Snow and Ice Data Center) He also warned of the disastrous implications melting sea ice had for rising sea levels across the world. According to a new study, sea water levels have risen by almost 7.8 inches due to ice melting since 1870, causing flooding of low-lying coastal communities and displacement of fish populations fleeing increasingly warm waters. As the ice retreats you get warmer air over the Arctic and that warmer air spreads out to places like Greenlands ice cap causing it to melt faster in the summer than it did in the past, which is contributing to global sea level rise, he said. 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Show all 10 1 /10 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A group of emperor penguins face a crack in the sea ice, near McMurdo Station, Antarctica Kira Morris 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Floods destroyed eight bridges and ruined crops such as wheat, maize and peas in the Karimabad valley in northern Pakistan, a mountainous region with many glaciers. In many parts of the world, glaciers have been in retreat, creating dangerously large lakes that can cause devastating flooding when the banks break. Climate change can also increase rainfall in some areas, while bringing drought to others. Hira Ali 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Smoke filled with the carbon that is driving climate change drifts across a field in Colombia. Sandra Rondon 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Amid a flood in Islampur, Jamalpur, Bangladesh, a woman on a raft searches for somewhere dry to take shelter. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable places in the world to sea level rise, which is expected to make tens of millions of people homeless by 2050. Probal Rashid 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Sindh province in Pakistan has experienced a grim mix of two consequences of climate change. Because of climate change either we have floods or not enough water to irrigate our crop and feed our animals, says the photographer. Picture clearly indicates that the extreme drought makes wide cracks in clay. Crops are very difficult to grow. Rizwan Dharejo 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Hanna Petursdottir examines a cave inside the Svinafellsjokull glacier in Iceland, which she said had been growing rapidly. Since 2000, the size of glaciers on Iceland has reduced by 12 per cent. Tom Schifanella 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A river once flowed along the depression in the dry earth of this part of Bangladesh, but it has disappeared amid rising temperatures. Abrar Hossain 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A shepherd moves his herd as he looks for green pasture near the village of Sirohi in Rajasthan, northern India. The region has been badly affected by heatwaves and drought, making local people nervous about further predicted increases in temperature. Riddhima Singh Bhati 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A factory in China is shrouded by a haze of air pollution. The World Health Organisation has warned such pollution, much of which is from the fossil fuels that cause climate change, is a public health emergency. Leung Ka Wa 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Water levels in reservoirs, like this one in Gers, France, have been getting perilously low in areas across the world affected by drought, forcing authorities to introduce water restrictions. Mahtuf Ikhsan He also warned of the release of the powerful greenhouse gas methane from the seabed as the ice melts, a gas that scientists recognise as a key driver of climate change. We are now seeing huge plumes of methane coming up to the surface from methane being released from the seabed, he told The Independent. The ice in summer has shrunk back from all the seas around the edges of the arctic and without the sea ice, those seas around the edge can now warm up because the water is shallow which allows this warmer water to bathe the seabed. The seabed at the moment is covered with permafrost, frozen ground, hiding a large volume of methane underneath. As soon as the warmer water starts to act on the seabed the permafrost melts and the methane is released. Sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in October were unusually high over the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, as well as the Barents and Kara Seas along the Eurasian coast, helping to limit ice growth (Climate Change Institute/University of Maine) Concern is also growing among the scientific community over Donald Trumps election as US president. Last week, what is hoped will be one of the biggest ever environmental campaigns was launched by a group of scientists and environmentalists in an effort to convince the President-elect that global warming is real. Professor Wadhams warned that Mr Trumps stance as a climate change denier could be a disaster and a catastrophe for the world. I recently attended the Marrakech climate change conference and there was enormous concern because the US delegation who signed the Paris agreement is still Obamas administration, he said. Legally the US is taking part fully in the Paris accords but as John Kerry was saying, his administration would only be in office for the next two months. Theres general gloom everywhere, you quiver with fear with the rest of the globe for the future." However, Professor Wadhams, who recently published a book on the shrinking of sea ice, A Farewell to Ice, said there was hope for the future if the proper measures were put in place. Recommended Why President Trump is an even bigger disaster than you realised One measure to stem the methane emissions from the seabed would be a kind of fracking method that the oil industry suggests which would be to drill down through these sediments, open up cavities which would then be filled with methane when you pump it out, he said. Global warming and climate change is not going to be easy to reverse, especially sea level rise as that just seems to continue inexorably. The only way thats been suggested that might work is 'marine cloud brightening', a form of geoengineering where you inject very fine water particles into the bottom of low cloud, these particles evaporate and it makes them brighter which will reflect more solar radiation. If that could work, it could potentially offset global warming, but we need to try it first. 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 }} Jo Cox tried to shield her face with her hands as her killer shot her in the head, a court has heard. The 41-year-old Batley and Spen MP received 15 stab wounds and was shot three times when she was set upon outside her constituency surgery in Birstall, near Leeds, days before the EU referendum. Thomas Mair, 53, is accused of her politically-motivated murder as well as stabbing Bernard Carter-Kenny, 78, who tried to stop him. Mair was armed with hollow-point rifle bullets more commonly used to kill vermin in a humane way when he murdered Mrs Cox, his trial also heard. A plastic bag found in a holdall when the alleged killer, 53, was arrested was found to contain 25 live .22 calibre rounds, jurors were told. Twelve of the rounds were lead hollow-point cartridges, firearms expert Andre Horne told the Old Bailey trial. Mr Horne said hollow-points were designed to expand after firing, adding: The idea of that is to cause a greater wound size, especially when hunting, which would be considered a more humane way of disposing of animals. He explained this was because a bullet staying together and causing a smaller wound might allow it to escape, prolonging its suffering before it died. He added: They are most commonly used for hunting vermin, squirrels, rabbits and other small animals. Mr Horne said that the bullets could be legally owned in the UK with the correct firearms licence. Also on Friday, In statements read out at the Old Bailey, ambulance service staff told of treating Mrs Cox as she lay at the scene. The MP was "unresponsive" and was given emergency treatment. She had "swelling" on one of her eyes, an abdominal bleed and "straight edged puncture" wounds to her upper torso . She was pronounced dead at 1.48pm. Pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd carried out a lengthy post mortem examination on the body of 5ft tall Mrs Cox later the same day. Dr Shepherd told jurors: "I concluded that Jo Cox died as a result of multiple stab and gunshot wounds." Jurors were shown computer generated images of the body as he gave evidence in court. Dr Shepherd catalogued the stab wounds, including to her chest cavity, stomach and hand. One stab wound passed right through her arm and into her right side, he said. Another stab wound entered into the right ventricle of her heart, the pathologist said. One gunshot wound was found to her right forehead and the bullet fragmented, the doctor said. A second bullet hole was on her right eyebrow, jurors were told. The round did not penetrate the skull and was recovered from muscle "flattened and distorted", the doctor said. The third bullet wound was to the chest and the bullet was found in the cavity. A "through and through" entry and exit bullet hole was on her left hand. Prosecutor Richard Whittam QC suggested: "It could be consistent with the hand being raised to the face and the bullet going through?" UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA 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 Dr Shepherd replied: "Indeed. It could be with any of the injuries but I think it makes more sense that the hands were up covering the face and the bullet has gone through the right hand and ... into the head." He went on: "I concluded that she received multiple stab wounds to the back, front and left side of the chest and abdomen. "The stab wounds had penetrated her heart, left lung, stomach and liver." Some stab wounds were inflicted with between "moderate and severe force", he added. Mair denies the charges against him. The trial continues. Press Association 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 }} Local hospitals risk losing thousands of beds as part of new NHS plans to centralise key services across England. Pregnant women could face travelling long distances to their nearest maternity ward and a number of A&E units are set to be downgraded or closed, according to The Guardian, which conducted analyses of 24 NHS regional plans. However, the plans have been met with growing opposition from campaign groups, councillors and some MPs, who are concerned of the potential impact on access to urgent care. Of Englands 163 acute hospitals, dozens are now set to have vital services, such as cancer, trauma and stroke care, axed under the plans. The plans will aim to rationalise and manage services more effectively, as part of increasing efforts to streamline budgets to help save the NHS 22bn by 2020 as agreed under the current Parliament. The initiative will hope to improve patient care and tackle the chronic understaffing suffered by the NHS. Clinical leaders, including Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS medical director, believe centralising some services would benefit patients as doctors would see more of the same cases and gain expertise in treating them. However, campaigners from We Need West Cumberland Hospital Group in Cumbria, who are fighting the hospitals A&E unit being downgraded, believe the new plans put patients lives at risk. Centralisation of services wont work in Cumbria, Annette Robson, a campaigner from the group told the Guardian. We are not asking for specialist services. We are asking for basic provision of a 24/7 A&E and a consultant-led maternity unit in Whitehaven. If they go, there is no doubt that lives, including those of mothers and babies, will be lost on the 40-plus mile journey to Carlisle from Whitehaven. While many of the plans dont explicitly detail their implications, those that do cite extensive cuts to beds across acute district general hospitals, including 535 in Derbyshire and 400 each in Devon and West Yorkshire, and 30 per cent of hospital beds in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. South-west London will also be affected by the plans which make clear five acute hospitals St Georges, Kingston, Croydon, Epsom and St Heliers can no longer be sustained. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has backed the plans. However he confirmed that local NHS and council leaders would be taking key implementation decisions. Conservative MP Dr Daniel Poulter, a former health minister, said he feared any potential for improving quality of patient care could be eclipsed by a drive to make cost savings. Given that the NHS is often seen through the prism of hospital services changes and closures in marginal seats, the political consequences of how the plans are being forced to operate will soon be all too apparent, he told The Guardian. The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? Show all 19 1 /19 The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36454.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36456.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36455.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36457.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36458.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36459.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36460.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36461.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36462.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36464.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36463.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36466.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36467.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36468.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36469.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36470.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36472.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36473.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36474.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk However, Professor Chris Ham, chief executive of the Kings Fund think tank, said the cuts would allow patients to access a higher standard of care. The public may be understandably concerned about travelling further to access A&E care. But in many cases that will be a price worth paying for a higher standard of care, and the same would apply to maternity services. Overall this is a painful process that the NHS has to go through, he said. An NHS England spokesperson defended the plans as necessary modernisation. Our NHS has constantly adapted to improve services for patients, taking advantage of new opportunities and making common sense changes in areas that really matter to patients making it easier to see a GP, providing more specialist services in peoples homes, speeding up cancer diagnosis and offering help faster to people with mental illness, a spokesperson said. We are talking about steady incremental improvement, not a big bang, tackling things doctors and nurses have been telling us for years. By continuing to adapt to a changing world, the NHS will be able to secure a better service for future generations. 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 }} The Government is launching a new crackdown on the porn industry with plans to block sites that fail to verify their users are adults. The proposal would allow the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) to restrict sites in both the UK and overseas from reaching British users as part of increasing efforts to protect children from accessing inappropriate content online. Culture Secretary Karen Bradley said children needed to be safe from "harmful pornographic content", but some have criticised stricter internet controls, likening them to censorship. "Only adults should be allowed to view such content and we have appointed a regulator, BBFC, to make sure the right age checks are in place to make that happen," Ms Bradley told the BBC. "If sites refuse to comply, they should be blocked." The plans will be included as amendments to the Digital Economy Bill later this month. They would give the BBFC the power to tell internet service providers to block access to pornographic sites which either fail to verify age or have inadequate verification measures in place. While the specific methods of verification have not been detailed in the plans, Ofcom suggests age checks for online content could range from confirmation of credit card ownership to cross-checking with the electoral register. However, the BBFC said any checks would have to be consistent with current laws surrounding data protection. "Such solutions already exist and focus, rightly, on verification rather than identification. We will work with all stakeholders to establish the best technological solutions available, a spokesperson said. The Digital Economy Bill, which already includes plans to enforce age verification and the capability to withdraw payments from sites that refuse to implement increased controls, will now include the free sites which direct traffic to paid sites. According to the BBFC, the policy would extend to all commercial sites "regardless of where they are based". "Overseas providers will still be incentivised to comply by the elements of the scheme which will disrupt their income streams and ISP blocking powers greatly increase the chance of effectiveness of the whole regime, a spokesperson said. Latest research figures commissioned by the NSPCC show that 53 per cent of 11 to 16-year-olds have come across porn online. The NSPCC has issued a stark warning that a whole generation of children could be stripped of their childhoods" through online exposure to pornography. However, Jerry Barnett, who campaigns against sex censorship and also used to run a pornography business online, said the new plans would have little impact on child safety. "This is using pornography as a lever to introduce the first censor of the internet in a democratic country in the world, he told BBCs Today programme. "There are already plenty of child protection measures in place. This isn't about protecting children and this doesn't introduce major new protection of children. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} An academic who worked for the World Health Organisation killed herself after her husband prevented her from seeing their baby, an inquest has heard. Felicity Frederiksen, 33, was separated from her daughter after her estranged Danish husband took their daughter to Denmark against her wishes. An inquest into her death heard that she could not face the prospect of being away from her baby and jumped from a balcony in Copenhagen, leaving suicide notes for her family. Recommended Health secretaries attack Government over mental health inaction Ms Frederiksen, from Hertfordshire, spoke four languages and was awarded a scholarship to study at Oxford at just 17. Described by her family as exceptionally brilliant and talented, she suffered from bipolar disorder, but was said to have been happy until the breakdown of her marriage to Mr Frederiksen. Senior coroner for Hertfordshire Geoffrey Sullivan told the inquest that Ms Frederiksens husband had threatened her with legal action to declare her an incompetent mother, denying access to their child. The coroner read an email from Ms Frederiksens father, Oliver Bulmer, which said Mr Frederiksen had effectively abducted their daughter and coerced her to give up [access] rights. Felicity Frederiksen on her wedding day in Malaysia (Facebook) Less than one month before her death, the scholar had posted on Facebook about not being able to see her baby. She said: Please come and visit me in Copenhagen this summer as I am so lonely. My darling daughter, who has been taken from me, and who I barely get to see, had a bedroom in the flat all ready for her when she is a baby. Please help me from wanting to jump off my 8th floor balcony. She had also described her hopes to stay in Denmark after finishing a period of work, referring to the country my baby daughter is forced to stay living in. Ms Frederiksen met her husband via the Tinder dating app while studying in Denmark as part of her sociology PHD at the University of Edinburgh. 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 proposed to her via Skype after she moved back to the UK and she was four months pregnant by the time the pair married in Malaysia in July 2015. She had criticised Danish social services for not granting her rights to see her daughter after moving to Copenhagen. A note she left before her death read: I am sorry, but life without [my daughter] is too painful. No-one can understand until they have lost a child as I have and been through what I have. Psychiatrist Dr Mike McPhillips, who had worked with Ms Frederiksen, told the hearing of her extremely poor self-esteem, noting that she was extremely passive and submissive in her close relationships. She was in isolation in Denmark and having her daughter taken from her, Felicity was clearly a very vulnerable person and in increased risk of suicide. I am sorry to note that her marriage was a very unhappy one, the main consolation in it was the birth of her daughter, who she doted on. A verdict of suicide was given at the inquest, with spinal injuries recorded as the cause of death. The coroner said: She was diagnosed really from her teens onwards with depression and poor self-esteem. It seems she was in regular contact with her psychiatrist and a very supportive family, who she spoke to regularly, but that in the period leading up to her death her marriage was breaking down and her husband, a Danish national, had taken their daughter to Denmark and was refusing access to her. This exacerbated her existing mental health problems, it would seem, leading her to fall from the balcony on her apartment building in Denmark. 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 }} Boris Johnson needs to "get real" about the consequences of Brexit, a Tory former minister has said. Anna Soubry revealed she would not attempt to block Brexit by voting against triggering Article 50 of the EU treaties in the Commons but told Leave supporters they need to be more realistic about the consequences. The Remain-supporting MP insisted immigration was unlikely to come down after Brexit as the UK economy needed foreign workers to fill job vacancies, citing this week's employment statistics. On Mr Johnson, she told the Guardian: "We actually now have a Foreign Secretary who said the EU tells us what quantity of bananas we're allowed to buy. It's just b*******. And that's the problem." Ms Soubry also criticised Mr Johnson for getting into a row with Italy by suggesting the country should back a generous Brexit deal for the UK to avoid losing sales of its prosecco sparkling wine. "I think Boris should understand the consequences of us leaving the single market and the customs union," she said. "Boris needs to talk to British businesses, as I do. Boris and the rest of his people need to get real." She spoke as business leaders and trade bodies renewed calls for Theresa May to secure transitional trade arrangements to give companies a "back-up" and certainty in case a post-Brexit deal was not ratified before the UK left. As research suggested EU free trade agreements (FTAs) took an average of six and a half years to complete, they urged the Prime Minister to take steps to ensure business was not harmed if the UK could not cut a deal before pulling out in 2019. The Open Britain study showed that the 37 deals the EU has in place, covering more than 50 countries, took an average of four years to negotiate and two years to come into force. The Canada-EU trade deal which was recently agreed took more than seven years to negotiate and is not in force. By contrast, the UK will pull out of the EU following just two years of negotiations under the Article 50 process, which Mrs May has said she will trigger by April. Business figures warned against rushing towards a deal which could harm Britain's economy and risk falling back on World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules, which would see tariffs introduced. International Chamber of Commerce UK secretary general Chris Southworth said: "Despite concerns over a prolonged Brexit, there is a huge amount at stake in the negotiations, so it is far more important we get it right than try and squeeze the process into an unrealistic timeframe. "Transitional arrangements would provide insurance and a safety net should timeframes overrun - and, importantly, give businesses confidence to plan ahead without fearing a sudden increase in cost or disruption. "Transitional arrangements should provide a back-up - a sensible idea given the size, scale and complexity of the negotiations ahead." Terry Scuoler, chief executive of EEF, which champions UK manufacturers and engineers, said: "This report emphasises the importance of reaching an agreement with the EU on exit terms, while also negotiating a clear transition period which will provide a little more clarity and reassurance that time will be given to get the complex issue of an FTA (free trade agreement) right. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA 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 "This all presupposes that we can reach an agreement on an orderly exit, securing tariff free access to the single market and no new customs barriers, which is a big priority for business." Charlotte Holloway, policy director of techUK, which represents technology firms, said: "Tech firms of all sizes want to see an orderly exit from the EU that enables them to plan effectively and secure the future of their businesses, customers, investors and employees. "Simply falling back on to WTO rules at the end of the Article 50 process would present businesses with huge uncertainties and would mean a very hard landing for the UK economy." City of London Corporation policy chairman Mark Boleat said: "Brexit has brought with it a considerable amount of uncertainty for businesses and the services sector. "This can result in important strategic business decisions being delayed and much needed investment postponed or withdrawn altogether. "A transitional agreement would give businesses a greater degree of certainty and the time to make crucial decisions, which will ultimately support growth in both jobs and the economy." Press Association 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 number of senior Conservative MPs have urged Theresa May to cancel the Governments appeal against the High Courts judgment on the triggering of Article 50. Judges ruled at the start of this month that the Prime Minister had to gain Parliaments consent to begin EU negotiations putting Ms May on a collision course with pro-EU Tories in Parliament. The Government is appealing the decision at the Supreme Court, with a hearing due at the start of December but senior Tories now say the appeal should be cancelled. Sir Oliver Letwin, the former head of the Governments Brexit Unit, said the Government should bring a fast and tightly time-tabled bill to the House of Commons and the House of Lords instead of continuing with its legal route. Proceeding with the appeal would accord the devolved administrations some rights or even some veto powers over triggering Article 50, he warned noting that this week the Scottish and Welsh governments were granted the right to intervene in the case. Dominic Grieve, a longstanding supporter of European cooperation, said he saw little chance of success for the Governments appeal and little chance of the Parliamentary route failing. I cant see the point in the Government continuing with the case and also agree that if they enact primary legislation, they will get it through Parliament, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programe. Fellow Tory MP Mark Garnier said ditching the appeal would avoid an unnecessary legal row. You also avoid an opportunity for ill-motivated people to attack the judiciary, to misconstrue the motives of both parties to the lawsuit, and you provide certainty, he said. Longstanding eurosceptic Owen Paterson added: Im not a lawyer and Im not an expert on this but, I wouldnt have a bet on the Government winning this one. It is not good to have a confrontation with the courts. Oliver Letwin led David Camerons briefly-constituted Brexit Unit (PA) Ukip leader Nigel Farage has pledged to lead a march of tens of thousands of people on the Supreme Court in protest of the previous court ruling. The Daily Mail newspaper branded the High Court judges who made the initial ruling enemies of the people, while Brexit supporters posted death threats online. 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 spokesperson for the Department for Exiting the European Union said Government lawyers would robustly defend its position in the forthcoming appeal. The country voted to leave the European Union in a referendum approved by an act of parliament and the Government is determined to respect that result, the spokesperson said. We will robustly defend our position in the forthcoming appeal. As the prime minister made clear [on Friday], our work is on track and we remain committed to triggering article 50 by the end of March 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 }} Theresa May has changed her legal case for the right to start Brexit without the consent of Parliament in a way that could yet allow the process of leaving the EU to be halted. A document submitted to the Supreme Court shows that the Government will as revealed by The Independent last week argue the triggering of Article 50 will not directly affect the rights of British citizens. The shift is designed to overturn the High Courts ruling that MPs and peers must be involved at the start of Brexit because rights would irretrievably be lost at that point. The new argument that Britain has a dualist legal system rests on the idea that international law is not applicable in the UK until it is translated into national legislation. If the Supreme Court agrees that triggering Article 50 is purely an international action which does not directly impact on British law, it could decide that an act of Parliament is not required. However, some legal experts are certain to argue that will also be an implicit acceptance that Article 50 and, therefore, Brexit itself could later be stopped, if Parliament chose to. 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 Last week, Lord Kerr, the former UK diplomat who wrote Article 50, insisted it could be halted, saying: It is not irrevocable you can change your mind while the process is going on. During that period, if a country were to decide actually we don't want to leave after all, everybody would be very cross about it being a waste of time. They might try to extract a political price but legally they couldn't insist that you leave. The document, quietly released at 5pm on Friday, reads: The UK has a dualist constitutional system. Acts of the government on the international plane may sometimes have impacts, more or less direct, in domestic law. But treaties are not self-executing. Individual rights and obligations which they create from time to time must be allowed into domestic law by Parliament if they are to be recognised and enforced in the UK courts. Elsewhere in the document, the Government repeats its central argument that it does have prerogative powers to invoke Article 50 while bypassing Parliament. It states: Contrary to the conclusion of the Divisional [High] Court, it is not the case that EU rights and obligations may only be altered or removed with the prior authorisation of an act of Parliament. The case will be heard, over four days, from 5 December, with a decision expected at the start of January. If, despite the new legal argument, the Government loses, it will immediately introduce a short three-line bill and ram it through the Commons in days, to try to keep Brexit on track. Ms May repeated, in Germany on Friday, that she will trigger Article 50 by the end of March, beginning two years of formal exit talks expected to conclude with Britain leaving the EU in spring 2019. However, on Friday the Supreme Court threw a further hurdle in the way of a smooth Brexit, when it ruled the Scottish and Welsh governments can intervene. Edinburgh and Cardiff will be allowed to make their separate cases to the court for the right to have a say over the triggering of the Article 50 notice period. The decision raises the possibility albeit thought to be slim of the Supreme Court agreeing with the SNP that the Scottish Parliament should have a veto over the Brexit strategy. That would plunge the United Kingdom into a full-blown constitutional crisis, as well as potentially sink the Prime Ministers exit timetable completely. Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko has said that intelligence services of Russia are creating a network to commit terrorist attacks in Ukraine. "Unfortunately, I should say that Russia is creating a network [to commit] terrorist attacks on our territory. This is one more fact. Society should remember every day that Ukraine is in the state of war," he said at joint briefing with Security Service Chief Vasyl Hrytsak in Kyiv on November 18. Lutsenko said that on September 16 an officer of the Rivne pretrial detention center Ivan Mamchur was killed. On November 17 a resident of Mariupol Smorodinov was detained when attempting to cross the border in Kharkiv region. He told investigators that he killed Mamchur under an order of the Federal Security Service of Russia, as Mamchur earlier served in the special forces unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) zone. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Government will ban businesses from cold calling pensioners to ask them to invest their newly liberalised pension pots in dubious schemes, it is understood. The new safeguards will be announced in the Autumn Statement, months after the Government changed the law and liberalised the pensions regime. Pensioners are now free to invest their entire pots in things other than an annuity, with 25 per cent of their total being tax free. The large pots of money have however proven an attractive target to scammers. Reported scams advertised by cold calling have included lures to investment pots in fine wines or fictitious businesses. Pensioners lost an estimated 19m to scammers between April 2015 and March 2016, according to the Treasury, with over 10 million targeted by cold callers. While it is possible for pensioners to squander their pension pots through means advertised via any medium, cold calls are thought to be particularly dangerous as they encourage people to make commitments without comparing the market or taking proper financial advice. The Pensions Advisory Service, an official service set up by the Government, recommended banning the practice last month. Respected former pensions ministers Steve Webb, a Lib Dem, and Baroness Altmann, a Tory, have also backed the plans. It is understood the Chancellor is also to consult on a wider crackdown against pension pot scams including giving pension firms the power to block transfers to dubious operators and making it harder to open a fraudulent scheme. 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 }} Labour must provide a genuine alternative to the fake anti-elitism of rich white men, Jeremy Corbyn will say in a speech on Saturday. The Labour leader will hit out at Donald Trump and Nigel Farage, arguing that despite posing as anti-establishment figures they would do nothing to help people looking for real control. In pre-released extracts of the speech, to be given to Labours national policy forum in Loughborough, Mr Corbyn listed policies he said would make a genuine difference. Recommended Theresa May refuses to deny discussing Nigel Farage peerage He will reiterate his call for full employment, a homes guarantee, and a National Education Service modelled on the NHS. Political upheaval is becoming the norm. People know there can be no more business as usual, but the question is what will replace it, Mr Corbyn will tell his audience. Voting for the status quo is not attractive to people because they know the status quo is failing them. The fake anti-elitism of rich white men like Nigel Farage and Donald Trump is farcical at one level, but in reality its no joke. So it is down to Labour to restore hope and give people the chance to take back real control. The Tories under Theresa May are taking Britain backwards and failing to meet peoples needs and aspirations. Under my leadership, Labour is setting a real alternative for Britain. Labour will be ready whenever the general election is called. That is the shape of the transformation Labour is committed to for Britain. Mr Corbyns offer to voters comes just a week after Mr Trump stormed the US election, winning the electoral college to become president, though losing the popular vote. Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Show all 12 1 /12 Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Corbyn's reshuffle Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Corbyn and the Syria bombing vote Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Corbyn asks questions from the public at PMQs, meanwhile backbenchers plot to oust him Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Corbyn is unavailable to attend the Privy Council Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Conference rejects Corbyns call to debate Trident Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn At Labour conference Corbyn and McDonnell press for a Robin Hood tax Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Corbyns hopes for a new politics look optimistic in the face of a media barrage Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Corbyn enters Labour leadership race Both Mr Farage and Mr Trump have appeared to try and link the US election result with the Brexit vote, arguing that they are both anti-establishment causes. Mr Corbyns shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said last weekend that there were some similarities between Mr Corbyns upset election to the Labour leadership last year and Mr Trumps victory. 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 }} Liz Truss has failed in her statutory duties and may have broken the law by keeping a near-silence in the face of a torrent of abuse targeting three high court judges, a former Lord Chief Justice has warned. After the Brexit ruling in which three judges declared the Prime Minister needed parliamentary approval to trigger Article 50 the justices were met with a wave of highly personal vitriol, with the Daily Mail branding them enemies of the people. Ms Trusss failure to come to the defence of the judiciary for nearly 48 hours and her lukewarm response when she did means if she were taken to court she would likely be found to have acted unlawfully, Lord Igor Judge said. He claimed the Lord Chancellors silence constituted a very serious failing in her legal obligations. She is in relative terms a very inexperienced politician with no legal experience, who has been silent and answered to Downing Street when she should have been independent, he told The Times. Lord Judge, who served as Lord Chief Justice from 2008 to 2013, said Ms Trusss hesitation in responding and the wording of her eventual statement, which was similar to a comment made by the Prime Minister, indicated she had collaborated with Downing Street. If I am right, the Lord Chancellor asked the Prime Minister or No 10 to have some sort of input into what she said about attacks on the judiciary. And the whole point of the Lord Chancellors job is that he or she is there to take an independent line, he said. The former top judges remarks were echoed by Labours shadow Lord Chancellor Richard Burgon, who wrote earlier in November: When Truss took office she swore an oath to uphold the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law. A mature democracy and a mature government doesnt stand by while the judiciary gets a roasting. Recommended Sixty Tory MPs demand Theresa May commits Britain to a Hard Brexit One leading QC, who did not want to be named, told The Independent: "Her failure degraded the position of lord chancellor and it may be that other constitutional requirements will have to be made if the [she] can't uphold the independence of the judiciary. "This particular lord chancellor has no respect among the legal profession and it may be that the historic duty to uphold the independence of the judiciary should devolve to someone else. "She has not done her legal duty, but other distinguished lawyers think that even if she did, she wouldn't be up to [the job]. They added: "Anyone could take her to court but the real question is whether she is capable." Relations between the judiciary and the Government appeared to deteriorate further following the Brexit ruling when six high court judges launched legal action against Ms Truss on the grounds they had been discriminated against. What experts have said about Brexit Show all 11 1 /11 What experts have said about Brexit What experts have said about Brexit Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond The Chancellor claims London can still be a world financial hub despite Brexit One of Britains great strengths is the ability to offer and aggregate all of the services the global financial services industry needs This has not changed as a result of the EU referendum and I will do everything I can to ensure the City of London retains its position as the worlds leading international financial centre. Reuters What experts have said about Brexit Yanis Varoufakis Greece's former finance minister compared the UK relations with the EU bloc with a well-known song by the Eagles: You can check out any time you like, as the Hotel California song says, but you can't really leave. The proof is Theresa May has not even dared to trigger Article 50. It's like Harrison Ford going into Indiana Jones' castle and the path behind him fragmenting. You can get in, but getting out is not at all clear Getty Images What experts have said about Brexit Michael OLeary Ryanair boss says UK will be screwed by EU in Brexit trade deals: I have no faith in the politicians in London going on about how the world will want to trade with us. The world will want to screw you that's what happens in trade talks, he said. They have no interest in giving the UK a deal on trade Getty What experts have said about Brexit Tim Martin JD Wetherspoon's chairman has said claims that the UK would see serious economic consequences from a Brexit vote were "lurid" and wrong: We were told it would be Armageddon from the OECD, from the IMF, David Cameron, the chancellor and President Obama who were predicting locusts in the fields and tidal waves in the North Sea" PA What experts have said about Brexit Mark Carney Governor of Bank of England is 'serene' about Bank of England's Brexit stance: I am absolutely serene about the judgments made both by the MPC and the FPC Reuters What experts have said about Brexit Christine Lagarde IMF chief urges quick Brexit to reduce economic uncertainty: We want to see clarity sooner rather than later because we think that a lack of clarity feeds uncertainty, which itself undermines investment appetites and decision making Getty Images What experts have said about Brexit Inga Beale Lloyds chief executive says Brexit is a major issue: "Clearly the UK's referendum on its EU membership is a major issue for us to deal with and we are now focusing our attention on having in place the plans that will ensure Lloyd's continues trading across Europe EPA What experts have said about Brexit Colm Kelleher President of US bank Morgan Stanley says City of London will suffer as result of the EU referendum: I do believe, and I said prior to the referendum, that the City of London will suffer as result of Brexit. The issue is how much What experts have said about Brexit Richard Branson Virgin founder believes we've lost a THIRD of our value because of Brexit and cancelled a deal worth 3,000 jobs: We're not any worse than anybody else, but I suspect we've lost a third of our value which is dreadful for people in the workplace.' He continued: "We were about to do a very big deal, we cancelled that deal, that would have involved 3,000 jobs, and thats happening all over the country" Getty Images What experts have said about Brexit Barack Obama US President believes Britain was wrong to vote to leave the EU: "It is absolutely true that I believed pre-Brexit vote and continue to believe post-Brexit vote that the world benefited enormously from the United Kingdom's participation in the EU. We are fully supportive of a process that is as little disruptive as possible so that people around the world can continue to benefit from economic growth" Getty Images What experts have said about Brexit Kristin Forbes American economist and an external member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England argues that the economy had been less stormy than many expected following the shock referendum result: For nowthe economy is experiencing some chop, but no tsunami. The adverse winds could quickly pick up and merit a stronger policy response. But recently they have shifted to a more favourable direction Getty Ms Truss told The Times: An independent judiciary is the cornerstone of the rule of law. I take my duty as Lord Chancellor to defend that independence very seriously. The High Court judges have exercised their independence and made a ruling without fear or favour in accordance with their oath. I defended that independence following the decision. The important thing now is that legal process is followed. Following the decision that Parliament must be involved with triggering Article 50, Theresa May has changed her legal case for the right to start Brexit without MPs consent. The Government's new tack is to argue Article 50 will not directly affect the rights of British people. 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 }} Sixty Tory MPs have urged Theresa May to commit Britain to a hard Brexit pulling out of the single market and customs union. Eurosceptics including Iain Duncan Smith, Michael Gove, John Whittingdale and Theresa Villiers made their call in the Sunday Telegraph newspaper. Though the EU referendum campaign included minimal debate over whether or not the UK should remain in the single market, the MPs believe the Government has a mandate to cut the UKs close existing trade ties with the bloc. Recommended Tories urge May to cancel her appeal against Brexit High Court ruling Ms May has previously said she would try to restrict freedom of movement between the UK and EU, a policy which is incompatible with membership of the single market. A lack of clarity from Downing Street about exactly what it is trying to achieve in EU negotiations has however led to consternation in the various factions of the Tory party. MP Stephen Phillips, who backed Brexit but wanted to remain in the single market, quit as an MP earlier this month over Ms Mays handling of Brexit as the tone of the Governments inscrutable signals started to indicate a Hard Brexit But the 60 MPs call this weekend shows those advocating Hard Brexit are also far from certain of their triumph in the behind-closed-doors decisions about what Brexit will actually entail. The Tories backed the statement The UK must leave the European Economic Area [EEA] and the Customs Union through an article in the newspaper. A vote to remain in the EEA or the Customs Union is a vote to be powerless over trade and domestic regulation and therefore poorer than we otherwise can be, Steve Baker, one of the Conservative MPs, told the newspaper. The UK is ideally positioned to catalyse a new global trading system which works for everyone by promoting free and fair trade and defending against predatory practices. The latest call from Eurosceptics follows calls on Saturday by some Tory MPs for the Government to drop its attempt to appeal a Brexit-replated High Court ruling. Sir Oliver Letwin, the former head of the Cabinet Office Brexit Unit, said the appeal against having to hold a parliamentary vote on triggering Article 50 should be dropped. Other MPs including former attorney general Dominic Grieve and Mark Garnier also backed the call, arguing that the plan was unlikely to succeed and that Brexit would pass through Parliament without difficulty anyway. 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 Ms May has said she will trigger Article 50 in the first quarter of the upcoming year but has not said what she what the opening position of negotiations will be or what their ultimate aim will be. The Government says transparency would weaken its negotiating position. Government spokesperson said: "We are committed to getting the best possible deal as we leave the EU: one that is unique to Britain, not an off the shelf solution. "It's not about binary choices - there is a huge range of possibilities for our future trading relationship with the EU. That's why the Government is painstakingly analysing the challenges and opportunities for all the different sectors of our economy. "The Prime Minister has been clear that she wants UK companies to have the maximum freedom to trade with and operate in the Single Market and to let European businesses do the same here. "Beyond that, it's not in the UK's interest to give a running commentary on our thinking that could undermine our negotiating position." 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 eight-year-old Ugandan girl has been arrested on suspicion on 'lesbianism', it has been claimed. Ugandan police are allegedly holding the child after she was found kissing friends, according to local media reports, which didn't include any further detail about the girl's identity. According to child family protection police in the town of Jinja, east of Kampala, the girl was arrested after a neighbour reported she was having romantic relationships with girls of her age. The neighbour allegedly told police the girl had lured her friends to a farm near her house where they would engage in inappropriate behaviour". Chief investigating officer Catherine Wobuyaga said the girl was being held in police custody after she admitted to her alleged 'crimes' with girls, most of whom were thought to be classmates. Human rights organisations have called for the childs immediate release. Amnesty Internationals East Africa Campaigner, Victor Odero, said: The girl should be immediately and unconditionally released if she is still in detention. What she needs is protection and respect for her privacy, rather than being treated as a criminal. However, Ugandas ethics and integrity minister, Reverend Father Simon Lokodo, cited the countrys notoriously stringent anti-homosexuality laws, which amount to life imprisonment for those found in breach, and said his ministry was committed to fighting homosexuality in the East African country. The Independent has approached Uganda Police Force for comment. 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 }} Donald Trump will inherit a military drone targeted assassination programme for which Barack Obama failed to put any effective rules in place and which has killed up to 4,666 people, including 745 civilians, under his presidency, new figures show. Experts on Americas covert use of drones in its war on terror believe Mr Trump could use the sophisticated military hardware, which are mostly piloted remotely from the US, to fulfil previous pledges to bomb the s**t out of Isis and wipe Somali pirates off the face of the Earth. There are worries this could result in an increased death toll of innocent civilians, or "collateral damage" as some military strategists label them. New figures collated by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism in London show that President Obama has authorised 541 CIA drone strikes on alleged Islamist extremists in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia in the past eight years 10 times more than his predecessor George W Bush. The Bureau believes these strikes have killed between 2,906 and 4,666 people, of whom at least 325 were civilians although the figure could be as high as 745. Many of the rest were regarded by the US as terrorist operatives working for al-Qaeda, the Taliban, al-Shabaab and other Islamist extremist groups, though a large number are unidentified and their status as a civilian or terrorist is just not known. All these strikes were carried out in areas where there is no officially declared US theatre of war. In addition, Airwars, another UK-based journalism and reporting project, estimates a further 900 drone strikes have been authorised by the Pentagon since 2014 in the official war zones of Iraq and Syria. Year US drone strikes in Pakistan Minimum killed Maximum killed Minimum civillians killed Maximum civilians killed 2009 54 471 753 100 210 2010 128 755 1,108 89 197 2011 75 362 666 52 152 2012 50 212 410 13 63 2013 27 109 195 0 4 2014 25 115 186 0 2 2015 13 60 85 2 5 2016 3 11 12 1 1 Total 375 2095 3415 257 634 (Data from Bureau of Investigative Journalism) Airwars director Chris Woods a former BBC journalist who helped establish the Bureau of Investigative Journalisms drone-reporting project and is considered a world leading authority on the use of drones believes there is a real worry about how Mr Trump might embrace the technology. He said Mr Obamas failure to set in stone effective concrete rules on how drones should be used could be exploited by his successor. He added that recent history shows the campaign rhetoric used by presidential candidates was a guide to their future record in office. He told The Independent: Obama warned us during his own campaign trail back in 2008 that he would escalate drone warfare. He mentioned approximately 30 times that he would take the war against al-Qaeda to Pakistan. Thats why we have to worry about Donald Trump. You have to listen to have he has already said. Hes already said he might deliberately target the families of senior Isis militants which would be a war crime. Recommended Journalist trying to sue over CIA drone strike that killed his son For years now the CIA and Pentagon have suggested the West can conduct air wars without killing civilians this is untrue. Trump has no insider experience and I think he has been taking that at face value. Maybe in Trumps mind when he hears that bombs dont kill civilians he thinks he can just blitz cities without any collateral damage. But the biggest error of the Obama administration is not putting a decent rule book in place for the targeted assassination programme. Trump will now inherit a programme with no effective rules in place. However, Mr Woods said there could be one limitation to Mr Trumps ambitions: money. He said: Relatively speaking the drones themselves are fairly cheap compared with the alternatives. What's expensive is the huge number of personnel needed to run the fleet. Thousands of analysts are looking at the data from the drones and assessing intelligence on the ground. Mr Trump would have to raise new funds from Congress, which is controlled by his own Republican party. Pakistani local residents gathering around a destroyed vehicle hit by a drone strike in which Afghan Taliban Chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour was believed to be travelling (Getty) (Getty Images) How the future President Trump will conduct the covert war on terror in the border areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan for example, more like fellow Republican Mr Bush, or Mr Obama is unclear. Jack Serle, a reporter at the Bureau of Investigative Journalism who has spent five years examining CIA drone strikes, said there was an escalation in numbers from Mr Bush to Mr Obama. He said this was partly because Mr Obama preferred drones to Mr Bushs boots on the ground approach, but more because the nature of combat in the regions had changed. There have been 375 drone attacks in Pakistan in the last seven years (AP) Mr Serle said: In Yemen there was only one strike with Bush and but with Obama there has been more than 130. This was partly to do with the growth of al-Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula, which came into existence in 2009. The order of magnitude of difference can also be attributed to Obama's renewed focus on Afghanistan. Insurgents used Pakistans tribal areas as a base of operation where they could rearm and recuperate. Under Bush the CIA was targeting Al Qaeda in Pakistan, and its allies. But under Obama the strikes were targeting Afghan insurgents who were crossing the border, under Obama they were both counter-terrorism strikes and counter-insurgency strikes. 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 In Pakistan the drone strikes are under control of the CIA, a fundamentally secret organisation. This lack of transparency has made it difficult to challenge assertions that drone strikes are fundamentally safe for civilians. I think there is a danger that if policy makers and decision-makers start believe the overinflated sense of precision and discrimination they are more likely to employ this method. There is no such thing as absolute precision and discrimination. The US drone programme is very much part of a larger system developed by the pentagon, a huge network of intelligence gathering and dissemination. Drones are just a part of that and that has been developed over a long period. Laura Pitter, senior national security counsel at Human Rights Watch US, said: There are procedures in place but there are a lot of issues with those rules. We dont feel like they are strong enough. They should not be applying war time rules in those places and the concern is those rules will go by the wayside. The concern is that once Trump takes office he will throw the presidential policy directive out of the window. He will use these powers more aggressively, given what he said on the campaign trail. 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 prominent Jewish rights leader has said he would register as a Muslim if Donald Trump sets up a Muslim database in the US. Jonathan Greenblatt, director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which campaigns against anti-Semitism and other bigotry, said he would register as Muslim if the database is created because of painful memories from when Jews were identified, registered and tagged. Speaking to AFP, Mr Greenblatt said: The day they create a registry for Muslims is the day that I register as a Muslim because of my Jewish faith, because of my commitment to our core American values, because I want this country to be as great as it always has been. As a Jewish community, we know what happens with litmus tests. We can remember. We have painful memories of when we ourselves were identified, registered and tagged. Mr Trump made various calls during his campaign to ban Muslims from entering the US and indicated he would bring in a lot of systems to track Muslims across the country. Asked on MSNBC in November 2015 whether the White House should institute a database system to track Muslims in the country, Mr Trump replied: Oh, I would certainly implement that, absolutely. And when later asked whether a Muslim database would be the same thing as requiring Jews to register in Nazi Germany, Mr Trump simply said: You tell me. Donald Trump calls for a Muslim registry in the United States Since his election victory, the billionaire appears to have rowed back on some of the remarks, releasing a statement claiming he never advocated for any registry or system that tracks individuals based on their religion. But at least two prominent Trump supporters raised the prospect again this week. Carl Higbie, a high-profile supporter, claimed Japanese internment during the Second World War was a legal precedent for a potential registry of Muslim immigrants, while Kris Kobach, believed to be a key member of the President-elects transition team, said the Mr Trumps policy advisers were discussing plans to establish a registry for Muslim immigrants in the US. Trump supporter cites Japanese internment camps as 'precedent' for Muslim registry Mr Greenblatt, who previously worked in the White House as a special assistant to President Barack Obama, also criticised Mr Trump's decision to hire Stephen Bannon as his chief strategist, who he said had presided over making his former business Breitbart the platform for the alt-right, this loose-knit group of white supremacists, anti-Semites and racists. World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Show all 29 1 /29 World reaction to President Trump: In pictures World reaction to President Trump: In pictures London, England AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures London, England Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Manila, Philippines Getty Images World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Manila, Philippines Getty World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Mosul , Iraq Getty World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Manila, Philippines AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures New Delhi, India Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Karachi, Pakistan EPA World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jakarta, Indonesia Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Lagos, Nigeria AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Kabul, Afghanistan AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jerusalem. Israel Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Moscow, Russia Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Seoul, South Korea AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Lagos, Nigeria AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Peshawar, Pakistan EPA World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jakarta, Indonesia Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Hyderabad, India AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Kolkata, India AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Sydney, Australia Getty World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Sydney, Australia AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Aleppo, Syria Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Mexico City, Mexico AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jerusalem, Israel EPA World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Baghdad, Iraq Rex World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories Rex World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Tokyo, Japan Rex World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Mexico City, Mexico Getty The rights leader said ADL wanted to engage with Trump and his administration on the issues they care about, but added that they would hold them relentlessly accountable to those issues. It is not the first time the Jewish community has spoken out against Mr Trump since the billionaire business was elected. Hundreds of Jewish scholars of holocaust history signed a statement calling on Americans to mobilise in solidarity under a Trump presidency. Social media users have also reacted with anger to suggestions of a Muslim registry, with people vowing to register their details and the hashtag #IWillRegister trending on Twitter. 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 President Barack Obama put together his first cabinet in late 2008, a group that included his sometime bitter electoral opponent Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, he was hailed for emulating Abraham Lincoln by assembling a so-called team of rivals. As President-elect Donald Trump announced three new picks for his White House on Friday Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions, Retired US Army Lieutenant-General Mike Flynn and Kansas congressman Mike Pompeo, all staunch Trump loyalists at least one commentator referred to the Trump administration now taking shape as a team of racists. Under Mr Obama, the role of US Attorney General the nations top law enforcement official was filled by Eric Holder and later Loretta Lynch, respectively the first black man and woman to hold the post. If Mr Trump has his way, Ms Lynch will be succeeded by Mr Sessions, who was denied a federal judgeship in the mid-1980s for having allegedly made racist comments. The first Senator to endorse Mr Trump for President, Mr Sessions was accused in 1986 of having called a black assistant US district attorney boy and of suggesting a white lawyer representing black clients was a race traitor. He was also said to have quipped that he thought the Ku Klux Klan was okay, until I learned they smoked pot a comment that ought to be no more comforting for African-Americans than for advocates of legalising cannabis. Mr Sessions, a former Alabama Attorney General, has denied those accusations, but he is on the record as an opponent of marriage equality and hate crime protections, and as a supporter of mass deportation and Mr Trumps proposed Muslim ban. He has described the 1965 Voting Rights Act, a landmark civil rights law, as a piece of intrusive legislation. Trump spokesman Jason Miller on Friday dismissed claims of racism directed at Mr Sessions, noting that as a US attorney, he filed a number of desegregation lawsuits in Alabama, and he also voted in favour of the 30-year extension of the Civil Rights Act. However, one leading Democrat expressed his misgivings. New Democratic Minority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer of New York said: Given some of his past statements and his staunch opposition to immigration reform, I am very concerned about what [Mr Sessions] would do with the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice and want to hear what he has to say. Mr Sessions will have to be confirmed by the Senate before taking over at the US Justice Department. Lt Gen Flynn was reportedly in the frame for the job of Defence Secretary, for which he too would have needed congressional approval. But he has instead been appointed Mr Trumps National Security Adviser, a White House role that requires no such confirmation. A registered Democrat, Lt Gen Flynn ran the US Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) until 2014, when he was reportedly fired for his abrasive management style. As an eager Trump surrogate, he has called for Ms Clintons imprisonment and said Mr Obama was a liar who had no plan to defeat Isis. Indeed, Lt Gen Flynn appears fixated on the threat from the militant Middle Eastern group, despite a widespread belief among other top military brass that Russia, China and North Korea all pose a greater threat to the US. In August, Lt Gen Flynn described Islam itself as a cancer and a political ideology that hides behind this notion of it being a religion. Despite Mr Trumps pledge to drain Washingtons swamp of lobbyists and special interests, his chosen National Security Adviser also runs a consulting firm that has lobbied on behalf of close allies to the authoritarian Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Last year, on a paid speaking visit to Moscow, Lt Gen Flynn was pictured sitting next to Russian President Vladimir Putin at an event to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Kremlin-backed TV station, Russia Today. Several senior military figures, such as retired Army General Stanley McChrystal, formerly the top US commander in Afghanistan, reportedly urged Lt Gen Flynn to moderate his campaign rhetoric. Others anonymously told the Washington Post they thought him unhinged. Yet he will probably have an ally in Mr Pompeo, whom Mr Trump has nominated as the next director of the CIA. The Kansas congressman and Clinton critic is known for his opposition to the Iran Nuclear Deal and for defending the use of torture techniques such as waterboarding in interrogations. John Brennan, the current head of the CIA, said recently that he would resign if a new president ordered the agency to resume the practice. Mr Pompeo has also advocated the restoration of the mass surveillance apparatus exposed by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, and said that Mr Snowden deserved the death penalty for revealing the existence of such programmes. Mr Sessions, Lt Gen Flynn and Mr Pompeo join a prospective White House that already includes Vice President-elect Mike Pence, Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and Chief Strategist Steve Bannon. Former Arkansas Governor and erstwhile presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee has been floated as a potential pick for US Ambassador to Israel. The Trump team so far includes several white men named Mike, and no women or minorities. Mr Bannon is the mastermind behind the right-wing Breitbart News website, considered the mainstream home of the so-called alt-right. In an interview published on Friday, the top Trump aide denied that he is himself a white nationalist. White supremacists have nonetheless expressed glee at Mr Trumps cabinet picks. David Duke, the former Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, tweeted that the appointments of Mr Bannon, Mr Sessions and Lt Gen Flynn were great, adding: Senate must demand that Sessions as AG stop the massive institutional race discrimination against whites! Andrew Anglin, the founder of neo-Nazi news site the Daily Stormer, wrote: Its like were going to get absolutely everything we wanted Basically, we are looking at a Daily Stormer Dream Team in the Trump administration. Mr Trump is still considering a range of candidates for other leading national security posts. His choices for Secretary of State are said to include former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former US Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton, Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. Mr Trump has planned the weekend meetings for his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. Those travelilng there for discussions include 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who lambasted Mr Trump as a fraud in a speech in March. Mr Trump responded by repeatedly referring to Mr Romney as a loser. 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 }} Extraordinary new photos have emerged of an uncontacted tribal community in the Amazon Jungle. The pictures, taken from the air, show people in a communal yano structure in Yanomami indigenous territory in northern Brazil, close to the border with Venezuela. Each section of thatch is believed to house a different family, and is where they sleep, keep fires and store food. Families of the tribe live together in the same yano structure (Guilherme Gnipper Trevisan/Hutukara) The isolated Yanomami communities, some of whom have had contact with the outside world, collectively number around 35,000 people, and the people live by foraging and hunting from the surrounding forest. They are understood to make use of 500 different plants for various purposes and their knowledge, developed over thousands of years, is described as irreplaceable by Survival International, an NGO which campaigns for the rights of indigenous peoples. But the estimated 100-strong community seen in the latest photographs is at risk of being destroyed by illegal gold miners who are closing in on their land. Officially, the Yanomami indigenous territory which covers over 9.6 million hectares is protected by the government. The Yanomami indigenous territory is an officially government-protected land (Guilherme Gnipper Trevisan/Hutukara) Outsiders, particularly criminal groups, bring the threat of violence, environmental destruction and diseases like malaria, to which uncontacted peoples have no immune resistance. According to veteran Yanomami activist and shaman, Davi Kopenawa, the miners are like termites they keep coming back and they dont leave us in peace. The place where the uncontacted Indians live, fish, hunt and plant must be protected. The whole world must know that they are there in their forest and that the authorities must respect their right to live there, he said. Survival International opposes the idea of the outside world making contact with the community (Guilherme Gnipper Trevisan/Hutukara) In Yanomami culture, shamans lead spiritual ceremonies, during which they inhale yakoana, a hallucinogenic snuff. Survival International opposes the prospect of any contact with the community. They say the indigenous people have fired arrows at passing aircraft, fled from outsiders and avoided members of their own tribe who have contacted the outside world. The organisation holds that it must be the indigenous people themselves that initiate contact. The pictured group appears to have made no attempts to do so. However, an estimated 1,000 gold miners are now only around 35km from the community. The photos themselves were taken from a government flight investigating how many illegal miners there were in the area. The precise location is being kept a secret to protect the community. Previous contact between outsiders and Yanomami has resulted in bloodshed. In 1993, a year after the Yanomami territory was officially recognised, 16 indigenous people, including a baby, were murdered in the village of Haximu by miners. A map showing indigenous Yanomami territory in northern Brazil and southern Venezuela (Javierfv1212/Wikipedia) There have been numerous other incidents of indigious people being attacked by miners. Their operations have also caused a high rate of mercury poisoning among Yanomami and Yekuana tribes in the Amazon. Campaigners for the rights of the Yanomami have called for better policing of their territory. In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon Show all 7 1 /7 In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon A group from the Mashco Piro people in Peru, photographed from a distance by the Madre de Dios river Survival International In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon Uncontacted Brazilian people, photographed from the air Survival International In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon Uncontacted Brazilian people, photographed from the air Survival International In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon Uncontacted Brazilian people, photographed from the air Survival International In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon Uncontacted Brazilian people, photographed from the air Survival International In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon Uncontacted Brazilian people, photographed from the air Survival International In pictures: The uncontacted tribes of the Amazon Uncontacted Brazilian people, photographed from the air Survival International However, Brazilian government budget cuts and infighting have weakened the protection given to the Yanomami and other uncontacted tribes by specialised teams. Before 1992, when this protection was enacted, huge numbers of indigenous people were wiped out after contacting outsiders. Survivals Director Stephen Corry said: These extraordinary images are further proof of the existence of still more uncontacted tribes. Theyre not savages but complex and contemporary societies whose rights must be respected. Its obvious that theyre perfectly capable of living successfully without the need for outside notions of progress and development. All uncontacted tribal peoples face catastrophe unless their land is protected. Were doing everything we can to secure their land for them, and to give them the chance to determine their own futures. 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 }} As we plumb the past, present and future of Trumpism, the Trump cabinet, the Trump family, the Trump brand, we might as well start with Ivanka, the most personable, palatable, fashionable, Trump-lite member of the future first family. The most inscrutable, yet the most weirdly relatable. Some people think shell be the real First Lady: with her telegenic personality, her pet causes and her lifestyle website, she is already dedicated to being a gracious host and professional woman. Last week, her father formally named her in his transition team, and rumours swirled around denied by Trump that the President-elect had requested top-secret security clearance for Ivanka and her brothers. On Monday evening, CNNs Dana Bash went on air and read out loud an incredulous text message from a friend: What clandestine operation is Ivanka going to run? All the operations, Dana. We cant shake the feeling that Ivanka is the key to all this. What is going on here? Its a question everyone is asking about everything happening in Washington right now. On Tuesday last week, major news outlets reported that the transition team was a mess; on Wednesday, Donald Trump tweeted that the transition is going so smoothly and we are reduced to scouring Ivankas Instagram feed to figure out the future of the country. Ivanka Trump with her father, Donald Trump (Getty) There, youll find a video of Ivankas daughter singing a song about pineapples, posted at the same time that a former national security official warned the world to stay away from the arrogant, screaming transition team. Theres Ivanka in a Snapchat-filtered floral headdress. On her pastel, aspirational lifestyle website, there is an article headlined 5 tips for mixing work and family (family dinner agenda: appoint new attorney general and secretary of state?) World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Show all 29 1 /29 World reaction to President Trump: In pictures World reaction to President Trump: In pictures London, England AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures London, England Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Manila, Philippines Getty Images World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Manila, Philippines Getty World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Mosul , Iraq Getty World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Manila, Philippines AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures New Delhi, India Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Karachi, Pakistan EPA World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jakarta, Indonesia Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Lagos, Nigeria AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Kabul, Afghanistan AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jerusalem. Israel Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Moscow, Russia Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Seoul, South Korea AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Lagos, Nigeria AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Peshawar, Pakistan EPA World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jakarta, Indonesia Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Hyderabad, India AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Kolkata, India AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Sydney, Australia Getty World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Sydney, Australia AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Aleppo, Syria Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Mexico City, Mexico AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jerusalem, Israel EPA World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Baghdad, Iraq Rex World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories Rex World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Tokyo, Japan Rex World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Mexico City, Mexico Getty Ivanka sat for a 60 Minutes interview with the rest of her family last week and folded her hands primly across her lap, one wrist bedecked with a heavy gold bracelet. Im going to be a daughter, she said firmly when asked whether she would be seeking a job in the Trump administration. The next morning, a sales representative from her jewellery line sent out a notice to journalists that the aforementioned gold bangle was Ivankas favourite, and could be purchased for $10,800 (8,700) through the Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry website. Daughter-slash-businesswoman? Businesswoman-slash-presidential adviser? What does it all mean, Ivanka? Journalists debated whether the bracelet event was an outright conflict of interest or a slightly murky but also savvy move. The mystery of Ivanka is that she always does seem to be running some kind of clandestine mission. Ivanka (Getty) Or becoming the attractive vessel into which both parties poured their own hopes and dreams. Like many of my fellow millennials, I do not consider myself categorically Republican or Democrat, she said while introducing her father at the Republican National Convention in July. More than party affiliation, I vote based on what I believe is right, for my family and for my country. Could Ivanka be reasoned with, wondered the commentators who viewed her father as too unpredictable and were seeking reassurance. Was Ivanka the one secretly running the whole show? When there are no answers, it is easier to ask questions and adopt wild conspiracy theories as the answers. Are Ivanka and Jared Kushner concocting a House of Cards-style game of their own? Vanity Fair asked in an article about the hypothetical machinations of Ivanka and her husband. They were, the essay argued, positioned to become the de facto first couple. Ivanka was the one who stayed focused, the one with a politicians poise, and she held her highest cards close to her chest. What do we make of her? What is her endgame, when she insists that she is not a political person, while advocating politically divisive causes such as equal wages for women and paid maternity leave? When, while working on the transition team for the highest office in the land, she is simultaneously posting videos online of her with her office mates, goofing around, doing the mannequin challenge? Ivanka may be the fairest of them all, but she also seems like the steeliest, the kind of person who might bring a stiletto to a knife fight. This entire election has been about large portions of the electorate puzzling over whether their candidate really intended to do the things he said he was going to do, trying to read the elections burned entrails for the future of the country. America needs someone who is an expert in shadowy operations, who can report back from the inside on what is really going on. America needs Ivanka. Washington Post UN resolution on Crimea bans from compelling persons to serve in armed forces of occupying country Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin has paid attention to the fact that the UN Resolution "Situation of human rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol (Ukraine)" passed by the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly also concerns the ban from compelling protected persons to serve in armed or auxiliary forces of occupying authorities. "I want to emphasize, as it was not mentioned by our mass media, that the resolution claims a ban to compel protected persons to serve in armed or auxiliary forces of occupying authorities on the occupied territory," Klimkin said in parliament on November 18. He also recalled that the resolution urges the occupying authorities to ensure the proper and unimpeded access of international human rights monitoring missions and human rights nongovernmental organizations to Crimea. The minister said that Ukraine would continue working to ensure the adoption of the resolution by the UN General Assembly. On November 15, the UN General Assembly committee voted to adopt a resolution on human rights in Crimea. A total of 73 states voted for the document, 23 voted against, and 76 abstained. Some 41 states were co-authors of the resolution. For the first time the official documents of the UN recognize the Russian Federation as an occupying power and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol as a temporarily occupied territory. In addition, the resolution confirmed the territorial integrity of Ukraine and reaffirmed the non-recognition of annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula. The document also urges Russia to allow international human rights mechanisms, in particular the Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine,unimpeded access to Crimea in order to monitor human rights situation and asks theUnited Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a separate thematic report on the situation in the peninsula. The approved resolution is an important diplomatic, political and legal mechanism through which Ukraine protects the rights of its citizens on the territory of temporarily occupied Crimea. The resolution is expected to be adopted at a plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly in December 2016. 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 punishment for drug use varies from country to country and there are a number of nations where possession of illicit substances can lead to life imprisonment or even death. In Nigeria having any amount of cannabis, coca leaves, cocaine, heroin or any other illegal drug can lead to a prison sentence of 15 to 25 years, whereas in Turkey you could receive a sentence of eight to 20 years. The figures come from DrugAbuse.com, which looked at 44 nations across the world. They found that the third strictest nation was the United Arab Emirates where drug possession would see you jailed for between four and 15 years. In Kuwait, having any amount of an illicit substance can result in a life sentence although average sentences tend to be lower.. This graphic, created for The Independent by statistics agency Statista ranks nations in order of where prison sentences are harshest for drug possession: (Statista (Statista) Some nations also permit the use of the death penalty for possession. In Malaysia if you are caught with more than 15 grams of heroin and in Bangladesh 25 grams of cocaine you receive a death sentence. In Iran, someone caught with five to 20 grams of cannabis for the first time could get at least 40 lashes. If it is their second offence this rises to 50. Not all nations punish drug-users with custodial sentences. Norways courts now have the option to sentence drug-addicts to treatment programmes as opposed to sending them to jail. 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 }} Refugee children sent from the demolished makeshift Jungle camp in Calais are being made to work in fruit farms, a charity has claimed. Safe Passage, a programme run by immigration charity Citizens UK, said refugee children living in the reception centres set up to accommodate those evicted from the Calais camp last month are being forced to work on farms nearby or share accommodation with adults. The charity said some children have begun to abscond as many are not given enough information about the progress of their asylum claims. During the week of 14 November, 33 boys living in reception centres across the country were interviewed by telephone. Three of the boys told researchers they had been made to work in fruit farms which provided food for supermarkets and another three said adults were living in the accommodation designed exclusively for children. Some 15 per cent of the boys said they did not feel safe in the centre and 39 per cent said they felt they had been better off in Calais. One children said: It looks like a prison, we don't have any things to play with and all the time we staying in our room and it is not safe for us, we live in middle of adults, their ages are over 20 years. Another begged for help: Please do everything that is possible to help us. We have family in UK. We are human not animals and we are stuck here. 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 charity was told two boys had already run away from the centre and two more were considering fleeing with one saying If others run away I am not going to stay. Many said they felt they did not understand what was happening with their asylum applications and three of them had not spoken to anyone official (meaning a lawyer, French or UK authorities or local volunteers) since their arrival. Nearly a quarter (24 per cent) said they had not been given clean clothes since their arrival but all said they had access to showers, hot water and at least three meals a day and only two said staff had not made them feel welcome. Calais 'Jungle' exodus: Charity boss likens refugee treatment to Nazi persecution Rabbi Janet Darley, Citizens UK Leader, said: We are hugely concerned about the safeguarding of children in the CAOs in France. The Safe Passage team have had reports of forced labour, and unaccompanied children being made to live with adults. Although the CAOs are, on the whole, safe places for the children to live, they cannot be used as an excuse to delay the transfer of children to the UK. Every day children are separated from their families in the UK, or the opportunity to be placed with foster families, they are missing out on their childhoods. Following the destruction of the camp there was furore among charities and campaigners after it emerged that some refugee children were sleeping in the open air as the safe space accommodation designed to look after them was reportedly full. French authorities were criticised for not having the reception centres up and ready in time for the destruction of the camp. So far some 350 child refugees have arrived in the UK out of the estimated 2,000 living in the camp when it closed but charities are urging the Home Office to settle at least 1,000 by Christmas. The Home Office said it remains absolutely committed to bringing all eligible people to the UK as soon as possible. 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 }} Moscow has demanded an explanation from the Swiss government after military jets buzzed a Russian government aircraft. Three Swiss Air Force F/A-18 fighter jets unexpectedly joined a Russian passenger plane carrying diplomats and journalists to a conference in Peru as it flew over Switzerland. Among the passengers was a Reuters reporter, who confirmed the incident and took photos, along with other travellers. The jets escorted the plane until it was out of Swiss airspace. "(We) have expressed surprise and asked for explanations from Switzerland over the incident with the Russian government plane in the sky of the [Swiss] Confederation," Russia's embassy in Switzerland wrote on Twitter on Saturday. Tensions have been escalating between Western powers and Russia in recent years. Planes belonging to western European nations have been scrambled at least 600 times so far in 2016 to intercept Russian military aircraft encroaching on their territory. 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 Russian naval vessels have also been detected off the coast of Scotland. President Vladimir Putin is due to arrive at the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) which is taking place in Lima this weekend. The event will be the last major event attended by President Barack Obama before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. 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 }} Russias foreign ministry spokeswoman has claimed the Jews knew Donald Trump would win the US election. Maria Zakharova told a TV chat show in Russia that to gauge such political outcomes in the future, dont read the mainstream newspapers. Our people in Brighton [Beach] will tell you everything, she said, referring to a district of New York which is home to a large number of Jewish emigres from the former Soviet Union. Ms Zakharova was speaking about her visit to New York to attend the UN General Assembly in September, reported Radio Free Europe. Keen to find out what Americans were thinking in the run up to the general election, she claimed the best thing to do was to talk to the Jews, of course. At this, the studio audience reportedly applauded. Putting on a mock-Jewish accent, the 40-year-old said Jewish people had told her: Understand this we'll donate to Clinton, of course. But we'll give the Republicans twice that amount. That was it. The matter was settled for me, personally. The diplomats remarks, made on 13 November, have been widely condemned. Former US ambassador to Moscow Michael McFaul wrote on Facebook: Wow. And this is the woman who criticises me for not being diplomatic. World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Show all 29 1 /29 World reaction to President Trump: In pictures World reaction to President Trump: In pictures London, England AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures London, England Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Manila, Philippines Getty Images World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Manila, Philippines Getty World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Mosul , Iraq Getty World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Manila, Philippines AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures New Delhi, India Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Karachi, Pakistan EPA World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jakarta, Indonesia Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Lagos, Nigeria AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Kabul, Afghanistan AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jerusalem. Israel Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Moscow, Russia Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Seoul, South Korea AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Lagos, Nigeria AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Peshawar, Pakistan EPA World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jakarta, Indonesia Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Hyderabad, India AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Kolkata, India AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Sydney, Australia Getty World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Sydney, Australia AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Aleppo, Syria Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Mexico City, Mexico AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jerusalem, Israel EPA World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Baghdad, Iraq Rex World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories Rex World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Tokyo, Japan Rex World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Mexico City, Mexico Getty And Roman Dobrokhotov, a Russian opposition activist, wrote on Twitter: Turns out the spokesperson (Ms Zakharova) explained Trumps victory as a Jewish conspiracy. Exit polls suggest an overwhelming number of US Jews voted for Hillary Clinton in the election. A poll commissioned by J Street found 70 per cent opted for the Democratic nominee, with only 25 per cent voting for Mr Trump. 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 tourist facing jail after telling police she had been gang raped has spoken out about her nightmare ordeal. The 25-year-old woman was on holiday in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) when she was allegedly attacked by two British men last month. When she reported the rape at a police station in Dubai, she was arrested and charged with extra-marital sex, a crime punishable by jail, flogging and stoning to death in the strictly conservative country. UK-based campaign group Detained in Dubai said she had been released on bail and was staying with a British family, but has had her passport confiscated and cannot leave the country. The group is in contact with the womans family, who claim the two men took it in turns to rape her while filming the attack at a hotel in the city. With news of her arrest making international headlines, the woman sent a message through her father thanking people for their support. According to The Mirror, she said: I want to say a huge thank you to everybody for supporting me. Without the loving, kind and supportive words I couldnt get through the long days. "Its petrifying out here alone but I have to stay strong. There are many hurdles to cross and many emotional, fearful times ahead. An online appeal launched by the victims family has so far raised close to 25,000 for legal fees needed to pay for her defence. Her alleged attackers were arrested and bailed, but have since left the country, it has been reported. The woman in question had travelled to Dubai on holiday and had planned to go on to Australia. In another message to supporters on Facbeook, she said: "Im trying to stay positive and focused." Responding to the level of support received, she added: This helps me a lot because it makes me realise that you are all so loving and supportive and I feel like I'm talking directly to each and every one of you. "Im so overwhelmed by the amount of progress going into helping support me financially and lovingly. "There are some very special people out there that have surprised me beyond belief and have brought tears to my eyes with such appreciation. My mum also left to go back home this week. It was so hard saying goodbye and as I hugged her I said 'I'm so sad because I don't know when I'll be able to hold onto you again'. "We both cried but I told mum to be strong for the both of us. She finished the message by saying: I have so much love and appreciation of those who touch my heart everyday as they continue to talk to me, support me and make me feel loved. "Thank you to everyone who has donated ... my promise to you is to thank each and every individual at some point when this nightmare is over. I miss my family so much. They send me pictures and there's nothing better than that to make me smile. Women go on strike in Poland over abortion laws A spokesperson for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office told The Independent it was aware of the case and providing support to the woman and her relatives, as well as remaining in contact with local authorities. Detained in Dubai issued a warning to British tourists and expats this week, urging them not to report incidents of rape in the UAE because of the racist preconceptions held against Western tourists. Radha Stirling, founder of the charity, told The Independent: We get people contacting us asking whether they should report a crime and whether it be a rape or anything else I often say no. Absolutely not. Its about the laws for one, but it also comes down to the application of the law the police are wary of false accusations, so when a report does come in they think, Oh, maybe the girl was just drunk and then she regretted it the next day. There is the social perception that if a woman drinks alcohol, she has consented to it. And theres also a racist mentality of thinking, Shes British so she was probably drunk and asking for it. Ms Stirling added that she personally would not report a rape in the UAE, saying: Theres so much manipulation when it comes to criminal accusations over there I wouldnt report a rape there if I were raped myself. After posting an online appeal for help, the woman's mother wrote: Please help my daughter. She was raped while on holiday. She reported this to the police and now she is being held on the grounds of sexual activity outside marriage. "We are not a rich family and cannot afford to pay for the defense she so desperately needs. I am going out of my mind with worry. A Foreign Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said: We are supporting a British woman in relation to this case and will remain in contact with her family. Travel advice for the UAE states that all sexual relations outside marriage are considered illegal, whatever a couples relationship at home, alongside homosexual sex and same-sex marriages. Its against the law to live together, or to share the same hotel room, with someone of the opposite sex to whom you arent married or closely related, the FCO advises. There have been several cases in recent years involving women from Western countries including Norway, Australia and the UK hae been detained after reporting incidents of rape. Police in Dubai are said to be investigating mobile phone footage of the attack, as the case 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 }} Iraqi troops faced stiff resistance from Isis fighters as they pushed deeper into the beleaguered city of Mosul on Saturday. Coalition air support backed up the soldiers as they continued to fight for the city, which has been held by the Sunni extremist group since 2014. Mosul is the last major city under Isis control in Iraq. Recommended Hundreds of bodies discovered in mass graves near Mosul At dawn, troops moved into the Muharabeen and Ulama neighborhoods after fully liberating the adjacent Tahrir neighborhood on Friday, said Major General Sami al-Aridi of the Iraqi special forces. General al-Aridi said Isis militants were fighting back with snipers, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar rounds. Thick black columns of smoke were seen billowing from the two areas, while dozens of civilians fled to government-controlled areas. Shortly before noon, a suicide bomber emerged from a house in the Tahrir neighborhood and attacked security forces, wounding four troops. Another suicide car bomber hit the troops in Aden neighborhood afternoon, killing a soldier and wounding three others. Also on Saturday, Isis killed seven pro-government Sunni tribal fighters and five police officers in a town south of Mosul, according to local security sources. The tribal fighters and police were gunned down at two fake checkpoints set up by the insurgents in Shirqat, a Sunni town between Mosul and Baghdad, the sources said. 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 offensive to retake Mosul, which was launched in October, is the biggest military operation in Iraq since American troops left in 2011. If successful, the capture of Mosul would be the strongest blow dealt to Isis' self-styled caliphate since it was established. Shia militias are leading an assault to drive Isis from Tal Afar, which had a majority Shia population before it fell to Isis, and to cut Isis supply lines linking Mosul to Syria. According to the United Nations, more than 56,000 civilians have been forced from their homes since the operation began out of nearly 1.5 million civilians living in and around Mosul. AP/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 }} A British-Iranian charity worker jailed for plotting to overthrow the Irans government has ended a five-day hunger strike for the sake of her daughter, according to human rights charity Amnesty International. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was sentenced to five years in jail on unspecified national security charges in September, had stopped eating in protest against her detainment. Her husband Richard Ratcliffe told the human rights organisation she had reached breaking point over the past few weeks, and at one point had written a suicide letter, although she reportedly had not spoken of killing herself since. The 37-year-old, from Hampstead in north-west London, was originally arrested at Tehran Airport on 3 April along with her 22-month-old daughter Gabriella. Her family were granted an emergency visit on Friday where they persuaded her to end a hunger strike she began on 13 November, the charity said. They claim she has not received adequate medical care after suffering heart palpitations, blurred visions and pain in her hands, arms and shoulders. Human rights attacks around the world Show all 10 1 /10 Human rights attacks around the world Human rights attacks around the world China Escalating crackdown against human rights activists including mass arrests of lawyers and a series of sweeping laws in the name of national security. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Egypt The arrest of thousands, including peaceful critics, in a ruthless crackdown in the name of national security, the prolonged detention of hundreds without charge or trial and the sentencing of hundreds of others to death. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Gambia Torture, enforced disappearances and the criminalisation of LGBTI people; and utter refusal to co-operate with the UN and regional human rights mechanisms on issues including freedom of expression, enforced disappearance and the death penalty. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Hungary Sealing off its borders to thousands of refugees in dire need; and obstructing collective regional attempts to help them. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Israel Maintaining its military blockade of Gaza and therefore collective punishment of the 1.8 million inhabitants there, as well as failing, like Palestine, to comply with a UN call to conduct credible investigations into war crimes committed during the 2014 Gaza conflict. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Kenya Extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances and discrimination against refugees in its counter-terrorism operations; and attempts to undermine the International Criminal Court and its ability to pursue justice. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Pakistan The severe human rights failings of its response to the horrific Peshawar school massacre including its relentless use of the death penalty; and its policy on international NGOs giving authorities the power to monitor them and close them down if they are considered to be against the interests of the country. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Russia Repressive use of vague national security and anti-extremism legislation and its concerted attempts to silence civil society in the country; its shameful refusal to acknowledge civilian killings in Syria and its callous moves to block Security Council action on Syria. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Saudi Arabia Brutally cracking down on those who dared to advocate reform or criticise the authorities; and committing war crimes in the bombing campaign it has led in Yemen (pictured) while obstructing the establishment of a UN-led inquiry into violations by all sides in the conflict. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Syria Killing thousands of civilians in direct and indiscriminate attacks with barrel bombs and other weaponry and through acts of torture in detention; and enforcing lengthy sieges of civilian areas, blocking international aid from reaching starving civilians. Getty Images Philp Luther, Research and Advocacy Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International, said: The news of the decline in Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffes health is deeply alarming. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffes ordeal has caused her immense despair and suffering. It is shocking that the Iranian authorities are adding to her pain by failing to grant her adequate medical care. Her imprisonment on spurious national security charges has been utterly unjust. After her arrest, she was separated from her baby daughter and held in solitary confinement for 45 days. Instead of prolonging her pain and suffering, the Iranian authorities must end her ordeal by releasing her immediately and unconditionally. 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 }} Premature babies in Aleppo have been removed from their incubators after air strikes destroyed hospitals across the city, prompting condemnation of the Syrian government and Russia by the US and the UN. Harrowing video footage shows tiny babies being removed from their incubators in a smoke-filled ward, with nurses reduced to tears as they detach the tubing providing support and wrap the babies in blankets. A photograph provided to The Independent by a Syrian journalist shows premature babies later lying under a blanket on the floor apparently in a civilian house with medical tubes around them as a nurse tries to provide them with some form of support in a bid to keep them alive. Premature babies removed from incubators and treated on the floor of a civlian home after the bombing of an east Aleppo hospital ( (Yasser Al-Rahil) The childrens hospital was destroyed on Thursday on the third day of a renewed assault by the Syrian regime and Russia against opposition-held districts in Aleppo. Four other hospitals in the east of the city and the surrounding rebel-held countryside have also been hit and damaged since the offensive began on Tuesday, with Syrias health directorate and the World Health Organisation (WHO) reporting that all hospitals in the besieged part of the city are now out of service. The death toll has reached at least 92 people since the start of the offensive, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. At least 27 people, including children, were killed in eastern Aleppo on Saturday alone in intense air strikes, barrel bombs and artillery rounds, according to the Observatory. The death toll is expected to rise due to the number of seriously wounded. Saturdays bombardment destroyed rescue and medical facilities in eastern Aleppo, while schools in the area, many of which operate from basements due to frequent attacks, announced in a statement they would be closed on Saturday and Sunday for the safety of students and teachers, after the barbarous aerial strikes. People went to sleep to the sound of bombardment and awoke to the sound of bombardment, Rami Abdel Rahman, head of The Observatory told AFP. Theres barely a neighbourhood that has been spared. People dont leave their homes. Yasser Al-rahil, journalist and member of the Revolutionary Forces of Syria media office, who provided the photograph to The Independent, said the recent bombardment of hospitals was resulting in high numbers of injured people dying in the hours after they are hurt. Mr Al-rahil told The Independent: We have counted more than 2,000 artillery shells and nearly 250 air strikes since midnight on Friday, which have left 28 dead and 150 wounded. The number of people dead is increasing due to the fact that many of the wounded are in a serious condition and there is no adequate treatment. All hospitals in the liberated areas are out of service as a result of systematic shelling over the past two days, so the wounded are being treated anywhere available away from the bombing. Following the latest assaults by the regime the US National Security Advisor Susan Rice condemned heinous bombings of hospitals in rebel-held eastern Aleppo Saturday, warning the regime and its Russian backers they are responsible for long term consequences. Mr Rice said in a statement: The United States condemns in the strongest terms these horrific attacks against medical infrastructure and humanitarian aid workers. There is no excuse for these heinous actions. The Syrian regime and its allies, Russia in particular, bears responsibly for the immediate and long term consequences these actions have caused in Syria and beyond. 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 In response to the statement Mr Al-Rahil told The Independent the Syrian people in the east of Aleppo were tired of words from the international community, saying: We do not want to condemn it. We want to stop this holocaust in Aleppo. Civilians in eastern Aleppo are tired of words from the international community. They want Russia and the Assad regime to stop bombing them. Two top UN officials said they were extremely saddened and appalled by the recent escalation in fighting in several parts of Syria. Humanitarian coordinator for Syria Ali al-Zaatari and regional humanitarian coordinator Kevin Kennedy also said they had shared a plan to deliver aid, and evacuate the sick and wounded from east Aleppo. It is imperative all parties agree to the plan and allow us to secure immediate, safe and unimpeded access to provide relief to those most in need, they said. Both Russia and Assads government have denied deliberately targeting hospitals and other civilian infrastructure during the war, which began in 2011 and was joined by Russias air force in September 2015. The charity Doctors Without Borders said in a message there had been more than 30 hits on hospitals in eastern Aleppo since early July and that medical supplies had been depleted with no possibility of sending more supplies in. Health and rescue workers have previously been able to bring damaged hospitals back into operation but a lack of supplies is making that harder. Aleppo has been divided since 2012 between the rebel-controlled area in the east and government control in the west. The opposition has been under siege by the regime for nearly four months, creating food and fuel shortages. More than 250,000 people remain in the opposition-held part of the city. 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 }} US President-elect Donald Trump and Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg have agreed on the enduring importance of the alliance. The two leaders also said progress had been made on fairer burden-sharing but insisted there is still more to do, according to a statement released by Nato. Mr Stoltenberg congratulated the President-elect on his victory in the US election during a phone call and thanked Mr Trump for raising the issue of defence spending during his campaign. The President-elect and the Secretary General both underlined Nato's enduring importance, and discussed how Nato is adapting to the new security environment, including to counter the threat of terrorism, the statement said. The Secretary General said he looked forward to welcoming President-elect Trump to Brussels for the Nato Summit next year to discuss the way forward with Allied Heads of State and Government. During the campaign period Mr Trump had suggested military support from the US was dependent on how much European allies spent on their defence budgets. 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 Mr Trump also suggested closer ties with Russia and Vladimir Putin but the former Secretary-General of Nato urged the Preisdent-elect not to do so, saying it could lead to the the beginning of the end of the US-led system. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who was in charge of the alliance from 2009 to 2014, said Vladimir Putin only respects a firm hand and therefore Mr Trump must show strength. 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 Trump victory has been widely presented as an anti-elitist revolt, but what exactly is meant by elite here? Given that Trump won the high-income vote, and Clinton the low-income vote, it's clearly nothing to do with wealth. Conversely, an analysis of the vote by level of education shows that Clinton won the more-educated vote, and Trump the less-educated. In other words, this anti-elitist revolt is in fact a revolt against learning; against science; against reason itself. Mike Wright Nuneaton We should delay Brexit and start saving Given the costs involved in renovating Buckingham Palace, wouldnt it be a better idea to postpone Brexit for a few years, enabling the Palace to employ cheaper Romanian and Polish workers? It would also be feasible to ask the French to build HS2 to Birmingham and Leeds for a fraction of the currently projected price. This would give Britons an opportunity to save for the bill of 100bn projected as necessary payments when Britain does indeed leave the EU. Michael Rolfe Brighton Lets be honest when discussing NHS cuts Andrew Grice, writing on the NHS, trots out the Government propaganda that the NHS is to receive an extra 8bn pounds by 2020 while making 22bn efficiency savings. This is, surely, a 14bn pounds reduction in funding. We all know efficiency saving is a euphemism for cuts so please say so. Alan Pack Canterbury We are living in an Orwellian nightmare For Theresa May to describe an administration that planned to collect data on race from schoolchildren as centralist confirms we are living in an Orwellian dystopia where newspeak is the norm. Mark Grey Covent Garden We are regressing into the past All my life, and I am an old woman now, I have wondered how it was that an educated people could support a man like Hitler, and how anyone could countenance children being marched into gas chambers. I look around at the world today, and now I know. Helen Maclenan Address supplied The timing is impeccable While the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse is struggling, who chose to time the announcement of 369million earmarked for Buckingham Palace on the very date publicly earmarked for Children in Need? Reverend Richard James Harrogate Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko replied as witness to questions from investigators at the Prosecutor General's Office as part of an inquiry into crimes dating back to the Euromaidan events, according to Serhiy Horbatiuk, head of special investigations at the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office. "Questions were asked regarding those events, and answers to them were received... Information from any witness giving an account of those events is important, and, of course, so is the information provided by the president," the prosecutor said on the 112 Ukraine television channel on Saturday. Poroshenko was summoned as a witness, he said. Some individuals are ignoring prosecutors' summonses for questioning, Horbatiuk also said. "We have not had Moskal, Hennadiy Hennadiyovych [head of the Zakarpattia regional state administration] show up for summons for a long time now. We invited him a number of times... We hope that after the last summons he will still arrive and give evidence," Horbatiuk said. Inquiries have already started into most of the Euromaidan events, with court hearings held literally every week, the official said. "In all, courts have been sent indictments against some 150 people," he said. At the same time, on some of the cases judges themselves seemed to be reluctant to hear such cases and made every effort to avoid having to, he said. On Friday, November 18, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko gave evidence in the case over crimes against Euromaidan activists, the president's press secretary Sviatoslav Tseholko told Interfax. Embrace FARM will host a support group meeting in the Corralea Court Hotel , Tuam, Co Galway on Friday November 25, at 8pm. The establishment of Embrace Farm was a much needed effort to reach out a helping hand from within farming to those who have been affected by a farm accident. The support group was set up in 2014 by Norma and Brian Rohan, after Brian's father Liam died in 2012 following a farm accident. Laois man Liam was a highly respected dairy farmer, a former champion ploughman and well-known for his diligence when it came to farm safety. As someone said at the time: "If it could happen to Liam Rohan, it could happen to anyone." The Tuam meeting will be facilitated by Peter Gohery who got involved in Embrace Farm shortly after it was established, having himself survived a serious farm accident. In 2009, Galway farmer Peter lost one leg above the knee and badly injured the other when he got caught up in an unprotected PTO. Peter explains that the Tuam meeting is not about farm safety but rather to offer emotional support and practical advice to the bereaved, survivors and witnesses of farm accidents. In particular, it is aimed at people in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon areas and they are hoping to reach out to those who have not been in touch with Embrace before. The meeting will be informal and there will be personal accounts from two people bereaved by a farm accident, Padraig Higgins and Angela Hogan. A professional bereavement counsellor will also be available to discuss the impact of loss and trauma. Padraig's six year-old son James died in an accident on the family farm in Shannonbridge, Co Offaly while Angela Hogan's partner Brendan Kelly was fatally injured when he was pulled into a baler. "I am one of the lucky ones," says Peter Gohery. "At least I was able to get up and go again. It was a hurdle I had to jump. Other doors opened up. I want others to see that this can happen for them too." "As farmers we tend hold on to a lot. Especially when a young person is killed, people blame themselves ," he says. Some have "bottled" things up for 20 years or more. "In the early days, family and friends are great," said Peter, "but that support starts to dwindle and the silence can become deafening." For further information, contact Peter Gohery at 087 4183620, email petergohery@gmail.com. Brian or Norma Rohan of Embrace Farm can be contacted on 085 7709966 or embrace.farm@gmail.com Queen of the Land crowned Westmeath suckler farmer Karen Elliffe was crowned the 2016 WR Shaw Queen of the Land at a glitzy gala banquet in the Bridge House Hotel, Tullamore, Co Offaly on Sunday night. The 26 year-old qualified from the University of Limerick in 2013 with a degree in Equine Science, which included her Green Cert. She has been farming full time ever since alongside her father Larry in Streamstown. She is also a registered Irish Angus producer. An emotional Karen paid tribute to her parents, Larry and Helen, and her fellow contestants whom she said had made it the most memorable weekend ever. Expand Close Macra Queen of the Land contestants at a recent event in Tullamore. Photo: Paul Moore / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Macra Queen of the Land contestants at a recent event in Tullamore. Photo: Paul Moore As well as the prestigious Queen of the Land title and the Linda OBrien tiara that accompanies the title, Karen took home a commissioned piece of Galway Crystal from Cahill Jewellers and sponsored by WR Shaw, a two-night break in the Bridge House Hotel, plus a 200 voucher from Kode Clothing. Aoife Dooner from Kildare was runner-up and Hannah Barton from England took second runner-up while Chris Manley was selected by the Queens as best escort. Macra members should have got their breath back by next Monday when the ever-busy Carrigaline Club holds its annual agricultural conference in the Estuary Suite, Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork, at 19.30pm. Email: farming@independent.ie CARACAS, Nov. 17 -- Venezuela and China have reached a 2.2-billion U.S.-dollar agreement to jointly produce 227,000 more barrels of oil a day, the state Venezuelan News Agency said on Thursday. President Nicolas Maduro announced the deal after meeting with representatives from the China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC) in Caracas, the agency said. Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA and the CNPC in 2007 created a joint venture, Petrozumano, to increase production mainly for exporting to China. Maduro hailed the accord, saying, "We are going to reach 800,000 barrels a day with China." To increase the output at Petrozumano, the agreement also calls for the construction of the Jienyang Refinery. Pudumjee Paper PBT rises 57% during Q2FY23 Pudumjee Paper Products Limited (PPPL), has reported impressive results for the six-month period ended September 30, 2022. During the six-month period ended September 30, 2022, the C... November 02, 2022 | 3:23 pm Airtel crosses 1 million customers on it 5G network Bharti Airtel on Wednesday has announced that it has crossed the 1 million unique 5G user mark on its network. The company achieved this milestone in less than 30 days of its commercial la... November 02, 2022 | 2:50 pm Rupee declines 12 paise against the dollar In morning trade on Wednesday, the rupee lost 12 paise to 82.71 against the US dollar due to a flat trend in domestic stocks. Forex traders reported that the rupee started the day flat before t... November 02, 2022 | 2:45 pm Markets near day's low with Nifty below 18,100 Domestic benchmark indices trading in the red after a gap-down opening on Wednesday. Both the Sensex and Nifty benchmarks are marginally lower in the afternoon market session. Moreover, globall... November 02, 2022 | 2:00 pm Flipkart posts Rs 3,413 crore net loss in FY22 Flipkart India's net loss grew to Rs 3,413 crore in the fiscal year 202122, according to financial information seen by business intelligence platform Tofler. A net loss of Rs2,445.6 cr... November 02, 2022 | 1:38 pm Students at Santa Fe Indian School, a Bureau of Indian Education institution in New Mexico whose funds are controlled by the federal government. Photo from SFIS Top Republican lawmakers, some of whom had abandoned Donald Trump in the weeks before the presidential election, are quickly lining up behind their party leader as a new era of challenges emerges for Indian Country. The first major hurdle involves the federal budget. After conversations with Trump this week, GOP leaders agreed to hold off on advancing any appropriations bills for Indian Country and other national programs. Instead, they intend to move forward with what's known as a continuing resolution. That means funding levels are likely to remain stagnant at the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service since Congress never approved a spending bill for those agencies or, for that matter, most of the rest of the federal government. Tribes will now have to wait until Trump comes on board next year to find out what Republicans have in store for Indian programs. President Barack Obama released his very first proposal in February 2009 while then-president George W. Bush got his initial budget out in April 2001 "We want to hit the ground running in January, and start delivering on President-elect Trump's agenda," Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin), the Speaker of the House , said on Friday . Barely a month ago, Ryan had said he wasn't going to defend or campaign with his party's candidate. Still, not everyone in Republican circles agrees with the new approach. Rep. Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma), a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation and one of just two members of a federally recognized tribe in Congress, said putting off the budget is a mistake. "I am very concerned," Cole said on the C-SPAN's Washington Journal on Friday. "This is one where I was on the losing side of the debate, to be honest. I believe very much we could and should finish up all of our work and provide stability for the incoming administration so it could write the budget for the following year." Another big challenge comes as Trump starts filling out his leadership team and tribes figure out where they stand. On Friday, he announced Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama) as his pick to run the Department of Justice Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama), left, endorsed Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on February 28, 2016, and is the president-elect's choice as the Attorney General of the United States. Photo from Facebook Jeff has been a highly respected member of the U.S. Senate for 20 years," the president-elect said in a press release . "He is a world-class legal mind and considered a truly great Attorney General and U.S. Attorney in the state of Alabama. Jeff is greatly admired by legal scholars and virtually everyone who knows him. At the time, the National Congress of American Indians , a non-partisan organization, took the unusual step of calling out Sessions and other Republicans for "obstructionism." The message wasn't heeded -- it took three more years for the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to become law and even that achievement is on the chopping block with the GOP in control in Washington, D.C. And just like with their legislative agenda, Republican leaders are quickly rallying to Trump's side as he names his Cabinet. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), the majority leader in the Senate said he was looking forward to confirming Sessions as the next Attorney General. Just last month, McConnell was refusing to talk about Trump's controversial campaign It is an honor to nominate U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions to serve as Attorney General of the United States. - @realDonaldTrump Transition 2017 (@transition2017) November 18, 2016 The arrival of Sessions signals major change in the Indian legal agenda. During the Obama administration, the Department of Justice helped settle more than 100 tribal trust fund lawsuits for more than $3.3 billion. The Cobell lawsuit affecting individual Indians was settlement for $3.4 billion. The department also took a greater role in addressing violence against Native women and girls , advancing Indian voting rights ensuring compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act , defending tribal treaty rights , safeguarding tribal water rights and protecting tribes from state and local taxation . Those initiatives took active efforts by the leadership at Justice and were the result of tribes repeatedly pressing the Obama administration to live up to the federal government's obligations to the first Americans. The 115th Congress convenes in early January 2017 and both the House and the Senate will remain under Republican control. Trump's inauguration takes place on January 20, 2017, and it will mark the first time since 2007 that the party has been in charge of both the legislative and executive branches. "Our unified GOP government is taking the frustrations were hearing from people and working to change the status quo ," said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Washington), who defeated Democrat Joe Pakootas , a member of the Colville Tribes , at the polls on November 8 . She will return to her position as chair of the Republican Conference in the House. Join the Conversation Related Stories QUITO, Nov. 18 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up on Friday his visit to Ecuador, and departs for the Peruvian capital of Lima for a state visit. During his stay in Quito, the top Chinese leader held talks with his Ecuadorian counterpart Rafael Correa, during which the two heads of state exchanged views on bilateral ties, China's relations with Latin America, as well as international and regional issues of common concern. Xi hailed Ecuador as an important country in Latin America, saying that bilateral ties have witnessed substantial development in recent years. In a joint statement issued after the talks between the two presidents on Thursday, China and Ecuador agreed to lift their relationship to the comprehensive strategic partnership. Also in the statement, the two countries agreed to boost their cooperation in production capacity, as well as economic and trade areas, and pledged to implement major projects in oil and gas, mining, infrastructure, water conservancy, communication and finance, and explore cooperation in agriculture, petrochemical industry, ship building, metallurgy and paper making industries. China and Ecuador also agreed to enhance their cooperation in education, culture, health, sports, tourism and judiciary, bolster exchanges between media, artists and students of the two countries, increase the number of student exchanges, so as to boost understanding and friendship of the two peoples, according to the statement. Both countries will, within the UN and the Group of 77 as well as many other multilateral cooperation frameworks, maintain close communications and cooperation on UN reform, global economic governance, climate change, and the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, so as to promote South-South cooperation and preserve the interests of the developing world, said the statement. On Friday, the Chinese president met with Ecuadorian President of the National Assembly Gabriela Rivadeneira. During their meeting, Xi said China and Ecuador need to keep stepping up dialogues and exchanges between their legislative bodies to promote a steady development of the two nations' comprehensive strategic partnership. Later in the day, the Chinese leader paid a visit to the headquarters of ECU-911, Ecuador's national emergency response system, and promised further support for earthquake-hit Ecuador in disaster relief and reconstruction of the Latin American country. Xi arrived in the Ecuadorian capital of Quito Thursday afternoon for a state visit to the country and his third visit to Latin America since he took office in 2013. In Lima, Peru, Xi will also attend the 24th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting from Nov. 19 to 20. After that, he will fly to Chile for a visit. India is a land full of flavours, where there are as many taste buds as there are people. From papads to paya, piping hot kachoris to soft creamy kulfis, its range of street food is so mouth-wateringly wide that even one lifetime would feel short. So, join us as we bite into the truest flavours of India, from big cities to small, from the old to the new. 1. New Delhi natgeotraveller.in From the neon glitz of Hauz Khas Village to the old, musty gullies of Chandi Chawk, you can bank on the capital city to keep you well fed. Take the famous Parathe Wale Gali, for instance. google Steaming with the aromas of fried parathas made in unusual flavours like nimbu and bhindi and served with a side of homemade subzi and pickle, it sure will leave you craving for more! Also, be sure to check out Sitaram Diwan Chand in Paharganj for its famously delectable chole bhature garnished with paneer and onions, and guzzle down some creamy, chilled shakes at Big Chill in Khan Market. You could lounge cosily at Elmas in Hauz Khas, sipping on freshly brewed teas and digging into rich, spongy cakes. Also, dont forget to scour the city for cart vendors selling banta soda, a quintessentially desi lemonade sold in marble-capped glass bottles. 2. Mumbai sharonpimento.files.wordpress While the age-stained Khao Galli and Bade-Chote Miya enjoy an almost legendary reputation of serving some of the citys most iconic street fare, what might surprise you is the penchant of Mumbaikars for Irani cuisine and cafes. Tucked away in South Bombay, Kyani & Co. and Britannia & Co. remain two of the most popular haunts, a nostalgic throwback to an era gone by. smugmug The latest entrant into the fray, however, is BKCs Soda Bottle Opener Wala where you can sample some Berry Pulav and Dhansak along with other Parsi delicacies. Moreover, living up to its name as the city that never sleeps, Mumbai also boasts of an enviable range of pub grubs and bar eats; 145 Kala Ghoda being a fan favourite. 3. Hyderabad Home to the historic Charminar, Hyderabad welcomes you with an earthy ambiance of some of the most flavoursome street food around. One of the citys popular chains, Chutneys, located in Jubilee Hills as well as Banjara Hills, is known for its spicy, authentic South Indian fare, which comes served as the name suggests - with the most tingling chutneys. wikimedia Additionally, be sure to explore the teeming bazaars for tiny, unassuming stalls which offer some of the most decadent chicken and mutton shawarmas youll find. Meanwhile, Shah Ghouse Cafe on Shalibanda Road is known for its haleem (essentially a meat stew) and biryani paired with refreshing Irani chai. 4. Goa If you look forward to slipping on some flip flops and backpacking across quaint little shacks and vibrant eateries, Goa offers a myriad of options. Known for its exquisite Greek menu, Thalassa in Vagator offers a hypnotic view of the heaving Arabian Sea. Infantaria in Calangute, meanwhile, remains the breakfast favourite for most tourists. facebookthalassa What is surprising though is that this seafood paradise also has a range of vegetarian and vegan eateries such as Blue Planet Cafe in Agonda, serving popular dishes like Pan Fried Tofu with Peanut Sauce and Guacamole. 5. Lucknow The nosily teeming streets of Lucknow wont disappoint holiday makers looking for some soul food. From kormas and kebabs to kulfi and barfi, everything here is served freshly made and straight off the pan. If you want to dig into some tangy chaat, make a quick beeline for the Royal Cafe in Hazratganj where you can try their famous pani batashas (or golgappas). indiatimes Then there is Tunday Kebabi in Aminabad, a firm favourite for its range of sizzling hot kebabs and biryanis. And, to finish it all off on a sweet note, be sure to head to Prakash Kulfi, a mere stones throw away from Tunday Kebabi. 6. Puducherry What can be better than a postcard-perfect Indian Ocean as the backdrop to your eating experience? Thats what you get in Puducherry! Couple that with authentic French, Mediterranean and European fare like no other in the country, and you have the gastronomic destination of your dreams. holidayiq Satsanga on La Bourdonnais Street serves some delectable seafood such as Fried Calamari and Seafood Soup, along with a range of juicy decadent steaks. For crunchy, oven-fired pizzas, Tanto Pizzeria in Auroville is the place to visit. The same goes for Auroville Bakery for its warm spongy croissants, breads and cakes. 7. Amritsar From steaming jalebis to the creamiest lassis, Amritsar hosts an arsenal of delectable dhabas where you can be sure to be spoilt for choice! While for tender and sumptuous chicken tandoori, Beeras on Majitha Road is what the locals swear by, for succulent kebabs and toothsome tikkas, Surjit Food Plaza on the Lawrence Road once a humble roadside joint - is now the preferred go-to. triphobo.weebly For a more local experience, however, make sure to head to the iconic Golden Temple for its popular mouth-watering langars where you can be sure to be served the most authentic and fresh flavours of the city. It might be a City Of Love for some, but for some of the celebrities Paris has turned out to be a city of trauma. Literally! Less than a month back, the world woke up to a rude shock when news of socialite Kim Kardashian getting robbed at gun point broke. So shocking was the incident, that her rapper husband Kanye West had to stop his concert mid-way. Forget the common people, imagine even being a celebrity who has so much security at his/her disposal couldnt escape the thugs! politico While this traumatic incident did change Kims life for good, just a month later Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat became a victim of a similar incident. pinterest Sherawat was tear-gassed and beaten up by three masked intruders in the same neighbourhood where Kardashian was attacked. The incident took place on Nov 11 when Mallika and her male friend were ambushed and attacked in her flat by three masked thugs. While details were awaited, the actress spoke to a leading daily about this and even took to Instagram to post a strong message. Her post read, "It takes more than 3 masked men to take me down, I am a strong woman." It takes more than 3 masked men to take me down, I am a strong woman. Talking to @cnn @cnni A photo posted by Mallikasherawat (@mallikasherawat) on Nov 18, 2016 at 6:44am PST According to reports, the three men without saying a word, sprayed their victims with tear gas before punching them. Mallika and her friend must have put up a fight which made the thugs run away. Thats when the Murder actress called the emergency services for help. celebrity health and fitness An investigation is going on against the masked criminals and the theory of the intruders raiding Mallikas apartment in an attempt to rob her, is being worked upon. Lets hope the criminals are nabbed soon and given punishment for their crime. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has conducted raids at 10 premises of controversial preacher Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) in Mumbai. BCCL The NIA had registered a case against Zakir Naik and others on Friday under 10,13,18 of UAPA and section 153A of IPC. Also Read: Govt Justifies Ban On IRF, Says 'Zakir Naik Extolled Osama Bin Laden's Views' The searches began on Saturday morning with the help of local police after a case was registered by the NIA's Mumbai branch on Friday night under 153-A of IPC (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion...and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and various sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. BCCL Also Read: Trouble Mounts For Controversial Islamic Preacher Zakir Naik, Government To Declare His NGO 'Unlawful' IRF came under the scanner of various security agencies after one of the terrorists involved in the Dhaka cafe attack had allegedly posted on social media that they had been inspired by Naik's speeches. BCCL The speeches of Naik - who is currently out of the country apparently to evade arrest - are banned in the UK and Canada as well as in Malaysia. The home ministry found the NGO was allegedly having dubious links with Peace TV, an international Islamic channel, accused of propagating terrorism. Also Read: Zakir Naik Likely To Face Terror Charges As Government Set To Ban His NGO According to the home ministry, Naik, who heads the IRF, has allegedly made many provocative speeches and engaged in terror propaganda. AP Maharashtra Police has also registered criminal cases against Naik for his alleged involvement in radicalisation of youths and luring them into terror activities. 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. Also Read: NIA Believes Islamic Preacher Zakir Naik May Have Inspired More Than 50 Terror Suspects Less than a year has passed since Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula's suicide the Hyderabad Central University. But the campus has been rattled once again by a similar incident. On Friday evening Moses Abraham, a PhD research scholar attempted to end his life by slitting his wrist. twitter According to reports, Abraham took the extreme step unable to bear humiliation by a faculty at the department on Friday evening at the guide's lab in the department. Abraham, who hails from Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh, was pursuing his research at the Advanced Centre for Research in High Energy Materials at the university. He was working on condense theory solid state physics. It is said that his guide, Prof G Vaitheeswaran, apparently did not allow Moses from attending seminars and asked him to change his research area and supervisor, even after the research scholar published two papers in reputed journals. The incident came to light when the scholar visited the health care centre at the university with a bleeding hand. "The scholar came to the centre with a few students and his guide. He had cut his left hand vein. We stitched the injury immediately," said Dr Anupama, who was the duty officer when Abraham visited the centre. University pro vice-chancellor Vipin Srivastava said Vaitheeswaran was in a shock after the incident. This is not the first such incident in the university as well as the department. Another scholar of the same department, Madari Venkatesh, had committed suicide a few years ago. After ratification of the Paris climate treaty by 55 countries responsible for 55% of carbon emissions in 2015, COP 22 in Marrakesh was much awaited, as this was the first meeting to actually discuss concrete measures as a way forward. cop22.ma This year, almost 1500 journalists across the world gathered to cover this event, yet, COP failed to grab major media attention, as US Presidential election ruled the headlines globally. In India, the media attention was divided between the US elections and the Prime Ministers move to demonetise currency and its impact; the latter gaining more footage. Whatever little media attention that COP received was linked to Trumps election as the President of United States, and the uncertainties of climate change initiatives revolving around his win. Less or no reporting Financial Times headline states how US elections overshadowed COP in media- Trump election casts shadow over COP 22 climate change talks. Leading Bangladeshi newspaper Dhaka Tribunes headline states- Climate change conference stumped after Trump. AFP News reports quoted how Trumps election brought a halt to the excitement around COP 22, which was usually marked as a high point for global action on climate change. In South Asia, most media did not cover COP 22 from the perspective of their countrys contribution to mitigate climate change or the action forward. In India, the immediate concern for the public at large was how demonetization would affect their daily life, and the media focus completely shifted to this issue. BCCL/representational image Athar Parvaiz, an independent journalist from Jammu & Kashmir says, I think it is because COP 22 had nothing significant to offer right in the beginning. Almost all the countries have already ratified the Paris agreement except Australia and few other countries which are expected to do so during the course of Marrakesh talks. No one should be surprised why media in India chose to ignore the start of COP 22. "Trump's election victory is believed to be the major news of the decade (so far) replacing the Brexit referendum result in UK. It is believed to leave a huge impact on the global politics and diplomacy in the coming years. Demonisation in India, again, is something far more serious for the domestic audience as it raises immediate concern to the people rather than the climate change about which there are only projections as of now. The scenario was similar in other South Asian countries. Pragati Shahi, a Nepali journalist, says, E-kantipur, our sister publication, published a story about COP along the lines of Trump's win. It raised question about US pledge in climate deal and fate of the deal after Trump's win. It had nothing about country-specific agendas, and the story is same with international media. cop22.ma Further, Kathmandu Post did run a couple of stories from media outlets and news agencies like Reuters, AFP, Guardian, etc, but there were no local stories on Nepal. And this is not the first time COP's coverage is missing from Nepali media. Shahi adds, Few COPs like Copenhagen and Paris got some coverage (At Copenhagen, Nepal had a few of its own programmes like Sumitters' Summit and a march to draw attention towards the plight of the Himalayas), otherwise there is minimal or no coverage at all. The last story I did was about Nepal ratifying Paris deal. cop22.ma Bhrikuti Rai, a Nepali journalist concurs, I remember looking at some Nepali and English dailies and they did not really have any significant or even no coverage of COP. Neither was there any discussion about this in the Nepali Twittersphere. Pinaki Roy, a Bangladeshi journalist says, Yes, US elections are important for us as the US government make policies that affect the whole world. But that does not mean that media will have to forget something like COP. He added, Editors of most of the media outlets are not climate-educated. Many of the editors do not understand the importance of the COP. Climate change is the most crucial issue of this century and all media should act accordingly. cop.ma The meeting this year was expected to discuss Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). An article in The Hindu mentioned how modalities, procedures, guidelines MPG will be evolved for countries to meet their NDC this year. Further, COPs significance this year on mobilising finance, transfer of technology, and actual action would be significant to developing nations. Experts from World Resources Institute (WRI) said that since Marrakesh conference is getting down to business, the hardest work is ahead to turn the transformational promise of the Paris Agreement into reality. The COP this year is also expected to address clashes between trade and climate change, which will be crucial for many developing countries including India. And here is why. If an Indian company exports its product cheaper because it received subsidies for implementing a green technology, will that subsidy be WTO-compliant? Questions like these, and much more is the core of the COP this year. However, media discussions this year linking climate change to Trumps win of presidential election stems from the fact that he does not believe in climate change, and his promise that he would cancel the agreement and payments of US tax dollars to UN global warming programmes. Other countries, however, in their talks, said that despite the US election outcome, all the efforts that were taken by countries to ratify the deal must happen irrespective of what the US will do. Just 10 days after PM Narendra Modis announcement of removing old Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 currency denominations from legal tender, the income tax (I-T) department has started cracking the whip on people depositing large amount of cash. You may also produce the books of accounts along with bills/ voucher of documents which would be useful to explain the cash deposit, the notice reads. Read more 1. Separatists Announce Two-Day Relief In Shutdown, Mobile Internet Restored In Kashmir After 4 Months Kashmiris living under a virtual lock down for the past four months got a small relief on Saturday as the separatists announced a two-day break on their ongoing agitation. With the shutdown temporarily lifted people can go about their lives normally on Saturday and Sunday. This is for the first time since July the shutdown they have enforced been lifted. At its peak, the valley had remained shut even on Bakrid in September for the very first time. The prolonged shutdown had brought life the valley to a standstill, with businesses taking a massive hit. Read more 2. Ice At North Pole Is Melting Quickly, Temperature Is 20C Above Normal The North Pole is recording temperatures 20 degrees C (36 degrees Fahrenheit) above average, alongside a record low extent of sea ice for October, sending climate change alarm bells ringing around the world. It is polar night in the region now, when night lasts for more than 24 hours and the Arctic is supposed to get super-cold. October, in fact, is the first full month when sea ice is supposed to grow. Instead, the ice area is 28.5% below the 1981-2010 average, the smallest extent since records began to be maintained in 1979. Read more 3. Navy Rubbishes Pakistani Claim Of Blocking Indian Submarine As A 'Blatant Lie' The Indian Navy on Friday rejected Pakistan's claim that it had detected and prevented an Indian submarine from entering its territorial waters, even as defence officials here said Islamabad had also taken to making "fanciful statements" about inflicting heavy casualties among Indian soldiers in cross-border firings. "Pakistan navy's statement is a blatant lie. None of our boats are in that area," said Indian Navy spokesperson Captain D K Sharma. Read more 4. NIA Conduct Raids At Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation Offices In Mumbai The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has conducted raids at 10 premises of controversial preacher Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) in Mumbai. The searches began on Saturday morning with the help of local police after a case was registered by the NIA's Mumbai branch on Friday night under 153-A of IPC (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion...and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and various sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Read more 5. Delhi Man Goes To Withdraw Money, Return Home With Rs 10 Coins Worth Rs 2,000 Like lakhs of others across the country Imtiaz Alam, a resident of Delhi's Shaheen Bagh went to a bank to withdraw some cash from his account via cheque. After standing in the queue for four hours on Friday Alam finally reached the bank's counter. To his utter dismay at the counter he was told by the bank staff that they were low on cash and they can only pay him in coins! Read more Ford Motor Co has decided to import made-in-Chennai Eco Sport SUV to the US from 2018. This is the first instance of an American automaker using India as a sole sourcing base for an individual model. ford Ford has been exporting the India-made Eco Sport compact off-roader to a variety of countries across the world, but exports to the highly-evolved American market is certainly one of the biggest compliments to the quality of manufacturing at the Chennai plant, top company officials told TOI on the sidelines of the Los Angeles Auto Show. "The compact SUV market in the US is on fire, and we plan to take on the incumbents with the India-made Eco Sport," Eric Loeffler, chief engineer for the Eco Sport, said. Recently, Maruti had also started export of the India-made Baleno hatchback to Japan, the home market of its parent Suzuki. ford The compact SUV market in the US is dominated by models such as Honda HR-V, Jeep Renegade and the Chevrolet Trax and this segment has been growing by leaps and bounds over the last few years. "The current size of this category is around 300,000-3,50,000 units annually, and we expect this to double by 2018." The shipments to the US are likely to begin from early 2018 and a variety of changes have been made through a facelift in line with the requirements of the market. Also, the US version will not sport a spare wheel on the rear. "It is not the in-thing in the US to have a spare wheel on the rear, and this is rather seen as outdated," a company official said. ford Loeffler said as the India unit will begin exports to the US, it will discontinue shipments to western Europe. "The European markets will be serviced by operations in Romania." Eco Sport was launched in 2003 in Brazil, and was primarily targeted at emerging markets. A new-generation version was launched in India in 2013. The length was kept under four metres to avail lower excise duty rates. Since its global launch in 2003, the company has sold nearly 1.3 million units across the world. Apart from Chennai, the Eco Sport is also manufactured in Brazil, China, Romania, Russia (through a joint venture) and Venezuela (through completely-knocked down kits). ford Loeffler said that the company did not opt to import cars from Brazil, which is relatively closer to the US when compared to India, for a variety of reasons. "The quality of manufacturing in India is fantastic and is at global levels. Also, we had spare capacity in India. Moreover, the wage rates and the costs for raw materials and tooling are expensive in Brazil." The duty for the import of the car will be a minuscule 2.5% which will be an added incentive to ship it from abroad. Company officials expect to import at least 10,000 units of the Eco Sport from Chennai every month, "though this may go up by the time we start actual deliveries in the US as the market will expand." Ford however isnt the only car maker exporting cars from India. Heres a small list of cars that India makes for the world. 1. Nissan Micra Carconnection 2. Hyundai Grand i10 Hyundai 3. Volkswagen Vento Volkswagen 4. Nissan Sunny Nissan 5. Maruti Suzuki Baleno Maruti Suzuki India's homegrown fighter plane, LCA Tejas may soon be exported to friendly nations. The government has already begun preliminary discussions with a few friendly nations in this regard. Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar informed the Lok Sabha about this in a written reply yesterday. BCCL Presently, HAL has established facilities for manufacturing and delivery of 8 LCA per annum for the Indian Air Force, and plans to ramp up capacity up to 16 aircraft a year. Also Read: India Clears Major Defence Deals In One Day, 83 Tejas Fighters For IAF, 464 More Tanks For Army The Tejas has cleared the Initial Operational Clearance stage and is expected to get the Final Operational Clearance in the coming months. Also Read: Tejas - The Made In India Combat Aircraft Inducted Into The Air Force Today BCCL Minister of state for Defence, Dr. Subhash Bhamre, informed the Lok Sabha about the indigenous content of the fighter. Several parts of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Tejas is of foreign origin, but the Tejas is an indigenously designed and developed aircraft. Out of total 344 LRUs (Line Replaceable Units) involved in the system level of LCA, a total of 210 LRUs have been produced indigenously and balance 134 LRUs are being imported from foreign companies. Indigenous content of the LCA Tejas Aircraft is 59.7% by value and 75.5% by numbers. BCCL To reduce dependence on foreign companies, out of the 134 imported LRUs, the indigenisation of 42 units is under progress. Further efforts are being made by way of indigenization with the objective to reduce the import content progressively. Consolidation of technical specification of imported units have been carried out and they are being projected for indigenisation by private companies, DRDO labs and HAL divisions. Also Read: India's Pride Tejas Jet Fighter Makes International Debut At Bahrain International Airshow BCCL In a few cases, HAL has entered into repair agreements for a number of items to locally repair the items and for balance, they are in the process of entering into Long Term Repair and Maintenance Agreement (LTRMA). Also Read: Indian Air Force Rafale Jets Will Be Made In India, To Give Boost To Tejas Technology In a meeting called for a moratorium on death penalty, India has opposed the resolution stating that it goes against the Indian statutory law and the sovereign right of every nation in the determination of their own legal system. India has, however, supported the amendment which reaffirms a sovereign's right to develop its domestic legal systems. Despite India's opposition the resolution has been adopted by the United Nations with 115 votes in favour to 38 against, with 31 abstentions following an "intense discussion," according to a statement on the UN website. The resolution before us sought to promote a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty, Mayank Joshi, a counsellor at Indias UN Mission had informed The Indian Express. My delegation, therefore, has voted against the resolution as a whole as it goes against Indian statutory law. To further explain India's stand on the issue, Joshi said, In India, the death penalty is exercised in the rarest of rare cases, where the crime committed is so heinous as to shock the conscience of society. In the last 12 years only three executions have been carried out in India. UN At present in India, capital punishment can be contested up to the Supreme Court. Even after the Supreme Court's verdict, an appeal can be made to the President of India. The Supreme Court of India has adopted guidelines on clemency and the treatment of death row prisoners and that "poverty, socio-economic, psychic compulsions, undeserved adversities in life" constituted new mitigating factors to be considered by courts in commuting a death sentence to life imprisonment, Joshi explained. Delhi Police is on the lookout for a man who made a phone call to warn about a plot to assassinate Prime Minister Modi. On Wednesday, the police received a call from a mobile number issued to one Dinesh Kumar, a resident of Burari. The caller had claimed to have overheard some people talking about killing Modi. BCCL/representational image When the police team visited the call location, a shop, they found nobody. Then Kumar was traced and interrogated, but he said that he had lent his SIM card to a relative. When this relative was questioned, he said that a stranger had walked up to him outside an eatery and borrowed his phone to make an urgent call. BCCL/representational image The eatery owner confirmed this version. The police then found out this caller who repeated whatever he had said in that PCR call. But he couldn't identify those alleged plotters. BCCL Police now assume that it was a hoax call, they aren't taking any chances, given that the PM had himself talked about a threat to his life at a rally in Goa recently. U.S. President Barack Obama waves as he boards Air Force One for departure at Tegel Airport in Berlin, capital of Germany, on Nov. 18, 2016. U.S. President Barack Obama left Berlin on Friday, ending his last visit to Germany and Europe during his term of office. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi) U.S. President Barack Obamaon Friday ended his final presidential visit to Europe with a six-party talk here with German Chancellor Angela Merkeland the heads of government from France, Italy, Spainand Britain over key issues of foreign policy such as combating "Islamic state" (IS) and sanctions against Russia. ABIDING BY RUSSIA SANCTIONS The United Statesand five leading EU countries expressed their support for a continuation of the sanctions against Russia for the Ukraine conflict, the Obama administration announced on Friday after the six-party talks. All the heads of state agreed that the penalties should remain in force as long as Russia does not fulfill its obligations arising from the Minsk armistice agreement, said the statement published by the White House. The fact that no permanent ceasefire was adhered to is worrying, said the statement, adding that security must be guaranteed and free and fair elections must be held in the occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk. On Thursday, Obama advised his successor Donald Trump to stand up to Russia if it strayed from Western principles. "I've sought a constructive relationship with Russia," said Obama, "My hope is that the president-elect coming in takes a similarly constructive approach, finding areas where we can cooperate with Russia where our values and interest align." The U.S. president also said he hoped that Trump does not simply take a realpolitik approach in cutting deals and doing "whatever's convenient at the time." COMMON VALUES According to the statement of the White House, the participants of the meeting on Friday also made a commitment to cooperate with NATO in the future. Meanwhile, according to Merkel, the leaders agreed that the humanitarian situation in the disputed eastern part of Aleppo should improve. The situation in the IS-occupied cities of Rakka in Syriaand Mosul in Iraqwas also discussed during the six-party talk. Leaders said it was important to promote the stabilization of liberated areas at an early stage. Obama noted it was important for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations to be maintained. The German chancellor emphasized that she had always spoken out for a trade agreement between the EU and the United States, the two major trading areas of the world. "I continue believing that the EU is one of the greatest achievements in the world," said the outgoing U.S. president on Thursday in Berlin. Britain's exit from the EU should be conducted as "smoothly and orderly and transparently" as possible, he added. Relations with the United States are a basic pillar of German foreign policy, Merkel said in her joint press conference with Obama. CLOSE COOPERATION Merkel thanked Obama for the "excellent cooperation" and praised Obama as a reliable partner in difficult times. She also expressed her gratitude for a close, trusting and friendly cooperation for a period of eight years. The chancellor said she looked forward to a close cooperation with Trump. "Of course, I will do everything possible to work well with the newly-elected president," Merkel said. Obama also thanked Merkel for the German contribution in the fight against Islamic State and in the Syrian conflict. Obama's last official meeting with his European partners also touched upon the refugee crisis. The meeting marked Obama's farewell visit to Europe before the U.S. president leaves office in January 2017. The Delhi Police have initiated a probe into a mysterious letter delivered on November 14 at Mahi-Mandvi hostel, Jawaharlal Nehru University. Sources said that the letter was allegedly written by a woman from Aligarh claiming to have information about the missing MSc student, Najeeb Ahmed . Indiatimes The letter, addressed to Ahmed, was received by hostel president Azeem, who informed Ahmed's mother Fatima Nafees and handed it over to her. She later gave it to the Crime Branch. Also Read: Wheres JNU Student Najeeb Ahmad? 3 Days After He Disappeared, Cops, Varsity Remain Clueless In the letter, the woman had written that she had seen Ahmed at a market in Aligarh. He sought her help saying that he had been locked up somewhere and had managed to escape. By the time she could inform anyone, he had left or was probably taken away by some people. She had also mentioned an address where she could be contacted. BCCL When officers of the Crime Branch went to the address, no one could be found. The letter did not mention anything about a ransom nor the place where Ahmed had been locked up. Also Read: Home Ministry Asks Police To Set Up SIT As Protest Continues Over Missing JNU Student The courier agency that delivered the letter will be asked by the police to give the location from where it was dispatched and the person who had sent it. The letter might also be sent for forensic analysis of the handwriting. india west Meanwhile, Jamia Millia Islamia has handed over the CCTV footage of the campus to the police on the day Ahmed reached there after leaving JNU. Police are recreating the sequence of events to establish the probable route Ahmed could have taken after getting off an autorickshaw. Also Read: JNU Missing Student Controversy Blows Up. Students Gherao VC, Other Officials Demanding Answers Indian software sector is bracing for pressure on its US business from anti-immigrant policies by US President-elect Donald Trump, who has identified clamping down on immigration as one of his three top priorities. The industry is already bracing itself for changes in the immigration and visa policies that Donald Trumps government is likely to bring about. If implemented, experts expect a reduction of at least 30 to 40 per cent in the number of people going to US from India for projects. BCCL "Margins might be impacted in the near-term," Infosys Chief Executive Vishal Sikka said, adding the company had not yet done any simulations on how large the impact may turn out to be. Infosys' contingency plan for the case that the group would not be able to send low-cost developers to work with temporary work visas on big tech projects in the United States would be to hire staff locally, he said. AFP Sikka conceded that hiring people in the United States would likely be more expensive, adding that he saw no shortage in potential applicants. "There are enough universities, enough ability to hire, enough ability to teach," Sikka said, adding he did not expect to lose market share to US peers such as Cognizant. Pakistan has developed an estimated stockpile of 130 to 140 warheads for delivery as well as converting some of its fighter jets, including F-16s to deliver nukes, Bulletin of Atomic Scientists said in its latest report. AP/representational image The report says that analysis of a large number of commercial satellite images of Pakistan army's garrisons and air force bases shows what appear to be mobile launchers and underground facilities that might be related to nuclear forces. Also Read: Amid Tensions With India, Pakistan Is Reportedly Building A New Nuclear Site "Pakistan continues to expand its nuclear arsenal with more warheads, more delivery systems, and a growing fissile materials production industry," said the report on Pakistani nuclear forces, 2016. "We estimate that Pakistan now has a nuclear weapons stockpile of 130-140 warheads. This stockpile exceeds the projection made by the US Defense Intelligence Agency in 1999 that Pakistan by 2020 would have 60-80 warheads," said the report released last month. AP According to the scientists, with several delivery systems in development, four plutonium production reactors and its uranium enrichment facilities expanding, Pakistan's stockpile will possibly increase further over the next 10 years. "Speculation that Pakistan may become the world's third-largest nuclear weapon state - with a stockpile of some 350 warheads a decade from now - are, we believe, exaggerated, not least because that would require a buildup two to three times faster than growth over the past two decades," it said. "We estimate that its stockpile could more realistically grow to 220-250 warheads by 2025, if the current trend continues. If that happens, it would make Pakistan the world's fifth-largest nuclear weapon state. AP/representational image "But unless India significantly expands its arsenal or further builds up its conventional forces, it seems reasonable to expect that Pakistan's nuclear arsenal will not continue to grow indefinitely but might begin to level off as its current weapons programmes are completed," the report said. According to the report, Pakistan probably assigns a nuclear strike mission to select F-16A/B and Mirage III/V fighter squadrons. The F-16 was probably the first aircraft in the nuclear role, but the Mirage quickly joined the mission, it said, adding that the F-16A/Bs were supplied by the US between 1983 and 1987. After 40 aircraft had been delivered, the US State Department told Congress in 1989, "none of the F-16s Pakistan already owns or is about to purchase is configured for nuclear delivery" and Pakistan "will be obligated by contract not to modify" additional F-16s "without the approval of the United States," it said. War reporting is arguably one of the toughest and most challenging assignments one can ask for. While reporting on fatalities around them, they have to make sure that they keep themselves safe from the harms way. Al Jazeera/ Screengrab It was one such assignment for Amro Halabi, a Syrian journalist, working for Al Jazeera Arabic. He along with a camera crew was reporting from a hospital on an aerial attack by government forces on the rebel held parts of Aleppo city. Al Jazeera/ Screengrab While the crew was filming a family, father his two sons who were suffering from breathing difficulties from a previous suspected gas attack the camera blacks out for some time - turns out, the hospital, of the last remaining medical facilities in the battered city itself is under attack. Al Jazeera/ Screengrab The hospital had come under shelling from the government troops. What followed was something straight out of a movie scene - Amid the smoke, dust screams and chaos all around hospital staff rushing to save the live of those they had been taking care of - in this case mostly new-born babies. Al Jazeera/ Screengrab Al Jazeera/ Screengrab The visuals showed them struggling to pull out babies from the incubators and at one point two of the paramedical staff breaking down, overwhelmed by everything happened around them in a matter of seconds. Al Jazeera/ Screengrab The babies taken outside and miraculously all of them survived. Al Jazeera/ Screengrab Aleppo, once a fledgeling city in Syria has come under constant attacks from the governmetn forces and their Russian backers, in an effort to drive the rebels out of their strong hold. Note: The video is extremely graphic and disturbing in nature Also watch: Indiatimes ground report from Aleppo Singapore on Friday executed a Nigerian convicted of drug charges, 38-year-old Chijioke Obioha and a 31-year-old Malaysian, after the countrys supreme court rejected last minute appeals. Obioha was found guilty of possessing 2.6kg of cannabis in April 2007 and sentenced to death in 2008. Under Singaporean laws, drug possession beyond 500g attracts the death penalty. According to AFP, Obioha appealed against his conviction and the death sentence, but the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal in 2010. The Central Narcotics Bureau said that after the death penalty laws in Singapore were amended in 2013, the authorities asked Obioha if he wanted to be considered for resentencing but he declined. However, before he was scheduled to be hanged in May 2016, Obioha reportedly changed his mind. He was said to have indicated interest in submitting a new evidence in order to be considered for resentencing. But the Court of Appeal rejected his request while it ordered a stay of execution to give him time to file an application for resentencing. Again, Obioha reportedly withdrew his resentencing application three months ago, which prompted the court to lift the stay of execution. Two days before his execution, Obioha again appealed for a stay of execution, asking for his sentence to be commuted to life imprisonment. Unfortunately, on Thursday, the court dismissed the appeal. Saturday PUNCH learnt that the Nigerian High Commission in Singapore filed a petition to appeal to the countrys President for clemency, but it was turned down. The CNB announced Obiohas execution in a statement released on Friday, which said the convict had been accorded full due process under the law. A Singaporean anti-death penalty activist, Ravi Mravi, shared on Facebook on Friday that it was not likely that Chijiokes relations were there at the moment of his execution Source: Punch The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two members of a Methodist Church Cathedral in Ibadan for planning to rob the church with intent to cart away N1.5m. Public Relations Officer of the command, Adekunle Ajisebutu, said a worker in the church, Ogundijo Abiola (43), and the church drummer, Alabi Olukunle (25) had invited a gang of armed robbers to invade the church and cart away the money with the plan to share the loot with the robbers. They were arrested during the Sunday service. He said, The anti-robbery squad of the command foiled an armed robbery attack on the church in Ibadan on November 6, 2016 and arrested two members of the church for their involvement in the crime. The robbery was at its final planning stage when they were arrested. The planned robbery was conceived by the two suspects, who invited the gang to rob the church of the large sum of money. Abiola told our correspondent that he contacted the robbers on Saturday and told them that there was enough money to steal in the church coffers, adding that he also told them that the money would be shared equally. In his confessional statement, Olukunle said Abiola contacted him and told him that he needed people who could handle the church priest. He said he wanted to beat the priest and then rob the church of N1.5m. I know a thug so I contacted him and he agreed to do it. But Abiola called me again to halt the operation and I did. But on Sunday, police came to the church and arrested us. I am only a drummer in the church. Source: Punch The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, has disclosed that the 200,000 youths to be employed under the Federal Governments employment scheme, N-Power will be notified soon. The VP aide who took to his twitter handle, @Akandeoj said successful applicants will be notified any moment from now. According to the tweet: The 200K unemployed graduates selected in first batch of N-power jobs will be notified any moment from now. 150K will teach, 50K for health & agric. Recall that Akande, had few weeks ago said Federal Government hademployed 200,000 youths to work as teachers and agricultural extension workers in the country. Source: Dailypost MMM-Nigeria, a community of mutual financial aid and donations, on Saturday donated relief materials worth N5 million to two Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the Federal Capital Territory. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the gesture was part of the communitys humanitarian week tagged MMM cares to mark its one year anniversary. The Gwoza and Bama IDP Camp located in Durumi area and the New Kuchingoro IDP camp were the two beneficiaries of the relief materials. Bags of rice, beans, garri, as well as cartoons of beverages and noodles, were some of the items donated by the group. The group also donated clothing, drugs, and educational materials for the pupils among them. Mr Seyi Bello, a Guilder in the MMM Community said the donation was motivated by the desire of the group to affect the society positively, especially the less-privileged. We are marking our first year anniversary and we have decided to come and celebrate it with our brothers, mothers and children in the camp. As a community, we do not only provide help to our members, we also extend that to the larger society as part of our social responsibility. In these times of economic challenges, the IDPs are the ones that need help and support more than any other person; that is why we visited them today, he said. Bello explained that besides providing help and donations to its members, humanitarian service was a flagship programme of the group. He said that the relief items were bought from free-will donations of members in their quest to touch lives positively. He said: The N5 million was raised from voluntary donations my members in the FCT. That is what defines us as a community of people providing financial help to each other on the principle of reciprocity and benevolence. In MMM there are no lenders and no debtors. One participant asks for help, another one helps. Bello appealed to individuals, groups and corporate bodies to always remember the IDPs across Nigeria, since government alone would not be able to provide for them adequately. They are our brothers and sisters who have left the comfort of their homes and are now struggling for survival here. No matter how little, let us always extend a hand of help to them to complement what government and other donors are doing, he urged. Mr Enoch Yohanna, General Secretary of the IDP camp at New Kuchingoro, who received the items, expressed gratitude for the gesture which he described as `timely. The Christmas season is very close; we thank MMM-Nigeria for bringing these items to us. We hope to share them satisfactorily among us for everybody to be happy and have a happy Christmas celebration, he said. NAN reports that the visit to the IDPs camps was preceded by a two-hour environmental sanitation by members of the group on Nyanya/Mararaba route, a suburb of the FCT. Members of the group came out in their numbers to clear garbage from drainage and streets in the area. (Global Times) 09:33, November 19, 2016 Despite President-elect Donald Trump's campaign rhetoric about building a trade wall, officials from Michigan, one of the key battleground states in the election, have come to China seeking to attract more Chinese investors. As the recently concluded US presidential election produced a surprise result, local officials are left to wait and see who will be part of the new administration, officials said on Friday. Once Trump is in office, "my encouragement to him will be to continue to have positive relationships and strong relationships with China," Rick Snyder, Republican governor of the state of Michigan, told a press briefing held in Beijing on Friday. Snyder never endorsed the President-elect and called some of his past remarks "revolting and disgusting," US news site cbslocal.com reported in November. Snyder, who has made six trips to the country during the past six years, noted that he wanted to time this year's visit to fall after the election because no one knew who was likely to triumph on election night. While seeing great value in the relationships built between Michigan and China, Snyder invited Detroit Democratic mayor Mike Duggan to join him for the first time, with the aim of showing their Chinese counterparts that the division between the two major parties in the US could be overcome, working together to improve the business and investment environment. The total volume of exports from Michigan to China reached $3.2 billion in 2015, with over 30 percent coming from transportation equipment, data from the US Department of Commerce showed. Meanwhile, imports from China to Michigan totaled $9.2 billion, including transportation equipment, computers and electronics, and machinery, the official data noted. From time to time people have voiced concerns about the benefits of trade, and following this election, "we've seen they come up more often," the governor said, noting that the best thing to do is to show the people the positive effects that trade can have on their everyday lives. "Both countries benefit by having people in both countries have good well-paying jobs," Snyder said. Some Chinese companies have been showing interest in investing in Michigan in recent years, especially those in the automotive, engineering, and machinery sectors. For instance, Nexteer Automotive, a subsidiary of China's State-owned aerospace and defense company Aviation Industry Corp, has invested $300 million in Michigan since 2010, creating 1,000 local jobs. These successful examples should be emphasized, Snyder said. The middle class in Detroit and across the US has lost many manufacturing jobs, "a trade war with China or another country will cost the middle class far more jobs," Duggan said, noting that he hopes Trump can strike a middle ground by keeping jobs in America without creating divisions with other countries. "As a businessperson himself, his products are produced in other countries," Duggan told the Global Times on Friday. As there are many manufacturing workers in Detroit making products for export, "if other countries stop buying from us, it means there are layoffs in America," he said, noting that one of the biggest issues is there are almost no small cars made in America, as the profits on small cars are low, seeing these jobs move offshore to countries with lower wages such as Mexico. Ahead of Manchester Uniteds highly anticipated clash with Arsenal, Jose Mourinho has commented on criticism of his team captain, Wayne Rooney. Rooney has dominated much of the front pages after pictures of him leaving a wedding drunk from the England team hotel were released. His conduct has been roundly criticized in the media with some section calling for him to be dropped from the team. In Mourinhos pre-match conference, he said, Even if you build a wall around you to protect you from what people write or think, it always has points of fragility. We are flesh and blood, so I think it has an effect. The England team was given a night off by manager, Gareth Southgate, and Mourinho insisted some of the other players might have been in worse places than the bar; If you go one by one, to see where these 23 players were, some of them were in worse places than the hotel bar. A man the Nigerian Army said its soldiers killed as a senior militant in the restive Niger Delta, was actually a clergyman who had been kidnapped days before, PREMIUM TIMES can report today. The Army said the man, Andrew Anthony, was killed late August when soldiers raided a hideout of militants in Rivers State ahead of the formal launch of Operation Crocodile Smile. But a PREMIUM TIMES investigation showed that soldiers who went for the operation knew Mr. Anthony was a kidnap victim, yet the Army, in its official statement, circulated his photograph to the media as one of five top militants killed in the area. Mr. Anthony was abducted by gunmen outside his home at Ada George Road in Port Harcourt on August 18, this newspaper confirmed after weeks of examining the case. His family had contacted PREMIUM TIMES and requested the case be investigated. Our findings refute the Armys claim, and shed light on the complexities of militant activities in the oil-rich region. Mr. Anthony was returning to his residence after a church programme when he was attacked by gunmen, his family said. Armed men swooped on the pastor as he waited for his wife to open the gate to his residence. The assailants bundled him into the trunk of a waiting vehicle and drove off into the night. The time was about 7:00 p.m. Everything happened within seconds, his wife, Becky Anthony, told PREMIUM TIMES in an interview. I couldnt even say where they emerged from. Mr. Anthonys twin brother, John Anthony, said the family reported the matter the same night at the police divisional headquarters along Ada George Road. They also filed a complaint at the Port Harcourt field office of the State Security Service, SSS, where officials promised action. Police step in The spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Omoni Nnamdi, told PREMIUM TIMES that the command deployed its Anti-Kidnapping Unit to fish out the abductors and secure Mr. Anthonys release. Working alongside the family, the detectives established the first contact with Mr. Anthonys captors three days after. The kidnappers demanded 10 million, but the family offered 3 million. The kidnappers promised to revert after considering the offer. Then, things went silent for another three days, leaving the family wondering what might have gone wrong. Something could have happened in their hideout? No, we thought they were smarter than that, Mr. Anthony said. Police told the distraught family the prolonged silence was unusual with kidnappers. Nonetheless, the anti-kidnapping operatives remained on standby should the all-important call come in, the police spokesperson said. Meanwhile, Mr. Anthonys family members said they worked on raising their offer should their initial bid be rejected. Mr. Anthony contacted his friends for help. We decided to prepare 5 million because it could be that they were arguing about money in their hideout, Mr. Anthony. We didnt want to take any chances. More days went by, no further information still. Then on August 28, Mr. Anthony said he received a phone call from a relative who asked him to return the call immediately. Felicia Obi, his in-law, said she had seen a photo showing Mr. Anthonys body on the internet. Military raid Ms. Obi had stumbled on a story published by PREMIUM TIMES, based on a press statement distributed by the Nigerian Army. The statement and the accompanying photograph were sourced from the News Agency of Nigeria. The Nigerian Army says at least five suspected members of the Niger Delta militants group were killed in Rivers State and a large cache of arms recovered by troops involved in Exercise Crocodile Smile, which commenced on Saturday, the opening paragraph of the August 27 story said. The report was published at 7:34 p.m. Direct quotes from the Army statement, which was signed by its spokesman, Sani Usman, read: The 133 Special Forces Battalion of Nigerian Army troops have carried out a precursor operation to Exercise CROCODILE SMILE aimed at getting rid of all forms of criminal activities in the Niger Delta geo-political region of Nigeria. In the course of the operation, five militants that attacked the troops were killed in action, while numerous others were injured and 23 suspects were arrested, Mr. Usman, a colonel, said. While the statement did not mention the names of militants killed in the operation, Ms. Obi immediately recognised Mr. Anthonys body, published alongside the statement, as one of the militants. I knew him very well and was aware that the family had been looking for him since he was kidnapped, Ms. Obi told PREMIUM TIMES. Mr. Anthony, a diplomat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, said he printed the story on August 29 before driving to the Nigerian Army 2nd Brigade Headquarters at Bori Camp, Port Harcourt. Upon arrival at Bori Camp, he sought an audience with the public relations officer there, but he was told the PRO was not in the office. He requested to see the commandant but was also rebuffed, he recalled to PREMIUM TIMES. After waiting for about an hour with little progress, he contacted a friend, a senior military official, to assist. He was the one who then put me through to the commandant at the Air Force Base along Aba Road, Port Harcourt, Mr. Anthony said. When I got there, a female flying officer met me at the entrance and took me straight to see the commandant. I narrated my story and showed him the news printout; he was shocked. It was at the base that Mr. Anthony learnt for the first time that the operation was jointly carried out by the Army and the Air Force. He told me it was a joint operation by the Army and the Air Force, he said. The Air Force official followed him back to Bori Camp. Immediately, he said we should go to Bori Camp. An Army commandant said the soldiers that carried out the operation were not around, but we said well wait. Hours later, he was introduced to an officer who reportedly led the operation, who politely introduced himself and began chatting with Mr. Anthony. PREMIUM TIMES has listened to an audio recording of that conversation Mr. Anthony said he obtained discreetly, and has withheld sensitive details, including the name of the officer. He told me that when they got a tip from the SSS that kidnappers were holding people hostage in the Ogbogoro bush, they worked out an operation to drive them out, the victims brother said. In the recording, the officer could be heard giving detailed narration of the operation. On getting to that camp, they were making noise in that camp. You understand? Your brother, they tied him with his hands to the back and tied his eyes. They kept him under a tent, he was lying down when we got there, he said. Although the Army officially said its troops killed five militants, and published Mr. Anthonys photo as one of them, the officer said the man was killed by the kidnappers, not by soldiers. The Army spokesperson, Mr. Usman, did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES requests for comment. He promised to get back to us within days, but did not do so for weeks. Kidnappers haven Choba River has been a popular waterway in Port Harcourt since the 1970s when it served as a major trading and fishing route. Choba town hosts the University of Port Harcourt, established in 1977. When Port Harcourt became the centre of Nigerias petroleum business, oil and gas executives travelling through what is now the East-West Road, patronised locals of the communities along the river. One of such communities, next to Choba, is Ogbogoro. In the last decade, with rampant kidnapping in the Niger Delta, criminals who carry out abductions for ransoms, found a haven in the forests surrounding Choba and Ogbogoro. The misfortune of the communities was compounded by the withdrawal of Willbros Group, an American firm, from Choba. Willbros, which is amongst the worlds largest oil contracting firms, helped the local economy there until 2006 when it pulled out. Before then, the firm had been caught in the high-wire oil politics and militancy, and its workers were frequently abducted. It was the forest surrounding Choba and Ogbogoro that Mr. Anthony was taken to after he was abducted on August 18, his family later found out from police and other security agencies. Residents there say kidnappers regularly blindfold their victims and cruise them in the water in a loop for some time, to give the victim a false sense of their location. The Buhari administration recently ordered a military operation in the Niger Delta as militancy flared again, at some time, forcing multinationals like Shell and Chevron, to suspend activities. Searching for Mr. Anthony After obtaining from the army officer details of how and where the missing pastor could be found, Mr. Anthony went to Ogbogoro on August 31, accompanied by Samuel Mariere, a childhood friend and member of Delta State House of Assembly, from Ughelli. Also on the journey were eight other men. They arrived at 9:00 a.m. in a convoy of four SUVs to search for and possibly retrieve Mr. Anthonys remains. Although 10 of them had made the trip, they could not proceed to the forest on their own. We were made to understand that a lot of terrible activities were going on in the bush and we cannot go in without being properly armed and escorted, Mr. Anthony said. Mr. Anthony said they approached the youth in the community for support. After over two hours of negotiation, about 120 youth agreed to participate in the mission for 750, 000, Mr. Anthony said. And we gave them 500, 000 in advance payment before they followed us, he said. For several hours, they combed the forests for Mr. Anthony. The sky was clear. Most of the journey was captured in a video seen by this newspaper. Young men could be seen scouring the bush with cutlasses. As they went deeper into the forest, they saw charred bodies of unknown men lying face down. We immediately concluded that they might have been other victims whose lives had also recently been wasted in the bush, Mr. Anthony said. A few metres away, they found Mr. Anthonys corpse among a row of shacks rolled down from what appeared like a wooden bench, the decomposing body swarmed by large blowflies. They also found items used by the kidnappers, including phones, charms, heating equipment and guns. Those items were later handed to the SSS. After a few minutes, they approached the body and wrapped it in a synthetic fabric before carefully arranging it in a wooden casket. By 4:00 p.m., they returned to Ogbogoro, where they settled the youth before proceeding to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital to deposit the body. Some of the officers attached to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit who worked on case also joined at Ogbogoro. Suspects arrested Based on the evidence collected by Mr. Anthony and the team from the den, the SSS said it was able to make two arrests in connection with the abduction of Mr. Anthony, a father of three. But the familys request to have access to the detained men was denied, making it difficult to verify the claims. PREMIUM TIMES efforts to get the state director of SSS in Rivers was unsuccessful. The secret police has not named a new official to take enquiries from the public since its last spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, retired more than a year ago. Mr. Anthony was born on January 29, 1948, in Takoradi, Ghana. His father was an employee of Ghanas Post and Telecommunication Department until his retirement years ago. Mr. Anthony said they were all born in Ghana, where their younger siblings still live till today. The future clergy won a scholarship to study theology from the Church of God Mission. He launched his missionary career after graduation. His widow said she and their three children were relying on God for the future. We have no one but God, she told PREMIUM TIMES. No one but God. Mr. Anthony said he will not give up on getting the Army to take full responsibility for killing his brother if only to secure the future of his children. They rained bullets on my brother when they could see he was tied down and couldnt run, Mr. Anthony said. They then labelled him a kidnapper to justify their action and take glory in public. The Ambassadors Glory Churches International is now being run by church members. The family plans Mr. Anthonys burial for later this month. His body is expected to be moved from the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital to their home state of Bayelsa on November 26. Transcript of recorded audio Officer: We saw the body of your Mr. Anthony: My twin brother. Officer: Hes your twin brother? Mr. Anthony: Yes Officer: We went for raid, they took him to a dead bit, Im sure they kidnapped him around Ada George. These people carry out all those kidnappings around Ada George area. That camp, they kidnap people. Theres a road they follow. They enter through erm this thing and they cross water. You understand? Mr. Anthony: Hmm hmm. Officer: They just cross water with the victim. They cross the water and they keep him at the edge of the water. Nobody can access that bush until he crosses that water. So police dont go there, nobody goes there. If they take you to that camp, nobody can rescue you, you understand? Until they carry their boat and take you out by themselves. You understand? So we got the information from the SSS and they gave us the specific information about that place. You understand? So we planned operation and went. Kidnappers normally, if they kidnap a person and theyre negotiating. If you go with any force, theyll kill the victim. That one is for sure. Not even these ones that are deadly kidnappers. You understand me? When we got .We trekked for three hours from Ogbogoro community. In fact, four hours, inside the mangrove before getting to that camp. You understand? On getting to that camp, they were making noise in that camp. You understand? Your brother, they tied him with his hands from the back and tied his eyes. They kept him under a tent, he was lying down. When we got there. Immediately we surrounding the compound and wanted to enter and they heard our noise, they were shocked first and they shot him first. Mr. Anthony: They shot him? Officer: They shot him pow! pow!.Before our troops started returning fire. If he was standing, then we could say our troops fire that got him. But no, he was tied and he was on the ground. They tied his eye. If theyre shooting gun now and you lie down, theres no way gun can hit you. You understand? They shot him and they escaped. In the process, while they were running, we too shot them. Most of them our fire gave them gunshot wounds and were sure they entered the bush and they died in the bush. Source: PremiumTimes Nigerias most popular cross-dresser, Bobrisky has allegedly been arrested by the Nigerian police. Bonrissky, whose real name is Idris Okuneye was arrested for assaulting a woman who was taking photographs of him. A picture of Bobrisky in a police van has quickly gone viral but there has been little additional information about his arrest. Bobrisky became a social media sensation in 2016 for his cross-dressing and his tales about his bae. He was named as a panelist for a media conference in October, sparking some measure of controversy. Nigerian newspaper headlines November 19, 2016. Thisday The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has blamed Nigerias economic woes on wrong federal structure, which he said had predisposed the country to wealth sharing, indolence, and poor governance since the fall of the First Republic. Vanguard An environmental agency, WaterAid Nigeria yesterday made a startling disclosure that 58 million out of 700 urban dwellers around the world who are living without basic sanitation are Nigerians. Leadership As part of the management of Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) has announced its readiness to commence the production of Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK) popularly known as aviation fuel. Premium Times The Federal Government has set up an inter-agency Presidential Committee on Asset Recovery, PCAR, as part of its efforts to strengthen the on-going fight against corruption. Guardian President Muhammadu Buhari has officially constituted the boards of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) and the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB). Daily Independent The Federal Government has expressed readiness to evolve flexible policy that would promote agricultural investments in the country. The Nation BEVY of beauties from 30 African countries yesterday arrived Calabar Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar to participate in the maiden edition of Miss African Beauty Pageant. Punch The naira is expected to trade in a tight range at the official and parallel markets next week as the Central Bank of Nigeria struggles to curb speculation on the local currency and reduce pressure on the dwindling external reserves. The Sun A drastic cut in funding, particularly from international donor agencies and epileptic inputs from the states and Federal Government on drugs, supplements and other vital items needed for the support and sustenance of persons infected with the deadly Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) across the country, has placed the lives of millions of citizens on the balance. At about 2am on Sunday, November 6, 21-year-old Solomon Odekunle was seen stumbling out of a popular hangout, Pipers Bar and Grill, in Ottawa, Canada, with blood gushing out of his neck. Eyewitnesses interviewed by the police said few steps away, he collapsed on Coventry Road. He was later pronounced dead in the hospital. According to Ottawas CBC News, Solomon, who was stabbed by a suspect, who has been identified as 27-year-old Joe Ndikuriyo, was the 17th victim of homicide in Ottawa since the beginning of 2016. Saturday PUNCH learnt that Ndikuriyo is a Burundian national. Even though the police in Ottawa have said they were still piecing together the timeline of events that led to the victims death, news reports suggest that he was stabbed during a fight between Ndikuriyo and another individual over a woman. The victim, whose father is a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Lagos according to residents of their neighbourhood in Fagba, Lagos, was admitted to the University of Ottawa in 2012 to study Economics. Saturday PUNCH visited his parents house at the Rotimi Williams Estate, Fagba Estate on Thursday, a fenced mansion, where a domestic employee explained that Solomons father had travelled while the inconsolable mother had relocated temporarily from the house. It was later learnt that the father had flown out to Canada after learning of the tragic murder of his son. Solomons sister, Deborah, who is also studying in Canada, shared heart-breaking words on Twitter that corroborated words of Solomons friends, who described him as a meek and funny young man. According to her, she saw him last a week before the incident. She said, If I did know it would be your last, I would have given you more than a fist bump. I would have gotten down on my knees and give you the deepest bro-hug. If I did know it would be your last, I would have pleaded with the drama leader to allow the rehearsal to linger a little so you and Peter could make us giggle a little more with some frog jump. If I did know it would be your last, I would have treasured those great words you shared with me a couple of months ago in the technical department, have them handwritten with the best calligraphic pens, framed and given to you right after doing those frog jumps. To the Solomon I saw last week, to the Solomon that finally got his picture taken properly last week, to the Solomon with an intellectual smile and chubby cheeks, to the Solomon his friends described as kind-hearted and meek, see you next. Deborah explained that her father would be attending a wake organised to take place on Friday (yesterday). We would be having a memorial service for Solomon in Ottawa Friday evening and it is open to anyone that would like to come. Please, if you make it down, dont cry because my dad would be there. I also believe that as Christians, we do not mourn, we celebrate life, Deborah said. There has been an outpouring of grief by Solomons friends and acquaintances on social media since the news of his death broke. One friend wrote: Im lost for words. Rest in peace, Solomon. Such a gentle, polite, well mannered, intelligent, kind hearted young man! This is terribly sad. One of Solomons lecturers, Ryan Katz-Rosene, also tweeted, (I am) absolutely devastated to learn of death of my #uOttawa student, #SolomonOdekunle a kind, thoughtful and bright young man. May he rest in peace. The crime scene of Solomons death was an extensive area, which the police had to cordon off to gather evidence. Staff Sgt. Bruce Pirt of the Ottawas crimes unit said it was a big scene because they had to analyse all the blood and potential evidence that were found all over the place. We do have some bloodletting that covered quite an extensive area, we have to make sure its all connected to the same incident. As we investigate further, well be able to tighten up that scene and make it smaller and smaller, Pirt said in a report by CBC News. The suspect in the stabbing, who was said to have served a previous two-week jail term for weapons possession, was arrested the day after the attack. He has since been charged with second-degree murder. Source: Punch The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that the Zika Virus is no longer an international medical emergency after nine months of battling the virus. The virus, primarily spread by mosquitoes causes microcephaly in infants (babies are born with abnormally small heads and restricted brain development), making it especially dangerous for pregnant women. Brazil was one of the wors hit countries, recording well over 2,000 cases. Zika virus is not thought to be deadly and the symptoms are as simple as a fever, rash, and joint pain. In ending the nine-month long declaration of Zika virus as a medical emergency, the WHO has accepted that the virus is here to stay. The police have arrested an eight-man gang of armed robbers said to be terrorising Abuja, Kogi and Kano states. Among them is Rekia Musa, a divorcee and Accounting graduate of the Kogi State University, who told the police that she had only been an informant for the gang for four months. The police said the gang had links with a suspect, Zakeria Isiaka arrested recently by the Inspector-General of Police Response Team, along the Okene-Akure Expressway. It would be recalled that on November 5, Saturday PUNCH had reported Isiakas claim that he could have become the Chief Security Officer of Kogi State if the late All Progressives Congress candidate in the governorship election in Kogi State, Abubakar Audu, had not die. Others arrested along with Musa are Ismaila Abdulmumuni, Abu-Amidu Disu, Tenimu Musa, Boniface David, Aliu Isah and Danjuma Cyprian. A police source told Saturday PUNCH that the suspects confessed to have carried out several robbery operations, including an April 2015 operation in Abuja where about N200m was stolen from some politicians. In her statement, Musa, popularly called Hajia, explained that about four months ago, one of her friends, Isha Mohammed, approached her and said he knew some politicians who had stolen public money and hidden them in their houses. She said, He asked if I could help him to get a charm that would make it possible for him to disappear, called Etubi. He said if he could disappear into the politicians house and steal the money unnoticed, he would give me a large cut of the money. I then travelled to my village in Agba Local Government Area of Kogi State and met a boy called Tenimu. I told him about the plan and he promised that he could get the charm. But instead, Tenimu told his friends about the money. The friends were armed robbers. They then came and tricked me into taking them to the politicians house in Kano State. According to Musa, when the gang got to the house in Kano, they were discouraged by the heavy presence of policemen and went back home. However, she said she became upset because the plan did not fall through. I thought targetting politicians who have stolen government money was a good idea because I was broke. Few days later, Isah got another piece of information about an immigration officer based in Lagos, who had stolen government money. I contacted my gang and we went to the mans house and robbed him. But we didnt get as much money as Isah told us the man had at home. Police sources said the suspects came on the radar of security agents after robbing the immigration officer, a comptroller in the service. Musa, AKA Hajia, also allegedly went around town to scout for victims for the gang before her arrest. Twenty-five-year-old Mohammed, who brought the information about the immigration officer to the gang, explained that it was the only operation he ever went with the gang. The suspect, also a Kogi State indigene, explained the he was a fashion designer with a shop in Bwari area of Abuja. He said, It was the bad friends I met in Abuja that led me into armed robbery. There was this customer, Ismaila, whom I made clothes for. He was the first person who told me about the money the politicians usually brought to his office at Mabuchi area of Abuja. He said the politicians shared the money there and he said he could rob them. I then told him about one of my customers, Dan, who normally wore a charm around his waist. I told him he could take part in the robbery. I also told another friend, Ismaila (Abdulmumuni). When I informed Dan about the money and the plan to rob the politicians, he said we should hold a meeting along the Duste Expressway in Abuja. He also brought some of his friends and Dan asked that we should go to the place. After a while, Dan said we might need guns for the robbery and that the politicians might have some powerful charms. Mohammed said on the day the politicians came again to share money at the location, the gang was immediately alerted by Abdulmumuni. The gang stormed the place and robbed the politicians of over N200m. Mohammed said, After the operation, Dan called and gave me N4.5m, which he said I should share with Ismalia. But I later learnt that we actually got more than N200m from the robbery. Dan alone got N25m. Source: Punch Students and staff members of the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, have been thrown into grief following the sudden death of a fresh graduate of the institution, Felix Agandi, who died barely four days after he defended his undergraduate project. One of Agandis coursemates told our correspondent on the telephone on Friday that he was dropped at his residence by one of his friends at around 10pm on Monday night. The coursemate stated that the 27-year-old graduate of Mass Communication was an orphan, who struggled to finance his education from his national diploma days to the time he finished his higher national diploma programme. The deceaseds neighbours were said to have rushed him to a hospital after he was heard suddenly screaming from his sleep but he was reportedly certified dead right inside the car before he arrived hospital on Tuesday morning. He said, We are all in a pensive mood in Iree now because of Felixs death, who screamed from his sleep and died shortly after that. Felix was a gentle person but jovial. He was humble and hardworking. Despite being an orphan he saw himself through school. His death is an unfortunate one and this week has been one of the saddest ones in recent times in Iree. The remains of the Delta State-born student were said to have been buried at Ilesa, Osun State, where he lived with his siblings on the same day. A lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication, Mr. Tope Abiola, who is also the Public Relations Officer of the institution, confirmed the death of Agandi. He told our correspondent that the management of the school had visited the deceaseds siblings to commiserate with them. Abiola said, The death of the student is still a big shock to everyone of us. We were told that he died in his sleep. He died just some days after he defended his project. There were few corrections made on his project and he was supposed to submit the corrected version when he died. He was a cool and hardworking young man. I learnt that he was an orphan but he was focused and determined but unfortunately death snatched him away. May his soul rest in peace. Source: Punch This is not a sales pitch guys and I promise no one paid me for it! Remember my piece on how Uber Nigeria has been really slacking and they probably needed some swift competition to allow them sit up? If you dont, just read it here. Like most Nigerian companies, Ubers near monopoly of the taxi hailing service industry created complacency and room for serious competitors and dont we just love competition! A new kid is on the block and they call themselves Taxify. I only learned about Taxify through my Twitter timeline so I decided to give it a shot at washing away all my bad memories of Uber. Its a pretty straightforward service and the driver was at my place in about 15 minutes. He readily admitted that he didnt know where I was going (do these guys ever know anywhere?) but he made up for it with his sheer warmth. To give you a fair idea of the distance, I took the taxi from Ago Palace way all the way to the Navy Barracks just a little after Festac. Then I spent about 30 minutes keeping the taxi waiting and add that dreadful Friday night traffic on my way there and back. After almost an hour and thirty minutes, I had racked up just N4,000 in taxi bills, not bad considering how long the journey was. Heres whats more interesting, the driver informed me that with Taxify, the drivers keep 85% of the revenue which seems like a pretty neat arrangement. Its early days yet but has Uber finally met their match? (Photo of Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang) China is strongly urging its northern neighbor Mongolia to stick to its commitment to Tibet-related issues for maintaining the sound development of bilateral ties. Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang reiterated that the 14th Dalai Lama is a political refugee who has long been engaged in activities to split China and alienate Tibet from China in the name of religion. He noted China firmly opposes visits by the Dalai Lama to any foreign country. "China resolutely opposes the Dalai Lama visiting any country to carry out anti-China separatist activities in any name or in any capacity. We also stand firmly against all forms of contacts between officials from any country and the Dalai Lama. We strongly demand that Mongolia, for the purpose of maintaining the general picture of a sound and steady development of bilateral ties, earnestly stick to its commitment on Tibet-related issues, do not allow the visit by the Dalai Lama and do not provide any form of support and convenience to the group of the Dalai Lama." Dalai Lama was due to start a four-day visit to Mongolia on Friday evening local time. Kenya Moore is giving an update on her friendship with NeNe Leakes. Despite feuding a few season ago on, the former Miss USA reveals that the two are now friends and everything is peachy between the two.NeNe and I have always been friends. I know there came a point in time when she said we were never friends, you know shes an emotional person and reactive, she told People Now . But weve always had a fondness for each other. Shes sorely missed.After starring on the show for eight seasons, Leakes has stepped out of the reality spotlight in season 9. Of Leakes time on the series, Moore acknowledged that the actress and fashion designer helped to bring the show to this level of success that we have today. You cant discount her for that.Despite no longer sharing screen time, Moore said she and Leakes still talk every week, adding, Were friends. Were good.Moore also opened up about her co-star Cynthia Bailey, who is currently undergoing a divorce from Peter Thomas, but Moore dished that even though she still loves Peter, its just not working out.I think she is getting to a better place. Shes really excited to turn 50, and I think shes trying to put anything thats negative behind her, Moore said. I think shes in a great situation right now as good as it can be to be a divorce.Photo Credit: Bravo The Irish Anti-War Movement (IAWM) is holding a peace march today between the Russian and US Embassies in Dublin calling for an immediate end to the conflict in Syria. The group is calling on the Irish government to summon the US and Russian Ambassadors to demand they cease their military involvement in Syria. (Xinhua) 10:04, November 19, 2016 The pictures taken in front of the UN Headquarters in New York City on Nov. 18, 2016. (Xinhua Photo/Wu Xiaojun) The United Nations on Friday highlighted the impact of sanitation on the lives of peoples across the world as the world body is observing World Toilet Day and seeks to raise awareness to address the global sanitation crisis, a topic often neglected and shrouded in taboos. In his message, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted that this year's World Toilet Day focuses on "toilets and jobs," spotlighting the impact of the lack of sanitation on livelihoods and work environments. Activities promoting this goal are taking place around the world, including at the Global Citizen Festival on Saturday in Mumbai, India, Farhan Haq, the deputy UN spokesman, told reporters here Friday. On Monday, UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson will deliver a keynote address at the official World Toilet Day event at UNICEF House here in New York, the seat of the head office of the UN Children's Fund. World Toilet Day, which falls on Nov. 19, is also designed to tackle the oft-neglected global sanitation crisis. While the Day is an opportunity to raise awareness about the 2.4 billion people around the world who live without a toilet and the rates of diseases due to inadequate access to sanitation and unsafe water, this year's theme focuses on how lack of sanitation impacts peoples' livelihoods: the UN estimates that in many countries, it creates a five percent loss in gross domestic product (GDP). "Toilets play a crucial role in creating a strong economy," Ban said in his message. "A lack of toilets at work and at home has severe consequences, including poor health leading to absenteeism, reduced concentration, exhaustion, and decreased productivity." Meanwhile, 17 percent of workplace deaths are caused by disease transmission -- an incentive to invest in access to proper sanitation in order to avoid the approximately 260 billion U.S. dollars that is lost every year due to poor sanitation and unsafe water. According to the secretary-general, "every dollar invested in water and sanitation leads to four dollars in economic returns." "Investing in appropriate toilets is especially important for women and girls, so that they have private, clean and safe facilities, and are able to manage menstruation or pregnancy safely," Ban said. Safe access to clean toilets is critical to implementing Goal 6 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which calls for clean water and sanitation for all. "Delivering on this basic human right is good for people, business, and the economy. Let us continue working towards a world where everyone, everywhere, has adequate and equitable sanitation," the secretary-general added. In 2013, the UN General Assembly officially designated Nov. 19 as World Toilet Day. Iraqi troops faced stiff resistance from militants from the so-called 'Islamic State' as they pushed deeper into eastern Mosul, backed by aerial support from the US-led international coalition, a senior military commander said. At dawn today, troops moved into the Muharabeen and Ulama neighbourhoods after fully liberating the adjacent Tahrir neighbourhood yesterday, said Major General Sami al-Aridi of the Iraqi special forces. He said 'IS' militants were fighting back with snipers, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar rounds. Thick black columns of smoke were seen billowing from the two areas, while dozens of civilians were seen fleeing to government-controlled areas. To the west of Mosul, government-sanctioned Shiite militias took control of the Tal Afar military airfield on Friday night, said Jaafar al-Husseini, spokesman for the influential Hezbollah Brigades. He said the clashes almost destroyed the airport and that it will be an important launching pad for the troops in their advance. The offensive to retake 'IS'-held Mosul, which was launched on October 17, is the biggest military operation in Iraq since American troops left in 2011. If successful, the retaking of Mosul would be the strongest blow dealt to IS's self-styled caliphate stretching into Syria. The Shiite militias are leading an assault to drive 'IS' from Tal Afar, which had a majority Shiite population before it fell to the militants in the summer of 2014, and to cut IS supply lines linking Mosul to Syria. According to the United Nations, more than 56,000 civilians have been forced from their homes since the operation began out of nearly 1.5 million civilians living in and around Mosul. The extremist group captured Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, in the summer of 2014. The Dublin-headquartered builders merchanting business yesterday announced it has reached agreement to purchase Gunters en Meuser (G&M); the largest tool and fixings distributor in the Amsterdam market, for an undisclosed sum. Grafton entered the Dutch market with the 91.5m purchase of tool distributor Isero last year, which marked its biggest acquisition in continental Europe. The bulk of Graftons revenues are derived from its UK merchanting business, but it also has a presence in Belgium. While synergies may exist between the two Dutch businesses, it is expected both will largely remain independent for the foreseeable future as each have distinctive brand identities. Grafton chief executive Gavin Slark yesterday called G&M a unique strategic opportunity to gain a strong presence in the Greater Amsterdam area. G&M has a near 200-year history behind it and is well-known in the market. While smaller than Isero, G&M is expected to contribute 30m to Graftons revenues in the coming year. This will be a further important step in the groups development strategy in the Netherlands and increases our exposure to the growing Dutch economy. The enlarged business should also provide a good platform to capitalise on other appropriate development opportunities, Mr Slark said. Davy Stockbrokers yesterday called this a modest, but strategically important acquisition for Grafton. Over the course of the past 12 months, Grafton has now built a leading position in each of the countrys five largest cities. With around 13% market share, it now has greater scale to fully benefit from the ongoing cyclical recovery in the region. "We expect Grafton to continue to increase exposure to the country by both organic and inorganic means, said analysts Michael Mitchell and Flor ODonoghue in a joint note. They added: While modest in the context of the overall group, the deal is of strategic importance to Graftons ambitions in the Netherlands market. Importantly, Grafton now also has a leading position in the important Greater Amsterdam area and, therefore, in the region where population growth is at its fastest. We understand the combined business will have market share of 13%-14% in the channel, with strong positions in the countrys largest five cities. The addition of G&M strikes us as just the beginning for Grafton in the region. Iran has been the main stumbling block for such a deal because Tehran wants exemptions as it tries to regain oil market share after the easing of Western sanctions in January. Irans rival Saudi Arabia, the biggest producer in OPEC, has argued Irans output has peaked and it should not be granted major concessions. The UKs forthcoming EU departure topped the agenda at a meeting of the North South Ministerial Committee where Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan joined Stormonts First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness in Armagh yesterday . Afterwards,Taoiseach Enda Kenny described the talks as constructive, adding there had been a great deal of common ground. He said: We have had a very constructive and a very good meeting actually one of the best meetings that I have attended. One point we all stressed at this meeting was that it is really important, from an island of Ireland perspective, that there be that strength of solidarity in respect of those common interests. So, when discussions do start, and I as Taoiseach will be sitting on the European side of these arguments, will be able to work to get the best deal possible for the island of Ireland north and south. That was a common consensus of the outcome of the meeting today which I very much value. As well as highlighting the unique circumstances in Ireland, including the land border, peace process, and peace funds, Mr Kenny warned that Europe would not allow the UK to cherry pick specific deals. If the UK want access to the single market, they must come with that freedom of movement of people and that is a challenge and an issue that the British government has got to focus on, he said. The North-South Ministerial Council was set up under the Good Friday Agreement peace deal and generally meets in plenary session just twice year. Ms Foster, who earlier this week dismissed suggestions of a frosty relationship with Dublin, described the meeting as useful. She said: The Taoiseach has been very good to share some of the discussions that are going on at a European level in terms of the Republic of Irelands government and we are very grateful to hear that. We shared our position in terms of Northern Ireland and indeed in terms of the discussions that are going on a UK basis as well. So, it was a very useful meeting. We await to see what happens in terms of the Supreme Court and well take it from there. The Democratic Unionist Party leader said she was not surprised that attitudes from some European leaders had hardened in the wake of the referendum result, adding: You can all take up positions before negotiations start but then you have to start the negotiation. And thats where we will be after Article 50 has been triggered. Mr Flanagan hailed the meeting as the most engaging, important, and significant of his two-year tenure as foreign minister. Diarmuid Byrne, 41, had died instantly at his home at Plunkett Road in Ballyphehane in Cork on April 26 after he suffered a gunshot wound to the head from his legally held shotgun while in an upstairs room of his family home. Detective Sergeant Martin Canny gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution yesterday at Cork District Court of Trevor OGorman, with an address at 27 Sarahville Place, Pouladuff Road, Cork. Arrested at 9.45am, he was charged with the manslaughter of Mr Byrne. Det Sgt Canny said he cautioned the accused and Mr OGorman made no reply. Solicitor Majella Graham said Mr OGorman was unemployed and she applied for free legal aid. She submitted the defendants written statement of means and Judge Leo Malone acceded to the application. Ms Graham asked for legal aid to be extended to cover the appointment of a barrister and senior counsel. Judge Malone said that stage had not yet been reached in the processing of the case. Inspector Bill Duane said the DPP had directed trial on indictment and also consented to the accused signing a plea of guilty, and being sent forward to Cork Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing should that arise. The inspector said the book of evidence was not yet ready and he applied for an adjournment of the case for a period of six weeks. Judge Malone adjourned the case until December 21. Ms Graham applied to have the accused remanded on bail and Insp Duane said there was no objection. Det Sgt Canny requested Mr OGorman would sign on daily at Togher Garda Station and surrender his passport. The solicitor said her client was willing to give such undertakings and handed in his passport. Earlier this year, assistant State pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster told an inquest Mr Byrne died from severe cerebral trauma from multiple lacerations to the brain. Irelands Diaspora Minister Joe McHugh urged US politicians to take on the task during an official visit to Boston, Massachusetts, yesterday. Speaking at the Golden Bridges Conference, Mr McHugh admitted Government is concerned about Mr Trumps immigration policies. While in an interview earlier this week Mr Trump suggested he will remove up to three million people during his term in office approximately the same amount as outgoing president Barack Obama Mr McHugh said Irish politicians must push home the plight of undocumented Irish abroad. OReilly had sought leave to appeal the Court of Appeals dismissal of his miscarriage of justice bid as an abuse of process on the basis of that courts finding it was bound to fail and not grounded on any new, or newly discovered, fact. OReilly was found guilty in 2007 by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of the murder of his wife at their home in the Naul, Co Dublin, on October 4, 2004. He was jailed for life. Ms OReillys badly beaten body was found in the bedroom of her home by her mother. OReilly later lost an appeal against his conviction and in May 2015, the Court of Appeal refused his application to have his conviction declared a miscarriage of justice. Lawyers for OReilly then applied to the Supreme Court for leave to appeal that Court of Appeal decision. Among various arguments, it was contended the Court of Appeal paid insufficient regard to OReillys argument he did not sufficiently appreciate, at the time of the trial, the significance of the Book of Evidence, or any portion of it, being found in the jury room. It was argued there was a matter of general public importance concerning whether tactical decisions in the context of jury irregularity can be revisited. The DPP had argued OReilly was informed of the Book of Evidence situation on the fourth day of his trial and, acting on advice, instructed his lawyers to proceed with the trial. It was also contended matters so well known could not possibly amount to a new fact or a newly discovered fact. In a written determination this week, a three-judge Supreme Court, comprising Mr Justice Frank Clarke, Ms Justice Mary Laffoy and Mr Justice Peter Charleton, refused leave to appeal. The judges said the conclusion of the Court of Appeal judgment was that it was absolutely clear a conscious and deliberate decision was taken by OReilly for tactical and strategic reasons to proceed with the trial and his attempt now to resile from that choice amounted to an abuse of process. The uncontroverted evidence was no member of the jury had read the book of evidence or any part of it, the court noted. The issues raised before the Court of Appeal in this application did not raise any new or newly discovered fact showing a miscarriage of justice in relation to his conviction, it said. The other issue was whether there was abuse of process for OReilly to initiate an application for a miscarriage of justice certificate when, following advice, he agreed to the procedure adopted on the fourth day of the trial and also agreed to the outcome, which was that the trial would proceed. The Court of Appeals refusal of this application did not involve any matter of general public importance and nor had OReilly established it was in the interests of justice an appeal be heard, the judges determined. Mr Halligan said he would refuse to deal with the incoming US president if he ever visits Ireland and Irish citizens should protest if he comes here. Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Mr Halligan criticised Fine Gael figures and others who have toned down criticism of Mr Trump since his shock victory. But the Waterford TDs candid remarks may cause trouble for the Government amid its efforts to settle relations with the new US administration and lobby against tax reform which might impact multinationals based here. Mr Trumps win was appalling, according to Mr Halligan, adding he would refuse to meet him if he visits here or the Dail. He is a misogynist, a brute, a racist, his attitude towards women is terrible. Even though he is the leader of the Western world, I would have feck all to do with him. I understand Enda Kenny dealing or meeting with him, but I would refuse to deal with him if he stood in front of me. Id have nothing to do with him. Mr Halligan, who oversees training and skills, would also likely deal with US authorities as a minister. The minister criticised Mr Trump during the US election campaign, calling him an asshole. He stood over his previous comments. But Mr Kenny and others have softened criticisms since his win. Mr Kenny previously agreed some of Mr Trumps comments were racist and dangerous, but said after the election these were made in the heat of the battle. Nonetheless, Mr Halligan believes his colleagues are wrong to row back on their criticisms. Its not right. If you think something of somebody you should [continue to think that], unless youre proven wrong. He has made comments about the disabled, Mexicans called them rapists and about women. He is a complete headbanger. We should stand the ground for people he has insulted. Asked how Ireland might then bolster ties with the US going forward, Mr Halligan said the Government and businesses instead of relying on Mr Trump should reach out to American contacts. We should contact our base in America, senators in both parties who support Ireland, as a matter of urgency. Chambers of commerce too. Impress upon them contributions made by the Irish there. The Independent Alliance TD thinks people should peacefully protest if Mr Trump ever visits Ireland. We should do everything we can and show our distaste to what he says about society. Mr Trump, during his campaign, faced criticism for mocking a disabled reporter, calling Mexicans rapists, and for sexist remarks. He was recorded boasting about being able to grope women because of his fame. He is also accused of sexually assaulting several women. His appointment of Steve Bannon from a US newsgroup embraced by white supremacists as his strategist has also attracted criticism. Mr Halligan said there was concern about the rise of the right in general, including across Europe. Theres groups advocating support for Hitler. Would we let them come to Ireland without criticising them? No way. The ministers blunt comments though may not help Mr Kenny, departments or diplomats reaching out to Washington. His criticism comes as the Taoiseach flies to the US this month on a trade mission. Finance Minister Michael Noonan visited the US last week while Aid Minister Joe McHugh visited Boston yesterday. Meanwhile, Labour leader Brendan Howlin has said Mr Trumps campaign comments were highly dangerous and racist. In an interview in todays Irish Examiner, he says Trumps election means we are facing an appalling vista. Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Ecuador marked a historic moment in bilateral ties, Ecuador's Deputy Foreign Minister Fernando Yepez has said. "The visit to Ecuador by China's president truly marks a historic moment in our relations, which have been characterized, above all in recent years, by their strategic nature, permanent and deep dialogue, cooperation of all types and mutual benefit," Yepez told Xinhua in an exclusive interview. Xi wrapped up his two-day state visit to Ecuador on Friday. The visit came after Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa's official trip to Beijing in January 2015. In a joint statement issued after Thursday's talks between the two presidents in Quito, China and Ecuador agreed to lift their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. The South American country believed that Xi's visit serves to strengthen bilateral cooperation, which "continues on its upward path in strategic projects, in the economic field, and in the trade field," said Yepez. "For Ecuador, China represents a friend, a strategic partner, a country with which we share fraternal ties of all kinds," he added. China played an active role in the reconstruction effort following a powerful earthquake that devastated towns along Ecuador's northern coast on April 16, killing 673 people and leading to 3.34 billion U.S. dollars in losses. "China's cooperation has been felt," said Yepez, noting that Beijing sent some 5,400 tents and 10,000 foldaway beds to accommodate those who were suddenly left homeless. Chinese financing, Yepez said, has been essential to the realization of emblematic development projects in Ecuador. Exploring China's markets for new export products is one of the topics Ecuador hopes to broach after Xi's visit. "We want to strengthen trade exchange by identifying market opportunities and better conditions for accessing the respective markets," Yepez said. China is Ecuador's leading source of financing, which has allowed the Latin American country to significantly improve infrastructure by building hydroelectric plants, irrigation and flood-control projects, and highways. Xi arrived in the Latin American nation on Thursday for a state visit, the first leg of his three-nation tour to the continent. Besides Ecuador, the week-long tour also takes the Chinese president to Peru and Chile. In Peru, Xi will attend the 24th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting from Saturday to Sunday in the capital city of Lima. The State property firms head of legal, Aideen O Reilly, wrote to Mr Wallace yesterday, 24 hours after the Wexford TD claimed under Dail privilege that a former Nama advisor was peddling information to companies in Asia. Speaking during Leaders Questions on Thursday, Mr Wallace claimed to be in possession of more than 100 e-mails allegedly showing that former Northern Ireland Nama advisory committee member Frank Cushnahan was peddling information in other parts of the world. Last weekend, I travelled to Asia to meet a businessman who contacted me through Nam-Leaks [Mr Wallaces website], he said. I went to collect documents and emails. Within a short time of Frank Cushnahan being appointed to Nama, he was peddling assets belonging to Nama to foreign parts. Nama did not comment on the specific claims yesterday. However, in a letter to Mr Wallace, Ms O Reilly said failure to pass on information to gardai could be construed as a criminal offence in itself. In the event that you have information that such alleged serious malpractice relates to a relevant offence, you are obligated, pursuant to Section 19 of the Criminal Justice Act 2011, to disclose that information as soon as it is practicable to do so to a member of the Garda Siochcana, the letter read. Mr Wallaces office had yet to respond to the Irish Examiner last night. Meanwhile, Sinn Fein deputy leader and Dail public accounts committee member Mary Lou McDonald has called for Finance Minister Michael Noonan to clarify the reasons why he met Cerberus officials on March 31, 2014, at a further meeting of the cross-party group. Speaking after Mark Neporent, chief operating officer of Cerberus the US vulture fund which ultimately won the controversial multi-billion euro Project Eagle Nama deal revealed that his firm paid Brown Rudnick and Tughans 15m for access to debtor information and access to politicians including Mr Noonan and then DUP leader Peter Robinson, Ms McDonald said the issue must be clarified. We need to know what was the purpose of that meeting, who set it up, why was the minister and senior officials meeting with a bidder a handful of days before their bid was accepted, and was there a similar meeting with Fortress [the unsucessful Project Eagle bidder], said Ms McDonald. The court also ordered the out-of-date condoms to be destroyed. Father of two, Charles Ward, aged 28, of Vicars Choral, Tuam, Co Galway, pleaded guilty to the dishonesty charge at Tralee Circuit Criminal Court earlier this week, where he had been sent forward for trial. He admitted that he induced, by deception, an assistant in Hegartys Shop, Park Road, Killarney, into buying goods and into handing over 240 in cash on August 12, 2015. Ward had strongly denied the charge when it came before Killarney District Court earlier this year and had elected to be sent forward for trial and a book of evidence was prepared. Sergeant Leo Randles, investigating officer, was called to give evidence by Tom Rice, for the DPP, at the sentencing hearing. Sgt Randles told how Ward had called to the large supermarket on the Cork Road at around 10.30am on August 12, 2015 saying he had certain articles for sale. The shop assistant told him to speak to the shop manager Mike Hegarty who was at the back of the premises. Ward returned and deceived the assistant into believing the manager had approved the sale, Mr Rice said. The assistant accepted the invoice and paid out 240 in cash from the till. It was a blank invoice. There was no company name on it, Sgt Randles said. CCTV footage was used to identify the accused. Ten days later he was spotted in Killarney and arrested. Brian McInerney, barrister for Ward, said his client had two young children and although he had had eight previous convictions these were for minor public order offences, such as shouting and roaring while drunk, and minor road traffic incidents. He was trying to make a living to support his family, the barrister said. The contraceptive devices were in fact Durex condoms a very large box, Mr McInerney said. There was no attempt to disguise his identity, he added Sgt Randles agreed with Mr McInerney it was a stupid type of offence. Mr McInerney said the cash had been returned and there was no loss. He said Wards wife was very cross about the whole matter. Difficult conditions were imposed on him on the domestic front because of this, the barrister said. Judge Thomas E ODonnell said the matter should have been dealt with at District Court level, but the accused did have the right to a trial on indictment. He applied the Probation Act , but warned Ward that if he was convicted of anything else within six months this matter can be revisited, the judge said. WHAT makes a man capable of murder? What did it take to make former bank clerks and ex-policemen happy to work in German camps whose business was mass murder? Its a question that has long fascinated the London-based writer, William Ryan. And when he had finished his historical crime trilogy, set in the past in Russia, featuring the detective Captain Korolev, Ryan decided to research the matter further. The resulting novel, The Constant Soldier, features Paul Brandt, a soldier who, physically and mentally ravaged after serving on the Eastern Front, is appointed to a post at an SS Rest Hut a luxurious retreat for the people who work at a nearby concentration camp. Brandts intentions are good. Ashamed of some of his actions in war, he wants to atone, and hopes that by working at the hut he can be a force for good. There are women prisoners working there, and he recognises one of them. Its someone he once loved, and believing that, were it not for him, she would never have been arrested five years earlier, he vows to protect her. However, has he any power to prevent the worst abuses? The idea for this novel started with Ordinary Men by Christopher Browning, says Ryan, when we meet a couple of hours before his Dublin launch. Its about the reserve police battalion in Poland made up of ex-policemen and detectives who ended up in the first wave of the holocaust. It didnt take them long to go from being policemen to murderers, yet it seems that the commandant invited them not to be involved if they didnt want to be. As I understand, the German army at that time, there was a group ethos. You didnt stand against the group. You followed orders, he says. Ryan was mulling this over for years, and then he saw the photos taken from the personal album of Karl Hocker, adjutant to the commandant at Auschwitz which were released to the holocaust museum in 2007. Many of the photos were taken at Solahuette, an SS rest and relaxation facility located a few kilometres from the camp. There are 116 photos and theres not one of a prisoner. Some show SS women reclining on deckchairs; in one someone is playing the accordion. I sensed this complete disconnect. On the same day that these Germans were enjoying themselves, a few kilometres away, 1,000 or 2,000 people were being murdered. They must have known that. How strange then, that they were able to completely disassociate themselves from that, he says. Did it worry the author, fictionalising a subject that is still so sensitive? I was aware that I had to tread carefully. The Holocaust is still a traumatic incident for a lot of people; some survivors are still alive, and others have family connections, and I had to be respectful of that. It was the reason that the camp, and the village in the book is never identified, and why the characters never visit the camp. The Holocaust is the undercurrent going through the book in the background, and sometimes it comes to the fore. But what fascinated me, once I had seen the photographs was, that these were ordinary people, who started off as book-keepers, photographers assistants, chicken farmers or art students people who did not come from the elite and who had different careers carved out for themselves, then Hitler comes along, and a mood emerges. I think it is safe to say that Germany was swept up in a wave of collective insanity. And that doesnt excuse anything. These people made a decision that ended them up in this place. In one of the most powerful scenes in the book, the residents of the rest hut have a days recreational shooting. When the first flush of animals has been shot, the mayor joins some of the SS when they start to shoot the camp prisoners, who have been working as beaters. They are swiftly reprimanded. The reason, I think, that the scene works, is that this is a social situation so there are rules which the mayor does not understand. It brings to light that the men know what they are doing is wrong, but in the camp there is a parallel reality. Early reviews of the book have been excellent as well they should be. Ryan has produced a literary work, which, through complex yet realistic characters makes sense of the unthinkable. His portrait of the ending of the war, when the retreating camp officers realise they will be judged by their enemies, is skilfully evoked. And the ending showing a glimpse of hope, is beautifully judged. I think this is my best book by a distance, says Ryan, admitting that it was far from easy to write. When I had finished the trilogy, I pitched a few crime fiction ideas, then threw in the idea for The Constant Soldier as an afterthought. When the publishers picked it, I was surprised. I had already made inroads into another book about Koralev. My publishers thought I was writing a crime novel set in a Rest Hut, and I thought that as well, but it turned out to be a very different novel and took a lot longer than I had thought. I felt a great weight of responsibility because things can go horribly wrong with this subject. After a year, slogging away at the book, Ryan wrote to his editor saying he thought the novel would not work. I was frightened of the book for a long time. I said, maybe I should give my advance back, and go on to the next book. But they said I should keep going. It took three years. But I remember at The Harrogate Festival last year my editor asked for another rewrite. I didnt want to do it, but when I had, I was pleased, and glad the earlier version had not been published. I could see, now, the book worked. The first time I met Ryan, interviewing him for his first novel, he was awaiting reviews. I had not thought through what being a writer was all about. I certainly hadnt thought that it was putting a book out there for people to like or not like and that was quite shocking. The book did well, but there was one brutal review by someone who had not read it. Im a lot tougher now. With the, so far positive, reception of The Good Soldier, I hope to be able to write the books I want to write in the future. Having written about totalitarian states, Ryan jokes that he might write a novel set on a beach featuring sun-tan oil and good times. Meanwhile, he is aware that the subject of The Constant Soldier has relevance for us today. Historical novels are always contemporary novels in disguise. These days we look around and Donald Trump is saying that in the first hour of his presidency he would be forcibly deporting 11 million people. In the UK weve had Brexit and people have been murdered as a result of that. There is this undercurrent of absolute rage. Were not at the stage of Germany in the 1930s yet, but these things can blow up very quickly. And when you have a presidential candidate suggesting that a religious group should carry identification to mark them out do you need that? These are very dangerous times. Those photographs showed the SS looked like the sort of business people you might see on a train. I think a lot of people ended up in the Nazi party and the SS from conviction, but also because they saw it as a career progression. Originally, the SS was not made up of the military. Many of them were never soldiers. Those photos look like a corporate day out. They appear to be middle management guys which is what they were. Except that their business was murdering people. The Constant Soldier William Ryan Mantle, 22.50; Kindle, 11.17 Whats your background? Im from Co Meath. I moved into Dublin in 1984 to study industrial design at the National College of Art and Design (NCAD). I also spent some time in University of Limerick, because the course was split down there at one stage. I had done a lot of metal work in school, and I was into photography. I wasnt a natural artist at the start, but I got into NCAD and I was very interested in model-making and all that. During college, I spent a year away in America, and I worked in Germany. I got a lot of travelling in. I also drew on the streets of Paris as a street artist. Bespoke furniture designer Shane Holland uses steel as the framework for his contemporary Mild mirror. 1,190 www.shanehollanddesign.com In the early 90s, I set up my own studio in North Frederick Street in Dublin, in a basement, and it was an interesting time around Dublin 1. Different kinds of things were taking off and we were catering for some of that customised lighting for the whole Irish pub thing, which was becoming bigger. We also worked on a few hotel jobs, and were working in the film business. We worked on the Michael Collins and Butcher Boy films, so the studio was kind of a model-making studio as well as us starting to make our own lights and furniture. There was a lot of artistic action around where I had set up my studio. We were across from Waltons Music Shop. It was an interesting place to be and it was the start of the internet. I was watching these kinds of developments happening in the early 90s. It was a time of change in Ireland and it was interesting to be part of that in some ways, so we stuck at it. Shane Hollands Cymbal light is made from sheet copper and his Desk 55. A lot of my colleagues would have gone to England, but I was fortunate enough to get a job in NCAD as a technician for five or six years while also working in my studio as well. Then we moved to another bigger studio on North Great Georges Street, in Dublin 1, and then when the boom came, we had to move out to Duleek. We saw it was a good hub for my business and at that time, it was so expensive to buy around the M50. This year were celebrating 25 years from the first studio being opened in 1991. Its been a difficult time, over the last seven or eight years, so weve just been keeping our heads down trying to keep the business on the right track. Its a lifetime journey this kind of stuff, its almost like an affliction in some ways, but we keep soldiering at it anyways. Shane Holland uses a steel support for a black, minimalist, surface. Whats a typical work day like for you? I normally start at 8.30am, and its usually around 6.30pm before I start wrapping things up, and drive home. I live in north Co Dublin, so I drive along the coast in the morning to the workshop. When we moved out of Dublin, it was a good change from the hectic traffic. There are four of us in the studio, so its a small business. We work away trying to keep lots of different projects moving forward every day. I like getting my hands dirty in the workshop, but also Im involved in the planning and the juggling of different balls that anyone in a small business does. The Ruray Mor (Big Ruray) is part of the Ruray family of wave-like design by Shane Holland. I would be dealing with clients and new jobs, and marketing and pre-planning that would be as well as dealing with the day-to-day bread-and-butter issues. We do see ourselves as a specialist design studio. There are a lot of different sides to our business furniture, lighting, industrial design work and we also do awards pieces. We always keep a very open mind and an open-door policy in the studio to attracting diverse projects. Thats my training as a designer to be able to deal with lots of situations, so thats where its come from that open-door policy. Tell us about a recent project or design you have worked on? We were asked to make a sculpture of a Boeing 747 for its centenary. An Irish company, Irelandia Aviation, asked us to make a sculpture for the Flying Boat Museum in Foynes, Co Limerick. They asked us to make a scale replica, so weve done it and its just been completed. Stones collected from the Irish coastline are embedded in place of numbers in Shane Hollands Carlingford clock (425). Thats what makes it exciting for me and for the team is that anything can come in and we try to do our best for all of those interesting projects. Thats the kind of spark that keeps us going, rather than if you had a very set production line and you were just making the same thing, which would not be of as much interest to me. Every one of us is hopefully learning every day. I mean, everybody has to learn in business, but the general principal is trying to listen to your customers and keep those communication channels open. And hopefully be small enough to be able to react and be flexible with people, and to respond to peoples different needs. Were working on a project in Cork as well, for the Capitol Building on Patrick Street in Cork. Were doing the lighting for that building with a lighting company in Cork. We worked on a big job there a couple of months ago, the Marconi/Alcock and Brown Centre site in Connemara, which was an interesting job with Denis Byrne architects in Dublin, and was quite a big project for us. Cage light 170 at www.shanehollanddesign.com This yummy pendant light combines two of the years hot trends: the industrial look and copper, and comes from the studio of Shane Holland Design. We had done some exhibitions in Galway and I was thinking whats this going to lead to? but it helped us win a contract with Galway County Council and the Wild Atlantic Way, to do this job out in the middle of the bog in Ballyconneelly in Derrigimlagh, which is one of the biggest discovery points after the Cliffs of Moher on the west Coast. Its kind of a walking site of the industrial heritage of the Marconi Radio Broadcast as well as the landing point for the first transatlantic solo flight by Alcock and Brown, so that was a really interesting historical project. It was one of the most exciting ones weve done, working on a very exposed Atlantic location. Its a very aggressive environment, youre using corten steel, the weathering kind of steel, and a lot of stainless steel and materials that are able to stand up to one of the most aggressive landscapes in Europe. That project took about a year and was delivered during the summer. Whats your design style? When were doing our products from scratch, I would like to think some of it is intuitive, instinctive in some way. You would like to try and get a balance and an elegance which would hopefully give you that sort of timeless quality, but also were willing to make mistakes for the sake of experimentation sometimes. We try to use premium materials and let the materials speak through the products. You want to be expressive and you want to make things interesting so its not bare minimalism. Looking for suitable seating for your wetroom-style bathroom? Check out the "A" bench from Shane Holland Design Workshops. 687. What/ who inspires your work? Allowing nature to do certain things, the way a piece of metal wants to bend, or the way a piece of stone wants to break the way offers certain qualities, you try to use things to the best of what theyve got to offer, and mix them together. My style is kind of mixed materials in a lot of ways. In furniture, we like to mix woods and metals with glass. We like to mix different finishes to things. Choosing a favourite material is like choosing between your children, but I do like working with coppers and bronze. Im a big fan of glass even though I dont really produce glass. I really appreciate people who can blow glass or colour glass. Whats your favourite trend at the moment (if you have any)? I try not to be a big believer in trends, but sometimes your work can fall in and out of trends, so when we did a lot of work in copper over the last year or two, that seemed to be a trend that we were fortunate enough to be in. Whats your most treasured possession? On the tool-front, I have my favourite Stanley block plane. I also have a little vicegrip collection, which Im very fond of. Its of different-sized vicegrips, which is a very blokey, kind of workshop thing! I also have a penchant for collecting things at sea, so I have a collection of bones that have been found on the coast. My best find was a complete porpoise skeleton, which I found off Skerries a couple of years ago. I made a sculptural piece with it, called Porpoise Hibernicus, with lighting. That was the most amazing find that I ever got, a complete dolphins skeleton! As it was a once-in-a-lifetime find, I had to do something with it. The Ruray Mor (Big Ruray) is part of the Ruray family of wave-like design by Shane Holland. This is the desk lamp version. I am quite a keen sea kayaker and a bit of a hoarder when I find things, so that kind of affects my work in some ways as well. We have clocks, inspired by the sea. I didnt grow up beside the sea, but I certainly appreciate it now that I live beside it. The Ruray desklight was inspired by a tsunami wave off the Co Down coast which was like a folk legend of a wave that existed behind the horizon you could hear it as a roaring wave, but you couldnt see it. A Tonn Ruraigh is a kind of a roaring wave, so we made a wave form that you kind of imagine a wave behind the horizon. When I heard that story, I thought wow, thats really visual. Who is your favourite designer, or style inspiration? Thats a difficult one. I suppose everyone always talks about the early designers. The early 20th century Bauhaus people had a huge effect, like Mies van der Rohe. They were very influential when you were reading up on them, studying design. Everybody else whos come along since then probably hasnt had as much influence. We have great designers in Ireland. Youve wonderful people like Joseph Walsh and colleagues like John Lee, Ceadogan and Stephen OBriain. I know a lot of these people and work with them and we exhibit together. I hope that we feed off of each other, rather than compete against each other. Shane Holland Design Workshops Quartz cabinet in stainless steel aluminium. 1,790. There is something unique in Ireland in the design and craft sector. Its often fed by people who come in from the outside as well. A lot of my colleagues like Ben Gabriel, who comes from Holland, or Knut Klimmek bring a German influence, or Liz Nilsson from Sweden. They all add to a mix that seems quite unique because were such a small country. When you go to the UK or to Germany, there are so many different people and so many different influences and its really hard to read something. Whereas I do actually feel that you can read something out of Irish design that is quite elemental and that is linked to the land and the place. What would be a dream project for you to work on? I am fortunate to have worked on a lot of dream projects. Weve just been invited to work on the Harland and Woolf Drawing Office, in Belfast, which is not over the line yet, but I was really delighted to be asked to look at it, because its one of the most amazing period buildings in Belfast. I wouldnt mind having a stab at doing bridges, or other things even further out of my field, but I am happy with the calibre of things that are coming into us these days. Have you any design tips for us? My simple advice would be get stuck in and try to keep things simple. Everybody should try things out and not be afraid of failure. My colleague, Ben Gabriel, says good design is stripping out anything that does not need to be there. And if you can continue to strip things out, until only everything that needs to be there is there, thats good design. I thought that that was a really good piece of advice. Business The Irrawaddy Business Roundup (November 19) Yoma Chairman Serge Pun talks as he poses for a photograph in his office in Rangoon. / Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters Report: Serge Pun & Associates to Buy 50th Street Bar The owner of Rangoons well-known 50th Street Bar and Grill is in discussions to sell the business to Serge Pun & Associates (SPA), according to a newspaper in New Zealand. British businessman Anthony Alderson has owned the bar since 1997, initially as a co-owner and as sole owner from 1999. Formerly based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Alderson with his family moved his base in 2011 to New Zealand, where he operates a hotel. The downtown cafe and bar in Rangoon, as well as an Italian restaurant, a cafe and an apartment being purchased by a different party are being sold for a total price of US$1.42 million, the Otago Daily Times said. SPA Myanmar has interests in manufacturing, financial, real estate, technology, construction and healthcare. Mr. Puns net worth has been estimated at more than $700 million, the paper added. Mitsubishi among developers for Rangoon project A Japanese consortium is due to start construction of a large commercial complex in Rangoon in partnership with local developers, according to the Nikkei Asian Review. Developer Mitsubishi Estate and trading company Mitsubishi Corp are among the partners in the project that will include condominiums, two office buildings, a hotel and services unit on a 4-hectare site across from Rangoons Central Railway Station. Set to start by March 2017, the developers are expecting challenges ahead due to the size of the project, said the report, which did not name the identities of the projects local partners. Just getting the construction materials into the country smoothly is a lot of trouble, Akihiro Kawano, manager of Mitsubishi Corps ASEAN real estate development department told the Review. The level of earthquake resistance for the buildings will be set at the same standard as a previous project Singapore, but lower than the standard followed by Mitsubishi Estate in Tokyos Marunouchi business district, according to the report. The companys business district in Tokyo standards are 50 percent higher than the minimum legal requirement and are regarded as excessive for Burma, the report said. Rents for the buildings will be set at competitive rates to compete with rival buildings of similar size, Mitsubishi Estate said. Malaysia-based packaging firm plans investment Malaysia-based Daibochi Plastic and Packaging is set to invest $6.8 million in a joint venture with a local company, to cater to a rising market for packaging for consumer goods. An agreement signed with Myanmar Smart Pack Industrial Company Ltd (MSP) will see the new joint venture titled Daibochi Packaging (Myanmar) operate a strengthened manufacturing facility with more capacity and increased efficiency, according to a report in The Star, Malaysia. Daibochi will also spend an additional $5.5million on various plant and other improvements, according to managing director Thomas Lim. We believe that Myanmar is poised to witness a high growth trajectory, propelled by the increasing economic development and anticipated influx of global brands of fast moving consumer goods and food and beverage as the country opens up, he said. Lower manufacturing costs in Burma would help the venture to achieve a competitive advantage in the export market, he added. Telecoms firm OCK forms another company in Burma Telecommunications network provider the OCK Group which heralded its entrance into Burma in June in the phone tower sector has set up a new firm in the country, according to The Star media outlet in Malaysia. Well Synergy Resources Private Ltd will focus on providing engineering services as well as operating a rental business, market research and management services. Well Synergy is established as a subsidiary of OCK International with a registered capital of $300,000, divided into 3,000 shares of $100 each, in which 2,999 shares are held by OCK International and one share is held by Low Hock Keong, according to a company announcement to Bursa Malaysia. OCK signed a deal earlier this year with Telenor Myanmar to build 920 telco towers which it will own and lease out after the towers are completed, expected to be in the first quarter of next year. EuroCham launches business support guides The European Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar (EuroCham) launched a series of business support guides in Rangoon on 16 November. The event to launch briefing papers for foreign businesses interested in investing in the agriculture, consumer goods, energy, health and manufacturing sectors in Burma was held in the Melia Hotel. EU member state representatives, EU companies and chambers, as well as trade promotion partners from the UMFCCI, DICA and others attended. A panel discussion on the new investment law took place with U Aung Naing Oo, the director general of DICA, and Philip Dupuis, head of the economic and trade section of the EU delegation, and a networking opportunity was held afterwards. The briefing papers are now available for free at the Eurocham website. On Monday 21 November the chamber will host a breakfast briefing under the title Myanmar: A level playing field for EU businesses. A separate workshop on the same day will discuss how business processes and technologies can drive commercial success. More information is available on the same website. Burma set to increase pulses exports to India Due to greater demand, Burma is set to export about 100,000 tons of pulses a year to India, the Global Times reported. India will require some 25,000 extra tons of mung beans and pigeon peas annually from Burma starting from next year, the report said. Burma has averaged production of more than 600,000 tons of mung beans and more than 200,000 tons of pigeon peas a year, but the yield decreased last year, according to the report. On average, Burma exports around 240,000 tons of various pulses per year. The largest market is India, followed by China, Indonesia, European countries and Japan, according to the Myanmar Pulses, Beans and Sesame Seeds Merchants Association. Dateline Dateline Irrawaddy: We Are People Who Provide the Public with Correct News On this weeks Dateline, Ye Ni speaks with U Nyein Chan Aye and Daw Thin Thin Thar about a recent media scandal: the lawsuit against Eleven Media. The topic of this weeks discussion is one of the most sensational pieces of news right now: Rangoon Chief Minister U Phyo Min Theins defamation lawsuit against Eleven Media Group. Political and social commentator U Nyein Chan Aye and Daw Thin Thin Thar, secretary of the Myanmar Press Council, have been invited to the Irrawaddy studio. I am Ye Ni, editor of The Irrawaddy Burmese Edition. Ye Ni: Lets talk about the lawsuit in which chief executive of the Eleven Media Group Dr. Than Htut Aung and chief editor U Wai Phyo were sued by Rangoon Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein under Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law and detained by police. As it is the first lawsuit against the media under the National League for Democracy-led government, there have been concerns among local media organizations and regional and international organizations dedicated to media freedom. Most people are wondering what Article 66(d) of the law even means. It is not the first lawsuit of its kind; there are many other cases under this article. So the question has risen as to whether Article 66(d) threatens press freedom. Ko Nyein Chan Aye, what is your opinion? Nyein Chan Aye: In my opinion, the Telecommunication Law is very comprehensive. It covers not just the media but also individuals. It covers online communications as well as mobile communications. As far as I understand, a person can be sued if his or her use of text messaging harms someone. Although I do not understand it in legal terms, it is very comprehensive. This is one of the weaknesses of the law. I think it is so comprehensive that its easy to manipulate it as desired. In the case of Eleven Media, I think there are other ways and means to solve the problem. For example, the Rangoon government can invite it to discuss the dispute. That is a common practice among the media. They can also insert a correction in their publication. If we make a mistake, we publish a correction. We acknowledge it. Although they can do the same in this case, I cannot understand why they, as a government, opted to sue the media under the article, which is a criminal code and bail is not available for the accused under it. I also dont understand why a government that is made up of people who were once sentenced to lengthy terms in prison under similar laws, such as Article 5(J) of the Emergency Provisions Act and Article 505(b) of the Penal Code, opted to use the law, especially against the media. They could have raised the issue with the Press Council and solved it, but they didnt. They even said at a press conference that it was not a personal attack but an attack against the government. It is defamation. It caused damage to their dignity. These are the two reasons they explained. They could have raised the issue with the Press Council. Another way was to sue the media, which is what they chose. Eleven was sued. Now, I still think that both sides will negotiate for a solution. I think it is still possible. In legal terms, there are precedents, previous cases to be cited later. If there is a precedent of this kind of handling of the media, then I, as an editor of a magazine, I am concerned that we will directly land in jail if we publish a story based on incorrect information. YN: Of course, these are concerns of the media, commentators, and writers. Another question is, what if writers and reporters make mistakes? There are arguments that when the media and journalists make mistakes, legal action should be taken against them as no one is above the law. However, Eleven has requested that the Press Council mediate the issue, according to the latest developments. Its also been said that Eleven is working to drop all its lawsuits against others under Article 66(d). How is the Press Council handling the problem, Ma Thin Thin Thar? Ma Thin Thin: There are some offenses under journalism ethics. For example, under Article 9(g) of Chapter 4, it is an offense of ethics if a piece of writing damages the public interest or rights of an individual. Eleven Media accused the government of corruption. The government thinks that it would damage its dignity. If so, anyone who is found to have breached these ethics is liable to pay a fine of a minimum of 300,000 kyats to a maximum 1 million kyats, according to Article 25, Chapter 9 of the Media Law enacted by the previous government. If the media accuses somebody of something based on incorrect information, they make an offense under the Media Law. However, they opted not to apply the law and chose other lawsArticle 66(d). At the same time, they say they are trying to amend the law. We are also trying to amend some laws, but at the moment we cannot say exactly which laws since we havent discussed these issues. We are organizing journalists and asking for their opinions regarding laws that need amending. Recently, we met with Parliaments Bill Committee and they told us to submit the laws to them. We are trying not just as the Press Council but also as journalists. What we have to see is whether the Media Law can overrule the Telecommunications Law. The Articles of the Telecommunications Law are applied to all citizens. The Media Law is not a privilege for journalists. We are not enjoying special privileges. We live on news as journalists in the interest of the people. We are not just citizens. We are people shining a light on news for the public. We are people who provide the public with correct news. It is possible for journalists to breach ethics unknowingly. In that instance, they are not above the law. We have media ethics and the Media Law. So I think journalists should be sued according to the media law if they breach ethics. YN: Some people, citing Singapore, ask if journalists can be sued under defamation laws. This is because it is okay for someone to criticize actions, rules and regulations of the government but when he or she wrongly accuses the government of corruption, it amounts to defamation. What do you think of that, Ko Nyein Chan Aye? NCA: I think they should sue them under defamation charges. But he said at the press conference that he is a chief minister responsible for Rangoons regional government. Defaming him amounts to defaming the government. So he issued a statement in the name of his office, he said. I cant understand why he has applied the executive power of the government for such a trivial thing like personal affairs. All different kinds of government officials appeared at the press conference and the accused were detained and put into prison. They may be right according to the law or Article 66(d). Justice is more important than following the law. If that law is applied the same way in the future, if the media is not allowed to make corrections, what are the prospects for the media? Another point I want to make is that he exaggerated the case. The prey and the weapon he used were disproportionate. I think there are many reasons behind the scenes. They may be personal. However, consequences impact all media and citizens. I will post what I believe on my Facebook. I will tell somebody what I think. We could not do so in the past. We had to whisper. If we had done so at a teashop in the past, we could have landed in prison. From such dangerous circumstances filled with trauma, we entered a new era in 2015. We can say what we like with freedom, with ethics. It is true that writers and cartoonists, all creators have to follow ethical guidelines. However, no one is perfect, and we all make mistakes sometimes. I think the government should not detain people and put them in prison with the use of the law and executive power simply because they make mistakes. YN: In my opinion, people should not be charged under a criminal offense for posting their social and political opinions on their social media accounts. According to international human rights standards, exercising ones freedom of speech should not be criminalized. To achieve our long-term desire for democracy and press freedom, I hope that both sideswith the help of the Press Council and other institutionswill be able to engage in negotiations to find a solution, and point out what is right and what is wrong. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 19 Trend: Over the past 24 hours, Armenias armed forces have 22 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, said Azerbaijans Defense Ministry Nov. 19. Armenian army was using large-caliber machine guns. The Azerbaijani army positions located in the Gizilhajili and Gaymagli villages and on nameless heights of Azerbaijans Gazakh district underwent fire from the Armenian army positions located in the Berkaber village of the Ijevan district, Voskepar and Barekamavan villages of Armenias Noyemberyan. Meanwhile, the Azerbaijani army positions located in Kokhanabi village of the countrys Tovuz district and on nameless heights of the Gadabay district underwent fire from the Armenian army positions located on the nameless heights of Berd and Krasnoselsk districts. Moreover, the Azerbaijani army positions also underwent fire from the Armenian positions located near the Armenian-occupied Chilaburt village of the Tartar district, Javakhirli and Bash Qarvand villages of the Aghdam district, Ashagi Seyidahmadli village of the Fuzuli district, as well as on nameless heights of the Goranboy, Tartar and Khojavand 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. A recent study claims that being pessimistic is more likely to cause a person from developing risks of heart disease. Scientists claim that pessimists are about twice as likely to die of heart disease as people who take a more balanced view. It was found that a team of psychiatrists at the Paijat-Hame Central Hospital in Finland was the first to examine heart disease mortality and its association with optimism and pessimism independently. Pessimistic Point Of View Leading To Heart Problem In one of his statements reported by Daily Mail, study lead author Dr. Mikko Pankalainen has revealed that certain levels of pessimism can be measured quite easily and pessimism might be a very useful tool together with other known risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension or smoking to determine the risk of CHD-induced mortality. In conducting the study, it was found that the team of psychiatrists followed the data that was gathered in the year 2002 in almost 2,267 Finnish patients aged between 52 and 76 for 11 years. According to The Times, the patients' levels of optimism and pessimism were rated when asked regarding their opinion with statements such as "If something can go wrong for me, it will", "In uncertain times, I usually expect the best" and other optimistic statements Furthermore, it was said that researchers of the study was able to have allegedly found that the 121 men and women who died from heart disease during the study's eleven-year follow-up period had been noted to be more pessimistic at the start as compared to people who were still alive at follow-up. On the other hand, the researchers highly emphasized the fact that the study was limited since the data were known to be self-reported. Nevertheless, the researchers claim that demonstrating the attitude of pessimism is still not essential for a person's health. Saiyans in 'Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2' is probably one of the players favorite race. And why wouldnt it be when its the race of Goku and Vegeta who are the lead characters in the series Dragon Ball. So for players who want to create their very own Goku and Vegeta characters, weve created a complete guide to help you build the best Saiyan character. Stat/Attribute Point Distribution Saiyans in 'Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2'comes in two genders just like the Earthlings. Although the physical attacks of males are higher, females Ki and stamina regeneration are better. In distributing attribute points for male characters, it is recommended to give about 18 points to Health, 42 for Ki and Stamina, Maximize the Basic Attack at 125, and Strike and Ki Blast Supers range from 0 to 125. For females, health is increased to 30 points as well as the Ki, Stamina gets 42 points, Basic Attack is given 105 points while Strike and Ki Blast Supers get 0 to 125 points. QQ Bangs for Saiyan Race Build Since the stats of a male and female Saiyan are different in 'Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2', it also means the recommended QQ Bangs for each is not the same. For male Saiyans, it is important to choose one that does not further decrease Health, Ki and Basic Attack. As much as possible, find one that increases it. You dont need to find one that greatly improves Ki but you will need one that gives you at least 5 bars so you can transform to Super Saiyan 3. As for female Saiyans in 'Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2', Health and Ki must not be sacrificed for anything. Get something that increases the Supers because its one of the things that make your character stronger. In choosing QQ Bangs for female characters, you could find one that improves Ki by at least 1, Basic Attack by 5, Ki Blast Super by 3 and in return you can allow Strike Super to be deducted by 4. For most tech enthusiasts, Samsung and Apple are the top brands expected to dominate the mobile tech market this year. There is also the Google Pixel phones which had great reviews at first and slowly declined its popularity because of some performance issues (but it still is a powerful phone worth having if you don't mind the minor issues of it). With all those expectations, little did we know that Chinese phone firms would be able to compete in the tech market this year and gain much profit. According to an article at The Inquirer, Chinese smartphone vendors made big gains in this third quarter of 2016, while Samsung and Apple's smartphone sales slide. With Samsung, it is not a surprise because of its fire-prone phone feature. Reportedly, Chinese phone manufacturers were able to benefit from Samsung's situation, as buyers were more likely to stick with Android than defect to Apple's iOS. Here is a list of some of the Chinese phone brands and its upcoming flagships that increased its sales and accumulated huge profit for 2016 (phone specs and features based on GSM Arena): Huawei Mate 9 Pro Network. For its technology, GSM / HSPA / LTE. Launch Dates. It was announced at 2016, November. About its Status, it is expected to be released this November. Body. The dimensions are 152 x 75 x 7.5 mm (5.98 x 2.95 x 0.30 in). The weight is 169 g (5.96 oz). Display. Type: AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors. Screen size is 5.5 inches. Resolution is 1440 x 2560 pixels. Platform. OS is Android OS, v7.0 (Nougat). Chipset is Hisilicon Kirin 960. CPU is Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53). GPU is Mali-G71 MP8. Memory. Internal memory 64 GB, 4 GB RAM or 128 GB, 6 GB RAM. Camera. Rear Camera is a dual 20 MP +12 MP, f/2.2, OIS, 2x zoom, Leica optics, phase detection & laser autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash. Front Camera is a 8 MP, f/1.9, 1080p. Video is 2160p@30fps. Battery. Non-removable Li-Po 4000 mAh battery. Features: For its sensor features, Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity, Barometer, and Compass. Oppo R9s Plus Network. For its technology, GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE. Launch dates. It was announced at 2016, October. It is expected to be released this December. Body. The dimensions are 163.6 x 80.8 x 7.4 mm (6.44 x 3.18 x 0.29 in). Weight is 185 g (6.53 oz). Display. Type: Capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors .Size is 6.0 inches. Resolution is 1080 x 1920 pixels. Platform. Its OS is Android OS, v6.0.1 (Marshmallow). Chipset is Qualcomm MSM8976 Pro Snapdragon 653. CPU is Octa-core (4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A72 & 4x1.44 GHz Cortex-A53). GPU is Adreno 510 Memory. Internal memory is 64 GB, 6 GB RAM. Camera. The rear Camera is a 16 MP, f/1.7, phase detection autofocus, OIS, LED flash. Front Camera is a 16 MP, f/2.0.Video qualities are 2160p@30fps and1080p@30fps. Battery. Non-removable Li-Po 4000 mAh battery. Features. For its sensor features, Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity, and Compass. VIVO Xplay6 Network. For its technology, GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE. Launch. It was announced at 2016, November. It is expected to be released 2016, December 12th. Body. Its body dimensions are153.8 x 73.6 x 8.4 mm (6.06 x 2.90 x 0.33 in). Weight is 178 g (6.28 oz). Display. Type: Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors. Size is 5.46 inches. Resolution is 1440 x 2560 pixels. Platform. Its OS is Android OS, v6.0.1 (Marshmallow). Chipset is Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820. CPU is Quad-core (2x2.15 GHz Kryo & 2x1.6 GHz Kryo). GPU is Adreno 530. Memory. Internal is 128 GB, 6 GB RAM. Camera. Primary Camera is a Dual 12 MP, f/1.7 + 5 MP, OIS (4-axis), phase detection autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash. Secondary Camera is a 16 MP, f/2.0, 1.0 m pixel size, 1080p. Video quality are 2160p@30fps and 1080p@30fps. Battery. Non-removable Li-Ion 4080 mAh battery. Features. For its sensor features, Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity, and Compass. This year, a new generation of internet streaming devices provides users a wider range of good choices than ever. Best Internet Streaming Devices Today YouTube or Netflix are more popular than conventional TV. Rival streaming services such as Hulu, Amazon Video and Sling TV are fighting for audience shares. As for internet streaming devices, users have a wide choice. Almost all TVs are "smart TVs" these days. And most of them come with diverse built-in streaming services. For those users on a tight budget, one cheap option is to just upgrade their TV and forget about adding another gadget. But for those users with more pretentions, even on a smart TV could be still added more devices. One of the reasons to do this is that, despite their name, smart TVs are still pretty dumb. Their user-interfaces simply aren't that good, even on the top choices such as LG WebOS-powered 65UH9500 and OLEDB6P. Without an addition of internet streaming device, you are not updated on a regular basis. For instance, the new Criterion and TCM streaming service, FilmStruck, is not yet supported on any smart TV. In case that you would want to watch it, the only option is to add a streaming device. Here are some of the top internet streaming devices of 2016. Roku Premiere According to ZDNet, Roku Premiere+ could be considered the best of the best. The Roku brand has long defined the standard on the market of media streamers. With its new $99.99 Roku Premiere+ model you get 1,800 Roku streaming services. The device comes with a built-in cross-service searching and a simple-to-use interface. In this Roku Premiere+ new model you also get High dynamic range (HDR) color and 4K video. HDR could actually make a big difference in your user experience by giving you superior contrast and color. Fourth generation Apple TV Apple TV was the first truly easy to use media streamer in the early days. Today, the device It's still easy to use, and it's still worth getting if you're a fan to iTunes. The Apple TV streaming device comes with price tags in the $149 to $199 range. In case that you count among Apple's users and you are ready to go to the trouble of transcoding movies, then it is still well worth getting the fourth generation Apple TV. Samsung UBD-K8500 4K Blu-Ray DVD player Samsung UBD-K8500 is a high-end 4k and HDR Blu-Ray affordable DVD player that comes with a $199.99 price-tag. Besides displaying high quality video from the currently available 4K Blu-Ray discs, this device from Samsung also does an excellent job of upscaling ordinary DVD discs and Blu-Ray playback. When it comes to streaming, the Samsung UBD-K8500 also performs well with upscaling. The device currently supports YouTube, Hulu, Amazon and Netflix. Google Chromecast Ultra The latest generation of Google's Chromecast Ultra supports both HDR and 4K. The media streaming device also supports a wide variety of streaming channels such as YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, HBO Go, Vudu, MLB TV and Now. By using the Chromecast Ultra you can "cast" your smartphone and computer screens to your TV. You can also use the device with the Google Home smart speaker. At a price tag of only $69, the Chromecast Ultra is still among the cheapest options. And a big advantage is that, according to Tech Hive, now Google's premium Chromecast quadruples the pixels, provides shorter loading times and comes with an ethernet port for wired connections. The US president-elect Donald Trump really wants Apple to move its iPhone production to their country and he may be happy to know that Apple is considering it. According to a report, Apple company has approached the two manufacturing companies that are largely responsible for assembling iPhones, the Foxconn and Pegatron. Foxconn is apparently exploring the possibility, while Pegatron has elected to decline due to cost concerns. Apple iPhone To Explore U.S. According to a report in Japanese newspaper The Nikkei, Foxconn, Apples key manufacturing partner, is among a number of supply chain companies that are said to be exploring the potential to relocate iPhone production facilities from Asia to the U.S. According to Tech Crunch, Nikkei claims that Foxconn has been studying the possibility of opening manufacturing facilities on U.S. soil. Pegatron, another key producer of Apple components, is said to have rejected the suggestion on account of the increased costs associated. Apple already has invested in some hardware production to the U.S. with a Mac facility in Texas. The news comes in the morning after the U.S. election and promises that the winning candidate made in the lead-up to it. President-elect Donald Trump criticized Apples overseas production capabilities a number of times during his campaign, citing lost jobs for America, pledging, for example, Were going to get Apple to build their damn computers and things in this country instead of in other countries. Trump On Apple Exploring U.S. According to The Verge, moving Apple iPhone production overseas would likely be a pricey endeavor, with The Nikkei sources claiming that it would increase production costs by nearly 50 percent, which makes sense given that the vast majority of Apples part suppliers are already located in Asia. Motorola also tried to move smartphone manufacturing to America, but the experiment ended in 2014 when Motorola closed the factory due to costs. Apple has made some efforts in bringing hardware production back to America in the past most notably, the Mac Pro in 2013, when the company invested over $100 million dollars to jumpstart production but relocating iPhone manufacturing to the United States would be a move of a vastly different scale. Climate change has affected many ecosystems. There are ecosystems that are especially vulnerable to this condition. Lakes are highly susceptible to climate change, and that is why scientists and environmentalists are concerned about. Scientists are studying Lake Champlain to find out the effects of climate change on the lake. This is especially in relation to algae that has increased in the area. As algae increases, water quality has become an issue for the lake. Asim Zia, a professor at the University of Vermont and the lead author of the study has said that the lake is more sensitive to climate change than earlier thought. New intervention methods would have to be made for the lake. The ten researchers from the University of Vermont has been joined by one from Dartmouth College, and they said that the EPA's approach to climate change could compromise the lake. In the EPA's assessment, phosphorous' increase in the lake would be modest even under climate change. The modeling done by the researchers though shows that the EPA's approach might not be enough and that it underestimates to effects of climate change on the lake. As co-author and University of Vermont professor Chris Koliba noted, more effort would have to be done in order to protect the lake. The new model that has been made by the researchers take into account greater effects of climate change on the lake, according to the University of Vermont's site. These effects include land changes, the buildup of phosphorus over time plus other factors that are the result of climate change. The model shows what might happen to Lake Champlain up until 2040. Some of the models see more phosphorus being deposited over time, which could lead to land management problems and water quality issues, as Science Daily reports. This could later on lead to more algae on the lake as well as poor water quality. The new model that has been made would hopefully be used as a tool to help manage the lake in years to come. By being able to manage it, other lakes highly susceptible to climate change could also be managed, and possibly have better outcomes. Managing climate change might become easier, as scientists make an enzyme that is more efficient in using carbon dioxide. When Xiaomi released the Mi Mix last month, the tech world praised the company for releasing what the public generally thought would come from much larger players in the market. The unit sported a bezel-less design, which just might be the the future of smartphones. Now, the Chinese company is releasing a miniature version. The catch with the Mi Mix is that it was only released in the Chinese market. Because of its more-than-modern design, high-tier specifications and - more importantly - positive reviews, the rest of the tech community was disappointed. As Tech Times notes, a Xiaomi executive explained that the reason for this was that the Chinese smartphone community was somewhat uncharted territory and that it is difficult to market the bezel-design to a wider community. However, there has been rumors saying that Xiaomi might be expanding this community by releasing a smaller version of the device. This is a little out of place, as the company could just release the Mi Mix to other locations. Nevertheless, the Mi Mix Mini looks like it will soon be a reality, but it is unclear whether or not it will be released outside of China. As Computer World adds to the table, one complaint on the Mi Mix was that it was too large. And with a 6.4 inch screen, it is understandable. Apparently, this is why Xiaomi is releasing the Mi Mix Mini, also dubbed the "Nano." Nevertheless, the smaller handheld sounds just as amazing as its predecessor, but in a more efficient and easier to handle size. The rumors indicate that the Mi Mix Mini is arriving to the market with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, which is arguably one of the fastest offerings in smartphones. Other addition to this, it will also have 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal memory. The storage capacity and RAM is less than the original Mi Mix, but these were likely the cuts that Xiaomi had to make. After all, the unit is reportedly being cut down to a 5.5 inch screen. But the cuts in features does also mean a significant cut in price. Reportedly, the upcoming will be sold for US$436 - around US$73 less. The other specs and details on the Mi Mix Mini is still up in the air, as no news reports are claiming that it will even sport the same 16 megapixel rear camera and 5 megapixel front camera. However, reports do state that the handheld will be released before the end of the year, so all answers guesses will be proven soon. If one thing is for sure, it is that the Xiaomi Mi Mix Mini will sport the same design as the initial Mi Mix. This alone is great news, as the larger unit has been tested and has proven its durability time and time again. Various scratch and bend tests have been done on the unit and it has risen to the occasion over and over. The Mi Mix has a ceramic back that provides a sturdy yet premium feel. But, more importantly, it has the bezel-less feature, which might just be how future smartphones will look. And it was Xiaomi that introduced it and will continue to develop the technology with its Mi Mix Mini - ahead of its larger and relatively more influential competitors. Google is disappointed with the South Korea's decision in rejecting the expansion of the digital map. The country is not allowing Google to use local mapping data in the company's global maps service in a long-awaited ruling Friday that had divided the country for months. The land ministry said Friday that concerns about national security outweighed benefits from exporting the country's mapping data to Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc. "We're disappointed by this decision. We've always taken security concerns very seriously and will continue to provide useful map services in compliance with Korea's current map data export regulation," Taj Meadows, a Google spokesperson, said in a statement. According to The New York Times, South Korea, facing the overt threat of rival North Korea, bars exporting local mapping data to foreign companies that do not operate domestic data servers. Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc., handles its maps service at data centers outside South Korea. The restrictions have limited the usefulness of Google Maps within South Korea since the app cannot offer driving or walking directions. "Our position from the start was that if it deletes security facilities, we would allow exporting (the local mapping data)," said Kim Tong-il, an official at the land ministry. "Google's position is that it won't delete those. The question was whether we would allow that regardless." As reported by Business Insider, South Korea is divided over the issue. Opponents argue that giving Google a license would be unfair to local companies. Supporters said South Korea needs to promote innovation and new services. "What is most regrettable is that it could delay introducing innovative mapping services in South Korea and as a result, South Korea could be left behind in the global competition," Kwon Bom-jun, a Google engineer, said in the company's official blog in August. (Details added, first version posted at 11:56) Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 19 By Seba Aghayeva Trend: The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Belgium prevented another propaganda attempt of the so-called regime established in the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia, Hikmet Hajiyev, a spokesman for Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry, told Trend Nov. 19. The embassy and the Azerbaijani parliament have implemented proactive measures to prevent events dedicated to promotion of the so-called regime in Brussels on Nov. 16-19, where the regimes head Bako Sahakyan was expected to participate. Belgian Foreign Ministry, as well as federal and legislative bodies were informed about Azerbaijans concerns over promotion of the illegal regime in Belgium. The European Armenian Federation as well as other Armenian sources widely promoted the participation of Bako Sahakyan. However, the Azerbaijani embassy managed to cancel his visit, Hajiyev said. In this connection, a European Parliament (EP) meeting organized with the assistance of EP Deputy Frank Engel, who serves interests of Armenia and the Armenian lobby, has been cancelled. In addition, a reception on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of independence of Nagorno-Karabakh" featuring Bako Sahakyan was also cancelled. The Azerbaijani embassy has also submitted a protest to Palais des Beaux Arts Palace and "Tour & Taxis" center in Brussels in connection with the organization of a photography exhibition and a concert distorting the history and culture of Azerbaijan's Nagorno-Karabakh region. The palace and center management formally responded that they respect Azerbaijan's arguments and noted that they were unaware of the nature of these events. Also, the management said they didnt sell tickets for the events and they rented the premises for commercial purposes. These events were allegedly attended by only about 100 people, mainly Armenians residing in Belgium, according to Hajiyev. Hajiyev noted that Yerevan, the European Armenian Federation and the Armenian media prefer to remain silent, following this failure. Armenia and Armenian lobbying organizations in Europe deceive ordinary members of the Armenian diaspora and collect large amounts of money from them to hold such events based on the lobby diplomacy. The money is then given to Armenian authorities, Bako Sahakyan, as well as to officials of the Armenian federation in Europe and to some European politicians who became tools of the Armenian lobby, according to Hajiyev. He added that instead of resorting to such meaningless and provocative acts and deceiving the international community and Armenian people, Armenia must end its destructive policy, withdraw its troops from the occupied Azerbaijani territories and take part in the restoration of stable piece in the region through substantive negotiations. 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. The Galaxy Note 7 explosion saga controversy is finally done and out. Now, Samsung is moving forward by preparing its 2017 flagships. While it's currently the Galaxy S8 that's making headlines, there are quite a number of phablet lovers who are more excited about the Samsung Galaxy Note 8. Undeniably, Samsung's Note devices are the most premium and the most popular phablets on the market right now. With Note 7's discontinuation, a bunch of Note fans are now craving for a new device from Samsung's phablet line. Nevertheless, it would probably take about six months before the Galaxy Note 8 comes out. Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Confirmed Right after Note 7's discontinuation, rumors about the cancellation of the entire Note series also surfaced. However, shortly after that, Samsung subtly confirmed that the Note series is still alive and that the masses are still seeing the Galaxy Note 8. It's not clear whether or not Samsung actually considered discontinuing the Note brand. What's certain is that a bunch of Note fans were in outburst when the Note discontinuation rumors came out. If this led Samsung to re-think their rumored decision to cancel Note, we may never find out. Nevertheless, the company released a statement saying that Note 7 users who had their units replaced with an S7/S7 Edge device are entitled to get a discount for the S8 or Note 8. While this promo was just announced in South Korea, it's still good news that Samsung confirms the release of the Note 8. It has also become clearer that Samsung's top goal is to have people return their Note 7, which is probably why this upgrade program was initiated. Online communities have seen and heard die-hard Note users admitting that they are not returning their Note 7 phones despite the recall program. This is probably why Samsung has also released a Note 7 software in Europe that would limit the devices from getting charged higher than 60 percent. Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Rumors As of now, not a lot of things is known about the Note 8 since it's the S8 that's getting most of the attention right now. It's worth noting that S8 is predictably getting launched in about two months' time and the Note 8 won't be due until probably around July or August of next year. Because of that, the limelight is still on the S8 device. Nevertheless, Note 8's model number has already been leaked. As per a Tech Times report, the next Samsung premium phablet could be carrying the model number SM-N950. This model number actually came from reliable leakster evleaks, so it's pretty certain that Samsung is indeed working on an SM-N950 device. The source did not say that this device is the Note 8 but it's almost certain that it is as the Note 7 had the model number SM-930 and the Note 5 was referred to as the SM-920 device. Apart from that, the only rumors that came out about Note 8 include a super-improved stylus. However, this hasn't exactly been backed up by solid proof. Advanced camera settings were also mentioned for the Note 8 but it's just as unacknowledged by Samsung as most of the rumors are. It's worth noting though that the Galaxy S8 may have a special AI assistant with its own button, CNET reported. This means that the Note 8 could also be getting it. Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Predictions Nevertheless, it's also very possible for Samsung to retain most of Note 7's features that the consumers were deprived of. It's possible that the Note 8 will pretty much look a lot like the Note 7 and it's also possible that the Note 8 will just be the "fixed" version of the Note 7. What's certain right now is that Samsung would make sure that the Note 8 will no longer suffer Note 7's flaw. So it's safe to say that the next Note phablet will have an improved and irremovable battery. Despite the ambiguous premiere date of "Rick and Morty" season 3, a string of details about the sci-fi comedy series has started to surface and most of them were already confirmed by the creators and writers. Here's a closer look at some details about "Rick and Morty" season 3 that have already been confirmed by co-creators Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland. Hawaii Adventure: Morty Goes Surfing Back in August 2015 after the second episode of season 2 aired, Adult Swim released the official statement confirming the renewal of "Rick and Morty" season 3. In the same statement, Harmon said: "It's time to demand that the network [Adult Swim] allows us to draw the characters going to Hawai-i." This part of the storyline was the first to be confirmed by the creators. However, it remains unknown whether a huge part of season 3 will be set in "The Aloha State" or characters will just take some fresh air. Fans should get to see the inner surfing freak side of Morty...and Rick, perhaps? Vin Diesel Casting: Drifting Cars At the San Diego Comic-Con 2016 last July when creators released an exclusive new clip from "Rick and Morty" season 3, Roiland and Harmon disclosed their dream guest star is Vin Diesel. If Vin Diesel appears in the series, he might be drifting some flashy hot cars. Mr. Meeseeks Returns: New Angle In the meantime, the comeback of Mr. Meeseeks has been considered by the creative team. However, it remains a debate as to how they will be calling back the character to make sure it won't make him irrelevant in all sense of the word. Staff writer Ryan Ridley expressed that bringing back something in the past should be grounded by a new angle. In hopes to strike a balance with regard to presentation of genders and diversity, creators pooled new writers. In an exclusive interview with Den of Geek, Harmon shared this part of the changes they are bringing in with "Rick and Morty" season 3. He told the publication: "There was a craving for a gender balance in the writers' room that we had never had, but I'm also very proud of the fact that we didn't compromise ourselves following that craving." "Rick and Morty" season 3 was reported to air in December 2016, while others said March 2017. These reports have to be taken with a grain of salt as of now as there is no confirmation yet from Adult Swim. The series though was already confirmed to comprise 14 episodes. "General Hospital" spoilers for next week, Nov. 21-25 tease that Carly will spend some quality time with Jax before he leaves town, while Sonny and Laura will celebrate the Thanksgiving together. On the other hand, Dillon will pursue Kiki but Nelle will try to spice up her guilt. Carly And Jax Make Out In the wake of grief and sorrow, the Corinthos will be celebrating the week of Thanksgiving without Morgan (Bryan Craig). Carly (Laura Wright) has been spending a good amount of time with Jax (Ingo Rademacher) in the past days. Before Jax bids goodbye to Port Charles, he will have an intimate moment with Carly in bed. Could this be the end of Carly and Sonny (Maurice Benard)? Carly cannot stomach anymore the thought of having Sonny by her side after what he did. Meanwhile, Nelle (Chloe Lanier) seems to be sneaking into Carly and Jax. Will she spread the news about Carly making out with Jax? Nelle will continue with her mission. Apart from spreading what Carly does, Nelle will attempt to make Kiki (Hayley Erin) feel guilty again by reminding her of Morgan's death. Kikki will continue to feel bad about what happened to his boyfriend. Sonny And Laura Spend Time Together While Carly is with Jax, Sonny on the other hand is spending the Thanksgiving with Laura (Genie Francis). The two think it's a good time for them to share about their losses. Later on, Sonny might finally spend the rest of his days jailed as his case will be arraigned soon. Jason (Billy Miller) will be able to find evidence to prove Sonny is innocent. Nevetherless, Dante (Dominic Falconeri) and Jordan (Vinessa Antoine) are preparing their evidence against Sonny to show in court. Dillon Pursues Kiki After the departure of Morgan, Kiki seems to have found a budding romance with Dillon (Robert Watkins). Dillon has been there for Kiki comforting her. He finally finds his perfect time to tell Kiki how much he wanted to be with her. However, Kiki is still haunted by guilt more so Nelle is prodding her. "General Hospital" airs Mondays thru Fridays at 12:00 p.m. ET on ABC. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 19 Trend: Armenia occupied Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh, said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu Nov. 19 answering the question of the Armenian member of parliament Koryun Nahapetyan during the 62nd meeting of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the Haber 7 newspaper reported. When we listen to you, it seems that you are angels, said Cavusoglu. I want to ask you a question: arent you, according to the UN resolutions, the invaders of 20 percent of the territory of Azerbaijan? I occupied Nagorno-Karabakh?! You occupied! he said. Why do you avoid answering this question? We made a proposal to you: stop the occupation and we will open the borders. You asked why we dont put terms for Azerbaijan. We are answering: Azerbaijan is our brother, added the Turkish FM. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 19 By Azad Hasanli Trend: Turkeys BOTAS Petroleum Pipeline Corporation plans to import 6.5 billion cubic meters of gas from Azerbaijan until the end of 2016, the Anadolu Agency reported. The report said that the company imported 6.17 billion cubic meters of gas from Azerbaijan in 2015. Therefore, it is expected that BOTAS will increase the import of Azerbaijani gas by 5.4 percent. Against the background of increasing the supplies from Azerbaijan, the Turkish company, in total, plans to reduce gas import from other countries by 4.1 billion cubic meters (or 10 percent) to 36.5 billion cubic meters. As for the distribution of gas in the country, BOTAS sold 44 percent of gas to households and industrial sector in 2014 and this figure was 54 percent in 2015, and it is expected to be 56 percent in 2016. Elon Musk's Tesla and solar tech development and manufacturing company SolarCity on Friday signed a deal that approves the development of their first joint project. According to the Tesla CEO, the project's solar roof product would be more affordable than traditional shingles. The Tesla pioneer said: "So the basic proposition will be: Would you like a roof that looks better than a normal roof, lasts twice as long, costs less and-by the way-generates electricity?" Elon Musk further asked. "Why would you get anything else?" According to Bloomberg, Tesla's tempered glass and the use of the Tesla-Panasonic-SolarCity solar power technology would place a "premium" label for the specially-designed roof shingles. However, the report also indicates that Tesla will drive down manufacturing costs with optimized and streamlined manufacturing methods. Tesla first unveiled their plans to manufacture a solar roof on Oct. 28 this year. Fortune.com collected a statement from SolarCity CEO Lyndon Rive said their competitively priced roofs can become part of the 5 million new roofing products US residents purchase yearly. Cousins Rive and Musk believe the new roof product can make waves. They also report that an "overwhelming" number of majority shareholders in Tesla had approved the merger with SolarCity. Despite the relation of Lyndon Rive and Elon Musk as cousins, 85% of the investors had agreed to the merger and to the project. Investor confidence can be due to the "swinging" effect of "green investments". According to an investor survey by SustainableBrands.com, 70% of investors believe green investments are of high risk but majority also believe physical risk from climate change its lasting effects are "very important." Against the merger were four Delaware lawsuits that focus on Tesla's "breach of fiduciary duty." According to some reports, it could mean the delay of the merger's completion a claim that did not come true as the two companies had completed the merger the previous week. Before Hiddlestoners can watch Tom Hiddleston in "Thor: Ragnarok", they will be seeing him in "Kong: Skull Island." King Kong might be overshadowed by star-studded casts. In the trailer, King Kong can not be seen that much, that fans started to worry if they will see a lot of the gigantic gorilla. The Hollywood Reporter reported that the star-studded cast of Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman and John C. Reilley might outshine the original star of the movie. They explained that the movie is "full of recognizable actors that it feels at times more like a contemporary Towering Inferno than a King Kong film." The trailer makes King Kong acts more like a background and it is actually indecipherable if he is a protagonist or an antagonist. Digital Spy reported that the film will be in touch of nature. Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts explained that the movie will focus on man's arrogance about its involvement with nature. "Kong: Skull Island" will also have a mythological theme. The film tries to mend the loss of mythologies that people today do not really think because of easy access to technology. Roberts explained that this is part of the reason why the movie is set on the 1970s, the beginning of modern technology. He explained that "taking a bunch of characters and confronting them with a myth and their arrogance will be a big part of the movie." Hiddleston explained that King Kong will make people humble. He explained that human beings are still attracted to things that they do not understand. The actor explained that humans tend to experience awe on things that are out of the ordinary. He believes that King Kong will give viewers a sense of awe and makes them feel small. Speaking of Tom Hiddleston, he has been on the news lately for allegedly rekindling romance with Taylor Swift. Jobs and Hire reported that Swift chartered a plane to London to visit Hiddleston. To date, Swift and Hiddleston has not confirmed or denied the rumors. "Kong: Skull Island" will be in theaters in March 2017. Austrian business is not going to leave Russia despite anti-Russia sanctions and decreasing turnover, Austrian Economic Chambers Vice-President Richard Schenz said on Friday, Sputnik International reported. More than 500 Austrian enterprises still have their offices in Russia, nobody is going to leave this market despite difficult internal and external factors, Schenz said at the meeting of the Russian-Austrian Business Council. From his point of view, a rapprochement dialogue in difficult times is a common behaviour for partners and friends. Schenz also added that the trade relations between Austria and Russia reached a peak in 2012 when the turnover amounted to 7.2 billion euro (over $77 billion). In 2015 it decreased to 4.4 billion euro. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 19 By Azad Hasanli Trend: Entrepreneurs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) can use conditions created in Azerbaijans industrial parks, said Azerbaijani Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev. Mustafayev made the remarks during his meeting with Majid Saif Al Ghurair, chairman of the Board of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Azerbaijani Economy Ministry said in a message Nov. 19. There is also great potential for the creation of new processing enterprises with participation of investors from the UAE, noted the Azerbaijani minister. Trade turnover between the UAE and Azerbaijan increased by 24 percent in January-September 2016, as compared to the same period of 2015, said Mustafayev adding that the two countries have great potential for expansion of ties in the spheres of agriculture, processing, tourism, transportation and petrochemicals. The minister added that the completion of the first phase of the Baku International Sea Trade Ports construction and the development of the North-South International Transport Corridor create big opportunities to increase the volume of freight traffic from the UAE. He recalled that an export mission of Azerbaijani entrepreneurs, operating in the spheres of production of honey, meat and dairy products, fruit juices, mineral water, as well as fruit and vegetables cultivation, will visit Dubai in late November. Moreover, Azerbaijani entrepreneurs operating in the food industry take part in the exhibition in Dubai from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1. A forensic expert said Friday that a rubber bullet did not kill Justin Carr, a Charlotte man fatally shot during the Sept. 21 demonstrations over the police killing a day earlier of Keith Lamont Scott. An autopsy report released to the Charlotte Observer said Carr, 26, died from a bullet, fired from a handgun, that entered behind his left ear and exited through the right side of his forehead, causing a severe brain injury that killed him instantly. Carrs death remains the subject of a highly charged debate. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police say Carr was shot and killed by Raquan Borum, who has been charged with first-degree murder. Borums attorney says his client is innocent, and some protesters continue to argue that Carr died from a rubber bullet, which they say was part of a volley CMPD fired at demonstrators that night. The autopsy doesnt say if the bullet that killed Carr has been found. Jay Jarvis, a forensics expert who formerly worked for the Georgia State Crime Lab, said Friday the nature of Carrs wound largely rules out that the fatal bullet was rubber. It went through the skull in two places. It caused radiating fractures. I would not expect to see those types of injuries with a rubber projectile, said Jarvis, who has 35 years experience as a forensics and ballistics expert and read the autopsy report at the Observers request. Despite witness reports to the contrary, police say they did not fire rubber bullets the night of Carrs death. Borums attorney, Terry Sherrill, acknowledges that he fired a gunshot that night into the air but not the one that killed Carr. Carr was hit while standing near the corner of Trade and College streets. Some protesters at the scene immediately blamed police. A 911 caller reported that Carr was shot by another man. So did a reporter from the Daily Beast, who said he was standing a few yards away. In court filings, police and prosecutors say that surveillance videos appear to show Borum firing a shot, then fleeing while still carrying a handgun. He is scheduled to be back in court in January. Contacted about the autopsy, Borums prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Clayton Jones, declined comment. Corine Mack, president of the Charlotte chapter of the NAACP, said despite the autopsy results many will continue to question how Carr died. Mack said she arrived uptown only moments after the shooting and everyone who spoke with her gave an account that conflicted with law enforcements version of events. The fact that the autopsy gives no indication a bullet was recovered, she said, likely will intensify speculation. It causes more questions to rise, Mack said. This is disturbing since I am trying to rebuild trust with the police. The autopsy report, however, notes the presence of a single, tiny radiopaque fragment along the track of Carrs wound. Radiopaque means that X-rays are reflected by the material rather than allowed to pass through. Jarvis said its likely the fragment is metallic. That would lead me to believe that its a fragment of the bullet, he said. Asked if a rubber bullet would enter and exit Carrs head and leave a fragment similar to what is described in the autopsy, Jarvis said: Not in my opinion, no. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Despite the shock of Donald Trump winning the presidency last week, there are a number of hopeful signs in the election results for progressives, many of which have been pointed out by folks looking for something positive to hold on to in the overall gloomy outcome. Those include the fact that Hillary Clinton won the popular vote, Democrats gained seats in the U.S. House and Senate and four states passed ballot measures to increase the minimum wage, including Arizona, a state Donald Trump won. In North Carolina, theres more to challenge the notion that this election was a resounding win for the forces on the Right, most notably that Republican Gov. Pat McCrory currently trails Democratic Attorney General Roy Cooper by roughly 5,000 votes before provisional ballots are reviewed and a likely recount is held. Democrats also held on to the attorney generals office as former state Sen. Josh Stein defeated Republican Sen. Buck Newton in a high profile race, and Democrats also won control of the N.C. Supreme Court as Superior Court Judge Mike Morgan handily defeated incumbent Justice Bob Edmunds. That doesnt mean this wasnt a Republican year. It clearly was, as Trump won North Carolina, Republicans won a majority of Council of State seats for the first time and maintained their supermajorities in the state House and Senate. But lost in much of the analysis is how Republicans won, how they campaigned in many parts of the state on two of the defining issues of the year, education and HB2. Four years ago when Pat McCrory campaigned for governor, he claimed that schools in North Carolina were broken and he talked openly about school choice, the misleading code word for vouchers and sketchy for-profit virtual charters and other privatization schemes. Conservative legislative candidates back then maligned government monopoly schools, and the right-wing think tanks that supported them absurdly challenged the widespread outrage about low teacher pay. They constantly claimed that money doesnt make a difference in education and proclaimed that the state was spending enough on public schools already. This year McCrory and many Republican legislators running for re-election boasted of their efforts to raise teacher pay and increase funding for public schools. McCrory held media events touting recent teacher raises that he said increased average pay to $50,000 a year, which wasnt true, but he kept saying it, usually standing in front of a banner to make sure the cameras recorded the falsehood. McCrory and the Republican legislators rarely mentioned the massive increase in funding for the wholly unaccountable school voucher program or their creation of shady virtual charters run by out-of-state, for-profit companies that have had problems in other states. They neglected to tell voters that under Republican budgets there have been cuts in funding for teacher assistants, textbooks, classroom supplies and school transportation, that they fought to end career status for teachers and abolished a nationally recognized teacher scholarship program. They ran instead as champions of the public schools that their policies and budgets undermine. In a year dominated by races for president and U.S. Senate, it was hard for their opponents to break through all the noise and point that out. But it is a tacit admission that the folks currently in charge in Raleigh know their inadequate education budgets and agenda to dismantle public education are not popular with the voters. They needed to mislead people to get elected, even in a Republican year. And they did and not just on education, but on HB2 as well. Conservative pundits have claimed that HB2 played a minor role in the election. Some of the anti-LGBT laws biggest supporters, like Tami Fitzgerald of the misnamed N.C. Values Coalition, claim the election settles HB2, that the people have spoken in support of the law. But the opposite is true. McCrorys unwavering support of HB2 cost him thousands of votes in Charlotte and Raleigh and other urban areas. Exit polls found that people overwhelmingly opposed the law. Several Republican lawmakers who supported HB2 lost their seats as well, and several others who barely survived, like Sen. Tamara Barringer and Rep. Chris Malone both from Wake County called for repeal of the law before the election. A flyer touting Malones support for repeal was paid for by the Republican Party. Republicans know HB2 is costing the state thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue, not to mention demonizing a group of their constituents. And they know it is wildly unpopular with the people they are supposed to represent. Thats why many of them distanced themselves from the discriminatory law that they enthusiastically supported last spring, And it is why McCrory is almost certain to be a one-term governor when all the votes are counted. Add it all up and it may still fall short of even a silver lining, but it is welcome news nonetheless that most North Carolinians dont support much of the far-rights anti-LGBT and anti-public school agenda, and that conservative politicians know it. Thats why so many of them tried so hard this year to hide their true intentions. The sad part is that in many cases in this wildly unpredictable election year, the political sleight of hand appears to have worked. WASHINGTON The ouster of former congressman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) from Donald Trumps transition team is a worrisome sign of continuing internecine battles in the GOP and the ascendancy of Trumps personal political allies in shaping the president-elects agenda. Rogers, a widely respected former FBI agent who headed the House Intelligence Committee, had been seen as a figure of stability and continuity in intelligence matters. He was mentioned as a possible next director of the CIA or director of national intelligence. But Rogers was told last weekend by Rick Dearborn, executive director of the transition team, that he was being removed from his role in the national-security group advising Trump. He was replaced by Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), who took over as the committees chairman after Rogers left Congress in 2014 and has been a far more partisan chairman. Rogers had angered House GOP hard-liners when his committee issued a bipartisan report in 2014 clearing Hillary Clinton of personal wrongdoing in the 2012 Benghazi incident. That report was characteristic of the way Rogers chaired the committee, in a working partnership with then-ranking Democrat, Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (Md.). (Rogers added additional views that criticized senior State Department officials for dismissing threat warnings, denying requests for extra security in eastern Libya and other errors.) But this consensual approach clearly didnt suit Trumps inner circle. Rogers had been brought into the transition by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), another official with bipartisan credentials, who was ousted himself a week ago and replaced by Vice President-elect Mike Pence. Some GOP insiders see the real power behind Trump as his son-in-law Jared Kushner, and they argue that there has been bad blood between Kushner and Christie for more than a decade. In 2005, when he was U.S. attorney, Christie obtained a guilty plea from Charles Kushner, Jareds father, on charges of tax evasion, witness tampering and illegal campaign contributions. Christie was quoted in The New York Times after the elder Kushner was sentenced to two years in federal prison: This sends a strong message that when you commit the vile and heinous acts that he has committed you will be caught and punished. According to GOP insiders, the most likely picks for CIA director include Nunes and former Rep. Pete Hoekstra (Mich.), who served on the House intelligence panel; former Defense Intelligence Agency chief Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn is being considered as well, though there are doubts he could be confirmed. A wild card mentioned by one source is former Defense Department official Frank Gaffney. All four are known as combative personalities who disdain the bipartisan approach that Rogers represented. A sign of Rogerss wide range of friends and contacts was a dinner party he gave Monday night at his Virginia home for some producers and cast members of the television drama Homeland. It was attended by CIA Director John Brennan, National Security Agency Director Adm. Michael Rogers, and several prominent members of Congress from both sides of the aisle. Rogers didnt mention to his guests that he had been informed several days before of his removal from the transition. Rogers has been a strong advocate for the CIA and other intelligence agencies, and a critic of some efforts to restrict intelligence activities. But he was seen by many CIA officers as a political figure who, like former CIA director Leon Panetta (another former congressman), would have had the political influence to shield the agency from attack. A speech he gave last month to the Heritage Foundation illustrated one area where he might have disagreed with Trump, who favors conciliation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, The Russians are certainly on the march, Rogers said. Russias change in the way they have used their cyber policy will give you a bead of sweat. Rogers issued a generous statement Tuesday, reiterating his strong support for Trump. Americas challenges domestically and overseas are so enormous that we needed to move in a drastically different direction for our country, he said. Just how far the new administration may depart from long-standing U.S. national-security policies was demonstrated by Rogerss own departure. You could imagine the jaws dropping Tuesday across the intelligence community when people heard the news of Rogerss ouster. He fought for the guys in the field and has their respect, said one former top aide to Rogers. Like most of the rest of the government, the intelligence agencies literally dont know what to expect next. JoAnne Vernon, executive director of the Sawtooth Center for Visual Art for the past four years, has stepped down to focus on taking care of her health. Her last day was Oct. 11. Vernon was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma in 2012 and has been receiving chemotherapy and radiation for the past four years. With this last round of chemotherapy, they are making some progress, but it requires me to take really good care of myself, she said. Im going to be getting treatment and working on my health and letting somebody else take a leadership role to take Sawtooth where it needs to go next. Kevin Mundy, who has most recently been assistant executive director and was previously director of sales and marketing, will be the Sawtooths interim executive director while a committee begins a search to fill the position. When Vernon became executive director in August 2012, the Sawtooth was $8,000 in debt and owed the Arts Council of Winston-Salem $100,000 in back rent, according to Mundy. Vernon and the arts council came up with a plan to pay off the back rent. Sawtooth is now current on its rent and has paid more than 30 percent of that debt. JoAnne has done a remarkable job of turning Sawtooth School around since she took the helm in 2012, said Jim Sparrow, president and chief executive of the arts council. She inherited a number of challenges that she turned into opportunities. The school ended its fiscal year in June with net revenues of $216,000. The Sawtooths annual budget is about $1 million, with a full-time staff of 16. I have never worked in an organization where every single person loved their boss and would be willing to walk through glass for her, Mundy said. Vernon increased revenues by broadening the schools student base and found students to fill Sawtooths classes during daytime hours: seniors, pre-kindergarten students and home-schooled students. Class registration revenues have increased 24 percent on Vernons watch, and memberships have increased 60 percent. But increasing registration was just one part of Vernons strategy. She was also aggressive in the areas of grant writing, getting program sponsorships and working with businesses to get underwriting for specific programming. Revenue from grants, foundations, individual donors and sponsorships have increased 106 percent. When JoAnne came on board, there were no corporate sponsorships, Mundy said. We now are able to underwrite all the operational expenses of Deck the Halls, our annual fundraiser, through sponsorship. Starting in 2015, Vernon has spearheaded an 18-month major-gift campaign the first in about 10 years at Sawtooth that has brought in more than $400,000. We are drawing down those funds from the major-gift campaign over a five-year period of time, said Ross Pfeiffer, who is taking over the development piece of Vernons job on a voluntary basis. It allows us to give scholarships and get into underserved populations things that we do for the community. That money is earmarked for four things: 1) Expand innovative programming, 2) Invest in outstanding faculty and facilities, 3) Increase student access (scholarships) and 4) Broaden community partnerships. Pfeiffer, a retired fund-raiser who moved to Winston-Salem from northern Ohio in 2011, has been on the board for two years. Before retiring he and his wife conducted a search for a retirement city for nearly two years from Washington, D.C., to Charleston, S.C. One of the major reasons we ended up in Winston-Salem was because of the Sawtooth School, Pfeiffer said. Ive been an itinerant artist off and on. Here at Sawtooth, Ive focused on the wood shop. I do quite a bit of wood-turning. Ive even taught a few classes here. Elizabeth Repetti, a commercial lawyer at Bell, Davis and Pitt, has been on the Sawtooth board for four years, currently as board chair. Shes also a student, at various times taking ceramics, wood, drawing and painting classes. JoAnne has had significant impact on the current success of the school, Repetti said. She is just such a kind and gentle soul. She is so calm and deliberate in all her remarks. Shes incredibly diplomatic and works very, very hard. She always had her finger on the pulse of everything that was going on there. She is well-loved by everybody from students to department heads. She has built a very strong organization thats on a positive trajectory. She has put a devoted and committed staff in place, and the board is committed, and the arts council wants it to succeed, and I think it will due to the path that JoAnne has set it on. One of Vernons passions is the healing power of art, Mundy said. Under her leadership, we received a grant from the Greer Foundation to develop a Healing and Wellness through the Arts program that works with cancer patients and their personal and professional caregivers. The program uses visual art activities and projects to reduce stress and promote healing and both physical and emotional well-being. Vernon said leaving her post was a difficult decision. I love that theres an incredible team in place, Vernon said. We would not be where we are without them. Ive had a remarkable board of directors who have been incredibly supportive of me and the staff there. Its been my honor and my privilege to work with all of them. Sawtooth is a remarkable place. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 19 By Azad Hasanli Trend: Board of Directors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) plans to consider the allocation of a loan worth $600 million for the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) project in March 2017, the AIIB told Trend. The AIIB said that the loan will be allocated for the Southern Gas Corridor CJSC. Azerbaijan is one of the founders of the AIIB that was created in June 2015. The countrys share in the banks share capital is 0.2851 percent ($254.1 million). The projects total cost is $8.6 billion, said the AIIB. The project will be financed by the AIIB, World Bank (WB), European Investment Bank (EIB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and others, according to the message. Meanwhile, in total, the WB plans to allocate $800 million, the EBRD and EIB - $2.1 billion and additional $3 billion are expected to be allocated by other financial institutions. Moreover, the Azerbaijani government plans to allocate additional $2.1 billion. It should be noted that earlier, the cost of the TANAP project was estimated at $9.2 billion. TANAP project envisages transportation of gas of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field from the Georgian-Turkish border to the western borders of Turkey. Turkey will get gas in 2018 and after completing the construction of Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), gas will be delivered to Europe in early 2020. Millennial Moms Review: 2022 Acura MDX is pretty close to the perfect family car I dont know if perfect is attainable, especially considering weve got the world of options when it comes to modern vehicles. Were spoiled and, as such, we have very specific needs and wants. Driving-wise, the 2022 Acura MDX is one of my favourite ... For various reasons local animal shelters are seeing a constant increase in numbers and are, most days, at capacity. Read moreLost or abandoned, numbers climb at animal shelters Reddit Email 0 Shares TeleSur | The attorney general nominee has made racist statements in the past while his new national security adviser is an Islamophobe. Donald Trump has disclosed more names to to fill his cabinet, choosing the controversial Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions for attorney general, Representative Mike Pompeo as CIA director and Lt. Gen. (ret.) Mike Flynn as national security adviser, a transition official told Reuters Friday. The three men have accepted Trumps offer. However the U.S. president-elect will need the Senate to confirm his Cabinet nominations, and Sessions could face some trouble due to a checkered past around his views on race. Back in 1986, the Alabama senator was accused of making racist comments while serving as a U.S. attorney in Alabama. He called a black assistant U.S. attorney boy and the NAACP un-American and communist-inspired. Sessions is a very close ally of Trump, as he was the first senator to endorse his presidential bid. According to media reports, he is one of the key architects of Trumps immigration, counter-terrorism and trade policies. The role of Sessions will be vital for the new president, as he opposes any path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and is an enthusiastic backer of Trumps promise to build a wall on the border with Mexico. But his confirmation, even in a Republican-controlled chamber, is not guaranteed. National Security Adviser-in-waiting Flynn shares Trumps the harsh criticism of the Obama administration, especially since he was ousted as director of the Defence Intelligence Agency in 2014. Flynn is also a known Islamophobe who used torture on those captured during army covert operations. He has said the U.S. is at war with the cancer of Islam, and tweeted that fear of Muslims is RATIONAL. His appointment will not require Senate confirmation. Via TeleSur - Related video added by Juan Cole: The Young Turks: Trump Adds Islamophobic General To Cabinet Of Deplorables' Reddit Email 0 Shares By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | Aramaic was the language spoken by Jesus. Although the New Testament survives in koine Greek, likely it had an Aramaic substrate. The Gospels make clear that Jesus spoke Aramaic by occasionally quoting his original words in that language. Jesus says to the little girl he heals, Talitha qumi, little girl get up (Mk 5:41). On the cross he says, Eli, Eli lema sabachthani, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Matt. 27:46). Between 600 BC and about 1000 CE [AD], the dominant spoken language in the Levant and the Fertile Crescent was Aramaic. Sometimes it is called Syriac or Chaldean. In some of this 1600-year period (sort of the span of time from the sack of Rome in 410 to our own day) sometimes Greek, and later Arabic, served as administrative and literary languages, but probably most people in what is now Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria-Palestine, even parts of Iran, spoke Aramaic for daily uses. So after Trumps electoral victory, an Assyrian Christian woman named Ivet Lolham was riding the BART commuter train in the Bay Area and she called her father and spoke to him in Aramaic, requesting him to pick her up from the station. She alleges that she started being verbally abused by another passenger, who termed her a terrorist and told her: I think you are an ugly, mean, evil little pig who might get deported and I pray that you do. Lolham recorded the scene on her cell phone and warned the woman it would be put on YouTube. The abusive passenger replied undeterred, This woman is a stalker from the Middle East. Shes a Middle Eastern terrorist, shes terrorizing citizens like me and she will probably get deported. In northwestern Iran around Lake Urumiya in Azerbaijani province, there are about 55,000 Chaldean and Nestorian Christians who speak Aramaic. Iran also has a small Jewish community, some members of which speak Aramaic. So this is where Trumps foreigner-hating America has ended up: speaking the language of Jesus in public is now equated to terrorism. Trump supporter spews ignorant racist rant at young woman [JURIST] The UK Supreme Court [official website] confirmed on Friday that Scotland and Wales may intervene in an upcoming hearing that will determine whether Prime Minister Theresa May [official profile] has the power to take the UK out of the EU without a parliamentary vote. Earlier this month the High Court ruled [JURIST report] that Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty [text], which allows for the UKs exit from the EU, can only be triggered by a vote of the British Parliament. The UK government immediately appealed the decision to the Supreme Court, with Scotland [JURIST report] and Wales demanding intervention soon after. While the two countries had their lawyers attend the previous hearing, they will now be allowed to argue [Guardian report] how triggering Article 50 without their parliaments consent will infringe upon their governments rights and powers. The UK government continues to argue that it has exclusive control over foreign affairs and legal treaties. The three parties will argue their stances at the hearing scheduled for early December. After a majority of the British voters voted [JURIST report] to leave the EU in June 2016, a host of legal issues [JURIST op-ed] have arisen regarding the legal significance of the referendum. The referendum is not legally binding, but former prime minister David Cameron had pledged to carry out the result of the referendum. Further complicating matters is the fact that both Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to stay in the EU and have announced intentions to possibly leave the UK. Last month the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland dismissed a challenge [JURIST report] to the Brexit referendum alleging that it was not binding on Northern Ireland. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 19 By Azad Hasanli Trend: The Azerbaijan-Georgia-Romania Interconnector (AGRI) project is not dead, but its implementation needs time, Suleyman Gasimov, vice-president for economic issues at Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR, said, Romanian media reported. Gasimov said that the project requires big investments. It is necessary to build a terminal in Georgia, and then another one in Romania, he noted. Currently, SOCAR participates in other projects the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), which envisage the supplies of Azerbaijani gas to Europe. However, SOCAR vice-president said that the AGRI project may be implemented if all its parties support the projects implementation. AGRI project envisages transportation of Azerbaijani gas to the Black Sea coast of Georgia via gas pipelines. Azerbaijani gas delivered to Georgia's Black Sea coast will be liquefied at a special terminal and following this, it will be delivered in tankers to a terminal at the Romanian port of Constanta. Further, it will be brought to the gaseous state and sent via Romanian gas infrastructure for meeting the demands of Romania and other European countries. The cost of the project will vary from 1.2 billion euros to 4.5 billion euros, according to the preliminary estimations. The participants of the AGRI project are the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), Georgia's Oil and Gas Corporation, as well as MVM (Hungary) and Romgaz (Romania). The parties established the SC AGRI LNG Project Company SRL in February 2011 for the implementation of the project. Secretary-General of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Mohammed Barkindo said on Saturday that the OPEC Algiers accord was impossible without Iran's leading role, IRNA reported. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zangeneh, Barkindo praised Iran's constructive role in forging consensus in the Algiers' meeting, dated September 26-28. 'Consensus in Algiers was not possible without the constructive engagement and the leadership role of Iran, that was represented in the meeting by Zangeneh.' Barkindo expressed optimism and confidence with the November 30 meeting in Vienna and said, 'I remain cautiously optimistic for having a successful meeting in Vienna.' He referred to his consultations with Iranian petroleum minister before the Algiers meeting and added, 'I came here before everything to brief the Iranian petroleum minister on the latest developments in the oil market personally.' 'I came here to meet the Iranian petroleum minister just before attending the crucial meeting of the OPEC members in Algiers and Minister Zangeneh assured me here that he in person and Iran would do everything they can to reach consensus and to work for it,' the official added. He noted, 'Therefore, I remain personally grateful to him for the flexibility he showed in Algiers and the accommodation and the leadership role he played to ensure we come out of Algiers with an agreement.' 'It is not a coincidence that I came back to Iran before the Vienna meeting, I came to exchange views with Mr Zangeneh and also to brief him with the latest developments; to even respectfully ask him to show more flexibility in Vienna in November so that, we can implement the Algiers accord,' Barkindo said. Zangeneh hosted a meeting with Barkindo on Saturday at his Tehran office. Members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will meet on November 30 to discuss a proposed production freeze plan in Vienna. The OPEC members agreed on the outline of a freeze plan on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum (IEF), which grouped producers and consumers, in Algeria from September 26-28. The freeze plan is expected to revive a global deal to stabilize oil output levels. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Nov. 19 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Turkmenistan is committed to constructive cooperation in the Caspian Sea region, the Turkmen government said quoting the countrys President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. Berdimuhamedov made the remarks during the cabinet of ministers meeting. The head of state noted the importance of consolidating efforts to work out balanced decisions on the Caspian Sea issues, including those related to the strengthening of the legal and contractual basis designed to provide a reliable foundation for the development of the mutually beneficial partnership. "Our country will continue to take effective steps to strengthen the friendship, good-neighborliness and fruitful cooperation between the Caspian littoral states and peoples united by centuries-old historical and cultural ties," the president said. The Caspian basin is the most significant strategic region with enormous economic, energy and transport potential, realization of which accords with the goals of common wellbeing, according to Berdimuhamedov. UPDATED 3:23 p.m. 08-16-10: KEARNEY - Overworked, underpaid and underappreciated. Thats what Jonathon C. Buckley said caused him to walk into Wells Fargo bank on Feb. 10 with a sawed-off shotgun and machete and take employees and customers hostage for 2 hours. I was overworked, I was overstressed I was underappreciated, I was underpaid. I was pretty much doing the work of three people at the TV station. I was living with terrible stress, Buckley said. I am immensely sorry for what I have done. There isnt much more I can say. Icenogle sentenced Buckley to 80 to 130 years in prison for four counts of felony kidnapping and using a weapon to commit a felony. He was given 187 days credit for time already served. With good time, he could be eligible for parole in 40 years and possibly discharged in 65 years. Two weeks before the incident, Buckley was terminated from his job as a master control technician at NTV. AT Mondays hearing, Buffalo County Attorney Shawn Eatherton referred to statements Buckley made in his presentence investigation with the state probation department on July 15. Buckley said my only regret is that I didnt kill anyone or himself and that if he wasnt put away for a long time, it will happen again. But after the hearing Monday, Buckleys mother, Cheryl Lindhorn of Colorado, said shed been talking with her son extensively the last few weeks, and she believes he was sincere in his apology. I know that John made a terrible mistake and he needs to pay for what he did, said a tearful Lindhorn. Hes been very troubled all his life, and I was sincerely hoping the term would be shorter to where he could get some help and still lead a productive life. Im probably not going to live long enough to see him on the outside, as her voice trailed off. As Buckley walked out of the courtroom and back to jail, he gave the media a double thumbs up and exclaimed life. e-mail to: UPDATED 2 p.m. 08-16-10: KEARNEY Jonathon Buckley was sentenced to up to 130 years in prison today (Monday) for taking Wells Fargo employees and customers hostage Feb. 10 in Kearney. Buckley was handed the sentence moments ago at the Buffalo County District Court in Kearney. UPDATED 11 a.m. 08-16-10: KEARNEY Jonathon Buckley faced 250 years in prison today (Monday) after taking Wells Fargo employees and customers hostage Feb. 10 in Kearney. Buckley, 23, was scheduled to be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. today in Buffalo County District Court. Judge John Icenogle was scheduled to hand down the sentence. Buckley was convicted in July of four counts of felony kidnapping and one count of using a sawed-off shotgun to commit a felony. Buckley carried a sawed-off shotgun when he walked into Wells Fargo at 21 W. 21st St. in downtown Kearney the morning of Feb. 10. He demanded media and law enforcement attention and held many bank employees and customers hostage. After 2 hours of negotiations with police, he released everyone inside the bank unharmed and surrendered. No injures were reported, and no shots were fired inside the bank. OMAHA Robert G. Schroeder, 91, of Fremont, formerly of Kearney, died Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, in Omaha. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at First Lutheran Church in Fremont with the Rev. Marty Tollefson officiating. Burial will be at Scribner Cemetery with military honors by Scribner American Legion Post 121. Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m. Monday at Ludvigsen Mortuary Chapel in Fremont with the family present from 5-7 p.m. He passed away with his wife and daughter at his side. He was born on Sept. 27, 1925, in Cuming County to Gustav and Ella (Clausen) Schroeder. He attended rural school and was a graduate of Scribner High School, class of 1943. Bob served his country by enlisting in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1946-1949. He then entered the plumbing business with his uncle. Bob married Doris Johnson in 1950 and moved briefly to North Platte. They later settled in Kearney to start a family and he became a mechanical job superintendent for Anderson Bros. He led hospital projects from Imperial to Fremont, including schools, dormitories and Bruner Hall of Science at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. In 1976, Bob started his own small contracting business named Independent Plumbing and Heating. Being self-employed, Bob felt free at last. He specialized in apartment and smaller commercial buildings. He was the mechanical contractor on the Glenwood School. In 1990, he semiretired but could never give up his work completely. He was conscientious and took great pride in this work. He was a faithful and devoted husband and father. Bobs favorite pastime was hunting or fishing with his neighbor Ben Pahl and his son on the Platte River. The family took many camping trips to Colorado and Wyoming to hike, fish and enjoy the outdoors. They spent many happy hours hunting geese, ducks, turkey and pheasant. He introduced his young son to hunting by carrying him piggyback across the water to the duck blind. Bob loved animals. His favorite hunting dog was a black lab named Sal. He worked teams of horses as a young man on the farm. He often came home from grade school to hitch up a team to mow hay. He also broke horses and enjoyed riding. When his daughter and sons grandparents gave them a Shetland pony one Christmas, Bob taught them to ride and built a pony cart. Bob was a faithful church member his entire life. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Johns Lutheran Church (Cuming County line) near Scribner. As a member of First Lutheran Church in Kearney, he served on the church council and various committees. He served as vice chairman of the Building Committee when the church was built on Avenue G. He laid the cornerstone. Bob took great pride in his church and watched over it. On the day of the churchs very hot July dedication day, Bob was found on the roof in his suit and tie adjusting the air conditioning. He rarely missed attending a Sunday service and was often found in the boiler room checking things over before services started. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Ella and Gustav Schroeder; two brothers, Wayne and Ray; and two sisters, Corrine and Dorothy. Bob is survived by his wife, Doris; daughter, Barbara Schroeder of Omaha; and son, Scott Schroeder and wife Cindy Schroeder of Missoula, Mont., and their daughters, Madison of Missoula and Macey and husband Tony Incontro of San Francisco. Thank you to everyone family members, relatives and friends who have been part of our lives and memories over the many years. Lunch will follow his services. Visit www.Ludvigsenmortuary.com to access the online guest book. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Nov. 19 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: The next meeting of the Turkmenistan-Latvia intergovernmental commission on economic, industrial, scientific and technical cooperation will be held on Nov. 21-22 in Riga, the Turkmen government said in a message Nov. 19. During the meeting, it is planned to discuss the opportunities of expanding the cooperation in transportation and communication sector, in the spheres of agriculture, construction, healthcare, as well as through the commerce and industry chambers and business structures of the two countries. The sides will speak about the cooperation on the overland transit and logistics of common routes in order to develop effective and mutually beneficial solutions for cargo transshipment. The volume of bilateral trade between Turkmenistan and Latvia has been growing over the recent years. Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedovs official visit to Latvia in September 2012 and the visit of former Latvian President Andris Berzins to Turkmenistan in May 2013 gave an impetus to bilateral relations between the two countries. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Unionized employees of Kelowna Regional Transit have voted 97% in favour of a strike to back their contract demands. Kelowna-area bus drivers and other unionized workers went on strike in November 2016, as shown in this file photo. Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Nov. 19 Trend: The Uzbek Acting President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the development of a "roadmap" for expanding the Turkey-Uzbekistan cooperation during the talks in Samarkand Nov. 18, RIA Novosti reported referring to the Uzbek national TV channel. The two leaders discussed the prospects of the Uzbekistan-Turkey cooperation development and exchanged views on the important regional and international issues, according to the channel. "Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed confidence that the agreements reached during the meeting will become a "road map" for the further cooperation, and they will bring the relations to a new level, the TV channel reported. Former Mr. Nigeria, Emmanuel Ikubese is living his dreams. He has been climbing the ladder of success daily with his acting prowess. He was one of the lead actors in FIFTY, the top grossing movie in Nigeria today. In this exclusive interview with Kemi Filani Blog, he talks about his role in the movie, FIFTY, his plans for his pet project and how ladies often slide in the DM with funny request of kiss and sex.Enjoy How has this year been for you? I have been very busy, working and doing a lot of productions. It has been really great so far. I have also taken out time to do some of my personal projects involving my foundation. We have gone to several schools, taking out the messages against domestic violence and abuse. Some company endorsed me this year, so Id be going to a lot of schools to do some stuffs for them. 2016, has been so awesome to me. You always preach against domestic violence and abuse, do you have any personal experience? Well, I have not but I have some university days based experience. I have lots of friends who were killed during domestic violence. The more I get involved in spreading the message against such, the more I get personal with it. I have met a lot of victims. When I see them in such a pitiable state, it gets to me so much that I just want to do more. So far, have you been getting responses? Yes, I have. But theres still a lot of stigmatization that victims of domestic violence go through. Our campaign is trying to put an end to people keeping quite. We are encouraging them to speak out against all forms violence, be it rape, abuse, etc. We want them to come out and tell their stories. Once they open up and tell their stories, what does your organization do next? I partner with a lot of agencies that help. I create awareness and the agencies follow up on the victims who speak out. Because right now, I dont have those funding to take responsibilities for victims. So, the agencies do the needful to the victims that need help. Running such time consuming campaign and at same time shooting lots of movies on different locations, how do you cope? I hasnt been easy, I must tell you. But once theres a will, theres a way. Its something that I am very passionate about, both my career and my pet project. Talking about passion and career, how come you played such raunchy role in the movie 50? (laughs). What about it? Well, thats one thing about me. I always try to bring in depth in every character I play. But lots of negative comments trailed your character in that movie, how did you deal with it? Well, I know that based on our society, they would not receive it with smiling faces and that got me worried. But funnily enough, I didnt really get the kind of backlash as I had expected. So people understood what we were trying to display. People didnt criticize me as much as I had expected. Dont you think it has put a question mark on your reputable image? No never! Thats not Emmanuel but a character in a movie, so it cant dent my image. Anybody who knows Emmanuel knows that I am so far away from that character I played in 50. Did your parents frown at it at all? My parents understood that it was me playing a character and they were okay with it. I look up to a lot Hollywood actors and one major thing I took from them is depth. The fact that my role in that movie got controversial, then I did it quite well. Thats my own judgment. But can you ever date or marry an older woman? No I cant! It cant even happen. I cant do that. Why, after all, they say age is just a number Well, personally, I dont think love is about age, as long as two people understand themselves, love themselves and willing to be together, age shouldnt be an obstacle. Once theres love, respect and communication, then they are good to go. But personally, I dont think I can do it. Maybe someone that I am older than with 2-3 years, thats the much I can do. Im not against those that marry younger lover thats women or men that date older women; its all about choice after all. After you showed off the sexy side of you on the roles you play, women running after you would increase in numbers, how do you deal with them? I have always had admirers, even before the movie 50. I have always had my way of dealing with them. It doesnt change anything. Whats the worst thing a female fan has done to you? I have lots of female fans, jump up to me and give me a kiss right in the public. And I was likeOkOk. But I just cant embarrass them because they simply love me for what I do. Do they also slide into your DMs to admire and probably send nude pictures? Of course, I do get that a lot. But not nude pictures though. I dont think any female fan in her right senses would want to send me a nude picture. I know they do send though, but not to people like me. My image is not that corrupt for someone to try such. But you often post bare-chest photos on social media, maybe would work as a signal to them.dont you think so? Yes, I do, but I dont do it for anybody in particular. Its all about me. Ladies slide to my DMs to tell me how much they love me, how they desire to kiss me and make love to me, but not sending nude pictures. How about guys? Do they also slide into your DM to profess their love? Yes they do! But I dont encourage them to pass their boundaries. Are you in a relationship right now? Yes, Im. In a very happy one. So whats your idea of love? Love is that thing that you feel towards someone that makes him or her become family. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 19 By Khalid Kazimov Trend: An Iranian government official has forecasted that Qazvin-Rasht railway in northern Iran is expected to come on stream by August 2017. Government spokesman and the head of the Management and Planning Organization of Iran, Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, has said that the 164 kilometers-long railway will be inaugurated before ending President Hassan Rouhanis first term in office, IRNA news agency reported. President Rouhani assumed office in August 2013 to head the administration for a period of four years. Mohammad Baqer Nobakht monitored the construction process of the railway this morning saying the railway will contribute to economic development in the country. The under-construction railroad is a part of the North South transport corridor which connects Northern Europe with Southeast Asia through Iran and Azerbaijan. The project is notable for its benefits not only for development of the economies of the two countries involved, but also for other countries, located along the railway route and the region as a whole. At the initial stage, it is planned to transport 5 million tons of cargo via the North-South corridor per year and to increase the figure to over 10 million tons in the future. In addition to its international aspects, the corridor will have a significant role in reducing transportation costs as well as booming volume of trade turnover between Iran and Azerbaijan. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 19 By Fatih Karimov Trend OPEC members most likely will reach an agreement during the upcoming meeting which is scheduled for Nov. 30, Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, Irans oil minister said. Zanganeh made the remarks following a meeting with OPEC Secretary-General Mohammed Barkindo in Tehran Nov. 19, the oil ministrys SHANA news agency reported. He described the meeting as positive, saying the OPEC secretary-general submitted a detailed report about the latest developments among the OPEC and non-OPEC crude oil producers regarding finalization of the Algiers accord on production freeze plan to curb falling crude oil prices in the global oil market. Zanganeh forecasted that the oil market will experience positive developments in the near future. I look at the future positively and I think that we will have better situation in the future, Zanganeh said. OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers are working to reach a comprehensive decision during the Vienna meeting, the Iranian minister said, adding that Barkindo has provided him with encouraging information regarding the issue. Barkindo arrived in Tehran Nov. 19 to discuss global oil market conditions and the upcoming OPEC meeting with Irans oil officials. Members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will meet on November 30 to discuss a proposed production freeze plan in Vienna. OPEC members agreed on the outline of a freeze plan on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum (IEF), which grouped producers and consumers, in Algeria on Sept. 26-28. A number of officials expressed their certainty over the past few days that the organizations November meeting will be productive and that the OPEC members will be able to finalize the oil output cap agreement. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 19 By Fatih Karimov Trend European and Asian countries have released detained equipments of Phases 20 and 21 of South Pars gas field, Alireza Ebadi, operator of phase 20 and 21 projects of the gas field, said, Mehr news agency reported Nov. 19. The foreign companies refused to deliver goods to Iran once international sanctions were imposed, Ebadi said, adding that after the sanctions removed last January numerous foreign manufacturers expressed readiness to resume activities and providing equipments for the phases of the gas field. He further said that companies from France, Spain and Japan as well as a number of multinational firms have manufactured and delivered the required equipments for Phases 20 and 21 of South Pars gas field. The equipments include solenoids, pumps, valves, reservoirs and refinery equipment, he added. New contracts have been signed with foreign firms for construction of a series of modern and technological equipments in post-sanctions era, Ebadi said. Phases 20 and 21 are meant to reach an output of 57 million cubic meters(mcm) of gas and 80 thousand barrels of gas condensates per day. Together, the two phases will also yield 400 tons of sulfur, 1.05 million tons of liquefied gas, and one million tons of ethane per year. Currently Irans total gas production stands at 750 mcm/d. The figure is expected to reach 1,000 mcm/d by March 2018 and 1,260 mcm/d by 2021. South Pars is joint field between Iran and Qatar. Iranian side contains about 18 trillion cubic meters, which shares about a half of the countrys total reserves. Residents of one of Kilkennys oldest local authority housing estates have expressed concerns over plans to rezone land to facilitate more houses being built in their neighbourhood. The Butts is one of the oldest and highest-density local authority estates in Kilkenny. Next Monday, a proposal to rezone a tract of land from 'Community Facilities' to 'Existing Residential' at St Joseph's Road will come before local councillors for a vote. This change is to support Housing actions under Construction 2020[, Social Housing Strategy 2020] and Rebuilding Ireland An Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness 2016. However, a group calling itself the 'Reclaim the Butts Community Group' opposes the plans, and made a submission to the council outlining its objections. The group asserts that the local authority originally effectively 'walled out' the community from its communal area, and observes that the land was previously used by tenants as allotments. In her response, Chief Executive of Kilkenny County Council Colette Byrne said the land had originally been zoned 'Community Use' to allow for potential development of the Fr McGrath and O' Neill Centres. She said that following discussion between these bodies, the council, and the housing department, it was deemed the lands are not required to meet any future expansion of services. Ms Byrne also says that while the lands may have been used for allotments in the past, former borough council records indicate they were not part of the original purchase of the land. Another submission, from Margaret O' Brien, objected to the proposed rezoning on the basis that the scheme would increase the density of social housing in one area. In her response, the chief executive said that the proposed housing development would increase the number of houses, but not the density, which is around 25 houses to the acre. Local councillor Patrick McKee told the Kilkenny People he has serious concerns over the proposal. This area of our city has hit its limit with housing and squashing houses into an existing high density residential area that has significant access difficulties at present will only compound existing problems, he said. We need to build sustainable communities with plenty of green open space, not dump houses into an area that hasn't the space to take them. We all agree that we need houses, but we cannot try to solve one problem while causing another and that's what is happening here. In her amended recommendations, the chief executive sets out a number of updates including retention of previously deleted wording regarding permissible uses, and clarifications on the councils housing strategy. There is also a note recommending the facilitating of access from phase three of the Central Access Scheme to be provided to amenity lands to the rear of the Fr McGrath Centre as appropriate subject to the necessary consents and procedures applicable at the time. ATLANTIC SKIES: Stellar asterisms eye-catching pretenders to the constellation throne and just part of the bigger picture Most everyone, or at least most amateur astronomers, are familiar with the constellations in the night sky to some degree. Many, however, may not be familiar with the numerous asterisms in the night sky. What is the difference between a constellation ... Union petition calls for St. Michael leadership's ouster A union leader said of the hospital's short staffing in the ER that the crisis was 'extraordinary.' Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 19 By Fatih Karimov Trend French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault is scheduled to visit Tehran in the near future to attend the meeting of the joint economic commission, ISNA news agency reported Nov. 19. Following a meeting with Majid Takht Ravanchi, Irans deputy foreign minister, Ayrault said that he will participate in the upcoming Iran-France joint economic commission which is scheduled to be held in Tehran in January 2017. He referred to his meeting with top Iranian diplomat as an important and necessary meeting. Ayrault further expressed hope that all sanctions against Tehran to be removed, adding that boosting mutual ties with Tehran, in particular in economic field has big importance for Paris. Takht Ravanchi left Tehran for Paris Nov. 17 to take part in regular political negotiations between Iranian and French foreign ministry officials. The second round of Tehran-Paris regular political talks was held on Nov. 18 in line with a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that the two countries signed during Iranian President Hassan Rouhanis visit to Paris back in January 2016. The first round of these talks was held in Tehran in May. The two sides also agreed to hold the next round of regular political negotiations in Tehran next year. Takht Ravanchi also discussed the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA, aka the nuclear deal) with senior French officials during his visit to Paris. The P5+1 (China, France, Russia, the UK, the US as well as Germany) reached a historic deal with Iran last year to curb the Islamic Republics nuclear program in return for lifting the nuclear related sanctions. The deal came into force in January. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today A mix of clouds and sunshine with gusty winds developing this afternoon. High 76F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight A few passing clouds. Low 57F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces and Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday replaced two senior Army commanders, IRNA reported. The Supreme Leader appointed Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan to the post of Deputy General Commander of Army and Brigadier General Kiumars Heydari as Commander of the Army's Ground Forces. The replacement was made as per a proposal made by General Commander of the Army Major General Atatollah Salehi. The Supreme Leader appreciated services of former deputy general commander of the Army Brigadier-General Mousavi. Performance scores are in for LA public schools and districts, and most are showing improvement, including the Monroe City School District. "It's just a credit to our community for supporting us," says Superintendent of Monroe City Schools, Brent Vidrine. The MCS district jumped three performance points for the 2015-2016 school year and maintained it's "C" grade. "We knew we were going to get some great scores coming in. It was re-affirmed yesterday when we got our scores in and 16 of our 19 schools increased their SPS scores. Eight of our schools increased one letter grade," says Vidrine. He says the growth has been a group effort. "Our teachers, our staff, our principals, our assistant principals, our supervisors... they've all done a great job focusing. I attribute that to our three-year growth," says Vidrine. Monroe City Schools' scores aren't the only ones showing improvement in northeast Louisiana. Caldwell Parish and Lincoln Parish performance points increased. Union Parish, Catahoula Parish, and Ouachita Parish all jumped letter grades. Most notably, Ouachita Parish jumped from a "B" grade to an "A". Vidrine says Ouachita Parish's achievement is something to aspire to. "If they're doing something we can learn from, we're going to go out there and learn from them," says Vidrine. "Look at what people are doing.... there's no need in re-inventing the wheel if someone already has the wheel. Our goal is to make sure we do that, and our goal is to improve every year." Three Monroe City Schools that improved the most in the state individually include Lee Jr. High, Carroll High School, and Carver Elementary School. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 19 By Fatih Karimov Trend: Iran has closed borders to Iraqi fuel tankers in order not to disturb the hundred thousands of Iranian pilgrims travelling to Iraqi city of Karbala to participate in a religious ritual, called the Arbaeen. The ban, which is imposed on the transit fuel tankers on Nov. 15, will be in place till Nov. 25, Irans Mehr news agency reported. Earlier in March Iran imposed similar ban during Irans new year holiday - Norouz. Reportedly some 500 fuel tankers from the Iraqi Kurdish region enter Iran to deliver their cargo to the Iranian southern ports on a daily basis. In 2015 Arbaeen gathered some 20 million people in the Iraqi city to be named the biggest human gathering in history. Looking beyond the religious content, it is going to turn into a major economic feature for Iraq and the neighboring Iran as a large-scale tour. By Park Si-soo The fourth mass anti-president rally has kicked off in downtown Seoul on Saturday evening with an estimated 600,000 people as of 10 p.m., including students and senior citizens, carrying lighted candles and chanting slogans calling for scandal-plagued President Park Geun-hye's immediate resignation. The crowd turned out to be smaller this time than last Saturday's one million people -- the largest protest movement in the nation in three decades. But today, mid- and small-sized rallies are being staged in nearly 100 locations across the country, including Busan, Daegu and many other cities and towns in the southeastern part of the country, long been regarded as Park's undisputed political stronghold. So the combined number of protesters throughout the nation is expected to reach over 900,000, according to rally organizers. An estimated 600,000 people join the 4th mass anti-President protest in Seoul, Saturday. / Yonhap In Seoul, protesters will march toward the presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, after holding a peaceful candlelit rally in Gwanghwamun Square only 1-2 kilometers away from the presidential office. They will march toward a police limit line drawn only 430 meters from the presidential office. Members of pro-Park groups, collectively called "Park Sa Mo" which literally means people who love Park Geun-hye staged the first rally demanding Park's stay in office at Seoul Station Square, Saturday. / Yonhap By Choi Ha-young Park Geun-hye's supporters broke their silence on Saturday, staging a protest in support of the scandal-ridden head of state and denouncing Park's political foes who are demanding her resignation. About 10,000 members of conservative pro-Park groups, collectively called "Park Sa Mo" which literally means people who love Park Geun-hye staged the first rally in support of Park at Seoul Station Square since the flare-up of the Choi Soon-sil scandal last month. The pro-Park rally began at 2 p.m., four hours before the fourth mass rally against the President in Gwanghwamun square in downtown Seoul, which drew nearly 500,000 angry citizens. The two rallies highlighted a lingering ideological conflict between the conservative old and the reform-minded young that has become more visible in recent weeks with Park's rapid collapse. The first pro-Park rally gathered 67,000 people, according to organizers, but police estimated a much smaller number: 11,000. Carrying individual national flags of South Korea, bundled up winter jackets and sunglasses, the pro-Park activists chanted slogans such as: "Protect the Constitutional order" and "Root out communists." The protesters, mostly white-haired senior citizens in their 60s through their 80s, strongly criticized opposition politicians for what they claimed was an "irresponsible" political attack on the President. Some called opposition politicians "spies from North Korea" and "communists." Members of pro-Park groups, collectively called "Park Sa Mo" which literally means people who love Park Geun-hye staged the first rally demanding Park's stay in office at Seoul Station Square, Saturday. / Yonhap "If Park resigns, Kim Jong-un (North Korean leader) will attack Seoul," said Hwang Hye-jeong, 54, who travelled to Seoul from Busan to join the rally, distributing fliers promoting Park's achievements in office. "Even though the United States has helped us, we can't trust Donald Trump." Many in the rally supported Park because of her father's legacy. Park's father, Park Chung-hee who took power in a 1961 military coup, is credited with the country's rapid economic rise in the 1960s-70s. "Park Chung-hee founded Korea. We overcame hunger thanks to him, but young people, who have never starved, are being selfish," Hwang said. Many senior citizens expressed deep-seated animosity toward the opposition. "It's distorted," Park Sook-ja, 72, said, referring to reports about Park's all-time low approval ratings. "Leftists are rich," another participant Im Young-sin, 49, said. "They dominate the court, the prosecution and education. Teachers brainwash their students. I only believe the website Ilbe' because other media does not deliver the facts." Ilbe is an ultra-rightwing online community infamous for posting articles and other content explicitly ridiculing female and social minorities. Some of them admitted that the President was wrong. But they pointed out that Choi Soon-sil is the main culprit and Park can only be blamed for "believing her too much." After the rally at Seoul Station, the Park supporters took to the streets to march toward Sungnyemun Gate, but police blocked their advance to the venue reserved for part of the anti-president protest. During the march, they chanted "Park Geun-hye" holding banners that read "We love you, President. Cheer up." (Editing by Park Si-soo; Copyediting by Lyman McLallen) Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 19 Trend: Armenian friends are never honest, said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu Nov. 19, answering the question of the Armenian member of parliament Koryun Nahapetyan during the 62nd meeting of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the Haber 7 newspaper reported. Cavusoglu noted that politicians must be honest. We may have different views, but, firstly, we must be honest, especially, if we are politicians, he said. It is a pity that Armenian friends are never honest. How can you claim that Turkey supports the Islamic State terrorist organization? No country has so far neutralized as many IS members as Turkey did, added the foreign minister. It is not fair to claim that we support the IS, said Cavusoglu in his response to the accusations of the Armenian MP that Ankara supports IS terrorists. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 19 By Orkhan Quluzade Trend: There are Armenians among detained and neutralized members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) terrorist organization, said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu answering the question of the Armenian member of parliament Koryun Nahapetyan during the 62nd meeting of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the Haber 7 newspaper reported. Cavusoglu said that Armenia chooses a lie and doesnt believe even in itself. Until today, you have had a lie about the Armenian genocide on your agenda. You refused our proposal to create a commission to investigate the events of 1915, noted the Turkish foreign minister. You choose a lie, and dont believe even in yourselves. If you dont believe in scientific research, it means that you choose a lie, he added. The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which demands the creation of an independent Kurdish state, has continued for more than 30 years and has claimed more than 40,000 lives. The UN and the European Union list the PKK as a terrorist organization. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @o_quluzade The issue of the S-400 Triumph air defense systems' deliveries to Turkey will be discussed at a meeting of the Russia-Turkey intergovernmental commission to be held in the near future in Russia, Sputnik reported citing Alexander Fomin, the director of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC). "In the near future, a meeting of the intergovernmental commission will be held in Russia," Fomin told reporters. Answering a follow-up question, he confirmed that the issue of the S-400 systems' deliveries could be discussed at the meeting. The S-400 is Russia's next-generation air defense system, carrying three different types of missiles capable of destroying aerial targets at a short-to-extremely-long range. The weapon is capable of tracking and destroying all existing aerial targets, including ballistics and cruise missiles. Army Cpl. Donald Matney is finally back in his hometown after 66 years. His body returned home with an Honor Guard on Friday afternoon in preparation for his burial next to his mother. Matney left Seymour to enlist in the Army in 1949, at just 17 years old. Then in July 1950, he disappeared in action in Korea. Family members did a lot of work with the Army to locate Matney's remains. They finally matched him to the grave of an unknown soldier who had been buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, also known as Punchbowl because it's in Punchbowl Crater at a dormant volcano. He had initially been buried with another soldier by a Korean farmer. Matney's niece, Sandy Gormley, played a key role in helping the military identify her uncle's remains to make this day possible. "To be able to help with that and to see the respect that people gave him today, it's humbling, very very humbling," said Gormley. On Friday, he was flown from Hawaii to St. Louis and a military honor guard escorted his casket all the way to Seymour, where he'll be laid to rest on Saturday for the final time, next to his mother. His funeral will receive full military honors. Intelligence experts estimate that the Islamic State extremist group has between 60 and 80 operatives planted in Europe to carry out attacks, the Dutch counterterrorism coordinator Dick Schoof said Friday. Dick Schoof said in an interview with The Associated Press that would-be fighters are also heeding messages from the militant group "asking them not to come to Syria and Iraq, but to prepare attacks in Europe." One result is that over the last six months the number of "foreign terrorist fighters" hasn't grown, he said, but the fact that they're not traveling "does not mean that the potential threat of those who would have traveled is diminished." Schoof said military operations to oust the Islamic State from its self-declared caliphate in Syria and Iraq are scattering the extremist group's fighters and supporters. This will probably lead to a gradual increase of refugees that will pose a danger to the national security of the Netherlands and other European countries, he said. Schoof said even though the Netherlands hasn't been hit by a major attack by Islamic extremists such as those in Belgium and France, "the chance of attack in the Netherlands is real." "We have seen 294 terrorist fighters go overseas in Iraq and Syria and there are still 190 over there," he said. "And what happened in France and Brussels and Germany could happen to us." There are probably between 4,000 and 5,000 European "foreign terrorist fighters" in Iraq and Syria, Schoof said. The Old Globe Theatre continues to captivate audiences with its brilliant executions of Shakespeares classics, bringing in top talent to star and direct. Now through Nov. 20, you can see another fine example in The Two Gentlemen of Verona, directed by Richard Seer with first- and second-year MFA students in the University of San Diegos Shiley Graduate Theatre Program. For this production, Seer chose to take the gentlemen in a slightly different direction. Theres a wonderful innocence about this play that I like a lot, he explained. I made a concerted effort to capture it by setting the show in 1910, with Verona a kind of Denver or St. Louis Midwest Americana. I got the idea because this is Shakespeares earliest play. As a young man he wrote about his experiences with material later used in Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet and As You Like It. Two Gents is a coming-of-age story about two guys learning how the world, love and women work. I set it in 1910 because I knew about eight years later, the United States would go through World War I. By choosing sometime just prior to that when women were fighting for the right to vote and the young nation saw endless possibilities it seemed like the right time to place this production. Our sound designer found wonderful music to include thats upbeat. The play starts with the two guys talking about one of them going to college, but instead its off to the big city to live with Duke Malan. This is his chance to see and learn about the world. The other gent stays in the small town to be with the girl hes fallen in love with. They both come to learn about adulthood, commitment and friendship, and what matters most in ones life. In discussing the cast Seer explained, the students go through a rigorous audition process we choose them from all over the country and the world. After a year within the program, the second-year actors are really showing terrific chops in their approaches to Shakespeare. Its more sophisticated and nuanced, and they play most of the leads. We have a new 3-minute promotional film about our program where (Globe Artistic Director) Barry Edelstein talks about advanced training, classical in particular. He is an expert on it and spent most of his career training actors. He says if you can do this kind of work, you can do any work. Thats been my experience for young actors. Jim Parsons (Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory) is a graduate of our program and hes been interviewed about how strange it must have been to have classical training when he is now a sitcom and movie actor. But with acting, it helps if you understand what the operatives are in a sentence and what words to stress to give it meaning and make the joke. Parsons does something that seems wildly different on television, but he relates it very closely to the work he did here. Im most proud of the vast majority of our students who now have professional careers. Thats not easy and I can attest to that. Its all about doing different things voiceovers, commercials, TV soaps, films and more. Seer said older patrons will enjoy this show in a nostalgic way, reliving the dramatic aspects of the times when they, too, got in trouble. Younger audiences will find it romantic, funny and stirring. IF YOU GO: The Two Gentlemen of Verona plays through Nov. 20 at The Old Globe Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park, San Diego. Tickets $19. (619) 234-5623. theoldglobe.org There was excitement in the air on Nov. 7 at Atkinson Auditorium in the Qualcomm Institute at UC San Diego for the world premiere of the science fiction film, Arrival, released in theaters Nov. 11. The sold-out crowd was anxious to find their seats. Paramount Pictures, which owns the rights to the film, allowed it to be screened as a benefit for the Clarion Science Fiction Writers Workshop, held on campus for six weeks every summer. Austere-looking Secret Service-type guards were posted at the entrances to make sure no one filmed or photographed the film. In the audience were sci-fi fans, teachers and students, including this years Clarion workshop students of Ted Chiang, a 1989 Clarion graduate himself, who wrote the short story, Story of Your Life, upon which Arrival is based. Chiang has won four Hugo Awards, four Nebula Awards and four Locus Awards. He is also the recipient of the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer and the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award. The film turned out to more than satisfy everyones hopes and expectations. It is a wonderful, visually beautiful, musically intriguing, dreamlike tale about the interaction of a small group of scientists, headed up by linguistics professor Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams) and theoretical physicist Dr. Gary Donnelly (Jeremy Renner), and U.S. Army employees lead by Colonel Weber, (Forest Whitaker). Banks, Donnelly and Weber are one of 12 groups around the world in a race to communicate with the aliens who have landed in multiple spots, to find out why they are here and if they intend any harm. Screenwriter Eric Heisserer did an excellent job of enhancing Chiangs short story, creating a movie that is, at once, a sci-fi thriller, a romance, and a tearjerker mom/daughter yarn with the a lesson about humanitys need for improved communication and understanding. Director Denis Villeneuve makes use of overcast dark days and blurred backgrounds, with a back-and-forth flow of current time Dr. Banks investigating the aliens juxtaposed with Banks memories of situations with her daughter, which grow in vividness due to Banks acquisition of the aliens circular time language Hepatod B. All is spiced-up by her growing romance with Dr. Donnelley. The aliens are an advanced race of seven-foot-tall squid-like creatures that have seven arms/legs that they can glide along with or fold up against their sides. They have 10 eyes, a mouth under their legs for eating, and an orifice on top of their head for breathing and speaking. They arrive in 1,500-foot-long, black, shell-shaped ships that hover in place 40 feet above the ground. Every 18 hours, a door on the bottom of their ships opens and humans can climb up a long, rock tunnel to a viewing room where the aliens will appear behind a silicon screen in the midst of clouds and fog, for brief encounters with humans. The aliens have a spoken language of buzzes and rumblings, but its not related to their highly advanced written language, which they emit as a black vapor from their four-fingered hands, much like a squid releases ink. The aliens write with a complex circular script that looks like a wreath. Commented Professor Sheldon Brown, Director of Arthur Clarke Center for Human Imagination, The script resembles Chinese Yes Paintings. The alien writings are quite different from human script in that they can be read backwards or forwards, like the word Hannah, which is the name Dr. Banks gave her daughter, who dies of cancer at age 25. Learning the language allows one to see time differently, a fulfillment of the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, which supposes the language we speak and think in structures how we view reality. In Chiangs short story, the aliens end up leaving Earth abruptly without sharing much of their selves. Screenwriter Heisserer brings in the idea that the aliens are here to give humans the gift of their language, which will improve world communication and bring us all together in peace. The aliens give this gift hoping for reciprocity because they have seen the future and observed that in 3,000 years they are going to need our help. After the screening Chiang came to the stage for a panel discussion with Brown and Shelley Streeby, an ethnic studies professor with an interest in popular culture and sci-fi. Brown thanked Patrick Coleman, the Clarke Centers new program manager, for coming up with idea for bringing the movie to UCSD. Chiang then discussed his involvement with the Clarion Workshop in 1989, calling it, a life-changing experience ... and one of the foremost ways of becoming a writer. He added that he was fortunate to have his story selected to be made into a movie and praised screenwriter Heisserer for his passion for the project. The story is basically about thinking ... Im very happy with the film and the choice of Amy Adams as lead star. People should see the film multiple times each time you will see more things. After the panel, Chiang obliged a long line of well-wishers by signing books and movie posters. Want to know more? I found the movie highly recommendable, a two thumbs up. Chiangs book Stories of Your Life and Others, is available at the Mysterious Galaxy bookstore, 5943 Balboa Ave. The SLFP does not condone the continuation of the Emergency Regulations (The Public Security Ordinance) more than a day necessary Read more Spanish security forces captured two Moroccan nationals suspected of having ties to the Daesh terrorist organization, Spain's Interior Ministry said in a statement on Saturday, Sputnik reported. "Those arrested were part of the propaganda and recruitment network of the terrorist organization Daesh and developed an intense activity with the ultimate purpose of inciting terrorist attacks," the statement reads. One of the terrorists was captured in Madrid, the other one in the province of Barcelona in an autonomous community of Catalonia, both of them taking part in the spread of propaganda and recruiting for the Daesh, according to the ministry's statement. The Spanish Ministry of the Interior has detained 163 jihadists since 2015 when the anti-terrorism alert level was raised to four, the statement added. Spanish authorities went to the second highest level of the five-level system in June, following terrorist attacks in France and Tunisia. The Daesh, outlawed in Russia and many other countries, claimed responsibility for a number of attacks that hit various cities across Europe in the past year. In July, a truck drove into a large crowd celebrating Bastille Day in the French city of Nice, killing at least 86 people. In November 2015, the IS carried out a series of terrorist attacks across Paris, claiming 130 lives and injuring over 350 people. On June 26, 38 people were killed and tens wounded in a shooting in Tunisia carried out by a terrorist who claimed allegiance to the Islamic State. Today was the final day at Fox 11 for longtime Los Angeles newsman Tony Valdez. He started in TV news here when there were not many Latino faces. "I was fortunate enough to be one of the people who, to put it bluntly, broke the color barrier," he says. Valdez has been a general assignment reporter for decades and for 20-something years he has also reported the LA's Most Wanted segment, where he profiles criminal suspects and missing persons. For 31 years he also has hosted "Midday Sunday," a weekly public affairs program on Channel 11. Valdez joined KTTV Channel 11 in 1981 after stints as a writer, producer and reporter at KCET and KTLA. He previously had worked for La Opinion and I believe some radio stations. Valdez grew up on the Eastside and as a kid shined shoes on Olvera Street before taking his first news job: a paper route for the Los Angeles Herald-Express. Valdez said via email that he was at KTTV Channel 11 for 35 years, five months and four days. "Its always been a challenge but I am grateful for all the opportunities and all the amazing people I have worked with here." Valdez cited colleagues who also helped open the doors of Los Angeles TV news to reporters of color. "I am the last of the first generation of 'ethnic' television news reporters in Los Angeles," he said. "I was fortunate to work with Ken Jones, who was the first African-American anchor in Los Angeles, and Bob Navarro, the first Chicano/Latino/Hispanic television reporter in SoCal." He also mentioned Asian-American reporters Tritia Toyota and Sam Chu Lin. "Its gratifying to see that the people reporting the news in Los Angeles now look just like the people who are watching it," he said. "Your impact on this town is difficult to measure," Fox 11 anchor Steve Edwards says in a video interview with Valdez. "I've always thought of you as kind of the soul, maybe a little of the gatekeeper, of local television news." Valdez is an Angeleno native who attended Los Angeles City College and Cal State Northridge. He has received numerous Emmy, Golden Mike and Los Angeles Press Club awards. He says he would have been a newspaper photographer if he had not gone into television. Nice pic of the newsroom gathering posted by colleague Jeff Michael. The Fox11 newsroom says goodbye to Tony Valdez, retiring after being one who broke the color https://t.co/sFAw02bszX Jeff Michael (@JeffMichaelNews) November 18, 2016 PRESS RELEASE Sen. Bob Graham: 9/11 Families Lawsuit Sends Message to Saudis that U.S. Will Hold Them Accountable Nov. 18, 2016 (EIRNS)At a symposium last night at a Florida university, former Sen. Bob Graham (D-FL) emphasized the importance of the ongoing lawsuit brought by 9/11 families in sending a message to Saudi Arabia that the kingdoms responsibility for supporting terrorists is not going to be ignored. Speaking at the Palm Beach County Atlantic University in Florida, along with Florida Bulldog publisher Dan Christensen, and FOIA lawyer Tom Julin, Sen. Graham said that through the litigation process theres going to be a lot of learning for the American people. The litigation also will send a message to Saudi Arabia that the United States is not passive in that we are going to demand an accounting for its involvement with 9/11, he said. Graham also welcomed the incoming administration with the hope that somebody with fresh eyes who has not had any connection with this issue would be making decisions about the investigation in the future. Christensen and Julin described the litigation that the Bulldog, an independent newspaper, has brought against the FBI, which tried to cover up the investigation of the extensive contact between a government-linked Saudi family living in Sarasota, Florida, and the 9/11 hijackers. After FBI denial that any files existed, the Freedom of Information Act lawsuit initiated by the paper brought to light 80,000 pages of FBI documents about the investigation of the Saudi family and the 9/11 terrorists. These documents are still being reviewed by a Federal judge, and have never been released. PRESS RELEASE Lavrov: U.S. Policy of Tensions with Russia Not Good for the American People Nov. 18, 2016 (EIRNS)Yesterday, President Obama, who now seems to be sharing the bridge of the Titanic with German Chancellor Angele Merkel, warned President-elect Donald Trump, yet again, yesterday, that he mustnt change anything that Obama has done over the past eight years. With Merkel at his side in Berlin, Obama told Trump that mustnt cut deals with Putin out of convenience "even if it violates international norms, or even if it leaves smaller countries vulnerable or creates long-term problems in regions like Syria." Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov responded, if not to Obamas particular statement then to his attitude, yesterday, warning that continuing US-Russia tensions does the American people no good. "If President Obama wants tensions to continue, Im sure that it would not benefit the American people and solution to global problems, because a lot depends on our two states," he told Rossiya 24. PRESS RELEASE Rep. Ted Lieu Puts Spotlight on U.S. Complicity in Saudi Killings of Yemeni Civilians Nov. 18, 2016 (EIRNS)A special body of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the bipartisan Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, chaired by Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MASS) and Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA), held a hearing yesterday on the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, which focussed on the US/Saudi bombings that have butchered civilians, including children at medical facilities, and most recently at a funeral gathering where 140 people were killed and 550 injured. The record of the Saudi attacks on civilians was featured in the Commissions press release announcing the event. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif), a member of Commission took a leading role in yesterdays hearings, posting the press release and witness list on his Congressional website. Lieu, a former military prosecutor in the U.S. Air Force, has been campaigning for over a year, with letters to the White House and to members of Congress, to stop the US support for the Saudi air war that has killed thousands of civilians and devastated the economy. Photos of emaciated children, dying of malnutrition in hospitals, have been made public, but have been ignored by the Obama administration. Lieu was quoted on Nov. 13th in a feature article in the Sante Fe New Mexican newspaper that described how the Saudi war against the Houthi rebels and former President Saleh has been a war on the economy of the country. It is a significant moral outrage that we continue to provide arms to Saudi Arabia and to participate in military operations in Yemen, Rep. Lieu said. The United States is at risk of aiding and abetting war crimes in Yemen. On November 2, Lieu sent a letter addressed to both Secretaries John Kerry and Ashton Carter demanding to know if the United States refueled or knew about the October targeting of the Yemeni funeral before it was bombed. He demanded to know if the US refueled and knew in advance about the Saudi targeting of the MSF hospital in August. While the hearing yesterday typically included testimony from the pro-Saudi lobby that accused the Houthis of also attacking civilians, important evidence was put on the record about the Saudis murderous policy. It all began a little more than 10 years ago in a basement in Westwood: a small army of young employees in T-shirts and shorts huddled over their laptops, determined to launch a news site that would shake up the world of conservative media. At first, the site started by Andrew Breitbart was a simple news aggregation service. But in a few short years it evolved into an idiosyncratic voice combining original reporting, incendiary commentary and outright trolling, in keeping with the rambunctious spirit of its founder, who died in 2012. As its popularity grew, many condemned its rhetoric as extremist, xenophobic, sexist and a platform for hate speech accusations its leaders have denied. Others laughed it off as a journalistic lightweight catering to a far-right fringe known as the alt-right. Advertisement No ones laughing anymore. As Donald Trump prepares to take office as president, the Breitbart News Network stands poised to become one of the most influential conservative media companies in the country. Stephen K. Bannon, the sites controversial executive chairman, was a key figure in Trumps campaign and has been named chief White House strategist. For Breitbart, this could mean a direct line to the West Wing, a level of media access unprecedented in modern times, according to experts. While some believe this will turn the outlet into an extension of the Trump administration, leaders at Breitbart see it as an opportunity that will allow them to compete not only with conservative rivals like Fox News, but the entire media firmament, which it sees as dishonest about its left-leaning bias. As a matter of policy, Breitbart doesnt discuss its inner workings and finances. It doesnt have digital subscriptions and makes most of its money selling advertising. Now that it has become a household name and a political lightning rod, mostly for its pro-Trump coverage leading up to the election, there is intense curiosity about who exactly these bad boys (and girls) of the right are: How does Breitbart make money? What is its media strategy? And will the firestorm over Bannon hinder its business ambitions? In a series of interviews, leaders sounded a confident and defiantly unapologetic note. As a company, it is aiming for no less than the world. The goal is to become a global news network, said Larry Solov, the companys president and chief executive officer. L.A. might seem to be an unlikely home to such an outspokenly conservative publication, given the citys heavily liberal leanings. But both the founder and CEO of Breitbart grew up together in Brentwood (they were both adopted). Solov was persuaded to join the company during a trip to Israel they took together as adults. He said Breitbart is looking to expand into TV, though not necessarily its own cable network, and will ramp up its far-flung editorial team, which consists of about 100 people. They will focus heavily on covering the new administration. We think we are going to be the best place for coverage of Trump, said Solov, who earned a law degree from UCLA. The company has dismissed criticism that it is too closely aligned with the president-elect, arguing that Trumps platform fits with its core beliefs nationalism (but not white nationalism), strong borders and jobs and that it has never tried to hide its biases. We dont believe theres such a thing as an unbiased media source, Solov said. We think people who read us should know what our viewpoint is and values are and can judge us accordingly. You dont have to like it or agree with it. He described Breitbart News as an anti-establishment outlet for our anti-establishment times, delivered in a signature style that is a little swagger, a little take-no-prisoners, a little Fight Club. It can be biting at times. And it can be fun and funny. Breitbart News staff members congregate in the conference room of the companys L.A. office. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times ) But many consider the sites trollish style to be downright offensive. Stories that have generated heat include an opinion piece about the Confederate flag titled Hoist it High and Proud; one about the European refugee crisis titled Political Correctness Protects Muslim Rape Culture; and numerous articles on crimes committed by immigrants in the country illegally. Theyre a really well-funded blog that seems to favor conspiracy theories, said Lee Wilkins, a professor who teaches media ethics at Wayne State University and the University of Missouri School of Journalism. I dont condemn them because they do bad journalism. I dont think they do journalism at all. Breitbart has defended its more fiery articles as constitutionally protected polemics designed to trigger overly sensitive liberals or snowflakes in Breitbart parlance. They point out that they have also produced real reported pieces with a conservative world view including stories on the California drought and border security from its Texas bureau. The company operates out of a nondescript office building on the Westside. To avoid unwanted public attention, it keeps a low physical profile: There is no name or sign on the door to indicate that Breitbart is a tenant. A giant photographic portrait of Andrew Breitbart greets visitors at the entrance. A recent visit showed that Breitbart retains its startup flavor, with mostly young reporters typing away on laptops. The door to the main conference room is emblazoned with the hashtag #War a mantra Breitbart instilled in his team. The company even has a mascot: the honey badger, the carnivore and YouTube star known for its tenacious attitude and thick skin qualities that the newsroom has adopted as its own. Most of its staff is spread around the country, as well as in London and Jerusalem. Among Breitbarts immediate goals is to expand into France and Germany to capitalize on growing nationalist sentiments stemming from Europes immigration crisis and growing doubts about the European Union. Im already interviewing people there, said Alexander Marlow, the sites editor in chief. Both of them have big elections that are looking similar to Brexit and the rise of Trump in the U.S., in which you have a populist nationalist movement gaining credibility. France will hold its presidential elections next year, with Marine Le Pen, the controversial head of the countrys far-right National Front party, having already declared her candidacy. Germany will hold national elections next year. Marlow was a 21-year-old student at UC Berkeley when Andrew Breitbart hired him as his first employee. Now 30, the L.A. native, who attended Harvard Westlake, became editor in chief in 2013 and is now based mostly out of Washington, D.C. He said one of Breitbarts objectives is to court millennial conservatives, a demographic that he feels Fox News and other conservative outlets overlook. I think the conservative media has been derelict, he said. Im not trying to trash talk them when I say this, but they have done nothing to cultivate young people. Marlow sees an opportunity to lure Trump supporters put off by Fox News ambivalent take on the Republican candidate, since so much of their audience feels betrayed by how they covered this presidential race. As a result, he said, Breitbart is experiencing a surge in readership. The site drew 19.2 million unique visitors in October, up nearly 50% from 12.9 million visitors in the same month last year, according to data from ComScore. Breitbart easily beat other conservative news sites The Daily Caller and The Blaze, whose October unique visitors were 10.2 million and 5.8 million, respectively. Breitbarts own metrics paint an even more robust picture. It estimates it has 1.8 billion page views so far this year, an increase from about 1 billion views for all of 2015. Those figures still pale in comparison to mainstream sites like CNN and Fox News, which see unique visitor traffic that is triple that amount or more. But Breitbart said it is confident it will continue to grow its readership even after the election bump. Traffic is vital to Breitbart because like many news sites, it supports itself mostly with advertising revenue, said Solov. He said Breitbart works with a number of networks to produce ads on its articles and video clips. He said the company employs a sales manager who oversees a staff of three. Breitbart also generates revenue from its online store you can buy a tank top with the logo Border Wall Construction Co. but it declined to elaborate. It is rumored that hedge fund billionaire Robert Mercer has been a major backer of Breitbart. Mercer, who couldnt be reached for comment, was a major supporter of Trumps campaign, and his daughter, Rebekah, has been a part of the president-elects transition team. Experts say there is an increasing opacity in media ownership and funding as private equity buys up more news organizations. If the ownership is concealed, thats a legitimate area of concern, said Edward Wasserman, dean of the Graduate School of Journalism at UC Berkeley. At the same time, the mainstream Washington media are hardly a paragon of virtue. Its an elite closed loop, said Tom Bivins, a professor who teaches media ethics at the University of Oregon. Reporters are often fed information anonymously from the White House and politicians. Breitbarts closeness to Trump caused a major schism at Breitbart this year, when editor at large Ben Shapiro resigned, claiming that Bannon had betrayed Andrew Breitbarts legacy by cozying up to the Republican candidate. Bannons appointment to the White House has been harshly criticized by members of both parties who have latched on to some of Breitbart News more outlandish headlines to denounce him as an anti-Semite and the site itself as white nationalist. Bannon, who is on a leave of absence from the company, wasnt available for comment; but Breitbart leaders have gone on the counteroffensive, calling the attacks false and threatening a lawsuit against a major media company, which it has not identified. We think we were influential in the election and people are resentful of it, said Solov, noting that he is Jewish, as was Breitbart. We are a nationalist website. How the word white got tacked on is part of a coordinated media smear campaign, said Marlow. We like that we have a border we dont want to cede our country to unelected global bureaucrats. It has nothing to do with skin tone. Breitbart employs a number of minorities and women in prominent editorial positions. In a recent article, its London editor in chief Raheem Kassam praised Bannon for hiring a brown guy from a Muslim family to run his London operation. The company has also been accused of being part of the alt-right the informal political cohort often described as militantly conservative after Bannon was quoted in Mother Jones saying Breitbart was a platform for the movement. But company leaders deny they are actually part of the alt-right. We have done a number of articles on the alt-right, but that doesnt make us alt-right, Solov said. Breitbart News said that while it maintains a pro-Trump stance, it wont shy away from criticizing the future president if he deviates from his platform. Our readers expect us to be tough on him and honor his commitments to voters, said Joel Pollak, senior editor at large and in-house counsel at Breitbart.If were not tough on Trump on living up to his promises, then our readership will be tough on us. david.ng@latimes.com Twitter: @DavidNgLAT ALSO Trumps victory sparks unprecedented downloads of encrypted chat app Signal Why municipal bonds are in a nose dive since Trumps election Watchdog agency appeals ruling that would allow Trump to fire director Afghan air forces carried out airstrikes in the northern province of Kunduz leaving at least six Taliban terrorists killed and six more injured, local media reported on Saturday, Sputnik reported. The attacks were carried out on late Friday in Kanam area in the outskirts of the Kunduz city and in the Chardara district, the Khaama Press media outlet reported, citing local security officials. One of the airstrikes also destroyed an armored vehicle of the Taliban movement. The Taliban has not commented on the reports yet. Afghanistan is in a state of political and social turmoil, with Taliban insurgents and other extremist factions such as Islamic State (ISIL or Daesh), outlawed in Russia and many other countries, taking advantage of the instability in the country. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has outlined a seven-point plan to combat fake news sites that played a role in the recent election. The social media site will attempt to hit the fake news purveyors where it hurts, by interrupting the way these users generate revenue through advertising. In addition, the company will devise algorithms based on users flags of false content to help detect future content likely to be fake, and then remove it. Zuckerberg said Facebook employees were not trying to be arbiters of truth, but instead would rely on users to moderate the vast content on the site. Advertisement We believe in giving people a voice, which means erring on the side of letting people share what they want whenever possible, Zuckerberg said in a post published on the site late Friday night. We need to be careful not to discourage sharing of opinions or to mistakenly restrict accurate content. The company will make it easier for users to report and flag fake stories, and explore ways to include warnings to future readers of that content. It also will reach out to additional third-party organizations to help vet claims made in stories, and will raise the bar for how stories are displayed as related content. The announcement came as Zuckerberg flew to Peru to address an Asian-Pacific trade summit in Lima, where he told world leaders Saturday that more connectivity would help raise people out of poverty. Zuckerberg has been under public pressure since the election, as some observers have suggested that fake news circulated through Facebook may have influenced voters who chose Donald Trump for president. President Obama has said the wide dissemination of false news presents a threat to democratic institutions. Zuckerberg initially dismissed the notion that misinformation drove voters choice, calling it a crazy idea and saying that 99% of the content on the site was reliable. He changed course, however, soon after Google announced it would ban fake news sites from using its advertising services. Zuckerbergs subsequent proposal to ban such users from its own advertising network drew criticism from analysts, who argued that most false news sites dont use the service. Fake news organizations usually run ads on their own sites, using marketing services such as Google AdSense, to place those ads around their articles. They then steer readers to their stories through Facebook. Most of the fake news services have little or no name recognition and rely on social media to find an audience and generate the clicks that help generate ad revenue. Facebooks algorithm acts as a catalyst, spreading the content to other users news feeds as it rises in popularity. One such ad scheme generated lucrative revenue for a group of young people in the Macedonian town of Veles, who had launched more than 140 fake news sites, Buzzfeed reported. Among the false stories from that network was a report that presidential candidate Hillary Clinton would be indicted in 2017. It generated more than 140,000 shares, comments and reactions on Facebook, Buzzfeed reported. Another false story suggested that Clinton in 2013 had said she thought Trump was honest and should be elected president. It drew more than three times that activity on Facebook. Among those who praised Zuckerbergs moves was Jeff Jarvis, director of the Tow-Knight Center for Entrepreneurial Journalism at the City University of New York. Jarvis co-wrote his own plan, published Friday on Medium, that cautioned against censorship by the platform itself, including creation of blacklists of suspect sites and whitelists of reliable ones. Jarvis urged Facebook to make it easier for readers to scroll over an article to see pop-up content that refutes its claims, and to provide a path for reputable news agencies and fact-checking groups to post that refuting information and its source. Jarvis also suggested that Facebook more prominently display reliable media brands, such as large-circulation newspapers, and offer simple ways to track back to the original source of content so that users may judge its objectivity or reliability. geoffrey.mohan@latimes.com Follow me: @LATgeoffmohan ALSO Editorial: Having Google and Facebook censor content is no way to stop fake news Facebook bans fake news from its advertising network but not its News Feed Want to keep fake news out of your newsfeed? College professor creates list of sites to avoid Gone are the days when federal infrastructure spending was measured in highways, bridges and ports. As President-elect Donald Trump considers a massive new spending plan on public works, policy experts, lawmakers and companies are racing to make the case that infrastructure could include projects such as fast Internet networks, electric-vehicle charging stations, power transmission lines and drinking water systems. During a Bloomberg News conference on infrastructure in Washington this month, Mrinalini Ingram, vice president of smart communities at Verizon Communications Inc., had her own candidates for infrastructure spending: Verizon networking technology embedded in LED street lights and blue-light kiosks where pedestrians in danger can call police. Advertisement At the same event, Richard Lukas, director of federal grants and program development at the Trust for Public Land, was worrying about the fate of federal grants used to fund a riverside park in Newark, N.J., a three-mile park along an abandoned rail line in Chicago, and a trail and bike system in Cleveland. D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser, a Democrat, had her own suggestion: I would like us to think about affordable housing as part of our critical infrastructure. The varied proposals highlight a chief challenge in drawing up any plan: One persons critical infrastructure is another persons bridge to nowhere. Infrastructure doesnt just mean roads and bridges. Infrastructure means a lot of different things to a lot of different people, said Jason Grumet, president of the Bipartisan Policy Center. We have to be confident that were investing in things with common benefits, not like digging holes. The outcomes have to be consistent with our national priorities. How that will be decided is anyones guess. Trump hasnt said how he will stimulate infrastructure spending or how much will be public vs. private funding. Two of his advisors, private-equity investor Wilbur Ross and UC Irvine business professor Peter Navarro, have floated the idea that a federal tax credit could cover 82% of the private equity needed for big projects. They say that rather than setting national priorities, the Trump administration should use the tax credit to let the private market decide which projects to undertake. It would link increases in spending to reforms that streamline permitting and approvals, improve the project delivery system, and cut wasteful spending on boondoggle bridges and highways to nowhere, they said in an Oct. 27 paper. Ross and Navarro did not describe any limits on who would qualify for the tax credit, but they estimate that the federal government will hand out $137 billion worth of credits. There is no shortage of volunteers. IBM Corp. Chief Executive Ginni Rometty recently wrote to Trump with her ideas for infrastructure. As we build big, lets also build smart, she wrote. The country should focus on infrastructure investments that incorporate Internet of Things (IoT) technology and artificial intelligence to improve performance. And as infrastructure gets smarter, it also increases the need for cybersecurity, so that vital networks cannot be compromised, Rometty added. We recommend that your infrastructure package include incentives for states and localities to build intelligent and secure roads, bridges, buildings and other public facilities. Many of the companies arguing for infrastructure are hawking their own products. IBM provides equipment and services for the Internet of Things just as Verizon provides LED networking technology, part of a company called Sensity that Verizon bought in September. Other companies and workers imagine other things when they hear the word infrastructure. The American Society of Civil Engineers gave the United States a D-plus in its 2013 report card on U.S. infrastructure. It considered a wide variety of infrastructure areas, including energy, schools, parks, rail, bridges, solid waste facilities, dams, aviation, ports and drinking water. And while Trump has said he will curtail U.S. spending on climate change, the civil engineers group supports projects, such as flood control systems, that would promote resilience to changing conditions. For now, oil pipelines seem higher on Trumps priority list. Its a huge opportunity, said American Petroleum Institute President Jack Gerard, that doesnt cost taxpayers money. Were going to build some more pipelines that make sense, that are done with a workforce that is the most highly trained, safest in world, with 20th century technologies, and get some of those dangerous rail cars and trucks off the road, said Sean McGarvey, president of North Americas Building Trades Unions, half of whose members spend part of each year working on energy projects. In addition, McGarvey said, workers could refurbish the existing pipeline system. Trump is also likely to pursue plans to bolster fossil fuels such as coal. By contrast, the Obama administration had viewed renewable projects as infrastructure projects. In July, the White House announced $4.5 billion in loan guarantees for electric-vehicle charging stations. During her presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton said that the installation of more solar panels would fall under infrastructure spending. Many state and city officials still have lists with traditional needs. Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, a Republican who is also president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, favors things such as fixing aging water projects and leaking pipes that wont get loans and where attracting private money is not realistic. Schools also fall into that category. And Oklahoma City, recognizing that the quality of life affects its residents health, has redesigned streets to make them more pedestrian and bike friendly. I dont have much of an affordable housing issue, Cornett said regarding D.C. Mayor Bowsers comment. Our market rate in Oklahoma City is affordable housing in Washington, D.C. Cornett, who has requested a meeting between Trump and the mayors, argued that old infrastructure could be used in new ways and require new investments. One example, he said: The advent of the autonomous vehicle is probably going to have more to do with change in the built environment and infrastructure than anything weve encountered in our lifetimes. Mufson writes for the Washington Post. Shortly after United Airlines announced the launch this week of its new basic economy fares, travelers began to gripe on social media sites. Most fliers complained that such fares wouldnt allow passengers to choose their seats and would mean each passenger gets only one carry-on item that can fit under the seat dont try to put it in an overhead compartment. Why do you have to make a $ off everything, one flier tweeted at United. Great low fares but no bags or seat assign. Flying used to be fun now its a hassle. Advertisement Uniteds move represents an effort by the Chicago-based carrier to compete with ultra-low-cost carriers, such as Spirit Airlines, which have been siphoning business away from the major airlines. Delta Air Lines has already adopted a bare-bones fare and American Airlines plans to launch a similar fare next year. The nations largest flight attendants union applauds the new fares because they limit carry-on bags, which means fewer injuries for flight attendants who have to struggle to fit all the bags into the crowded overhead bins. Excess bags in the cabin lead to flight attendant injuries, slower boarding times and passenger altercations, Sara Nelson, international president of the Assn. of Flight Attendants, said in a statement. Data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the rate of airline employee injuries caused by luggage has fallen from 149 for every 10,000 workers in 2010 to 85 for every 10,000 workers in 2015. Carry-on bags also slow passengers from evacuating a plane in an emergency, said Taylor Garland, a spokeswoman for AFA. The planes were not built for everyone to carry on a bag, she said. hugo.martin@latimes.com To read more about the travel and tourism industries, follow @hugomartin on Twitter. ALSO The travel industry offers its solutions to long TSA lines Here are the airports expected to have the worst Thanksgiving travel delays American Airlines flight attendants report more problems with new uniforms A federal regulator has tightened restrictions on Wells Fargo & Co., requiring it to get approval to replace or hire new executives and make other changes, in the latest fallout over the San Francisco banks fake-accounts scandal. Late Friday, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, one of the regulators that reached a $185 million settlement with the bank over the creation of unauthorized customer accounts, issued a brief statement saying it was revoking some of the terms of that Sept. 8 deal. Specifically, the OCC said it was canceling parts that had shielded Wells Fargo from some oversight usually reserved for troubled banks. Advertisement The OCC did not issue a statement explaining the cancellation, but Wade Francis, a former OCC bank examiner, said the move amounts to a regulatory vote of no-confidence in the banks leadership. This is the OCC saying, We dont trust you to run your business, said Francis, president of Long Beach bank consultancy Unicon Financial Services. Theyre questioning the judgment of management. Wells Fargo will have to provide the OCC with written notices if it plans to replace board members or bank executives. The changes appear to apply only to Wells Fargo Bank, which has a separate board from corporate parent Wells Fargo & Co. Its not clear whether the change would have had any impact on Wells Fargos appointment of new Chief Executive Timothy Sloan last month. The bank will also no longer be entitled to expedited regulatory reviews of applications for basic practices, including opening or relocating bank branches. The regulatory order further prohibits the bank from making so-called golden parachute payments compensation paid to executives when they step down or are fired. Such bans are typically imposed only on banks that are troubled or insolvent. Its the OCC saying they dont trust the bank to be prudent, Francis said. Wells Fargo did not respond to a request for comment. In a statement to the Wall Street Journal, bank spokeswoman Jennifer Dunn said the new order will not inhibit our ability to execute our strategy. For the bank, the new OCC scrutiny could be a comedown after whats been a hopeful few weeks for Wells Fargo and other financial institutions. Banks and industry analysts expect the administration of President-elect Donald Trump to take a lighter regulatory approach, and thats sent bank shares soaring since Trumps unexpected victory. Wells Fargo shares closed Friday before the OCCs announcement at $52.82, up 16% since election day and well above where shares traded before the banks settlement with regulators in September. Still, even if bank regulators back off in the long term, the OCCs tighter restrictions for now add to a still-growing list of regulatory woes for the lender, which is under investigation by a handful of state and federal agencies. Earlier this month, Wells Fargo confirmed it is under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Thats on top of other inquiries by the U.S. Department of Justice, Department of Labor, congressional committees and state attorneys general. The California Department of Justice is investigating the bank for possible criminal identity theft related to unauthorized accounts. And the bank is also facing a handful of private lawsuits stemming from the banks admission that thousands of bank employees opened as many as 2 million unauthorized accounts over the past several years. That includes suits brought by former employees who say they were improperly fired for refusing to engage in fraudulent sales activity and by customers who say they were harmed. In a regulatory filing earlier this month, Wells Fargo estimated that its reasonably possible potential losses from litigation are $1.7 billion, up from $1 billion in litigation risk the bank reported in June. The scandal has started to cut into the banks business, too, with fewer customers opening new accounts. Bank executives reported Thursday that Wells Fargo opened about 300,000 new checking accounts last month, down 27% from September and down 44% from October 2015. The number of credit card applications during the month fell even more sharply, declining by 50% compared with October of last year. The bank acknowledged that the decline was the result of customer reaction to the sales practices settlement. james.koren@latimes.com Follow me: @jrkoren ALSO Why do flight attendants love United Airlines new basic economy seats? Why the L.A. Auto Show is a good place to shop for your next car Surge of data from cars could be big moneymaker. Do automakers have mettle to harness it? UPDATES: 12:15 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details, including Wells Fargos stock price and investigations the bank is facing. This article was originally published at 11:35 a.m. On a walk in the park, she fell face first and broke her nose. In the middle of the night, she tried to get to the bathroom but fell and crashed through closet doors. Multiple infections, along with heart and kidney disease, landed her in the hospital, where her dementia raged and she didnt always recognize loved ones. Advertisement She got better and they sent her home, but in her mind, something is wrong. It doesnt look like my home, she told me, sitting in the living room of the Contra Costa County house she has lived in for 55 years. My mother is in the waiting room now, the one were all headed to, millions and millions of boomers on the march. My father walked this way, too, before his death almost five years ago. Now, like then, its hard to know whats best or how to decide. I find myself wondering if Id still want to live if I didnt recognize my own family. Im thinking again about medical advances blurring the lines, sometimes, between extending life and prolonging death. When you go into the hospital for a few days, you come out at a lower functional level. Dr. Bruce Chernof, Senior Care Action Network Foundation Would my mother be better off in a nursing home, with round-the-clock professional help? Or would she do better staying in her own house, even if she doesnt always recognize it, with hired help looking after her? Which would be more expensive? Why dont Medicare and her supplemental insurance cover more than they do? At a cost of several thousand dollars a month, how long will it take before she burns through her savings? Grace Virginia Lopez is 87 and lucky in a way, despite the length of her medical chart. My sister lives with her and looks after her, and theyre like best friends. But my sister has her own health issues. Ten years ago, she got ovarian cancer. Eight years ago, it spread to her brain. My sister keeps fighting, same as my mother. It isnt fair that the older you get, the tougher you have to be. When my mother was ready to leave the hospital, we were told that if she were deemed eligible, Medicare would cover a week of assisted living. If not, she would go home, and Medicare would cover a month of twice-weekly visits by a nurse and physical therapist. We hoped shed qualify for a week of assisted living to help get her stabilized before she went home. Without explanation, she was denied. Then we were told that despite her falls, and difficulty walking, Medicare would not cover a ride home from the hospital. This came as no surprise to Susan Geffen, a gerontologist and elder care attorney. She hosts informational symposiums around town and said that at one of them, an elderly man said he fell and injured himself but didnt use an emergency buzzer to call for help because he knew an ambulance ride would not be covered. Geffen said families are routinely being thrown into a massive state of financial and psychological disarray because of the cost of healthcare and the arcane regulations that can be so difficult to navigate. If you can afford it, Geffen recommends buying a long-term healthcare policy when youre my age (63), or preferably much younger, to help defray healthcare costs later on. If you own a house, another option to pay for healthcare costs is a reverse mortgage. And she said you can now turn a portion of your IRA into a healthcare annuity. Dr. Bruce Chernof of the nonprofit Senior Care Action Network Foundation (SCAN) said the country needs to urgently reconsider the state of elder care. Our healthcare system was purposely built for a different time and place, Chernof said. Average life expectancy was 69 in 1955, so people expected to live four years beyond Medicare. As for Medicaid, he said, nobody expected it to be the primary payer for long-term care as it now is. My mother, at 87, is now the norm, having lived for years with chronic medical problems. Her recent hospital visit may have saved her life, but she became far more disoriented after batteries of probes, tests and doctor visits, and tried to flee. Hospitals are dangerous places for older people, said Chernof. Theyre fine if you have to be there, but very good evidence shows that when you go into the hospital for a few days, you come out at a lower functional level. Chernof recommends a transformation of care, and a more cost-effective redistribution of public funds. When you look at us compared to every other industrialized country in the world, weve spent far more on acute medical services and far less on community-based and home support services, said Chernof. On its website, SCAN has published an open letter to President-elect Donald Trump, warning that older Americans and their families have no financial protection against the high cost of disability when it strikes, and without a new plan, families and Medicaid budgets will be crushed. SCAN recommends the appointment of a White House-level leader on elder care, integration of Medicare and Medicaid to simplify regulations and lower costs, an insurance program for catastrophic long-term care needs, and focusing more on what is most important to the person actually getting the care. If you have questions about how to help a parent get the best care or plan ahead for your own care, go to thescanfoundation.org and click on Aging Well. Scroll through 10 Things Every Family Should Know, 10 Things to Discuss with Your Doctor and other helpful lists. For information on Susan Geffens upcoming elder care symposiums, go to www.susanbgeffen.com. For all shes been through, my mothers spirits are pretty good. She loves hearing and telling family stories and sometimes recalls small details from 50 years ago, even though she cant remember what day today is. At breakfast Friday morning, she looked up from her toast and eggs, and apropos of nothing, she said: Dear Lord, Im not afraid to die, but I dont want to suffer. Get more of Steve Lopezs work and follow him on Twitter @LATstevelopez MORE BY STEVE LOPEZ The children are afraid: L.A. Latinos fear a Trump presidency He voted for Trump. I cant understand why. We met in search of common ground 50 years ago, the Sunset Strip riots made L.A. the magical epicenter of a revolution The California High Speed Rail Authority has reversed its plans to buy foreign parts for its trains, saying in a letter to federal regulators that it was withdrawing a request for a waiver from the Buy American Act. The change on Thursday came after Rep. John Garamendi (D-Fairfield) and other Democratic lawmakers became outraged over the plan, disclosed last week, to import the most important parts of future rail cars, including motors, brakes, wheels, axles, the aluminum shells and undercarriages. The policy of the authority must be that this rail system will be built in the U.S. Rep. John Garamendi (D-Fairfield) Advertisement The reversal comes amid growing political uncertainty about the fortunes of the $64-billion project to build a bullet train from Los Angeles to San Francisco. The loss of the White House gives Republican opponents of the project a stronger hand to end it, though nobody is sure what President-elect Donald Trump thinks about the project, according to Republican staff in Congress. In letters to the Federal Railroad Administration, the rail authority had said the parts could not be made in the U.S. or would cost more if they were. That argument crashed into opposition from unions and lawmakers who have spent their careers attempting to force public agencies to buy their goods from factories that create American jobs. The argument that I got from the high-speed rail authority was that it couldnt be built in the United States, and the reply I gave started out with [an impolite term for rubbish] and went on from there, Garamendi said. The policy of the authority, Garamendi said, must be that this rail system will be built in the U.S. Garamendi said rail authority Chairman Dan Richard told him last week that neither he nor the rail authority board knew anything about the plan to import the train parts. The authority formalized the commitment to withdraw the waiver request on Thursday in a letter to Sarah Feinberg, chief of the Federal Railroad Administration. The letter says the authority will require full compliance with Buy American requirements. It seems, however, to allow wiggle room to request future waivers, noting that solicitations for train parts will include scoring incentives to encourage bidders not to ask for Buy American waivers. Our hope is that this approach will encourage the United States manufacturing industry to rise to the challenge of producing what is needed to build high-speed trains in America, authority spokeswoman Lisa Marie Alley said. Garamendi and his allies, Reps. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) and Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento), praised the announcement. It is vitally important that these parts are produced and manufactured in America, so that we continue to maintain job growth and economic development, Matsui said in a statement. At least four major rail corporations could build the bullet trains at U.S. plants, including one near Sacramento that Siemens has proposed expanding to make rail cars for the project, Garamendi said. The massive AFL-CIO, which represents the largest industrial unions in the nation, said it was extremely pleased about the potential for job creation. California high-speed rail is one of the most important and forward-looking infrastructure projects underway in this country, said Edward Wytkind, president of the unions Transportation Trades Department. We have been proud to support this project and defend it against political attacks by opponents in the state and in Washington, D.C. ralph.vartabedian@latimes.com Follow me on Twitter @rvartabedian ALSO Editorial: Build America, then Buy American Not made in America? California bullet train officials seek exemption to buy foreign parts State rail authority reduces size of future bullet train stations It was the second Tuesday of November, one week after the election of Donald J. Trump, and hundreds of protesters were on the march, streaming down Market Street toward City Hall under police escort. There was something about this march that distinguished it from the almost daily post-election demonstrations that have occurred across the San Francisco Bay Area, mostly peaceful, a few marked by vandalism: President-elect Trump was not the target. Rather, the protest was aimed at the proposed Dakota Access Pipeline, a 1,172-mile crude oil line that critics fear could harm lands held sacred by Native Americans. Advertisement We want to use music to put forward the ideals of compassion, activism and community. Chris Verdugo, executive director of the San Francisco Gay Mens Chorus Protesters march in opposition of Donald Trumps presidential election victory in San Francisco. (Jeff Chiu / Associated Press ) In one sense, the non-Trump demonstration seemed to suggest a return to normal for a city with a long tradition of taking progressive political views to the streets. At the same time, however, it underscored an increasingly common response here as the citys initial shock and anger over the election begins to subside a greater need to take up a cause, to pay more attention, to engage more actively in civic life. There are a lot of different issues, said Patricia St. Onge, one of the protest organizers, who noted that representatives from Black Lives Matter and other movements had turned out as well. What we want to do now is start connecting all the dots. If California, as described by Teddy Roosevelt, is west of the West, then San Francisco stands to the far left of the Left Coast. The election results provided vivid evidence. Fewer than 1 in 10 San Franciscans voted for Trump; 85.4% cast ballots for Clinton. Across the seven-county Bay Area, the voting was almost equally lopsided, with Clinton receiving nearly 1.3 million votes more than the president-elect. Take away that margin, and Trump would have prevailed nationally in the popular vote. Well survive. Boyton Jones, tech worker With the wide margins came an even wider river of grief here once it became clear Trump had prevailed. In the election aftermath, the emotional stages identified by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross in her landmark treatise On Death and Dying all have been on display here: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, plenty of each of these. Stop the transition, demanded a letter published Friday in the Chronicle from a reader who appeared to have moved on from denial to bargaining. The election is invalid, and I demand a new one, with United Nations accountability. Less in evidence has been acceptance, the fifth emotion Kubler-Ross discerned in her study of the terminally ill, but there are moments. Boyton Jones has been wearing an Obama mask and carrying this sign across the Golden Gate bridge in protest of the election.. (Peter King / Los Angeles Times ) Well survive, said Boyton Jones, a 51-year-old unemployed tech worker. You have to knuckle down, but well get through it just fine. Jones was outside the 16th Street BART subway station, applying adhesive tape to keep multicolored sticky notes from blowing away in the breeze. People had been placing hand-written messages on a station wall since the election. Discrimination is sin, one proclaimed. Pray, counseled another. Dont lose hope, offered another, followed by a smiley face. Somebody ought to write (expletive) fascism, growled a bearded young bicyclist as he shot past. Laid off in January and saddled with high rent, Jones, an Air Force veteran, said he was leaning toward Trump early in the campaign, but then it became racist. On election night, he joined a large protest in downtown Oakland, but was dismayed, he said, when anarchists started smashing windows. He decided to go his own way. He built a sign warning of Pyrrhic victory and chickens coming home to roost, donned a Golden State Warriors jersey with Obama 44 across the back, along with an Obama mask, and started walking across the Golden Gate Bridge. I do my thing on the bridge, he said. My own protest. He had come to the BART station wall to see the notes and noticed that they were beginning to blow away. So he took it upon himself to make sure each was shored up with tape. When you are so angry, and you feel like doing something negative, he said, the best cure is to do something positive. Muriel MacDonald, a 25-year-old writer for a political consulting firm, started the wall project. She described riding a street car to work after the election; the car was filled with passengers. They all kept their heads down and did not speak. It was silent, she recalled, the whole way. She said her project was her attempt to move forward. She said its been criticized for being too warm and fuzzy. But I am just trying to help people process so we can move on and fight. Its not about warm and fuzzy. Its about psychological healing. Since the election San Franciscans have expressed, in private conversation and in published letters, a desire to look inwardly, circle the wagons, go it alone. There has even been columnist chatter about supporting a California secession from the union no doubt impossible, but the conversational equivalent of comfort food. Others have advocated for pushing out into the country, assuming a national leadership role for blue state Americans, exporting Californians to register for the next election in critical red state districts. For example, the San Francisco Gay Mens Chorus, born in the aftermath of Supervisor Harvey Milks assassination 40 years ago, announced this week a plan to perform a freedom tour through some of the reddest of red states in 2018. This chorus is rooted in social activism, explained Executive Director Chris Verdugo. We want to use music to put forward the ideals of compassion, activism and community. These are our templates. For his part, Mayor Ed Lee has offered at once both the idea of turning inward and of leading outward. Today, he noted in a statement, many San Franciscans are feeling anxious and nervous following this divisive and polarizing presidential election. But San Francisco will remain San Francisco. San Francisco will continue to be a beacon of light, a city dedicated to progress, and a leader on issues that have changed the landscape of our country for the better. In this bluest of blue cities, anyway, the mayors sentiments did not necessarily seem like denial. peter.king@latimes.com Twitter: @peterhking After a lifetime of riding the trains in the summer and wintering at the missions on L.A.s skid row, Arthur Rivera ended up in a Santa Monica gutter. Then a case manager with Step Up on Second, a mental health services agency, obtained a rental subsidy for him. In 2011 Rivera moved into a single apartment in a four-story, brick-facade building in Koreatown. Rivera, 67, said his life has stabilized into a simple routine, riding the bus several times a week to Step Up on Second for group activities and meals. Otherwise, he stays in his sparse apartment where the furnishings consist of a metal fold-up bed and a box for his radio. Advertisement I stay home and listen to my music, Rivera said. I do my exercise. Taking my shower. Inside my room. I get discouraged going outside. Going outside I get angry and nervous. I feel better staying in here. I want to at least have my space. But Riveras equilibrium was upended three years later when the building was sold. The new manager told him, Theres going to be some big changes around here, he said. According to a lawsuit filed in federal court Thursday, the changes began with a notice from the new owner that it would no longer accept Section 8. Rivera was given 90 days to move. Rivera is one of 15 tenants in five Koreatown buildings named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit, filed electronically Thursday night by the pro bono law firm Public Counsel and the nonprofit law firm Public Advocates Inc. It alleges that the Century City investment company Optimus Properties LLC used abusive and discriminatory tactics to displace mentally ill and Latino tenants from the rent-controlled buildings so they could renovate their units and rent them for more money. In addition to Optimus, the lawsuit names five affiliated limited liability companies that are the registered owners of the buildings; Roxbury Ventures LLC, described as Optimus property management company; and Jerome Mickelson, listed on Optimus website as director of construction/multifamily asset manager. On Friday, Mickelson emailed The Times a statement on behalf of Optimus denying the allegations. We take these allegations very seriously and categorically deny each and every such allegation, the email said. The Plaintiff in this action never contacted us to investigate these claims and has filed this action without proper analysis and investigation. We look forward to working with the Plaintiff to educate them about the real facts and if need be, to exonerate ourselves at trial. Our tenants are the key to our success and are treated with respect at all stages of their tenancy. He declined to answer questions. The lawsuit alleges Optimus violated state and federal anti-discrimination laws to push out undesirable tenants so it could market the units to childless, English-speaking, non-disabled people of means, and increase their profits on the rapid resale of the apartment buildings. The 92-page complaint contains a section on each of the 15 plaintiffs, outlining instances of rent increases and eviction notices that it described as unlawful. Four of the plaintiffs were described as people with mental disabilities. The others were Spanish-speaking tenants, either couples with children, single parents or elderly. Deepika Sharma, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs, said a case manager for one of the clients brought Public Counsel a copy of the Section 8 termination notice. Public Counsel notified Optimus that the notice was illegal because local law prohibits termination of tenancy without legal cause to evict, Sharma said. The lawsuit alleges explicit discrimination by representatives for the defendants who have said, in so many words, that regular tenants should not have to live near tenants with mental disabilities with their symptoms and issues; that they will call immigration on Latino tenants who challenged eviction notices; that the smells of Latino cooking are disgusting and foul; and that families whose children use common areas will be evicted. Three pages on Rivera say the notice of his Section 8 termination was the beginning of a litany of notices that caused multiple threats to his ability to remain in his home, which he was able to stave off only through the assistance of Step Up and pro bono counsel... Besides the Section 8 termination notice, which the law firm successfully fought, Rivera received four eviction notices based on a rent increase that the lawsuit alleged was illegal because it was not approved, as required by law, through the Los Angeles Housing Authority. A fifth eviction notice alleged Rivera was violating his lease by playing music too loud. The lawsuit also says that Optimus failed to comply with three letters sent by Riveras caseworker and Public Counsel asking that all communications be sent to them as a reasonable accommodation for his disability. Rivera has experienced significant emotional distress, including anxiety, fear, and loss of sleep, the lawsuit alleges. Step Up has had to divert significant time, effort, and expense to helping Rivera combat Defendants unlawful notices and other discriminatory practices. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages and an injunction ordering Optimus to cease the alleged practices. doug.smith@latimes.com Twitter: @LATDoug ALSO Exide cleanup: State testing more schools, parks and day-care centers for lead danger Phony Catholic priest sentenced again to jail in Los Angeles: You cant go into a church and pretend Missing Los Angeles couple drank their own urine while lost in the desert Early one morning, a few weeks after his fifth birthday, George Takeis parents woke him. They were hurried, packing quickly, and Takei gazed out the window. He saw two soldiers marching up his East Los Angeles driveway, carrying rifles with shiny bayonets. The soldiers stomped up the front porch and banged on the door until Takeis father answered, and the family was ordered out of their home at gunpoint. Takeis mother was the last to leave. When she came out, she had our baby sister in one arm and a huge, heavy-looking duffel bag in the other, and tears were streaming down her face, Takei said Friday, more than seven decades later. Advertisement And that terror, he said, is seared into my memory. Many know Takei as the actor who famously played Mr. Sulu in Star Trek. But Takei has also leveraged his fame into social-media stardom, placing himself at the forefront of Asian American activism with a Facebook following rapidly approaching 10 million. So it should come as no surprise that Takei spoke out this week after Carl Higbie, a supporter of President-elect Donald Trump, defended the idea of creating a registry for immigrants of Muslim countries on Fox News. It is legal. They say itll hold constitutional muster. I know the [American Civil Liberties Union] is going to challenge it, but I think itll pass, Higbie said. Weve done it with Iran back a while ago. We did it during World War II with Japanese, which, you know, call it what you will, maybe Host Megyn Kelly then interjected: Come on. Youre not youre not proposing we go back to the days of internment camps, I hope? No, no, no. Im not proposing that at all, Megyn, but what I am saying is we need to protect America first, Higbie said. Higbie later returned to Fox News and said he was making a reference strictly to the scrutiny on immigration and the stopping of immigration and it had nothing to do with internment camps whatsoever. He blamed Kelly for using the words internment camps and said the left-wing media took this by the horns because they are not a fan of Donald Trump. A spokesman for Trumps transition team issued a statement saying that the president-elect has never advocated for any registry or system that tracks individuals based on their religion, and to imply otherwise is completely false. In November 2015, according to the fact-checking website PolitiFact, Trump made a number of contradictory and confusing statements in response to questions about whether he supported a database of all Muslims. Eventually, Trump told ABC News George Stephanopoulos that he wants a database for Syrian refugees, but he did not rule out a database for all Muslims. Still, Higbies exchange with Kelly sent chills through much of Los Angeles Japanese American community and continued to spark strong rebukes on Thursday and Friday. This ignoramus doesnt have any idea what hes talking about, Takei said of Higbie in an interview Friday night as he returned home to Los Angeles after a week spent speaking about internment at locations across the country. President Reagan apologized for the internment, Takei continued, adding that discriminating against innocent people, because of their faith, is outrageous and un-American. The advocacy group Asian Americans Advancing Justice condemned Higbies remarks and said it was outraged that anyone, including political leaders in the U.S., would find inspiration in the racially motivated imprisonment of nearly 120,000 individuals. We stand ready to fight any effort to revive such inherently discriminatory policies to the fullest extent of the law, the group said in a statement. Ann Burroughs, interim president and CEO of the Japanese American National Museum, called Higbies comments very alarming and worried about the children who come to the museum each day to learn. One of the messages they hear is that the Constitution failed Americans in the Second World War, but it will never happen again, Burroughs said. And now, what kind of assurance can we give them? Takei, who is a trustee and chairman emeritus of the museum, said part of the problem is that we dont know our history. As a part of the last generation of Japanese Americans to have experienced internment, Takei said he feels he has a special responsibility to make sure this story is not forgotten. Its vitally important for a democracy to learn from those chapters where we failed, he said. This is a part of our history and we need to learn. matt.stevens@latimes.com Twitter: @ByMattStevens Times staff writer Rong-Gong Lin II contributed to this report. ALSO Firefighters battle blaze at historic Union Station Florida man dies fulfilling dream to surf off Huntington Beach Missing Los Angeles couple drank their own urine while lost in the desert The $25-million Trump University lawsuit settlement announced Friday came 10 days before a trial was to start and slightly more than a week after U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Miller stepped into the case as a mediator. Miller was asked by fellow federal Judge Gonzalo Curiel on Nov. 10 to try to broker a settlement in the high-profile San Diego class-action suit involving thousands of plaintiffs. with President-elect Donald Trump as the main defendant. Miller is a veteran jurist who spent years on the state Superior Court bench in San Diego and is widely respected in the state and federal courts. He went on senior status in 2010 meaning he is an active federal judge but with a reduced caseload. Advertisement Lawyers on both sides praised Millers role, without going into detail, as did Curiel during a hearing Friday when they discussed the settlement that canceled the looming Nov. 28 trial. He showed a very steady hand, said Jason Forge, an attorney for the plaintiffs. Miller, 72, was appointed to the federal bench in 1997 by President Clinton. He had been a San Diego Superior Court judge for a decade, appointed by Republican Gov. George Deukmejian. On the federal bench he has presided over several high-profile cases: --The Strippergate corruption case against then-San Diego City Councilmen Ralph Inzunza and Michael Zucchet and Las Vegas lobbyist Lance Malone. The trial centered on political campaign contributions from strip club owners. The jury convicted Zucchet, but Miller took the unusual step of acquitting him of most of the charges, concluding there was not enough evidence to support the guilty verdicts. The ruling stood up on appeal. Inzunza went to prison. --A 2013 terrorism case in which four Somali immigrants, including three from San Diego, were convicted of sending $8,500 in cash to the terrorist group Shabab. Its the only known case in which information from the National Security Agencys massive surveillance program of U.S. telephone traffic has been used. Miller sentenced the men to prison, but his rulings in the case about the surveillance program are being appealed. --A 2012 wrongful death lawsuit involving the crash of a Marine jet in a San Diego neighborhood that killed four family members in their home. Miller presided over the non-jury trial. The F/A-18D Hornet crashed into a house in University City, killing four people. Miller awarded the survivors of those killed $17.8 million. Moran writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Union-Tribune staff writer Kristina Davis contributed to this report. Twitter: @gregmoran greg.moran@sduniontribune.com ALSO Donald Trumps first picks for top jobs show how he plans to govern from the hard right Theres nothing wrong with being white. Trumps win brings white pride out of the shadows White nationalists man in the White House? Bannon appointment provokes angry rebukes Thousands of Turks protested the PKK terrorist organization in Belgium's capital Brussels on Saturday, Anadolu reported. According to Anadolu Agency reporters in the field, Turkish-origin protesters gathered in Schuman Square home also to EU institutions such as the European Commission and the Council of the European Union. During the demonstration, people carried anti-terror banners, urging the EU to stop backing terrorism. On Thursday, sympathizers of the PKK terrorist organization also held a protest in Schuman Square with the permission of the Belgian authorities. Belgium has been criticized in the past for failing to act against the PKK. In August, the group's supporters in Brussels were allowed to celebrate the anniversary of the terror organization's first attack; five months earlier, sympathizers set up tents outside EU buildings ahead of a Turkey-EU summit. Aside from Belgium, the PKK is also active in other EU countries such as Germany, Austria, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Greece. The PKK listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU resumed its decades-old armed campaign in July last year and has been responsible for the deaths of more than 1,100 security force members and civilians, including women and children. Dana Brown had a dream that one day hed be able to drive the van he lived in on the other side of the country to Huntington Beach to surf. He managed to make his way here from Florida, but was defeated by the waves he long had hoped to conquer. Brown, 60, paddled out on Nov. 6 near the Huntington Beach Pier. As the waves swelled 4 to 6 feet and the sun began to set, he was slammed into one of the piers pillars. Advertisement A video posted online shows a group of surfers swimming to shore with an unconscious Brown. He died in a hospital four days later. Racheal Katz, a Florida resident, met Brown about four years ago in Cocoa Beach, where Brown had been living in his van with his father, George. With his long white beard, Dana Brown looked to some like a crazed homeless man, Katz said, but she thought differently and introduced herself. Katz was struck by the innocence of both Browns, and a friendship formed. Dana and his dad were innocent, she said. You dont see innocent people any more, and you definitely dont find innocent 60-year-olds. Katz said that Dana Brown had deep religious convictions and would never surf on the Sabbath, no matter how perfect the waves were. Brown spent a great deal of time caring for his aging father. When his dad got sick, he spent probably every day with him, Katz said. Dana carried him in and out of that van every day. He didnt want him in any kind of an adult caring facility. Brown bathed and fed his father and spent most days reading to him in their van. When his father died in March, Katz said, Brown was heartbroken. They had a journey together, him and his dad, she said. The death kind of ruined what Dana believed. About six months later, Brown left Cocoa Beach on a journey to the Huntington Beach surf spot he had dreamed of. On the way, Brown stopped in various areas, including Mexico, but Main Street was always on his mind. Nobody knows whether Brown caught a wave at the pier the day he was fatally injured. I hope he caught one great wave, Katz said. He died doing what he loved. Brown is expected to be buried next to his father in Cocoa Beach on Dec. 3. benjamin.brazil@latimes.com Brazil writes for Times Community News ALSO Missing Los Angeles couple drank their own urine while lost in the desert 102 million dead California trees unprecedented in our modern history, officials say Phony Catholic priest sentenced again to jail in Los Angeles: You cant go into a church and pretend Breitbart News wants supporters to #DumpKelloggs after advertiser pulls out By David Ng Breitbart News senior editor-at-large Joel Pollak, left, and Chief Executive Larry Solov at the Breitbart offices in Los Angeles. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) The Breitbart News Network is seeing some of its advertisers head for the exit doors and is responding in typical Breitbart fashion: by going on the counteroffensive, labeling one of them as un-American and calling it a war on conservatism. Since Donald Trumps victory in the presidential election, Los Angeles-based Breitbart has experienced a backlash from some advertisers who say that the online site conflicts with their corporate values. Breitbart took a pro-Trump stance during the campaign, supporting the Republican candidates views on immigration and national security. The companys executive chairman, Steve Bannon, who is on a leave of absence, was Trumps campaign manager and has been named chief White House strategist. Although Bannon was quoted in Mother Jones as saying Breitbart is a platform for the alt-right the ultraconservative movement associated with white nationalism the news site has denied accusations that it engages in racist rhetoric. The company has stated that it isnt affiliated with the alt-right and that the brand of nationalism it espouses is political, not racial. Breitbart is fighting back at one of the advertisers breakfast cereal maker Kellogg Co. by launching a Twitter campaign, #DumpKelloggs, that encourages its readers to sign a petition and boycott the maker of such favorites as Froot Loops and Apple Jacks. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Supreme Court weighs rules for jailed immigrants in Trump era By David Savage The Supreme Court building in Washington. (Saul Loeb / AFP-Getty Images) Facing the likelihood of dramatically stepped-up deportations under a President Donald Trump, the Supreme Court justices sounded closely split Wednesday over whether the government can indefinitely jail immigrants with criminal convictions while they fight legal efforts to remove them from the country. Trump, who made illegal immigration one of the platforms of his presidential campaign, has promised to deport as many as 3 million immigrants once he takes office, and the Supreme Court case involving a Los Angeles immigrant could give his administration greater leverage. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump says he saved American jobs, but he hasnt shown how he can turn the victory into policy By Noah Bierman A Carrier Corp. plant in Indianapolis. (Darron Cummings / Associated Press) President-elect Donald Trumps newly announced agreement to save more than 1,000 jobs in Indiana gave him the kind of trophy he covets: a tangible victory that matches his campaign promise to serve as deal maker in chief. But its long-term value will depend on what Trump gave up to keep those factory jobs from going to Mexico and whether he is able to craft a successful fiscal policy that has a broader impact on the economy. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Lawmakers reach a compromise to help California soldiers ordered to repay enlistment bonuses By David S. Cloud House and Senate negotiators announced a compromise Tuesday that would permit the Pentagon to forgive debts owed by thousands of California National Guard soldiers who received improper bonuses during the height of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The agreement was included in a defense bill due to be voted on by the House on Friday and the Senate next week. It seeks to strike a balance between the Pentagons concerns about fraud in the bonus system and lawmakers attempts to resolve a scandal that has hurt thousands of military veterans and sparked a public furor. The compromise calls on the Pentagon to forgive the enlistment bonuses and student loans benefits unless the soldier who received the money knew or reasonably should have known that he or she was ineligible for it. The provision stops short of requiring the Pentagon to forgive debts allegedly owed by all California Guard soldiers as long as they fulfilled the terms of their enlistment contracts and did not commit fraud a far more sweeping waiver that members of the California delegation had proposed. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Pentagon says human errors led to mistaken bombing of Syrian-backed forces By W.J. Hennigan Smoke rises near the Syrian village of Hisha, about 25 miles from Islamic States de facto capital of Raqqah, after an airstrike by the American-led coalition on Nov. 9, 2016. (Delil Souleiman /AFP/Getty Images) A U.S. military investigation has found that unintentional human errors led to a coalition airstrike that mistakenly killed dozens of Syrian-backed troops this fall, but it did not recommend disciplining anyone for the deadly attack. The Sept. 17 air raid on a garrison in the eastern Syrian town of Dair Alzour is one of the worst coalition errors to emerge since the Obama administration began an air war against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria in mid-2014. The attack, which was in an area also frequented by Russian forces, led to sharp criticism from Moscow after it emerged that Russian attempts to use a communications hotline to stop the attack were not answered for nearly half an hour. Russias Defense Ministry has said the attack killed 62 Syrian troops, wounded 100 more and opened the way for an Islamic State offensive in the area. It also helped destroy an already fragile U.S.-Russian cease-fire. A four-page redacted summary of the investigation that was released Tuesday concluded that the botched bombing did not violate international laws of armed conflict. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print U.N. slaps new sanctions on North Korea for recent nuclear test By Tracy Wilkinson Participants stand behind a military band in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Sept. 13 during a celebration rally after the countrys successful test of a nuclear warhead. (Kim Won-Jin / AFP/Getty Images) The United Nations has slapped additional sanctions on North Korea in an effort to cut its exports of raw materials as punishment for conducting another nuclear test. The U.N. Security Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a U.S.-drafted resolution aimed at cutting North Koreas exports of coal, copper, silver and other raw materials, which are its biggest legitimate sources of foreign revenue. The latest sanctions were issued in response to Pyongyangs fifth and largest nuclear test, which was conducted in September in violation of U.N. resolutions. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power estimated the new sanctions will cost North Korea about $800 million a year in lost export income. North Korea is determined to refine its nuclear and ballistic missile technology to pose an even more potent threat ... to international peace and security, Power said. But this resolution imposes unprecedented costs on the [Kim Jong Un] regime for defying this councils demands, she said. Previous international sanctions have had little apparent effect on decisions in Pyongyang, and its difficult to know whether the latest round will make a difference. In March, a set of sanctions described as the most severe in two decades was imposed. But North Korea has gotten around some of the restrictions thanks to complicity from China, its neighbor and longtime benefactor. Wednesdays measures included a 60% cut on North Koreas export of coal, its biggest income source, and bans on the export of copper, nickel, silver and zinc. The sanctions also banned North Koreas export of statues, a business that caters mostly to Africa, and blacklisted 11 people and 10 entities. Under the resolution, North Korea is also threatened with suspension of some U.N. privileges if it fails to comply. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print CIA director warns Trump it would be the height of folly to scrap the Iran deal By Brian Bennett In an unusual public warning, the head of the CIA said Wednesday it would be the height of folly and disastrous for President-elect Donald Trump to scrap the Iran nuclear deal. CIA Director John Brennan said in a TV interview that ripping up the historic accord could allow Iran to resume its nuclear program and set off an arms race in the Middle East by encouraging other countries to acquire their own nuclear weapons. I think it would be disastrous for the incoming Trump administration to renege on the deal with Iran, Brennan said in an unusually blunt interview with BBC. It could lead to a weapons program inside Iran that could lead other states in the region to embark on their own programs, so I think it would be height of folly if the next administration were to tear up that agreement, Brennan said. It is extremely rare for the CIA director to issue a public warning to an incoming administration, and it suggests deep concern inside the intelligence community about Trumps intentions. During the campaign, Trump variously promised to dismantle or to revise President Obamas signature foreign policy achievement, an international deal that cut off Irans ability to build or acquire nuclear weapons in exchange for easing of sanctions on its finances and oil industry. Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.), Trumps pick to replace Brennan as CIA director, also has been a vocal critic of the deal. I look forward to rolling back this disastrous deal with the worlds largest state sponsor of terrorism, Pompeo wrote Nov. 17 on Twitter. After meeting Trump at the White House after the election, Obama said they had discussed the Iran deal and that he hoped it would survive intact, noting that the United States would be acting alone if it sought to impose new sanctions. The five members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany negotiated the deal in 2015, and the U.N. later voted to enforce it. Implementation began in January, and no evidence has emerged to indicate Iran is violating its side of the agreement. View Twitter post Obama administration officials want to brief Trump and his top advisors on classified details and assessments of the Iran deal, including monitoring systems put in place to verify Iranian compliance. So far, Trumps transition team has delayed receiving more than a handful of in-depth intelligence briefings. There are a lot of people out there who read the papers and listened to news broadcasts where the facts may be a bit you know off, Brennan told the BBC. I want to make sure the new team understands what the reality is. It ultimately will be up to them to decide how to carry out their responsibilities, Brennan said. Robert M. Gates, a former CIA chief and secretary of Defense, also called for preserving the nuclear deal. It would be a mistake to tear up the agreement at this point, Gates said in an interview on CBS This Morning. I think we would be the ones isolated, not the Iranians, because none of our partners who helped to negotiate that would walk away from it. But I think what the new president can do is push back against the Iranians. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Rep. Nancy Pelosi elected by House Democrats for another term as minority leader By Lisa Mascaro House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Andrew Harnik/Associated Press) House Democrats elected Rep. Nancy Pelosi for another term as minority leader after she fended off a rival who said the November election showed the party needs change at the top. The San Francisco Democrat has beaten back challengers before, but this years campaign from Ohio Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan focused attention on President-elect Donald Trumps success in attracting white, working class voters in Rust Belt states that had traditionally been part of the Democratic base. Pelosi responded by expanding her leadership team to include more seats at the table for younger members and those from states Trump won. The only woman to serve as House speaker, Pelosi has faced calls for her ouster ever since Democrats lost the House majority in 2010. First elected to leadership in 2002, the mother of five -- and grandmother -- has also endured questions about how much longer she will stay at the helm. The 76-year-old typically swats back such inquiries by noting the comparable ages of male colleagues in leadership roles elsewhere in the Capitol. Pelosi remains a fundraising powerhouse and despite interest by other Democrats in taking a turn at leadership, few have been able to make the case to their peers that they could match her drive. But this year, Pelosi appeared to take her challenge seriously. She repeatedly worked to shore up support from liberals and minorities who make up the bulk of the Democratic caucus. She also pointed to the gains Democrats have made under her watch -- they picked up six seats in November -- and warned that losses could have been worse. Democratic Rep. Adam B. Schiff of Burbank, in nominating Pelosi during a closed-door meeting Wednesday, said, We need the very best to lead us.... No one is a better tactician than Nancy Pelosi. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump pledged to protect Medicare. His choice for health secretary has other ideas By Noah Bierman Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), President-elect Donald Trumps choice for Health and Human Services secretary. (Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press)) President-elect Donald Trump reassured voters during his insurgent political campaign that he would protect Medicare, Social Security and other popular federal assistance programs. But in tapping Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) to be his Health and Human Services secretary, he has elevated one of the most aggressive proponents of dramatically overhauling the government safety net for seniors and low-income Americans, a long-held conservative goal. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump says he will leave his business in total to fully focus on running the country By Jim Puzzanghera (Mandel Ngan / AFP/Getty Images) President-elect Donald Trump tweeted Wednesday morning that he would leave his business operations in total to fully focus on running the country. Trumps vast interests in real estate and other ventures have raised unprecedented concerns about the potential for conflict of interest, both at home and internationally. In one of a series of tweets, Trump said he would be leaving my great business in total. Legal documents are being crafted which take me completely out of business operations. The Presidency is a far more important task! he said. However, Trump made no mention that would be giving up ownership of the Trump Organization, which includes hotels, golf resorts and other properties and many licensing deals that span the globe. Neither did he specify whether his separation from his businesses would be permanent. To avoid conflicts or the perception that his presidency would benefit his financial empire, government ethics lawyers and watchdog groups have urged him to sell off his businesses and put the assets in a blind trust to be managed by an independent third party. Trump said last week that he has been turning over operations of his businesses to three of his children, who already have senior positions at the Trump Organization. But some critics have said turning over control to his children may not be enough to alleviate such concerns, since several of his adult children remain active in planning his transition. What he does not seem to realize, or does not want to admit, is that the conflicts arise from his ownership of the Trump Organization, said Noah Bookbinder, executive director of the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, in reacting to Trumps announcement Wednesday. He will continue to know what his business interests are and to benefit from them whether or not he is involved in the day-to-day management, so the conflicts remain unchanged. Federal conflict-of-interest rules for government employees and members of Congress dont apply to the president. Trump said in an interview with the New York Times last week that the president cant have a conflict of interest In theory, I can be president of the United States and run my business 100%. He said then that it would be very hard to sell off his businesses because they are mostly real estate, but also noted that he would like to try and formalize something in terms of an arrangement that would distance his businesses from his work as president. On Wednesday, he tweeted that While I am not mandated to do this under the law, I feel it is visually important, as President, to in no way have a conflict of interest with my various businesses. Trump said he would detail the changes at a New York news conference with his children on Dec. 15. I will be holding a major news conference in New York City with my children on December 15 to discuss the fact that I will be leaving my ... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 30, 2016 great business in total in order to fully focus on running the country in order to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! While I am not mandated to .... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 30, 2016 do this under the law, I feel it is visually important, as President, to in no way have a conflict of interest with my various businesses.. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 30, 2016 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump names billionaire investor Wilbur Ross as Commerce secretary By Jim Puzzanghera President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence greet investor Wilbur Ross, left, in New Jersey on Sunday. ( (Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press)) President-elect Donald Trump has chosen billionaire financier Wilbur Ross, known as the king of bankruptcy for his investments in distressed properties, to serve as Commerce secretary, according to a person familiar with the decision. If confirmed, Ross would become the Trump administrations chief liaison with the business community and a leading advocate for U.S. trade abroad. Ross, 80, who was a senior policy advisor to Trumps campaign, is worth $2.9 billion, according to Forbes magazine. Like Trump, Ross has been critical of U.S. trade deals. He sharply criticized trade negotiators and called for the U.S. to withdraw from the yet-to-be-ratified Trans-Pacific Partnership and to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement. Trump has pledged to do both upon taking office. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump taps Wall Street executive and Hollywood producer Steven Mnuchin for Treasury secretary By Jim Puzzanghera Steven Mnuchin at Trump Tower in New York this month. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez / AFP/Getty Images) President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Steven Mnuchin, a wealthy Wall Street executive and Hollywood movie producer who served as his campaign finance chairman, to be the next Treasury secretary, according to a person familiar with the decision. Mnuchins deep roots on Wall Street fit the mold of past Treasury secretaries but contrast with the populist stance that Trump took during his campaign. Mnuchins net worth is unclear, but he could be the second billionaire member of Trumps Cabinet, after Betsy DeVos, who is Trumps pick for Education secretary. The third is expected to be financier Wilbur Ross, who has been selected as Commerce secretary. Mnuchins selection which was first reported Tuesday by the New York Times drew ire from Democratic and liberal groups, which have accused him of profiting from the financial crisis after buying the failed IndyMac Bank in 2009. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Noam Chomsky, Junot Diaz and nearly 400 MIT faculty oppose Trump picks in open letter By Colleen Shalby President-elect Donald Trump. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) Nearly 400 MIT faculty members, including professor emeritus Noam Chomsky, writer Junot Diaz and four Nobel Prize winners, signed an open letter criticizing President-elect Donald Trumps Cabinet picks. The President-elect has appointed individuals to positions of power who have endorsed racism, misogyny and religious bigotry, and denied the widespread scientific consensus on climate change. Regardless of our political views, these endorsements violate principles at the core of MITs mission. At this time, it is important to reaffirm the values we hold in common. The letter also denounces the controversial rhetoric often associated with Trumps campaign and impending presidency. For any member of our community who may feel fear or oppression, our doors are open and we are ready to help, it states. MIT boasts a student body represented by 120 foreign countries, all 50 U.S. states and three U.S. territories. While campaigning, Trump lauded his late uncle, John, who was a professor at MIT for nearly 50 years. Shortly after Trump announced his candidacy, he spoke about him to CNN. I had an uncle who went to MIT who is a top professor. Dr. John Trump. A genius. Its in my blood. Im smart. Great marks. Like really smart, Trump said. A handful of faculty members who signed the statement overlapped in time with John Trump. At least one, physics professor Robert Jaffe, said that he did not know the uncle, but hopes that his nephews administration will maintain a dedication to science. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print With no Cabinet to build, Hillary Clinton appears with Katy Perry By Chris Megerian Pop star Katy Perry was one of Hillary Clintons biggest celebrity boosters on the campaign trail, and on Tuesday night the former Democratic presidential nominee introduced the singer at a charity gala in New York. Perry has served as UNICEFs goodwill ambassador. Hilary Clinton surprise appearance just now to intro @katyperry #SnowflakeBall #UnicefSnowflake pic.twitter.com/3wh2Zc2BwG David Ushery (@DavidUshery4NY) November 30, 2016 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Jill Stein pays fee to green-light Wisconsin recount By Michael A. Memoli The recount is officially on. The Wisconsin Elections Commission said Tuesday that Green Party nominee Jill Stein has paid the nearly $3.5 million estimated cost to set into motion a statewide retabulation of the presidential vote. Stein had asked for the recount after claiming that evidence of foreign interference existed. She is also seeking recounts in Michigan and Pennsylvania; together, the three states carry enough electoral votes to flip the election from President-elect Donald Trump to Democrat Hillary Clinton, but such an outcome is all but impossible. The Wisconsin recount, which starts Thursday, is likely to cost Stein slightly more, the commission said, blaming an earlier error in adding up cost estimates from the 72 county clerks who will oversee the ballot review. Stein will be charged whatever additional costs are incurred after the recount is concluded. Officials on Monday said that most counties will complete their recount in a week but that more populous counties will face a challenge in meeting the deadline to certify results. The state aims to finish by Dec. 12, as state law gives the recount petitioner five days after the new tally is finished for further legal challenges. Presidential electors in 50 states and the District of Columbia will meet Dec. 19 to formally cast the votes that will elect Trump as the next president. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Repeal and replace Obamacare? It wont happen on Trumps first day, GOP leader says By Lisa Mascaro House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) cast doubt on whether the Republican-led Congress would be ready to repeal Obamacare by inauguration day, as some in President-elect Donald Trumps transition team have suggested could happen in a special session. But McCarthy said Republicans would try to start as soon as possible on what he acknowledged would be a complicated two-step process to repeal and replace Obamacare that will consume much of 2017 and beyond. Their plan involves retroactively passing a fiscal 2017 budget in the early weeks of Trumps term. Such a maneuver would give Republicans the ability to unwind President Obamas signature domestic program with a simple majority vote, without facing a Democratic filibuster. Replacing the Affordable Care Act would come later, and likely extend into fiscal 2018. Once its repealed you will have hopefully fewer people playing politics and everybody coming to the table to find the best policy, McCarthy told reporters. I just want to make sure we get it right. McCarthy on Tuesday welcomed reports that Trump intends to nominate House Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price (R-Ga.) to lead the Health and Human Services Department as Congress focuses on getting rid of Obamacare. Democrats, though, suggested that Price, a medical doctor who has championed House Speaker Paul D. Ryans plans to overhaul Medicare, will face so much opposition in the Senate that he may not be confirmed. Try it, said Sen. Charles E. Schumer of New York, the incoming Democratic minority leader. Privatization of Medicare goes way beyond where most Americans are. For years, Republicans have promised to end Obamacare, and with Trump in the White House they will have their best opportunity to do so. But McCarthy cautioned that repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act will be more complicated than simply sending a bill to the White House for the presidents signature. Instead, Congress will need to insert special repeal instructions as part of the wonky budget reconciliation process. And that will take time, he said. McCarthy said that replacing Obamacare will be even tougher than repealing it. Even though Republicans have promised their own healthcare law, they have never been able to produce an agreed-upon alternative. To gather ideas, McCarthy said he would solicit advice from governors and state insurance commissioners. Hell be sending a letter to the states later this week. Since Congress did not pass a 2017 budget for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1, they hope to retroactively approve one in the weeks ahead so they can include the first part of the special instructions needed to repeal the program. But he doubted that would be completed by the time Trump takes office. I dont think you can do it before [Jan.] 20th, he said. Theres only so many legislative days. The finish the job, lawmakers will use the reconciliation process for the fiscal 2018 budget, which is due by spring. McCarthy predicted Congress would still need to pass additional legislation, which cannot be completed through the reconciliation process, in order to ensure a smooth transition. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Obama will skip Fidel Castros funeral but is sending an informal delegation By Christi Parsons The Cuban flag hangs at half-staff in front of a picture of Fidel Castro on the facade of the Cuban national library in Havana. (Ronaldo Schemidt / AFP/Getty Images) President Obama is not going to the memorial service for former Cuban dictator Fidel Castro on Tuesday but instead is sending a pair of key representatives to pay their respects, an informal appearance that reflects the delicate diplomacy between the White House and the leadership in Havana. Obama is sending Jeffrey DeLaurentis, the top U.S. diplomat in Cuba, along with deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes, but the two men are not being dispatched as part of a formal delegation, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Tuesday. DeLaurentis and Rhodes played key roles in reopening U.S. ties to the communist island nation in late 2014, ending five decades of a Cold War-era freeze in relations. The policy has been celebrated for opening the possibility of expanded trade with and travel to Cuba, while critics attacked Obama for engaging with President Raul Castro without extracting concessions on human rights. His brother Fidel held power through firing squads, false imprisonment and harsh treatment of dissidents. President-elect Donald Trump was one of those critics, saying after Fidel Castros death that if Cuba isnt willing to make a better deal for the Cuban people and the U.S. as a whole, I will terminate the deal. After Castro died Friday, the White House released an oblique statement noting that his death filled Cubans with powerful emotions, recalling the countless ways in which Fidel Castro altered the course of individual lives, families, and of the Cuban nation. History will record and judge the enormous impact of this singular figure on the people and world around him. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Donald Trump to pick Elaine Chao, a well-connected establishment figure, as Transportation secretary By Noah Bierman President-elect Donald Trump plans to name Elaine Chao a former Labor secretary married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) as his Transportation secretary, according to House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield). Chaos establishment ties conflict with Trumps promise to drain the swamp in Washington and promote outsiders to lead his government. But Chaos connections could be an asset in Trumps plan to promote a major infrastructure proposal that could face resistance from within his party. Trump has decried the state of the nations airports, bridges and roads and promised to make their revitalization a major part of his jobs program aimed at helping working-class Americans whose votes helped propel him to victory. Chao, who served as Labor secretary through the entire George W. Bush administration, could play a central role in negotiating an infrastructure spending bill while her husband leads the Senate. Trumps spokesman Jason Miller did not confirm the pick on a conference call with reporters but said that Trump had taken people whove been successful in all different walks of life including business, government, and military to fill a Cabinet that Miller called a true dream team. The Taiwan-born Chao also exemplifies the type of immigrant success story that became the subject of debate during Trumps campaign, which promised to crack down on illegal immigration and labeled many of those entering the country illegally from Mexico as criminals, drug dealers and rapists. Chao is one of four sisters who attended Harvard Business School. Her family donated $40 million to the institution in 2012. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print U.S. economy grew 3.2% in third quarter, the best in two years By Jim Puzzanghera The U.S. economy grew faster in the third quarter than initially estimated, expanding at its strongest pace in two years in a rebound from a weak first half of 2016. Total economic output, also known as gross domestic product, expanded at a 3.2% annual pace from July through September, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. The figure was up from an initial estimate of 2.9% and the best performance since the economy expanded at a 5% annual rate in the third quarter of 2014. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Q&A: What you need to know about the Wisconsin recount By Michael A. Memoli This is certainly not Bush vs. Gore, a Wisconsin elections official said Monday. Well, what is it? The state is initiating the first significant candidate-driven recount in a presidential election since the 2000 ordeal in Florida between then-Vice President Al Gore and eventual President George W. Bush. This time, though, Donald Trump is certain to remain president-elect after Wisconsins nearly 3 million ballots are re-tabulated. But the fight here and potentially in other states has given third-party candidates new rationale for seeking public attention for their causes, and it has given Trump fresh ammunition to trash his opponents as well as, bafflingly, the political process in which he just secured the presidency. Here is a look at the issues involved in the Badger State and elsewhere as the seemingly unending 2016 presidential election seeps into overtime. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print By tweet and petition, Donald Trump and the left cast doubt on credibility of election By Noah Bierman (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) Rather than celebrating his victory, Donald Trump is amplifying far-right conspiracies to undermine the credibility of an election he won. At the same time, he is finding some common cause in the quixotic effort by the fringe left to prevent him from reaching the White House. The chances of changing the election result with selective ballot recounts, as some on the left hope, or finding widespread voter fraud as alleged by Trump are next to nil. Yet a combination of self-interest and a desire for misdirection have propelled factions of both parties to debate the results of an election already decisively settled. Trumps motives are often hard to pinpoint. But by pushing the myth that millions of ballots were cast illegally for his opponent, as he has done on Twitter in recent days, he may be building the case to claim a larger mandate for his victory despite the fact that Hillary Clinton is leading the popular vote by more than 2 million votes. The issue also distracts attention from mounting questions about the financial conflicts of interest he is likely to have in the White House, given that he plans to allow his children to run his international real estate and branding business while he serves as president. Finally, Trumps rhetoric may also sow the seeds of future efforts to propose more restrictive voting rules championed by some of his top advisors. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Democrats look to make some deals with Trump and divide the GOP in the bargain By Lisa Mascaro Republicans became known as the party of no during the Obama years because of their frequent efforts to block the presidents initiatives. As congressional Democrats prepare to deal with a Republican White House, they appear ready to take the opposite approach, effectively challenging President-elect Donald Trump by finding opportunities to say yes. The goal is to strategically engage with the White House on common objectives and at the same time try to drive a political wedge between Trump and those Republicans anxious about his costlier ideas, such as rebuilding infrastructure, aiding blue-collar workers and expanding paid family leave, a pet project of daughter Ivanka Trump. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump to name a harsh critic of Obamacare as his pick for Health secretary By Noam N. Levey (Drew Angerer / Getty Images) President-elect Donald Trump plans to select House Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price (R-Ga.) to be his Health and Human Services secretary, according to a person familiar with the decision. In picking Price, Trump is tapping an arch-conservative lawmaker and leading critic of the Affordable Care Act to lead his push to roll back President Obamas signature health law. Price, a six-term congressman from suburban Atlanta, has never held an executive position comparable to leading the federal Department of Health and Human Services, a behemoth that includes the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health and the agency overseeing Medicare and Medicaid. Three of the four previous Health and Human Services secretaries were former governors. Price, an orthopedic surgeon, would be the first physician to serve as the departments secretary since Dr. Louis Sullivan, who held the post from 1989 to 1993 under President George H.W. Bush. He would also be among the most politically conservative Health and Human Services secretaries in history. And as a member of House leadership, he would bring to the Trump administration a revolutionary governing agenda closely aligned with Republicans on Capitol Hill. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump says he won the electoral college in a landslide, but he ranked near the all-time bottom By Cathleen Decker In addition to winning the Electoral College in a landslide, I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 27, 2016 President-elect Donald Trumps tweet that he would have won the popular vote this month but for millions of illegal voters was not based on fact. There is no proof backing up his statement, and voting researchers uniformly dismissed it as false. Also problematic was his second claim in the same tweet, that his victory was one of the rare landslides in American political history. A study of electoral vote results by John J. Pitney, an author and professor of government at Claremont McKenna College, shows that Trump resides on the lower end of the electoral vote scale. He won 56.97% of the electoral votes up for grabs by virtue of his state wins. That places him 46th out of the 58 elections since George Washingtons era, Pitney found. In 38 elections, the winner exceeded 60% of the vote, a lopsided verdict by voters. Clear landslides were won most recently by Ronald Reagan in both of his elections: In 1984, he won 97.58% of electoral votes, and in 1980 he won 90.89%. President Obama won nearly 68% of the vote in 2008 and just under 62% in 2012. Faring worse than Trump among modern presidents was George W. Bush, who eked past Al Gore in 2000 with 50.37% of the vote, after a protracted squabble over the Florida results that ended in a U.S. Supreme Court verdict favoring Bush. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump says Cuba has to act or hell end the diplomatic thaw, but its not that simple By Tracy Wilkinson In his latest comment on Cuba since the death of revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, President-elect Donald Trump said Monday he would end Washingtons diplomatic thaw with the island unless Cuba makes a better deal. If Cuba is unwilling to make a better deal for the Cuban people, the Cuban/American people and the U.S. as a whole, I will terminate deal, Trump tweeted. President Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro renewed diplomatic ties in 2014 after a half-century of Cold War hostility. Since then, through a series of executive orders, Obama has eased restrictions on Americans traveling to Cuba and U.S. firms doing business there. Castro, at the same time, has made it easier for Cubans to travel and to engage in limited private enterprise. However, Castro has not enacted significant political reforms, and the death Friday of his brother, former president and leader of the revolution Fidel, at age 90, is not likely to usher in quick change. It was not clear what Trump meant by a better deal. An email seeking clarification from his transition team was not answered. Previously, however, Trump has spoken of the release of political prisoners and more open space for free expression of opinions and dissent. These are the same elements the Obama administration has been demanding, while choosing not to delay economic progress while awaiting political change. From a legal standpoint, Trump could easily reverse Obamas executive orders with little more than a signature. Politically, however, renewed estrangement would be more complicated and would isolate the U.S. as the only country in the world that does not recognize the Communist-led government in Havana. Its not as simple as one Tweet might make it seem --@PressSec Josh Earnest, on whether @realdonaldtrump might undo @POTUS Cuba policy Christi Parsons (@cparsons) November 28, 2016 Trump and his top aides have sent conflicting signals over his likely Cuba policy. On Saturday, his staff put out a statement saying a Trump administration would do all it can to help Cubans achieve prosperity and liberty. But it did not mention reversing Obamas actions expanding ties. While Cuba remains a totalitarian island, Trump said, it is my hope that today marks a move away from the horrors endured for too long, and toward a future in which the wonderful Cuban people finally live in the freedom they so richly deserve. Kellyanne Conway, a top advisor, told NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday that nothing is definite when it comes to Cuba. But Trumps soon-to-be White House chief of staff, Reince Priebus, said that Trump would be looking for some movement in the right direction to keep the Cuba opening on course. Conservative Republicans, like Sens. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, oppose detente with Cuba as long as any Castro continues to rule. But a growing number of Cuban Americans, as well as most Democrats and a substantial segment of the business community, want better ties and opportunities for economic exchange. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print The era of super-low interest rates might be ending. Whats in it for you? By Jim Puzzanghera Since President-elect Donald Trumps surprising election victory this month, financial markets have sent a forceful message that the era of super-low interest rates is coming to a close. Mortgage rates have shot up. Bond yields have jumped to their highest levels in a year. And the dollar has surged against other major currencies to values unseen in more than a decade. Those developments have been fueled by expectations of stronger economic growth and higher inflation from Trumps promises to cut business taxes, reduce regulations and increase defense and infrastructure spending. His plans triggered a post-election stock market rally and, combined with recent solid economic data, increased expectations that the Federal Reserve would nudge up its benchmark short-term rate again next month with more hikes to follow next year. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump seems ready to fight the world on climate change but hes likely to meet resistance By Evan Halper Coal trucks leave a power plant operated by PacifiCorp outside Huntington, Utah. ( (George Frey / Getty Images)) Donald Trump is branded with all manner of unflattering labels, but one that hasnt seemed to much bother him is climate pariah. The president-elect is unabashed in his disdain for Americas global warming policy. He has placed a staunch climate-change doubter and antagonist of mainstream science in charge of reshaping or as Trump has suggested, dismantling the Environmental Protection Agency. He has talked frequently about reneging on the historic Paris global climate treaty the U.S. took a lead in drafting. And he has said he wants every federal green-energy program eliminated. Environmentalists take little comfort in Trumps recent comments that he accepts there is some connectivity between human activity and climate change and that he has an open mind about it, as what hes said elsewhere and done so far suggests otherwise. And even those comments gave scientists cause for alarm. You can make a lot of cases for different views, Trump told the New York Times, casting doubt on the finding by more than 90% of climate scientists that emissions are accelerating global warming. Im not sure anybody is ever going to really know. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Jared Kushner, the Trump son-in-law whos the next presidents eyes and ears By Chris Megerian The election results were rolling in, and so were the phone calls for Donald Trump. But no matter who was on the other end of the line, the person handing the phone to the next president of the United States was the same. Jared was screening the calls, said Armstrong Williams, a political ally who described the scene in Trumps Manhattan skyscraper on election night. That would be Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law, and his election-night role provides a glimpse of the enormous influence he wields as Trump prepares to take office in January. As the husband of Ivanka Trump, the president-elects elder daughter, Kushner holds an unassailable position inside Trumps unruly ecosystem of advisors. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump falsely claims that millions voted illegally, costing him the popular vote By Matt Pearce Donald and Melania Trump cast their ballots on Nov. 8. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) Donald Trump falsely claimed Sunday that he won the popular vote, alleging in a tweet without evidence that millions of people had illegally voted for his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton. In addition to winning the Electoral College in a landslide, I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally, Trump wrote, hours after he tweeted his opposition to a recount in Midwestern states initiated by the Green Party. In addition to winning the Electoral College in a landslide, I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 27, 2016 Election experts, who say election fraud is rare, immediately denounced Trumps claim. Theres been no evidence produced of millions or thousands or even hundreds of noncitizens voting for president in 2016, tweeted Rick Hasen, a professor of law and politics who writes for the Election Law Blog. The source of Trumps claim appears to be a widely shared Nov. 14 article on the conspiracy site Infowars, which is famous for claiming the Sandy Hook mass shooting was a hoax. Politifact investigated the illegal votes claim and rated it false. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump is warned that supporters will feel betrayed if he picks Mitt Romney as secretary of State By Don Lee A senior advisor to President-elect Donald Trump stepped up an extraordinary public effort Sunday to discredit Mitt Romney and thwart the chances that he would be picked as secretary of State. Kellyanne Conway warned on Sunday TV talk shows that Trumps supporters would feel betrayed if he picked the former governor of Massachusetts, a sharp critic of Trump during the campaign, for a senior Cabinet position. Conway, who was Trumps campaign manager and now is a top advisor to the incoming president, said she felt compelled to speak out on the matter because of the backlash from the grass roots. People feel betrayed to think that Gov. Romney, who went out of his way to question the character and the intellect and the integrity of Donald Trump, now our president-elect, would be given the most significant Cabinet post of all, Conway said on NBCs Meet the Press. They feel a bit betrayed that you can get a Romney back in there after everything he did, she added. We dont even know if he voted for Donald Trump. Conway dodged questions about whether Trump supported the concerns she has been raising publicly about Romney, which began with a tweet she posted on Thanksgiving morning: Receiving deluge of social media & private comms re: Romney. Some Trump loyalists warn against Romney as sec of state. Conway made clear that she did not approve of Romney, who was the GOP presidential nominee in 2012, and didnt see him as especially qualified to act as Americas top diplomat. In the last four years, has he even been around the globe doing something on behalf of the United States of which were unaware? she asked on CNNs State of the Union. Did he go and intervene in Syria where they are having a massive humanitarian crisis? Meaning when I say intervene, like offered help. Has he been helpful to Mr. [Benjamin] Netanyahu? she said of the Israeli prime minister. Im all for party unity, but Im not sure that we have to pay for that with the secretary of State position, Conway said, although she quickly added that she would respect what Trump decides. During the campaign, Romney called Trump a phony and a fraud and said his policies would lead to economic ruin. In response, Trump mocked Romney as a failed candidate who had choked in the 2012 race. But a little more than a week ago, Trump met with Romney for about 90 minutes at a golf course in New Jersey to discuss the State Department post. Afterward, Trump said the meeting went great and Romney described the discussion as very thorough and in-depth. Trump is also considering Rudolph W. Giuliani, who was a fierce Trump loyalist during the campaign, for the job. The former mayor of New York has touted his experience traveling, consulting and speaking overseas since leaving office in 2001. But his extensive business deals abroad have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest if he gets the post instead of Romney. In criticizing Romney, Conway exposed what appears to be deep divisions in the Trump camp as it tries to assemble a team. It is highly unusual for a senior representative of an incoming president to be lobbying publicly against a candidate under consideration. Reince Priebus, the Republican National Committee chairman and Trumps choice to be chief of staff, on Sunday sought to downplay reports of internecine struggles in the transition. However, he acknowledged that picking Romney would represent a team of rivals concept. Trump wants to put the best possible people together for all Americans, Priebus told Fox News Sunday. The fact that hes actually even flirting with the idea of choosing a rival should tell the American people where hes at which is the best place for everyone in this country, he said. Conway also said Trump, who spent the Thanksgiving holiday weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla., talked with President Obama by phone on Saturday for about 40 or 45 minutes. She wouldnt say what they talked about. I can tell you from President-elect Trumps side that he very much enjoys speaking with President Obama, talking about the serious issues that face this country and the world, Conway said on NBC. They get along nicely. They disagree on many things. Thats not going to change. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Hillary Clinton campaign will participate in ballot recount in Wisconsin By Don Lee Hillary Clintons presidential campaign will participate in a ballot recount led by Green Party candidate Jill Stein in Wisconsin and perhaps two other battleground states that were crucial to Donald Trumps victory, a Clinton campaign lawyer said Saturday. In response, Trump called the recount request ridiculous and a scam designed to raise money for Steins political party. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Donald Trump names KT McFarland, Don McGahn to White House posts By Michael A. Memoli Don McGahn is named by President-elect Donald Trump as his White House counsel. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) President-elect Donald Trump added to his West Wing roster Friday, naming KT McFarland as deputy national security adviser and Donald McGahn as his White House counsel. McFarland served in three separate Republican administrations, most notably as a spokeswoman for Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger under Ronald Reagan. In 2006, she sought to challenge Hillary Clinton for her U.S. Senate seat from New York but lost in the Republican primary. Most recently, she has been a regular contributor to Fox News on national security issues. She joins retired Gen. Michael Flynn, previously named as Trumps national security adviser. So proud & honored to have KT McFarland as part of our National Security team. She will help us #MAGA General Flynn (@GenFlynn) November 25, 2016 McGahn, who was general counsel for Trumps campaign and a former chair of the Federal Election Commission, is a partner at the powerhouse Washington law firm Jones Day. President Obama revealed at a recent news conference that he had advised Trump to hire a strong White House counsel to guide him and his team, who could provide clear guideposts and rules to help avoid ethical and conflict of interest concerns. Trump campaign officials said Friday that the president-elect, who is spending the holiday weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, would make no additional high-level announcements until next week when he returns to New York. On Monday, he will meet with several more potential Cabinet and sub-Cabinet choices, including Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke, Pennsylvania Rep. Lou Barletta and Oklahoma Atty. Gen. Scott Pruitt. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Ben Carson hints he may join Trump Cabinet as Housing secretary By Christi Parsons Former Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson speaks in Lakewood, Colo. on Oct. 29. (David Zalubowski / Associated Press) Ben Carson said Wednesday that an announcement is imminent about his role in improving the nations inner cities a broad hint that President-elect Donald Trump will name him secretary of Housing and Urban Development. After serious discussions with the Trump transition team, I feel that I can make a significant contribution, particularly to making our inner cities great for everyone, Carson said on Facebook. An announcement is forthcoming about my role in helping to make America great again. Carson, himself once a candidate for president, would be the first African American named to Trumps Cabinet. He was a mild critic of Trump during the campaign, but after dropping out of the race, he backed Trump and now serves on the president-elects transition team. Though Carsons professional background is as a neurosurgeon, he has spoken often of his experiences growing up in inner-city Detroit, with a mother who sometimes relied on food stamps and other assistance. Carson has said they moved into a tenement at one point but has never said whether he lived in public housing. Days ago, a senior advisor said Carson thought he lacked the background needed to manage a federal agency, and that he didnt think it was the best way for him to serve. Carson didnt want to take a position that could cripple the presidency, advisor Armstrong Williams told the Hill newspaper. HUD is responsible for administering low-income housing assistance, fair housing laws, housing development and aid to neighborhoods in distress. Carson indicated a change of heart Wednesday. We have much work to do in strengthening every aspect of our nation and ensuring that both our physical infrastructure and our spiritual infrastructure is solid, he wrote. In an interview with the New York Times on Tuesday, Trump suggested he isnt applying the usual standard of qualifications to his Cabinet picks. Were trying very hard to get the best people not necessarily people that will be the most politically correct people, because that hasnt been working, Trump said. So we have, really, experts in the field. Some are known and some are not known, but theyre known within their field as being the best. Thats very important to me. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump picks Michigan school-choice advocate to be his Education secretary By Christi Parsons President-elect Donald Trump chose a Michigan charter school advocate and prominent Republican donor to serve as his secretary of Education, he said Wednesday, a decision that may hearten supporters of school choice but worry teacher unions and even some of Trumps core supporters. Trumps pick, Betsy DeVos, is a champion of charter schools and school vouchers that give families tax funds they can spend on private school if theyre not happy with their local public schools. DeVos, 58, served as chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party, a credential that ties her to the party establishment reviled by many Trump supporters. She and her family are among the countrys largest donors to Republican and conservative Christian causes, including opposition to same-sex marriage. She has also backed the Common Core initiative to standardize educational requirements across the nation. Trump repeatedly called for its demise. In a tweet after her selection was announced, DeVos disavowed past support for Common Core, acknowledging that the topic was an issue among conservative activists. Many of you are asking about Common Core. To clarify, I am not a supporterperiod. Read my full stance, here: https://t.co/qB2nAXvX0B Betsy DeVos (@BetsyDeVos) November 23, 2016 In his statement announcing her as his choice, Trump called DeVos a brilliant and passionate education advocate. Under her leadership, we will reform the U.S. education system and break the bureaucracy that is holding our children back so that we can deliver world-class education and school choice to all families, Trump said in the statement. 1:46 a.m.: This post was updated with DeVos statement about the Common Core. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump may have one more Cabinet-level pick coming before Thanksgiving By Christi Parsons (John Minchillo / Associated Press) President-elect Donald Trump may decide another Cabinet-level position Wednesday, aides said, after he announced South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley as his ambassador to the United Nations. Aides did not say which job Trump was considering making an announcement about. As he and his family settle in for Thanksgiving at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Trump is still spending significant time on one prominent position, secretary of State, a sign that a pick for it may not come before the holiday, one staffer on the presidential transition team said. In his search for a secretary of State, Trump has met with close advisor and former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and with Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican nominee for president. Aides said Trump chose Haley for the U.N. post because she improved South Carolinas economy and took part in overseas trade and recruitment trips. The two have a natural chemistry, one staffer said, and their views jibe on how the U.S. should be represented on the world stage. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump taps South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley for U.N. ambassador By Tracy Wilkinson South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley speaks at the Federalist Societys National Lawyers Convention in Washington on Nov. 18. (Cliff Owen / Associated Press) President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday picked South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, a rising star in the GOP, as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, an announcement that brings a measure of diversity to a transition that has been dominated by white, male figures. Haley, 44, and the daughter of Indian immigrants, is the first woman and first person of color to be picked for the new administration. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Dalai Lama: I have no worries about Trumps election By Associated Press (Ganbat Namjilsangarav / Associated Press) The Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, said he has no worries about Donald Trumps election as U.S. president and expects the businessman will align his policies with global realities. Commenting at the conclusion of a four-day visit to Mongolia, the leader of Tibetan Buddhism said he looks forward to meeting Trump at some point after the Jan. 20 inauguration. The 81-year-old monk says he has always regarded the U.S. as the leading nation of the free world and wasnt concerned about remarks made by Trump during the election campaign. Some of those comments have been cited as offensive to Muslims, Latinos and other U.S. minority groups. China accuses the Dalai Lama of seeking to split Tibet from China and had demanded Mongolia scrap his visit. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump asks Ben Carson to consider Housing secretary post By Chris Megerian Donald Trump asked Ben Carson to consider serving as secretary of Housing and Urban Development, an advisor to the former Republican presidential candidate said Tuesday. They discussed the potential job at a meeting in the morning and Carson is seriously considering it, said the advisor, Armstrong Williams. Its a role that plays to Dr. Carsons passions, he said. Asked what qualifications the retired neurosurgeon has for overseeing housing policy, Williams said: Dr. Carson has experience with everything. Youd be shocked at the depth of his experience. Williams had previously suggested that Carson didnt feel he had the experience to serve in Trumps Cabinet, but he said Tuesday that those comments were taken out of context. Housing secretary was one of a few options discussed Tuesday, Williams said. Carson always felt that hed be willing to serve in the administration if Trump felt that no one else could fill the position, he added. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Texas judge blocks Obama administrations new overtime rule from taking effect By Michael A. Memoli Labor Secretary Thomas E. Perez. (Andrew Harnik / Associated Press) A Texas judge blocked President Obamas bid to expand overtime pay protections to millions of Americans on Tuesday, thwarting a key presidential priority just days before it was set to take effect. The Labor Department rule would have doubled the salary level at which hourly workers must be paid extra for overtime pay, from $23,660 to $47,476. Siding with business groups including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Texas District Judge Amos L. Mazzant III halted it. The rule, finalized in May, represented the first such change in more than a decade and was hailed at the time as the most consequential action the Obama administration could take for middle-class workers without congressional involvement. Plaintiffs had argued the Labor Department acted beyond its authority under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The administration said more than 4 million salaried workers stood to benefit from the change when it took effect Dec. 1. The rule was already in jeopardy after the election of Donald Trump. Just as the Obama administration made the change through its rule-making prerogatives, a Republican administration could undo it. Neither the White House nor the Labor Department had an immediate comment. Republican lawmakers and their allies in the business community, which were behind the legal challenge, celebrated the decision. The decision brings us a step closer to curbing regulations that have resulted in $80 billion in compliance costs and more than 25 million hours of paperwork, said Linda Kelly, senior vice president for the National Assn. of Manufacturers. The fights are not yet over and our work is just beginning. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Heres why the electoral college (probably) wont stop Donald Trump from becoming president By Chris Megerian Some liberals who really, really, really dont want Donald Trump to be president are pinning their hopes on a long-shot effort to prevent him from officially winning the election. Understanding how their plan would work requires some background on the electoral college, which was established in the Constitution at a time when the founding fathers were wary of direct democracy. As widely known, presidents are not chosen based on the national popular vote if they were, Hillary Clinton would be the next commander in chief, given she is ahead by roughly 1.7 million votes. Each state is assigned a certain number of electoral votes based on population. Those votes are awarded to candidates based on the states popular vote. Trump won the presidential race with 290 electoral votes. (That total will reach 306 if Michigan is called for him, as expected.) The process doesnt end on election day. Each electoral vote is represented by an elector, an actual person who has to cast an official ballot for the president on Dec. 19. The electors are chosen through different processes state by state, and usually are selected by state political parties. With unrest over the result, there are efforts to persuade electors to be faithless, meaning they wouldnt back Trump even if he won their states. A Change.org petition calling the president-elect a danger to the Republic has almost 4.6 million supporters. What are the chances of this actually happening? Very slim, says George C. Edwards III, a Texas A&M political science professor who has written a book about the electoral college. From time to time, there are faithless electors, he said. Theyre few and far between. There were some electors who refused to vote for winning candidates in the 1800s, such as six who declined to support James Madison, but never enough to sway the outcome of the race. In the last century there have only been a handful of cases. There were some attempts to persuade electors to back Al Gore over George W. Bush during the disputed 2000 election, but they were unsuccessful. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Can Trump put another Justice Scalia on the Supreme Court? By David Savage Judge William H. Pryor Jr. of the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals moderates a panel discussion during the Federalist Societys National Lawyers Convention in Washington last week. ( (Cliff Owen / Associated Press)) President-elect Donald Trump will soon have the chance to make good on one of his most consequential campaign promises: fill the Supreme Court vacancy with a judge in the mold of conservative icon Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in February. Any Trump nominee is almost guaranteed to be a conservative jurist who is antiabortion and supports a strict interpretation of the 2nd Amendments right to bear arms. But what kind of conservative he selects will determine whether his nominee will be quickly confirmed or instead trigger a fierce fight in the closely divided Senate, potentially overshadowing the early months of Trumps presidency. If Trump opts for a Scalia-like justice, as he repeatedly said he would during the campaign, conservatives lawyers say the betting favorite is Judge William H. Pryor Jr. from the 11th Circuit Court in Atlanta, a former Alabama attorney general who called the Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion the worst abomination in the history of constitutional law. The 54-year-old Pryor believes in Scalias approach of interpreting the Constitution by its original meaning one that has little room for gay rights, even womens rights. His nomination would electrify Trumps conservative base, but it would also set off a confirmation battle for which the outcome is not assured. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Michelle Rhee has some thoughts on Donald Trump By Joy Resmovits After meeting with president-elect Donald Trump Saturday, former Washington, D.C., schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee weighed in on people who have told her to avoid him. She also indicated that shes not likely to be named as Trumps secretary of Education. In light of the speculation about the Secretary of Education role, I wanted to clarify my position and what's best for America's students. pic.twitter.com/DXRZxdAZNX Michelle Rhee (@MichelleRhee) November 22, 2016 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump veers off script on climate change, his potential conflicts of interest and even whether to prosecute Clinton By Evan Halper President-elect Donald Trump strayed far from the talking points of his campaign during his wide-ranging interview Tuesday with New York Times journalists. Trump suggested he does not necessarily need to sever ties to his businesses while president. He said he has an open mind to acting on climate change. And he even offered some praise for the Clinton Foundation. On the business ties, Trump was vague about when he will wind them down and how. He suggested he intends to transfer ownership to his kids, but then he also noted that the president is immune from federal conflict-of-interest laws. "In theory I could run my business perfectly and then run the country perfectly. There's never been a case like this,"he says of his tangles Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) November 22, 2016 Trump on his businesses/conflict q's: "The law's totally on my side, the president can't have a conflict of interest." Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) November 22, 2016 Trump, who once declared global warming a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese, backed off his skepticism of climate change. He said he believed there is a connection to human activity and warming but he is still undecided about how much of one. And he said he has an open mind to keeping in place the international climate agreement President Obama took a lead in negotiating, which Trump has been vowing for months to withdraw from. Tom Friedman asks if Trump will withdraw from climate change accords. Trump: Im looking at it very closely. I have an open mind to it." Michael M. Grynbaum (@grynbaum) November 22, 2016 Trump also addressed the public re-emergence of the white supremacist movement, and how his campaign has energized those groups. He said he disavows and condemns such groups, including the neo-Nazis who gathered in Washington over the weekend. But he defended his pick of chief strategist, Stephen K. Bannon, the Breitbart News executive who boasted that his outlet is the platform for the alt-right. Trump: Ive known Steve Bannon a long time. If i thought he was a racist, or alt-rightI wouldnt even think about hiring him." Michael M. Grynbaum (@grynbaum) November 22, 2016 Trump is asked about concerns from minority groups about Breitbart Newss coverage under Steve Bannon. His reply: pic.twitter.com/FBqCGwQpBr Michael M. Grynbaum (@grynbaum) November 22, 2016 When the conversation turned to Hillary Clinton, Trump said he will not press law enforcement agencies to prosecute her. And he even said people could argue the Clinton Foundation has done good work. Trump is pressed if he has definitively ruled out prosecuting Hillary Clinton. Its just not something that I feel very strongly about." Michael M. Grynbaum (@grynbaum) November 22, 2016 That last tweet was Trump making clear he doesn't favor prosecution. Added people could argue the Clinton Foundation has done "good work." Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) November 22, 2016 Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Ben Carson made it clear that he was too inexperienced for a Cabinet job. Now Trump says hes considering Carson for one By Evan Halper I am seriously considering Dr. Ben Carson as the head of HUD. I've gotten to know him well--he's a greatly talented person who loves people! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 22, 2016 It was only a week ago that Ben Carson had put out word that he wasnt qualified to run a federal agency, and thus had no place in Donald Trumps Cabinet. Now Trump says Carson would be the perfect person to run a federal agency. Trump tweeted on Tuesday that he is seriously considering Carson to run the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Carsons qualifications? Hes a greatly talented person who loves people! Perhaps Carson was playing hard to get last week, when one of his top advisors, Armstrong Williams, told multiple news outlets that Carson wasnt a good fit for any of the Cabinet posts. Dr. Carson feels he has no government experience; hes never run a federal agency, Williams told the Hill. Trumps tweet that Carson was at the top of his list for the HUD job was unusual for another reason. Such trial balloons are typically floated anonymously, to gauge public reaction. If its hostile, the president-elect can scrap the plan and deny it was ever something he seriously contemplated. After Trumps advisors put the media on notice Tuesday morning that they would offer no details of what Trump will discuss at his meeting with Carson, Trump went ahead and shared them with millions of people himself. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Donald Trump may have won the election, but hes still mad at the media By Evan Halper The President-elect does not care who knows how unforgiving or vain or distracted he is, David Remnick writes. https://t.co/6vOriXjf4E The New Yorker (@NewYorker) November 22, 2016 So much for burying the hatchet. Even victory has not diminished Donald Trumps resentment of the news media. His relations with the news outlets have gotten no better now that he has transitioned from confrontational candidate to confrontational president-elect. Trumps angry rant about the New York Times on Tuesday morning in which he briefly canceled a meeting with the outlet followed what was by several reports a stormy session the day before with major news networks. Television executives and journalists traveled to Trump Tower for the closed-door meeting anticipating a discussion about media access to the White House and perhaps a recalibration of the increasingly hostile relationship. Trump had something else in mind. He delivered an angry scold about the way he has been covered, complaining of unfairness even in the selection of the photos of him used during broadcasts, which, he griped, emphasized his double chin. He called the coverage outrageous and dishonest, according to a report in the New Yorker. Its unclear what Trumps intentions were. But if his goal was to chasten the media, he did not succeed. Some at the meeting described being offended and accused Trump of failing to understand the press 1st Amendment protection from government suppression. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Aide says Trump does not want to pursue charges against Hillary Clinton By Del Quentin Wilber A top official of Donald Trumps presidential campaign on Tuesday reaffirmed signals sent by the president-elect that hes not interested in pursuing criminal charges against Hillary Clinton, despite his repeated campaign promises to prosecute the Democratic nominee over her handling of classified materials and involvement in the Clinton Foundation. Kellyanne Conway, Trumps former campaign manager, also told MSNBC that congressional Republicans should follow Trumps lead, suggesting they drop their own probes into Clinton. I think when the president-elect, whos also the head of your party, tells you before hes even inaugurated that he doesnt wish to pursue these charges, it sends a very strong message, tone, and content to the members, Conway said. Trump had promised his supporters that he would re-investigate whether Clinton broke laws while using a private email server as the nations secretary of State, even after the FBI concluded she had not. During a presidential debate, he even pledged to assign a special prosecutor to look into the matter. Despite his supporters strongly favored such an investigation -- they often erupted into chants of Lock her up! at his rallies -- Trump hinted after the election that he had changed his mind, telling 60 Minutes earlier this month that the Clintons were good people and he didnt want to hurt them. Conway said the former Democratic presidential candidate still has to face the fact that a majority of Americans dont find her to be honest or trustworthy, but she added, If Donald Trump can help her heal, then perhaps thats a good thing to do. FBI Director James B. Comey has said that Clinton was extremely careless in how she and her aides handled classified information on her private server while she served as secretary of State. But agents, he said, turned up no evidence they had intended to violate espionage laws. The Justice Department agreed with Comey and closed the inquiry. Its highly unusual for a president to tell an attorney general whether or not to investigate a potential criminal matter, especially one involving his political rival. Trumps apparent desire to drop the matter raises questions about the FBIs inquiry into the Clinton Foundation, which unlike the email probe has not been concluded. The attorney general would have some discretion whether to prosecute, said Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond. Politically, however, its not feasible if the president really doesnt want it to happen. The FBI has not commented on the status of any investigations into the Clinton Foundation. FBI agents in New York were reportedly looking into the nonprofit and wanted permission to use more aggressive law enforcement tools to dig deeper into the organization. But they were blocked by prosecutors and top FBI officials who did not believe the investigators had developed evidence to justify such actions, according to law enforcement officials. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print One of Donald Trumps meetings might offer a clue for how he wants to replace Obamacare By Noam N. Levey Dr. James Jackson performs a physical on Matthew Shorter, 51, a Medicaid patient enrolled in the Healthy Indiana Plan, at the Heart City Health Center in Elkhart, Ind. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune) Donald Trump has consistently vowed to repeal and replace Obamacare. But he has yet to explain what he intends to replace it with. His meeting schedule today might offer a clue of what he is pondering. On the agenda is a chat with Seema Verma, an architect of Indianas unusual healthcare program for the poor. Indiana is among a handful of red states that took federal aid through the Affordable Care Act to expand Medicaid eligibility to poor, childless adults. But unlike most traditional Medicaid expansions, Indiana set up a system that requires many low-income residents on the program to pay small monthly contributions for their health coverage. Conservatives, including the states governor, Vice President-elect Mike Pence, have argued that this makes poor patients take greater responsibility for their health. And healthcare advocates in Indiana generally supported the program, in large part because it was seen as the only way to expand health protections in the deeply conservative state. But cost-sharing requirements for low-income patients remains controversial, and a number of states that have experimented with it in the past stopped after concluding it was too expensive and difficult to administer. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Britain says not so fast to Trump tweet about Nigel Farage as ambassador to U.S. By Laura King Donald Trump, right, welcomes pro-Brexit British politician Nigel Farage to speak at a campaign rally in Jackson, Miss., in August. (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press) Donald Trump and Nigel Farage were always something of a love match. But cold political realities may have intervened. The U.S. president-elect tweeted late Monday that Farage, leader of a far-right British political party, would make a great British ambassador to Washington. Apparently, the British response early Tuesday could be summarized as: Er, no. There is no vacancy, the Guardian newspaper quoted a spokesman at 10 Downing St., the prime ministers official residence in London, as saying. We already have an excellent ambassador to the U.S. Farage was a wholehearted proponent of Brexit, the June referendum in which the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, with still unknown long-term results. The British politician traveled to the United States during the campaign to offer his support for Trump, making rally appearances to sometimes bemused crowds to promote their purported common cause. In the course of his push for the presidency, Trump declared himself Mr. Brexit, and at one point dubbed his insurgent campaign Brextit-plus-plus an allusion to his support for a referendum across the Atlantic that was strongly colored by anti-immigrant sentiment. Farage was among the early visitors to Trump Tower following the GOP candidates unexpected victory. The two posed, grinning, in front of a bank of gold-plated elevators in the president-elects Manhattan residence. But hopes of a more formalized relationship appear to have been dashed. The Guardian quoted members of Parliament as saying Farages inflammatory views made him a poor candidate for a diplomatic post. The Reuters news agency said it would be highly unusual for an incoming foreign administration to so publicly air its pick for a diplomatic post. Trumps suggestion, it noted, provoked anger, support and even hilarity in Britain. The news agency quoted a Conservative lawmaker, Simon Burns, as joking that Britain should name its own choice for U.S. envoy to the United Kingdom: Hillary Clinton. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump the president vs. Trump the businessman: Can he juggle both? By Don Lee Donald and Melania Trump greet a guest at a grand-opening ceremony last month at Trumps new hotel in Washington. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) The Trump Organization spent months trying to drive off the culinary union from its Las Vegas hotel, losing one legal battle after another before a federal labor board. Soon Donald Trumps company, which has refused to bargain with the union after housekeepers and other employees voted to join last December, could gain some leverage. As president, Trump will be able to appoint two new members to the National Labor Relations Board, giving the agency a 3-2 Republican majority that could be more sympathetic to Trump. We hope that Mr. Trump doesnt use his power to interfere, considering he has a financial interest in the outcome, said Bethany Khan, spokeswoman for Culinary Workers Union Local 226. Khans concern is but one of many examples of potential conflicts of interest that could arise for Trump the president vs. Trump the businessman. His vast holdings include hotels, office buildings and golf courses, and he has licensing deals across the globe. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Donald Trump briefly cancels meeting with New York Times and complains about its nasty tone By Amy Fiscus I cancelled today's meeting with the failing @nytimes when the terms and conditions of the meeting were changed at the last moment. Not nice Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 22, 2016 Donald Trump briefly canceled a meeting Tuesday with New York Times journalists, claiming that its terms were suddenly changed. The charge was made in the obfuscatory style that has come to mark Trumps tweets. He said only that the terms of the meeting were changed, not who changed them; the paper said Trump, not anyone on its side, had requested new terms after the meeting was set. NYT did not try to change ground rules. Trump did, asking for only a private meeting and no on-the-record segment, which NYT refused. https://t.co/EpmZFdDYAh Jonathan Mahler (@jonathanmahler) November 22, 2016 The meeting was supposed to have included both a private discussion, similar to one Trump had Monday with television news network executives, and a segment where reporters were free to quote Trump by name. The Times said Trump later asked for the meeting to be fully private, a request the newspaper refused. After the cancelation gained widespread attention, spokeswomen for both Trump and the newspaper said it was back on as scheduled. Trump has done a handful of interviews since being elected, none with the Times, and has not held a news conference, as is customary for most presidents within a few days of their election. He also said the papers coverage of him had a nasty tone, without citing specifics. Its front page Wednesday included stories questioning the constitutionality of his foreign business deals and one citing concerns that the military might have too much influence over foreign policy in a Trump administration. 7:25 a.m.: This story was updated with the scheduled meeting being reinstated. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Neo-Nazi alt-right crowd cheers the president-elect with Hail Trump By Jessica Roy A newly released video shows a room full of people doing the Hitler salute and yelling Hail Trump! after listening to a speech about white nationalism that invokes Nazi terminology. The video was taken over the weekend by a reporter for The Atlantic while working on a documentary about Richard Spencer. Spencer is the person speaking in the video. He runs the National Policy Institute, a self-described alt-right think tank that openly supports white nationalist and neo-Nazi policies. In the past, he has called for a peaceful ethnic cleansing of the United States. In the video, Spencer calls the media leftists and cucks, invoking popular alt-right insults for people they disagree with. He calls the media the Lugenpresse, which is what the original Nazi Party called the media in Germany the lying press. We dont exploit other groups, he says, the we referring explicitly to white people. We dont gain anything from their presence. The press has clearly decided to double-down and wage war against the legitimacy of Trump and the continued existence of white America, he continues. But they are really opening up the door for us.... America was, until this past generation, a white country, designed for ourselves and our posterity. It is our creation, it is our inheritance, and it belongs to us. America was, until this past generation, a white country, designed for ourselves and our posterity. It is our creation, it is our inheritance, and it belongs to us. Richard Spencer Members of the crowd give the Nazi salute throughout the speech. Last week, the Twitter accounts for Spencer and his think tank were suspended, along with a number of other alt-right accounts. Trumps campaign issued a statement in response to the video: President-elect Trump has continued to denounce racism of any kind and he was elected because he will be a leader for every American. To think otherwise is a complete misrepresentation of the movement that united Americans from all backgrounds. White supremacists have credited Trumps win with sparking a new interest in their movement. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Donald Trumps first promises since winning the election leave out the border wall, NAFTA and his Muslim ban By Noah Bierman President-elect Donald Trump spent more than a year campaigning to build a border wall, repeal Obamacare and rescind President Obamas moves to protect from deportation some immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally. But in his first extensive public comments since winning the election this month, Trump mentioned none of those issues. Nor did he talk about withdrawing from the North American Free Trade Agreement, banning Muslims from entering the country, or ending the Syrian refugee program. Trump instead made five more modest promises for his first day in office during a nearly three-minute video released Monday that presented him as a more moderate figure and appeared to be an effort to soften Trumps message while he establishes an inner circle of advisors and Cabinet picks of hard-liners. In the video, Trump promises to withdraw from the massive Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, a potential disaster for our country, and instead pursue bilateral agreements with some of the Pacific countries involved. He promised to lift restrictions on energy production, including shale and coal, implement a rule that any new government regulation must be accompanied by removing two regulations on the books and to instruct his Joint Chiefs of Staff to develop a new cybersecurity plan. His only discussion of immigration involved the legal immigration system a crackdown on visa fraud. Trump also said his previously announced ethics rules barring employees in his administration from lobbying for five years after they leave the government and from lobbying for foreign governments for life would take effect as soon as he is inaugurated. Trump vowed in the video to release more plans in the days to come. These are some of our Day 1 executive actions, spokesman Jason Miller said in an email. By no means is it everything hell work on day one or after that many additional good things to come. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print World gets glimpse of deportation plan Kris Kobach took to meeting with Trump By Colleen Shalby Kris Kobach, the Kansas secretary of state whos been tapped to join Donald Trumps immigration policy transition team, probably didnt intend for the world to see details of his plan to bar terrorists and Syrian refugees when he brought it to a meeting Monday. But thats what happened when he posed for a photo with President-elect Donald Trump outside of Trump International Golf Club in New Jersey. The document was in full unobstructed view, as Kobach apparently wasnt thinking about the power of a zoom lens. The clearest part reads: DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY KOBACH STRATEGIC PLAN FOR FIRST 365 DAYS Bar entry of Potential Terrorists Update and reintroduce the NSEERs screening and tracking system (National Entry-Exit Registration System) that was in place from 2002-2005. All aliens from high-risk areas are tracked. Add extreme vetting questions for high-risk aliens; question them regarding support for Sharia law, jihad, equality of men and women, the United States Constitution. Reduce intake of Syrian refugees to zero, using authority under the 1980 Refugee Act. Record Number of Criminal Aliens in the First Year Those details arent exactly new. Trump has made it clear that he intends to deport 2 million to 3 million immigrants in the country illegally who fall under his definition of criminal. And Kobach, who is behind several controversial immigration laws and was the architect behind the NSEERs system, has said previously that he will help Trump reverse President Obamas immigration policies. The Obama administration has set a second-term priority to deport migrants with criminal convictions. Since taking office, Obama has expelled more people than any other president in American history. Less legible on Kobachs document, but still visible, are mentions of its definition of criminal alien (any alien arrested for any crime, and any gang member); the phrase 386 miles of existing actual wall; the Patriot Act; and Draft Amendment to National Voter .... Its possible this line refers to the National Voter Registration Act. Kansas Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley criticized Kobach. Thats the height of irony if hes wanting a job in Homeland Security and youre able to see in a photograph what should be confidential information, Hensley said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Rolling out Obamacare was chaotic, but a repeal could be much worse By Noam N. Levey In the summer of 2013, as state and federal officials readied new insurance marketplaces created through the Affordable Care Act, millions of Americans started getting disquieting notices from their insurers. Health plans were being canceled because they didnt comply with the law, often called Obamacare. Some 4 million people were ultimately told they would lose their plans. The ensuing outrage sparked a political firestorm, seriously eroded public confidence in Obamacare and forced an embarrassed President Obama to change federal regulations so people could keep their coverage. Yet that tumultuous episode could be dwarfed by what President-elect Donald Trumps administration and its congressional allies unleash beginning next year. They plan to not only repeal the law but are contemplating changes that are significantly more far-reaching and could disrupt insurance coverage for many more Americans than did the original law. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print The U.S. labor forces guy problem: Why arent more men working? By Jim Puzzanghera Inmates at San Quentin State Prison in August. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) As the recovery from the Great Recession continues, job growth is solid and the labor force is growing at close to its fastest pace since 2000 because more unemployed workers are coming off the sidelines. Still, the percentage of working-age Americans in the labor force remains stuck near its lowest level since the late 1970s. Although retiring baby boomers are the main reason, theres another troubling factor that experts predict wont be solved by stronger economic growth. Too many men in their prime dont have a job and arent even looking for one. Experts trying to figure out the reasons are probing the roles of criminal background checks, painkillers and even video games. In all, about 7 million men ages 25 to 54 are neither employed nor available for work, putting them outside the labor force. Their growing numbers worry and puzzle economists. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Obama gives strong support to Pelosi as she faces leadership fight By Christi Parsons House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) President Obama all but endorsed Nancy Pelosi to continue to lead House Democrats on Sunday, defending her as she faces a challenge to her position from restive members of the Democratic caucus. Although he is reticent to meddle in party votes while he is on the way out the door, Obama said at a news conference that he cannot speak highly enough of the first female House speaker, who has been a key ally on some of his most important work as president. She combines strong progressive values with just extraordinary political skill, and she does stuff thats tough, not just stuff thats easy, Obama said when asked whether the California Democrat should be reelected to her position. Obama made his remarks during a news conference in Lima, Peru, where he was wrapping up a summit meeting with Asian and Pacific leaders. Some of Pelosis decisions have been unpopular, even with voters in her San Francisco district, he said, but she has done them anyway because its the right thing to do for the American people. Pelosi faces a challenge from Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio, a seven-term member of the House. Perhaps the most notable example of her support for Obamas agenda was Pelosis steadfast support for the Affordable Care Act, which likely cost some Democrats their seats in Congress in the midterm election when Republicans took over the chamber. In offering advice to fellow Democrats, though, The Internet has paid countless dividends to the public, speeding the pace of innovation, closing the distance between peoples and cultures, empowering individuals and opening wellsprings of information and knowledge. But theres an undeniably ugly side to it as well, from hacking and intrusive data collection to harassment, trolling and a dark web of criminal activity. A good example is the way prostitution and sex trafficking have flourished online. Analysts say much of the marketing and financial transactions for the sex trade have shifted from the street to the Internet with the most popular venue for attracting clients being the online classified ad site Backpage.com. Modeled after Craigslist, Backpage is a no-frills site that caters to a broad range of interests, with advertisements touting items for sale, services, job openings and events. It makes most of its money, however, from ads for adult services, many of which are barely disguised come-ons from prostitutes. The sites name refers to its roots in the classified advertising operations of a weekly tabloid chain, which ran ads for adult services on the tabloids back pages. Advertisement Responsibility for illegal content should rest on the people who create it, not on a general-purpose sites used to distribute it. Law enforcement agencies which have used Backpages ads repeatedly to identify and prosecute prostitutes, pimps and sex traffickers have tried several times to shutter the company and jail its executives, only to have the charges thrown out in court. Thats because of the broad immunity Congress provided in 1996 to online services that publish content submitted by their users. Under a section of law known as the Communications Decency Act, interactive computer services are not liable for content they host online if its supplied by someone else. This protection is based on an important principle: Responsibility for illegal content should rest on the people who create it, not on a general-purpose sites used to distribute it. The act still leaves sites liable for the content they do create, as well as for any violation of federal criminal laws, including those against child sexual exploitation. But the shield it provides against federal civil suits and state and local laws has turned out to be vital for start-ups and potentially disruptive business models because it clearly delineates what a company will and will not be liable for. Granted, Backpages critics arent so fond of the Communications Decency Act. In 2013, California Attorney General Kamala Harris and 46 other state attorneys general complained to Congress that the provision prevented state and local law enforcement officials from prosecuting companies like Backpage that profit from child sex trafficking. They urged lawmakers to repeal the part of the Communications Decency Act that provided immunity to state criminal laws, but the suggestion went nowhere. Thats a good thing. Requiring online companies to scrutinize everything that their users post for compliance with umpteen ever-expanding state and local laws would impose a burden so daunting, it would effectively close the door to a wide range of online sites and services. Instead, Congress amended federal law last year to make it illegal to advertise a commercial sex service or benefit from advertisements for such a service knowing (or recklessly disregarding the fact) that it involves a minor or a victim of human trafficking. According to the measures author, Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Mo.), the goal was to end facilitation of sex trafficking by websites like Backpage.com. Not content to wait for federal prosecutors to use the new law against Backpage, Harris filed charges in September against Backpages chief executive and its two founders, accusing them of violating state pimping laws by building a business around advertisements by prostitutes and pimps. The election-year effort appears to be just as futile as Harris predicted it would be in her 2013 letter to Congress; on Wednesday, Superior Court Judge Michael Bowman in Sacramento tentatively granted Backpages motion to dismiss the charges, saying the company was protected by the Communications Decency Act. Instead of cutting the states losses, Harris has asked for more time to persuade Bowman to change his mind. Stopping sex trafficking certainly should be a high priority for state and local law enforcement. Instead of testing the strength of the Communications Decency Act over and over, however, they should be working with federal prosecutors to try to build a case against those who knowingly provide a promotional platform for this exploitation. Meanwhile, lawmakers should consider changing the law to deny immunity to companies that alter the content on their sites or change their record-keeping to prevent law enforcement agencies from identifying those who post unlawful material, as some critics say Backpage does. The law should provide broad protection for neutral platforms, not for those that are fine-tuned to promote and profit from illegal acts. Even before election day, Donald J. Trump was already moving away from his absurd campaign pledge to round up and deport more than 11 million people living in the U.S. without legal status. Now, he tells the nation, hell focus first on removing upward of 3 million people that are criminal or have criminal records while securing the Mexican border with a wall that might also include sections of fencing. He also has softened his rhetoric by conceding that some non-criminals living illegally in the U.S. without permission are terrific people who might be allowed to return. But so far there is no plan. Among those left in limbo: the so-called Dreamers, people brought to the U.S. as minors and raised in this country since then, but who dont have legal permission to live here. To give them some breathing room, President Obama unilaterally created the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in 2012 that has granted temporary reprieves from deportation to 742,000 people (about one in three of whom live in California), enabling many of them to work or otherwise come out from the legal shadows. Obama two years ago sought to expand DACA and create the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents program, but the courts have put those initiatives on hold in response to a lawsuit accusing the administration of overstepping its authority. DACA is not an amnesty program, no matter how candidate Trump and his right-wing backers sought to frame it. Advertisement Trump rose as a candidate on anti-immigrant rhetoric that was tainted at times with flourishes of bigotry. His deport-them-all campaign promise was manifestly impractical and would, according to the right-of-center American Action Forum, take 20 years to accomplish, cost up to $600 billion (good luck getting that approved by Congress) and shave $1 trillion from GDP. Its hard to see how inflicting that kind of damage on a society built on immigration would make America great again. But Trump also promised to immediately terminate Obamas DACA and DAPA programs, which have been vociferously opposed by the GOP. As president, Trump could easily end both by revoking the administrative orders Obama signed to create them. He hasnt sent any post-election signals yet on the programs fate, but picking Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) a leading voice in the Senate for more deportations to head the Justice Department doesnt bode well. Trump shouldnt take that path. The Dreamers who benefited from DACA bear no personal responsibility for their undocumented status, having arrived here through their parents actions, not their own. To be eligible for the program, they had to have been born after June 15, 1981, and brought here before their 16th birthday, and must not have dropped out of school or committed serious crimes. Nor may they pose a national security or public safety risk. Those who have received DACA status already are, by and large, contributing members of society (some even have served in the military). Most, if they were eligible to apply for legal status, would be just the sort of immigrants the nation should welcome. It would be unjust to force them from the country they know as home and return them to potentially dangerous countries where they may not even speak the language because of the sins of their parents. And DACA is not an amnesty program, no matter how candidate Trump and his right-wing backers sought to frame it. DACA was crafted as a reasonable, humanitarian accommodation by the Obama administration while Congress struggled to adopt meaningful longer-term immigration reform that would address their status as residents. Part of congressional recalcitrance to pass a comprehensive fix was pure politics: The past few Congresses will go down in history for their tenacious refusal to work with the Obama White House on some of the most pressing issues of the day, including immigration reform. But with Trump soon to occupy the Oval Office and Republicans controlling both houses of Congress, the logjam could well end and the nation may finally get new immigration laws. Of course, that might give truth to the old adage about being careful what you wish for, as Republican opposition to a path to citizenship for people living in the country illegally and other common-sense reforms may lead lawmakers to adopt even worse immigration policies. Still, we hope Trump and Congress recognize that a broad deportation campaign to uproot millions of people who have been here, on average, for more than a decade would be impractical, unjust and damaging. Such a program would devastate families, weaken neighborhoods and destabilize labor markets in agriculture, construction and even white-collar industries where professional-class workers are on the job without legal status. Trump could begin to assuage the anxieties of immigrant communities and embrace basic human decency by preserving DACA as a bridge to true, and humane, immigration reform, and recognizing that holding onto young people raised and educated here would be good for the country. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook. To the editor: Reporting on the heavy pro-Donald Trump vote and other voter preferences that distinguished Lassen County from most of the rest of California that went overwhelmingly for Hillary Clinton, a Lassen County resident explained the difference: People still have morals and values here. This disturbing attitude dismisses those who supported Clinton as lacking morals and values. (In Trump they trust: Why these Californians voted red, Nov. 17) It is troubling that this person, a rancher who is also a Lassen County supervisor, appears not to understand that morals and values change as human understanding and experience grow over time. I suspect that few people today would accept living by the social standards of the Dark Ages. Demeaning those with opposing political views as being immoral does nothing to advance our ability to engage in productive dialogue and make life better for us all. Advertisement Robert J. Switzer, West Hollywood .. To the editor: The Trump supporters in Lassen County appear to be a mirror image of Trumps Rust Belt supporters in that they are mostly white, live in rural communities, only relate with each other and thus feel out of touch with the rest of California and the nation. While 65% of these residents are on government payrolls, they are anti-government. They claim that they have morals and values, yet they voted for an individual with no political experience, who is willfully ignorant of government, who has made cruel and insulting remarks about women and who has boasted about assaulting women and getting away with it because of his celebrity status. These people must get their news only from the Internet, because they do not seem to have a clear idea of what took place during the campaign. The reason for the ongoing street protests is not because of the election of a Republican but because of the unfit character of person who won. Richard C. Armendariz, Huntington Beach .. To the editor: I think we Democrats neglected the working class, the poor, the rural, the isolated. We became the Party of Wall Street and the global elite. We also became self-congratulatory on how well educated and smart we are. We forgot a basic Democratic principle: We are all in this together, including the citizens in flyover areas. Its time to get down off our high horse and get to work representing all the people, not just the coastal and global elite, and not just those who agree with us. Roger Angle, Long Beach .. To the editor: Californias city dwellers cannot see beyond their own immediate surroundings. Some will do 90 from Los Angeles to San Francisco along what they call the 5. Others embark on airliners from LAX to JFK. The city passenger marvels at the agrarian mosaics 33,000 feet below. What they miss: journeys along roads like California State Highway 139; a large lake shared by two states (not Tahoe); a cattle drive across the highway. Wildlife abounds. Kimmo Sahakangas, San Pedro .. To the editor: So, this is the face of the Trump voter. So be it. But because they knowingly and with vengeance in their hearts voted for the most reprehensible, fear mongering, divisive, hateful candidate of my lifetime, they dont get to decry being called racist. By their choice, that is what they are. Melissa Verdugo, Rancho Palos Verdes Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook California Democrats ask Obama to pardon nearly 750,000 Dreamers, but White House says it wouldnt work The members of Congress who persuaded President Obama to grant temporary legal status to hundreds of thousands of immigrants brought into the country illegally as children are now asking him to use a pardon to prevent those immigrants from being deported by President-elect Donald Trump. The White House, however, promptly batted down the idea. Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Downey) and Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) sent a letter to Obama on Thursday asking him to use his pardon authority to forgive the past and future civil immigration offenses of the nearly 750,000 people granted deportation deferrals under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program. They believe that would keep those people from being deported, and even though it would leave them in legal limbo without work permits or visas, they could more easily apply for legal status from within the U.S. without immigration offenses on their records. They wouldnt have a piece of paper, they wouldnt have work authorization, but they wouldnt have to be living in fear every moment of their lives about deportation, Lofgren said after a news conference Thursday. Lofgren, a former immigration attorney, said the pardons would probably be applied to the civil offenses related to entering and remaining in the country without authorization. But whether a pardon would actually be applicable in the so-called Dreamers situation is unclear. Lawyers disagree over whether the immigrants could be pardoned for civil crimes they havent been formally accused of, and whether such a pardon would actually prevent them from being deported while they seek legal status. A White House official signaled late Thursday that the administration was not considering a pardon for those registered under DACA because it believes a pardon would not allow them legal status. We note that the clemency power could not give legal status to any undocumented individual. As we have repeatedly said for years, only Congress can create legal status for undocumented individuals, an administration official said. After immigration reform efforts stalled in Congress during Obamas first term, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus pressured Obama to act independently to protect from deportation certain immigrants brought into the country illegally when they were children. He then used an executive order to create the DACA program in 2012. The Dreamers, one in three of whom are estimated to live in California, gave the Department of Homeland Security their fingerprints, home addresses and other information to undergo background checks that allowed them to defer deportation under DACA. At the time, advocates and the administration emphasized that providing the information would protect the Dreamers and was worth the risk. But with Trump vowing to deport millions of people who are in the country illegally and many fearing he may let the DACA program expire, Dreamers are worried the information they provided will be used to deport them. Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), whose husband is an immigration attorney, said at the news conference she has been getting a flood of messages from frightened Dreamers. On Tuesday she sent a letter to Obama asking him to keep their information from the Trump administration. We promised these recipients security, and now they are facing a nightmare, she said. Roybal-Allard said those who pushed Obama to create the program and persuaded people to come out of the shadows to register with the government have an obligation to protect them. These are kids. We feel a sense of responsibility. We went out into our districts and we talked to the Dreamers, and they asked us, Is it really OK for us to do this? Roybal-Allard said. And we said, No, dont worry, you need to come forward. Now we are in a situation where all that we said, in fact, could possibly be reversed. Although the presidents pardon power is normally used for individual cases, there is some precedent for the chief executive to pardon a large group of people. President Jimmy Carter pardoned half a million Vietnam War draft evaders in 1977, and at least seven other presidents have issued broad pardons. Congress and the Supreme Court cannot undo a presidential pardon, nor can a new president. Lofgren said if Obama doesnt pardon the Dreamers, she hopes he responds with his own idea to help them. These young people are not alone, they are not going to be abandoned by us, she said. UPDATES 4:59 p.m. This post was updated with additional details throughout. 2:15 p.m. This post was updated with the White Houses response to the proposal. This post was originally published at 11:30 a.m. An atypical alliance between President Obama and pro-business Republicans built momentum for the largest global trade agreement in history. Now, the equally unlikely pairing of President-elect Donald Trump and key constituencies of the left are celebrating its near-certain demise. The debate over the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the accord among the U.S. and 11 other Pacific Rim economic powers, has turned from whether it will be put in place to the question of what the apparent political realignment means for the future of trade. The pact, the product of nearly a decade of negotiations, was a centerpiece of Obamas Asia rebalance strategy, designed to open new markets in fast-growing economies such as Vietnam for U.S. goods and expand the U.S. footprint in Asia as a check to growing Chinese influence in the region. Opponents said its labor protections fell short, and Trump campaigned as an opponent of the deal. Advertisement Trade per se is not a bad thing; its definitely a good thing, said Jeffrey Sachs, a progressive economist who was a critic of the agreement. I hope that the defeat of TPP doesnt spill over into an open season on trade, because wed end up losing a tremendous amount. Though its passage was hardly assured if Hillary Clinton had won the election she, too, had come out against TPP amid an unexpectedly tough primary challenge from the more liberal Bernie Sanders Obama had expected to arrive here for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit with a plausible case to make for the U.S. agreeing to the deal. Negotiations between his administration and key Republican holdouts had advanced to the point where backers felt that a vote in the lame-duck session of Congress to approve the deal was within reach. Instead, the election of Trump forced Obama to explain privately to Asian leaders here what the election result portends for TPP while publicly making his best pitch to Trump not to scrap it. Obama made no explicit mention of the trade pact publicly during a photo opportunity before his meeting with the heads of partner nations, saying only that he looked forward to discussing how to make sure they are creating more jobs, more opportunity and greater prosperity for all of our countries. Trump has been silent about his precise plans on trade since his victory, though his views were consistent throughout the campaign. The Trans-Pacific Partnership is another disaster done and pushed by special interests who want to rape our country, Trump said in a major economic speech in June. Its a harsh word, but its true. In an October speech outlining plans for his first 100 days in office, Trump also said he would immediately announce the U.S. withdrawal from TPP as well as his intention to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement. The president and president-elect discussed the trade agreement during their 90-minute postelection meeting, but whether Obama appealed to him directly to preserve TPP wasnt clear. In a briefing with reporters Friday before the presidents arrival, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said the future of TPP was up to legislative leaders in Congress, and warned that U.S. inaction poses serious costs to both the domestic economy and U.S. credibility in Asia. Scuttling the accord was an invitation to China to take our place, Froman said, as the Asian giant is pursuing its own regional trade accord, called the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP. TPP is obviously not the only game in town, he said. We see people around the table here right now talking about [how] if TPP doesnt move forward, then theyre going to have to put their eggs in an RCEP basket. Froman said he was not speaking for Trump and the incoming administration at the summit and was encouraging partner nations to talk to Trumps administration directly. Already, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has met with Trump to discuss military and economic cooperation. Ratification of TPP by the U.S. and Japan would be essential to ensuring the agreement takes effect. This week, progressive groups that rallied opposition to TPP sought to claim that it was their efforts, not Trumps positioning, that helped sink the agreement. But even as they continued to argue that its provisions did not go far enough to protect American workers, they openly fretted that a Trump administration might negotiate new agreements that would be even worse. Thea Lee, deputy chief of staff for the AFL-CIO and its chief international economist, acknowledged that a progressive model for trade hasnt been clearly delineated, and said the challenge ahead is to discuss next steps with the Trump administration. Stopping TPP is only one small piece of what we need to do together, she said. This isnt about being anti-trade or being anti-globalization. Its about rejecting the model of globalization that our government, both Democratic and Republican administrations, have been putting forward. The Obama administration has been careful not to say TPP was dead, and some officials remained hopeful Trump could warm to the agreement. His vice president-elect, Mike Pence, was once an enthusiastic backer of the accord, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) had at least supported the concept, if not the final deal. Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and one of the chief boosters of TPP in Congress, said he hopes that Trump allows us to make the case for the accord, and noted that the trade authority measure passed by Congress in 2015 gives the president-elect the kind of enforcement powers he has argued for. Donald Trump was elected to get this economy moving again, Brady said at an event hosted by Politico after the election. Finding new customers for American goods and services are a big part of our economic growth. Trade is what provides that opportunity. michael.memoli@latimes.com For more 2016 campaign coverage, follow @mikememoli on Twitter ALSO Donald Trumps first picks for top jobs show how he plans to govern from the hard right Theres nothing wrong with being white. Trumps win brings white pride out of the shadows White nationalists man in the White House? Bannon appointment provokes angry rebukes More students attend Burbank schools this school year than last year, including those who dont live in the city, according to recent data. There are 15,256 students enrolled in local schools this year, a jump of 115 students compared to the year prior, according to statistics that officials discussed during a school board meeting on Thursday. About 8% of Burbank Unifieds total enrollment 1,191 students do not reside within Burbank Unifieds boundaries but obtained a permit to attend local schools. Thats 209 more students this year compared to last. We had to increase the number of permits to stabilize and increase our enrollment this year, said Burbank Unified Supt. Matt Hill, adding that this years figures represent the first increase in students the district has seen in three years. Join the conversation on Facebook >> He credited the enrollment hike to Burbank Unifieds outstanding reputation, courses geared toward preparing students for careers right out of high school and its streamlined permit process that more easily allows parents who live outside of the district to secure a spot for their child in a Burbank school. Meanwhile, there are 68 students who currently live in Burbank but attend schools elsewhere, and 40 are enrolled in Glendale schools for dual-language immersion programs, said Brian ORourke, director of student and safety services for Burbank Unified. The uptick in students occurred across all grade levels. There are 26 more students in transitional kindergarten through fifth grade, 13 more students in sixth through eighth grades and 60 more students in local high schools. Larry Applebaum, school board president, said the rise was a testament to the education offered locally, and he praised efforts by the district staff to maintain stable enrollment numbers that benefit both students and employees because the more students that Burbank Unified serves, the more funds it receives from the state. Keeping this enrollment up is critically important to our budget, said board member Steve Ferguson. -- Kelly Corrigan, kelly.corrigan@latimes.com Twitter: @kellymcorrigan Victoria Elementary School is working to keep more than just students engaged in the classroom. Its also pushing to keep parents involved. Starting March 9, the Costa Mesa school will provide a Parent Institute for Quality Education program, a free nine-week course intended to help parents whose first language is not English understand what classes their children need to take to be eligible for four-year universities, how to create a learning environment at home and how to navigate other educational obstacles. We do have parents whose main obstacle is language and level of education, said Ari Lopez, a staff member of PIQEs Orange County office in Santa Ana. We want parents to gain a better understanding of their school community, from knowing how to make an appointment with a counselor to monitoring TV time at home for their children. PIQE has delivered parent programs at different school sites for 29 years. The National City-based organizations first course operated at Sherman Elementary School in San Diego. PIQE now serves more than 300 schools in California each year. According to Victoria Elementary Principal Aaron Peralta, about 40% of the schools families did not learn English as their first language. Parent Antonio Gonzalez said he supports the program coming to the school. My son falls into the category of an English-language learner [at Victoria], he said. I think the program will help families acquire this knowledge, which will help students get into the college culture. Everyone wins. At Victoria, PIQE classes will take place every Wednesday evening. The program will accept up to 60 parents. If Victoria parents do not fill all the seats, the school will open spots to parents of students at TeWinkle Middle School in Costa Mesa, according to Peralta. This [program] is one means to get parents involved specifically parents, who for a number of reasons, have not been active participants in their childs education, Peralta said. The most productivity happens when students, parents and teachers are working to achieve the same goal. By the end of the course, parents will attain a certificate from the California State University system, one of the organizations partners, showing that they completed the program. Their children may include the certificate in their college applications when they are eligible to apply for a four-year university, Lopez said. A parent certificated from a program at an elementary school may continue to a PIQE program at his or her childs middle and/or high school. In the Anaheim area, Ive seen parents who graduated two or three years ago when their children were in fifth grade come back to the program when their child went to middle school, Lopez said. We want to target those specific times, because each one will present different events in a students life. Sign-ups for PIQE may be completed at Victoria Elementary Schools front office, 1025 Victoria St. The Mikhailovsky Ballet, from St. Petersburg, Russia, will return to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts with its U.S. premiere of Le Corsaire. Le Corsaire, which was to have opened Friday, will also be performed at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $29. Regarded as a beloved ballet in the Russian repertoire, Le Corsaire follows Conrad, a pirate, falling in love with Greek maiden Medora. American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Ivan Vasiliev will be featured in the title role during the Saturday evening performance. Le Corsaire is a marvelous ballet that I love performing, Vasiliev said, noting he will perform the edition of the ballet by Mikhail Messerer, Mikhailovsky Ballets master-in-chief. This editon is based on the version by Russian dancer and choreographer Konstantin Sergeyev staged for the Mariinsky Ballet, formally known as the Kirov Ballet. I find the edition very interesting, filled with breathtaking movements and nuances, Vasiliev said. For more information, call (714) 556-2787 or visit scfta.org. More Than $200 Million to Be Paid by JPMorgan as Settlement in Alleged Bribery Case Over Hiring in China Pedestrians walk past a signage of JPMorgan in its headquarters in New York. (Photo : Getty Images) JPMorgan Chase is set to pay more than $200 million in settlement over allegations that it hired children of Chinese leaders as "quid pro quo" or, in a way to gain favor and win businesses in China, Reuters reported. Advertisement The investigation into the matter was launched by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2013. According to sources, no individual will be prosecuted in the case. Sources said that about $130 million will be paid by the bank to SEC while about $70 million will be given to the Justice Department. According to The New York Times, the SEC investigation focused on the issue of whether JPMorgan violated U.S. law on foreign bribery or the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1997. JPMorgan argued that it is common practice in China to hire well-connected employees, which it said was within the so-called gray area of foreign bribery laws. But U.S. authorities said that in several instances, some senior JPMorgan bankers have linked those jobs to their success in getting deals with China's state-run firms. The probe also revealed that the hiring of Chinese "princelings" were formalized by the bank into its Sons and Daughters program, and even went to the extent of creating spreadsheets to monitor the hired employees assigned to specific clients. In getting into the settlement, it is expected that JPMorgan will accept the findings and conclusions of the investigators, the report said. A spokesman for JPMorgan declined to comment, as well as the spokesman for the Justice Department's criminal division in Washington and the United States attorney's office in Brooklyn. The SEC and the Federal Reserve also did not give their comments about the settlement. The report said that the settlement was smaller than what was expected because the bank cooperated fully with investigators during the probe, which was the final move of the Obama administration's efforts to rid Wall Street of wrongdoings. The settlement is seen as a moral victory for JPMorgan, which was able to avoid criminal liability, and successfully negotiated for a rare non-prosecution agreement. An employee of a Newport Beach bar reportedly was arrested Friday night after four men overdosed there one of them fatally on an unknown substance early Friday. Police said Sean Robert McLaughlin, 42, was arrested at about 8:45 p.m. at his Aliso Viejo home on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter, according to the Orange County Register and City News Service. McLaughlin is an employee of American Junkie, a bar in the 2400 block of Newport Boulevard where the four men lost consciousness, apparently after ingesting a narcotic, authorities said. Paramedics were called to the establishment at about 1 a.m. Friday and took the men, some of whom were in respiratory arrest, to local hospitals, authorities said. One of the men died, according to Newport Beach police. The others were treated and released. Detectives suspect the men got the narcotic from McLaughlin, the Register reported. Search warrants were served at his home and American Junkie. The investigation is continuing, and police asked that anyone with information about the case contact Det. Rick Henry at (949) 644-3797 or rhenry@nbpd.org. Hundreds of Huntington Beach residents have signed a petition demanding that the local government take action to locate the source of a recurring odor that they say has caused headaches, nausea and sore throats. Adam Plesniak, a 10-year resident of Huntington Beach, said he started the petition on Change.org hours after he was overtaken by the gas-like odor on Tuesday. As of Friday afternoon, 396 people had signed the petition. Residents say no part of the city is immune when the smell hits. Ive lived in Huntington Beach 25 years and am familiar with the occasional gas smell from the local oil operations, one petitioner wrote on the petition. In the last year, the assault has become so frequent and potent that I now consider it not only aggravating, but increasingly concerning for the health of my family. My kids have been complaining of headaches, another petitioner wrote. This seems very dangerous to me. We need to know what is going on and have this stopped. Plesniak said he plans to gather as many signatures as possible and then bring the issue to the City Council to force attention, accountability and action. Meanwhile, the Daily Pilot reported in September that residents of Seal Beach, just to the north of Huntington Beach, have also been complaining of a recurring gas-like odor that also was causing nausea and headaches. In fact, it was reported again in Seal Beach on Friday. The first time Plesniak noticed the odor was about five years ago, but he said its presence has gotten much stronger and more consistent over the past year. Richard Hart, a 42-year resident of Huntington Beach, said hes been suffering headaches, a sore throat and nausea from the overwhelming smell. He agrees with Plesniak that the odor has been around for a few years but has become stronger and more frequent over the last couple of months. Hart has reported the incidents to authorities, but he said they never have definitive answers about the odors cause. Hart said hes tracked 16 occurrences since May and noted that the odor generally arises during the workweek between noon and 4 p.m. Some say its nature emitting gas from the sea floor, he said. I believe it is man-made. I dont believe nature is that consistent. The smell was so strong Tuesday that Barbara Rose thought she had a gas leak in her home. Im almost 80 so this really affects me, she said. I had a terrible headache. Rose, who has lived in Huntington Beach for 45 years, said she now has to prepare for the odor by closing all her windows and turning on all her fans. Sergio Jimenez, a spokesman for the Southern California Gas Co., said the natural gas provider received several calls from Tuesday through Thursday regarding a suspicious gas-like smell in Huntington Beach. He said the company determined the smell was not natural gas. Huntington Beach fire Battalion Chief Jeff Lopez said the department responds to reports of a widespread gas-like odor about eight to 10 times a year, receiving hundreds of calls from residents each time. Lopez said the department has not been able to determine the cause of the odor but it appears to be relatively harmless. There have been several theories about cause, but gas releasing from offshore oil tankers is the most likely, Lopez said. The odor seems to move with the wind, so Lopez believes the cause is offshore. Sam Atwood, spokesman for the South Coast Air Quality Management District, said the organization had received several complaints from Huntington Beach residents about odors since Nov. 13. Investigators were sent to the area but were unable to identify a cause, Atwood said. Atwood said the presence of bad odors in the area is a periodic phenomenon that the AQMD deals with. The AQMD received several reports of a bad smell in Seal Beach on Friday afternoon, Atwood said. Investigators were sent to the site to take samples, Atwood said. Atwood did not know if the odor was related to the Huntington Beach smell. Seal Beach city officials worked with the AQMD but have not isolated the odor, Assistant City Manager Patrick Gallegos said. benjamin.brazil@latimes.com Twitter: @benbrazilpilot A new residential development in Santa Ana Heights that is planned to replace three 1970s units with seven three-story cottage condominiums won unanimous approval from the Newport Beach Planning Commission on Thursday night. Six of the condos at 20452 Santa Ana Ave., a roughly quarter-acre lot, would have about 1,400 square feet. The seventh would be 1,953 square feet. All would have two bedrooms, an attached garage and three bathrooms. The property, owned by local Realtor Adrienne Brandes, is zoned for multi-family units and could have as many as 11, according to city staff. Fourteen garage parking spaces are included, with an additional four guest spots onsite. The condos are attached, with four on one building and three on the other. A common driveway will be between them. City planners called the projects architectural style eclectic, with Spanish elements. They said the homes could be no taller than 33 feet. The Planning Commissions decision is final unless appealed to the City Council. In correspondence sent to the commission before Thursdays meeting, residents near the project site expressed concerns about additional traffic created by the higher-density development and the possibility of three-story buildings disrupting the integrity of the neighborhood. The three-story style is similar to several new developments built in Costa Mesas Westside in recent years. On those tracts, some units have rooftop decks with ocean views and are replacing commercial sites with residential uses. That similarity was not lost on Woodrow Lewis of Woodco Investment Co. Inc., a business on Campus Drive. In a letter to the commission, he called Costa Mesas three-story development projects ultra tight and said theyre flooding the market. What if the market slows up and these, being overpriced and not viable, are to become foreclosures [in Newport Beach]? Lewis wrote. How soon does government financing and lack of alertness [open] up a market of unqualifiables? Weve got instant slum. bradley.zint@latimes.com Twitter: @BradleyZint In the 1950s, a plethora of science-fiction films filled Americas theater screens. Fears of aliens from other planets attacking Earth struck a nerve in peoples psyches. The metaphor was obvious: those not like us, be it of a different religion or ethnicity, were aliens. Even the term illegal alien was the phraseology used years before undocumented worker took root. But after last weeks election, what has become clear is that the alien may be our next-door neighbor. The half of the country who voted for Hillary Clinton cant grasp how someone could have voted for Donald Trump, and those for Trump cant get why someone would vote for Clinton. Neither side should feel very good about the pulse of America. We all thought that the 2000 election was a once-in-a-lifetime event. Now, we have this. Trumps inauguration come Jan. 20 may become a huge disruptive demonstration with riot police in attendance. No matter if your side won or not, as Americans, we will all lose. As a voter who did not support either major party candidate for president, its troubling to see the country divided. It wasnt divided four years ago when the same people who voted for Trump this year voted for Obama. How could a country who put the first black president in the White House be the same country that elected the most inexperienced person to the highest office in the land? It is a question that continues to fill hours of TV and radio talk shows. One thing is clear: people no longer wish to hear what those with differing views have to say. In todays social-media climate, where all one has to do is post comments anonymously as a way to express whats on ones mind, listening is not part of the equation. And it is the most difficult component in language arts for students to grasp. More so today due to the decline in real face-to-face communication. Kids today have fewer playdates and more anonymous friends online. Even when they play with friends in person, it is usually to play a video game. Everyone brings a device and, in silence, a room of children demonstrate the opposite of the word interaction. Similar to any Starbucks in America. 60 Minutes did a piece on the lack of decorum when they filmed focus group pollster expert Frank Luntz asking how voters felt about the presidential race on the eve of election day. Luntz noticed in recent years how the tone of communication has turned acrimonious. Whereas in the past, a person would patiently sit and listen to someone speak, now that individual is more likely to interrupt the person talking and even insult him. Call it the shut up and hear what I have to say syndrome. And this type of one-way dialogue can be evidenced in media programming daily. This is not discourse, its disruption. People shut themselves out from the world by having a phone in front of their face and headphones in their ears. The message is clear: leave me alone. When students come to talk to me during lunch or after school, I have to ask them to remove their earbuds both of them before I have a conversation with them. I want to make sure they hear me sans soundtrack. Heres hoping Trump listens to others. It is an essential quality of a good president, especially one presiding over a divided nation. With many anxious about the countrys future, it brings to mind a funny moment in Back to the Future when Marty, recently arriving in the 1950s from the 1980s, informs Doc that Ronald Reagan is president, and Doc incredulously responds, Then whos vice president Jerry Lewis? Actually, Lewis would not be so bad right now. -- BRIAN CROSBY is a teacher in the Glendale Unified School District and the author of Smart Kids, Bad Schools and The $100,000 Teacher. He can be reached at briancrosby.org. Negotiators from nearly 200 countries wrapped up two weeks of talks Saturday vowing to press ahead with the fight against climate change with or without the help of the next U.S. president. The election of Donald Trump, who has called global warming a hoax and has threatened to cancel U.S. participation in a landmark climate deal, cast a pall over the conference in the Moroccan city of Marrakech. The Obama administration played a major role in negotiating the deal, forging alliances with China and other big polluters that helped bring decades of contentious discussions to a successful conclusion in Paris last year. Few here wanted to consider what the agreement might look like without U.S. involvement. Advertisement On Thursday, participants issued a call to action, saying, Our climate is warming at an alarming and unprecedented rate and we have an urgent duty to respond. Without mentioning Trump by name, the declaration reaffirmed the need to reduce emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases and called for the highest political commitment to combat climate change. The Paris agreement aims to limit the global temperature rise this century to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times, and as close to 1.5 degrees Celsius as possible. Those are the thresholds at which scientists believe many of the most damaging effects of climate change can be averted. But the agreement does not contain binding emissions targets, relying on governments to set their own goals. Even if the U.S. and other countries were to fulfill the commitments made so far, scientists believe it would only be enough to hold the average temperature rise to around 2.6 degrees or higher. Delegates in Marrakech appealed to Trump to work with the rest of the world to ratchet up the fight against global warming. Fijis prime minister, Frank Bainimarama, drew applause Friday when he reiterated an invitation he made to Trump to visit his South Pacific nation and see for himself the effects of rising sea levels and Cyclone Winston. Trumps assertions during the campaign that he would cut off U.S. funding for climate programs alarmed many of the worlds poorer countries, which will need the help of wealthy nations to cope with retreating shorelines, prolonged droughts and extreme floods and storms. Developed countries agreed in Paris to mobilize at least $100 billion a year by 2020 to help poorer counterparts cope with climate change and transition their economies to cleaner energy sources, such as wind and solar. But countries that are already suffering the effects of climate change say they will need more help than that and sooner. Theres nervousness in these halls about climate finance, said Alden Meyer, director of strategy and policy for the Union of Concerned Scientists. The Obama administration pledged to contribute $3 billion to the Green Climate Fund, but has only delivered a first installment of $500 million. Not a lot of new money has been put on the table, Meyer said. Moroccan Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar, who hosted this years talks, said that turning billions into trillions will be indispensable. The message to the new American president, he said, is simply to say, We count on your pragmatism and your spirit of commitment. U.S. representatives in Marrakech sought to reassure counterparts that the success of the Paris agreement does not hinge on the policies of any single administration. Obamas envoy on climate change, Jonathan Pershing, noted the growing momentum around the world to tackle the problem, not only from governments, but also from the private sector and civil society. We are confident this movement will continue, not only because the impacts are more and more damaging, and clearer and clearer, but because the clean energy transition presents opportunities for economic growth, for job creation and for sustaining healthier and more prosperous communities, he told reporters Thursday. Environmental activists said they were encouraged to see how much of what the U.S. is doing to combat climate change is happening at a state and local level. Gov. Jerry Brown has said that Californians will continue to confront the existential threat of our time devastating climate change. Environmental activists were also struck by the determination of countries such as China, France, Britain, Germany and even oil giant Saudi Arabia to move forward on the issue, despite the uncertainty that resulted from the U.S. election. That continued commitment was clear in public statements and private assurances, in the constructive spirit of the negotiations, and in the actions of the several countries who formally joined the Paris agreement in the last two weeks, said Nathaniel Keohane, vice president for global climate at the Environmental Defense Fund. By the time the talks concluded in the early hours of Saturday morning, 111 countries accounting for three-quarters of the worlds emissions had ratified the deal, which took effect days before the meeting began. Several of them including Germany, Canada and Mexico joined the U.S. in presenting strategies for how their countries can dramatically reduce emissions by 2050. Vowing to do their part, representatives from more than 45 of the worlds poorest countries pledged Friday to meet all of their energy production needs through renewable sources as rapidly as possible. We want other countries to follow in our footsteps in order to evade catastrophic impacts we are experiencing through hurricanes, flooding and droughts, said Mattlan Zackhras, a government minister from the Marshall Islands. Although the U.S. elections clouded much of the discussion in the first week, by the second week participants were speaking of a renewed resolve to get on with the work of fleshing out the details of the plan, including procedures to measure and verify national emissions reductions. An agreement was reached to complete the so-called rule book by 2018, a more ambitious timeline than initially envisaged. More than $80 million in pledges were announced to help vulnerable nations adapt to climate change, among other initiatives. We all need to do more, of course, United Nations climate chief Patricia Espinosa said in her concluding remarks. But we are moving in the right direction, and that is reason to be optimistic. alexandra.zavis@latimes.com Twitter: @alexzavis Times staff writer Zavis reported from Los Angeles and special correspondent Sampathkumar from Marrakech. Thousands of Malaysian opposition demonstrators marched in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday against suspected corruption in Prime Minister Najib Razaks government, a day after the protest organizer was arrested on charges of subverting democracy. Throngs of yellow-clad protesters the signature color of an electoral reform movement known as Bersih rallied in defiance of a police ban and what they described as an ongoing campaign of official intimidation. Demonstration organizer Maria Chin Abdullah, the chairwoman of Bersih, was arrested Friday evening on charges of activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy. The leader of a rival pro-government group was detained early Saturday, ostensibly to prevent the two sides from clashing on the streets of Kuala Lumpur, the capital. Advertisement Police blocked access to Kuala Lumpurs main plaza, where protesters hoped to congregate and replicate demonstrations of past years. State news agency Bernama said that 15 people were arrested for illegal assembly at what was otherwise a peaceful protest. The rally was a show of strength by Najibs opponents but looked unlikely to shake his hold on power, which has weakened amid accusations that about $700 million in public money was deposited into bank accounts in his name. The scandal over a state development fund Najib set up in 2009 has drawn the attention of law enforcement agencies from around the world. The Justice Department alleged in July that an international conspiracy helped siphon $3.5 billion from the fund, known as 1Malaysia Development Berhad, or 1MDB. Some of the money is alleged to have been used to set up a Hollywood production company led by Najibs stepson that financed, among other films, The Wolf of Wall Street a story of financial corruption. Other purchases linked to the fund include properties in Los Angeles and New York, paintings by Monet and Van Gogh and a $35-million jet. Najib, who was in Peru on an official visit, has said he never took money for personal gain and called the deposits a donation from Saudi Arabia that he mostly repaid. The corruption scandal has gripped a country that has otherwise been a bulwark of political stability in Southeast Asia, long embraced by the West for its moderate brand of Islam. Stung by the criticism, Najib has recently played up Malaysias growing ties with China and castigated Western powers for interfering in former colonies. In recent months, as calls for his resignation have grown louder, several leading opposition politicians have been charged or jailed on a variety of offenses including sedition and breaches of communications laws. Among those facing prison was Rafizi Ramli, an opposition lawmaker who joined the demonstration, saying Najib will try to cling to power because [otherwise] he will go to jail. Najibs former deputy, Muhyiddin Yassin, ousted last year for criticizing the prime minister over the corruption allegations, also joined the opposition alignment and thundered against the government at the rally. They steal peoples money; they squander our wealth; they sell our pride, Yassin said. The anti-Najib campaign has gathered momentum with the addition of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysias longest serving leader, who addressed the rally in the shadow of the twin 1,483-foot Petronas Towers. The 91-year-old Mahathir, who led Malaysia for 22 years until 2003, has set up a new party that will run under the opposition banner in the next elections, due by mid-2018. Malaysias political opposition has floundered since longtime leader Anwar Ibrahim was jailed on sodomy charges and opposition parties squabbled over implementing Islamic criminal punishment in the Muslim-majority country. A handshake between Anwar and Mahathir in September appeared to signal that Mahathir would help lead a new opposition grouping. Anwars daughter, Nurul Izzah, said the legacy of Mohamads tenure in office which saw Malaysia modernize into one of Asias wealthier countries could draw support from ethnic Malays, who make up about 60% of the nations 30 million people. A major antigovernment rally last year was dominated by Malaysians of Chinese descent, who make up about one-quarter of the country. Bersih is no longer seen through the lens of race, and that is why Najib is acting with heavy-handedness, she said. Organizers are probably aware that the demonstration will not unseat the prime minister, according Ooi Kee Beng, deputy director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. The challenge that the Bersih rally throws into the ring is a show of defiance, of numbers and of cross-communal teamwork, he said. More importantly, it will raise the level of enthusiasm and activism that may carry through to election day, and the sense that the battle for change is not over. Many remain skeptical that the opposition parties can coalesce effectively, given their ethnic and religious differences. Even the presence of Mahathir, whose two decades in office were often marked by the type of authoritarianism he now accuses Najib of, might not unite the disparate factions, some analysts said. Many middle-class Malaysians are disappointed [the opposition] joined up with Mahathir, said James Chin, director of the Asia Institute at the University of Tasmania in Australia. Chin said the rally was unlikely to seriously undermine Najib. As long as there is no violence, Najib looks good, Chin said. He can claim he was looking after security since [members of] both sides were arrested. Roughneen is a special correspondent. Times staff writer Shashank Bengali in Dhaka, Bangladesh, contributed to this report. ALSO Embezzled Malaysian funds financed L.A. real estate and Wolf of Wall Street, Justice Department says Questions about Malaysian prime minister dont stop at Flight 370 South Korea finally has its first female president, but womens groups fear shes only made sexism worse All material is subject to strictly enforced copyright terms & conditions and cannot be repurposed or reproduced. 19882022 Latin American Financial Publications Inc. A Chinese worker waits near trucks carrying goods during the opening of a trade project in Gwadar port. (Photo : Getty Images) China has been advised make peace with India to allow the unhampered operation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is the express link that connects Western China to the Middle East and Africa. An article published in Forbes said that the CPEC is an essential part of China's vision to set the rules for the next stage of globalization and spur growth for its export and investment engines. The country has pledged to invest about $46 billion to the project. Advertisement But CPEC passes through the Kashmir regions being claimed by both Pakistan and India, which had been long fighting for control of the territory, the article said. While China is working with Pakistan in the CPEC, the article said it did little to appease India, whose efforts to join the Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) were repeatedly blocked by China. In addition to that, India also claimed that China openly supported Pakistan in the India-Pakistan Kashmir standoff, judging by statements of Chinese senior officials who spoke during the sidelines of the ongoing 71st session of United Nations General Assembly in New York. According to the article, this was also the reason why India supported the U.S. in the South China Sea disputes. The article warned that the situation could get worse as the CPEC route may be disrupted by pro-Indian forces in Pakistan, which could raise the possibility of an open confrontation between Pakistan, with China on its side, and India and its allies. Separatists from the Baloch Liberation Army operate in the region, where cases of abduction and killings are rise. In March last year, rebels burned oil tankers owned by Chinese companies in the region. During a bilateral meeting in September, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his concerns about the project to Chinese President Xi Jinping. India has reportedly signed a bilateral agreement with Iran to develop the port in Chabahar, as a response to the Gwadar development project funded by China. Wang Jing, Baidu's senior vice president, poses with one of the company's autonomous cars at Baidu's headquarters in Beijing. (Photo : Getty Images) China's search engine Baidu and Foton Motor Group have recently unveiled a driverless truck, which the two companies have jointly developed using the latest connected-cars technologies. China Daily reported that the vehicle, nicknamed "super truck," is powered by Baidu's limited self-driving automation and Foton's driverless technologies and big data of commercial vehicles. Advertisement The move is part of the efforts of Baidu Intelligent Vehicle, known as L3 Division, to develop autonomous commercial vehicles, which it believe will compete with traditional cars in the future. "The mass deployment and implementation of driverless commercial cars may witness a boom as strong demand is projected for non-price sensitive buyers, usually company buyers," Gu Weihao, general manager of Baidu Intelligent Vehicle, said. The L3 Division was set up in September at the Baidu World Conference 2016 to help automakers to upgrade their products for autonomous implementations. Gu said that there is a huge potential for self-driving commercial vehicles in the Chinese market, although its development lagged behind other countries. He said that compared to traditional cars, driverless cars are safer to drive and more cost-efficient. According to the report, Baidu's self-driving truck is a Level 4 vehicle, based on the standards of U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for automated vehicles. Vehicles with level 4 in automation are used for autonomous vehicles. More than 60 auto manufacturers are now working closely with Baidu while more than 150 cars are equipped with Baidu's intelligent vehicle software. "We'll further collaborate with commercial vehicle OEMs to develop self-driving solutions and build typical application scenarios," said Gu. "On the other hand, being one of the pioneers in the industry, we'd like to introduce more self-driving technology providers to participate and grab a piece of the market share." Baidu's L4 driverless cars developed by L3 Division and automakers such as Chery, BYD and Shou Qi Group, were showcased at the ongoing 3rd World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, the report said. The company has also set up Baidu Venture and Baidu Capital, in the third quarter, which will support projects involving artificial intelligence (AI) and other Internet related work. Robin Li, Baidu CEO, said that as part of the company's expansion, it would offer more artificial intelligence-based innovative products that include a Siri-like smart secretary and driverless cars. The company, through its subsidiary in the U.S., has been recently granted with a permit to test its self-driving vehicles in California. The company is set to conduct more road tests for its driverless vehicles in various weather, road and traffic conditions in 10 cities across the country. A central hospice unit to serve four midland counties would cost an estimated 9.5 million to build and 2.5 to run each year a public meeting of Laois Hospice has been told. Pat Bennett, a regional manager with the HSE, revealed the costings to a public meeting of Laois Hospice in Portlaoise where he also called for Laois people to get behind the project. The unit would serve Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath and would be aimed at helping terminally ill patients where dying at home is not possible. Tullamore is the likely location mainly because of the existence of cancer services in the town's hospital. However, he told the public meeting in the Killeshin Hotel Portlaoise that, while the Department of Health is committed, "seed money" would have to be raised locally before the Department would get involved. Mr Bennett, a Portlaoise native, said the running costs were 2.5 annually. However, many supporters of Laois Hospice had a lot of doubts at the meeting held on Friday night, November 18. The number one problem for them was that Laois people should be the benificaries of any money raised in Laois primarily for the delivery of home care. Supporting a central unit and associated outreach service would, people felt, see funds raised in Laois go to helping other counties who were not as successful at raising funds. They feared services in Laois for people who want to die at home could suffer as a result. Doubts were also expressed over promises to fund and staff the unit from the Department of Health. Many people doubted that enough funds could be raised in the four counties and there were also fears that it might not be possible to bring the hospice groups together for such a big fundraising drive. There were also calls for a small unit to be located in Laois either in the town's hospital or as a new wing to the Cuisle Centre. The leadership of Laois Hospice who spoke at the meeting, Seamus O'Donoghue, Chairman, and its Clinical Director, Peter Naughton, felt homecare must be the priority for Laois Hospice. Mr Naughton agreed with a central unit for acute cases. He also felt a "two tier" service had emerged in Ireland for people who were dying depending on where they live. However, the retired surgeon felt any central unit should be only supported after homecare services have been fully funded in Laois. Mr O'Donoghue, suppoted this view and said Laois Hospice would have discussions with Offaly Hospice and the other midland hospices on the HSE's proposal. A show of hands at the meeting in the Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise, which was attended by about 150 people, supported the view that paying for homecare in Laois must come first. Dr Peter Cushen, palliative care consultant for the midlands, urged those at the meeting to back a central unit. He said a small unit in Portlaoise or the other counties was not viable for the type of 'multi-disciplinary' care a hospice unit can provide. He said more people die in hospital in the absence of a hospice than areas of the country that do have a hospice. Sharon Foley, chief executive of the Irish Hospice Foundation, also backed a central unit. She said senior HSE management had given a firm undertaking directly to the foundation to fund its operation. US Panel Urges Probe into Whether China Is Weakening US Military Chinese soldiers. (Photo : Getty Images) A U.S. advisory commission released a report on Wednesday warning that China's growing military might make it more likely to use force to pursue its interests and pushed for a government probe into how far outsourcing in China has weakened the American defense industry. The annual report of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission noted increasing threats to U.S. national security from Chinese spying, including infiltration of American organizations, and called on Congress to prevent Chinese state from acquiring control of U.S. firms. Advertisement The release of the report to Congress comes a week after Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election. Trump, an outspoken Republican who has promised to take a stronger stance on trade and security issues with China than the incumbent President Barack Obama, will take office on Jan. 20. The commission is a bipartisan body established in 2000 to monitor the effects of U.S. trade and economic dealings with China towards national security and make recommendations to Congress for legislative and administrative action. Its report also urged American lawmakers to lend its support towards increased U.S. Navy freedom-of-navigation operations in the South China Sea, one of the world's busiest trade routes where China's construction of artificial islands with military installations has raised concerns about future freedom of movement. Beijing and neighboring countries have competing claims in the region. The panel also noted the ongoing reforms of the People's Liberation Army and the upcoming completion of China's first locally made aircraft carrier. "China's pursuit of expeditionary capabilities, coupled with aggressive trends that have been displayed in both the East and South China Seas, are compounding existing concerns about China's rise among U.S. allies and partners in the greater Asia," the report said. "Given its enhanced strategic lift capability, strengthened employment of special operations forces, increasing capabilities of surface vessels and aircraft, and more frequent and sophisticated experience operating abroad, China may be more inclined to use force to protect its interests," it said. The commission said that Washington's responses to the threat of Chinese intelligence gathering had suffered from a lack of coordinated effort by U.S. intelligence agencies. It urged Congress to also direct the U.S. Government Accountability Office to prepare a report "examining the extent to which large-scale outsourcing of manufacturing activities to China is leading to the hollowing out of the U.S. defense industrial base." "This report should also detail the national security implications of a diminished domestic industrial base, compromised U.S. military supply chains, and reduced capability to manufacture state-of-the-art military systems and equipment," it said. The commission's report also recommended Congress to call on the U.S. State Department to promote educational materials to U.S. citizens going to China to the dangers of recruitment efforts by Chinese agents. A trade union is inviting people in Laois to a public meeting to debate pay rises for its members especially for carers and others who work voluntary organisations such as charities that provide services to the State agencies like the HSE. The IMPACT trade union is host a public meeting on the issue of pay restoration in the community and voluntary sector next Monday, November 21, at the Seven Oaks Hotel, Athy Road, Carlow at 6pm. The union invites people from Laois, Carlow, Tipperary, Wexford and Kildare. The union says its Caring at What Cost campaign continues to gather support nationally. It says the campaign aims to hold the Government to its commitment, contained in the Programme for Government, to increase funding to the community and voluntary sector. IMPACT has said this must take the form of an increase in core funding to support and enable pay restoration for workers in the sector, and that the Government needs to develop a new funding model for the sector. Pay restoration in public and private sector is already happening, and with a small number of employers in the community and voluntary sector restoring pay, its essential that sector is adequately funded in order to ensure workers in the sector are not unfairly left behind, said IMPACT organiser Joe O'Connor. 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. News that John Bolton is being considered for the role of Secretary of State in President-elect Trumps administration should give liberals, multi-lateralists, indeed anyone who values human rights and the rule of law, much cause for much concern. As you may recall, John Bolton served as both Under-Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security and, temporarily, as Permanent Representative to the United Nations under the Bush administration. His brief tenure at the United Nations was cut short as the 2006 Democratic mid-term sweep removed any realistic prospect that Boltons nomination would be confirmed. With Republican majorities now in place for at least the next 2 years, it seems unlikely that Trumps will encounter similar problems with his own appointments. Bolton, as the United States chief diplomat, would represent a particular threat to the global order. Phlegmatic and staunchly nationalistic, Bolton led the United States opposition to the International Criminal Court, describing it as a threat to American security interests, removing the US as signatory before negotiating bilaterally with nations to exempt US nationals from prosecution for war crimes. Unashamedly unilateralist, as Permanent Secretary to the UN he even claimed that there was no such thing as the United Nations, with the international community ostensibly being led by the United States and, even then, only in furtherance of its own narrow self-interest. Boltons appointment would mark a return to Bush-era foreign policy, reviving debates over everything from Guantanamo to water-boarding to US leadership within the United Nations itself. Trump, while taking a decidedly isolationist stance on the campaign trail, has spoken positively of water-boarding (and worse) and the extra-judicial killing of, not only suspected terrorists, but of their families as well. A return to Bush-era phraseology of enhanced interrogation and enemy combatants is already creeping into Trumps limited lexicon, with promises of enhanced vetting of migrants, particularly those of the Islamic faith. From the UKs perspective, a scaled-up, retooled and, perhaps, rebranded War on Terror would represent a significant foreign policy recalibration which the Government would need to adapt to. Trump is on record as claiming he would be comfortable working in concert with Putin to support Assad in Syria, a regime which has brutalized combatants and civilians and that has, in recent times, used chemical and biological weapons to subdue civil unrest. Would Theresa Mays government align itself with a Trump-Putin axis in the middle-east? The UKs record of complicity in extra-judicial rendition of terrorist suspects en route to Guantanamo is well documented. Would this government cooperate with Trump in engaging in extra-judicial killings, rendition and torture, whether upon or directed from UK territory? Would UK assets be used? Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, in discussing the use of UK-manufactured weapons by Saudi Arabia during bombing raids in Yemen, has betrayed complete indifference as to the implication of UK arm sales into conflicts where fundamental abuses of human rights and breaches of international norms are committed on an almost daily basis. Even if the UK government doesnt succeed in its long standing policy objective of repealing the Human Rights Act, the Prime Ministers recent denunciation of liberalism demonstrates a clear direction of travel. In little over 6 months, it is conceivable that the permanent members of the UN Security council could be represented by Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinpeng, Marie Le Pen and Theresa May. Should this frightening prospect come to fruition, I have little faith that the current UK government could act as any kind of a bulwark against the most troubling excesses of what may one day come to be known as a modern-day Axis of Evil. * Ciaran McGonagle is a Liberal Democrat member originally from Derry, Northern Ireland and based in Colchester. He is a solicitor working in financial services in the City of London. Earlier this week, More United consulted its members on whether to endorse Liberal Democrat candidate Sarah Olney in the Richmond Park by-election. The result was pretty conclusive. From More Uniteds email email to supporters: The result was overwhelming. 10,000 of you voted, and 96% said we should campaign for Sarah. We think this is an amazing chance for us to have a real impact on the result of this by-election. Sarah has said she supports our principles and has put opposition to a hard Brexit at the centre of her campaign. Sarah is facing a tough fight against Zac Goldsmith, but if she wins it will send the Government a clear message that millions of people believe in a more united, less divided Britain. More United seeks to support candidates who support their five key principles: A fair, modern, efficient market based economy that closes the gap between rich and poor and supports strong public services A modern democracy that empowers citizens, rather than politicians A green economy that protects the environment and works to reverse climate change An open and tolerant society where diversity is celebrated in all its forms A United Kingdom that welcomes immigration, international co-operation and a close relationship with the EU The Greens and Womens Equality Party are not fielding candidates in the contest The Greens co-leader Jonathan Bartley said this earlier this month: This is no normal by-election. A regressive alliance of the Tories and UKIP are working together to re-install a pro-brexit MP who just ran a racist campaign to be Mayor of London. The decision not to stand has been made because a majority of local party members believe that a win for a non-Conservative backed candidate would be a blow to the Torys hard brexit, and dent their damaging plans for post-referendum Britain. Ultimately we think Britain is better off with fewer Conservatives in Parliament but that doesnt mean for a second that we wont be fighting to win local elections in the area in 2018, or that we wont stand in the constituency in future elections. Of course we have big policy differences with the Lib Dems and I joined many others in marching against the coalition government but they are simply the only chance we have at this moment to narrow the Conservatives majority. Id now urge Labour to join us in forming a progressive alliance against the forces of Conservatism and narrow-mindedness. Chances like this dont come about very often so lets use this opportunity to kick back against the Tories. The Womens Equality Party backed Sarah as the challenger to Zac Goldsmiths racist politics: Richmond Park is on course to be the biggest Lib Dem by-election campaign ever. Last weekend the Campaign Team put a call-out for 1000 volunteers, and very nearly reached that target. This weekend the team is planning to deliver an attractive magazine across the whole constituency, as well as make serious inroads into the canvassing. There are always admin jobs to do in the Kingston office as well. People have been turning up from all over the country. Yesterday, in the space of a few minutes, I chatted with a couple of new members who had come down from Macclesfield for three days to help, as well as volunteers from Newcastle and Hull. Mark Williams and John Pugh out on the streets of Richmond. These volunteers have just arrived this morning from Glasgow! Team London 2016 reunited. In a garage not far away. Back in the office, the promised food offerings are going upmarket which may have attracted our persistent visitor in the Kingston office. Politics is powered by elastic bands. Meanwhile down in Southampton they are on the phone. Just dont ask about the duck. And finally . the caption competition. If you feel inspired to join us just turn up at either of the two HQs between 9am and 9pm, any day. 110 Canbury Park Road, London, KT2 6JZ (closest station, Kingston) 65a Sheen Lane, Mortlake, SW14 8AD (closest station, Mortlake) * Mary Reid is a contributing editor on Lib Dem Voice. She was a councillor in Kingston upon Thames, where she is still very active with the local party, and is the Hon President of Kingston Lib Dems. THE ORIGINAL whistleblower in the ongoing University of Limerick expenses saga has been refused a meeting with both the president of UL and the chancellor of its governing authority board. Leona OCallaghan, a former employee in ULs finance department, first brought her grievances regarding the payment of expenses in UL to the Public Accounts Committee in 2012. Her concerns first came to public attention following the suspension of two other women in the same department, who remain suspended with pay for 18 months and counting. Ms O'Callaghan wrote earlier this month requesting a meeting with chancellor, Mr Justice John L Murray, and the Governing Authority board to discuss the difficulties that I had suffered as an employee of the accounts department at UL. She also wrote to UL president Don Barry requesting the same opportunity. In response, she was told in correspondence seen by the Limerick Leader - the matter of the termination of your employment has been the subject of a legal process and is now closed. The university is satisfied that all matters raised by you have been comprehensively addressed in accordance with due process. Therefore, the university consider that all matters relating to your employment and relating to your allegations involving expense claims are historical in nature and are therefore closed, president Barry wrote in response. In conclusion, he wrote, I would like to thank you for your service to the university from 2005 to 2010. Ms OCallaghan said that she was surprised by this refusal to meet given the commitments set out in ULs whistleblower policy, which was only adopted this April. She wrote a further letter to Mr Justice Murray addressing this. Dublin City University introduced their own whistleblowing policy in September 2014, University College Cork in December 2013, and NUI Galway in October 2014. I just want them to look me in the eye as a person, and see this case from a human level. I want them to have no doubt about the legitimacy of what I said and how I feel, and I am here to answer any questions they might have, she told the Limerick Leader. Its very disappointing that they dont want to hear from us, and seemingly have no interest in listening to us. A lot of taxpayers money which has gone to Arthur Cox solicitors in Dublin could have been saved if they listened to their employees in the first place. But instead they have closed the door on us. If they listened, there would be no need for protests outside UL or outside the Dail. They are still forcing our hand but were not going away, she said. A spokesperson for the university earlier said: UL is always open to the use of mediation/facilitation to help resolve any disciplinary matter or dispute. The university has entered mediation talks with the two employees subject to disciplinary proceedings. Firstly, under the auspices of the independent statutory authority, the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and, more recently, with the mediator nominated by the legal team of the two employees. In a statement issued this Wednesday, UL said: The case of one of the two suspended employees was due to go before the WRC last week but has once again been deferred at the request of the employee. In relation a former staff member requesting to meet with the UL President, UL has confirmed that it has no dispute with this former employee, wishes them well in retirement and therefore no need for such a meeting arises. The two suspended women were accused of making a malicious complaint against a fellow colleague, which they denied. The Higher Education Authority has spent some 80,000 in attempting to resolve the dispute at UL through a number of channels, but has now passed its considerable file on this case to the Department of Education. DELL EMC has been crowned Limericks business of the year at the annual Chamber awards. More than 400 local business leaders and government officials were at the Strand Hotel this Friday evening for the annual gala, which doubled as Chamber president Catherine Duffys annual dinner. Nine businesses and community groups were honoured at the black-tie event, while there was a special prize for Mungret man John Moran, a former secretary general at the Department of Finance and ex-board member of the European Investment Bank. Based in the Raheen Industrial Estate, the overall winners Dell EMC exist to develop high-tech cloud-computing products, data storage, and other products and services. A major employer in Limerick, the firm has more than 1,000 staff on its books locally. It was the second prize of the night the company won, earlier taking the prize for the Best Large Business. Other companies picking up prizes at the sixth annual Chamber business awards included BHSL, the Shannon Group, Medmark and Fitzgerald's Woodlands House Hotel. Cliona's Foundation won the prize for the best community enterprise, while there were also prizes for Flying Tiger and Home Instead Senior Care. Addressing the awards at the start of the night, Chamber chief executive Dr James Ring said the business group's new efforts in lobbying are starting to bear fruit. "We have just seen an example of this in action with this week's announcement the M20 preliminary planning is to recommence. "This followed on from the corporate partner's most recent dinners with Michael Nolan, CEO of Transport Infrastructure Ireland as well as Minister Michael Noonan who were both left in no uncertain terms of the importance of the road for balanced regional development," he told the audience. - For more, see Monday's Limerick Leader and the broadsheet editions on Thursday Kim Go Eun joins the stellar cast of tvN's new and upcoming drama "Goblin". (Photo : Screenshot from DramaFever YouTube page) One of South Korea's popular movie actresses Kim Go Eun will play the female lead in tvN's upcoming fantasy series "Goblin". She joins the stellar cast which includes Gong Yoo, Lee Dong Wook, Yoo In Na and Yook Sun Jae. The cast is also joined writer Kim Eun Sook and director Lee Eung Bok. Both are known for their recent work, the widely acclaimed South Korean drama "Descendants of the Sun". Advertisement According to Drama Fever, the fantasy series "Goblin" will be about a supernatural romance between the goblin Kim Shin is the "Protector of Souls" (Gong Yoo) who is desperate to end his immortality. He shares a room with Wang Yeo or the Angel of Death (Lee Dong Wook) who suffers from amnesia. Goblins need to marry a human bride to end their immortality. Given this condition, Kim Shin tries to woo and later on fall in love with a high school girl named Ji Eun Tak (Kim Go Eun). In addition, Kim Sun (Yoo In Na) is a sweet chicken shop owner who will fall in love with the Angel of Death, while Yoo Duk Hwa (Yook Sung Jae) is a wealthy heir and rebellious nephew of Kim Shin. Last August, it was reported that the "Goblin" cast held their first script reading at the Nuri Dream Square Business Tower. In a report by Soompi, the cast was described to be "completely absorbed" in the four-hour script reading session. The said event was led by writer Lee Eun Sook and director Lee Eung Bok and felt confident about the production of tvN's new and upcoming drama "Goblin". "Writer Kim Eun Sook and producing director Lee Eung Bok took the lead. The script read-through was passionate and the actors all matched well together. We have confidence that we can make a production that will conclude 2016 with a flourish," said the "Goblin" production staff in a statement. Moreover, DramaFever revealed that "Goblin" has begun filming of the drama last September and is reportedly being filmed in Quebec City, Canada. "Goblin" premieres on tvN on Dec. 2. Here's a teaser clip of "Goblin" starring Kim Go Eun and Gong Yoo. President Duterte speaks to the media and his people. (Photo : YouTube/ DUTERTE VIRALNEWS) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to depart from the International Criminal Court (ICC) following the exit of Russia, which was a directive signed by President Vladimir Putin himself. The tough-talking and the enigmatic PH president has once again surprised his countrymen and the international community with his pronouncement last Thursday that he might follow the steps taken by Russia, after series of concerns and commentaries had been directed to the Duterte administration concerning the bloody war on drugs. Advertisement "I might follow [their lead]. Why? Tayo lang maliliit na binubugbog ng mga walanghiya [I might follow their lead. Why? These people only pick on small countries like us.]," ABS-CBN News quoted PH president as saying. This declaration of the Philippine president is not something new. It can be remembered that in the past months, President Rodrigo also declared that PH will leave the United Nations after series of criticism has been attributed to his anti-crime campaign. This time around, he publicly announced that the Philippines might leave the global war crimes tribunal, which the Philippines has become one of the signatories. Before departing for Peru to attend the APEC meeting, the popular Asian president announced his support towards the move of Russia, the same country which branded ICC as a failure in terms of being a true "independent, authoritative international tribunal," according to CNN. As per ABS-CBN News, Philippine envoy Leo Tito Ausan is just waiting for the instructions of President Duterte regarding future relations with the ICC. Ausan also believes that the domestic authorities should be given time to do their jobs, and that the ICC should only intervene when local authorities are unable to perform their functions. In retrospect, the ICC was created in 1998 through the initiative of the U.N. under treaty known as Rome Statute. And if, indeed, Philippines will follow the move of Russia and exit the crimes tribunal, the current more than a hundred jurisdiction of the ICC will once again be decreased. A Long March 2F rocket carrying the country's first space laboratory module Tiangong-1 lifts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Sept. 29, 2011 in Jiuquan, Gansu province of China. (Photo : Getty Images/Lintao Zhang) Two Chinese astronauts safely returned to the Earth on Nov. 18, Friday after successfully completing China's month-long manned space mission. According to Zhang Youxia, commander-in-chief of China's manned space program, the Shenzhou-11 mission, which lasted over a month, was a "complete success" and the two astronauts were in good condition. Advertisement The re-entry capsule of Shenzhou-11 landed at the projected site in central Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region around 1:59 pm Beijing Time, Beijing Aerospace Control Centre said in a statement issued to Xinhua. Immediately, the ground search team arrived at the landing site, and the two astronauts, Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong, themselves opened the capsule's hatch. While the space mission was the third for the crew commander, Jing Haipeng, 50, it was the maiden mission for Cheng Dong, 38. Haipeng had also been a member of the Shenzhou-7 and Shenzhou-9 space missions. Shenzhou-11 was the sixth manned spacecraft of China, which was also the longest space mission till date. Two days following the launch of Shenzhou-11 on Oct. 17, the spacecraft docked with China's pioneering space lab, Tiangong-2. During the mission, the spacecraft transported personnel as well as materials to and from the Earth and Tiangong-2. It also tested meeting, docking as well as return processes. Haipeng and Dong also conducted three tests, including raising silkworms in space, prepared by middle students from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. In addition, Shenzhou-11 also undertook various aerospace medical experiments, in-orbit maintenance and space science experiments. These tests will help China to boost its endeavors to set up the country's permanent space station by 2022. By 2022, China will become the sole country to have this kind of facility in operation, as the existing in-service International Space Station stop workings by 2024, the China Daily reported. It is expected that the primary module of China's space station will be launched sometime around 2018. The space station, which has been designed to last for at least a decade, is expected to be fully operational by 2022. When in service, it will have the capacity to accommodate three to six astronauts in space up to one year. Tiangong-2 will continue to be in service in orbit even after Shenzhou-11's return to Earth. Now, the space station will be waiting to dock with China's first cargo spacecraft, Tianzhou-1. In April 2017, China will launch Tianzhou-1 to test the re-fuelling technology, which is vital for any space station. Watch the successful return of Shenzhou-11 to the Earth after month-long manned space mission: If you do not have a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, but want to view unlimited articles for the month, please choose this option. World Vision Ireland is asking you to help a child in an emergency situation this Christmas. We have all been shocked and many have felt a sense of helplessness at the scenes of traumatised children this year but there are ways that you can help. said World Vision Ireland Chief Executive, Helen Keogh. Word Vision is on the ground in many countries around the world providing food and healthcare but also, and just as importantly, providing trauma support and other psychological care to children. Even the smallest donation will go a long way in helping us provide these essential services. Game of Thrones Actor, Liam Cunningham, travelled to Jordan to meet with Syrian refugees with World Vision this year where he witnessed just how far money donated can go. The aid work I saw in Jordan gives me hope for humanity which is a weird thing to say this close to a war zone. Its a credit to the NGOs like World Vision who are operating here. I left with images on my mind of children smiling, not looking up at the sky for what might be being dropped on them. Children drawing flowers, not looking up at fighter jets. Theres humanity, decency and dignity. he said. What I saw in Jordan wasnt dramatic, but is so much more important. The bottom line is that donations you give are giving people dignity. A donation of just a few euro translates directly into dignity and thats the best value for money you can possibly have. If you would like to help in another way you can also send a Syrian child in Turkey a special message to let them know that they are not alone. Simply go to worldvision.ie write your message and World Vision will print our on a beautiful card and send it to a little boy or girl who would love to know that you are thinking of them. So may of the children we meet who had fled war ask us why the world has forgotten about them. A message from someone in Ireland would mean the world to them said Helen Keogh. To donate to a vulnerable child in an emergency or to send a message go to www.worldvision.ie or phone 01 4980800 Longford artisan butcher Louis Herterich scooped two of a possible five National awards in the Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland (ACBI) National Sausage and Pudding Competition which took place in Kilkenny last week. The prestigious achievement is just the latest accolade for the Ballymahon Street based businessman who just last month won an impressive number of awards in the Regional finals hosted by the Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland. Beating off stiff competition from both provincial and national competitors a proud Louis said he was overwhelmed to have returned home with an array of awards this time round. He said, We came first in Ireland for our white pudding and first in the lifestyle sausage category for our turkey breast sausage (high protein low fat). Herterichs also came third in that category with the lifestyle beef with sweet peppers sausage in addition to scooping second in the country for their gluten free sausages which are more and more in demand for those who have a gluten intolerance. This is a great sausage and tastes even better than the traditional breakfast sausage. Herterich's Artisan Butchers were presented with their awards at the Ormond Hotel in Kilkenny by Minister for State Andrew Doyle. Louis Herterich has been at the helm of the family run business for over a quarter of a century which was started by his parents in 1956 and celebrates its 60th birthday this year. With the launch of the on line shop at www.herterichartisanmeats.ie customers all over Ireland are now shopping at Herterich Artisan Butchers Ballymahon Street, Longford. E-commerce has made our products available to a much wider customer base, said Louis this week. Due to popular demand Black is Back. Black Friday sales will descend on Longford Town again on Friday, November 25 with over 100 participating retailers taking part on the day offering a wide range of discount concessions and bargains in advance of Christmas rush. Due to the success of last years Black Friday event Longford Chamber of Commerce and industry have decided to co-ordinate the shopping event again this year. Chamber President Derek Scanlon stated, Last years Black Friday event was a significant success for all retailers that participated. There was phenomenal feedback with both retailers and shoppers praising the event. Some retailers reported that they had had their single most successful day in 10 years. Thats some achievement considering the recession that we have just been through. A large number of discounts will be on offer on the day and these offers will be advertised on the Facebook page (Black Friday Longford) in addition to the Longford Leader and Shannonside Radio, I Radio, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter in the lead up to the event and throughout the day. There will also be a number of significant spot prizes for shoppers on the day. Chamber CEO, Lisa Brady also warmly welcomed the significant assistance being offered by the Transition Year Students from Scoil Mhuire who are co-ordinating the marketing campaign as a school project for the year. Ms Brady said, The Transition Year students are an invaluable part of this project and really contribute significantly to make the event the success that it is. The Black Friday event will also signal the Municipal Council turning on of the Christmas Lights in Longford town at 6.30pm on the day along with a Craft, Food & Drink Market on the square from 2 to 7pm. Chamber President, Derek Scanlon, encouraged all families to attend this event with Santa coming along as a special guest, We would encourage as many families as possible to attend the switching on of the lights event on the Market Square. This is always a special event that is enjoyed by young and old. 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 Emilia Clarke and George R.R. Martin arrive at at the 12th Annual AFI Awards held at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on January 13, 2012 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo : Getty Images/Frazer Harrison) Known for playing Daenerys Targaryen in the HBO series "Game of Thrones," Emilia Clarke has been chosen to play the female lead role in an upcoming "Star Wars" spinoff, to be directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller. The spinoff is a standalone film focusing on Han Solo to be played by Alden Ehrenreich. Advertisement The last film Ehrenreich starred in was "Hail, Caesar!" opposite Josh Brolin and George Clooney. Ehrenreich is set to star opposite Taissa Farmiga and Haley Bennet in "Rules Don't Apply," which will hit theaters on Nov. 23. While promoting "Rules Don't Apply" in an interview with Fandango, Ehrenreich was asked about how he was dealing with the pressure of being cast as Han Solo. He said Lord jokingly told him that it was like the scene in "Hoosiers" where Gene Hackman took the kids out to the basket. Along with Clarke and Ehrenreich, "Spider-Man: Homecoming" star Donald Glover will play the third lead character, Lando Calrissian, in the "Star Wars" spinoff. The three underwent testing sessions for the standalone film. Represented by CAA and Emptage Hallett, Clarke tested in London along with "Dope's" Kiersey Clemons, fellow "Thrones" actress Jessica Henwick, and "Emerald City" star Adria Arjona. "Selma" and "Creed" star Tessa Thompson, "Power Rangers" actress Naomi Scott, and Zoe Kravitz read for the female lead in October. The "Star Wars" spinoff will be released on May 25, 2018. With Kathleen Kennedy and Allison Shearmur producing, the standalone film will begin production in January 2017, according to Variety. There are still no details about the character to be played by Clarke. In 2017, the "Game of Thrones" actress will star the films "Voice from the Stone" opposite Marton Csokas and Caterina Murino, "Set It Up" opposite Glen Powell and "Above Suspicion" opposite Jack Huston and Johnny Knoxville. Lord and Miller are not only directing the "Star Wars" spinoff but also writing the script and executive producing the film. Like the "Star Wars" standalone project, "Rogue One," which will be released on Dec. 16, the Han Solo spinoff will be set before "Star Wars: A New Hope." Watch an interview with Clarke on "Conan" here: Little Chubby (Photo : What's on Weibo) Little Chubby, a robot at the 18th China Hi-Tech Fair in Shenzhen, China, smashed a glass booth and hurt a visitor on Thursday, Nov. 17. It is the first time in China that a robot injured a person, although in 2015, a caged robot in Germany killed a worker at a Volkswagen facility. Advertisement The robot, made by a tech company in Beijing, was designed for children aged between four and 12 as an educational tool, Whats on Weibo reported. The robot sells for $1,460, or almost 10,000 yuan, on e-commerce websites in China. Given the serious flaws of Little Chubby, parents might have second thoughts before they would buy the educational robot. Because of the incident, Chinese netizens raised the warning that the invasion of robots have started. One netizen called Little Chubby the Terminator. The fair, held at the Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center, is Chinas leading technology event that runs for six days which gathers thousands of the latest technology innovations in the country. The injured visitor was brought to the hospital for treatment of his wounds, cuts on the ankle from shattered glass caused by the three-foot robot made to teach English to Chinese children, Daily Mail reported. According to the British daily, Little Chubby broke the glass without human commands. In a statement issued by Evolver, the developer and maker of Little Chubby, said on Friday that a staff pressed a button by mistake which caused the artificial intelligence to reverse rather than move forward. Little Chubby was designed to detect and avoid automatically obstacles, however, that function was shut off during the time the incident happened. After the mistake, the robot went out of control and sped forward in 10 seconds and broke the glass wall. Evolver said the robot was launched, the company has sold more than 3,000 units of Little Chubby. Islamic State fighters are holding onto a small part of Sirte, Libya more than six months after local Libyan forces began an offensive to retake the city. The Solid Structure (Al Bunyan Al Marsoos) operations room, which is backed by the US and its Western allies, oversees the ground offensive against the so-called caliphates men. On Nov. 17, Solid Structure posted an updated map of the fighting on its official Twitter feed. The map can be seen below: Solid Structures map indicates that Abu Bakr al Baghdadis loyalists are primarily located in Al Giza Al Bahriyia neighborhood, which is one of several areas that was still under the jihadists control as of August. The Islamic States North African safe haven has shrunk considerably since earlier this year. But the groups men have managed to stave off total defeat despite being surrounded and pressed up against the Mediterranean coast. A previous map tweeted by Solid Structure on Sept. 22, and reproduced below, indicated that the Islamic States men were hunkered down in both the 600 neighborhood and Al Giza Al Bahriyia. Now the group is only in the latter. Baghdadis fighters have managed to keep a foothold inside the city for the past two months, even as American airstrikes pounded the jihadists. The US air campaign in Sirte began on Aug. 1. US Africa Command (AFRICOM) reports that there have been 368 airstrikes as of Nov. 8. More than half of these precision bombings (187) were launched in October, the third month of the campaign.But the airstrikes have slowed this month, with only one reported bombing. AFRICOMs Gen. Thomas Waldhauser told Stars and Stripes earlier this week that approximately 200 Islamic State fighters remain entrenched in a few city blocks. As in Mosul, the jihadists have dug a series of tunnels and are relying on snipers, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and suicide bombers. However, the Islamic State has not claimed any martyrdom operations in recent days. Sirte fell to Baghdadis organization last year and was considered one of the caliphates three most important cities, behind only Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria. The Islamic State may have had thousands of fighters stationed in Sirte at the height of its control. The US is currently attempting to track the jihadists who fled the stronghold for elsewhere in Libya and North Africa. Several hundred Solid Structure fighters have been killed, and a few thousand more wounded, during the heavy block-by-block fighting in Sirte. And the Islamic States Amaq News Agency, a key part of the groups propaganda machine, claims that the jihadists continue to exact a heavy toll. Amaq has posted near daily updates from the fighting in and around Sirte throughout November. The jihadists often refer to Solid Structures forces as militants belonging to Libyas Government of National Accord (GNA). Solid Structure, which draws fighters from Misrata and elsewhere, is allied with the GNA, which is the UN-backed government in Libya. For example, Amaq reported on Nov. 13 that a military vehicle belonging to National Accord militants was destroyed and all of those aboard killed west of Sirte. On Nov. 14, Amaq claimed 5 GNA militants were killed and 22 more wounded during clashes in the city. Amaq released another news update that same day, claiming the GNA-backed fighters had suffered ten more casualties. On Nov. 16, Amaq alleged that GNA militants had sustained 6 deaths and 42 injuries as a result of battles with Islamic State fighters in Sirte city over the past two days. A video released by the propaganda outlet also supposedly showed a checkpoint that was being manned by the jihadists south of Sirte. The video was likely intended to bolster morale and show that the Islamic States diehards still maintain some degree of control over territory inside Libya. In an audio message released earlier this month, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi praised his men in Sirte for supposedly foiling the designs of the European Crusaders. Baghdadi called on his soldiers to fight to the death in Libya and elsewhere. For more on the offensive against the Islamic State in Sirte, Libya, see FDDs Long War Journal reports: Libyan forces seize key points from the Islamic State around Sirte Opposition to Islamic State claims more ground in Sirte, Libya Islamic State claims to still control 4 neighborhoods in Sirte, Libya The battle for Sirte, Libya continues Islamic States safe haven in Sirte, Libya shrinks to a single neighborhood US has launched more than 300 airstrikes against the Islamic State in Sirte, Libya 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. 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. Lifestyle / Gastronomy A former Noma chef is taking the once-in-a-lifetime adventure of trekking Mount Everest to new heights by planning a gourmet meal in the clouds. Nov 19, 2016 | By AFPRelaxnews A former Noma chef is taking the once-in-a-lifetime adventure of trekking Mount Everest to new heights with the opening of a pop-up restaurant that will serve a gourmet meal in the clouds. For many, the peaks of Mount Everest are an elusive travel fantasy, reserved for the most adventurous and intrepid. Add to that the chance to tuck into a Michelin-grade meal at 17,000 feet (5,545 m) on the earths highest mountain, and you get an experience that ups the bucket list ante. The Nepal dinner party is one of 20 stops on chef James Sharmans One Star House Party tour which kicked off in Beijing this fall. It is an ambitious two-year adventure that will take Sharman to major cities around the world where he and four friends will host pop-up events catered to local flavors and cuisines. For the fourth stop, guests will have to earn their dinner. After setting off from Kathmandu, Nepal, a group of 15 guests will embark on a two-week trek to the base of Mount Everest, where they will then be invited to sit down to a dinner party prepared by a chef who has worked with London star chef Tom Aikens and in the kitchens of Noma restaurant in Copenhagen, four-time titleholder of Worlds Best Restaurant. The trip runs between December 10 to 23. At each city, Sharman and four friends conduct research and reconnaissance missions for three weeks before developing the menu and building the pop-up restaurant. After visiting Chengdu, a UNESCO-designated City of Gastronomy, renowned for its Sichuan cuisine, for example, Sharman developed his own version of Sichuan duck that applied the nose-to-tail concept to the plant kingdom. For the recipe, the chef used all parts of the Sichuan pepper tree: wood was used to cook the duck; leaves crushed to make a powder and seasoning; and the berries infused in a flavoring oil. Sharman also used a native root vegetable, celtus, to accompany the duck. Reservations for the 14-day Nepalese adventure close November 29 and are priced at $1,050 per person excluding flights. The team is currently preparing for their upcoming pop-up in Bangkok which runs November 27 to December 3.Other stops on the two-year tour include Cape Town, London, New York, Mexico City, Vancouver and Hong Kong. For more info visit http://www.onestarhouseparty.com/. New Delhi : Dubbing it as "blatant lies", the Navy today denied the Pakistani Navy claim that it had prevented an Indian submarine from entering its territorial water. "Indian Navy categorically denies the statement of Pakistani Navy as blatant lies," Navy spokesperson Captain D K Sharma said. He added that the Indian Navy did not have any under water movement in the said waters as claimed by the Pakistani Navy. A statement issued by Pakistani Navy had claimed it has proved its vigilance and operational competence by detecting and blocking an Indian submarine from entering Pakistani waters. "The unsuspecting submarine was detected and localised south of Pakistani coast on November 14 (rpt) 14. Thereafter, despite submarine's desperate efforts to escape detection, it was continuously tracked by Pakistan Navy Fleet units and pushed well clear of our waters," the statement had said. On Tuesday, Pakistan Navy said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor's first cargo containers were safely escorted in the Arabian Sea towards their destination to the Middle East and African countries. Pakistan Army's powerful Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif had on Wednesday claimed that his men killed 11 Indian soldiers in cross border firing across the Line of Control (LoC). This statement too was denied by the Indian Army.PTI The leaders of the two countries have signed a civilian nuclear cooperation, allowing exports of crucial Japanese technology to fuel Indias growing economy. But concerns remain about Indias non-proliferation status. The Indo-Japanese nuclear deal has been six years in the making, and was officially signed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Tokyo on Friday. The deal marks Japans first nuclear cooperation agreement with a country that is not a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT). The NPT is an international treaty meant to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and arms technologies, while promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy. India refuses to sign it, saying it is discriminatory because it defines nuclear-weapons states as those that tested nuclear devices before 1967. The nuclear deal between Asias second and third largest economies has been described by the two countries as a new level of mutual confidence and strategic partnership for the cause of a peaceful and secure world. Mutual benefits Supporters of the impending deal say it is a win-win situation for both Tokyo and New Delhi. India will be able to feed its energy-hungry economy with emission-free energy, whereas Japan opens up new business opportunities for its nuclear sector. Japans cutting-edge nuclear technology is considered crucial for Indias massive economic growth. Japan has a monopoly in the manufacturing of reactor safety components and power plant domes key parts that India needs to enable its nuclear cooperation programs with the US and other countries. The deal would allow Japans struggling nuclear industry access to the growing Indian market, which is estimated to be worth $150 billion. This would be a great opportunity for Japanese nuclear companies that have suffered greatly since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident. Indias similar civil nuclear deals with South Korea and the US have boosted bilateral relations, Smruti Pattanaik, a research fellow at the New Delhi-based Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses, told DW. Between economics and disarmament But concerns remain about Indias potential misuse of the technology for developing more nuclear weapons. The Japanese people have long been apprehensive about the deal with India due to its nuclear weapons program. The Japanese government has softened its stance for the sake of economic benefits, Akira Kawasaki of Tokyo-based Peace Boat organization, told DW. The deal grants the same rights de-facto to India as other nuclear powers that have signed the NPT. The shift in Japans nuclear cooperation policy with India started in 2008, when the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) granted a waiver to New Delhi to push through a civil nuclear agreement with Washington. NSG a 48-nation grouping that includes the US, Russia, Britain, France and Japan controls the export of nuclear technology and materials to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons. By giving India a special status, Japan has compromised its formerly rigid stance on the NPT, underlined Kawasaki. The Japanese-Indian deal is a significant step away from Japans symbolic role as a strong advocate of nuclear disarmament. Suspicions and assurances The concerns about India using Japanese nuclear technology for military purposes hinges on details in the agreement that are yet to be disclosed. There are several crucial outstanding issues that have not been resolved, Toby Dalton, an expert on non-proliferation and nuclear energy at the Washington-based think tank Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told DW. First, there is the question on whether or not India would be able to reprocess the nuclear fuel. To ensure that this does not happen, India has to give legally-binding assurances to the NSG and allow the tracking of nuclear material that it will use for its civilian program. The second question is what happens if India carries out additional nuclear tests. The Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shinbun reported on Sunday, November 5, that Japan will halt cooperation with New Delhi if the South Asian country conducts another nuclear test. The opt-out clause, according to the newspaper, will not be included in the agreement itself, but in a separate memorandum. India signed a unilateral moratorium on nuclear tests after it last detonated a bomb in 1998, but the country is still not a signatory to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. This lack of adherence and transparency undermines the confidence-building system for non-proliferation that has been constructed over the past 50 years, argued Dalton. Lastly, the question of liability in the case of an accident at a Japanese-supported nuclear plant remains unresolved. Advocates of the treaty point out that India has already signed similar nuclear agreements with NSG members. Also, many Indian experts believe that the chances of India conducting another atomic test are slim. Considering the fact that India is aspiring for a larger global role, there is no way New Delhi would want to divert from its self-imposed moratorium, said Pattanaik. For India, there is no need to increase its nuclear arsenal as it has a stable deterrent put in place. So Much For America Electing A Wall Street Outsider During his run for the presidency, Donald Trump took the occasional break from insulting women and minorities to toss off some decent even exciting policy ideas. Term limits for congressmen and a ban on politicians becoming lobbyists, for instance, were straight from the Libertarian good-government Christmas list. But best of all was the effective break-up of the big banks through the re-imposition of Glass-Steagall, a law passed during the Great Depression to separate taxpayer-protected commercial banks from free-to-fail investment banks. Heres an article published during the campaign noting Wall Streets angst at the prospect: Glass-Steagall: Wall Street is not happy with Donald Trump (CNBC) The GOP candidates pledge to bring back Glass-Steagall is an unwelcome surprise for the financial services industry. A top advisor to presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump said on Monday that the party wants to reimplement Glass-Steagall, Depression-era legislation that was designed to prevent big bank supermarkets, but which was repealed in 1999. After the surprise announcement, which came on the first day of the Republican National Convention, Wall Street sources sounded off on the idea that a Republican would reverse course on policies nearly 20 years old and now taken for granted by big banks. One lawyer, who works with financial institutions on behalf of a white-shoe firm in New York, called the idea scary. Even Wilbur Ross, one of the Trump campaigns biggest supporters from the finance industry, called it surprising. Others on Wall Street who spoke to CNBC used stronger language that cant be printed. Glass-Steagall is legislation the U.S. imposed in the wake of the 1929 market crash aimed at limiting the relationships between securities firms and commercial banks, and by extension of that, systemic risk to U.S. markets and the economy. In 1999, legislation was passed that did away with Glass-Steagall, but now, the GOP is ready to bring it back and break up banks. President Trump, however, seems to have quickly changed his mind: The wolves of Wall Street: Trumps Treasury contenders what big teeth they have . . . (Salon) Judging by who Trump is considering for Treasury secretary, Wall Street banks could have unprecedented influence. Donald Trump may have sounded like an economic populist to his voters during the presidential campaign, but his administration is shaping up to be the best thing to happen to Wall Street since the Roaring 20s, that regulation-free era that preceded the Great Depression. And we know how well that worked out for the nation. This might sound like hyperbole, but Politico yesterday quoted an historian to back it up: You would have to go back to the 1920s to see so much Wall Street influence coming to Washington, said Charles Geisst, a Wall Street historian at Manhattan College. Its the most dramatic turnaround one could imagine. Thats the truly astonishing part. Its a little scary when historians are saying that the major Wall Street banks had even less power in Washington during our recent period of deregulation, which spanned the presidencies of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, than they probably will have over the upcoming four to eight years of the Orange Reign. And it is also a remarkable turnaround since Trump spent so much of his general election campaign bashing Hillary Clinton for her ties to Wall Street. This came after a bruising Democratic primary in which Bernie Sanders bashed her for the same reason. Sanderss popularity and Trumps win, the pundits said, indicated an ascendant populist mood in the country. The fact that, in Trumps case at least, said populism was a distraction meant to keep his fans from noticing that he would be restoring all the old Wall Street thieves and lackwits to prominent positions in Washington was duly noted by liberals but did not break through to enough voters. Or if it did, they did not care. Trump, of course, is spinning his economic plans as the responsible way to unleash the great power of the American economy. From his transition website: Federal policy should focus on free enterprise, while protecting consumers by policing markets for force and fraud. Both Wall Street and Washington should be held accountable. To hold Wall Street accountable, Trump has been looking to name a Treasury secretary who will do anything but. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon has been in the running and according to CNBC hes pitching hard for the gig what wolf wouldnt to get into the sheep pen? Right now, however, the top contender is said to be another wolf: Seth Mnuchin, a longtime Goldman Sachs executive and hedge fund manager. Mnuchin was recently the CEO of a regional bank, OneWest, which was previously known as IndyMac. The bank was one of the major players in the foreclosure crisis during the Great Recession and is accused of fraudulently foreclosing on thousands of homes, particularly those owned by seniors and low-income minorities who did not have the resources to pursue legal recourse. Mnuchin, by the way, is not a fan of the Dodd-Frank financial reform act signed by President Barack Obama, which was intended to rein in some of the banking practices by which Mnuchin made his fortune. Since one of Trumps goals for the entire campaign has been the repeal of the Dodd-Frank act and because the deregulation-happy Republicans who control Congress share that goal, you can expect that legislation, signed in 2010 in response to the banking excesses that brought on the Great Recession, to disappear into the mists of history once Mnuchin is confirmed. Congressional Republicans are also likely going to use this new business-friendly atmosphere to destroy or at least hamstring the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the baby of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who helped set it up in 2010 before her run for the Senate. Republicans have been gunning for the CFPB, which helps protect consumers from predatory businesses. According to The Huffington Post, the CFPB has found redress for 27 million consumers to the tune of nearly $12 billion in its short history. The GOP now plans to rein in the CFPB, possibly by naming recently retired Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Texas, to run it. Neugebauer, who like Hensarling has ties to the payday loan industry, has long opposed the CFPB. So putting him in charge of it is the proverbial case of the fox guarding the henhouse. Clearly some back-channel discussions took place in which: 1) Trump made it clear to Wall Street that he was just kidding about Glass-Steagall and that once elected hed take care of his banker friends, or 2) Wall Street made it clear to Trump that the rewards for playing ball would be as great as the penalties for not playing ball would be terrible. Either way, message received. The aristocrats seem to have weathered the peasant revolt just fine and are back to happily fleecing their sheep. By John Rubino dollarcollapse.com Copyright 2016 John Rubino - 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. AXTON Reach Out Apostolic Tabernacle will have guest Bishop S.Y. Younger at 11 a.m. Sunday. St. John Missionary Baptist Churchs sanctuary choir will celebrate its anniversary at 3 p.m. Sunday. The guests will be the Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church choir of Eden, North Carolina, in concert. St. John is located at 7470 Axton Road. BROSVILLE Spirit-Led Temple Holiness Church, 780 Stony Mill Road, will celebrate Family and Friends Day and Old-Fashioned Day at 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Elder Christopher Fitzgerald will speak. At 3 p.m., a guest from Halifax will speak. Old-fashioned food will be served. BASSETT Gethsemane Pentecostal Holiness Church, 2380 Blackberry Road, Bassett, will celebrate an anniversary at 5 p.m. That will be at the Dutch Inn, with guest Elder Nicole Bonds of The Life Church in Lynchburg. At 11:30 am. Sunday, Elder Joyce Wright of Green Rock-Gethsemane Church in Chatham will be the guest. Greater Lilly of the Valley Apostolic Holiness Church will have a special service on behalf of the building fund at 3 p.m. Sunday. The guest speaker will be Pastor Tonya Martin of Life Learning Ministry in Martinsville. Oak Hill Cathedral of Glory will have a Soup and Coffee Day at noon Saturday. COLLINSVILLE First Presbyterian Church, Kings Mountain Road, will have a gospel jam at 10 a.m. Saturday in the fellowship church. All musicians and listeners are welcome. Vision Assembly of God, 153 Oakland Drive, Collinsville, will have homecoming at 11 a.m. Sunday, with singing by The Morton Brothers and Friends. Lunch will be served at 1 p.m., and there will be no evening service. FIELDALE A community Thanksgiving service will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday at Fieldale United Methodist Church. The Rev. Allen Jackson of Fieldale Baptist Church will speak. A reception with finger food will follow. New Bethel Christian Church will have Community Outreach Soup Day at 11 a.m. Saturday. The church will have an appreciation service for Pastor Mable Finney at 11 a.m. Sunday. Dr. Montenique Finney will be the speaker. HORSEPASTURE Meadow Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 1140 Meadowood Trail, will celebrate its 44th anniversary at 6 p.m. Saturday. The Family Five of Bassett will be in concert. The Church will have a pre-Thanksgiving service sponsored by the Disciple Womens Fellowship at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Luther and Linda Claybrooks will speak. Meadow View A.M.E. Churchs Stewardess Board will celebrate Ladies Day at 3 p.m. Sunday. The guest preacher will be Minister Patricia Dandridge, associate minister at Tabernacle of Praise in Stuart. She will be accompanied by Tabernacles choir and congregation. Mountain View Baptist Church, Chestnut Knob Road, will have a pew rally at 3 p.m. Sunday. The speaker will be Evangelist Gloria D. Luck, association minister of Galilean House of Worship. LEATHERWOOD First Galilee Missionary Baptist Church will have a service at 3 p.m. Sunday. The guest preacher will be the pastor of Mountain Valley Baptist Church, accompanied by the choir and congregation. The service will be a waist rally to benefit the building fund. Greater Refuge Temple Center of Deliverance, 718 Stoney Mountain Road, will have the initial sermon of Deacon Bobby L. Penn at noon Saturday. Jerusalem Free Deliverance Church, 135 Blue Knob Road, Leatherwood, will have guest Elder Ronald Corbett and the congregation of Charity Apostolic Church in Wentworth, North Carolina, at 3 p.m. Sunday. MARTINSVILLE Christ Episcopal Church will have guest The Right Rev. Mark A. Bourlakas at 10:30 a.m. to lead the service of Confirmation and Holy Communion. Bourlakas, ordained in 2013, is the sixth and present bishop of the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia. He will confirm new members into the congregation. A reception will be held in the Parish House afterward. Clearview Gospel Mission, 504 Clearview Drive, will have Community Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. It will include live music, free soup and drinks and free Bibles. Crafts and baked goods will be sold to raise money for Christmas food boxes for needy families. Deliverance Faith Temple Church will host Elder Twain Harper of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, at 3 p.m. Sunday. First Baptist Church East Martinsville will have a Womens Day Weekend Celebration this weekend. It starts at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, when Dr. Soncerey Montgomery Speas of New Jerusalem Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, will be the speaker. Vicki Wilson and the Divine Host will render music. At 11 a.m. Sunday, the guest preacher will be the Rev. Jessica Freeman of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Newport News, and music will be by First Baptist Womens Day Choir. Fuller Memorial Baptist Church, 1204 Askin St., will have the gospel group Right Turn of Rocky Mount at 6 p.m. Sunday. The Galilean House of Worship will have a Thanksgiving gospel concert at 7 p.m. Monday, sponsored by Gods favor. Performers will be Psalms 108 of Axton, The Loving Sisters of Roxboro, The Joy Boyz of Martinsville and The Male Chorus of GHOW. GHOW is located at 5078 A.L. Philpott Highway. Mt. Olive Holiness Church, Cabell Street, Martinsville, will have guest Bishop Fred B. Kidd of Evening Light Cathedral in Danville, along with his choir and congregation, to close out the 64th pastoral anniversary of Dr. Roer J. Morrison at 3 p.m. Sunday. Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church will have a Mens Day program at 3 p.m. Sunday. The Rev. Jerome Coleman, with the male chorus and the congregation of Beaulah Missionary Baptist Church, will be the guests. OAK LEVEL Oak Level Baptist Church, 7720 Oak Level Road, Bassett, will have revival at 6:45 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday. The Rev. Roger Roller, a graduate of a graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, will be the guest evangelist. The Forest resident has been serving as a full-time evangelist since 1993. PATRICK SPRINGS Mountain View Church of God of Prophecy, Patrick Springs, will have a Thanksgiving celebration featuring God Can at 10:45 a.m. Sunday. Lunch will follow. New Hope Missionary Baptist Church will celebrate its annual Friends and Family Day at 11:15 a.m. Sunday. Lunch will be served afterward. The Rev. H.D. Scales is the pastor. RIDGEWAY Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Churchs Usher Ministry will host a pre-Thanksgiving service at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The guests will be the Rev. Matthew Brown and the congregation of Saint Paul High Street Baptist Church in Martinsville. Mt. Zion is located at 2700 Soapstone Road. Temple of Christ Church, 1018 Fisher Farm Road, will have a prayer breakfast at 10 a.m. Saturday. The breakfast will start off with a service at which Evangelist Deborah Moore of Williamson, West Virginia, will speak. SPENCER Christian View Missionary Baptist Church will have its Daisy King Clark scholarship observance during the 11:15 a.m. worship service Sunday. The keynote speaker will be (Ret.) Gen. Dennis L. Via, and the Pastoral Choir will render music. The Rev. Keishawn Niblett will preach. At 6 p.m. the Smith River Laymen will sing for an old fashion service. OTHER AREAS Pastor Justin S. Lucas and the congregation of ReBirth Ministries in Martinsville will be the guests at Remnant Church of Power, 821 Memorial Drive, Danville, at 7 p.m. Thurday. MARTINSVILLE - The Harvest Youth Boards Thanksgiving Eve dinner is more than a meal. The event, held on Nov. 23, also gives a chance for several former Youth Board members to give back to their community. Paulina Vazquez, Cameron Brummitt, Phillip Williams, Candace Foster and Cody Mills all saw their term on the board end July 31, after they graduated from high school. It was during their time on the Youth Board the idea of a Thanksgiving Eve dinner first got proposed. That was in the fall of 2015, too late to get something organized. But now that the idea is becoming a reality, the five want to help. All five were officially invited back to help with the dinner by the current Youth Board. All of them agreed with Mills, however, when he said Ill be happy to do whatever needs to be done. Knowing what we learned from Richards Dinner (an annual Christmas community dinner) and how organized the Youth Board is, I expect it (the dinner) to be very organized, have a lot of food and hopefully a lot of people, added Mills, who now attends the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg. Because they helped with initial planning for the Thanksgiving Eve dinner, the former board members did not hesitate to come back and help with it. We came up with the idea when I was on the board and I want to see how it turns out, said Brummitt, now a student at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. I felt like I was part of it. I want to be part of it this year as well. Well be there to support them (the Youth Board) and help any way we can. But their presence means more than whatever chores they will perform, according to some of the youth. It kind of sends a message that no matter where you go in the world, you still have a little Martinsville in you and still want to help the community, said Vazquez, who also attends the University of Virginia. Martinsville is still my home, and it provided me with the foundation I have. This is a way to show my appreciation for the community. Its important to come back because we helped start it, Mills said of the dinner. Its also important because everyone who left the Youth Board is in college now and its important that they stay rooted in their original community. Williams, like several others, said he loved the board and want to help any way I can to help make this more successful and help establish the board in the community. Williams now attends George Mason University in Fairfax. To get an idea of what goes into staging such a dinner, Youth Board members volunteered with Richards Dinner last December. That helped them estimate the number of people they likely will serve (possibly 2,000 meals), the amount of food they will need and other details. We were inspired by Richards Dinner, Williams said. The Thanksgiving Eve dinner is envisioned as the Youth Boards signature or possibly recurring event, if future boards agree. The former board members said the dinner met the groups goals for creating such an event. We were trying to think of something original, said Foster, now a student at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. I said a lot of people have Christmas dinners but nobody has a Thanksgiving Eve dinner. Its a great way to give back to the community. There are a lot of people who dont have enough to eat or the means to get something to eat. We wanted to help them. Brummitt agreed, and said it also was important that the group have an event that benefited the entire community, not just youth. So many people either dont have the ability to have a good, warm dinner or that sense of community, with a large group of people, family, support. We felt it was a good way for them to know they have a community that loves them, Mills said. We thought that during the holidays, no one should have to go alone or be hungry, said Vazquez, who added that the event will show that the community is much like a big family. In addition, Williams said the Youth Board wanted to get our name out but we didnt want to limit ourselves in who we could help. The dinner will be successful if large numbers of people turn out and are helped, Foster and the other former board members said. But some said that is not the only measure of success. The number is definitely a factor, but at the end of the day success is having a good feeling about yourself and being able to do your part and trying to help the community, Vazquez said. Brummitt said he hopes for a good turnout, but, I guess Id rather have quality over quantity. I want everyone to enjoy themselves, not feel like theyre at a soup kitchen. I want them to feel welcome. Mills said: A big crowd would be awesome; we dont want to waste food. But primarily I hope everyone feels happy and is having a good time. Williams also said he hopes there will be a lot of press coverage of the event. The Youth Board is supported by The Harvest Foundation and the Kiwanis Club. It is entirely student-run and focuses on youth-related issues in the area. It can award grants and create initiatives or develop projects related to youth issues. Board members also serve in an advisory capacity to the full Harvest Board of Directors on youth and community issues. The former Youth Board members have varied in how much they have kept in touch with the current board since they moved on. But all of them praised the lessons they learned from their board service. Vazquez said she learned a lot about leadership and responsibility, lessons she now uses with organizations at U.Va. She also developed a greater appreciation for the community (and its) endless opportunity for youth and people of all ages. Mills said he gained a sense of communal responsibility. It was an amazing experience. The board empowered teenagers with a large budget, which it had to learn to spend responsibly, and also what needed to be fixed in the community. We knew some but were also ones not experiencing the hardships some others are experiencing. It put us in contact with that community. Foster said the board taught me how to look at things differently. A lot of times a young person will look at something and say fix it. More goes into it. You have to consider all the possible outcomes. Things are a lot deeper than they think. Brummitt said he learned to interact with people of different backgrounds but with a common goal of making the community better. I wish I was able to do it through my whole high school career. I hope it continues. It will have a great impact on the community, he added. Williams said the board empowers youth in a meaningful way. There is a lot of doom and gloom in the community and while many people have ideas on how to help, he said young people can help. People need to ask our generation how they can help the community. If we leave, who is going to be left? While were still part of the community, we want to help as much as we can, he added. The dinner will be served from 2 to 5 p.m. at Martinsville High School. Meals also may be ordered, and deliveries arranged, by calling 403-9070. There is no charge for either the food or deliveries, and everyone is welcome. COLLINSVILLE A Martinsville resident who police say shot a man in self-defense will be granted bond. On Friday, a Henry County judge granted a $5,000 secured bond for Markus Ugene Lampkins. Police say the 29-year-old Martinsville resident shot Michael Deangelo Graves on Nov. 10. Right now, Lampkins faces only one charge of possessing or transporting a firearm after being convicted of a violent felony. Police officials already released a statement earlier this week that no further charges would be coming at this point. According to records for Martinsville Circuit Court, Lampkins was convicted of murder in 2004 in connection with an offense on May 15, 2002. According to a Feb. 11, 2003, Martinsville Bulletin article, Lampkins, then 15, and then of 5053 Martin Lane, Axton, was one of several people charged in the fatal shooting of Martinsville High School athlete Delvin Hairston. That slaying occurred several hours after Hairston helped the Martinsville High School track team win the Piedmont District tournament at Laurel Park High School. The shooting was called the result of a long-standing disagreement between groups of young people tied, in part, to school rivalries. Henry County Sheriff Lane Perry has said the Nov. 10 shooting was not related to the 2002 murder. During a bond hearing in Henry County General District Court on Friday, Judge Larry Gott ruled that Lampkins, who was being held with no bail, could be released on $5,000 secured bond on conditions including that he maintain or seek employment. Gott said the defense had met its burden in rebutting the presumption against bail being granted. I want him to keep his job, Gott said. The judge also said, Dont drive. And Gott looked toward rows of family members and supporters of Lampkins in the court gallery and said, Are you going to keep him on a short leash? Good. According to comments by Lampkins and his lawyer during the hearing, Lampkins was living with his mother at 913 Highland Street before his arrest, and that is where he will continue to live if released on bail. He has had his current job for a few weeks and was a barber before that. He has lived his entire life in the Martinsville-Henry County area and has relatives here. He served a number of years of incarceration and probation after his 2004 conviction, and his probation ended last year. Information previously provided by the Henry County Sheriffs Office alleged the following: Graves, 28, of 1621 East Meadow Road, Eden, North Carolina, was shot while at 2052 Stoney Mountain Road, Martinsville (in the Axton area). Upon arrival at the residence, deputies discovered damage to the front door, along with several bullet holes located in the home. Graves and his brother Charles Rydell Flood Jr. had driven to 2052 Stoney Mountain Road to confront the occupants of the home about a domestic-related issue. Upon their arrival at the home, Graves forced the front door open, entering the home armed with a handgun. Once inside, there was a confrontation between Graves and Lampkins. Lampkins attempted to retreat to the rear of the residence but Graves pursued him. Lampkins also was armed with a handgun and fired one round that struck Graves in the chest, police claim. After being shot, Graves retreated outside, After Graves had been shot, Flood fired multiple rounds from a handgun into the home, police allege. Flood transported Graves to Morehead Memorial Hospital in Eden about 4:40 a.m. Nov. 10. Upon his arrival, Graves was pronounced dead. After a review of the physical evidence, statements made by witnesses and consultation with the Henry County Commonwealths Attorney Andrew Nester, law enforcement officers believe Lampkins shot Graves in self-defense. Flood, 25, of 906 Glade Street, Martinsville, was charged with shooting into an occupied building and nonviolent felon possessing or transporting a firearm within 10 years. He is being held without bail in the Henry County Jail. According to search warrant documents on file in the Henry County Circuit Court Clerks Office, officers seized nine bullets, a 9 mm cartridge casing, two swabs of red stains, a hat and two pieces of hair from the crime scene. The documents allege Latasha Jones, who has a child in common with the victim, and Brittney Jones were on the scene when gunshots were exchanged. Documents also indicate there is a security camera system inside the residence. Paul Collins reports for the Martinsville Bulletin and can be reached at paul.collins@martinsvillebulletin.com. The head of Egypts Journalists Syndicate Yehia Kalash said Saturday that imprisonment is a simple price we can pay hours after a Cairo misdemeanour court sentenced him and two other syndicate board members Gamal Abdel-Reheem and Khaled El-Balshy to two years in prison for harbouring fugitives inside the syndicate's headquarters. Im not concerned with [imprisonment], Kalash told dozens of journalists who gathered inside Downtown Cairos syndicate to express their anger at the verdict. I urge you to face the real problems... such as the new press law [currently being debated in parliament], the social and economic rights of journalists and to focus on changing the syndicates bylaws. The verdict, which was issued in absentia after the trio abstained from appearing in court, can still be appealed, and the court set bail at EGP10,000 for each defendant. Kalash called for the board to meet at 5pm Cairo Local Time (CLT) to further discuss possible actions against the verdict. Abdel-Reheem described the verdict against them as harsh and historic, adding that the ruling is a move against all syndicate members and journalists, not just the trio. Commenting on the verdict in front of the syndicates headquarters, high board member Khalid El-Balshy told reporters that the syndicate will appeal the verdict, but in the meantime the verdict will not distract us from the issues of journalists' rights and liberties. Dozens of journalists gathered on the staircases of the syndicate in the evening, chanting against the verdict and the interior minister. These journalists decided earlier on Saturday to dedicate a box to collecting donations, accepting only coins, for the bail of the trio. Journalists Mahmoud El-Sakka and Amr Badr were among many ordered arrested ahead of the 25 April protests against the Egyptian-Saudi Red Sea island maritime border agreement. Badr and El-Sakka were arrested inside the Journalists Syndicate premises. They were later released on bail pending trial. Kalash, Abdel-Reheem and El-Balshy are also facing charges of spreading false news about the police raid on the syndicate's headquarters on 1 May that resulted in the arrest of the two journalists. A verdict session is yet to be set for this second charge. The UK, along with a number of other countries, suspended passenger flights to Sharm El-Sheikh due to security concerns following the deadly crash of a Russian jet last year Egypt's ambassador to the UK said that it is "mind-boggling" that the UK has not lifted its flight ban to Sharm El-Sheikh even after all British ministries had recommended that flights to the Egyptian resort resume. When I talked to the Department of Transport or even the home office or foreign office, they are all for the resumption [of flights], Nasser Kamel told BBC Radio 4 on Friday. I think the decision is stuck somewhere higher. The UK, along with a number of other countries, suspended passenger flights to Sharm El-Sheikh due to security concerns following the deadly crash of a Russian jet minutes after taking off from the airport at the Sinai resort city on 31 October 2015. Kamel said that all EU countries have resumed flights to the Egyptian resort except the UK. A whole set of countries, including Germany, who have done their own independent assessment have decided to resume flights based on the fact that Sharm El-Shiekh now is not only safe, but is being seen as an example of an airport that has improved in a very short time and become one of the leading airports in the world in terms of security, Kamel said. Following the plane crash and the flight ban, Egypt had an agreement with the British government to implement a joint action programme under the promise that if the programme is implemented fully in three or four months, flights will resume, said the ambassador, adding that Egypt has done its share. He also said that both UK Department of Transport security experts and independent British security consultants have hailed the airport security measures implemented by Egypt. Last week, the tourism campaign "This is Egypt" was launched in the UK with Billboards displaying promotional materials and Egypt's participation in the World Trade Market, the leading international event for the travel industry. The number of tourists visiting Egypt dropped by 41 percent in September 2016 compared to the same month last year, registering 473,000 visitors, according to the latest figures announced by the state's official statistics body CAPMAS. Search Keywords: Short link: Last week, McDowell NJROTC cadets traveled to Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. On the way they visited The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. At The Citadel they heard about student life and academic programs and then took a tour of the campus. During their stay at Parris Island, they received a brief exposure to what a marine recruit experiences during boot camp. Sergeant Cruz, a drill instructor, led them through activities such as obstacle courses, drills and physical training in addition to mundane items such as how to make a bed properly, discipline and a focus on rapid obedience. This week was awesome, not only did we see what recruits go through but we were treated similar to recruits so I have a better understanding of what Marine Corps boot camp is like, Morgan Dale, a McDowell High cadet and junior said. In addition to the recruit activities the cadets visited to the Marine Corps Museum and observed a recruit company graduation. On MCAS Beaufort, the cadets visited flight control, including watching flight operations from the control tower. They visited one of the Marine Corps air squadrons where they learned about Marine Corps aviation and were able to examine an F-18 fighter jet. The First Presbyterian Church of Marion has a new spiritual leader who is getting acquainted with the local community and is eager to build on the rich legacy left by those who have gone before him. Jacob Douylliez has been the new pastor for First Presbyterian since the end of October. At age 26, this is his first time being a pastor and he has not yet been ordained by the Presbyterian Church. On Sunday, Nov. 27, he will become an ordained minister and he can start using the title of reverend. Its really great getting to know the community, said Douylliez. I will say there are not many churches like Marion that are open to a first call. As he begins his new pastorate, Douylliez often walks past the portraits of former ministers and lay leaders hanging on the walls at First Presbyterian. The historic church, which was founded more than 150 years ago, dates back to the very beginnings of the city of Marion and McDowell as a separate county. That can be a weighty walk, he said. Theres a lot of history, a lot of responsibility, a lot of tradition that falls on my shoulders. Although he is new to being a pastor, he comes from a family that has a long background with the Presbyterian Church. Douylliez was raised in St. Marys, Ga., which is located on the coast and is approximately 90 minutes south of Savannah. His father, the Rev. Rick Douylliez, is the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of St. Marys and is the longest serving pastor of that historic church. The First Presbyterian Church in St. Marys is even older than the one in Marion. It was founded more than 200 years ago and has the oldest Presbyterian Church building in the state of Georgia. It also has the distinction of being the oldest building in Georgia that has been in continuous use as a church since it was built in 1808, according to that churchs website. Douylliez said his last name has French origins and hes aware many people will have trouble pronouncing it. To make it easier, he says folks can pronounce it as de-lease. He graduated from Camden County High School in 2008 and from Piedmont College in 2012 with a bachelors degree in religion and philosophy. He lived in Birmingham, Ala. for a while before attending Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, N.J. He graduated from there this past May with a masters degree in divinity. Douylliez is married and his wife Catherine works as a nurse. They have no children yet. After graduating from Princeton Theological Seminary, the young Douylliez looked for a church that was willing to take him as a new pastor even though he was not yet ordained. He found it at First Presbyterian of Marion. Douylliez said he was familiar with western North Carolina through his time at Montreat College. Douylliez submitted his information and he was contacted by Robert Ayers, chairman of the churchs search committee. He went through the interviews and had to preach a sermon before the committee. His new position also had to meet the approval of the Presbytery of Western North Carolina, which covers 110 congregations. His first Sunday here was on Oct. 30. Since then, several members of the church have expressed their enthusiasm for their new pastor. First Presbyterian has approximately 200 members and theres an average of around 100 people for Sunday services. Douylliez does not have an assistant pastor but Josh Smith is the youth director. In addition to serving the spiritual needs of his congregation, Douylliez will focus on the needs of the surrounding community. Hes getting to know the pastors at other local churches. Like his predecessors, he serves on the board of directors for the Maxwell M. Corpening Jr. Foundation, which provides assistance to people in need in McDowell County. Hes been attending the board meetings and working to make sure those who need the help are getting it. And First Presbyterian has the good fortune of receiving a donation of land from the Barnes family. This land is located off Airport Road and is near Shiflet Field. Douylliez said he and church leaders are trying to figure out how to make the best use of it. There are a lot of things we could do with it, he said. Although he is new, Douylliez said he wants the community to know First Presbyterian is continuing its long tradition of ministering to the needs of Marion and McDowell County. Im thankful those who have served the church as pastors and lay leaders left this church with a strong foundation, he said. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi praised US President-elect Donald Trump and said he expected greater engagement in the Middle East from his administration, in an interview with Portuguese media. The former Egyptian army chief had strained relations with outgoing President Barack Obama's administration, which had temporarily suspended military aid after the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi following mass protests in 2013. "Personally I respect and appreciate" Trump, Sisi said according to an English translation of his remarks to Portuguese news agency LUSA published on Saturday. "I believe that President-elect Trump will be more rigorously engaged with the issues of the region," he said. "As a matter of fact President-elect Trump has shown deep and great understanding of what is taking place in the region as a whole and what is taking place in Egypt," he added. "That is why I am looking forward, and I am expecting more support and more reinforcement of our bilateral relations". Trump's tough-on-terrorism rhetoric has appeal among Egyptian officials, as the country has been battling an entrenched Islamist insurgency for several years in North Sinai. Sisi, who had met Trump in September in New York, downplayed Trump's calls to ban or extremely vet Muslims entering the United States. "We have got to draw a distinction between the rhetoric that takes place within presidential campaigns and the real and actual administration of a country after the inauguration of a president," he said. The Egyptian President will visit Portugal on 21 and 22 November upon an invitation by Portuguese President Marcelo de Sousa to discuss ways to develop the bilateral ties. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Search Keywords: Short link: Intense government air strikes and artillery fire killed at least 27 people on Saturday in rebel-held parts of Syria's Aleppo, where hospitals have been destroyed and schools forced to close. An AFP correspondent described relentless bombardment with air strikes, mortar rounds and barrel bombs slamming into residential neighbourhoods in the east of the battered second city. "It is a catastrophic day in besieged Aleppo with unprecedented bombardment with every type of weapon," a member of the White Helmets rescue group said in a video posted on the organisation's Facebook page. "People went to sleep to the sound of bombardment and awoke to the sound of bombardment," said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor of the war. Syrian government troops began a new assault on the rebel side of Aleppo on Tuesday, as they renewed their bid to recapture the east of the city. Once Syria's economic powerhouse, Aleppo has been ravaged by the war that has killed more than 300,000 people since it began with anti-government protests in March 2011. The city has been divided between government control in the west and rebel control in the east since mid-2012. More than 250,000 people remain in the opposition-held part of the city, which has been besieged by the regime since July. The intensity of the bombardment has forced residents to stay indoors, leaving streets all but deserted. "There's barely a neighbourhood that has been spared," said Abdel Rahman. "People don't dare to leave their homes." Schools in east Aleppo, many of which already operate from basements because of government attacks, announced in a statement they would close Saturday and Sunday "for the safety of students and teachers, after the barbarous aerial strikes". The bombardment has badly affected rescue and medical facilities in the east, which have already routinely been targeted in government attacks. On Friday, regime shelling partly destroyed one of the last hospitals in the east, killing two patients and forcing it to shut. The last paediatric hospital in the east was also forced to close after being hit in multiple attacks, with medical staff evacuating babies from incubators and transferring them to a new location. "This is a dark day for east Aleppo," said Teresa Sancristoval, emergency coordinator for the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) charity. "The severity of the bombing has inflicted huge damage on the few hospitals working around the clock to provide medical care." A centre belonging to the White Helmet rescue group in the Bab al-Nayrab district was also totally destroyed in an air strike on Friday, an AFP correspondent said. The White Helmets have struggled to keep up with calls for help since the renewed bombardment began, at times unable to leave their centres because of the intensity of the government fire. "We have no more (body) bags," said one rescue worker in another video posted Saturday by the group from Aleppo. The Observatory said at least 27 civilians were killed in east Aleppo on Saturday alone, with the toll likely to rise because of the number of seriously wounded. These deaths brought the toll since the renewed assault began on Tuesday to 92, with state media saying two people were also killed in rebel fire on the government-held west of Aleppo on Saturday. The assault on rebel-held Aleppo has ended a period of relative respite after regime ally Russia halted its strikes and organised a series of brief truces intended to convince residents and surrendering rebels to leave. Syria expert Thomas Pierret said regime forces "intended to combine air strikes with famine resulting from the siege to get rebels to surrender". "Aleppo is now completely besieged and its residents are starting to die of hunger," he said. Elsewhere, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters known as the Syrian Democratic Forces said they had seized the hilltop village of Tal Saman from the Islamic State (IS) militant group. The village is just 25 kilometres (15 miles) from IS's de facto Syrian capital of Raqa, which the SDF began an operation to recapture earlier this month. The SDF is being supported by the US-led coalition fighting IS, which is carrying out air strikes, but has also stepped up deliveries of weapons and equipment to the alliance, its commanders told AFP. Search Keywords: Short link: by Laurie Sullivan , Staff Writer @lauriesullivan, November 18, 2016 Nearly one third of all Google searches show local intent, and 76% of people who search on their smartphone visit a business within a day. Search marketers that have heard those numbers repeatedly now have an opportunity to capitalize on services that support local search and paid search. Accurate information in directories and reviews will feed data to machines that connect to the Internet, especially information used for local listings. "Marketers understand that marketing investments can fail if consumers don't have the information to move from online searches to offline purchases in stores," said Mark Corley, VP of Moz Local. In this scenario, he said, "location data becomes the competitive asset." Active location management involves not just having the ability to send the information into the Web, but having the ability to use it consistently and verify information in directories and sites. advertisement advertisement So Moz Local created a new features for those platforms. Google My Business Sync synchronizes listing information between Moz Local and Google My Business, allowing businesses to create and manage local listing information directly from the Moz Local Dashboard. Then any changes automatically synchronize information between the two systems. "The plumbing finally is coming into place," said Dudley Carr, chief product officer at Moz Local. Moz Local's platform also now supports Listing Alerts in a new Activity feed, so if information like store hours or a phone number changes in the main director file to something that doesnt match the original listing information, protecting the customers from data conflation. And finally, since reputation and recommendations will become even more important as screens disappear in platforms like Google Home and Amazon Alexis, Moz Local allows marketers to monitor Google reviews in the dashboard. It adds reputation monitoring to existing monitoring of reviews on CitySearch, Foursquare, SuperPages, YellowPages and Yelp. Marketers can see new reviews in the platform's notification center as they are published, allowing for immediate response by the brand or retailer to comments left by consumers. by Erik Sass , Staff Writer @eriksass1, November 18, 2016 The never-ending controversy over cross-ownership of print and broadcast media properties continued this week with a new legal assault on government regulations blocking such combinations in major media markets. The News Media Alliance, previously the Newspaper Association of America, filed a lawsuit contesting the Federal Communications Commissions most recent affirmation of the cross-ownership ban. The new lawsuit, filed in the D.C. Circuit, seeks to force the FCC to reconsider its decision on July 12, decided by a party-line vote, to maintain the ban on newspaper publishers owning broadcast TV properties, particularly with reference to local broadcast news stations. Among other things, the NMA lawsuit against the FCC cites substantial evidence showing that the Newspaper-Broadcast Cross-Ownership rule is antiquated and no longer serves the public interest. Many industry watchers have noted that following the proliferation of digital media, local newspapers and broadcast TV stations are just two news sources among many. They are coming under growing economic pressure from the transition to digital. In many cases, allowing cross-ownership of these properties in the same markets would enable substantial consolidation and cost savings for both publishers and broadcasters, and Congress mandated the FCC to review the rules against cross-ownership in 2010 and 2014. However the FCC has continued to block cross-ownership on anti-trust grounds. Explaining the lawsuit, NMA president David Chavern stated: Our industry provides long-term investigative journalism and local news and public affairs coverage that is intensely important to local communities. It makes no sense at all to prevent newspapers from helping to fund this essential activity by receiving capital and collaboration by an aligned industry such as broadcasting. The National Association of Broadcasters is filing a complementary lawsuit against the FCC as well. Congress is already cautioning the FCC, among other Federal agencies, against trying to implement any potentially contested rules or regulations in the final days of the Obama administration. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy sent a letter signed by House committee leaders urging the agencies to hold off on actions which may run counter to directives from the incoming Trump administration. by Sarah Mahoney @mahoney_sarah, November 18, 2016 The National Retail Federation says it expects 137.4 million people to go shopping during the Thanksgiving holiday, with Black Friday the weekends busiest day. That amounts to 59% of the population, up a tiny bit from last years 58.7%. And Black Friday will remain the weekends busiest day, with 74% of those who plan to shop braving the crowds, even with last year. (ShopperTrak has already predicted that Black Friday will be the biggest shopping day of the year, closely followed by December 26 and December 23.) In a survey done with Prosper Insights & Analytics, the NRF includes both in-store and online shopping in its results, based on a survey of some 7,200 adults. But when it comes to actually storming the malls, Foursquare is predicting a bit of decline, with the location intelligence company estimating that foot traffic will fall 3.5% from last years levels. advertisement advertisement Despite pushback from some large retailers closing on Thanksgiving to give employees time with family, including such shopping centers as Mall of America, 21% of those who intend to shop next weekend say they will do so on Thanksgiving Day, while 47% plan to shop on Saturday. Of the Saturday shoppers, 24% say they are doing so to support local retailers, as part of the Small Business Saturday campaign. Millennials are the most avid shoppers, with 77% of 18- to-24-year-olds planning to hit the stores, and 76% of 25- to-34-year-olds. Foursquare, meanwhile, which bases its forecast on trends over the last two months as well as prior years, predicts that big-box and dollar stores will be among the biggest winners, outpacing retail in general and to see an increase of over 5% year-over-year, writes CEO Jeff Glueck in its report. (The company tracks the footprints of some 50 million monthly users from the Foursquare City Guide and Foursquare Swarm Web site and app.) He expects Big Lots to have the largest gain in the big-box category, with Dollar Tree leading in the discount category, and says those gains are likely to intensify Christmas gets closer. And while he expects department stores to do worse this year, recent trends indicate that Marshalls, Dillards and Macys are likely to see increased activity, with Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus leading in the luxury segment. All six of these brands have seen stronger foot traffic patterns than their competitors in the past two months, he writes, and should anticipate strong year-over-year performance. by Philip Rosenstein , Staff Writer, November 18, 2016 Throughout the campaign, Trump surrogates like Ben Carson insisted there were "two Trumps, a private persona and a provocative public one." Now that Donald Trump is president-elect, which Trump will govern? His first two major appointments sustain the idea of two Trumps. They leave the door open for him to move in various directions. He'll either veer toward the more-traditional, Paul Ryan-vein of the Republican Party through his Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, or pursue the full-nationalist, alt-right ideology of chief strategist and senior counselor Steve Bannon. Trumps transition team has now made a few additional top appointments, which help to paint a picture of what a Trump presidency might entail. Longtime supporters Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn and Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) have been appointed to top positions in the Trump Administration. Lt. Gen. Flynn, who tweeted back in February that Fear of Muslims is RATIONAL: please forward this to others: the truth fears no questions, will be Trumps national security advisor. In his tweet, Flynn added a link to a video that claims Islam aims to have 80% of people enslaved or exterminated. advertisement advertisement While the rhetoric may be subdued, one can assume these positions, which Flynn has held publicly, will inform his role as adviser to the president. Adding to the alt-right, Bannon-esque direction in which Trump appears to be moving, he tapped one of his earliest supporters in Congress, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) to be Attorney General. Sessions has been criticized over the years for racially tinged comments, including being barred from serving as a federal judge after colleagues testified he joked the KKK was "OK" until he discovered members smoked marijuana. The third significant recent appointment is Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) as director of the CIA. Pompeo appears to be a more moderate selection, having taken his time to tepidly endorse Trump, supporting Sen. Marco Rubio in the primaries. Trump is meeting with Mitt Romney this weekend. His team has also floated South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley for a potential cabinet post -- again confusing the narrative. The trend is toward a staunchly nationalist and less civil rights-oriented administration, particularly considering the Flynn and Sessions appointments. by Wendy Davis , Staff Writer @wendyndavis, November 18, 2016 Privacy advocates like the Electronic Frontier Foundation have long called for online companies to curb their data collection practices. Now, in light of the election results, those calls are taking on new urgency: The digital rights group EFF this week explicitly encouraged tech companies to shed data about users, in order to prevent Donald Trump from acting on some of his more extreme campaign platforms. "President-Elect Trump has promised to deport millions of our friends and neighbors, track people based on their religious beliefs, and undermine users digital security and privacy," the EFF writes. "Hell need Silicon Valleys cooperation to do it -- and Silicon Valley can fight back." advertisement advertisement The EFF goes on to recommend that tech companies immediately take steps to minimize data they store about users, including data gathered for marketing purposes. Among other measures, the EFF urges companies to refrain from using data to make certain inferences about users, like their political preferences or sexual orientations. "If you do any sort of behavioral tracking, whether using your service or across others, let users opt out," the EFF says. "This means letting users modify data that's been collected about them so far, and giving them the option to not have your service collect this information about them at all." The rights group also calls on companies to avoid tracking techniques like "browser fingerprinting," which involves tracking users based on characteristics of their devices. (The standards group World Wide Web Consortium, directed by Web guru Tim Berners-Lee, came out against digital fingerprinting last year, characterizing the technique as "a blatant violation of the human right to privacy.) The EFF also suggests that companies either avoid storing users' IP addresses, or store them in files that are aggregated and then deleted. "If a tech product might be co-opted to target a vulnerable population, now is the time to minimize the harm that can be done," the EFF writes. The post includes the following Nov. 12 tweet from the paid social bookmarking service Pinboard: "Would you rather be able to say I dont have any location data stored for my Muslim users, or go to jail for refusing a subpoena?" In the past, ad tech companies have resisted calls to stop collecting data about users. Even companies that honor people's request to stop receiving behaviorally targeted ads still collect data about users, often for market research, product development or anti-fraud purposes. Whether those companies will now voluntarily limit their data gathering efforts remains to be seen. But Jules Polonetsky, CEO of the industry-funded think tank Future of Privacy Forum, tells MediaPost that some companies are "better appreciating the risk to human rights created by holding data that government can demand." "Data retention practices will be one area where there will be opportunities to encourage companies to recognize that long term retention of certain data types can lead to real fears of government access," he says. Polonetsky adds that he has recently heard from some companies that are now working on encryption, for the first time. But, he says, many other businesses are simply waiting to see what the future holds. US National Security Advisor Susan Rice condemned "heinous" bombings of hospitals in rebel-held eastern Aleppo Saturday, warning the regime and its Russian backers they are responsible for long term consequences. "The United States condemns in the strongest terms these horrific attacks against medical infrastructure and humanitarian aid workers. There is no excuse for these heinous actions," Rice said in a statement. "The Syrian regime and its allies, Russia in particular, bears responsibly for the immediate and long term consequences these actions have caused in Syria and beyond." Search Keywords: Short link: by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, November 18, 2016 Democratic lawmakers are calling on the Federal Communications Commission to crack down on Internet service providers that exempt certain types of data from subscribers' monthly caps. "Without proper oversight and enforcement action, zero-rating can discriminate against certain services, potentially distorting competition, stifling innovation and hampering user choice and free speech," Sens. Ed Markey (Massachusetts), Ron Wyden (Oregon), Al Franken (Minnesota), Bernie Sanders (Vermont), Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts), Richard Blumenthal (Connecticut) and Tammy Baldwin (Wisconsin) write today in a letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler. "When ISPs, not the consumer, choose online winners and losers, the very core tenants of net neutrality could be disrupted." In the last several years, a growing number of broadband providers have started "zero-rating" data from specified companies -- meaning that those companies' video streams aren't counted toward subscribers' caps. advertisement advertisement AT&T pioneered the practice in 2013, when it allowed companies to pay for their data to be exempted from consumers' monthly caps. Since then other Internet service providers -- both wireless and wireline -- have launched their own versions of zero-rating services. Comcast, for instance, now offers Stream, a $15-a-month service that lets broadband-only subscribers use their Web connections to access many of the same programs that cable customers can watch. Material accessed through Stream is exempt from Comcast's data caps. (The company currently imposes caps of 1 TB per month in many parts of the country; users who exceed the cap are charged additional fees.) AT&T recently said it plans to zero-rate video offered through DirecTV's app. The FCC said last week that doing so may violate net neutrality rules. Those rules prohibit broadband providers from blocking or degrading service and from creating online fast lanes. The regulations also broadly ban Internet service providers from engaging in conduct that interferes with people's ability to access Web content. Carriers could potentially violate that last prohibition by excluding certain material from data caps, but the FCC has said it will take a case-by-case approach to the question. The lawmakers are urging the FCC to definitively state that broadband providers violate net neutrality by zero-rating their own content, or unaffiliated content, but excluding competitors. Markey and the other lawmakers also argue that ISPs shouldn't be allowed to charge fees to companies in exchange for zero-rating their content. "Paid zero-rating gives established, well-funded applications and services an unfair competitive advantage over start-ups, small businesses, and anyone else seeking to share their creations with the world," the lawmakers write. But the lawmakers suggest that zero-rating is acceptable, provided that it is carried out in an "application agnostic" way. "Application agnostic plans in which ISPs do not require payment from zero-rated applications or favor specific content distributors should be reviewed, but do not necessarily raise major Open Internet concerns," they write. "This includes zero-rating of low bandwidth applications or zero-rating at certain times of day." It's not yet known whether the FCC will take a position on zero-rating practices before the end of the year. Earlier this week, Republicans on Capitol Hill asked the FCC to hold off on "controversial" decisions until the Trump administration takes over. After receiving that letter, the FCC deleted many items that had been on the agenda for this month's open meeting, which took place on Thursday. The prostate is a part of the male reproductive system located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It can become inflamed, and while there are mainstream medical practices to treat prostate inflammation, or prostatitis, some alternative practitioners carry out a prostate massage. In conventional medicine, a physician carries out a digital rectal examination (DRE) to diagnose prostatitis, growth, or inflammation of the prostate. Some alternative practitioners maintain that milking the prostate in this way can relieve certain symptoms of an inflamed prostate, providing benefits that include improved urine flow and sexual function. This article looks at the evidence behind those claims and advises on whether a prostate massage is the best solution. What is a prostate massage? Share on Pinterest A prostate massage is said to clear the prostate and reduce inflammation. However, evidence for its benefits are thin on the ground. A prostate massage is similar to a DRE. As opposed to just checking for lumps or irregularities with their fingers, a practitioner carrying out a DRE will also massage the prostate. This prostate consists of two sections. It surrounds the urethra where it joins the bladder. The prostate produces the bulk of the fluid that surrounds sperm in semen and is, therefore, vital for male fertility. People sometimes refer to a prostate massage as drainage, and it usually takes longer. It aims to wring out the prostate. A doctor normally uses a DRE to check the overall size and condition of the prostate gland. During the procedure, a doctor will check for changes that may indicate health issues. A doctor wearing a lubricated glove inserts a finger into the rectum and presses the sides of the prostate nearby. If symptoms suggest the presence of an infection, the doctor may massage, or rub, the prostate to obtain fluid for later study. Prostate massage practitioners also claim that draining this fluid is useful for symptom relief. The fluid released by the prostate is called expressed prostatic secretion. Doctors will analyze it for signs of inflammation or infection. People with chronic prostatitis often return for prostate massages two to three times per week for the first month and reduce the frequency of sessions as symptoms improve. Types Some individuals use regular prostate massages to deal manage symptoms of prostate problems. Practitioners might perform this using their hands or with a prostate massaging device. Prostate massage can be slightly painful. Some people report an increased burning sensation after drainage, due to the content of the fluids. External prostate massage may involve exerting pressure on the perineum, the area about halfway between the anus and the scrotum. Practitioners can also perform prostate massage by gently rubbing the belly, between the pubic bone and the belly button. Devices are also available to assist with external prostate massage. What is prostatitis? Share on Pinterest Speak to a doctor upon noticing the signs of prostatitis. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), prostatitis is a common urinary tract problem in men of all ages. Each year, the condition prompts roughly 2 million visits to medical professionals in the United States. The symptoms of prostatitis include: frequent, painful, weak, blocked, or incomplete urination blood in the urine erectile dysfunction painful ejaculation fever muscle pain back pain pain in the area between the anus and the scrotum. Inflammation of the prostate gland has several causes, including: bacteria non-bacterial microorganisms immune system response nerve damage The inflammation can last for a short while or be on-going. Doctors usually treat prostatitis with medications, such as antibiotics and muscle relaxants, depending on the cause. These treatments are effective for many but not all people. Female sexual function is an important component of a womans sexual health and overall well-being. New research examines the relation between female sexual functioning and changes in relationship status over time. Share on Pinterest Women in long-term relationships may experience a decrease in sexual desire. Female sexual functioning is influenced by many factors, from a womans mental well-being to age, time, and relationship quality. Studies show that sexual dysfunction is common among women, with approximately 40 million American women reporting sexual disorders. A large study of American adults between the ages 18-59 suggests that women are more likely to experience sexual dysfunction than men, with a 43 percent and 31 percent likelihood, respectively. Treatment options for sexual dysfunction in women have been shown to vary in effectiveness, and the causes of female sexual dysfunction still seem to be poorly understood. New research sheds light on the temporal stability of female sexual functioning by looking at the relationship between various female sexual functions and relationship status over a long period of time. Studying the link between relationship status and female sexual desire Previous studies that examined sexual functions in women did not look at temporal stability and possible interactions between different female sexual functions. But researchers from the University of Turku and Abo Akademi University both in Finland looked at the evolution of female sexual desire over a period of 7 years. The new study was led by Ph.D. candidate in psychology Annika Gunst, from the University of Turku, and the results were published in the Psychological Medicine science journal. Researchers examined 2,173 premenopausal Finnish women from two large-scale data collections, one in 2006 and the other 7 years later, in 2013. Scientists used the Female Sexual Function Index a short questionnaire that measures specific areas of sexual functioning in women, such as sexual arousal, orgasm, sexual satisfaction, and the presence of pain during intercourse. Researchers took into consideration the possible effects of age and relationship duration. The average age of the participants at the first data collection was 25.5 years. Given that the mean age was quite low and the average age of menopause is much later, at 51 years, the researchers did not think it necessary to account for the possible effects of hormonal changes. Relationship status influences sexual desire over time Of the functions examined, womens ability to orgasm was the most stable over the 7-year period, while sexual satisfaction was the most variable. The ability to have an orgasm improved across all groups during the study, with single women experiencing the greatest improvement. Women with a new partner had a slightly lower improvement in orgasmic ability than single women, but a higher improvement than women who had been in the same relationship over the 7-year period. The study found that women who had stayed in the same monogamous relationship over the entire 7-year observation period experienced the greatest decrease in sexual desire. By contrast, women who had found a new partner over the study duration experienced lower decreases in sexual desire. Women who were single at the end of the observation period reported stable sexual desire. According to the researchers, relationship-specific factors or partner-specific factors that have no connection with the duration of the relationship do have an impact on womens sexual functions. Consequently, healthcare professionals should account for partner-specific factors when they treat sexual dysfunction in women. However, researchers also point out that sexual function needs to be further examined in a short-term study to have a better understanding of the diversity in sexual function variation. Advertisement Most rapid test diagnostics rely on the detection of histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2), an antigen specific to Plasmodium falciparum malaria.However, one of every 15 children infected with Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites in the DRC is infected by a pfhrp2-deleted mutant, producing a false-negative result when an RDT is used, investigators from the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill found.Their results were published in theand discussed during a recent World Health Organization meeting during the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene's annual conference in Atlanta."This is the first nationwide study to demonstrate the presence and estimate the prevalence of malaria caused by pfhrp2-deleted P. falciparum in asymptomatic children," said Jonathan Parr, M.D., M.P.H., the study's lead author and a researcher within UNC's Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Ecology Lab.Because most rapid diagnostic tests in the DRC are HRP2-based, they will fail to detect these parasites. Their spread would represent a serious threat to malaria elimination efforts.Samples were collected from children under the age of 5 during the 2013-2014 Demographic and Health Survey in the DRC.The UNC team focused on 783 samples with opposing rapid test diagnostic test and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results."We identified 149 P. falciparum isolates with a deletion of the pfhrp2 gene, representing a country-wide prevalence of 6.4%," Parr said.This proved that pfhrp2-deleted P. falciparum is a common cause of rapid diagnostic test negative, but PCR positive malaria test results among asymptomatic children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Surveillance for these deletions is needed and alternatives to HRP2-specific rapid diagnostic tests may be necessary."It is important to note that these mutated parasites have only been found in a small number of places in the world," Meshnick said. "HRP2-based rapid tests continue to play a key role in malaria control and elimination efforts."The team is actively investigating these parasites through applied genomics studies recently funded by the Thrasher Research Fund and the ASTMH/Burroughs Wellcome Fund and ongoing NIH-funded epidemiological studies in Kinshasa Province, DRC.Alternate rapid diagnostic tests will be deployed in settings where they are found to be common, and further research into their clinical impact and distribution throughout Africa will be undertaken.Source: Medindia 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 New research from the University of Liverpool, published in the journal, has highlighted the potential reasons why many patients with severe epilepsy still continue to experience seizures even after surgery.Understanding the reasons why so many patients continue to experience postoperative seizures, and identifying reliable biomarkers to predict who will continue to experience seizures, are crucial clinical and scientific research endeavors.Researchers from the University's Institute of Translational Medicine, led by Neuroimaging Lead Dr. Simon Keller and collaborating with Medical University Bonn (Germany), Medical University of South Carolina (USA) and King's College London, performed a comprehensive diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) study in patients with TLE who were scanned preoperatively, postoperatively and assessed for postoperative seizure outcome.Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a MRI-based neuroimaging technique that provides insights into brain network connectivity.The results of these scans allowed the researchers to examine regional tissue characteristics along the length of temporal lobe white matter tract bundles. White matter is mainly composed of axons of nerve cells, which form connections between various grey matter areas of the brain, and carry nerve impulses between neurons allowing communication between different brain regions.Through their analysis the researchers could determine how abnormal the white matter tracts were before surgery and how the extent of resection had affected each tract from the postoperative MRI scans.The researchers identified preoperative abnormalities of two temporal lobe white matter tracts that are not included in standardized temporal lobe surgery in patients who had postoperative seizures but not in patients with no seizures after surgery.The two tracts were in the 'fornix' area on the same side as surgery, and in the white matter of the 'parahippocampal' region on the opposite side of the brain.The tissue characteristics of these white matter tracts enabled researchers to correctly identify those likely to have further seizures in 84% of cases (sensitivity) and those unlikely to have further seizures in 89% of cases (specificity). This is significantly greater than current estimates.The researchers also found that a particular temporal lobe white matter tract called the 'uncinate fasciculus' was abnormal - and potentially involved in the generation of seizures - in patients with excellent and suboptimal postoperative outcomes.However, it was found that significantly more of this tract was surgically resected/removed in the patients with an excellent outcome.Dr. Simon Keller, said, "There is scarce information on the prediction of postoperative seizure outcome using preoperative imaging technology, and this study is the first to rigorously investigate the tissue characteristics of temporal lobe white matter tracts with respect to future seizure classifications.""Although there is some way to go before this kind of data can influence routine clinical practice, these results may have the potential to be developed into imaging prognostic markers of postoperative outcome and provide new insights for why some patients with temporal lobe epilepsy continue to experience postoperative seizures."Source: Eurekalert Spanish police have arrested two Moroccan men for allegedly serving as recruiters for the Islamic State group. Spain's Interior Ministry said police arrested one man in Madrid and the other in the town of Roda de Ter near Barcelona on Saturday. Spanish authorities say the pair allegedly "focused on the recruitment of young Muslims" with the goal of "inciting the execution of terrorist acts." Police say the two suspects used social media to spread IS propaganda that included "videos of violent acts chosen to justify the cruelty shown toward the victims." Spain says 163 suspected Islamic extremists have been arrested in the country since 2015. Search Keywords: Short link: (Beijing) Apple Inc. has lost a second bid to trademark its Apple Watch logo, as a Beijing court said on Thursday that the logo looks too much like a generic home screen seen on many smartphones and watches. In rejecting Apple's appeal of a previous ruling, Beijing's Intellectual Property Court said the tech giant's trademark is "overly complicated" and that the public would tend to recognize it as an image of the watch's home screen rather than a trademark. Apple first tried in November 2015 to register the logo, which is a square showing an assortment of apps visible on the Apple Watch's interface. China trademark commission turned down Apple's initial request earlier this year, concluding that the logo consisted of complicated shapes and was not distinct enough to qualify as a trademark. Apple had maintained that the icon had been widely used in its marketing, and was acknowledged by the public as a symbol of the Apple Watch product line. It also pointed out that its registered Macintosh trademark employed a similar design consisting of many smaller shapes. Dissatisfied with the initial rejection, Apple appealed the decision. Apple officials were unable to be reached for comment after the latest ruling. This is the second time Apple has lost a trademark case this year. In May, a Chinese court granted the iPhone trademark to a Beijing maker of wallets and other leather goods, despite Apple's objections. The tech giant pledged to request a retrial with the Supreme People's Court. Contact reporter April Ma (fangjingma@caixin.com ); editor Doug Young (dougyoung@caixin.com) Seven out of 10 single men in South Korea are open to the idea of marrying a North Korean woman, but no South Korean woman would marry a North Korean man, according to a straw poll. The poll perhaps reflects the popular belief here that beautiful women come from North Korea and handsome men from the South. Matchmaking company Bien-Aller polled 558 single South Koreans online, and 68.8 percent of men said they are "somewhat positive" about the idea of marrying a North Korean woman, while 84.2 percent of women were "somewhat negative" and 15.8 percent "very negative." "Women in this country are so picky in choosing their husbands that men are considering North Korean women as an alternative," a spokesman for the company said. "But women place prime importance on educational background, income and manners and have very negative views of North Korean men, whom they associate with soldiers or starving people." Men are usually are more interested in looks and associate North Korean women with beauty, perhaps from looking at pictures of North Korean performers. In contrast, women here usually picture North Korean men as short, skinny and clad in ill-fitting uniforms. Editor's note: This is a story featured in the Senior Scope in Saturday's Huron Daily Tribune. CASEVILLE Daniel Calabrese wasn't born or raised in Caseville. Nor did he become a resident in the first half of his life. In fact, the 80-year-old didn't move to this pristine lakeside town until 12 years ago. But he has made quite an impact on the community in those 12 short years. But first things first. Calabrese was born in Utica. He spent the first 18 years of his life in that small Macomb County city. "I went to grade school in Utica and high school in Mt. Clemons," Calabrese said. He explained his parents demanded he attend a Catholic high school, and St. Mary's of Mt. Clemons was the closest to his home. But Calabrese made up his mind to leave Utica as soon as he finished school. "I went right into basic training out of high school," he said. At some point, he decided the United States Army was his best career choice. He spent 20 years in the service, retiring in 1974. He was anything but a stay-at-home soldier. "I went from basic training to Korea and spent two years over there," Calabrese said. Later, he spent time in Greenland and Japan. In the course of his service, he spent four years in Germany. While stationed in Germany, he would travel around Europe whenever he had military leave time. In fact, he visited most of the continent while in the Army. Calabrese married to the love of his life, Carlene Kaminski, in the early 1960s. Unfortunately, she died in 1993. The couple had two children, Scott and Danielle (Larson). They also had two grandchildren, Carl and Daniel. After serving in the Army, the Calabreses retired in Ortonville. "That's where my wife and I built our home," Calabrese said. Perhaps one of the best things to happen to Calabrese was when his parents moved to Caseville. "My parents moved up here in 1973," he said. "We'd bring the kids up here to visit grandma and grandpa. I liked it up here. People were friendly. We came to Caseville every summer." The Caseville Bug finally bit Calabrese when he was well into his 60s. "After my wife passed away in 1993, I started thinking about coming up here (permanently)," he said. "I made the move 12 years ago, and I've enjoyed every minute of it since that time." "At that time, my brother was the president of the Caseville Eagles," Calabrese continued. "It was the first organization I joined. I'm still a member today." But the old soldier couldn't sit still. He needed things to do, and he had a drive to become an active volunteer within his community. "If you don't use it, you'll lose it. It's a way to stay active," Calabrese said. Volunteering is more than a way to stay active for the retiree. He feels a person should reach out to his community and help it in any way possible. "If you live in a town and don't support it, then move," Calabrese said. "There are so many people that need help. I don't understand why people don't help more." With this in mind, Calabrese became a member of the Historical Society of Caseville. For him, it was an easy decision after his first visit to their museum. "A friend suggested visiting the Caseville Historical Museum," Calabrese said. "I came in and looked around and thought it was pretty nice. I joined the society that day." The museum is open from noon to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. It is open year round, and Calabrese usually volunteers his services three to four days per week. He likes the way the society changes their displays. In particular, they change a couple large displays at the back of the building every two years. In fact, one of the two displays is his favorite. "The hunt camp out of the 1930s is my present favorite exhibit," he said. "In that respect, I'm not alone. A lot of people come in and immediately gravitate to the hunt camp. Harold Hoelzle and Bud McCormick built the whole back wall and door to make it look like an antique cabin." He likes the fact the museum does more than maintain a building for historians to visit. Besides keeping the doors open on a regular schedule, they often have events at special times and special days of the week. Recently they kept the museum open Saturday and Sunday for the annual county-wide museum week end in October, and it was reported to have been a great success. In addition, the museum puts on and/or is involved with special events. In fact, the Historical Society of Caseville will present an interesting program at the Caseville School on Thursday. It will be held in the gym, and is expected to run from 9:15 until 10:45 a.m. The program, Michigan in the Civil War, will be under the direction of Al and Dave Eicher. Students and the community are invited to the program. The cost is $5 for non-students. Afterward, the museum will be open for coffee and dessert. Civil War reenactment memorabilia will be on display. When Calabrese was asked why he is involved with the museum, he said, "To quote an old saying, 'If you forget the past, you're doomed to repeat it.'" "This way you see how your parents and grandparents lived their lives," Calabrese added. "Back in the day, everything was work. To me, this is a good education for young people." The museum is not the only place he volunteers. He loves the Caseville Area Chamber of Commerce, and the chamber loves him. "Dan is a person who believes in volunteering and encourages others to do the same," said Chamber Spokeswoman Deb Fulgham. "He believes in his community and encourages others to do the same. He has a sense of civic responsibility. There is no slowing Dan down. He is constantly on the go and is always doing for others. I'm proud to call Dan my friend." He has a standing invitation to work with the chamber whenever he is free to assist them. In this regard, he said, "I'll do whatever they need." Some of the things he has volunteered to do include distributing brochures around the county, working security at the county park for chamber events, and helping out at Caseville's Ribstock festival. He has worked at Shanty Days and admits doing whatever is needed. "On occasion, I attend their meetings to see how things are going," Calabrese said. While talking about Caseville and its organizations, he said he feels townspeople are noticeably more friendly today than when he first came to the area. "People weren't as friendly in 1975 when I first came up here," he said. "Now, the community is very friendly." He thinks a feeling of friendliness has evolved due to Caseville's transformation into a tourist town. He thinks the town has grown and has improved in many areas over the past 40 years. "Now, there are more businesses," Calabrese said. "The beach is better and so is the park. The marina has gown. There are way more boats than before." "People said Cheeseburger was just one week end a year and it wasn't going to work. Well look at it now," Calabrese added. He went on to say Cheeseburger has helped in many ways. It has helped the people and organizations in Caseville, and this includes the museum. It had a huge increase of visitors during the 10 days of Cheeseburger this year. Caseville has definitely become Calabrese's hometown. According to him, Caseville is his present, and Caseville is his future. Although he lived in the southern half of state the majority of his life, he said, "I have more friends up here than I ever thought about having in Ortonville." "Hopefully, the museum will keep me," he said. "I'll keep on volunteering for the chamber and keep on going to the Eagles Club." "Hopefully I'll keep all my friends," he added with a chuckle. BAD AXE Approval of a wind overlay district for Sigel and Sherman townships is on the agenda for Tuesdays Huron County Board of Commissioners meeting. The Huron Wind Energy project also includes proposed turbines in Sand Beach Township and Delaware Township, Sanilac County. Huron Wind owner NextEra is currently reexamining the project since Sand Beach Township recently adopted amendments to its wind ordinance placing sound restrictions on wind turbines, which NextEra officials have called discriminatory and exclusionary. The original proposal calls for 65 turbines to be built in the four townships. The district under consideration Tuesday includes the southeast corner of Sigel Township, and the western half of Sherman Township. Many recent wind issues that the board has addressed have ended in a 4-3 vote. They include an October approval of a wind overlay district in Lincoln, Dwight, Sigel and Bloomfield townships. The board also recently consented on a 4-3 decision to send a wind development moratorium for consideration to the Huron County Planning Commission. County residents seem equally divided on the issue. Many crowd into board, planning commission and township meetings to have their say in the controversy. A petition has circulated in Sand Beach Township to protest the township boards decision on sound restrictions. A successful petition has been submitted protesting Lincoln Townships decision to form its own planning commission, and to place a moratorium on wind development. A referendum is scheduled to take place this spring to decide the issue. If the board approves the Sigel-Sherman overlay district, it would then be eligible for referendum if enough valid signatures are submitted. The board meets at 9 a.m. in Room 305 of the County Building. HURON COUNTY Despite the rather moderate weather to begin the month of November, winter is bound to be here at some point. At times, winters in the Thumb are severe, so preparedness, awareness and common sense are always important when facing winter hazards. During Winter Hazards Awareness Week, which concluded recently, Huron County residents are encouraged to learn about the dangers associated with cold, snow and ice and how to stay safe during the winter season. The winter of 2015-16 will be remembered for the near record strength of El Nino (warmer than average water temperatures in the Eastern Pacific). This resulted in the warmest winter on record across the United States and the third warmest winter for Michigan. Last winter was an abnormal one for the Thumb as well, which turned in a top five warmest winter for the area. The mild winter also resulted in reduced snowfall, with seasonal snowfall averaging below normal. With the strong El Nino that influenced the weather last winter having dissipated, things are predicted to get back to normal for Huron County this winter. Long range projections suggest temperatures and snowfall will average much closer to their long-term winter normal. They are calling for a typical, average, Huron County winter, said Huron County Emergency Services Director Randy Miller. Youre going to get your snow, your cold and youre going to get your warm spots sometimes. Miller said he recently attended a winter weather class and experts were talking about the return of the lake effect snow that is typical for our area, particularly in the areas between Port Hope and Harbor Beach and other areas along the shoreline. With the predicted warmer temperatures, there will not be as much ice on the lakes this year, which is typically an indicator of more lake effect snow. Here in Huron County, if we get a northeast or a north wind, we get a lot of lake effect snow, Miller said. That sounds like that might be part of what theyre talking about this year. When that first snowfall inevitably comes, Miller offered some tips to drivers. Slow down, he said. Drive at a safe speed, increase your following distances behind cars in front of you and leave home early if you have to travel and you know its going to be bad outside. Despite the mild winter last year, the Thumb managed to see a few heavy snowfalls. In early January, the region received up to 10 inches of snowfall. In mid February, a system brought eight to 12 inches of snow over the Thumb region. During the heavy snowfall last year, Miller said he was pleased with the quality of the countys roadways. Our road commission is fantastic, he said. If you look at how they operate and go to other places and see how they operate, theyre just fantastic. Our roads get cleared off in a pretty timely matter and theyre proactive on things. He said he was also happy with the preparedness of the sheriffs office, EMS and fire departments across the county. They prepare for all that stuff and they do a really good job locally here on being ready, Miller said. I think we respond very well. For more information on how to prepare for the upcoming winter season, visit www.weather.gov/media/apx/2016Winter.pdf. The following companies are subsidiares of ABB: ABB (China) Investment Limited, ABB (China) Ltd., ABB (Hong Kong) Ltd., ABB (Namibia) (Pty) Ltd., ABB (P.J.S.C.), ABB (Private) Ltd., ABB (Pty) Ltd., ABB (Pvt) Ltd., ABB A/S, ABB AB, ABB AG, ABB AS, ABB AUTOMACAO LTDA, ABB AUTOMATION AND ELECTRIFICATION (VIETNAM)COMPANY LIMITED, ABB AUTOMATION HOLDINGS (THAILAND) CO. LTD., ABB Algeria SpA Asea Brown Boveri, ABB Algerie Produits SpA, ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd, ABB Asea Brown Boveri SRL, ABB Ausbildungszentrum Berlin gGmbH, ABB Australia Pty Limited, ABB Automation (Thailand) Co. Ltd., ABB B.V., ABB Bailey Beijing Engineering Co. Ltd., ABB Bailey Japan Limited, ABB Beijing Drive Systems Co. Ltd., ABB Beijing Switchgear Limited, ABB Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungsges. mbH, ABB Bulgaria EOOD, ABB Business Services Sp. z o.o., ABB Cable Management Products Ltd, ABB Canada EL Holding GmbH, ABB Capital AG, ABB Capital B.V., ABB Centroamerica y El Caribe S.A., ABB Chargedot Shanghai New Energy Technology Co. Ltd, ABB Colombia Ltda, ABB Construction (ABACON) S.A.E., ABB E-MOBILITY INC., ABB E-MOBILITY PTE. LTD., ABB E-mobility AB, ABB E-mobility AG, ABB E-mobility AS, ABB E-mobility GmbH, ABB E-mobility Holding Ltd, ABB E-mobility QFZ LLC, ABB E-mobility S.p.A., ABB E-mobility SAS, ABB E-mobility SL, ABB E-mobility Technology Shenzhen Co. Ltd, ABB E-mobility UK Limited, ABB ELECTRICAL & AUTOMATION W.L.L, ABB ELECTRIFICATION HOLDINGS (THAILAND) CO. LTD., ABB ELETRIFICACAO LTDA, ABB Ecuador S.A., ABB Electrical Control Systems S. de R.L. de C.V., ABB Electrical Equipment (Xiamen) Co. Ltd., ABB Electrical Equipment Ltd., ABB Electrical Industries Co. Ltd., ABB Electrical Machines Ltd., ABB Electrical Products (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ABB Electrification (Thailand) Co. Ltd., ABB Electrification Canada ULC, ABB Electrification Norway AS, ABB Electrification Sweden AB, ABB Elektrik Sanayi A.S., ABB Engg. Technologies Co. (KSCC), ABB Engineering (Shanghai), ABB Engineering Trading and Service Ltd., ABB Equipo de Control Y Distribucion S. de R.L. de C.V., ABB Equity Limited, ABB FZ-LLC, ABB Finance (USA) Inc., ABB Finance B.V., ABB For Feeding Industries SAE, ABB France, ABB GLOBAL BUSINESS SERVICES AND CONTRACTINGINDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, ABB Global Industries and Services Private Limited, ABB Global Marketing FZ LLC, ABB Group Holdings Pty. Ltd., ABB Group Investment Management Pty. Ltd., ABB Guangdong Sihui Instrument Transformer Co. Ltd., ABB Hangzhou Winmation Automation Company Limited, ABB Holding AS, ABB Holdings (Pty) Ltd., ABB Holdings B.V., ABB Holdings Inc., ABB Holdings Limited, ABB Holdings Sdn. Bhd., ABB INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS (LODZ) S.A. W LIKWIDACJI, ABB Inc., ABB Inc., ABB India Limited, ABB Industrial Solutions (Australia) Pty Ltd, ABB Industrial Solutions (Belgium) BV, ABB Industrial Solutions (Bielsko-Biala) Sp. z o.o., ABB Industrial Solutions (Canada) Inc., ABB Industrial Solutions (Klodzko) Sp.z.o.o., ABB Industries (L.L.C.), ABB Industries FZ, ABB Information Systems Ltd., ABB Installation Products Caribe LLC, ABB Installation Products European Centre S.A., ABB Installation Products Inc, ABB Installation Products International LLC., ABB Installation Products Limited, ABB Installation Products Monterrey S. de R.L. de C.V., ABB Installacios Keszulekek Kft., ABB Investment Holding 2 GmbH, ABB Investments (Pty) Ltd, ABB Inzeniring d.o.o., ABB Jiangjin Turbo Systems Company Limited, ABB K.K., ABB Kaufel GmbH, ABB LAFRENZE PROPERTY (PROPERTY) LIMITED, ABB LLC, ABB LLP., ABB LV Installation Materials Co. Ltd. Beijing, ABB Limitada, ABB Limited, ABB Limited/Jordan LLC., ABB Lineage Power Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ABB Logistics Center Europe GmbH, ABB Ltd., ABB Maghreb Services S.A., ABB Malaysia Sdn Bhd., ABB Management Services Ltd., ABB Mexico S.A. de C.V., ABB Motors and Mechanical Inc, ABB N.V., ABB Norden Holding AB, ABB Operations Center Ltd., ABB Orange B.V., ABB Oryx Motors and Generators Service LLC, ABB Oy, ABB Panama Sales S.A., ABB Power & Automation (Private) Limited, ABB Power & Automation Limited, ABB Power Electronics (Germany) GmbH, ABB Power Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ABB Power Electronics (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., ABB Power Electronics Inc., ABB Pte. Ltd., ABB Reinsurance AG, ABB Robotics (Zhuhai) Ltd, ABB Robotics Machine Tending Limited, ABB Robotics Solutions NV, ABB S.A., ABB S.A. de CV, ABB S.p.A., ABB SARL, ABB SAS, ABB SIA, ABB Schweiz AG, ABB Shanghai Free Trade Zone Industrial Co. Ltd., ABB Shanghai Motors Co. Ltd., ABB South Africa (Pty) Ltd., ABB Sp. z o.o., ABB Stotz-Kontakt Gmb, ABB Striebel & John GmbH, ABB Susa Inc., ABB Technologies Ltd., ABB Technologies S.A., ABB Technology SA, ABB Tianjin Switchgear Co. Ltd., ABB Transmission & Distribution Limited LLC, ABB Treasury Center (USA) Inc., ABB Turbo Systems (Hong Kong) Limited, ABB Turbochargers S.A.E., ABB UAB, ABB Verwaltungs AG, ABB Wirtschaftsbetriebe GmbH, ABB Xiamen Corporation Management Service Co. Ltd., ABB Xiamen Low Voltage Equipment Co. Ltd., ABB Xiamen Smart Technology Co. Ltd., ABB Xiamen Switchgear Co. Ltd., ABB Xinhui Low Voltage Switchgear Co. Ltd., ABB d.o.o., ABB eMobility Digital Venture GmbH, ABB for Electrical Industries (ABB ARAB) S.A.E., ABB for Electrical Solutions and Technologies K.S.C.C., ABB s.r.o., ABB s.r.o., ABBNG Limited, APS Technology Group, ASEA BROWN BOVERI Portugal Unipessoal Lda, ASTI France SAS, ASTI Mobile Robotics, Asea Brown Boveri Electrica SGPS (Angola) Limitada, Asea Brown Boveri Industrial Technical & CommercialCompany of Imports Exports S.A., Asea Brown Boveri Lanka (Private) Limited, Asea Brown Boveri Ltd., Asea Brown Boveri S.A., Asea Brown Boveri S.A. de C.V., Asea Brown Boveri S.A.E., Asti Mobile Robotics GmbH, Asti Mobile Robotics Group SL, Asti Mobile Robotics SAU, B & R Automazione Industriale S.r.l., B & R Industrial Automation Ltd., B + R Industrie-Elektronik GmbH, B&R Automatyka Przemyslowa Sp.z.o.o., B&R Automacao Industrial Ltda., B&R Holding GmbH, B&R Industrial Automation, B&R Industrial Automation (China) Co. Ltd., B&R Industrial Automation A/S, B&R Industrial Automation AB, B&R Industrial Automation Co. Ltd., B&R Industrial Automation Corp., B&R Industrial Automation GmbH, B&R Industrial Automation Iberica S.L.U., B&R Industrial Automation Inc., B&R Industrial Automation Pte. Ltd., B&R Industrial Automation Pvt. Ltd., B&R Industrie-Automation AG, B&R Industriele Automatisering B.V., B&R K.K., B+R Automation Industrielle SARL, B+R Industrial Automation OOO, B+R automatizace spol. s.r.o., BR Endustriyel Otomasyon Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Baldor Electric Company, Busch-Jaeger Elektro GmbH, Chargedot, Cherokee India Pvt. Ltd., Codian Robotics, Codian Robotics B.V., Codian Robotics of the Americas, Combustion Engineering Inc., Cylon Controls, Cylon Controls Limited, Cylon Energy Inc., DynaMotive Ltd., ELBI Elektrik, Edison Holding Corporation, Enervalis NV, Envitech Energy, Epyon, GE Industrial Solutions, Gomtec, Gresin Grupo Estudios Industriales, IMV Invertomatic Victron UK Limited, In-Charge Energy, Industrial C&S Hungary Kft., Industrial C&S of P.R. LLC, Industrial Connections & Solutions LLC, Industrial Connections of SA Pty. Ltd., Intrimmo BVBA, Jinan ABB SRI Rail Transit Equipment Technology Co. Ltd., Jordan Acquisition Group, KEYMILE - Business, Kaufel S.A., Kuhlman Electric Corp., Lineage Overseas LLC, Lineage Power (Argentina) S.R.L., Lineage Power (Luxembourg) S.A.R.L., Lineage Power China Co. Ltd., Lineage Power Holdings Inc., Lineage Power Matamoros S.A. de C.V., Lorentzen & Wettre, Los Gatos Research, Mincom, NUB3D S.L., Newave Energy Holding, Newron System, PT ABB Sakti Industri, Pinghu Zhuangbest Technology Development Co. Ltd., Power-One, Powercorp, Powertel India Pvt. Ltd., RGM - Rail vehicle power business, RMI Automation Co. Ltd., SVIA, SWISS TURBOCHARGERS SA DE CV, Saudi Industrial Solutions Ltd., Shanghai Zhuangbest Technology Development Co. Ltd., Shantou Winride Switchgear Co. Ltd., Sirius Holdings B.V., Smart Power Technology Co. Ltd., Spirit IT, Swissturbo (Shanghai) Investment Limited, SynerLeap powered by ABB AB, TURBO SYSTEMS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, TURBO SYSTEMS ITALY S.P.A., TURBO SYSTEMS RUS LLC, TURBO-SUPERIOR SYSTEMS INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, TURBOCHARGING GREECE SINGLE MEMBER SA, Thomas & Betts, Thomas & Betts Saudi Arabia Limited Liability Co., Trasfor, Tropos Networks, Turbo Systems Argentina S.A., Turbo Systems Canada Inc, Turbo Systems Colombia SAS, Turbo Systems Dominican Republic SRL, Turbo Systems Finland Oy, Turbo Systems Germany GmbH, Turbo Systems Holding Ltd, Turbo Systems Iberia S.L., Turbo Systems Korea Ltd., Turbo Systems Myanmar Limited, Turbo Systems Pakistan (Private) Limited, Turbo Systems South East Asia Pte. Ltd., Turbo Systems Switzerland Ltd, Turbo Systems The Netherlands B.V., Turbo Systems Turkey Muhendislik Makine Sanayi Ve TicaretAnonim Sirketi, Turbo Systems US Inc., Turbo Systems United Co. Ltd., Turbo Systems Verwaltungs Ltd, Turbocharging Bangladesh Limited, Turbocharging Brasil Ltda., Turbocharging Systems Co. Ltd., Turbocharging Systems France SAS, Turbocharging UK Limited, Turbosystems Nigeria Limited LTD, Validus DC Systems, Vectek Electronics, Ventyx, Verdi Holding Corporation, W.J. Furse & Co. Ltd., Yangzhou SAC Switchgear Co. Ltd, and Zhejiang Chargedot New Energy Technology Co. Ltd.. Read More 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. AstraZeneca PLC, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of prescription medicines. Its marketed products include Calquence, Enhertu, Faslodex, Imfinzi, Iressa, Koselugo, Lumoxiti, Lynparza, Orpathys, Tagrisso, and Zoladex for oncology; Brilinta/Brilique, Bydureon/Byetta, BCise, Byetta, Crestor, Evrenzo, Farxiga/Forxiga, Komboglyze/Kombiglyze XR, Lokelma, Onglyza, Qtern, and Xigduo/Xigduo XR for cardiovascular, renal, and metabolism diseases; Bevespi Aerosphere, Breztri Aerosphere, Daliresp/Daxas, Duaklir Genuair, Fasenra, Pulmicort, Saphnelo, Symbicort, and Tudorza/Eklira/Bretaris for respiratory and immunology; and Andexxa/Ondexxya, Kanuma, Soliris, Strensiq, and Ultomiris for rare diseases. The company's marketed products also comprise Synagis for respiratory syncytial virus; Fluenz Tetra/FluMist Quadrivalent for Influenza; Seroquel IR/Seroquel XR for schizophrenia bipolar disease; Nexium, and Losec/Prilosec for gastroenterology; and Vaxzevria and Evusheld for covid-19. The company serves primary care and specialty care physicians through distributors and local representative offices in the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Australasia. It has a collaboration agreement with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to research, develop, and commercialize small molecule medicines for obesity; Neurimmune AG to develop and commercialize NI006; Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to develop eplontersen, a liver-targeted antisense therapy in Phase III development for the treatment of transthyretin amyloidosis; Proteros Biostructures GmbH to jointly discover novel small molecules for the treatment of hematological cancers; Sierra Oncology, Inc. to develop and commercialize AZD5153. The company was formerly known as Zeneca Group PLC and changed its name to AstraZeneca PLC in April 1999. AstraZeneca PLC was incorporated in 1992 and is headquartered in Cambridge, the United Kingdom. BP, plc, once known as British Petroleum, is one of the worlds 7 oil & gas supermajors with operations spanning the globe. In terms of revenue, it ranks 4th on the list and the company is vertically integrated as well with operations in all segments of the oil and gas sector. Operations are currently underway in 80 countries around the world, the company can produce 3.7 million barrels of oil equivalents per day, and it lays claim to nearly 20 billion barrels in proven reserves. On the retail end of the business, the company operates more than 18,700 fuel stations and its largest segment is in the US. The company was founded in 1908 with the purpose of exploring for and producing oil in the middle east. The company expanded into Alaska in 1959 and then accelerated its expansion when it merged with Amoco in 1998. Another merger with Burhman Castrol in 2000 created the company that is traded today. BP, plc rebranded itself in 2000 giving new meaning to its name. The once British Petroleum is now Beyond Petroleum and focused on a major shift in its business. The company is working hard to move away from non-renewable carbon-based energy and into biofuels, solar, and wind. The company hopes to be net-zero in regard to carbon emissions and production by 2050 or earlier and is well on the way to doing so. Among the many avenues of advance are the build-out of solar and wind farms as well as the expansion of a major EV charging network. The network totaled more than 9,000 stations around the middle of 2022 and expansion was ramping in order to meet the goal of 100,000 EV stations before 2050. BP p.l.c. currently operates through 4 segments including Gas & Low Carbon Energy, Oil Production & Operations, Customers & Products, and Rosneft segments. The company produces and trades in natural gas and oil liquids, offers biofuels, and operates wind and solar power generating facilities. The company also provides de-carbonization solutions and services, such as hydrogen and carbon capture and storage, as part of its green agenda. In addition, it produces and refines oil and gas for its downstream operations as well as invests in upstream, downstream, and alternative energy companies including advanced mobility. Advanced mobility is the future of transportation and includes technologies like EV, hybrid, and hydrogen fuel cells. To that end, the company is building 7 hydrogen production and storage hubs in key locations around the world. The company aims to produce blue and green hydrogen for the global transportation industry with production beginning in 2027. Blue hydrogen is hydrogen captured from the companys natural gas deposits using a process that captures the waste carbon. The following companies are subsidiares of Cummins: Anvl, Apollo FC Holdings Ltd., Atlantis Acquisitionco Canada Corporation, Atlantis Holdco UK Limited, Brammo, CIFC Worldwide Partner C.V., CMI Africa Holdings BV, CMI CGT Holdings LLC, CMI Canada Financing Ltd., CMI Canada LP, CMI Foreign Holdings B.V., CMI Global Equity Holdings B.V., CMI Global Equity Holdings C.V., CMI Global Holdings B.V., CMI Global Partner 2 C.V., CMI Global Partners B.V., CMI Group Holdings B.V., CMI Group Holdings Cooperatief U.A., CMI International Finance Partner 1 LLC, CMI International Finance Partner 2 LLC, CMI International Finance Partner 3 LLC, CMI International Finance Partner 4 LLC, CMI International Finance Partner 5 LLC, CMI Mexico LLC, CMI Netherlands Holdings B.V., CMI PGI Holdings LLC, CMI PGI International Holdings LLC, CMI Turkish Holdings B.V., CMI UK Finance LP, CMI UK Financing LP, Cherry Island Renewable Energy LLC, Consolidated Diesel Company, Consolidated Diesel Inc., Consolidated Diesel of North Carolina Inc., Cummins (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Cummins (Xiangyang) Machining Co. Ltd., Cummins Africa Middle East (Pty) Ltd., Cummins Afrique de l'Ouest, Cummins Americas Inc., Cummins Angola Lda., Cummins Argentina-Servicios Mineros S.A., Cummins Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Cummins Aust Technologies Pty. Ltd., Cummins BLR LLC, Cummins Battery Systems North America LLC, Cummins Belgium N.V., Cummins Botswana (Pty.) Ltd., Cummins Brasil Ltda., Cummins Burkina Faso SARL, Cummins CDC Holding Inc., Cummins CV Member LLC, Cummins Canada ULC, Cummins Caribbean LLC, Cummins Center of Excellence Singapore Pte. Ltd., Cummins Centroamerica Holding S.de R.L., Cummins Child Development Center Inc., Cummins Colombia S.A.S., Cummins Comercializadora S. de R.L. de C.V., Cummins Corporation, Cummins Cote d'Ivoire SARL, Cummins Czech Republic s.r.o., Cummins Deutschland GmbH, Cummins Diesel International Ltd., Cummins Distribution Holdco Inc., Cummins EMEA Holdings Limited, Cummins East Asia Research & Development Co. Ltd., Cummins Eastern Marine Inc., Cummins Electrified Power Europe Ltd., Cummins Electrified Power NA Inc., Cummins Emission Solutions (China) Co. Ltd., Cummins Emission Solutions Inc., Cummins Empresas Filantropicas, Cummins Energetica Ltda., Cummins Engine (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Cummins Engine (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Cummins Engine (Shanghai) Trading & Services Co. Ltd., Cummins Engine Holding Company Inc., Cummins Engine IP Inc., Cummins Engine Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Cummins Engine Venture Corporation, Cummins Enterprise LLC, Cummins Filtration (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Cummins Filtration GmbH, Cummins Filtration IP Inc., Cummins Filtration Inc., Cummins Filtration International Corp., Cummins Filtration Ltd., Cummins Filtration SARL, Cummins Filtration Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Cummins Filtros Ltda., Cummins Franchise Holdco LLC, Cummins Fuel Systems (Wuhan) Co. Ltd., Cummins Generator Technologies (China) Co. Ltd., Cummins Generator Technologies Americas Inc., Cummins Generator Technologies Germany GmbH, Cummins Generator Technologies India Private Ltd., Cummins Generator Technologies Italy SRL, Cummins Generator Technologies Limited, Cummins Generator Technologies Romania S.A., Cummins Generator Technologies Singapore Pte Ltd., Cummins Ghana Limited, Cummins Ghana Mining Limited, Cummins Global Financing LP, Cummins Global Technologies LLP, Cummins Grupo Comercial Y. de Servicios S. de R.L. de C.V., Cummins Grupo Industrial S. de R.L. de C.V., Cummins Holland B.V., Cummins Hong Kong Ltd., Cummins India Ltd., Cummins Intellectual Property Inc., Cummins International Finance LLC, Cummins International Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Cummins International Holdings LLC, Cummins Italia S.P.A., Cummins Japan Ltd., Cummins Korea Co. Ltd., Cummins LLC Member Inc., Cummins Ltd., Cummins Maroc SARL, Cummins Middle East FZE, Cummins Mining Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Cummins Mobility Services Inc., Cummins Mongolia Investment LLC, Cummins Mozambique Ltda., Cummins NV, Cummins Namibia Engine Sales and Service PTY LTD, Cummins Natural Gas Engines Inc., Cummins New Zealand Limited, Cummins Nigeria Ltd., Cummins Norte de Colombia S.A.S., Cummins North Africa Regional Office SARL, Cummins Norway AS, Cummins PGI Holdings Ltd., Cummins Power Generation (China) Co. Ltd., Cummins Power Generation (S) Pte. Ltd., Cummins Power Generation (U.K.) Limited, Cummins Power Generation Deutschland GmbH, Cummins Power Generation Inc., Cummins Power Generation Limited, Cummins PowerGen IP Inc., Cummins Research and Technology India Private Ltd., Cummins Romania Srl, Cummins S. de R.L. de C.V., Cummins Sales and Service Korea Co. Ltd., Cummins Sales and Service Philippines Inc., Cummins Sales and Service Private Limited, Cummins Sales and Service Sdn. Bhd., Cummins Sales and Service Singapore Pte. Ltd., Cummins Sinai ve Otomotiv Urunleri Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Cummins South Africa (Pty.) Ltd., Cummins South Pacific Pty. Limited, Cummins Southern Plains LLC, Cummins Spain S.L., Cummins Sweden AB, Cummins Technologies India, Cummins Trade Receivables LLC, Cummins Turbo Technologies Limited, Cummins Turkey Motor Guc Sistemleri Sats Servis Limited Sirketi, Cummins U.K. Holdings Ltd., Cummins U.K. Pension Plan Trustee Ltd., Cummins UK Global Holdings Ltd., Cummins UK Holdings LLC, Cummins Vendas e Servicos de Motores e Geradores Ltda., Cummins Venture Corporation, Cummins West Africa Limited, Cummins West Balkans d.o.o. Nova Pasova, Cummins XBorder Operations (Pty) Ltd, Cummins Zambia Ltd., Cummins Zimbabwe Pvt. Ltd., Distribuidora Cummins Centroamerica Costa Rica S.de R.L., Distribuidora Cummins Centroamerica El Salvador S.de R.L., Distribuidora Cummins Centroamerica Guatemala Ltda., Distribuidora Cummins Centroamerica Honduras S.de R.L., Distribuidora Cummins S.A., Distribuidora Cummins Sucursal Paraguay SRL, Distribuidora Cummins de Panama S. de R.L., Dynamo Insurance Company Inc., Efficient Drivetrains, Efficient Drivetrains (Beijing) New Power Technology Co. Ltd., Efficient Drivetrains (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Hilite International, Hydrogenics, Hydrogenics Corporation, Hydrogenics Europe N.V., Hydrogenics GmbH, Hydrogenics Holding GmbH, Hydrogenics USA Inc., Markon Engineering Company Ltd., Nelson Burgess Ltd., Nelson Industries, Newage Engineers GmbH, Newage Ltd. (U.K.), Newage Machine Tools Ltd., OOO Cummins, Petbow Limited, Power Group International (Overseas Holdings) B.V., Power Group International (Overseas Holdings) Ltd., Power Group International Ltd., Quickstart Energy Projects SpA, Shanghai Cummins Trade Co. Ltd., TOO Cummins, Taiwan Cummins Sales & Services Co. Ltd., Worldwide Partner CV Member LLC, Wuxi Cummins Turbo Technologies Co. Ltd., Wuxi New Energy Automotive Technologies Co. Ltd., and ZED Connect Inc.. Read More Validus Holdings, Ltd. provides reinsurance coverage, insurance coverage, and insurance linked securities management services worldwide. It operates through three segments: Reinsurance, Insurance, and Asset Management. The Reinsurance segment underwrites property reinsurance products on a catastrophe excess of loss, per risk excess of loss and proportional basis; and aerospace and aviation, agriculture, composite, marine, technical lines, terrorism, trade credit, workers' compensation, and other specialty lines, as well as casualty and financial lines. The Insurance segment underwrites property, accident and health, agriculture, aviation, contingency, marine, and political lines insurance products; bankers blanket bond, commercial crime, computer crime, cyber- crime, professional indemnity, and directors' and officers' insurance products for various financial institutions and other companies; and commercial and institutional risks comprising general, professional, and product liability, as well as miscellaneous malpractice insurance products. This segment also underwrites marine and energy liability, and political risk insurance products, as well as insurance products for repair, maintenance, and upkeep of aircrafts and premises for small companies. The Asset Management segment manages capital for third parties through insurance-linked securities, and other property catastrophe and specialty reinsurance investments. Validus Holdings, Ltd. was founded in 2005 and is based in Pembroke, Bermuda. Retired Marine Gen. James Mattis, former commander of the U.S. Central Command and a Marine Corps legend, is expected to meet with President-elect Donald Trump amid speculation that he's on a shortlist to become the next defense secretary. Trump's office on Friday announced the private meeting set to take place on Saturday in New York with the 66-year-old Mattis, known to some of his troops as "Mad Dog," as the transition team moved into high gear under the direction of the new transition chairman, Vice President-elect Mike Pence, who replaced New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. The president-elect announced that he would be nominating Sen. Jeff Sessions, an Alabama Republican and an early supporter, as attorney general, and Rep. Mike Pompeo, a Kansas Republican and West Point graduate, as director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Trump also announced he would be appointing retired Army Gen. Michael Flynn, the former Defense Intelligence Agency director, as White House national security advisor, which does not require Senate confirmation. The Trump team also made contacts with the Defense and State Departments for the first time and sent representatives to the Pentagon and to State to occupy offices set up for them and begin meetings with staff. Trump has pledged a fast and orderly transition, and President Barack Obama has promised cooperation to speed the process, to allow Trump to "hit the ground running" upon his Jan. 20 inauguration. Trump has been relying upon Flynn and a stable of retired officers, including retired Army Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, for policy guidance and advice on Cabinet positions. Kellogg, an 82nd Airborne Division soldier and Vietnam veteran, served in the U.S. Coalition Provisional Authority that governed Iraq after the invasion and has worked for several defense and homeland security contractors. Kellogg has been a fixture at Trump Tower in Manhattan, where Trump will meet Saturday with Mattis and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who vehemently opposed Trump's candidacy but now is considered a possible nominee for Secretary of State. Trump was also said to be considering retired Army Gen. David Petraeus, the former CIA Director, as a potential choice for secretary of state. Petraeus resigned from the CIA in disgrace in 2012 over an affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell. The FBI later found that Petraeus had shared classified information with Broadwell and he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor. Petraeus recently told the German news outlet Deutsche Welle that Trump was "right to criticize Washington over its partisanship and its inability to forge compromises. "He's a dealmaker," Petraeus said of Trump. "Let's see if he can make some deals in Washington." Mattis already has numerous admirers at the Pentagon. As 1st Marine Division commander in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Mattis commanded then-Col. Joseph Dunford, now the Joint Chiefs Chairman. His leadership style has been described as demanding, yet he was also known for giving subordinates wide leeway to show initiative. Mattis himself has said that his style was to give a regimental commander an "avenue of approach" to an objective and then let that commander decide how best to accomplish the mission. However, Mattis is also known for expecting quick results. In the 2003 invasion, Mattis raised concerns with superiors when he relieved a regimental commander he felt was bogging down the offensive. Mattis was also known as an intellectual among generals, carrying a copy of the meditations of Marcus Aurelius with him wherever he deployed. He is said to have a personal library of more than 1,000 books. In his 44 years of service, Mattis left behind a number of sayings that have become gospel to Marines. His motto for the 1st Marine Division in Iraq was also intended to send a message to the Iraqi people about his Marines: "No better friend, no worse enemy." Another saying attributed to Mattis was: "Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet." Mattis, of Pullman, Washington, was commissioned a second lieutenant through the Reserve Officers Training Corps in January 1972. As a lieutenant colonel, Mattis commanded 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, which was part of the Task Force Ripper assault fore in the Persian Gulf War. As a brigadier general in 2001, Mattis led the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade in Afghanistan and in 2003 as a major general led the Ist Marine Division in the march from Kuwait to Baghdad. Others under consideration for the top post at the Pentagon reportedly include retired Army Gen. Jack Keane, a persistent critic of the Obama administration who met with Trump Thursday; Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton, who met with Trump twice this week; Jim Talent, a retired Republican senator from Missouri; and Stephen Hadley, former national-security adviser under President George W. Bush. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. On the heels of a widely praised 2015 decision to issue the more maneuverable M4 carbine in lieu of the M16A4 to Marines in infantry battalions, the Marine Corps may be on the cusp of another major weapons decision. The Marine Corps' experimental battalion, the California-based 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, has been conducting pre-deployment exercises with the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle to evaluate it as the new service rifle for infantry battalions, the commander of 1st Marine Division, Maj. Gen. Daniel O'Donohue told Military.com Thursday. The battalion is set to deploy aboard the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit this spring. As part of its workup and deployment, it has been charged with testing and evaluating a host of technologies and concepts ranging from teaming operations with unmanned systems and robotics to experiments with differently sized squads. "When they take the IAR and they're training out there with all the ranges we do with the M4, they're going to look at the tactics of it. They'll look at the firepower, and they'll do every bit of training, and then they'll deploy with that weapon, and we'll take the feedback to the Marine Corps to judge," O'Donohue said. Marines in 3/5 used the IAR as their service rifle during the 28-day Integrated Training Exercise held this month at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center 29 Palms, California. The exercise, also known as ITX, is the largest pre-deployment workup for deploying battalions, and typically one of the last exercises they'll complete. O'Donohue said the ubiquity of ITX would give evaluators ample data as they contrasted results with the different weapons. "All you have to do is compare this battalion to the other battalions going through ITX," he said. The M4 carbine and the M27 IAR handle very similarly as they share a number of features. However, the M27 has a slightly longer effective range -- 550 meters compared to the M4's 500 -- and elements that allow for more accurate targeting. It has a free-floating barrel, which keeps the barrel out of contact with the stock and minimizes the effect of vibration on bullet trajectory. It also has a proprietary gas piston system that makes the weapon more reliable and reduces wear and tear. And the the IAR can fire in fully automatic mode, while the standard M4 has single shot, semi-automatic and three-round burst options. Currently, each Marine Corps infantry fire team is equipped with a single IAR, carried by the team's automatic rifleman. "I think the fundamental is the accuracy of the weapon, the idea that you're going to use it for suppressive fires. And at first contact you have the overwhelming superiority of fire from which all the tactics evolve," O'Donohue said. "So it starts with the fire team and the squad, if you give them a better weapon with better fire superiority, you'll just put that vicious harmony of violence on the enemy." But officials do see some potential drawbacks to equipping every infantry Marine with the weapon. "One of the things we're looking at is the rate of fire," O'Donohue said. "You can burn off too much ammo, potentially, with the IAR. We have a selector, a regulator [showing] how many rounds the Marines shoot. So that's one area we're examining with experimentation." Another variable is cost. Chief Warrant Officer 5 Christian Wade, the gunner, or infantry weapons officer, for 2nd Marine Division, told Military.com the M27 costs about $3,000 apiece, without the sight. Because the Marine Corps is still grappling with budget cutbacks, he said he was skeptical that the service could find enough in the budget to equip all battalions with the weapons. He said a smaller rollout might be more feasible. "To give everyone in a Marine rifle squad [the IAR], that might be worth it," he said. O'Donohue said feedback would be collected on an ongoing basis from the Marines in 3/5 as they continued workup exercises and deployed next year. Decisions on whether to field a new service weapon or reorganize the rifle squad would be made by the commandant, Gen. Robert Neller, when he felt he had collected enough information, O'Donohue said. If the Marine Corps can sort out the logistics of fielding, Wade said he would welcome the change. "It is the best infantry rifle in the world, hands down," Wade said of the IAR. "Better than anything Russia has, it's better than anything we have, it's better than anything China has. It's world-class." -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck. 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. Brian Tungl On Monday, May 23, Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge David. S. Swartz sentenced Brian Scott Tungl, left, of Mount Morris after he pleaded no contest to a felony charge of embezzling more than $50,000 worth of equipment from Dexter Community Schools. On Nov. 17, Tungl was ordered to pay $309,123 in restitution to the school district. (Lindsay Knake | The Ann Arbor News) DEXTER, MI - Brian Scott Tungl has been ordered to pay nearly $310,000 in restitution to Dexter Community Schools and its insurance provider after he was charged with stealing technology equipment from the district when he was the IT director there. Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge David S. Swartz ordered Tungl pay $309,123 in restitution at a hearing on Thursday, Nov. 17. Tungl, 47, of Mount Morris, pleaded no contest on May 10 to a charge of embezzling more than $50,000 and less than $100,000 worth of technology equipment from the school district. Two other charges against him were dismissed in the plea agreement. School officials allege Tungl stole almost $300,000 worth of technology equipment like laptops and iPads from Dexter Schools starting when he was hired in 2011. He deleted the district's inventory list before he resigned late in 2014, school officials said, and police began investigating him in February 2015. DCS initially requested Tungl pay $426,000 in restitution. Superintendent Chris Timmis said the district had to hire specialists to try to retrieve the inventory list and passwords, and he would have liked to see Tungl pay for that expense as well as for the personnel time that was directed to investigating the theft. "But the judge didn't want to reimburse for that," Timmis told The Ann Arbor News. "All things considered, our insurance covered the majority of it. ... We'll be made whole the actual physical items (stolen). It's really terrible when you have a dishonest employee. But our internal controls worked. We found the problem and we dealt with the problem. We made sure our kids still had the technology, and we made sure our taxpayers were made whole." Tungl will pay Dexter Community Schools the difference in the value of the property he stole and what the insurance will cover, and then he will pay the remainder of the nearly $310,000 to the insurance company. Tungl's attorney Todd Flood could not be reached for comment Friday. Tungl initially was sentenced on May 23 to six months in jail and two years on probation, plus 500 hours of community service and restitution. On June 20, Swartz changed Tungl's sentence to six months of home arrest with a tether, and he can leave the house for medical appointments. Flood requested the sentence be reconsidered based on two factors: he didn't think Tungl's level of remorse had been sufficiently communicated at the initial sentencing, and he didn't think the "serious nature of Mr. Tungl's ongoing health issues that will require immediate medical attention that cannot be addressed in the Washtenaw County Jail" was properly conveyed in the presentence investigation report. ANN ARBOR, MI - The Ann Arbor chapter of Students for a Democratic Society voiced concerns about the election of Donald Trump as president during a rally held Friday, Nov. 18, at the University of Michigan Diag. A crowd of about 50 people gathered and listened as members of the student group expressed fears and concerns over Trump's recent victory. SDS member and Michigan freshman Liam Knight said two goals of the rally were to encourage solidarity against president-elect Trump and to create an organized effort to "build power among students themselves." "The problem is bigger than just Donald Trump. There are structures of power - white supremacy, patriarchy, and so on - that allowed someone like him to get elected in the first place and, if we don't oppose those, then it's just going to happen again," he said. The first president of Students for a Democratic Society, Ann Arbor resident Alan Haber, also attended the rally and was one of a handful of speakers to address the crowd. BANGOR TWP., MI -- Younkers in the Bay City Mall recently opened its "Close to Home" shop inside its home furniture department store, offering a selection of made-in-Michigan products celebrating the mitten state. The Close to Home shop features products from Michigan entrepreneurs ranging in price from $3 to $125. Products include drinkware, stationary, and totes from Tandem for Two in Grand Haven; custom made mittens from Peapack Mitten Company in Grand Rapids; apparel and accessories from Michigan Awesome in Holland and Livin' Fresh in Gaylord. Products found in the store can also be purchased online. New products are added often and seasonally. The Bay City Mall is located at 4101 Wilder Road in Bangor Township. DETROIT -- Preservationists are hoping to save a long-vacant Corktown building from being torn down after a demolition permit was issued this week. City Council is expected to to consider a historic designation for the CPA Building on Tuesday. If approved, the building at 2238 Michigan Ave. would remain standing for at least a year to be studied for historical relevance and safety. Building owner BFD Corktown, a subsidiary of New York-based Sequoia Property Partners, could not be reached for comment. Evan Ambrose, who runs the nonprofit Hostel Detroit, was among nearly 20 people who spoke before City Council this week in opposition to the building's pending demolition. "That building itself has always come up as one of the highlights where they draw inspiration to where the neighborhood could keep growing," Ambrose said. "It's not just the community that values this, it's also the international visitors that come to Detroit and appreciate the architecture and history we have here." Ambrose said his hostel often houses urban development students, most of whom specifically study Corktown. He called the fight for preserving the building "inspiring." An online petition to stop the demolition had garnered more than 1,000 signatures as of Friday evening. "There wasn't much notice given to the community about this," Ambrose said. "I've never had a conversation with someone where the thought of even knocking it down was an option. It's such a unique building and offers a lot of faith that you can almost do anything with it." The threat of demolition has also led to interest from multiple developers interested in purchasing the property. Christopher Burcham, owner of Bullock-Green Harware Co., who recently posted a listing for a $10,000-per-month luxury apartment in Corktown, has expressed interest in buying the CPA building to create more luxury apartments. "Restoring old buildings is like the backbone of reviving Detroit," Burcham said. "People come here from all over the world and look to an old building, especially in Corktown, and make it a coffee shop, an apartment, a bike shop ... Without old buildings to restore and occupy, there's no new construction." Crain's Detroit Business reported that NYC-based ASH NYC and Detroit-based The Roxbury Group also said they would consider purchasing and restoring the building to prevent it from being torn down. GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- Despite an initial batch of botched ballots, Genesee County has certified election results a week sooner than it did in the last presidential election, according to county Clerk John Gleason. All loose ends were tied up and certified elections results were in a week ahead of the state's deadline, despite the fact that no state workers were sent in to help, Gleason said "Four years ago, they used the whole allotted time for canvassing. A great deal of credit should be extended to these municipal clerks, because they did a lot of work twice," Gleason said, referring to the thousands of ballots sent out to absentee voters that were later discovered to be defective. A multitude of issues with initial ballots - smudges, incorrect ink density, uneven cuts - were discovered Tuesday, Oct. 4, after 22 municipalities sent out a total of 14,000 ballots to absentee voters. A new company was hired to print an entirely new batch of ballots within tight election deadlines. Gleason said at the time: "The concern right now is that many people have returned ballots. If you returned a ballot, you are guaranteed a vote. If you don't turn in the second one, we will use the first one. It's just an awful lot of extra work for municipal clerks." The crisis caused concern about how timely the results would be in election night, since some AV ballots would have to be duplicated by hand so they could be read by machines. But as it turned out, teamwork between the state, county and municipalities helped the county stay on top of the work, Gleason said. "We knew that we were on top of it very well. There really wasn't much out of the ordinary, except the redo of the ballots," Gleason said. "I was very proud. Heck of a teamwork between the municipals and our office and the printer. The state of Michigan was just phenomenal. They were giving some nice directives and options for us. We had close communications with the state through the whole process." lightning.jpg A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued by the National Weather Service until 8:45 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, 2016 for several counties in southeast Michigan. (MLive.com File Photo) GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- A storm front moving through southeast Michigan is expected to bring winds of 60 miles per hour and hail. The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning until 8:45 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18 for Genesee County, northern Shiawassee County, Lapeer County and Oakland County. A line of thunderstorms extending from Byron to Brighton and Ann Arbor is moving northeast at 75 miles per hour, reaching Lapeer by around 8:15 p.m. and Lum by 8:25 p.m. Temperatures hovering in the 60s on Friday are forecast to fall below freezing by late Saturday evening, accompanied by a rain/snow mix and wind gusts near 30 MPH. lapeercrash.jpg A 29-year-old North Branch man died Friday, Nov. 18, 2016 after the Ford Expedition he was driving crossed over the center line on Burnside Road and struck a semitrailer (pictured here) head-on. (Courtesy Photo) LAPEER COUNTY, MI - A 29-year-old North Branch man is dead after the vehicle he was driving struck a semitrailer head-on in Lapeer County, according to police. James Shaffer was traveling westbound around 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 18 on Burnside Road near Churchill Road in Burnside Township when his 1998 Ford Expedition crossed over the center line and struck the semi heading eastbound driven by a 51-year-old Utica man. The semi driver was delivering ice cream to a business in Yale when the crash took place. The Expedition went off the north side of the road following the collision and came to rest on its side. Shaffer was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. A front axle on the semi broke during the crash and the vehicle stopped in the center of the roadway that was closed for more than four hours. The semi driver was taken McLaren-Lapeer with non-life threatening injuries. Excessive speed or alcohol are not believed to have played factors in the fatal crash after a preliminary investigation into the incident by the Lapeer County Sheriff's Office. Deputies from the Lapeer County Sheriff's Office were assisted at the crash site by the Brown City Fire Department, Michigan State Police Lapeer Regional Post, and Michigan State Police Motor Carrier Division. you are here: PHILADELPHIA Nick Castellanos had time at his locker Tuesday night to ponder the nature of coincidence. Maybe there was something, as he scanned the front row of the stands in right field as usual between innings, looking for a... The Mooresville-Lake Norman Christian Mission is encouraging area residents to be a superhero and help end childhood poverty during the sixth annual Turkey Trot 5K on Nov. 24 -- Thanksgiving Day. This year, Executive Director Valerie Chamberlain said they tried to do something fun with their theme, because volunteering to help end childhood poverty is definitely a superpower. Well have a hero costume contest, and even the t-shirts that were giving to our participants have a Superman-type logo on the front, so its really cool, she said. The event begins and ends at the Christian Mission on Broad Street in downtown Mooresville. A children's fun run starts things off at 8:30 a.m. The 5K, which attracted about 500 runners last year, could double that amount this year, if pre-registration is any indication. A lot of what the Mission is about is family, and we have plenty of families who come out and participate each year, Chamberlain said. Theres a family thats holding their reunion around Thanksgiving, and theyve signed up to come run. Theres 25 of them, so its exciting that well have people from all over the U.S. here to participate. Even though its a run, Chamberlain said she has people year after year who walk the 5K with their strollers, and grandparents who stroll along with their grandchildren. The race is timed with computerized chips by Queen City Timing, and awards will be handed out in 14 different age categories, as well as to the best overall runner in the male and female category. Children who take part in the fun run will receive participation medals. Before the Turkey Trot begins, runners can warm up with a Zumba routine or enjoy a chair massage. The route flows down Broad Street and loops around the downtown area, hitting Center Avenue and Academy Street, before eventually ending back up on Broad. Its a good event for anyone, at any skill level to participate in, she said. Its also a fairly fast-paced event, so everyones out and done by noon. That leaves plenty of time to get home and enjoy your family and a meal. As for why she hopes runners will come out to the Thanksgiving Day event, Chamberlain said that even though the economy is getting better, there is still one in three children who are living in poverty. You have the opportunity to change those odds and help families in need by funding programs that assist our clients with financial literacy and work skills, she said. Youre giving children the opportunity to grow up with a brighter future than what their parents had. Eileen Beichler, the housing case manager at the Mission, said that the Trot is not only fun, but also powerful and inspiring. Were bringing people together to do a good thing, and to help people who are suffering and in poverty, said Beichler. In a time where everyone is so divided, we want to come together, as a community, and unite for an important cause. To register for the Turkey Trot or to get more information about the race, visit http://mooresvillelakenormanchristianmission.org/turkey-trot. I had a column all written for this Sunday, but when I read on the internet about what had happened in West Virginia, I just couldnt let it pass and not write about it for so many reasons. Shortly after President-elect Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in this years election, Pamela Ramsey Taylor, a nonprofit group director from Clay, West Virginia, made blatantly racist remarks about First Lady Michelle Obama. Taylor, director of Clay County Development Corp., took to Facebook to express her excitement over Trumps and his wife, Melania Trumps, impending move into the White House by posting, It will be so refreshing to have a classy, beautiful, dignified First Lady back in the White House, according to NBC affiliate WSAZ. Im tired of seeing a Ape in heels. And if that wasnt horrible enough, WSAZ reported that Town of Clays mayor, Beverly Whaling, responded to Taylors post with, Just made my day Pam. I was seething mad on so many fronts when I read this that I had to chuck my column in favor of voicing my unequivocal distaste and disappointment in, once again, the level of unkindness and stupidity of two human beings and how their racist remarks can further chip away at the core of Americanism, especially when they decide a conversation between the two of them isnt detrimental enough and that it deserved a post in an electronic forum that encourages letting it all hang out even if its hateful. And once the backlash began, the women quickly removed the posts to reinforce their cowardice of hiding behind an electronic medium instead of explaining why they would post such trash. One of them, in fact, declared that it wasnt racist at all in an interview. They were stupid, racist remarks no matter how vehemently either woman tried to deny that they were. Taylor was fired and the Mayor resigned, but damage was done. For their 15 minutes of fame, the town they were part of faces years of shame as they attempt to repair the damage. One hundred thousand people signed a petition to get rid of both of them ah, the power of the web works both ways. While racism remains at the forefront of this example, there was also the surreal fact that these posts were made by two obviously learned women who had attained some sort of stature in a community. As woman to woman to all the readers of this column, why on earth would any woman ever bash another one for absolutely no reason at all other than to be hateful? And as women working hard to overcome the historical stereotype of being judged by whats on the outside rather than whats on the inside, remarks such as these can set us back around a hundred years. Sure, Melania is beautiful and so is Michelle, but should it really matter? Havent we come far enough, ladies, that all of us should be saying, Look past my face and figure and judge me for my mind. Council member Jason Hubbard issued a brief statement condemning the "horrible and indecent" post and said racism and intolerance "isn't what this community is about." He apologized on behalf of the town to Michelle Obama and anyone who was offended. Thanks, Jason, but this was your Mayor and a nonprofit in your little town that provided services to elderly and low-income residents in Clay County. Its even funded through state and federal grants and local fees. Did anyone consider the nonprofits 501(c)(3) tax status and what racism could do to its future? I wonder if anyone on the town council or those that interacted with the nonprofit noticed any racist remarks squeaking through in day-to-day interaction. Bigotry is hard to hide, especially when you have a big mouth and you want the world to hear what you say. Lish Greiner of Belpre, Ohio, said she had volunteered during flood cleanup in West Virginia over the summer and returned for the town council meeting about the matter after she read about the Obama incident because, "I will not tolerate hate in my home and in my area." The uproar occurred as the town of about 500 residents was still trying to recover from severe flooding in late June along the nearby Elk River. Joyce Gibson, a council member, was asked what was worse, the flood or the backlash from the Facebook post. "I'll have to think about that," she said. "This (backlash) will go away." Yes, it will, Joyce, but unfortunately racism will not. Peg DeMarco can be reached at pegdemarco@earthlink.net. VALDESE More than 100,000 old-style bulbs will be fashioned into favorite Christmastime scenes to celebrate the 18th annual lighting of the trail ceremony scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 6 p.m. at the Waldensian Trail of Faith. The annual Trail of Lights is a Christmas lights display at the Waldensian Trail of Faith. Founded in 1993, the Waldensian Trail of Faith is an outdoor museum consisting of 11 acres that portrays the history of the Waldensian people back to the time of the Apostles, according to the Trail of Faith website, www.waldensiantrailoffaith.org. Scattered among the property there are 15 buildings and monuments that detail the history of each phase in the Waldenses journey. The Trail of Faith tour brings to life the struggles faced by the Waldensian people, pays tribute to their sacrifices and also celebrates their success and triumphs, the website says. The Waldensian people were considered to be people who lived by the scripture and were tortured, exiled, and martyred, and still the faith that drove them from the Alpine Valleys of Italy to the foothills of North Carolina survived. The Trail of Faith is the story of the Waldensian people. Visitors of the ceremony can expect the traditional reading of the Christmas Story and a musical performance by the children from Glenwood Elementary Schools Music Club, led by Ms. Amber Houk, who volunteered her class to perform at the event, according to Jim Jacumin, Trail of Faith founder. Three students are chosen by their grade ranking to turn on the lights at the end of the ceremony, marking the traditional lighting of the trail. The top three children, as far as their grades, are selected for after the musical performance to turn on the lights, said Jacumin. When it is completely dark and each child is paired with a board member to turn on the lights, the whole end of the town just completely lights up. Youve never heard so many 'ohs' and 'ahs' of kids in awe. The Christmas Lights Display uses more than 100,000 old-style bulbs that are fashioned into favorite Christmas-time scenes that keep a steady flow of traffic, generally averaging 30 to 40 vehicles a night to enjoy the lights display, Jacumin said. We have visitors that come all the way from Charlotte for our lighting ceremony and to see the Trail of Lights, said Jacumin. Each year we have between 7,000 and 8,000 visitors. Volunteers at the Trail of Faith, also known as trail friends, begin preparation work for the lightning ceremony a month in advance in order to test the lights and set up the Christmas-time scenes. According to Trail of Faith Office Assistant, Sheryl Tron, the event relies entirely on volunteer help and The Bethel Colony Mens Group from Lenoir has been a great asset to the ceremony. Tron said the ceremony would not be possible without the help of trail friends. We cant show our appreciation for the volunteers enough, said Jacumin. In the past, we have taken the volunteers on trips as a way to say thank you. We have done things like go to see a play and visited Hershey, Pennsylvania. These folks become like family and its our way of saying thank you for all they do for the event. The reading of the Christmas story has become a tradition in the lighting ceremony. Because it is a detailed biblical description of how Mary came to be pregnant with Jesus Christ and the journey that led up to the virgin birth according to the Bible, Jacumin said. The Waldensian people were strict adherents to the Bible and were known as people of the book. Jacumin believes that the Christmas Story is an important element of the lighting ceremony because of whom the story is being shared with. If it werent for Jesus Christ, the Waldensian people wouldnt exist, Jacumin said. Its important for us to share the Christmas story with the kids because the kids are what this event is really about. Children play an important role in Christmas and it is important for us to pass on what we know. Everything at the Trail of Lights relates to the history of the Waldensian people but the most important thing is that the displays are focused on Jesus, Jacumin said. We love having families bring their children and we want folks to just come and enjoy themselves, Jacumin said. The whole event really reminds us what Christmas is about, and that is doing for others and doing something for someone else. It enriches the building blocks of society and its a joy to be able to give back and thats a big part of the community. Visitors of the Christmas lights display are encouraged to stop by the Visitors Center, Christmas Gift Shop and the Concession Counter where there will be coffee, hot chocolate and apple cider for $1 a cup. The Trail of Faith, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)3 funded by donations from guests each year. There is no admission fee to the Christmas lights display but the Trail of Faith will gladly accept donations to help fund Decembers utility bill. This is not a fundraiser from any standpoint but giving of any means is greatly appreciated, said Jacumin. Whether it is a few coins or just a dollar, whatever your heart tells you to give is a blessing to us and the event. The annual Lighting of the Trail Ceremony is Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 6 p.m. at the Waldensian Trail of Faith. The Trail of Lights will be open Nov. 22 through Saturday, Dec. 24 from 6-9 p.m. every night. The Visitor Center will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. There will be no lights on Christmas Day but the lights will be on Christmas Eve. For more information on the Christmas lights display lighting ceremony or the Waldensian Trail of Faith, call the Waldensian Trail of Faith Office at 828-874-1893, visit www.trailoffaith.com, or email trailoffaith1893@gmail.com. The Waldensian Trail of Faith is located at 401 Church St NW, Valdese, N.C. 28690. Despite higher winds that arrived in Burke County on Saturday, crews managing the 2-week-old wildfire at South Mountains State Park continued to feel good about their containment lines and the behavior of the wildfire Saturday afternoon. The fire grew to 6,424 acres by Saturday evening. That total marked a minor increase from about 6,300 acres late Friday. The Florida Forest Service Green Team continues to oversee operations around the fire. Ludie Bond, a public information officer with the Green Team, said that things have remained quiet despite the weather, even though some previously burned areas have reignited. "Overnight (Friday), things were quiet," said Bond. "There was a lot of fire activity. (Saturday), things were still quiet, which is good. The fire is staying within the containment lines. We have had a little bit of activity around Division Bravo when you look on the map, which is on the eastern side. That is re-burn. "As the wind's blowing through, of course more leaves are now falling onto the hot ground. There's still heat. The wind is blowing the leaves off the trees and they're falling on ground that is still holding heat, so they re-burn. So, there are some flare-ups here and there that we're seeing (Saturday), but they're all staying within the containment lines. So, we're continuing heavy monitoring and heavy patrolling." The ability to keep the fire inside containment lines was due in large part to preparations that were made Friday. Crews on the fire shored up lines and a structure protection team, which includes firefighters from local departments, helped citizens make their homes safer. "(Friday), crews on the ground spent most of the day patrolling and monitoring (the wildfire containment lines)," Bond said. "The structure protection group in the southwest area of the fire where some homes are spent some time assisting residents, blowing leaves and getting debris down away from homes. We had some sawyer crews out there felling some trees away from homes in preparation for (Saturday)." The fire ignited Nov. 6 and was 75 acres by last Monday afternoon. The blaze has grown every day since, expanding to 150 acres last Tuesday, a little more than 150 last Wednesday, 400 by last Thursday, 1,450 acres on Friday, 1,961 acres by Saturday, 3,200 acres Sunday, 3,900 acres by Monday, 4,600 acres Tuesday evening, 5,689 acres Wednesday evening and 5,929 acres Thursday night. As many as nine large wildfires had burned more than 45,000 acres of land in the western part of the state as of Friday evening. A total of 330 personnel, 32 engines and seven bulldozers were on scene working the fire late Saturday, including crews from the North Carolina Forest Service, the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation, the Florida Forest Service and out-of-state crews from Oregon, Alaska, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Montana, California and seven special crews, including BRIDGE crews. Fire officials have said more help is arriving daily. The Chestnut Knob Fire received more aerial support Saturday morning, but higher winds made it unclear if that support would be able to continue throughout the afternoon, Bond said. Tim Elder, air operations branch director for the firefighting effort, said Saturday that eight single engine air tankers were available to fight the fire, including six at Foothills Regional Airport in Morganton two out of Hickory. Helicopter support, both for water drops and for reconnaissance, is available out of Hickory as well. Late last week, the fire got large air tanker support out of Chattanooga, Tennessee, including a C-130, which carries 3,000 gallons of retardant. Bond said no more evacuations are planned at this time. Bond said that citizens had done a great job preparing for the weekend weather by blowing leaves and clearing gutters, which helps protect houses from the fire. Citizens in the Silver Creek Springs community west of the park had organized their own Firewise workday Saturday morning and members of the Chestnut Knob team attended the event, Bond said. Bond said it was a good sign that citizens are taking the Chestnut Knob team's warnings seriously and were taking the initiative to protect their homes. Bond said the weather forecast for Saturday night was atypical, which might lead to unpredictable fire behavior. "Typically at night, humidity levels go up and fire behavior usually goes down," she said. "Winds usually decrease at night. That (wasn't) the case (Saturday) night. There (were) still windy conditions (Saturday) night and humidity is still going to stay low going into (today). Humidity levels are going to drop (today) into the teens. "So, there is some weather parameters that indicate the possibility of erratic fire behavior. That (includes) gusty winds, low humidity and high dispersion. We're having all of that this weekend, so people need to stay vigilant. We're out there with day and night crews monitoring and patrolling." As smoke is dispersed throughout the region, air quality remains a concern. In recent days, the region has had both Code Red, or unhealthy, and Code Orange, or unhealthy for sensitive individuals, warnings. For more information about air quality, visit ncair.org. Citizens were advised to keep as up-to-date as possible on the fire over the weekend. This can be done by visiting the fire Facebook page at facebook.com/Chestnutknobfire or calling 828-764-9380. Folks can also register for reverse 911. Citizens can register by visiting burkenc.org and clicking on the appropriate link in the scrolling banner on top of the page. They also can visit the Emergency Communications page under the departments tab for the appropriate link. Cellphones can be registered by texting burkealerts to 828-201-3877. The News Herald's Justin Epley can be reached at jepley@morganton.com or 828-432-8943. Firefighters working at the incident command center at Foothills Higher Education Center were surprised on Friday when Morganton's civil Serval Tyra showed up to lift their spirits. For 11 days, firefighters from North Carolina, Florida, Montana, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, Alaska, Nevada and Pennsylvania have been battling the Chestnut Knob Wildfire burning in the South Mountains, with crews from California joining the effort Friday. The firefighters gathered around to pet and take photos with Tyra during her visit, as well as ask questions about her breed to her owners, Vivian and Jon Freed. Ludie Bond, public information officer for Florida Forest Service, said Tyra's visit was uplifting to those battling the fire as it gives them something to take their minds off of the stress of being away from home. "One of the things that means so much to us having you all bring her to visit us today (is) we're all missing our families and we're all missing our pets back home. It's so wonderful. It gives us break for the day ... you just don't understand how much this means to all of us." New members inducted into Institute of ... State economists left their analysis of Florida's economy unchanged Friday, pointing to a strong construction industry and booming population growth as the driving forces behind a healthy economic outlook. But, they cautioned, the pace of the state's post-recession recovery could be at or near its peak. Florida economists: Healthy economic outlook, but concerns ahead Pace of recovery could be at or near peak $1.3 billion deficit forecast for 2018-2019 fiscal year The findings could give state lawmakers reason for both optimism and concern. As they prepare to craft Florida's 2017-18 budget, the health of the economy figures to play prominently in discussions about what the state is able to afford. As it is, a $1.3 billion deficit is being forecast for the 2018-19 fiscal year, which Democrats say is a direct result of years of supply-side tax cuts championed by Republican Gov. Rick Scott. Scott is now calling on the legislature to pass $85 million worth of business incentives his team can dole out to companies that pledge to move to and expand within Florida. Given the deficit projection, the governor's proposal has been widely viewed by members of both parties as a heavy lift. And while Friday's economic analysis was relatively rosy in the short term, it also signaled future headwinds, particularly in 2020 and beyond. "We had really strong growth rates coming out of the Great Recession as we were getting back to normal, and then you flip to slower growth rates once you reach that point, more typical growth rates, not the extraordinary growth rates," said Amy Baker, the Florida Legislature's chief economist. "We really haven't gotten there yet." The immediate priority, some lawmakers have suggested, should be shoring up the state's fiscal footing to avert the looming deficit. That could mean declining to fund business incentives now in order to avoid more painful measures, like cutting education funding, later. "Hopefully we will get to a point where our economy is growing at such a rate that those projected shortfalls won't occur, but it is our responsibility to be prudent and to make sure that we are looking down the road," said Sen. Dana Young (R-Tampa). Despite the economic uncertainty, Scott is expected to continue to press his case for the incentives as next spring's 2017 regular legislative session approaches. Earlier this year, the legislature rejected the governor's request for $250 million worth of incentives and approved only a fraction of his $1 billion tax cut package. Hale Countys unemployment rate in October dipped to 5.3 percent, down from 5.9 percent in September and 5.6 percent in October 2015. In fact, the jobless rate for all six counties in the Herald circulation area fell last month with Castro County coming in lowest at 3.1 percent. Lamb County, which is still recovering from the closure of the Littlefield denim mill, dropped from 6.9 percent in September to 6.2 percent in October. A year ago, its unemployment rate was 8.6 percent. Yall are doing something right up there since the unemployment rate keeps on coming down, commented Danny Soliz of Lubbock, director of business development for the South Plains Workforce Solutions. Of course, the good news is that both Amarillo and Lubbock, along with Austin-Round Rock had the lowest unemployment rates among metropolitan areas at 3.2 percent. Soliz said the economy is good in Texas, and across the South Plains area. For Hale County, he said a drop of six-tenths of a percent is excellent. The economy seems to be very stable and things are beginning to settle down after the election, Soliz said. We are seeing a lot of hiring for season jobs, and hopefully many of these new people in retail will remain on the payroll well into mid-January and even February to help with annual inventories. While workforce numbers show a slight decline, Soliz said he hasnt seen an exodus from the area. Weve had a few pockets of layoffs, but not many people moving out of the area. Most of the change could be college students going back to school and others retiring and leaving the workforce. Dr. Charles Starnes, business professor at Wayland, adds, The data represent the change from September to October which is when many summer workers go back to school. Offsetting the return of students, however, might be the increase of school year employees. I note that the six-county labor force dropped by 320 from 26,761 to 26,441 while the number of employed dropped by 146 from 25,275 to 25,129. The number of unemployed fell by 174 from 1,486 to 1,312. Crunch all the numbers and the six-county unemployment rate fell from 5.6 percent to 5.0 percent. Five of the six counties showed a similar trend for September to October with labor force dropping about twice that of employed and unemployed. Only Floyd County had an increase in the number of jobs (up 10) with a small drop in labor force (down 7). Perhaps there were more pumpkins this year. We can only guess why 320 left the work force or why 146 fewer jobs were held in the six-county area. The Christmas retail hiring surge should lift the November and December employment numbers, Starnes observes. Linda Morris, executive director of Plainview Country Club, comments, We know typically that fall is a busy season. With harvest and holidays we have more people employed. The economy in Plainview will show signs of growth in the next few months and we all need to take care of and appreciate these opportunities and, while more people in Hale County are working, we also need to have more people in Hale County spending money wisely and locally. Remember, if it pays here, it stays here. I am encouraged by the unemployment rate decrease across our area. It tells us that businesses are hiring and jobs are being created and filled locally, and we have a work force that takes advantage of opportunities to be employed, Morris concluded. Mike Fox, executive director of Plainview/Hale County Economic Development Corp., adds, The latest unemployment report is excellent news for our entire trade area. With harvest season in full swing, retailers gearing up for holiday sales and a new car dealership opening soon, it shows that there are job opportunities for our local workers. The new 5.3 rate rate for Hale County is another indication of our improving economy following the closure of the Cargill plant. Briscoe County saw its jobless rate decline from 4.3 percent to 3.9; Castro from 3.3 to 3.1; Floyd from 5.4 to 4.8; Hale from 5.9 to 5.3; Lamb from 6.9 to 6.2 percent and Swisher from 4.7 to 4.1 percent. The states seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 4.7 percent in October, down slightly from 4.8 percent in September, while remaining below the national rate of 4.9 percent. Six local and area nonprofits received $21,100 in grants Thursday from Plainview Area Endowment, bringing its seven-year total to $75,000. We exist to provide support and resources to the Plainview community in order for it to continue thriving, explains Mark Warren, an advisory board member. He also serves on the board of Lubbock-based Community Foundation of West Texas which manages investments for the Plainview Endowment. We want to take care of our friends and neighbors, and feel the Plainview Area Endowment is a great way to do it, Warren said. The money raised by our local endowment stays right here in Plainview. Steve Warren, president of Community Foundation of West Texas, was on hand to distribute the grants. He notes that funds donated to the Plainview Area Endowment and similar groups administered by his organization never go away, but the income they generate is used to benefit a great number of people. In fact, during the past seven years the Plainview Endowment has now been able to distribute $75,000 to a variety of nonprofit organizations. One of this years local recipients is the Friends of the Unger Memorial Library. Mariya Hapiy, head librarian, explains that the funds will be used to set up a Manga Book Club. Geared toward teens and young adults, its based upon the highly popular Japanese comics. Petersburg EMS will benefit with funds to help that group stock a new ambulance with necessary medical equipment and supplies. Petersburg EMS is staffed totally by volunteers and serves the small community in southeast Hale County and the surrounding rural area. Plainview YMCA received funding for new cardio and weight room equipment to use at the Plainview facility. Wayland Baptist University received funds to assist with its carillon bell restoration. According to Mike Melcher, the school plans to not only bring back the carillon bells that chime on the hour, but expand its scope to play music and serve as an outside alert system for the university and surrounding neighborhood. Plainview Downtown Restoration Inc., represented by Blair and Gayle Willson, received a grant to assist with the restoration of the Skaggs Building. The nonprofit was gifted the downtown office building just over a year ago by its previous owners, and is working to reopen at least the ground floor with the front being an event venue and areas on the side and rear used for retail businesses. They hope to become a new business incubator. The Plainview Area Endowment also made a second installment on a multiyear grant to Covenant Health Plainview toward its $40 million renovation and expansion project. The Plainview Area Endowment was established in 2010 to create stability and sustainability for the community as economic and demographic landscapes continue to change, officials note. As an affiliate of the Community Foundation of West Texas, it provides a vehicle for building permanent charitable endowments to benefit Plainview and the area. Grants are awarded from funds based on the interest of the donor, or through an open competitive process that is responsible to the changing needs of the Plainview area. Plainview Area Endowment has joined with Community Foundation of West Texas to ask those throughout the area to support GivingTuesdayLBK. Giving Tuesday, which is Nov. 29, is an extension of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. We now have a day dedicated to giving back and making Plainview a better place, Warren explains. Help support GivingTuesdayLBK by making a donation to the Plainview Area Endowment. The process is fast, easy and secure. We truly appreciate any support you can provide, and it will benefit a great cause. A link to the donation page can be found online at http://communityfoundationofwesttexas.org/ Plainviews popular Christmas Parade of Lights, sponsored by the Plainview Chamber of Commerce, is always on the first Thursday in December. This year, that means it comes just seven days after Thanksgiving. Im afraid it will sneak up on some of our regular participants, says Linda Morris, executive director of the Chamber. We now have 22 entries, but last year there were more than 60. If they dont start working on their floats now, they might run out of time. Theme for the 24th annual Christmas Parade of Lights is A Texas Christmas, and Morris encourages everyone to have fun with the theme. We just want to remind them that we have only one Santa in the parade. He and Mrs. Claus always are at the end, riding in the sleigh. To avoid confusion for all the children watching the parade, there are no other Santas anywhere else in the parade. The parade will start at Broadway Park and disband at the Santa Fe Depot, but there are a few changes this year. Weve adjusted the route a bit, particularly where it starts at Broadway Park, Morris said. We always have a bottleneck there with parents wanting to drive in as close as they can to drop off kids at the floats, while at the same time we lining up entries. To ease traffic congestion and improve safety, this year drop-offs must be done outside the parade staging area. Traffic will not be allowed within the park. We will block the entrances into the park since weve had problems with people dropping kids at the floats, then not being able to get out, Morris said. Some of the larger parade entries will line up outside the park, along Broadway this year, instead of trying to navigate through the park as the parade starts. Judging starts at 5:30 p.m., which means the floats and entries should be fully assembled before they get to the park, Morris notes The best decorated floats can win one of five awards the Rudolf Award is for best representation of theme, Comet Award for best decorated float, Vixen Award for best small entry, Dasher Award for best large entry, and Blitzen Award for judges choice. Winners are selected before the parade starts, and 4-Hers carry award banners in front of the winning entries during the parade. Entry forms are available at the Chamber, 1906 W. Fifth, by emailing info@plainviewtexaschamber.com or by calling 806-296-7431. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BART has settled a federal lawsuit over the tragic death of an on-duty detective who was fatally shot by a fellow transit agency officer nearly three years ago, attorneys said Friday. The $3.1 million settlement will be paid to the family of Detective Sgt. Thomas Tommy Smith, who was accidentally shot and killed by BART Officer Michael Maes while the two searched a robbery suspects apartment in Dublin on Jan. 21, 2014. Smith and Maes were among a group of BART officers who went to the ground-floor apartment on Dougherty Road to conduct a probation search in hopes of recovering stolen property. The apartment belonged to 20-year-old John Henry Lee, a robbery suspect who was already in custody, having been arrested five days earlier. The officers hadnt studied the circular floor plan of the apartment, and when they encountered each other in a back room, Maes shot Smith after mistaking him for an armed suspect. Maes has since retired, according to BART officials. Our deepest sympathies go out to ... members of the Smith family, BART Police Chief Kenton Rainey said in a statement. The BART PD continues to mourn the loss of Tommy. He will not be forgotten as we strive to ensure BART PD is a 21st century police department. The friendly-fire death raised questions about why BART police had sent a group of detectives and officers into the apartment rather than a SWAT team. The federal suit also alleged Smith was denied specialized training on searching buildings, despite requesting it from his supervisor. When it comes to a situation where an officer is requesting the very training that ultimately led to this tragic incident, theres a problem with it, and that needs to be rectified, attorney Joseph Lucia told The Chronicle shortly after filing the lawsuit in 2015. The settlement was reached without a finding of fault or an admission of liability, attorneys said, but it revised BART policies so that when officers ask their direct supervisors for remedial training on any basic law enforcement practice, it must be provided. Smiths wife, former BART Officer Kellie Smith, said she hoped the settlement would prevent similar incidents in the future. I am very hopeful that these policy changes will avoid another tragedy like this from happening in the future, she said. I wish more than anything that none of my fellow officers families from the BART PD will ever have to suffer through what our family has over the past three years. Joaquin Palomino is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jpalomino@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JoaquinPalomino This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 1 of 5 Golden Gate National Recreation Area / Golden Gate National Recreation Area Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Golden Gate National Recreation Area / Golden Gate National Recreation Area Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Golden Gate National Recreation Area / Golden Gate National Recreation Area Show More Show Less 5 of 5 The Baker-Barry Tunnel near Sausalito in Marin County will close down for four months, seven days a week, for long-awaited rehab work, federal park officials said Friday. The project is slated to begin Jan. 2 and will close one of the primary routes to the Marin Headlands. One-day closures of the tunnel, which first opened in 1918, will begin in December for pre-project inspections. Albany After a years-long battle, President-elect Donald Trump agreed on Friday to a $25 million settlement to resolve a set of lawsuits claiming that he had defrauded students who attended classes through Trump University, a now-defunct series of real estate seminars. The settlement was announced by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, whose office filed an action against Trump in 2013. Trump did not have to admit any personal wrongdoing, however, and now avoids having to testify during his transition to the White House. The settlement, which resolves the New York case and two federal class-action suits, will include restitution to all plaintiffs, plus $1 million in penalties paid by Trump to the state for violating education laws. In his statement, Schneiderman did not hold back on criticisms of the real estate mogul turned politician. "In 2013, my office sued Donald Trump for swindling thousands of innocent Americans out of millions of dollars through a scheme known at Trump University," Schneiderman said. "Donald Trump fought us every step of the way, filing baseless charges and fruitless appeals and refusing to settle for even modest amounts of compensation for the victims of his phony university. Today, that all changes." Schneiderman called the settlement "a stunning reversal by Donald Trump and a major victory for the over 6,000 victims of his fraudulent university." Alan Garten, executive vice president and general counsel for the Trump Organization, said the company was "pleased to announce the complete resolution of all litigation involving Trump University." "While we have no doubt that Trump University would have prevailed at trial based on the merits of this case, resolution of these matters allows President-elect Trump to devote his full attention to the important issues facing our great nation," Garten said. Trump previously insisted he would never settle the case, which provided ample fodder for his political opponents throughout the primary season and the general election battle with Hillary Clinton. "I could have settled and probably still could very, very easily," he said in an ABC interview in March. "But I don't want to settle it because, look, the people that took the course, 98 percent of those people liked the school. We have report cards." Numerous students said that those positive reviews were prompted by high-pressure tactics used by the instructors, according to numerous reports and depositions. The case had been slated to go to trial in San Diego at the end of the month. Trump's attorney's had argued for the case to be postponed until after his inauguration because he was currently too busy to prepare for his testimony. Trump University was in operation from 2005 to 2010. Among the charges in the New York lawsuit, Schneiderman alleged that the school was wrongfully billing itself as a "university" since it had no standing with state accrediting bodies such as the Board of Regents. The attorney general alleged that people paid up to $35,000 for a series of seminars about making money in real estate. Trump University promotional material, according to court papers, included statements such as, "I can turn anyone into a successful real estate investor, including you." Court papers also note that a direct mail solicitation sent to prospective students read, "In just 90 minutes, my hand-picked instructors will share my techniques, which took my entire career to develop." After Schneiderman's suit was filed, Trump filed a complaint with the Joint Commission on Public Ethics arguing that during his probe of Trump University, the attorney general had asked Trump's daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner for campaign donations. JCOPE declined to pursue the matter. The case turned out to be troublesome for the candidate in unexpected ways: Trump, who made building a wall between the United States and Mexico a key part of his campaign platform, suggested in June that California federal judge Gonzalo Curiel could not preside over the matter fairly because his parents are from Mexico, though he was born and raised in Indiana. Those comments ignited a political firestorm. Schneiderman and Trump have had other battles. The attorney general's office this year investigated Trump's charitable foundation, and in October sent a cease-and-desist letter noting that its failure to file necessary documents with the state Charities Bureau (a branch of Schneiderman's office) means it is legally prevented from soliciting or fundraising in the state. The Trump Foundation agreed to cease operations in New York while it corrects its filings. cbragg@timesunion.com 518-454-5303 @chrisbragg1 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD Sexist. Racist. KKK. Donald Trump, go away. About a dozen protesters of President-elect Donald Trump chanted those remarks for an hour Saturday morning outside the luxury Trump Parc high-rise in downtown Stamford. Lisa Boyne, a Fairfield resident who organized the protest, and her anti-Trump cohorts also waved signs reading Never Trump as they stood at the corner of Broad Street and Washington Boulevard. Donald Trump is not my president, Boyne said. I am scared by his win and by the direction of his administration and for the future of our planet. Boyne brought along her mother, Erma Jane Zvonyik, and her mothers friend, Ginny McLevy, both of whom said they waited many years to see a woman reach the White House. It was a nightmare, McLevy said, referring to Hillary Clintons loss. Everything we achieved over the past 40 years is in danger now. Boyne recently started a group for Fairfield County women called Never Trump, which she described as a group for a couple of moms to get together and talk about issues. The group is now casting a wider net, as the Saturday demonstration drew more attention than Boyne anticipated. The Fairfield women were joined by Farhan Memon, chairman of the Connecticut chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations. Memon brought a group of area Muslims, all of whom have been fearful since Trump was elected. Im very upset about Trump becoming president, said Leslie Asllani, a Stamford resident who attends Memons mosque in Norwalk. Being a Muslim, it is concerning to me what Ive seen him do and say. Hes bigoted, xenophobic, racist. Carl Higbie, a retired Navy SEAL from Greenwich and spokesman for the pro-Trump Great America PAC, raised more concerns last week when he appeared on CNN and called for a national registry of Muslim immigrants and compared it to Japanese internment camps during World War II. Memon led a petition last year to have the Stamford building renamed when Trump proposed stopping Muslims from entering the U.S. after the terrorist attack in Paris. But Memons initiative stalled when he discovered the buildings tenant association held the only power to remove the Trump name. Trump does not hold an equity stake on the condo tower, the tallest building in Stamford. He received a seven-figure sum for the use of his name in the building. The tenants need to organize themselves and reject this brand, which represents a racist and bigoted attitude, Memon said. Until then, we will be on the outside doing what we need to do. Boyne said demonstrating outside Stamfords Trump Parc was symbolic, and not a call to remove the president-elects name from the building. Changing the name on the building is up to the owners Im not concerned with that, Boyne said. I just wanted to be in front of this Trump building today to make my voice heard. Feeling heard is important to Boyne, who says the Electoral College invalidated her vote on Election Day. I want to repeal the Electoral College, because my vote did not count in Connecticut, she said. Votes really only counted if you lived in Pennsylvania or another swing state. The Saturday protest drew attention from passing motorists. Some honked their horns, while others rolled down their windows and either cheered or jeered the protestors. The demonstration remained mostly peaceful, aside from a few tense verbal exchanges between the protesters and passing Trump supporters and a brief argument with Stamford police officers who repeatedly asked protesters to contain their demonstration to the sidewalk. This isnt the end of it, Memon said as the protest ended. Well be making our voices heard and organizations like CAIR and people like Lisa will be out here for the next four years saying (Trump) is not our president and does not represent us. nnaughton@scni.com; twitter.com/noranaughton This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Makaya and Mackenzie Wilson, 21 months old and dressed in tiaras and their best black-raspberry sherbet-colored dresses, held hands before District Court Judge Randy Shelton, perhaps a little stunned at his circus ringmaster clothes, and heard him ask their new mom, Rachel Brown, whether she would care for them forever. The answer, of course, was yes. "How are the children doing," he asked. "Are they happy?" Yes, again. The ornate Jefferson County 317th District courtroom was filled with happy new parents and children Friday, celebrating the 17th annual National Adoption Day as 10 families made official the welcoming of 17 children into their forever homes. Brown, 53, a home health nurse in Port Arthur, smiled broadly. "They're my heart," she said of the twin sisters, born Feb. 25, 2015. They are her great-great nieces. Their mother was unable to care for them but wanted them to go to family. Brown is no longer Aunt Rachel. She is "mom." Or "Mimi," whichever a 21-month-old can pronounce. Twins are one thing - or two things, really. Among the 17 kids adopted Friday were three sets of three siblings. Erica Williams and Derryl Odom Jr. of Bleakwood, near Kirbyville, adopted Zaida Faye, 2, Kai Dewayne, 4 and Kimmy Inez, 5 - all of them now new Odoms. Who got adopted Here is who was adopted and their parent or parents: Adoptee / Adopted by Destiny McRea / Homeria McCrea JaKayla Justice / LedetPaul and Daisy Ledet Makaya and Mackenzie Wilson / Rachel Brown Zaida Faye, Kai Dewayne and Kimmy Inez Odom / Erica Williams and Derry Odom Jr. Ja'Darien, Zenoria and Raydarien Rawlins / Joseph and Lee Ann Rawlins Zoe Angelle / Brad and Theresa Angelle Heaven Dyess / Lynda Dyess Jaid'N Alexander / Michael and Ruby Alexander Molly Kay, Abigail Patience and Isabella Ruth Bittle / Hunter and Kristin Bittle William Kibodeaux / Phillip and Gwendolyn Kibodeaux See More Collapse "A family friend's daughter needed to get her life together," said Derryl Odom, 46, a specialty welder. "We gave (the children) a temporary home. A grandmother said she'd take the two older kids and we'd take the baby, but then the grandmother couldn't. They'd send the kids who knows where. We told (the state) we wanted to keep them together. We're already dad and mom." And that is what's needed, said Shari Pulliam, with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. "You don't have to be married or have a big home. We want a stable environment, structure and love. It's what you can give them from your heart," Pulliam said. Pulliam said Texas has 30,000 children in foster care, 6,000 of whom have been cleared for adoption. "CPS is desperate for foster parents and adoptive parents," Pulliam said. Across the United States, at least 100,000 children are in foster care. While 17 were adopted on Friday to mark National Adoption Day, adoptions take place year-round, Pulliam said. Jefferson County has at least 300 children in foster care, with 50 cleared for adoption, Pulliam said. Dwallach@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/dwallach The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating a motor-vehicle accident that killed one person and shut down Texas 105 West for several hours early Saturday morning, authorities said. Shortly after 1 a.m., the Montgomery County Hospital District received multiple 911 calls for an accident on Texas 105 West near the April Plaza Marina in Montgomery, according to the hospital district's fatality report. Multiple units were dispatched to the scene, and, they found one patient had died. The other person involved was not injured, according to the report. State Rep. Gary Glenn, an Eagle Scout and the father of four Eagles, spoke recently to the Cub Scout pack sponsored by First United Methodist Church, which meets at Woodcrest Elementary School. Glenn thanked the boys and their parents for being good citizens and for the donated food and gifts they collected for Aarons Gifts From Home, which will send the items to American troops stationed in the Middle East. For more information: AaronsGiftsFromHome.com For the second time in less than a month, Conroe ISD officials caught a student carrying a gun on campus. The incident, which occurred on Veterans Day Friday, Nov. 11, at McCullough Junior High in The Woodlands prompted Principal Chris McCord to send a letter home to parents. The student did not make any threats against others and there was no indication of any intent to use the handgun, according to the information from Conroe ISD. McCord's letter is similar to Conroe High School Principal Mark Weatherly's message to parents after two high school students were caught with a gun Oct. 29. CHS students tipped off administrators in that incident. Both letters state "the Student Code of Conduct is being addressed accordingly and "safety is always our (the district's) top priority." McCord expressed appreciation for the coordination of students, administration and campus police officers in the reporting of and assistance with the issue and shared that he outlined safety expectations with campus students during the first week of school. "If your child ever has a concern in the community or at school, he/she is encouraged to speak to any of our adults directly at any time which is what happened this morning when students reported that a fellow classmate was showing off a weapon," McCord said. McCord encouraged parents to talk to their children about the importance of telling a trusted adult about any item seen or action witnessed that threatens campus security. Response to comment/opinion and my question to the Board on whether or not there would be a discussion or changes to policies or procedures to prevent it from happening again: "The campuses do a great job keeping our students safe," Conroe ISD board Secretary Melanie Bush said. "The administration continually reviews policies and procedures in all areas to ensure best practices are always in place. "The students and Mr. McCord and staff did a great job." Students with safety concerns should contact campus administration or Conroe ISD Police dispatch at 936-709-8911; or anonymously report information to CISD's KidChat hotline at 1-888-KidChat (543-2428). No more information was provided about the students or disciplinary action. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate New York President-elect Donald Trump signaled a sharp rightward shift in U.S. national security policy Friday, naming Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions for attorney general, Kansas Rep. Mike Pompeo to head the CIA and former military intelligence chief Michael Flynn as his national security adviser. All three have been fierce critics of President Barack Obama's handling of terrorism and international relations. In tapping Sessions and Flynn, Trump is also rewarding loyalty from two of his most ardent supporters during the presidential campaign. Trump is a foreign policy novice and his early moves on national security are being closely watched both in the U.S. and overseas. Sessions and Pompeo would both require Senate confirmation before assuming their designated roles; Flynn would not. Flynn, who has called Islam a "political ideology" that "hides behind being a religion," will work in the West Wing and have frequent access to Trump as he makes national security decisions. Trump said in a statement Friday that Flynn would be "by my side as we work to defeat radical Islamic terrorism, navigate geopolitical challenges and keep Americans safe at home and abroad." Like Trump, Flynn has called for the U.S. to work more closely with Moscow. But his warmth toward Russia has worried national security experts, particularly after he traveled to Moscow to join Russian President Vladimir Putin at a celebration for RT, a Kremlin-backed television channel. Flynn said he had been paid for taking part in the event and brushed aside concerns that he was aiding a Russian propaganda effort. Sessions was the first senator to endorse Trump, rallying behind the Republican's hardline immigration policies. On Friday, Trump called Sessions "a world-class legal mind." But the Alabama lawmaker could face obstacles in his confirmation hearing, even with Republicans in control of the Senate. He withdrew from consideration for a federal judgeship in 1986 after being accused of making racist comments while serving as a U.S. attorney in Alabama, including calling a black assistant U.S. attorney "boy" in conversation. Sessions denied the accusation. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Californias lingering drought has pushed the number of dead trees across the state past 100 million, an ecological event experts are calling dangerous and unprecedented in underlining the heightened risk of wildfires fueled by bone-dry forests. In its latest aerial survey released Friday, the U.S. Forest Service said 62 million trees have died this year in California, bringing the six-year total to more than 102 million. Scientists blame five-plus years of drought on the increasing tree deaths tree fatalities increased by 100 percent in 2016 but the rate of their demise has been much faster than expected, increasing the risk of ecologically damaging erosion and wildfires even bigger than the largest blazes the states seen this year. Its not beyond the pale to suggest that this is a pretty unprecedented event in at least recent history, said Adrian Das, an ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. There are about 21 million acres of trees spread across Californias 18 national forests, and the latest figures show 7.7 million of them more than one-third are dead. The U.S. Forest Service has earmarked $43 million in California to help restore eroded sections of roads and trails throughout the states wooded areas, but officials say too much money is being spent on fighting wildfires that are becoming more and more common, as opposed to restoring the scarred forests. Its been a record-setting year for those wildfires, which have burned through 56 percent of the U.S. Forest Services budget, leading U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to petition Congress to classify wildfires as disasters, which would free up additional federal funding to fight them. "These dead and dying trees continue to elevate the risk of wildfire, complicate our efforts to respond safely and effectively to fires when they do occur, and pose a host of threats to life and property across California, Vilsack said in a statement. The majority of the 102 million dead trees are in the southern and central Sierra Nevada region, the survey found, but the Forest Service also warned of tree deaths on the rise in northern regions, especially in Siskiyou, Modoc, Plumas and Lassen counties. Rising temperatures throughout the state arent helping matters, and neither are the persevering infestations of bark beetles fond of gnawing through pine trees stressed by drought, leaving in their wake thousands of acres of brown, dead wood. From his base in Sequoia National Park, Das said pines are dying faster than firs, but all the acres of trees he studies have been drying out and falling over faster than they should. Tree mortality, and what drives it, is still a poorly understood process, Das said, adding that one of few immediate upsides to the stands of dying trees is that scientists can better study what specifically is causing their demise. The old-growth forests he studies resplendent with massive sequoia trees and sugar pines that often live for centuries are changing more rapidly than he has ever seen, a matter of months in what usually unfolds over years or decades. You want to understand whats going on in these systems, and you should be concerned when big changes are happening and you dont really have a handle on what the mechanisms are and how theyll play out, Das said. 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 Rod Carroll, a top official with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, is expected to be named Vidor's police chief on Monday. Vidor City Manager Mike Kunst announced Friday he will recommend Carroll's hire to the city council during a Monday night meeting. Carroll is an assistant deputy chief with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. He ran as Democrat for Jefferson County Sheriff earlier this year but was defeated in the March 1 primary. One of his Democrat opponents, Zena Stephens, won the Nov. 8 general election and will take office in January. Kunst said he chose Carroll over two other candidates because of his experience in law enforcement and in business. Carroll is a certified public accountant. "He comes with a wide variety of skills," Kunst said. The other finalists for the chief's job were James Healy, director of the Criminal Justice Training Center at the University of Houston, and Richard Howard, a sergeant with the Texas Department of Public Safety. Kunst originally named four finalists for the position from a pool of 20 applicants, but he said one finalist, Paul Odin, police chief for the City of West Columbia, withdrew his name from consideration on Nov. 1. Carroll's salary at the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is $83,836, according to the Jefferson County Auditor's office. The job posting for Vidor police chief listed the salary range as $68,500 to $75,000. Vidor Police Chief Dave Shows retired on Friday after 36 years with the department. He was the city's police chief for six years. If Carroll is hired by the council on Monday, Kunst said the next step will be to set his start date. NKrebs@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/Natalie_Krebs A movement to defend civil liberties has taken over Connecticut as thousands are already planning to march in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 21, the day following the inauguration of Republican Donald Trump. The effort has materialized in less than two weeks, with buses, caravans and Amtrak tickets already selling out as people from throughout the state prepare for the event that is still two months away. While organizers are adamant this is not an anti-Trump rally or protest, the movement was spawned by some of the rhetoric in the president-elects campaign. This is a unity rally in defense of civil liberties, said Heather Whaley of Redding, a member of the group leading the coordination efforts for the march. The group is an extension of the national group for the Womens March on Washington, a grassroots movement that started on social media with a Facebook event. The national Facebook page has garnered nearly 200,000 interested participants, with another 100,000 saying theyre going to the rally in Washington. The Connecticut chapter has more than 11,000 interested and an additional 4,200 going. Its a huge movement thats really bringing people together, Whaley said. A week ago this didnt exist. An official statement from the national organizers reads, We stand together in solidarity with our partners and children for the protection of our rights, our safety, our health, and our families recognizing that our vibrant and diverse communities are the strength of our country. The rhetoric of the past election cycle has insulted, demonized, and threatened many of us women, immigrants of all statuses, those with diverse religious faiths particularly Muslim, people who identify as LGBTQIA, Native and Indigenous people, Black and Brown people, people with disabilities, the economically impoverished and survivors of sexual assault. We are confronted with the question of how to move forward in the face of national and international concern and fear. Organizers have already coordinated 53 buses leaving throughout Connecticut the morning of the event. Whaley said people have also started purchasing Amtrak tickets and organizing caravans for people planning to drive. A public Google Spreadsheet is available via a link on the Facebook page Womens March on Washington Connecticut Chapter. Information on the cost and where and when buses are leaving, as well as links to register for a seat is included in the document. Thus far, the Fairfield County towns with bus launches include Danbury, Fairfield, Newtown, Ridgefield, Shelton and Westport. A Stamford bus is currently being coordinated by organizers, and will be added once information is available. The group has also set up a donation page at Kind.Fund to cover the bus fees of people who cannot afford them. The March on Washington isnt the only social media movement coordinating an effort to visit Washington on Inauguration Day. The secret group, Pantsuit Nation, which formed prior to election day, garnered more than 3 million members, has also spawned local chapter offshoots, including a Pantsuit Nation of Lower Fairfield County and a Pantsuit Nation of Northern Fairfield County, as well as Pantsuit Nation Connecticut Chapter. These groups remain closed or secret, but have visible memberships in the thousands. It is unclear if any groups are organizing trips from Connecticut explicitly in support of the new president. KKrasselt@scni.com; 203-354-1021; @kaitlynkrasselt This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Facing increasing criticism over its special education enrollment benchmark, the Texas Education Agency this week told schools that they must provide services to all eligible students with disabilities and that they will no longer be penalized for serving too many children. In a five-page letter, Penny Schwinn, the agency's deputy commissioner of academics, advised school districts that a federal provision known as "child find" requires them to locate and evaluate all kids who live within their boundaries who might qualify for services such as tutoring, counseling and therapy. FALLOUT: TEA says it will suspend special ed target "A school district's failure to meet the child find requirements is a serious matter," Schwinn wrote. "Furthermore, the failure to identify a child may entitle the child to compensatory education or tuition reimbursement." Schwinn told the districts that the TEA eventually would end the decade-old benchmark that has set 8.5 percent as the ideal rate of special education. And effective immediately, she wrote, exceeding the target would not "adversely affect" district performance levels or determinations about whether districts are audited. A decade of audit threats related to the target has left Texas with the lowest rate of special education in the country. If the state was at the national average, more than 250,000 more students would be receiving services. But as in the past, Schwinn also defended the policy, saying it was not a "cap" on enrollment and did not seriously punish districts for failing to comply. "It has been alleged that some school district personnel and others may have interpreted the (benchmark) to mean that districts are required to achieve a special education enrollment rate of no more than 8.5%," she wrote. "This interpretation is incorrect." The letter followed through on a promise to the U.S. Department of Education, which last month ordered the TEA to end the enrollment target and remind schools about the requirement to provide special education services to children with disabilities. The department's involvement, which is still ongoing, was prompted by a Houston Chronicle investigation that revealed the target and showed that the TEA had quietly implemented it in 2004 while facing a $1.1 billion state budget cut and without consulting state lawmakers, federal officials or any research. No other state has ever set a target for special education enrollment. In the years since the Texas policy took effect, the percentage of public school students in the state receiving services has dropped from near the national average of 13 percent down to 8.5 percent. That is the lowest in the country by far. Texas schools have used a variety of tactics to cut enrollment, including mass purges of special education rolls, the Chronicle has found. Some districts have also delayed services by requiring teachers to go through a new instructional program called "Response to Intervention" (RTI) before requesting that a student be evaluated for special education. The federal government has explicitly condemned that practice. Loading... In its letter, the TEA told districts that it would be "inconsistent" with federal law for a school to "delay an initial evaluation on the basis that a student has not participated in an RTI framework." CALL FOR CHANGE: House speaker asks TEA to suspend special education policy The agency also announced it would create a new unit dedicated to providing additional technical assistance to districts struggling with special education laws. But some advocates and lawmakers said the TEA's message was undercut by its refusal to accept responsibility for the benchmark. "TEA says it understands the complexities of schools differentiating between problems due to disability and other factors," said Dustin Rynders, of Disability Rights Texas. "In reality, the complexity is deciphering the mixed messages TEA sends schools." "We welcome the reminder that schools should evaluate those suspected of needing special education, however TEA is the cause of the problem," he added, arguing that "TEA has no credibility" because it "keeps trying to sell its preposterous story that the 8.5 percent indicator was not a cap or a goal for the percentage of students receiving special education, while offering no explanation for why they awarded their best performance level to districts that served fewer than 8.5 percent of students." Texas Senate Minority Leader Jose Rodriguez, who has introduced legislation to eliminate the benchmark permanently, said he also doubted the TEA and would continue to push the bill. "This guidance from TEA would not have been needed if the agency hadn't created this misguided performance indicator in the first place," said Rodriguez, D-El Paso. "Yet the agency refuses to acknowledge that they contributed to a culture that incentivizes schools to keep their special education numbers down. I don't think that culture will be changed by a letter, and I don't have confidence that rulemaking via this agency will correct it. The Legislature needs to step in." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate More than 200 students, teachers and families came to pay their respects for fallen Specht Elementary School teacher Gayle Hendry at a vigil Friday night. Bearing candles, singing soft church hymns and huddling close against a strong, chilly wind, the group adorned a marquee in front of the Stone Oak area school with handwritten notes, pictures and flowers, all in memory of Hendry, 57, who was found dead Tuesday in a New Braunfels house fire allegedly set by Gary Hendry, her husband. Gary Hendry fled the state after the fire, but was arrested Wednesday in Mississippi. The Comal County Sheriffs office is in the process of extraditing him back to Comal to face charges of first-degree murder. RELATED: Husband suspected in death of Stone Oak kindergarten teacher after house fire Gayles son, Clint Hendry, was moved by the strong show of support from the Specht community. I dont think Mom would have had any idea how many lives she touched, he said. She would be truly touched to know she has the love and support of everyone here. Gayle Hendry had taught at Specht since the schools doors opened 15 years ago, school administrators said. In that time, shed made an impact on countless students. RELATED: Officials: New Braunfels middle school principal resigns after 'interaction' with student Former pupil Mackensie Schmidt, 17, said she and a handful of other students were planning to come back to the school to visit Gayle Hendry in the spring. I cant believe shes gone, Schmidt said. Were all still in shock ... I just cant understand. Clint Hendry said the family was still planning funeral services for Hendry, and wanted her to be remembered for the person she was, not how she passed. RELATED: Violent threats lead to charges of soliciting capital murder of unborn child in Comal County My Mom was all about the joy of children, Clint Hendry said. I can still remember the smile on her face when she saw children at play. jgerlach@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate San Antonio police are investigating a pair of shootings overnight that left several people wounded. A man was driving in the 600 block of Florida Street near downtown when police say someone opened fire on his truck striking him several times. The shooting occurred about 12:30 a.m. Saturday. The victim was taken to San Antonio Military Medical Center in serious condition. Police at the scene said the victim was uncooperative, but that they continue to investigate. A second shooting about 3 a.m. on the West Side critically injured one man and possibly wounded a second. Police at the scene said two men were sitting outside a home in the 1000 block of 38th Street when a black SUV drove up and someone inside the vehicle began shooting. After the initial attack the SUV turned around and made another pass, according to police. One man was hit several times in the leg and transported to University Hospital in critical condition. Police say another man with gunshot wounds to his chest was found shortly thereafter at a convenience store at the corner of Bandera and Evers roads. Police believe said they believe the second victim is connected to the drive-by shooting at 38th Street and continue to investigate. The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Thursday, Nov. 17 12:14 p.m. - Hypodermic needles were found in the driveway of a Homer Township address. A deputy disposed of the needles. 12:38 p.m. - A Jerome Township woman, 38, reported someone used her debit card to make purchases totaling $356.16 without her permission. 1:30 p.m. - Police responded to a domestic assault at an Abbott Road address, and also made an arrest for resisting police causing injury. 3:18 p.m. - A vehicle drove through the front yard of a Greendale Township home. 4:27 p.m. - A Lee Township woman, 72, reported someone used her debit card to make transactions totaling $42.71 without her permission. 5:58 p.m. - Police were called to a domestic assault at a Franklin Street address. 7:36 p.m. - Police responded to a case of retail fraud in the 900 block of Joe Mann Boulevard. 8:51 p.m. - Deputies were called to an Edenville Township home for a report of an overdose. The located a 31-year-old man who seemed impaired, and refused to go to the hospital. No drugs or drug paraphernalia was seen at the home. 9:12 p.m. - A deputy was sent to Edenville Township for a report of a reckless driver. The driver was not found. Robert Allen Wauls Sr., retired pastor of True Holiness Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ who also served as a bishop of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World in Oklahoma and Texas for more than 30 years, died Nov. 12 at 102. Raised in the Baptist faith in Gonzales County, Wauls left school at an early age to work to help support his family. He was living in Pleasanton in 1936 when he attended a Pentecostal church revival on the front porch of a private home. The experience changed his life. Becoming a preacher that night, Wauls began traveling throughout Texas to share his faith, helping to establish churches in Edna, Gilmer, Victoria and Port Lavaca, among others. He also helped to revitalize many churches. Trying to save souls was his main focus, his daughter Jan Wauls said. Marrying in 1946, Wauls and his wife went on to raise 10 children. An eleventh baby died in infancy. He took care of all of us, Jan Wauls said. We never went hungry and, maybe not had a whole lot, but we had what we needed. Showing his children what true charity was, Wauls was known to give without judgment, no matter the circumstance. If someone needed food or money or clothing, then he gave it to them, and prayed for them, Jan Wauls said. You see that and it just kind of become a part of your cloth, your character. More Information Robert Allen Wauls Sr. Born: April 4, 1914, Gonzales County Died: Nov. 12, 2016, San Antonio Preceded by: Wife Myrtle Williams Wauls; daughters Shirley Wauls-Eddie and Robbie Lee Martin; sons Robert A. Wauls Jr. and Efrin Wauls; parents Robert and Bessie Wauls. Survived by: Daughters Joan L. Sorrell, Gwendolyn Knowles, Carol R. Pickens, Karen E. Armour, Jan J. Wauls; son Michael A. Wauls and Samuel Wauls; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Services: Funeral at 11 a.m. Saturday at True Holiness Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ, 1315 N. Walters St., followed by burial at Meadowlawn Memorial Park, 5611 E. Houston St. See More Collapse Sharing the word of God anytime in any location, Wauls was known to preach on street corners and while driving through neighborhoods, using a loud speaker to reach the residents. If someone asked for advice, Wauls pulled out his Bible to see what the Word say. Starting the first True Holiness Pentecostal Church in Altair, Wauls established others in Wharton and Fort Worth, in addition to San Antonio. Assigned to the Pentecostal Assemblies Episcopal district of the state of Oklahoma in 1965, Wauls was then assigned the state of Texas in 1972, serving for 24 years. After becoming a bishop emeritus, Wauls continued to preach. Even when it got to a point where he was no longer able to walk, he still helped people, Jan Wauls said. He went to hospitals to visit sick people he traveled to go pray with people at his own expense. He was a true servant of God. mheidbrink@express-news.net Mexico is a racist country, Federico Navarrete proclaims at the beginning of his recently published Spanish-language book, Mexico Racista: Una Denuncia (Racist Mexico: A Denunciation). Navarrete, a prominent historian at Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, known as UNAM, cites some of Mexicos most cherished ideals as the source of the nations racism. Navarretes provocative book has generated much discussion in Mexico. For more than a century, Mexico has prided itself on being a mestizo nation, one where the mixing of Spanish men and indigenous women during the Spanish Conquest produced a blended offspring. This is the story that all Mexican children learn in school. Navarrete argues that this declaration is not accurate it is a fable that has been recited for generations. Navarrete argues that the myth was created as Mexico sought to whiten its population away from its indigenous countenance. There was great pressure on indigenous people to shed their language, culture, dress and lifestyles to become mestizo. Many, of course, did not do so. Mexicans of African descent were also omitted from the mestizo club as Mexico, like many other Latin American countries, denies its African roots. Navarrete identifies the numerous venues family and home, adages, jokes, commercials and the mass media where racism is propagated on a daily basis. For example, there is a preference for lighter skin within the bosom of the family, and indigenous and dark-skinned people are often the butt of jokes. Navarrete argues that when people are accused of being racist, they tend to deny or minimize their racism. People frequently downplay their racist statements or thoughts because they occur in private or are done in jest no one is hurt. Particularly noteworthy, according to Navarrete, is that Mexicans claim they cannot be racist because everyone in the country belongs to the same mestizo race. People criticized for their racism also tend to draw attention away from themselves by accusing others of being racist because they are the ones calling attention to race. Navarrete argues forcefully that racism in Mexico is not merely idle talk. Rather, it is pernicious and noxious. The result of racist talk, actions and behavior among Mexicans is the social exclusion and devaluation of indigenous people and persons of African origin who are seen as not really part of Mexican society they are the other, people who do not count. Navarrete advances the concept of necropolitics of inequality, reflecting great disparity in the probability of death with impunity. The ease and impunity in which so many Mexicans are murdered, disappeared, tortured and kidnapped signify that the right to life and other fundamental human rights are not distributed in an equal manner among Mexican citizens, Navarrete writes. Put simply, the lives of some people are more valuable than those of others. Navarrete lists sectors of Mexican society that are most vulnerable to such death and violence: marginalized youth, women, persons with nontraditional sexual identities, journalists, peasants whose territories contain valuable natural resources. A recent study of the 35 countries forming the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, or OECD, found that Mexico had the second highest level of inequality in 2014. Racism and inequality intersect to marginalize the lives of many Mexicans. Navarrete asserts that some of the most heinous murders over the last couple of decades in Mexico show the minimization of the lives of Mexicans who live on the margins of society. He draws attention to the impunity and the Mexican governments lack of concern for the disappearance and murder of the 43 student teachers in Ayotzinapa, Guerrero, in September 2014; the killings of hundreds of women in Ciudad Juarez in the 1990s and 2000s; the mass murder of 200 Central and South American migrants in San Fernando, Tamaulipas, in 2010 and 2011; and the mass murder of 22 individuals assumed to be narcotraffickers at the hands of Mexican soldiers in Tlatlaya on June 30, 2014. Navarrete asserts that the indigenous roots, the darker skin and the low socioeconomic standing of these victims made their lives invisible and expendable. He avers that there would be an uproar in the government and mass media, and among the elite if the victims were beautiful people from privileged classes. In the case of the 22 people killed by soldiers in Tlatlaya, Navarrete points out that the Mexican newspaper El Pais aptly described how much the Mexican government valued the lives of the victims in its headline Only 12 Words for Each Dead Person, referring to the governments terse 273-word announcement of the incident. Navarretes book is a valuable addition to the growing body of scholarship calling attention to racism in Mexico. The book aims to provoke dialogue in the country to make the invisible visible, and to ultimately better the social, economic and political position of the marginalized. We can also draw on Navarretes book to understand the similarities of racism in Mexico and the United States. They are numerous. In both countries we see the link between the value of ones life, and the color of ones skin and ones socioeconomic standing. In Mexico, people of indigenous and African origins are the poorest, least educated, most marginalized and most invisible in the country; in the U.S., Native Americans, African-Americans and Latinos hold this unfortunate distinction. Over the last several years in the U.S., there has been a surge in the killing with impunity of unarmed African-Americans by police officers. Activists have needed to remind us that Black lives matter. In addition, the racial inequalities found in both countries are long-standing, going back for centuries. In both countries the mainstream vehemently denies the existence of racism. Mexico denies it along the lines of its own brand of colorblindness We are all mestizos, therefore we cannot be racists. The U.S. disavows the existence of racism through its own form of colorblindness We do not see color differences in people and proclamation of reaching postracial status, where race is no longer important in the lives of people; after all, we have elected a black president. In the end, it is this denial of the role that race plays in long-standing racial inequality that helps perpetuate racial inequality. Society is inculcated with the fables of race and racism that Mexico and the United States exalt. The normal and what we all see set the stage for people to wear blinders concerning racial matters and racism namely, that race has nothing to do with ones societal position. Naysayers who insist that racism exists are discounted as the real racists, with the dialogue coming to a halt. It is important to recognize that racism is not just about individuals but a system in our institutions, laws, customs and attitudes that perpetuates racial inequality. In the U.S. legal system, even with statistical evidence, racial disparities associated, say, with voting rights, redistricting and the death penalty are substantiated only when there is a visible smoking gun bearing actual intent to commit racial discrimination. Such conditions regenerate racial inequality. Rogelio Saenz is dean of the College of Public Policy and the Mark G. Yudof Endowed Professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He is the co-author of the book Latinos in the United States: Diversity and Change. What was supposed to be a Republican existential crisis turned into a Republican wave. What was supposed to be a victory of the coalition of the ascendant became a dispiriting rout of the coalition that didnt show up. What was supposed to be the crowning political achievement of Barack Obamas presidency set the predicate for the unraveling of his legacy. Since before he was elected president, Obama put down as a marker the transformational example of Ronald Reagan. That entailed moving the political center of gravity of the country in his direction, winning re-election, and securing a de facto third term for a Democratic successor. As of 6 p.m. on Nov. 8, the Reagan standard looked to be in Obamas grasp. His approval rating stood above 50 percent. He campaigned vigorously, and apparently effectively, in front of adoring crowds. The last round of public polling and the exit polls on Election Day showed Hillary Clinton getting over the top, and her victory seemed likely to precipitate an ugly, Republican civil war. By the wee hours of Nov. 9, this scenario turned to ashes, and Obama could only survey the wreckage of the Democratic Party and, by extension, his highest ambition. Obama will always be remembered as the nations first African-American president. But a goodly portion of what he has labored for over two terms could now wash out with the political tide. His party has been devastated beneath him. It began in 2010, when Republicans took the House by winning 63 seats, the biggest pickup since 1948, and six seats in the Senate. In 2014, Republicans gained another 13 House seats and took control of the Senate. Democrats lost more than 900 state legislative seats in this period. This was chalked up to the midterm effect, the product of a smaller, more Republican-leaning electorate in nonpresidential years. Well, on Nov. 8, the GOP won Senate races in blue states. It minimized losses in the House. It picked up governorships and made striking gains in state legislatures. All in a presidential year. The GOP controls the presidency, the U.S. Senate and House, and roughly two-thirds of the countrys governorships and state legislatures. The Democrats are now the nations minority party. What happened? From the beginning, Obama pushed the left-most plausible agenda without regard to political consequences. His signature initiative, Obamacare, was forced through Congress despite its unpopularity and with the crucial assistance of obvious falsehoods. When Obamas initial legislative overreach cost him his congressional majorities, he proceeded with executive overreach. Having made no real effort at party-building and after a series of disastrous midterms where his campaigning basically saved no one, he had no protege to try to win his third term. He had to reach back to his vanquished rival, Hillary Clinton, whose inadequacies he had exposed in the 2008 primaries and who was almost comically ill-suited to energize the Obama coalition. Those voters were considered Obamas enduring political contribution an ever-growing bloc of minorities, millennials and the college-educated who would turn the countrys politics steadily to the left. In its first big post-Obama test, the coalition failed. Now many of the presidents achievements are under threat. President Trump will soon pick up his own pen and phone. Nothing is permanent in politics, and victories often carry the seeds of future defeats. But elections are always clarifying. We now know that Obamas larger project has come a cropper. He is no Ronald Reagan, not even close. comments.lowry@nationalreview.com The recently announced emergency plan to improve Child Protective Services is promising and commendable, worthy of bipartisan support. That said, lets not kid ourselves: It is not nearly enough for Texas children. Texas, a state that so prides itself on its identity and exceptionalism, has an embarrassing record on policies for children. One that extends far beyond the low pay for CPS workers that has fueled a crisis at the agency. We fail our kids in education funding, special education services and foster care. Lets run through that record. School finance: The Texas Supreme Court has ruled that the states school finance system meets the minimum constitutional requirements. But that ruling was hardly an endorsement of a failing system, which critics say undermines districts in low-income areas. The ruling slammed how Texas finances public schools as byzantine and archaic, saying it leaves much to be desired. Few could argue the state cannot do better. For years, though, state lawmakers have allowed the system to persist, and Texas routinely ranks near the bottom in per-pupil spending. Is much to be desired good enough for our kids? Child therapy cuts: A recent report from Texans Care for Children found nearly 10,000 babies and toddlers with disabilities were left out of state-supported therapy programs between 2011 and 2015. Why? The report cited state lawmakers decision to cut the budget for the Texas Early Childhood Intervention program by 11 percent in 2010. Unfortunately, the state is cutting $350 million from Medicaid, which serves low-income people. Those cuts will drastically reduce what speech, therapy and occupational providers receive for their services. Special education: For years, the Texas Education Agency essentially capped special education to an arbitrary 8.5 percent of students in districts. The result was districts such as Laredo Independent School District, which purged hundreds of students from its special education rolls. Former educators have said they arbitrarily put students in regular classes there. As many as 250,000 children may have been denied services and proper classes, the Houston Chronicle has reported. The TEA has stopped the arbitrary cap, but it inexplicably defends the practice. Foster care: In December, U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack ruled the states foster care system is so broken, children almost uniformly leave state custody more damaged than when they entered. Recent recommendations from two special masters include halting the use of foster group homes, improving medical attention and limiting caseloads to roughly 14 to 17 cases per worker. The state is fighting Jacks ruling. Child Protective Services: Its worth recounting the issues that led to the emergency plan to fix CPS a plan we support. Workers at Child Protective Services manage dangerously high caseloads, which fuels high turnover, which endangers children. The state has routinely had kids sleeping in offices, and thousands of children have gone weeks or even months without being seen despite reports of abuse. A starting salary of roughly $33,000 is hardly enough to attract new workers or retain existing ones. The proposed raises of $12,000 for front-line CPS workers should make a difference in addressing the staff turnover that is putting children at risk. While the emergency plan to address ongoing issues with Child Protective Services is commendable, it is just a piece of a bigger picture. The broader reality is that state lawmakers, for years, have put up obstacles to supporting Texas most vulnerable children. These children are our future, and they deserve our love and support. Not just in words, but in our policies. Im hunting for a new definition for being a loyal American. This is what it will be for me: Being American means knowing there are places so very dark that you cannot go even if a whole lot of your fellow Americans have given the green light. Being an American after Nov. 8 necessarily means recognizing the legitimacy of the Donald Trump presidency. It is tempting to say that this recognition should be offered in as precise measure as congressional Republicans and others recognized the legitimacy of the Obama presidency, but there is a difference between obstruction for obstructions sake and being the loyal opposition. If, for instance, President Trump nominates a qualified jurist for the Supreme Court, the Senate, now with more Democrats in it, should give him or her a fair hearing, and if that goes well, followed by confirmation. And if it doesnt go well, not. Nothing should be automatic. All should be negotiated. For the last eight years, there was no negotiation. This election was not a mandate. In fact, the election was indeed rigged by the Constitution, against the popular vote, which Hillary Clinton won. No, not rebellion, as in fisticuffs in the streets, but not precisely kumbaya either. Thats not what loyal opposition means. Reconciliation made more possible after folks concede not just who but what they voted for, even as they continue to insist, Yeah, but thats not me. One candidate spoke in indecent, denigrating, racial and sexist terms about fellow Americans. If youre on the receiving end of that, you try not to take it as a gut punch. Bigotry is as personal as it gets. Being American means fighting for the right things the right way. So, if a President Trump is indeed serious about stripping away the insurance coverage of 20 million Americans who didnt have it before, he must be resisted by any means, legal or parliamentary. He promises repeal and replace. And we should believe that replace part in a form that actually benefits Americans as much as we believe that his tax returns, had they been released, would have revealed him to be an astute businessman. In other words, no repeal unless there is a genuine replacement in place. He is backing off that wall minutely and mass deportation of 11 million undocumented immigrants. But, lets be clear: Those stances are why a lot of people voted for him. So, now he promises to deport only 2 million to 3 million the criminals, he says. Sorry, if he goes beyond the folks already in the deportation pipeline, its simply not believable that he wont also ensnare the people he now belatedly says are terrific people apparently not all criminals and rapists after all. Resistance here as well. If Trump brings back torture, the congressional, legal and global reaction must be swift and resounding. If he initiates trade wars, Republican free-traders who couldnt find their values when it came to sexual assault and bigotry should be able to find them when it comes to constituents pocketbooks. If he seeks a ban on Muslim immigration, the legal challenges must be immediate. If his business dealings result in obvious conflicts of interest, if Trump University and the Trump Foundation are indeed revealed as scams, the congressional hearings should be as predictable as if they involved yet another newly found Clinton email. And if a President Trump spews racism and sexism with the same gusto as citizen Trump or candidate Trump, there should be zero tolerance. Zero. There also comes the new definition of being Mexican-American or Latino generally. Being these suddenly feels more fraught than before. How do you forget that rank bigotry against you and yours was rewarded by fellow Americans? Some day we might forgive, but we will never forget. And we shouldnt. Remembering should spark the kind of civic engagement needed in the elections ahead and not just by Latinos. Resistance is not futile. It is, in fact, required of Americans, especially if we are bidden by our president to those dark places. o.ricardo.pimentel@express-news.net Twitter: @oricardopimente 1 Detentions continue: Turkeys state-run news agency says 76 academics have been detained at a university in Istanbul as part of the ongoing investigation into the movement allegedly responsible for an attempted coup. The Anadolu Agency reported that detention warrants were issued Friday for 103 employees of Yildiz Technical University on charges of membership in an armed terrorist organization. The government of Turkey has arrested nearly 37,000 people, fired or suspended 100,000 more from government jobs and shut down scores of outlets on charges of terrorism following the failed July coup. 2 Gaza border clash: Gazas health ministry says a 26-year-old Palestinian was killed Friday by soldiers in clashes along the border between the territory ruled by the Islamic militant group Hamas and Israel. The Israeli military said dozens of Palestinians breached the buffer zone, damaged the fence and attempted to infiltrate Israel. It said forces at the scene fired warning shots in the air to disperse them and that it is investigating the incident, the latest in over a year of violence. Palestinians have killed 36 Israelis and two visiting Americans in that time. Over 225 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, most of them said by Israel to be attackers. 1 Malaysia protest: More than 10,000 yellow-shirt protesters rallied Saturday in Kuala Lumpur seeking Prime Minister Najib Razaks resignation over a financial scandal, undeterred by a police ban and the arrest of 20 people. Protesters marched to the Petronas Twin Towers after failing to enter Independent Square, the citys main protest venue, which was locked down by police with water-cannon trucks on standby. The scandal involves allegations of a global embezzlement and money-laundering scheme. Najib denies any wrongdoing. 2 Marcos reburial: Family members and followers of Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos gathered for a vigil at his tomb in Manila on Saturday, a day after his burial at a heroes cemetery triggered widespread protests three decades after the strongmans ouster. Marcos widow, Imelda, clad in black, thanked supporters and local officials who traveled by bus from Marcos northern home province to pay their respects. The burial threatens to open old wounds in the Philippines, where Marcos 20-year iron-fist rule was marked by massive human rights violations and corruption. NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller and Chairman of the Military Committee Gen. Petr Pavel attended the Halifax International Security Forum in Canada on Friday and Saturday (18-19 November 2016). On Saturday, Deputy Secretary General Gottemoeller participated in a panel discussion on the enduring importance of NATO, entitled "NATO: Necessary". Her co-panellists were Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, Ukraine's Vice Prime Minister Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, and US Senator Jeanne Shaheen. In her remarks, Ms Gottemoeller stressed that NATO has been a foundational bond between Europe and North America for almost seven decades. Looking forward, "NATO has some heavy lifting to do on complex issues like command and control," she said, "but I'm optimistic." On Friday night, General Pavel participated in a panel on Russia with Defence Minister Hannes Hanso of Estonia and Bohdan Yaramenko, Chairman of Maidan of Foreign Affairs, a Ukrainian NGO. Commenting on the Forum, General Pavel said: "the discussions and views on the 'new democracy' where social media, polarization and referenda are common sense, were very interesting. How we can cope with these new phenomena in this challenging time frame. Where are we now and where do we want to go to." The Halifax International Security Forum, of which NATO is a partner, is a leading security conference which has taken place annually in Halifax, Nova Scotia since 2009. Melting permafrost raises concerns about more than just anthrax Spores can survive hundreds of years (NaturalNews) As ice that has been around for thousands of years melts due to shifts in weather patterns , there is concern among some scientists that viruses and diseases that have been frozen in time may be about to make a deadly comeback.As reported by, a recent "zombie" anthrax outbreak was unleashed lately when centuries-old permafrost melted , killing 2,300 reindeer, causing dozens of people to be hospitalized and even killing a child in northern Siberia an incident which may be a prelude to many more to come.The super-deadly bacteria was unleashed after an anthrax-infected reindeer carcass that had been locked in permafrost for 75 years began to thaw, following record-high summer temperatures in the area., quoting a Siberian news source, said that the rate at which permafrost melted this past summer was three times faster than normal.Video of the scene reveals the gruesome finding. With the Yamal-Nenets region of the Arctic Circle as a backdrop, the video shows herds of reindeer with researchers milling about in yellow HAZMAT protective suits and masks, disinfecting the land and burning all infected carcasses and other matter.Thus far the anthrax infection has manifested itself mostly in the region's nomadic reindeer population. And while Russian health officials acknowledge that hospitalization numbers are falling just a few weeks ago, 115 people had been hospitalized with suspected cases scientists and researchers fear there could be other deadly viruses and diseases still trapped beneath the dwindling permafrost.They are especially concerned about smallpox,reported. Boris Kershengolts, deputy director of research at the Institute for Biological Problems of Cryolithozone (another name for permafrost), told the Siberian Times that a smallpox outbreak in the 1890s devastated towns across northeastern Siberia, including Kolmya."There was a town where up to 40 percent of the population died," Kershengolts said. "Naturally the bodies were buried under the upper layer of permafrost, on the bank of the Kolmya River. Now a little more than 100 years later, Kolmya's floodwater have started eroding the banks."French scientists found an ancient virus in March 2014 that came "back to life" after being dormant and frozen in the deep Siberian permafrost for over 30,000 years. So the anthrax revival isn't an anomaly either.What's more, it isn't just once-dormant diseases that have scientists concerned. A top-secret nuclear missile project base that was built by the United States Army under the ice in Greenland during the Cold War called "Camp Century," was intended to expand into a network of tunnels that would be utilized to deploy nuclear missiles that could reach the former Soviet Union in the event of a nuclear conflict.Abandoned in 1967 over concerns about unstable ice conditions, the remnants of Project Iceworm (as the project at Camp Century was called) were believed at the time to have been permanently buried in layers of snow and ice. But a study that was published earlier this month by the American Geophysical Union said that rising temperatures and melting ice would "guarantee" the release of "physical, chemical, biological, and radiological wastes abandoned at the site."According to the report, the base was abandoned along with its wastes, and there was minimal decommissioning at the time. The report purports to demonstrate how the release of those wastes into the environment is possible within the next 75 years. And though Camp Century and four other ice sheet bases were established legally under a U.S.-Danish treaty, "the potential remobilization of their abandoned wastes, previously regarded as sequestered, represents an entirely new pathway of political dispute resulting from climate change," the report warns.Scientists note that there have long been treatments for resisting and combating anthrax , but it is believed that anthrax spores can survive hundreds of years. That's what makes the disease so potentially deadly in the event of a mass melting of permafrost. More support Trump than did Bush during his controversial 2000 win Revolution planning? (NaturalNews) If you wanted more evidence that the protests continuing against President-elect Donald J. Trump in some U.S. cities are being staged by a small minority of Americans, as well as no small amount of paid protestors , the Gallup polling firm has just provided it. is reporting that a commanding 84 percent of American voters said they accept the fact that Trump beat Democratic rival Hillary Clinton fair and square, and that come Jan. 20, 2017, he will become the nation's next president, legitimately."The 2016 election is over and Donald J. Trump is the winner. Period," writes Matt Vespa. "There are no electoral irregularities. No Russian hacking occurred. And no signing a petition to get electors to cast their ballots for Clinton isn't going to happen."He went on to note that most of the continuing protests are occurring in some of the most liberal parts of the country Portland, Ore., Baltimore, Los Angeles, the San Francisco bay area and Philadelphia, to name just a few.But overall, more than eight in 10 Americans accept the results as-is, according to the poll, which was conducted Nov. 9, the day following the election. As Gallup noted , that includes more than three-quarters (76 percent) of Clinton voters.Gallup noted that Trump's victory spurred some protesting around the country, with some people claiming that Trump is "not my president." The protestors' sentiments are shared by about one in six Americans, Gallup noted, as well as about 25 percent (one in four) of Clinton's voters.The polling firm asked the same question about President-elect George W. Bush in December 2000, shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court declared him the winner based on the close Florida vote, finding that 83 percent of Americans accepted Bush as the president, or about the same number as those who accept Trump Supporters of Bush's opponent, Vice President Al Gore, were less likely (68 percent) than Clinton voters today to accept the president-elect as legitimate. Then, as now, others say that the Electoral College system should be done away with because Clinton is, so far, winning the popular vote though that may not stand.That said, Trump's Electoral College tally is far more decisive than Bush's was in his first win, and is not dependent on favorable legal rulings in order to stand.Still, though in the distinct minority, Left-wing opponents of Trump's victory are not planning on going quietly into the night. They don't care what the vast majority of the country thinks about Trump's legitimacy.As we reported recently, there is a movement afoot begun on social media to get as many people as possible to Washington, D.C., on Inauguration Day, quite possibly to kick off a socialist/Marxist revolution.In addition to the social media push to get people to disrupt Trump's inauguration, top Democratic leaders in the House and Senate have been meeting with Left-wing billionaires like George Soros who fund groups that have been hiring people for more than a year to protest Trump's campaign events. The planning sessions are aimed at devising strategies to oppose Trump at every opportunity moving forward. Specifically, they want to stop the Trump administration from reversing any of their and President Obama's leftist agendas and legislation, like Obamacare (which is tanking miserably as premiums and out-of-pocket expenses skyrocket ).But other analysts think there might be something more sinister behind all of this planning than just political opposition.In addition to the protests there are also calls for national strikes and picketing of businesses to interrupt commerce and tank the economy, thereby triggering mass revolt. Using antibiotics puts others at risk Shortfalls of the germ theory and modern medicine's attempt to control microorganisms (NaturalNews) At the Columbia University Medical Center in New York, researchers examined what antibiotics are capable of doing to the microenvironment surrounding patients. This is the environment we cannot see with the naked eye, the environment of microorganisms that is always interacting with us and between us. Dr. Daniel Freedberg and his colleagues took a closer look at hospital beds where previous patients had been given antibiotics.The researchers reported inthat "antibiotics given to one patient may alter the local microenvironment to influence a different patient's risk." The researchers found that a common infection in U.S. hospitals that causes diarrhea,(C. diff), becomes more pervasive and more deadly after a patient has taken antibiotics. Most shocking of all is that patients who used antibiotics left behind a microenvironment that put the next patient at greater risk for a C. diff infection The study shows that use of antibiotics actually puts others at risk because they destabilize the healthy terrain and ecology of the environment nearby, thereby depleting good microbes that help humans defend against infection.Dr. Freedberg noted, "Other studies have also demonstrated that antibiotics can have a 'herd' effect - in other words, that antibiotics can affect people who do not themselves receive the antibiotics." Freedberg and his colleagues investigated more than 100,000 pairs of patients, and compared the microenvironment left behind by patients who were taking antibiotics . Their research ruled out any patient who had occupied the bed for less than 24 hours. They also ruled out any patients who recently had a C. diff infection.After ruling out these factors, the researchers found that 500 patients developed a C. diff infection at the hospital as the second bed occupant. C. diff infections were 22 percent more likely to occur on hospital beds where the previous occupant had received antibiotics. When C. diff microorganisms are exposed to antibiotics, they let off an explosion of spores which spreads on the hospital bed, down to the floor and into the surrounding environment."The next patient who enters the room is thus more likely to be exposed to C. diff spores," said Freedberg. "It's not easy to sterilize the room/bed between patients because C. diff spores are extremely hardy. To be killed, they need to be soaked in a bleach-containing cleaning agent for an adequate amount of time."This is a significant finding, since nearly half of patients in acute care facilities are on antibiotics. These antibiotics-ridden patients are literally vectors for disease, spreading infectious spores to others.The germ theory, which permeates modern day thinking about sickness, is the idea that humans are separate from microorganisms and that germs must be controlled. In some ways the germ theory is beneficial in helping us identify potentially infectious pathogens and in striving to maintain cleanliness and proper sanitation. However, the germ theory neglects the all-important relationship that we have with our own bodies and our microbial environment. Our microbiome plays a central role in determining our resiliency toward sickness In terms of the germ theory, we fear what we cannot see, and use antibiotics to annihilate this terrain of micro-ecology. This hasty approach destroys both the infectious pathogensthe good microbes that sustain a healthy ecology within and around us.As we damage the ecosystem terrain of good bacteria, we enable and embolden the power of infectious pathogens in the long run. As we try to isolate ourselves from microorganisms, we also divert our attention and energy from the important humoral factors that allow our bodies to resiliently defend against pathogens.Infections try to take advantage of our weakened immunity. The chemicals we inject, eat, breathe, drink and lather up with suppress the microbiome, glands and organ systems, interfering with the body's ability to assimilate nutrients. We cannot neglect what our bodies need and annihilate our microbiome with antibiotics, and then expect to remain well. Get independent news alerts on natural cures, food lab tests, cannabis medicine, science, robotics, drones, privacy and more. Receive Our Free Email Newsletter Take Action: Support Natural News by linking to this article from your website Permalink to this article: https://www.naturalnews.com/056077_CNN_boycott_corporate_sponsors_fake_news.html Embed article link: (copy HTML code below): Natural News announces economic boycott of CNN corporate sponsors, including GEICO, WellsFargo, Sprint, Dodge and ETrade Reprinting this article: Non-commercial use OK, cite NaturalNews.com with clickable link. Follow Natural News on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, and Pinterest Elon Musk's Space X is planning to bring super fast Internet to Earth by launching 4,425 satellites into low-Earth orbit. According to IB Times, his company has already filed an application to the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Tuesday requesting the approval to launch a "non-geostationary orbit satellite system in the Fixed-Satellite Service." "The system is designed to provide a wide range of broadband and communications services for residential, commercial, institutional, government and professional users worldwide," SpaceX said in the FCC filing. The filing also revealed that the billionaire has a 54 percent share in the space corporation, more than twice his percent stake in his electric car company, Tesla. CNBC reported that the idea was first put forward in January 2015, with an estimated cost of around $10 billion. Google is reportedly one of the earliest investors who put in $1 billion for the program. Space X initially plans to send out 800 of these satellites first, to cover the US, while the rest are to follow. Engadget reported that each satellite will weigh 850 pounds and be the size of a small car. They will orbit at altitudes ranging from 715 miles (1,150 km) to 790 miles (1,275 km). If his plan will be permitted, it would increase the number of satellites in orbit by over 300 per cent of the 1,419 satellites that are currently in space and will provide bandwidth of 1 gigabytes per second across the globe. However, the Internet will not be accessed for free. Users will be required to install an environmental-friendly and low-cost phased array antenna that can be mounted on roofs or walls. Many has commended the project of Musk because it will enable users across the globe to have an excellent Internet service. Furthermore, it is cost-efficient because the satellite will be designed to last five to seven years before they decay. Musk is also planning to send the first manned- spacecraft in Mars on the first half of 2030. As winter comes, Earth's climate is getting weirder. Reports show that North Pole's temperature is getting hotter by a dramatic 36 degrees while Siberia gets an extremely cold weather -- all because of climate change. According to information from the International Arctic Buoy Programme, data from five different buoys near the North Pole reveals that the temperature between 86 and 89 degrees north latitude has reached from 0 to 1.2 degrees Celsius on Nov. 15. Experts say that the increase in temperature means that warm air has swoooped in the Arctic. In fact, Zack Labe, a PhD student and climate researcher from the University of California, Irvine, tweeted a graph that showed how the mean temperature in the Arctic has not fallen since mid-October and has surprisingly risen come mid-November. A looking at changing #Arctic sea ice concentration from 9/1 to present. The colored lines indicate the 1980/1990/2000 average extents pic.twitter.com/9KUbsJTyvn Zack Labe (@ZLabe) November 16, 2016 "Warm air has flooded the Arctic from both the Pacific and Atlantic in response to a large North Pacific Low and anomalous Eurasian ridge," Labe told The Weather Channel. "While there is large variability in the Arctic, the current low sea ice is likely a combination of continued Arctic amplification (climate warming) and natural variability from this anomalous pattern." While the North Pole is experiencing a hotter winter, The Washington Report notes that Siberia is shivering. Reports say that temperature in Siberia for the past weeks has dropped dramatically by up to 60 degrees below normal. Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, has experienced -17.8 degrees Celsius with the warmest at only 28 degrees Fahrenheit. The extreme cold weather this week has forced schools in the area to close down. Judah Cohen, a forecaster at Atmospheric and Environmental Research, described the cold as being "pretty incredible," "even by Siberian standards." Humans only have a thousand years to find a new home, said Stephen Hawking during a speech at the Oxford University Union. According to the famous physicist, it will be very unlikely for humans to survive in the next millennium, and in order to survive, humans have to find another home. According to The Washington Post, the risk of mass extinction heightens as humans stay on Earth longer. Hawking, during his hour-long speech, urged humans to go into space for survival as humankind itself will be the reason to the Earth's demise through its continual and rapid use of the planet's resources. We must ... continue to go into space for the future of humanity, said Hawking as quoted by Daily Express. I dont think we will survive another 1,000 years without escaping beyond our fragile planet. Although the chance of a disaster to planet Earth in a given year may be quite low, it adds up over time, and becomes a near certainty in the next thousand or ten thousand years. By that time we should have spread out into space, and to other stars, so a disaster on Earth would not mean the end of the human race," he added. NASA has been on the hunt for potential habitable exoplanets, which, as the space agency defines them, are " small Earth-size worlds, belonged within the realm of science fiction just 21 years ago. Today, and thousands of discoveries later, astronomers are on the cusp of finding something people have dreamt about for thousands of years. However, before moving to another planet, Hawking said that there's another challenge: the battle against technology. He explained that despite the potential of technology giving way for possible ways of human survival, artificial intelligence can also wipe out humans. Once humans develop artificial intelligence, it will take off on its own and redesign itself at an ever-increasing rate. Humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldn't compete and would be superseded. Hawking said back in May. In his recent speech, the Cambridge professor also taked about Einstein's famous theory of relativity as well as the origins of the universe. He also discussed the M-theory and said that it is a glorious time to be alive and doing research into theoretical physics. On Nov. 18, 47 of the world's poorest countries have pledged to use 100 percent renewable energy. The pledge was made during the last day of the climate conference held in Marrekech, Morocco. According to a file uploaded by the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), the pledge aims to limit the maximum increase in global warming well below 1.5 degrees Celsius and to avoid the peak of global emissions by 2020. It also aims to "[achieve] net carbon neutrality by the 2050s in realization of the Paris Agreement." Countries included in the pledge are the Maldives, the Marshall Islands, Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Haiti. The nations said that they will take action on using renewable energy "as rapidly as possible" and "strive to meet 100% domestic renewable energy production as rapidly as possible, while working to end energy poverty and protect water and food security, taking into consideration national circumstances," BBC reports, This move has been welcomed by other countries including the EU climate commissioner Miguel Arias Canete. "The commitments made by the Climate Vulnerable Forum today are both impressive and inspirational," said Canete. "They have once again shown their moral leadership in this process with real-world commitments to action. These countries are already living the terrifying reality of climate change today and their very existence is on the line. The EU stands with them and their commitment to greater ambition in the years ahead." But to achieve this goal, the developing nations need support from richer countries, which promised to give $100 billion annually from 2020. However, with the recent victory of Donald Trump in the US presidency, the tides may change as Trump has expressed his intent to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement. The US, during Barack Obama's administration, has promised $3 billion to the green climate fund but has only given $500 million at present. "$2.5bn dollars was supposed to be in the mail, but now that the mailman has changed that might be a bit of an issue," said Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu, chair of the group of Least Developed Countries. "If the US pulls out and the others cut, it creates uncertainty and that can hinder ambition. If they have the impression that climate finance is a fluke, and nothing is materialising, then of course it is going to hinder ambition and climate action from developing countries." A 20-year-old alleged gang member accused of shooting at two police officers on patrol in San Jose earlier this week has been arrested, police said Friday. Luis Enrique Soriano allegedly opened fire at two officers working gang enforcement in the area of Avalani Avenue and Luby Drive around 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Police Chief Eddie Garcia said during a news conference outside police headquarters. The officers approached a group that immediately fled and one of them, believed to be Soriano, shot at the officers with a handgun, Garcia said. The two officers weren't hit by the gunfire and didn't shoot back. They returned to work the following day, the chief said. "This was an unbelievably close call. We're very lucky we did not lose an officer," Garcia said. Police looked for the suspected gunman after the shooting, but were unsuccessful in their search. Further investigation led officers to Soriano's San Jose home around 6:40 a.m. Thursday. He was arrested on suspicion of shooting the officers and violating his probation, Garcia said. "We would've gone to the ends of the earth to arrest this individual. His actions were deplorable," the chief said. On Monday, the San Jose Police Officers' Association offered a $10,000 reward for information resulting in an arrest and conviction. Anyone with information on the case is asked to call police Detectives Gabriel Cuenca or Richard Martinez at (408) 277-3835. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at (408) 947-7867. President-elect Donald Trump on Friday appointed Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., as Attorney General, and his decision is causing alarm among marijuana advocates and civil rights groups in the Bay Area. The ACLU and other civil rights organizations have contested Mr. Sessions positions, including LGBT rights, abortion rights, capital punishment, and the scope of presidential authority in times of war, said Julia Mass with the ACLU. ACLU officials say they are not confident that Sessions will uphold the constitutional rights of all Americans. He has a troubling past of making racists comments, Mass said. The senate rejected a federal judgeship for Sessions 30 years ago after accusations of racism surfaced. But supporters say he voted to extend the Voters Rights Act and confirmed Eric Holder. But Bay area medical and recreational marijuana advocates are concerned Sessions will shut down the budding industry right after California voters legalized recreational marijuana on Nov. 8. The concern is we are going to re-stigmatize this group and re-criminalize this group, said Amanda Reiman with Drug Policy Alliance. For his part, Sessions said he is ready to serve. He will need a vote of approval from the Senate. Democrats and some Republicans would have to vote against him to block the appointment. Trains, planes, and Bay Area roads began filling up on Friday as people kicked off their holidays. San Francisco International Airport was busy with some preparing to jump on red-eyes to avoid the impending rush. According to AAA, a record number of California residents close to six million will travel over 50 miles this thanksgiving holiday. Gas prices have been steady, and a lot of people are feeling confident about the economy. Its also been getting colder in the Bay Area, which means that resorts are getting ready for ski season. A couple hundred people turned out at Berkeley's Civic Center Park early Friday to create a giant human peace sign by standing in formation. The event was organized by Mayor-elect Jesse Arreguin who wanted the event to symbolize the city's "deeply held values of inclusiveness, diversity, human rights, equity, and environmental action." He invited Berkeley residents to represent themselves and their determination to stand up to the proposals and policies of President-elect Donald Trump. Drone operator Kevin Kunze shot video of the human peace sign from the air. Santa Clara County sheriffs deputies have arrested a man accused of running a fraudulent immigration assistance service that duped an estimated 1,000 people, who were seeking help, but instead lost money and possibly their chance to stay in the United States. Neighbors in a Campbell business park on La Pradera Drive said that until recently the office of James Lopez was constantly filled with clients. But that stopped when investigators arrested the disbarred attorney, who was operating an illegal consulting service without state approval, several weeks ago. It appeared he was also forging documents, just based on the evidence, said Lt. Elbert Rivera, a fraud unit leader with the sheriffs office. The business advertised itself as a place to help immigrants, but Lopez may have actually been targeting them, investigators believe. He is suspected of proving improper service to about 1,000 clients and counting, while charging each of them about $1,200, they said. He was charging fees for services in regards to immigration paperwork which don't require any fees, Rivera said. Community activists believe immigrants are so scared after Donald Trump was elected president that its made them more vulnerable to scams. "They all relate to racism, said Cesar Juarez, an ethnic studies teacher at Downtown College Prep in San Jose. Juarez said the Nov. 8 election has immigrants desperately searching for aid, all while trying to stay in the shadows. I hear from my students, Mr. Juarez, what's going to happen to my parents if Trump gets elected? They're undocumented, Juarez said. So they're seeking support. They're seeking services." Juarez said immigrant families should seek businesses with approval from the American Immigration Lawyers Association. That's my biggest fear that my community will be victims of fraud, and victims of bad advice, Juarez admitted. The sheriff's office said it announced the arrest on Friday because officials are hoping more of Lopezs clients will come forward. Lopez, meanwhile, is expected to be in court on Nov. 28, where he will be held accountable for several felony charges, including forgery, grand theft and practicing law without a license. Umbrellas and signs bobbed along wet and windy San Francisco streets on Saturday as hundreds protested President-elect Donald Trump and stood up "for a better future." The demonstration began at the UN Civic Center just after 1 p.m. and the group then marched down Market Street, according to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's Twitter page. The so-called #DumpTrump rally was organized by Answer Bay Area, Facebook shows. "It is of the utmost urgency that all progressive people take to the streets in defense of immigrants, Muslims, women and all people of color," organizers wrote. "We take to the streets to advance an alternative vision." Video from the scene showed people toting signs that said, "Act now for our rights" and "White silence is white consent." Walking toward First Street, the group chanted several slogans, including "Move Trump, get out the way. Get out the way, Trump, get out the way" and "When Trump says, 'Get back,' we say, 'Fight back.'" A woman urged participants to keep the march "safe and peaceful," but stressed that the "movement has to grow across this country to be effective and defend our rights." "Join us," she told onlookers, many of whom paused to memorialize the protest in photos and videos. "Walk with us for a while," the woman encouraged. "Instead of taking a picture which we welcome come take a selfie in the march. Show you join us." Headed to the Ferry Plaza, the protesters, some of whom called out Trump for being "racist, sexist, anti-gay," and then meandered down Mission Street approaching 5th Street. "Say it loud, say it clear, 'Racists are not welcome here,'" protesters shouted. Some Muni lines were delayed by the demonstration, SFMTA officials tweeted. Similar marches drew thousands of irate participants in the East and South bays after Trump defeated Hillary Clinton on Nov. 8. Social media posts showed on Saturday that anti-Trump protests also sprung up in Fremont as well as in Toronto, Canada and Paris, France. Meanwhile, Mayor Ed Lee penned an open letter in the San Francisco Examiner, reiterating a vow about the city retaining its sanctuary city status. Leaders will also continue to make strides in issues of healthcare, marriage equality, human rights, and more. Lee acknowledged people's anxiety, but expressed hope that "after so many months of ugliness that our country will find a way to come together and move forward." As was said on the heels of Trump's White House win, Lee promised residents that "San Francisco will always be San Francisco." He continued: "We will continue to fight for what we believe is right, we will continue to lead on the tough issues that many shy away from, and we will continue to be a city that values every single one of its residents. Nothing will ever change this." More racist graffiti was found Friday at California High School in San Ramon. The graffiti was discovered in the boys bathroom and is the fourth incident of racist graffiti to hit the East Bay campus this school year, San Ramon Valley Unified School District spokesperson Liz Graswich said. School officials on Friday night held a meeting to discuss the latest incident with parents, who were outraged and demanded change. More than 100 people came together to discuss concerns and solutions. But many parents are now demanding the immediate expulsion of anyone caught scribbling racist messages on walls or shouting them at other students. "When are you going to actually do something?" one attendee asked. For his part, parent Landon Edmond advocated "very clear communication about a district policy that says, 'There's zero tolerance for activities like this.' If that's not the dialogue from the district, they're missing it." Friday's incident comes a day after similar graffiti was also found at the school. On Wednesday, racial scribblings were found in a boys bathroom at nearby Monte Vista High School in Danville. Graswich said the other two incidents of racist graffiti at Cal High were found on Oct. 19 and Oct. 24. Increased supervision and regular bathroom checks will now be in place at the campus, Graswich said. School district leaders plan to meet after Thanksgiving break to discuss discrimination polices and what can be done to prevent similar incidents in the future. It's that day again! NBC Bay Area has partnered with Safeway to host "Feed the Need," a one-day food drive on Saturday. This years food drive includes the collaboration of seven local food banks that serve more than 840,000 local residents each month. The "Feed the Need" food drive will take place at 159 Safeway locations across the Bay Area through December 27. This is the seventh consecutive year that NBC Bay Area has partnered with Safeway to host the one-day event to help raise awareness about hunger issues in the Bay Area and help local families. Volunteers flocked to Safeway stores on Saturday and reached out to shoppers in the hope that they would reach out to help those who might otherwise go hungry. "It's important for us because we just love getting out there in the community," said Sabrina Martire of the Junior League of San Jose. For Wanda Stiles with the Kiwanis Club, "Feed the Need" hits home. "I lost my job before and I know what it's like to be there," she said. "I want to give back. I want to make it so it's not so hard on other people and their families to get food." Crystal Eckford with the Second Harvest Food Bank underscored the need for such efforts, especially in the Bay Area. "People are having to make the choice of whether to pay rent or pay for food," she said. "So a lot of people are coming to Second Harvest just to get some food to help them [get] by in Silicon Valley where the cost of living is so high." "The skyrocketing local cost of living is causing more people than ever before to turn to Bay Area food banks," she said, urging people to "donate to make a difference in the lives of people where you live." Giving back is easy. People can purchase a $10 bag of food items that will be donated to the local food banks. At each store, shoppers can remove a flyer from the tear pads located in the display area and bring the flyer to a register to purchase the bag of donation food items. Each bag of food will contain pasta and sauce, canned vegetables, soup, and important protein items like peanut butter and canned chicken breast. Once collected, the bags of food will be delivered to food banks for distribution to needy families. By the end of the day Saturday, just under 19,000 bags of food were purchased. "Every year we see the need gets higher and higher and these items help provide food to those families to help make their holidays a little bit brighter," said Wendy Gutshell with Safeway. Shoppers like Neel Kannan and his family said they were only too happy to make a difference. "I think it's really important to do something for the people, right?" Kannan said. "It's the time of the year when unfortunate ones ... we need to help them out. I just wanted to do something nice." As of Saturday, Second Harvest Food Bank says it really needs turkeys in time for Thanksgiving. Devastated Richmond youth turned to the streets on Wednesday following the historic upset that saw Republican Nominee Donald Trump win the 2016 Presidential Election. Too young to vote at the polls, many said it was the only way to have their voices heard. The students from Kennedy High and Richmond High numbered into the hundreds and piled onto Cutting Boulevard, MacDonald Avenue and 37th street shortly before noon. As they marched toward City Hall, they held signs decrying a Trump presidency and shouted F*** Donald Trump. Alex Knox, a policy director for Mayor Tom Butt, told media that he would allow students to stay on city hall steps as long as they want, but the crowd began dispersing shortly before 3 p.m. We are listening, Knox said. Some students stood on a make-shift stage and voiced their frustrations, concerns and fears about a President-Elect Trump, who campaigned on a platform of creating a deportation force, a Muslim ban, and building a big, beautiful wall between the U.S. and Mexico. I am a Muslim and I am an Arab, student Amir Alkrizi said. It shocked me and Im sure it shocked us all. We have to make a change. Many teachers were supportive of the students decision to walk out. Some even joined them. Dozens of police officers were on scene and followed protesters as they walked along the streets. According to West County School officials, the police were there to keep the peace but also to ensure that students were safe. The protest remained peaceful throughout the march, with no violence reported, police said. Theyre angry, said Randy Joseph, an administrative coordinator at Ryse Youth Center. They see Trumps a hateful, evil person and the way he talks about women and minorities. They have friends that are (undocumented immigrants) and it makes them feel unsafe and marginalized. Progressives from Richmond, a culturally diverse city where more than 70 percent of registered voters are Democrats, should have had cause to celebrate Tuesday and Wednesday: Voters passed a crucial rent moratorium intended to stop spreading gentrification, and two members of the Richmond Progressive Alliance backed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders clinched seats on the city council. But that was overshadowed by the Trump victory. Its totally upsetting, said City Council Member-Elect Melvin Willis. I dont like the fact that someone who says openly racists and sexist comments is the person that represents the entire nation. There was so much hatred and anger that came from his campaign, and now thats who is representing us. That scares me too. He continued: The only thing I can do on my end is make sure that our region is thriving in the weight of the national results. Meanwhile, students at Berkeley High School and several San Francisco schools walked out of classes, mirroring nationwide acts of demonstration against the President-Elect. A protest in Oakland drew more than 300 people on Tuesday evening and lasted until 3 a.m. Thousands are expected to show up to a 5 p.m. Wednesday rally in Downtown Oakland. Gillian Edevane covers Contra Costa County. Contact her at Gillian.Edevane@NBCuni.com Wells Fargo disclosed signs on Thursday that its customers are significantly pulling back from doing business with the bank, a reverberation of the sales practices scandal that drew a huge fine in September. After details of the practices came to light, Wells has disclosed monthly customer traffic figures at its branches, something a bank typically would never share. The goal was to provide the public, and more importantly investors, a look into how Wells was being affected by the sales practices scandal. Wells began by sharing information about September, but that data included only part of the impact of the scandal since a huge fine by regulators and the ensuing outrage occurred mid-month. So the October data is the first full-picture view of customer reaction. It is not pretty. New customer account openings fell 44 percent in October from a year earlier, while account closures rose 3 percent from the previous year. The bank saw a 50 percent drop in credit card applications. Wells' own customer service metrics also plunged, with "customer loyalty" scores dropping to 52.3 percent, down more than 10 percent from a year earlier and from August, the month right before the settlement was announced. Traffic in the branches slowed considerably, with what Wells calls "branch banker interactions" plunging 22 percent from a year earlier. Teller transactions fell 10 percent, a sign that fewer customers were actually entering Wells' branches. The San Francisco-based bank has been under fire since it was discovered that in order to meet lofty sales goals, employees opened up to 2 million bank and credit card accounts without customer authorization. It's the biggest scandal in the bank's 164-year history and led to the abrupt retirement this month of its CEO, John Stumpf. The bank was fined $185 million by U.S. and California regulators. The bank now faces several lawsuits, as well as criminal investigations by the Department of Justice and the California Attorney General's Office. With Archbishop Blase Cupich being elevated to cardinal over the weekend, hundreds have gathered in Rome to witness the historic event. One day before the installation, more than 500 with ties to Cupich have gathered as he prepares to join the college of Cardinals, making him the first American bishop to be appointed by Pope Francis. Cupich will be Chicagos 7th Cardinal, joining only 120 men in assisting the pope and shaping the direction of the Catholic Church. They are also the electors of the next pope and are considered the senate of the church. The Vatican is expecting Roman Catholics from across the world this weekend for the significant event, which also falls on the same weekend as the end of The Year of Mercy. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is leading a delegation of elected officials and civic leaders, who arrived by bus to their hotel Friday. Joining the mayors delegation is Gov. Bruce Rauner, Sen. Dick Durbin, Congressman Mike Quigley, City Clerk Susana Mendoze and about 300 others. City Hall also invited two high school students and their teachers from Cristo Rey and Chris the King high schools. For Catholics, its a very, very significant event, Emanuel said in an exclusive television interview with NBC 5. Cupich succeeds Cardinal Francis George, who passed away in April 2015 and was considered by the Vatican to be the lead American Catholic Cardinal. The consistory, or coming together, comes at an interesting time for Americans, just days after the presidential election, with faith and politics at times appearing to collide. The consistory takes place inside St. Peter's Basilica Saturday morning. Chicago's Archbishop Blase Cupich was officially elevated to the prestigious position of cardinal on Saturday, making him the first American bishop to be appointed by Pope Francis. Cupich is now the 7th Cardinal from Chicago to become one of just 120 men who assist the pope and shape the direction of the Catholic Church. The College of Cardinals also serve as the electors of the next pope and are considered the "senate of the church." [[402039115, C]] More than 500 people with ties to Cupich, who has led the Chicago Archdiocese since September 2014, gathered in Rome to witness the consistory at St. Peter's Basilica. Mayor Rahm Emanuel led a delegation of elected officials and civic leaders, including Gov. Bruce Rauner, Sen. Dick Durbin, Congressman Mike Quigley, City Clerk Susana Mendoza and about 300 others. For Catholics, its a very, very significant event, Emanuel said in an exclusive interview with NBC 5. Cupich succeeds Cardinal Francis George, who passed away in April 2015 and was considered by the Vatican to be the lead American Catholic Cardinal. Cardinal Cupich took to Twitter after the consistory, saying, "I am humbled and encouraged by this honor and responsibility bestowed by @Pontifex. Keep those prayers coming!" [[402039085, C]] In all, 17 cardinals were elevated Saturday, including Cupich and two other Americans - Archbishop of Indianapolis Joseph Tobin and Dallas Bishop Kevin Farrell. Pope Francis has now appointed 40 percent of the cardinals from around the world. The consistory, or coming together, came at an interesting time for Americans, just days after the presidential election, with faith and politics at times appearing to collide. In his homily, Francis cautioned somberly against those who "raise walls, build barriers and label people," adding, "We live at a time in which polarization and exclusion are burgeoning and considered the only way to resolve conflicts." The historic ceremony also fell on the same weekend as the end of the Year of Mercy, with the closing of the Holy Doors occurring on Sunday. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich spoke out following the shooting death of U.S. Rep. Danny Davis' grandson, calling Chicago's violence "worse than Ferguson" on Saturday. Gingrich took to Twitter to share his thoughts, posting that the death of 14-year-old Javon Wilson serves as a "reminder we need a federal strategy to save lives." "Chicago so far has 3926 shot, 703 homicides this year with 6 weeks to go. Worse than Ferguson,etc. We must have federal plan to save lives," Gingrich continued. "Chicagoans are Americans. Their civil rights matter.being killed ends your civil rights. City has failed. State has failed. Need US action," added in a third and final tweet. [[402045355, C]] Wilson was inside his home in the 5600 block of South Princeton Avenue in the Englewood neighborhood on Chicago's South Side around 6:45 p.m. Friday when a group of males forced their way inside, according to police. During a dispute that followed, possibly over gym shoes, police said one of the males pulled out a gun and shot the teen in the head. He was later identified as Jovan Wilson, a sophmore at Perspectives Charter School and the grandson of Rep. Davis, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office and a spokesperson for the congressman. "I do know that I grieve for my family," Davis said in a news conference after the shooting. "I grieve for the young man who pulled the trigger, I grieve for his family, his parents, his friends, some of whom will never see him again." Davis said two of Wilson's brothers, ages 14 and 8, a 16-year-old sister and an uncle were all in the home at the time of the shooting, while his mother had left the house to get some food. "Here he was in the house, in his home, minding his own business and some intruders would come and snuff his life away," Davis said, adding that better education, supervision and parenting might have prevented the killing. Police identified a person of interest in the shooting, Chicago police spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi tweeted Saturday morning, saying that the shooting was "not random" and confirming it was a dispute over gym shoes. Guglielmi also responded to Gingrich, countering that the shooting was "not a home invasion but a dispute among teens over gym shoes that ended in senseless shooting." [[402045775, C]] No one is in custody, and Area South detectives continue to investigate. Chicago Police officers shot and killed a man whom they saw shoot another man when a fight spilled onto a West Englewood neighborhood street late Friday on the South Side, according to police. Shortly before midnight, the officers were on patrol near 69th Street and Damen when they saw one man shooting at the other, according to a CPD statement. They repeatedly ordered the gunman to drop the weapon, and when he didnt, they opened fire, police said. The 25-year-old was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he died, according to police and fire officials. The 26-year-old man whom police say he shot in the abdomen was taken to the same hospital in critical but stable condition, officials said. A weapon was recovered at the scene, according to police, who said the two men knew each other and that the initial shooting was not random. The officers involved in the shooting, who were not hurt, will be placed on desk duty for 30 days, per CPD policy. A spokeswoman for the Independent Police Review Authority, which investigates officer-involved shootings, could not immediately be reached for more details. The Cook County medical examiners office did not have information on the death. The teenage grandson of Congressman Danny Davis was fatally shot in a "dispute over gym shoes," according to Chicago police. Javon Wilson, 14, was inside his home in the 5600 block of South Princeton Avenue in the Englewood neighborhood on the city's South Side around 6:45 p.m. Friday when a group of males forced their way inside, authorities said. During a confrontation that followed, police said one of the males pulled out a gun and shot the teen in the head. Officials initially investigated the incident as a home invasion, but CPD spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi tweeted Saturday morning that the shooting was "not random," confirming that it was a dispute over shoes. Wilson was a sophmore at Perspectives Charter School whose grades had recently improved, according to his family. "I do know that I grieve for my family," Davis said in a news conference after the shooting. "I grieve for the young man who pulled the trigger, I grieve for his family, his parents, his friends, some of whom will never see him again." Davis said two of Wilson's brothers, ages 14 and 8, a 16-year-old sister and an uncle were all in the home at the time of the shooting, while his mother had left the house to get some food. "Here he was in the house, in his home, minding his own business and some intruders would come and snuff his life away," Davis said, adding that better education, supervision and parenting might have prevented the killing. Police identified a person of interest in the shooting Saturday morning, according to Guglielmi. No one is in custody, and Area South detectives continue to investigate. When an armed attacker in a truck mowed down scores of holiday revelers on the Promenade in Nice, France, in July, the world watched the horror unfold on their TV screens. The Mecollari family of Morton Grove watched it just feet in front of them. Im lucky to be alive, Megi Mecollari told NBC 5 Responds. When the attack happened, it literally missed my brother, myself and his wife by about 15 feet. Within in seconds, the familys dream vacation destination turned grisly and horrific. I heard the gunshots right away, instantly. It didnt feel like the fireworks. And then I just screamed, Oh my gosh, my children, mom Mirela said. The familys hotel, which fronted the crime scene, soon became deserted. With other guests gone and no food or water available, the family says they had no choice but to leave. Then, they say, a surprising obstacle got in their way: their trusted travel website where they booked the trip, Orbitz. Mom Mirela and daughter Megi say they were not able to deal directly with airlines to make the changes. Instead, Orbitz had to do that for them. But they say they couldnt get any help from Orbitzvia phone, email or social media. I called at least six times. Each time I either got hung up on or disconnected, Mirela Mecollari said. We felt so neglected. When the situation facing them seemed like it couldnt get any worseit did. Unable to change any of their flight plans themselves due to rules and restrictions with booking through a third-party provider, Mirelas son had no choice but to follow the his planned itinerary. He managed to get to the airport in Nice, and boarded a plane to Istanbul, Turkey. He landed in Istanbul at the same time a military coup attempt unfolded. The airport was closed, with him and his fiance hiding inside it. The family, still stranded in Nice, lost all contact with him. "You've gone through something so traumatic you don't think it can be topped and somehow it manages to happen," Megi Mecollari said. The family says no one at Orbitz returned their calls or provided any assistance while they were in Nice, even as they were prepared to pay all the fees attaches to any flight change. In the days after they arrived home, the Mecollaris say they tried to get through to Orbitz management, to let them know how harrowing the situation was, made worse by the travel bookers refusal to help them. Not only did they not handle it properly, they made us relive the story over and over again, Megi Mecollari said. When their conversations with Orbitz went nowhere, the family reached out to NBC 5 Responds. After hours and hours on the phone.they kept mentioning to me, Well, you were there and you stayed, Mirela said. If you stayed, that means you consumed the vacation. Its a little bit beyond insulting to call what happened to us a vacation. When NBC 5 Responds reached out to Orbitz, a spokesperson for the company responded with an apology and a refund. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience the customer faced while on the trip, Marita Hudson Thomas, a spokesperson for Orbitz, said in a statement. Orbitz will be fully refunding the customer's entire hotel portion amount of $2,177.23. As for the airline tickets, we are bound by the rules of our airline partners and they will not provide a refund for the tickets because they were used. However, what wed like to do because we are so sorry for the inconvenience is provide two airline vouchers for Ms. Mecollari to use for a future trip. The company offered Mecollari her choice of two roundtrip flight vouchers to travel within the continental United States/Canada, or two roundtrip flight vouchers for travel to Mexico/the Caribbean. We would like her to have her choice so that she can go exactly where she wants, the statement read. Again, we apologize for the inconvenience. Back home in Morton Grove, the Mecollaris say the ordeal changed their notions about peace, and changed their minds about their formerly favorite travel website. "It's so sad they had to work this way. I mean, where were you people when I was crying? Mirela Mecollari said. Wisconsin police say they have a suspect in the fatal beating of a Saudi college student more than two weeks ago, NBC News reported. The Menomonie Police Department said Friday investigators have found no evidence indicating the death was a hate crime. Police are withholding the suspect's name until prosecutors decide whether to charge the suspect. Hussain Saweed Alnahdi, 24, died after being beaten near a pizzeria in downtown Menomonie early Oct. 30. Alnahdi was from Saudi Arabia and was a junior majoring in business administration at University of Wisconsin-Stout. UW-Stout spokesman Doug Mell thanked police for their efforts, and said it continues to send thoughts and prayers to Alnahdi's family and friends. A man was arrested for attacking a woman at a Groton hotel who had an active protective order against him, police said. In October, Joseph M. Fitzgerald, 35, assaulted the victim at a hotel, causing serious injuries, including a deep laceration in her arm that was caused by a sharp object, Groton Town Police said. The woman had a protective order against Fitzgerald at the time of the attack, police said. Police were made aware of the incident on Thursday and arrested the suspect on Friday. Fitzgerald was charged with first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, violation of a protective order and breach of peace. His bond was set at $100,000. An investigation by the Groton Town Police Patrol Division is ongoing. Connecticut celebrated Adoption Day today with 73 children being adopted in courthouses across the state by 57 families. Of the 73 children children adopted, 16 pairs are siblings. Adoption Day is part of a partnership between the Department of Children and Families and the Juvenile Courts. NBC Connecticut got the chance to watch three deserving families officially come together to finalize the adoption process. Diedre and Saaul Vachier is from Allentown, Pennsylvania and its been a long road to get to adoption day. For us its been a hard journey we tried in Vitro for 14 years and we lost two beautiful kids and we gained two beautiful kids, said Saaul in tears before the judge and a full courtroom filled with family members and DCF workers. Now, the couple has adopted 5-year-old Jaziah and 4-year-old Jaylah, who are both siblings. Patrick Pierre and Monica Lou of Hamden tell NBC Connecticut the process of adopting has been overwhelming, but its been well worth it. "Were so excited that its here and we can go home as a family and not have to worry about any court proceedings or anything like that anymore," said Patrick. "Yes, its over. The family is now complete," said Monica. Their birth-son, Alexander, said he is excited for the adoption of his new little brother and sister, Zoey and Wes. The family plans on buying a larger home soon to fit the whole family. It was a happily ever for siblings 3-year-old Jude and 2-year-old Airella, as well. They were adopted by Jeff and Jennifer Johnson of Boynton Beach, Florida. "Theyre our kids they mean everything to us," said Jennifer Johnson. Adoption Day is designed to raise awareness and draw attention the rewards and joys of adopting a child. Every year, 400 to 500 children are adopted out of the Connecticut foster care system. Some New Britain residents received a scary wake-up call Saturday morning when fire broke out at a multi-family home on Carlson Street. Fire officials confirmed crews responded to 17 Carlson Street around 6 a.m. Residents told NBC Connecticut that everyone made it out safely. According to fire officials, the fire appears to have started on the third floor. The residents of the unit were in the process of moving out and not home at the time. The building sustained heavy fire damage to the third floor and water damage to the first and second floors. The Red Cross has responded to assist the residents. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The grandson of U.S. Rep. Danny Davis died after he was shot Friday evening in the Englewood neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, a spokesperson for the congressman told NBC 5. About 6:45 p.m., the boy, 14, was inside his home in the 5600 block of South Princeton Avenue when a group of males forced their way inside, police said. During a dispute that followed, possibly over gym shoes, one of the males pulled out a gun and shot the teen in the head, police said. "We have very good leads on suspects and we'll be following those throughout the night," Anthony Guglielmi, a Chicago Police Department spokesman, said in an email. Family identified the boy as Jovan Wilson, a sophmore at Perspectives Charter School, whose grades had recently improved. Davis gave a statement hours after the shooting, confirming that his grandson had been killed. "I do know that I grieve for my family," he said. "I grieve for the young man who pulled the trigger, I grieve for his family, his parents, his friends, some of whom will never see him again." Davis said two of Wilson's brothers, 14 and 8, a sister, 16, and an uncle were all in the home at the time of the shooting. Wilson's mother had left the house to get some food, he said. Davis questioned where the gun came from and how the shooter was able to obtain it. He said better education, supervision and parenting might have prevented his grandson's killing. "Here he was in the house, in his home, minding his own business and some intruders would come and snuff his life away," Davis said. Stacey Wilson, father of the slain teen, also spoke of the emotional strife he and his family were enduring. "I'm very saddened and I'm very hurt right now," he said. "I have other children and I need to be strong for them." Area South detectives were investigating Friday night. The acting commissioner for the Office of Early Childhood said they are looking at options that do not impact families already receiving benefits from the state daycare program, Care 4 Kids. "Without Care 4 Kids, I won't be able to afford it," said Amanda Morriar of New Haven, who depends on Care 4 Kids for her 2-year-old daughter. Difficult subsidized daycare decisions could be coming before November is over. "That is our last option," Commissioner Linda Goodman repsonded when asked about parents getting notices that they will be cut off. "Were hoping we will not have to notify parents that are currently receiving a subsidy," Goodman said. The Care 4 Kids program is $5.4 million in the hole after a billion dollar budget decifict for Connecticut was revealed. Goodman said the hope is to avoid impacting families already enrolled like Amanda Morriar and her two year old daughter. New families were shut off from the program in August. There are more than 2,000 families currently on that waiting list. "Were looking to see if there are other priority groups that we could close to new applicants that wouldn't impact people already receiving a subsidy," Goodman added. Goodman and Office of Policy and Management Secretary Ben Barnes testified at a deficiency hearing at the Legislative Office Building today. "That deficit could grow to $9.5 million dollars if no steps are taken to change that program, but we have identified a number of potential mitigations." Details, day care providers like Georgia Goldburn with Hope for New Haven worry about. My fear is we can sustain for a few months. But I don't know how long we can sustain if 55 percent of our families are cut off," Goldburn told the NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters. Goodman addressed the deficiency hearing and said, "The Office of Early Childhood is examining all options to balance our level of resources available for the program." "Taking away their access to affordable child care is an enormous kick in the chest," Barnes added. The Dallas Police Department is struggling to reflect the diverse population it serves, even with hundreds of white officers leaving the department in recent years. The city's population is now 28-percent white, but the police force of 3,279 officers is 49-percent white. Meanwhile, the Hispanic population has grown to more than 40 percent, but the department is just 21-percent Hispanic. Activist Rene Martinez said the Dallas Police force has made good effort trying to hire Hispanic officers but more is needed. "Our population is going to continue growing beyond 40 percent, so that population of police officers that are Spanish-speaking has to grow," Martinez said. Deputy Dallas Police Chief Scott Walton said the number of Hispanic officers increased the past 10 years from 441 officers in 2006 to 693 now. "And that really speaks to our overall recruiting effort to bring more Hispanics into the department ,and that's actually going on right now," Walton said. "If you can't communicate, you really can't understand the issue and you can't solve their problems." The department has doubled the number of recruiters to visit more places in search of candidates. Dr. Alex Del Carmen, professor of criminology at Tarleton State University, said recruiting may become even more difficult in the wake of protests and attacks against police. "People in general are not going to be attracted to a law enforcement career. They're going to be looking at other options. And so what law enforcement has to do is step up their game to be able to recruit these folks into law enforcement," Del Carmen said. Dallas Police reported a surge in applications after the July ambush that killed five officers. Since then, fears of a shaky pension system and better pay elsewhere are reasons cited for a surge in Dallas Police retirements and resignations. As of Nov. 1, compared with 2013 figures, 245 white officers had left the force along with 14 black officers. "What you're seeing now is the exodus of many individuals that came into the force 25, 30 years ago," Del Carmen said. The number of Hispanic Dallas Police officers increased by 57 in that same time. Map data by OpenStreetMap, under CC-BY-SA. Image Copyright, 2013, Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia (Dustin A. Cable, creator) What is it like to walk in someone else's shoes? We wanted to know, so we gathered nine North Texans for a candid conversation about diversity in our community. NBC 5's Brian Curtis led a wide-ranging discussion on everything from childhood experiences to the recent presidential election. It was a frank, funny, and at times heated look at the "Different Shades of Texas." The conversation lasted nearly an hour, so there is much more than we could include on TV. Watch a longer clip below: What is it like to walk in someone elses shoes? We wanted to know, so we gathered nine North Texans for a candid conversation about diversity in our community. NBC 5s Brian Curtis led a wide-ranging discussion on everything from childhood experiences to the recent presidential election. It was a frank, funny, and at times heated look at the Different... Three North Texas clergy are using their friendship as a catalyst for change. A Southern Dallas preacher, a Dallas rabbi and an Irving imam are using their different faiths to create a more tolerant community. Rev. Michael W. Waters, Rabbi Nancy Kasten and Imam Omar Suleiman co-chair Faith Forward Dallas. It is a newly formed network through The Thanks-Giving Foundation of diverse clergy, and they hope the model they've developed can be shared in communities across North Texas and the country. "Sometimes in our community here, people of faith feel embolden to say things that are not unifying and are divisive," Kasten said. "We want people to know this faith organization is standing up for those who want to create a city of compassion and a city of understanding." The group is focused on using their collective faiths and congregations to push for justice, unity and peace. "Too often we talk at each other. We're teaching how to talk to each other about these issues," Suleiman said. To accomplish those goals, they realized they'd have to do more than preach. They would have to teach their faithful how to embrace those of every religion. It started with the three looking past what may divide people of their own Christian, Jewish and Islamic faiths and simply become friends. "We did not want to give lip service to unity and collective action, but to make sure we're united together and know one another," Waters said. "We worship with one another and our congregations are able to dine with one another. [We're] able to form authentic relationships and able to model what those look like in broader society." "The clear closeness the brother and sisterhood we're forming amongst ourselves those genuine relationships truly transform spaces that we've been in," Suleiman said. That friendship would be tested and strengthened. When protesters marched outside Irving mosques, the group showed up together to drown out hate against Muslims. When frustrations swelled over police shootings of unarmed black men they pushed for action together. When five police officers in Dallas were killed in July, it was the men and women of Faith Forward Dallas offering hope to a grieving community. Their members spoke at the citywide prayer service on the following day and led the prayers at the memorial service attended by President Barack Obama. "Our role was to show the world that even during great darkness a light can appear. We could either move toward chaos or we could strengthen one another and move toward community," Waters said. Faith Forward hopes to turn those moments of crisis into a catalyst for conversation. They're forming relationships and partnerships with North Texas churches, synagogues, mosques and temples and encouraging some difficult and constructive conversations. "Dr. King said we have to learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools, and I think our commitment is living together as brothers and sisters to rebuild and restore and strengthen our communities. We're working at it. We have a ways to go, but we're committed to the work," Waters said. The United Nations Association recently recognized the group's work in preaching a message of inclusion and acceptance in the days following the July 7 police shooting. To learn more, visit the Faith Forward Dallas website. Dallas city leaders are calling the abandoned and vacant home problem in Dallas rampant. Perhaps there's one glimmer of hope now after NBC 5 revealed the ugly truth about a southeast property. The homeowner of the problem vacant home has stepped up, and city officials are working on a bigger plan to attack the problem. Neighbors called the home on the corner of South Boulevard near Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard an eyesore, and up until recently it was only partially boarded up. "People had been inside. They ripped holes in the walls, people had been sleeping there, eating there. There were piles of trash and human feces," said community prosecutor Jill Haning, with the Dallas City Attorney's Office. She says the unmanicured yard, open doorway and shattered glass was nothing more than an invitation for criminal activity. What's more, police say, an alleged sexual assault of a child happened inside the home in mid-October. It was a crime NBC 5 asked the city and police about, and on Oct. 26 aired a story about that night. Less than 12 hours later, an "Open and Vacant Violation" was posted on the home, the owner was contacted and the property got a face lift. Looking at the home now you almost have to do a double-take. In just two weeks significant changes have already been made to the home. The chipped porch rails have been removed, the back door and rotting foundation was secured and the overgrown shrubs have been uprooted. "All that pressure really gave him (homeowner) the incentive and the encouragement to start working on it immediately," said Haning. The Dallas City Attorney's Office says this is really one of the best-case scenarios, but that hundreds of other Dallas homes sit vacant for various reasons. Either it's hard to track down estate owners or they're not even aware of the problem. "It's a community solution to the battles we fight everyday," said Kris Sweckard, director of code compliance. He says the target in code compliance is to demolish 300 structures per year, but that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. He says rather than reach into taxpayer pockets to cover it, neighbors need to be vigilant and notify the city. "It's calls from concerned citizens. They point us to those hoses, they know where they are, they know where they are having issues," Sweckard said. "Tell us so we can come out and investigate." Homeowners could be faced with code citations, a lawsuit or even slapped with civil penalties of $1,000 a day. City leaders say the best way to report a vacant property in your neighborhood is to call 3-1-1. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is speaking out about the issue of Pass the Trash schools. The phrase Pass the Trash refers to schools that allow teachers accused of sexual misconduct to quit without forwarding that information to the Texas Education Agency, allowing them to be re-hired for other teaching jobs, according to a press release from the Lt. Gov. In other words, schools that let teachers resign without informing the education agency of their sexual misconduct are passing the trash around to other places without fixing the problem. This legislation will assure that any superintendent or principal who does not do so is guilty of 'passing the trash' and should resign or be fired, Patrick said in a statement. Patrick said he wanted to make the issue of Pass the Trash schools a priority for the upcoming legislative session. Parents should not have to worry about sexual predators in the classroom, Patrick said. Public school superintendents' are already lawfully required to report teachers who are preying on the innocent. The Senator headlining the Pass the Trash Bill is Paul Bettencourt. "I applaud Sen. Bettencourt for quickly filing Senate Bill 7 to end this unacceptable practice," Patrick said. Granbury has always been a pretty lakeside community, with a small town feel, but like all of North Texas, it's growing quickly. So much so that many people believe it's becoming a suburb of Southwest Fort Worth, with a growing number of commuters choosing to keep their big city jobs and their small-town feel. "It's just a storybook town," said Patricia Collins, who manages a boutique on the square called Stephen's of Granbury. But before you write your happy ending, remember, you've gotta get here. "It's about an hour and five (minute), hour-ten commute for me," said Morris Duree. He makes the trip to his office in Arlington on the only route in and out of town: Highway 377, where traffic often slows to a crawl. "The traffic now is big city," said Duree. "It does take a lot of patience, coffee and just taking your time, enjoying the scenery." Morris knows all about patience. He's raising triplet 4-year-olds and he's part of a growing number of people willing to brave that commute, to raise a family in a small-town feel. "This is definitely a suburb of Fort Worth now, whereas it used to be a little town outside of the Metroplex area," Duree said. Granbury's population has more than doubled since 1990, from 4,045 to 9,386. It's grown by at least 1,400 people since 2010 alone and is expected to reach 14,000 by 2040. "Now there's so many people here there's a lot of folks that I don't know but they, I think, catch this small-town spirit," said Duree. "They loved it, that's why they moved here." They got here as fast as they could. Granbury Mayor Nin Hulett told NBC 5 the city is working with the Texas Department of Transportation on a master plan to widen and improve Highway 377. They're also building a new multimillion-dollar water plant to accommodate the booming population and working to expand Granbury Regional Airport. President-elect Donald Trump is beginning to make decisions about who he wants to see in high level positions, and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has been in the discussion. Cruz met with Trump earlier this week at Trump Tower in New York City. Cruz was reportedly being considered for the position of Attorney General, but that nomination has gone to Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions. There has also been speculation that Cruz could be nominated for the U.S. Supreme Court. Trump has said he plans to nominate a conservative for the open seat, although Cruz is not on the list of 21 names the President-elect released during his campaign. During a speech in Washington, Cruz was asked if he would be interested. "What I will say is that history is long and can take unexpected paths. I think it is absolutely vital that that seat and every other seat that comes vacant on the court be filled by principled Constitutionalists who will be faithful to the law and will check their own policy preferences at the door and simply honor their oath," Cruz said. Republican strategist Mark McKinnon profiled the entire campaign in a weekly documentary. He thinks it is possible Cruz gets the nod, despite his history with the President-elect. Cruz announced his support for Trump very late in the campaign after a bitter primary battle between the two. "It is classic Cruz. I mean, after all the gyrations, at the last minute, he went and kissed the ring, right, so he is back in," said McKinnon. McKinnon, who worked on President George W. Bush's campaign, thinks there is a very good chance a Texan will end up in a high position. "Michael McCaul, for example, my Congressman, is being talked about as Homeland Security chief, which I think would be great," added McKinnon. McCaul, who represents Austin, chairs the House Committee on Homeland Security. President-elect Donald Trump's most powerful adversary in the Senate will be incoming Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Both men appear to have at least one thing in common: they both rooted for the Democrat when he was up for elections from 1996-2010. According to the Federal Election Commission's filings, Trump has given Schumer about $9,000 in political donations over a 14-year span. Trump's three oldest children, Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka have also donated a combined $6,800 to Schumer. Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner has given Schumer $4,000. The Trump family campaign contributions to Sen. Schumer like most sizable campaign contributions are often intended to curry access if not favor with a sitting lawmaker who has some oversight authority over their business interests, said Craig Holman, a public affairs lobbyist with the government watchdog group Public Citizen. Schumer has generally shown an independent streak not easily influenced by such contributions, but he is now in a situation of directly negotiating one-on-one with President-elect Trump and the Trump family. Holman said that if Schumer were to compromise with Trump those past contributions could give the appearance of "undue influence," adding that the U.S. senator from New York would do himself a great favor by returning the donations. Asked if he would give back Trumps donations, Sen. Schumer's communications director Matt House said its a ridiculous question." "Senator Schumer had no problem standing up to Trump during his campaign and will have no problem doing so in the future, House added. Sen. Schumer publicly voiced his support for Hillary Clinton leading up to the election and attended a number of the Democratic candidate's campaign events. He called Trump's rhetoric "empty bravado" during his speech at the DNC. In April 2011, Trump went on Sean Hannitys Fox News show to talk about his donations to Democrats when he was considering a run for the Oval Office five years ago, Politico reported. Up until that point, Trump had given the majority of his political donations to Democrats. Ive contributed to Schumer ... Ive known Schumer for many, many years, Trump said. And I have a good relationship with him. The fact is, that I think it is time that maybe we do all get along. Trump reinforced his relationship with Schumer on Twitter Sunday, Nov. 20, writing that he has a "good relationship" with the senator and that he's "far smarter" than Sen. Harry Reid. I have always had a good relationship with Chuck Schumer. He is far smarter than Harry R and has the ability to get things done. Good news! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2016 Starting with the 2012 election cycle, however, Trump exclusively donated to Republicans at the federal level. Just last month at the Al Smith dinner in New York, Trump jokingly made the remark that Schumer used to love me when I was a Democrat. After Schumer was voted the senate minority leader on Wednesday, he told reporters that he plans to work with Trump when possible. When we can agree on issues, then we're going to work with them," Schumer said. "But I've also said to the president-elect on issues where we disagree, you can expect a strong and tough fight." A man suspected of raping a woman last weekend in Maywood has been arrested near Fresno, authorities said Saturday. Salvador Martinez of Maywood, 28, was located and apprehended at about 3:30 p.m. Friday near Fresno. Martinez was transported back to Los Angeles County and arrested on suspicion of rape and other related charges at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's East Los Angeles station. He was being held in lieu of $1 million bail, according to Deputy Ryan Rouzan of the Sheriff's Information Bureau. "It is a real relief," said Guillermina Gutierrez, who lives in the Maywood neighborhhod. The arrest was made in collaboration with the U.S. Marshal's Fugitive Task Force and the LACSD's Major Crimes Bureau, Rouzan said. Martinez will be arraigned Tuesday at Norwalk Superior Court. The victim, who is between 30 and 40 years old, was attacked between midnight and 4 a.m. Sunday in her apartment in the 3600 block of Maywood Avenue, according to Sgt. Betty Lascano of the Sheriff's Special Victims Bureau. The woman was home alone when the attack occurred, Lascano said. Jose Ocaranza, who lives in the apartment complex, said he saw Martinez around the complex a few times. Martinez told him he was there visiting his nephew, but he kept lurking around even after the so-called nephew moved out early this month, Ocaranza said. Sheriff's detectives are also investigating whether Martinez is connected a string of home break-ins nearby and sex assaults on women and girls as young as 13 years old. Maywood residents say that based on the police sketch, it may be two different men. Anyone with information about the suspect was urged to call their local law enforcement agency or the Sheriff's Special Victims Bureau hotline at 877-710-5273. Several U.S. allies took aim at Donald Trump's views on global trade, while China's president made an impassioned call against the sort of protectionism favored by the president-elect at a summit of Asian-Pacific leaders on Saturday. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum is taking place in Peru as world leaders are on edge over Trump's campaign pledges to protect U.S. jobs by backing out of the not-yet-implemented Trans-Pacific Partnership and renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said NAFTA benefits workers and companies on both sides of the border. Still, he expressed concern that the U.S. could be turning its back on a bilateral trade relationship responsible for moving $1 million worth of goods every minute. "In the face of Trump's positioning, we're now in a stage of favoring dialogue as a way to build a new agenda in our bilateral relationship," Pena Nieto told business leaders. "Mexico, like the entire world, is about to initiate a new stage with the U.S., and in commercial terms we want to give the right value to this strategic relationship between Mexico and the U.S." New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key spoke more bluntly, saying the "tremendous despair" triggered by Trump's trade views can't be allowed to slow down economic integration by the rest of the world. "Even if the United States doesn't want to engage in free trade, President Trump needs to know other countries do," said Key. He said it's still possible to save the 12-nation TPP negotiated by the Obama administration by introducing cosmetic changes making it acceptable to Trump or carving out a less ambitious pact among TPP signatories that leaves out the U.S. "I personally think that President Trump will be very much like chairman of the corporation Trump is," he said. "He's a flexible business guy. He's going to realize he has a role to play." Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered perhaps the most forceful defense of free trade, given the size of his economy. In his kickoff speech from Peru he said the best response to rising protectionism would be for APEC's 21 members to negotiate a free trade area encompassing the entire Pacific Rim. "Closed and inclusive arrangements are not the right choice," Xi said, taking a veiled stab at the TPP, which excludes China and is widely seen as an attempt to reassert U.S. dominance in Asia. "Building a free trade area of the Asia-Pacific is a strategic initiative critical for long-term prosperity." Xi's remarks came as Chinese state media blasted Trump for "trade-bashing" rhetoric that threatens global economic stability. "The billionaire-turned-politician needs to prove that derailing the global economy has not been one of the reasons why he ran for U.S. president," official Xinhua news agency said in a commentary piece published Saturday. Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, however, made a sign of support for China, promising Xi that he will align his foreign policy toward China-led Asian economic development, further reinforcing his shift toward China amid his hostile stance toward the U.S. Duterte and Xi met on the sidelines of the summit Saturday. Duterte also met with Russian president Vladimir Putin, whom he has called his political idol. President-elect Trump has also expressed admiration for Putin's leadership, while officials have accused Russia of trying to influence U.S. election results through hacking and leaked emails. Putin reportedly called Trump to congratulate him on his election win. Obama encouraged other leaders not to rush to judgment on Trump, saying at a town hall on the margins of the summit that it's too early to conclude that the new administration will wipe out trade deals and create international problems. "Don't just assume the worst," he said. "Wait until the administration's in place" before drawing conclusions. Demonstrators gathered for an anti-Donald Trump protest in Sunny Isles Beach Friday evening. The protest began at 6 p.m. near Trump Tower on Collins Avenue. A few hundred had responded to the event on Facebook but only a small group had assembled by the time the protest began. President-elect Trump doesn't own the building, his name is licensed to the owner. It's the latest anti-Trump protest in South Florida. On Thursday, students held at rally at the University of Miami. Dozens of students also walked out of Homestead and South-Dade high schools Wednesday. Other protests have been held in Downtown Miami, Wynwood and Fort Lauderdale. A Miami Beach man is facing life in prison after he was convicted of luring foreign students to the United States by promising them jobs then using them in a prostitution enterprise. Jeffrey Jason Cooper, 46, was found guilty Thursday of 11 counts including sex trafficking and attempted sex trafficking by fraud, wire fraud, importation of persons for prostitution or immoral purposes and use of a facility of interstate commerce to operate a prostitution enterprise. A jury returned the verdict in federal court after a four-day trial. Authorities said Cooper recruited female students from Kazakhstan through the State Department's Summer Work Travel Program. Cooper promised false jobs in a fake yoga studio but when the victims got to Miami Beach, investigators said they were advertised for his prostitution and erotic massage enterprise. The students were advertised to customers from June 2011 until they were recovered by law enforcement in August 2011, authorities said. "Jeffrey Cooper used deception to lure unsuspecting foreign university students across the globe, only to be exploited for the defendant's own personal profit,"U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer of the Southern District of Florida said in a statement Friday. "The U.S. Attorneys Office is fully committed to our international efforts to combat human trafficking - whether by fraud, force or otherwise." Cooper faces a maximum of life in prison and a fine of up to $2.75 million at sentencing, scheduled for Feb. 16, 2017. What to Know Adam Yauch Park was defaced with swastikas and pro-Trump graffiti on Friday afternoon in Brooklyn Heights Yauch, who was Jewish, was a member of the Beastie Boys rap group City Councilman Brad Lander condemned the incident and called out President-elect Donald Trump on his lack of action regarding the incident A Brooklyn park was vandalized with anti-Semitic and pro-Trump graffiti on Friday evening, infuriating a city councilmember. City Councilman Brad Lander, who represents Brooklyn's 39th District, tweeted a photo of two swastikas and a 'Go Trump' message painted on playground equipment at Adam Yauch Park playground in on Friday. Yet more hatred & anti-Semitism from Trump supporters. Swastikas on the playground equipment in Adam Yauch Park in BK Heights. #NeverIsNow pic.twitter.com/Xbcwo4enfF Brad Lander (@bradlander) November 18, 2016 "Yet more hatred & anti-Semitism from Trump supporters #NeverIsNow," he tweeted. Lander said the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force was at the scene investigating the incident and New York City Parks staff would paint over the offensive graffiti. He added that Yauch, who was Jewish, is "weeping for our country" as someone who practiced buddhism and spoke out against Islamophobia. The local politician also criticized President-elect Donald Trump's lack of action regarding the graffiti in a Saturday morning tweet. Trump took time to condemn the thoughtful plea of the @HamiltonMusical cast. But not the swastikas in his name in a Brooklyn playground. https://t.co/3Qiibsm1wa Brad Lander (@bradlander) November 19, 2016 "Trump took the time to condemn the thoughtful pklea of the @HamiltonMusical cast. But not the swastikas in his name in a Brooklyn playground," he tweeted. In a series of Saturday morning tweets, Trump alleged that Vice President-elect Mike Pence was "harassed" by "Hamilton" cast members when they delivered to Pence a message of concern about the Trump administration after the curtain call Friday night. Pence was greeted by boos when he arrived at the Richard Rogers Theater to attend the musical. The Brooklyn Heights park near Columbia Street was named in honor of the former Beastie Boys rapper in 2013, a year after he died from cancer at the age of 47. Friday's incident follows several instances of hateful messages scrawled throughout the city since election day. A swastika was drawn in black marker inside an uptown B train on Thursday, and a series of swastikas were drawn on dorm room doors at the New School last week. A high school concert choir visiting from New Mexico to perform at Carnegie Hall got trapped in an elevator inside the Empire State Building Thursday night. There were 13 people from Rio Rancho High School inside the elevator when a cable snapped. "We were going up, it was fine, everything was normal. And then all of a sudden it stopped and it started shaking and we dropped," said student Keira Cramoots. "It was definitely scary." They were stuck between the 38th and 39th floors, but responding FDNY firefighters tried to keep the students calm by telling them they were near the second floor. "We opened up the side access panels so we could see the kids," said FDNY Lt. Brendon Mohan, "We reassured them we were here and they were going to get out." A firefighter joined the students in the elevator to help extract them. One by one, the students put on a harness to escape. "We had to walk from one elevator to the next with a harness from a panel," said Crum. "We couldn't see the bottom, it was so high." "As we were going down, they caught on we weren't on the second floor," said firefighter Christopher Cimorelli. That's also about the time the kids started being kids again and took selfies. "We made the best out of it," said Crum. "We saw it as a memory as we were there for each other, and it was fine." The students are still in shock but said they'll be forever thankful for New York's bravest. They'll be performing at Carnegie Hall Sunday evening as part of a concert series. Rio Rancho is the only high school choir in the U.S. invited to perform there during Sunday's concert series. A Rutgers University professor who was accused of threatening to kill white people and was taken to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation is no longer teaching there. NJ.com reports a spokesman for the New Jersey university said Friday that Kevin Allred has been placed on administrative leave. Allred is white and teaches women's and gender studies classes and a popular course called Politicizing Beyonce. He says the comments he made in class and on Twitter were rhetorical political statements. He tweeted about whether conservatives would care as much about gun rights if guns were used to kill more white people. University police responded to a complaint from a student and contacted police in New York, where Allred lives. Allred was taken to the hospital Tuesday and was released that evening. He hasn't responded to messages seeking comment. Thousands of mourners including first lady Michelle Obama remembered and celebrated veteran Washington journalist Gwen Ifill on Saturday, recalling her as a standard bearer, cherished friend, devoted mentor and woman of abiding faith. Ifill died Monday at 61 after a yearlong battle with cancer. Mrs. Obama did not speak at the service, but several journalists and political figures offered reflections. "We didn't look like other anchor pairs and we loved that," said Judy Woodruff, half of the history-making team that became the first female co-anchors of a major news broadcast in 2013. The two co-hosted PBS' "NewsHour." Woodruff added that Ifill is needed "more than ever." "Never have we faced tougher challenges, and no one would've risen to them better," she said. Ifill, she added, will "be our compass." Former Attorney General Eric Holder read a letter from President Barack Obama, who was in Peru. Holder likened Ifill to "a comet" and challenged the colleagues she leaves behind to honor her legacy with their work by holding those in power accountable. "Will you cower? Will you normalize that which is anything but?" Holder asked in a veiled reference to the incoming administration of Donald Trump. The service, held at the historic Metropolitan A.M.E. Church where Ifill was a longtime member was also a grand display of her faith and roots as the daughter of Caribbean immigrants whose father was a leader of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Her pastor of many years, Bishop James L. Davis, recalled Ifill as "brilliance cloaked in humility." A former reporter for The New York Times and The Washington Post, Ifill transitioned to television in the 1990s, covering politics and Congress for NBC News. She moved to PBS in 1999 as host of "Washington Week" and also worked for "NewsHour." She moderated vice presidential debates in 2004 and 2008. John Dickerson, host of CBS' "Face the Nation" who joined Ifill as a regular panelist on "Washington Week," said Ifill "wore her grace like a garment," but added her infectious laugh came with a withering scowl. "I'm not going to say it in church, but there's a very specific word for what Gwen could detect," Dickerson said. The pews were filled with journalists, politicians, her mentees, family and friends, including civil rights attorney Vernon Jordan, interim Democratic National Committee Chair Donna Brazile, White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, veteran journalist Charlayne Hunter-Gault, New York Times columnist David Brooks, former CNN anchor Bernard Shaw, Donald Trump surrogate Omarosa Manigault, and NAACP Legal Defense Fund President Sherrilynn Ifill, the journalist's younger cousin. "She was the shining star in our family," Sherrilynn Ifill said of Gwen. "She was the most American of success stories. Her life and her work made this country better. She did the hard work for us for so long ... It's time to take her example and do what she did." Ifill took a leave from "NewsHour" last spring for health reasons, but kept the details of her illness private. An 8-year-old Philadelphia girl has died after she was struck down by a hit-and run driver as she walked home from school Friday afternoon. The girl, named Jayanna, was struck around 3:15 p.m. at 63rd Street and Lansdowne Avenue in the city's Overbrook neighborhood, police said. Jayanna's family told NBC10 she and her brother were crossing 63rd Street, in the middle of the block, when the driver came speeding through the intersection to catch a yellow light. The two were holding hands when they were hit, family said. The force of the impact was so strong that she was thrown 20 feet, her family said. A witness said the girl's backpack also tore open, splaying paper and books all over the street. Her brother, who hasn't been named by family, was knocked into a nearby car, the family said. Jayanna was rushed to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia with serious injuries. She passed away around 6 p.m., police said. Police are searching for a gray or silver Nissan Altima or Maxima with damage to the headlights and grille. The car was last seen heading southbound on 63rd Street. Ronnie Thomas, the girl's grandfather, talked directly to the driver after his granddaughter's death saying "you should have stopped and made sure the two little kids are alright and then gone about your business." "But you didn't do none of that. You hit them and you ran," he said. "Who does that?" The girl's uncle said he's offering a $20,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the driver. Anyone with information about the driver or whereabouts of the car is asked to call the Philadelphia Police tipline at 215.686.TIPS. The unexpected wave of support in Pennsylvania for President-elect Donald Trump has Republicans hoping it signals a deeper, long-term shift to the GOP in the battleground state, though the election underscored growing political dichotomies that may defy that trend. Republicans expanded control of the state Legislature despite a strong Democratic Party registration advantage. Meanwhile, the state's growing geographic divide played a forceful role in the election. Trump was boosted by staggering defections of Democrats across more conservative northeastern and western Pennsylvania, while Republican voters in increasingly liberal southeastern Pennsylvania turned against him. Democrats' defections helped Trump beat Democrat Hillary Clinton and become the first Republican presidential nominee to capture Pennsylvania since 1988. For some, his victory signals a more permanent change. "It shows the state is trending,'' said Rob Gleason, chairman of Pennsylvania's Republican Party. "More than trending: It is Republican.'' Marcel Groen, Pennsylvania's Democratic Party chairman, said that Pennsylvania remains a "purple'' state and that Trump didn't necessarily change its politics. Democrats still won three statewide races _ for treasurer, auditor general and attorney general _ and Republicans cannot count on another such embrace by middle- and working-class voters, Groen said. "The Trump-Hillary race was its own phenomenon, frankly, and is not likely to be repeated,'' Groen said. "The pendulum always swings. ... When (Trump) doesn't deliver, they will keep looking. Our job is to give them answers and we will.'' Mark Harris, a campaign consultant to Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, who narrowly won re-election, said Trump and Republicans still need to demonstrate they deserve to stay in power in Washington. "There's no such thing as a permanent majority,'' Harris said. The election highlighted longer-term trends in Pennsylvania. In the past decade, Democrats added 300,000 registered voters, while Republican registration was flat. Democrats' biggest gains were largely in southeastern Pennsylvania, though they hemorrhaged voters in western Pennsylvania, losing more than 100,000. Conversely, Republicans lost a similar number of voters in southeastern Pennsylvania- about 100,000- and added about 60,000 voters in western Pennsylvania. That shift, Harris said, shows there is "basically no real Democratic Party outside of Philadelphia.'' During that decade, Democrats won 22 of 37 statewide elections, largely thanks to dominance in lower-profile races for state Supreme Court, auditor general and treasurer. Republicans dominated legislative and congressional elections, running on district maps they drew to maximize Republican victories. When the new Legislature is seated in January, Republicans will hold 156 of 253 seats, 26 more than a decade ago. In 2007, Democrats represented 51 districts west of the Susquehanna River. In January, it will be 32. Pennsylvania Republicans also play a key role in keeping the U.S. House in GOP hands. Republicans hold 13 out of 18 Pennsylvania seats. A decade ago, Democrats held 11 out of 19. That Republican dominance could wane. A new Democratic majority on the state Supreme Court could give Democrats more muscle in drawing legislative districts, and Democrats could get even more say in drawing congressional districts if Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf wins a second term in 2018. Gleason acknowledged that GOP-drawn district maps contribute a certain amount to GOP majorities. But a much bigger foundation, he suggested, is a Democratic Party that lost touch with middle- and working-class voters who may be registered as Democrats but vote Republican. "They call them Reagan Democrats,'' Gleason said. "We've been winning Democrats in the west and southwest for years. That has creeped into the northeast and the northwest. ... We've become the populist party.'' Winning back those voters after ignoring them in the presidential election won't be easy, said Jim Burn, a former state Democratic Party chairman. "This lack of engagement has kicked the Democratic Party back a couple decades and it's going to take time to get it back,'' Burn said. "But I'm not prepared to say that Pennsylvania is in the Republican column just yet.'' In what is a rare occurrence in San Diegos Superior Court, Judge Judith Hayes has changed her mind about tossing a lawsuit aimed at changing plans to bury nuclear waste near San Onofre State Beach. Citizens Oversight, the group behind the lawsuit, is arguing the California Coastal Commission was wrong in approving a permit to store the spent fuel from the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station on the northern edge of the plants property, adjacent to the Pacific Ocean. The San Onofre plant was permanently retired by its owners, Southern California Edison, SCE, and San Diego Gas and Electric in 2013. The plants operations left 3.6 million pounds of radioactive waste behind. The companies asked that the lawsuit to be thrown out because the attorney representing Citizens Oversight, Michael Aguirre, missed a filing deadline. In August, Judge Hayes tentatively decided to support the position of the Coastal Commission, SCE and SDG&E. This week she changed her mind, allowing for the lawsuit to continue through the court system. In her order denying the motion to dismiss, Judge Hayes said the protectionist policies of the Coastal Act are more relevant than an expedient resolution of what to do with the waste. The stakes for the environment are so high, she said. Click here to read the order. Aguirre said it is not appropriate for a New Jersey contractor to be in charge of the waste. SCE created the waste, SCE profited from the waste and SCE has the obligation to find a safer location to store of the waste, he said. The judges ruling makes it possible to argue the case on its merits. In an email, Maureen Brown, a spokeswoman for SCE, said, The judges recent decision involved a procedural issue and was not a judgment on the merits of the case...SCE declines to comment further on a pending lawsuit. The lawsuit is scheduled to be discussed in court again on March 30, 2017. In a previous story, critics of the nuclear waste storage plans shared concerns about the storage location with NBC 7 Investigates. While the threat of a nuclear meltdown is no longer a concern because the plant is shut down, a shuttered nuclear plant does present another potential threat to public safety, according to an editorial in the April 2016 edition of Scientific American Magazine. The article warns of a greater danger, and says more threatening than a meltdown, it's the steady accumulation of radioactive waste. Daniel Hirsch, the Director of the Program on Environmental and Nuclear Policy at UC Santa Cruz, described the material as the most dangerous stuff on earth; a witches brew of radioactive material. Click here to see the complete investigation. SCE does not agree. Neither does the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NRC, and the California Coastal Commission, which both approved the Pacific coastline location. Its not a case of no risk, the utilities argue, but low risk. Nina Babiarz, a transportation consultant and former journalist, said the location for the nuclear waste storage is a poor one. "It's on an earthquake fault in a tsunami zone," she said. NBC 7 Investigates reviewed weather reports and found rising sea levels at and around the nuclear waste storage location could continue. A Pacific Institute report on sea level rise, with contributions by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, found "flooding and erosion" risks will increase. According to the report, "in areas where the coast erodes easily, sea level rise will likely accelerate shoreline recession" and "may expose previously protected areas to flooding." NBC 7 Investigates is working for you. If you have more information about this or other story tips, contact us: (619) 578-0393, NBC7Investigates@nbcuni.com. To receive the latest NBC 7 Investigates stories subscribe to our newsletter. A San Diego family knows first-hand the effects of microcephaly, a rare birth defect that causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads, a condition now in the spotlight due to the Zika virus. Microcephaly stunts brain development in fetuses, but the condition is not just caused by the Zika infection. One local family, the Handy family, says their daughter, Scarlett, has microcephaly, and say the birth defect has been around long before the Zika virus started gaining attention. Parents Russ and Rhonda Handy hope that by sharing 6-year-old Scarletts story, they can educate the public about what it means to live with microcephaly. Scarlett is Russ and Rhondas adopted daughter. She was born with microcephaly and, when she was an infant, a doctor told her parents Scarlett might not survive. When that doctor told me she wasn't going to live past four months old, I left that doctor's office thinking, No, she's going to live a full life and whatever her capacity is she's going to live it to the fullest. And I've made sure every day she's going to be on this planet, and I'm here, she's going to live it, Rhonda told NBC 7. Rhonda said that when Scarlett was born, her head circumference was nine inches. An average, healthy newborn's head circumference is between 14 to 16 inches. I'll say, Oh, she has microcephaly and people will go, Oh, from the Zika virus? And you can see the horror in their eyes, and it's like, No, no, no, said Rhonda. Microcephaly isn't just caused by Zika. There are a lot of things that can cause a brain not to fully develop and be smaller at birth, said Russ. In Scarletts case, it's genetic. Right now Scarlett's head circumference is the size of a normal newborn's and it is not expected to grow anymore. She struggles with almost constant low-grade seizures and cerebral palsy and takes a list of medications. Developmentally, she is challenged -- at age six she has the cognitive ability of a 2 or 3-year-old. Her parents consider her higher-functioning. Some children with this condition spend most of their lives on a feeding tube and ventilator. "The textbook really hasn't been written on microcephaly, said Russ. We work with one of the top guys in the world on this and he says we're still collecting data, we really don't know what her potential is. The Handys have dedicated themselves to learning as much as they can, and connecting with other families facing similar challenges. They've found a community of support with the help of social media. We've seen very high functioning kids with microcephaly at some of the conventions we've been to who are doing karate, participating in pageants there's even one kid we've heard about who's grown up and gotten married, said Russ. The Handys said they want to encourage others facing a similar diagnosis for their baby not to give up hope. If your child does have microcephaly, you're not alone, said Rhonda. Even through the struggles, they say their life is sweeter because of this little girl, and they're determined to help Scarlett enjoy it. "No matter what challenges she may have, no matter how many times she has to be in the hospital, she's going to live life to the fullest, Rhonda added. Russ said Scarlett enjoys water activities, including canoeing and kayaking. The 6-year-old also keeps busy riding horses. She has a lot of support from her family. We're fortunate, because we have a big family, we have 10 children, and we're really big on family so all of our children love her and they all have her own relationship with her so she has so much stimulus and so much interaction," he added. The Handys say one of the positive things to come from the Zika virus has been the additional focus and research money devoted to microcephaly. For more information on microcephaly and how to help this family, see this post below. A deaf man will receive a $250,000 settlement from the Arlington County Sheriff's Office after it failed to provide a sign language interpreter for him while he was jailed, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced Friday. The man, Abreham Zemedagegehu, has said he spent part of his six-week stay at the Arlington County Detention Facility in 2014 unaware of the charges against him. The Justice Department launched an investigation into Zemedagegehu's claim last year. "I felt like I was losing my mind," Zemedagegehu said through an interpreter in an interview at his lawyer's office. "I thought Virginia would give me an interpreter and they said no. That's why I felt lost." Zemedagegehu also said the jail failed provide a communications device to help him communicate with his lawyer and performed medical procedures on him without explaining them or getting his consent. A native of Ethiopia, he can communicate in American Sign Language but is largely unable to communicate in written English. Zemedagegehu sued the sheriff's office in federal court, saying his treatment failed to meet the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Among the concerns raised in his lawsuit was the jail's reliance on teletypewriter devices to allow deaf inmates to communicate with people outside the jail. The sheriff's office has defended its use of the TTY machine, but Zemedagegehu's lawsuit said the device is useless for someone who can't read English and obsolete because videophones are now used predominantly in the deaf community. Zemedagegehu's ordeal began Feb. 2, 2014, when he was arrested after being accused of stealing another man's iPad. He said he pleaded guilty to the charge because a plea bargain offered him a sentence of time served. Later, though, the man who accused him of the theft said he'd found the device and rescinded his accusation. Under the settlement, the sheriff's office will pay $250,000 to Zemedagegehu, and must take steps to comply with the ADA. This includes appointing an ADA coordinator, providing ADA training to its staff, and ensuring that auxiliary aids and services are provided. The Justice Department said the sheriff's office has taken several steps to improve its ADA compliance even before finalizing the settlement agreement. "People who are deaf or hard of hearing must be able to communicate clearly with law enforcement officials," said Tracy Doherty-McCormick, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, in a statement Friday. "Through this settlement agreement, the Arlington County Sheriff has taken important steps to ensure that the operations of the Arlington County Detention Facility are in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act." D.C. law allows residents to grow marijuana, but many renters who use it have trouble finding a landlord who doesn't mind. A Facebook page called "420 Friendly Housing in DC" is connecting marijuana users with supportive property owners. Florida native Jamie Edelman and a realtor friend started the page, which had more than 100 members as of Friday. "They'll say, 'OK, well, we're looking for a place. We want a two-bedroom with a basement for growing.' We'll go into our database and we'll find the criteria that they're looking for," he said. D.C. legalized small amounts of marijuana possession among adults in February 2015. The law allows people 21 and older to grow as many as six cannabis plants at home. But landlords are free to determine if they want tenants growing the plants on their properties. Ashley Stafford just joined the Facebook group. She called it "genius" and said it solves a problem many locals have. "We actually had a landlord who seemed really interested in having us come in, until we mentioned growing cannabis and then ... we didn't hear anything else from them," she said. Stafford said she was trying to challenge stigmas against people who use marijuana. Edelman said people who use the Facebook group just want to follow the rules. "We're finding responsible people that want to do things legitimately," he said. Click here for full details on marijuana possession and use that's legal and illegal in D.C. Dozens of high school students in Prince George's County walked out of their schools Friday to protest President-elect Donald Trump -- despite warnings from school leaders. One student was arrested and another escorted out during a demonstration at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. The student arrested is accused of threatening a police officer, according to a spokesperson for Prince George's County Public Schools. Elsewhere, demonstrations were largely peaceful and reflective. Some students said they didn't have the opportunity to vote, but want their voices to be heard. "We were not old enough to vote so this is how we are going to represent," said a young woman participating in Parkdale High School's protest. A large group of Parkdale students walked out at noon and chanted "Love is love." "When we have people who are saying that we need to stop protesting because we can't change the election, they're missing the point. They're missing our message," said Juwan Blocker, a student member of the Prince George's County School Board. At Northwestern High School in Hyattsville, students recited politically charged chants as passersby beeped to show their support. Both Northwestern and Parkdale are diverse schools made up of large immigrant and first-generation American populations. Students organized the protests through social media. The Prince George's County School system warned the students in advance that they would receive unexcused absences for walking out of school. "If Trump will be in office for four years, guess what? We're going to be out here for four years," said one Parkdale High School student. Harry Jaffe, a longtime chronicler of the people and politics of Washington, D.C., writes a column for NBC Washington's First Read DMV blog. Time to free D.C.! Not from Congress. Nor from the White House. Nor from federal control of the courts. With Donald Trump about to take up residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the time is ripe to free residents of the District from federal taxes. The new president could propose a tax-free D.C. in his first 100 days. It wouldnt be the craziest thing Donald Trump has said, from his denial of global warming or his diatribes on immigration or his railing against all environmental regulations. But on tax incentives for inner cities, he might not be so off base. Theres precedent in Republican politics, even in D.C. (more on that in a moment). And freeing the District from taxes fits perfectly with the president elects plan to revitalize urban areas. And its a simple fix. From many reports, Donald Trump is drawn to quick and dirty solutions, as opposed to drawn-out policy procedures. President Trump could even pitch it as a bipartisan approach to solve problems in urban areas. Both parties have proposed similar ideas before. Way back in 1990 Jesse Jackson and then-Mayor Marion Barry asked then-Delegate Walter Fauntroy to introduce a House bill that would exempt District residents from federal income tax. Fauntroy turned them down. Five years later, legendary former GOP congressman Jack Kemp advocated exempting District residents from federal taxes as a stimulus for low-income residents. Kemp, who later ran for vice president, was devoted to the District and the well-being of American cities. In 2000 Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton introduced legislation to exempt D.C. residents from paying federal taxes, until the District got full voting rights in the House and Senate. We put the same demand on Congress that the founders of our nation put to King George: Give us our vote, or give us our taxes, Norton said when she introduced her bill. In 2014 the Internal Revenue Service said it collected $26.4 billion from D.C residents. In fact, those numbers show one reason that my incredible idea is unlikely to fly the District just isnt as desperate for a middle class as it was back in the day when Barry proposed the idea. Norton introduced her 2000 bill to make a point, and she later withdrew it. Now shes less dead set against removing federal taxes because the government might reduce services in exchange. "With the elimination of some of its federal funds, the District would almost surely be compelled to raise local taxes in order to pay for many benefits and services provided by federal funds today," Norton says. Plus: "Many D.C. residents have expressed the view that an exemption from federal income taxes would draw an entirely new, ultra-rich demographic to the District, pushing out even more residents due to an increase in the cost of living, especially housing." Council member Jack Evans, chairman of the finance committee, likes the idea of as tax free D.C. but agrees it would pack the nation's capital with the rich. They, of course, could pay more in local taxes which could in turn increase affordable housing. But all that might not matter so much to Donald Trump. On the campaign trail Trump unveiled his urban renewal plan that would, among other things, call for tax holidays to spur inner city investment. In an Oct. 26 speech in Charlotte, N.C., Trump also suggested tax breaks for foreign companies that relocate to blighted neighborhoods. Why not go all the way and lift the federal tax burden? Imagine how many companies and wealthy individuals would settle in the District. They could generate billions in local taxes, too. I think its a great idea, says Grover Norquist. The president of Americans for Tax reform has never seen a tax increase worth making. It would give you a model. Why not then in Detroit? Let's be honest about statehood and full voting rights in Congress. Despite all the fine rhetoric, good intentions and the vote for the statehood referendum, neither will get any traction with Trump in the White House and Republicans controlling both House and Senate. Let's accept this reality and make a trade: keep you vote, we keep our taxes. President Trump would also have a personal reason to make the District a federal tax free zone. His flagship Trump Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue would be assured of success in a town where wealthy individuals and corporations set up shop. Plus, the president wouldn't have to change his tax habits. He hasnt paid federal taxes in decades. Why start now? Police are searching for a man they say set a woman on fire at a Virginia home early Saturday morning. Detectives said they are looking for Lewis Edward Reeder and believe he intentionally set the 64-year-old woman on fire after they got into an argument at their home in the 4900 block of Keeler Court in the Woodlawn area of Alexandria. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Deputy Chief Dan Gray said fire happened about 1:30 a.m. The woman was taken to the hospital with life-threatening burn injuries. Officers later arrived to the house for a call about an unruly person and a fire. Police consider Reeder dangerous and said they have responded to couple's home for domestic incidents in the past. The former chancellor of Washington, D.C., public schools is scheduled to meet with President-elect Donald Trump for a potential cabinet seat. A Trump administration official said Michelle Rhee will be meeting with Trump in New Jersey on Saturday to discuss the secretary of education position. She is currently Sacramento, Californias, first lady, but she was the chancellor of D.C. schools from 2007 to 2010. Her tenure in Washington courted controversy almost immediately after she took the position, closing 23 schools and firing 36 principals in her first year. In 2010, she fired 241 teachers under the terms of a new contract. Rhee's aggressive style drew massive public attention. Rhee made the cover of Time magazine in 2008, and made an appearance in the 2010 documentary film Waiting for Superman. Michelle Rhee was a disaster in Washington D.C. She supported independent, privately-run charters -- sometimes for-profit, Sacramento City Teachers Association Vice President Davis Fisher told KCRA. Pretty much used private school rules and public money to continue the have and have-nots. Rhee was not active in education in Sacramento or in California. Eataly Boston is set to open on Nov. 29 inside Boston's famed Prudential Center. "Boston was a no brainer," said CEO Nicola Farinetti. Farinetti said when he visited the North End, he was inspired to build an Eataly in Boston. He also pointed to the city's college scene as an excellent way to reach young people. "It's a good age to try and make them understand what you put into your body is more important than what you put outside your body," said Farinetti. Celebrity chef and Eataly partner Mario Batali also explained that Eataly is not just a store, it's an experience. "You can come in and taste a million things, try a thousand wines, but it's really about the education," he said. "It's about informing the customer on how to make their own decisions. There is also a cooking school inside Eataly Boston, so you can learn how to use the ingredients you can buy in store." Walking around Eataly, you'll see there are individual sections devoted to cheese, wine, pasta and meats. Since this location is in Boston, there's also a seafood section, which encourages shoppers to try different fish in hopes of creating a more sustainable fishing environment. Famed Boston Chef Barbara Lynch was personally brought in by Mario Batali to consult on the seafood element of Eataly Boston. She says she was happy to share her knowledge of the local fishing industry. "This is a commitment to the public," Lynch said. Farinetti said this new Eataly is bringing 600 jobs to Boston. It's also working with local farms and vendors to supply the store with plenty of locally sourced goods. A 5-year-old and an adult were killed in a 2-vehicle crash that caused massive backups on Interstate 95 in Wells on Friday afternoon. Maine State Police said the accident occurred around 2:30 p.m. and involved a tractor trailer and a car. Earl Gray, a 57-year-old Waterboro man, and 5-year-old Wyatt Frost of Lyman were killed. Both were in the car. According to police, Gray volunteered as a driver for York County Community Action. He had provided Frost with transportation for about two years. Police say 56-year-old John Kamau of Lowell, Massachusetts, who was delivering mail from New Hampshire to Portland, Maine, was driving the box truck that struck Gray's car and knocked it into another truck in front of it. Kamau and the other truck driver were slightly injured but not hospitalized. The accident shut down all three northbound lanes, causing an 8-mile backup that lasted more than four hours. Police said many vehicles were stuck in traffic for so long that they ran out of gas and became disabled. The wreckage had been removed as of 7 p.m., and state police were working to assist any stranded motorists. In an unrelated accident earlier, police say an erratic driver was thrown from a vehicle after hitting a guardrail in Kennebunk. That person was critically hurt. The traffic was slowing down when the deadly Wells crash took place. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh is hosting a city-wide dialogue Saturday on race in the city. People who live in Boston think it's a good idea. "I think it may be a good thing," said Percy Job. "We're all one people," said Dominique Haywood. "We need to unite." Haywood has spent her entire life living in the Boston area she's only faced racism once. She said someone used profanity referencing the color of her skin. "I just told him it's OK. We all bleed red," said Haywood. Job, originally from Trinidad, said he notices racial divide in the workplace. He was once the only black chef in a full staffed kitchen. "It's an uneasy environment because you'd not feel comfortable," said Job. "You see the bias in the employment situation." That's perhaps one of the many reasons why Walsh is holding the first of many discussions on race. "It's really about getting people to really talk about and understand racism and what it is, systemic racism and what that is," said Walsh. Boston City Councillor Ayanna Pressley, the first Woman of color elected to the council in 2009, said inclusion and cultural acceptance is something she'd like to see strengthened, especially in government. "Ultimately, government is strengthened by diversity of respective opinion and thought," said Pressley. "In order for our policies to be more robust and impactful, we need to be inclusive at decision making tables." Saturday's discussion is being held at the Cutler Majestic Theatre. A winter storm warning has been expanded to parts of New England. That warning has expanded into part of the Berkshires and southern Vermont. A wind advisory has been issued for coastal Connecticut, Rhode Island and the Cape and Islands. There could be wind gusts of 50 mph and power outages. For a preview of whats coming, check out this picture from Smethport, Pennsylvania: The picture on the left was taken Friday afternoon; the one on the right was shot this afternoon. At 11 a.m., the temperature in Smethport was 60; by 3 p.m., the temperature dropped to 32. Were expecting this type of significant temperature drop Sunday. First we will see a round of showers. Showers will change to snow across the higher elevations of western New England before daybreak Sunday. Dont expect a changeover to snow near the coast precipitation will end before the temperature drop. As gusty winds develop out of the west northwest the higher elevations will see significant upslope snow. When air is forced to rise over the mountains, it condenses, turns into clouds and then snow. Upslope snow is favorable through Monday evening (possibly even through Tuesday morning). Total snowfall accumulations could reach 2 feet near Jay Peak; 8 or more inches throughout the Green Mountains and up to a half foot in the Berkshires. More than 100 children are set to be formally adopted in courthouses across Massachusetts as part of National Adoption Day. Courthouses in Brockton, Boston and Worcester will host speakers and adoption ceremonies. The events are being held to bring awareness to children in Massachusetts that are in need of adoption. "It's a great opportunity for us to say and there are still 800 children here in Massachusetts who don't have these wonderful families," Lisa Funaro, Executive Director at the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange said. The George N. Covett Courthouse, the Edward W. Brooke Courthouse and Worcester Trial Court will hold events in their communities for National Adoption Day. The Pachecos of Fall River adopted their son Elijah at the event. They could have done it in July, but wanted to be part of the nationwide effort raising awareness. "I've got a lot of love so it's amazing. It's really not as hard as people think and there are a lot of children who need families," Tatiana Pacheco said. This was the 14th year Massachusetts took part in National Adoption Day. By the end of it, 125 children were adopted by 99 families. "It's an awesome feeling. I feel a sense of completion, like our family's complete," Amy Pacheco said. Boston Police said a man was shot and killed in the city's Dorchester neighborhood early Saturday morning. Around 2:54 a.m., police responded to a radio call for a person shot in the area of 195 Normandy St. Upon arrival, officers found a male victim in his late 20s suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He died at the scene. Boston Police are continuing to investigate the shooting. No arrests have been made. Anyone with information is asked to call the Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470. Anonymous tips can be called in to the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1-800-494-TIPS or by texting the word TIP to CRIME (27463). A woman doctor was assaulted eight day ago while she was on her morning walk. After necn Investigates uncovered a growing problem of local landlords putting children on eviction notices, Massachusetts lawmakers are taking action. "From what I know now, it is something that should be prohibited," State Sen. Will Brownsberger told necn. Brownsberger was surprised when necn Investigates first told him about the problem. "We're seeing this increasing becoming an issue," Annette Duke of the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute said. Being named on an eviction notice can have long last effects on a child's ability to get money for college and housing. Parents can go to court and ask the judge to drop their children as defendants. But Duke believes that's not enough. "In California, just a couple of weeks ago, they passed a law that says cases will stay private unless the landlord gets a judgment," Duke said. The practice, while disturbing, is legal in Massachusetts. Because there isn't a standard lease agreement that landlords use in the state, where you put your kids on the lease could make a big difference. If the children are listed as tenants instead of occupants, the kids can be on the hook financially and that could have devastating and long lasting effects. According to a spokesperson for Massachusetts courts, last year there were nearly 41,000 eviction cases. "We should definitely take a look at it and find out how it's happening, why it's happening, Brownsberger said. An arrest has been made in Friday's hit-and-run of a 72-year old woman in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Police announced Saturday they arrested Arnold Hernandez, 25, of Lynn, on an unrelated warrant at his workplace in Revere. Police said they received a tip Saturday morning that led them to a suspect vehicle on Chestnut Street in Chelsea. Through a family member, investigators were able to verify that Hernandez was operating that vehicle Friday during the hit-and-run incident at the intersection of Broadway and Fourth Street. The Chelsea woman who was struck suffered non life-threatening injuries. Hernandez has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident causing personal injury, operating a motor vehicle without a license and operating to endanger. He is expected to be arraigned on Monday in Chelsea District Court. A Winchester man was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of his mother and two pet cats, say Winchester Police. Matthew McAveeney, 48, pleaded guilty to beating his mother, Barbara McAveeney, 70, to death in October 2014. McAveeny lived with his mother at the time. He faces charges of first-degree murder, assault and battery on a person over the age of 60 and two counts of animal cruelty. Barbara McAveeneys body was discovered by a repairman and building manager who made their way in to the McAveenys apartment while Matthew McAveeney was away. The accused had apparently asked the repairman to return later when he came to the apartment the previous day. Video footage acquired by the police showed McAveeney removing furniture and evidence from the apartment and placing it in the apartment complexs dumpsters. McAveeney fled Massachusetts and was apprehended in Belmont, North Carolina about a week after the body was discovered. In his nomination of Representative Mike Pompeo to head the CIA, President-elect Donald Trump has picked someone who has supported NSA surveillance programs and has criticized Silicon Valley's stance on encryption. Pompeo, a Republican from Kansas, is a former cavalry officer in the U.S. Army and a graduate of West Point military academy. He currently serves on the House Intelligence Committee and is perhaps best known for his role on the Benghazi committee that investigated Hillary Clinton. But his committee assignment has also put him in the middle of several recent issues that have pitched the U.S. intelligence community against major tech companies. Back in February when the FBI was fighting Apple to gain access to data inside an iPhone used by a San Bernadino mass shooter, Pompeo criticized the company's position. Pompeo called Apple CEO Tim Cook's resistance to a subpoena "disappointing" and said he "should not stand in the way of the FBIs investigation into a dead ISIS terrorist, who has the blood of 14 innocent Americans on his hands." The FBI had asked Apple to create custom software that would allow it an unlimited number of attempts to crack a passcode on the phone. Apple refused, and the case ended unresolved after the FBI said it had ultimately gained access to the iPhone using other methods. Pompeo has also supported the National Security Agency's decision to run some of its expansive surveillance programs that came to light after Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor, leaked secret documents to media organizations. In the face of widespread resistance to NSA domestic data collection, Pompeo opposed limits and argued that the agency's surveillance programs are essential in fighting the threat or terrorism aimed at targets in the U.S. He has also been a constant critic of Snowden. Commenting on his committee's report into Snowden, Pompeo called him "a liar and a criminal" and said, "the appropriate action would be to send Snowden to prison, not give him a pardon." Back in 2014, he pushed the organizers of the SXSW conference to cancel an event where Snowden appeared via video conference. In making his choice, Trump said Pompeo "will be a brilliant and unrelenting leader for our intelligence community to ensure the safety of Americans and our allies." His nomination will need to clear the Senate, and there will be some resistance. In response to the nomination, Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, said the CIA needs "principled leadership now more than ever." Wyden criticized Pompeo's support for torture of terrorism suspects. "Unfortunately, Representative Pompeos comments in which he asserted that the CIAs torture program was legal and that the American people did not deserve to know about it are deeply troubling," Wyden said. Members of Congress received a dire warning this week about security vulnerabilities in the so-called internet of things (IoT), as cyber experts cautioned that with billions of new devices coming online, coordinated hacking attacks could become -- literally -- a matter of life and death. House lawmakers convened the hearing on IoT security in response to last month's distributed denial-of-service attack on the internet addressing provider Dyn, which resulted in temporary outages at popular sites like Twitter and Spotify. [ Related: How the Dyn DDoS attack unfolded ] But that incident, while a nuisance for Internet users and an embarrassment for the companies affected, might only be a prelude to far more serious attacks with potentially catastrophic consequences in the physical world, warns Bruce Schneier, a security expert and a lecturer at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. "This is more dangerous as our systems get more critical," Schneier says. "The Dyn attack was benign -- a couple of websites went down. IoT affects the world in a direct, physical manner -- cars, appliances, thermostats, airplanes -- there's real risks to life and property." [ Related: IoT security suffers from a lack of awareness ] Schneier and other witnesses gave a sobering assessment of the security status of the exploding IoT, where billions of devices are projected to come online over the next few years, many of which are everyday objects such as household appliances, generally low-margin items mass-produced by manufacturers that don't employ the army of security specialists found at tech companies like Apple or Google. Inadequate IoT security could have dire consequences Schneier describes that condition as a "market failure," arguing that the economics simply don't incentivize manufacturers to build in rigid security at the design and production stage. So soft entry points in the waves of new products coming online create an environment where those devices can be compromised and marshaled into powerful botnets that could be turned against physical infrastructure. "In short, IoT security remains woefully inadequate," says Kevin Fu, CEO of the cybersecurity firm Virta Labs and an associate professor at the University of Michigan. "None of these attacks are fundamentally new, but the sophistication, the scale of disruption and the impact on infrastructure is unprecedented." Fu is particularly concerned about the implications of an IoT hack in the healthcare space, where new networked devices are deployed in sensitive environments with self-evident real-world implications. "We're going to have some serious trouble if we don't answer these questions," Fu says. "I fear for the day where every hospital system is down, for instance, because an IoT attack brings down the entire healthcare system." Government should play a role in IoT security The question of the proper role of the government in shoring up IoT security is tricky. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle acknowledge that regulating individual technologies is a non-starter, given the rapid pace of technological development and how quickly security threats can evolve. Witnesses suggested that organizations like the National Institute of Standards and Technology or the National Science Foundation could play a helpful role by formulating principles-based specifications that could help manufactures and application developers incorporate strong security protections from the outset. "I think the best place to start is with standards," says Dale Drew, senior vice president and chief security officer at Level 3 Communications, an Internet backbone provider. Schneier is likewise a proponent of strong security standards that could be extended out to the global production and supply chain. But in considering the role of government, he goes a step further, arguing that with the attacks expected only to worsen and potentially to bear a human toll, the feds will have to take action sooner or later. [ Related: After DDoS attack senator seeks industry led security standards for IoT devices ] "I see the choice as not between government involvement and no government involvement, but between smart government involvement and stupid government involvement," Schneier says. He recalls the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, when Congress moved swiftly to authorize the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, what would become a hulking bureaucracy with extensive authority in the cyber arena. While he professes that he is no fan of excessive government regulation, Schneier views the potential for real-world harm from cyberattacks as a call to action. Simply put, "We regulate dangerous things," he says. "In the world of dangerous things, we constrain innovation. You cannot just build a plane and fly it. You can't, because it could fall on somebody's house," Schneier says. "It might be that the Internet era of fun and games is over, because the Internet is now dangerous." This story, "IoT attacks could bring real-world damage" was originally published by CIO . Attackers who were trying to turn the Ask.com Toolbar into a malware dispensary got caught early on when their scheme was picked up by security services that were looking for anomalies. The malicious actors are unknown but they managed to get the legitimate Ask.com toolbar update feature to place a dropper/uploader into the browsers of several customers of security firm Red Canary. Once installed, the dropper would bring in secondary malware including banking Trojans and other online-fraud code, says Keith McCammon, CSO of Red Canary. The secondary payloads varied, and some of the dozen or so compromised machines his team found had downloaded more than one kind, he says. That makes McCammon think the perpetrators were experimenting with various types of malware to zero in on which one would be most effective for their purposes. He detected no attempt to mass-distribute any one form of malware that could have become widespread. The CSO described these secondary applications as off-the-shelf. When Red Canary contacted Ask.com, the Q&A/search service provider responded quickly and issued updates that blocked the attacks. McCammon says he hasnt found evidence of attacks since. Ask.coms parent company IAC, which Red Canary dealt with, has not responded to Network Worlds request for information. This story will be updated when it does. McCammon says the behavior of the browser after it had been contaminated raised a red flag. It was executing files with a .png extension, which is unusual, as was the fact that the first-stage dropper/downloader was signed just hours before they were discovered. In the normal course of things, a legitimate update would be signed, then run through quality assurance before being pushed, a process that takes days or weeks. Somehow the attackers got their malware signed by Ask.com and sent out quickly, he says. These observations by Red Canarys security platform flagged the activity for the companys human analysts to check out. McCammon says he doubts the attack would have been discovered by a completely automated system that was analyzing anomalies on its own. This story, "Attacks to make Ask.com Toolbar a conduit for malware are nipped in the bud" was originally published by Network World . By PTI NEW DELHI: Adani Enterprises today announced that it proposes to commence construction of two major solar projects in Australia next year, each with an output of 100-200 MW. "The largest generator of solar energy in India, the Adani Group has taken its first steps towards replicating that ranking in Australia," Adani Enterprises said in a filing to BSE. Land agreements are in place for the projects in South Australia and Queensland, and Adani has commenced the design and tendering phases for both projects, it said. Adani aims to develop renewable energy projects in Australia with a total capacity of 1,500 MW within the next five years. Adani has constructed approximately 793 MW of solar plant in India till date, including one of the world's largest solar plants in Tamil Nadu which have a capacity of 648 MW. Adani has a pipeline of a further 1,225 MW in construction or late development phase in India. Generation of solar energy is part of Adani's global strategic balanced approach to power generation with its fleet of coal-fired, solar and wind plants supporting the energy policies of the nations in which Adani operates. The Australian solar projects are in addition to Adani's USD 16.5 billion investment in the planned Carmichael coal mine in Queensland's Galilee Basin a well as rail and port facilities. The company's head of Australian operations, Jeyakumar Janakaraj, said that these projects will offer a solid foundation to Adani's renewable energy business in Australia and will contribute to meeting Australia's renewable energy target commitments. "Coupled with the company's $3.3 billion dollars of investment to date across its mine, rail and port projects in Queensland, Adani's plans to pursue solar investment opportunities reflect the confidence the company has in the Australian market," Janakaraj said. "This reflects both Adani's commitment as a diversified energy and infrastructure company in India and a leading solar generator in that market, and the company's plans to build a long-term future with Australia." NEW DELHI: Adani Enterprises today announced that it proposes to commence construction of two major solar projects in Australia next year, each with an output of 100-200 MW. "The largest generator of solar energy in India, the Adani Group has taken its first steps towards replicating that ranking in Australia," Adani Enterprises said in a filing to BSE. Land agreements are in place for the projects in South Australia and Queensland, and Adani has commenced the design and tendering phases for both projects, it said. Adani aims to develop renewable energy projects in Australia with a total capacity of 1,500 MW within the next five years. Adani has constructed approximately 793 MW of solar plant in India till date, including one of the world's largest solar plants in Tamil Nadu which have a capacity of 648 MW. Adani has a pipeline of a further 1,225 MW in construction or late development phase in India. Generation of solar energy is part of Adani's global strategic balanced approach to power generation with its fleet of coal-fired, solar and wind plants supporting the energy policies of the nations in which Adani operates. The Australian solar projects are in addition to Adani's USD 16.5 billion investment in the planned Carmichael coal mine in Queensland's Galilee Basin a well as rail and port facilities. The company's head of Australian operations, Jeyakumar Janakaraj, said that these projects will offer a solid foundation to Adani's renewable energy business in Australia and will contribute to meeting Australia's renewable energy target commitments. "Coupled with the company's $3.3 billion dollars of investment to date across its mine, rail and port projects in Queensland, Adani's plans to pursue solar investment opportunities reflect the confidence the company has in the Australian market," Janakaraj said. "This reflects both Adani's commitment as a diversified energy and infrastructure company in India and a leading solar generator in that market, and the company's plans to build a long-term future with Australia." By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Cabinet Secretary on Saturday gave lessons to 400 joint secretary rank officers of the central government on the impact of Goods and Services Tax implementation. Parliament is expected to clear bills for modalities on the implementation of GST in ongoing Winter Session, so that the uniform tax regime can be ready to meet its deadline by April 2017. A day-long seminar, ahead of GST Council meet scheduled for next week, was held in Manekshaw auditorium in Delhi cantonment was attended by joint secretaries of all ministries for an interactive seminar. Countrys senior most babu Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha while giving of details on GST also mentioned Impact of GST will be felt by all sectors... various stakeholders need to be familiarised with the new taxation system to ensure a smooth transition, Sinha said in a letter to all the Secretaries of the union government. Sinha also said that senior officials can contribute to this in a major way by educating the different stakeholders. GST is seen as the most important reform in the indirect tax system in the country. Indirect tax structure in India is highly complex with hidden costs for trade and industry. Non-uniformity across the States, cascading of taxes due to tax on tax and multiplicity of taxes in the current tax laws are huge deterrents for the businesses. In the seminar, members of the technical committee on GST explained nitty-gritty of the major tax reforms to top bureaucrats of the country. NEW DELHI: The Cabinet Secretary on Saturday gave lessons to 400 joint secretary rank officers of the central government on the impact of Goods and Services Tax implementation. Parliament is expected to clear bills for modalities on the implementation of GST in ongoing Winter Session, so that the uniform tax regime can be ready to meet its deadline by April 2017. A day-long seminar, ahead of GST Council meet scheduled for next week, was held in Manekshaw auditorium in Delhi cantonment was attended by joint secretaries of all ministries for an interactive seminar. Countrys senior most babu Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha while giving of details on GST also mentioned Impact of GST will be felt by all sectors... various stakeholders need to be familiarised with the new taxation system to ensure a smooth transition, Sinha said in a letter to all the Secretaries of the union government. Sinha also said that senior officials can contribute to this in a major way by educating the different stakeholders. GST is seen as the most important reform in the indirect tax system in the country. Indirect tax structure in India is highly complex with hidden costs for trade and industry. Non-uniformity across the States, cascading of taxes due to tax on tax and multiplicity of taxes in the current tax laws are huge deterrents for the businesses. In the seminar, members of the technical committee on GST explained nitty-gritty of the major tax reforms to top bureaucrats of the country. Amit S Upadhye By Express News Service BK HALLI (HALIYAL): Chaotic scenes in front of ATM kiosks are a common sight across the country now. But an ATM in BK Halli village, which remains fully loaded with currency, is finding few users. Reason: most of the account holders in the village do not know how to use the machine. Moreover, the location of the ATM is such that many are ignorant about its existence. The Canara Bank ATM in the village near Haliyal welcomes you with an empty kiosk. If you enter it reluctantly, you will be in for a pleasant surprise to find an operational machine. After the demonetisation issue hit headlines, some villagers, who have debit cards went to use the machine but in vain, thanks to their limited knowledge of using ATMs. But as the queues at ATMs in nearby towns get longer, the ATM at BK Halli may also get crowded soon, say bank officials. Sometimes, residents from Haliyal come all the way to BK Halli to withdraw Rs 2,000. We had deposited money in the ATM about two days ago, and it still has cash, said an official from the bank. The ATM was made operational about three years ago as the account holders for the bank grew in the surrounding villages. BK Halli and neighbouring Tatwanagi villages have few landlords and agri-business owners are the main customers of the bank. Many farmers have taken loans for tractors and other agricultural equipment from the bank. However, most of them never used the debit card for withdrawals. As there is cash crunch in the market, now they are attempting to use the debit card, the official added. The bank gave us card a few months ago. But as I cannot read and write, I am unable to use the ATM. I usually go to ATM with my neighbour whenever I require some cash. We are not aware about the currency exchange issue that is going around. We only get some news through television, said an elderly woman from the village. BK HALLI (HALIYAL): Chaotic scenes in front of ATM kiosks are a common sight across the country now. But an ATM in BK Halli village, which remains fully loaded with currency, is finding few users. Reason: most of the account holders in the village do not know how to use the machine. Moreover, the location of the ATM is such that many are ignorant about its existence. The Canara Bank ATM in the village near Haliyal welcomes you with an empty kiosk. If you enter it reluctantly, you will be in for a pleasant surprise to find an operational machine. After the demonetisation issue hit headlines, some villagers, who have debit cards went to use the machine but in vain, thanks to their limited knowledge of using ATMs. But as the queues at ATMs in nearby towns get longer, the ATM at BK Halli may also get crowded soon, say bank officials. Sometimes, residents from Haliyal come all the way to BK Halli to withdraw Rs 2,000. We had deposited money in the ATM about two days ago, and it still has cash, said an official from the bank. The ATM was made operational about three years ago as the account holders for the bank grew in the surrounding villages. BK Halli and neighbouring Tatwanagi villages have few landlords and agri-business owners are the main customers of the bank. Many farmers have taken loans for tractors and other agricultural equipment from the bank. However, most of them never used the debit card for withdrawals. As there is cash crunch in the market, now they are attempting to use the debit card, the official added. The bank gave us card a few months ago. But as I cannot read and write, I am unable to use the ATM. I usually go to ATM with my neighbour whenever I require some cash. We are not aware about the currency exchange issue that is going around. We only get some news through television, said an elderly woman from the village. By Express News Service BENGALURU: Students from Bengaluru who are studying at various foreign universities and are in possession of some demonetised Indian currency notes are not able to exchange them as there are a very few Indian banks abroad and foreign banks are not accepting it. Rakesh, who is pursuing his post-graduation in Germany, has Rs 10,000 in Rs 1,000 denomination with him. This was given to him by his grandmother when he left Bengaluru for his studies in RWTH University, Aachen. Now he is in a dilemma as he is not able to exchange the notes anywhere in Germany. Another student, Anirudh, had Rs 4,000 in hand when he left India. Not realising that the money had been demonetised all these days, he is now making efforts to exchange it. However, it is not so easy at Aachen as there are no Indian banks there. The State Bank of India branch at Frankfurt is too far and so he is hoping to send the money back through his common friends. The story is the same in many other German cities, be it Berlin, Stuttgart or Esslingen. Sisters Prathikisha and Nireeksha Nijigal, who are studying in the UK, too are facing a similar situation as they are not able to exchange the demonetised notes that they have. Sunitha Rajeev, their mother said they are travelling to the UK next month and shall get the demonetised notes back. BENGALURU: Students from Bengaluru who are studying at various foreign universities and are in possession of some demonetised Indian currency notes are not able to exchange them as there are a very few Indian banks abroad and foreign banks are not accepting it. Rakesh, who is pursuing his post-graduation in Germany, has Rs 10,000 in Rs 1,000 denomination with him. This was given to him by his grandmother when he left Bengaluru for his studies in RWTH University, Aachen. Now he is in a dilemma as he is not able to exchange the notes anywhere in Germany. Another student, Anirudh, had Rs 4,000 in hand when he left India. Not realising that the money had been demonetised all these days, he is now making efforts to exchange it. However, it is not so easy at Aachen as there are no Indian banks there. The State Bank of India branch at Frankfurt is too far and so he is hoping to send the money back through his common friends. The story is the same in many other German cities, be it Berlin, Stuttgart or Esslingen. Sisters Prathikisha and Nireeksha Nijigal, who are studying in the UK, too are facing a similar situation as they are not able to exchange the demonetised notes that they have. Sunitha Rajeev, their mother said they are travelling to the UK next month and shall get the demonetised notes back. C Shivakumar By Express News Service CHENNAI: For all those stuck in the demonetisation rut, the immediate future looks decidedly bleaker: the Cathedral Currency Chest in Chennai, which holds huge amounts of cash to be disbursed to many public sector banks, is fast drying up. This has forced the Reserve Bank of India to restrict supply of cash to just about 10 per cent of the usual tranche, which is sure to lead to an acute currency scarcity and resultant chaos in the coming days. Speaking to Express on condition of anonymity, a senior official of a public sector bank said they had received a circular from the Controlling Officer of the bank stating that his branch should manage the operations with Rs. 8 lakh. This is against the average daily requirement of around Rs. 60-70 lakh. The Cathedral Currency Chest supplies money to a section of public sector banks here, while others like SBI have different chests. This severe crunch in liquidity caused by the confiscatory demonetisation of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 currency notes is likely to hit hard the traders and also the families that have planned weddings and other expenses. The development has worried bankers who have to face the ire of the public who are desperate to withdraw their money. When a woman customer came today seeking Rs. 1.50 lakh for wedding expenses, we had run out of money. So I asked her to come on Saturday. She was desperate and so assured that the money will be given. It is her money. But how can I give her that and meet the rest of the demand with just the remaining Rs. 6.50 lakh? rued a public sector banker. For an average bank, the present limit is so low that it cannot run any operation. On an average, we need a cash inflow of Rs. 60-70 lakh a day. What would we do with Rs.8 lakh? asked another bank official. Criticising the RBI for allegedly failing to understand the needs of liquidity for banks, he fumed: It is a central bank while we are commercial banks. We are the ones in contact with people; we face their abuse. However, sounding a positive note, City Union Bank managing director N Kamakodi said the measure was a short-term one which would last only for two or three days. By the end of the month, all ATMs will be disbursing newly-introduced Rs. 500 currencies. It may create some discomfort but is manageable, he said. Those who have weddings coming up in the family should intimate the banks well in advance, at least by 48 hours, he advised. CHENNAI: For all those stuck in the demonetisation rut, the immediate future looks decidedly bleaker: the Cathedral Currency Chest in Chennai, which holds huge amounts of cash to be disbursed to many public sector banks, is fast drying up. This has forced the Reserve Bank of India to restrict supply of cash to just about 10 per cent of the usual tranche, which is sure to lead to an acute currency scarcity and resultant chaos in the coming days. Speaking to Express on condition of anonymity, a senior official of a public sector bank said they had received a circular from the Controlling Officer of the bank stating that his branch should manage the operations with Rs. 8 lakh. This is against the average daily requirement of around Rs. 60-70 lakh. The Cathedral Currency Chest supplies money to a section of public sector banks here, while others like SBI have different chests. This severe crunch in liquidity caused by the confiscatory demonetisation of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 currency notes is likely to hit hard the traders and also the families that have planned weddings and other expenses. The development has worried bankers who have to face the ire of the public who are desperate to withdraw their money. When a woman customer came today seeking Rs. 1.50 lakh for wedding expenses, we had run out of money. So I asked her to come on Saturday. She was desperate and so assured that the money will be given. It is her money. But how can I give her that and meet the rest of the demand with just the remaining Rs. 6.50 lakh? rued a public sector banker. For an average bank, the present limit is so low that it cannot run any operation. On an average, we need a cash inflow of Rs. 60-70 lakh a day. What would we do with Rs.8 lakh? asked another bank official. Criticising the RBI for allegedly failing to understand the needs of liquidity for banks, he fumed: It is a central bank while we are commercial banks. We are the ones in contact with people; we face their abuse. However, sounding a positive note, City Union Bank managing director N Kamakodi said the measure was a short-term one which would last only for two or three days. By the end of the month, all ATMs will be disbursing newly-introduced Rs. 500 currencies. It may create some discomfort but is manageable, he said. Those who have weddings coming up in the family should intimate the banks well in advance, at least by 48 hours, he advised. By Express News Service CHENNAI: The Kings Day celebrations of Belgium was marked in the city with a glitzy event hosted by the Consul General of the kingdom at the Taj Coromandel, which was attended by the citys elite and members of other consulates. Kings Day is commemorated every year on November 15 in honour of the Belgian monarch and the royal family. Speaking on the occasion, Consul General Bart De Groof stressed the importance of maintaining good bilateral ties. We keep in mind the possibilities offered by Indias timely initiatives, such as the smart cities, cleaning of rivers, development of inland waterways and renewable energy. Currently, we are faced with challenges that require joint and global networks to tackle them. Groof harped on the increased cooperation between the two countries, citing the number of delegations received in India. Last year in South India alone we had two delegations, one led by the Belgian Secretary of Foreign Trade in Chennai and another by the Minister-President of the region of Flanders in Bangalore. We were the first Western country to send an Ambassador to India in 1947; this means that in 2017 we will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of bilateral relations. To mark this occasion, there will be a state visit by the King to India, he said. CHENNAI: The Kings Day celebrations of Belgium was marked in the city with a glitzy event hosted by the Consul General of the kingdom at the Taj Coromandel, which was attended by the citys elite and members of other consulates. Kings Day is commemorated every year on November 15 in honour of the Belgian monarch and the royal family. Speaking on the occasion, Consul General Bart De Groof stressed the importance of maintaining good bilateral ties. We keep in mind the possibilities offered by Indias timely initiatives, such as the smart cities, cleaning of rivers, development of inland waterways and renewable energy. Currently, we are faced with challenges that require joint and global networks to tackle them. Groof harped on the increased cooperation between the two countries, citing the number of delegations received in India. Last year in South India alone we had two delegations, one led by the Belgian Secretary of Foreign Trade in Chennai and another by the Minister-President of the region of Flanders in Bangalore. We were the first Western country to send an Ambassador to India in 1947; this means that in 2017 we will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of bilateral relations. To mark this occasion, there will be a state visit by the King to India, he said. By Express News Service CHENNAI: It was rather a miraculous escape for several people, who got trapped in two major fire accidents on Friday. Around 9.30 am, the three-storey business complex Dass India caught fire, sparking panic. Within no time, the building was engulfed in dense fire and the billowing dark smoke caught people totally unaware. There are three banks operating in the building. A Chandru of YES bank told Express that all the employees reported for duty at 9 am and the banks back-office was located on the second floor. Minutes after coming to office, we noticed fire at the bank premises and we all ran out of the building. A few got trapped on the second and third floors. We immediately informed the fire services, he said. V Manivannan, District Fire Officer of North Chennai, said that initially it was difficult to assess the source of the fire, but after a few minutes, it was found out that the fire was emanating from the basement. The fire services personnel have rescued four men and a woman trapped on the third floor using a 50-foot ladder. It took about two hours for the firemen to douse the fire. The officer said the fire might have been triggered from the generator and spread quickly to all floors since there were used plastic furniture stocked in the basement. In another incident, the two-storey Pfizer pharmaceutical company in the Guindy industrial estate caught fire at around 11 am. It is located in the Labour Colony at the Guindy Industrial Estate. N Vijayakumar, District Fire Officer of South Chennai, said they got a call at around 12.40 pm and immediately rushed to the spot. Eight firefighting vehicles were pressed into service and it took over two hours to douse the fire. According to the company staff, crores of ruppes worthmedicines got engulfed in the fire. CHENNAI: It was rather a miraculous escape for several people, who got trapped in two major fire accidents on Friday. Around 9.30 am, the three-storey business complex Dass India caught fire, sparking panic. Within no time, the building was engulfed in dense fire and the billowing dark smoke caught people totally unaware. There are three banks operating in the building. A Chandru of YES bank told Express that all the employees reported for duty at 9 am and the banks back-office was located on the second floor. Minutes after coming to office, we noticed fire at the bank premises and we all ran out of the building. A few got trapped on the second and third floors. We immediately informed the fire services, he said. V Manivannan, District Fire Officer of North Chennai, said that initially it was difficult to assess the source of the fire, but after a few minutes, it was found out that the fire was emanating from the basement. The fire services personnel have rescued four men and a woman trapped on the third floor using a 50-foot ladder. It took about two hours for the firemen to douse the fire. The officer said the fire might have been triggered from the generator and spread quickly to all floors since there were used plastic furniture stocked in the basement. In another incident, the two-storey Pfizer pharmaceutical company in the Guindy industrial estate caught fire at around 11 am. It is located in the Labour Colony at the Guindy Industrial Estate. N Vijayakumar, District Fire Officer of South Chennai, said they got a call at around 12.40 pm and immediately rushed to the spot. Eight firefighting vehicles were pressed into service and it took over two hours to douse the fire. According to the company staff, crores of ruppes worthmedicines got engulfed in the fire. By Express News Service CHENNAI: Modern institutions need to be carefully examined, as modernity in the present context promotes irreverence, says well known political commentator S Gurumurthy. At a panel discussion, Uncompromising Ethics for a Compromised World, organised by Chennai International Centre at Madras School of Economics on Saturday, Gurumurthy said the greatest harm done by modernity was the focus on rights sans the emphasis on individual responsibility. Stating that it was essential to question the ideals that are currently being promoted among schools, Gurumurthy said, Instead, we must try to unlearn much of what we have learnt. There are informal institutions where such learning couldbe gained from parents. In order to develop an ethical society, he said two pillars are required, namely, humility and contentmet, two qualities which cannot be inculcated through legislation. The discussion was moderated by Tenzin Priyadarshi, Director, Centre for Ethics and Transformation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Samdhong Rinpoche, eminent Buddhist scholar & former Prime Minister of Tibet-in- Exile explained about the role of modernisation and its impact on individual ethics. Questioning the need to compromise on ethical values in order to survive in modern society, the Buddhist scholar said the growth of technology had made humans consumers rather than users. CHENNAI: Modern institutions need to be carefully examined, as modernity in the present context promotes irreverence, says well known political commentator S Gurumurthy. At a panel discussion, Uncompromising Ethics for a Compromised World, organised by Chennai International Centre at Madras School of Economics on Saturday, Gurumurthy said the greatest harm done by modernity was the focus on rights sans the emphasis on individual responsibility. Stating that it was essential to question the ideals that are currently being promoted among schools, Gurumurthy said, Instead, we must try to unlearn much of what we have learnt. There are informal institutions where such learning couldbe gained from parents. In order to develop an ethical society, he said two pillars are required, namely, humility and contentmet, two qualities which cannot be inculcated through legislation. The discussion was moderated by Tenzin Priyadarshi, Director, Centre for Ethics and Transformation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Samdhong Rinpoche, eminent Buddhist scholar & former Prime Minister of Tibet-in- Exile explained about the role of modernisation and its impact on individual ethics. Questioning the need to compromise on ethical values in order to survive in modern society, the Buddhist scholar said the growth of technology had made humans consumers rather than users. By Express News Service KOCHI: The bodies of three persons, who were among the five persons who went missing after a pick-up plunged into the Vembanad lake from the Aroor-Kumbalam bridge the other day, were recovered on Friday. Since the bodies of all the victims have been recovered, the authorities called off the search. The bodies of Nepal-natives Shyam Khatri and Jaman Bahadur were traced to a spot near the Edakochi-Aroor bridge at 12 am and 8.30 am. The body of Nijas Ali of Madhurakulam was recovered from Perumpadappu around 9.30 am. The bodies were shifted to Ernakulam General Hospital and Triupunithura Taluk Hospital. Later, Nijas body was handed over to relatives after postmortem, said Traffic East Assistant Commissioner A J George. The five persons, four Nepal nationals and one Keralite, had drowned after the van carrying nine persons broke the railing of the bridge and fell into the backwaters on Wednesday evening. Four persons were rescued by fishermen and local residents soon after the incident. The deceased were employees of Chitra Decorations, Edappally. The search operation was carried out by Coastal Police, Indian Navy and the Fire and Rescue Services Department. ACP A J George said the authorities had contacted the brothers of two victims. The information about the other three victims will be passed on to relatives through the Nepal Embassy. The relatives of two of the deceased are in Kochi, who have decided to conduct the cremation here. KOCHI: The bodies of three persons, who were among the five persons who went missing after a pick-up plunged into the Vembanad lake from the Aroor-Kumbalam bridge the other day, were recovered on Friday. Since the bodies of all the victims have been recovered, the authorities called off the search. The bodies of Nepal-natives Shyam Khatri and Jaman Bahadur were traced to a spot near the Edakochi-Aroor bridge at 12 am and 8.30 am. The body of Nijas Ali of Madhurakulam was recovered from Perumpadappu around 9.30 am. The bodies were shifted to Ernakulam General Hospital and Triupunithura Taluk Hospital. Later, Nijas body was handed over to relatives after postmortem, said Traffic East Assistant Commissioner A J George. The five persons, four Nepal nationals and one Keralite, had drowned after the van carrying nine persons broke the railing of the bridge and fell into the backwaters on Wednesday evening. Four persons were rescued by fishermen and local residents soon after the incident. The deceased were employees of Chitra Decorations, Edappally. The search operation was carried out by Coastal Police, Indian Navy and the Fire and Rescue Services Department. ACP A J George said the authorities had contacted the brothers of two victims. The information about the other three victims will be passed on to relatives through the Nepal Embassy. The relatives of two of the deceased are in Kochi, who have decided to conduct the cremation here. Aditya Shrikrishna By Express News Service Film: Force 2 Director: Abhinay Deo Cast: John Abraham, Sonakshi Sinha, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Adil Husain, Narendra Jha The Hindi film industry is suddenly concerned about the North-East. Last week we had Rock On 2, a disposable sequel rallying around social causes in Shillong with folk-rock bands in tow. Today comes Force 2 another disposable sequel to what was an open and shut first film that has RAW agents in China with benevolent lip service to the border dispute between India and China concerning Arunachal Pradesh. But the more pressing issue is about sequels. Force was remake of the Tamil hit Kaakha Kaakha (2003), with none of the magic of Suriya-Jyothika, coming past its sell by date. But we have Force 2. Did Gautham Vasudev Menon secretly make a sequel? He didnt. Abhinay Deo is just running with it because he can have Genelia DSouzas ghost (whom Menon had conveniently named Maya) sharing sweet nothings with still mourning police officer, Yashvardhan (John Abraham). The last memorable film we had in this genre was Neeraj Pandeys Baby in 2015, with the ever reliable Akshay Kumar. What did that film get so right that films like Force 2 end up looking like puffed up parody pieces, delivering unintentional comedy at best and intentional comedy at worst? Heres an attempt at a non-exhaustive list. Baby did not have meetings at the RAW office with dialogues like this is an attack on RAW. This is an attack on the nation. It didnt have professional agents and police officers shouting in agony kaise roughly hundred times during the course of the film. It didnt have characters involved in a sweaty-palms inducing chase go still for a few seconds in stylish poses to take a nice look at each other. It didnt take the easy route of making just passing mentions to a security issue or manufacture drama by pitting agents working together against each other. It didnt have RAW agents mouthing dialogues like mila to WhatsApp kar dena. It didnt have agents still working for RAW with a conflict of conscience rendering them unable to operate a gun. It sure as hell didnt have people missing shots from less than 3 metres for about 10-15 minutes straight. Baby also did not have white women dancing to a mutilated versions of cult 80s songs (On that note, looking forward to next weeks Dear Zindagi where Amit Trivedi has done the same to a song from Sadma. Sadma!) in the name of item numbers. Baby had Taapsee kicking butt! Force 2 has a very disinterested looking Sonakshi Sinha. Baby had actors who can act Akshay Kumar, Danny Denzongpa, Anupam Kher. Force 2 has John Abraham. Director Abhinay Deo There is a moment when the villain (Tahir Raj Bhasin) whose only quirk is that he plays a musical instrument at the end of a chase, locks Yash and KK (Sonakshi Sinha) out of a street, literally behind bars. That made for a nice visual. Also kudos for attempt the first person shooter angle for climax. Well tried. Force 2 fashionably ends with whats now become our foremost fundamental duty respect the army. But dont worry. You wont be branded as anti-national if you miss this film. I think. Force 2 is another disposable sequel to what was an open and shut first film - which has RAW agents in China with benevolent lip service to the border dispute between India and China concerning Arunachal Pradesh. Tahir Raj Bashin is the surprise package, of the film. Understated, and ordinary in his approach, he propels the narrative convincingly, but unfortunately, since we Indians like our antagonist to be larger than life, he disappoints. Technically the film is mounted with excellent production values. The lone song snuggly fits into the narrative.The climactic sequence with visuals captured by hand-held cameras and layered with loud background score gummed together in snappy edits, is an eye sore. Overall, Force 2 offers nothing that you have not seen before, yet entertains you. It is an ideal watch for John and Sonakshi fans. Film: Force 2Director: Abhinay DeoCast: John Abraham, Sonakshi Sinha, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Adil Husain, Narendra Jha The Hindi film industry is suddenly concerned about the North-East. Last week we had Rock On 2, a disposable sequel rallying around social causes in Shillong with folk-rock bands in tow. Today comes Force 2 another disposable sequel to what was an open and shut first film that has RAW agents in China with benevolent lip service to the border dispute between India and China concerning Arunachal Pradesh. But the more pressing issue is about sequels. Force was remake of the Tamil hit Kaakha Kaakha (2003), with none of the magic of Suriya-Jyothika, coming past its sell by date. But we have Force 2. Did Gautham Vasudev Menon secretly make a sequel? He didnt. Abhinay Deo is just running with it because he can have Genelia DSouzas ghost (whom Menon had conveniently named Maya) sharing sweet nothings with still mourning police officer, Yashvardhan (John Abraham). The last memorable film we had in this genre was Neeraj Pandeys Baby in 2015, with the ever reliable Akshay Kumar. What did that film get so right that films like Force 2 end up looking like puffed up parody pieces, delivering unintentional comedy at best and intentional comedy at worst? Heres an attempt at a non-exhaustive list. Baby did not have meetings at the RAW office with dialogues like this is an attack on RAW. This is an attack on the nation. It didnt have professional agents and police officers shouting in agony kaise roughly hundred times during the course of the film. It didnt have characters involved in a sweaty-palms inducing chase go still for a few seconds in stylish poses to take a nice look at each other. It didnt take the easy route of making just passing mentions to a security issue or manufacture drama by pitting agents working together against each other. It didnt have RAW agents mouthing dialogues like mila to WhatsApp kar dena. It didnt have agents still working for RAW with a conflict of conscience rendering them unable to operate a gun. It sure as hell didnt have people missing shots from less than 3 metres for about 10-15 minutes straight. Baby also did not have white women dancing to a mutilated versions of cult 80s songs (On that note, looking forward to next weeks Dear Zindagi where Amit Trivedi has done the same to a song from Sadma. Sadma!) in the name of item numbers. Baby had Taapsee kicking butt! Force 2 has a very disinterested looking Sonakshi Sinha. Baby had actors who can act Akshay Kumar, Danny Denzongpa, Anupam Kher. Force 2 has John Abraham. Director Abhinay DeoThere is a moment when the villain (Tahir Raj Bhasin) whose only quirk is that he plays a musical instrument at the end of a chase, locks Yash and KK (Sonakshi Sinha) out of a street, literally behind bars. That made for a nice visual. Also kudos for attempt the first person shooter angle for climax. Well tried. Force 2 fashionably ends with whats now become our foremost fundamental duty respect the army. But dont worry. You wont be branded as anti-national if you miss this film. I think. Force 2 is another disposable sequel to what was an open and shut first film - which has RAW agents in China with benevolent lip service to the border dispute between India and China concerning Arunachal Pradesh. Tahir Raj Bashin is the surprise package, of the film. Understated, and ordinary in his approach, he propels the narrative convincingly, but unfortunately, since we Indians like our antagonist to be larger than life, he disappoints. Technically the film is mounted with excellent production values. The lone song snuggly fits into the narrative.The climactic sequence with visuals captured by hand-held cameras and layered with loud background score gummed together in snappy edits, is an eye sore. Overall, Force 2 offers nothing that you have not seen before, yet entertains you. It is an ideal watch for John and Sonakshi fans. Kankana Basu By Express News Service Jorasanko Thakurbari, Rabindranath Tagores ancestral house, continues to be the first stop for any literature lover visiting Kolkata. While the book Jorasanko explored the labyrinthine lives of its residents, author Aruna Chakravarti now moves a step forward in the sequel, Daughters of Jorasanko. The story moves onwards from 1902. Tagores eternal muse (and sister-in-law) Kadambari and devoted wife, Mrinalini, are both dead. The Hindu branch of the family now resides in No. 5 Dwarkanath Lane, popularly called the Baithak Khana Bari, while the Brahmo branch lives in the more spartan No. 6. The author begins by creating a delightful scene with the womenfolk cutting vegetables on the courtyard, the fish vendor traipsing in and getting into a good-natured slanging match with the cook. There is much paan-chomping and chatter even as Protima, the 10-year-old widow in her austere attire, watches. Swirling around political and historical milestones and drawing in prominent figures of the pre-Independence era, the book traces Tagores last years. The women who wafted/stomped through Tagores life possessing various degrees of attachment and importance included his elder sister-in-law, the formidable Jnanadanandini (who famously threw off her ghumta and introduced the chemise and jacket to be worn with a sari), daughters Beli, Rani and Meera, daughter-in-law Protima, granddaughters, nieces and his latter-day muses, Ranu Adhikari and Victoria Ocampo. Swami Vivekananda flits through the life of the impressionable Sarala (an imperious daughter of the Tagore family) in a brief appearance; the lives and artistic awakenings of Tagores nephews Abanindranath and Gaganendranath are touched upon fleetingly. Ranu makes for a sprightly presence against the backdrop of political turbulence and of particular interest are the parts involving the poets hopeless fascination for his beautiful 12-year-old admirer. In direct contrast to Ranu is the mature Argentinian writer, Victoria Ocampo, who leaves Tagore indebted by her tender care of the poet. The relationship illustrates the global sensibilities of Tagore and the various fulfilling relationships he nurtured with foreigners. The dichotomy of the poets life is what strikes the reader in this beautifully penned book. Even as Tagore was gathering fame for his writing, his personal life was crumbling apart. Death (of loved ones), deceit, avarice, forbidden lust, monetary problems and failing health (his own) seemed to rip apart his domestic life. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre that led to the poet renouncing his knighthood in protest is explored minutely. The origins of Tagores much loved poems/songs pop up charmingly at intervals and as one character puts it, with Tagore, there is a song for every occasion. The cultural evolution and the influence of Cambodia, Java and Burma on his dance dramas are well portrayed. The book title is slightly misleading for it is Tagore who, like a great banyan tree, is at the core of this semi-fictional work, the female characters entwining around him like delicate creepers. A refreshing aspect is that the author is not remotely intimidated by the stature of her subject and portrays the poet with all his human failings. His flawed gauging of character (as in the case of his dodgy son-in-law), his lack of assertiveness in domestic dilemmas, his naivety in trying to woo the west for funds (to build his beloved Santiniketan) are brought out with subtlety. We see the poet not only as a man of lofty thoughts but also as a harried householder suffering from bleeding piles and grieving over fractured relationships. His romantic fascination for the young Ranu and deep emotional connect with his brothers wife depicts the poets uninhibited departure from socially accepted norms. The poets later avatar as an artist makes for fascinating information, the poet (of luminous words) and artist (of darkly bizarre art) being alter-egos of each other. Towards the end, as the poets health fails rapidly and the family coffers stand empty, the penultimate section reads intensely poignant with Abanindranath sauntering around the decaying family mansion reliving the days of past glory. A comprehensive list of characters at the beginning assists the reader in grasping the intricate mesh of relationships in a book that, with astonishing vividness, encapsulates the very essence of the Tagore family. Aruna Chakravartis prose is simple and lucid, drawing the reader into her narrative effortlessly. It is a riveting, rewarding and well-researched book tracing the lives of the lesser known members of the poets family. Jorasanko Thakurbari, Rabindranath Tagores ancestral house, continues to be the first stop for any literature lover visiting Kolkata. While the book Jorasanko explored the labyrinthine lives of its residents, author Aruna Chakravarti now moves a step forward in the sequel, Daughters of Jorasanko. The story moves onwards from 1902. Tagores eternal muse (and sister-in-law) Kadambari and devoted wife, Mrinalini, are both dead. The Hindu branch of the family now resides in No. 5 Dwarkanath Lane, popularly called the Baithak Khana Bari, while the Brahmo branch lives in the more spartan No. 6. The author begins by creating a delightful scene with the womenfolk cutting vegetables on the courtyard, the fish vendor traipsing in and getting into a good-natured slanging match with the cook. There is much paan-chomping and chatter even as Protima, the 10-year-old widow in her austere attire, watches. Swirling around political and historical milestones and drawing in prominent figures of the pre-Independence era, the book traces Tagores last years. The women who wafted/stomped through Tagores life possessing various degrees of attachment and importance included his elder sister-in-law, the formidable Jnanadanandini (who famously threw off her ghumta and introduced the chemise and jacket to be worn with a sari), daughters Beli, Rani and Meera, daughter-in-law Protima, granddaughters, nieces and his latter-day muses, Ranu Adhikari and Victoria Ocampo. Swami Vivekananda flits through the life of the impressionable Sarala (an imperious daughter of the Tagore family) in a brief appearance; the lives and artistic awakenings of Tagores nephews Abanindranath and Gaganendranath are touched upon fleetingly. Ranu makes for a sprightly presence against the backdrop of political turbulence and of particular interest are the parts involving the poets hopeless fascination for his beautiful 12-year-old admirer. In direct contrast to Ranu is the mature Argentinian writer, Victoria Ocampo, who leaves Tagore indebted by her tender care of the poet. The relationship illustrates the global sensibilities of Tagore and the various fulfilling relationships he nurtured with foreigners. The dichotomy of the poets life is what strikes the reader in this beautifully penned book. Even as Tagore was gathering fame for his writing, his personal life was crumbling apart. Death (of loved ones), deceit, avarice, forbidden lust, monetary problems and failing health (his own) seemed to rip apart his domestic life. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre that led to the poet renouncing his knighthood in protest is explored minutely. The origins of Tagores much loved poems/songs pop up charmingly at intervals and as one character puts it, with Tagore, there is a song for every occasion. The cultural evolution and the influence of Cambodia, Java and Burma on his dance dramas are well portrayed. The book title is slightly misleading for it is Tagore who, like a great banyan tree, is at the core of this semi-fictional work, the female characters entwining around him like delicate creepers. A refreshing aspect is that the author is not remotely intimidated by the stature of her subject and portrays the poet with all his human failings. His flawed gauging of character (as in the case of his dodgy son-in-law), his lack of assertiveness in domestic dilemmas, his naivety in trying to woo the west for funds (to build his beloved Santiniketan) are brought out with subtlety. We see the poet not only as a man of lofty thoughts but also as a harried householder suffering from bleeding piles and grieving over fractured relationships. His romantic fascination for the young Ranu and deep emotional connect with his brothers wife depicts the poets uninhibited departure from socially accepted norms. The poets later avatar as an artist makes for fascinating information, the poet (of luminous words) and artist (of darkly bizarre art) being alter-egos of each other. Towards the end, as the poets health fails rapidly and the family coffers stand empty, the penultimate section reads intensely poignant with Abanindranath sauntering around the decaying family mansion reliving the days of past glory. A comprehensive list of characters at the beginning assists the reader in grasping the intricate mesh of relationships in a book that, with astonishing vividness, encapsulates the very essence of the Tagore family. Aruna Chakravartis prose is simple and lucid, drawing the reader into her narrative effortlessly. It is a riveting, rewarding and well-researched book tracing the lives of the lesser known members of the poets family. Meera Bhardwaj By Every mother barring a fewif she has a safe and credible alternative for her childrenwill go back to work after maternity leave, says Priya Krishnan, an entrepreneur and mother of two boys, who has started a child-care eco-system for working mothers in six Indian cities, including Bengaluru. Getting young mothers back to work is her lifes mission. Started in July 2011, the Klay (Kids, Learning and You) Schools cater to children aging between three months and 10 years, says Krishnan. Klay centres in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Noida, Gurgaon and Chennai take care of 2,000 children.Krishnan, who was running a fledgling business in London, had put her boys in a day-care in the UK. From there she got the idea that she can help many other working women like her. My family was very positive and supportive of my decision, and gave me a lot of encouragement, says the CEO of Founding Years Learning Solutions, which operates Klay Schools. The 44 centres across six states work on two modelsin-house day-care centres on the company premises and community pre-schools and day cares that are close to a mothers workplace or home. Though the official timings are 9 am to 6 pm, parents are allowed to drop their kids at 8.30 am and pick them up till 7.30 pm, says Krishnan, who runs the operations with a team of managerial staff. Many women are not able to take their profession further due to motherhood. At such a time, grandparents are not in a position to provide solutions and nannies, and maids are not so reliable option. I wanted to create a system in which parents can drop their child and go to work without any worry. The need of day-cares is increasing so fast that mothers are prepared to invest 60-70 per cent of their income on childs welfare, she says. The off-site centres in Bengaluru are very close to workplaces such as Prestige Shantiniketan, Kadugodi and Whitefield. Klay Schools provide employment to 640 personneltrained teachers, nurses, cooks, drivers, etc. Of this, 623 are women. Each centre has a staff of 10-15 people. Bengaluru is evergreen in terms of migrant population and they are willing to test new services unlike Mumbai people, who are traditional and not so open-minded, explains Krishnan. Therefore, our primary market is Bengaluru, which has the youngest population aged between 25-35 years. We have 16 centres there, with three on-site centres at firms such as ABB, Ujjivan, and ITC Infotech. We have received a lot of support from product companies and FMCG, but did not get much traction from IT majors. Their 22 on-site day-care centres are supported by companies such as Unilever, Airtel, Royal Bank of Scotland, Johnson & Johnson and ITC Limited. Some firms allow opening of care centres on company premises and provide space, electricity, water and security without charging anything. Big companies are very progressive and want participation of women at every level of their working. In HSR Layout, we will be opening a 6,000 square feet centre for catering to 120 children, she explains. Krishnan, who grew up in Mumbai, has about eight-year working experience in London-based firms. She says, Through our Klay app, we send regular updates about the child. If paediatric nurses look after toddlers, trained teachers will take care of kids over 1.5 years of age. We also cater to special children with learning disability, autistic kids, but not physically challenged, as we dont have facilities for them. The fee at Klay Schools centres ranges between Rs 6,000-18,000 per month in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and NCR, while in Mumbai, it is between Rs 9,000-25,000. Vaishno, mother of Akshadha, says, Leaving my daughter in a day care was a hard decision. Though I was nervous about Akshi settling down here, the teachers made it an easy and pleasant experience. Within two months, Akshi has started feeling comfortable here, and she is learning new things. Jasveen and Jasjot, parents of Sehaj, add: We were assured our child is safe, well-fed, and well-rested. Our child looks forward to going to the school daily. Krishnans mission is setting up 200 centres by 2020. We have decided to operate in foreign markets such as Singapore and Dubai, she says. Every mother barring a fewif she has a safe and credible alternative for her childrenwill go back to work after maternity leave, says Priya Krishnan, an entrepreneur and mother of two boys, who has started a child-care eco-system for working mothers in six Indian cities, including Bengaluru. Getting young mothers back to work is her lifes mission. Started in July 2011, the Klay (Kids, Learning and You) Schools cater to children aging between three months and 10 years, says Krishnan. Klay centres in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Noida, Gurgaon and Chennai take care of 2,000 children.Krishnan, who was running a fledgling business in London, had put her boys in a day-care in the UK. From there she got the idea that she can help many other working women like her. My family was very positive and supportive of my decision, and gave me a lot of encouragement, says the CEO of Founding Years Learning Solutions, which operates Klay Schools. The 44 centres across six states work on two modelsin-house day-care centres on the company premises and community pre-schools and day cares that are close to a mothers workplace or home. Though the official timings are 9 am to 6 pm, parents are allowed to drop their kids at 8.30 am and pick them up till 7.30 pm, says Krishnan, who runs the operations with a team of managerial staff. Many women are not able to take their profession further due to motherhood. At such a time, grandparents are not in a position to provide solutions and nannies, and maids are not so reliable option. I wanted to create a system in which parents can drop their child and go to work without any worry. The need of day-cares is increasing so fast that mothers are prepared to invest 60-70 per cent of their income on childs welfare, she says. The off-site centres in Bengaluru are very close to workplaces such as Prestige Shantiniketan, Kadugodi and Whitefield. Klay Schools provide employment to 640 personneltrained teachers, nurses, cooks, drivers, etc. Of this, 623 are women. Each centre has a staff of 10-15 people. Bengaluru is evergreen in terms of migrant population and they are willing to test new services unlike Mumbai people, who are traditional and not so open-minded, explains Krishnan. Therefore, our primary market is Bengaluru, which has the youngest population aged between 25-35 years. We have 16 centres there, with three on-site centres at firms such as ABB, Ujjivan, and ITC Infotech. We have received a lot of support from product companies and FMCG, but did not get much traction from IT majors. Their 22 on-site day-care centres are supported by companies such as Unilever, Airtel, Royal Bank of Scotland, Johnson & Johnson and ITC Limited. Some firms allow opening of care centres on company premises and provide space, electricity, water and security without charging anything. Big companies are very progressive and want participation of women at every level of their working. In HSR Layout, we will be opening a 6,000 square feet centre for catering to 120 children, she explains. Krishnan, who grew up in Mumbai, has about eight-year working experience in London-based firms. She says, Through our Klay app, we send regular updates about the child. If paediatric nurses look after toddlers, trained teachers will take care of kids over 1.5 years of age. We also cater to special children with learning disability, autistic kids, but not physically challenged, as we dont have facilities for them. The fee at Klay Schools centres ranges between Rs 6,000-18,000 per month in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and NCR, while in Mumbai, it is between Rs 9,000-25,000. Vaishno, mother of Akshadha, says, Leaving my daughter in a day care was a hard decision. Though I was nervous about Akshi settling down here, the teachers made it an easy and pleasant experience. Within two months, Akshi has started feeling comfortable here, and she is learning new things. Jasveen and Jasjot, parents of Sehaj, add: We were assured our child is safe, well-fed, and well-rested. Our child looks forward to going to the school daily. Krishnans mission is setting up 200 centres by 2020. We have decided to operate in foreign markets such as Singapore and Dubai, she says. G Parthasarathy By Prime Minister Narendra Modis startling televised address to the nation, announcing demonetisation, left people rushing to petrol stations and wondering what its impact would be. As details emerged, it soon became clear that while honest, tax-paying citizens may face some short-term inconvenience, the big sharks and corrupt officials and politicians, with crores of undeclared money stashed away, would deservedly be the hardest hit. The Prime Minister made pointed reference to the demonetisation striking those funnelling money for terrorism. There is little doubt that the ISI is going to ponder over how it should now act, to continue smuggling of high denomination counterfeit Indian currency, to its terrorist assets in India. Memories go back to the events surrounding the hijacking of IC 814 from Kathmandu to Kandahar. On December 24, 1999, Zia Ansari, a clerk in the Pakistan Embassy in Kathmandu, handed over revolvers, hand grenades and knives to the hijackers, as they boarded the aircraft. A week later, a sting operation by the Nepal Police entrapped Asam Saboor, peddling counterfeit Indian currency for terror activities. He took orders from First Secretary in the Pakistan Embassy, Mohammed Arshad Cheema. Nepals Foreign Secretary Murari Raj Sharma acknowledged: We have begun to express our concerns about underground activities to the Pakistan Government. In a crackdown, the Nepal Police recently arrested a Pak national from Karachi and his local collaborators, smuggling around `1 crore of Indian currency, across the Nepal border. Under increasing surveillance and scrutiny in Kathmandu, Pakistan shifted its smuggling of counterfeit currency to Bangladesh, where things were allowed to proceed smoothly by the Khaleda Zia Government. Things became more difficult for Pakistans counterfeit currency smuggling activities in Bangladesh, when Sheikh Hasina became PM. Pakistan High Commission staff members faced expulsion, when caught indulging in subversive activities. During this crackdown, Bangladesh intelligence agencies seized a whole container, full of counterfeit Indian currency, in the Chittagong harbour last year. In an intelligence-driven effort, Pak national Faiz Mohammed was arrested in Guangzhou, China, carrying counterfeit Indian currency of around `25 lakh from Sri Lanka. He is said to have confessed that he was working for the ISI. In the face of such setbacks, Pakistan has sought new routes for its smuggling of counterfeit currency into India, through Thailand and Myanmar. The 1,640 km land border between India and Myanmar is porous, with villages on the two sides often facing each other. In a recent development, the Thai Police arrested Myanmar nationals, who were in the process of smuggling nearly `40 lakh of counterfeit Indian currency across the Myanmar-India border. The smuggling through Myanmar was reportedly discussed with Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, during her recent visit to India. There is unfortunately a widespread impression in India that our problems with Pakistan will end if only we settle the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, to its satisfaction. Pakistans military elite and even sections of its civil society, however, believe that their aspirations cannot be fulfilled till India is weakened from within. When asked just before the Kargil conflict, whether relations with India would become normal once the J&K issue was resolved, General Musharraf responded that this would not happen. He averred that as India is a hegemonic country, low intensity conflict with it would continue, even if the issue is resolved. Printing and smuggling of counterfeit Indian currency by the ISI has to be understood in the context of such thinking. dadpartha@gmail.com G Parthasarathy Former diplomat Prime Minister Narendra Modis startling televised address to the nation, announcing demonetisation, left people rushing to petrol stations and wondering what its impact would be. As details emerged, it soon became clear that while honest, tax-paying citizens may face some short-term inconvenience, the big sharks and corrupt officials and politicians, with crores of undeclared money stashed away, would deservedly be the hardest hit. The Prime Minister made pointed reference to the demonetisation striking those funnelling money for terrorism. There is little doubt that the ISI is going to ponder over how it should now act, to continue smuggling of high denomination counterfeit Indian currency, to its terrorist assets in India. Memories go back to the events surrounding the hijacking of IC 814 from Kathmandu to Kandahar. On December 24, 1999, Zia Ansari, a clerk in the Pakistan Embassy in Kathmandu, handed over revolvers, hand grenades and knives to the hijackers, as they boarded the aircraft. A week later, a sting operation by the Nepal Police entrapped Asam Saboor, peddling counterfeit Indian currency for terror activities. He took orders from First Secretary in the Pakistan Embassy, Mohammed Arshad Cheema. Nepals Foreign Secretary Murari Raj Sharma acknowledged: We have begun to express our concerns about underground activities to the Pakistan Government. In a crackdown, the Nepal Police recently arrested a Pak national from Karachi and his local collaborators, smuggling around `1 crore of Indian currency, across the Nepal border. Under increasing surveillance and scrutiny in Kathmandu, Pakistan shifted its smuggling of counterfeit currency to Bangladesh, where things were allowed to proceed smoothly by the Khaleda Zia Government. Things became more difficult for Pakistans counterfeit currency smuggling activities in Bangladesh, when Sheikh Hasina became PM. Pakistan High Commission staff members faced expulsion, when caught indulging in subversive activities. During this crackdown, Bangladesh intelligence agencies seized a whole container, full of counterfeit Indian currency, in the Chittagong harbour last year. In an intelligence-driven effort, Pak national Faiz Mohammed was arrested in Guangzhou, China, carrying counterfeit Indian currency of around `25 lakh from Sri Lanka. He is said to have confessed that he was working for the ISI. In the face of such setbacks, Pakistan has sought new routes for its smuggling of counterfeit currency into India, through Thailand and Myanmar. The 1,640 km land border between India and Myanmar is porous, with villages on the two sides often facing each other. In a recent development, the Thai Police arrested Myanmar nationals, who were in the process of smuggling nearly `40 lakh of counterfeit Indian currency across the Myanmar-India border. The smuggling through Myanmar was reportedly discussed with Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, during her recent visit to India. There is unfortunately a widespread impression in India that our problems with Pakistan will end if only we settle the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, to its satisfaction. Pakistans military elite and even sections of its civil society, however, believe that their aspirations cannot be fulfilled till India is weakened from within. When asked just before the Kargil conflict, whether relations with India would become normal once the J&K issue was resolved, General Musharraf responded that this would not happen. He averred that as India is a hegemonic country, low intensity conflict with it would continue, even if the issue is resolved. Printing and smuggling of counterfeit Indian currency by the ISI has to be understood in the context of such thinking. dadpartha@gmail.com G Parthasarathy Former diplomat Mohan Das Menon By The Modi governments announcement that the Dalai Lama will travel to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh in March 2017 has infuriated Beijing. Tibet is one of the most sensitive international problems that Beijing wants to put a lid on. Despite its growing economic and military strength, China today has several weaknesses which Indian policymakers can exploit. It is high time New Delhi established new and more meaningful diplomatic paradigms both within and outside of the realm of Sino-Indian dialogue. It needs to empower itself for responding effectively to Beijings continuing adherence to hard-hitting diplomacy. Chinas sustained cold-play on propositions with direct bearing on Indias national security and its international prestige have stood out like a sore thumb for too long. Beijings professed strategic intransigence on the Dalai Lamas statements and movements inside India and unceasing negation of long-standing Indian sentiments are not without a context or rationale. This has been brought out lucidly by Robert Blackwill and Jennifer Harris in their latest work, War by Other Means, in which the authors analyse the intricacies of Chinese strategies premised on the theory of geo-economics as the preferred pathway to deal with China-Pakistan-India triangular relations. Significantly, the authors highlight that, China and Pakistan have valued each other as a strategic hedge against India. Indias Prime Ministers, from Jawaharlal Nehru to Narendra Modi, have had to forge meaningful ties with China amid an ambient Third World interplay of forces. But the Chinese have rarely responded with matching emotion or aspiration. New Delhi, with a certain measure of optimism rationally ingrained in its extant Beijing calculus, had diligently scheduled meetings between the National Security Advisers of India and China, Ajit Doval and Yang Jiechi, in Hyderabad on November 4 and in Beijing between Joint Secretary (Disarmament) A S Gill and his Chinese counterpart Wang Qun on October 31, days before the crucial Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) meeting in Vienna on November 11. But these moves made little impact on Beijings incredulously crafted cold play strategy to block Indias entry into NSG and resist its campaign to get Maulana Masood Azhar, the Pakistani master mind behind a series of terror attacks in India. In its own craftiness to keep India eternally at bay within the UN fold in securing its paramount security interests, China is certainly not behaving like a responsible member of the UN Security Council as one of its five permanent members. What is equally dismaying is the tactical silence of Russia, the US, France and Britaineach maintains friendly ties with Indiaover the blatant Chinese efforts to defend Pakistans terror export against India. Despite a degree of reactive ambivalence in its positioning, New Delhi must realise that Beijings excessive protectiveness in espousing the cause of Pakistan each time Indias entry into the NSG or the designation of Masood Azhar as terrorist crops up is indicative of latent geo-economics connotations linked to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) paradigm. In many ways Chinas totalitarian government is akin to Pakistans. The close links between the two countries are therefore not surprising. With the CPEC and One Belt, One Road (OBOR) projects, Pakistan has become Chinas vassal state. Beijing is gradually replacing the US as Islamabads principal rent-payer. India has reasons to be frustrated at Chinas open defence of Pakistans blatant campaigns to destabilise India through terrorism. This was reflected in the comments of Indias Permanent Representative to UN, Syed Akbaruddin, when he said in New York that, while our collective conscience is ravaged everyday by terrorists in some region or the other, the Security Council gives itself nine months to consider whether to sanction leaders of organisations, it has itself designated as terrorist entities. Akbaruddin had a point when he lamented the snail-paced and never-ending carousel of discussions on UNSC reforms. As he pointed out, the UNs inability to respond to humanitarian situations, terror threats and peacekeeping vulnerabilities during this year itself was part of the price that was being paid for the international communitys lack of progress on the critical issue of UNSC reforms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a calibrated policy on China. It is time to ratchet it up. The Dalai Lamas visit to Tawang should be widely hailed and Free Tibet activists should be allowed to voice their protests. Closer links with Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines and South Korea, all of whom have disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea, should form part of Indias new China strategy. mdmenonconsulting@gmail.com Mohan Das Menon Former additional secretary, Cabinet Secretariat The Modi governments announcement that the Dalai Lama will travel to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh in March 2017 has infuriated Beijing. Tibet is one of the most sensitive international problems that Beijing wants to put a lid on. Despite its growing economic and military strength, China today has several weaknesses which Indian policymakers can exploit. It is high time New Delhi established new and more meaningful diplomatic paradigms both within and outside of the realm of Sino-Indian dialogue. It needs to empower itself for responding effectively to Beijings continuing adherence to hard-hitting diplomacy. Chinas sustained cold-play on propositions with direct bearing on Indias national security and its international prestige have stood out like a sore thumb for too long. Beijings professed strategic intransigence on the Dalai Lamas statements and movements inside India and unceasing negation of long-standing Indian sentiments are not without a context or rationale. This has been brought out lucidly by Robert Blackwill and Jennifer Harris in their latest work, War by Other Means, in which the authors analyse the intricacies of Chinese strategies premised on the theory of geo-economics as the preferred pathway to deal with China-Pakistan-India triangular relations. Significantly, the authors highlight that, China and Pakistan have valued each other as a strategic hedge against India. Indias Prime Ministers, from Jawaharlal Nehru to Narendra Modi, have had to forge meaningful ties with China amid an ambient Third World interplay of forces. But the Chinese have rarely responded with matching emotion or aspiration. New Delhi, with a certain measure of optimism rationally ingrained in its extant Beijing calculus, had diligently scheduled meetings between the National Security Advisers of India and China, Ajit Doval and Yang Jiechi, in Hyderabad on November 4 and in Beijing between Joint Secretary (Disarmament) A S Gill and his Chinese counterpart Wang Qun on October 31, days before the crucial Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) meeting in Vienna on November 11. But these moves made little impact on Beijings incredulously crafted cold play strategy to block Indias entry into NSG and resist its campaign to get Maulana Masood Azhar, the Pakistani master mind behind a series of terror attacks in India. In its own craftiness to keep India eternally at bay within the UN fold in securing its paramount security interests, China is certainly not behaving like a responsible member of the UN Security Council as one of its five permanent members. What is equally dismaying is the tactical silence of Russia, the US, France and Britaineach maintains friendly ties with Indiaover the blatant Chinese efforts to defend Pakistans terror export against India. Despite a degree of reactive ambivalence in its positioning, New Delhi must realise that Beijings excessive protectiveness in espousing the cause of Pakistan each time Indias entry into the NSG or the designation of Masood Azhar as terrorist crops up is indicative of latent geo-economics connotations linked to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) paradigm. In many ways Chinas totalitarian government is akin to Pakistans. The close links between the two countries are therefore not surprising. With the CPEC and One Belt, One Road (OBOR) projects, Pakistan has become Chinas vassal state. Beijing is gradually replacing the US as Islamabads principal rent-payer. India has reasons to be frustrated at Chinas open defence of Pakistans blatant campaigns to destabilise India through terrorism. This was reflected in the comments of Indias Permanent Representative to UN, Syed Akbaruddin, when he said in New York that, while our collective conscience is ravaged everyday by terrorists in some region or the other, the Security Council gives itself nine months to consider whether to sanction leaders of organisations, it has itself designated as terrorist entities. Akbaruddin had a point when he lamented the snail-paced and never-ending carousel of discussions on UNSC reforms. As he pointed out, the UNs inability to respond to humanitarian situations, terror threats and peacekeeping vulnerabilities during this year itself was part of the price that was being paid for the international communitys lack of progress on the critical issue of UNSC reforms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a calibrated policy on China. It is time to ratchet it up. The Dalai Lamas visit to Tawang should be widely hailed and Free Tibet activists should be allowed to voice their protests. Closer links with Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines and South Korea, all of whom have disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea, should form part of Indias new China strategy. mdmenonconsulting@gmail.com Mohan Das Menon Former additional secretary, Cabinet Secretariat Harpreet Bajwa By Express News Service CHANDIGARH: Thirteen countries are set to take part in Indias premier biennial agro-technology and business fair, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Agro Tech 2016 on November 20 that will be inaugurated by President Pranab Mukherjee along with Israeli president Reuven Rivlin. The fair will feature advanced technology and agricultural innovations from the participating countries. It will also host 40 agri start-ups along with 69 young student-scientists who have offered innovative solutions for the agriculture sector. CII vice president and vice chairman of Bharti Enterprises Rakesh Bharti Mittal said, I am happy to share that for the first time in the history of Agro Tech, since its inception in 1994, two heads of the states- President Pranab Mukherjee and Reuven Rivlin, president of Israel, are coming together to inaugurate CII Agro Tech 2016 on Sunday. AgHack 2016, an agri hackathon will see participation of students from Agri Universities, Agri start-ups, management and business institutions, as well as engineering colleges of repute. These young minds will face the challenge to come up with business ideas to solve issues impeding agricultural performance in India, said chairperson, CII Northern Region, Rumjhum Chatterjee. Nearly 69 students between 18 and 30 years from agricultural universities, IITs, IIMs, ISB and other Institutes have already registered and will be participating in the twenty-hour hackathon, said Chatterjee. For the first time, young entrepreneurs and innovators will have an opportunity to showcase their technology. The participants will also get a chance to pitch their ideas before a distinguished jury to mobilise funding and secure potential incubation opportunities. A wide spectrum of technologies related to ICT solutions, sensors to ascertain soil moisture and temperature conditions for efficient irrigation, drones and bio mimicking to improve human capacity in farming, virtual marketplaces and platforms for easing of trading in agriculture, advanced cold chain and transportation solutions and advanced farming methods hydroponics and aqua-ponics will also be on display, said Mittal. CII has also scheduled a focused discussion on Doubling of the Farmers Income by 2022. The objective is to come out with a roadmap and clear action plan for all the stakeholders to work towards achieving the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to double the farmers income in next five years, added Chatterjee. The India-Israel roundtable on precision agriculture will see seven delegates of Tel Aviv University and Volcani Centre appraise the gathering on leveraging Israelian technology and expertise in the Indian industry. A technical workshop with Germany on Challenges and Solutions for Comprehensive Straw Management and a session on Empowering Women to Unlocking Africas Agricultural Potential will also be held at the fair. The three day event will witness participation from 92 domestic participants from fifteen states and 47 foreign exhibitors from as many as 13 countries are participating. CHANDIGARH: Thirteen countries are set to take part in Indias premier biennial agro-technology and business fair, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Agro Tech 2016 on November 20 that will be inaugurated by President Pranab Mukherjee along with Israeli president Reuven Rivlin. The fair will feature advanced technology and agricultural innovations from the participating countries. It will also host 40 agri start-ups along with 69 young student-scientists who have offered innovative solutions for the agriculture sector. CII vice president and vice chairman of Bharti Enterprises Rakesh Bharti Mittal said, I am happy to share that for the first time in the history of Agro Tech, since its inception in 1994, two heads of the states- President Pranab Mukherjee and Reuven Rivlin, president of Israel, are coming together to inaugurate CII Agro Tech 2016 on Sunday. AgHack 2016, an agri hackathon will see participation of students from Agri Universities, Agri start-ups, management and business institutions, as well as engineering colleges of repute. These young minds will face the challenge to come up with business ideas to solve issues impeding agricultural performance in India, said chairperson, CII Northern Region, Rumjhum Chatterjee. Nearly 69 students between 18 and 30 years from agricultural universities, IITs, IIMs, ISB and other Institutes have already registered and will be participating in the twenty-hour hackathon, said Chatterjee. For the first time, young entrepreneurs and innovators will have an opportunity to showcase their technology. The participants will also get a chance to pitch their ideas before a distinguished jury to mobilise funding and secure potential incubation opportunities. A wide spectrum of technologies related to ICT solutions, sensors to ascertain soil moisture and temperature conditions for efficient irrigation, drones and bio mimicking to improve human capacity in farming, virtual marketplaces and platforms for easing of trading in agriculture, advanced cold chain and transportation solutions and advanced farming methods hydroponics and aqua-ponics will also be on display, said Mittal. CII has also scheduled a focused discussion on Doubling of the Farmers Income by 2022. The objective is to come out with a roadmap and clear action plan for all the stakeholders to work towards achieving the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to double the farmers income in next five years, added Chatterjee. The India-Israel roundtable on precision agriculture will see seven delegates of Tel Aviv University and Volcani Centre appraise the gathering on leveraging Israelian technology and expertise in the Indian industry. A technical workshop with Germany on Challenges and Solutions for Comprehensive Straw Management and a session on Empowering Women to Unlocking Africas Agricultural Potential will also be held at the fair. The three day event will witness participation from 92 domestic participants from fifteen states and 47 foreign exhibitors from as many as 13 countries are participating. By PTI NEW DELHI: CCTV footage sought by Delhi Police from the Jamia authorities in connection with the disappearance of JNU student Najeeb Ahmed has been erased as the authorities store a day's clips for one month, prompting the probe team to seek help from Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to retrieve the images. The Jamia Millia Islamia administration, after initial reluctance, has shared CCTV footage with the Delhi Police's Crime Branch which is probing the disappearance of Najeeb Ahmed, but has informed it that the footage of the period before October 18 was not available. The probe team has traced an auto-rickshaw driver who told them that he had dropped Najeeb at Jamia Millia Islamia on October 15. "We contacted the Jamia authorities and they told us that the footage of the period till October 18 has been erased since the clips are stored only for a period of one month. We are trying to retrieve the footage of October 15 in order to trace Najeeb's movement inside the Jamia campus. We have sent the cameras to FSL so that we can get some clues in Najeeb's case," a police source said. Meanwhile, a guard at JNU's Mahi Mandavi Hostel where Najeeb was staying had received a letter a few days ago which stated that the student was being held captive in Aligarh. However, on verification, the letter was found to be bogus. "We checked it. The information was bogus. The letter said he's in captivity but it was found to be fake. There was no ransom demand," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Yadav said, adding that a team was sent to the address in Aligarh and it was found that the sender had used fake identity. The reward amount for providing information on Najeeb's whereabouts has been increased from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh owing to the "sensitivity" of the matter. Najeeb went missing on October 15 following an on-campus scuffle allegedly with ABVP members the night before. The case was last week transferred from South District Police to Crime Branch in order to have a "fresh look" at the case. NEW DELHI: CCTV footage sought by Delhi Police from the Jamia authorities in connection with the disappearance of JNU student Najeeb Ahmed has been erased as the authorities store a day's clips for one month, prompting the probe team to seek help from Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to retrieve the images. The Jamia Millia Islamia administration, after initial reluctance, has shared CCTV footage with the Delhi Police's Crime Branch which is probing the disappearance of Najeeb Ahmed, but has informed it that the footage of the period before October 18 was not available. The probe team has traced an auto-rickshaw driver who told them that he had dropped Najeeb at Jamia Millia Islamia on October 15. "We contacted the Jamia authorities and they told us that the footage of the period till October 18 has been erased since the clips are stored only for a period of one month. We are trying to retrieve the footage of October 15 in order to trace Najeeb's movement inside the Jamia campus. We have sent the cameras to FSL so that we can get some clues in Najeeb's case," a police source said. Meanwhile, a guard at JNU's Mahi Mandavi Hostel where Najeeb was staying had received a letter a few days ago which stated that the student was being held captive in Aligarh. However, on verification, the letter was found to be bogus. "We checked it. The information was bogus. The letter said he's in captivity but it was found to be fake. There was no ransom demand," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Yadav said, adding that a team was sent to the address in Aligarh and it was found that the sender had used fake identity. The reward amount for providing information on Najeeb's whereabouts has been increased from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh owing to the "sensitivity" of the matter. Najeeb went missing on October 15 following an on-campus scuffle allegedly with ABVP members the night before. The case was last week transferred from South District Police to Crime Branch in order to have a "fresh look" at the case. Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: Just days after the IB had warned security forces of a possible attack by the militants in Assam, suspected members of United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and SS Khaplang faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K) ambushed a two-vehicle convoy of the Armys 15 Kumaon regiment, killing three jawans and injuring four others, in the states Tinsukia district on Saturday. The convoy was headed to oil township Digboi from Pengeri, where suspected militants had on Wednesday fired at a vehicle of a tea estate believing it to be carrying cash. One person was killed and two others were injured in that incident. The police said Saturdays attack was carried out at the dense upper Dihing-Patkai Reserve Forest at around 5:30 am. The militants had used AK series rifles, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and under belt rocket launchers (UBGLs). Recently, we received intelligence inputs that a group of militants belonging to Paresh Baruah faction of ULFA and NSCN-K had entered Tinsukia from Myanmar through Arunachal Pradesh. Subsequently, we launched a massive search operation. But unfortunately, todays incident couldnt be thwarted, Tinsukia Superintendent of Police, Mugdhajyoti Mahanta, told reporters. The police suspected that the attack was carried out by a group of 15 militants. The convoy comprised a gypsy and a truck. They first fired at the gypsy leaving the driver injured but he still kept driving. Later, the second vehicle was targeted. The jawans had also retaliated. Apparently, some newly-recruited rebels were involved as they left behind some live shells of the RPGLs, which are very costly, Mahanta said. Director General of Police (DGP) Mukesh Sahay, who was rushed to Tinsukia by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to review the situation, told Express, We suspect the attack was carried out by ULFA, which was backed by other organisations. They (insurgent groups of the Northeast) have formed an umbrella organisation called UNLFW (United National Liberation Front of Western South East Asia). After the incident, the security forces launched a massive combination operation in which choppers were also used. Sonowal condemned the attack and said the perpetrators of the crime would not go scot-free. Well give them a befitting reply, he asserted. GUWAHATI: Just days after the IB had warned security forces of a possible attack by the militants in Assam, suspected members of United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and SS Khaplang faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K) ambushed a two-vehicle convoy of the Armys 15 Kumaon regiment, killing three jawans and injuring four others, in the states Tinsukia district on Saturday. The convoy was headed to oil township Digboi from Pengeri, where suspected militants had on Wednesday fired at a vehicle of a tea estate believing it to be carrying cash. One person was killed and two others were injured in that incident. The police said Saturdays attack was carried out at the dense upper Dihing-Patkai Reserve Forest at around 5:30 am. The militants had used AK series rifles, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and under belt rocket launchers (UBGLs). Recently, we received intelligence inputs that a group of militants belonging to Paresh Baruah faction of ULFA and NSCN-K had entered Tinsukia from Myanmar through Arunachal Pradesh. Subsequently, we launched a massive search operation. But unfortunately, todays incident couldnt be thwarted, Tinsukia Superintendent of Police, Mugdhajyoti Mahanta, told reporters. The police suspected that the attack was carried out by a group of 15 militants. The convoy comprised a gypsy and a truck. They first fired at the gypsy leaving the driver injured but he still kept driving. Later, the second vehicle was targeted. The jawans had also retaliated. Apparently, some newly-recruited rebels were involved as they left behind some live shells of the RPGLs, which are very costly, Mahanta said. Director General of Police (DGP) Mukesh Sahay, who was rushed to Tinsukia by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to review the situation, told Express, We suspect the attack was carried out by ULFA, which was backed by other organisations. They (insurgent groups of the Northeast) have formed an umbrella organisation called UNLFW (United National Liberation Front of Western South East Asia). After the incident, the security forces launched a massive combination operation in which choppers were also used. Sonowal condemned the attack and said the perpetrators of the crime would not go scot-free. Well give them a befitting reply, he asserted. Manish Anand By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Even as Opposition MPs continued to demand allowing deposit of old high denomination currencies in co-operative banks, the government remained firm on not heeding to the clamour on the ground that they are a conduit for black money, besides maintaining that India will migrate to mobile-based transactions from a cash economy in five years. In an indication that the government is keeping a hawks eye on deposits in the co-operative banks, top sources revealed that high value transactions have taken place in Bengal and elsewhere. On a single day just after the announcement of demonetisation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the co-operative banks in Raiganj district of West Bengal reported deposits of Rs 68 crore. In contrast, all the branches of State Bank of India reported deposits of just Rs 26 crore, a top source revealed. Within the Modi government, there appears to be a consensus that the inconvenience would last a few weeks, but would give a major leg up in allowing the cash economy to migrate to mobile banking. There are almost 40 crore smart phones in use in the country. This was not believable 15 years ago, but is now a reality. Demonetisation is an opportunity for the economy and the people to embrace mobile banking as a mode of transaction, added the top source. Sources said the Reserve Bank of India would soon issue a notification for marriage cards-based withdrawal under which an SDM would stamp the name of the bank branch from where the facility could be availed. NEW DELHI: Even as Opposition MPs continued to demand allowing deposit of old high denomination currencies in co-operative banks, the government remained firm on not heeding to the clamour on the ground that they are a conduit for black money, besides maintaining that India will migrate to mobile-based transactions from a cash economy in five years. In an indication that the government is keeping a hawks eye on deposits in the co-operative banks, top sources revealed that high value transactions have taken place in Bengal and elsewhere. On a single day just after the announcement of demonetisation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the co-operative banks in Raiganj district of West Bengal reported deposits of Rs 68 crore. In contrast, all the branches of State Bank of India reported deposits of just Rs 26 crore, a top source revealed. Within the Modi government, there appears to be a consensus that the inconvenience would last a few weeks, but would give a major leg up in allowing the cash economy to migrate to mobile banking. There are almost 40 crore smart phones in use in the country. This was not believable 15 years ago, but is now a reality. Demonetisation is an opportunity for the economy and the people to embrace mobile banking as a mode of transaction, added the top source. Sources said the Reserve Bank of India would soon issue a notification for marriage cards-based withdrawal under which an SDM would stamp the name of the bank branch from where the facility could be availed. By Express News Service KOLKATA: Demonetisation loomed large over the byelections held in two Lok Sabha and one Vidhan Sabha constituencies in West Bengal, with just over a third of the electorate casting their votes on Saturday. The state is known for well over 80% voting percentages in any election. Longer queues were seen in front of ATMs than at the polling stations in Tamluk and Coochbehar Lok Sabha and Manteswar Vidhan Sabha constituencies. I have come with both ATM card and voter card. First, I would withdraw cash, then go to cast vote. Anyways, there is not much line in the booths, said Amit Maity at a booth in Mecheda under Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency. However, scattered violence was witnessed in all the three constituencies. While the BJP alleged that TMC workers forcibly removed several of their polling agents from booths in Coochbehar, CPM said their cadres were beaten up by TMC workers in Tamluk constituency. The BJP has demanded for re-election in several booths in Tamluk and Coochbehar constituencies. On the other hand, Congress withdrew its candidate from Manteswar seat against alleged rigging by Trinamool Congress workers. Meanwhile, in all the three constituencies, BJP has emerged as a new force to reckon with, ahead of Congress and CPM. In Coochbehar constituency, the fight was between the central and state ruling parties BJP and TMC respectively, with others reduced to being fence-sitters. In Manteswar constituency, the fight was more between the two traditional archrivals TMC and CPM. The left party had managed to retain the seat even in the storm of 2011 since 1977, only losing it in this years April election. In the southern Bengal constituency of Tamluk, the fight was more of an ego fight of transport minister and Trinamools tallest leader in the two Medinipur districts, Suvendu Adhikari, who fielded his brother Dibyendu Adhikari in his former seat, while moving from the Parliament to take over responsibilities in the Mamata-2 cabinet. While byelection was necessitated in Coochbehar and Manteswar due to death of winning candidates of Vidhan Sabha elections in April, Suvendu Adhikaris shift from Centre to state politics necessitated bypolls in Tamluk. KOLKATA: Demonetisation loomed large over the byelections held in two Lok Sabha and one Vidhan Sabha constituencies in West Bengal, with just over a third of the electorate casting their votes on Saturday. The state is known for well over 80% voting percentages in any election. Longer queues were seen in front of ATMs than at the polling stations in Tamluk and Coochbehar Lok Sabha and Manteswar Vidhan Sabha constituencies. I have come with both ATM card and voter card. First, I would withdraw cash, then go to cast vote. Anyways, there is not much line in the booths, said Amit Maity at a booth in Mecheda under Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency. However, scattered violence was witnessed in all the three constituencies. While the BJP alleged that TMC workers forcibly removed several of their polling agents from booths in Coochbehar, CPM said their cadres were beaten up by TMC workers in Tamluk constituency. The BJP has demanded for re-election in several booths in Tamluk and Coochbehar constituencies. On the other hand, Congress withdrew its candidate from Manteswar seat against alleged rigging by Trinamool Congress workers. Meanwhile, in all the three constituencies, BJP has emerged as a new force to reckon with, ahead of Congress and CPM. In Coochbehar constituency, the fight was between the central and state ruling parties BJP and TMC respectively, with others reduced to being fence-sitters. In Manteswar constituency, the fight was more between the two traditional archrivals TMC and CPM. The left party had managed to retain the seat even in the storm of 2011 since 1977, only losing it in this years April election. In the southern Bengal constituency of Tamluk, the fight was more of an ego fight of transport minister and Trinamools tallest leader in the two Medinipur districts, Suvendu Adhikari, who fielded his brother Dibyendu Adhikari in his former seat, while moving from the Parliament to take over responsibilities in the Mamata-2 cabinet. While byelection was necessitated in Coochbehar and Manteswar due to death of winning candidates of Vidhan Sabha elections in April, Suvendu Adhikaris shift from Centre to state politics necessitated bypolls in Tamluk. By Express News Service MUMBAI: Maharashtra Cooperatives minister Subhash Deshmukh accepted the possibility of irregularity in cash transactions at his business group on Friday, even as the NCP stepped up the offensive against him. There might have been some irregularity, but it was certainly not wrongdoing, Deshmukh told a news channel while trying to clarify his position on the `91.5 lakh cash found in a vehicle belonging to the business group owned by him. I am ready to accept any action for the irregularity, he added. Subhash Deshmukh The Election Commission had earlier in the day served notice to the ministers business group Lokmangal asking it to clarify about the huge cash within 24 hours. I have never used my political background for my business. In fact Ive been a successful businessman even before I joined politics some 15 years ago. Transactions of such large amount are not new to my business. My family has been running the business very honestly. We pay all taxes, the minister said while clarifying allegations that the money was being transported for use in the municipal council polls. The minister had earlier said the money was being moved to his sugar factory to pay the cane workers. The money was withdrawn from the Solapur headquarters of Lokmangal bank on November 5. But, it was not deposited back after the demonetisation move, he said. However, NCP leader and leader of opposition in legislative council Dhananjay Munde raised several questions over the incident and demanded Deshmukhs resignation. MUMBAI: Maharashtra Cooperatives minister Subhash Deshmukh accepted the possibility of irregularity in cash transactions at his business group on Friday, even as the NCP stepped up the offensive against him. There might have been some irregularity, but it was certainly not wrongdoing, Deshmukh told a news channel while trying to clarify his position on the `91.5 lakh cash found in a vehicle belonging to the business group owned by him. I am ready to accept any action for the irregularity, he added. Subhash Deshmukh The Election Commission had earlier in the day served notice to the ministers business group Lokmangal asking it to clarify about the huge cash within 24 hours. I have never used my political background for my business. In fact Ive been a successful businessman even before I joined politics some 15 years ago. Transactions of such large amount are not new to my business. My family has been running the business very honestly. We pay all taxes, the minister said while clarifying allegations that the money was being transported for use in the municipal council polls. The minister had earlier said the money was being moved to his sugar factory to pay the cane workers. The money was withdrawn from the Solapur headquarters of Lokmangal bank on November 5. But, it was not deposited back after the demonetisation move, he said. However, NCP leader and leader of opposition in legislative council Dhananjay Munde raised several questions over the incident and demanded Deshmukhs resignation. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The NIA on Saturday carried out searches at10 premises of the banned Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) in Mumbai after registering a case against its founder Zakir Naik and others under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code. The agency has booked Naik on charges of inciting violence and promoting enmity between different religious groups. Searches began hours after NIA, Mumbai registered the case last night against Naik. The agency in association with the Mumbai police searched some office premises related to IRF and residential properties of the controversial Salafist televangelist. We have seized several documents, hard discs and CDs from Naiks home and offices and those are being examined, an official said. The FIR has been registered against Naik under the stringent UAPA and we will soon summon him to join the investigation. If he fails to do so then we will move the relevant court to declare him a proclaimed offender and that will allow us to attach his properties in Mumbai and elsewhere, another NIA official said. Union home ministry sources said Naiks arrest was imminent if he comes to India to join the probe. If he does not cooperate with the probe, next course of action will be initiated to make him face the law. NIA and Police teams at Zakir Naik's IRF office in Mumbai pic.twitter.com/SscVRvi1je ANI (@ANI_news) November 19, 2016 The sources said the Enforcement Directorate has also swung into action and has sought from it documents relating to dubious activities of Naiks NGOs so that the money laundering aspects could also be probed. He has been booked under stringent non-bailable sections and it is unlikely that he will return to India anytime soon, an official said, adding Interpols help will be sought to bring him here if fails to respond to NIA summons. The NIA said it had tapes of his hate speeches through which he had allegedly incited violence. We will soon question Naiks associates working in his NGO and will investigate the financial trail of the NGO and also examine the expenditure by Naik, an official said. The case was registered by the NIA last night under Section 153-A of the IPC (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and certain provisions of anti-terror law UA(P)A. The NIA action comes days after the Cabinet Committee on Security decided to declare IRF an unlawful association under the UA (P)A and the Centre formally banned the outfit through a Gazette notification. Besides the Section 153-A, the NIA has booked IRF under Section 10, 13 and 18 of the UA(P)A. While Section 10 relates to penalty for being a member of an unlawful association, Section 13 provides for punishment for unlawful activities. Naiks role came to the fore after the terror siege in Dhaka earlier this as two of the terrorists involved were found to be inspired by Naik's vitriolic speeches. Some of the missing youths from Mumbai suburbs, who had left their homes to join Islamic State earlier this year, were also reportedly inspired by him. According to the Gazette notification banning the IRF, the Government said that as many as five cases were already registered against it in various States. In the Gazette notification issued on Thursday, the Centre said it imposed a five-year ban on IRF for making derogatory statements against Hindu gods and extolling Al-Qaeda terrorist Osama bin Laden. The ministry said the IRF and its members particularly Naik, have been encouraging and aiding followers to promote or attempt to promote, on grounds of religion, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious communities. Reports by Central as well as State agencies revealed dubious links between IRF and Peace TV, an Islamic channel promoted by Naik and linked to terror propaganda. Naik is also accused of subverting IRF funds for the production of objectionable programmes for Peace TV that has reportedly been engaged in preaching hard line Salafist form of Islam and luring youths into its insidious agenda. NEW DELHI: The NIA on Saturday carried out searches at10 premises of the banned Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) in Mumbai after registering a case against its founder Zakir Naik and others under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code. The agency has booked Naik on charges of inciting violence and promoting enmity between different religious groups. Searches began hours after NIA, Mumbai registered the case last night against Naik. The agency in association with the Mumbai police searched some office premises related to IRF and residential properties of the controversial Salafist televangelist. We have seized several documents, hard discs and CDs from Naiks home and offices and those are being examined, an official said. The FIR has been registered against Naik under the stringent UAPA and we will soon summon him to join the investigation. If he fails to do so then we will move the relevant court to declare him a proclaimed offender and that will allow us to attach his properties in Mumbai and elsewhere, another NIA official said. Union home ministry sources said Naiks arrest was imminent if he comes to India to join the probe. If he does not cooperate with the probe, next course of action will be initiated to make him face the law. NIA and Police teams at Zakir Naik's IRF office in Mumbai pic.twitter.com/SscVRvi1je ANI (@ANI_news) November 19, 2016 The sources said the Enforcement Directorate has also swung into action and has sought from it documents relating to dubious activities of Naiks NGOs so that the money laundering aspects could also be probed. He has been booked under stringent non-bailable sections and it is unlikely that he will return to India anytime soon, an official said, adding Interpols help will be sought to bring him here if fails to respond to NIA summons. The NIA said it had tapes of his hate speeches through which he had allegedly incited violence. We will soon question Naiks associates working in his NGO and will investigate the financial trail of the NGO and also examine the expenditure by Naik, an official said. The case was registered by the NIA last night under Section 153-A of the IPC (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and certain provisions of anti-terror law UA(P)A. The NIA action comes days after the Cabinet Committee on Security decided to declare IRF an unlawful association under the UA (P)A and the Centre formally banned the outfit through a Gazette notification. Besides the Section 153-A, the NIA has booked IRF under Section 10, 13 and 18 of the UA(P)A. While Section 10 relates to penalty for being a member of an unlawful association, Section 13 provides for punishment for unlawful activities. Naiks role came to the fore after the terror siege in Dhaka earlier this as two of the terrorists involved were found to be inspired by Naik's vitriolic speeches. Some of the missing youths from Mumbai suburbs, who had left their homes to join Islamic State earlier this year, were also reportedly inspired by him. According to the Gazette notification banning the IRF, the Government said that as many as five cases were already registered against it in various States. In the Gazette notification issued on Thursday, the Centre said it imposed a five-year ban on IRF for making derogatory statements against Hindu gods and extolling Al-Qaeda terrorist Osama bin Laden. The ministry said the IRF and its members particularly Naik, have been encouraging and aiding followers to promote or attempt to promote, on grounds of religion, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious communities. Reports by Central as well as State agencies revealed dubious links between IRF and Peace TV, an Islamic channel promoted by Naik and linked to terror propaganda. Naik is also accused of subverting IRF funds for the production of objectionable programmes for Peace TV that has reportedly been engaged in preaching hard line Salafist form of Islam and luring youths into its insidious agenda. Vikram Sharma By Express News Service JAMMU: At a time when demonetisation has left us all groping in the dark, here's a chai and barfi vendor plying his trade on the Jammu-Pathankot highway who can tell you which denomination a currency note is just by the feel of it. So what? He's visually challenged, and has been managing his trade thus for 35 years, entirely unaided. Bhisham Das is justly famous for his barfi, which has to be the best in the world, but also an inspiration to people in the area who throng to his shack. His vend lies amid a cluster of shops near a well called Thandi Kui in Dhamore village near Vijaypur in Samba, 25 km from Jammu. Almost every motorist passing by stops to have his tea and barfi. The 56-year-old vendor conducts every transaction, accepting notes and returning exactly the right change, with an efficiency honed over 35 years. "My hands have got used to the texture of every currency note including the 500s and 1,000s. My hands just feel the dimensions," he says. He is not in the least upset by the demonetisation of 500 and 1000s. "I think it's a great move by the government. I am sure I will learn the feel of the new notes, which at any rate have some features for the visually impaired. It is going to be business as usual, Bhisham Das tells me. Just to make sure, I handed Bhisham Das a Rs 500 note. He ran his fingers over it, and smiled and said, "You want me to throw this in the nearby well? Das was never really happy with the Rs 500 note anyway. It was the favourite tender of counterfeiters. He's not sure that the new notes being introduced will beat the racketeers. "They," he says, waving his hands in the direction of Pakistan, "may come up with new techniques." Bhisham Das's father migrated from West Pakistan and he was born in Jogpur village in Samba district of Jammu. he has four brothers and a sister. Though he does not know what caused it, Das remembers being partially blind as a child. "By the time I turned 20, I was completely blind. I went to a couple of doctors in my village but they were unable to tell me what the problem was. Then I decided not to go to doctors anymore. I started this business and today, by god's grace, my family is doing well,'' says Das. He opens the shop everyday at 11 am and mans the counter till 8 pm when his son comes to take him home, leaving the kiosk in the care of a relative. On an average, he does about Rs 10,000 per day. Has there been an instance when he got the feel of a note wrong, he smiles and he says, "Not one instance." Apart from his chai and barfi, Bhisham Das is the star attraction of his village. "He is an example for all visually challenged people. If someone is determined, he can achieve anything," says the sarpanch of Dhamore, Sukhjinder Singh Bhola. Adds Bhisham Das, "I strongly believe that if god takes something away he gives us something back." JAMMU: At a time when demonetisation has left us all groping in the dark, here's a chai and barfi vendor plying his trade on the Jammu-Pathankot highway who can tell you which denomination a currency note is just by the feel of it. So what? He's visually challenged, and has been managing his trade thus for 35 years, entirely unaided. Bhisham Das is justly famous for his barfi, which has to be the best in the world, but also an inspiration to people in the area who throng to his shack. His vend lies amid a cluster of shops near a well called Thandi Kui in Dhamore village near Vijaypur in Samba, 25 km from Jammu. Almost every motorist passing by stops to have his tea and barfi. The 56-year-old vendor conducts every transaction, accepting notes and returning exactly the right change, with an efficiency honed over 35 years. "My hands have got used to the texture of every currency note including the 500s and 1,000s. My hands just feel the dimensions," he says. He is not in the least upset by the demonetisation of 500 and 1000s. "I think it's a great move by the government. I am sure I will learn the feel of the new notes, which at any rate have some features for the visually impaired. It is going to be business as usual, Bhisham Das tells me. Just to make sure, I handed Bhisham Das a Rs 500 note. He ran his fingers over it, and smiled and said, "You want me to throw this in the nearby well? Das was never really happy with the Rs 500 note anyway. It was the favourite tender of counterfeiters. He's not sure that the new notes being introduced will beat the racketeers. "They," he says, waving his hands in the direction of Pakistan, "may come up with new techniques." Bhisham Das's father migrated from West Pakistan and he was born in Jogpur village in Samba district of Jammu. he has four brothers and a sister. Though he does not know what caused it, Das remembers being partially blind as a child. "By the time I turned 20, I was completely blind. I went to a couple of doctors in my village but they were unable to tell me what the problem was. Then I decided not to go to doctors anymore. I started this business and today, by god's grace, my family is doing well,'' says Das. He opens the shop everyday at 11 am and mans the counter till 8 pm when his son comes to take him home, leaving the kiosk in the care of a relative. On an average, he does about Rs 10,000 per day. Has there been an instance when he got the feel of a note wrong, he smiles and he says, "Not one instance." Apart from his chai and barfi, Bhisham Das is the star attraction of his village. "He is an example for all visually challenged people. If someone is determined, he can achieve anything," says the sarpanch of Dhamore, Sukhjinder Singh Bhola. Adds Bhisham Das, "I strongly believe that if god takes something away he gives us something back." Aishik Chanda By Express News Service KOLKATA: Shortage of Rs 100 and new Rs 500 notes has forced many residents near the India-Bhutan border in Bengal to switch to Bhutanese currency Ngultrum, which is equal in value to the Rupee. Illegal in India, the Ngultrum is nevertheless widely used in transactions in the border areas. Earlier, it was accepted as far as Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar towns, over 100 km from the border. However, stricter measures by the government since 2012 have limited the use of Ngultrum to the border areas. On the other hand, the Rupee is accepted as far as Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan. The sudden demonetisation move has forced the traders and the public alike in border towns such as Jaigaon and Nagrakata in Alipurduar to completely switch to the Bhutanese currency. Many of the traders have transferred their Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes to Phuentsholing on the other side of the border in lieu of Bhutanese currency, Dipankar Dutta, a trader in the last Indian town Jaigaon, told Express. The Bhutanese currency is also being used in greater numbers in other border towns such as Nagrakata. We have exchanged our Rs 500 notes with Nu 500 notes, which are accepted in the border areas, said Anupam Sarkar, a resident. Meanwhile, police denied organised large scale exchange of Rupees and Ngultrum through the border. KOLKATA: Shortage of Rs 100 and new Rs 500 notes has forced many residents near the India-Bhutan border in Bengal to switch to Bhutanese currency Ngultrum, which is equal in value to the Rupee. Illegal in India, the Ngultrum is nevertheless widely used in transactions in the border areas. Earlier, it was accepted as far as Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar towns, over 100 km from the border. However, stricter measures by the government since 2012 have limited the use of Ngultrum to the border areas. On the other hand, the Rupee is accepted as far as Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan. The sudden demonetisation move has forced the traders and the public alike in border towns such as Jaigaon and Nagrakata in Alipurduar to completely switch to the Bhutanese currency. Many of the traders have transferred their Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes to Phuentsholing on the other side of the border in lieu of Bhutanese currency, Dipankar Dutta, a trader in the last Indian town Jaigaon, told Express. The Bhutanese currency is also being used in greater numbers in other border towns such as Nagrakata. We have exchanged our Rs 500 notes with Nu 500 notes, which are accepted in the border areas, said Anupam Sarkar, a resident. Meanwhile, police denied organised large scale exchange of Rupees and Ngultrum through the border. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The BJP has issued whip to partys Rajya Sabha MPs for three days from Monday in a bid to put up a strong presence when the Upper House resumes discussions on demonetization. The BJP is sticking with confrontationist approach against the remark of the leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad. The Parliamentary office of the BJP has issued whip to all the party MPs of the Rajya Sabha to remain present in the proceedings of the House on November 21, 22 and 23. The whip is to ensure that the treasury benches show the full strength when discussions on demonetization are taken up, besides a few legislative bills may also be taken up, sources in the BJP Parliamentary Board said. Meanwhile, the Union Ministers on Saturday came out strongly against protests over demonetization, while accusing the Opposition of indulging into fear-mongering. Union Minister for Home Affairs Rajnath Singh asserted that the demonetization has broken the backbone of terror and Maoist funding. Union Minister for law Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the decision on demonetization has given a blow to the black money, besides destroying the network of counterfeit currencies. Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Congress is indulging in fear-mongering on demonetisation. She stated that a government cannot take anti-people step and then go back to them for votes. People might be facing some problems due to shortage of small denomination currency notes. Yet, they are supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she said. The minister stated that the government is alert on the inconveniences caused to the people on the rollout of demonetization, with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley reviewing the situation every day and responding to the feedback. NEW DELHI: The BJP has issued whip to partys Rajya Sabha MPs for three days from Monday in a bid to put up a strong presence when the Upper House resumes discussions on demonetization. The BJP is sticking with confrontationist approach against the remark of the leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad. The Parliamentary office of the BJP has issued whip to all the party MPs of the Rajya Sabha to remain present in the proceedings of the House on November 21, 22 and 23. The whip is to ensure that the treasury benches show the full strength when discussions on demonetization are taken up, besides a few legislative bills may also be taken up, sources in the BJP Parliamentary Board said. Meanwhile, the Union Ministers on Saturday came out strongly against protests over demonetization, while accusing the Opposition of indulging into fear-mongering. Union Minister for Home Affairs Rajnath Singh asserted that the demonetization has broken the backbone of terror and Maoist funding. Union Minister for law Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the decision on demonetization has given a blow to the black money, besides destroying the network of counterfeit currencies. Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Congress is indulging in fear-mongering on demonetisation. She stated that a government cannot take anti-people step and then go back to them for votes. People might be facing some problems due to shortage of small denomination currency notes. Yet, they are supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she said. The minister stated that the government is alert on the inconveniences caused to the people on the rollout of demonetization, with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley reviewing the situation every day and responding to the feedback. Fayaz Wani By Express News Service SRI NAGAR: As there is chaos and turmoil in other parts of country due to demonetisation of `500 and `1,000 notes, people in Kashmir have remained mostly unaffected and no long queues are being witnessed at banks or ATMs. People in Kashmir are exchanging the old notes at bank branches with ease and without having to face any inconvenience. I had to wait for just 5-10 minutes in a queue in a branch of J&K Bank at Lal Chowk, Srinagar, to exchange the old notes, said Liyaqat Ahmad. Thank God, theres no trouble here, he added. People are also withdrawing money from ATMs without having to wait in queues. I withdrew `2,000 from an ATM without having to wait in the queue as is the case outside the State, said Sajjad Ahmad, a government employee. Prominent businessman and civil society member, Shakeel Qalandar, said there are many factors for Kashmir not witnessing any chaos due to demonetisation. The State has a workforce of about 42.5 lakh. They are all salaried employees and 90 per cent of them hold bank accounts. The salaried class gets monthly wages through bank accounts, he said. He said because of the over four-month long unrest in the Valley, people have exhausted all cash. Kashmirs leading economist, Prof Nisar Ali, said there is no surprise behind no chaos at banks or long queues at ATMs. It is because our economy is on hold, said Nisar. SRI NAGAR: As there is chaos and turmoil in other parts of country due to demonetisation of `500 and `1,000 notes, people in Kashmir have remained mostly unaffected and no long queues are being witnessed at banks or ATMs. People in Kashmir are exchanging the old notes at bank branches with ease and without having to face any inconvenience. I had to wait for just 5-10 minutes in a queue in a branch of J&K Bank at Lal Chowk, Srinagar, to exchange the old notes, said Liyaqat Ahmad. Thank God, theres no trouble here, he added. People are also withdrawing money from ATMs without having to wait in queues. I withdrew `2,000 from an ATM without having to wait in the queue as is the case outside the State, said Sajjad Ahmad, a government employee. Prominent businessman and civil society member, Shakeel Qalandar, said there are many factors for Kashmir not witnessing any chaos due to demonetisation. The State has a workforce of about 42.5 lakh. They are all salaried employees and 90 per cent of them hold bank accounts. The salaried class gets monthly wages through bank accounts, he said. He said because of the over four-month long unrest in the Valley, people have exhausted all cash. Kashmirs leading economist, Prof Nisar Ali, said there is no surprise behind no chaos at banks or long queues at ATMs. It is because our economy is on hold, said Nisar. S Gurumurthy By In times of terror, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is an icon of world peace. The spiritual leader speaks to S Gurumurthy about his mediation in Colombia to bring the armed rebels to the negotiation table and how he applied the Gandhian principle of non-violence, and ancient Indian values of yoga and meditation to rid the world of violence and mould it into One Family. Do not get him married. Let him be a brahmachari for life. He has a mission in the cause of our dharma. This was how the Kanchi Mahaswami, the Sankaracharya of Kanchi, regarded by many as divine incarnation, blessed the young boy Ravi Shankar. This was when the young Ravi Shankars parents, Visalakshi and Venkat Ratnam, the devout Brahmin couple from a small town, Papanasam, in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu when they took himtheir only childto have darshan of the Mahaswami. Visalakshi was distraught. But Ratnam, well versed with Upanishads, astrology and Ayurveda, understood that his child was destined for something big and high. A few years later, the Sage also told the young Ravi Shankar, to be a sanyasi but not wear saffron dress. Thus began young Ravi Shankars spiritual quest. I personally saw him first when he was an extremely attractive young brahmachari, with sharp features and piercing eyes, just out of his teens. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos (sixth from left) at their Parliament He was staying in the Indian Express guest house in New Friends Colony in Delhi when Ramnath Goenka and me met him.And today The Art of Living, which he founded in 1981 to expound yoga and meditation to destress the over-worked and over-stressed people, rid the world of violence and mould it mentally into One FamilyVasudaiva Kutumbakam as the Upanishads sayis spread over 155 countries, touching the lives of over 370 million people. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, as he is known today, is a globally popular yoga and spiritual master. His reputation has travelled beyond India and he is more popular in other continents than even in India. He was honoured with the highest civilian awards by Paraguay in 2012, and Colombia in 2015 again. Sri Sri was decorated with Mongolias highest civilian title Order of Pole Star, as far back as 2008. But he got the first recognitionnot the highest like in those countries, but the next highest, Padma Vibhushanfrom Indian government only in 2016. Why so late in India? Why the recognition of Sri Sri had to wait till Narendra Modi came on the scene? It needs a deeper analysis of why Sri Sri has been recognised by governments outside India. The reason is that he represents the ancient Indian values which is the soft power of India that the world respects but that is precisely what the secular India is averse to. Read on. The concept of soft power, which the Harvard academic Joseph Nye developed in 1980s as contradistinction to the hard power of the US, has changed the grammar of diplomacy and geopolitical communication. Nye suggested Americas attractive brands of Harvard, Stanford, Micky Mouse, McDonalds, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo to replace the coercive icons of US warships, bombs and missiles, to make the world love, instead of fearing America. Nye commended the adoption of US soft power as part of its geopolitical strategy. But the Indian soft power is not a strategic asset created by corporates but a philosophic and spiritual evolution over millennia. The grammar of Indian soft power founded on its philosophy is different from Nyes strategic soft power produced by US businesses. Secular India is ignorant of the philosophic and cultural soft power of ancient India and its high value and need in modern times. What is Indian soft power? In the context of India, Professor of International Communication and Co-Director of India Media Centre at the University of Westminster in London, Daya Kishan Thussu, writes in his book, Communicating Indias Soft Power: Buddha to Bollywood: In a nutshell, the distinctive characteristics of Indias soft power is based on its traditions of public reasoning and religious tolerance, its culture of argumentative heterogeneity and philosophy of peaceful coexistence. Thussu argues that so far, no indigenous discourse on soft power has emerged from India. This is because Secular India is afraid of opening the locker of ancient India fearing that the pseudo secular foundation of Indian secularism will crumble. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar with Colombian rebel leader Ivan Marquez Therefore, it is intentionally blind to what contribution non-conflicting Indian civilisational ethos can make to the world. In fact, secular India does seem to know very little of that India which the world needs. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, and the Indian spiritualists like him starting from Swami Vivekananda, who travelled beyond India to talk about its greatness, are a product and proponent of that India the ancient India which secular India has shut its eye to. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar represents the continuity of the master who expounded the spiritual and philosophic soft power of India. He is recognised by distant people, in distant lands for the age-old solution from this ancient land of Rishis which he offersharmony based mutual respect of faiths, yoga and meditation. He is recognised for expounding and representing the very [ancient] Indian values the secular India is shy of owning and many seculars and liberals are actually averse to. I knew Sri Sri for long and have had extensive interactions with him on matters of national interest and developed reverence for him over years. I decided to interview himthe first by me everwhen I saw a YouTube video in which the Colombian Guerrilla leader and member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, Ivan Marquez, acknowledged and thanked Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and the Art of Living for negotiating peace and putting an end to a 50-year-old armed conflict between the rebels and the government. The site www.srisriandfarc.com says that Sri Sri explained to the rebel leaders the importance of following the Gandhian principle of non-violence, but, without surrender or giving up their ideals, continuing the struggle through peaceful resistance adding that, in this conflict, everybody is a victim. The website says that, for the first time maybe in their life, the FARC leaders meditated and later learned breathing techniques. How did this happen? Where is India and Sri Sri, and where is Colombia and its rebels? How did they come to know each other? How did they accept Sri Sris advice. What happened between them? Curiosity drove me to seek his interview which he readily granted. INTERVIEW We thank and acknowledge Sri Sri Ravi Shankars efforts in putting an end to the longest armed conflict in (South) America. His meeting in Havana with the peace delegation of the FARC has motivated us to search every possible way to put Colombia on the path of Gandhian principle of non-violence. With the help of Sri Sri we have placed our spirit to achieve reconciliation and co-existence in a big and benevolent country, whose destiny cant be that of war. The teachings of Art of Living are essential to achieve a stable and long lasting peace. These are the words of Chief Negotiator and the head of the FARC Peace Delegation Ivan Marquez. How did all this start? It all started in the autumn of 2013 when a group of South Americans met me in Montreal and brought up the very grave situation in Colombia where Art of Living volunteers was active for the past eight years. I said, We must reach out to them. Our volunteers worked to make some contact with FARC in Cuba through different channels and finally it materialised in 2014. Initially, there was huge resistance because they are Marxists and would not believe in anything spiritual or even remotely religious.Eventually our continued efforts in talking to them softened their stance. Were you directly involved in the negotiations with FARC or was it through your volunteers? Both, I was in touch with them directly as well as through our volunteers. Actually, I met with them directly only once in Havana. Later on, I spoke with them a couple of times through the help of translators and our volunteers. But our volunteers were working continuously with them and were in touch with them. Can you give some anecdotal references of yours or your volunteers involvement? In 2015, I met with president Santos after I was presented with the highest civilian award of Colombia for our work in the country. The customary meeting with the President after the award function, which normally is just a formal handshake, lasted for about 50 minutes where he aired the concerns about the grave situation and said all efforts for peace were not yielding the desired results and now military option seems to be the only way left. He was really worried as the military option could cost over 40,000 lives. That was when I offered to give it a try by going to Havana and meeting the FARC rebels. After some feelers, they first met me in a public talk I gave at the University of Havana. The next day, we had a personal meeting with all the commanders and leaders of FARC. Initially, they said the Gandhian principle of non-violence was hypocritical and I should instead talk to the Colombian government to stop the atrocities on the revolutionaries. They were insisting that the government must announce a ceasefire. But when we did a meditation together, they became happy and became interested in meditation. I explained to them the futility of continuing the way they have been for the last 53 years. When I said that I understand they were also victims of the situation, one of them remarked that for the first time someone has understood their position. The next day they all came back and we again had a talk for over two hours. On the third day, they followed me to the Indian Embassy in Havana where I led a meditation. And the next day to our surprise, they came with me to the press conference and announced that they would follow the Gandhian principle of non-violence and declared a unilateral ceasefire. So you mean to say they abruptly decided to drop their uprising? Neither the government nor the press could believe in the declaration of unilateral ceasefire by FARC and presumed it to be another gimmick of the revolutionaries. For another two weeks, bombings continued and people were losing all hope. On July 9, I had a telephonic conversation with Ivan Marquez and told him to stop the violence immediately if they were serious about peace. I also appealed to the government to give them 20 days time so that the communication about the ceasefire could reach the revolutionaries who are operating in remote areas. A month later, the government acknowledged the ceasefire and followed it up with a ceasefire from their side. By this time, the FARC members had done many of our meditation programmes. Our teachers went there three times and conducted programmes for thousands of guerrillas. The rebels were so thrilled by meditation, yoga and knowledge sessions that they requested for our knowledge books and tapes etc. After three days of our interaction, one of them even came to me with a stone and requested me to transfer some energy to the stone! I explained to them that the path they have chosen to deliver social justice was not appropriate and if they follow the Gandhian path of non-violence the whole world will be with them. Instead of causing so much death and destruction, they can do so much for their own countrymen with dignity. They really opened up and appreciated this line of thinking and requested for our help to continue the activity on the ground level to bring reconciliation among revolutionaries, guerrillas and the victims, the general population. And our volunteers started this right away. What was your experience of dealing with the guerilla group which many consider responsible for the loss suffered by the Colombian people during the 52-year conflict, which has claimed more than 220,000 lives? They are revolutionaries and we must understand that they are working with a mission. They have a mission to fight for social justice. So they feel they are victims of oppression. We must understand their mindset and realise they are not having parties in the jungle. They are struggling to achieve some goal. How did you manage their anger and revenge mentality? Had they become fatigued with violence? We went to them and gave them a taste of meditation. You know, in one sitting of meditation, people could realise what it is to be peaceful, what it is to be happy The clarity of mind comes, the emotions soften, old wounds get healed. That is what exactly happened. Subsequent to the three days of meditation, they did pranayama, yoga and Sudarshan Kriya and even underwent a three-day silence and advanced meditation programme. That really impacted their whole outlook towards life and society as well. Did you expect the FARC to respond to your appeal and teachings to follow Gandhian principles of non-violence? Yes, of course! Anything I do, I do with total conviction. I knew that they would change. After all, we are all human beings and people are open to reason. I would have loved to do the same thing with ISIS. But there they have the religious indoctrination that anyone who doesnt subscribe to their definition of God has no right to exist. What did you tell them about Gandhi? Were they already aware of him? How did they get influenced by Gandhian thought? They already knew about Gandhi. They had read about Karl Marx and I am sure they would have definitely heard or read something about Mahatma Gandhi. They are all educated people. But when I first mentioned the Gandhian way, they said it is not practical. And they also said it will be hypocritical to announce that they will be adopting non-violent path since they have lost a lot of people in this 53-year-old war. After meditation, they changed their mind and agreed to the reasons cited to them. Also, I shared with them my experience with LTTE. The FARC leaders have often taken pride in the fact that they stood on their own feet and rejected offers from Norway, USA and other countries. What made them open up to your mediation? Yes, they told me that they did not listen to the US. The Norwegian peace delegation had met them. They said they had rejected all the proposals. They were very strong on their decision, policies and principles. Thats why neither the press nor the government could initially believe the announcement that they were ready to accept the Gandhian principle of non-violence. There was a sort of cynicism and sarcasm on the first day of the announcement of the ceasefire. Were they disappointed that the peace treaty couldnt pass the referendum? Are you too disappointed? Yes. I really felt and also expressed to the President that we should have taken two more months to do the groundwork. People were not aware and the opposition was not involved. Because of this, the opposition leaders campaigned differently than the President. The peace process took more political colour than it should have. A little more time and effort in taking opposition parties into confidence and explaining the positive aspects of the treaty to the masses would have helped. We had even contacted the opposition leader, who was also a former President. What makes you so confidently say the FARC rebels will not pick up guns again despite the rejection of the peace treaty between the government and FARC by a small margin in the recent referendum? I am very sure the FARC leaders will not pick up guns again or act in a violent manner. I think it is virtually impossible because they have promised to follow the path of non-violence and they have been meditating every day regularly since then. Their whole attitude has notably shifted. What is the way ahead? What will be the Art of Livings role in Colombia now? I am going back to Colombia soon in November. I will be jointly addressing the Reconciliation Program with the President. We are also actively educating people about the benefits of the peace process and why they should say yes to it. There is the report of FARC leaders asking for forgiveness at a meeting between some victims of violence and FARC organised by the Art of Living in Havana. What triggered this softening? In August, the leader of our volunteers, Fransisco, took some 20 victims, including wives and families of the army generals and commanders, to Havana. They sat across the table with the FARC members. The FARC people looked into their eyes and asked for forgiveness. This was a turning point and helped turn negative vote for the peace process. The President really appreciated this move and only Art of Living could have done this because we have been working with the victims also in Colombia for the last several years. We have been conducting programmes for the victims of the war so that they could also forgive and move ahead. We need to heal them and make them understand that eye-for-eye stance is not going to do any good. Barring some report in Indian media, your role in the Colombian peace process has been generally understated. Are you disappointed? Not really! I neither do things for publicity nor to get credit. We had to do this job and we did it. Of course, the South American media has covered this quite well and both the President and the FARC leaders have acknowledged that it is the new approach of Gandhian principle and meditation, which has really made the difference. I am quite happy about that. As long as people who are relevant in the peace process understand the importance of peace within and the role of meditation in achieving it, I am satisfied. Does the Colombian experience motivate you to get involved in other conflicts around the world? I dont really look for motivation. We in the Art of Living are moving with a mission to bring happiness in peoples lives and resolve conflicts. We keep making our efforts wherever we can. We have done it in Sri Lanka. We are doing now in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Beirut, Equador, Salvador, etc. We are also doing some work in Venezuela, which is also very significant. Of course, in Kashmir, we have taught many people in the prisons. Many volunteers in Kashmir are involved in nation-building. Will the Gandhian model work where a religious people believe that their religion alone is legitimate and other religions have no right to exist? There is an issue with religious fanatics. We cannot educate them unless they are inside a prison! But once they are in prison we can change their mindset. The Gandhian principle will not work where there is religious indoctrination because they believe that if they kill the non-believers, they will go to heaven. It is hard to convince such people through the Gandhian principle. S Gurumurthy is a well-known commentator on political and economic affairs. Email: guru@gurumurthy.net In times of terror, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is an icon of world peace. The spiritual leader speaks to S Gurumurthy about his mediation in Colombia to bring the armed rebels to the negotiation table and how he applied the Gandhian principle of non-violence, and ancient Indian values of yoga and meditation to rid the world of violence and mould it into One Family. Do not get him married. Let him be a brahmachari for life. He has a mission in the cause of our dharma. This was how the Kanchi Mahaswami, the Sankaracharya of Kanchi, regarded by many as divine incarnation, blessed the young boy Ravi Shankar. This was when the young Ravi Shankars parents, Visalakshi and Venkat Ratnam, the devout Brahmin couple from a small town, Papanasam, in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu when they took himtheir only childto have darshan of the Mahaswami. Visalakshi was distraught. But Ratnam, well versed with Upanishads, astrology and Ayurveda, understood that his child was destined for something big and high. A few years later, the Sage also told the young Ravi Shankar, to be a sanyasi but not wear saffron dress. Thus began young Ravi Shankars spiritual quest. I personally saw him first when he was an extremely attractive young brahmachari, with sharp features and piercing eyes, just out of his teens. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos (sixth from left) at their ParliamentHe was staying in the Indian Express guest house in New Friends Colony in Delhi when Ramnath Goenka and me met him.And today The Art of Living, which he founded in 1981 to expound yoga and meditation to destress the over-worked and over-stressed people, rid the world of violence and mould it mentally into One FamilyVasudaiva Kutumbakam as the Upanishads sayis spread over 155 countries, touching the lives of over 370 million people. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, as he is known today, is a globally popular yoga and spiritual master. His reputation has travelled beyond India and he is more popular in other continents than even in India. He was honoured with the highest civilian awards by Paraguay in 2012, and Colombia in 2015 again. Sri Sri was decorated with Mongolias highest civilian title Order of Pole Star, as far back as 2008. But he got the first recognitionnot the highest like in those countries, but the next highest, Padma Vibhushanfrom Indian government only in 2016. Why so late in India? Why the recognition of Sri Sri had to wait till Narendra Modi came on the scene? It needs a deeper analysis of why Sri Sri has been recognised by governments outside India. The reason is that he represents the ancient Indian values which is the soft power of India that the world respects but that is precisely what the secular India is averse to. Read on. The concept of soft power, which the Harvard academic Joseph Nye developed in 1980s as contradistinction to the hard power of the US, has changed the grammar of diplomacy and geopolitical communication. Nye suggested Americas attractive brands of Harvard, Stanford, Micky Mouse, McDonalds, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo to replace the coercive icons of US warships, bombs and missiles, to make the world love, instead of fearing America. Nye commended the adoption of US soft power as part of its geopolitical strategy. But the Indian soft power is not a strategic asset created by corporates but a philosophic and spiritual evolution over millennia. The grammar of Indian soft power founded on its philosophy is different from Nyes strategic soft power produced by US businesses. Secular India is ignorant of the philosophic and cultural soft power of ancient India and its high value and need in modern times. What is Indian soft power? In the context of India, Professor of International Communication and Co-Director of India Media Centre at the University of Westminster in London, Daya Kishan Thussu, writes in his book, Communicating Indias Soft Power: Buddha to Bollywood: In a nutshell, the distinctive characteristics of Indias soft power is based on its traditions of public reasoning and religious tolerance, its culture of argumentative heterogeneity and philosophy of peaceful coexistence. Thussu argues that so far, no indigenous discourse on soft power has emerged from India. This is because Secular India is afraid of opening the locker of ancient India fearing that the pseudo secular foundation of Indian secularism will crumble. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar with Colombian rebel leader Ivan MarquezTherefore, it is intentionally blind to what contribution non-conflicting Indian civilisational ethos can make to the world. In fact, secular India does seem to know very little of that India which the world needs. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, and the Indian spiritualists like him starting from Swami Vivekananda, who travelled beyond India to talk about its greatness, are a product and proponent of that India the ancient India which secular India has shut its eye to. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar represents the continuity of the master who expounded the spiritual and philosophic soft power of India. He is recognised by distant people, in distant lands for the age-old solution from this ancient land of Rishis which he offersharmony based mutual respect of faiths, yoga and meditation. He is recognised for expounding and representing the very [ancient] Indian values the secular India is shy of owning and many seculars and liberals are actually averse to. I knew Sri Sri for long and have had extensive interactions with him on matters of national interest and developed reverence for him over years. I decided to interview himthe first by me everwhen I saw a YouTube video in which the Colombian Guerrilla leader and member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, Ivan Marquez, acknowledged and thanked Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and the Art of Living for negotiating peace and putting an end to a 50-year-old armed conflict between the rebels and the government. The site www.srisriandfarc.com says that Sri Sri explained to the rebel leaders the importance of following the Gandhian principle of non-violence, but, without surrender or giving up their ideals, continuing the struggle through peaceful resistance adding that, in this conflict, everybody is a victim. The website says that, for the first time maybe in their life, the FARC leaders meditated and later learned breathing techniques. How did this happen? Where is India and Sri Sri, and where is Colombia and its rebels? How did they come to know each other? How did they accept Sri Sris advice. What happened between them? Curiosity drove me to seek his interview which he readily granted. INTERVIEW We thank and acknowledge Sri Sri Ravi Shankars efforts in putting an end to the longest armed conflict in (South) America. His meeting in Havana with the peace delegation of the FARC has motivated us to search every possible way to put Colombia on the path of Gandhian principle of non-violence. With the help of Sri Sri we have placed our spirit to achieve reconciliation and co-existence in a big and benevolent country, whose destiny cant be that of war. The teachings of Art of Living are essential to achieve a stable and long lasting peace. These are the words of Chief Negotiator and the head of the FARC Peace Delegation Ivan Marquez. How did all this start? It all started in the autumn of 2013 when a group of South Americans met me in Montreal and brought up the very grave situation in Colombia where Art of Living volunteers was active for the past eight years. I said, We must reach out to them. Our volunteers worked to make some contact with FARC in Cuba through different channels and finally it materialised in 2014. Initially, there was huge resistance because they are Marxists and would not believe in anything spiritual or even remotely religious.Eventually our continued efforts in talking to them softened their stance. Were you directly involved in the negotiations with FARC or was it through your volunteers? Both, I was in touch with them directly as well as through our volunteers. Actually, I met with them directly only once in Havana. Later on, I spoke with them a couple of times through the help of translators and our volunteers. But our volunteers were working continuously with them and were in touch with them. Can you give some anecdotal references of yours or your volunteers involvement? In 2015, I met with president Santos after I was presented with the highest civilian award of Colombia for our work in the country. The customary meeting with the President after the award function, which normally is just a formal handshake, lasted for about 50 minutes where he aired the concerns about the grave situation and said all efforts for peace were not yielding the desired results and now military option seems to be the only way left. He was really worried as the military option could cost over 40,000 lives. That was when I offered to give it a try by going to Havana and meeting the FARC rebels. After some feelers, they first met me in a public talk I gave at the University of Havana. The next day, we had a personal meeting with all the commanders and leaders of FARC. Initially, they said the Gandhian principle of non-violence was hypocritical and I should instead talk to the Colombian government to stop the atrocities on the revolutionaries. They were insisting that the government must announce a ceasefire. But when we did a meditation together, they became happy and became interested in meditation. I explained to them the futility of continuing the way they have been for the last 53 years. When I said that I understand they were also victims of the situation, one of them remarked that for the first time someone has understood their position. The next day they all came back and we again had a talk for over two hours. On the third day, they followed me to the Indian Embassy in Havana where I led a meditation. And the next day to our surprise, they came with me to the press conference and announced that they would follow the Gandhian principle of non-violence and declared a unilateral ceasefire. So you mean to say they abruptly decided to drop their uprising? Neither the government nor the press could believe in the declaration of unilateral ceasefire by FARC and presumed it to be another gimmick of the revolutionaries. For another two weeks, bombings continued and people were losing all hope. On July 9, I had a telephonic conversation with Ivan Marquez and told him to stop the violence immediately if they were serious about peace. I also appealed to the government to give them 20 days time so that the communication about the ceasefire could reach the revolutionaries who are operating in remote areas. A month later, the government acknowledged the ceasefire and followed it up with a ceasefire from their side. By this time, the FARC members had done many of our meditation programmes. Our teachers went there three times and conducted programmes for thousands of guerrillas. The rebels were so thrilled by meditation, yoga and knowledge sessions that they requested for our knowledge books and tapes etc. After three days of our interaction, one of them even came to me with a stone and requested me to transfer some energy to the stone! I explained to them that the path they have chosen to deliver social justice was not appropriate and if they follow the Gandhian path of non-violence the whole world will be with them. Instead of causing so much death and destruction, they can do so much for their own countrymen with dignity. They really opened up and appreciated this line of thinking and requested for our help to continue the activity on the ground level to bring reconciliation among revolutionaries, guerrillas and the victims, the general population. And our volunteers started this right away. What was your experience of dealing with the guerilla group which many consider responsible for the loss suffered by the Colombian people during the 52-year conflict, which has claimed more than 220,000 lives? They are revolutionaries and we must understand that they are working with a mission. They have a mission to fight for social justice. So they feel they are victims of oppression. We must understand their mindset and realise they are not having parties in the jungle. They are struggling to achieve some goal. How did you manage their anger and revenge mentality? Had they become fatigued with violence? We went to them and gave them a taste of meditation. You know, in one sitting of meditation, people could realise what it is to be peaceful, what it is to be happy The clarity of mind comes, the emotions soften, old wounds get healed. That is what exactly happened. Subsequent to the three days of meditation, they did pranayama, yoga and Sudarshan Kriya and even underwent a three-day silence and advanced meditation programme. That really impacted their whole outlook towards life and society as well. Did you expect the FARC to respond to your appeal and teachings to follow Gandhian principles of non-violence? Yes, of course! Anything I do, I do with total conviction. I knew that they would change. After all, we are all human beings and people are open to reason. I would have loved to do the same thing with ISIS. But there they have the religious indoctrination that anyone who doesnt subscribe to their definition of God has no right to exist. What did you tell them about Gandhi? Were they already aware of him? How did they get influenced by Gandhian thought? They already knew about Gandhi. They had read about Karl Marx and I am sure they would have definitely heard or read something about Mahatma Gandhi. They are all educated people. But when I first mentioned the Gandhian way, they said it is not practical. And they also said it will be hypocritical to announce that they will be adopting non-violent path since they have lost a lot of people in this 53-year-old war. After meditation, they changed their mind and agreed to the reasons cited to them. Also, I shared with them my experience with LTTE. The FARC leaders have often taken pride in the fact that they stood on their own feet and rejected offers from Norway, USA and other countries. What made them open up to your mediation? Yes, they told me that they did not listen to the US. The Norwegian peace delegation had met them. They said they had rejected all the proposals. They were very strong on their decision, policies and principles. Thats why neither the press nor the government could initially believe the announcement that they were ready to accept the Gandhian principle of non-violence. There was a sort of cynicism and sarcasm on the first day of the announcement of the ceasefire. Were they disappointed that the peace treaty couldnt pass the referendum? Are you too disappointed? Yes. I really felt and also expressed to the President that we should have taken two more months to do the groundwork. People were not aware and the opposition was not involved. Because of this, the opposition leaders campaigned differently than the President. The peace process took more political colour than it should have. A little more time and effort in taking opposition parties into confidence and explaining the positive aspects of the treaty to the masses would have helped. We had even contacted the opposition leader, who was also a former President. What makes you so confidently say the FARC rebels will not pick up guns again despite the rejection of the peace treaty between the government and FARC by a small margin in the recent referendum? I am very sure the FARC leaders will not pick up guns again or act in a violent manner. I think it is virtually impossible because they have promised to follow the path of non-violence and they have been meditating every day regularly since then. Their whole attitude has notably shifted. What is the way ahead? What will be the Art of Livings role in Colombia now? I am going back to Colombia soon in November. I will be jointly addressing the Reconciliation Program with the President. We are also actively educating people about the benefits of the peace process and why they should say yes to it. There is the report of FARC leaders asking for forgiveness at a meeting between some victims of violence and FARC organised by the Art of Living in Havana. What triggered this softening? In August, the leader of our volunteers, Fransisco, took some 20 victims, including wives and families of the army generals and commanders, to Havana. They sat across the table with the FARC members. The FARC people looked into their eyes and asked for forgiveness. This was a turning point and helped turn negative vote for the peace process. The President really appreciated this move and only Art of Living could have done this because we have been working with the victims also in Colombia for the last several years. We have been conducting programmes for the victims of the war so that they could also forgive and move ahead. We need to heal them and make them understand that eye-for-eye stance is not going to do any good. Barring some report in Indian media, your role in the Colombian peace process has been generally understated. Are you disappointed? Not really! I neither do things for publicity nor to get credit. We had to do this job and we did it. Of course, the South American media has covered this quite well and both the President and the FARC leaders have acknowledged that it is the new approach of Gandhian principle and meditation, which has really made the difference. I am quite happy about that. As long as people who are relevant in the peace process understand the importance of peace within and the role of meditation in achieving it, I am satisfied. Does the Colombian experience motivate you to get involved in other conflicts around the world? I dont really look for motivation. We in the Art of Living are moving with a mission to bring happiness in peoples lives and resolve conflicts. We keep making our efforts wherever we can. We have done it in Sri Lanka. We are doing now in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Beirut, Equador, Salvador, etc. We are also doing some work in Venezuela, which is also very significant. Of course, in Kashmir, we have taught many people in the prisons. Many volunteers in Kashmir are involved in nation-building. Will the Gandhian model work where a religious people believe that their religion alone is legitimate and other religions have no right to exist? There is an issue with religious fanatics. We cannot educate them unless they are inside a prison! But once they are in prison we can change their mindset. The Gandhian principle will not work where there is religious indoctrination because they believe that if they kill the non-believers, they will go to heaven. It is hard to convince such people through the Gandhian principle. S Gurumurthy is a well-known commentator on political and economic affairs. Email: guru@gurumurthy.net By Express News Service MANGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the government will provide loans to members of womens self-help groups at zero percent interest soon. This announcement was made at the birth centenary celebration of former prime minister late Indira Gandhi at Nehru Maidan here on Saturday. Inaugurating the event, he recalled various pro-people programmes of Gandhi during her regime. Noticing the bold decision of Indira Gandhi during freedom struggle of Bangladesh, former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee lauded her and called her Durgi. The decision on nationalisation of banks allowed poor people access to banks. The Land Reform Act facilitated thousands of farmers to avail land. The economic policy introduced by Indira Gandhi helped India to be identified at the global level, he said. Siddaramaiah claimed he had introduced several pro-people programmes after being inspired by Gandhi. Congress had assured of introducing around 165 different programmes during the election, of which 125 have already been implemented. Though Congress government is doing well in the state, opposition parties are engaged in condemning the government. If BJP is trying to divide people in the name of Hindutva, Congress party is uniting the people, he said. On demonetisation Siddaramaiah condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not being well-prepared before going ahead with the decision of banning high value currency notes. The ban on currency notes is not new as the then prime minister Morarji Desai had also withdrawn currency notes. Though the intention of ban on high value currency notes was to curb the circulation of fake currency notes and check black money holders, none of the real culprits have been toiling in long queues in any part of the country to exchange their old currency notes. Modi did not take precautionary measures before executiing his plan, he said. MANGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the government will provide loans to members of womens self-help groups at zero percent interest soon. This announcement was made at the birth centenary celebration of former prime minister late Indira Gandhi at Nehru Maidan here on Saturday. Inaugurating the event, he recalled various pro-people programmes of Gandhi during her regime. Noticing the bold decision of Indira Gandhi during freedom struggle of Bangladesh, former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee lauded her and called her Durgi. The decision on nationalisation of banks allowed poor people access to banks. The Land Reform Act facilitated thousands of farmers to avail land. The economic policy introduced by Indira Gandhi helped India to be identified at the global level, he said. Siddaramaiah claimed he had introduced several pro-people programmes after being inspired by Gandhi. Congress had assured of introducing around 165 different programmes during the election, of which 125 have already been implemented. Though Congress government is doing well in the state, opposition parties are engaged in condemning the government. If BJP is trying to divide people in the name of Hindutva, Congress party is uniting the people, he said. On demonetisation Siddaramaiah condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not being well-prepared before going ahead with the decision of banning high value currency notes. The ban on currency notes is not new as the then prime minister Morarji Desai had also withdrawn currency notes. Though the intention of ban on high value currency notes was to curb the circulation of fake currency notes and check black money holders, none of the real culprits have been toiling in long queues in any part of the country to exchange their old currency notes. Modi did not take precautionary measures before executiing his plan, he said. By Express News Service MALAPPURAM: A 32-year-old man, who had converted to Islam six months ago, was brutally hacked to death at Farook Nagar in Kodinhi, here, in the wee hours on Saturday. Faisal P, alias Aneesh Kumar, son of Ananthan Nair, of Kodinhi, was found dead by the roadside at about 4 am by local residents. An auto rickshaw, which he had used for his transportation, was found abandoned by the dead body. According to the neighbors, Faisal had received threats even from his family members after he accepted Islam. Faisal had his scalp almost slit open possibly by sharp-edged weapon and his entrails pulled out by the attackers. The police said that he had converted to Islam about six months ago while he was working in Gulf as a driver. Faisal, who is fondly known as Unni, returned home only four months ago after working in Gulf for a year. His wife, who has embraced Islam recently, has been attending classes at Mounathul Islamic Sabha at Ponnani. The couple has three children going to Islamic Education Centre (IEC) High School at Kodinhi. A forensic team from Thrissur, dog squad and a team of fingerprint experts visited the site. MALAPPURAM: A 32-year-old man, who had converted to Islam six months ago, was brutally hacked to death at Farook Nagar in Kodinhi, here, in the wee hours on Saturday. Faisal P, alias Aneesh Kumar, son of Ananthan Nair, of Kodinhi, was found dead by the roadside at about 4 am by local residents. An auto rickshaw, which he had used for his transportation, was found abandoned by the dead body. According to the neighbors, Faisal had received threats even from his family members after he accepted Islam. Faisal had his scalp almost slit open possibly by sharp-edged weapon and his entrails pulled out by the attackers. The police said that he had converted to Islam about six months ago while he was working in Gulf as a driver. Faisal, who is fondly known as Unni, returned home only four months ago after working in Gulf for a year. His wife, who has embraced Islam recently, has been attending classes at Mounathul Islamic Sabha at Ponnani. The couple has three children going to Islamic Education Centre (IEC) High School at Kodinhi. A forensic team from Thrissur, dog squad and a team of fingerprint experts visited the site. By Express News Service THRISSUR: Almost seven months after the death, under controversial circumstances, of actor Kalabhavan Mani, the probe into the incident has hit another roadblock as the lie-detection test conducted on six friends of Mani including his manager and driver found no major contradictions in their statements given to the police. "The police have received the report of the lie-detection test on Friday and there is no major incriminating material to take case forward based on the report for the time being, deputy superintendent of police P Vahid Chalakudy told Express. He added that the investigation team would consult the matter with higher-ups in the police and would take a decision based on the expert opinion. According to police, with the negative lie-detection test reports of his friends, further investigation may have to depend upon other circumstantial evidence to sum up the case to a logical conclusion. The State government has already given consent for a CBI inquiry into the death of the actor as Manis brother R L V Ramakrishnan met chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the first week of June seeking a central probe into the case to unravel the mystery behind the death. There has been a lot of contradictions in the case since right from the beginning of the case. Since the state government nodded for a CBI probe into the case, we are now pinning our hopes in the central agency, Ramakrishnan told Express. Earlier, the state lab report has found traces of pesticides including Chlorpyrifos in the body of late actor. However, the lab report from the Central Forensic Lab in Hyderabad found no traces of any such pesticides including Chlorpyrifos in the viscera sample of Mani. Besides, the Central Forensic Lab report confirmed bout 45 mlg of methanol or methyl alcohol in the viscera sample while the Kakkanad lab report found trace of methanol up to 26 mlg. Mani was hospitalised in an unconscious state after a night of roistering in his farmhouse in Chalakudy and breathed his least on March 6, 2016. Though the police had registered a case of unnatural death, they failed to clear the mystery behind the actors abrupt and fatal hospitalisation. THRISSUR: Almost seven months after the death, under controversial circumstances, of actor Kalabhavan Mani, the probe into the incident has hit another roadblock as the lie-detection test conducted on six friends of Mani including his manager and driver found no major contradictions in their statements given to the police. "The police have received the report of the lie-detection test on Friday and there is no major incriminating material to take case forward based on the report for the time being, deputy superintendent of police P Vahid Chalakudy told Express. He added that the investigation team would consult the matter with higher-ups in the police and would take a decision based on the expert opinion. According to police, with the negative lie-detection test reports of his friends, further investigation may have to depend upon other circumstantial evidence to sum up the case to a logical conclusion. The State government has already given consent for a CBI inquiry into the death of the actor as Manis brother R L V Ramakrishnan met chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the first week of June seeking a central probe into the case to unravel the mystery behind the death. There has been a lot of contradictions in the case since right from the beginning of the case. Since the state government nodded for a CBI probe into the case, we are now pinning our hopes in the central agency, Ramakrishnan told Express. Earlier, the state lab report has found traces of pesticides including Chlorpyrifos in the body of late actor. However, the lab report from the Central Forensic Lab in Hyderabad found no traces of any such pesticides including Chlorpyrifos in the viscera sample of Mani. Besides, the Central Forensic Lab report confirmed bout 45 mlg of methanol or methyl alcohol in the viscera sample while the Kakkanad lab report found trace of methanol up to 26 mlg. Mani was hospitalised in an unconscious state after a night of roistering in his farmhouse in Chalakudy and breathed his least on March 6, 2016. Though the police had registered a case of unnatural death, they failed to clear the mystery behind the actors abrupt and fatal hospitalisation. By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Keralites are highly prone to mental depression, said the first ever Mental Heath Report of the state government released by Health Minister K K Shailaja on Saturday. However, the report is based on a survey conducted in five districts. According to the report, around 9 per cent people in the state are suffering from mental depression, which comes under the category of common mental disorders. The incidence of depression is higher than other mental disorders including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and psychosis. The survey was conducted in the districts of Kollam, Idukki, Palakkad, Wayanad and Kasargod. According to Minister Shailaja, the survey will be conducted in all the remaining districts soon, based on which a final report will be brought out to understand the mental health concern across the state. Experts who supervised the survey said that the statistics in the state was very close to the findings of a nationwide sample survey conducted recently by the Government of India. The statistics indicate a matter of concern. It is high time we addressed this problem. In fact, this could be a major contributor to the rise in suicides in the state. We are committed to curbing this trend by co-ordinating various projects. An action plan is also in the offing, said Shailaja. As part of the plan to control the prevalence of mental disorders and depression, the Health Department has decided to revamp the mental health treatment system in the state with most modern facilities and to ensure a patient- friendly atmosphere at all mental health centres. The department has decided to modernise the Government Mental Health Centre in Kozhikode to improve facilities to meet the increasing demand for psychiatric assistance. A fresh team of counsellors will be trained to help people fight depression. We want to ensure a healthy environment for people suffering from mental disorders instead of keeping or locking them in isolated cells, Shailaja added. The survey was completed at an estimated cost of Rs 1.05 crore by Kerala State Mental Health Authority with the support of District Mental Health Programme and National Health Mission. The survey was conducted in 108 gram panchayats and 29 municipalities by well-trained Asha workers. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Keralites are highly prone to mental depression, said the first ever Mental Heath Report of the state government released by Health Minister K K Shailaja on Saturday. However, the report is based on a survey conducted in five districts. According to the report, around 9 per cent people in the state are suffering from mental depression, which comes under the category of common mental disorders. The incidence of depression is higher than other mental disorders including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and psychosis. The survey was conducted in the districts of Kollam, Idukki, Palakkad, Wayanad and Kasargod. According to Minister Shailaja, the survey will be conducted in all the remaining districts soon, based on which a final report will be brought out to understand the mental health concern across the state. Experts who supervised the survey said that the statistics in the state was very close to the findings of a nationwide sample survey conducted recently by the Government of India. The statistics indicate a matter of concern. It is high time we addressed this problem. In fact, this could be a major contributor to the rise in suicides in the state. We are committed to curbing this trend by co-ordinating various projects. An action plan is also in the offing, said Shailaja. As part of the plan to control the prevalence of mental disorders and depression, the Health Department has decided to revamp the mental health treatment system in the state with most modern facilities and to ensure a patient- friendly atmosphere at all mental health centres. The department has decided to modernise the Government Mental Health Centre in Kozhikode to improve facilities to meet the increasing demand for psychiatric assistance. A fresh team of counsellors will be trained to help people fight depression. We want to ensure a healthy environment for people suffering from mental disorders instead of keeping or locking them in isolated cells, Shailaja added. The survey was completed at an estimated cost of Rs 1.05 crore by Kerala State Mental Health Authority with the support of District Mental Health Programme and National Health Mission. The survey was conducted in 108 gram panchayats and 29 municipalities by well-trained Asha workers. By Express News Service BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today asked party leaders and workers to open help desks near banks in rural areas to help people fill up forms for exchange of old currency notes. In a letter to all MPs, MLAs and office-bearers of the party, the chief minister said as filling up of forms for exchange of demonetised notes is mandatory, the BJD should come forward to help people when they are facing difficulties. He said the help desks should be opened with five volunteers near all banks at the gram pachayat headquarters and other villages. Besides, he asked the party leaders and workers to help senior citizens, different challenged persons and ill persons for the exchange of notes and other banking activities. The chief minister said demonetisation has affected more than 70 percent of the people in rural areas who including from the scheduled tribes and scheduled castes, farmers, construction workers, women and daily wage earners. He said that people are facing difficulties as facilities for exchange of demonetised currency notes are inadequate and withdrawal of new notes from banks have also been affected because as availability is less than required. Around 70 percent of the gram panchayats in the state unbanked where there is no banking facilities. Earlier also the chief minister had advised the party leaders and workers including the MPs and MLAs to help people in rural areas. The BJD president has also requested the party observers to coordinate with the MPs, MLAs and office-bearers and come forward to help people in this hour of need, BJD secretary Anant Narayan Jena has said. BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today asked party leaders and workers to open help desks near banks in rural areas to help people fill up forms for exchange of old currency notes. In a letter to all MPs, MLAs and office-bearers of the party, the chief minister said as filling up of forms for exchange of demonetised notes is mandatory, the BJD should come forward to help people when they are facing difficulties. He said the help desks should be opened with five volunteers near all banks at the gram pachayat headquarters and other villages. Besides, he asked the party leaders and workers to help senior citizens, different challenged persons and ill persons for the exchange of notes and other banking activities. The chief minister said demonetisation has affected more than 70 percent of the people in rural areas who including from the scheduled tribes and scheduled castes, farmers, construction workers, women and daily wage earners. He said that people are facing difficulties as facilities for exchange of demonetised currency notes are inadequate and withdrawal of new notes from banks have also been affected because as availability is less than required. Around 70 percent of the gram panchayats in the state unbanked where there is no banking facilities. Earlier also the chief minister had advised the party leaders and workers including the MPs and MLAs to help people in rural areas. The BJD president has also requested the party observers to coordinate with the MPs, MLAs and office-bearers and come forward to help people in this hour of need, BJD secretary Anant Narayan Jena has said. By Express News Service CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalitha on Saturday was shifted from Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to a private room in Apollo hospital where she has been undergoing treatment for the last 59 days. Just as the news about the shifting from ICU spread, the AIADMK cadre waiting anxiously in front of the hospital, celebrated the moment by distributing sweets. Jayalalithaa was admitted to the hospital on the night of September 22 after complaining of high fever and dehydration. Many specialists including Dr Richard Beale from London and a five-member team of doctors from AIIMS, Delhi had visited the hospital many times for her treatment. Earlier this month, Apollo hospital chairman had confirmed that Jayalalithaa was completely cured of her infection and she would be moved out of ICU at the earliest. Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, BJP president Amit Shah, union minister Venkaiah Naidu and political leaders cutting across party lines had visited Apollo hospital during the past two months to enquire after the health of Jayalalithaa. On the advice of the chief minister, the Governor had allocated the portfolios by her to finance minister O Panneerselvam on October 11, following which he had presided over the Cabinet meetings on October 18 and 24. In her first public statement since hospitalisation, Jayalalithaa, besides an appeal to voters of the poll-bound four constituencies in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, said she would be back to her routine soon and described her recovery as a rebirth. CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalitha on Saturday was shifted from Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to a private room in Apollo hospital where she has been undergoing treatment for the last 59 days. Just as the news about the shifting from ICU spread, the AIADMK cadre waiting anxiously in front of the hospital, celebrated the moment by distributing sweets. Jayalalithaa was admitted to the hospital on the night of September 22 after complaining of high fever and dehydration. Many specialists including Dr Richard Beale from London and a five-member team of doctors from AIIMS, Delhi had visited the hospital many times for her treatment. Earlier this month, Apollo hospital chairman had confirmed that Jayalalithaa was completely cured of her infection and she would be moved out of ICU at the earliest. Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, BJP president Amit Shah, union minister Venkaiah Naidu and political leaders cutting across party lines had visited Apollo hospital during the past two months to enquire after the health of Jayalalithaa. On the advice of the chief minister, the Governor had allocated the portfolios by her to finance minister O Panneerselvam on October 11, following which he had presided over the Cabinet meetings on October 18 and 24. In her first public statement since hospitalisation, Jayalalithaa, besides an appeal to voters of the poll-bound four constituencies in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, said she would be back to her routine soon and described her recovery as a rebirth. By Express News Service CHENNAI: Taking an important step in ensuring transparency, police stations in Tamil Nadu have begun uploading FIRs online, which could be accessed by anyone including the accused from the Tamil Nadu polices official website. This facility, which was set up after a direction from the Supreme Court, had a soft launch four days ago, and has been accessed by over 1,000 persons so far, said a senior official. According to the courts directive, FIRs should be uploaded within 24 hours. In this option, the public can view FIRs online and also check the status of their complaint through their smartphone or laptop. Explaining how the new option works, an official from the State Crime Record Bureau said a new tab has been added to the right side on the website, www.tnpolice.gov.in, which reads View FIR. Here, the details of the individua and the mobile number of the person seeking information have to be submitted. After this, a one-time password (OTP) is sent to the mobile, and the FIR copy can be viewed. Speaking to Express, a senior police officer said the facility was launched on November 15. Since then, all FIRs from across the State are updated on the website. Every day, around 2,000 FIRs are registered in Tamil Nadu, which are uploaded on the CCTNS, the official police website, added the officer. The department has enough storage facilities for this large volume of data, said the officer, adding that there is also a backup. All FIRs are uploaded within 24 hours as per the instructions from the court, except when there is connectivity issue. In such cases, the deadline has been extended to 48-72 hours. Same is the case with FIRs in sensitive issues like sexual abuse, insurgency or terrorism and child abuse, which will not be accessible to the public.The decision not to post the FIRs cannot be taken by a police officer below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police. Welcoming the move, R Vinayaga Vishnu, a senior advocate with the Madras High Court, noted that this will help reduce the police atrocities and will also provide the accused his right to defence. The defence of the accused starts from the time the FIR is uploaded. For instance, if a complaint is registered against a Chennai-based person in Coimbatore and the police call for an inquiry, he can check the FIR online to see what charges have been booked against him and carry the relevant documents to produce in defence, he added. When an FIR is filed, the investigation officer would remand the person in 24 hours, giving the suspect (innocent until proven otherwise) no time to return to the place to collect the documents to present his case, he added. This will lead to a drop in crime rate and will also make the accuracy of the rates clearer, said Vishnu. Meanwhile, sounding a cautious note, noted human rights activist Henri Tiphagne said the Supreme Court should also monitor the states. Like how the FIRs are being uploaded, the details on the person who is arrested should also be published, he suggested. CHENNAI: Taking an important step in ensuring transparency, police stations in Tamil Nadu have begun uploading FIRs online, which could be accessed by anyone including the accused from the Tamil Nadu polices official website. This facility, which was set up after a direction from the Supreme Court, had a soft launch four days ago, and has been accessed by over 1,000 persons so far, said a senior official. According to the courts directive, FIRs should be uploaded within 24 hours. In this option, the public can view FIRs online and also check the status of their complaint through their smartphone or laptop. Explaining how the new option works, an official from the State Crime Record Bureau said a new tab has been added to the right side on the website, www.tnpolice.gov.in, which reads View FIR. Here, the details of the individua and the mobile number of the person seeking information have to be submitted. After this, a one-time password (OTP) is sent to the mobile, and the FIR copy can be viewed. Speaking to Express, a senior police officer said the facility was launched on November 15. Since then, all FIRs from across the State are updated on the website. Every day, around 2,000 FIRs are registered in Tamil Nadu, which are uploaded on the CCTNS, the official police website, added the officer. The department has enough storage facilities for this large volume of data, said the officer, adding that there is also a backup. All FIRs are uploaded within 24 hours as per the instructions from the court, except when there is connectivity issue. In such cases, the deadline has been extended to 48-72 hours. Same is the case with FIRs in sensitive issues like sexual abuse, insurgency or terrorism and child abuse, which will not be accessible to the public.The decision not to post the FIRs cannot be taken by a police officer below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police. Welcoming the move, R Vinayaga Vishnu, a senior advocate with the Madras High Court, noted that this will help reduce the police atrocities and will also provide the accused his right to defence. The defence of the accused starts from the time the FIR is uploaded. For instance, if a complaint is registered against a Chennai-based person in Coimbatore and the police call for an inquiry, he can check the FIR online to see what charges have been booked against him and carry the relevant documents to produce in defence, he added. When an FIR is filed, the investigation officer would remand the person in 24 hours, giving the suspect (innocent until proven otherwise) no time to return to the place to collect the documents to present his case, he added. This will lead to a drop in crime rate and will also make the accuracy of the rates clearer, said Vishnu. Meanwhile, sounding a cautious note, noted human rights activist Henri Tiphagne said the Supreme Court should also monitor the states. Like how the FIRs are being uploaded, the details on the person who is arrested should also be published, he suggested. By Express News Service JAGTIAL:A 32-year-old man, who went to Iraq in search of employment, was allegedly kidnapped by miscreants while he was travelling to Germany through Italy in a ship illegally. The incident took place about six days ago but it came to light after a case was registered at Metpally police station by the kidnapped persons wife Madhavi on Saturday. Doddedi Ravi According to sources, the kidnappers threatened the missing person Doddedi Ravi that he would be killed if `10 lakh cash was not paid for his release. Interestingly, Ravi himself called his wife to inform about his kidnap and requested her to arrange for the money. The kidnappers asked the family members to hand over the cash to their man in Kolkata. Ravi, belonging to Kothur village, had gone to Iraq about a year-and-a-half ago to work in a construction company. Jagtial SP B Anantha Sharma said that a money extortion case has been registered and a message will be sent to the Ministry of External Affairs. The chief secretary has also intimated the Indian Embassy in Baghdad about the kidnap. JAGTIAL:A 32-year-old man, who went to Iraq in search of employment, was allegedly kidnapped by miscreants while he was travelling to Germany through Italy in a ship illegally. The incident took place about six days ago but it came to light after a case was registered at Metpally police station by the kidnapped persons wife Madhavi on Saturday. Doddedi RaviAccording to sources, the kidnappers threatened the missing person Doddedi Ravi that he would be killed if `10 lakh cash was not paid for his release. Interestingly, Ravi himself called his wife to inform about his kidnap and requested her to arrange for the money. The kidnappers asked the family members to hand over the cash to their man in Kolkata. Ravi, belonging to Kothur village, had gone to Iraq about a year-and-a-half ago to work in a construction company. Jagtial SP B Anantha Sharma said that a money extortion case has been registered and a message will be sent to the Ministry of External Affairs. The chief secretary has also intimated the Indian Embassy in Baghdad about the kidnap. By PTI MOSUL: A senior military commander says Iraqi troops are facing stiff resistance from Islamic State militants as they push deeper into eastern Mosul. Maj Gen Sami al-Aridi of the Iraqi special forces says his troops moved early today morning into the Muharabeen and Ulama neighborhoods after fully liberating the adjacent Tahrir neighborhood yesterday. AL-Aridi said IS militants are fighting back with snipers, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar rounds. Thick black columns of smoke were seen billowing from the two areas. The offensive to retake IS-held Mosul, which was launched on October 17, is the biggest military operation in Iraq since American troops left in 2011. If successful, the retaking of Mosul would be the strongest blow dealt to IS' self-styled caliphate stretching into Syria. MOSUL: A senior military commander says Iraqi troops are facing stiff resistance from Islamic State militants as they push deeper into eastern Mosul. Maj Gen Sami al-Aridi of the Iraqi special forces says his troops moved early today morning into the Muharabeen and Ulama neighborhoods after fully liberating the adjacent Tahrir neighborhood yesterday. AL-Aridi said IS militants are fighting back with snipers, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar rounds. Thick black columns of smoke were seen billowing from the two areas. The offensive to retake IS-held Mosul, which was launched on October 17, is the biggest military operation in Iraq since American troops left in 2011. If successful, the retaking of Mosul would be the strongest blow dealt to IS' self-styled caliphate stretching into Syria. By PTI ADEN: More than 30 people have been killed in intense fighting between rebels and loyalists on the outskirts of Yemen's third city Taez, military and medical sources said today. The clashes have eliminated hope of the warring parties abiding by a truce announced by US Secretary of State John Kerry that was to have taken effect yesterday. Loyalist military sources told AFP that 24 rebels and 14 pro-government forces were killed over the past 24 hours, while the rebels reported dozens of casualties in shelling of a local market. Two civilians were also killed and 16 wounded when rebels fired Katyusha rockets into a residential area of Taez, they said. A photographer identified as Awab al-Zubairi with the pro-government Taiz News Network, which posts on Facebook and Twitter, was also killed when a landmine planted by the rebels exploded in Taez, a government official said. For its part, rebel-controlled sabanews.net website reported that pro-government forces fired artillery rounds into areas east of the city. A rocket hit a market selling the popular mild narcotic leaf qat, killing 24 people and wounding 27 yesterday, according to sabanews.net. It cited the Taez province health chief, Watheq Faqih, as saying the toll could rise as rescue workers had not been able to gather the body parts of all the dead because of artillery fire today. The medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said emergency rooms it supports or manages in Taez province had received a total of 21 dead and 76 wounded. Among those killed was a watchman who worked at the MSF trauma centre in Taez. He was killed while "off-duty when a blast hit a local market in the neighbourhood", said Djoen Besselink, who heads the MSF mission in Yemen, apparently referring to the qat market. "Fighting has been intensive in Taez during recent days, and hospitals on both sides of the frontline have received a continuous influx of war-wounded civilians and fighters," MSF said. Pro-government forces are pressing on with a four-day-old offensive to recapture the presidential residence and police headquarters in the southwestern city, while the Shiite Huthi rebels have brought in reinforcements. The fighting has continued despite Kerry's announcement of a new ceasefire. ADEN: More than 30 people have been killed in intense fighting between rebels and loyalists on the outskirts of Yemen's third city Taez, military and medical sources said today. The clashes have eliminated hope of the warring parties abiding by a truce announced by US Secretary of State John Kerry that was to have taken effect yesterday. Loyalist military sources told AFP that 24 rebels and 14 pro-government forces were killed over the past 24 hours, while the rebels reported dozens of casualties in shelling of a local market. Two civilians were also killed and 16 wounded when rebels fired Katyusha rockets into a residential area of Taez, they said. A photographer identified as Awab al-Zubairi with the pro-government Taiz News Network, which posts on Facebook and Twitter, was also killed when a landmine planted by the rebels exploded in Taez, a government official said. For its part, rebel-controlled sabanews.net website reported that pro-government forces fired artillery rounds into areas east of the city. A rocket hit a market selling the popular mild narcotic leaf qat, killing 24 people and wounding 27 yesterday, according to sabanews.net. It cited the Taez province health chief, Watheq Faqih, as saying the toll could rise as rescue workers had not been able to gather the body parts of all the dead because of artillery fire today. The medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said emergency rooms it supports or manages in Taez province had received a total of 21 dead and 76 wounded. Among those killed was a watchman who worked at the MSF trauma centre in Taez. He was killed while "off-duty when a blast hit a local market in the neighbourhood", said Djoen Besselink, who heads the MSF mission in Yemen, apparently referring to the qat market. "Fighting has been intensive in Taez during recent days, and hospitals on both sides of the frontline have received a continuous influx of war-wounded civilians and fighters," MSF said. Pro-government forces are pressing on with a four-day-old offensive to recapture the presidential residence and police headquarters in the southwestern city, while the Shiite Huthi rebels have brought in reinforcements. The fighting has continued despite Kerry's announcement of a new ceasefire. By Associated Press YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio Police in Ohio are accusing a woman of selling sex for $60 and some nachos. Officers near Youngstown say they arrested 36-year-old Crystal Hotlosz during an undercover operation Monday. Beaver Township police say an officer texted the woman after seeing an online advertisement for sex services. Officers say she first wanted $50 and some nachos and later upped her price to $60. Police say that when the undercover officer later met the woman in the parking lot of a Mexican restaurant, she asked if he had the extra money and her nachos. WKBN-TV in Youngstown (http://bit.ly/2f7SK0u ) reports Hotlosz has been charged with solicitation and possession of criminal tools. A message seeking comment was left with her attorney on Friday. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio Police in Ohio are accusing a woman of selling sex for $60 and some nachos. Officers near Youngstown say they arrested 36-year-old Crystal Hotlosz during an undercover operation Monday. Beaver Township police say an officer texted the woman after seeing an online advertisement for sex services. Officers say she first wanted $50 and some nachos and later upped her price to $60. Police say that when the undercover officer later met the woman in the parking lot of a Mexican restaurant, she asked if he had the extra money and her nachos. WKBN-TV in Youngstown (http://bit.ly/2f7SK0u ) reports Hotlosz has been charged with solicitation and possession of criminal tools. A message seeking comment was left with her attorney on Friday. Express News Service COLOMBO: The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka (MCSL) has strongly objected to the statement made by the Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe in Parliament on Friday, saying that 32 Sri Lankan Muslims had left the country to join the ISIS in Syria. MCSL President N M Ameen said the Minister's statement implied that 32 Muslims had joined the ISIS recently, when actually he was only repeating a story which had appeared more than a year ago in July 2015. "We strongly object to this misplaced statement. The facts given by the Minister were reported in the media more than a year ago when a Sri Lankan combatant died fighting with ISIS," Ameen said. There have been no new reports of any others getting involved since this was reported last year," he pointed out. "It is believed that one family had gone to Syria to provide humanitarian support to the war wounded and refugees. Some of the men are alleged to have joined or forced to join the fighting forces of ISIS. The Muslim community, including the Muslim Council, Jamiathul Ulema and other organizations cooperated with the government in identifying the families to provide the necessary support for the intelligence agencies to investigate. Women and children too had gone to Syria, he said. The Minister's statement comes at a very opportune time for certain extremist elements bent on tarnishing the image of the Muslim community for reasons only best known to them, Ameen pointed out. According to him, the Thableeq Jamath, Sunnath Jamath, Thowheed Jamath and Jamaithe Islam and several other organizations are Muslim religious and social service organizations. "They do not promote any form of violence as implied by Wijedasa Rajapakshe. Certain parts of his statement are verbatim repetition of the hate speech spewed by the extremist Buddhist priest Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero," Ameen charged. "The Muslims of Sri Lanka has a long history of peaceful co-existence and have stood with the Sri Lankans at good times and at times of adversity. The entire Muslim community has condemned the un-Islamic comments of the Secretary of the Sri Lanka Thowheed Jamath, Abdul Razick. Twenty-three Muslim Religious and Civil Society organizations headed by the All Ceylon Jamiathul Ulema issued a statement condemning the speech made by SLTJs Secretary. "As alleged by the Minister, no Muslim international school invites extremists to indoctrinate its children with fundamentalism. We urge Wijedasa Rajapakshe to provide evidence and take immediate action against anyone who may have violated the laws of the land irrespective of ethnicity or religion. "The Muslim community is seriously alarmed about the re-emergence of the racist campaign that was carried out by extremist Buddhist monks since the end of the war in 2009. Many youth too have started social media campaigns against the Muslim community. The statements made by the Minster would only help to disturb peace and promote the interests of certain vested interests to destroy our country. "We urge the Minister and the Government to investigate this and take appropriate action. We also urge the government to take immediate steps to halt all forms of extremism and restore peace and harmony for all Sri Lankans," the MCSL President said. COLOMBO: The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka (MCSL) has strongly objected to the statement made by the Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe in Parliament on Friday, saying that 32 Sri Lankan Muslims had left the country to join the ISIS in Syria. MCSL President N M Ameen said the Minister's statement implied that 32 Muslims had joined the ISIS recently, when actually he was only repeating a story which had appeared more than a year ago in July 2015. "We strongly object to this misplaced statement. The facts given by the Minister were reported in the media more than a year ago when a Sri Lankan combatant died fighting with ISIS," Ameen said. There have been no new reports of any others getting involved since this was reported last year," he pointed out. "It is believed that one family had gone to Syria to provide humanitarian support to the war wounded and refugees. Some of the men are alleged to have joined or forced to join the fighting forces of ISIS. The Muslim community, including the Muslim Council, Jamiathul Ulema and other organizations cooperated with the government in identifying the families to provide the necessary support for the intelligence agencies to investigate. Women and children too had gone to Syria, he said. The Minister's statement comes at a very opportune time for certain extremist elements bent on tarnishing the image of the Muslim community for reasons only best known to them, Ameen pointed out. According to him, the Thableeq Jamath, Sunnath Jamath, Thowheed Jamath and Jamaithe Islam and several other organizations are Muslim religious and social service organizations. "They do not promote any form of violence as implied by Wijedasa Rajapakshe. Certain parts of his statement are verbatim repetition of the hate speech spewed by the extremist Buddhist priest Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero," Ameen charged. "The Muslims of Sri Lanka has a long history of peaceful co-existence and have stood with the Sri Lankans at good times and at times of adversity. The entire Muslim community has condemned the un-Islamic comments of the Secretary of the Sri Lanka Thowheed Jamath, Abdul Razick. Twenty-three Muslim Religious and Civil Society organizations headed by the All Ceylon Jamiathul Ulema issued a statement condemning the speech made by SLTJs Secretary. "As alleged by the Minister, no Muslim international school invites extremists to indoctrinate its children with fundamentalism. We urge Wijedasa Rajapakshe to provide evidence and take immediate action against anyone who may have violated the laws of the land irrespective of ethnicity or religion. "The Muslim community is seriously alarmed about the re-emergence of the racist campaign that was carried out by extremist Buddhist monks since the end of the war in 2009. Many youth too have started social media campaigns against the Muslim community. The statements made by the Minster would only help to disturb peace and promote the interests of certain vested interests to destroy our country. "We urge the Minister and the Government to investigate this and take appropriate action. We also urge the government to take immediate steps to halt all forms of extremism and restore peace and harmony for all Sri Lankans," the MCSL President said. T20 World Cup 2022: Kohli, Rahul Fifties Power India to 184/6 vs Bangladesh in Adelaide IND vs BAN 2022: Virat Kohli Becomes All-time Leading Run-getter in T20 World Cup History 'We'll Try and Tell Babar to Say Something About Him': Shahid Afridi Takes Harsh Jibe at Gautam Gambhir India vs Bangladesh: Has Dinesh Karthik Performed The Role He Has Been Picked For By Associated Press ISTANBUL: A debate flared in Turkey on Friday after a government proposal which would pardon some people imprisoned for statutory rape fell short of passage by legislators. The proposal would defer sentencing or punishment for sexual assault in cases where there was no force and where the victim and perpetrator were married. Opposition legislators, rights groups and other critics warned that the proposal facilitates child marriage. The proposal was introduced late Thursday by the ruling Justice and Development Party, rooted in Turkey's Islamic movement, which says it is meant to protect those who were too young to marry legally. The proposal will be brought up again for consideration on Tuesday. An earlier law said there is no sexual assault if the couple marry. It was replaced by the current law in 2005, which set a minimum prison sentence of eight years, extended to 16 years in 2014. "Those aren't rapists, they aren't people who committed sexual assault by force. Those are acts done with the consent of families and the young ones," Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said on Friday, adding that the later law had ignored the matter of consent. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said: "In the past there were people who were not aware of the law. The fathers have ended up in prison. This is a one-time measure to correct an unjust situation. It is an important problem." The government's proposal would apply to cases between 2005 and Nov. 16 of this year, which would affect an estimated 3,000 families. Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency reported several opposition legislators slamming the proposal. Republican People's Party Deputy Chair Tekin Bingol said they "strongly rejected" it, saying it amounted to a pardon for rapists. Mehmet Onur Yilmaz of Gundem Cocuk, a children's rights organization whose operations were halted by the government last week, told The Associated Press the issue stemmed from not taking child marriage seriously. "If there was an understanding that child marriage constituted sexual assault such a proposal would not even be brought up," said Yilmaz. "This comes from looking at the matter with a focus on marriage, a conservative understanding which sees marriage as a solution to the problem of abuse." Under current law, Yilmaz said, a person between the ages of 16-18 can get a special exemption allowing marriage by a court, and that is almost always granted. ISTANBUL: A debate flared in Turkey on Friday after a government proposal which would pardon some people imprisoned for statutory rape fell short of passage by legislators. The proposal would defer sentencing or punishment for sexual assault in cases where there was no force and where the victim and perpetrator were married. Opposition legislators, rights groups and other critics warned that the proposal facilitates child marriage. The proposal was introduced late Thursday by the ruling Justice and Development Party, rooted in Turkey's Islamic movement, which says it is meant to protect those who were too young to marry legally. The proposal will be brought up again for consideration on Tuesday. An earlier law said there is no sexual assault if the couple marry. It was replaced by the current law in 2005, which set a minimum prison sentence of eight years, extended to 16 years in 2014. "Those aren't rapists, they aren't people who committed sexual assault by force. Those are acts done with the consent of families and the young ones," Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said on Friday, adding that the later law had ignored the matter of consent. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said: "In the past there were people who were not aware of the law. The fathers have ended up in prison. This is a one-time measure to correct an unjust situation. It is an important problem." The government's proposal would apply to cases between 2005 and Nov. 16 of this year, which would affect an estimated 3,000 families. Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency reported several opposition legislators slamming the proposal. Republican People's Party Deputy Chair Tekin Bingol said they "strongly rejected" it, saying it amounted to a pardon for rapists. Mehmet Onur Yilmaz of Gundem Cocuk, a children's rights organization whose operations were halted by the government last week, told The Associated Press the issue stemmed from not taking child marriage seriously. "If there was an understanding that child marriage constituted sexual assault such a proposal would not even be brought up," said Yilmaz. "This comes from looking at the matter with a focus on marriage, a conservative understanding which sees marriage as a solution to the problem of abuse." Under current law, Yilmaz said, a person between the ages of 16-18 can get a special exemption allowing marriage by a court, and that is almost always granted. By PTI WASHINGTON: Top Democratic lawmakers and rights bodies have slammed President-elect Donald Trump's reported plan to reinstate a database of immigrants from Muslim-majority countries. National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) is a post-9/11 program which required travellers to the US from specified Muslim-majority countries to immediately register with the federal government or face deportation. "Reinstating failed programs that target Arabs and Muslims in our country is exactly what ISIS was cheering on election night when America, a beacon of freedom in the world, gives in to fear and begins chipping away at civil rights, our enemies are emboldened and their ranks swell with new recruits," Senator Dick Durbin said. "Back in 2002, I called for this program to be terminated because there were serious doubts it would help combat terrorism. Terrorism experts have since concluded that this program wasted precious homeland security funds and alienated Arab- and Muslim-Americans. Failed programs like this are the exact wrong approach to combating terrorism, and I will fight to ensure it never returns," Durbin said. The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Co-Chairs Raul M Grijalva and Keith Ellison, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chairwoman Judy Chu, CPC Vice Chair Congressman Mike Honda, and CPC Vice Chair Mark Takano slammed Trump surrogate, Carl Higbie, for suggesting that Japanese- American internment camps could serve as a precedent for the creation of a Muslim registry. "These remarks are beyond disturbing. This is fear, not courage. This is hate, not policy," Honda said. "Since Trump was elected president, thousands of Americans have voiced fears over what our country might look like in the coming years. Last night, one of his surrogates showed us why so many people are afraid of a Trump administration. "The fact that our incoming President has considered internment as a model for how to move forward with the Muslim community is absolutely shocking. We cannot allow it to be normalised or enacted," Ellison said. Grijalva said it took the US decades to own up to the stain of Japanese internment, providing compensation to more than 100,000 people who suffered through it and formally apologising through the Civil Liberties Act in 1988. To say this heinous treatment should be precedent for any policy is horrific, and Trump should denounce it immediately. "Any proposal to force American-Muslims to register with the federal government, and to use Japanese imprisonment during World War II as precedent, is abhorrent and has no place in our society. These ideas are based on tactics of fear, division, and hate that we must condemn," Chu said. "I am horrified that people connected to the incoming Administration are using my family's experience as a precedent for what President-elect Trump could do," said Takano. Congresswoman Luis V Gutierrez, a Member of the Judiciary Committee and is Co-Chair of the Immigration Task Force of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said the roundup of men from mostly Asian, Middle Eastern and African countries was one of the darkest chapters of the George W Bush years. It was a strategy to scare immigrants and yielded zero concrete terrorism leads that led to conviction. Racial, ethnic, religious and gender profiling is exactly the wrong approach to law enforcement and counter-terrorism, he said. "The internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II was a historic injustice and nothing like it should ever happen again. The protection of our Constitution is not conditional; it applies to all of us. "We cannot allow hate speech, racism, and anti-immigrant sentiment to become the new norm in our country, and we must continue to speak out against hate and prejudice. An inclusive and vibrant America is worth fighting for," Senator Mazie Hironohe said. Meanwhile, the South Asian Bar Association (SABA) has also denounced the suggestions of a registry for non-citizen Muslims in the US. "While once just a campaign promise, this xenophobic and un-American idea has been thrust back into our national consciousness by Carl Higbie, former spokesperson for a Super PAC supporting the President-Elect," SABA said in a statement. Higbie's suggestion that internment camps that imprisoned countless Japanese-Americans during World War II is a "precedent" for a possible Muslim registry, presupposes the lawfulness of a program that's only lasting impact is that of shame, regret and embarrassment, it said. SABA said this proposed registry is rooted in NSEERS that required certain "foreign citizens and nationals" to continuously check-in with US Authorities. After repeated criticism and documented ineffectiveness, NSEERS was abandoned in 2011, leaving a legacy of deporting individuals who had committed no crimes and had no links to terrorism, it said. SABA called on Americans of all backgrounds to reject the notion that registration and potential mass incarceration of residents of this country solely based upon nationality, race or religion, without justification, cause or purpose is acceptable. "Discrimination towards any community cannot be condoned and we hope the President-Elect and the pending administration uniformly reject such proposals. The perpetuation of hate solely serves to continue the divisiveness that tears at the core of our values of equal protection and freedom for all individuals," it added. WASHINGTON: Top Democratic lawmakers and rights bodies have slammed President-elect Donald Trump's reported plan to reinstate a database of immigrants from Muslim-majority countries. National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) is a post-9/11 program which required travellers to the US from specified Muslim-majority countries to immediately register with the federal government or face deportation. "Reinstating failed programs that target Arabs and Muslims in our country is exactly what ISIS was cheering on election night when America, a beacon of freedom in the world, gives in to fear and begins chipping away at civil rights, our enemies are emboldened and their ranks swell with new recruits," Senator Dick Durbin said. "Back in 2002, I called for this program to be terminated because there were serious doubts it would help combat terrorism. Terrorism experts have since concluded that this program wasted precious homeland security funds and alienated Arab- and Muslim-Americans. Failed programs like this are the exact wrong approach to combating terrorism, and I will fight to ensure it never returns," Durbin said. The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Co-Chairs Raul M Grijalva and Keith Ellison, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chairwoman Judy Chu, CPC Vice Chair Congressman Mike Honda, and CPC Vice Chair Mark Takano slammed Trump surrogate, Carl Higbie, for suggesting that Japanese- American internment camps could serve as a precedent for the creation of a Muslim registry. "These remarks are beyond disturbing. This is fear, not courage. This is hate, not policy," Honda said. "Since Trump was elected president, thousands of Americans have voiced fears over what our country might look like in the coming years. Last night, one of his surrogates showed us why so many people are afraid of a Trump administration. "The fact that our incoming President has considered internment as a model for how to move forward with the Muslim community is absolutely shocking. We cannot allow it to be normalised or enacted," Ellison said. Grijalva said it took the US decades to own up to the stain of Japanese internment, providing compensation to more than 100,000 people who suffered through it and formally apologising through the Civil Liberties Act in 1988. To say this heinous treatment should be precedent for any policy is horrific, and Trump should denounce it immediately. "Any proposal to force American-Muslims to register with the federal government, and to use Japanese imprisonment during World War II as precedent, is abhorrent and has no place in our society. These ideas are based on tactics of fear, division, and hate that we must condemn," Chu said. "I am horrified that people connected to the incoming Administration are using my family's experience as a precedent for what President-elect Trump could do," said Takano. Congresswoman Luis V Gutierrez, a Member of the Judiciary Committee and is Co-Chair of the Immigration Task Force of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said the roundup of men from mostly Asian, Middle Eastern and African countries was one of the darkest chapters of the George W Bush years. It was a strategy to scare immigrants and yielded zero concrete terrorism leads that led to conviction. Racial, ethnic, religious and gender profiling is exactly the wrong approach to law enforcement and counter-terrorism, he said. "The internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II was a historic injustice and nothing like it should ever happen again. The protection of our Constitution is not conditional; it applies to all of us. "We cannot allow hate speech, racism, and anti-immigrant sentiment to become the new norm in our country, and we must continue to speak out against hate and prejudice. An inclusive and vibrant America is worth fighting for," Senator Mazie Hironohe said. Meanwhile, the South Asian Bar Association (SABA) has also denounced the suggestions of a registry for non-citizen Muslims in the US. "While once just a campaign promise, this xenophobic and un-American idea has been thrust back into our national consciousness by Carl Higbie, former spokesperson for a Super PAC supporting the President-Elect," SABA said in a statement. Higbie's suggestion that internment camps that imprisoned countless Japanese-Americans during World War II is a "precedent" for a possible Muslim registry, presupposes the lawfulness of a program that's only lasting impact is that of shame, regret and embarrassment, it said. SABA said this proposed registry is rooted in NSEERS that required certain "foreign citizens and nationals" to continuously check-in with US Authorities. After repeated criticism and documented ineffectiveness, NSEERS was abandoned in 2011, leaving a legacy of deporting individuals who had committed no crimes and had no links to terrorism, it said. SABA called on Americans of all backgrounds to reject the notion that registration and potential mass incarceration of residents of this country solely based upon nationality, race or religion, without justification, cause or purpose is acceptable. "Discrimination towards any community cannot be condoned and we hope the President-Elect and the pending administration uniformly reject such proposals. The perpetuation of hate solely serves to continue the divisiveness that tears at the core of our values of equal protection and freedom for all individuals," it added. 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). Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Mayo Clinic is seeing patients with concerns about traveling to high altitudes at the recently established High Altitude and Harsh Environments Medical Clinic. "The intent is to serve our patients who either for business or leisure need to travel to high-altitude environments," explains Jan Stepanek, M.D., who is chair, Division of Preventive, Occupational and Aerospace Medicine, at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. Altitude sickness can occur when the human body does not properly acclimate to lower oxygen levels at higher elevations. Shortness of breath, headaches, nausea and gastrointestinal problems are common symptoms. More serious problems can include life-threatening cerebral and pulmonary edema (i.e., swelling of the brain and excess water in the lungs). "There are individuals who just cannot function as well as others at high altitude," adds Dr. Stepanek. "Either by disposition, pre-existing health problems or by the rapid nature of ascent, they cannot adapt well in this high altitude environment." The clinic focuses primarily on travelers concerned about ascending to climates above 8,000 feet. Additional aspects of the clinic focus on the remote nature of high-altitude austere environments, including decreased oxygen, extreme cold conditions, scarcity of safe food and water sources and limited health care resources. Dr. Stepanek, a native of Switzerland whose interest in this domain of medicine stems from his time stationed in the mountains while serving in the Swiss military, says modern travel has accelerated the need for more attention to health concerns at high altitude. "Being able to quickly travel to altitude, be that by vehicle or aircraft, your body is robbed of the opportunity to gradually acclimate by just walking to that elevation," Dr. Stepanek explains. "That has really been the primary factor that has made this more of a common clinical problem, compared to bygone eras." Through prescreening based on personal medical history, target elevation and how fast a patient ascends to the altitude, the Mayo clinical team determines low-, moderate or high-risk individuals. Education on preacclimatization, recognition of symptoms, individualized testing, and prescriptions and medical kits that can prevent or treat high-altitude health problems are part of the program. The Mayo team consists of experienced high-altitude clinicians, such as Bruce Johnson, Ph.D., and clinical staff members of this clinic who have been involved in research expeditions to Mount Everest, Mount Aconcagua and Mount Kilimanjaro, and actively pursue laboratory-based research on human performance. Water is vital for our survival. However, water quality is always a concern for public health authorities as it may contain diverse environmental pollutants, including endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Endocrine disrupting chemicals are one group of potentially hazardous substances that comprise natural and synthetic chemicals, with the ability to mimic endogenous hormones or interfere with their biosynthesis, metabolism, and normal functions. Common examples are bisphenol A, triclosan, phthalates, lead, mercury, nickel and polychlorinated biphenyls, among others. Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today Fish are known to be quite sensitive to the effects of EDCs and therefore, are employed as research models to study the possible impacts of these chemicals in humans. In a review led by Purdue University (USA) and the University of Cartagena (Colombia), a team of researchers has proposed the zebrafish as a model to predict the effects of EDCs on humans using toxicogenomic tools, such as microarrays or whole-genome sequencing. This is possible due to the fact that zebrafish genes that have significantly altered expression after exposure to EDCs are very similar to those found in humans. In addition, many of the glandular system found in zebrafish have similarities with those in humans, making this fish model suitable to study alterations on the endocrine system. According to the authors, vitellogenin and aromatase cytochrome P450 are key genes that can be monitored in zebrafish to detect the presence of EDCs in water samples, especially at environmentally relevant concentrations. Toxicogenomic tools also offer the possibility to find new mechanisms by which EDCs alter the reproductive status of zebrafish, allowing its use to test the safety of new products entering the market. The possibilities are immense and the goal is to continue finding new markers of toxicity, and therefore alternative bridges to link EDC exposure to common diseases in humans. Scientists from Rice University, Baylor College of Medicine and other institutions are using synthetic biology to capture elusive, short-lived snippets of DNA that healthy cells produce on their way to becoming cancerous. Researchers said the work could lead to the development of new drugs that could prevent cancer by neutralizing "DNA intermediates," key pieces of genetic code that are produced when healthy cells become cancerous. The research is described in a new paper in the open-access journal Science Advances. "In my lab we study how the genome -- the genes in an organism -- changes, in particular, how the genome of normal cells changes to transform the cells into cancerous cells," said project lead scientist Susan Rosenberg, Baylor's Ben F. Love Chair in Cancer Research and the leader of the Cancer Evolvability Program at Baylor's Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center. When cells divide and make copies of the instructions encoded in their DNA, the DNA unwinds and becomes vulnerable to damage that must be repaired. Sometimes the process of repairing the DNA can also cause mutations and errors. When these errors accumulate, the cells may acquire characteristics of cancer. "The process of editing the DNA is carried out by specific enzymes -- proteins that work on DNA to fix the mistakes," said Rosenberg, who is also an adjunct professor in Rice's Department of BioSciences. She said DNA repair usually takes several steps to complete. Between the original DNA and the final product, cells produce DNA reaction intermediates, which are crucial to the reaction but are difficult to study because they are present for just a fraction of a second as an enzyme catalyzes the changing of one molecule into another. "The intermediate molecules are the most important parts of biochemical reactions," said Rosenberg, who holds appointments in Baylor's departments of Molecular and Human Genetics, Molecular Virology and Microbiology, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. "They define what the reaction is and how it will proceed. But because they are transient and elusive, it's really difficult to study them, especially in living cells. We wanted to do that. We decided to invent synthetic proteins that would trap DNA reaction intermediates in living cells." Qian Mei, a graduate student in Rice's Systems, Synthetic and Physical Biology program and a research assistant in the Rosenberg lab, took on the task of applying the synthetic protein that could capture the short-lived intermediates. Using the tools of synthetic biology, Rosenberg and colleagues created and added packages of genes to Escherichia coli, an organism that Rosenberg's group and others have shown to be a reliable model of the genetic changes that occur in animal cells. Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today Rosenberg said other investigators also have attempted to trap intermediates, but they have only succeeded in a few biochemical reactions. "We want to use synthetic proteins to study mechanisms that change DNA sequence," she said. "We do that now with genetics and genomics in my lab. But genomics, which allows us to compare the genes of normal cells with those of cancerous cells, is like reading the fossil record of these processes. We want to see how the real-time processes that change DNA happen, including all the intermediate steps, which our synthetic proteins allow us to freeze in time and isolate." In their tests on , Mei, Rosenberg and colleagues from Baylor, the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found they could discover molecular mechanisms underlying genome instability, a hallmark of cancer. In one instance, they discovered a new role for an protein that is related to five human cancer proteins. They then analyzed gene-expression data from human cancers and were able to implicate two of the five -related human cancer proteins in potentially promoting cancer by a similar mechanism -- one not previously implicated. "The most exciting part in this paper for me is that we can learn something new about the mechanisms of cancer from the model," said Mei, co-first author of the new paper. "Even though bacteria and human cells are very different, many DNA repair proteins are highly conserved through evolution; this makes a good model to study how cells repair DNA or accumulate mutations." Rosenberg and colleagues think that their approach offers significant advantages. For instance, with the synthetic proteins, they have been able to identify specific DNA-repair intermediate molecules, their numbers in cells, rates of formation and locations in the genome and the molecular reactions in which they participate. "It is most exciting that we are now able to trap, map and quantify transient DNA reaction intermediates in single living cells," said co-first author Jun Xia, graduate student in the Rosenberg lab and in the Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences program at Baylor. "This new technology helps us reveal the origins of genome instability." "When you know these reactions and the role each intermediate plays in the mechanisms that change DNA, you can think about making drugs that will stop them," Rosenberg said. "In the future, we hope we will be able to design drugs that target specific types of cancers -- drugs that block the cells' ability to evolve into cancer cells, instead of, or in addition to, traditional chemotherapies that kill or stop cancer cells from growing." Researchers at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute have identified a naturally occurring molecule that has the potential for preserving sites of communication between nerves and muscles in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and over the course of aging -- as well as a molecule that interferes with this helpful process. The discovery in mice has implications for patients with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Publishing this week as an early release research article in The Journal of Neuroscience, the research team, led by Gregorio Valdez, an assistant professor at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute and in the Department of Biological Sciences at Virginia Tech, describes a growth factor called FGFBP1, which is secreted by muscle fibers and maintains neuromuscular junctions -- a critical type of synapse that allows the spinal cord to communicate with muscles, sending signals from the central nervous system to create movements. Neuroscience eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today ALS strikes approximately 6,000 people in the U.S. each year, according to the ALS Association. In mouse models of ALS, a growth factor associated with the immune system, called TGF-beta, emerges and prevents muscles from secreting factors needed to maintain their connections with neurons. "TGF-beta is upregulated in ALS and in turn blocks expression of FGFBP1, which is released by muscle fibers to preserve the integrity of the neuromuscular junction," Valdez said. "The body is trying to help itself by generating more TGF-beta. Unfortunately, TGF-beta accumulates at the synapse where it blocks expression of FGFBP1, accelerating degeneration of the neuromuscular junction." FGFBP1 also gradually decreases during aging, but more precipitously in ALS, because of TGF-beta accumulates at the synapse, according to Thomas Taetzsch, a postdoctoral fellow in the Valdez lab and a co-first author of the study. Milagros Tenga, a postdoctoral fellow in the Valdez lab also contributed to this discovery and is also a co-first author in the paper. In people, ALS progresses rapidly, attacking nerve cells that control voluntary muscles. Eventually, all muscles under voluntary control are affected, and individuals lose their strength and the ability to move their arms, legs, and body, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Most people with ALS die from respiratory failure, usually within three to five years from the onset of symptoms. "Our findings suggest that targeting these molecules may allow these important synapses to stay in place, and slow the progression of ALS," Valdez said. A Children's National Health System research team has uncovered a novel process by which the gene APOL1 contributes to renal disease, according to a paper published November 18 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. Mutated versions of the APOL1 gene render people of African descent at heightened risk of developing chronic kidney disease. Employing powerful genetic approaches, Children's National researchers were able to mimic APOL1 renal cell pathology in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. This opens the door to pinpointing other proteins that interact with APOL1, a vital first step toward identifying medicines to treat renal diseases that currently have no drug therapy. "This is one of the hottest research topics in the kidney field. We are the first group to generate this result in fruit flies," says Zhe Han, PhD, a senior Drosophila specialist and associate professor in the Center for Cancer & Immunology Research at Children's. Han, senior author of the paper, will present the study results this week during Kidney Week 2016, the American Society of Nephrology's annual gathering in Chicago that is expected to draw more than 13,000 kidney professionals from around the world. The advantages of Drosophila for biomedical research include its rapid generation time and an unparalleled wealth of sophisticated genetic tools to probe deeply into fundamental biological processes underlying human diseases. People of African descent frequently inherit a mutant version of the APOL1 gene that affords protection from African sleeping sickness, but is associated with a 17- to 30-fold greater chance of developing certain types of kidney disease. That risk is even higher for individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Drosophila renal cells, called nephrocytes, accurately mimic pathological features of human kidney cells during APOL1-associated renal disease. "Nephrocytes share striking structural and functional similarities with mammalian podocytes and renal proximal tubule cells, and therefore provide us a simple model system for kidney diseases," says Han, who has studied the fruit fly for 20 years and established the fly nephrocyte as a glomerular kidney disease model in 2013 with two research papers in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today In this most recent study, Han's team cloned a mutated APOL1 gene from podocyte cells cultured from a patient with HIV-associated nephropathy. They created transgenic flies making human APOL1 in nephrocytes and observed that initially the transgene caused increased cellular functional activity. As flies aged, however, APOL1 led to reduced cellular function, increased cell size, abnormal vesicle acidification, and accelerated cell death. "The main functions of nephrocytes are to filter proteins and remove toxins from the fly's blood, to reabsorb protein components, and to sequester harmful toxins. It was surprising to see that these cells first became more active and temporarily functioned at higher levels," says Han. "The cells got bigger and stronger but, ultimately, could not sustain that enhancement. After swelling to almost twice their normal size, the cells died. Hypertrophy is the way that the human heart responds to stress overload. We think kidney cells may use the same coping mechanism." The Children's research team is a multidisciplinary group with members from the Center for Cancer & Immunology Research, the Center for Genetic Medicine Research, and the Division of Nephrology.The team also characterized fly phenotypes associated with APOL1 expression that will facilitate the design and execution of powerful Drosophila genetic screening approaches to identify proteins that interact with APOL1 and contribute to disease mechanisms. Such proteins represent potential therapeutic targets. Currently, transplantation is the only option for patients with kidney disease linked to APOL1. "This is only the beginning," Han says. "Now, we have an ideal pre-clinical model. We plan to start testing off-the-shelf therapeutic compounds, for example different kinase inhibitors, to determine whether they block any of the steps leading to renal cell disease." The ability to perform the simple activities of daily living--dressing, bathing, toileting, preparing simple meals, and doing light housekeeping, for example--is crucial to an older adult's independence and quality of life. When older adults begin having trouble managing these activities by themselves, their risks for falls, hospitalization, and even death can increase. Recently, a group of researchers from the Nara Medical University in Japan examined whether or not participation in social activities could affect an older adult's ability to function. Their study was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The research team studied 2,774 men and 3,586 women between the ages of 65 and 96. At the beginning of the study, all the participants (who lived in Nara, Japan) were able to manage their daily activities. Before the study began, participants answered questions about their participation in various kinds of social activities. During the study's three follow-up periods, nearly 14 percent of the men and 9 percent of the women began having problems handling their daily activities. People who experienced a decline in their ability to perform daily activities tended to be older and more likely to use medications, describe their health status as poor, experience depression, and have trouble with memory or making decisions compared to those who maintained their ability to function well. These people also were less likely to participate in hobby clubs or volunteer groups versus those who could still perform simple activities of daily living. The researchers discovered that women who participated in social activities such as hobby or senior citizen clubs and volunteer groups were less likely to experience a decline in their ability to perform daily functions. Men who participated in hobby clubs were able to maintain their ability to function. The researchers suggested four reasons for the link between social activities and maintaining the ability to perform one's daily activities: 1. Participating in social activities means that an older adult is engaging in life--using public transportation or managing money, for example. 2. Social activities can provide support and networking, which could delay the decline in an older adult's ability to function. 3. Losing a spouse is considered a stressful experience that may speed up an older adult's functional decline. But participating in social activities may help relieve the stress of loneliness--and that might help an older adult maintain his or her ability to function. 4. Participating in social activities allows older adults to have a meaningful role in society, giving them a sense of value and belonging. This sense of value may motivate older adults to maintain their ability to function. The researchers suggested that healthcare professionals should be aware of older adults' social activity participation--or lack of it--to help lessen the likelihood of functional decline. Source: American Geriatrics Society Proactive outreach to cirrhosis patients in a safety net health system successfully doubled their screening rates for liver cancer, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers found. Cirrhosis (liver disease) patients are at high risk to develop liver cancer, which is increasing in frequency an average of 3 percent annually and has a five-year overall survival rate of just 17.5 percent. "Finding ways to reach patients at high risk of liver cancer is critical. Liver cancer has the fastest increasing mortality rate among solid tumors in the U.S.," said first author Dr. Amit G. Singal, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Clinical Sciences, and a member of the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center. "This high mortality is primarily due to low rates of liver cancer screening and high rates of late-stage diagnosis." The study randomly divided 1,800 cirrhosis patients at Parkland Health & Hospital System in Dallas into three groups. The first group received mailed outreach invitations for screening ultrasound. The second group received similar outreach plus patient navigation, and the third received their usual care. Researchers learned that the group receiving mailed outreach invitations were most likely to schedule an ultrasound, which doubled the overall rate of screening. The study appears in the journal Gastroenterology. "Our study is one of the first interventions to improve liver cancer screening and early detection among at-risk patients. The vulnerable patient population we studied in our safety net health system are those who are at highest risk of dying from liver cancer, so this intervention helped those who might benefit the most," said Dr. Singal. Only one-fourth of patients with cirrhosis in routine care are currently screened every six months for liver cancer with an ultrasound as recommended by national guidelines. Symptoms are not usually present when the cancer is in its early stages. "Our research previously demonstrated that liver cancer screening is underused in clinical practice, with lower rates of screening among racial/ethnic minorities and socioeconomically disadvantaged patients," said senior author Dr. Ethan Halm, Director of the Center for Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Chief of the William T. and Gay F. Solomon Division of General Internal Medicine, and Professor of Internal Medicine and Clinical Sciences. "Our new study presents a model of a proactive, population health outreach strategy that can improve liver cancer screening and early detection among those at highest risk of adverse outcomes." Dr. Halm holds the Walter Family Distinguished Chair in Internal Medicine in Honor of Albert D. Roberts, M.D. According to the National Cancer Institute, liver cancer is diagnosed in an estimated 39,230 people annually. In 2013, there were an estimated 54,954 people living with this cancer in the U.S. Risk factors include a diagnosis of fatty liver disease, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, cirrhosis, or a combination of these diseases. New Delhi: With Unitech defaulting on loan repayment, housing finance major HDFC on Saturday said it has sold the realty firm's outstanding loan of Rs 869 crore to JM Financial Asset Reconstruction Company (JMFARC). In a filing to the BSE, HDFC today said that Unitech has not been able to service its loan regularly due to sluggish sale of its apartments. Stating that its current exposure to the Unitech group involves certain projects across various locations, HDFC said "it has assigned the outstanding loans in these projects to JMFARC". "Against the total dues of Rs 869 crore in respect of these projects, the ARC has paid HDFC Rs 155 crore upfront and has issued security receipts (SRs) to HDFC amounting to Rs 705 crore which will be redeemable over the period of construction," the filing said. HDFC further said that these accounts were standard assets at September end, and turned NPA (non-performing assets) only at the end of October, 2016. In view of irregular payment history, HDFC said it has over the last few quarters, as a matter of prudence, made provisions of Rs 240 crore in respect of these accounts. "No further provisioning is required as a result of the sale of the loans to ARC," HDFC said. It further said that after considering the provision of Rs 240 crore already made (34 per cent of SRs), the net carrying value of SRs will be Rs 465 crore. The housing finance company said that Unitech group faced sluggishness in sale of apartments in projects in recent past, affecting the cash flow of the realty firm and adversely impacting progress of the construction work. This resulted in "irregular servicing of the loans", HDFC said. Stating that Unitech's all projects are located in prime locations and financially viable but require additional funding, HDFC said : "JMFARC will arrange for funds to support and kickstart these projects. The progress of the projects and the resultant cash flows will thereafter be closely monitored". As these projects are financially viable, HDFC said the future cash flows are likely to be sufficient to cover the repayment of the loan with interest thereon. Gurgaon-based Unitech had a consolidated net debt of Rs 5265 crore at the end of the first quarter of this fiscal. Mumbai: The urban cooperative banks on Saturday blamed commercial lenders for unavailability of cash and appealed to the Reserve Bank of India to look into the issue immediately so that they can serve their customers. "UCBs are forced to return their customers empty handed due to paucity/non-availability of funds, which has created great resentment among general public against us," the Maharashtra Urban Co-operative Banks' Federation (MUCBF) said in a letter addressed to the Reserve Bank brass. It said the UCBs, which are very active in states like Maharashtra, depend on the chests of scheduled commercial banks for support on a regular basis but lenders like SBI and others have refused to serve them following the November 8 demonetisation announcement. The cooperative banks, which have deeper networks, are facing a lot of flak for being non-operational which has caused difficulties for their customers looking to exchange the now invalid notes for legal ones. Stating that its 1,579 member-banks were open through the weekend as well, lack of support from its usual channels has made them "helpless" as they were not able to serve their customers, the letter said. It said initially, the UCBs were treated at par with normal customers and given a withdrawal limit of only Rs 10,000 which was grossly insufficient. Later on, despite a clarification by the RBI that the Rs 10,000 limit is not applicable to bank-to-bank transactions, the banks, especially SBI, have refused to adhere to the UCBs' requests. "Till date our member banks are facing acute problems regarding supply of currency needed either to exchange against the specified bank notes and/or for honorary withdrawals of cash from ATMs/cash counters," it said, adding all attempts to secure the cash have been "infructious". The letter said the currency chests run by commercial banks are refusing to take the older notes collected by UCBs from its customers, saying their own chests are overflowing with the now defunct bills. The letter said the scheduled commercial banks should cooperate with the UCBs, and ensure they take the deposits, allow deposits and withdrawals from the currency chests. "Our member banks are facing embarrassing situation. On one side there are huge crowds in branches of their neighbour banks (commercial lenders) who are smoothly providing new currencies and exchanging SBNs (specified bank notes), and on the other, there is no queue at all in front of branches of UCBs due to absence of legal tenders," the Federation said in the missive. New Delhi: Farmers and exporters in Bhutan's Phuentsholing town, on the border with India, have been hit hard as the demonetisation of high-value currency by India has led to cardamom and potato sales dropping drastically. Indian traders have been struggling to arrange cash for making payments, following the November 8 move by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to crack down on black money, Bhutan's Kuensel News reported. According to the traders, sufficient cash is not available for the export-oriented businesses in Phuentsholing market. Traders from across the border said they get to withdraw only Rs 2,500 from ATMs in a day which is not enough. The trade has been severely affected in the export market as most of the transactions are cash based. The price of cardamom on Friday hit a record low of Nu 700/kg, which was between Nu 800 and 900 a week ago. Ngultrum is the currency of the Kingdom of Bhutan. One Bhutanese Ngultrum equals One Indian Rupee. Yeshey Wangchuk, an exporter, said the business has been badly affected by the demonetisation of 500 and 1,000 rupee notes by India. "Our buyers said they would be able to buy only after three months." Wangchuk said he has not been able to export any cardamom since the November 8 decision. According to another exporter in Phuentsholing, cardamom export has drastically gone down in Siliguri, which is a major market for Bhutan. "This has led to Bangladeshi importers taking advantage," he said. "If this continues the cardamom price will decline further." The exporter also said the business can only continue if there is cash in the market. Meanwhile, more than 100 truckloads of potatoes at the Food Corporation of Bhutan Ltd (FCBL) auction yard have been waiting to be unloaded in Phuentsholing. Many have been there for more than eight days and are still waiting for their turn to unload. Potato grower Yeshey Lham from Paro was into her ninth day of waiting on Friday. "Today (Thursday) we were able to unload the potatoes," she said. Yeshey Lham, who had 210 sacks of potatoes with her, said it could take a long time until the potatoes are auctioned. "It's a problem." The farmers are also expecting a Nu 20 increase on transportation for every sack of potatoes as a result of vehicle charges. Each sack of potatoes usually sells for Nu 100. Mithey, another potato grower from Jabana, had no idea when his 152 sacks of potatoes would be unloaded. "By this time we would have returned home," he said. "I have spent money waiting in Phuentsholing." Baiju Shah, an Indian trader, who buys produce from the farmers and then auctions it to other parties across the border, said buyers continue bringing Rs 500 and 1,000 notes which are no more legal tender, Kuensel reported. "It has become difficult to find Ngultrums and do business," he said, adding that there was no option but to accept those notes. Manindra Nath Roy, a buyer from Dhupguri, said it was difficult to find new notes. "I paid the buyers with old notes." Meanwhile, mineral exports to Bangladesh have also been affected. While Letter of Credits is being used for payments, transportation has been proving a challenge. Trucks from Phuentsholing and Samdrupjongkhar, on the border with India's Assam state, take minerals until Burimari, the border area between India and Bangladesh. Although trucks are fuelled in Bhutan, Indian Rupees is needed for other logistics which is not available in the market, the daily said. New Delhi: Army has received a rap on the knuckles from the Central Information Commission for providing a "misleading" reply to an RTI applicant in an attempt to withhold disclosure of records in the infamous Pathribal fake encounter in Jammu and Kashmir in 2000. In its response to Venkatesh Nayak of Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, Army had claimed that records related to Pathribal encounter cannot be given citing section 8(1)(h) of the RTI Act, which exempts disclosure of information which would impede the process of investigation or apprehension or prosecution of offenders. The claims, however, were exposed during a hearing in the Central Information Commission, when the representative of Army admitted that no Court of Inquiry has been conducted in Pathribal encounter case, in which five civilians were killed. He claimed that since there was no Court of Inquiry (CoI) in the matter, there were no records to show. The matter was taken up seriously by Information Commissioner Divya Prakash Sinha who cautioned Army to refrain from such "misleading response". "Commission takes a very serious view of the fact that the CPIO gave a misleading response with respect to query no 5 of the RTI Application regarding Pathribal encounter vide his reply dated March 11, 2015. He should have ascertained and verified the factual position completely before replying to the RTI Application," Sinha said in his order. Nayak had also sought records related to Macchil encounter in which five army personnel were convicted. In Macchil fake encounter issue, Army had withheld the information saying even though conviction of its men has taken place and there is no ongoing investigation in the matter, prosecution cannot be said to be complete as confirmation was pending to be received from army authorities at the time the RTI application was filed. "Commission observes from the further submissions of the CPIO that there are no tenable grounds for invoking Section 8(1)(h)...," Sinha said as he ordered disclosure of all records sought by Nayak related to Macchil encounter. In Pathribal encounter, CBI in 2006 had indicted five Army personnel for staging the fake encounter while giving a clean chit to state police. Eight years later, army had closed the Pathribal fake encounter case, in which five civilians were killed, saying that the evidence recorded could not establish prime facie charges against any of the accused persons. In 2010 Macchil encounter, three civilians Shahzad Ahmad Khan, Mohammad Shafi Lone and Riyaz Ahmad Lone, hired for working as porters by the Army, were later found dead with the force claiming to have killed them labelling them as foreign militants. New Delhi: After Manohar Parrikar stoked a controversy over India's 'no first use' nuclear policy, former NSA Shivshankar Menon on Saturday said the Defence Minister does not have the right to voice his personal opinion on nuclear policy in public, especially when it contradicts the official stand. Menon also said Parrikar's suggestion that India should give up its 'no first use' policy would not be in the country's interest both in terms of the strategic deterrent role of nuclear weapons as well as their role as weapon of war. The Defence Minister does not have a right to voice his personal opinion on nuclear policy in public particularly when that opinion contradicts the official policy of the country, he told India Today TV's 'To The Point' programme. Parrikar last week had wondered why India cannot say "we are a responsible nuclear power and I will not use it irresponsibly" instead of affirming a "no first use policy", remarks he said were personal in nature. "Why should I bind myself? I should say I am a responsible nuclear power and I will not use it irresponsibly. This is my(personal) thinking," Parrikar had said. Following the nuclear weapons test in 1998, India had declared a 'no first use' nuclear policy. Menon said India's nuclear weapons are "no guard" and no deterrent against Pakistani terror. Threatening a nuclear response to a terrorist attack from Pakistan "would be like threatening to kill a mosquito with a shotgun and would be unlikely to be understood by India's own people let alone the international community," said Menon, who was the National Security Adviser (NSA) from 2011 to 2014 under the Manmohan Singh government. Menon made the remarks ahead of the launch of his forthcoming book 'Choices', which will officially be launched on December 2 by Manmohan Singh. Talking about Indo-Pak relations, Menon said, "India- Pakistan relations are one of the few major failures of Indian foreign policy". He said India's Pakistan policy has not always been related to reality. Talking about India's "surgical strikes" inside PoK in September, Menon said he believes that going public with them was not in India's interest. It was designed to appease domestic opinion not to advance a desired outcome with Pakistan, he said. Going public meant that Pakistan was forced to deny the strikes happened and, at a later point, to indulge in a stepped-up cross-border violations, he said. Incriminating files and documents, electronic storage devices and Rs 12 lakh cash were seized in simultaneous raids at 12 Mumbai properties connected to controversial preacher Zakir Naiks Islamic Research Foundation (IRF).In a statement, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said the seized documents show "various activities, including the financial transactions of Zakir Naik and the IRF." It said an IT team was being flown from Delhi to Mumbai to assist the search teams.The searches, which began early on Saturday morning, would continue till late in the night, the NIA said.The agency has filed an FIR against Zakir Naik, who is currently not in the country, under Section 153A of the IPC (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion...and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and various sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.The anti-terror probe agency's action came barely four days after the Union government declared IRF a banned organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.After registering case against the 51-year-old Naik, IRF and others, NIA sleuths along with Mumbai police carried out searches at 10 places in the megapolis, including residential premises of some of the office bearers of the foundation, which was earlier put on restricted list by the Union Home Ministry for receiving funds from abroad.Naik, who has been staying in Saudi Arabia to evade arrest after his name surfaced during probe into the Bangladesh terror strike earlier this year, has been booked along with unnamed IRF officials under section 153-A of IPC (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) beside various sections of UAPA.IRF came under the scanner of various security agencies after one of the terrorists involved in the Dhaka cafe attack had allegedly posted on social media that they had been inspired by Naik's speeches.Some of the youths from Mumbai suburbs, who had left their home to join Islamic State earlier this year, were also allegedly inspired by the preacher.(With PTI inputs) United Nations: India has opposed a UN resolution calling for a moratorium on the death penalty, saying it goes against Indian statutory law and the sovereign right of every country to determine their own legal system. But it supported an amendment reaffirming sovereign right to develop domestic legal systems. India's representative Mayank Joshi said every state had a sovereign right to determine its own legal system, which was why he had voted for the amendment. But the councillor at India's UN Mission said he had voted against the resolution "because it contravened statutory law in India". The resolution was, however, adopted with 115 votes in favour to 38 against, with 31 abstentions following an "intense discussion", said a statement on the UN website. The amendment was passed by 76 votes in favour, 72 against, 26 abstentions. Explaining India's stance on the issues, Joshi said: "In India, the death penalty is exercised in the 'rarest of rare' cases, where the crime committed is so heinous as to shock the conscience of society." He said Indian law provides for "all requisite procedural safeguards, including the right to a fair hearing by an independent court, the presumption of innocence, the minimum guarantees for the defence, and the right to review by a higher court". He said the resolution "sought to promote a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty". "My delegation therefore, has voted against the resolution as a whole as it goes against Indian statutory law," he said. Death sentences in India must also be confirmed by a superior court and an accused has the right to appeal to a High Court or the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court of India has adopted guidelines on clemency and the treatment of death row prisoners and that "poverty, socio-economic, psychic compulsions, undeserved adversities in life" constituted new mitigating factors to be considered by courts in commuting a death sentence to life imprisonment, he added. The President of India in all cases, and the Governors of States under their respective jurisdictions, have the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence. In the past 12 years, only three executions all of them of terrorists have been carried out in India. Islamabad: A top Pakistani military commander on Saturday claimed said that Indian Army's casualties were double as compared to Pakistan in the ongoing clashes at the Line of Control. "Only 20 of our soldiers were killed while they lost more than 40 soldiers," Commander of 10 Corps Lt-Gen Malik Zafar Iqbal told a selected gathering of parliamentarians and journalists in Gilgit yesterday. Lt Gen Iqbal was on a visit to the strategic Gilgit-Baltistan region in the north wherein he addressed a gathering of civil and military officials, the Express Tribune reported. Iqbal claimed that rising army casualties were making the cost of ceasefire violations unbearable for the adversary. "If they violate the ceasefire during the day, we manage to settle the score before evening, but if it [the violation] occurs during night, we respond in kind before dawn," he said. His remarks came days after Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif claimed that Indian army suffered at least 40 causalities in the recent border clashes. He also accused that Indian army was hiding its losses due to fear of public backlash. Earlier, the Corps commander visited the Khunjerab Top the entry point of the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor where he inaugurated an ATM machine. He claimed that India had set up a special section within its intelligence apparatus for obstructing the CPEC. "But we are ready to foil the enemy's nefarious designs," he added. Puratchi Thalaivi Amma shifted from ICU to normal ward in Apollo hospital today. AIADMK (@AIADMKOfficial) November 19, 2016 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was shifted from the Critical Care Unit (CCU) to a special room at Apollo Hospitals on Saturday evening, nearly two months after she was hospitalised."She has been shifted to a special room. It has more space for the CM to meet people," AIADMK spokesperson C Ponnaiyan said.Hospital sources said she would continue to be on tracheostomy -- an incision in the windpipe made to relieve an obstruction to breathing -- and visitors would be restricted to avoid infection.On Friday, Apollo Hospitals Chairman Pratap C Reddy had said that the Chief Minister had recovered and was on ventilator for only 15 minutes a day. "Her mental functions are absolutely normal. She can guide and direct now. Some more systems of her body need to be pepped up. I cant dictate her on discharge. She can go anytime she wants She is on ventilator for 15-20 minutes every day so that her lungs dont collapse."Last week, the AIADMK supremo had issued her first statement since being hospitalised, appealing to voters to support her party in bypolls. "I have taken rebirth with the prayers of people and party cadre. What can harm me when I have your love. I am waiting to completely recover and resume my work for the people," she said.Bypolls were held in three constituencies -- Aravakuruchi, Thiruparankundram and Thanjavur on Saturday. This is the first time that the AIADMK supremo has not campaigned for the party.The 68-year-old AIADMK supremo was admitted to the hospital for treatment of fever and dehydration on September 22.The doctors later said she needed a longer hospital stay as she was suffering from infection and put her on respiratory support.According to Apollo Hospitals, a team of specialist doctors cardiologists, respiratory physicians, consultants for infectious diseases, diabetologist and endocrinologist -- treated her. New Delhi: Delhi Police have seized Rs 96 lakh in old high-value currency notes from a 32-year-old man in east Delhi's Madhu Vihar area. Nazer-e-Alam, a resident of Gorakhpur, was arrested on Friday at ISBT Anand Vihar, a senior police officer said. "He was carrying a bag that contained bundles of old currency notes of Rs 1,000 denominations. A total of Rs 96 lakh were found in the bag. He couldn't offer any satisfactory explanation for possessing such a huge amount of cash," he said. Alam was arrested under Section 103 (possession of property of which no satisfactory account can be given) Delhi Police Act and the amount has been seized, he said, adding, information has been sent to the Income Tax department. On November 17, police had seized 500 demonetised notes of Rs 1000 denomination from an employee of West Bengal-based firm, onboard Sealdah-Delhi Rajdhani train. Police had detained a paediatrician with Rs 69,86,000 in Rs 100 denomination in central Delhi's Paharganj area on November 16. New Delhi: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday spoke to Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal after suspected militants fired at an army convoy in Tinsukia district leaving three soldiers dead and one injured. Singh said that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) was closely monitoring the situation. "Spoke to Assam CM (Chief Minister Sarbananda) Sonowal who apprised me of the situation in the wake of blast in Tinsukia. MHA is closely monitoring the situation," he said in a tweet. "Deeply anguished to learn of the death of soldiers in a blast in Tinsukia. I pray for the speedy recovery of our injured soldiers," Singh tweeted. According to defence officials, the incident took place at around 5.30 a.m., in the Pengeri area of Tinsukia. Locals said that the militants fired at the vehicle from both sides of the road, which are forested areas. On Wednesday, militants attacked a van of the Pengeri tea estate, killing one person and injuring two others. The Potter styled magic has returned to the muggle world after a gap of 5 years with Fantastic Beasts And Where to Find Them. Based on the popular Hogwarts' book, the film chronicles the journey of magizooligist Newt Scamander in New York and gives a glimpse of an upcoming big threat to the city. JK Rowling has already announced Fantastic Beasts to be a five-film franchise, therefore making it an official Harry Potter spin-off. The deal with spin-offs is that they always draw comparisons from their original films. The treatment and few characters are the same and there is always a hope of some crossover. But with Fantastic Beasts the case is very different. The era of the film is set way before Potter universe came into existence. No one here has ever heard of Voldemort and Dumbledore is still a young professor at Hogwarts. The biggest threat in this wizarding universe in Grindelwald. Yes, the same man who is known as one of the-most-terrifying dark wizards of all times and owner of the famous Elder Wand. While Potterheads are bound to draw comparisons between the two there are many reasons why Harry Potter can't and shouldn't be compared to the Fantastic Beast series. Darker World Fantastic Beasts has a darker plot than any of the Potter films. JK Rowling's debut franchise was written as an introduction to people in a world full of magic and wonderment. It centred around an 11-year-old boy and a school. However, Fantastic Beasts is for a mature audience who understand wizardry and is going to be played on the higher level of ministries and spells, something that came into Potter films much later. While the world of Harry Potter represented bravery, friendship and unity, the world of Fantastic Beasts require much more than that to get rid of its evils. Plotting, tactics, betrayal and strength form the core of this story. One can easily say, that Fantastic Beasts franchise is like an upgraded, rebooted version Rowling deemed us ready for. Grown Up Wonders Remember the feeling you got when you first learned about Hogwarts? A school for wizards full of magic. Rowling captured the wonderment of children who never knew anything about magic. However, Fantastic Beasts is about creatures and techniques of training them. The wonderment here is of learning something more than learning- something new. While Potter universe was confined to Britain, Fantastic Beasts is going to tour the world with Newt Scamander and his briefcase full of mystical creatures. The canvas here is larger thus making it completely different. Little Nostalgia While there is some mention of Hogwarts and we are sure it will become frequent in the upcoming films of the franchise, other than Dumbledore there might not be any other familiar name that makers will carry from Potter universe and that's fair. In order to grow as a franchise of its own, Fantastic Beasts needs to get out of the Harry Potter shadow. So instead of complaining about no nostalgia and seeing it as a flaw, one should appreciate the efforts put in by makers to out-grow an immensely popular series. Yes the film reminds us very little of its parent franchise but hey, isn't it what a good spin-off story should actually do? World Saving War- A Background This is one of the key points why Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts shouldn't be kept in the same closet. Right from the point we learnt about Harry Potter's history with Lord Voldemort, we knew what the epic climax would look like, but the end was always doubtful. Fantastic Beasts, on the other hand, never really dwells on the ending as we already know that Grindelwald will die and Dumbledore will win. It is a chapter of history whose conclusions are known but consequences and confrontation are not wildly reported. Thus, Beasts is a journey and not a story. Moreover, the franchise is titled Fantastic Beasts, making the wizarding world's creatures the central characters. So while Dumbledore will prepare for a war against Grindelwald, it's the creatures who will shine in every film alongside Newt Scamander. Respecting the Eras Always remember, the world Harry Potter and the company lived in was forged by histories of various eras. So while we can never get over the trio and the company, we should learn to accept the fact there were many more characters like them long before they existed. No one can ever replace them but we can find similar ones in Rowling's wizarding world again, isn't it great? It's time to live the history and instead of comparing it with the future we already lived, let's open our eyes and see what actually created the world we all fell in love with 15 years ago. Trust JK Rowling with the fact that Fantastic Beasts franchise is going to be magical mystery ride which will amuse us in every turn just like this recently released one. It's time to move on or rather back from Harry Potter series and give Fantastic Beasts a fair chance to prove it's worth. We know it's easier to watch a well constructed magical world through the keyhole of Hogwarts but it's time to step out to a broader world of magic. As Dumbledore puts it, "We must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy," and Rowling has presented us a right film to move on to, now the 'choice' is ours. Mumbai: Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh is gearing up for a film with Baahubali fame Prabhas, slated to release next year. The yet untitled film is being directed by Y. Sujeeth Reddy. Talking about the project, Neil said in a statement: "I took close to one year to finalise this project. What excites me about the film is the fact that the storyline is very complex, the role is challenging, and I will once again get a chance to experiment. I'm excited to work alongside Prabhas and share screen space with him." Neil is currently taking special language classes in Tamil and Telugu for his role and brushing up on his diction. The film will be released in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. Washington: Amid reports that she was a contender for a spot in Donald Trump's cabinet, Indian- American South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has asserted that the Republican Party needs to be inclusive and cannot afford to forget immigrants or people of colour. "If we as Republicans are going to lead effectively and have staying power as a governing power, we must accept that Donald Trump's election was not an affirmation of the way Republicans have conducted themselves," Haley told a Washington DC audience on Friday. "He ran against both parties, against a political system he argued was fundamentally broken, an argument the voters subscribed to in massive numbers. They rejected the political class of all stripes, Republicans included. And we have no one to blame but ourselves," the 44-year-old Republican leader said. Her remarks come amid speculation that she was a top contender for either secretary of state or secretary of commerce in Trump's cabinet. After the November 8 general elections, the Republican Party not only taken control of the White House, but also retained its majority in the US House of Representatives and the Senate. It also won a record number of governors' elections. Haley on Thursday had met Trump. In her first public remarks after that, Haley did not mention anything about her meeting but delivered a speech in which she reiterated her position on issues of ethnicity, race and religion, which are different from that of Trump. She recollected the immigration experience of her parents who came from India with just USD 8 in their pocket. Voters, Haley argued, rejected the political class, "and we have no one to blame but ourselves" because the party "moved toward big government rather than away from it...Republicans lost their way". Haley said as a result of the impressive victory, the Republican party needs to do an autopsy of it as it would do during a defeat. The Republican Party, she said, must remind people that it is the party who will offer opportunities "to all citizens, regardless of their race, gender or where they are born and raised". The two-term South Carolina Governor also praised the president-elect saying that though she was never a cheerleader of Trump, the Republican party has an unprecedented opportunity to enact conservative policies and must take advantage of his election. "I did vote for him and was absolutely thrilled to see him win," she said. "President-elect Trump deserves tremendous credit for the way he was able to connect with the electorate, but he did not do it by celebrating the Republican Party. And the American people did not vote for him because he had an 'R' next to his name," Haley said. "(Voters) rejected the political class of all stripes, Republicans included, and we have no one to blame but ourselves. There have been broken promises at every level of government. We need to go back to the basics and remember that we are the party of limited government...the party of inclusive. We've moved away from that over the last decade," she said. Mosul: Iraqi troops faced stiff resistance Saturday from Islamic State militants as they pushed deeper into eastern Mosul, backed by aerial support from the US-led international coalition, a senior military commander said. At dawn, troops moved into the Muharabeen and Ulama neighborhoods after fully liberating the adjacent Tahrir neighbourhood on Friday, said Maj Gen Sami al-Aridi of the Iraqi special forces. Al-Aridi said IS militants were fighting back with snipers, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar rounds. Thick black columns of smoke were seen billowing from the two areas, while dozens of civilians were seen fleeing to government-controlled areas. Shortly before noon, a suicide bomber emerged from a house in the Tahrir neighborhood and attacked security forces, wounding four troops. Another suicide car bomber hit the troops in Aden neighborhood afternoon, killing a soldier and wounding three others. Late on Friday, a group of IS militants attacked the village of Imam Gharbi south of Mosul, controlling most of it for hours before airstrikes from the US-led international coalition were called in, an officer said. The clashes and multiple suicide bombings left three policemen dead, including an officer, and four others wounded, he said. Nine IS fighters were killed, he added. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to brief media. To the west of Mosul, government-sanctioned Shiite militias took full control of the Tal Afar military airfield Friday night, said Jaafar al-Husseini, spokesman for the influential Hezbollah Brigades. Al-Husseini said the clashesalmost destroyed the airport and that it will be an important launching pad for the troops in their advance. The extremist group captured Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, in the summer of 2014. The offensive to retake the city, which was launched on October 17, is the biggest military operation in Iraq since American troops left in 2011. If successful, the retaking of Mosul would be the strongest blow dealt to IS' self-styled caliphate stretching into Syria. The Shiite militias are leading an assault to drive IS from Tal Afar, which had a majority Shiite population before it fell to the militants in the summer of 2014, and to cut IS supply lines linking Mosul to Syria. According to the United Nations, more than 56,000 civilians have been forced from their homes since the operation began out of nearly 1.5 million civilians living in and around Mosul Islamabad: Pakistan government has banned two more militant outfits for their involvement in terrorist activities across the country, an official said. The move to proscribe the Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and Lashkar-i-Jhangvi Al-Alami came after recent attacks on sectarian grounds in different parts of the country were claimed by the two groups, Dawn quoted a senior official on Friday. A spokesman for the interior ministry confirmed the development and said that the decision was made a few days ago. Referring to a revised list of banned organisations available on the website of the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta), a senior official in Sindh's security establishment said: "The two organisations were added to the banned outfits' list on Nov 11." The updated list on Nacta website shows a total of 63 outfits that have been proscribed by the federal government. "The latest addition came after series of investigations led to the fact that the two militant groups were actively involved in the terrorism activities mostly on sectarian grounds. Karachi has also witnessed a recent surge in attacks on sectarian grounds executed mostly by the Lashkar-i-Jhangvi Al Alami." #PM-apology PM apologizes for quip at press briefing on Itaewon tragedy Prime Minister Han Duck-soo issued an apology Wednesday for making a quip at a media briefing with foreign journalists with regard to the Halloween crowd crush in Itaewon. "Re... #football Tottenham's Son Heung-min leaves Champions League match early after collision Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur was forced to leave his club's latest UEFA Champions League match early following a collision with an opposing defender. Son was subbed out in... Paris: Two original Tintin comic strips are expected to break records on Saturday when they go under the hammer in Paris. The first from "Explorers on the Moon", widely regarded as one of the two best Tintin adventures, could fetch up to USD 1 million. The page, entitled "We walk on the moon", has the boy reporter, his dog Snowy and blundering sidekick Captain Haddock making their first moon walk from their red and white rocket. With the 1954 book viewed as one of the artist Herge's masterpieces, the Paris auction house Artcurial values it at least 900,000 euros (USD 950,000). The late Belgian artist already holds the world record for the sale of a comic strip. A double-page ink drawing that served as the inside cover for all the Tintin adventures published between 1937 and 1958, sold for USD 3.7 million to an American fan two years ago. Today's sales are expected to break records for single strips. Rival auction house Christie's is putting drawings from another rare Herge strip up for sale later in the day in Paris. It said the page from the unfinished story "Tintin and the Thermozero" -- estimated at 250,000 euros -- was the first ever to come to market. Why the artist never finished the tale of espionage and a terrifying secret weapon set against the backdrop of the Cold War, is one of the great mysteries for Tintin-ologists. Herge wrestled with it for years, "starting it at the end of the 1950s", said Christie's, but never got further than eight pages. Artcurial's comics expert Eric Leroy described the "Explorers on the Moon" as "a key moment in the history of comic book art... it has become mythic for many lovers and collectors of comic strips. "It is one of the most important from Herge's postwar period, on the same level as 'Tintin in Tibet' and 'The Castafiore Emerald'," he added. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Of course it is: Completely food-centric, its brimming with delicious meals, alluring aromas, and the festivity of friends and family. Add to that, the only shopping that needs to be done is food shopping, and Im one happy camper. That is, except for one thing. Im a long-standing victim of stuffing anxiety. Perhaps youre unaware of this debilitating malady. It most frequently strikes me, and other sufferers, right around the fourth Thursday in November. It is anxiety over several things. First, in recent years, food safety experts have warned against cooking stuffing inside the turkey. The sad fact is that for the stuffing to reach the appropriate temperature to ward off foodborne illness, the turkey is rendered dry and overcooked. To prevent that, some years ago I started making my stuffing outside the bird, in a casserole dish. Some people call this dressing. My stuffing anxiety first reared its ugly head when I tried to master my grandmothers farmhouse stuffing, a seemingly easy and straightforward task. Proud to play host to my entire family, I pulled out the stops. Everything seemed to be going well until my mother approached the sideboard, surveyed the feast and, poking tentatively at the casserole dish of stuffing, asked, Clare, what does THIS purport to be? An innocent enough question that nonetheless reduced me to a quivering wreck. In retrospect, I think my issue was the slap-dash chopping and, perhaps, a dearth of chicken stock, rendering it a melange of dry chunks of celery, bread hunks and sausage. It was not the transporting melange I was aiming for. Since then, my stuffing trauma has happily receded, by virtue of thinking of it in a completely different way. No longer am I making stuffing with all of that fraught history. No, Ive decided to think of it as a panade, and suddenly it all goes fine. One of my favorite cookbook authors, the late Judy Rodgers, said this in her 2002 The Zuni Cafe Cookbook, which set me on my path: A panade, literally, a Big Bread Thing, is a fluffy, gratineed casserole of stale bread and stewed onions, moistened with broth or water So nowadays, Im making a panade instead of stuffing. I think the main difference is the way Im thinking about it. Im making a savory bread pudding more than that dry disaster, and, so far, it hasnt done me wrong. Perhaps best of all, several of these recipes can be assembled the day before and then cooked without stress on the actual day. So first off, here is my new and improved Grannys farmhouse panade: It is a savory bread pudding, heavy on the sage, parsley and sausage. Next up, a port-enriched panade studded with Virginia apples and chestnuts. I baste my turkey with port during the last hour in the oven, so the gravy I make with the drippings is the icing on the cake for this rich melange. Finally, my cornbread panade with oysters and ham is inspired by a popular dish at the Commonwealth Club in Richmond. So why not make a panade this year? And, between us, you can certainly call it anything youd like. Im not telling a soul. Clares Farmhouse Stuffing Panade A simple sausage and sage stuffing Makes 12 servings Ingredients: 2 sticks unsalted butter, divided 2 large sweet onions, finely chopped cup finely chopped celery 1 pound pork sausage meat (may be sage or plain) 1 teaspoon dried sage OR cup finely minced fresh sage 1 teaspoon dried fines herbes cup finely chopped fresh parsley 2 teaspoons Maldon sea salt Freshly ground pepper to taste 6 cups stale white bread, cut into -inch cubes OR 6 cups Pepperidge Farm cubed stuffing mix, any flavor Up to 4 cups no-salt chicken or turkey stock Directions: In a large skillet, melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add the onions and celery, and cook, stirring constantly, until only just translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the sausage, breaking the meat apart into small chunks. Cook until all the pink is gone from the meat, but not so long that it is browned. Place the contents of the pan into a large mixing bowl. Add sage, fines herbes, parsley, the remainder of the butter (melted) and salt and pepper. Mix well. Add the bread cubes and mix well. Place the panade into a large shallow buttered casserole dish or enameled cast-iron pan that will accommodate it, allowing room for it to swell a bit as the bread absorbs the stock. Cover and refrigerate immediately if it is to be cooked the next day. When its time to cook the panade, heat the oven to 350 degrees. Pour stock over the top. For a very soft panade, add enough so that it is nearly to the rim. For a firm but nonetheless moist panade, fill with stock until it is about an inch below the rim. Cover it tightly with a sheet of aluminum foil, dull side out. Place the casserole dish on a rimmed baking sheet to catch the inevitable drips. Bake for 1 hours, and do not be concerned if it swells somewhat and the aluminum foil domes a bit. Remove the aluminum foil. When the panade is nicely browned, after about 15 minutes, remove it from the oven and serve immediately with turkey, gravy and all the trimmings. Clares Chestnut, Bacon and Apple Panade A grand homage to Virginia food favorites Makes 12 servings Ingredients: 8 slices thick, center-cut bacon, cut into -inch dice 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 large sweet onion, finely chopped 1 cup minced celery pound tart apples, such as Granny Smith, peeled, cored and chopped into -inch dice 1 cup coarsely chopped peeled freeze-dried chestnuts teaspoon mace Salt AND freshly ground pepper 6 cups coarsely chopped -inch bread cubes made from a stale country loaf of bread 1 cup port Up to 4 cups of low-salt chicken or turkey stock Directions: Place the bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium heat until lightly browned, about 8 minutes. Add butter and allow it to melt. Add onion, celery and apple and allow it to cook over medium heat until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer contents into a large bowl. Add the chestnuts, mace, salt and pepper; stir well. Add the bread cubes and port. Transfer contents of the bowl into a large shallow buttered casserole dish or enameled cast-iron pan that will accommodate it, allowing room for it to swell a bit as the bread absorbs the stock. Cover and refrigerate immediately if it is to be cooked the next day. When its time to cook the panade, heat the oven to 350 degrees. Pour stock over the top. For a very soft panade, add enough so that it is nearly to the rim. For a firm but nonetheless moist panade, fill with stock until it is about an inch below the rim, and tightly cover with a sheet of aluminum foil, dull side out. Place the panade on a rimmed baking sheet to catch the inevitable drips. Bake for 1 hours, and do not be concerned if it swells somewhat and the aluminum foil domes slightly. After 1 hours, remove the foil. When the panade is nicely browned, after about 15 minutes, remove it from the oven and serve immediately with turkey, port gravy and all the trimmings. Clares Cornbread, Oyster and Ham Panade A perfect panade for those who love cornbread stuffing Makes 12 servings Ingredients: 6 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 large sweet onion, minced 5 cups crumbled day-old cornbread 4 cups -inch bread cubes made from a stale country loaf 3 ounces shaved Virginia country ham, chopped 1 teaspoons dried thyme 1 teaspoon salt teaspoon freshly ground pepper 1 quart shucked fresh Virginia select oysters Up to 4 cups low-salt chicken or turkey stock 3 eggs, well-beaten Directions: Place a large skillet over medium heat. Melt butter and add the onion and cook, stirring, until the onion is translucent, about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat. In a large bowl, combine cornbread, white bread, the contents of the skillet, ham, thyme, salt and pepper and set aside. Pour the contents of the jar of oysters through a sieve into a bowl to catch the oyster liquor. Combine the oyster liquor with enough stock to make 4 cups of liquid. Add the eggs to the liquid and set aside. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a large shallow casserole dish or enameled cast-iron pan that will accommodate it. Spoon half of the bread mixture into the pan. Evenly distribute half of the oysters over top of it. Spoon the remaining bread mixture over the top and distribute the rest of the oysters on top. Pour the reserved liquid over the top of the panade and tightly cover it with a sheet of aluminum foil, dull side out. Place the panade on a rimmed baking sheet to catch the inevitable drips. Bake for 1 hour, and do not be concerned if it swells somewhat and the aluminum foil domes slightly. About 15 minutes before serving, remove the foil. When the panade is nicely browned, after about 15 minutes, remove it from the oven and serve immediately with turkey, gravy and all the trimmings. Seniors in Lynchburg City Schools had the chance to jump-start their futures this week with free applications to Virginias 24 two-year and 33 independent colleges and 15 public universities. Between E.C. Glass and Heritage high schools, more than 1,000 college applications were turned in by 585 seniors at the two schools, according to Beacon of Hope Executive Director Laura Hamilton. This is the fourth year Beacon of Hope, a Lynchburg-based nonprofit that encourages students to pursue post-secondary education, has organized Virginia College Application Week events. The idea is that you remove some of the barriers that keep kids from even applying, Hamilton said. Virginia College Application Week is part of The 1-2-3Go! initiative co-sponsored by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and the Educational Credit Management Corporation, which aims to help students find colleges, submit applications and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to help students and their families learn about aid available to pay for college. With the cost of college applications waived, Heritage senior DeVon Hancock applied to Norfolk State University, Radford University, Liberty University and Virginia State University at no cost. The cost of college application fees vary across the state from $25 to $75, according to the State Council of Higher Education. I definitely wouldnt have applied to as many colleges as I have so far, Hancock said of the free application process. That really helped, and it allowed me to do more applications in less time. Hancock, who is interested in studying welding or electrical engineering, hopes to be the first in his family to graduate from college. To Hancock, it means a better life for me and my family. Heritage senior Jasmine Fuqua also said she took advantage of the free application process and applied to Virginia Commonwealth University, Old Dominion University and Norfolk State University. It benefits me because the applications fees are a little expensive, Fuqua said. According to a Beacon of Hope news release, admissions representatives from nearly 40 colleges, universities and technical schools were on hand at E.C. Glass and Heritage to help students with admissions and to conduct interviews throughout the week. Hamilton said 241 applicants from both high schools were approved for admission on site. The schools had a celebratory event to wrap up free college application week Friday with Lynchburg Mayor Joan Foster and Del. Scott Garrett, R-Lynchburg. You all get it, you realize that you do have a future, Garrett said. In spite of all the cray-cray stuff thats happening in our world today, there is a future. Foster reminded students to remember their hometown after they complete their respective degrees. Come back here. We need you, she said. We need to have an educated workforce. With a recent lack of rain and little precipitation in the immediate forecast, the U.S. Department of Agricultures Forest Service announced a burn ban for national forests in the area this week. The USDA Forest Service said there will be an open fire ban on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests from Nov. 15 through Feb. 1 in a news release, citing extreme dry conditions, high fire danger, and little chance of significant rain in the immediate forecast. Parts of the forest are in Amherst, Bedford and Nelson counties. Despite the Forest Service decision, Lynchburg-area localities have decided against enacting their own bans. Amherst County Public Safety Director Gary Roakes said firefighters responded to the first brush fire the county has seen in weeks near Mistover Drive at about 8:45 p.m. Wednesday. He said the fire affected one to two acres of land and was brought under control within about 45 minutes. Weve been very fortunate, he said of the lack of recent fires. Roakes said hes been monitoring conditions in the area, but the county isnt planning to enact a burn ban at the moment. Having recently spoken with local Department of Forestry representatives, he said the southwestern part of the state is in much more critical condition. In reality, we probably need a few good days of steady rain to get the moisture in the ground, he said. Bedford County Fire Marshal Jeff Pauley said the county isnt planning to place a ban either, but encouraged standard fire precautions. People need to use common sense safety measures: dont burn when its windy, make sure that theres a water supply immediately adjacent and they have to be monitored at all times, he said. It can go from nothing to a lot real quick, and thats a problem. Sherry Harding, spokesperson for Campbell County, wrote in an email the Public Safety department does not plan to put a burn ban in place but advises residents not to burn under current conditions. More than two-thirds of the state, including Lynchburg and the surrounding counties, is experiencing abnormally dry conditions, according to the National Drought Mitigation Center. The center considers areas to the west of Henry and Franklin counties to be in a moderate drought. Rainfall deficits in Lynchburg have mounted up to 5.33 inches since August, the National Weather Service reports. Area forecasts predict a 20 percent chance of showers for Saturday afternoon and a 30 percent chance of rain Wednesday. Rebecca Robbins, public affairs specialist with the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, said the forest service will re-evaluate the ban if theres a significant change in weather conditions between now and February. She said the forest as a whole has seen less than one-tenth of an inch of rain in the past 43 days, with the southern end seeing even less. So far this year, Robbins said 26 fires have affected about 3,000 acres in the forest, and each one was the result of human activity. The fire ban prohibits fires and restricts smoking outside of developed recreation areas. Typically, Robbins said campers can build fires outside recreation areas so long as they leave no trace, and smoking in the forest is not restricted. We have in the past had fire bans that affect even recreation areas so if drought continues, there are more options to consider, she said. As Thanksgiving grows closer, retail stores of all types are preparing for shoppers, lots and lots of shoppers. While some stores and malls are backing off Thanksgiving Day hours this year, several stores in the Lynchburg area will open their doors on Turkey Day, mostly in the late afternoon or evening. And all of them, of course, will be ready and waiting for shopping come Black Friday. Locally owned stores will have a holiday of their own of sorts the next day, marking Small Business Saturday. Heres a quick look at some of the highlights: Thanksgiving Day Belk: 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Best Buy: 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Dicks Sporting Goods: 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Kohls: 6 p.m. to midnight. Kmart: 8 a.m. to midnight. Macys: 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Michaels: 6 p.m. to midnight Old Navy: 4 p.m. to midnight J.C. Penney, 3 p.m. to midnight Target: 6 p.m. to midnight Toys R Us: 5 p.m. midnight Wal-Mart: deals begin at 6 p.m., open 24 hours, all locations Black Friday: Shopping continues on at Old Navy, Target and Toy R Us, which are open from Thanksgiving straight through to 11 p.m. Friday, while Penneys will be open through 10 p.m. Friday and Kmart until midnight. Kohls meanwhile, is open continuously until midnight Friday. River Ridge mall is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., with Belk extending its hours until 1 a.m. Saturday. Small Business Saturday Business communities in Lynchburg, Bedford and Altavista are encouraging shoppers to visit small businesses after the madness of big box retailer shopping Black Friday. In Lynchburg, Frosty the Snowman figures will be hidden at locations all over downtown. Any shopper who finds Frosty at 10 locations will win a Downtown Lynchburg T-shirt and be entered in a chance to win a gift basket put together by the Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau. Below are some Lynchburg-area businesses participating, according to the Retail Merchants Association: Accents Flags and Gifts, 1716 Main St., Lynchburg Altus Chocolate, 908 Main St., Lynchburg Alpaca By Jaca, 18013 Forest Road, Forest Andersons Country Market, 3748 S. Amherst Highway, Madison Heights Basket Case, 3831 Old Forest Road, Suite 7, Lynchburg Bean Tree Cafe, 105 Cornerstone St., Suite 106, Lynchburg Curtains Blinds & Bath, 18458 Forest Road, Forest City Place Food & Co., 101 Northwynd Circle D, Lynchburg Favored Flavors, 912 Main St., Lynchburg Givens Books, 2236 Lakeside Drive, Lynchburg Good Karma Tea Co., 901 Jefferson St., Suite 110, Lynchburg Hot & Cold Cafe, 205 9th St., Lynchburg Ladies Lovin Life, 18013 Forest Road, Forest Paisley Gifts & Stationary, 4925 Boonsboro Road, Lynchburg Western Ways, 111 Vista Centre Drive, Forest Bedford and Altavista also are participating in Small Business Saturday. For more information, contact the Bedford Chamber of Commerce at www.bedfordareachamber.com or (540) 586-9401 and the Altavista Chamber of Commerce at www.AltavistaChamber.com or (434) 369-6665. Officers also will be apprehending alcohol- and drug-impaired drivers and enforcing other law violations that come to the officers attention, according to a news release from the Amherst police. If we can save just one person from being injured or killed by a vehicle being operated illegally or by a drunk driver and keep one family from having to deal with such a tragedy, then we have been of service to the people of our community, Kimbrel said. We want people to know that we will be out here on a continuing basis working with the community to keep Amherst safe. 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. Maloney locked down Residents of the Maloney Housing Development yesterday woke up to sight of over 60 heavily armed police and soldiers surrounding their community as part of a joint anti-crime exercise aimed at flushing out criminal elements and to seek out illicit arms, ammunition and drugs. At the crack of dawn the large contingent of police and army officers descended upon the Maloney Housing Development ordering residents to open their doors as some officers accompanied by sniffer dogs searched apartments and homes as part of the exercise. While some persons welcomed the presence of the officers others were displeased claiming that Maloney was no longer a crime hot spot and that there were only a few undesirables living within the community. Despite their protestation officers continued their almost five-hour operation searching not only homes but vehicles and areas outside apartments, some using metal detectors in a bid to search for illegal arms and ammunition concealed under the ground. School children appeared to be most affected by the exercise because the presence of the officers disrupted the normal activities of parents getting children prepared for school. However, head of the Northern Division Senior Superintendent Mc Donald Jacob, along with other senior officers including Superintendent Nelson, Inspector Birch and others explained to residents that it was part of the commitment by the TT Police Service to reclaim the country from the hands of criminal elements and return the Northern Division to being a Division with one of the lowest statistics relating to crime. Northern Division accounts for more than 98.1 percent of the overall murders in this country, and the percentage increased over the past two weeks with the two triple murders in the La Horquetta district. Within recent times Task Force officers from the Northern Division were mandated to carry out surveillance at the Maloney Housing Development following a murder in that area. Newsday understands that Acting Police Commissioner, Stephen Williams who has decided to seek a personal interest in the Northern Division due to the high incidence of murders instructed that the joint police/ army patrol be carried out yesterday. No One Has Done This Before in Billboard's History (Newser) For 60 years, one of the earliest paintings by Frida Kahlo hung on the wall of a California home, unseen by the public and its location a mystery, Reuters reports. Now it's expected to fetch up to $2 million at auction. According to Fusion, Kahlo painted Nina Con Collaror "Girl With Necklace"in 1929 when she was just 22. It was never publicly displayed, and Kahlo hung on to it until her death in 1954. "The painting would hold a particular meaning to her," according to Sotheby's, which is auctioning Nina Con Collar on Nov. 22. "It proved to be a spring well of ideas for works to come." After Kahlo's death, her husband gave the painting to a woman who helped the artist in her studio. For decades, Nina Con Collar was known only from a black-and-white photo, Artnet reports. Then last summer, the woman, now in her 90s, decided to give the painting to Sotheby's to auction off. The auction house's Axel Stein calls it a "beautiful and warm painting." "The painting looks very fresh," Reuters quotes Stein as saying. "It was in a dark part of the house so the colors are vibrant." Past Kahlo works have gone for more than $15 million at auction, though Nina Con Collar is expected to fetch a fraction of that. Kahlo paintings are very rare, partly because it's illegal to export them from Mexico. (A long-lost Victorian painting turned up on Antiques Roadshow.) (Newser) "He is a shy little boy, but when he saw the president, his eyes lit up and he was completely drawn to him," Valbona Myteberi tells the Journal News. Myteberi's 6-year-old son Alex went viral in September after writing a letter to President Obama offering to adopt Omran Daqneesh, the 5-year-old Syrian boy whose stunned, bloodied photo became a defining image of the war in Syria. "We will give him a family and he will be our brother," Alex wrote in his letter to the president. CBS News reports Obama read part of Alex's letter during his final speech to the UN in September, commending Alex for not being "cynical, or suspicious, or fearful of other people because of where they're from, or how they look, or how they pray." Last week, Alex's family was treated to a tour of the White House before being surprised by a visit with Alex's famous pen pal. The White House tweeted a video of Obama and Alex meeting on Thursday. "You being so nice and kind hopefully makes other people think the same way," Obama told Alex. Obama told Alex he was proud of him and that he read his letter "to everybody." In his letter, Alex had offered to teach English to Omran and said he already had a friend from Syria at school so they "can all play together." "I could not hold the tears," Valbona Myteberi tells the Journal News. "We felt honored. We felt proud. We felt respected and just so profoundly grateful for [the president's] time." (Read more Omran Daqneesh stories.) (Newser) Police in Kansas suspect that whoever murdered Laura Abarca-Nogueda on Thursday kidnapped her newborn babyand may now be pretending that baby Sophia is theirs. Police have asked the public to look out for people who now have an unexpected addition to the family, the Wichita Eagle reports. "We're looking for anyone who of a sudden has a child. Or says a family member came to visit them and a new child is there all of a sudden," a Wichita Police Department spokesman says. "They're showing them off. They're buying new items. They could say it's their niece or nephew, or they didn't know they were pregnant." Abarca-Nogueda, 27, was found shot to death in her home on Thursday afternoon when her boyfriend, baby Sophia's father, returned from work, KWCH reports. The baby girl was born Nov. 11 and was kidnapped when she was just six days old. "My sister, she was a beautiful person. Inside and out, and she loved everybody," Abarca-Nogueda's brother says. "It's really hurtful that she's gone, but the only thing left we have from her is Sophia. And all I want is just for her to be found." Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay says the department is reaching out for the public's help in this "very sad and tragic case," and is urging anybody with even a "sliver" of information to come forward. (Read more Kansas stories.) (Newser) Iraqi troops faced stiff resistance Saturday from ISIS militants as they pushed deeper into eastern Mosul, backed by aerial support from the US-led international coalition, a senior military commander says. At dawn, troops moved into the Muharabeen and Ulama neighborhoods after fully liberating the adjacent Tahrir neighborhood on Friday, according to Maj. Gen. Sami al-Aridi of the Iraqi special forces. Al-Aridi says ISIS militants are fighting back with snipers, rocket-propelled grenades, and mortar rounds, the AP reports. Thick black columns of smoke were seen billowing from the two areas, while dozens of civilians were seen fleeing to government-controlled areas. In the heavily damaged town of Bashiqa, northeast of Mosul's outskirts, meanwhile, Christians rang the bells of Saint George's church for the first time to celebrate its liberation from ISIS, which was driven out earlier this month. Much of the town has been reduced to rubble from artillery strikes and air raids. Parishioners, peshmerga fighters and Kurdish officials sang hymns and played band music as they walked in procession into the church, which was heavily vandalized by ISIS fighters. Men prepared a large cross to mount on the rooftop, replacing one destroyed by the extremists. (A mass grave discovered south of Mosul held around 100 decapitated bodies.) (Newser) The island nation of Kiribati has established a large shark sanctuary that will help ensure the creatures are protected across much of the central Pacific. Vice President Kourabi Nenem said at the sanctuary's launch on Friday that the nation was committed to protecting sharks from exploitation and overfishing, the AP reports. Kiribati has banned commercial shark fishing in the sanctuary, which is about five times the size of Texas. Palau established the first shark sanctuary in the region in 2009, and has been followed by the Marshall Islands, French Polynesia, and other nations. The Pew Charitable Trust estimates that 100 million sharks are killed each year by commercial fisheries. Pew says sharks are vulnerable to overfishing because they're slow to mature and reproduce. Ben Namakin, who was born in Kiribati and has pushed for the sanctuary, says he first began to consult elders and community groups with the idea about four years ago. He said some people were resistant at first because Kiribati had a tradition of catching and eating sharks. But he said the elders didn't like the way commercial operators were fishing for the creatures and understood their plight more when told of their unusual biology. "They came to realize the shark sanctuary was important to protecting our culture," Namakin says. (This shark may be the longest-lived vertebrate on the planet.) (Newser) It wasn't quite the lion's den, but Mike Pence faced a largely hostile crowd when he took in hip-hop historical musical Hamilton on Friday night. The Guardian reports that boos outnumbered cheers when Pence entered the Broadway show and the audience realized the Republican vice-presidential elect was among them. Pence was also booed at points throughout the performance, Variety reports. The New York Timeswhich notes that the show is "celebrated by liberals for its resonant, provocative portrayal of America as a nation of immigrants"reports that nearby audience members said Pence appeared engaged and applauded after musical numbers. Pence watched the entire show and was on his way out when cast member Brandon Victor Dixon, who plays Aaron Burr, called out to him. "Vice president-elect, I see you walking out but I hope you will hear us," he said, shushing the audience and telling them: "There's nothing to boo here, we're all sharing a story of love." He told Pence he was welcome at the show, adding: "We are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights, sir. But we truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values, and work on behalf of all of us," he said, per the Hollywood Reporter. (Read more Mike Pence stories.) (Newser) An air-ambulance plane taking a heart-disease patient to a Utah hospital crashed in a parking lot in northern Nevada, killing all four people aboard and sending up explosions and flames, the AP reports. Three crew members and a patient were killed in the Friday night crash in Elko, American Medflight said Saturday in a statement. Identities were not released. The twin-engine plane crashed in a mining company's parking lot near a casino and other businesses. American Medflight president John Burruel said in a statement that the company was cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA as they investigated the crash. "As an air medical family, we are mourning the loss of our crewmembers and patient. Their families have been notified and they are in our thoughts and prayers," Burruel said. An FAA spokesperson said nobody on the ground was hurt. "There was not a lot left of the aircraft," the Elko fire chief said after the flames were extinguished. A photograph published by the Elko Daily Free Press showed mostly burned wreckage on pavement in front of a line of vehicles, including at least one charred pickup. The plane's tail was one of the few recognizable parts. The patient's doctor said the patient suffered from coronary artery disease and was experiencing chest pains and rapid heartbeat Friday evening, after which the decision was made to transport him to Utah. (Read more plane crash stories.) (Newser) Last night, the cast of the smash musical Hamilton thanked Mike Pence for coming to the show and asked him to please "uphold [the] inalienable rights" of all Americans as vice president. Well, Donald Trump wasn't going to let that kind of "harassment" slide, USA Today reports. "Our wonderful future VP Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing.This should not happen!" he tweeted. "The theater must always be a safe and special place.The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!" Trump added. The New York Times notes the president elect was supposed to be meeting with potential cabinet members at the time. Brandon Victor Dixon, the Hamilton actor who addressed Pence on behalf of the cast and crew, responded to Trump: "Conversation is not harassment sir. And I appreciate [Pence] for stopping to listen." Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda also weighed in, tweeting that he was proud of Dixon for "leading with love" and "proud to remind you that all are welcome at the theater." Hamilton producer Jeffrey Seller tells the Times that Trump has not as yet seen the show, but he's welcome any time. While the cast may have been polite and welcoming to Pence, the audience went a different way, roundly booing the vice-president elect when he arrived. (Read more Hamilton stories.) Bells are ringing, Westminster Abbey decorations are gorgeous, people gathered around the streets of London as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are getting married. These are the hopes of fans and supporters of the romance between the most talked couple in the world. The fairy tale love story of the "Suit Actress" and the most eligible bachelor in the United Kingdom could be the next Royal wedding. Jumping to this time might disappoint most people, so let's get into facts about the situation and the laws of the Great Britain. In the time of King William, the Act of Settlement of 1701 does not permit members of the Royal Family to marry a Catholic, said on BBC News. This is to pass the crown to the descendants of the Electress Sophia of Hanover. The King was sick and childless and saw Catholics as a threat to the crown and to bar his Catholic Rival to the Thrown James II. This law was further strengthened by King George III by passing the Royal Marriage Act of 1772 that prohibits further senior members of the Royal House to marry without the consent of the sovereign and of the government. The highlights of the rules include the Royals can only marry without the consent if they are above the age 25, they are not allowed to marry commoners and divorcee provided that the other party is still living, said on Brides. In this standing, Meghan Markle is of Jewish faith and went to a Catholic School which permits the wedding to push through. However, her legal status is a divorcee with the other party still alive. The hopes are still up based on the UK Legislation's Succession to the Crown of 2013 as it lines to the favor of the new couple. There are amendments allowing catholic and divorcee to marry a Royal. Prince Harry may need to seek permission to marry from the Queen as he is fifth in line to the throne. If the Queen agrees to the intent then they can marry. As of writing, the "Suits" actress may need to wait on the day that her Prince Charming will give her an engagement ring. Marriage proposal will follow and the world will wait for that fascinating Royal Wedding of the Year. Samsung debuted Samsung Gear S3 in Korea last Friday, exactly a week before it is slated to be released in the United States and in other parts of the world. Its rollout in other parts of the world will start today. Samsung Gear S3 has two models for buyers to select: The Gear S3 Classic, which basically copies the previous smartwatch designs the tech giant has already released in the past; and The Gear S3 Frontier which boasts an exterior rugged design. These two designs have the same specifications, however, the Gear S3 Frontier model boasts 3G & LTE connectivity in some countries, ZDNet said. According to Science World Report, both Samsung Gear S3 models have a 360 x 360 resolution in their Gorilla Glass SR, screen protected 13-inch Super AMOLED display; built-in GPS; 4GB memory storage; 768MB RAM; Tizen OS; and Exynos 7270 dual 1GHz processor. The Gear S3 Frontier weighs a bit heavier with a weight of 62 grams while The Gear S3 Classic is only 57 grams. Both models have built-in speaker and microphone to enable users to interact with their friends, coworkers and family virtually and hands-free. However, for those who love water-resistant smartwatches, this device might disappoint you. While Apple boasts that their new release can last 24 hours being submerged under 50-meter-deep water, "Samsung Gear S3" can only last for 30 minutes under water at 5 feet deep. Customers who have pre-ordered the device can expect the parcel to arrive today. Meanwhile, the countries which are said to receive the Samsung Gear S3 device today are Australia, Dubai, France, Singapore, Germany, the US and the UK, Techno Wize reports. Aside from over-the-counter stores, Samsung also announced that the Gear S3 device is also available for online purchasing at Best Buy, Amazon, Macy's and at their very own website - Samsung.com. Both models cost buyers $349.99. Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Overcast. High 21F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Mostly cloudy with snow flurries and snow showers, especially overnight hours. Low 9F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 40%. Snow accumulations less than one inch. The Daily News-Miner encourages residents to make themselves heard through the Opinion pages. Readers' letters and columns also appear online at newsminer.com. Contact the editor with questions at letters@newsminer.com or call 459-7574. New Delhi: Moses Abhraham, a PhD research scholar from the University of Hyderabad attempts to end his life after being humiliated on Friday. In a tragic incident, a PhD research scholar from the University of Hyderabad attempted to end his life by slitting his wrist on Friday evening inside the campus. The student Moses Abhraham, was unable to tolerate humiliation by a faculty at the department, he slit his wrist at around 5 pm at the guide's lab in the department. Abhraham was rushed to hospital at around 5:30 pm accompanied by few friends and guide. According to the sources, The guide, Prof G Vaitheeswaran did not allow Moses to attend seminars and asked him to change his research area and supervisor, even after the research scholar published two research papers in reputed journals. The student Moses Abhraham was pursuing his research at the Advanced Centre for Research in High Energy Materials at the university. He was working on condense theory solid state physics. Moses Abhraham was a native of ho hails from Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh. "Moses Abhraham, a PhD student in the university's ACRHEMdepartment, suddenly took out a blade and slit his wrist. He was immediately taken to the health centre on the varsity and later shifted to a private hospital. Now, he is safe...Doctors said there is nothing to worry about," Pro-Vice-Chancellor of UoH, Vipin Srivastava, told PTI tonight. This evening, one of his teachers was teaching him and some others on research methodology on how to prepare their presentation for exams scheduled in two days. He suddenly took out a blade and slit his wrist and took everyone by surprise,Srivastava said. "I have been informed that the student has expressed apology for this act...may be it was due to exam pressure or something else," he said, adding that the teacher is also shaken in view of his act. He further said the student stays outside in an apartment with his friends. Meanwhile, students alleged the faculty at the department allegedly did not allow Moses to attend seminars and had asked him to change his research area. Earlier this year, the suicide of research scholar Rohith Vemula on the campus had rocked the UoH. The suicide had triggered a huge political controversy. With PTI input For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Miscreants torched a government primary school in North Kashmirs Kupwara district, whereas another educational institute was ransacked in city outskirts. Official sources claimed that miscreants set ablaze the Government Primary school (GPS) Rigipora of Kupwara. Although fire tenders rushed to counter the flames, they were unable to save one block of the school building from damage. Further, troublemakers also ransacked Government Boys High school Rawalpora; located in the outskirts of the city. Also Read: Srinagar fire attacks: Government teachers directed to do night shift for safety of schools The police have registered cases regarding both the incidents and investigations are being carried on. The unrest in Kashmir has taken its toll on more than 30 educational institutes have been set on fire by trouble makers. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Polling has begun for by-elections for eight assembly and four Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu on Saturday.A This is a major test for the ruling BJP after demonetization of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. Authorities have made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the polls. Voter Turneout by 3pmA Arunachal Pradesh -50.20% Assam-53.02% Madhya Pradesh-59.44% Tamil Nadu-61.53% Tripura -78.42% West Bengal- 59.75% Puducherry-75.97% Voting underway in Assam In Assam, voting is taking place across 2,200 polling stations in the parliamentary constituency of Lakhimpur and assembly constituency of Baithalangso. While the Lakhimpur Lok Sabha seat has been vacant since sitting MP Sarbananda Sonowal resigned to become the chief minister, Baithalangsoas legislator Mansing Rongpi resigned from the Congress and joined the BJP thus resulting in a vacant position. In Assam, more than 1.7 million electors will seal the fate of eight candidates in the fray for the Lakhimpur Lok Sabha constituency and Baithalangso assembly constituency.A Assam: People queue up to vote for Lakhimpur lok sabha bypoll pic.twitter.com/soUuooTUON a ANI (@ANI_news) November 19, 2016 Voting underway in TripuraA By-poll in two Tripura Assembly seats-Barjala and Khowai began on a peaceful note amidst tight security.For purposes of peaceful polling nine companies ofcentral paramilitary forces, including Border Security Force (BSF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been deployed in the two constituencies and their adjoining areas. State forces, including Tripura State Rifles and state police have also been deployed. The Election Commission has appointed three central observes to oversee the polling in the two seats. Results of the two constituencies would be announced on November 22. Voting underway in West Bengal A Voting for by-elections in two Lok Sabha constituencies and one assembly seat in West Bengal began on Saturday under the shadow of the Centre's demonetisation drive. West Bengal: People queue up to vote for Cooch Behar lok sabha bypoll pic.twitter.com/0VHrRrnHkX a ANI (@ANI_news) November 19, 2016 The by-elections are being held in Cooch Behar and Tamluk Lok Sabha constituencies and Monteswar assembly constituency. Ruling Trinamool Congress, BJP, Left Front and Congress have fielded their candidates in the three seats. Although the Congress and CPI(M)-led Left Front had contested the April-May assembly polls, the two decided to part company in this round of by-elections. Voting underway in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry Amid tight security, voting began on Saturday for polls in Thanjavur, Aravakkurichi and for bypolls in Thirupparankundram in Tamil Nadu and the lone Nellithope seatin neighbouring Puducherry.A A Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, a non-member of the House, is taking on AIADMK candidate Om Sakthi Segar, at Nellithope. A Local poll officials said the voting percentage was between eight and ten approximately in the first hour. Polling began at 7AM Tamil Nadu: Voting underway for Thiruparankundram(Madurai) assembly bypoll pic.twitter.com/2o3h7lcdCI a ANI (@ANI_news) November 19, 2016 Rangasamy (AIADMK) and DMK's Anjugam Bhoopathy are main contenders in Thanjavur. In Aravakkurichi, Senthil Balaji (AIADMK) and KC Palanisamy (DMK) are in the fray while AIADMK's AK Bose is pitted against DMK's Saravanan in Thirupparankundram. A A A Chief Minister and AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa, undergoing treatment at Apollo Hospitals, has urged people to vote for her party in the three constituencies and lone seat in Puducherry. Voting underway in MaharashtraA A Polling began this morning in the biennial election for six seats in the Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) from as many local bodies, where all majorparties are in the fray. The polling started at 8 AM and will continue till 4 PM. Counting of votes will take place on November 22. Elected members of municipal corporations and councils are voting in these polls to choose six candidates for the Upper House. The six-year term of sitting legislators - four from NCP, one each from Congress and BJP - ends on December 5. NCP is at present holding Sangli-Satara, Yavatmal, Bhandara-Gondia and Pune seats, while Congress has Nanded and BJP Jalgaon. Congress and NCP are contesting the polls separately. While NCP has withdrawn its candidate in Yavatmal and extended support to Shiv Sena, Congress has fielded candidates in Nanded, Sangli-Satara, Yavatmal, Bhandara-Gondia and Pune. The Sharad Pawar-led party is contesting Sangli-Satara, Pune and Bhandara-Gondia seats and backing Independent candidate Shyamsunder Shinde in Nanded, and nominees of Sena and BJP in Yavatmal and Jalgaon respectively. While BJP has fielded its candidates in Jalgaon, Bhandara-Gondia and Pune, Sena's nominee is in fray inYavatmal. There are 688 voters in Pune, 440 in Yavatmal, 472 in Nanded, 570 in Satara-Sangli, 550 in Jalgaon and 393 in Bhandara-Gondia. Voting underway in Madhay Pradesh By election to Shahdol Lok Sabha constituency and Nepanagar assembly seat in MP is a significant test for the ruling BJP after demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes took place today. According to officials, elaborate arrangements have been made for the smooth conduct of the by-polls. Madhya Pradesh: Voting underway for Shahdol lok sabha bypoll pic.twitter.com/u0pS3YjxV1 a ANI (@ANI_news) November 19, 2016 Voting underway inA Arrunachal By-polls are also being held for the Khowai and Barjala assembly seats in Tripura and Hayuliang assembly seat in Arunachal Pradesh. North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) candidate Dasanglu Pul is contesting on the BJP ticket. Notably, Dasanglu Pul is the wife of former chief minister Kalikho Pul, who committed suicide in August under mysterious conditions. By-elections to Hayuliang Assembly constituency in remote Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh are taking place toda For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Washington: US President elect Donald Trump's plan to restore a database of immigrants coming from Muslim majority countries has drawn huge criticism from Democratic lawmakers and rights bodies in the country. National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) is a post-9/11 program which required travellers to the US from specified Muslim-majority countries to immediately register with the federal government or face deportation. "Reinstating failed programs that target Arabs and Muslims in our country is exactly what ISIS was cheering on election night when America, a beacon of freedom in the world, gives in to fear and begins chipping away at civil rights, our enemies are emboldened and their ranks swell with new recruits," Senator Dick Durbin said. "Back in 2002, I called for this program to be terminated because there were serious doubts it would help combat terrorism. Terrorism experts have since concluded that this program wasted precious homeland security funds and alienated Arab- and Muslim-Americans. Failed programs like this are the exact wrong approach to combating terrorism, and I will fight to ensure it never returns," Durbin said. The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Co-Chairs Raul M Grijalva and Keith Ellison, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chairwoman Judy Chu, CPC Vice Chair Congressman Mike Honda, and CPC Vice Chair Mark Takano slammed Trump surrogate, Carl Higbie, for suggesting that Japanese- American internment camps could serve as a precedent for the creation of a Muslim registry. "These remarks are beyond disturbing. This is fear, not courage. This is hate, not policy," Honda said. "Since Trump was elected president, thousands of Americans have voiced fears over what our country might look like in the coming years. Last night, one of his surrogates showed us why so many people are afraid of a Trump administration. "The fact that our incoming President has considered internment as a model for how to move forward with the Muslim community is absolutely shocking. We cannot allow it to be normalised or enacted," Ellison said. Grijalva said it took the US decades to own up to the stain of Japanese internment, providing compensation to more than 100,000 people who suffered through it and formally apologising through the Civil Liberties Act in 1988. To say this heinous treatment should be precedent for any policy is horrific, and Trump should denounce it immediately. "Any proposal to force American-Muslims to register with the federal government, and to use Japanese imprisonment during World War II as precedent, is abhorrent and has no place in our society. These ideas are based on tactics of fear, division, and hate that we must condemn," Chu said." I am horrified that people connected to the incoming Administration are using my family's experience as a precedent for what President-elect Trump could do," said Takano. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Pakistan has constantly increasing its nuclear arsenal. At present, it is having about 130-140 nuclear weapons. Apart from this, with F-16 fighter planes sourced from US, it has got many other fighter planes ready for nuclear attacks. By doing this, it has violated the rules of US. When deal happened between Pakistan and US regarding F-16 fighter planes, it was clearly mentioned that no changes will be incorporated in the planes. It was claimed in the report of Bulletin of Atomic Scientists. It was said in the report that the satellite pictures of Air Force stations of Pakistan shows mobile launchers which may be related to nuclear weapons. The report also mentions that Pakistan is extending its nuclear arsenal with the help of industries producing goods related to nuclear weapons. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: A Delhi-based man got his five minutes in limelight on Saturday when he was paid Rs 20,000 by his bank in the form of Rs 10 coins. In the absence of higher denominations of the valid currency notes, the bank offered him a choice to receive the requested Rs 20,000 in the form of Rs 10 coin and he accepted, Imtiaz Alam told media. Showing his uncommon collection of the coins, Alam said that he was tired of standing in the queue for hours and had to accept what was offered. "Manager offered me 10 rupee coins after they ran out of cash. I agreed to take coins rather than standing in long queues again," he said. Banks are facing cash crunch due to rush to deposit or exchange old currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 after they were banned on November 8 to route out black money and corruption from Indian economy. Also read: Demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes: 10 days later, 10 things that you should know Watch video | Currency ban: Only senior citizens allowed to exchange old notes today For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday spoke to Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and took stock of the situation in the wake of ambush by militants in which three army personnel were killed and a few others injured. During the 10-minute telephonic conversation, Sonowal briefed the Union Home Minister about the militant attack, the situation arising of the incident and the steps taken to nab the culprits. I am deeply anguished by the death of army soldiers in an attack in Tinsukia and pray for speedy recovery of the injured. We are monitoring the situation, Singh said. Watch video | Three jawans killed in encounter with suspected ULFA militants in Assam Three jawans were killed and four others seriously injured in the ambush by a joint group of ULFA(I) and NSCN(K) militants at Pengeri in upper Assams Tinsukia district today. A group of about 15 militants attacked an army convoy early this morning and severely damaged two vehicles killing one jawan on the spot and seriously injuring six others, a defence spokesman told PTI. Two of the injured succumbed to their injuries on way to the hospital, he said. We have recovered some RPGs and IEDs, ULFA could be behind this. These attacks are not related to #demonetization: L Dongal, ASP pic.twitter.com/lsHntvOXQV ANI (@ANI_news) November 19, 2016 For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: A new study by researchers at the University of New Mexico has suggested that a handful of walnuts every day can help young men tackle life's daily stress. Researchers say that the nutrient-dense fruit can lead to a happier state-of-mind. The study found a significant improvement in mood in young, healthy men who consumed walnuts every day for eight weeks. "In the past, studies on walnuts have shown beneficial effects on many health outcomes like heart disease, diabetes and obesity," said researcher Peter Pribis, Professor at University of New Mexico in the US. "Our study was different because we focused on cognition, and in this controlled randomised trial (CRT) we measured mood outcomes in males and females," Pribis added. The participants of the study were 64 students between the ages of 18-25. The participants were asked to eat three slices of banana bread every day for sixteen weeks -- eight weeks of banana bread with walnuts and eight weeks of banana bread without walnuts. The nuts were finely ground into the dough so the two banana breads were similar in taste and appearance. While eating banana bread with walnuts the participants consumed half a cup of walnuts daily. The mood of the students was measured at the end of each eight-week period. "We used a validated questionnaire called Profiles of Mood States (POMS)," Pribis said. "It is one of the most widely used and accepted mood scales in studies on cognition. The test has six mood domains: tension, depression, anger, fatigue, vigor, confusion and also provides a Total Mood Disturbance score (TMD)," Pribis explained. (With inputs from agencies) New Delhi: A Delhi court has once again granted permission to former TERI chief RK Pachauri, accused in a sexual harassment case, to travel abroad. Pachauri, currently on bail, was allowed to travel to Dominican Republic from November 22 to December 5 by metropolitan magistrate Shivani Chauhan on Saturday, after he moved an application. The court allowed the application, filed through Pachauri's counsel Ashish Dixit, noting that the probe was complete and chargesheet has already been filed in the case. "The investigation is complete and chargesheet has already been filed. The accused has been granted permission to travel abroad on several earlier occasions and has complied with the directions given by the court. "In these circumstances, the accused is permitted to travel as per his itinerary... subject to furnishing a local surety of Rs 2 lakh to the satisfaction of this court," the court said and directed him to give an undertaking that he shall appear in court in person or through counsel and not dispute his identity at a later stage. The court also asked him to file a copy of his travel tickets and intimate the court after his return or any changes in his travel itinerary. The court had on July 11 granted regular bail to Pachauri and allowed him to travel abroad after he appeared in pursuance to summons. Pachauri has been allowed by the court to travel over a dozen times to various countries including the US, the UK, China, Japan, France, Kazakhstan, Bolivia, Kuwait, Mexico, Somalia and Saudi Arabia, during pendency of probe and proceedings. The former TERI chief was summoned as accused by the court after it took cognisance of the chargesheet filed against him for allegedly sexually harassing an ex-colleague. The court, while taking cognisance of the chargesheet, had said there was sufficient material to proceed against him under sections 354A (sexual harassment), 354B (assault against woman with intent to disrobe), 354D (stalking), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult modesty of woman) and 341 (wrongful confinement) of the IPC. The chargesheet, filed by Delhi Police on March 1 last year, had arrayed 23 prosecution witnesses, many of whom are present and former employees of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). Pachauri was granted an anticipatory bail in the case on March 21 last year and an FIR lodged against him on February 13 last year. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The legal battle between actors Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut is far from over. Hritiks lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani has refuted reports in a section of media that investigations into the e-mail saga between the two actors have been closed. In his statement, Hrithik's lawyer accused media of bias in favour of Kangana Ranaut. A public spat had broken out between the two former co-stars who worked together in Krrish 3, when Ranaut in an interview hinted at Hrithik being her ex, to which he responded by tweeting that there are more chances of me having had an affair with the Pope than with Ranaut. Thereafter both exchanged legal notices. Hrithik and Kangna were first linked in 2013 when they came together in Krrish 3, but the rumour gained currency only after Hrithiks official separation from his wife, Sussanne Khan, in December 2013. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Raipur: Five naxals were gunned down by security forces in the jungles of Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district in Maoist hotbed Bastar region, police said on Saturday. "The skirmish took place last night between a joint team of District Reserve Group (DRG) and ultras in the jungles of Tuspal and Becha Kilam villages under Chhotedongar police station limits," inspector general of police (Bastar Range), SRP Kalluri told PTI. This is the second biggest encounter in Bastar this month after bodies of six naxals, including three women, were recovered post a gun battle in Dantewada on November 16. "At least half a dozen cadres of Military Company VI of Maoists were killed in the gun battle at Narayanpur," Kalluri said. DRG teams from Kondagaon and Narayanpur districts had jointly launched the operation into the core areas of Abhujmad - considered as Maoist den, based on specific inputs, the IG said. When they reached the jungles of Tuspal and Becha Kilam, the gun battle broke out between both the sides, he said. Five bodies and as many weapons have been recovered from the spot, he said, adding that no harm was reported to security forces and more details were awaited. With this, so far as 15 Maoists have been killed in separate encounters in Bastar division this month, the IG added. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: A militant was killed during an encounter in a village in Pulwama district of south Kashmir on Saturday. The encounter broke out after security forces launched a search operation to track down hiding militants in Begumbagh village, police said. Police said militants opened fire on noticing the security forces who retaliated, triggering a gunbattle. More details are awaited. (With inputs from agencies) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal slammed Centre on Saturday over its demonetisation move saying the currency ban is a Rs eight lakh crore scam. Here is what CM Kejriwal said: # Now it's Modi ji vs rest of the country # Entire nation knows the government took no action against those having black money # Demonetisation is an Rs eight lakh crore scam. It's not a step to curb black money. It's actually a scheme to generate it # PM should disclose how will the government bring black money in 50 days #A 53 people have died due to the demonetisation move and these people are making fun of them # Those who cannot deposit more than Rs 2.5 lakh in banks are thieves in PM's eyes # The biggest chunk of black money is with political parties. These parties should disclose their black money # People are dying while standing in queues outside banks # How did Janardan Reddy managed to organise an Rs 500 crore wedding for his daughter # A person was arrested in Gujarat for accepting Rs 4 lakh bribe and that too in Rs 2,000 denomination. How did he get that amount in newly-issued currency # SBI has written off loan given to 63 industrialists # They helped Vijay Mallya flee the country and now they have written off his debt. # People deposited their hard-earned money at banks and government has written off Rs seven lakh crore loan given to industrialists # New currency of Rs 2,000 will benefit black money hoarders. They will now use it to pay bribes # Demonetisation is the biggest scam in the country. The scam runs to the tune of Rs eight lakh crore # If the demonetisation move could curb corruption I would have stood with PM Modi For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa was on Saturday shifted from ICU to general ward at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. Jayalalithaa has been in hospital for nearly two months. Apollo Hospital on Friday said that Jayalalithaas mental functions are absolutely normal and she is free to leave for home as and when she wishes. ALSO READ: (Jayalalithaa's mental functions 'absolutely normal', can leave for home when she wants to: Apollo) The 68-year-old chief minister was admitted at the Chennai Apollo Hospital on September 22 and was treated for an acute lung infection. Last week, Jayalalithaa in a statement from her hospital bed had described her recovery as 'rebirth' and thanked people for their prayers. The CM has been treated by doctors from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi and specialists from London. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. 43 killed in Iraq attacks Iraq,Terrorism, Sat, 19 Nov 2016 IANS Baghdad, Nov 19 (IANS) At least 40 militants from the Islamic State (IS) terror group and three policemen were killed on Saturday in several attacks against army barracks in northern Iraq. The attacks targeted Iraqi security forces in the town of al-Qayyarah, located 55 km south of the IS stronghold of Mosul. The head of the Security Committee of the Nineveh Provincial Parliament, Mohamed Ibrahim al-Bayati, told Efe news that the offensive was launched by a group of over 200 militants who crossed the Tigris river in small boats and then headed for al-Qayyarah. According to al-Bayati, the clashes were very intense and lasted for more than four hours. During the battle, several suicide bombers were able to cross Iraqi security lines and break into the barracks, where they detonated their explosive vests. Three policemen were killed in the blasts and three other officers were seriously wounded. --IANS ksk/vm Egypt jails press union chief for spreading false news Egypt,Immigration/Law/Rights,Media,Politics,Defence/Security, Sat, 19 Nov 2016 IANS Cairo, Nov 19 (IANS) An Egyptian court on Saturday sentenced the head of the journalists' union and two board members to two years in prison each on charges of spreading false news and harbouring two people wanted by authorities, the media reported. The three journalists were also fined 10,000 Egyptian pounds ($629) each, Xinhua news agency reported. According to the court, Yahya Qalash and the other two journalists harboured wanted journalist Amr Badr and blogger Mahmoud al-Saaqa inside the syndicate in May in violation of the law and the union's rules. Following the arrest of Badr and al-Saaqa, Qalash demanded that the interior minister step down and the presidency apologise over an alleged police raid to arrest them on charges of inciting protests. The authorities denied the allegation that police forcibly entered the building, saying they had an arrest warrant and coordinated in advance with the union board members. --IANS py/bg Bhutan PM assuages concerns about BBIN, asks Parliament to review sub-regional accord Bhutan,Indo-Pak/Pakistan,Politics,Diplomacy,Business/Economy, Sat, 19 Nov 2016 IANS Thimphu/Kathmandu, Nov 19 (IANS) Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay on Saturday tried to assuage the concerns raised over the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) motor vehicle agreement, saying it was about four neighbours working together and by rejecting it Bhutan would stand to lose out on regional cooperation. Tobgay, speaking days after the National Council on November 15 rejected the BBIN agreement after the majority members voted against passing the agreement, hoped the National Assembly (NA) and National Council (NC) members can sit together and discuss the BBIN agreement. Tobgay said the BBIN agreement has been "misunderstood" that it would lead to large scale unregulated traffic in Bhutan. He said the BBIN protocol outlines how many numbers of vehicles and which routes to be taken. He said the BBIN was not just about motor vehicles, but about energy, trade, information, communication and technology, and other forms of regional cooperation. "The government thought about it very carefully and we are still committed to BBIN," the Bhutanese Prime Minister said, Kuensel Online reported. The Prime Minister said that since BBIN is about four neighbouring nations working together, Bhutan loses the opportunity to work with Nepal and Bangladesh. "Our cooperation with India is very good but there is lots we can do with the other two neighbours." He said if Bhutan wants to export energy to Bangladesh, India has to be involved and that is where BBIN matters. "If we want to bring in bandwidth from Bangladesh, it has to come through India. So this is why BBIN is important." He also said BBIN is very significant for a landlocked country and its neighbours become very important. Sharing the draft protocol, Lyonchoen also explained the whole purpose of the protocol is to regulate the number of vehicles, as it specifies how many vehicles will be allowed into the country and the maximum duration. "In Bhutan's case, we have nothing new." The Bhutanese Prime Minister's remarks comes as the Nepali government has voiced concern over Bhutan's upper house voting against ratifying the Motor Vehicle Agreement (MVA). A Nepali official termed the Bhutanese move as a "setback". "No official position has been made (by Nepal on the matter)." The Nepalese Parliament has already endorsed the agreement, the Kathmandu Post reported. India on Thursday expressed hope that Bhutan would join the sub-regional pact after completing all internal procedures. This is the second time India's sub-regional road connectivity plan has faced a setback as earlier Pakistan had refused to come on board the Saarc MVA. India brought Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal on board and reached an agreement to remove restrictions on vehicular movement in the subcontinent. With the implementation of the agreement, Nepal would have an easier access to not only the Kolkata port but some other deep sea ports such as Paradip and Visakhapatnam. The proposed MVA network aims to connect Kolkata, Agartala, Siliguri, Guwahati, Shillong and Agartala of India; Benapole, Chittagong, Dhaka and Sylhet of Bangladesh; Phuentsholing and Paro of Bhutan and Kakarbhitta of Nepal. The four South Asian nations signed the BBIN agreement in June last year in Thimphu, Bhutan, in what was seen as a significant symbol of sub-regional unity. The agreement allowed for the regulation of passenger, personal and cargo vehicular traffic among the four countries. Earlier this year, over 200 taxi drivers in Paro, Bhutan, had filed a petition with the National Council chairperson against the MVA, which they feel will allow taxis from neighbouring countries to flood Bhutan and hit their livelihood. --IANS py/rn Egypt court sentences pro-Morsi TV anchor to 3 years in jail Egypt,Politics, Sat, 19 Nov 2016 IANS Cairo, Nov 19 (IANS) An Egyptian court sentenced a fleeing TV anchor and supporter of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi to three years in prison for circulating anti-government false news on Saturday, media reports said. Currently working for Sharq TV, which addresses Morsi's supporters from Turkey, Nasser has been accused of "spreading false news for the purpose of disturbing general security and social peace and provoking violence against the state institutions", Xinhua news agency reported. Nasser fled to Turkey among hundreds of Morsi's supporters after the Islamist president was removed by the military in July 2013 in response to mass protests against Morsi's one-year rule and his now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group. The convicted TV presenter always denied belonging to the Brotherhood. Most of Morsi's loyalists, including the ousted president himself, are currently in custody facing various charges like inciting violence to espionage. In October, an Egyptian top court confirmed a 20-year prison sentence against President Mohamed Morsi over inciting clashes between his supporters and opponents that left 10 people dead. --IANS vgu/bg The US has dominated military spending and still spends three times more than second place China in 2015. New projections have China defense spending in 2030 at about 66-75% of the projected US spending level. India could near 30% of the future US defense spending level. The US will still be dominate especially as actual accumulated military hardware is based on purchases made over 10-30 years. The US will also have a training advantage, since military personal will have a lot of actual experience fighting in actual conflicts and wars. By the 2030s America will still be the top power but a few others will have great power status. A handful of significant countries with great power status is similar to the world of the late 1800s and early 1900s. There will also be megacities and megaregions with 20 million to 300 million people. China is not expected to match or exceed the US defence budget until 2025-2050. Even when it does match the annual defence budget it will take many years to develop comparable military capability. The UK will have one third of Chinas budget this year but the UK has superior force projection and military capabilities. The three major economic mega-urban zones are the pearl river delta in the south (merging into one 42 million person city) and Yangtze River delta around Shanghai and the Bohai economic rim The area around Beijing and Tianjin, two of Chinas most important cities, is being ringed with a network of high-speed railways that will create a super-urban area known as the Bohai Economic Rim. China is merging Beijing/Tianjin and several other cities around the Bohai Sea into one big super-urban zone over the next several years. By 2020 there could be 260,000,000 people (3% of the worlds population) in one big super-city. Here is translation of a plan for the development of the Bohai Economic Rim. India should also have more urbanization and creation of connected megacities and regions. India has potential megaregions * Gurgaon, Delhi and Noida. * Mumbai-Thane-Pune * around Chennai (Sriperumbudur, Bengaluru ) A supersonic BrahMos cruise missile may be installed on a Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) jointly developed by Russia and India, head of the Russian-Indian BrahMos Aerospace enterprise, Sudhir Mishra, said Monday. The FGFA has stealth capabilities and is based on the Russian T-50 prototype jet. The FGFA project came about following the signing of a Russian-Indian cooperation agreement on October 18, 2007. BrahMos is a short-range supersonic missile, which has been used by the Indian Navy since 2005. The missile has a range of 180 miles and can carry a conventional warhead of up to 660 pounds. The jet would use its stealth and speed to get into launch position and launch the BrahMos from standoff ranges. With its Mach 3.0 speed and 180-mile range, the BrahMos missile used in combination with the PAK-FA would enable India to hit Chinese and Pakistani targets with relative impunity. A Mach 3.0-capable cruise missile is difficult to counter. According to U.S. Navy sources, the BrahMos has a particular terminal phase that makes it particularly difficult to intercept. The completed FGFA will include a total of 43 improvements over the T-50, including stealth, supercruise, advanced sensors, networking and combat avionics. Two separate prototypes will be developed, one by Russia and a separate one by India. The Indian version will be a two-seater for pilot and co-pilot/Weapon Systems Operator (WSO). India wants the stealth fighter jet to be inducted into the Indian Air Force much before 2024-25 the date that was fixed for delivery. India plans to build as many as 127 fighters at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited facility in Nashik. The Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) project is estimated to cost $25 billion. Planetary Resources, Inc., the asteroid mining company, announced today that it has finalized a 25 million euro agreement that includes direct capital investment of 12 million euros and grants of 13 million euros from the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the banking institution Societe Nationale de Credit et dInvestissement (SNCI). The funding will accelerate the companys technical advancements with the aim of launching the first commercial asteroid prospecting mission by 2020. Planetary Resources Arkyd 6 is equipped with the first commercially licensed mid-wave infrared imager, an essential tool for detecting water on asteroids. Two spacecraft are completed and will test this technology on orbit. Planetary Resources President & CEO Chris Lewicki and Luxembourgs Deputy Prime Minister Etienne Schneider pictured with the Arkyd 6 in Planetary Resources clean room facility in Redmond, Washington. Core hardware and software technologies developed at Planetary Resources were tested on orbit last year. The companys next mission, now undergoing final testing, will validate the thermographic sensor that will precisely measure temperature differences of objects on Earth. When deployed on future commercial asteroid prospecting missions, the sensor will acquire key data related to the presence of water and water-bearing minerals on asteroids. Obtaining and using these key resources in space promises to fast-track the development of off-planet economic activities as the commercial industry continues to accelerate. SOURCES- Planetary Resources, Youtube Although Russia is in the midst of replacing Cold War era RS-18 (SS-19) ICBMs with the new solid fuel RS-24 it test fired a new RS-28 missile in late October. The RS-28 is meant for is the new hypersonic glide vehicle project Russia announced in 2013 Russia believes the RS-28 is essential for state security because it can carry nine or more independently targeted warheads and will be the most important weapon in its ICBM arsenal. Moreover the missile RS-28 is replacing (R-36M) is aging to the point where refurbishment is no long able to keep these four decade old missiles operational. Experts in Russia are close to launching hypersonic nuclear weapons which can travel at continuous speeds of nearly 4,000mph and travel from Moscow to London in 23 minutes. The countrys Tactical Missiles Corporation believes the weapon will be so fast it will be virtually impossible for current defense systems to knock it out of the skies. SOURCES- Strategy Page, The Sun UK Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday countered claims by the Nigerian government that the terrorist Boko Haram group has b... Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday countered claims by the Nigerian government that the terrorist Boko Haram group has been defeated. Speaking in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, at the 11th Founders Day Ceremony of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), the former vice president said Boko Haram remained deadly, and that it was premature to declare that the insurgency was over. The insurgents still occupy a specific geographical space, Atiku said. They (Boko Haram) still retain the capacity for occasional deadly attacks. Many citizens in the zone still remain vulnerable and live in fear. The former vice presidents comments appeared to counter repeated claims by President Muhammadu Buhari and his information minister, Lai Mohammed, that Boko Haram had been defeated, and was no longer holding any territory in the country. In his 2016 Independence Day speech, October 1, Mr. Buhari insisted the sect was defeated in December 2015 even as the group continued its onslaught across the Northeast, launching deadly attacks and killing soldiers and civilians. But in his Saturday speech, which was emailed to newsmen, Atiku said it was premature for anyone to claim victory over Boko Haram at this time. Like Mr. Buhari, Atiku belongs to the ruling All Progressives Congress, a shaky political platform, whose leading members have bickered consistently since it came to power in mid 2015. We cannot say that the problem is over until every displaced person is able to return home, to the office, to the market, to the farm, and resume normal activities, the politician said. We cannot say it is over until we rebuild the schools, the churches, the hospitals, the markets, and the homes that had been destroyed. And we cannot say its over until the survivors of this insurgency receive the help they need, including psychological therapy to deal with the trauma that they have been through. I visited an IDP camp on Saturday and had the privilege of teaching a math class to some children. But the site of hundreds of children running around and unable to attend school was very gut wrenching. It still breaks my heart. So we cannot say the insurgency is over until all the displaced children return to their schools. And, as I indicated last year, it would not be enough for people to simply return to their pre-insurgency lives. We must do better than that otherwise we would only have papered over the wound without really treating it. President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday formally presented Rotimi Akeredolu to Ondo voters ahead of next weekends governorship election,... The President, whose presence at the All Progressives Congress campaign rally attracted a huge crowd, appreciated the party leadership for ensuring transparency during the primary which held on September 3 in Akure.We thank the party for conducting a transparent primary election which produced the candidate, the president said.I can assure you, on Saturday we are going to win God willing.He raised the hand of Rotimi Akeredolu, urging the people of Ondo State to vote massively for him on Saturday.The presidents assertion negates the opinion of aggrieved members of the party who protested the outcome of the primary after alleging irregularities.The APC appeals committee had also invalidated the primaries, alleging irregularity.But the APC National Working Committee led by Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun ignored the appeals committee and validated Mr. Akeredolus election.The decision of the NWC created apathy among supporters of Ajayi Boroffice and Olusegun Abraham, top contenders at the primary; while another aspirant, Olusola Oke, left the party for Alliance for Democracy, AD, after the issues were unresolved.The aggrieved candidates described the choice of Mr. Akeredolu as lacking in transparency and democratic principles.A national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, who publicly expressed his displeasure over the choice of Mr. Akeredolu, failed to attend an earlier campaign rally and was not also present on Saturday along with his allies, Governors Rauf Aregbesola and Akinwumi Ambode of Osun and Lagos respectively.Mr. Tinubu and his allies in the south-west are said to be subtly backing Mr. Oke, whose recently revived Alliance for Democracy is gathering a lot of support across the state.The absence of the aggrieved south-west APC leaders did not, however, deter the attendees at the rally from rallying support for the candidate.The Chairman of the APC Governors Forum, Rochas Okorocha, while speaking at the rally, said efforts were made to stop Mr. Akeredolu from emerging as candidate, but that the primary turned out in his favour.I want to tell you that we tried to stop Akredolu from emerging as the candidate, but because Gods hand was on him, he emerged, he said.So what God has done, no one can put down.The Imo State Governor also called on the people of the state to ensure that Ondo becomes an APC state in order to attract direct developmental impact from the federal government.While trying to justify the absence of Messrs. Tinubu, Aregbesola and Ambode, the Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Abayomi Adesanya, said it was not possible to have all the 23 APC governors in Akure all at one.He claimed that Mr. Tinubu and the absentee governors were not opposed to Mr. Akeredolu.If we have the President here, we have all the party leaders already, he said.If we have the President, the Vice President, the national leader and all the 23 governors in Akure at once, then we will ground the entire country.Nothing will work and the country will be at a standstill if we have everybody here.Mr. Adesanya said he was not aware if the absentee leaders wrote or gave any reasons for their absence.The Chairman of the party, Isaac Kekemeke, on his part, said the party was united and indivisible.He assured that with that unity, the party would deliver the state to APC next week Saturday.Efforts to get formal reactions from Messrs. Tinubu and Aregbesola were not fruitful as their aides could not be reached on telephone at the time of this report. By Marelise Van Der Merwe According to the exit polls conducted by Edison Research and reported by TDMS Research show that in North C... TDMS Research show that in North Carolina, there was a 5.8 point discrepancy in favor of Donald Trump, which would have awarded him the state. In Pennsylvania, there was a 5.5 point anomaly to Trump, a 4.8 percent swing to him in Wisconsin, and 2.7 point swing to him in Florida, taking him over the line in these three states as well. According to the exit polls conducted by Edison Research and reported byshow that in North Carolina, there was a 5.8 point discrepancy in favor of Donald Trump, which would have awarded him the state. In Pennsylvania, there was a 5.5 point anomaly to Trump, a 4.8 percent swing to him in Wisconsin, and 2.7 point swing to him in Florida, taking him over the line in these three states as well. If Hillary Clinton had won these states, she would be declared the winner of the 2016 presidential election. CNN In other countries, exit polls are considered a very accurate measure of voter intent and a clear indicator of election fraud, and have at times been used to prove fraud and force a new election, as reported the Ukraine had to do back in 2004. Unlike opinion polls, they are known to be accurate to within a very small margin of error. Mark Crispin Miller, Professor of Media, Culture, and Communication at NYU, and author of Fooled Again: The Real Case for Electoral Reform has noted that the American public generally demurs from placing importance on exit polls due to a long history of elections veering from the exit poll data. In fact, in America, a practice is made of correcting the exit poll data so it better matches the voter count, going under the assumption that voter count is correct. There were other anomalies around the electronic machines too. Miller is particularly concerned with the 90,000 voters in Michigan who appeared to choose to undervote that is, they did not vote for president, but they voted down ballot for all the other positions. In a state that was awarded to Trump by only 0.3 of a percent, these votes were crucial. Electoral Integrity Project Add to that the voter purges and other voter suppression techniques, its little wonder that the United States electoral system comes dead last in the western world. The reports that American elections are less fair and secure than countries like Mongolia, Tunisia, Rwanda, and Brazil. Miller asked in a press release, Did 90,000 non-white workers, and ex-workers, in that state all cast those undervotes to mount that protest or were their ballots changed without their knowing it? Pointing to the deafening silence from the Hillary campaign itself, but also its many famous surrogates and endorsers, Miller wondered where all the other lefty stars who worked so hard to get us all to vote for Hillary have gone in the face of ever-mounting evidence that Trump won this election just as Hillary won her partys nomination: through rampant vote suppression and computerized election fraud. With millions disenfranchised, coast to coast, through purges of the electronic voter rolls, and voter caging, and voter ID requirements, and partisan interference by election officials, and the deliberate placement of too few machines in certain precincts, and volleys of disinformation on the times and places to go voteand as the exit polls suggest widespread manipulation of the vote counts throughout the swing stateswhy are we not hearing anything at all about it? he said, going on to list the vast array of celebrities who were vocal during the campaign for Hillary, but are now conspicuously silent. Dr. Jill Stein, Green party candidate and vocal campaigner for fair elections is also voicing her concerns. She told Inquisitr These discrepancies have come to our attention and we have some people who are looking at them, so stay tuned. Dr. Jill Stein, Green party candidate and vocal campaigner for fair elections is also voicing her concerns. She toldThese discrepancies have come to our attention and we have some people who are looking at them, so stay tuned. Dr. Stein confirmed that she too felt it strange that the Hillary campaign has declined to speak up about these exit poll anomalies around the electronic voting states, but pointed out that that has been a pattern of the Democrats. Weve been here before. Al Gore, and John Kerry for that matter, would not pursue the discrepancies in those elections either. Also from my understanding, there was still hundreds of thousands of uncounted mail-in votes that were not counted in Wisconsin when it was declared. Theres a bunch of funny things. Dr. Stein wondered if Hillarys own spotty record in the exit polls was to blame. You cant help but wonder, for example, that because there were such huge discrepancies in the primaries, like up to twenty points or something like that, where Bernie was just way ahead and then lost, she said. There were some really big discrepancies and maybe Hillary feels like she cant raise questions because her own record is a little tarnished on this? I dont know, well see. Mark agrees. First of all, few ever question the official outcomes of elections, however strong the evidence of theft; and Hillarys not in a position to contest her loss to Trump, since she herself would not have been her partys nominee if not for serial election theft throughout the primary season, he said. Considering the outpouring of anger from Hillary supporters over the result and their many efforts to challenge the legitimacy of Donald Trumps win, it would appear a given that the Democrats would pursue these exit poll anomalies which, if proven correct, would almost certainly give Hillary the presidency. The silence about this avenue of pursuit from the Hillary camp is deafening. Have they ever pursued fraud like that? I dont think they ever have; they all back away from it, Dr. Stein told Inquisitr . Its only the Greens who take up these cases you know and just for the sake of election integrity, and weve been losing them anyhow, but I think its very important for the public to have our guard raised about this stuff. The Green Party are campaigning for ranked voting and hand-counted paper ballots among other measures to bring up the standard of American elections. Dr. Stein remains hopeful that there will be movement in this area soon. I know that people are poring over these numbers right now, and Im hoping there will be some light to shed on this soon. By Marelise Van Der Merwe MMM-Nigeria, a community of mutual financial aid and donations, on Saturday donated relief materials worth N5 million to two Internall... MMM-Nigeria, a community of mutual financial aid and donations, on Saturday donated relief materials worth N5 million to two Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the Federal Capital Territory.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the gesture was part of the communitys humanitarian week tagged MMM cares to mark its one year anniversary.The Gwoza and Bama IDP Camp located in Durumi area and the New Kuchingoro IDP camp were the two beneficiaries of the relief materials. Bags of rice, beans, garri, as well as cartoons of beverages and noodles, were some of the items donated by the group. The group also donated clothing, drugs, and educational materials for the pupils among them.Mr Seyi Bello, a Guilder in the MMM Community said the donation was motivated by the desire of the group to affect the society positively, especially the less-privileged. We are marking our first year anniversary and we have decided to come and celebrate it with our brothers, mothers and children in the camp. As a community, we do not only provide help to our members, we also extend that to the larger society as part of our social responsibility.In these times of economic challenges, the IDPs are the ones that need help and support more than any other person; that is why we visited them today, he said. Bello explained that besides providing help and donations to its members, humanitarian service was a flagship programme of the group. He said that the relief items were bought from free-will donations of members in their quest to touch lives positively.He said: The N5 million was raised from voluntary donations my members in the FCT. That is what defines us as a community of people providing financial help to each other on the principle of reciprocity and benevolence. In MMM there are no lenders and no debtors. One participant asks for help, another one helps.Bello appealed to individuals, groups and corporate bodies to always remember the IDPs across Nigeria, since government alone would not be able to provide for them adequately. They are our brothers and sisters who have left the comfort of their homes and are now struggling for survival here.No matter how little, let us always extend a hand of help to them to complement what government and other donors are doing, he urged. Mr Enoch Yohanna, General Secretary of the IDP camp at New Kuchingoro, who received the items, expressed gratitude for the gesture which he described as `timely.The Christmas season is very close; we thank MMM-Nigeria for bringing these items to us. We hope to share them satisfactorily among us for everybody to be happy and have a happy Christmas celebration, he said. NAN reports that the visit to the IDPs camps was preceded by a two-hour environmental sanitation by members of the group on Nyanya/Mararaba route, a suburb of the FCT. Members of the group came out in their numbers to clear garbage from drainages and streets in the area. Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state on Friday said the state government would not concede any part of its land for establishment of graz... Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state on Friday said the state government would not concede any part of its land for establishment of grazing reserve for herdsmen in the state.Ortom made this known during the handing-over and inauguration of Daudu Shelter Project for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Guma Local Government Area of the state.The 100 bungalows project was initiated by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in collaboration with the state government and Benue Non-Governmental Organisation Network (BENGONET).Ortom, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Benson Abounu, said that 80 per cent of the people of the state were farmers which made their situation a peculiar one.He disclosed that the law of the Northern Nigeria that demarcated 17 places for grazing route in 1950s did not gazette any portion of land in Benue.According to him, in the 1950s when we had those grazing routes, we had just between 45 and 59 million people in Nigeria.The 925,000 square metres of land which made up Nigeria has not increased but the population of Nigeria has increased from that about 50 million to about 200 million today.Even the 925,000 square metres of land decreased because Bakassi had been ceded from Nigeria; how then can you have land that you will say Benue people should give away for grazing?Like any other business, when you want to do business you go and ask for the land and buy it and when the government gives you the Certificate of Ownership, you then build on it.In the same manner, since cattle breeding is a personal business of somebody, nobody has a right to force Benue state to create a grazing land.Going by international best practices, any herdsman that want to come and rear cattle in Benue should come and ask for land to build a ranch, he said.The governor also expressed the governments readiness to continue to partner UNHCR and entire UN system in Nigeria towards actualizing the Songhai project initiative which had already been proposed by UNHCR.He added that having a source of livelihood and economic empowerment for the IDPs remained one of the surest steps to be taken not only by the government but also by the UN.According to him, currently, empirical information on the losses in food, human lives and property of IDPs and affected communities appears quite challenging to figure out.But beyond that, the state government wishes to see the UN system assist her in building institutional data gathering and management systems for their collective vision for a new Benue.Shelter remains at the core of the basic needs of man, and to lose one is really an affront on ones dignity and self-esteem.It will be impactful if the UNHCR and the UN community consider working further with Benue government towards a cost-effective model that will empower IDPs to return safely to their homes.Lets talk and collaborate on this in the days ahead to enable making necessary financial adjustments in view of the dwindling resource base of the state at the moment, Ortom said.He commended UNHCR for its commitment to alleviating the suffering of the IDPs in the state, and urged the agency to assist the state government to replicate the project in other parts of the state.He said that the government had activated discussions to factor the IDPs within the social investment scheme, especially the component on cash vouchering for indigent ones.The governor called on the Federal Government to consider including Benue on the list of presidential and humanitarian interventions in the North-East.This, according to him, is in view of the relationship of the crises in Benue and that of the North-East, which are all insurgency related. President Muhammadu Buhari again on Saturday said the Peoples Democratic Party succeeded in running Nigeria aground for the 16 years it ... President Muhammadu Buhari again on Saturday said the Peoples Democratic Party succeeded in running Nigeria aground for the 16 years it produced Presidents for the country. According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President spoke at a meeting he had with governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, APC elders in the state, and national officers of the party before departing for the Democracy Park in Akure for the grand finale of the Ondo APC governorship rally.Buhari said the nation was mismanaged from 1999 to 2015.Former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru YarAdua and Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP ruled the country during the period.The President however promised that his government would correct the wrongs that were done to the country by the three previous administrations.Buhari assured Nigerians that determined, steadfast and patriotic people in the APC-led government will transform the nations ailing economy, which was run aground by the party that governed Nigeria for 16 years from 1999 to 2015, the statement read.Buhari also advised all the aspirants who lost the partys ticket to Chief Rotimi Akeredolu to continue to try their luck in subsequent elections.He urged them to borrow a leaf from him who contested four times in his bid to become the nations President.While urging them to remain loyal to the party, Buhari told the aspirants that losing elections does not mean they should walk out on the party.He said the unity of the party was crucial for the outcome of next Saturdays election. Mike Pence was greeted by boos at a performance of the Hamilton musical in New York on Friday night, with the show interrupted throughout ... Mike Pence was greeted by boos at a performance of the Hamilton musical in New York on Friday night, with the show interrupted throughout by jeers for the vice-president-elect.At the end of the Broadway show, the cast addressed the Republican from the stage and delivered a message to the incoming administration of Donald Trump.We are the diverse America, who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights," said actor Brandon Victor Dixon, who plays Aaron Burr, the nation's third vice president.Mr Pence moved to leave before Dixon finished the unprecedented message. But a show spokesman said he stood in the hallway outside the entrance to the auditorium and heard the full remarks.The vice president-elect had endured jeers and boos - and just a smattering of cheers - from the moment he had entered the theatre.At one point the actors had to pause during a song while audience members jeered the Republican governor. One theatre-goer also reported there was extended applause during the play at the line: "Immigrants, we get the job done'".Mr Trump, whose victory in last Tuesday's election triggered protests across the US, sparked concern during the campaign with a series of controversial pledges as part of a crackdown on immigration.The reaction of the audience towards Mr Pence divided social media users."Pence getting booed at Hamilton bums me out. Whatever you think of him. Hes trying to engage. Could get ideas from far worse places," New York Times reporter Dave Itzkoff wrote on Twitter.Many others said he deserved the treatment because of his stance on issues such as gay rights. John Aravosis, an LGBT advocate, tweeted: "You know what's worse than getting booed? Every single thing Mike Pence stands for."Mr Pence has faced fierce criticism for his position on gay rights. As Indiana governor, he signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law in 2015.Advocates said it would expand religious liberty by allowing business owners to push back when government policy was in conflict with their beliefs. But opponents said the law was discriminatory against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals.Hamilton, which has won 11 Tony awards, has proved to be an unlikely Broadway smash about the life and times of Alexander Hamilton, the first United States Secretary of the Treasury and one of Americas founding fathers, as re-enacted by a non-Caucasian cast, using rap and hip-hop to tell his story. Hajia The police have arrested an eight-man gang of armed robbers said to be terrorising Abuja, Kogi and Kano states. Among them is Reki... Hajia The police have arrested an eight-man gang of armed robbers said to be terrorising Abuja, Kogi and Kano states. Among them is Rekia Musa, a divorcee and Accounting graduate of the Kogi State University, who told the police that she had only been an informant for the gang for four months.The police said the gang had links with a suspect, Zakeria Isiaka arrested recently by the Inspector-General of Police Response Team, along the Okene-Akure Expressway. It would be recalled that on November 5, it was reported that Isiaka claimed that he could have become the Chief Security Officer of Kogi State if the late All Progressives Congress candidate in the governorship election in Kogi State, Abubakar Audu, had not die.Others arrested along with Musa are Ismaila Abdulmumuni, Abu-Amidu Disu, Tenimu Musa, Boniface David, Aliu Isah and Danjuma Cyprian.A police source told reporters that the suspects confessed to have carried out several robbery operations, including an April 2015 operation in Abuja where about N200m was stolen from some politicians.In her statement, Musa, popularly called Hajia, explained that about four months ago, one of her friends, Isha Mohammed, approached her and said he knew some politicians who had stolen public money and hidden them in their houses.She said, He asked if I could help him to get a charm that would make it possible for him to disappear, called Etubi. He said if he could disappear into the politicians house and steal the money unnoticed, he would give me a large cut of the money.I then travelled to my village in Agba Local Government Area of Kogi State and met a boy called Tenimu. I told him about the plan and he promised that he could get the charm.But instead, Tenimu told his friends about the money. The friends were armed robbers. They then came and tricked me into taking them to the politicians house in Kano State.According to Musa, when the gang got to the house in Kano, they were discouraged by the heavy presence of policemen and went back home.However, she said she became upset because the plan did not fall through.I thought targetting politicians who have stolen government money was a good idea because I was broke. Few days later, Isah got another piece of information about an immigration officer based in Lagos, who had stolen government money.I contacted my gang and we went to the mans house and robbed him. But we didnt get as much money as Isah told us the man had at home.Police sources said the suspects came on the radar of security agents after robbing the immigration officer, a comptroller in the service.Musa, AKA Hajia, also allegedly went around town to scout for victims for the gang before her arrest.Twenty-five-year-old Mohammed, who brought the information about the immigration officer to the gang, explained that it was the only operation he ever went with the gang.The suspect, also a Kogi State indigene, explained the he was a fashion designer with a shop in Bwari area of Abuja.He said, It was the bad friends I met in Abuja that led me into armed robbery. There was this customer, Ismaila, whom I made clothes for. He was the first person who told me about the money the politicians usually brought to his office at Mabuchi area of Abuja.He said the politicians shared the money there and he said he could rob them. I then told him about one of my customers, Dan, who normally wore a charm around his waist. I told him he could take part in the robbery.I also told another friend, Ismaila (Abdulmumuni). When I informed Dan about the money and the plan to rob the politicians, he said we should hold a meeting along the Duste Expressway in Abuja. He also brought some of his friends and Dan asked that we should go to the place.After a while, Dan said we might need guns for the robbery and that the politicians might have some powerful charms.Mohammed said on the day the politicians came again to share money at the location, the gang was immediately alerted by Abdulmumuni. The gang stormed the place and robbed the politicians of over N200m.Mohammed said, After the operation, Dan called and gave me N4.5m, which he said I should share with Ismalia. But I later learnt that we actually got more than N200m from the robbery. Dan alone got N25m. LOS ANGELES - The Devils will look to rebound from a 3-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks when the continue their West Coast road swing against the Los Angeles Kings. Cory Schneider will start in goal, and Blake Pietila will make his season debut for the Devils. As the action takes place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, join NJ.com's live chat in the comments section below. You can also follow along with live score updates and stats above. Chris Ryan may be reached at cryan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisRyan_NJ. Find NJ.com Devils on Facebook. NEW BRUNSWICK -- In an effort to confront its historical ties to slavery and address concerns raised by students, Rutgers University has compiled research that sheds new light on its beginnings, including an untold story of a slave who helped build the school's iconic Old Queens administration building. Published in a book titled "Scarlet and Black," the detailed report released Friday coincides with the university's 250th anniversary this year and shows how intertwined slavery is with the early history of Rutgers, a common theme among America's colonial colleges. The book combines previously documented history with some new details to paint a vivid picture of the university's relationship with slavery, a history largely unacknowledged by Rutgers until this year, university officials said. "It's something that I think most people at Rutgers had no clue about," said New Brunswick campus chancellor Richard Edwards, who ordered the review last year after African American students raised concerns about the racial climate on campus. Though slavery was common and socially accepted when Rutgers was founded in 1766, the new book marks the first time Rutgers has chronicled its past in such depth, university officials said. It comes as colleges nationwide are grappling with concerns about their historical ties to slavery and racism. Among the highlights in the book: Rutgers' first president owned slaves. Its first tutor owned slaves. And its namesake Henry Rutgers owned slaves, including the "negro wench" he supported in his will. A slave named Will, leased for construction work by the New Brunswick doctor who owned him, helped lay the foundation for the Old Queens administration building in the early 1800s. Famed abolitionist Sojourner Truth was originally owned by the family of Rutgers' first president. Some early university trustees owned slaves and were among the most ardent anti-abolitionists in the mid-Atlantic region. Others were proponents of the colonization movement, which supported sending former slaves to Africa rather than allowing them to live alongside whites. Rutgers' early faculty and curriculum reinforced the racism that justified slavery and the separation of races. "Like most early American colleges, Rutgers depended on slaves to build its campuses and serve its students and faculty," the book states. "It depended on the sale of black people to fund its very existence," noting that donors who gave money or land to the university owned slaves. The book also examines the displacement of Native Americans who once occupied land later transferred to Rutgers. The committee of university professors and students that spent eight months combing through archived documents and compiling the report issued more than a dozen recommendations. Among them, the group calls for the university to place historical markers on campus recognizing the contributions of enslaved individuals and to consider naming new buildings after prominent African Americans or Native Americans. It proposes naming the space in front of Old Queens "Will's Way" and requiring all Rutgers students to take a course in diversity. "The committee has explored aspects of our history that are difficult and complex and I applaud them for it," Rutgers President Robert Barchi said. "Their findings provide a fuller understanding of the institution's early days." Rutgers will consider all of the suggestions, Edwards said. It will also continue its research and document the experiences of African Americans and Native Americans at the university through the 20th century. "We must acknowledge that our history also includes some facts that we have ignored for too long," Edwards said after commissioning the report last year. "To truly praise Rutgers, we must honestly know it." Unlocking the past Edwards initiated the review at Rutgers after African American students told him about the 2013 book "Ebony and Ivy" during a meeting in 2015, he said. Written by Massachusetts Institute of Technology history professor Craig Steven Wilder, the book examines how the birth of America's early colleges was associated with slavery. Several passages in the book mention trustees and leaders at Queen's College who owned slaves or supported the colonization movement. "As we approached the 250th anniversary, it struck me that this is something we really needed to take a look at," Edwards said. "I thought it was really important for us to start examining it, documenting what the situation here at Rutgers was." Edwards commissioned a group of faculty, graduate students and undergraduates who sifted through records in Rutgers Libraries Special Collections and University Archives and the Sage Library at the New Brunswick Theological Seminary. They also traveled to the state archives in Trenton and the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Students dove into the wills, speeches, journals and property records of Rutgers founders and early trustees. They read documents slave owners filed to grant freedom to the slaves and analyzed newspapers ads for the sale of slaves. Beatrice Adams, a graduate student who participated in the research, said she was proud of the university for doing the project. "This report speaks volumes, that this doesn't have to be something administrators and professors are doing begrudgingly," said Adams, a graduate student in African-American history. The report helped bring the university's relationship with slavery out of the abstract and into reality, Edwards said. "The history was all there," Edwards said. "But no one had really delved into it." Perhaps the most interesting finding was the slave known only by his first name, Will, who helped lay the foundation for Old Queens, according to the book. Little is known about Will's life, other than records of his labor. But accounting records kept by his owner and maintained in the university archives place him at the construction site of Old Queens in the fall of 1808, where he performed masonry work. "I want our African-American students to be proud of Will and to understand that their ancestry helped build the university,'' said Deborah Gray White, the history professor who chaired the research committee. "I want New Jerseyans and Americans to understand that African-Americans were integral to this nation even though we came here in chains." The book says that other slaves likely contributed to the construction of Old Queens but were not documented by name. There's no known record of what happened to Will after 1823, and it's likely he was sold to another owner or ran away, the report concluded. A shared story The fact that the early leaders of Rutgers -- founded as Queen's College in 1766 -- were slave owners has been previously documented and was not unusual for the times, historians unaffiliated with the university said. Slavery was widely accepted at the time in the 13 original colonies and prevalent in New Jersey since the arrival of Dutch colonists in the 1600s. Slaves in New Jersey commonly tended small farms, performed household chores or were rented for manual labor. New Jersey was the last of the northern states to pass the gradual abolition of slavery in 1804, and some African Americans remained enslaved in the state into the 1850s, historians said. "The institution (of slavery) was simply not frowned upon at that time," said Craig Hollander, a history professor at The College of New Jersey. "If you were a prominent citizen in New York or New Jersey and you had enough money to support the founding of an institution like Rutgers, my guess is that you also had enough disposable income to own other human beings." Many of America's other colonial colleges were also founded by men who owned slaves and supported by wealthy families who profited from slavery. Several of the nation's oldest colleges, including Harvard, Yale and Brown universities, have also investigated their ties to slavery. Though slavery was prominent in the north at the time Rutgers was founded, it's also commonly mischaracterized as benevolent or humane, said Jim Gigantino, a historian whose book "The Ragged Road to Abolition" examines slavery in New Jersey. "There's kind of a myth that slavery in the north was benign, that it was somehow better or easier to be a slave in the north, that they were treated better," Gigantino said. Northerners were often just as racist as the slave owners who lived in south, Gigantino said -- a sentiment reflected in the the comments of Rutgers' seventh president, Theodore Frelinghuysen. Frelinghuysen, president from 1850 to 1862, described African Americans as "a depressed and separate race" who were "licentious, ignorant and irritated," according to the new book. 'History is messy' Rutgers' exploration of its history comes as universities across the country have been pressured to reconcile how they honor the past within the social and political expectations of the 21st century. Some students at the University of Missouri last year petitioned for a statue of President Thomas Jefferson, who owned slaves, to be removed, saying it represented "the dehumanization of black individuals." The University of Louisville announced earlier this year it will remove a statue honoring Confederate soldiers. And Princeton University has promised "an expanded and more vigorous commitment to diversity" after criticism of its continued honoring of former university president Woodrow Wilson, who admired the Ku Klux Klan. Georgetown University took the biggest step toward reconciling its past, announcing earlier this year that it would offer a formal apology for the sale of 272 slaves in the 1830s and offer preferential admissions status to descendants of all slaves who contributed to the university. It also pledged to rename two buildings named after former college presidents involved in slave sales. Rutgers, too, has buildings named after founding fathers who owned slaves on its campus, including a residence hall named after Jacob Hardenbergh, the university's first president. Before moving to rename buildings, the university should consider the consequences, White said. "We would like to open a dialogue and begin a discussion of what is lost and what is won in the renaming of a building," White said. "Do we really want to erase this history be erasing the name?" Those types of decisions, historians said, can become complicated. "History is messy," Hollander said. "And it's going to be for every institution to decide whether or not they want to hold past generations to certain standards." Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook. SAGE Eldercare of Summit is proud to announce that it is participating in the annual Subaru Share the Love Event as a member of Meals on Wheels America - one of four national Share the Love charitable partners for the ninth year running. From November 17, 2016 to January 3, 2017, Subaru will donate $250 for every new Subaru vehicle sold or leased to the customer's choice of participating charity. "We are very grateful for the grant funding we've received from Subaru in the past and hope we can benefit again this year. These grants enable us to serve additional older adults in our communities who really need our help with the delivery of daily hot meals and safety checks," said Marianne Kranz, SAGE Director of Meals on Wheels. Participating Meals on Wheels America members, like SAGE, will receive a share of the revenue raised by Subaru in their state. SAGE is partnering with Subaru to raise awareness for the popular year-end sales and giving event, and drive support for Meals on Wheels. Individuals are encouraged to visit local Subaru dealers, including Subaru of Morristown and Open Road Subaru in Union. During the Share the Love Event, on November 30, SAGE will be holding a celebration of its 50th anniversary of Meals on Wheels at Canoe Brook Country Club. "It is a true testament to the value of Meals on Wheels and the strength of our nationwide network that Subaru of America and its customers choose to give back to this vital service year after year," said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO, Meals on Wheels America. "Since its inception, Share the Love has helped deliver more than 1.4 million meals to seniors served by Meals on Wheels. It is our hope that this year's event ensures that even more seniors receive the nourishment they need to continue living independently at home." This year, for the first time throughout the life of the program, there will be no cap on the total donation from Subaru of America to its Share the Love charitable partners. By the end of this year's event, Subaru hopes to exceed a grand total of $90 million donated since the creation of Share the Love. "We at Subaru are thrilled to support our national and hometown charity partners for the ninth consecutive year," said Alan Bethke, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Subaru of America Inc. "Through the Share the Love platform we are proud to continue our commitment to the causes our customers care about most and look forward to exceeding a grand total of $90 million donated through this initiative." By purchasing or leasing a new Subaru during the event and selecting Meals on Wheels America as your charity of choice, you can help deliver nutritious meals and other important services to older adults in New Jersey. This item was submitted by Jennifer Hinger. Here is a list of Thanksgiving dinners and events across Hudson County. Jersey City Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. John the Baptist churches (3026 Kennedy Blvd.) will be serving a turkey dinner on Nov. 24, in the school auditorium, from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. To have the dinner delivered, call Jimmy King at 551-580-4126. Volunteers are needed. Jersey City will host its eighth annual "A Community That Cares For Families" Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 24 from 8 a.m to 4 p.m at the Mary McLeod Bethune Life Center (140 Martin Luther King Drive). Volunteers and donations are needed, and beverages, water, soda and bags of ice should be dropped off that morning. The Liberty Humane Society will be having a 40,000-pound Challenge, an effort to gather food for cats and dogs. The challenge goes on the entire year. Hudson County Freeholder Bill O'Dea's South Hudson Civic Association, the Rotary Club of Jersey City, students of McNair-Academic High School National Honor Society and the Fountain of Salvation Church will provide 2000 Thanksgiving meals. On Thanksgiving morning, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., 1,500 meals will be packed and provided to the needy and homeless; and to the inmates of Hudson County jail. Because all meals will be delivered, volunteers are being sought to help with the delivery. The group is also seeking donations of 150 pumpkin pies. To volunteer, donate or receive a meal, contact Riaz Wahid at 201-669-7608 or email: riazonroad@yahoo.com St. Paul's Episcopal Church (38 Duncan Ave.) will hold the 7th annual McGinley Square Thanksgiving Community Dinner on Nov. 24 from 2 to 5 p.m. Monique's Techniques and the Mo'Hair Foundation will hold their 20th annual Thanksgiving Feast for the community on Nov. 24 from 11a.m to 3 p.m. This will be their 20th year of closing down the block and giving the people in the community a chance to eat, enjoy fellowship, and be entertained by a live band The Coptic Community (861 Bergen Ave.) is hosting a free Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 24 from 12 p.m to 3 p.m Mt. Pisgah AME Church Fellowship Hall (354 Forest St.) will have a Thanksgiving Dinner on Nov. 24 from 11 a.m to 2 p.m. For more information, contact 201-435-3680 AngelaCARES is hosting its 6th Annual Thanksgiving Feed the Seniors on Nov. 23 at the Golden Door Charter School (3044 Kennedy Blvd.) from noon to 8 p.m. Temple Beth-El is hosting an Interfaith Community Thanksgiving Service on Nov. 22 at 7 p.m for a combined choir, special music, leaders from different congrgations, and more. Bayonne The Friendship Baptist Church will be serving a Thanksgiving Day Dinner from noon to 4 p.m. Dinner is free and open to all. For transportation and delivery information, call 201-779-2745 or 201-437-3233. The Bayonne Chamber of Commerce is hosting "Give Thanks Food Drive," a networking event at the Da Vinci Room (165 Broadway) today from 6 p.m to 9 p.m. There will be hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar, and all the donations will go to soup kitchens and food pantries around Bayonne. The attire is business casual and entry is $20. Early registration is encouraged. For more information visit www.bayonnechamber.org. Hoboken Pilsner Haus & Biergarten will hold its annual Thanksgiving Drive on November 21st. Any food item, Thanksgiving turkey, or $50 will help to feed a family. If you would like your event listed, send an email to Elijah Soba at esoba@jjournal.com By Ezra Austin For The Times of Trenton PRINCETON -- At Princeton University Thursday evening, professors and a journalist tried to answer the questions "What happened?!" and "What's next?" following the presidential election. It was the actual name of the seminar - "What happened?! What's next?" - at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, where the panelists tried to make sense of Donald Trump's election. "The weaknesses of the Democratic Party contributed as much to the election as the strengths of Donald Trump," Nolan McCarty, a professor and chair of the politics department at Princeton, said. Citing poor mobilization, little focus on the Midwest, as well as conflict between more staunch progressives and the party establishment, "I and others missed a very important part of the story: our fixation with the Republican crack-up covered up the tremendous hollowing-out of the Democratic Party." Also on the panel was Deborah Amos, an international correspondent at NPR; Samuel L. Popkin, an author and politics professor emeritus at University of California San Diego; Ali Valenzuela, an assistant professor of politics at Princeton; and Brandice Canes-Wrone, a politics professor at Princeton and director at the Center for the Study of Democratic Politics. They spoke before a crowd of about 200 students and community members. Very few saw Clinton's loss coming, they said. Princeton's own Election Consortium at times predicted a probability as high as 99 percent that Clinton would win. While acknowledging the Democrats' weaknesses, Valenzuela sought to make one thing clear: "Latinos, Blacks, Asian Americans, and other minority voters will not be scapegoated, and should not be scapegoated in this election," he said. "They supported Clinton in record numbers, they showed up to vote in record numbers." Valenzuela said that in general, election exit polling has been widely inaccurate in regards to minority voting. "The exit polls are skewed to more wealthier, educated, and English-speaking respondents," he said. "That means that these exit polls are systematically biased." As such, Valenzuela believes that a party pivot away from issues important to minority voters could spell disaster for the Democrats. "Any talk at all about abandoning these voters would be electoral malpractice that would doom the Democrats in future elections," he said. Looking towards a Trump presidency, the panelists agreed: the world faces extreme uncertainty. "For all of you who are interested in foreign policy, I would say, 'Put on your seat belts,' " Amos said. "There's a lot that we don't know." Amos stressed that the there is little context for what a Trump presidency will look like. "The president is going to be defined by who he appoints," she said. "This is a candidate who really didn't articulate any detailed foreign policy vision." Furthermore, worries about Trump's temperament and rhetoric remain. "Our president elect is not normal, and his campaign promises--his campaign behavior--is not ok," said Valenzuela. "So as educators I think we have a responsibility to call hateful rhetoric what it is." "His 'locker room talk,' is sexual harassment, and a fireable offense at most workplaces," Valenzuela added. Regarding the "What's next" portion of the event, the message was clear for those concerned with the direction the country is taking: get politically active. "If the American people are troubled, they will be able to vote for a new congress," said Popkin. "Resistance starts now," added Valenzuela. "Don't wait until it gets so bad that you're in a situation where you don't recognize this country." For Valenzuela, this means political efforts in all levels of government, not just for the presidency. "It starts in our school boards, it starts in our city councils. This is where we will nurture and groom candidates who will eventually work their way up through the government," he said. "For those of you who are worried and need something to do, I think organizing, trying to overcome what we understand to be a collective action problem, is a really important first step." Follow NJ.com on Twitter @njdotcom. Find NJ.com on Facebook. NEW BRUNSWICK -- Two New Jersey residents were arrested Friday in connection with a nationwide phone ring that allegedly scammed 19 senior citizens out of $45,500 in more than a dozen states. Erica Puello, 25, of Old Bridge, and Amaury Fernandez, 24, of North Brunswick, were arrested and charged with theft by deception and conspiring to commit theft by deception following a probe by investigators, according to a statement from the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office. The two allegedly conducted the scam from New Jersey between September 2015 and July, cheating residents in the state as well as residents in Maryland, Florida, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Michigan, Minnesota, Texas, Illinois, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio and Washington, D.C., the statement said. Investigators uncovered that Puello and Fernandez had allegedly cheated the victims out of money ranging from $1,000 to $5,500 "by making bogus phone calls posing as relatives, friends or attorneys who needed money wired to them quickly," officials said. An employee at the bank of one of the victims had recognized the scam and warned the customer. However, the customer disregarded the warning and went to MoneyGram to complete a transaction, according to officials. "The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, through its Elder Abuse and Exploitation Team, will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute scammers who prey on the vulnerable," said county Prosecutor Andrew C. Prosecutor in the statement. "These arrests are a result of one of several new and wide-ranging investigations conducted by the team." Officials said that phone calls seeking money should be verified by authorities and that in the past, scams have been foiled when the potential target has contacted the real person whose name was being used by the scammer. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information can contact the investigator who led the probe, Det. Christopher Pennisi, of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, at 732-745-3300. Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook. WASHINGTON (AP) The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol has issued a subpoena to Donald Trump. The nine-member panel sent a letter to the former president's lawyers on Friday, demanding his testimony under oath by mid-November and outlining a series of corresponding documents. The decision by lawmakers to exercise their subpoena power comes a week after the committee made its final case against the former president, who they say is the "central cause" of the multi-part effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election. It remains unclear how Trump and his legal team will respond to the subpoena, if at all. 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. Editors note: Area ministers who would like to be part of this feature can contact Joan von Kampen at 308-535-4707 or joan.vonkampen@nptelegraph. com. Submissions ideally should be excerpted from that weekends sermon. Submissions may be edited for length or to conform to newspaper style. Giving Thanks John Silber, the former president of Boston University, told the story of how he, as a first-year student at Yale Divinity School, learned that the great Jewish philosopher Martin Buber was to speak at Yale. Silber was selected to take Dr. and Mrs. Buber back to the airport. On the trip back, with Mrs. Buber sitting in the back seat, John Silber asked, Dr. Buber, if I asked you to prove to me that God exists, could you do so? Buber responded by asking Silber, Are you asking this from a deep concern to know God, or only out of curiosity? Silber replied, I guess out of curiosity. Buber replied, How bourgeois, and turned away and never spoke again. We stress that Christians ought to be givers. In our worship service, we always have a time of offering. It is more blessed to give than to receive. And yet, in the light of Thanksgiving and approaching Christmas, perhaps we ought to recover a sense that Christians ought to also be good receivers. It is blessed to give; it is also blessed to be open enough to receive. None of us was born Christian. Someone had to share their faith with us and live it before us. And yet we also had to have the faith to be receptive to the notion that God might be other than the God we had preconceived intellectually. Anyone who attempts to be open to a living God must also be open to surprise and willing to be shocked by what a free, wild and living God might have to say to us. In Hebrews 10, we read; It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. In other words, we must be free to be receivers as much as givers. This is one of the great challenges of practicing a revealed religion. We talk about reality, the truth all the way down, which God has shown us to be true. Of course, there are many instances in the world that cause one to doubt the truth of what we proclaim, yet we believe that God has actually revealed to us the truth; a truth that we could not have accessed on our own, but the truth, nonetheless. We may not fully understand that which is revealed to us. We may spend the rest of our lives trying to make sense of what we have been shown of God, by God; yet we have confidence through our faith that what we are being shown is true. Barbara Brown Taylor, in her book An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith, said, No one longs for what he or she already has, and yet the accumulated insight of those wise about the spiritual life suggests that the reason so many of us cannot see the red X that marks the spot is because we are standing on it. ... All we lack is the willingness to imagine that we already have everything we need. The only thing missing is our consent to be where we are. This Thanksgiving, may we truly be grateful for all that we receive through Christ. The Rev. Jan Ekstedt First Christian Church North Platte Bobbie Ann Cooper hadn't seen her granddaughter, Gracie Toelle, in eight months. On Friday, she finally received an answer to a question that so many people had been asking: Where is Gracie? Gracie was alive. She had been dropped off at a shelter in San Francisco. And she was safe. On March 16, Gracie headed out the door of Cooper's home in North Platte to take out the garbage. Her Yorkie, Little Ricky, was by her side. They never come back. The family immediately launched a search for the then-14-year-old and filed a missing person's report. The North Platte Police Department reviewed tips and leads. Leticia Montoya-Bonifas with Central Nebraska Human Trafficking began looking into the case. Soon the Center for Search and Investigations was involved. Gracie's parents, Cassie and Mickey Gill, began fundraising efforts to hire a private investigator. Months went by, Gracie's 15th birthday passed and her missing persons poster was recirculated several times, racking up more than 24,000 shares on social media through pages such as Locate the Missing. But there was still no sign of her. On Friday, Cooper's phone rang. An investigator for the North Platte Police Department was on the other end. "Investigator Jim Ady called me to tell me he had a tip she was at a shelter in San Francisco," Cooper said. Cooper said Ady told her that Gracie had been dropped off at the shelter on Friday and the shelter contacted police. Cooper said Child Protective Services is working with law enforcement and the family to get her home. She said the family is grateful for the efforts by people across the country trying to locate Gracie. Family members have no idea what Gracie's been through or how she got to San Francisco. But those details don't matter right now because, for the first time in eight months, they know their little girl is alive and coming home. Cooper had an opportunity to talk to Gracie, who told her that Little Ricky, the Yorkie, had died. Gracie told Cooper something else: "She said she loves us and wants to come home." Did you catch "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" this summer in Merrillville? For those who packed the beautiful Reinhart Auditorium to see the one of the performances, I have good news: A majority of that cast and people who produced the show are back this holiday season for another beloved production, "Scrooge the Musical." One of the highlights of "Joseph" was the performance of Jared Riddle as Pharaoh, who is played in the style of Elvis. His scenes blew away the audience (and cast). Jared, who has turned in memorable performances on the Reinhart stage in shows like "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Beauty and the Beast" and "Oliver!" is making his "Scrooge" debut as The Ghost of Christmas Present. Jared also performed snippets of his role as Pharaoh and was interviewed afterward when "Joseph" was featured on the popular "Around Town" segment on WGN Morning News. "Jared is worth the price of admission," said show director Mike Reinhart, who is also playing the role of Ebenezer Scrooge. "The audience is sure to fall in love with his bigger-than-life performance." Mike Reinhart's wife, Melinda, the narrator in "Joseph," is returning to Scrooge as Mrs. Cratchit, as is their son, Lucas, who plays young Scrooge. You may recognize some of the Wives and Brothers (including yours truly) from "Joseph" who are also back for "Scrooge." One of the Brothers, Adam Clough, program director at the Lake Station Boys & Girls Club, will take over the role of Pharaoh for the school performances Dec. 2. This marks the 19th year since its debut in 1982 that "Scrooge" will be performed at Reinhart Auditorium. It also marks the 11th straight year for the M&M Productions and Ross Music Theatre holiday production. This will be my 12th year doing the show, all except one of them as Scrooge's nephew. "Scrooge the Musical" was Jerauld Reinhart's (Mike's dad) favorite Christmas musical. When it became available in 1982, he became the first in the Region to do it. Since then the production has grown into a giant undertaking that includes moving lights, scenic projections, giant sets, cordless mics on all the actors, and special effects. While the show has had over 100 performances, there are some cast members that have been in every single performance. Mike and Melinda Reinhart have done their roles for well over 10 years. Some people have had a variety of parts since 1999 including Garry St. Martin, who has played Tom Jenkins, Jacob Marley, Mr. Fezziweg and Bob Cratchit. "But there is something new every year," Mike Reinhart said. "Scrooge the Musical" runs Nov. 26, Dec. 2 and 3 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 4 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and students, and $8 for those younger than 12. Group rates are available. Reinhart Auditorium is located at Merrillville High School, 276 E. 68th Place. Tickets are available at the door or at m-mproductions.com. You can also call or email me. My info is at the top of this blog post. Merry Christmas! CHICAGO Indiana Secretary of Commerce Victor Smith highlighted Indianas Regional Cities and Double Track NWI programs at a tri-state summit on regional collaboration at the Chicago Federal Reserve on Thursday. Indiana will be stronger with a stronger Chicago because it is a juggernaut of economic activity, Smith told about 150 people gathered on the Federal Reserve buildings third floor. Smith was introduced by Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Dave Ryan as a close confidante of vice president elect Mike Pence. Ryan was emcee for the the fourth annual summit on regional competitiveness which this year was titled A Look Over the Horizon: Creating an Action Agenda for the Mega Region. The summit is presented each year by the Alliance for Regional Competitiveness, which seeks to find and implement areas of collaboration between Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin in the greater Chicagoland metropolitan area. Smith first explained Indianas Regional Cities initiative, which had Indiana communities joining together into regional development authorities to compete for a piece of $126 million in state funding to improve the quality of life in their region. Northwest Indiana did not come up a winner when three winners were announced last year. The Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority had submitted a project to speed up train trips on the South Shore Line. However, Smith on Thursday told those gathered at the elegant Federal Reserve building he has every expectation the South Shore project, which would involve laying a second set of tracks from Gary to Michigan City, will garner state support. Double tracking that section of the rail line would greatly speed up commutes to and from Chicago, making even places as distant as Michigan City potential bedroom communities. That is something we are doing right away, Smith said of the project. Neither Smith nor Republican General Assembly leaders have given specifics on how the state might aid in funding the project, which now has an updated price tag of $265 million to $275 million. But they have expressed consistent optimism about the project eventually getting state support ever since the first round of Regional Cities funding was announced last year. In September, the Regional Cities initiative pitched in $150,000 to help get planning underway for Double Track NWI. That certainly is on the states infrastructure road map, Smith said in comments immediately after his afternoon keynote speech. Thats on our immediate road map of things to get done. The summit also included discussions on the effects of e-commerce, watersheds as a region unifier, infrastructure conditions, workforce and federal grant opportunities. CHESTERTON If the new federal and state administrations want to pursue improvements to the nations infrastructure, the South Shore commuter rail line has $1 billion worth of projects in the pipeline. Michael Noland, general manager of the Northern Indiana Regional Transportation District, delivered that message Friday and briefed the districts board of directors on the status of those projects. Topping the list are the Westlake Corridor expansion to Munster and the double-tracking project dubbed Double Track NWI. Noland said he expects to be able to submit a draft of the Westlake environmental impact study to the Federal Transit Administration soon and hopes it can be published by mid-December. That will open up the 45-day public comment period on the study and enable NICTD to hold public hearings on it in January. The final draft of the study could be ready for submission to the FTA by late summer to receive consideration for funding for the preliminary engineering phase in 2018. The estimated cost of the project is $571 million. Ive been asked what impact the election could have on the South Shore, and the administration has talked about the need to improve the infrastructure, he said. The vice president is from Indiana, and that could help us. NICTD also expects to submit the double tracking engineering project to the FTA by late summer for funding consideration. Noland said the goal is to begin construction in 2018 and be done by 2020. The estimated cost of the project, updated at Friday's meeting, is between $265 million to $275 million. Both the governor candidates supported the double tracking project, and we expect to have the administrations backing when we go to the state Legislature for funding support, Noland said. The NICTD board on Friday approved the agreement with Michigan City that will provide the easement needed for the double tracking through the city. The project will get the tracks out of the street and provide other safety improvements. The Michigan City Council approved the agreement Nov. 1. A study also is underway of the 15-mile section of the Metra rail track the South Shore uses in Illinois. Noland said Metra is looking at capital improvements, and NICTD is looking at improvements that would help the South Shore trains. The board also agreed to adopt the quiet car program as a regular part of its operation. A pilot program designating the last car on rush hour trains as quiet cars has proved very popular, Noland said. Metra does it on the last two cars of its trains. CROWN POINT What if John Dillinger survived the shooting at the Biograph Theater in Chicago? Or was captured without being shot? The Region will soon find out. In a partnership with the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority, Crown Point Community Theatre plans to produce a play inside the old Lake County Courthouse on the square in Crown Point that will determine if justice would have been served in a Dillinger trial. The board of Crown Point Community Theatre is very excited about working on this project with the CVA, said Matt Valuckis, president of the theater. Valuckis said they are in the infancy of the project and are currently looking for a writer (or a collaboration of writers) to craft the story. They will also determine if the play has one written ending or if the audience will be the jury. If he is found innocent, how is justice served? We need to make sure crime doesnt pay, Valuckis said. Valuckis said its going to be a fun but intricate process. There is so much research to be done and history to recreate, he said. We need to honor the legal process but also tell a compelling story. Were hoping to reach out to the Lake County prosecutors office and ask for its guidance. How would a trial be presented in the 1930s? We want to be true to history. With the play being held at the historic Crown Point Courthouse, where the trial would have been held in the 1930s, the link to history is even stronger. The play will be just a block away from the old criminal courts building where Dillinger was arraigned for the murder of East Chicago Police Officer William Patrick OMalley and the Old Sheriffs House and Jail from which he escaped on March 3, 1934. Dillinger was gunned down by lawmen in the alley of the Biograph on July 21. The play will also take part in the same courthouse building where the John Dillinger Museum moved to last year from its previous location at the Indiana Welcome Center. The number of visitors to the museum have increased since the move. Speros A. Batistatos, president and CEO of South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority, said events like a Dillinger play was the kind of synergy they knew they couldnt achieve at the old location. Its bringing that bit of history to life, he said. Putting it a block from where it happened perhaps we can work with the Old Sheriffs House and the old criminal courts building and open those up that day for a walking tour. Thats what this project can do in a community like Crown Point. CROWN POINT The hallways at the Lake County Juvenile Center were crowded Friday morning with children dressed in their Sunday best, their hair combed and braided as they bounced along from courtroom to courtroom, guided by their gleeful foster parents. In Courtroom 7, Juvenile Court Judge Thomas P. Stefaniak Jr. sat behind the bench. Scott Ibarra, 7, sat at a table before the judge in a well-fitted suit and smiled as his mother, Sara Ibarra, explained why Lake County Sheriff's Department Officer Rex Ibarra should be named the boy's adoptive father. What's good about him, Stefaniak asked. Everything, she said about her husband. He is good. He is patient. Rex Ibarra told the judge his relationship with Scott was awesome, and the family's attorney said the boy wanted to proceed with the adoption. The boy's biological father had an extensive criminal history, and he had not contacted his son in several years. It's all the judge needed to hear. Stefaniak choked back tears as he formally pronounced Rex Ibarra the boy's new father. Coming from Criminal Court, I'm not used to happy days in court, the judge said. Court, state seek good homes Scott was one of about 50 children adopted Friday morning during a local celebration of National Adoption Month, the second year the juvenile center has hosted the mass adoption event. The event was organized by the Indiana Department of Child Services, the county's court employees and CASA, a nonprofit program that provides the court children's advocates. It was a joyful day. Many of the children at the courtroom Friday escaped abusive or neglectful homes, according to Stefaniak, and they had waited three or four years on average before they were adopted. Stefaniak said the state tries its best to mend broken homes and reunite children with their birth parents, but that effort fails in about one-third of cases. At that point, the court needs adoptive parents for the children. On Friday, those new parents included children's relatives, a school principal and an attorney, according to Stefaniak. The children will be allowed to grow up in good environments, where they will become productive, well-rounded adults, the judge said. Though Stefaniak said abuse and neglect cases were up this year in Lake County, the number of adoptions statewide also has risen steadily in the past few years, according to statistics provided by the Department of Child Services. In fiscal year 2013, the state placed 1,244 children in new homes, according to the department. The number of adoptions year to date in 2016 was 1,509, a 21 percent increase. Joblessness, drugs create broken homes However, the number of children in foster care continues to dwarf the number of adoptive parents. There are 16,213 foster children statewide, which includes 1,516 children in Lake County, 198 in LaPorte County and 154 in Porter County. It's rising, and it's rising statewide, Stefaniak said. The judge attributed the increase to bad economic conditions and the rise of opiate and heroin abuse. Sharon Jacko was at the courthouse Friday to adopt her daughter's four children, who ranged in age from 3 to 10 years old. Jacko, 55, said her daughter suffered from mental health issues, and could no longer care for her children. I just didn't want them in the system, Jacko said. But I didn't expect this at my age. Another grandmother, Pamela Christensen, said she adopted her daughter's four sons Friday, some of whom had behavioral issues. Mostly, they need someone to love them, Christensen said, adding later, And less than perfect can be a good thing. It can be manageable and still be good. The Patrick brothers Two brothers at the courthouse Jerry Patrick, 39, and Phillip Patrick, 36 were living proof of that. Both men were adopted from foster care almost 30 years ago by Pamela West and her husband, Dean Patrick. West said she first met the boys at a pizza parlor, and she fell in love with them. I just wanted them so badly, she said, crying. I wanted to give these children a home. Jerry Patrick said he and his brother were not easy to raise, and he was grateful for his parents' love. Jerry Patrick is now a corporal with the Dyer Police Department, and Phillip Patrick works at NIPSCO. We wouldn't be who we are without them, Phillip Patrick said. HAMMOND A U.S. attorney indicted Lake County Sheriff John Buncich Friday on public corruption charges. Buncich and Tim Downs, Buncichs chief of police and second in command, are charged with wire fraud. Buncich also is charged with receiving bribes. They face prison terms of up to 20 years if convicted. U.S. marshals arrested and escorted Buncich and Downs into a federal courtroom about 10:30 a.m. Buncich initially appeared nervous, but later regained his composure and winked at two supporters in the audience. The rest of the courtroom was filled with federal agents and media. Buncich, 70, Downs, 65, and William Willie Szarmach pleaded not guilty to a five-count indictment alleging they deprived the public of honest government services. A judge magistrate ordered them to surrender their passports and personal firearms. They are free on bond. Buncich is accused of receiving more than $30,000 in bribes from towing firms wanting work from county police. Szarmach owns and operates CSA Towing in Lake Station. Authorities arrested Szarmach Friday in Hobart. The government asked for him to be detained pending trial, which is now set for Jan. 17, but could be delayed. Szarmach will appear in a detention hearing Tuesday. The indictment alleges that between February 2014 and last month Buncich set in motion a scheme to enrich himself and Buncich Boosters, his political campaign committee. The government alleges the sheriff has sole authority in Lake County to designate towing companies his officers can use to remove cars from the public streets. County records indicate that between 10 and 12 firms removed thousands of vehicles in the past two years. The government claims Buncich accepted bribes allegedly from towing firms for cash and campaign contributions, although he didnt record all those contributions in his campaign finance reports, as state law requires. The government said Downs collected some of the bribes for Buncich. Sometimes Buncich is alleged to have personally grabbed the cash and put it in his pocket. Firms that paid bribes got on the sheriffs approved towing list and received a larger district in which they could collect large fees from people seeking to recover their towed vehicles. The indictment lists seven bribes over the last two years, the last being $7,500 paid Sept. 2. The government alleges bribes were paid by Szarmach and an unidentified firm, referred to in the indictment as Individual A that U.S. Attorney David Capp said was the whistleblower who started the multi-year investigation rolling. Capp warned that he expects that investigation to continue and more are likely to be charged. We are coming after you. Time is running short. Buncich is the countys highest elected law enforcement official as well as the chairman of the Lake County Democratic Party. He gave no indication he is stepping down as the countys top cop or as party boss. Lake County Councilman Jamal Washington, who has been a sharp critic of Buncich, said Friday night he isnt calling for Buncichs removal at this time. I believe the party will come together and be stronger. PORTAGE Mayor James Snyder has been indicted in federal court in Hammond on bribery and obstruction charges. U.S. District Attorney David Capp announced the indictments in a press conference Friday morning. While the charges were being read from the federal courthouse in Hammond, Snyder met with city department heads and employees at his home. U.S. marshals escorted Snyder, 38, into court about 3:30 p.m. Friday. He flashed smiles at his lawyers, Thomas Kirsch and Thomas Dogan. He pleaded not guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul Cherry to felony bribery, extortion and tax dodging counts, which carry long prison terms if he is convicted. He was freed on a $20,000 recognizance bond, but has to surrender his passport and firearms he owns. When the judge asked Snyder if he has a passport, Snyder smiled and said, Weve been looking for it since 7 a.m. Snyders administrative assistant, Amanda Lakie, said he would not be making a statement and directed The Times to Snyders attorney. Lakie said Snyder met with employees to encourage them to continue their work for the city. Mayor James Snyder has been under investigation for nearly two and half years and today was indicted on three counts, said Snyders attorney, Tom Kirsch, of Chicago. Mayor Snyder believed that this extremely lengthy federal investigation had been concluded without charges being sought. Todays indictment comes as a complete surprise. This is particularly so because these charges are meritless. Mayor Snyder has always been cooperative with federal agents throughout the relentless investigation. Mayor Snyder looks forward to fighting these charges in a court of law and to complete vindication. Mayor Snyder and his family are grateful for the outpouring of support they have received from residents, friends, and family and asks that they continue to believe in him through this time. Federal authorities arrested and arraigned John Cortina, owner of Kustom Auto Body, 5409 U.S. 6, Portage, earlier Friday. He is pleading not guilty to his role in the scheme and is also free on bond. Cherry set their trial to begin the week of Jan. 23, although the date could change if the defense needs more time to prepare. The charges The first charge names Snyder and Cortina. Snyder and Cortina are both charged with a violation of the federal bribery statute. Snyder is alleged to have corruptly solicited and received two checks totaling $12,000 from Cortina, in exchange for a towing contract in the city of Portage, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice. Cortina is charged with corruptly offering those checks to Snyder. Cortinas business was raided last week by Indiana State Police and U.S. Treasury Department agents. Cortina told The Times then that his business was not the subject of the raid, that a towing company which leases property from Cortina was being investigated. Snyder is also charged with a second violation of the federal bribery statute. That count alleges that between Jan. 1, 2012 and Jan. 10, 2014, Snyder corruptly solicited and agreed to accept a bank check in the amount of $13,000 in connection with Portage Board of Works contracts, a Portage Redevelopment Commission project and other consideration, stated the release. The final charge against Snyder alleges obstruction of the internal revenue laws. This count sets forth an alleged scheme, undertaken by Snyder between January 2010 and April 2013, to obstruct and impede the Internal Revenue Services collection of personal taxes he owed and payroll taxes owed by his mortgage business, First Financial Trust Mortgage LLC. Snyder is alleged to have diverted funds away from FFTM to a sole proprietorship he created, and submitted three forms to the IRS which failed to disclose, among other things, the existence of the sole proprietorship and its bank account all during a time when the IRS was attempting to collect the aforementioned tax debt. Lengthy investigation The indictment comes after more than two years of investigation by the FBI into the city and Snyder and less than two months after Snyder attempted to get the citys Utility Service Board to pay some $93,000 in legal fees involving the investigation. In September, Snyder had two checks cut by the department and sent to two legal firms without approval by the board. The legal firms allegedly returned the checks because they were not from Snyder directly. The funds were returned to the department and Mark Oprisko, City Council president and utility board vice chairman, called for an investigation by an independent attorney into the claims. While state law allows Snyder to request the reimbursement it can only be done if he was cleared of the investigation and there were no impending indictments. Reactions Oprisko said he had the wind knocked out of me when he heard about the indictments and was disheartened, thinking that the investigation was over a couple of months ago. It is a black eye to the city. The investigation is what it is. He is innocent until proven guilty. He still has a job to do. He has to pick it up and move forward, Oprisko said, adding the same is true for city employees and other elected officials. Our job is to serve the citizens of Portage, and we will continue to do that. While this is a sad day for the city of Portage, Jim Snyder deserves his day in court, said Portage Clerk-Treasurer Chris Stidham. However, I am focused on ensuring myself and the City Council continue to lead Portage forward despite the mayors troubles. Now, more than ever, Portage needs good leaders. We are more than any one person and the issues of one wont derail our progress. Todays indictment issued by the United States Attorney in connection to Portage Mayor James Snyder is deeply concerning, said Portage Councilman Collin Czilli in a written statement, promising residents that city business will continue unimpeded. However, like any other individual, Mayor Snyder deserves his day in court and the right to defend himself. As a city Councilman, I am of the mindset that we must allow the judicial process to continue and to not interfere in that process for political purposes. These investigations are not over. Our public corruption team will continue its work, particularly into the towing contracts in both Lake and Porter counties, Capp said in the press release. Anyone with information related to these public corruption charges is encouraged to call the FBI at (219) 769-3719. Times reporter Bill Dolan contributed to this story. VALPARAISO The classics are alive and thriving at Valparaiso High School. In fact, you could say they have a lot of a-peel. Members of the VHS Latin Club spoke Thursday to resident at the Pines Village Retirement Communities about three Greek myths with a common theme of a golden apple. The wedding of Peleus and Thetis, Atalanta and Hippomenes, and Golden Apples of the Hesperides all involve love, lust, discord and deception. The students shared the stories with the residents and spoke about artwork that depicted scenes from them. It was all a part of preparing the students for upcoming competitions at the Indiana Junior Classical League, which encourages an interest in and an appreciation of the language, literature, and culture of ancient Greece and Rome. Emily McGuire, a senior and Latin Club president, said even though no culture today actively speaks Latin, learning the classic language has helped her learn other languages and helped improve her ACT scores. Erin Rockhill, a Valparaiso High sophomore, said shes fascinated by the history that is taught as part of Latin classes and said it has helped her better understand English grammar. Ben Kerezman is one of two Latin teachers at VHS and is the Latin Club sponsor. Kerezman said 210 students study Latin, which is second only to Spanish, which remains the most popular. He said many people dont realize the language is taught there, but the Latin class lays the groundwork for many other classes. He said 70 percent of English words are based on Latin, and it is helpful especially for students planning to go into law or medicine. He said the classics also also stress the connection between the language, art, history, mythology and philosophy, and serve as a good way to teach the humanities in general. VALPARAISO The Valparaiso Community Schools redistricting plan presented to the public Saturday isnt what was proposed in February, when the process began. Middle school boundaries would remain intact under the plan presented to about 50 community members at Saturday mornings public hearing at Ben Franklin Middle School. School Superintendent E. Ric Frataccia said that proposal takes into account feedback from parents and other community members. Valparaiso School Board members heard that recommendation for the first time Saturday, board President Karl Cender said. One of the goals of the district-wide redistricting plan is to allow room for growth at all of the districts schools. That allows more options for programming in the available space. An unusually large number of eighth graders moved out of Ben Franklin and a normal size sixth grade class replaced them, bringing the number of students at Ben Franklin under capacity, Frataccia said. Two earlier plans called for splitting the school district between north and south or east and west to determine middle school boundaries. That could change in the future, however, as anticipated new development on Valparaisos northwest and southwest sides bring new children to Valparaiso Community Schools, Frataccia said. We anticipate that theres going to be growth all over town, Frataccia said, but because growth seldom happens proportionately, the middle school boundaries might have to shift in the future. The redistricting plan came about when the school district announced plans to build a new elementary school south of U.S. 30. That new school, which has yet to be named, will serve all elementary students who live south of the busy highway. The school construction plans approved by voters in a May 2015 referendum included work at every school in the district as well as the new elementary school. Central Elementary is getting the most extensive facelift. To allow that to happen, Centrals students will move to Hayes-Leonard Elementary next school year while the construction is underway. By fall 2018, the construction is expected to be completed and the dust settled from two years of redistricting as well. Several parents spoke at the hearing, including Lisa Mitchell, whose children would be affected by the redistricting. My kids have already had to make new friends, so it isnt that big a deal, she said. The plan remains subject to change before the boards anticipated December vote. Your opinions mattered then, and your opinions matter now, board Secretary Jennifer Bognar said. We will keep the suggestion box open. Board member Paul Knauff offered his perspective. All of the districts schools are good, he said, so all children will be well served no matter where they attend. Im guessing in five years, no one will even remember we had this meeting, he said. Write-in presidential candidates such as Jill Stein and Darrell Castle did not garner enough votes on election night to pose a threat to the two dominant parties. But voters in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties alone cast more valid write-in ballots for president earlier this month than were cast statewide four years ago. Andrew Downs, director of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics at Indiana University Purdue University in Fort Wayne, said this strong third-party showing reflects the high negative ratings of both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. This was an election looking for change, he said. People wanted something else. Voters in Porter County cast 1,492 write-in votes for president, of which only 423 were counted because the others were not for certified candidates, said Sundae Schoon, the Republican director at the Porter County Voter Registration Office. Jimmy Kimmel (talk show host) was on there a few times, Schoon said of the uncounted majority of write-in votes. There were 15 certified write-in presidential candidates in the state for this years general election, including representatives of the Green, Socialist and Constitution parties. Write-in candidates need only file the necessary paperwork to be deemed as valid contenders. Many of the 603 write-in votes for president in LaPorte County as compared to 137 cast fours years ago were also for ineligible and sometimes even fictitious candidates, according to Circuit Court Clerk Lynne Spevak. Bernie Sanders, who lost his presidential primary bid to fellow Democrat Clinton, appeared to receive the most write-in votes at 168, followed closely by the valid Green Party candidate Jill Stein. Smaller number of votes were cast for other ineligible candidates, including five for Jesus Christ, three for musician Jimmy Buffett, two for Mickey Mouse and one each for Kermit the Frog, Yoda, rock musician Alice Cooper and Sweet Meteor of Death. We were writing anybody down because we knew it can be hilarious, said Spevak, who along with other area election officials, was required to go through the tedious process of hand-counting the write-in votes in the wake of the larger election tally. Voters in Lake County cast 893 valid write-in ballots for presidential candidates this year, said county Elections Director Michelle Fajman. Clinton and President-elect Trump both received write-in votes, despite being on the ballot, she said. Many of the Trump votes were written in the name of his running mate Mike Pence, which may have been intended as support for him over the man at the top of ticket, she said. By comparison, there were just 993 valid write-in votes cast for presidential candidates four years ago across the entire state, according to Matthew Kochevar, co-legal counsel with the election division of the Indiana secretary of states office. This years final numbers are not expected to be ready for release until after Thanksgiving, he said. Downs said he does not see this years strong third-party turnout as the start of an upward trend. There are several reasons for this, he said, including the presence of significant legal obstacles in the way for third-party candidates. Third parties may be able to build from the local level, he said, but, Thats a long game. Voters also want to back a winner, which leads to voting for the lesser of two evils, Downs said. The two major political parties have also become good at incorporating popular issues rallied by third-party candidates, he said. Libertarians were the only third party to make it on to the ballot for the presidential race in Indiana. To achieve automatic placement on the ballot for the November general election, a party must run a candidate for Indiana secretary of state every four years and win at least 2 percent of all votes cast in the race, according to Angela Nussmeyer, the Democrat co-director at the state Election Division. A candidate can also gain access to the ballot by collecting signatures amounting to at least 2 percent of the total votes cast in the last secretary of state race, which would have meant at least 26,699 names for a statewide candidate this year, she has said. Joe Hauptmann, who is the Indiana director for the Libertarian Party, has said the process is even more difficult and costly than it sounds, in part, because the signatures need to be certified by the clerks in each county where the registered voter lives. It is also necessary to pay people to collect this number of signatures. He said it costs between $150,000 and $250,000 to get a statewide candidate on the ballot through the petition process. EAST CHICAGO Mayor Anthony Copeland has largely been absent from the publics eye since news first broke this summer that sections of the city were polluted with dangerously high levels of lead and arsenic. That hasnt gone unnoticed by the more than 1,000 displaced families at the West Calumet Housing Complex or hundreds of homeowners who live on contaminated soil. On Friday, enough was enough for the citizens who marched into the citys administration building with a list of demands to hand Copeland. Instead, they were met with a front desk shielded by glass and a secretary telling them the mayor wasnt there. Hes clearly here, Sheilah Garland, a political organizer with National Nurses United who helped organize Fridays demonstration, said later. About three dozen East Chicago residents and activists filled into the buildings front lobby, chanting things like: Which side are you on, Mayor Copeland? Which side are you on? and Bring out the mayor! Copeland never appeared, but residents say they are not going away. What more data do you need? The USS Lead Superfund site was first designated by the EPA in 2009, but soil testing in the area began decades ago. Two lead smelter operations also once operated on the site of the public housing complex and the school. Those corporations have made their profits and theyre gone. And we have a city administration that is hiding behind closed doors, wont meet with his residents, and making decisions that impact our lives, Garland said outside city hall at an earlier press conference. Among the demands are for Copeland to appeal to FEMA to declare the Superfund site an emergency disaster area as officials did for lead-tainted Flint, Michigan. The demand was made a few weeks ago, Garland said. And he refused to do so. He said he needed more data. What more data do you need? Garland said. They also want the $8 million the city recently requested from the federal government for demolition of West Calumet to be diverted to guarantee the needs of families are met. They have demanded relocation assistance for homeowners in the Superfund site faced with depreciated home values, and an assessment of all households to determine support services for all people with disabilities and vulnerable residents, including seniors. Copeland previously has said he wasnt aware of the full magnitude of the problem until the EPA handed over soil data this May. Come out and say something City Attorney Carla Morgan said Friday she couldnt speak to why the mayor wouldnt meet with residents or why he hasnt been in the community. They may not see us on the ground, but (the health department) is doing testing because we pushed for it, Morgan said, adding the mayor has met with residents at his office in recent weeks. Akeesha Daniels, a mother of three, said Copeland could do more to help the constituents for whom he was elected to serve. NOBLESVILLE, Ind. A judge is allowing conservative groups to go ahead with a lawsuit challenging four Indiana cities over their anti-discrimination ordinances that include protections based on sexual orientation or gender identity. On Wednesday, Hamilton Superior Judge Steven R. Nation rejected claims from Indianapolis, Carmel, Bloomington and Columbus that the suit should be dismissed because the groups arent affected by their ordinances. Nation also ordered the Indiana Family Institute and the American Family Association of Indiana to bring their lawsuit against the state, since theyre challenging the constitutionality of an Indiana law. We will now get our day in court to argue why we believe that the language of civil rights shouldnt be hijacked to give privileges to the politically correct and politically powerful, while taking away freedoms from people of faith or traditional values, American Family Association of Indiana Executive Director Micah Clark wrote in an email to supporters. She said that every resident should be free to live and work peacefully according to their faith without fear of unjust punishment by a human rights commission or a government agency. A challenge conservatives will face is proving their case belongs in court with examples or evidence. They did not have a specific incident of breaking ordinances and facing consequences. Just challenging it because you care about it isnt enough, Indiana University Maurer School of Law professor Ryan Scott said. The lawsuit tests the Religious Freedom Restoration Act revision, which said the law couldnt be used to justify denying housing, jobs or services based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The conservative groups said the revision is unconstitutional because it dismisses their conservative Christian beliefs on marriage and sexuality. SAN DIEGO President-elect Donald Trump will face an immigration system that is maxed out when he takes office in January as a high number of Central Americans and Haitians continue to come to the U.S. through the Mexican border. Resources to process the immigrants, detain them and to try their immigration cases in court are extremely strained. Now, federal officials say they are releasing Haitian immigrants who have been entering the country in large numbers, backtracking on a pledge to jail them before they are deported. A U.S. government official told The Associated Press that the decision to free Haitians arriving in Arizona and California is in response to a lack of jail space. The official said releasing immigrants with orders to report later to immigration court is a tactic used when detention space is scarce, under certain humanitarian conditions or as part of efforts to keep families together. Before the Haitians are released, they are subjected to a criminal background and national security check. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and insisted on speaking on condition of anonymity. Federal immigration officials announced Thursday they are opening a large processing facility in west Texas next week in an effort to deal with the large number of families and young children coming through the border. The facility in Tornillo, outside of El Paso, can hold up to 500 people and will be up and running by next week, officials say. The influx of migrants and lack of jail space on the border will be one of the most immediate immigration challenges for Trump. Among the issues Trump will face is growing opposition to conditions at Border Patrol holding cells and ICE detention centers. For example, the Border Patrol in Arizona faces a lawsuit from immigrants who say its holding cells are overcrowded, dirty and extremely cold. A federal judge in Tucson on Tuesday said he was inclined to direct the Border Patrol to improve sleeping conditions, although he hasn't issued a directive yet. Immigrants who enter through Texas also report that Border Patrol holding facilities - known as "hieleras" - the Spanish word for "freezers," are difficult to sleep in. CBP has said it is "committed to the safety, security and welfare of those in our custody, especially those who are most vulnerable." In California, thousands of Haitians have arrived at the U.S. border with Mexico in recent months, many after traveling 7,000 miles by foot, taxi and bus from Brazil through eight nations. They present themselves to U.S. border inspectors, often at San Diego's San Ysidro port of entry, the nation's busiest crossing. About 5,000 Haitians had showed up at San Ysidro from October 2015 through late September, overwhelming border inspectors. Another 40,000 were on their way, officials have said. The Department of Homeland Security last week said there were about 41,000 people in immigration detention facilities, compared to a typical population of 31,000 to 34,000. It was unclear how many Haitians have been released since the change, although ICE says it has deported 203 Haitians to their home country and that about 4,400 remain detained. ICE spokeswoman Jennifer Elzea said in a written statement it is removing Haitians in accordance with its enforcement priorities. "ICE prioritizes the removal of national security threats, convicted felons, individuals convicted of significant or multiple misdemeanors, and individuals apprehended at or between ports of entry while attempting to unlawfully enter the United States," she wrote. The decision to release Haitians will likely add to the growing backlog of more than half-a-million cases already pending in immigration court. That backlog has effectively meant that immigrants routinely wait years for a judge to decide if they should be kicked out of the country. At a bus station in Phoenix on Thursday, several Central American women said authorities released them on condition that they promise to appear in immigration court. Yarely Cobon of Guatemala was wearing an ankle monitor and was with her 4-year-old daughter. Cobon, 22, said she left Guatemala over three weeks ago and crossed the border in Texas. She turned herself in to the Border Patrol and was detained for about six days. Her family paid for a bus ticket to join them in Los Angeles, where she has a court hearing next week. Cobon said the Border Patrol holding cell where she was held with her daughter was packed with women in children. "I was just standing, sitting, desperate. There's children crying. It was dirty," Cobon said. Ana Lidia Dubon Martinez is nearly eight months pregnant with twins and left Honduras with her 11-year-old brother almost a month ago. The pair swam across the river in Matamoros, Mexico, and turned themselves in to border agents in the U.S. Dubon Martinez is headed to Los Angeles via bus. The U.S. policy shift announced in September lifted special protections that Haitians got after their country's 2010 earthquake and treats them like immigrants from other countries and regions, including Mexico and Central America. Central Americans, particularly adult men, are often detained until they can be flown home. Mexicans are typically turned around immediately, made possible by their country's shared border with the U.S. Women with children such as Cobon and Dubon Martinez are often released and given a court date similar to how the government is handling the Haitians. The new posture hit hurdles when a powerful hurricane struck Haiti, raising more questions about the ability of the Caribbean nation to accept large numbers of its people. The U.S. temporarily suspended deportation flights to Haiti on Oct. 4 but Johnson vowed that Haitians would continue to be detained. UPDATE: President-elect Donald Trump sent out another tweet Saturday night that was subsequently deleted. It read: "Very rude and insulting of Hamilton cast member to treat our great future V.P. Mike Pence to a theater lecture.Couldn't even memorize lines!" Donald Trump isn't happy with the way the cast of the musical "Hamilton" treated Mike Pence last night. The Theater must always be a safe and special place.The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2016 The Vice-president-elect was met with boos and some cheers from the audience as he arrived with his family at the Richard Rodgers theatre. Then at the end of curtain call, the actor who plays Vice President Aaron Burr spoke directly to Pence. "We are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights, sir. But we truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values, and work on behalf of all of us." Tonight, VP-Elect Mike Pence attended #HamiltonBway. After the show, @BrandonVDixon delivered the following statement on behalf of the show. pic.twitter.com/Jsg9Q1pMZs Hamilton (@HamiltonMusical) November 19, 2016 The President-elect tweeted this morning a denouncement of those comments by actor Brandon Victor Dixon. Proud of @HamiltonMusical. Proud of @BrandonVDixon, for leading with love. And proud to remind you that ALL are welcome at the theater. Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) November 19, 2016 Trump said that Pence had been harassed, and that the cast should apologize for being rude to him. Dixon tweeted in reply that a conversation was not harassment, and he also thanked Pence for listening. @realDonaldTrump conversation is not harassment sir. And I appreciate @mike_pence for stopping to listen. Brandon Victor Dixon (@BrandonVDixon) November 19, 2016 A show spokesman said that although Pence was already in the hallway when Dixon spoke on stage, he did hear what he said. Following is the complete transcript of the remarks 'Hamilton' actor Brandon Victor Dixon made on behalf of the 'Hamilton' company following the Friday, November 18, 2016 performance, when Vice-President Elect Mike Pence was in the audience. "You know, we have a guest in the audience this evening. Vice President-elect Pence, I see you walking out but I hope you hear just a few more moments. There's nothing to boo, ladies and gentlemen. There's nothing to boo. We're all here sharing a story of love. We have a message for you sir, we hope that you will hear us out. And I encourage everybody to pull out your phones and tweet and post because this message needs to be spread far and wide. Vice President-elect Pence, we welcome you and we truly thank you for joining us here at Hamilton: An American Musical. We really do. We, sir, are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us: our planet, our children, our parents or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights, sir. But we truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us. All of us. Thank you truly for seeing this show, this wonderful American story told by a diverse group of men, women of different colors, creeds and orientations." Vice President-elect Mike Pence attended a performance of "Hamilton" Friday night, where he was met with boos by some members of the audience. In a video posted to the musical's official Twitter account, actor Brandon Victor Dixon, who plays Aaron Burr in the musical, addressed Pence as he was leaving the show. Tonight, VP-Elect Mike Pence attended #HamiltonBway. After the show, @BrandonVDixon delivered the following statement on behalf of the show. pic.twitter.com/Jsg9Q1pMZs Hamilton (@HamiltonMusical) November 19, 2016 As Dixon mentions Pence in the video, boos can be heard, but Dixon says, "There's nothing to boo here." He then delivered a message to Pence that stressed the need for the new administration to respond to the needs of all Americans. "We truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us," Dixon said. Twitter users also indicated that Pence was booed as he arrived at his seat. Unreal scene here - Mike Pence walks in and there's a massive mix of cheers and boos. pic.twitter.com/GVZ5L67mA3 Noah Coslov (@NoahCoslov) November 19, 2016 At #Hamilton. Mike Pence is here and the entire theater just booed him. Shannon (@TheStagmania) November 19, 2016 Pence and President-elect Donald Trump ran on a platform that was deemed controversial by some in the Latino community, including building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico and proposing the deportation of numerous undocumented immigrants. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is fighting back against a federal courts ruling last month that the agencys structure is unconstitutional. On Friday, the bureau filed a widely expected petition for a rehearing, asking the full slate of active judges at the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to reconsider the case. When Congress created the bureau, a three-judge panel said last month, it improperly gave the agencys independent director too much unchecked power. The courts suggested fix: Allow the president to fire the agencys director at will. The decision has taken on added significance with the surprise election of Donald J. Trump. If the ruling stands, the new president would have the power to dismiss the director of the bureau, Richard Cordray, and reshape the agency in his own mold. A hedge fund billionaire who was an economic adviser to President-elect Donald J. Trump during the campaign has taken a position in a fast-growing Chinese ride-sharing company that recently signed a deal to acquire Uber Technologies operations in China. John Paulson, who made $15 billion betting against the housing market before the financial crisis, told his investors on Wednesday that at least one of his portfolios had taken an investment stake in Didi Chuxing, a privately owned Chinese company, said people briefed on the matter who were not authorized to speak publicly. The investment, by Mr. Paulsons Advantage funds, is roughly 7 percent of the assets of those portfolios, he told investors, these people said. Didi Chuxing, which has backing from Alibaba Group and Apple, could prepare for an initial public offering in the next year, according to news reports. In August, Didi struck a deal with its main rival, the American ride-hailing giant Uber, to acquire Uber China in a transaction that created a company some valued at $35 billion. This tactic was used on the language of social justice, which was appropriated by opponents and redeployed nihilistically, in an open effort to sap its power while simultaneously taking advantage of what power it retained. Anti-racists were cast as the real racists. Progressives were cast as secretly regressive on their own terms. This was not a new tactic, but it was newly effective. It didnt matter that its targets knew that it was a bad-faith maneuver, a clear bid for power rather than an attempt to engage or reason. The referees called foul, but nobody could hear them over the roar of the crowds. Or maybe they could, but realized that nobody could make them listen. Fake news as shorthand will almost surely be returned upon the media tenfold. The fake news narrative, as widely understood and deployed, has already begun to encompass not just falsified, fabricated stories, but a wider swath of traditional media on Facebook and elsewhere. Fox News? Fake news. Mr. Trumps misleading claims about Ford keeping jobs in America? Fake news. The entirety of hyperpartisan Facebook? Fake news. This wide formulation of fake news will be applied back to the traditional news media, which does not yet understand how threatened its ability is to declare things true, even when they are. Facebook may try to address the narrow version of the problem, the clearly fabricated posts. Facebook has plenty of tools at its disposal and has already promised to use one, to bar sites that have been flagged as promoting falsified content from using its advertising platform. But the worst identified defenders make their money outside Facebook anyway. Another narrow response from Facebook could be to assert editorial control over external forces. Facebook tried this, to a very limited extent, with Trending Topics. Members of the companys editorial staff wrote descriptions of trending news stories, accompanied by links they deemed credible. This initiative collapsed in a frenzy of bias accusations and political fear. But it is easy to imagine a system in which a story, upon reaching some high threshold of shares, or a source, upon reaching some cumulative audience, could be audited and declared unreliable. This could resemble Facebooks short-lived experiment to tag satire articles as such. A number of narrow measures could stop a fake story about the pope, for example. But where would that leave the rest of the media? Answered and rebutted, and barely better positioned against everything else that remained. It would be a still-dominant news environment in which almost everything there before remained intact, the main difference being that it would have all been declared, implicitly, not fake. Facebook is a place where people construct and project identities to friends, family and peers. It is a marketplace in which news is valuable mainly to the extent that it serves those identities. It is a system built on ranking and vetting and voting, and yet one where negative inputs are scarcely possible, and where conflict is resolved with isolation. (Not that provisions for open conflict on a platform present any easy alternatives: For Twitter, it has been a source of constant crisis.) Fake news operations are closely aligned with the experienced incentives of the Facebook economy more closely, perhaps, than most of the organizations that are identifying them. Their removal will be an improvement. The outrage at their mere existence, and at their promotion on a platform with the stated goal of connecting the world, will have been justified. A leading bank regulator on Friday reversed course and revoked Wells Fargos right to shield the pay of former executives after a fake-accounts scandal. The regulator, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, also said Wells Fargo must now seek advance approval before naming new bank leadership. Wells Fargo in September agreed to pay $185 million to settle charges that bank employees opened as many as two million accounts banking and credit card without customers knowledge. The agency, the main regulator for federal banks, exempted Wells Fargo from some controls on golden parachutes in that settlement. The move Friday evening voids those earlier allowances, the agency said. A Mancuso party was a 60s dream of peace, love and diversity: multiracial, gay and straight, young and old, well-to-do and down-at-heel, singles and couples, all mingling ecstatically in an egalitarian, commerce-free space. Dont forget, you had the civil rights movement going on, you had gay liberation going on, Mr. Mancuso told the website Red Bull Music Academy Daily in June. You had all these movements going on. All this music that was coming from all different directions, it was all over the place. As long as you had a neutral place where people could come and just enjoy themselves, there was such incredibly good music. The parties provided the model for dozens of clubs to come, notably the Paradise Garage in Manhattan and the Warehouse in Chicago, and decisively influenced the culture and musical styles associated with them, from disco onward to the worlds of house, acid, techno and dubstep. D.J.s started to gravitate to the Loft when they were finished with their own parties for the night, and it was there that some of the most influential D.J.s of the future Larry Levan, Frankie Knuckles, Tony Humphries, Francois Kevorkian, David Morales and many more would learn about the sonic and social potential of the party, Tim Lawrence, the author of Love Saves the Day: A History of American Dance Music Culture, 1970-79 (2003), wrote in an email. David Paul Mancuso was born on Oct. 20, 1944, in Utica, N.Y. His mother, Catilana Mancuso, known as Kathleen, placed him in an asylum for children two days after he was born. She took him back in when he was 5. He was the product of a love affair his mother had had while her husband, Karl Hajdasz, was serving in the military. The sun had risen after a night out in Manhattan stretched into the morning, and Joseph Comunale was recorded by a security camera riding up an elevator in the luxury apartment building that was home to one of his fellow revelers. Mr. Comunale stepped out of the elevator, officials said, and after that moment on Sunday morning, the buildings cameras never caught another glimpse of him. Three days after Mr. Comunale was reported missing, a body matching a description of the 26-year-old from Stamford, Conn., was found on Wednesday in a shallow grave in Oceanport, N.J., almost 60 miles from the apartment building on the East Side of Manhattan. Investigators found the body bloodied and burned, in a ditch that was only about a foot deep. Police officials said someone had tried to burn the body with gasoline. In the early hours of Friday, two men arrested in connection with Mr. Comunales death, James Rackover, 25, and Lawrence Dilione, 28, appeared in Criminal Court in Manhattan. While little has emerged about a motive, court filings offered new details about what prosecutors say were the defendants efforts to dispose of Mr. Comunales body. A deputy inspector with the New York Police Department was charged on Friday with sexually abusing a female officer he supervised as the commanding officer of a Bronx precinct, the authorities said. The inspector, Keith Walton, 44, was charged with sexual abuse, forcible touching, official misconduct and harassment in connection with an episode around 1 p.m. on Nov. 6 in his office at the 49th Precinct station house on Eastchester Road, according to court records. At the time, Inspector Walton was the commanding officer of the precinct, which covers the East Bronx neighborhoods of Allerton, Morris Park and Pelham Parkway, among others. Inspector Walton forcefully pulled the officers hair, tried to kiss her and placed his hands on her genitals over her clothing, the complaint states. He also grabbed her hand and twice placed it on his erect penis over his clothes, court records say. The woman repeatedly attempted to push his hand off her and told him to stop, according to the records. CULLOWHEE, N.C. In a year dominated by political frenzy, the water crisis in Flint, Mich., was one of the few stories to grab the headlines away from the presidential race. Pallets of bottled water were donated. Celebrities ran fund-raisers. Congressmen grilled the mayor and the governor, demanding to know how they could let their citizens drink poisoned water. A handwritten warning posted above a drinking fountain became a national disgrace. Yet how many Americans know or care that a similar do not drink the water warning is above every drinking fountain in the Knott County Opportunity Center in Kentucky, which houses a community college, a Head Start program and the county library and that the warning has been necessary for a decade? Knott County lies in southeastern Kentucky, deep in Appalachian coal country. When I was there 15 years ago, I could taste the coal in the water. Today you still can. Brent D. Hutchinson, who directs the Hindman Settlement School in Knott County, said of the water: Some of it is brown. Some of it is yellow. Some of it smells like sulfur. We only drink filtered or bottled water in my house, just in case. At the school, we still serve only filtered or bottled water to our students and guests. Its not just Knott County. This year, after yet another water advisory 50 miles away in Martin County, one resident spoke of budgeting over $25 a month for bottled water in a county with a median household income of just $18,000. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan nominated Jeff Sessions, then a United States attorney from Alabama, to be a federal judge. The Republican-controlled Senate rejected Mr. Sessions out of concern, based on devastating testimony by former colleagues, that he was a racist. Three decades later, Mr. Sessions, now a veteran Alabama senator, is on the verge of becoming the nations top law-enforcement official, after President-elect Donald Trump tapped him on Friday to be attorney general. It would be nice to report that Mr. Sessions, who is now 69, has conscientiously worked to dispel the shadows that cost him the judgeship. Instead, the years since his last confirmation hearing reveal a pattern of dogged animus to civil rights and the progress of black Americans and immigrants. Based on his record, we can form a fairly clear picture of what his Justice Department would look like: For starters, forget about aggressive protection of civil rights, and of voting rights in particular. Mr. Sessions has called the Voting Rights Act of 1965 a piece of intrusive legislation. Under him, the department would most likely focus less on prosecutions of minority voter suppression and more on rooting out voter fraud, that hallowed conservative myth. As a federal prosecutor, Mr. Sessions brought voter-fraud charges against three civil rights workers trying to register black voters in rural Alabama. The prosecution turned up 14 allegedly doctored ballots out of 1.7 million cast, and the jury voted to acquit. General Flynn played pivotal roles in military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. While his skills served him well in those environments, when he was tapped to lead the Defense Intelligence Agency, his shortcomings as a manager and strategic thinker soon became glaring. His grasp on the truth was so flimsy at times that colleagues began mockingly referring to Flynn facts. Image Credit... Hanna Barczyk General Flynn did not leave quietly after being fired by the Obama administration in 2014. He has since created a self-serving narrative, maintaining that he was dismissed for raising alarms about the threat posed by Islamist extremist groups, which he contends the Obama administration coddles. He has been extraordinarily incendiary in his characterizations of Islam. In February, he posted a link to a video on Twitter warning about the threat of Islam: Fear of Muslims is RATIONAL. In August, he told The Washington Post that he agreed with some of Mr. Trumps views about Muslims; he called Islam an ideology and compared it to a cancer that has metastasized. General Flynns fearmongering only plays into Al Qaedas narrative that there is a clash of civilizations, Representative Adam Schiff, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, said, What he has expressed is dangerous and harmful to us. In recent months, even while he advised Mr. Trump, General Flynn took on questionable consulting work, including speaking at a forum hosted by the state broadcaster Russia Today, which is infamous for its propaganda and serves as a mouthpiece for President Vladimir Putin. He also runs a consulting firm that has lobbied for a company with connections to Turkeys authoritarian president. Just last week, he wrote an article urging the extradition of a Turkish cleric whom the Turkish government said was the mastermind of the attempted coup in July. The whole saga of Mikheil Saakashvili, the former president of Georgia, showing up in Ukraine as the corruption-fighting governor of Odessa has been a curious one, as was his resignation last week with a loud flurry of attacks on the resistance of the countrys leadership to reform. He also announced that he was forming a new Ukrainian political party. Setting aside Mr. Saakashvilis political ambitions, the episode once again cast light on the tenacity of Ukraines culture of corruption. Mr. Saakashvili was the hero of Georgias 2003 Rose Revolution, which brought him to power as an ardently pro-Western reformer. Despite a measure of success fighting corruption there, his party was voted out in 2012, and he left the country, followed by criminal charges of abuse of power, which he says were driven by politics. Then in May 2015, President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine asked Mr. Saakashvili a former schoolmate to become governor of the Odessa region, apparently in the hope that he could apply his experience in Georgia to one of Ukraines most corrupt regions. With Mr. Saakashvili came several other foreign reformers to work in the national and Odessa governments. Most of them have now quit, charging that their efforts to combat cronyism and graft have been stymied at every step by entrenched officials and tycoons. Mr. Saakashvili took the accusations a step further, declaring himself severely disappointed that President Poroshenko failed to support real change. The response from Mr. Poroshenkos office was that Mr. Saakashvili turned out to be a far better politician than a manager and was himself to blame for the lack of reform in Odessa. Mr. Saakashvilis resignation came on the heels of stunning revelations about the vast financial fortunes of many of Ukraines public servants. Disclosures of the cash and property holdings of more than 50,000 officials had been demanded by the European Union as a condition for disbursing more financial assistance. Even for corruption-weary Ukrainians the results were stunning: The 450 members of Parliament, for example, were found to collectively possess $482 million in monetary assets, including $36 million in cash. Mr. Saakashvili cited this as the final straw in his decision to change political course. Some of us are scared of being sent back, she said. Our children are having issues at school. Ms. Hassan, 37, who said her parents and her brother were killed by a car bomb in Baghdad, said, We left home because it was not safe there, but now the United States feels unsafe. Some voiced worries about a Muslim registry, and the prospect of being tracked and investigated by the government, noting that a registry for noncitizens from some Arab countries, in effect from 2002 to 2011, resulted in few leads on terrorism, but many deportations. Others shrugged off the prospect, saying that they assumed they were under surveillance already. And people were still unsure how seriously to take the even more troubling idea not raised by anyone with a formal role on the Trump team of internment. I dont put it past them, said Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council of American Islamic Relations. Personnel is policy, and Flynn considers us as the enemy, so what kind of policies is he going to push forward? The Muslim community will be at his mercy. Linda Sarsour, executive director of the Arab American Association of New York, said: I believe in my heart that our fellow Americans would not let that happen. Im not saying that it definitely wont happen. The fact that were even having this conversation is really spreading a lot of fear in the community. Muslim leaders said their strategy would be to mount legal challenges and to strengthen alliances with other religious and ethnic groups. Muslim, Jewish and Christian clergy members and lay leaders gathered in front of mosque in Washington on Friday in a demonstration of mutual support. Mobilized by an interfaith group called Shoulder to Shoulder, they asked President-elect Trump to keep his election-night promise that he will serve as the president of all Americans. There are a lot of protests out there going to specific issues that are 10, 15 more votes here and there, Mr. Stark said. And by the time you move statewide, thats a lot of votes. If its not resolved at the counties, it will end up at the state board, and the state board will have to sort it all out. As other Republican-controlled county elections boards rejected challenges from Mr. McCrorys allies on Friday, the governors critics complained of baseless protests that they believed were intended to discredit North Carolinas political climate. Theyre silly, small in number, poorly researched and often defamatory, Allison Riggs, a lawyer for the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, said of the Republican challenges. Ms. Riggs, who was monitoring proceedings in nearby Wake County, which includes Raleigh, the state capital, said some challenges brought by Mr. McCrorys supporters had been easily rebuffed through a few minutes of internet research. A spokesman for the McCrory campaign, Ricky Diaz, said Friday that the campaign expected people who brought the unsuccessful challenges to appeal to the State Board of Elections, which comprises three Republicans and two Democrats. County elections boards are made up of two Republicans and one Democrat. The wrangling plays out in a state that has often been the epicenter of the national debate about voter identification requirements and other, Republican-backed changes to elections rules. When North Carolina Democrats controlled the state government in recent decades, they sought to cement their franchise by enacting a string of laws that made it easier to register and vote, aiming in part to recruit more black voters. Combined with enforcement of the federal Voting Rights Act, the effect was profound: By 2012, turnout among African-Americans, who are overwhelmingly Democratic, soared to 68.5 percent, up from about 42 percent in 2000. But when Republicans gained absolute control over the executive and legislative branches after the 2012 elections, they set about undoing the framework Democrats had built. After the United States Supreme Court struck down a crucial part of the Voting Rights Act, state legislators pared early voting, imposed a photo ID requirement and ended same-day registration. A federal appeals court ruled against much of that law in July, concluding it had targeted black voters with almost surgical precision. That decision faces an uncertain future before a Supreme Court poised to have a justice nominated by Mr. Trump. WASHINGTON After incurring their wrath for his handling of the investigation into Hillary Clintons email use, some Democrats now see James B. Comey, the F.B.I. director, as a potential ally in trying to block President-elect Donald J. Trumps promises to revive the practice of sending terrorism suspects to the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and interrogate them using banned techniques such as waterboarding. For three years, Mr. Comey has helped carry out President Obamas counterterrorism vision, in which F.B.I. agents have interrogated suspected terrorists and turned them over to the Justice Department for prosecution in criminal courts. During his confirmation hearing in 2013, Mr. Comey told the Senate Judiciary Committee that he believed waterboarding was torture. Mr. Trumps nominee to serve as attorney general, Senator Jeff Sessions, has been a fierce critic of the Obama administrations approach. He has argued that terrorism suspects should be sent to Guantanamo Bay and interrogated without access to lawyers and the right to remain silent. If confirmed, Mr. Sessions would be Mr. Comeys boss. Mr. Sessions has also said the United States weakened itself by banning techniques such as waterboarding, which he said were legal and effective. He voted against the Detainee Treatment Act in 2005 that prohibited cruel or degrading treatment of detainees. Last year, he voted against legislation requiring all government agencies to use only interrogation methods in the Army Field Manual. Those techniques do not include waterboarding. Anyone who has spent time with Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, President-elect Donald J. Trumps choice for national security adviser, knows he is nothing if not blunt, especially when it comes to his near-obsessive focus on radical Islamic terrorism. He has said on Twitter that fear of Muslims is RATIONAL, written that Islamic law is spreading in the United States and said that Islam itself is more like a political ideology than a religion. The United States, he wrote in Field of Fight, a book about radical Islam published in August, is in a world war, but very few Americans recognize it. General Flynn, 57, a retired military intelligence officer and registered Democrat, will be the person Mr. Trump turns to when confronted with a crisis abroad. Whether it is a renewed bloodletting in Ukraine, a Russian cyberattack on the United States or a hurricane hitting Haiti, the national security adviser is supposed to be a steady hand and honest broker who can provide measured and unbiased guidance to the president about how the United States should respond. These are not qualities readily apparent in observing General Flynn over the last few years, said Representative Adam B. Schiff of California, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee. MARRAKESH, Morocco Diplomats from around the world converged here this week with the plan to put details on last years Paris climate accord and move the globe closer to controlling the industrial emissions that are heating the planet. Instead, with the election of Donald J. Trump and his threat to withdraw the United States from the accord shellshocked negotiators confronted potentially deep fissures developing in the international consensus on climate change. On the sidelines of the negotiations, some diplomats turned from talking of rising seas and climbing temperatures toward how to punish the United States if Mr. Trump follows through, possibly with a carbon-pollution tax on imports of American-made goods. A carbon tariff against the United States is an option for us, Rodolfo Lacy Tamayo, Mexicos under secretary for environmental policy and planning, said in an interview here. He added, We will apply any kind of policy necessary to defend the quality of life for our people, to protect our environment and to protect our industries. Forcing United States industries to turn to cleaner energy sources with the hammer of an import tariff is not far-fetched. Countries imposing costs on their own industries to control carbon emissions could tell the World Trade Organization that United States industries are operating under an unfair trade advantage by avoiding any cost for their pollution. Two nephews of Venezuelas first lady were convicted in Manhattan on Friday of conspiring to transport cocaine to the United States. Efrain Antonio Campo Flores and his cousin Franqui Francisco Flores de Freitas, nephews of the first lady Cilia Flores, were found guilty by a jury in Federal District Court. Ms. Flores is the wife of the Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro. The verdict came after less than a day of deliberation, The Associated Press reported. The two were arrested in November 2015 in Haiti and charged with conspiring to transport more than 1,700 pounds of cocaine to the United States. Mr. Flores, 30, and Mr. Flores de Freitas, 31, face sentences of 10 years to life in prison. A defense lawyer told the jury on Thursday that the men should be acquitted because a federal sting operation was so flawed that prosecutors had to take the rare step of notifying their star witness that they were tearing up his cooperation deal because of his lies, The A.P. reported. Sixto Duran Ballen, who as president of Ecuador led the country in a monthlong border conflict with Peru in 1995, the last war in the Americas to date between sovereign states, died on Tuesday at his home in Quito, the capital. He was 95. His family confirmed his death. Before the conflict with Peru, Mr. Duran Ballens popularity had suffered as workers fought his efforts to sell the state oil, telephone and electric industries to nonstate companies, inspiring three general strikes. But after ordering troops to resist Peruvian attacks, he rode a wave of nationalist enthusiasm. He could be seen daily on the balcony of the Presidential Palace pumping the air with his right fist and leading crowds in chants of Not one step back! The border dispute had a long history. Tensions between the two countries had risen every year before the anniversary of a January 1942 treaty that followed a border war in 1941. The treaty gave about half of Ecuador to victorious Peru a huge stretch of Amazon rain forest believed to be rich in oil and gold. Ecuador also lost direct access to the Amazon River. Forty-one Tibetans who were detained by the Nepalese police while they were on a bus bound for India have been released to a Nepalese human rights group, an advocate for Tibetan rights said Friday. The advocate, Kate Saunders, of the International Campaign for Tibet, said early Friday in London that the human rights group, the Human Rights Organization of Nepal, and other contacts in Kathmandu, Nepals capital, had told her that immigration officials and the police had allowed all the Tibetans to be released. Ms. Saunders said the Tibetans were mostly from Kham and Amdo, Tibetan regions now ruled by China, and were on a pilgrimage to sacred sites in Nepal and India. It is likely that they planned to go in January to an important Buddhist ceremony, the Kalachakra teaching, in Bodh Gaya, an Indian city, she said. It is unclear what those Tibetans will do now. They could end up at the Kathmandu transit center of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. From there, many Tibetans make their way to India, against Chinas wishes. Ms. Saunders said the Tibetans were in a very precarious situation. Lupita Tovar, a Mexican-born actress who began her career in silent films and starred as an alluring heroine in the Spanish-language version of the 1931 horror classic Dracula, died on Nov. 12 at her home in Los Angeles. She was 106. Lucy Tovar, a niece, confirmed her death on Facebook. Ms. Tovars movie career lasted less than 20 years, but her work significantly helped promote Mexican cinema so much so that she came to be known as the Sweetheart of Mexico. She starred in the Spanish-language Dracula as Eva Seward, who falls under the evil spell of the vampire. The film was shot concurrently with the celebrated English-language version, starring Bela Lugosi, using an entirely different cast but the same Hollywood sets. (The title role was played by Carlos Villarias.) Last year, the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress added the Spanish-language Dracula to its list of culturally, historically or aesthetically significant films. Can Trump Save Their Jobs? by Nelson D. Schwartz (Nov. 13), looked at workers at a Carrier plant in Indianapolis that will soon close, with production moving to Mexico. Some of the workers interviewed spoke of their support for Donald J. Trump. The article attracted 1,964 comments. The following have been edited and condensed. Mr. Trump cant save their jobs. Nafta and other free trade agreements have kept the economy growing while the underlying dynamics were changing. The underlying dynamics are (a) weve gotten better at automation and (b) the big era of American growth is over. Doug, Boulder Its heartbreaking to read about these people, people who are victims of change, victims of the technological revolution, victims of a global economy, victims of an economy where people want to pay the least amount of money possible for goods and where the companies who produce those products want to make the most profit possible. Trump conned them, every single one of them. Their jobs arent coming back, not ever. Claudia Piepenburg, Vista, Calif. Mr. Trump can save the Carrier workers jobs if theyre willing to work for the same wages the company would pay Mexican workers. General Mattis Retired Marine Gen. James Mattis is in the running to lead the Pentagon for President-elect Donald Trump, according to reports. Trump's transition team announced on Friday that Mattis would be meeting with the President-elect on Saturday. A person involved with the transition told Bloomberg that Mattis was being considered, along with retired Army Gen. Jack Keane, who met with Trump on Thursday. Mattis declined to comment when reached by Business Insider. The former four-star general retired in 2013 after leading Marines for 44 years. His last post was with US Central Command, the Tampa, Florida-based unified command tasked with operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as more than two-dozen other countries. Mattis, 66, is something of a legendary figure in the US military. Looked at as a warrior among Marines and well-respected by members of other services, he's been at the forefront of a number of engagements. He led his battalion of Marines in the assault during the first Gulf war in 1991 and commanded the task force charging into Afghanistan in 2001. In 2003, as a Major General, he once again took up the task of motivating his young Marines to go into battle, penning a must-read letter to his troops before they crossed the border into Iraq. Mattis Though he's beloved by troops for his straight talk and strategic genius, he's dealt with some controversy outside of the military for some of his more colorful quotes. He asserted in 2005, for example, that it was "fun to shoot some people" though he was talking about fundamentalists who "slap women around" in Afghanistan for not wearing veils. Still, the Marine commandant at the time said he was counseled and told to "choose his words more carefully," according to Fox News. If he were tapped to be defense secretary, Mattis would need a waiver from Congress to take the position, since it requires a military officer to have been off active duty for at least seven years. Mattis retired in 2013. Story continues Whoever is ultimately picked, the next head of the Pentagon will oversee roughly 3 million military and civilian personnel and face myriad challenges, from the ongoing fight against ISIS and China's moves in the South China Sea to the ongoing stress on the military imposed by sequestration. A number of defense secretaries who served under President Barack Obama have criticized him for his supposed "micromanagement." Even Mattis himself was reportedly forced into early retirement by the Obama administration due to his hawkish views on Iran, according to Tom Ricks at Foreign Policy. To some of his supporters, Trump appears to be more of a delegator who will let the Pentagon chief take the reins of the military. "He will empower his SecDef to lead the way," Joe Kasper, chief of staff for Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), told Business Insider. The next defense secretary may also end up dealing with a nuclear-armed North Korea, and Russia is very likely to test limits in eastern Europe. The secretary will also need to reinvigorate a military plagued by low morale. Mattis currently splits his time between Stanford and Dartmouth as a distinguished fellow, conducting research and giving lectures on leadership and strategy. Other names that have been floated for the position include former Sen. Jim Talent of Missouri and Stephen Hadley, the former national security adviser to President George W. Bush. A spokesperson for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. NOW WATCH: Russia just introduced a new missile nicknamed 'Satan 2' here's a look at their other formidable weapon systems More From Business Insider Mr. Obama has 15 days to decide the fate of the deal, though most likely Mr. Obama will scupper it given presidents usually follow the recommendations of the panel. If the deal is struck down, it would send the message that the United States will continue to carefully scrutinize similar deals and may act quickly to kill them for national security reasons. The unusual move is sure to spotlight the growing tensions between the United States and China over the latter countrys ambitions to become a power in microchips. While China has made major advancements in technology and computers in recent years, its chip industry is in its infancy, and it still relies on foreign companies for the chips that power even sensitive systems. The move will also shine a light on the shadowy security panel that recommended the deal be dropped. The panel called the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, and commonly known as Cfius has been increasingly at odds with an expansive new Chinese effort to spend billions acquiring foreign high-tech companies. The panel is composed of representatives from major departments and intelligence agencies like Commerce and Justice and the Central Intelligence Agency. Cfius has the power to review any deal that could impact American national security, and either come up with ways to mitigate that impact or recommend the president block the deal. While the Aixtron deal does not involve an American company, Aixtron itself does considerable business in the United States, and lack of American approval would shut that business off. Beijing has highlighted its intentions of catching up to the rest of the world in semiconductors. It has spent hugely to help fund efforts by private Chinese companies and state-run national champions to acquire foreign firms that make microchips, the brains of everything from supercomputers to smartphones to guided missiles. LIMA, Peru A toxic political war over money, jobs and globalization killed the vast and complex trade deal that was supposed to be a signature legacy of President Obama. But the deal, between the United States and 11 Asian and Pacific nations, was never just about trade. The agreement, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, was conceived as a vital move in the increasingly tense chess match between China and the United States for economic and military influence in the fastest-growing and most strategically uncertain part of the world. The deal, which excluded China, was intended to give those 11 nations more leverage in that strained match by providing them with a viable economic alternative. And its defeat is an unalloyed triumph for China, the country that President-elect Donald J. Trump castigated repeatedly over trade. Mr. Obama, in comments just before meeting his counterparts, who laboriously negotiated the pact, made no reference to its near certain burial. This is always a useful occasion for us to get together and examine how we can make sure that were creating more jobs, more opportunity and greater prosperity for all of our countries, Mr. Obama said. So its wonderful to see all of you again, and I look forward to a constructive discussion. SAN FRANCISCO After more than a week of accusations that the spread of fake news on Facebook may have affected the outcome of the presidential election, Mark Zuckerberg published a detailed post Friday night describing ways the company was considering dealing with the problem. Mr. Zuckerberg, Facebooks chairman and chief executive, broadly outlined some of the options he said the companys news feed team was looking into, including third-party verification services, better automated detection tools and simpler ways for users to flag suspicious content. The problems here are complex, both technically and philosophically, Mr. Zuckerberg wrote. We believe in giving people a voice, which means erring on the side of letting people share what they want whenever possible. The post was perhaps the most detailed glimpse into Mr. Zuckerbergs thinking on the issue since Donald J. Trumps defeat of Hillary Clinton in the Nov. 8 election. Within hours of his victory being declared, Facebook was accused of affecting the elections outcome by failing to stop bogus news stories, many of them favorable to Mr. Trump, from proliferating on its social network. Executives and employees at all levels of the company have since been debating its role and responsibilities. MADISON, Wis. The Zika virus thrives in tropical climates. But it is also growing in this cold-weather city up a flight of stairs, past a flier for lunchtime yoga and behind a locked door. That is where scientists working in a lab for Takeda, the Japanese drug company, inspect and test vials of the virus. They are engaged in an all-out race to halt Zika, a disease that has set off worldwide alarm because of its links to severe birth defects. Day and night, these researchers are trying to crack the code to the virus. Were slaves to the cells, Jeremy Fuchs, a senior researcher at the lab, said. And they are far from alone. Perhaps never before have so many companies and government organizations worked so quickly to develop a vaccine from scratch. Vaccines usually take a decade or more to develop. But researchers say a Zika vaccine could be available as early as 2018, in what would be a remarkable two-year turnaround. More than a dozen companies are on the hunt, in addition to government stalwarts like the National Institutes of Health. To get ahead, some teams are employing innovative technologies that rely on splicing DNA, a method that has the potential to revolutionize the development of vaccines but that has never before been approved for use in humans. Julie Appleton Zuckerman, the daughter of Betsy Appleton and Dr. Eric J. Zuckerman of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., was married Nov. 19 to Ryan Paul Gessin, the son of Faye Gessin and Corey Gessin of Orangeburg, N.Y. Rabbi Daniel Pernick officiated at the Yale Club of New York. The bride, who is 29 and is taking her husbands name, is the vice president for clinical operations, overseeing integration and optimization of new offices, of the Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York, where she is also a cosmetic-physician associate. She graduated from the University of Michigan and received a masters degree in physician-assistant studies from Weill Cornell Medical College. Her father is an ophthalmologist in Bloomfield Hills. The groom, 31, is an associate director, specializing in national corporate real estate advice, at Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, a real estate services firm in New York. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin. His father is the president of Gessin Electrical Group, an electrical contractor in New York. Ms. Zuckerman and Mr. Gessin met through mutual friends in April 2011 while living two blocks from each other in Midtown Manhattan. This year, the adage that falsehood flies and the truth comes limping after it doesnt begin to describe the problem. That idea assumes that the truth eventually catches up. Theres not much evidence of this happening for the millions of people taken in by the fake news stories like Pope Francis endorsing Donald Trump or Mr. Trump pulling ahead of Hillary Clinton in the popular vote that have spread on social media sites. Most of the fake news stories are produced by scammers looking to make a quick buck. The vast majority of them take far-right positions. But a big part of the responsibility for this scourge rests with internet companies like Facebook and Google, which have made it possible for fake news to be shared nearly instantly with millions of users and have been slow to block it from their sites. Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and chief executive of Facebook, has dismissed the notion that fake news is prevalent on his platform or that it had an influence on the election. But according to a BuzzFeed News analysis, during the last three months of the presidential campaign, the 20 top fake news stories on Facebook generated more engagement shares, likes and comments than the 20 top stories from real news websites. These hoaxes are not just bouncing around among like-minded conspiracy theorists; candidates and elected officials are sharing them, too. Senator Ben Sasse, Republican of Nebraska, on Thursday tweeted about people who have been paid to riot against Mr. Trump an idea propagated by fake news stories. A man who wrote a number of false news reports told The Washington Post that Trump supporters and campaign officials often shared his false anti-Clinton posts without bothering to confirm the facts and that he believes his work may have helped elect the Republican nominee. A ceremony all too familiar to American Indian tribes the signing of still another agreement with federal officials took place Wednesday in the Blackfeet country of Montana. But this time, instead of winding up on the losing end, the tribe enjoyed a welcome reversal of fortune in its long struggle to protect its sacred grounds. With Blackfeet leaders in ceremonial headdress, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell canceled 15 energy exploration leases in the Badger-Two Medicine Area along the majestic Rocky Mountain Front, halting the feared desecration of lands at the heart of the tribes creation story. Tribal history warned of usurpers: If they gain a footing here, trouble for you will follow. The federal order denies any future foothold to Devon Energy, the leaseholder, which did not challenge the administrations finding that the necessary environmental reviews had never been completed and that the tribe was never properly consulted. The decision is also in keeping with the Obama administrations broader pledge when it came to power to take a more measured and protective approach to energy exploration on public lands. Originally, President Ronald Reagans administration authorized 47 oil and gas drilling leases in the 130,000-acre Badger-Two region within the Lewis and Clark National Forest. Years of protest followed from the tribe, from conservationists and from senior officials in the federal Forest Service all deeply concerned about the threats the leases posed to the regions environmental and cultural values. Congress barred further leasing in 2006 and offered tax incentives for companies that surrendered their leases. In time, most of them did. There are times and places where the right thing is to take a step away, a Devon Energy official said in accepting a $200,000 refund on the returned lease. On the morning of Nov. 9, a moderator who goes by the handle OhSnapYouGotServed posted on a Reddit topic page called The_Donald: How does it feel, centipedes? The God Emperor said that we would get tired of winning. Are you tired of winning yet? Feel vindicated, centipedes. Its over and there is nothing they can do about it. We are the future. Within minutes, the post had accrued more than 2,000 comments. Within days, they numbered more than 12,000. Reddit, a hodgepodge of message boards about everything, from kiteboarding to financial advice to Photoshopping human arms onto images of birds, is the eighth-most popular online destination in the United States. The_Donald, devoted, of course, to Donald J. Trump, has become one of the most influential communities within one of the most significant websites on the internet. Yet that post by OhSnapYouGotServed is probably largely incomprehensible to most people. The_Donald has around 300,000 members. Some are conservative stalwarts, others are meme-making teenagers; all are anonymous, hidden behind user names, making their origins and motivations difficult to pinpoint. But its fair to say that many saw themselves as political outsiders who reveled in rallying for the underdog. The community is home to copious Islamophobia, trolling of liberals and near constant bashing of Hillary Clinton. It has evolved a dialect decipherable only to insiders, which includes acronyms like MAGA (Make America Great Again); epithets like God Emperor (for Mr. Trump); insults like cuck (short for cuckold and often deployed against feminists); memes featuring a cartoon frog associated with racism; and nicknames like Pedes. (Centipedes, a term for Trump supporters adopted from a YouTube mash-up of the song Centipede by the band Knife Party and clips of Mr. Trumps speeches. It might also be a penis joke. Seriously.) Early signs of what the Trump administration may look like: A man associated with white supremacy and misogyny will be White House chief strategist; a man rejected for a judgeship because of alleged racism will be attorney general; and an Islamophobe who has taken money from Moscow will be national security adviser. No, this is not satire. Ive repeatedly noted that my side lost this election, that elections have consequences, and that President-Elect Donald Trump should be given a chance. He seems intent on blowing that chance. The announcement that Trump has recruited Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn as national security adviser is particularly alarming. Flynn is smart and knows the world very well, but he was fired from his last government job for incompetence. Worse, he today is regarded by many Republican and Democratic foreign policy specialists as a kook. Its all complicated. Flynn had a brilliant military career and did an outstanding job in Iraq and Afghanistan. Five years ago, he was widely admired as the best intelligence officer of his generation. THE 2016 campaign was a crisis for conservatism; its aftermath is a crisis for liberalism. The right, delivered unexpectedly to power, is taking a breather from introspection as it waits to see what Trumpism means in practice. The left, delivered unexpectedly to impotence, has no choice but to start arguing about how it lost its way. A lot of that argument already revolves around the concept of identity politics, used as shorthand for a vision of political liberalism as a coalition of diverse groups gay and black and Asian and Hispanic and female and Jewish and Muslim and so on bound together by a common struggle against the creaking hegemony of white Christian America. This vision had an intuitive appeal in the Obama era, when it won the White House twice and seemed to promise permanent political majorities in the future. And the 2016 campaign was supposed to cement that promise, since it pitted liberalisms coalition of the diverse against Donald Trumps explicitly reactive vision. But instead 2016 exposed liberalisms twofold vulnerability: to white voters embracing an identity politics of their own, and to women and minorities fearing Trump less than most liberals expected, and not voting monolithically for Hillary. The best way to combat Islamophobia is to highlight the successes of Muslim-Americans, said Farooq Kathwari, chief executive of home furnishing firm Ethan Allen (NYSE: ETH). Kathwari, co-chair of the newly formed Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council, was reacting to a February tweet from retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who has been chosen as national security advisor by President-elect Donald Trump . Flynn wrote, in part, on Twitter "fear of Muslims is rational." Trump's team had vetted Flynn as a possible vice presidential running mate, NBC News reported in July. "You have to be concerned about those kind of statements," Kathwari said Friday on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street." Kathwari said the Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council co-chaired by Stanley Bergman, chief executive of health care products distributor Henry Schein is not aimed at talking about the people who are being discriminated against. "What we want to talk about is to show the contributions of Jewish and Muslims in America," he continued. "The best way to building a brand is to show the positive contributions." Kathwari also said he's glad the election is over because consumers did hold back some spending before the vote in the face of uncertainty, "but not as much as" he had thought would take place. Since Trump was declared the winner, Kathwari has been encouraged by the rally in the stock market. "For our consumer, that's an important element and I believe that is going to help us really move forward." While criticizing Flynn's tweet, Kathwari said, "The country needs change," adding in the past five to 10 years "we have stalled." But change has "got to be done sensibly; it's got to be done with wisdom," he said. A Muslim immigrant from India, Kathwari and his wife, Farida, donated $1 million in 2015 to Western Connecticut State University to support an honors program named for their son Irfan, who was killed in Afghanistan in 1992, according NewsTimes in Danbury. Story continues Some web commentators accused Irfan Kathwari of being a radical Islamist because of his presence in Afghanistan during the turmoil in Soviet-backed Afghanistan. Kathwari said his son had been upset by the Russian invasion of the country and was in the wrong place at the wrong time, according to the NewsTimes. More From CNBC Its not clear what Mr. Trump will do in office. He has vowed to deport two million to three million criminal aliens, but that is not a precise definition of anything. Whatever enforcement his administration does pursue, it will be an expansion of what President Obama has already done. By June of this year, the Obama administration had deported more than 2.4 million immigrants more than any other president. My first meeting with an immigration lawyer was right after the Sept. 11 attacks. I was accompanied by Rich Fischer, the superintendent of my high school. The lawyer said the only solution for me was to return to the Philippines, accept the 10-year ban on re-entry and apply to come back. I was convinced that I had to go back to Manila. Rich felt differently. Youre already here, he said. Youre staying. I told that story to Esmeralda, a 22-year-old from Mexico I recently met at Rio Hondo College, a community college just outside Los Angeles, which is home to the largest undocumented population in the country. Esmeralda came to the United States at age 6. She told me she was scared, especially because she is one of about 700,000 undocumented young people who registered in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which offers short-term protection from deportation as well as the right to work. Mr. Trump has repeatedly vowed to repeal it. To apply for the program, undocumented youths had to give their names, birth dates and addresses to the very government that Mr. Trump will be in charge of. Youre not going anywhere, I told Esmeralda, thinking of Rich Fischer. Its going to be tough, but youre not going anywhere. We are not going anywhere. The fear of the first days after the election has turned into resilience and determination, all the while knowing that under President Trump, the worst-case scenario, our nightmare, may prove to be a reality. The people who devised anti-immigrant laws (Kris Kobach, the secretary of state of Kansas who helped write the show me your papers law in Arizona), pushed for those laws in Congress (Jeff Sessions of Alabama, the leading immigration hard-liner in the Senate) and enforced those laws (Joe Arpaio of Arizona, who just lost re-election as sheriff and has been charged by federal prosecutors with contempt for defying a judges orders to stop targeting Latinos) have been or are likely to be given prominent roles in the Trump administration. Though there are a lot of questions about what President Trump will do when it comes to immigration, I have a few questions directed at my fellow Americans. The secrecy and selectivity of the Royal Archives are well known among academics and historians, many of whom have encountered delay and censorship by the archives custodians. Attempts to control what is published have often led to protracted disputes. While the success of recent TV dramas like The Crown and Victoria proves the enduring popular appeal of fictional accounts of the British royal family, historians are still fighting subterranean battles to tell the uncensored truth. And the censors can be capricious. On one occasion something was taken out of my Queen Mother book, says the biographer Hugo Vickers only for the information to appear later in someone elses book. That made me cross. When writing a book about Victorias daughter Louise, Lucinda Hawksley was warned off even trying the archives by other authors. You will come up against a brick wall, she was told. Princess Louise, an artist and a beauty, married a man assumed to be gay and enjoyed a storied love life; her lovers are believed to have included her brother-in-law and a prominent sculptor said to have died in her presence. When Ms. Hawksley requested Louises file, she was simply told it was closed. She thinks this is pure censoriousness and that Louise, famously candid, would have been horrified at this Bowdlerization. The purpose of my book on Victoria was to hack through the thicket of cliches around the great queen: that she was an implacable puritan, a harsh mother who hated her children, a reluctant monarch, a puppet and a creature of the men around her, and a widow who refused to rule. But what I learned through my interactions with the Royal Archives was that their control of vital records make it hard for historians not to hew to the myths. I have great respect for the archival librarians, who are careful, rigorous and exacting, and I was very grateful for the opportunity to study there. But after a senior archivist read my final manuscript to check any references to material in the Windsor collection a precondition of entry I was asked to remove information for which I had uncovered evidence outside the archives. This concerned Victorias burial instructions and other evidence of her loving intimacy with John Brown, her personal servant in the Scottish Highlands. My reference to an episode of postpartum depression was also queried. Readers dissect what went wrong, and offer ideas about how the party can recover. To the Editor: Frank Brunis self-recriminations and anger (The Democrats Screwed Up, column, Nov. 13) are justified to a point. If we want to analyze all the misguided decisions and what-ifs of this election, yes, positioning Joseph R. Biden Jr. or Bernie Sanders for the ticket might have been the better strategy. But its not that simple. Racism played a role. Peoples fear of societal norms shifting under their feet played a role. The overwhelming barrage of front-page news predicting Hillary Clintons victory might have led many Democrats to believe that they didnt need to cast their votes. Like a great many Americans, I am terrified of what Donald Trumps election means for our future. Nevertheless, would a Biden or a Sanders candidacy have inspired women and girls the way Mrs. Clintons did? She may not have shattered the glass ceiling, but she cracked enough of it to make room for a new generation to try. And for me, that is no small victory. MAIA BRUMBERG-KRAUS Providence, R.I. To the Editor: For all the evidence presented that Democrats made many mistakes and clearly they did there is one major point that needs to be emphasized. It is that Donald Trumps racist, sexist and misogynistic rhetoric and a candidacy steeped in hateful name-calling and total disregard for things Americans hold dear the office of the president, civility, knowledge of policy, a caring about people different from us and basic human decency are not something Americans can suddenly be on board with. Just look at the demonstrations. The message: This is not the America we know and love. In the age of Facebook, it has become far easier for campaigners or marketers to combine our online personas with our offline selves, a process that was once controversial but is now so commonplace that theres a term for it, onboarding. Cambridge Analytica says it has as many as 3,000 to 5,000 data points on each of us, be it voting histories or full-spectrum demographics age, income, debt, hobbies, criminal histories, purchase histories, religious leanings, health concerns, gun ownership, car ownership, homeownership from consumer-data giants. No data point is very informative on its own, but profiling voters, says Cambridge Analytica, is like baking a cake. Its the sum of the ingredients, its chief executive officer, Alexander Nix, told NBC News. Because the United States lacks European-style restrictions on second- or thirdhand use of our data, and because our freedom-of-information laws give data brokers broad access to the intimate records kept by local and state governments, our lives are open books even without social media or personality quizzes. Ever since the advertising executive Lester Wunderman coined the term direct marketing in 1961, the ability to target specific consumers with ads rather than blanketing the airwaves with mass appeals and hoping the right people will hear them has been the marketers holy grail. Whats new is the efficiency with which individually tailored digital ads can be tested and matched to our personalities. Facebook is the microtargeters ultimate weapon. The explosive growth of Facebooks ad business has been overshadowed by its increasing role in how we get our news, real or fake. In July, the social network posted record earnings: quarterly sales were up 59 percent from the previous year, and profits almost tripled to $2.06 billion. While active users of Facebook now 1.71 billion monthly active users were up 15 percent, the real story was how much each individual user was worth. The company makes $3.82 a year from each global user, up from $2.76 a year ago, and an average of $14.34 per user in the United States, up from $9.30 a year ago. Much of this growth comes from the fact that advertisers not only have an enormous audience in Facebook but an audience they can slice into the tranches they hope to reach. One recent advertising product on Facebook is the so-called dark post: A newsfeed message seen by no one aside from the users being targeted. With the help of Cambridge Analytica, Mr. Trumps digital team used dark posts to serve different ads to different potential voters, aiming to push the exact right buttons for the exact right people at the exact right times. The national desk of The Times has correspondents around the country, and they filed a steady stream of compelling stories from voters between coastal America. And yet between the horse race and the campaign drama, much of their work was simply drowned out. That left many of the readers I spoke with feeling like The Times was a swirl of like-mindedness. Gudemann and other readers said The Timess liberalism sounds the loudest the closer you get to the Opinion section, perhaps not surprisingly. Still, too many of the voices, of both the regular columnists and even guest writers, are from people with similar views. Ive read The Times for 50 years, and Im tired of the old guard, said James Harris, of Great Barrington, Mass. He said hed welcome some fresher voices. Judy Barlas of Silver Spring, Md., raises a different issue. She supported Bernie Sanders in the primary. But she told me she saw evidence early on that The Times believed Clinton would win the nomination and kept pushing that scenario. It anticipated an outcome, and it stuck with it. When Sanders would have a victory, they would cast it in terms of what it meant for Clinton, Barlas said. It was the same approach through the election. In her view, editors and reporters developed a story line, and thats the only perspective they presented. I expect more from The Times, she said. The Timess executive editor, Dean Baquet, and its publisher, Arthur Sulzberger Jr., sent an extraordinary post-election letter to subscribers that was in part an attempt to assure readers there was some self-reflection going on in the newsroom about its coverage. It included a vow to rededicate ourselves to the fundamental mission of Times journalism. That is to report America and the world honestly, without fear or favor, striving always to understand and reflect all political perspectives and life experiences But they also used the occasion to congratulate themselves on their swift, agile and creative coverage on election night, and they praised their journalism as fair to both candidates and unflinching in its scrutiny. I suspect that gesture soothed some readers, but many others were expecting more of an apology. And some were repelled by what they described as a self-congratulatory tone and what several viewed as a lack of sincerity. Chavi Eve Karkowsky, an obstetrician in New York City, saw the letter through the lens of her own profession. In medicine when something goes wrong, we ask: Where did we get this information? Why? What should we do differently? We break it down to its very basic level, she said. Karkowsky would have preferred a real apology, she said, and some sense that The Times was looking inward. Having two or three weeks off for your next vacation is undoubtedly a luxury, but, depending on how you plan, the trip could be time well spent or wasted, according to Sam McClure, the owner of Small World Travel in Austin, Tex., who specializes in creating customized extended itineraries. A couple of weeks away may sound like a long time, but its not as long as you think, and there are several factors travelers need to consider to get the most out of their trip, she said. Here, she shares tips on planning a successful multiweek vacation: AVOID OVERSCHEDULING With a few weeks off, its tempting to hit several destinations, but Ms. McClure advised against too many stops. Youll end up spending all your time on planes and trains, everything you see will be a blur, and youll burn out, she said. Instead, keep travel to a minimum by sticking to one country or focusing on an area of the world where there are interconnected flights so traveling is less of a hassle. Examples include Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia in Southern Africa and Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand in Southeast Asia. BUILD IN DOWNTIME Sightseeing is fun, but overdoing tours and visits to historical sites on a longer-than-usual trip can lead to information overload. Balance your itinerary with unstructured time ideally, the equivalent of two days for every week youre away so you can relax on a beach, wander through local markets or people-watch in cafes. IOWA CITY The air felt leaden in the hallways at West High School on the morning after Election Day. The usual clatter from the buildings 2,000 students was muffled. At lunchtime, Lujayn Hamad was in the cafeteria when she said a boy she barely knew roughly bumped into her and swore at her. Go back home, he told Ms. Hamad, who is 15, and an American citizen, and wears a hijab. The comment, overheard by a friend at Ms. Hamads side though denied by the male student set off a turbulent week of tears, fury and demonstrations at West High, a large public school in this university town, which prides itself on its openness and progressivism. Minorities make up nearly 40 percent of the student body at West High, a far more diverse mix than the typical Iowan school. In the hours and days after Ms. Hamads encounter in the cafeteria, similar incidents followed, students said. One girl said she was surrounded by heckling students and called a terrorist. Another said she saw people chanting Trump in the hallways when they passed black students. In one classroom, a student noted the absence of a Latino classmate and announced to the others, I wonder if she got deported. Like many other schools around the country since the election, West High has become a microcosm of the United States itself, a place roiled by tension, divisions and mistrust. Students in many schools say supporters of Donald J. Trump have felt empowered to lash out at minorities, while outraged backers of Hillary Clinton have been spurred to organize and demonstrate. And teachers have been struggling to provide guidance even as they themselves are processing the election results. CAMBRIDGE, Mass. Cornel West, the fiery African-American scholar who broke with Harvard University 14 years ago and whose searing critiques of President Obama earned him the enmity of many on the left, has been invited back to the university to teach. He is to hold a joint appointment at the Harvard Divinity School and the department of African and African-American studies as a professor of the practice of public philosophy, a title reserved for those who have made outstanding contributions in their professional fields. Our friend is coming back in this distinguished posture to resume an appointment like the one he had when he departed, said Lawrence D. Bobo, the chairman of the department. Dr. Bobo said the position is for someone who is recognized not simply as a scholar or teacher or significant voice, but who is on a bigger stage, who is speaking to a broader public about the important questions of the day. Brought to the United States from Venezuela as a toddler, Carlos Roa was among the first young undocumented immigrants to be protected from deportation under a program President Obama set up in 2012 by executive action. Since then Mr. Roa, now 29, has put himself through college and is training to be an architect, drafting blueprints at a Chicago firm. But with the election of Donald J. Trump as president, Mr. Roa and 750,000 other immigrants in the program, who came to the United States as children, have been swept up in a wave of anxiety, worried about losing the progress they have made and being forced back underground or even deported. Mr. Trump has promised to immediately terminate Mr. Obamas executive actions on immigration, including the youth initiative. With deep roots in the United States, and with many supporters in civil rights groups, universities and city governments already mobilizing to shield them, many who came here as youths said they were prepared to fight efforts to end the program or expel them from the country. For three generations, Larry Starrhs family has operated a small farm in Kern County, which now grows almonds and pistachios. He, too, resents the states water regulations for farmers, and hopes Mr. Trump will work with the Republican-controlled Congress to overturn some of the rules and get more water pumped to the Central Valley. Bullet Train to Nowhere : Construction of the California high-speed rail system, Americas most ambitious infrastructure project, Construction of the California high-speed rail system, Americas most ambitious infrastructure project, has become a multi-billion-dollar nightmare A Piece of Black History Destroyed: Lincoln Heights a historically Black community in a predominantly white, rural county in Northern California endured for decades. Lincoln Heights a historically Black community in a predominantly white, rural county in Northern California endured for decades. Then came the Mill fire Warehouse Moratorium: As warehouse construction balloons nationwide, residents in communities both rural and urban have pushed back. In Californias Inland Empire, As warehouse construction balloons nationwide, residents in communities both rural and urban have pushed back. In Californias Inland Empire, the anger has turned to widespread action Theres a huge void and disconnect here between the big cities and the country in this state; they look at us as some sort of tumbleweed in between Sacramento and Los Angeles, Mr. Starrh said. He pointed to the recent statewide ban on plastic bags as an example of government overreach, something he hopes will lessen with Mr. Trump in power. The politicians here think the answer to all your problems is more laws, but I spend more time now going to meetings about regulations than actually farming, Mr. Starrh said. It doesnt help me build jobs or feed my family, and its not a way to stay in business. Republicans make up roughly 38 percent of all registered voters in Kern County, while Democrats account for 36 percent. (Most others are independent.) But Republicans control both the Bakersfield City Council and the countys Board of Supervisors. The city is also home to Kevin McCarthy, the House majority leader who has represented the area in Congress for a decade. Many Republicans here are confident that Mr. McCarthy and Mr. Trump will help chip away at some state policies, such as environmental regulations, the Affordable Care Act and the overwhelmingly welcoming attitude toward immigrants. Mr. Surgener, 42, runs a small oil and chemical company and said he hoped Mr. Trump would raise tariffs on oil from outside the country. More than that, he said, he hopes for relief on some of the states rules against fracking. (Adds comments from separate source on when government would be able to rescind contract) By Mitra Taj LIMA, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Peru is considering rescinding Odebrecht SA's $5 billion natural gas pipeline contract after the Brazilian company's attempt to sell its majority stake in the project got snagged on corruption concerns, a government source said Friday. As a condition to buying Odebrecht's stake, a Sempra Energy-led consortium asked to remove a clause in the contract that could hold it liable for any corruption during the awarding of the project, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The government of Peru's President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski has refused to remove the clause from the contract and is growing impatient as it seeks to untangle billions in stalled infrastructure projects to bolster growth, the source said. Odebrecht, entangled in a vast corruption investigation in neighboring Brazil, must exit the pipeline project in order for a group of banks to disburse a $4.1 billion loan needed to finance its construction. If Sempra does not change its mind on the clause and close the deal, the government could rescind the contract as soon as the end of the month and hold a new auction to find a company to build and operate the pipeline, the source said. Sempra would be welcome to bid on the project, the source added. A separate source with direct knowledge of negotiations said the government would have no legal basis for rescinding the contract until early next year when the concession holder must meet deadlines on advancing the project. The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because negotiations are still ongoing, also said the clause on corruption has been discussed by both companies. It was unclear what rescinding the contract would mean for Odebrecht, which has been trying to sell off assets to cut its bloated debt in the wake of a massive graft scandal in Brazil. Odebrecht, Sempra Energy and Techint Group, part of the Sempra-led consortium, did not respond to requests for comment. Story continues The 34-year concession to build and operate the pipeline was awarded to Odebrecht in 2014 after its sole competitor - a Sempra-led group - was disqualified the day of the auction for making last-minute changes to the share each company held in the consortium. Public prosecutors in Peru have been investigating potential wrongdoing in the bidding process, which Odebrecht and public officials have denied. Prosecutors carrying out a separate investigation have alleged ex-president Ollanta Humala, whose term ended in July, of taking illicit funds from Odebrecht. Humala and Odebrecht have denied wrongdoing in Peru. (Additional reporting by Guillermo Parra-Bernal in Sao Paulo; Editing by Bernard Orr) WASHINGTON Senator Chuck Schumer of New York wasnt planning on being leader of the Senate minority and by extension the Democratic opposition as the Trump era dawns in the nations capital. Do I regret what happened? Yes, said Mr. Schumer, who was hoping to be President Hillary Clintons right hand as Senate majority leader before both he and Mrs. Clinton came up short of their Election Day goals. Late moments at night, do I think what could have been? Yes. But I am fully occupied with the job at hand, Mr. Schumer said in an interview in his Senate office on Friday, just a few days after being formally chosen by his colleagues to succeed his mentor, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, as leader of the Senate Democrats. That job, in Mr. Schumers view, is to serve as the bulwark against a unified Republican government led by his former campaign donor, President-elect Donald J. Trump; to use the power of the Senate minority to try to force compromise when possible; and to stand in the way of Republicans when necessary. WASHINGTON President Obama is rethinking his plans to withdraw from the political arena after he leaves office next year, hinting to friends and supporters that he wants to add his voice to the shellshocked Democratic activists and elected officials who are now angrily vowing to oppose Donald J. Trumps presidency. White House aides say they expect the president to try to refrain from criticism during the transition because of his belief in the importance of a courteous and dignified transfer of power. But while the president holds out hope that he might influence Mr. Trump, he has made it clear that once out of office he will not remain silent if Mr. Trump goes too far in undoing his legacy. Im going to be constrained in what I do with all of you until I am again a private citizen, Mr. Obama, who will be living a few miles from the White House next year, told a meeting this past week of Organizing for Action, the group that maintains his political movement. But thats not so far off. Dozens of liberal advocacy groups, which have received a flood of donations and new members in the chaotic days since Mr. Trumps defeat of Hillary Clinton, are gearing up for years of clashes with Mr. Trump. After eight years of advocacy on behalf of the Obama agenda, they are racing to recast themselves as bulwarks against Mr. Trumps expected assault on an array of Democratic policies. The White House and the Pentagon declined to comment on Admiral Rogerss fate. Reached by phone on Saturday afternoon, Admiral Rogers declined to comment. The effort to force out Admiral Rogers, which was first reported by The Washington Post, puts Mr. Trump in the position of considering whether to name, as the man who would brief him on intelligence matters each morning, a four-star admiral whom the White House is considering relieving of his posts. It also raises the question of why Mr. Obama would consider firing one of the nations top intelligence officers in the last days of his administration. Admiral Rogerss replacement would not be confirmed until after Mr. Trump takes over. One senior intelligence official argued that letting word of the effort leak seemed more about politics or vengeance than about effecting any real change. Representative Devin Nunes of California, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and a member of Mr. Trumps transition team, strongly defended Admiral Rogers. In a letter to Mr. Carter and Mr. Clapper, Mr. Nunes asked them to testify before his committee to explain why they want to push Mr. Rogers out. Its not by accident that Admiral Rogers meets with the president-elect and two days later this story, which is completely built on lies, appears, Mr. Nunes said in a short interview. Mr. Carter and Mr. Clapper had submitted a formal recommendation to the White House to split the N.S.A., which conducts foreign surveillance and secures military networks, from the still-new Cyber Command. But there are questions inside the giant complex at Fort Meade, Md., where the N.S.A. and Cyber Command are housed, about whether the military cyberunit is ready to survive on its own. It relies heavily on the talent of the N.S.A., which dates back to the early 1950s. Sarah F. Cliffe, a former United Nations assistant secretary general who is now director of the Center on International Cooperation, a research organization at New York University, said she expected a reprise of the tensions that erupted between the United States and the United Nations during the administration of President George W. Bush. John R. Bolton, who was ambassador to the United Nations under Mr. Bush, once said the United Nations would be more effective without its top 10 floors, where its senior leaders have their offices. Mr. Bolton is one of Mr. Trumps many would-be candidates for secretary of state. But Ms. Cliffe said Mr. Trump may also find the United Nations useful. He prides himself on making deals, she said. The U.N. is the forum where countries make deals in their own national interests but that also does some collective good. His own comments about the United Nations are difficult to parse. At a 2005 Senate hearing about planned renovations of the United Nations headquarters, he described himself as a big fan and said that the concept of the United Nations and the fact that the United Nations is in New York is very important to me and very important to the world as far as I am concerned. As one of Manhattans pre-eminent builders, he also offered to handle the renovation at half the price. In 2012, he complained on Twitter about the marble behind the speakers lectern at the General Assembly hall, claiming he could build it better. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, on Saturday to call for the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is accused of taking $1 billion from a government investment fund. The protesters, wearing the yellow T-shirts of Malaysias clean government movement, known as Bersih, converged on the city center to hear their leaders call for Mr. Najibs ouster. Among the speakers was former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, 91, who once chose Mr. Najib as prime minister but now criticizes his former proteges government as corrupt. WARSAW Europes right-wing populists have scrambled to outdo one another in celebrating Donald J. Trump as an American president who shares many of their nationalistic, anti-immigrant attitudes. Less thrilled are the hard-liners in Poland. And the problem is Vladimir V. Putin. Poland already has one of Europes most conservative governments, which took office a year ago. And top leaders have eagerly cast Mr. Trumps election as the latest and most crucial chapter in a global shift away from Western-style liberal democracy. But they also see a worrisome problem: the chummy noises Mr. Trump has made toward Mr. Putin, the Russian president. Even as the government may share many of Mr. Putins conservative attitudes and nationalist impulses, Polish leaders are restrained by a deep, almost visceral distrust of him. Memories of Russian domination during the Soviet era are still raw here, and Poland has been one of the most hawkish members of the European Union on taking a hard line toward Mr. Putin. The Polish predicament is yet another reminder of how thoroughly the Trump victory has scrambled the geopolitics of Europe. His campaign remarks undercutting NATO, and suggesting that the United States could possibly walk away from the trans-Atlantic alliance, alarmed leaders in the Baltics and in Poland even after Mr. Trump softened his remarks. VATICAN CITY Pope Francis on Saturday criticized what he called a polarizing surge in much of the world to exclude people of different nationalities, races or beliefs as enemies as he led a ceremony welcoming 17 new cardinals from six continents. He called for the conversion of our pitiful hearts that tend to judge, divide, oppose and condemn and cautioned against those who raise walls, build barriers and label people. We see, for example, how quickly those among us with the status of the stranger, an immigrant or a refugee become a threat, take on the status of an enemy, the pope said. An enemy because they come from a distant country or have different customs. The ceremony, held in St. Peters Basilica, formally inducted the priests as cardinals. One of the new princes of the church, as the cardinals are sometimes called, an 87-year-old bishop from Lesotho, in southern Africa, was too frail to attend the ceremony; his red hat will be delivered to him, the pope announced in Latin. ISTANBUL Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, the designated national security adviser for the incoming Trump administration, once wrote on Twitter that it was rational to fear Muslims, but that does not seem likely to cause him any grief with Turkeys government, even though it is led by a religiously conservative Muslim, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Ankara has paid far more attention to General Flynns full-throated support for Mr. Erdogans government, and especially its wish to extradite the Islamic scholar Fethullah Gulen from his sanctuary in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. General Flynn wrote an article published in The Hill on Election Day calling on the United States to be more sympathetic to the concerns of Turkey, a NATO ally, and embracing Mr. Erdogans position that Mr. Gulen is an extremist who was behind the failed July coup against his government. Mr. Gulen and his supporters deny that, and depict him as a moderate more concerned with building thousands of schools than with toppling Turkeys government. Mr. Gulen was once an ally of Mr. Erdogan, but they had a falling out. Behind much of the Middle Easts chaos the wars in Syria and Yemen, the political upheaval in Iraq and Lebanon and Bahrain there is another conflict. Saudi Arabia and Iran are waging a struggle for dominance that has turned much of the Middle East into their battlefield. Rather than fighting directly, they wield and in that way worsen the regions direst problems: dictatorship, militia violence and religious extremism. The history of their rivalry tracks and helps to explain the Middle Easts disintegration, particularly the Sunni-Shiite sectarianism both powers have found useful to cultivate. It is a story in which the United States has been a supporting but constant player, most recently by backing the Saudi war in Yemen, which kills hundreds of civilians. These dynamics, scholars warn, point toward a future of civil wars, divided societies and unstable governments. The Haggler loves a great consumer mystery. Like, why are hotel thermostats so varied and confounding? Do we really need smart refrigerators? And heres one that recently flitted across the Hagglers mind: When Taco Bell conceived its Cheesy Core Burrito basically, a cheese burrito stuffed inside a beef burrito did it ever consider cramming the whole concoction into yet another, even bigger burrito and calling it the Triple Dare? Emails to Taco Bell with this perfectly reasonable question were not returned. Some consumer mysteries have solutions. Some of them do not. In this episode, an example of the latter: Q. I work at a nonprofit in Manhattan. Toward the end of May, I received a bill from a company called IDC Servco for $7,000 worth of printer toner. Less than a month later I received another bill for $9,000 worth of the same product. Historically we have paid $1,000 to $2,000 a year for toner, though to a different company. As I later learned, we had never hired IDC Servco. When I got the second bill, I called the company. A representative was very apologetic but basically made it seem that we had, in fact, ordered $16,000 in toner. This guy agreed to lower the price of the second shipment to $5,000. At the time I assumed we had a deal with this operation. So I wrote a check and thought that was that. But the weirdness was just starting. Soon after, I got a call from a man at a company Id never heard of. He said he worked with IDC Servco and would cut the cost of the second shipment to $3,419 if I paid his company via credit card and canceled the check for $5,000 to IDC Servco. I gave him our companys credit card number, I canceled the $5,000 check to IDC Servco, and thought, once again, this is over. The Supreme Courts infamous 1944 Japanese internment decision, Korematsu v. United States, has never been overturned. But does that mean, as some of Donald J. Trumps associates have recently implied, that it is still good law, a precedent that could be cited in support of a national registry for Muslim immigrants or other morally repugnant classification schemes? The ultimate answer is no but the no is not a simple one. The legal doctrine of stare decisis holds that precedent ordinarily remains in place until it is overturned. And cases that seemed outdated and disreputable but remained on the books have sometimes recurred in the courts jurisprudence, particularly after the Sept. 11 attacks. So a moral plea for the government not to treat Korematsu as law is not enough. Fortunately, there is also a legal argument for why Korematsu should not be treated as such. The most straightforward way to reject Korematsu is to understand it not as the definitive word on the true meaning of the Constitution, but simply as a moment in historical time in which particular justices applied the law to specific facts. According to this view, a decision can be wrong at the very moment it was decided and therefore should not be followed subsequently. A grave danger comes from the Supreme Court. If Donald J. Trump appoints a justice in the mold of Antonin Scalia to fill the current vacancy, as he has pledged to do, there could be five votes to further gut the Voting Rights Act. Conservatives will target Section 2 of the law, which prohibits voting practices that discriminate on the basis of race or color. (This provision was successfully used to challenge voting restrictions in North Carolina and Texas this year.) When the current chief justice of the Supreme Court, John G. Roberts Jr., was a lawyer in the Justice Department in the early 1980s, he led a charge against Section 2. He argued in a 1981 memo that the provision should block only those voting laws that were found to be intentionally discriminatory. This was a much higher standard (and in practice, much more difficult to establish) than showing that a voting law had a discriminatory outcome. Violations of Section 2 should not be made too easy to prove, Mr. Roberts wrote. If the Supreme Court were to adopt Mr. Robertss 1981 position today, the countrys most important civil rights law would be effectively dead. As President-elect Donald Trump comes forth with the first official appointments to his administration , it is less important to focus on political parties than on the skills required to effectively solve the country's problems, Tennessee Rep. Marsha Blackburn said on Friday. "I think it's less important to say, 'Well, this one's a Republican, this one's a Democrat, this one's for the East Coast, this one's for the West Coast.' Let's put our attention on having the skill set that's necessary to achieve the goals that Mr. Trump would like to achieve in the next couple of years," she said. "What we have to do is allow [Trump] the opportunity to build out a group of individuals that he will have confidence in and that he knows are on the same thought pattern," said Blackburn, an executive committee member of Trump's transition team. Blackburn told CNBC's " Squawk on the Street " that while she thinks the Trump administration will eventually include women and members of different races, the focus at the moment is finding the most qualified person to do each job. "Just as you look at problem-solving for a corporation, you do the same thing when you're looking at re-engineering a federal government that has grown far too large and has become so bureaucratic it is [incapable] of solving the problems that the citizens have," she said. Blackburn said she has not been offered any positions or had any conversations with the president-elect about serving on his administration. She said that Trump's first three picks Rep. Mike Pompeo for CIA director, Rep. Jeff Sessions for attorney general and former Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn for national security advisor reflect the top concern of the administration: national security. And, despite Flynn being a controversial figure, Blackburn said the former general's record of good decision-making judgment while serving his country makes him a very good fit for the job. "I think you look at the whole of General Flynn's background and what you see is someone who is very committed to this country, who is willing to have laid his life down for this country and for our freedoms, and I don't think that that can be discounted one bit," Blackburn said. Story continues The representative said Flynn, who advised Trump on foreign policy matters over the duration of his campaign, will bring the same discernment as a military general to his new role as national security advisor in how he gathered, processed and distilled information. Former CIA director James Woolsey echoed Blackburn's praise in a separate "Squawk on the Street" interview Friday, saying that he thought the three officially appointed members were good choices. "I think the key thing is that the three that they have selected for national security advisor, CIA, particularly those two, and Attorney General are really outstanding and able people who have done important things," said Woolsey, who served as central intelligence director under President Bill Clinton. Woolsey said it was good Trump picked professionals to work on the national security side in light of the state of global conflict with terrorist organizations like ISIS. While things are improving as government-sponsored troops chip away at the Islamic State's strongholds in Mosul and Raqqa, the next step will be closing in on ISIS' operations worldwide, Woolsey said. "The next thing we need to do is work together closely with the 30 or 40 countries in which ISIS is operating and not only take out ISIS' caliphate in Iraq and Syria but start wearing down around the world," he said. "We have to get on top of that, we have to find the terrorists before they commit terrorist attacks, and stop them and that is not easy." More From CNBC BEIRUT Doctors and nurses at a pediatric hospital in eastern Aleppo scrambled Friday to evacuate babies in incubators to safety from underground shelters after the facility in the besieged Syrian city was bombed for the second time this week. Medics and aid workers also reported a suspected attack involving toxic gas in a district on the western edge of the rebel-held area. At least 12 people, including children, were treated for breathing difficulties, said Adham Sahloul of the Syrian American Medical Society, which supports health facilities in Aleppo. Claims of toxic gas attacks are common in Syria, and reports by international inspectors have held the government responsible for using chemicals in attacks on civilians, which Damascus denies. Airstrikes also hit a village in rural areas Aleppo province, killing seven members of a family, including four children, opposition activists said. Friday was the fourth day of renewed assaults by Syrian warplanes on eastern Aleppo districts, a rebel-held enclave of 275,000 people. The onslaught began Tuesday, when Syrias ally Russia announced its own offensive on the northern rebel-controlled Idlib province and Homs province in central Syria. Since then, more than 100 people have been killed across northern Syria. Fridays airstrikes in Aleppo hit a complex of four hospitals that had been attacked two days earlier. The latest strikes forced the pediatric hospital and a neighboring facility to stop operating. Now it is being bombed. I am sorry. I have to go to transfer the children, the head of the pediatric hospital wrote in a text message to The Associated Press. The doctor identified himself only by his first name of Hatem because he fears for reprisals against his family. The incubators already had been moved underground for safety, but with bombs falling all around the facility, hospital workers had to rush them to a safer place despite the danger. Hatem rushed 14 babies in incubators to another facility a 10-minute drive away while airstrikes continued, he said in a later message. As we drove out with the ambulance, warplanes were firing and artillery were shelling, he wrote. But thank God we were not hurt. Some of the survivors of the suspected gas attack were taken to the childrens hospital. The cameras of Al-Jazeera, which was broadcasting from the facility as the airstrikes occurred, went dark for a moment. When video resumed, dust was swirling and debris was strewn in the corridors. Nurses scurried to get babies to safety, and one was seen carrying a blanket-wrapped infant. She then hugged and comforted another nurse who was sobbing as she picked up a baby. Another hospital in a different Aleppo neighborhood was bombed Thursday night, the doctor told AP. The entrance was set on fire but no one was hurt. Only four of seven hospitals are still operating in the district, Sahloul said. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said dozens of airstrikes, artillery and barrel bombs hit 18 different neighborhoods of eastern Aleppo. Government bombings have targeted neighborhoods with medical facilities, including the childrens hospital and a nearby clinic that has one of the few remaining intensive care units in eastern Aleppo, the Observatory said. Many hospitals and clinics in the besieged area have moved their operations underground after months of relentless bombardment. The World Health Organization said that in 2016, it recorded 126 attacks on health facilities, a common tactic over the five years of Syrias civil war. Russia and the Syrian government deny targeting hospitals. The city of Aleppo, once Syrias commercial hub, has been divided since 2012, with the eastern half in rebel hands and the western half controlled by government forces. Ibrahim al-Haj, a member of the Syria Civil Defense rescue unit in Aleppo, said the city is a mess. The group of rescuers and first responders said they are struggling to put out fires set off by the bombings in at least 10 areas. The Observatory said at least four people were killed in the citys districts. It also said the strike that killed the seven family members took place in southwestern Aleppo province. Syrian Civil Defense posted photos showing the bodies of children covered with dust and blood. Authorities on Saturday identified a 25-year-old man who died after overdosing at the Newport Beach bar American Junkie. Ahmed Said, a resident of Santa Ana, died at 7:20 a.m. Friday after he was rushed to Huntington Beach Hospital from the bar, according to the Orange County coroners office. Around 1 a.m. on Friday, first responders arrived at American Junkie, located at 2406 Newport Blvd., and found four men unconscious. Said and three other men were rushed to the hospital after apparently overdosing on a narcotic of some kind, Newport Beach police said. On Friday night, police arrested an employee of the bar, 42-year-old Sean Robert McLaughlin, at his Aliso Viejo home. McLaughlin was arrested on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter. Police said McLaughlin gave the men a narcotic, but it remains unclear what the men injested. Search warrants were served at the bar and McLaughlins home on Friday, police said. Contact the writer: lawilliams@scng.com PHOENIX A federal judge in Tucson, Ariz., has ordered the Border Patrol to improve conditions at its holding facilities in most of the state, saying the agency was not following its own standards by keeping migrants in crowded, cold cells without proper bedding. Judge David Bury issued the temporary order Friday requiring the Border Patrols Tucson Sector to provide clean mats and thin blankets to migrants held for longer than 12 hours and to allow them to wash or clean themselves. Bury said plaintiffs presented persuasive evidence that basic human needs of migrants were not being met. The case was brought last year by the ACLU, the Morrison and Foerster law firm, and other immigrant rights organizations on behalf of migrants who say the Border Patrols holding facilities in Arizona are unsanitary, extremely cold and inhumane. Migrants regularly call holding cells hieleras, the Spanish word for freezer. We believe that the conditions were so below par that when you have people, whether its two nights or one night sleeping on the floor, that is just below any constitutional standards or norms of decency, ACLU senior counsel Dan Pochoda said. Bury issued the temporary injunction after a hearing earlier this week at which both parties made arguments. The Border Patrol has defended its practices and said its committed to the safety, security and welfare of detainees. The agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the order late Friday. It maintains that it provides migrants with basic human needs in accordance with its own policies, and that agents provide medical care, warmth, sanitation, food and water, and allows detainees to sleep. But photos released this year after a legal battle by the government to keep them under seal show men jammed together under a thin thermal blanket and a woman using a concrete floor strewn with trash to change a babys diaper. Other photos show rusty toilets, dirty toilet paper on the floor and a malfunctioning water fountain in detention areas. The cells shown in the images are designed to provide short-term shelter for detainees until they can be processed, the agency said. Migrants are usually deported or transferred to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which has long-term detention centers. The order issued Friday applies to the Tucson Sectors eight facilities and is temporary while the case plays out in court, although Pochoda says its a good indicator that plaintiffs have the upper hand. Bury also ordered the Border Patrol to provide medical screening at all times at all stations, monitor cell temperature, ensure that the stations have working sinks and toilets and other materials sufficient to meet the personal hygiene needs of migrants, and provide personal products like toilet paper and toothbrushes. Last year, Bury issued sanctions against the Border Patrol over destruction of surveillance video evidence in the case. The coalition receives continuous surveillance video from the Border Patrol as ordered by Bury, said Nora Preciado, a staff attorney for the National Immigration Law Center. The lawsuit was originally filed on behalf of three immigrants but is now a class-action suit. For proponents of criminal justice reform in California, this past election cycle has been a mixed bag. Whereas California voters reiterated their desire for a greater emphasis on crime prevention, rehabilitation and reasonable sentencing, the election of Donald Trump and his selection of Sen. Jeff Sessions for U.S. Attorney General raises questions about the future of criminal justice reform. In recent years, California has led the way in justice reform, not because of the political will of state politicians, but because Californians themselves have seen enough of the failed, costly experiment of mass incarceration to know another route is needed. In 2012, Californians overwhelmingly approved reforms to the states three strikes laws, requiring a third strike resulting in life imprisonment to stem from a serious crime. In 2014, voters approved Proposition 47, which reduced from felonies to misdemeanors a handful of drug possession and petty theft offenses. Both reforms were predicated on the reasonable assumption that people shouldnt spend years, or even the rest of their lives, in prison for low-level crimes, yet both were also strenuously opposed by law enforcement lobby groups, who have forsaken cool-headed policy analysis in favor of hysteria, to their own detriment. While law enforcement groups have attempted to blame minor crime increases on those reforms, Californians repudiated such narratives this November. Not only did Californians approve the legalization of marijuana, consequently removing criminal penalties from most marijuana offenses, but approved Proposition 57, which does two important things. First, it grants judges, not prosecutors, discretion over whether to charge juveniles offenders as adults. Secondly, the initiative expands the pool of prison inmates eligible for earlier parole, specifically those who have not been convicted of violent felonies as defined by the California Penal Code. Contrary to the narrative of politically savvy district attorneys and police chiefs, whose budgets and bloated compensation packages depend on a public living in fear, Prop. 57 excludes those convicted of violent felonies, as long defined by state law. The big exception to this trend is the states support for speeding up, rather than abolishing, our expensive, ineffective and unjust death penalty system. But that aside, taken together, Californias criminal justice reforms since 2012 have the potential to save hundreds of millions of dollars, funds which should be invested in crime prevention and rehabilitation programs. This has only partially been achieved. While there has been more funding to such efforts, there have been even bigger increases in the state prison budget, and the pay for prison guards. Better aligning state spending with the clear desires of the public remains a challenge for reformers. Proponents of reforms are likely to experience further headaches under a Trump administration. While the federal government doesnt have much authority over state justice reforms, Trumps casting of himself as the law and order president who will be tough on crime is hardly encouraging. If anything, it harkens back to the rhetoric from the 1980s and 1990s which yielded the state and national mass incarceration weve only now begun to correct. While its difficult to tell beyond such sloganeering what exactly Trump intends to do, his pick of Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., for attorney general gives some insight. Whereas Trump has indicated his support for states rights to decide marijuana laws, Sessions is a staunch drug warrior who could effectively nullify Californias vote for legalization through greater drug law enforcement. Sessions has also generally opposed modest sentencing reforms and has supported practices such as civil asset forfeiture. In other words, Californias increasingly impotent law enforcement lobby can probably expect at least rhetorical support from a Trump administration, which seems set on using the same outdated talking-points weve seen in California. Proponents of reform will need to work especially hard to combat such rhetoric, and keep the pressure on our local law enforcement leaders to do their part to make criminal justice reform work. Sal Rodriguez is a staff columnist. He may be reached at: salrodriguez@scng.com Democrats are afraid, and not just of President-elect Donald Trump. After years spent preparing for a Clinton presidency under the illusion that culture war politics conquered all, they now fear that Republicans who control 32 state legislatures and counting will act as if their only opposition clings to a strip of coastline along the Atlantic and the Pacific. But in the Golden State, where Democrats reign supreme, a parallel universe is setting in. Rather than moderating their rule to encourage Republicans nationwide to seek common ground, California Democrats want to make their state more of a leftist utopia than ever. This is a mistake. California provides Democrats with a badly needed safe space to show they can govern without being captive to the culturally revolutionary vanguard that has pushed so many voters into the arms of Trumps GOP. If Democrats want to make a credible case that Republicans should exercise magnanimity and restraint over the next four years as they set a national policy agenda, they should refocus on a broadly appealing agenda that pays heed to Californias dwindling middle class and its pinched working class. The old-fashioned circumspection of Gov. Jerry Brown should be more of a model going forward than the cutting-edge, aggressive progressivism of Gavin Newsom or Kamala Harris. Certainly, California is already one of the most socially liberal states in the union. But, as its many libertarians can attest, the accommodating and permissive spirit that has worked best for California has largely been an organic one, rising up from residents progressively shifting habits and mores. Meanwhile, enforced, top-down liberalism has mostly sown intractable conflict, squandering valuable time and energy on matters that hardly bear on the basic hallmarks of successful governance: a robust economy, judicious lawmaking and a society with a healthy, stable middle tier of producers, consumers and neighbors. Democrats should have anticipated the disappointments of a rainbow coalition built around an identity politics of grievance, even if, in Californias parallel universe, rose-colored glasses made it difficult. But recent news reports have revealed that one leading Democrat did push for a different approach Bill Clinton, the man responsible for his partys return from narrow margins in national politics after three consecutive Republican administrations. Clinton repeatedly pushed his wifes campaign to do more outreach to economically distressed white communities by prioritizing her populist economic message, as Vanity Fair has noted. But her advisors refused, believing that Hillary would do better by appealing to minorities and college-educated suburban voters. He begged in vain for his wife to accept an invitation to address a St. Patricks Day event at the University of Notre Dame. But Mrs. Clintons campaign refused, explaining to the organizers that white Catholics were not the audience she needed to spend time reaching out to, the New York Times recently reported. White, working-class voters who broke for Obama flipped to Trump and the GOP across the Rust Belt, deciding the election. Democrats who want to regain the trust of those Obama voters have much work to do in the Midwest states that turned against them this year. But the real proof of a party-wide rethink will have to come from the deepest blue states, and no blue state is more Democratic than California. Gov. Brown has hardly governed as a bloodless centrist, but he has consistently curbed some of his partys least productive adventures in utopianism and identity politics. Although Californias rising generation of leading Democrats often seem to think of an archliberal agenda as not just their prerogative, but rather their destiny, if they fail to reckon with the wisdom of an earlier political age, soon theyll really have something to worry about. SANTA ANA When The Courtyard service center and overnight shelter for the homeless began operating last month in the Civic Centers defunct bus terminal, one big question hung in the balance: If you open it, will they come? The answer is a resounding yes, based on numbers provided in the Civic Center Update county newsletter and by operators of the shelter, which sits at the corner of Santa Ana Boulevard and Ross Street. The Courtyard, which opened Oct. 5, is operating at capacity, with overnight stays surpassing 300, a number informally set by the county as an ideal maximum to ensure a safe and comfortable environment. The shelter is equipped with showers, portable toilets, washers and dryers, storage for belongings, a big-screen TV console and a small area covered with fake grass to be a doggy run for the occupants pets. On the first day of operation, 82 people signed up for the Safe Sleep Program at The Courtyard, a figure that increased to a high of 319 on Oct. 24, according to statistics in the newsletter documenting a period from Oct. 5-31. It has exceeded all of our expectations as far as being able to earn peoples trust and have them come in from the Civic Center, said Susan Price, hired in May as the countys director of care coordination to bring focus to serving a homeless population of nearly 4,500 countywide. Home to government services at all levels, the Civic Center plaza area had become a flashpoint, with hundreds of people camped out and rising concerns over crime, sanitation and unhealthy conditions. The Courtyard opened as a relief valve. Price walks The Courtyard almost daily to speak with service providers and homeless people. She said a head count in the Civic Center plaza conducted by Health Care Agency staff the first week of November showed a drop in the number of homeless people there from 461 surveyed in August to 192. Weve gained some ground as far as The Courtyards ability to have an impact (on the Civic Center), Price said. So its doing what we wanted it to do. Church and nonprofit groups provide three meals a day and are augmenting county health, social and behavioral services, such as a weekly womens support group recently formed by WISEPlace, a longtime Santa Ana nonprofit that provides housing and services to women in crisis. A resource fair inside The Courtyard is planned today by several faith-based groups involved in an organization called WE Collaboration. More than 50 volunteers are expected to offer health checks, massages, haircuts, bicycle repair and other services. One crew will pick up trash and sweep the Civic Center. Homeless people have migrated to The Courtyard from the streets surrounding the plaza and from as far as Buena Park and Laguna Beach. The people who bed down nightly on air mattresses and mats inside the open-sided terminal are largely finding it a safe alternative to the street and its predators. I love it here, I really do, said A.J. Hightower, sitting at a table with his cane in hand while waiting for dinner to be served Wednesday evening. I feel safer from everything. Its a better place. Hightower, 59, said he waited several days after The Courtyard opened to venture over. Homeless at the Civic Center for at least two years, his concerns included being rousted by police, who have ticketed him in the past for vagrancy. You dont have to worry about police coming in here, Hightower said. Alicia Euzarraga, 39, had been sleeping in the Civic Center for about a month when The Courtyard opened. Its a little bit better, she said, adding that she still worries about fights and wishes the grounds were power-washed more often. The Orange County Sheriffs Department has jurisdiction inside The Courtyard; Santa Ana police patrol the streets outside. The Midnight Mission operates the shelter under contract with the county and has its own security personnel. The use of drugs and alcohol is not tolerated in The Courtyard, and harassment of its clientele by police or by staff is not welcome, said Midnight Mission daytime supervisor Doris Starling. She recently removed some Courtyard employees who werent being respectful to the homeless occupants. This is not a guardhouse, Starling said. Its not a place where people are under suspicion. From Oct. 5 to Nov. 4, sheriffs deputies responded 30 times to The Courtyard, nine of those calls to assist Santa Ana police, said Lt. Mark Stichter. Only three incidents a warrant arrest, an argument and a petty theft generated a written case report, he said. Contact the writer: 714-796-7793 or twalker@ocregister.com or on Twitter @TellTheresa A presidential election victory is not a mandate. In fact, winning a presidential election never is, despite the opinion of too many pundits. Even Republican President Ronald Reagan recognized this when he won a landslide re-election in 1984, winning 49 states and garnering 525 electoral votes. In the aftermath of that election, Reagan pushed bipartisan support of laws he signed and ensured his Republican Party worked with Democrats in Congress. Despite the opinion of some, President-elect Trumps victory is not a mandate, either, and not because he lost the popular vote or because we are coming out of the most divisive election cycle in modern history, where many in the country are viewing his imminent presidency with a great deal of skepticism and concern. Its because when a president or a political party treats any one election as a mandate and overreaches, it quickly loses the reins of power. After his historic 2008 victory, President Obama had the wind at his back. Democrats regained the presidency after eight years and held majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. His party was unified and poised for potentially unparalleled legislative achievement, believing that the country had endorsed an ambitious progressive agenda. Early in his presidential tenure, Obama pushed what would ultimately become his signature legislative achievement the Affordable Care Act (colloquially referred to as Obamacare). It was pushed through Congress without a single Republican vote in either the House or the Senate, in the face of widespread public opposition to the legislation. That single action started a chain of events, beginning with a revolt by voters in 2010, costing President Obamas Democratic Party to lose its majority in the House and drop six seats in the Senate. It is also what spawned the Tea Party, and, thus, the beginnings of an early base of support for Trump, a political figure who personifies all that Obama demonized. Ever since, Obama has had a combative relationship with Congress devoid of mutual trust or admiration. Republicans in Congress bear some of the blame, as they refused to work with Obama. The result is unfortunate: Since 2010, President Obama has had no other major legislative achievements. Contrast that with former Presidents Bill Clinton and Reagan both who faced Congresses controlled by the opposition party and you will see a stark contrast in approach and, thus, accomplishment. In fact, Reagan had a rule that he would not sign a bill into law without at least some Democratic support, and Clintons penchant for political deal-making was the hallmark of his success as president. For the last six years in Washington, compromise was replaced with contempt. Polarization has overtaken collaboration and its become more politically expedient to bash political opponents than to find common ground. President Obamas response to the gridlock was to attempt to legislate by fiat, that is, to use executive orders to sidestep a Congress that he chastised as being controlled by the Party of no. As Marc Thiessen wrote for the Washington Post, The reason Obamas legacy is so vulnerable today is that the 44th president relied more on executive actions issuing not only executive orders, but also a record number of rules, regulations and agency directives to legislate around Congress and impose his agenda. Thiessen also recalled: After he lost control of the Senate in 2014, Obama announced at his first Cabinet meeting: Were not just going to be waiting for legislation. Ive got a pen and Ive got a phone. And I can use that pen to sign executive orders and take executive actions and administrative actions that move the ball forward. What this means, though, is on Day One in office, President Trump could undo every single one of the actions Obama made with his pen and phone. Thats why the role of the president is not that of a legislator, but instead a collaborative role that must persuade and work with Congress to pass legislation by a large enough margin that the next president and Congress will not undo it. Now Trump, winning an even more alienating campaign than either of the two that Obama won, must grapple with the realities of governing an even more divided country. The Republican Party will control the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives, but if it overreaches it will face the same kind of backlash Democrats and President Obama felt in the 2010 and 2014 elections. Brian Calle is opinion editor for the Southern California News Group. A 25-year-old Las Vegas woman has been accused of creating a fake Facebook account under her ex-boyfriends name and then sending herself multiple threatening emails, which lead to the mans wrongful arrest, authorities said. Stephani Renae Lawson pleaded not guilty on Friday to six felony counts including false imprisonment, attempted false imprisonment and perjury, according to the Orange County District Attorneys Office. If convicted, she faces up to seven years in jail, prosecutors said. Prior to September 2015, Lawson, who was living in Lake Forest at the time, created a fake Facebook account depicting an ex-boyfriend and then sent herself numerous threats pretending to be the ex-boyfriend, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said she filed multiple police reports to the Orange County Sheriffs Department in which she claimed the ex-boyfriend had violated a restraining order, stalked her and threatened to kill her. Prosecutors said she told police the threats came from the mans Facebook account. The man was subsequently arrested four times from September to December in 2015 and charged with multiple felonies, prosecutors said. In May, Lawson allegedly sent herself more threats through Facebook using her own device and Internet provider address. That same month she testified under penalty of perjury at the ex-boyfriends preliminary hearing and alleged the man had threatened her through Facebook, prosecutors said. The District Attorneys Office conducted a follow-up investigation into Lawsons allegations and subsequently charged her with multiple felonies. Lawson was arrested in Las Vegas and extradited to Orange County. She is due in court on Nov. 30 for a pre-tiral hearing. Contact the writer: kpuente@ocregister.com Frightened, frustrated and girding for a fight, many political leaders and partisans around the country are coming out early against normalizing Donald Trump that is, making him seem or be more like a regular, ordinary, legitimate sort of president than he otherwise is. For these Americans, right and left, Trump is a unique existential threat to the countrys character and fortunes, and he needs to be treated as such, day in and day out. Are they right? The first step toward an answer has to reckon with an immediate objection to their framing. Right and left, American voters clearly cast their lots this election year for a profound level of political abnormality. Doubtless, many hoped they could have it without a huge risk, powering Hillary Clinton to a victory in the popular vote. Still, a substantial chunk of Clintons support came from Sanders voters who wanted more risk and more abnormality just not the kind Trump was offering. Many Republican voters, meanwhile, didnt like Trump; yet he blasted both the Bush and Clinton dynasties out of the water, and few on the right mourn those losses. The national verdict this Election Day was simple: Just because some truly bad ideas are politically abnormal doesnt mean that we can thrive under established standards of political normality. To be sure, some of Trumps apparent ideas like some of what he has encouraged at the disreputable fringe of politics are unquestionably bad. At the same time, todays new political abnormality has cleared a unique and powerful space for the practice of the kind of actual politics that can ameliorate his errors to come. And remarkably enough, some anti-normalcy Democrats want to position themselves and their supporters to take advantage of that in a constructive way. Rest assured, there is no compromise on racism, bigotry, xenophobia and sexism. We will fight it in all its forms, whenever and wherever it re-emerges, Bernie Sanders warned Trump in a New York Times op-ed. But then he went on. I will keep an open mind to see what ideas Mr. Trump offers and when and how we can work together. Having lost the nationwide popular vote, however, he would do well to heed the views of progressives. If the president-elect is serious about pursuing policies that improve the lives of working families, Im going to present some very real opportunities for him to earn my support. Elizabeth Warren has made similarly steely overtures. Donald Trump ran a campaign that started with racial attacks and then rode the escalator down, she insisted in a post-election speech. He encouraged a toxic stew of hatred and fear. He attacked millions of Americans. And he regularly made statements that undermined core values of our democracy. But again, for Warren, thats not the end of the discussion. There are millions of people who did not vote for Donald Trump because of the bigotry and hate that fueled his campaign rallies. They voted for him despite hate. They voted for him out of frustration and anger and also out of hope that he would bring change. If and when Trump aims to increase the economic security of the middle-class families, Warren allowed, then count me in. To some Democrats more invested in political normalcy, these are intolerable heresies. White voters backed Trump as a bloc, wrote Jamelle Bouie, Slates chief political correspondent. They ignored his bigotry and elevated his call for a new nationalism, centered on white Americans. Whatever their actual intentions whether they were partisan Republicans, hardcore Trumpists, or simply disgusted with Hillary Clinton they voted for white nationalism, full stop. Despite Americas long and sordid history with institutionalizing black inferiority, Bouie and his ilk have claimed Trump marks a sharp, irredeemable and thoroughly abnormal break with the trajectory of the more recent past. The more Democrats obscure that, he concluded, the more they run the real risk of being co-opted, of bolstering the political prospects of ethno-nationalism in the name of a broad populism that isnt actually at play. In a vacuum, this kind of alarm makes some sense. But precisely because the electoral process produced a moment of broadly accepted abnormality, Democrats are in little danger of becoming servile retainers to a repulsive doctrine. Even assuming the worst about Trump, todays liberals and progressives are part of a broad and deep coalition of ideologues who want to take issues away from the president-elect not just to blunt his force as the worlds most powerful and independent amateur politician, but to increase their own support and build a broader base. Yet none of these ideologues want to win over the KKK or the avowed white nationalists or even the so-called alt-right. Instead, Sanders progressives, neoconservatives, traditional social conservatives, mainline conservatives, free-market moderate Republicans and libertarians all want to win over the kinds of people who voted for Trump to register their radical disavowal of normal national politics. If theyre willing to build ad hoc coalitions and work together, they can do just that. But not unless theyre willing to engage the Trump administration on at least the level of normalization as Ronald Reagan engaged the Soviets he described as rulers of an evil empire. Even many Trump voters wish they had a different choice with a clearer plan, sounder experience and a lower risk of big mistakes or missteps. They may look like a bloc, but theyre not. And amid todays abnormal times, thats more a mark of political health and stability than many nervous insiders are apt to think. James Poulos is a columnist for the Southern California News Group. CHICAGO Immigration hotlines are buzzing. Legal clinics are seeing an influx of clients. Public schools are fielding frantic questions from parents and students. Since the election, Donald Trumps tough talk on immigration has stirred anxiety nationwide among immigrants regardless of legal status. They are turning to lawyers, schools, advocacy groups and congressional offices for help. Were operating with a lot of unknowns, and a certain amount of fear comes with that, said Vanessa Esparza-Lpez, a managing attorney at the Chicago-based National Immigrant Justice Center. In Chicago, a hotline run by the states largest immigrant-rights group received more than 330 calls in the week after the election, compared with the usual 100 or so. Denver school officials sent a letter to parents in response to questions about the elections effect on students living in the country illegally. The New York Legal Assistance Group said its receiving 40 to 60 daily calls about immigration, up from 20 to 30. The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles reported 19 walk-ins on a single day, all with citizenship questions. The most urgent inquiries have been from young people benefiting from a 2012 federal program started by President Barack Obamas administration that allows immigrants brought to the country illegally as children to avoid deportation and get work permits. About 740,000 people have participated in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals system. Attorneys say the program is vulnerable because it was created by executive order, not by law, leaving new potential applicants second-guessing whether to sign up. Andrea Aguilera, a 20-year-old who attends a suburban Chicago college, feels in limbo with her DACA paperwork expiring next year. She was brought across the Mexican border illegally as a 4-year-old and largely kept her immigration status secret until she was able to get a work permit through DACA four years ago. Shes since worked as a grocery store cashier and as a finance office intern at a Chicago organization. Two of her siblings are in the program. Another is a U.S. citizen. Its been hard to focus on school, Aguilera said. I just dont know whats going to come next for us. During the campaign, Trump pledged to deport the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the country illegally and to build a border wall. The Republican president-elect has not detailed how he will proceed and recently walked back the number of anticipated deportees. The Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates for lower immigration levels, explained the spike in activity as uncertainty about whether existing laws will be enforced by Trumps administration. Jon Feere, a legal analyst at the Washington D.C.-based research organization, said those enrolled in DACA were aware of the risks when they signed up. Others should have little concern. Those who are in compliance with the law have nothing to worry about, he said. Still, even immigrants with permanent legal status have had questions since the election. Attorneys and immigrant organizations said green card holders feel new urgency to ensure that paperwork such as a renewal application is in order over fears that laws could change under a new administration. Most immigrants can seek citizenship three to five years after getting a green card. Roughly 9 million green card holders are currently eligible for citizenship, according to the most recent Department of Homeland Security statistics. Some citizens also sought clarity about when they could sponsor family members abroad. People need reassurance, said Irina Matiychenko, who leads the immigrant protection unit at the New York Legal Assistance Group. People need guidance. In Phoenix, local leaders planned a weekend meeting about being an immigrant in Arizona as an effort to guide us on the path of trust and unity. Staff members at the Chicago office of Democratic U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez reported an uptick in activity with at least 60 new applications for citizenship the past two weeks. School districts, including Chicago and Denver, used the election as a way to communicate existing policy. Denver Superintendent Tom Boasberg said the 90,000-student district sent letters in four languages home in response to what teachers were hearing from students and parents. The letter reiterated that school officials do not ask about immigration status when students enroll. In a time of fear and concern, lots of rumors and misinformation spread, he said. And thats why its so important to get accurate factual information to our families from a very trusted source. Associated Press writers Astrid Galvan in Phoenix, Colleen Slevin in Denver, and Amy Taxin in Santa Ana, California, contributed to this report. MANILA, Philippines Opponents of a heros burial for the Philippine dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos expressed outrage Friday over his surprise, private funeral at the national cemetery in what they called a sneaky maneuver to flout the judicial process. Victims of torture and imprisonment during the Marcos era had long opposed the burial in Libingan ng mga Bayani cemetery, which is reserved for national heroes, and some said they would seek to have the body removed. Hundreds of protesters began gathering after the funeral at the Peoples Power Monument, which commemorates the movement that ousted Marcos in 1986. The stealthy and hurried manner by which the Marcos burial was orchestrated is reminiscent of the dark days of martial law, said Franklin Drilon, the president pro tem of the Philippine Senate. His burial is anything but noble. Even in death, he is a thief. Marcos held power for two decades, ruling for nearly half that time under martial law. His government is believed to have killed more than 3,000 political opponents and tortured tens of thousands more while he and his associates stole an estimated $10 billion from the country. After his ouster, he fled to Hawaii, where he died in 1989. Four years later, his remains were returned to his hometown, Batac, in Ilocos Norte province. A preserved body purported to be that of Marcos was long on public display there, but many speculated it was a substitute made of wax. On Friday morning, his remains were secretly flown by helicopter to the heroes cemetery, which is the Philippines equivalent of Arlington National Cemetery in the United States. About 100 people attended the funeral, which included a 21-gun salute. Media representatives were barred from the cemetery, and riot police officers stood watch outside. Imee Marcos, the dictators daughter and the governor of Ilocos Norte, posted a short video on her Facebook page showing the helicopter arriving, the coffin being carried and her mother, the former first lady Imelda Marcos, 87, attending. Speaking briefly afterward, Imee Marcos thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for supporting the burial and apologized that the funeral was closed to the public for a simple, private and solemn ceremony. The burial fulfilled the longtime wish of the Marcos family. But opponents denounced the surreptitious way it was carried out and said it could inspire continuing anger and resentment toward the Marcoses. The sneakiness of the burial of the remains of Ferdinand Marcos showed the guilt, the fear and the defiance of the Marcoses, said Ramon Casiple, executive director of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform and a Marcos-era victim who joined in trying to stop the burial. Do the younger generations of the Marcos clan really want to continue holding this burden, or do they want to sincerely reconcile with the people? Duterte campaigned this year in part on the promise to bury Marcos, a personal hero. His father, Vicente Duterte, served in Marcos first Cabinet as secretary of general services. Duterte has drawn comparisons with Marcos for the ruthlessness of the current campaign against illicit drugs and for threats to suspend habeas corpus or impose martial law. The presidents press secretary, Ernesto Abella, who was traveling with Duterte in Lima, Peru, for a conference of world leaders, told reporters that there was nothing sneaky about the burial. The presidents office later issued a statement from Duterte suggesting that the torture and killings committed by the Marcos government were unproven. Whether or not he performed worse or better, there is no study, there is no movie about it, he said. Its just the challenges and allegations of the other side, which is not enough. The president also urged the country to move beyond the acrimony over the Marcos legacy. It seems to be a very raucous issue for the nation, he said, but I would like to pray that everybody would find a space in his heart for forgiveness. Opponents had argued that giving Marcos a heros burial would minimize the severity of his crimes and went to court to block it. They lost Nov. 8 when the Supreme Court ruled that the burial could proceed. But opponents said the sudden funeral flouted the legal process because the courts decision does not become final for 15 days, leaving time for further appeal. Vice President Leni Robredo, who was elected independently of Duterte, joined in criticizing the burial. She accused the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police of being complicit in circumventing the legal process because they received advance notice of the funeral and assisted in the ceremony. Richard Javad Heydarian, a political-science professor at De La Salle University in Manila, said the decision by Duterte to give Marcos a heros burial was unlikely to alienate his supporters and would probably reinforce the acceptance of strongman rule in the Philippines. On the most basic level, this is about his family friendship with the Marcoses, who have been very supportive of his rise to the presidency, Heydarian said. There also is the broader narrative of the glorification of the authoritarian brand of leadership, which would indirectly benefit Dutertes own style of governance. LOS ANGELES Three environmental and community-based groups have given their notice of intent to appeal a federal courts ruling allowing a subsidiary of Nestle to continue to remove millions of gallons of water annually from the San Bernardino National Forest. This notice comes after Riverside-based federal Judge Jesus G. Bernal rejected plaintiffss arguments in September that the U.S. Forest Service had broken federal procedures in allowing Nestle Waters North America to remove water from the remote West Fork of Strawberry Creek, which is located above San Bernardino. The original lawsuit was filed in October 2015 by the Center for Biological Diversity, the Story of Stuff Project, and The Courage Campaign claiming that the Forest Service made errors in allowing Nestle to maintain pipelines, pumps and other structures in the San Bernardino National Forest for 28 years after its permit expired. This appeal is absolutely necessary in order to assure that the U.S. Forest Service does not continue to allow precious water to be siphoned off our public lands without any limits or conditions to protect wildlife, water, and other public trust resources, said Ileene Anderson, senior scientist, who works out of the Los Angeles office of the Center for Biological Diversity. After nearly three decades since the permit expired and now with California entering its sixth year of drought, this situation must be remedied now. The plaintiffs have until May 1 to file their appeal, said Rachel Doughty, a Berkeley attorney working for the plaintiffs. We have not drafted the brief, so I cant tell you what the arguments (for the appeal) are, she said. Among other complaints, the plaintiffs unsuccessfully argued in the lower court case that the special use permit for four miles of pipeline and other structures used to tap Strawberry Canyons water had expired Aug. 2, 1988, and was never properly renewed. Bernal said that the Forest Service did receive timely and sufficient application for renewal in May 1987. Plaintiffs do not identify, and the court cannot find, any authority holding that an agencys failure to act within a reasonable time can invalidate a special use permit, Bernal wrote in his 12-page decision filed in U.S. District Court for the Central Division of California. Andrew Smith, senior trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice in Albuquerque, N.M., declined to comment on the appeal notice. Smith handled the case on behalf of the Forest Service in Bernals courtroom. Although not a party to this matter, we would welcome the 9th Circuits review of the District Courts decision, which reflects established 9th Circuit precedent, said Chris Rieck, a Nestle spokesman. We continue to work cooperatively with the USFS on the permit renewal process and to manage the Arrowhead Springs in Strawberry Canyon sustainably for the long-term. We Californians have dramatically reduced our water use over the past year in the face of an historic drought, but Nestle has refused to step up and do its part, said Michael OHeaney, executive director of the Story of Stuff Project. The courts bad ruling forces us to appeal the decision. The Forest Service has been enabling Nestle to destroy the delicate ecosystems of Strawberry Creek for 28 years, and it has to stop. said Eddie Kurtz, executive director of the California-based Courage Campaign Institute. This appeal challenges a justice system that lets massive corporations play by a different set of rules than the rest of us. Taking a public resource and selling it at an obscene profit without the legal right to do so is unacceptable. LONDON The boilers are shot, the water pipes sag and the 60-year-old cabling is a fire hazard. Buckingham Palace, home to Queen Elizabeth II, may not exactly be falling down, but it badly needs refurbishing, the British government said Friday, citing a serious risk of fire, flood and damage. Renovations on the building will start in April and will take a decade to complete, at a cost of 369 million pounds, or about $456 million. The announcement adds to the list of prestigious structures in Britain that need work, including the crumbling Palace of Westminster, home of the British Parliament. The building that would become Buckingham Palace was built in the early 1700s and became a royal residence when George III bought it in 1761. The queen carries out most of her official ceremonial and diplomatic duties as head of state in the palace. She would not have to move out while the work was in progress, officials said. She has several other residences, including Windsor Castle, which suffered a major fire in 1992 that raged for nine hours and wrecked large parts of the structure. Officials mentioned that incident on Friday as one motive for upgrading Buckingham Palace. It took more than five years to restore the castle after that event. The British Treasury said in a statement that a similar fire in a single wing of Buckingham Palace might cause 250 million pounds in damage. At Buckingham Palace, much of the electrical wiring is in a high-risk category and needs immediate attention to reduce the very real risk of fire and failure, the statement said, referring to an official report assessing the state of the building. Some of the electrical (wired) systems are over 60 years old. The palaces boilers date from the early 1980s, and it has become difficult to get spare parts for them, the Treasury said. Keeping the heating system in good working order is important not just for the comfort of the occupants but also to preserve the artwork on display, it said. Buckingham Palace is large, with 775 rooms, including 19 state rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 other bathrooms, so there is a lot of work to do. About 100 miles of electrical cabling will be replaced, along with 6,500 electrical wall outlets, 5,000 light fixtures and 330 fuse boxes. The plumbers will swap out 2,500 radiators and 500 bathroom fixtures. In all, about 7.4 acres of floorboards will need to be taken up and replaced, palace officials said. After years of budget cuts in Britain, the decision to spend so much to renovate the palace is not sitting well with everyone. It is pretty scandalous, said Graham Smith, chief executive officer of Republic, a group that lobbies for the abolition of the monarchy. Questions need to be asked about the queens mismanagement of assets and funding that have left the palace in such a state of disrepair. Smith added, While everyone else is suffering cuts, the palace keeps getting more money from the taxpayer. The government said the investment is money well spent because the palace and the monarchy are popular with visitors; more than half a million people tour the building each summer. Tourists are drawn to this country because of our culture, heritage and royal legacy, and when they visit, they spend billions of pounds and support thousands of jobs, said David Gauke, chief secretary to the Treasury. We must ensure that the special architectural and historic nature of some of our greatest buildings are protected for future generations. If we want to get rid of the Electoral College and elect presidents with a direct popular vote, we have James Madisons permission, in writing. Its in Article V of the Constitution. An amendment to abolish the Electoral College would need a two-thirds vote in the House and Senate, or two-thirds of the states in a convention, and then approval by three-quarters of the states. Should we do it? That distant sound you hear is James Madisons ghost calling out, Good luck with that. Hed remember that at the start of the Constitutional Convention in May 1787, delegates considered proposals to have the president elected by the people, by the Congress, by the Senate, by the state legislatures, by electors and by the governors. In mid-June, the delegates said the president should be elected by Congress to a single seven-year term. But then there was a new proposal for multiple presidents, and another one suggesting a president for life. On July 17 the delegates decided that there should be one president, elected by Congress and eligible for re-election, and then they changed their minds four times in 10 days. With no agreement at the end of August, they sent the whole problem to a committee. On Sept. 4, the committee offered the idea of a president and vice president serving four-year terms, chosen by electors in each state who would cast two votes for president. The person who received the greatest number of votes would be president and the runner-up vice president. But if no one had a majority, the president would be chosen by the Senate. The delegates argued and tinkered for days. It is in truth the most difficult of all on which we have had to decide, one wrote. Some still favored a national popular election. Some called for election by Congress, while critics said that would lead to intrigue and compromise the presidents independence. But having the president chosen by electors in each state, equal in number to the states representation in Congress, seemed to strike a good balance while also minimizing the risk of corruption, cabal, and foreign influence. The Electoral College was born. Then in 1800, an Electoral College tie threw the election into the House of Representatives and it took 36 ballots to make Thomas Jefferson president. That led to the Twelfth Amendment, requiring separate votes in the Electoral College for president and vice president. There have been more than 700 proposals to change or abolish the Electoral College, including one from the American Bar Association in 1967 that called for a direct popular election with a run-off if no one received 40 percent of the vote. But a direct election would soon fail to be a national election, because candidates would campaign only in California, New York, Florida and a few major cities in other states. Consider that in Illinois, Hillary Clinton won big with 2.9 million votes, while in California, Donald Trump received 3.7 million votes and lost in a landslide. You can find more voters under the sofa cushions in California than in the entire state of Wyoming, which Trump won with less than 175,000 votes. No one has been able to devise anything better than the Electoral College to give all voters a voice, and to give the president a broad base of support from which to govern. Alexander Hamilton wrote that the method of choosing the president, if not perfect, was at least excellent. We can probably take his word for it. Susan Shelley is a columnist for the Southern California News Group. Reach her at Susan@SusanShelley.com and follow her on Twitter: @Susan_Shelley. By Timothy Gardner WASHINGTON, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Most of the U.S. coal industry doubts Donald Trump can fulfill his promise to make the ailing industry great again in a country awash in dirt-cheap natural gas, a competing fuel. But a small sub-section of the coal sector that mines metallurgical coal - a variety used by steel makers instead of power plants - is gearing up for a Trump-inspired boom. That's because the Republican president-elect has promised a spending surge for roads, bridges and tunnels after he takes office on Jan. 20, a push to upgrade America's infrastructure with the support of leading Democrats that could jolt demand for metallurgical coal from American steel mills. Prices for met coal, as it is called, have already risen in recent months on lower supply from China. "This is the best news that Appalachia as a whole has had in about 10 years," said Jason Bostic, a vice president at the West Virginia Coal Association, referring to Trump's infrastructure agenda. "Suddenly there's a little bit of hope here." Corsa Coal Corp, a producer of met coal based in Pennsylvania, was already encouraged by the China-driven price spike before Trump's victory. Now it believes U.S. politics are going its way too. "The thing that has got me the most excited is the potential for infrastructure spending," said George Dethlefsen, Corsa's chief executive. "All those things are very energy- and steel-intensive, and that's good for our business." The company plans to boost its production of met coal by 70 percent in 2017 to around 1.2 million short tons. In the meantime, it is putting mines on a six-day-a-week schedule, up from four days, and it is looking at loading coal on its midnight shift, which it normally reserves for maintenance. Arch Coal Inc, which produces both met and steam coal used in power plants, said it was also optimistic about Trump, particularly his promise to roll back regulations. But other representatives of the steam coal industry have said regulation reversals may not overcome their main problem: plentiful and cheap natural gas following a decade-long hydraulic fracturing drilling boom. Story continues National production figures for met coal are unavailable, since the government does not break the data out. But total U.S. coal production has fallen to its lowest level since 1986, costing the industry thousands of jobs, as low natural gas prices and President Barack Obama's emissions and water regulations took their toll. Met coal prices, however, reflect the coal sector's only major sign of life this year. They have risen to above $270 a metric ton this month from lows of $70 a ton in February, driven in part by China reducing its output. Corsa and Arch are among a very small number of U.S. met coal producers that are publicly traded, with most of the others small and privately owned. Alpha Natural Resources, which emerged from bankruptcy in July, declined to comment. INFRASTRUCTURE BANK Trump's transition team is weighing an "infrastructure bank" to make investments in projects as part of an economic focus that also includes revamping taxes and regulation, a Trump adviser said this week. Democrats, including Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi, have indicated they hope to work quickly with Trump on infrastructure. But whether they will succeed is far from certain, as many Republicans oppose spending bills. Ramaco, a private company, announced in September it will open two met coal mines in West Virginia and Virginia next year, thanks to $90 million in private equity investments that came in as global met coal prices swung upward. Randy Atkins, the chairman and chief executive of Ramaco, said adding new mines was possible if Trump's U.S. infrastructure push succeeds but would depend on whether additional investors flock in to fund them. Banks and financial institutions are sensitive to recent bankruptcies of major coal companies - including Arch and Peabody Energy Corp - and the weak financial conditions of others, Atkins said. Jim Truman, the director of global metallurgical coal markets at research group Wood Mackenzie, said the specialized workers that would be required, such as underground electricians, could also be hard to find given coal's downturn since 2008. Phil Smith, a spokesman for the United Mine Workers of America, said the other key to the U.S. met coal industry's outlook is whether new infrastructure relies on American-made steel and coal as Trump has promised. "If we are importing the coal or importing steel made with foreign coal, then it won't make any difference for American miners," Smith said. (Reporting by Timothy Gardner; additional reporting by Nicole Mordant in Vancouver and Swetha Gopinath in Bengaluru; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) ORANGE A 35-year-old man was killed Friday evening when he apparently lost control of his motorcycle on Santiago Canyon Road, authorities said. The crash happened about 5 p.m. west of the 241 freeway toll road, Orange police Lt. Fred Lopez said. The Orange County corner identified the man on Saturday as Jorge Honorato, of Orange. Honorato was traveling westbound likely at a high rate of speed when he was thrown from his bike and killed instantly, he said. All lanes between Jamboree Road and Chapman Avenue and the 241 toll road and Santiago Canyon Road were expected to remain closed into Saturday morning while police investigated the crash. No other information was released. Contact the writer: 714-796-7767 sschwebke@scng.com Twitter @thechalkoutline Amid the flurry of rumors over Donald Trumps Cabinet appointments, a report that Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Costa Mesa, was being considered for secretary of state has been roundly ignored. The possibility seems to have made its first internet appearance in the Washington Examiner, a conservative beltway website. A few smaller websites and Orange Countys Daily Pilot, unaffiliated with the Register, picked up on the report, which relied on unnamed and unquoted sources. Larger mainstream media, despite its ravenous appetite for building lists of potential Cabinet members, wasnt touching it. Thats led to skepticism that Rohrabacher was being seriously considered. Instead, some observers say the rumor may have been planted in an effort to raise Rohrabachers profile for when the Trump transition team works its way down to positions like ambassadorships in the Afghanistan-Kazakhstan region, where Rohrabacher has expertise. Thats a longstanding political tradition, said Jack Pitney, a former Capitol Hill staffer who now teaches political science at Claremont McKenna College. Generally, in a presidential transition, allies of a person will talk him up for one job with the thought the buzz will help the person get the next job. Right now, everybody is thinking of their friends. In April, Rohrabacher told the Register that he would consider leaving Congress if offered a top-level post in the next administration. At that time, he was supporting his friend, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, for president. But he eventually offered a hearty endorsement of Trump and was the most steadfast voice to emerge from the House in defense of Trump after the billionaires lewd open mic comments became public. I think Republicans who are backing away are gutless, he said, singling out House Speaker Paul Ryan as cowardly. Rohrabacher called Trumps 11-year-old comments crass and brushed them aside as insignificant. TWO OF A KIND The Examiner story notes Rohrabachers alignment with Trump on several issues, including foreign policy, immigration and skepticism that mankind is contributing to global warming. Both also seek better relations with Russia and see President Vladimir Putin as a potential ally in the war against Islamic State. Rohrabacher, 69, was just elected to his 15th term in Congress. He has never held a committee chairmanship. He is a senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia and Emerging Threats. His views are closer to Trumps than anyone in Congress, said longtime friend and patron Shawn Steel, a former chairman of the state GOP, hours after the Examiner posted the report Tuesday. Danas emerged as the most important congressman from California. I asked Steel, who said hed recently spoken to Rohrabacher, whether the congressman had confirmed he was being considered for secretary of state. I cant tell you about that, Steel said. Steels wife, county Supervisor Michelle Steel, is one of the two names most regularly mentioned as a replacement for Rohrabacher when he retires from Congress. The other is former Orange County GOP Chairman Scott Baugh, who has been raising money for his own possible bid. Pitney said a Rohrabacher nomination would likely attract pushback on Capitol Hill. He doesnt have administrative experience beyond running a congressional office, and theres a perception that his views are off the beaten path, Pitney said. HUSH HUSH? Mike Schroeder, another former state GOP chairman who has a longstanding friendship with both Rohrabacher and Steel, said those involved with possible Cabinet appointments tend to keep quiet about details. Anybody whos being considered as well as people they know wouldnt mention it publicly without their prospects being seriously damaged, Schroeder said. But while the rumor about Rohrabacher has mostly languished since it surfaced Tuesday evening, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley received far different treatment when her name emerged Wednesday. Her states lieutenant governor, Trump ally Henry McMaster, told the press that Haley was being considered for several posts, including as the nations top diplomat. Additionally, Trump aide Jason Miller and Republican National Committee spokesman Sean Spicer told the media that Haley would be among those meeting Trump. Buzz about Mitt Romney meeting with the president and being a possibility also jumped out of the bag. I reached out to Rohrabacher to ask about the rumor. Were not commenting at this time, spokesman Ken Grubbs said Wednesday. Contact the writer: mwisckol@scng.com Janet Hikawa looks at the pebbles near her feet, searching for sea glass. North Beach in San Clemente, where shes standing, is a great place to hunt for the shiny treasures. But thats one reason its not a particularly pristine beach. Instead of soft, fluffy sand, North Beach is dotted by thousands of rocks. Its not the kind of place where a person would want to flop down on a towel near the waterline. I would love to see all these rocks go away, the longtime San Clemente resident said, pointing at the stones. All these rocks end up hitting your ankles. On the other hand, she added, its a quiet beach; no one comes here. That soon could change. North Beach and several other thinning stretches of Orange County coast are slated to get a key ingredient for any desirable beach: sand. The supplier of all that sand, the $19.5 million Santa Ana River Sand Management Project, has a twofold mission. WHY DO THIS? Part one is about dredging. Starting at a point in the Santa Ana River near Adams Avenue, about 2 miles from the ocean, earth-moving machines are digging up 600,000 cubic yards of built-up sand and pulling it out of the river, according to Shannon Widor, strategic communications officer for the countys Public Works department. The Santa Ana River serves as a flood control channel, and clearing the sediment minimizes the risk of flooding for nearby communities in Newport Beach, Huntington Beach and Costa Mesa, Widor said. The second purpose of the Sand Management Project is dirt. The sediment from the river will be taken to depleted stretches of beach in several parts of the countys coast: West Newport and China Cove in Newport Beach, Newport and Huntington harbors, Huntington State Beach and North Beach in San Clemente. The project, which started in October, is expected to run through May. Its a process that plays out semiregularly in Orange County. Big winter surf can pound away at the coastline, eroding the shore and leaving beaches depleted and in need of sandy nourishment. Sometimes summer swells wash sand back up; sometimes they dont. When they dont, some beaches along with whatever businesses and leisure might be connected to those beaches start to shrink. Rick Wilson, senior staff scientist at San Clemente-based Surfrider Foundation, said the big question with this dredging project, as it has been with previous digs from the Santa Ana River, is whether the material is clean. MORE SAND, FEWER NAILS Beach users like Robert Fulton hope so. Fulton has lived in San Clemente for 30 years and remembers a sand addition project about a decade ago that he said brought a mess to North Beach. Yes, the new sand replaced vanished sand, but it brought with it many unwelcome materials. They scooped up all that (stuff), dumped it on our beach and for the next three weeks, we picked out metal, screws, nails, Fulton said. Were diving in and coming up bleeding, pulling that stuff out of the sand. Tom Bonigut, deputy public works director for the city of San Clemente, said the city is using extra precautions to make sure the sand the city is getting this year is sifted before it leaves the staging area near the Santa Ana River and is brought down to North Beach. While the sand itself is free, getting the sand and having it deposited on the beach isnt. THE COST OF SAND The city of San Clemente, for example, is paying $625,195 to haul, test and disperse 12,000 cubic yards of sand at North Beach. Newport Beach officials said they still are working out costs with the contractor and wont know the price tag for another month. Other cities are paying for sand installations, too. For cities like San Clemente, there has been a long cycle of eroding beaches and a perpetual need for sand. Its a beach town, (so sand) is important to the community, Bonigut said. People want beach base, and our beaches have been getting narrower. This time, hes hoping to reverse that trend. Were going to try and have it stick around. Sand doesnt just touch beach lovers; sand deposits also can help or hurt wave conditions. A sand project on the East Coast, for example, turned a once-routine break relatively far from shore into a severe shore break, making the waves more dangerous. Injuries, Wilson said, became more common. But a local sand project a decade ago included dumping some sand in the ocean near the break, creating a sandbar that made the waves better. In general, we prefer it when they put it offshore, he said. It may improve the break, and nature kind of distributes it. PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS Local Newport surfer Tom Cozad has seen many attempts some successful, some not at replenishing West Newport beaches. In 2004, Cozad said, surfers packed Newport Beach City Hall to protest a plan to dump 20,000 truckloads of sand between the West Newport groins, a plan they believed would wipe out one of the most popular surf areas along the Orange County coastline. He was also upset to see sand-hauling barges beached on shore for days after a series of strong storms. This new sand project, Cozad said, isnt sparking that kind of controversy. Pipes are slated to be buried on some parts of the beach, spewing sand out into the water. The idea is that the sand then will be pushed to shore, naturally, by the swells. Cozad holds out hope that the project might actually make for better waves and, at the very least, Its nice they arent running the trucks up and down the beach. We need sand, he added. The beach is eroding. RISKY PROJECT The timing isnt ideal. Putting new sand on the beaches just before the arrival of the winter storm season is risky. During the last storm season, beaches throughout Southern California were ravaged, creating huge walls of sand that slowly were chomped away as storms dissipated. The cycle creates problems big and small. Last year, for example, the loss of sand led to a stretch of San Onofres vast parking lot being swallowed by the sea. As of this month, it remains off-limits. The sand coming to North Beach will arrive by truck the week after Thanksgiving. Initially, it will be placed far enough from the tide line so it wont be washed away by any potential storm. The long-term goal is to disperse it closer to the shoreline. Sand also will be placed around Balboa Island and China Cove in Newport Beach, said Newport Beachs harbor resources manager, Chris Miller. Its really the same everywhere, Miller said. Sand moves; we cant stop it. Its nature, and its influenced by the wind, waves, current and tide. The southern part of Balboa Island is the area that needs the most sand. Wave action from passing boats and strong winds has, in some stretches, created sharp drops of up to 3 feet from nearby walkways. A beach-restoration project also happens every five to 10 years in the Sunset and Surfside area. The sand from that area washes down the coast and feeds beaches to the south, only to be replenished again, usually by the county and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Some cities hope to break the cycle of sand loss and replenishment. In San Clemente, a long-term plan calls for placing 251,000 cubic yards of sand between Linda Lane Beach and an area south of T-Street Beach. The cost of the 50-year project is north of $11 million, with the federal government paying about $7.3 million and the city $4 million. The city recently gained approval for a grant for $3.4 million from the state California Department of Boating and Waterways to pay for a majority of its cost, but its unclear when, or if, the project will receive full funding and get underway. San Clemente beach fans like Fulton thinks its useless to fight Mother Nature. My advice would be its the ocean, dont try and stop it, Fulton said. Save all your money and well just deal with it. Staff writer Fred Swegles contributed to this report. Contact the writer: lconnelly@scng.com MOSUL, Iraq Iraqi troops advanced cautiously into eastern districts of Mosul on Friday, facing stiff resistance from Islamic State militants a day after they paused their assault due to poor visibility, officers said. Airstrikes, automatic fire and artillery were heard from dawn and one soldier was reported killed in clashes. Civilians, some of them wounded, could be seen fleeing the fighting. According to the officers, the Iraqi forces aim to take complete control of the citys Tahrir area and from there move into the adjacent Muharabeen district. The officers spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. Iraqi forces launched the long-awaited operation to retake Mosul a month ago but have only advanced into a few eastern districts. The troops have faced fierce resistance, with snipers, mortar fire and Islamic State suicide bombers driving armor-plated vehicles packed with explosives. On Thursday, cloudy skies over Iraqs second-largest city obscured the visibility of the drones and warplanes on which the troops rely, hindering their advance. Instead, special forces secured areas they had seized, set up checkpoints and swept for explosives. The pause also allowed the residents running out of food in areas liberated from Islamic State to get some supplies from Iraqi troops and aid organizations. Mosul is the last major holdout for the militants in Iraq. Driving them out would deal a severe blow to the Islamic States self-styled caliphate stretching into Syria. Islamic State on Friday claimed responsibility for an attack the previous night in which a suicide car bomber struck a wedding near the western city of Fallujah, killing at least 10 people and wounding 32. The wedding was full of government-allied Sunni tribal fighters who are also part of the campaign to rid the country of Islamic State, said Interior Ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. Saad Maan. It was the second incident this week in Fallujah. On Monday, twin suicide bombers targeted the citys security checkpoints, killing six people. IRVINE Donald Trumps election and its potential impact on international relations have been met across the globe with considerable anxiety and an unsettling sense of unpredictability, said UC Irvine professors who gathered this week to discuss what the rest of the world thinks of the next president. The American election took place in America, and it affects who occupies the White House, but American elections for the presidency always have international impact, said Jeffrey Wasserstrom, chancellors professor of history at UCI. UCI experts on France, Germany, Greece and Japan joined Wasserstrom, who specializes in Chinese history, at a forum Thursday night also attended via Skype by two experts on North and South Korea. They met at UCI before an audience of nearly 100, mostly students, to address how Trumps election is viewed abroad. No one expected this outcome. Germans were caught off guard completely, said Kai Evers, director of the UCI European Studies Program. They were shocked, confused and tried to figure out what it meant. And the professors said there is concern, even fear, of what a Trump presidency could mean to many countries. Heres the scary part: What Donald Trump says about (President) Kim Jong-un in the weeks and months to come could have a major impact on the North Korea nuclear issue, said John Delury, an associate professor who specializes on that country at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. I think we can objectively say (Trump) is not disciplined with language. If the president-elect or someone in his administration were to diss the leader of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, it could trigger additional missile testings and possibly a war, Delury said. Were within artillery range, he said. Theres a lot at stake. The state-run North Korean media have yet to publish a word about the Trump presidency, Delury said. In Germany, the chancellor typically calls the U.S. president-elect with a congratulatory message. But after Trumps election, German Chancellor Angela Merkel called a news conference to congratulate Trump but also to stipulate conditions for cooperation among the nations. In a statement, she talked about how the two countries are linked by their democracies, freedoms and respect for those of differing ethnic backgrounds, religions, sexual orientations and politics: I offer the next president of the United States close cooperation on the basis of these values. Said UCIs Evers, This has never been done by a German chancellor. In Japan, citizens saw their prime minister, Shinzo Abe, fly to New York to meet with the president-elect Thursday. Its truly extraordinary, said David Fedman, a UCI assistant professor specializing in Japan and Korea. It speaks volumes most certainly about the anxiety and the uncertainty coursing through Japanese politics. Its safe to assume that Abe, like many world leaders, was trying to feel out whether Donald Trumps rhetoric was going to translate into policy or whether or not it was actually bluster, Fedman said. Trump has called into question the role of the United States in organizations such as NATO, and he has complained that other countries dont pay their fair share. He has, for example, questioned the defense arrangements between the United Sates and Japan. Meanwhile, Chinese leaders are likely relieved that Hillary Clinton, who emphasized human rights, did not win, Wasserstrom said. But Trump also offers a lack of predictability, and his statements regarding trade could be worrisome to Chinese leadership, he added. Contact the writer: Twitter@RoxanaKopetman or rkopetman@scng.com IFA President, Joe Healy and Farm Forestry Chairman, Pat Collins met with Andrew Doyle, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine last week to stress the Associations opposition to the draft Environmental Requirements for Afforestation, which he says do not provide any flexibility to alter measures and develop operational plans appropriate to the potential impacts. Mr. Healy said that in 2015, under the Afforestation Scheme, more than 1,600 hectares of agricultural land was set aside for areas of biodiversity and landscape planting. This has a land value equivalent of 16 million, or a loss of timber earnings over the rotation of in excess of 40 million. He said that if forestry is to compete with other land uses, farmers cannot be required to set aside even greater areas of land to biodiversity. The Minister must ensure that restrictions imposed are appropriate and that the loss of productive area is proportionate the potential risk. If a farmer is obligated to set aside in excess of 15% to biodiversity they must receive a premium payment on the additional area, said Mr. Healy. Mr. Collins said that before any changes are introduced, a cost-benefit analysis should be undertaken to determine the impacts of changes to schemes as recommended by the COFORD Land Availability for Afforestation report. The severity of some of the proposed measures; the implications they will have on production; and, the lack of flexibility to identify other ways to minimise potential impacts must be fully considered before any new requirements are introduced, stated Collins He said Afforestation on farms in typically small scale and low impact forestry. Rather than introducing a one-size-fits-all approach, it is more appropriate and best practice that potential impacts are identified and measures adopted in plans that are specific to the site. Mr. Collins said this will ensure the best protection of the environment without introducing unnecessary barriers to the development of the sector, as well as ensure that forestry is economically viable and competitive with other land uses. Loading... OilVoice will be with you shortly... trump Donald Trump on Saturday defended settling a series of fraud cases tied to Trump University for $25 million, tweeting that "as President I have to focus on our country." The Republican president-elect had repeatedly vowed not to settle the three cases, in which he was accused of fraud over his Trump University real-estate training program, which cost students up to $35,000. He was facing two federal class-action lawsuits, as well as a case brought by the New York attorney general. In February, during the presidential campaign, the caustic former reality-television tweeted that "Trump University has a 98% approval rating. I could have settled but won't out of principle!" But after a shock election victory, Trump agreed to a $25 million settlement. Trump argued Saturday that he would have ultimately won the case, but as president-elect, he could not afford to devote his time to it. "I settled the Trump University lawsuit for a small fraction of the potential award because as President I have to focus on our country," he wrote. "The ONLY bad thing about winning the Presidency is that I did not have the time to go through a long but winning trial on Trump U. Too bad!" View his tweets below: I settled the Trump University lawsuit for a small fraction of the potential award because as President I have to focus on our country. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2016 The ONLY bad thing about winning the Presidency is that I did not have the time to go through a long but winning trial on Trump U. Too bad! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2016 New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman hailed the settlement Friday, calling it a "major victory for the over 6,000 victims of his fraudulent university." Story continues On Friday, he said in a statement: "Donald Trump fought us every step of the way, filing baseless charges and fruitless appeals and refusing to settle for even modest amounts of compensation for the victims of his phony university." NOW WATCH: A model that has correctly predicted the presidential election since 1980 says Clinton will have a landslide victory More From Business Insider When the music and mood are just right, a slow dance really brings a couple together. That was definitely the case for Don and Linda Glenn of Bellevue. They were college students in summer 1965 when they met in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., at a hangout called the Crazy Horse bar. Both had grown up in Maryland. Don went to the bar with a buddy and Linda arrived with three friends. The two groups happened to sit next to each other, and soon Dons buddy tapped Linda on the shoulder and asked if shed like to dance. Linda danced with the buddy but thought he was kind of rude. Then Don asked Linda to dance. Linda liked the way Don held her as they slow danced. It just felt perfect. They danced together the whole night, and at the end of the evening Don asked for her number. Even though theyd had a great evening, Linda figured shed never see him again, so she was surprised when he called the next day and asked her out. They went back to the same bar and danced again. And it felt perfect. Linda thought Don was smart and a real gentleman. He liked that she was talkative and funny. Lindas parents liked Don from the start, and he ate many dinners at her house as they began dating regularly. By Christmastime, they were engaged. About a year after they met, they married: on June 25, 1966, at the Methodist Church in Hyattsville, Maryland. Don joined the Air Force and the couple moved around the country, and as far away as Thailand, for his military assignments. One of the assignments landed them at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue in the 1970s, and they returned there for another posting in the 1980s. When Don retired in 1986 the couple decided to make Bellevue their home. This summer they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They have two children, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. After retiring from the military, Don worked in information technology for a local hospital and now volunteers for Habitat for Humanity and other organizations. Linda stays busy baby-sitting their youngest granddaughter. The couple still love dancing, and it still feels perfect. Molly OBrien, an Omaha-native fashion designer and model, will be a competitor on the upcoming season of Lifetimes Project Runway: Junior. OBrien, who recently moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, is one of 12 contestants on the show, which debuts its second season on Dec. 22 at 9 p.m. on Lifetime (Cox channel 28). The 17-year-old has shown at Omaha Fashion Week, Kansas City Fashion Week and Vancouver Fashion Week, working under the name Molly Elizabeth Designs. The winner of the competition will receive a full scholarship to the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in California, a feature in Seventeen magazine, sponsored prizes and a $25,000 cash prize. Neighboring communities are assisting Griswold, Iowa, with emergency rescue assistance after the resignation of the chief of the towns volunteer rescue squad and nine members of the crew. Julie Kline, captain of the rescue department, resigned Tuesday after meeting in closed session with the City Council the night before. The others resigned in solidarity with Kline. The resignations leave the rescue squad with about three members. Mayor Jeb Peck said the council made no decisions at the meeting pertaining to Klines role as rescue chief. Often in the past, the city has relied on neighboring rescue departments for emergency assistance, and it will continue to do so during this transition, Peck said. Griswold City Manager Laura Hansen and City Attorney David Wiederstein did not immediately respond to requests for more information Friday. Griswold, a Cass County community of 1,000 about 40 miles east of Council Bluffs, has traditionally been served by Medivac Ambulance in nearby Atlantic. Responders from Elliott and Red Oak also provide aid as requested. Myron Brand loved ice cream and loved sharing it with his family and friends. He was known for treating people he knew to ice cream. If a friend was in the hospital, Brand would take the patient a shake. Whenever he helped out with a 4-H activity in his hometown of Fontanelle, Nebraska, he would bring ice cream treats for all the young people. Before he died Nov. 7 at the age of 88, after a long struggle with Parkinsons disease dementia, his last meal was a dish of vanilla ice cream. So perhaps it was only fitting that ice cream was served at his funeral Nov. 11. It was a nice tribute, said his daughter Nancy Schroeder of Hooper, Nebraska. The best way to celebrate his life was to have ice cream. Brand spent his life in Dodge and Washington Counties. He graduated from Fremont High School in 1947. He was crowned 4-H king at the fair that year and became a lifetime supporter of 4-H. In addition to farming land northwest of Fremont, he hauled milk and livestock and was a cattle buyer. He was married 67 years and is survived by his wife, Anita, and their three children. He enjoyed bowling and softball and was a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Fontanelle, where his funeral was held. Growing up, ice cream was a constant in the Brand family, Schroeder said. Wed go through ice cream pretty steadily, she said. We didnt even have air conditioning growing up, so we would cool off at night with a bowl of cereal or a bowl of ice cream. If mom baked, then wed have ice cream and cake or ice cream and pie. Thats why none of us are skinny. In the last few years Brands illness took a physical toll, and he was eventually moved to the Hooper Care Center. Schroeder said her father who once had a booming voice and stood 6 feet tall at 250 pounds lost weight, suffered memory loss and was unable to speak. His mind was pretty much gone, but he would still kind of perk up if somebody gave him ice cream, she said. When Schroeders husband, Joel, the pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Hooper, was planning the sermon for Brands funeral, he contacted the Fremont Dairy Queen to see how much 125 cups of ice cream would cost, never mentioning it would be for Brands service. Debbie Reynolds, the restaurants manager, contacted her parents the Dairy Queen owners for advice on what to tell the pastor. Jim and Mary Winterstein, now of Surprise, Arizona, have owned Fremonts only Dairy Queen for 30 years. I had forgotten to ask (Joel Schroeder) who it was for, Reynolds said. So my parents asked where the funeral was, and I told them it was in Fontanelle. They said, Oh, thats for Myron Brand. They told me to donate (the ice cream) because he had been coming to us for years. The morning of the funeral, Reynolds and three of her staff members formed a shake-making assembly line and filled 125 DQ Mini Blizzard cups with pineapple, strawberry, vanilla or chocolate shakes. It took the group a little more than a half hour to prepare the treats. They then loaded the filled cups into portable coolers and packed straws, spoons and napkins in preparation for the 10-mile trip to the church in Fontanelle. A family friend picked up the coolers, and Brands grandsons distributed the shakes to people during the service. We just had a little party right there in the church, Nancy Schroeder said. He would have loved (having shakes) at his own funeral, and he would have hated to miss it. Jeff Sessions and Donald Trump President-elect Donald Trump tapped Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) to be his attorney general on Friday morning. Despite a landslide of states voting to legalize recreational and medical marijuana on Election Day, Sessions, if confirmed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, is bad news for marijuana legislation. Sessions said in an April Senate hearing on marijuana reform that "good people don't smoke marijuana." Sessions also pointed to the tenuous theory that marijuana is a gateway drug, and said that, "you'll see cocaine and heroin increase more than it would have." "We need grown ups in Washington to say marijuana is not the kind of thing that ought to be legalized, it ought not to be minimized, that it is in fact a very real danger," Sessions said at the hearing. Sessions also slammed President Obama during the same hearing for admitting to smoking marijuana in high school, reports Tom Angell of the Marijuana Majority, a pro-legalization group. Sessions' comments are indicative of his thinking around drug policy reform in general: "You cant have the President of the United States of America talking about marijuana like it is no different than taking a drink, saying I used marijuana when I was in high school and it is no different than smoking. It is different. And you are sending a message to young people that there is no danger in this process. It is false that marijuana use doesnt lead people to more drug use. It is already causing a disturbance in the States that have made it legal. I think we need to be careful about this." Perhaps most infamously, Sessions joked in 1986 that the Klu Klux Klan an openly racist white nationalist group was "O.K. until I found out they smoked pot." marijuana legalization election 2016 Reactions to Sessions as Trump's pick for attorney general from within the marijuana-industry have been mixed. Story continues "While the choice certainly isn't good news for marijuana reform, I'm still hopeful the new administration will realize that any crackdown against broadly popular laws in a growing number of states would create huge political problems they don't need and will use lots of political capital they'd be better off spending on issues the new president cares a lot more about," Tom Angell of Marijuana Majority told Business Insider. "During the campaign the president-elect clearly pledged to respect state marijuana laws, and he should keep his word both because its the right thing to do and because a reversal would be a huge political misstep." Kevin Sabet, the president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a prominent anti-legalization group, told Business Insider that if he held marijuana stocks, he'd be "shorting them." "This is a man [Sessions] who we know is staunchly anti-legalization," Sabet told Business Insider. "Things are about to get interesting. I'd think marijuana investors and legalizers might be rethinking their strategy right now." Trump himself has expressed support for medical marijuana, telling The Washington Post in 2015 that marijuana legalization should be decided "state-by-state," potentially putting him at odds with his pick for attorney general. The Drug Policy Alliance, a drug reform advocacy group, said in a statement that it expects Sessions to push for harsher sentences for drug offenders and increase the prison population in the US. "Jeff Sessions is a drug war dinosaur, which is the last thing the nation needs now," Ethan Nadelmann of the Drug Policy Alliance said. "Those who counted on Donald Trumps reassurance that marijuana reforms should be a state issue will be sorely disappointed." Jeff Sessions Larry Cote, a partner with the law firm Quarles & Brady and a leading Drug Enforcement Administration compliance attorney, said that he suspects Sessions will be a "strong opponent," within the Trump administration of "any efforts to legalize or re-schedule marijuana." "While the pro-legalization lobby may have been riding a high after marijuana initiatives passed in several states on November 8, the nomination of Sen. Sessions as the next Attorney General [sic] will have a sobering effect on those seeking fewer federal restrictions on the use of marijuana," Larry Cote, told Business Insider. Others within the marijuana industry have taken on a more hopeful tone. "The industry is very focused on the AG as that particular role has the biggest potential impact on cannabis," Morgan Paxhia, the managing director of Poseidon Asset Management, a cannabis-focused hedge fund, told Business Insider. "We are keeping an open mind at this point and will continue to work closely with the various policy groups such as the Marijuana Policy Project. It is clear that the industry needs to stay strong and cohesive." Paxhia said that the marijuana is a "multi-billion dollar" industry and is generating such strong tax revenues that he hopes Trump's administration will "recognize our value and leave it up to the states." It remains to be seen whether Sessions, who is also a staunch opponent of immigration reform, will be confirmed by the Judiciary Committee. A Republican Judiciary Committee rejected his bid to became a federal judge in 1986 after a prosecutor testified that Sessions called the NAACP and the ACLU "un-American" though Sessions himself has served on the committee since 2009. NOW WATCH: Watch the Trump protest that shut down parts of New York City More From Business Insider NORTH PLATTE, Neb. Bobbie Ann Cooper hadnt seen her granddaughter, Gracie Toelle, in eight months. On Friday, she finally received an answer to a question that so many people had been asking: Where is Gracie? Gracie was alive. She had been dropped off at a shelter in San Francisco. And she was safe. On March 16, Gracie headed out the door of Coopers home in North Platte to take out the garbage. Her Yorkie, Little Ricky, was by her side. They never come back. The family immediately launched a search for the then-14-year-old and filed a missing persons report. The North Platte Police Department reviewed tips and leads. Leticia Montoya-Bonifas with Central Nebraska Human Trafficking began looking into the case. Soon the Center for Search and Investigations was involved. Gracies parents, Cassie and Mickey Gill, began fundraising efforts to hire a private investigator. Months went by, Gracies 15th birthday passed and her missing persons poster was recirculated several times, racking up more than 24,000 shares on social media through pages such as Locate the Missing. But there was still no sign of her. On Friday, Coopers phone rang. An investigator for the North Platte Police Department was on the other end. Investigator Jim Ady called me to tell me he had a tip she was at a shelter in San Francisco, Cooper said. Cooper said Ady told her that Gracie had been dropped off at the shelter on Friday and the shelter contacted police. Cooper said Child Protective Services is working with law enforcement and the family to get her home. She said the family is grateful for the efforts by people across the country trying to locate Gracie. Family members have no idea what Gracies been through or how she got to San Francisco. But those details dont matter right now because, for the first time in eight months, they know their little girl is alive and coming home. Cooper had an opportunity to talk to Gracie, who told her that Little Ricky, the Yorkie, had died. Gracie told Cooper something else: She said she loves us and wants to come home. WAHOO, Neb. Wahoo firefighters from several towns worked for hours Friday to extinguish a blaze at the Wahoo State Bank in downtown Wahoo. Fire Chief Mark Meyer said cause of the fire was a halogen lamp on the roof of the building, left by someone making roof repairs and hanging Christmas lights. The lamp blew over in the wind and the heat melted the rubber atop the roof and started the fire, Meyer said. "It's hard to say what's salvageable, but I think some things on the main floor might be," Meyer said, adding that the whole building had smoke and water damage. A structural engineer will assess the building Tuesday. Though two adjacent buildings had water and smoke damage, firefighters kept the fire contained to the bank. "Our job as a fire department is pretty much done now and I do think we did an excellent job," Meyer said. When the first firefighters arrived at the bank at Fifth and Linden Streets around 9 a.m. they couldnt see any smoke or flames, Meyer said at a Friday afternoon press conference. After further investigation, Meyer said, they found that the fire was burning under a rubber membrane atop the roof. Fifteen minutes after arriving, Meyer said, he deemed the roof unsafe and pulled all firefighters off the roof and out of the building. The effort then shifted to containing the fire to the bank building and letting the rubber membrane burn off. The buildings roof collapsed, Meyer said. The fire was brought under control about 1:30 p.m., officials said, but firefighters remained on the scene late into the afternoon. Firefighters from Wahoo, Cedar Bluffs and David City sprayed water on the roof from their aerial trucks. Crews from Yutan and Mead also assisted. Three layers of roofing, the rubber membrane and a gusty wind made fighting the fire difficult, Meyer said. Fire officials werent sure how structurally sound the building is. Saunders County Emergency Manager Terry Miller said the building likely will be lost. If the flames didnt get it, Miller said, the water damage would. The Saunders County Assessors Office said the structure was built in 1892. Wahoo State Bank put a note on its website telling customers that all deposits and records were secure. The drive-up branch remains usable, the bank said. Nearby businesses were evacuated, and the street was closed to traffic. Silvia Wade, who owns the Wigwam Cafe with her husband, Clayton, was using a mop to push water out the front door Friday afternoon. She said water had come through the roof, into the restaurant and down into her basement. Ive never seen anything like this, she said. World-Herald staff writer Mara Klecker contributed to this story. Nebraska and Iowa are both situated far from the two coasts, but that doesnt stop both states from having wide-ranging ties to the international marketplace. In 2015, Nebraska sold some $6.5 billion worth of products overseas. The states top five export markets: Canada, Mexico, Japan, China, South Korea. Iowas export figure for 2015 was $13.2 billion. Those figures show how interwoven the Midlands economy is with the global marketplace. This also includes imports from abroad, which totaled $4.1 billion for Nebraska companies and consumers during 2015 and $9.3 billion in Iowa. Our countrys policies on international trade may see major changes under the Trump administration, with a tougher overall approach. While those changes are attempted, it will be important not to disrupt the trade connections that U.S. businesses depend on to keep their operations proceeding efficiently. Some 2,016 Nebraska businesses exported goods during 2014, the U.S. Department of Commerce reports. Nebraska metro areas have considerable export numbers: in 2015, $3.8 billion from Omaha; $1.2 billion from Lincoln; $715 million from Grand Island. Gov. Pete Ricketts just returned from a trade mission to China in which he emphasized the importance of building on Nebraskas trade ties with that country, including major beef-sale potential. Its important to keep the marketplace functioning properly as our countrys trade policy undergoes change. Top contenders in Donald Trump's Cabinet Feature oi-Pallavi Sengupta Now that the reactions to Trump's victory in the US Presidential elections have died down, it is time to understand how he intends to run the country. And the best way to do it is to check out what his Cabinet composition will look like. So, here is a potential list of the Trump brigade: Secretary of State: The rumored nominees for this post are New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who is also a Trump loyalist; former US Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton. Treasury Secretary: Steven Mnuchin, who is a 17-year old veteran of Goldman Sachs and is presently working as the chief executive and chairman of Dune Capital Management. Jeb Hensarling, who is the House Financial Services Chairman is also a nominee for the position. Also in line is JPMorgan Chase Chief Executive Jamie Dimon. [Read: Shinzo Abe, Donald Trump meet in New York ] Secretary of Defence: Former National Security Adviser in the George W Bush Cabinet Stephen Hadley, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Former Sen. Jim Talent (R-Mo.) Clinton CIA director Jim Woolsey and Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) are also on the fray. Attorney General: Sen. Jeff Sessions has been tapped by Donald Trump for the position. Interior Secretary: Venture capitalist Robert Grady, who was a White House official in George H.W. Bush's office with ties in New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Agriculture Secretary: Inside reports suggest that Donald Trump has a bench of 70 leaders in the agricultural advisory committee to pull out his choice from. Among the top candidates include Sid Miller, who is the current secretary of agriculture in Texas. Others include sitting governor, Sam Brownback of Kansas, and three ex governors: Dave Heineman (Nebraska), Sonny Perdue (Georgia) and Rick Perry (Texas). Charles Herbster, a Republican donor and agri-business leader who chairs Trump's agricultural advisory committee, and Mike McCloskey, a dairy executive in Indiana are also on the fray. Commerce Secretary: Leading the nomination list is Billionaire investor Wilbur Ross who is also a Trump economic adviser. Investor Lew Eisenberg, co-founder of Granite Capital International Group, is another top candidate.Dan DiMicco, the former CEO of steelmaker Nucor Corp and a Trump trade adviser is also a possibility. [Read: "NATO 'absolutely confident' Trump committed to alliance" ] Labour Secretary: Inside reports suggest that Victoria Lipnic, the Commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission since 2010 who also served as an an assistant secretary of Labor for employment standards from 2002 until 2009, is the top contender for this position. Andrew Puzder, chief executive of CKE Restaurants, is a second possibility. Health and Human Services secretary: Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), the chairman of the House Budget Committee is a top contender here. Former Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, is second in list. Housing and Urban Development secretary: Trump supporters Bud Albright and Scott Keller, two ardent Trump supporters are in the fray. The other names being circulated include Pam Patenaude, the president of the J. Ronald Terwilliger Foundation for Housing America's Families, former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown and former New York Rep. Rick Lazio (R). Transportation secretary: Continental Resources CEO Harold Hamm has been the main influencer on Trump's energy policy during the campaign. Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), a Trump energy adviser, venture capitalist Robert Grady, James Connaughton, a former utility executive who was President George W. Bush's head of White House Council on Environmental Quality; and Kristine Svinicki, the sole Republican on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission are also in the fray. Veterans Affairs secretary: Veterans' Affairs Chairman Jeff Miller is the only name in the list. Education Secretary: Indiana Rep. Luke Messer, William Evers, a research fellow at the Hoover Institution, Tony Zeiss, a former president of Central Piedmont Community College, Michelle Rhee, an education reform activist, Former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, Gerard Robinson a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute focused on education policy; Tony Bennett, the former Florida Commissioner of Education and the former Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction; Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker; Hanna Skandera, the New Mexico Secretary of Education; and education activists Betsy DeVos; and Kevin Chavous are others in the list. Homeland Security Secretary: House Homeland Security Chairman Mike McCaul, Rep. John Katko (R-N.Y.), the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee's transportation security panel, David Clarke, the conservative Sheriff of Milwaukee County are in the fray for this position. Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal condemns attack in Tinsukia India oi-Madhuri By Madhuri Tinsukia, Nov 19: Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday condemned the attack on Indian soldiers by suspected ULFA militants in Tinsukia district. While speaking to the media, Sonowal said,''I strongly condemn this attack and the perpetrators will be punished''. He also directed officials to go to Tinsukia immediately. The incident took place at around 5.30 am, in the Pengeri area, Defence public relations officer Lt. Col. Suneet Newton said. Three army jawans lost their lives and at least four others were injured in an encounter between security forces and suspected ULFA terrorists in Pengri. According to reports, the soldiers were travelling in an Army vehicle when an IED explosion took place. The United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) is a separatist outfit in Assam. It was banned by the Indian government in 1990. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, November 19, 2016, 11:54 [IST] Five years of demonetisation: Notes in circulation on rise; so are digital payments PM Modi should admit that demonetistion a failure: Owaisi on cash seizure in UP Did RBI directors know about enormity of demonetisation asks P Chidambaram India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer New Delhi, Nov 19: The former finance minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram attacked the top officials of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) over demonetisation. The politician raised doubts over whether the government informed RBI officials before announcing the major economic decision. In an interview to CNN-News 18, Chidambaram said, "We want to know whether RBI officials were told that demonetisation had to be done. If they were told, did they question? We need to know all this. Did the RBI directors know about the enormity of the decision, I doubt if they knew about this," [Also Read: Demonetisation: Northeast India worst affected; business slumps by 25 per cent, says industry body] On November 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced scrapping of Rs500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes to fight against black money, counterfeit currencies and terror funding. "Merely by demonetisation one cannot get rid of black money," Chidambaram said. "There is no way out of this crisis and we have to bear the consequences...The Government is making kneejerk reactions, rather than thinking through about the impact," he added. OneIndia News Demonetisation: As queues get shorter, opposition runs out of ideas India oi-Vicky Bengaluru, Nov 19: As the queues get shorter at banks, the opposition in India appears to be running out of ideas. Since the time Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Rs 500 and 1,000 notes will no longer be legal tender, the opposition has trained its guns on the government. The government says that it is doing its best to ease the pain of the people. Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley said on Friday that the implementation could not have been better. It is a fact that in most places the queues are getting shorter and the topic for discussion on the streets is not only about demonetisation. Opposition running out of ideas The Congress which has been raising the issue of demonetisation is now thinking of a new strategy. It is likely to stop targeting the Prime Minister and raise people centric issues. However, the government is likely to counter that move by introducing a host of measures. There are a couple of problems before the opposition. They do not appear to be the face of the protest against demonetisation. The likes of Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee have stolen the thunder from them. Also read: Demonetisation will redefine new normal for Indian economy: Jaitley However, the bigger problem for the opposition is that the problems are gradually easing out. If one were to look at the queues they are clearly becoming shorter. Banks are able to decide that they will cater only to their customers and senior citizens. Such a decision would have been impossible a few days back. A Finance Ministry official informed OneIndia that it was a major decision taken. There were bound to be problems, but all efforts have been made to ease the problem. "We see the problem easing out further in the next couple of days," the officer also informed. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, November 19, 2016, 9:26 [IST] Five years of demonetisation: Notes in circulation on rise; so are digital payments PM Modi should admit that demonetistion a failure: Owaisi on cash seizure in UP Demonetisation: Finance ministry clueless about exact amount of black money India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer New Delhi, Nov 19: At a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government is fighting a war against black money, the Finance Ministry on Friday admitted that there is no official estimate of the amount of black money stashed in the country and abroad. In fact, earlier also on July 22 and May 3, this year, the ministry said that it had no clue about the exact amount of black money in circulation. The ministry added that it was examining reports submitted by the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, the National Council of Applied Economic Research and the National Institute of Financial Management to find out the figures. [Also Read: Demonetisation: A large shock to the economy, says NIPFP] On November 8, Prime Minister Modi announced scrapping of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes to fight against black money, counterfeit currencies and terror funding. [Also Read: Did RBI directors know about enormity of demonetisation asks P Chidambaram] Since the announcement was made, most of the people are struggling to get hold of valid currency notes by queuing up in front of banks and ATMs. OneIndia News Five years of demonetisation: Notes in circulation on rise; so are digital payments PM Modi should admit that demonetistion a failure: Owaisi on cash seizure in UP Demonetisation: Northeast India worst affected; business slumps by 25 per cent, says industry body India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Guwahati, Nov 19: The landlocked Northeast India has been worst affected by demonetisation, says Federation of Industry and Commerce of North Eastern Region (Finer)--the umbrella industry body of the region. The Finer adds the region has been the worst affected since demonetisation, with business slumping by 25 per cent. "Demonetisation has affected the Northeast the most because banking penetration in the interior areas is low compared to other regions of the country. Small-time traders have been immediately hit by the move as they hinge mostly on cash for their daily transactions," Finer President Pabitra Buragohain told reporters. [Also Read: 72 percent support demonetisation, says survey] Buragohain added that sectors with a sizeable magnitude of cash transactions have been adversely affected, the worst hit being the construction sector. However, the Finer said it was a bold move undertaken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government to fight against black money and corruption by scrapping high value currency notes on November 8. "Consumption of high-end goods has come down. But the move will have a positive impact on growth in the long run. We expect the economy to recover in six months," he added. OneIndia News Demonetisation: VVIP treatment for UP minister in bank India oi-Madhuri By Madhuri Lucknow, Nov 19: At a time, when the entire nation is queued up outside banks and ATMs to get their currency exchanged, UP minister Iqbal Mehmood is alleged to have got special treatment at a bank. A video which surfaced on the internet shows the five-time MLA from Sambhal and his two sons arriving at a bank at around 7pm on Wednesday which was beyond working hours. The video shows him sitting in the bank Manager's cabin while his notes were being exchanged. However, the minister claims that he stood in the long queue along with the common people before he went inside the bank. The HDFC bank branch manager, Javed Khan, said that bank had run out of currency notes and that the exchange was suspended for few hopurs. At around 4.30pm the cash arrived and they resumed their work and continued till late night. "As far as the minister is concerned, he came around 7pm and stayed here for 20 minutes. I don't think protocol was broken. They submitted valid identification cards following which the notes were exchanged the manager also said OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, November 19, 2016, 13:47 [IST] Bihar: When asked to take off hijab to check for bluetooth device, Muslim student leaves exam centre Central team roped in as dengue cases in Bihar rise to over 5000 Bihar's Gopalganj by-poll to see a tough fight between BJP and RJD Industrialists meet CM; show interest in investing in Bihar India oi-PTI Patna, Nov 19: A delegation of industrialists today met Chief Minister Nitish Kumar here and expressed interest in investing in the state. These industrialists also discussed the possibilities and opportunities of setting up industrial units in different sectors. "A detailed presentation was also made before the Chief Minister with regard to the development and expansion of food processing industries, construction sector, tourism industry in the state. Discussion was held on the various aspects of these sectors," an official release said. It was, however, not mentioned as what would be the size of investment and when and where the investment would take place. The industrialists who met the CM were Gulf Petroleum Managing Director Sudhir Goyal, Col. Bhatnagar of Leela Group, Nagarjun of Tiger Steel, Goldrush Managing Director Mehmood A Khan, G P Fund's Director S Shaheen Alam, Rahul Mahindra of Harvard Associate and Industrialists B Mehta and Dr A A Hai. All Bihar households to get electricity by 2018-end: Nitish Kumar The industrialists later held a meeting with top officials to discuss in details the issues raised during their meeting with the CM. The industrialists discussed the issues with Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh, Industries Department's Principal Secretary Dr S Siddharth, Tourism Department's Principal Secretary Harjot Kaur and other senior officials, the release added. PTI Kejriwal loses his cool during interview India oi-Madhuri By Madhuri New Delhi, Nov 19: Arvind Kejriwal lost his cool during an interview conducted with BBC Hindi. The Delhi Chief Minister was seen expressing his displeasure while speaking about the issue of demonetisation. Speaking to the reporter, Kejriwal pointed out that 55 people have lost their lives so far due to demonetisation. When the reporter asked the Delhi CM to provide evidence to prove that the deaths were connected to demonetisation, an argument broke out between the Delhi CM and the reporter. Kejriwal further said that Janardhana Reddy, one who was involved in a mining scam, had a wedding in his family. And the cost of the wedding expenses was Rs 500 crores. He asked the reporter,''How did the money reach him? Rich people don't stand in queues unlike the common people. In fact, there is home delivery of cash at the houses of the rich''. The Delhi CM also alleged that it would bring no impact on black money circulating in the country. Earlier, Kejriwal had attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accused him of helping liquor baron Vijay Mallya flee the country. He also said while common people are standing in queues outside banks and ATMs, Mallya was enjoying in London. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, November 19, 2016, 16:15 [IST] UK PM Liz Truss resigns after 45 days in office, successor to be elected next week Left parties question PM's silence on 'demonetisation deaths' India oi-PTI New Delhi, Nov 19: Left parties today lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, questioning why he has been silent on the 55 deaths caused allegedly due to the demonetisation move and the preparations made by the government in the run up to the decision. "The PM talks a lot but not on issues that really matter. Why has he not spoken on 55 deaths that have occurred due to #Demonetisation? "The PM must state the quantum of currency made available so far to replace the old Rs 1000 and 500 notes. Why doesn't he tell us the truth?" CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury posted on Twitter. The Marxist leader said the Prime Minister, while making the demonetisation announcement on November 8, had stated that "everything would settle within two days, but later extended the period to 50 days. Delhi Congress to hold Jan Aakrosh marches against demonetisation "On what basis did he make those claims? Will it be 500 now? The PM must detail the preparation done for 10 months for demonetisation. Does he agree with FM that 'execution couldn't have been better'?" the Rajya Sabha member questioned. Joining Yechury on the issue, CPI National Secretary D Raja also asked Modi to listen to the concerns raised by Parliamentarians over the issue in the House. "The Prime Minister should listen to the views expressed by members of the House and answer those," Raja said. PTI Missing JNU student Najeeb held captive, claims mysterious letter India oi-Madhuri By Madhuri Aligarh, Nov 19: Delhi Police on Saturday are probing into a case after a Mahi-Mandvi hostel received an anonymous letter from someone on November 14 who claims to know about the missing JNU MSc student, Najeeb Ahmed. Najeeb Ahmed went missing on October 15 following a scuffle allegedly with ABVP members the night before. The day he went missing, Najeeb took an auto from JNU and reached Jamia Millia Islamia campus. The letter was received by the hostel president Azeem as it was addressed to Najeeb Ahmed. He informed Najeeb's mother Fatima Nafees about the mysterious letter who later handed it over to Crime Branch according to a report in the Times of India. The letter written by a woman claims that she has information about Najeeb Ahmed's disappearance. The letter also claims that the mysterious woman had seen Najeb Ahmed at a market in Aligarh. Najeeb had managed to flee from where he had been locked down and sought her help. She further mentioned her address where she could be contacted. When the Crime Branch reached to the given address in the letter, no one could be found. Police said that the letter could be a hoax, but they are going to find out the location from where the letter was dispatched to the JNU hostel. Meanwhile, Jamia Millia Islamia campus has handed over the CCTV footage to the Delhi police. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, November 19, 2016, 13:07 [IST] Modi to address Global Citizen Festival India oi-Madhuri By Madhuri Mumbai, Nov 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday will address Global Citizen Festival at Mumbai via video conferencing. The Global Citizen Festival India will be held at MMRDA Grounds in Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai. More than 80 per cent of the tickets were given away free to those who took part in social activities in support of Global Citizen India across the country. More than 80,000 fans from across the country will be seen thronging the event. The festival will have performances by international as well as Indian celebrities. Apart from Coldplay, Jay Z, Demi Lovato and The Vamps from abroad and Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, A.R. Rahman, Ranveer Singh, Katrina Kaif and many more from the Indian film industry are expected to attend. OneIndia For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, November 19, 2016, 9:48 [IST] No hiatus in leadership of Nalanda University India oi-IANS By Ians English Patna, Nov 19: Nalanda University in Bihar on Saturday made it clear that there will be no hiatus in the leadership of the university. "In response to media queries about the leadership of Nalanda University after Dr Gopa Sabharwal's present term as Vice-Chancellor ends on 24 November 2016, the Chancellor has directed that his circular to Faculty and Administration Staff on 27 October 2016 and his letter to Dr. Sabharwal on 10 November 2016 be released to the media," a press release of the university said. "This is to assure University's stakeholders and members of the public that there will be no hiatus in the leadership of the University," it added. It further said: "The Chancellor and the Governing Board are grateful to Dr. Sabharwal for agreeing to act as interim Vice-Chancellor until a new Vice-Chancellor is in place. The Chancellor and the Governing Board have put on record their high regard of Dr. Sabharwal's performance as Vice-Chancellor and had wanted to recommend her reappointment." The university Chancellor George Yeo in a letter dated Nov 10, 2016 said: "On behalf of the governing board, I thank you for agreeing to act as interim vice chancellor and making sure that there will be no leadership vacuum in the university." Vice chancellor Gopa Sabharwal's term ended in November 2015 and she got an extension as per varsity guidelines. Read More: President Mukherjee attends first convocation of Nalanda University Located in the Buddhist pilgrim town of Rajgir in Nalanda district, the university began its first academic session in September 2014 on a makeshift campus. Yeo, a former foreign minister of Singapore, replaced Nobel laureate Amartya Sen as the chancellor last year IANS Five years of demonetisation: Notes in circulation on rise; so are digital payments PM Modi should admit that demonetistion a failure: Owaisi on cash seizure in UP One dies as northeast India continues to reel under cash crunch India oi-IANS By Ians English Agartala/Aizawl/Silchar, Nov 19: Amid the continuing cash crunch in the northeastern states in the wake of demonetisation, an ailing tribal man lost his life in Tripura on Saturday as his family did not have enough money to shift him to a hospital in the state capital. Manoranjan Debbarma, 61, was admitted on Friday to a government hospital in Kamalpur town, where doctors advised his family members to shift him to Agartala government medical college. However, his family members could not withdraw enough money as banks refused to make any exception to the set guidelines, a close relative Shyamal Debbarma told reporters. It's been 11 days since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on November 8. However the people in semi-urban, remote and rural areas the northeast India are still reeling under a cash crunch as neither banks nor ATM kiosks have enough cash to dispense. "As banks are putting mostly Rs 100 notes in ATMs, within a few hours the automated teller machines are getting empty. Otherwise, most of the ATMs and the banks have reasonable amount of currency notes with varied denominations including new Rs 2,000 notes," United Bank of India's (UBI) Chief Regional Manager and Deputy General Manager Mahendra Dohare told IANS. "The situation in the entire northeastern region is gradually improving day by day. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is also providing currency notes of varied denominations," Dohare said in Agartala. On people refusing to accept Rs 10 coins, Dohare said that people should accept the coins as these are not at all fake or duplicate. "The RBI has also asked the people to accept the coins without any doubt," he added. Nepali migrants in India struggling to cope with demonetisation In Mizoram, long queues of people were seen in front of bank branches and ATM kiosks since early morning. In order to deal with the cash crunch, a section of traders in eastern Mizoram, bordering Myanmar, have asked the people to use pieces of paper as promissory currency notes to replace official currency till the situation improves. "We have to find an alternative solution as the cash crunch has hit both the sellers and buyers hard. It is not possible to trade anything unless we evolve an alternate system," P.C. Lalhmachhuana, owner of a hardware store in Khawbung semi-township (in eastern Mizoram), told reporters. "Local people are happy with the informal system. The papers bear the value of the amount and the signature of the buyers and sellers on them," Lalhmachhuana added. Several opposition parties held demonstrations in the region against the central government's move to ban high denomination notes and demanded that the crisis should be resolved immediately. In Silchar, (southern Assam), though the situation has slightly improved in the four districts in Barak Valley, huge queues of people both outside bank branches and ATM kiosks still continued. "The banks in Barak Valley have been disbursing huge number of currency notes with denominations of Rs 2,000, Rs 100, Rs 50, Rs 20 and Rs 10. Gradually, rush in the banks and the ATM booths is reducing," State Bank of India's regional manager Pradip Kumar Pal told reporters in Silchar. "After the availability of new Rs 500 notes in the banks and the ATMs the situation would improve greatly. However, the new Rs 500 notes are yet to come in the RBI's regional office in Guwahati." IANS A dream, a call and some courage: How a 15-year-old stopped her marriage Man rapes 8-year-old to use her blood for removing obstacles to his marriage Polling begins for bypolls in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, West Bengal India oi-IANS By Ians English Chennai/Kolkata, Nov 19: The polling for three Tamil Nadu assembly constituencies -- Thirupparankundram, Aravakkurichi and Thanjavur -- and the lone Nellithope constituency in Puducherry began at 7 a.m. on Saturday. In Tamil Nadu, nearly 7.54 lakh voters are expected to exercise their vote and decide the fate of 81 candidates in the fray in the three constituencies. In Aravakkurichi, ruling AIADMK's V. Senthil Balaji will fight it out against the DMK's K.C. Palanisamy while at Thirupparankundram the AIADMK's A.K. Bose will take on the DMK's P. Saravanan. In Thanjavur, the AIADMK's M. Rengasamy is pitted against the DMK's Anjugam Bhoopathy. In Thirupparankundram, the by-election has been necessitated by the death of AIADMK's legislator S.S. Seenivel. While there are other parties in the contest, the contest is mainly between the AIADMK and the DMK in Tamil Nadu. In Puducherry's Nellithope, Congress leader V. Narayanasamy is contesting against AIADMK nominee Om Shakthi Segar. The counting of votes will be held on November 22. Meanwhile, polling began amidst enthusiasm for by-elections to two Lok Sabha and one assembly seats in West Bengal at 7 a.m. The counting of votes will be held on November 22 An electorate of nearly 3,524,977, including 1,689,735 females and 38 from the third gender are eligible to choose their representatives from among 23 candidates vying for honours in Cooch Behar (Reserved-Scheduled Castes) and Tamluk parliamentary constituencies and Monteshwar assembly seat. Cooch Behar has the maximum number of contestants (10), followed by Tamluk (7) and Monteshwar (6), whose fate would be decided in over 500 Electronic Voting machines spread across 4,121 polling stations. The state's principal political parties -- the ruling Trinamool Congress, the Congress, the Left Front and the BJP -- are in fray for all three seats. The elections are being held under the shadow of the central government's demonetisation move to unearth black money and counterfeit coins, that has caused turmoil across the nation. The Cooch Behar parliamentary constituency fell vacant after the death of Trinamool's Renuka Sinha, while Tamluk has gone to the hustings as the incumbent MP Suvendu Adhikari became a minister in Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Cabinet. Trinamool lawmaker Sajal Panja's death has caused the Monteshwar assembly by-poll. IANS SBI Clerk Recruitment: Tomorrow is last date to apply for 5,000 posts, check details here SBI employee dies after collapsing in bank India oi-PTI Nagpur, Nov 18: A 51-year-old employee of State Bank of India (SBI), handling cash counter at a city branch, died after he collapsed during a rush of people who had come to exchange the demonetised currency notes, a bank official said. The deceased, identified as Rampantula Venkatesh Rajesh, was posted as a customer service assistant at Gandhi Nagar branch of SBI in south-western part of city. Branch manager of the bank, S Nausadkar, confirmed the incident. According to family members of the deceased, who was an ex-serviceman, he had complained of chest pain last night. "His wife had advised him to visit a doctor and not to go to bank. However, citing work pressure, he went to the office. In the afternoon, when there was a huge rush of people at the bank, he started sweating profusely and soon collapsed," a family member said. Nausadkar said, "After Rajesh collapsed, he was immediately taken to a nearby private hospital. There, doctors tried to save him, but was declared dead half an hour later." Ambajhari police is in the process of registering a case of accidental death. PTI Senior citizen dies in Karnataka while waiting in queue to get notes exchanged India oi-Anusha By Anusha Ravi New Delhi, Nov 19: A senior citizen died, following a cardiac arrest while waiting in queue to exchange his old notes. The incident occurred at Tumkur today at 12.30 PM. The 70 year old Siddappa was standing in queue at the State Bank of Mysore breach in Cheluru, Tumkur. Police say that Siddappa had gone to the branch to exchange his old notes. However while waiting his queue he suffered a cardiac arrest following he passed away at 12.30 PM. He was immediately rushed to hospital, but declared brought dead. His body has been handed over to his family members. The banks across India had decided that it would exchange currency notes only for its customers and senior citizens. Demonetisation: Man gets Rs 20,000 in 10 rupee coins weighing 15 kilos! The opposition has claimed that nearly 50 persons have died while waiting in queue to exchange their old currency. The oppsosition has been blaming the government for these deaths and say it is a result of demonetisation. OneIndia news Did Ivanka Trump attend Donald Trump-Shinzo Abe meeting? International oi-Sandra Marina Fernandes Washington, Nov 19: Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump has been facing flak after she was seen attending the meeting between her father and Japan's prime minister Shinzo Abe. Also read: Donald Trump seeks top security clearance for his children: Report US President-elect Donald Trump met Abe on Thursday at the Trump Towers in Manhattan in a first sit-down talk with a foreign dignitary after he won the US Presidential elections. No reporters were allowed to cover the event. However, pictures soon emerged on social media showing Trump in a meeting with Abe alongwith Ivanka. It is, however, unclear whether Ivanka was present throughout the meeting or not. Soon after photos of the meeting began circulating on social media, several people expressed their shock and outrage at Ivanka's presence during the meeting. Several pointed out that she didn't have security clearance to sit in through the meeting. Ivanka Trump sat in on her father's meeting today with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, per handout photo pic.twitter.com/tEbfYYeJFA Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) November 18, 2016 Ivanka Trump has no business being in the room when Trump met with Prime Minister Abe. She's family, not foreign advisor. https://t.co/dxz60cU9xh George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) November 18, 2016 Ivanka's husband, Jared Kushner too was seen greeting Abe after the meeting. Both Ivanka and her husband are a part of Trump's transition team. Trump's daughter has been playing a very active role, ever since he began campaigning for the presidential elections. Ivanka was seen speaking at the Republican Convention before the elections and was also seen giving interviews on various news channels. OneIndia News At Delhi govt school, Melania Trump says she is inspired by Happiness Curriculum French fashion designer refuses to dress Melania Trump International oi-PTI New York, Nov 19: There's no doubt which side the fashion world supported during the US presidential campaign. For years, First Lady Michelle Obama and Democrats' vanquished presidential candidate Hillary Clinton have been favorites with fashion designers who dressed them in clothes aimed at evoking their values. But New York-based French designer Sophie Theallet has gone a step further, throwing down the gauntlet by refusing to dress future first lady Melania Trump because of the political views of her husband, President-elect Donald Trump. Theallet is urging other designers to follow her lead. "As one who celebrates and strives for diversity, individual freedom and respect for all lifestyles, I will not participate in dressing or associating in any way with the next first lady," she wrote in an open letter published yesterday. "The rhetoric of racism, sexism and xenophobia unleashed by her husband's presidential campaign are incompatible with the shared values we live by." "I am well aware it is not wise to get involved in politics," Theallet added. "That said, as a family-owned company, our bottom line is not just about money." The letter has prompted a flood of reaction on social media, much of it negative. Theallet, 52, who has worked in the United States for more than fifteen years, is a regular fixture at New York's fashion week. Her feminine designs have appealed to Michelle Obama, who provided welcome publicity by donning several of her dresses since 2009. "She has contributed to having our name recognized and respected worldwide," Theallet wrote of the current first lady, indicating purpose behind Obama's fashion choices. "Her values, actions and grace have always resonated deeply within me." PTI 12-year-old Indian in Guinness World Record for identifying most aeroplane tails in UAE Watch: Four Indian women racially abused in Texas in most horrific manner Indian drone shot down near LoC, Pak military claims International newsvoir-Jagriti Islamabad, Nov 19: The Pakistan Army on Saturday claimed to have shot down an Indian drone into Pakistani territory across the LoC. Director-General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt. Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa claimed that Indian Quad Copter shot down by own Aagahi Post in Rakhchakri Sector. He also claimed that it had intruded 60 Ms in Pak side of LOC,fell near own Agahi Post&taken over by Pakistani army. As many as 377 ceasefire violations occured along the Line of Control and the International Boundary with Pakistan by November, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre told the Lok Sabha on Friday. 377 ceasefire violations this year: Minister Till November 14, eight army personnel were killed and 59 injured on the LoC and IB. Four BSF men were killed and seven others injured till November 1. Indian Quad Copter shot down by own Aagahi Post in Rakhchakri Sec.Had intruded 60 Ms in Pak side of LOC,fell near own Agahi Post&taken over Gen Asim Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) November 19, 2016 Reference my last tweet,Indian Quad Copter has been shot down by Pakistani troops at 1645,fell in Pak territory& taken over by Pak troops. Gen Asim Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) November 19, 2016 OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, November 20, 2016, 0:50 [IST] No 'String of Pearls', it's the Dragon in the Indian Ocean International oi-IANS By Ians English Beijing, Nov 19: Forget the "String of Pearls" theory about how China is supposedly surrounding India on the high seas. China is not just on the sea, but also on land, in air and deeply involved in the economies of all of South Asia and beyond. Two events in India's neighbourhood taking place on a single day, November 14, show the extent to which the Chinese reach has extended and is expected to grow phenomenally. They need to be taken into account by India's strategic planners. One was Pakistan's Gwadar port going operational and the other was the announcement in Dhaka that Bangladesh was getting its first-ever submarine from China. Last Monday, the first major trade cargo departed from Gwadar, marking the operationalisation of the port designed and built by China. That also marked the completion, in just about two years, of the project to feed the port under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) under the Chinese One Belt-One Road initiative. Flagging off the cargo, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the CPEC will "integrate development and commerce of various regions across Asia and Europe by increasing connectivity". He further said that it seeks "to transform Pakistan into a regional hub of trade, commerce and manufacturing by harnessing its geo-strategic location into a geo-economic advantage". Taking in the big picture, he said the CPEC "will help integrate South Asia, China and Central Asia and offer opportunities for people in this region, and investors all over the world". The CPEC is central to the Sino-Pak vision and also to the Pakistani leadership as a panacea to all the ills affecting the country and of an acute feeling of being isolated after the United States under Barack Obama and much of Europe leaned towards India. At the event, the Prime Minister was accompanied by Army Chief Gen. Raheel Sharif. Both have attributed Pakistan's current tensions with India to part of the latter's efforts to "frustrate" the CPEC. The November 14 departure of trade cargo from Gwadar marks a decisive arrival for China in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf region. From there, two ships -- Al Hussain Zanzibar and Cosco Wellington -- set sail for ports in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and the European Union. The Chinese have moved fast in Pakistan when, by contrast, there is little push on the India-Iran-Afghanistan accord to develop the Chabahar port in Iran -- less than 100 km from Gwadar -- and build a railway line that would link Chabahar to landlocked Afghanistan and thence to Central Asia. The project, with the blessings of the Obama administration, was also to get Japanese participation with the likely visit to Iran of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. But a Japanese official recently said there was no word from the promoters of Chabahar seeking any financial participation. The announcement in Dhaka about it getting its first-ever submarine from China comes a few weeks ahead of the visit to India of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, likely in the latter half of December. A range of political and economic issues are expected to be on the agenda. However, Bangladesh has for long placed its military eggs in the Chinese basket. Irrespective of the political colour of the regime in Dhaka, this has been a continuing and expanding process, making China the largest trade partner and the No. 1 supplier of military hardware to Bangladesh. Meanwhile, China's deep involvement in Myanmar is a continuing story irrespective of whether the generals rule the country or the present civil-military leadership. So is China's commitment on several projects in Nepal, including a railway line that can be extended right up to the Nepali border with Bihar. Nepal wants to maintain careful equi-distance with India and China. Similarly, Sri Lanka, under heavy debt to China, wants to compensate the latter with several projects that the Maithripala Sirisena government has held back. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in July proposed to China's Ambassador Yi Xianliang varying degrees of control over some of Sri Lanka's biggest infrastructure projects, including the Mattala International Airport and portions of the Hambantota deep-sea port, and wondered if Sri Lanka could receive some debt relief. China refused the suggestions saying it was not possible under Chinese law. But it has continued to promise "fullest cooperation" and that such deals should be conducted via investors on proper commercial terms. While China's government will not swap debt for equity, it will help clear the road for Chinese companies to take over key projects in Sri Lanka. IZP, a Chinese information technology company, has been put forward as a potential purchaser of Mattala International Airport, while COSCO is looking into expanding operations at the Hambantota deep-sea port. The fact of the matter is that India has neither the capacity, nor the political intent, to reach out to its neighbours with investments and projects. Indeed, many of the projects awarded to it have lagged behind for several reasons. That being the case, India has much more to worry and work on beyond countering the "String of Pearls". The Dragon has arrived in the Indian Ocean. IANS Only Trump's views matter in his administration: Spokesman International oi-PTI Washington, Nov 19: Anyone joining the Trump administration would have to leave their personal views behind and implement the vision and ideas of the President-elect, a top transition team member has said. "Regardless of someone, whether it is a staff member appointed or nominated or intended to be nominated, one of the things that always has to be remembered is that everybody who serves in a Trump administration will serve Donald Trump and Mike Pence and they will implement that vision and their ideas and no one else's," said Sean Spicer, Chief Strategist and Communication Director of the Republican National Committee. "One point on all nominees, and I think this is important for people to recognise, is that anyone's personal view is not what matters. You are serving the President-elect of the US and implementing his views," Spicer told reporters yesterday. Spicer was responding to questions on the past views and statements made by several of Trump's appointees and nominations the announcements for which have been made in the last few days. Yesterday, Trump announced his intent to nominate Senator Jeff Sessions as his Attorney General, Lt Gen (rtd) Michael Flynn as National Security Adviser and Congressman Mike Pompeo as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Trump, before heading for Bedminster in New Jersey where he will spend his weekend, had two-hour meeting with the transition team headed by the Vice President-elect Mike Pence. Today, Trump is slated to meet Mitt Romney, Republican party's presidential candidate in 2012, General (rtd) James Mattis, Bob Woodson, who's the founder and president of the Center for Neighbourhood Enterprises, Andy Puzder (a right wing commentator and fast food CEO), and investor Lew Eisenberg. "These meetings that the President-elect is holding shows that he's meeting with some of the best and the brightest and the most qualified people not only to fill specific roles within the administration but also to give advice and counsel on the policies and structure of how to best put together a team and enact a successful agenda. "It also goes to the fact that Trump is not putting together meetings based on political affiliation or if they've supported him in the past. He's bringing together a broad and diverse team to help come up with a number of different policies and procedures and specific team members to help move our country forward," said Jason Miller, communication director of the Trump Transition Team. The Transition team needs to fill up to 4,000 positions in the administration for which the team has received more than 51,000 resumes. Over 145,000 people have shared their story or idea on how to make America great again, Miller added. PTI Fact Check: This video of a bus being attacked is from Egypt and not related to the ongoing violence in Iraq Sisi praises Trump, expects more US engagement in region International oi-PTI Cairo, Nov 19: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi praised US President-elect Donald Trump and said he expected greater engagement in the Middle East from his administration, in an interview with Portuguese media. The former Egyptian army chief had strained relations with outgoing President Barack Obama's administration, which had temporarily suspended military aid after Sisi toppled his elected predecessor in 2013. "Personally I respect and appreciate" Trump, Sisi said according to an English translation of his remarks to Portuguese news agency LUSA published today. "I believe that President-elect Trump will be more rigorously engaged with the issues of the region," he said. "As a matter of fact President-elect Trump has shown deep and great understanding of what is taking place in the region as a whole and what is taking place in Egypt," he added. "That is why I am looking forward, and I am expecting more support and more reinforcement of our bilateral relations". Trump's tough-on-terrorism rhetoric has appeal among Egyptian officials, as the country faces a jihadist insurgency that has killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers. The insurgency took off after the military overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013, unleashing a deadly crackdown on supporters. Sisi, who had met Trump in September in New York, downplayed Trump's calls to ban or extremely vet Muslims entering the United States. "We have got to draw a distinction between the rhetoric that takes place within presidential campaigns and the real and actual administration of a country after the inauguration of a president," he said. AFP Donald Trump agrees to USD 25M settlement to resolve 'phony' Trump University lawsuits International oi-PTI San Diego, Nov 19: President-elect Donald Trump has agreed to a USD 25 million settlement to resolve three lawsuits over Trump University, his former school for real estate investors. The deal announced on yesterday by New York state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman would settle a lawsuit he filed three years ago, plus two class-action lawsuits in California filed on behalf of former Trump University students. The suits allege that Trump University failed to deliver on its promise to teach success in real estate through programs that cost up to USD 35,000. They say the program misled students by calling itself a university when it wasn't an accredited school and by saying that Trump "hand-picked" instructors. Messages left with several of Trump's attorneys and a spokeswoman were not returned on yesterday. Trump has strongly denied the allegations and said during the campaign that he wouldn't settle. He told supporters at a May rally that he would come to San Diego to testify after winning the presidency. "I could have settled this case numerous times, but I don't want to settle cases when we're right. I don't believe in it. And when you start settling cases, you know what happens? Everybody sues you because you get known as a settler. One thing about me, I am not known as a settler," Trump said at the time. The deal does not require Trump to acknowledge wrongdoing. Schneiderman said the USD 25 million to be paid by Trump or one of his business entities includes restitution for victims and USD 1 million in penalties to the state. "Donald Trump fought us every step of the way, filing baseless charges and fruitless appeals and refusing to settle for even modest amounts of compensation for the victims of his phony university. Today, that all changes," Schneiderman said in a statement. He called the settlement "a stunning reversal by Donald Trump and a major victory for the over 6,000 victims of his fraudulent university." A federal judge in California had been set on yesterday to consider arguments on Trump's latest request to delay a trial until after Trump's inauguration on January 20. Trump's attorneys said in a court filing last week that preparations for the White House were "critical and all-consuming." Six months ago, when they unsuccessfully sought a delay until after Inauguration Day, lead attorney Daniel Petrocelli said the period between the election and swearing-in is extremely hectic for a president-elect but that it was preferable to a trial during the campaign. PTI Trump will continue to prey on fears of Americans: Jayapal International oi-PTI Washington, Nov 19: Pramila Jayapal, the first-ever Indian-American woman elected to US House of Representatives, has said President-elect Donald Trump has made it clear that he will continue to prey on the fears of ordinary Americans. Jayapal, 51, warned she intends to be ready to stand and fight every step of the way, if Trump does not abandon the divisive rhetoric of his campaign. Immediately following Trump's election, there have been more than 300 hate crimes reported across the US, she said. "By selecting Steve Bannon as chief strategist and now Senator Jeff Sessions for Attorney General, Trump has made it clear that he will continue to prey on the fears of ordinary Americans instead of uniting us as a country, 'indivisible, with liberty and justice for all'," Jayapal said yesterday. She alleged Bannon has overseen a website that publishes views that are clearly racist and reflect calls for a white supremacist agenda that have absolutely no place in the US. "I denounce President-elect Trump's appointment of Steve Bannon, and call on him to revoke this appointment," Jayapal said, adding that the announcement of Sessions as Trump's choice for Attorney General simply continues the pattern. "Senator Sessions was not confirmed for a federal judgeship even by a Republican-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee because of his history of racially charged actions and statements. It is untenable to have him as the appointee for the most important post in the country for civil rights and the upholding of our constitutional values," she said. As the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Sessions has opposed immigration reform as well as essential bipartisan proposals to reform the criminal justice system, she alleged. "Appointing him as Attorney General would send a terrifying message to people across the country about the next Administration's commitment to civil rights, criminal justice reform and constitutional rights," Jayapal said. Though Trump has won the election through the electoral college, he should not forget that a majority of Americans rejected the pervasive racism and misogyny of his campaign by choosing another presidential candidate, she said. "If Trump intends to be a President for all of the US, he must abandon the divisive rhetoric of his campaign and choose appointees who will uphold our constitutional values and the core ideas of inclusion and diversity. If he does not do so, I intend to be ready to stand and fight every step of the way and to build the movement that can stop these disastrous rollbacks to decades of progress," Jayapal added. PTI CUET impact? Only 1 from Kerala board in Hindu College's popular course so far JNU Admissions 2022: PG First merit list to be released today; how to check Demonetisation: Man gets Rs 20,000 in 10 rupee coins weighing 15 kilos! New Delhi oi-Sandra Marina Fernandes New Delhi, Nov 17: As the country continues to reel under the effects of demonetisation, a man in Delhi was handed over Rs 20,000 in 10 rupee coins after the bank ran out of cash. The incident took place in Jasola, New Delhi when Imtiaz Alam went to the bank to withdraw money and was handed over coins that weighed around 15 kilos. According to reports, Alam pleaded to the bank stating that he needed the cash urgently. "Manager offered me 10 rupee coins after they ran out of cash. I agreed to take coins rather than standing in long queues again," he told ANI. Delhi: Man receives Rs 20000 in form of 10 rupee coins from a bank due to lack of higher denomination currency notes pic.twitter.com/iuIov0eele ANI (@ANI_news) November 19, 2016 Alam stood in the queue for close to five hours to withdraw money from the bank. After Narendra Modi announced that Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 will no longer be legal tender since the midnight of Tuesday (Nov 8) people have been queuing outside banks and ATMs to withdraw cash. While there have been reports of the entire process functioning smoothly in several places, there are also incidents when banks have run out of currency and had to turn away customers. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, November 19, 2016, 14:05 [IST] CUET impact? Only 1 from Kerala board in Hindu College's popular course so far No end to tussle between judiciary and centre New Delhi oi-Vicky New Delhi, Nov 19: There appears to be no end to the tussle between the centre and the judiciary. The Supreme Court while putting its foot down said that the 43 names of judges for high courts will be reconsidered by the centre. The centre had recently told the court that out of the 77 names proposed 34 were cleared while the remaining 43 were being sent back to the collegium. The Supreme Court was, however, not amused and said that the 43 names were being sent back to the centre for reconsideration. Also read: Senior judge stays away as SC collegium finalises names of judges While reminding the centre of the rules, the Bench headed by Chief Justice of India, TS Thakur said under the Memorandum of Procedure, if the collegium reiterates for the second time the names of judges, then the centre is bound to forward the same to the President of India for appointment. "We will give you three weeks time," the Bench said. The Bench further stated that after the meeting of the collegium they were reiterating all the names. "You are bound to accept the names for the second time and forward the same to the President," the Supreme Court also observed. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, November 19, 2016, 9:17 [IST] 3 army jawan were martyred in Assam's Tinsukia district after ULFA terrorists attacked a convoy by IED blast. A couple of months ago, tension gripped Tinsukia district in Assam after five to six militants belonging to the anti-talk faction of ULFA shot dead two people and injured seven. 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. by Graham Pierrepoint FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM IMDb Dir: David Yates Starring Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Colin Farrell, Samantha Morton, Ezra Miller, Jon Voight 4 STARS (out of 5) This was always going to be a big one and arguably one of the big ones of the fall/winter movie season. The Harry Potter universe is so ingrained in our popular culture now that it has become something of a fragile beast, fans are wary of any changes to the universe that may upset its balances, much in the way that Star Wars fanatics came to be over the years. Potter fans, however, have fared significantly better than Star Wars watchers, as there has barely been a step wrong in JK Rowlings world of witchcraft and wizardry, from books to movies and even to the stage the critical praise keeps on coming. Fantastic Beasts, however, is a step into the dark for Rowling and David Yates, long-time Potter director and for the most part, it holds up rather well. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them focuses on Newt Scamander, wizard and beast-finder extraordinaire, on a trip to New York with a whole host of magical creatures in his suitcase. This is 1920s New York, seventy-something years ahead of Harry Potters time at Hogwarts and before Lord Voldemort was even born and as such, we are treated to a vision of how the wizarding world operated across the sea almost three quarters of a century before the Boy Who Lived came to be. Scamander finds himself losing several of his beasts, accidentally tangling up with amiable non-wizard and baker-in-making Jacob Kowalski, and eventually gaining the attention of Tina Goldstein, a wizarding law enforcer who, too, is facing her own set of crises. Into the mix comes mysterious occurrences around the city, putting non-magical lives at risk is Scamanders veritable zoo of oddities to blame, or is there a deeper conspiracy at play? Scamander, Goldstein and Kowalski are on their way to find out. This is a visually beautiful movie that truly benefits from not only amazing designs in Scamanders beasts and the artefacts on display, but also in its action sequences we really do feel like were back in the world of Rowling again. However, I shall be very quick to point out that this is not a movie that rests upon the source material, nor does it need to in this regard, its a screenplay that does very well to show us a separate side to this well-established universe and, despite only two or three hints to characters were well accustomed to, its a prequel that does well to stand on its own two feet. That being said, Im fairly certain Potter fans will get more from this than your average moviegoer. The sound design, too, is great leitmotifs from the Harry Potter theme sprinkle throughout. Fantastic Beasts does excellently at recapturing the wonder and intrigue that greeted us in the early Harry Potter movies, and as such makes for a great re-introduction to this universe. Were given exposition where necessary, and are often given just enough of a glimpse into the various workings of this world without feeling too overwhelmed or left out. It benefits from having such a rich and varied world to delve into, of course. That being said, where the movie does stumble, unfortunately, is in its plotting. This movie is huge. Its far too big for a two-hour timeframe, and there are so many plot strands, twists and characters that it can become rather muddling one strand of plot is resolved but another remains tangled, only for it to twist even more leading to a climax that, unfortunately, is fairly predictable. The door is left open for a sequel, and if Rowlings recent comments are to be taken into account, we may be seeing as many as four more and there certainly is more ground to cover here. While we certainly do feel like we get enough of a vision into the way this world works and into many of these characters lives, there are plot strands and opportunities here and there that are left unexplored and there are a couple of minor plot holes that may aggravate a few moviegoers. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - Official Trailer (Warner Bros. Pictures) The cast is altogether very talented and well-cast, Waterston and Sudol are great as the Goldstein sisters (though Tina Goldstein feels a little too undeveloped towards the end), Miller shines as a troubled young boy led by a tyrannical Samantha Morton, and Colin Farrell is arguably at his best here, though not stealing any scenes. Dan Fogler, however, remains an unsung hero of the big screen, effortlessly offering bumbling charm and sincerity through a role that can best be described as the viewer avatar his character, Kowalski, is just as mystified by everything as we are, and perhaps even more so as we have already been privy to this universe. In my opinion, Fogler, genuinely appears to channel one of our best-loved and most-missed comic acting talents John Candy with the late actors performance in Planes, Trains and Automobiles coming to mind. He may not be as infuriating, but Kowalski is essentially Del Griffith as a baker in 1920s wizarding New York, and hes an awful lot of fun. I did, however, struggle to endear myself to Newt Scamander. Eddie Redmayne is an actor who has proven himself to be worthy of the plaudits he has received and there is no doubt that he is an accomplished actor but despite his early, amiable bumbling and moments of charming ditziness, he fails to sell me the central character with much charisma or gravitas. From the second act onwards, I didnt feel particularly drawn to the character, as he becomes diluted in his own scatterbrained whimsy. Hes not even as whimsical as you might expect he appears rather on-edge and withdrawn from the second act onwards, and I genuinely found myself drawn to Dan Foglers performance (as established). While Redmayne certainly became Scamander effortlessly, I cant help but wonder what this movie would have been like under a different lead. Could Matt Smith, for example, have handled things differently? We will never know, of course but I hope to see Scamanders character and personality explored a little more in future instalments. All things considered, despite problems with plotting and certain character elements, Fantastic Beasts is still great fun, and on the whole very well made. It stands on its own two feet fairly solidly, and while some viewers may find it haphazard at times, I have no doubt that it will entertain families with very little effort. There is still a rich story to tell here and a universe to explore, and perhaps with future instalments we will be given more space to breathe despite the movies issues, I left anticipating future instalments, which for me is the mark of a film that has done its job. Business Insider 29 Jun 2021 During an interview on the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show, Trump called the University of Georgia standout and 1982 Heisman Trophy.. The Chief Secretary to Government, Amb. Isaac Lupari CBE has urged the Heads of Departments and Government Agencies to take lead in changing our attitude to work at the 7th Departmental Heads meeting today at the Institute of Public Administration.Amb. Lupari said one of the biggest obstacles to progress and development of our country is our attitude.This dont care attitude has become a norm in the public service today.It has become the greatest liability to our progress, Amb Lupari said.Many of us dont see it. We take things for granted, simply because we get paid every fortnight irrespective of our level of attendance and productivity.We come to work late. We dont attend to our work in a serious manner. We dont act decisively. We have an I dont care attitude. We leave things to the last minute. We dont work together and the list goes on.Dont we think this is totally unfair and morally wrong? How can we do this to our people and our children?When these people depend on us to give them an opportunity to make or improve their lives.Amb. Lupari said the Public Servants take things for granted, thinking the role of serving the people of Papua New Guinea is someone elses responsibility and they are not aware of the enormity of these responsibilities.So who is going to help our people? If you are thinking someone else, then you are wrong and you are in the wrong place, the Chief Secretary said.It is us, we the Public Servants.It is time in this age, we take our jobs seriously. We must take the lead and we must lead by example.What we do with our responsibilities and how we deliver on these responsibilities, directly affects lives of our people and our children.Today, Public Servants consume almost K4.0 billion of the total budget on an annual basis just on wages and salaries alone. This accounts for 30% of the budget. If we add the operational costs, we are talking about almost 70% of the total budget outlay.This is a massive financial resource going into our wages and salaries every year. Our people are paying us to do a job to serve them.Yet, many times we complain about being paid less. We complain about allowances. We complain about school fees. We complain literally about everything.Amb. Lupari said it is not fair to our people and Public Servants have to be honest with themselves.He said looking at the Public Service pay roll history, on average, pay for Public Servants has increased by 55% and the average pay of the lowest paid has increased by 75% since 2010.Lowest paid Public Servants were earning K350 per fortnight and today they are earning K600 per fortnight, he said.For example, entry salaries for Based Grade Police Constables has increased from K600 to K1, 050 per fortnight, and likewise entry salaries for Based Grade Teachers from K390 to K900 per fortnight and entry salaries for Base Grade Nurses from K450 to K820 per fortnight.We are well paid by our people. Every Public Servant is earning a decent wage.We should be the last people complaining about being paid lower wages. Every Public Servant is earning a decent wage sufficient to sustain a decent living.I think the Government through the Public Service Ministry should publicize our Payroll policy so that every citizen can see who is earning what.I can tell you when the public see what we are getting every fortnight; we will not get any sympathy from them.We need to leave behind the past and look to the future. The future is where our people and our children belong.Amb. Lupari said the future will be created by us and we owe it to them so it is time Public Servants must wake up and take their jobs seriously.He said that means Public Servants must change their attitude to work. They have to leave those old habits and practises behind. They must rebuild the culture of discipline, commitment, loyalty, dedication and sense of belief in themselves.Let me say this, the future of our country, our people and our children depend on us. Make no mistake, we are responsible and we ought to be held accountable, Amb. Lupari said.I encourage all of us, every Public Servants in all levels of Government Local, District, Province and National to wake up - and take our jobs seriously.Amb. Lupari said if Public Servants do not take their jobs seriously, the future of the people and children of Papua New Guinea will be in jeopardy. The Syrian Army, which is backed by its allies, has started to prepare for the beginning of large-scale ground operations to liberate eastern districts of Aleppo, which are controlled by illegal armed gangs. However, in spite of a state of siege, the terrorists are continuing to bombard western districts of Aleppo that are under the protection of government forces. What is the reaction of Washington and Western countries to the situation in Aleppo? Yesterday in Berlin EU leaders and a current US president Barack Obama spoke of the need to immediately stop the Syrian government forces' attacks on Aleppo districts held by terrorists. In addition, Obama expressed Washington's intention to achieve a peaceful settlement of the Syrian conflict. According to him, this way will prevent a new migration crisis and avoid the numerous casualties among the civilians. Presenting his proposal, Obama did not neglect to mention that these consequences were caused by the actions of the government army and its allies. It also should be mentioned that, despite the constant accusations, Washington still has not provided any evidence of the government army's blame for the casualties of civilians. They often sound, at least, stupid, considering that Syrian and allied aircraft haven't been flying over Aleppo for a month by now. Lots of Syrian experts believe that the West is extremely interested in delay or failing of the counter-terrorist operation of the Syrian Army in Aleppo. Thus, the West provides an opportunity for terrorists' regrouping and saves their lives. In the future, the United States and its allies might try to unite the opposition groups left in Aleppo, in order to continue fierce fighting against government forces. The fact that it will reflect the interests of Washington can't cause any doubts. In addition, Obama and his European allies called official Damascus to restore humanitarian access in Aleppo. We have to admit that such statements seem strange, considering the fact that since the beginning of the Syrian conflict the United States has not delivered any food or medicine to starving and exhausted Syrians. At the same time, the US State Department is actively criticizing Assad and his allies in the "uselessness" of humanitarian pauses. So, where is the truth? Recently, Washington contradicts itself. In fact, the statements of the current President of the United States are nothing more than empty words. We can only hope that the newly-elected US president Donald Trump will behave more intelligently and realize the real danger that is posed not by the Syrian government, but by militants of the Syrian armed opposition and by various terrorist groups. by Kevin Stoda "Trump Says Electoral College 'Genius' After Calling It 'Disaster'" was the headline on ABC a few days ago. Everyone is still a bit confused about what is possible with America's archaeic electoral college system. FactCheck.Org posed the important question recently: Q: Can the Electoral College elect Hillary Clinton on Dec. 19 [, 2016]? A: Yes, it may be constitutionally possible; but no, it will not happen, according to election experts. The author, Robert Farley, of that particular FactCheck piece noted: "A Change.org petition, now signed by more than 4.3 million people, encourages members of the Electoral College to cast their votes for Hillary Clinton when the college meets on Dec. 19. The petition argues that Donald Trump is "unfit to serve" and that 'Secretary Clinton WON THE POPULAR VOTE and should be President.'" Farley continued: "'If they all vote the way their states voted, Donald Trump will win,' the petition states. 'However, they can vote for Hillary Clinton if they choose. Even in states where that is not allowed, their vote would still be counted, they would simply pay a small fine -- which we can be sure Clinton supporters will be glad to pay! We are calling on the Electors to ignore their states' votes and cast their ballots for Secretary Clinton.'" The American constitution set up the electoral college over 225 years ago. In it, the election of the president, the head of the executive branch is defined and clarified. When Americans vote for the president under the constitution they do not actually vote for the president directly but simply for an elector. The elector is supposed to both represent the will of the people of the state while avoiding the worst tendencies of mobocracy--what the founders of the Repulblic seem to fear more than slave rebellions and corruption in government or financial institutions. With the election of the most hated candidate in American memory, i.e. Dondald Trump, by about 45% of American voters in the various state populations across the USA this past 8th of November, for only the third or fourth time in the last two-hundred-plus years a group of electors in the Electoral College System is seriously being called to think through the will of the people, the needs of the land today, and the needs of future generations when electing the president. Too often, the job of an elector has been fairly automatic. It can no longer be if the Electoral y College system is to stay in existance. The college is meant to be a break on the entire system , i.e. to help avoid the worst and most hateful tendencies in the Republican system, like in the recent Brexit vote in the UK, What follows in the next sections of this writing is a fairly complete history of how electors have acted since the constitution went into effect in the 1780s. I encourage you to read through this narration. Then I suggest you talk to your state's elector about the options. ree Thinking electors have existed, but they have been few in number. There have been one in each election in the years 1948, 1956, 1960, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1988, and 2000. And they have never influenced the outcome of the presidential election. However, these free thinkers in the Electoral College did influence elections starting from 1792 onward. Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr received votes for president in the 1792 electoral college system. They received 5 votes total while George Clinton received a whopping 50 votes in that years electoral college. (In 1792, he [Clinton] was chosen by the nascent Jeffersonian Republican party as their candidate for vice president. While the Republicans joined in the general acclamation of Washington for a second term as president, they objected to the allegedly "monarchical" attitude of Vice President John Adams. Under the system then in place, votes for Vice President were not differentiated from votes for President.) Some of these were favorite son or favorite neighbor votes. that is, they had not received significant vote at the local levels or state levels to actually have received a proportional representation of any sort. In 1796, John Adams barely won the electoral infighting with 71-68 victory of Jefferson. Meanwhile, other candidates got various votes during the electoral college events of that election: Thomas Pinckney (59), Aaron Burr (30), Samuel Adams (15), O. Ellsworth (11), George Clinton (7), John Jay (5), James Iredell (3), S. Johnston (2), George Washington (2), John Henry (2), Charles C. Pinckney (1) . Some of these were favorite son or favorite neighbor votes votes. In 1800, America's first electoral tie occurred when both Aaron Burr and Thomas Jefferson received 73 votes in the Electoral College's first vote. Meanwhile, John Adams received 65, Charles C. Pinckney 64, John Jay (1). Again, some of these were favorite son or favorite neighbor votes votes. Prior to ratification of the 12th Amendment, votes for President and Vice President were not listed on separate ballots. Although John Adams ran as Jefferson's main opponent in the general election, running-mates Jefferson and Burr received the same number of electoral votes. The election was decided in the House of Representatives, with 10 State delegations voting for Jefferson, 4 voting for Burr and 2 making no choice. Despite the institution of the 12th amendment, free thinkers continued to vote for favorite sons or their favorite politician or leader in subsequent elections: In 1808, again George Clinton (6) received votes in the Electoral College as electors from New York split their votes. 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). If there is a day that is more mocked than celebrated, it is the 19th of November, commemorated as International Men's Day. Founded in 1999, International Men's Day (IMD) is intended to promote international reflection and incite action in support of men's health and well-being, gender equality, improving gender relations and honoring positive male role models. Although the intentions behind this day are laudable, this day is ironically ridiculed by the very people who are vocal against gender discrimination. Dubbing all men as rapists, Susi Bone writes in the mirror, " A day that might prompt men into speaking out about rape, and perhaps taking a day off from it." The Huffington post ran an article titled "When 365 days aren't enough." If women are afforded a day to celebrate their accomplishments and bring awareness to current issues they face, why shouldn't men have the opportunity to do the same? Admittedly, the majority of corporate executives, government bureaucrats, and other positions of power are occupied by men, but the majority of men do not occupy positions of power. Men are 10 times more likely to end up in prison, 4 times more likely to commit suicide, and 3 times more likely to end up homeless. As Ally Fogg so eloquently points out in his article in The Independent, those who mock IMD fail to understand that their opposition harms not the intended powerful men that head the governments and corporations but instead "the homeless, the desperate, the suicidal, the young victims of rape and sexual abuse leaving care and going straight to prison." At least 40% of victims of severe domestic violence are men, yet, there is virtually no help available for male victims of domestic violence. Men are also much more likely to be falsely accused of crimes they did not commit. In the United States, over 90% of those wrongly accused and subsequently exonerated of crimes are men, and over 57% of them had been accused of rape. There can be no denying that across the world, women, from being denied basic human rights such as the right to education to being the most common victims of domestic violence and rape, have historically been the more oppressed sex. Not only do most supporters of International Men's Day fully understand this fact, but we motivate behind the idea of eradicating such injustices. What if IMD was used to bring to light the elements of gender stereotyping and discrimination, that not only affect women but also men? Some of the fundamental issues that oppress men worldwide today such as violence, hyper masculinity, high rates of incarceration are derivatives of patriarchy. Patriarchal stereotypes have created a culture of silence surrounding men since it is deemed uncool and un-masculine to cry. Research has consistently shown that men are less likely to tell anyone when they are the victims of rape or domestic violence. According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, 79% of suicides are committed by men. How many of these suicides could have been prevented if society collectively made it okay for men to discuss their emotions? If men are given the space to come to terms with their issues, and to therefore grow into more self-aware, self-realized, compassionate, and thoughtful people, then perhaps men will be more sensitive to women's rights and the ill effects of patriarchy. According to an article in Time Magazine by Kathy Young, "experiments have shown that while people are quick to intervene when a man in a staged public quarrel becomes physically abusive to his girlfriend, reactions to a similar situation with the genders reversed mostly range from indifference to amusement or even sympathy for the woman." While inclusion of this study is in no way meant to disregard the prevalence of violent crimes against women at the hands of men, turning a blind eye to the violence against men that also exists, at the hands of both men and women, serves only as reinforcement of the patriarchal stereotypes that feminists have been working so hard and for so long to break down. As Emma Watson, the U.N women's goodwill ambassador, pointed out in her speech, fighting gender inequality requires a collective effort on everyone's behalf, not just half of the population. Raising awareness about the ways in which gender inequality affects everyone in our society can only improve our ability to enact global change. Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121 "Rob explores the difference between a natural, organic, bottom-up connection consciousness and our corporately imposed top-down hierarchical collective consciousness. What Rob is speaking about is the difference between an artificial and ultimately stagnate way of organizing the world and a natural, organic growth, which starts with a seed, sends downs roots and sends up shoots which blossom. By returning to a Nature-based theory of connection, the Bottom-Up revolution brings us back into alignment with Earths laws, returning humanity to its place in creation. Like a good gardener, Rob works into the soil of his thesis different voices that exemplify how this Bottom-Up revolution is expanding in politics, business, religion, personal self-awareness and story. And he places technology where it belongsas a tool to further our connection consciousness, not an end in itself. The bottom-up revolution is about democracy finally living up to its original ideals, where we the people decide what we need from our society." Cathy Pagano, author of Wisdoms Daughters: How Women Can Change the World Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121 "Fascinating, eye-opening, and extraordinary, Rob Kall's Bottom Up: Tapping the Power of the Connection Revolution explores the emerging paradigm of our age -- bottom-up thinking -- connecting an enormous range of disciplines and topics from systems, chaos, and complexity theories to the evolving role of technology in our lives. Not merely a cogent exposition of contemporary thinking, however, Bottom Up extrapolates from abstract ideas to derive practical, everyday steps we can take to improve our chances of global survival, peace, and prosperity. Following Rob's lead, we can change habits as individuals to deepen our connection with others across the planet." Wendell Potter, former health insurance executive, co-author of Nation on the Take: How Big Money Corrupts Our Democracy and What We Can Do About It, and Founder of Tarbell.org Washington Post Metro section, p. B6, Nov. 17, 2016 (Image by Screen shot of e-version of printed Post) Details DMCA When it comes to covering education the Washington Post is nothing if not consistent. For nearly a decade, as Michelle Rhee and then her close friend Kaya Henderson headed up D.C. Public Schools, the Post was their cheerleader. And now, even after the anti-union duo has departed, the Post carries on. The newspaper's latest effort comes on the heels of Henderson being censured for soliciting donations from city contractors, including one accused of serving kids spoiled food and stealing millions. (That contractor, Chartwells, reached a settlement with the District in 2015, agreeing to pay the school system $19.4 million.) The donations Henderson secured were directed to the DC Public Education Fund, which she controlled. (The Post also contributed to the fund but failed to disclose that.) AP's Ben Nuckols broke the story in April. The Post then followed up with their story, tucked away on page B4 of the Metro section. This week's story--on Henderson being censured by D.C.'s ethics board -- was even harder to find. "The WP buried the story on the Obituaries Page B6!!!!" former DCPS guidance counselor Sheila Gill-Mebane wrote on Facebook. The Post's story wasn't just hard to find. While other news outlets highlighted the censure in their headlines ("Former DC Schools Chief Censured Over Ethics," read one), the Post kept it in smaller script. This is just the latest example of the Post downplaying the Rhee/Henderson era's serious shortcomings and scandals, which have included: widespread cheating on standardized tests; the widening of an already vast achievement gap; shortchanging 'at risk' students; and lead in schools' water. Additionally, under Rhee and Henderson, the teachers' union was weakened and DCPS experienced unprecedented instability due to mass teacher firings and separations. Turns out it's not just the Post that celebrates these anti-teacher measures. Rhee is now rumored to be in the running for Donald Trump's Secretary of Education. From Dispatches From The Edge Torture - America's Shame (Image by mariopiperni) Details DMCA "We have fallen into a self-defeating spiral of reaction and counter-terror. Our policies, meant to extirpate our enemies, have strengthened and perpetuated them."~~-Mark Danner Spiral: Trapped in the Forever War Simon & Shuster, 2016 ($26.00) Danner -- an award winning journalist, professor and member of the Council on Foreign Relations, who has covered war and revolutions on three continents -- begins his book "Spiral" with the aftermath of a 2003 ambush of U.S. troops outside of Fallujah, Iraq. The insurgents had set off a roadside bomb, killing a paratrooper and wounding several others. "The Americans promptly dismounted and with their M-16s and M-4s began pouring lead into everything they could see," including a passing truck, he writes. "By week's end scores of family and close friends of those killed would join the insurgents, for honor demanded they kill Americans to wipe away family shame." The incident encapsulates the fundamental contradiction at the heart of George W. Bush's -- and with variations, that of Barack Obama's -- "war on terror": the means used to fight it is the most effective recruiting device that organizations like Al Qaeda, the Taliban, the Shabab, and the Islamic State have. Targeted assassinations by drones, the use of torture, extra-legal renditions, and the invasions of several Muslim countries has been an unmitigated disaster, destabilizing several states, killing hundreds of thousands of people and generating millions of refugees. Danner's contention is hardly breaking news, nor is he the first journalist to point out that responding to the tactic of terrorism with military forces generates yet more enemies and instability. But Spiral argues that what was once unusual has now become standard operating procedure, and the Obama administration bears some of the blame for this by its refusal to prosecute violations of international law. Torture is a case in point. In the aftermath of the 2001 attack on New York and Washington, the Bush administration introduced so-called "enhanced interrogation" techniques that were, in fact, torture under both U.S. and international law. Danner demonstrates that the White House, and a small cluster of advisers around Vice-President Dick Cheney, knew they could be prosecuted under existing laws and carefully erected a "golden shield" of policy memos that would protect them from prosecution for war crimes. In his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, Obama announced that he had "prohibited torture." But, as Danner points out, "torture violates international and domestic law and the notion that our president has the power to prohibit it follows insidiously from the pretense that his predecessor had the power to order it. Before the war on terror, official torture was illegal and an anathema; today it is a policy choice." And president-elect Donald Trump has already announced that he intends to bring it back. There is no doubt that enhanced interrogation was torture. The International Committee of the Red Cross found the techniques "amounted to torture and/or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment." How anyone could conclude anything else is hard to fathom. Besides the water boarding -- for which several WWII Japanese soldiers were executed for using on allied prisoners -- interrogators used sleep depravation, extreme confinement and "walling." Abu Zubaydah, who was water boarded 83 times, describes having a towel wrapped around his neck that his questioners used "to swing me around and smash repeatedly against the wall of the [interrogation] room." 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). From WSWS President-elect Donald Trump announced his first two cabinet nominations Friday, as well as the selection of his national security adviser. The three appointments -- Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama for attorney general, retired General Michael Flynn for national security adviser, and Representative Mike Pompeo for CIA director -- underscore the ultra-right, militaristic and anti-democratic character of the new Republican administration. Trump has been encouraged by the response of the Democratic Party to the election to press forward with an extremely right-wing agenda, confident that he will encounter no significant political opposition. In the 10 days since the election, leading Democrats have, in succession, come out to wish Trump well and pledge to work with him in implementing key elements of his nationalist policy. Trump's selection for "chief strategist" of Stephen Bannon, the former head of Breitbart News, which has ties to fascistic and white nationalist organizations, has been largely dropped by the Democrats and the media. Trump's government appointments, while drawn from the political and military establishment, are generally along the same line. For attorney general, who supervises both the FBI and the Civil Rights division of the Justice Department, Trump has selected Senator Sessions, an extreme-right figure best known because his nomination as a federal judge was rejected by a Republican-controlled Senate 30 years ago due his racist sympathies. The foremost qualification for Sessions to be the chief law enforcement officer of the United States is his loyalty to Trump, whose vast business empire is mired in scandal and litigation, making his administration a ripe target for investigations into corruption and conflicts of interest. Sessions was the first Republican senator to endorse Trump's campaign for the presidency, and the only one to offer support until Trump had effectively clinched the Republican nomination. Born in Selma, Alabama in 1946, Sessions was 18 at the time of the famous civil rights march there, led by Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis. He graduated from Huntingdon College in 1969, and then the University of Alabama law school in 1973, soon joining the US attorney's office in Mobile. In 1981, Ronald Reagan named him US attorney for the southern district of Alabama, a position he held for 12 years. During this period, Sessions carried out a notorious witch-hunting prosecution of three veteran civil rights workers, Albert and Evelyn Turner, and Spencer Pogue, charging them with vote fraud under a section of the Voting Rights Act, because of their efforts to register elderly rural black voters. The three were brought to trial, but a racially mixed jury unanimously acquitted them of all charges after deliberating only three hours. Four months after this legal farce, Reagan nominated Sessions to fill a vacant position on the US District Court. Four co-workers of Sessions from the Justice Department testified to racist comments, ranging from favorable references to the Ku Klux Klan to calling a black attorney "boy" during an office discussion. Sessions admitted to describing both the NAACP and the American Civil Liberties Union as "un-American" and "communist." The political uproar was so strong that a Republican-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee ultimately refused to bring his nomination to the floor of the Senate for a vote. While denied a judgeship, Sessions continued as US attorney and built a political career on the alleged snub, which became a cause celebre for southern racists. He ran for Alabama state attorney general in 1994 and won, then ran for a vacant US Senate seat in 1996, winning first the Republican primary and then the general election. He has been reelected three times, in his last campaign, in 2014, running unopposed, without even a token Democratic challenger. Sessions has been one of the most consistently reactionary figures in the US Senate, particularly in relation to immigration. He once told the publication Roll Call that "nativist" was a perfectly acceptable description of his viewpoint. His hard-line opposition to both legal and illegal immigration was apparently the basis for his early enthusiasm for the Trump campaign. More recently, he criticized the finding by FBI Director James Comey that Hillary Clinton had committed no crime in her use of a private email server while secretary of state. As attorney general, Sessions would be Comey's direct superior and could order him to reopen the Clinton investigation, or appoint a special prosecutor, as Trump has suggested. If confirmed, Sessions would be the first Republican attorney general from the Deep South since the Southern segregationists moved en masse into the Republican Party after the civil rights reforms of the 1960s. In the person of retired Lieutenant-General Michael Flynn, Trump has put a former military intelligence officer in charge of coordinating foreign and military policy, a clear indication that a Trump administration will engage in even more ferocious military aggression than its Democratic predecessor. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). 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. Gavin & Associates has added Nora Strait, a client service associate, to its team. Strait brings 10 years of prior financial industry expertise to the staff. She previously held various positions with Merrill Lynch and Chemical Bank. Located at 800 Cambridge, Suite 100 in Midland, the professionals at Gavin & Associates assist clients with achieving financial freedom by providing independent advice, prudent risk management and investment expertise. Gavin & Associates has been serving the Midland community and beyond for more than 100 years. A courteous and knowledgeable staff is extremely important to us. Nora definitely understands what it takes to always place our clients first, said Michael Gavin. Our clients expect a high degree of professionalism, integrity and trust. Nora is a great fit for our office and she will support us with the personal attention that our clients have come to expect, added Daniel J. Gavin. To learn more about Gavin & Associates or be introduced to Strait, visit www.gavinandassociates.com or contact the office at (989) 631-1454. The 14th annual Memorial Presbyterian Church Alternative Gifts Fair will take place on Nov. 20 in Mayton Hall. The event features diverse group of charitable organizations. Gifts available for purchase include selections from the following organizations: Backpack Buddies, Church World Services, Emmaus House, Habitat for Humanity, Heifer Project, HELP Food Pantry, Midland Area Homes, Peanut Butter Project, Bethlehem Partnership, Presbyterian Coffee Project, Open Door, ACT Uganda, For A Brighter Tomorrow, and Kings Daughters and Sons Christmas and School closets. A 2-year-old boy who wandered away from a Greendale Township home Friday morning was found safe after being gone about four hours, the Midland County Sheriffs Office reports. Midland County Central Dispatch received the call at 11:34 a.m., bringing deputies to the 5800 block of West Bradford Road. The child was being watched by a two relatives, a 24-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man, a media release states. They said they had last seen the child at about 9:30 a.m. when they had put the child back to bed and fell asleep. They woke up at about 10:30 a.m. and discovered the boy was missing. When they could not find the child, they called Midland County 911. The boy was last seen wearing a diaper and nothing else. Due to the boys age and the length of time he had been missing, a large scale search and rescue effort was immediately launched. K-9 units from the Midland Police and Tri-City Michigan State Police Post were sent, along with the Midland County Search and Rescue Team and the Michigan State Police helicopter out of Lansing. As the search and rescue team was being assembled, a ground search was started with a Midland Police K-9 unit. The helicopter had not yet reached the scene when a 63-year-old neighbor who had gone into the woods on his own located the boy at 1:37 p.m. He was found about half a mile from his home along a gas pipeline east of his home. The boy was taken back to his home where he was checked out by MidMichigan Medical Center EMS and turned over to his parents. The Midland County Sheriffs Office was assisted at the scene by the Isabella County Sheriffs Office, Shepherd Police, the Michigan State Police Aviation Division, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Midland Police, Lee Township Fire Department and the Shepherd Tri Township Fire Department. To the editor: The Midland County Emergency Food Pantry Network (EFPN) had a Mobile Food Pantry (MFP) at the Midland Civic Arena on Fast Ice Drive on Thursday, Nov. 3. This give-away of 25,491 pounds of food was funded by Trinity Lutheran Church in Midland. (This congregation provided another MFP in May of this year.) Seventy-seven volunteers served 272 families (825 individuals) with canned and frozen foods, as well as fresh produce and bakery items, purchased from the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan. Hidden Harvest provided cucumbers, tomatoes and breads. SOS Animal Rescue gave 600 pounds of cat food and 10 boxes of miscellaneous pet supplies to pet owners. The Network also is very grateful to the many donors of food, money and time throughout the year to the Networks mission of always food in every home. Midland County residents in (financial) need of food and personal care items during the year may call the Network number of (989) 486-9393 and press one to leave your name and phone number. The first MFP in 2017 is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 18, at the Midland Civic Arena. Thanks again to the members of Trinity Lutheran Church and to the staff of the Civic Arena for their partnering support! SALLY ANN SUTTON Midland County EFPN NORMAL While people will be gathering across the country for Thanksgiving next week, a group of international college students and their friends joined together Friday night for turkey and all the trimmings. About 60 people international students, American students and community members shared the meal in the activity center at Grace Church, a nondenominational church in Normal. They are regular participants in International Talk Time, a project of the nonprofit organization International Students Inc. and the International Talk Time student organization at Illinois State University. Our goal is to support and welcome the students, said Amy Mammadli, a staff member for International Students. The group meets each Friday of the school year for meals and conversation, usually in the Encounter Building, across from Bone Student Center. But this Friday they moved to a larger space for the special dinner. The meal included turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberries, applesauce and pie. Volunteers cooked five turkeys, and organizers said there probably would be leftovers for students to take home. International Students staff member John Berger welcomed the students and pointed to a handout describing the origins of American Thanksgiving. He drew laughter when he said, "There will be no quiz after the meal." Students expressed thanks for the friendships formed through International Talk Time, which also provides an opportunity to practice language skills and learn from each other. Trang Luong of Vietnam, whose husband is a graduate student in economics, said it is nice to have a place to make friends when living so far from family. Their 2-year-old son, Khoi, enjoyed playing with the pumpkins and Indian corn that were part of the holiday decorations. Isaac Ahimbisibwe, a graduate student in economics from Uganda, said, The first time I felt at home was when I came for International Talk Time. Atosh Saha, a business graduate student, said the most important thing for him when he came from Bangladesh was meeting a lot of new people who were in the same boat as newcomers from other countries. You feel more confident, he said. Families involved in the group also host students at their homes for meals or holidays and the group helps international students living off campus who need furniture when they move here. Mammadli said the meal serves as a good connecting point for families to invite international students to their homes. Mammadli first became involved in International Talk Time when she was a graduate student in speech pathology at ISU. I really enjoyed meeting people from all over the world, she said. Conversations around the tables ranged from politics to the merits of whipped cream on pumpkin pie. ISU junior Ashlyn Gramm, a public relations and Spanish major from Bloomington, said what she likes most about International Talk Time is getting to build friendships outside of Bloomington-Normal and learning about their culture and things that we have in common and what's different. BLOOMINGTON GOYA Ministries, a Bloomington-based mission group, is hosting a fundraiser to raise money to build a new orphanage and church in Kenya. The banquet event, GOYA: Give Hope, is from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, 600 N. East St. Tickets are $25 per person or $175 for tables of eight and can be purchased at GOYAGiveHope2016.eventbrite.com. An anonymous donor pledged to match all donations received during the event up to $200,000. The group is aiming to raise $400,000. GOYA Ministries started in 2006 and has since provided clean water, food, clothing, health care, education and faith to families in slums of Nairobi, Kenya. The organization has opened two primary schools, a high school, an orphanage and two churches in the settlements of Mitumba, Kibera and Ngong. In 2011, Kenyan government bulldozed the slum of Mitumba, including homes and GOYA-built church, school and orphanage. Our elementary school in the South B Slum has grown tremendously and the families there have been begging us to plant a church in that slum, said Chad Parker, founder and executive director of GOYA Ministries, in a press release. We also have twice as many children living in the orphanage compared to just two years ago. However, we have been unable to grow the living space since then. With our children living in incredibly cramped conditions, we desperately need to build a new orphanage. Parker said thousands of families in Kenya regularly receive food, shelter and the gospel thanks to McLean County donors and volunteers. BLOOMINGTON A Minnesota man was sentenced to 18 years in prison Friday for delivery of khat, a plant material considered illegal in the U.S. but widely accepted in the defendant's native Somalia. Mohamed O. Samantar, 60, was stopped by Illinois State Police in June 2015 on Interstate 55 near the Interstate 39 interchange. A search of the rented minivan driven by a second suspect, Awil Aden, turned up 150 pounds of the substance, which is deemed illegal for its cathinone ingredient. Aden pleaded guilty in September to possessing a controlled substance and received 24 months of probation. With a translator at his side to repeat what was said at his sentencing hearing, Samantar took the opportunity offered by Judge Paul Lawrence to make a statement. Saying he did not agree with the outcome of the bench trial in August, Samantar asked for leniency from the judge. Defense lawyer Todd Ringel asked for a 12-year sentence, the minimum term available for the Class X felony carrying a maximum of 60 years. Samantar fled Somalia because of civil war, said Ringel, "and came to the U.S. in an attempt to make a better life for himself." Ranked on par with heroin and cocaine by U.S. lawmakers, khat leaves are chewed by students and mixed for tea by men in Somalian cafes, said Ringel. "It's basically our version of happy hour," said the defense lawyer. Assistant State's Attorney Erika Reynolds sought a 30-year sentence for Samantar, arguing that the van load of drugs with a street value of $30,000 merited more than a minimum sentence. The prosecutor also pointed out Samantar's previous khat conviction in Iowa and his admissions to police that he was returning from a trip to Georgia where he picked up the drugs. Samantar wanted to buy more khat but he was short on money, said Reynolds. The defendant must serve 75 percent of the sentence and pay a $36,000 street value fine. In his ruling, Lawrence considered Samantar's history as a refugee from a war-torn country and his cooperation with police. But at 60 years old with a prior conviction for possessing khat, Samantar should have known better, said the judge. BLOOMINGTON An effort by defense lawyers for Kirk Zimmerman to close the courtroom for hearings in his murder case has been challenged in a court filing by two local media outlets and the Illinois Press Association. The Pantagraph and WGLT-FM have joined the state media group in filing a petition to intervene in the murder case related to the November 2014 shooting death of Pamela Zimmerman, the defendant's ex-wife. In a motion filed in October, defense lawyer John Rogers asked that court records with certain "sensitive, private and/or inflammatory information" about Zimmerman and others be sealed from the public and media. Hearings on that information should also be closed, Rogers argued. Rogers cited the closure of some proceedings in the child pornography case against recording artist and Chicago native R. Kelly as precedent for his request. In that case, the judge did not allow the media to access questionnaires for potential jurors and the state's evidence of other crimes allegedly committed by the entertainer proceedings not normally open to the public. But there are stark differences between the two cases, media lawyer Don Craven argued in his filing. He said Zimmerman "falls far short of the famous celebrity status of defendant R. Kelly in the Kelly case. Zimmerman, a system analyst employed at State Farm, does not quite reach the same celebrity status as an internationally known recording artist," said Craven. The 2003 murder case against Maurice LaGrone Jr. is a far better fit for a comparison with the Zimmerman case, said Craven. In LaGrone, the Fourth District Appellate Court found that a trial court judge erred when he closed hearings on potential evidence against the Clinton man who was convicted of killing his girlfriend's three children. A transcript of the hearing was later released. In our view, this case matches the LaGrone case involving the Clinton Lake deaths of the three children. Pretrial motions and hearings are traditionally public, and the facts of this case do not merit closure," argues Craven. Rogers contends that Zimmerman's right to a fair trial will be harmed if the public learns of potentially negative state evidence. An assumption that widespread media coverage results in widespread knowledge among potential jurors is not supported by the findings in the LaGrone case, said Craven. Zimmerman is scheduled to be back in court on Monday for a hearing on pre-trial matters. Sixty-eight percent of DeWitt County residents voted for Donald Trump. I wonder if they understood the wet blanket a Trump victory throws on efforts to save the Clinton nuclear power plant. Refreshed, complicated legislation that would, among many things, channel subsidies to Exelons plants at Clinton and the Quad Cities was moved to a front burner as the Illinois General Assembly completed the first half of its fall veto session this week. Citing $450 million in losses at the plant over the past seven years, Exelon says it will close Clinton next June if whats now called the Future Energy Jobs Bill isnt passed. A Quad Cities shutdown would occur a year later. So whats that have to do with President-elect Trump? A huge part of the rationale for the bill is the push to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The nuclear power plants are needed, the legislations supporters said, if the state is to meet federal carbon-reduction mandates. President-elect Trump has called human-caused climate change a hoax and pledged to cancel last years Paris climate change agreement. The person he put in charge of leading transition at the Environmental Protection Agency is Myron Ebell, a prominent defender of fossil fuels, the guy who called Pope Francis climate change encyclical scientifically ill-informed, economically illiterate, intellectually incoherent and morally obtuse. Trump seems determined to curb the EPAs power and gut the very climate change policies that are much of the justification for the pending legislation that would save Clinton. Then, theres the coal industry. The president-elect has promised to revive it by restoring fossil fuels position in Americas energy mix. In an effort to win southern Illinois support for the Future Energy bill, some coal-fired plants in that part of the state would also benefit from the legislation which includes higher electric rates statewide and a new, controversial way to compute bills for Commonwealth Edison customers. Its fair to ask whether fossil-fueled power plants will even need a subsidy with Trump in the Oval Office. The second half of the legislatures veto session is set for the week after Thanksgiving. Stay tuned. It may be that less complex legislation is the only thing that will save Clinton. Downsizing U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, who represents part of McLean County and points generally west of here, is about to lose his prime office space on Capitol Hill. LaHood, youll recall, won a special election last year to replace Aaron Schock, the former congressman now facing federal indictment. He also temporarily inherited Schocks spacious, Downton Abbeyesque office in the Rayburn House Office Building. Schock had been in Congress for six years and was part of the Republican leadership. Just to be clear, LaHood had the suites ruby red walls restored to dull beige before he moved in. Now hes been elected to his own term and must join the congressional pecking order to determine who gets what office. When he was sworn in to replace Schock 14 months ago, LaHood was dead last in the 435-member pecking order. When the new Congress takes over in January, hell have risen to at least No. 380 in the quest for office space and, oh yes, improved committee assignments. Were sleepers Fitbit says Illinois residents slept better election night than the citizens of most every other state. The maker of the wireless fitness tracker reports a sampling of its 10 million users found Illinois folks lost only 18 minutes of sleep, on average, election night. That compares with a national average of a half hour. The worst sleepers election night? Predictably, people who live in the District of Columbia. They had 50 minutes of sleeplessness. Only residents of Alaska and Hawaii lost less sleep than Illinoisans. Fitbit says election night produced the most sleeplessness nationwide since it started tracking it seven years ago. A former Texas teacher, who had a sexual relationship with her 13-year-old student and subsequently getting pregnant due to the intercourses, pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault earlier this week. She and the then-13-year-old, now 14 years old, reportedly had sexual intercourse almost daily for nine months. The former Texas teacher was identified as Alexandria Vera. An Aldine Independent School District Police Department spokesman said in a statement that Vera became pregnant but she got an abortion. This was after the Child Protective Services questioned her about her relationship with the 13-year-old, People reported. ABC 7 also reported that because Vera pleaded guilty to the aggravated sexual assault, the plea deal would allow her to serve a minimum of five years and a maximum of thirty years. She was supposed to serve life in prison if she did not plead guilty. Due to the plea deal, she could be released earlier on probation. Vera taught English at Aldine Independent School District's Stovall Middle School. She and the 13-year-old student met in her 8th grade English class during summer school. Vera claimed that she and the teenager were in love and that the parents of the boy accepted her and their relationship. She was also reportedly included in the gatherings of the family. Vera was said to be pregnant in January this year. They met back in September last year. The family of the boy reportedly was excited and supportive about her pregnancy. However, an unexpected visit to the school by the Child Protective Services in February forced Vera to undergo abortion. The 14-year-old is said to be in foster care now. Assistant District Attorney Tiffany Dupree with the Child Abuse Division said in a statement that as parents, they entrust teachers with a very important role, which is to educate students. Dupree said they should not be concerned about teachers getting into sexual relationships with their students while at school. Meanwhile, Vera is set to be sentenced in January next year. For more details, watch the video below. Health is a primary concern for every human being and health insurance is a way to ensure the access to a required health care. In the past two decades, children health insurance has gained momentum and has become a primary priority for governments. According to Reuters, the number of children who acquired health insurance has increased substantially wherein more children are being examined regularly. Since medical care and regular analysis contributed in children social wellness, they remain active, fit and participate in life schedule with more zeal and excitement. A more positive report has also emerged wherein more Hispanic and black children are given health insurance, hence helping eliminate the racial discrimination. It will also help the minorities economically as these children will be able to attain maximum care and examinations. This is indeed great news for American citizens who will now receive greater and much more effective health care services than its predecessors. Even though more children are being insured in recent years, there are still many who are missing out. Negligence, however, is also seen on the part of some parents. That is why some children have missed their access to quality health care opportunities. Moreover, parents should remember to make their kids' heath care insurance as a priority, because without it, they're escaping the health benefits that the American political system has offered them. It is obligatory for parents to register their children for health insurance. Fortunately, HealthCare.gov encourages and helps people to enroll for insurance by guiding them on what they should know and how one can get covered. According to Yahoo News, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) supports and proposes affordable health insurance for families who have low incomes. Sadly, CHIP is set to expire in 2019. CHIP's objective is to provide maximum access to basic health facilities to most children. CHIP has initiated an act to enroll the children who were not enlisted in the previous health care programs and a lot of children are expected to benefit from the plan. So, what do you think about America's health care plans for children? Share your thoughts below. Obesity is a major concern observed among children. Overweight kids are always having health issues and this is where genes are considered the sole reason for weight gain. However, this may not be entirely true because obesity is a result of myriad of factors rather than just genetics. It's one of those nature versus nurture debates where the outcome doesn't lean toward either of the two camps. According to Psychcentral, health researchers have declared that weight gain is a constitute of many factors, mothers drinking and smoking while being pregnant, children not having a proper breakfast, their sleeping patterns are very important in predicting a weight gain. This shows that both nature and nurture are at play in deciding whether an individual gets obese or not When children skip their meals, their appetite tendency becomes higher and as a result, they consume more food that are supposedly increasing energy but at the same time, these foods are not properly digested as a result of disturbed sleeping routines. Genetic influence does play a role in the equation but only till actualizing whether an individual will be likely inclined towards weight gain or not. This tendency comes naturally and may be attributed to genes. University college London has proposed a plan by examining the BMI and inter-check them with lifestyles of children in their first 10 years. Obesity is also related to a child's mental health as well, that is poorer mental health prevails in their later life. Shockingly the above-mentioned factors turned out to be bigger factors than fizzy drinks and junk food. WebMD has suggested parents should consult with their child's pediatrician, to keep a check on their child's weight by computing BMI on regular basis. Prevention should be on the list to save a child from gaining more weight and inducing them into changing their habits. Mental disorders are a reason for big concern these days. Sociological challenges and tough routines serve as an invitation to depression, however, some of the mental disorders are not dependable on any outward pressure. One such illness is autism. It's defined as a mental condition present from early childhood and characterized by difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language or abstract concepts. Autism is prevalent in one out of 68 children. Every day new researches are done in order to achieve a more practical cure to such disorders. Psychcentral tells us about recent studies which used functional MRIs to read clusters in the brain which could point towards improvement. The four clusters of the brain are responsible for emotional and social information and the processes associated with it. The George Washington University research team suggests a pivotal response treatment has proven to be very accurately effective. Children with autism are currently treated by therapists but many parents cannot afford such long-term visits and PRT should be a great help to their children. Another important remedy is the use of oxytocin, induced to the nasal cavity before a behavioral therapy. It must be carefully inspected that following the induction must be a positive behavioral therapy as oxytocin could trigger worse thoughts in a negative state of mind. According to Techtimes, an Australian study has declared that the use of oxytocin on autistic children has shown great improvement in their social behavior, their potential to solve social problems was enhanced to a great extent. Study also suggested that the treatment proved to be useful in producing long-term results. Such experiments are conducted to improve mental stability in autistic children, though there are some side effects of oxytocin yet the benefits were far more amazing in comparison. "Real Housewives of Atlanta" stars Kenya Moore and Matt Jordan have had a rocky relationship as featured on Bravo's reality show. The two split in Season 8, only to patch things up again this Season 9. Is their reunion for real or just for show? Back in Season 8, Moore and Jordan released a statement saying that they will never speak ill of their relationship. Jordan even admitted that the breakup was his fault and admitted that he was irresponsible. The news of the two breaking up was after their dispute during their vacation in Mexico. Moore also stated that her love never destroys and that she should also be given the same love. Fans of Real Housewives of Atlanta considered the split as the end of Moore and Jordans relationship. But now, they're back again and some say that this is just part of the show. For some, it was evident that their split in Season 8 was for real as Moore even deleted all of Jordans traces from her social media accounts, as reported by E! News! However, Moore is said to have given Jordan a second chance. In the "Real Housewives of Atlanta" Season 9, Jordan came to the Moore Manor housewarming, and Moore was happy to see him. Moore and Jordan are patching things up in Real Housewives of Atlanta and admitted that theyre together again. Moore saw that Jordan had changed and for that, shes willing to give it another try. Moore also said that she knows that Jordan has a heart of gold. She added that she knows Jordan will do anything for her because hes a genuine person, Moore said in an interview with BravoTV. The Real Housewives of Atlanta Are Still Arguing About Baseboards (Yes, Really) https://t.co/7PeOaMn6vP E! News (@enews) November 14, 2016 Kenya Moore and Matt Jordans second chance will be chronicled in Real Housewives of Atlanta. Did the RHOA star just got back with Jordan just for season 9? Sound off your opinion in the comments section below! Real Wives of Atlanta Season 9 airs every Sunday, 8 p.m. at Bravo TV. President Rouhani Has Done Nothing to Free Political Prisoners and Is Being Called out for It 11/19/16 Source: International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran A prominent Iranian political analyst has criticized President Hassan Rouhani for reneging on his pledge to free political prisoners and opposition leaders. The centrist cleric's record as president will be heavily scrutinized ahead of Iran's May 2017 presidential election as he vies for a second term. During an interview, Tehran University Political Science Professor Sadegh Zibakalam praised Rouhani for signing the nuclear deal, but gave him a failing grade for failing to pursue political freedoms and civil rights. "Hassan Rouhani gets an F for not carrying out his promise," Zibakalam told Tarikh (History) Online on November 13, 2016. "Rouhani did not have the power to free political prisoners or end the house arrests, but he didn't even pretend that he wanted to do something." Former presidential candidates Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, along with Mousavi's wife Zahra Rahnavard, have been arbitrarily detained under house arrest since February 2011 for disputing the result of the 2009 presidential election and encouraging protests. The peaceful street protests, which continued for months despite violent state repression, came to be known as the Green Movement. Karroubi's son said on November 10 that recent behind-the-scenes mediations indicated that Judiciary officials were "not opposed" to ending the house arrests, but changes during the remainder of Rouhani's first term were unlikely. "Based on the information we have, we believe there will be no change in my father's situation until after the presidential election," said Mohammad Hossein Karroubi in an interview with the Iranian news site, Omid Iranian. Meanwhile, Ali Motahhari, the conservative deputy speaker of Parliament who has publicly supported freeing the opposition politicians, defended Rouhani's record and said the ultimate decision rests with the country's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. In an interview with the semi-official Iranian Students' News Agency on November 10, Motahhari said Rouhani had brought up the issue during "several discussions with the supreme leader," but Khamenei was opposed to freeing the unrepentant politicians. "The important point is that it is the supreme leader's view that the house arrests should continue, and therefore other officials do not interfere in this issue," he added. Rouhani had pledged to end the illegal detention of the popular opposition leaders during his 2013 presidential campaign. "I believe the next president must reduce divisions and end the security climate in the country so that not only those under house arrest, but all those imprisoned in connection with the 2009 incidents could go free," he said on May 13, 2009, a month before the presidential election. Following his election, Rouhani avoided bringing up the issue. "If we don't talk about something in the media, it doesn't mean we have forgotten about the public's demand," said Rouhani government spokesman Mohammad Bagher Nobakht on October 19 after being asked about the house arrests. "Sometimes it's not productive to publicize the things the government can do or is doing. It won't solve the problem." Iran's Constitution grants wide powers to the supreme leader, but according to Article 30, "No one can be banished from his place of residence, prevented from residing in the place of his choice, or compelled to reside in a given locality, except in cases provided by law." Article 36 of the Constitution states that "The passing and execution of a sentence must only be by a competent court and in accordance with the law," but despite being imprisoned for more than five years, Mousavi, Rahnavard and Karroubi have never been tried. The decision to put the three under house arrest was made by the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), according to Judiciary Chief Sadegh Larijani. "We will put them on trial at the appropriate time when we can, but we feel this is not just a judicial matter," he said on December 31, 2014. "These individuals intend to start another sedition, but we will not give them the opportunity." Larijani has also attempted to frame the opposition leaders' arbitrary detention as a legal decision. "The decision was made by the SNSC based on national security interests," he said. "Those who say the house arrests are illegal only accept half the Constitution, not all of it. Article 176 of the Constitution has given certain responsibilities to the SNSC that are very clear." In an open letter response to the Judiciary chief on January 4, 2015, Motahhari questioned the legality of the house arrests and called for "a fair public trial without fear of an imaginary sedition." Iranian Alliances Across Borders (IAAB) Launches #RejectHate Campaign 11/19/16 Source: Iranian Alliances Across Borders (IAAB) IAAB's Campus Action Network (I-CAN) launches IAAB's #RejectHate Campaign to ensure the right to a safe education in an inclusive environment for all students. IAAB's #RejectHate Campaign Report hate incidents using IAAB #RejectHate Incident Form Multiple IAAB students and alumni reported experiencing harassment and bullying at school and in public spaces in the past week. Students are at most risk of experiencing such attacks, with an increasing number of parents, teachers, and school officials reporting incidents of hate and discrimination on campuses across the country. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) reports over 400 attacks against communities of color since the 2016 US election. The number of attacks since Tuesday's election is three times higher than the weekly average, according to the SPLC. Communities of color, religious communities, immigrant communities, and queer communities feel particularly vulnerable to attack due to a recent wave of hateful incidents reported across the United States. Students feel particularly vulnerable given the rise of attacks in schools by both classmates and teachers. No student should ever feel threatened or in danger at school, no matter their religion, ethnicity, skin color, gender identity or sexual orientation. As part of I-CAN's #RejectHate Campaign, IAAB provides resources and support for students and parents to take actions to ensure that the following measures are in effect. Educators and administrators must ensure the safety and well-being of students by, including, but not limited to: Increasing bystander intervention by organizing all-staff meetings and trainings that focus on tangible tools to intervene during instances of hate and discrimination Refraining from sharing political views in a way that frightens or disempowers students Empowering students to think critically about power, privilege, and identity by teaching about the underlying issues in the election Creating a climate of inclusivity and acceptance both inside and outside the classroom so that all students feel safe and welcome in an educational environment Guiding a productive and reaffirming discussion that allows students to express feelings of fear, anger, or frustration Developing a schoolwide strategy against hate and discrimination that focuses on proactive prevention, rather than solely reactive punishment Community members can participate by contacting their place of employment, affiliated organizations, and groups of which they are members so that such spaces: Ensure an inclusive and safe workplace environment and culture by holding anti-oppression trainings Evaluate, revise, or create policies that focus on proactive prevention of discrimination and hate Increase bystander intervention through trainings that focus on tangible tools to intervene during instances of hate and discrimination IAAB provides resources for parents, students, and community members to address their concerns with school officials and educators. Resources include: Sample letters to send to teachers, administrators, and school officials Support in reporting and responding to incidents of hate, including how to navigate official reporting channels and resources available to heal from and process such incidents Educational resources and curriculum for educators, including materials from SPLC's 'Teaching Tolerance' initiative Best practices and tips on how to build and maintain a safe and inclusive environment As part of IAAB's #RejectHate campaign, IAAB seeks to support families and individuals who have witnessed or experienced acts of hate since the election. If you have witnessed or experienced bullying or harassment, please complete IAAB's Incident Report form below. This form is not meant to replace official reporting measures. If you, or someone you know, is in danger, please contact your local law enforcement immediately. If you are the victim of a hate crime, please contact the FBI immediately to report a hate crime and receive assistance. The FBI's report on hate crimes is often cited by various organizations and media so it is imperative that it accurately reflects the current climate. Other resources include the Southern Poverty Law Center's Report Hate form, which is central to SPLC's data gathering and reports, as well as your local ACLU chapter. If you are a student interested in joining IAAB's #RejectHate campaign as a part of I-CAN, please email: studentsrejecthate@iranianalliances.org If you are a parent interested in joining IAAB's #RejectHate campaign, please email: parentsrejecthate@iranianalliances.org If you are a community member interested in being part of IAAB's #RejectHate campaign, please email: werejecthate@iranianalliances.org About Iranian Alliances Across Borders (IAAB) - IAAB is a 501(c)(3) non-partisan, non-profit volunteer organization with a young, dedicated staff spread across the United States, Europe and Iran. The mission of the organization is to address issues of the Iranian diaspora community while raising awareness of the Iranian community, promoting leadership, and connecting Iranians across borders. For more information about IAAB, please visit www.iranianalliances.org. Nobody seems to know where George E. Brown Jr.s Emmy Award is. The late longtime congressmans widow, Marta Macias Brown, says she doesnt have it. Neither does the Tomas Rivera Library at UC Riverside, although the library does have about 1,000 boxes of materials that constitute Browns archives. The archive material was donated to the library in 2010. On Thursday, a ceremony was held to mark the final cataloging of the material, making it available for scholarly research. Brown, a Democrat from Rialto, was elected to 18 terms in Congress from 1962 to his death in 1999. He had a degree in industrial physics from UCLA and was known most as a champion of science issues during his years as a representative. He also championed civil rights and was active in integrating UCLAs student housing when he was the first to room with a black student in 1939. Former Assemblyman John Longville worked for Brown for 10 years. He said the congressman won an Emmy Award for coordinating the first ever televised communication link between American and Soviet astronauts in the 1980s. Other universities, including Yale and Harvard, had expressed interest in Browns letters, files, photos and memorabilia, Macias Brown said, but she wanted his legacy to remain close to home. She said having them in the library named for Rivera, one of UCRs chancellors, was fitting. Tomas was a dear friend, she said. Wherever he and George are, Im thinking they would be very glad their partnership continues. When the library was offered the collection in 2010, officials initially turned it down, saying it didnt have the funds to process and organize it. Local activist Jane Block stepped in. I talked to the right people and they said, Yes, we can house them while you look for money, Block said. Hans Johnson, president of Progressive Victory, an advocacy consulting organization in Washington, D.C., is director of the George Brown Legacy Project. Johnson said money was raised from more than 300 donors over several years to fund the cataloging process. We did it the George Brown way, if you will, Johnson said, referring to the grass-roots kind of support Brown was known for. The goal is to kindle enduring interest in the Inland region and its future. This region is Californias future. Jessica Geiser headed the two-year archiving project. She said she learned a lot about Brown in the process. His notes are in there, Geiser said. Theres things like a staff party, when everybody wrote little anecdotes about him, so you get some insight. Brown was known for his rumpled suits and an ever-present cigar. Geiser said several of the anecdotes from staffers were about being trapped in a car with Brown and his cigar with windows raised. Youd have to fight to see how long you could take it, she said. Browns own reputation as a fighter is reflected in the collection. I got the sense that he really cared about what he was doing, Geiser said. He consistently kept fighting for the same things. If a bill he wrote didnt get passed, he would tweak it to fit the changing makeup of the Congress and reintroduce it in a later session, Geiser said. That kind of detail is something public policy and other researchers will benefit from, she said. Johnson said scholarships for researchers are expected to become available. Macias Brown said she hopes her husbands archives will benefit policymakers. There is still work to be done, she told the group gathered for the ceremony, perhaps even more in this challenging time. TRUMP AND STUDENT LOANS Uncertainty seems to be the catchword so far with the election of Donald Trump as the nations next president. But if one of his ideas plays out, college graduates may benefit. Under current provisions, the amount of money graduates must pay on their student loans is capped at 10 percent of their income. If they maintain good standing on their accounts, the balances of their loans are forgiven after 20 years. Trump has proposed raising the 10 percent cap to 12.5 percent, but shortening the payback period to 15 years, after which a loan balance would be forgiven. Students would save 11 percent in the long run. Contact the writer: mmuckenfuss@scng.com or 951-368-9595 As Californians adjust to the seismic shifts of Tuesdays elections, education leaders are trying to divine what impact a Trump presidency will have on education in California. At least in the short-term, it is likely that education reforms already in place will continue largely unaffected. That cant be said of other major areas of public policy, such as health care, climate change and immigration policies, where almost certain changes, and big ones at that, are expected. By contrast to those issues, education played a relatively minor role in the campaign. Donald Trumps post-election web posting on education is similarly short on details. A major factor in ensuring continuity of the states education policies is that Californias political institutions remain firmly in Democratic hands. There is strong support among elected officials and teachers unions for the reforms underway. These include the Common Core standards in math and English, the Local Control Funding Formula and a new way of assessing school performance based on multiple measures. During the campaign, Trump pledged to end the Common Core standards, which he has repeatedly referred to as education through Washington, D.C. Education should be local and locally managed, said Trump back in January while campaigning in New Hampshire. But the Common Core standards are not a federal program. They are adopted by each state individually, and regardless of what Trump tries to do, California is unlikely to abandon them. The state has invested billions of dollars in making them work. Unlike in some other states, the standards have generated little opposition in California. On top of that, the new Every Student Succeeds Act, approved by Congress this past December to replace the No Child Left Behind law, specifically prohibits any officer or employee of the federal government from mandating that a state implement certain academic standards, tests or curriculum. But just as the law prohibits Washington from requiring states to implement the Common Core, it also bars Trump or his secretary of education from telling states not to implement them. This is not something he could do through executive action or regulations, said State Board of Education President Michael Kirst. A new law would have to say that states cannot teach certain standards. He would have to override the viewpoint that the federal government should not get involved in determining academic standards. CHARTER SCHOOLS Trump has also expressed strong support for more school choice, including charter schools. But California already provides fertile grounds for charter schools. The state has not only more charter schools by far than any other state, but it also has a larger share of students enrolled in them relative to other states. Gov. Jerry Brown is a strong backer of charter schools, having started two successful charter schools in Oakland when he was mayor there. But being a charter school supporter is not the same as promoting them as an alternative to regular public schools. The extent to which Trump and his administration will do so is unknown. One of the only K-12 proposals with any details made by Trump is a $20 billion school choice block grant to pay for low-income students to attend private, charter, magnet and traditional public schools of their choice. If Congress funds it, that could result in more funds to California. But it is far from certain that Congress would approve a program of that size, given that another pledge by Trump is to cut taxes as well as the federal deficit. One unexpected byproduct of a Trump presidency is that it could relieve some of the tensions and conflicts that have occurred over the past several years between California and President Barack Obamas Department of Education. Those conflicts have continued in recent weeks regarding draft regulations drawn up by the department to implement the Every Student Succeeds Act that would, among other things, require states to come up with a single index, score or category to rank schools. ENFORCING MANDATES What seems likely is that a Trump administration will be less assertive in exercising federal authority than has been the case with the Obama administration. We should expect abdication of almost all federal compliance activity that would constrain state discretion, said Christopher Edley Jr., president of the Opportunity Institute in Berkeley, who was on the working policy group advising Hillary Clinton on education during the campaign. The result could be a stronger role for Sacramento in shaping education policy, with less interference from the federal government, said Marshall Smith, former Stanford Graduate School of Education dean and undersecretary of education in President Bill Clintons administration. This hands-off approach will frustrate some civil rights groups and other organizations that have wanted the federal government to ensure that states serve all students, especially students of color, and more actively work to close the achievement gap. We expect an even weaker federal focus on K-12 equity and excellence, Edley said. One unknown factor is whether Trump and Congress will cut federal Title I funds in their attempts to reduce the federal debt. That could result in reductions in federal dollars to states and, ultimately, districts. These funds support a wide range of services in California, from special education and Head Start and preschool programs to services for migrant children and vocational education. But Kirst predicts that even if this were to happen, it wouldnt happen in the first year. It would take an elaborate congressional process, and he (Trump) has higher priorities, Kirst said. Another unknown is what Trump and Congress will do about higher education. A major part of Hillary Clintons platform was to provide free higher education in public universities for families with incomes under $85,000, but Trump has made no similar proposal. The Higher Education Act, however, is up for reauthorization, so it is inevitable that Trump will have to weigh in on a range of higher education issues. EFFECT OF DEPORTATIONS Depending on what he does on immigration, Trump could have a more immediate impact on the large numbers of children in California schools who are undocumented, or who have parents or relatives who lack the authorization to work here. If the Trump administration follows through on its threats, we will have great upheaval in our schools as family members are deported, said Patricia Gandara, a UCLA education professor and co-director of The Civil Rights Project there. The sheer fear of what they (Trump) will do will send many of our kids out of the country even though they are born here. What is certain is that several Californians who were in line to play a major role in shaping federal education policies over the next four years wont be doing so. Ann OLeary, co-founder of the Opportunity Institute in Berkeley, was a senior domestic policy adviser on education matters to Hillary Clinton, for example. Others like Linda Darling-Hammond, president of the Learning Policy Institute in Palo Alto, had been mentioned as a leading candidate for secretary of education, though she had said she was not interested in the post. But those possibilities are off the table, as education leaders, and Californians in general, contemplate how they to come to terms with a transformed political landscape in Washington, D.C. A fight between two transient men late Thursday night, Nov. 17 resulted in one taken to the hospital with stab wounds, according to San Bernardino police. Police were alerted to the attack when the wounded man stumbled into the Elgin and Fagan bar, 336 W Highland Ave., just after 1 a.m. in San Bernardino, according to Lt. Mike Madden, spokesman for the San Bernardino Police Department. Through an investigation, police learned the man, only described as being in his 20s, had gotten into an argument with another man near D and 16th streets, officials said. The injured man was taken to a hospital where he is expected to survive. It wasnt immediately clear if the attacker had been identified. Anyone with information on the attack is asked to call the San Bernardino Police Department at 909-384-5742. A new kind of traffic signal is coming to a handful of Riverside intersections and officials hope it will make conditions safer and more efficient for drivers. The flashing yellow left turn arrow is used in more than a dozen California cities, as well as states such as Florida, Kentucky, Michigan and Nevada. There are quite a few benefits of them, and they range from safety to operational, Riverside Senior Traffic Engineer Nathan Mustafa said. The Riverside City Council agreed to test the flashing yellow arrow at seven intersections. Theyll likely be installed in early 2017, Mustafa said. If a one-year trial goes well, the city may expand use of the arrows. FEWER CRASHES The flashing arrow isnt much different than the signals familiar to most drivers. It can be added at intersections where cars can turn left at a green arrow, or at a regular solid green circular light if theres a break in oncoming traffic. It was designed to solve problems with drivers who turn left but dont know whether opposing traffic is required to stop for them, or who misjudge the gaps between oncoming cars and get into crashes. Traffic engineers say the flashing yellow arrow is safer because it more strongly reminds drivers to yield on left turns when traffic is moving both ways. It can also help move more cars, because fewer drivers are stuck waiting for a green left turn arrow. It also can be turned off at times of the day when traffic is too heavy to allow permissive left turns. The collision rates are much lower on the flashing yellow, said Mark Miller, a consultant who serves as Fullertons traffic engineer. Its a powerful tool for us to use at intersections where a driver does not have to wait for a green arrow if theres safe gaps in the opposing movements. Numerous studies back up the safety claims, said Jeff Shaw, intersections program manager in the federal Highway Administrations Office of Safety. The administration began researching the new signal in the early 2000s, running computer simulations as well as lab and field tests. Several states have done more recent studies. Data that Shaw provided from the National Cooperative Highway Research Program show that crashes were reduced by 7.8 percent to 24.7 percent after flashing arrows were installed at intersections in three states. How much safety improved varied by how intersections were configured before the change. [googlemaps https://www.youtube.com/embed/a1J8rITLNNw frameborder=0 height=315 width=560> COMING SOON Miller, who brought flashing yellow arrows to Fullerton in 2003, said that while some people love the signals, hes heard from others who dont. When he asks why, they say, because Im confused. I dont know what to do, he said. Traffic engineers say a public education campaign and well-placed signs explaining the need to yield will clear up most drivers uncertainty. Where flashing arrows work best depends on the volume of traffic, history of accidents, what signals are already in place and other factors, traffic engineers said. Riverside tentatively plans to add flashing left-turn arrows on Market Street at First and Third streets; Lime Street at University Avenue; Palmyrita Avenue at Michigan Avenue; Sycamore Canyon Boulevard at the Windemere apartments; Magnolia Avenue at Overland Avenue; and La Sierra Avenue at Vista Terrace. Justin Nelson, a UC Riverside graduate student who is on the citys transportation board, said the flashing arrows seem intuitive and could make the road safer for cyclists, because drivers may be more aware someone might cross their path. It seems like a safety improvement, Nelson said. Im looking forward to seeing it. Contact the writer: 951-368-9461 orarobinson@scng.comTwitter: @arobinson_pe Deputies Friday morning, Nov. 18, arrested a wanted felon after a short foot chase in Loma Linda, according to a San Bernardino County sheriffs news release. The mans girlfriend was also arrested. Gregory Briones, 27, of San Bernardino was arrested on suspicion of being a felon possessing a firearm, possession of methamphetamine while armed, methamphetamine sales and child endangerment, the news release states. Nancy Palafox, 22, also of San Bernardino, was arrested on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and child endangerment. Deputies went looking for a man, later identified as Briones, reported seen with a gun barrel sticking out of his jacket near Barton Road and Mountain View Avenue at 10:38 a.m. Friday, the news release states. They found a car related to the incident with a woman and three children inside parked at a nearby gas station. The woman, Palafox, told a deputy her boyfriend Briones was inside the gas station. After Briones walked outside and saw the deputy, he ran away, the news release states. Another deputy gave chase and caught Briones after a loaded 45 caliber revolver fell out of his waistband, the news release states. Briones was a wanted armed and dangerous parolee at large, the news release states. Both Briones and Palafox were found with methamphetamine. Riverside Fire Department arson investigators are following what were described as promising leads as they try to determine who set four fires at a liquor store in the city. Capt. Ray Mendoza said four fires have been set since Jaljit Singh Rana purchased Sunny Liquor & Market at the corner of Tyler Street and Wells Avenue in late December. Rana had previously said there were five fires; Mendoza said there have been four plus a non-arson vandalism. The arsonist or arsonists have so far set fire only to the buildings exterior. The store is coincidentally in the same strip mall as Morgans Tavern. Thats where Enrique Marquez Jr., who is accused of providing weapons to San Bernardino terrorist shooter Syed Rizwan Farook, worked as a doorman until the Dec. 2 massacre. Mendoza said so far there does not appear to be a connection. But the investigation was still ongoing Friday, Nov. 18. Rana, a naturalized U.S. citizen from India, said he does not know why someone would target his business. Mendoza declined to speculate on a motive Friday. CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly described the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. They include the deceaseds son, his fiancees daughter and the couples son. The family of an electrocuted good Samaritan has sued Southern California Edison, claiming inadequate maintenance and a dangerous design led to the death of Rory Nason near his Cabazon home in February. Nason, 33, encountered a flaming crashed car on Magnolia Street about 12:30 a.m. Feb. 26 while on his way home with family and got out of his car to ensure there were no injured people in the vehicle. Previously: Man dies trying to rescue people in burning vehicle At that time, Mr. Nason was unaware that a power line had been dislodged, or was in contact with the burning vehicle. In the darkness, Rory Nason grabbed the handle of the vehicle which was fully charged by the live high-voltage power line and fell to the ground, according to the lawsuit. He sustained severe injuries that resulted in his death, according to the lawsuit. His fiancee, Ashley Pingree, saw Nason fall to the ground and pulled him away, thereby also receiving electrical shocks and injuries, the lawsuit stated. The Santa Ana law firm of Aitken Aitken Cohn filed the personal injury and wrongful-death lawsuit against Edison. Previously: Law firm criticized Edison in San Bernardino electrocution The firm previously won a settlement for an undisclosed amount for surviving members of the Vego family in a case against Edison. Three members of the family were electrocuted in their backyard on Jan. 14, 2011, in San Bernardino. The plaintiffs in the new lawsuit are Pingree; Nasons mother, Lori Nason; and Nasons son, Pingrees daughter and the couples son. A written statement from Edison said that though SCE does not comment on the merits of pending litigation such as this, our hearts go out to the family of Mr. Nason, whose life was lost in a tragic incident following a significant vehicle versus utility pole collision. A case management conference is scheduled in court March 15. The lawsuit does not specify a dollar amount in damages. Previously: Good Samaritan victim known for helping people The Nason family has received an outpouring of community support, including a candlelight vigil, a fundraising car wash and a GoFundMe page that has raised almost $11,000 to date. Nason was known in the community as someone always willing to help others. Family and friends created a memorial to him near the power pole that is still maintained. The driver of the car that had crashed into a power pole south of Bonita Avenue fled the scene. California Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Darren Meyer said it took about six weeks to track down the driver, identified as Anthony Edward Martinez, 27, of Bullhead City, Ariz. Meyer said the CHP recommended to the Riverside County District Attorneys Office that misdemeanor charges of hit-and-run accident with property damage and lack of insurance be filed against Martinez. Martinez failed to show up for arraignment Aug. 2 on the charges, and a warrant was issued for his arrest, according to Riverside County Superior Court records. An unidentified witness near the scene told CHP investigators that she drove Martinez away from the scene. Martinez made a statement to another unnamed witness that he was the driver of the vehicle, according to the arrest warrant. In the Vego case in San Bernardino, Edison-maintained power lines near the Vego home made contact with each other, exploded and fell to the ground, according to a law firm statement. In a settlement with the states Public Utilities Commissions Safety and Enforcement Division, Edison admitted to safety violations, according to state documents. Contact the writer: 951-368-9075 or gwesson@scng.com About 21 Riverside residents became the victims of nighttime mail thieves, say police who arrested two 37-year-old city residents. Johnny Dee Gibbs and Angela Kay Vandiver were nabbed at 1:26 a.m. Friday, Nov. 18, near Tiffany and Rycroft Drives and both were booked for investigation of criminal conspiracy, mail and identity theft, possession of stolen property and probation violation, jail records show. The investigation began shortly before 1 a.m. when someone reported that a woman was acting suspiciously in a Canyon Crest housing tract about a quarter-mile northwest of Alessandro Boulevard and Canyon Crest Drive. Officers spotted Vandiver, whom they say was walking through the area with other peoples mail. Gibbs was nearby, and his vehicle contained more mail, police say. Mountain High ski resort announced that its making snow and aiming to be the first Southern California ski resort to open for the 20th consecutive year. It typically opens in mid-November. When it does open, Mountain High expects to have five lifts and seven trails with terrain for beginner to intermediate skiers and snowboarders along with a full selection of park features, a news release Thursday stated. Up to 80 percent of that terrain can be covered in machine-made snow. But Mountain High isnt the only local resort making a man-made snow base. RELATED: What resorts in San Bernardino, San Gabriel mountains are doing to prepare for ski season Storm to hit Inland area late Sunday, early Monday Bear Mountain and Snow Summit resorts in Big Bear started making snow Wednesday with the hopes of being one of the first resorts to open this snow season. We dont really want to jump the gun and set a date as to when well open, but were shooting for turkey day, Marketing Director Clayton Shoemaker said. We go on a day-by-day basis and really want a nice base for a great product to offer guests. Snow Valley Resort in Running Springs purchased new snow making equipment this year, and resort personnel there also began blowing machine-made snow, officials there announced via Twitter. We made more snow last night and will continue as conditions allow! Think snow!, the resort tweeted Friday. Staff writer Doug Saunders contributed to this report. Contact the writer: jblodgett@scng.com or @BlodgettJohnM on Twitter This has been a disastrous year for Californias trees. Some 62 million trees died statewide on federal, state and private lands this year, officials in the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Regional office said Friday. The increase was nearly 114 percent more than the 29 million that died in 2015. And it brings to 102 million the estimated number that have died since 2010, the Forest Service said in a report generated from the agencys aerial detection survey, which began in 2010. This is pretty shocking, said Cameron Barrows, an assistant research ecologist who is coordinating the Center for Conservation Biologys Desert Studies Initiative at UC Riverside. This is something we should really be concerned about. The shocker is how many died this year compared with past years, he said. This is disturbing and downright scary, said Tim Krantz, a professor of environmental studies at the University of Redlands. This has huge ramifications, not just for plants and animals but for all of us (people) in California, he said. For example, without trees and other vegetation, rainfall will not be effectively held in place so it can soak into groundwater. It will just wash away, Krantz said. Climate change is happening so fast, he said, that plants wont have time to adjust. Baja California is moving our way, he said. From 2010 to 2014, 11 million trees died, and 29 million more trees died in 2015, according to the survey. Millions of additional trees are weakened and expected to die in the coming years. With public safety as its most pressing concern, the U.S. Forest Service is trying to help impacted forests, including reprioritizing $43 million in California in fiscal 2016 to conduct safety-focused restoration along roads, trails and recreation sites. However, limited resources and a changing climate hamper the Forest Services ability to address tree mortality in California. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Forest Service officials are seriously hampered not only by short-term budgets passed by Congress but also a broken budget for the Forest Service that sees an increasing amount of resources going to firefighting while less is invested in restoration and forest health, Vilsack said in a statement. Most of the 102 million dead trees are within 10 counties in the southern and central Sierra Nevada region. The Forest Service also identified increasing tree mortality in the northern part of the state, including Siskiyou, Modoc, Plumas and Lassen counties. This year, California had a record-setting wildfire season, with the Blue Cut fire alone scorching over 30,000 acres, mostly in the San Bernardino National Forest, and triggering the evacuation of 80,000 people, the statement said. As the state enters the sixth year of drought, water-starved trees have lost their ability to fight off bark beetles and disease, Barrows said. This is compounded by the rapid warming of winter temperatures, caused by global warming, which would turn the winter season into a continuation of their breeding season, he said. Cold winters would kill or at least slow the growth of tree enemies like the bark beetle and bacteria. Now their numbers can multiply significantly in their normally dormant season, Barrows said. The recently dead or ailing trees are mapped by a surveyor using a digital aerial sketch-mapping system flying in a light fixed-wing aircraft about 1,000 feet above the ground, the Forest Service said. Trees act as a huge carbon dioxide sponge, soaking up this gas to feed new growth, he said. If whats happening in California is happening on a global scale, then the pace of global warming will increase rapidly, Barrows said. In California, the loss of these trees likely will create a domino effect because they were important to maintain many plants, birds, insects, mammals and other life forms in the California forest, Barrow said. The loss of trees has a negative impact on water supply because trees, like the snowpack, hold onto water and release it slowly, he said. The hardest-hit counties in the state were Tulare, where nearly 13 million trees died this year; Fresno (12 million); and Madera (nearly 9 million), the Forest Service said. By comparison, the drought has had less impact on trees in Southern California. Los Angeles County lost 28,000 trees, and numbers dropped by 15,000 in Riverside County and 7,000 in San Bernardino County. San Diego County has lost 14,000. The survey recorded no dead trees for Orange County this year but said it has 1,000 acres of dead trees accumulated from 2010 to the present. Barrows speculated that Southern California trees have experienced more drought and warmer temperatures for decades or longer and therefore might be more adapted to the drought than trees in Northern California. The number of dead trees in our state is truly saddening and another widespread impact of this historic drought we are managing in our state, Mark Ghilarducci, director of the California Governors Office of Emergency Services, said in a statement. Through the Governors Tree Mortality Task Force, were actively leveraging all of our resources around California to ensure protection of lives, critical infrastructure and the environment in our wooded communities and wildlands. In response to the massive tree die-off across California, Cal Fire said it is continuing its work with federal, local and utility partners to remove dead and dying trees that pose the greatest risk to public safety. Cal Fire and its partners have removed over 423,000 trees in 10 counties, inspected and cleared dead trees from nearly 52,000 miles of roads and power lines, treated more than 26,000 acres and created roughly 1,300 acres of fuel breaks. Contact the writer: jsteinberg@scng.com@JamesDSteinberg on Twitter Thanks to a prosperous year and affordable fuel, more Southern Californians are going to pack up the family and head out of town Thanksgiving weekend than in nearly a decade. The Automobile Club of Southern California credits a boost in disposable income, higher wages and increased consumer confidence for the surge and for the extra cars youll see on the freeway. Some of the lowest gas prices drivers have seen since the 2008-09 recession factor into the equation, too. That puts more money in their pockets and enables them to do more fun things with it, said Marie Montgomery, a club spokeswoman in Costa Mesa. Q: Just how many are going to travel? A: The club estimates 3.65 million Southern Californians will hit the road or take to the air, a 3.1 percent increase over the 3.54 million who traveled last year. That would be the highest number of travelers since 2007, when there were 3.99 million. Q: Was the 2007 total a record? A: No. Montgomery said the all-time high was set in 2005 at the height of the housing boom, when 4.27 million traveled. As with the Memorial Day and Independence Day holidays in 2016, said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring, we are seeing that travel has almost returned to the heights of popularity it achieved in the middle of the last decade. Q: Are most people flying or driving? A: Driving, by a large margin. About 86 percent of this years travelers 3.14 million are expected to reach their destination by car. That represents a 3.4 percent increase over last year. Air travel is expected to surge, too, but not by as much by 1.6 percent to reach 389,000. Q: What about Ontario International Airport? A: The airport forecasts a 4 percent year over year increase, with a total of 128,000 passengers. Thats according to the Ontario International Airport Authority, which issued its first holiday traffic forecast since assuming control of the airport Nov. 1. The authority defines the holiday flying period as Friday, Nov. 18, through Sunday, Nov. 27. Authority spokeswoman Cassie MacDuff attributed the increase to new service. MacDuff said Southwest Airlines added service to Portland, Ore., and boosted the number of flights to Las Vegas, Sacramento and Oakland. United Airlines is flying bigger planes to Denver, carrying more passengers, she said. Q: Are people going to reach destinations by other modes of transportation? A: Yes. An estimated 121,000 will travel by bus, ship or train. Thats a 1.1 percent bump from last Thanksgiving. Contact the writer: 951-368-9699 orddowney@scng.comTwitter: PE_DavidDowney About 500 workers of Diamond Cement Ghana Limited are to be laid off by the end of this month in a bid by the management to cut down cost and keep the company in business. The General Manager of the company, Mr Tati Rama Rao, told journalists last Thursday that the 500 workers, comprising 300 direct employees and 200 indirect workers, constituted about 50 per cent of the companys workforce. He said the action had been necessitated as a result of a fall in production capacity of the company due to importation of cement from countries such as Nigeria, China and Korea. The company, located at Aflao in the Volta Region, is said to employ directly more than 600 people and more than 1,000 people indirectly from the area. Dwindling fortunes Mr Rao said the workers would lose their jobs because the company could no longer pay them as a result of dwindling fortunes. He said over the past two years the company, which was producing 150,000 metric tonnes of cement on monthly basis, had lost more than 55 per cent of production output. The already bagged Dangote cement, which are unloaded on the open market at Aflao, was killing the business of Diamond Cement Ghana Limited, he explained. Mr Rao expressed concern over governments lack of commitment to solve the issue of unfair competition in the cement trade. We have petitioned the government about this issue, but we have not seen any efforts by government to control this importation issue, he said. Mr Rao said it was a tough decision for management as it was aware a lot of people would be affected, especially the community, but indicated that we can no longer keep all these workers while operating only 43 per cent of our capacity. Reduction in production Mr Rao said Diamond Cement Limited was formerly producing 1.8 million tonnes a year but it was now surviving on only 800,000 tonnes, adding that the company was unable to give the workers good benefits due to the hardship it was facing. We are not afraid of competition. All we are saying is that this importation of bagged cheap cement was economic sabotage to the local manufacturers and must be controlled. Let them build their company here and work instead of cheap importation, he stressed. 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 The next NDC government will ensure that it eliminates mother-to-child transmission of HIV and meet the health needs of adolescents and youth by 2017. In the NDC 2016 Manifesto made available to the Ghana News Agency, the party also outlines plans to prioritise and implement the National Strategic Plan 2016-2020 on HIV/AIDS and work towards achieving the 90-90-90 fast-track targets which will ensure that 90 per cent of People Living with HIV know their status, 90 per cent of People Living with HIV are on Antiretroviral treatment and 90 per cent on immune suppression. The priorities shall include strengthening of strategic information and health systems, community empowerment to scale up HIV testing, treatment and targeted behaviour change among others, it said. The next NDC government also promises to reduce the incidence of malaria by 50 per cent including reduction cases of maternal and neonatal deaths by further 50 per cent and creation of more spaces for maternal and neonatal care in existing health facilities. The publication of the manifesto is captured under the GNA Tracks Election 2016 Project, being funded by GOIL, the foremost indigenous oil marketing company and CIMG 2015 Petroleum Company of the year. The project seeks to sensitise the electorate on the various issues raised by political parties, the elections management body and other governance institutions. It aims at ensuring gender and social inclusion in national politics and provide voice for the youth, vulnerable groups, opinion leaders and the broader spectrum of the society as well as contribute to the achievement of peaceful polls. Another objective of the project is to create a platform to dissect the manifestos of all political parties and provide in-depth analysis of each thematic area to the electorate to enable them to make an informed judgment. The manifesto among others also gave assurance to diversifying the sources of funding for the National Health Insurance Scheme by allocating an approved percentage of the ABFA from Ghanas Petroleum Revenue. It also promises to motivate health workers by rewarding conditions of service that respond to changing trends in healthcare and increment of supply and fair distribution of health personnel across the country. According to the Manifesto, the next NDC government would: Complete ongoing regional hospitals in the Ashanti and Upper West regions as well as complete construction of regional hospitals in Upper East, Eastern and Western regions and undertake a comprehensive upgrade of the Tema General Hospital. Putting citizens first, it said it would establish a National Infectious Disease Centre which would mainstream mental healthcare into the health delivery system and ensure adequate resourcing and infrastructural development. Continue to implement policies on the integration of Traditional Medicine into the mainstream healthcare delivery system in compliance with the provisions of the Traditional Medicine Practice Act, 2000, Act 575, it added. It also assures to establish the School of Traditional Medicine at Keta in addition to the School of Pharmacy as a satellite campus of the University of Health and Allied Sciences. The Manifesto also promises to upgrade existing health facilities located in Sogakope, Anomabo, Half-Assini, Nkawkaw, Kintampo and Techiman into Accident and Trauma Centres. Other towns targeted for the upgrading health facilities include Wa, Hohoe, Gambia No. 2 and Buipe. It said: It will scale up the implementation of e-Health systems piloted in Korle-bu, Wa and Zebila hospitals to all secondary and tertiary hospitals, adding that it would protect patient privacy by ensuring strict compliance with data protection laws of the country of medical records. 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 Star Micro-insurance Services Limited in partnership with the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development has signed an agreement to provide an Insurance Scheme for fishers across the country. The product, first of its kind in Ghana, protects fishers against perils of the sea. The policy covers natural or accidental death of fishers as well as their fishing gear\s. The Minister of Fisheries Hon. Sherry Ayittey as part of her visits to the fishing communities has been highlighting of the challenges that fishers go through in line of work and encourages all fishers to take the opportunity to insure themselves and their families. The product after the 6 month pilot phase has since been implemented nationwide and will continue for the next two years. The enrollment is ongoing at the following landing beaches; Adina, Denu, Abeliakope, Sepenukope, Akligokope, Hedranawo, Dzegakope, Abgadzikope, Woe, Horvi, Vodza, Kedzikope etc in the Ketu South and Keta District. Aplabaya, Azizanya, Totope, Ocansekope, Otorkpe etc in the Ada West and Dangme East District respectively. Tema Newtown, Nungua, Teshie, La, Chorkor Bortianor and other landing beaches in Greater Accra. Nyanyano, Senya Breku, Fetteh Wenniba, Apam, Ankaful, Elmina, Axim, Half Assini, Shama in the Central and Western Region respectively. According to the Project manager, Mr. Jesse Justice Asante Fordjour and his team said, the insurance package is making more impact in the lives of our fishers; and the enrollment is estimated to cover about 70% by the end of November, 2016 in fishing communities in Central, Western, and those along the Volta Lake such as Yeji, Bupe, Yape and many more. This project when completed will provide an insurance coverage for over 200,000 fishers across the country. 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 NPP Parliamentary candidate for Ledzokuku, Dr. Okoe Boye has called for the dismissal of the first Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Ebo Barton Odro. It could be recalled that in the heat of the judgment debt saga, Mr. Barton Odro insisted that the State had no case in the saga. Speaking on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' programme, Dr. Okoe Boye fired salvos at the first Deputy Speaker of Parliament over such comments he made regarding the Woyome judgment debt saga. Despite the unambiguous judgment delivered by the Supreme Court that the controversial financier of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Alfred Agbesi Woyome, obtained the much publicized Ghc51 million from the state without any legal basis and that he does not deserve the money, the former Deputy Attorney General, Ebo Barton Odro still insisted the state had no case to defend, when the businessman sued. Barton-Odro, currently First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, was quoted as saying on a local radio station in Cape Coast after the Supreme Court ruling: I still stand by what I said that the state had a bad case. According to him, Ghana will be heading for trouble should Mr. Barton Odro also Member of Parliament (MP) for Cape Coast North remain in his position as Deputy Speaker of Parliament. When I see somebody like Barton Odro being the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament of this country, I know that Ghana; were headed for trouble. This man, the then Deputy Attorney General could say he has scrutinized Ghana and we have no case. In fact, we have no case. We have to refund Woyomes money to him, Dr. Okoe Boye said. He was making submissions on the Supreme Court ruling for former Attorney General, Martin Amidu to orally examine Alfred Agbesi Woyome. To Dr. Okoe Boye, though the court ruling is a remarkable feat for the nation; Mr. Barton Odro shouldn't still be in office. If these people have conscience, if they have any modicum of respect for themselves . . . Barton Odro should not still be in his office," he stated. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi /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 Ghanas Electoral Commission has denied allegations by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), that it has deployed faulty Biometric Verification Devices (BVDs), to NPP strongholds ahead of this years elections. According to the national electoral body, it has adequately tested and ensured all the devices deployed are working efficiently. Yussif Ayuba, a Deputy Drector of Communications at the Commission in an interview on Eyewitness News, said it was impossible for the EC to deliberately deploy faulty BVDs as speculated by the NPP. ...That cannot be possible, and it is not true that the Electoral Commission is going to deploy faulty BVDs to the strongholds of the New Patriotic Party. It is never true, and it is not possible for the Electoral Commission to hatch something of this nature, he said. According to him, the EC has ensured that all the available BVDs are intact, and has adequately prepared a backup plan for the devices that may inadvertently breakdown during the upcoming polls. These BVDs weve spoken a lot about it, and weve said we are going to deploy 2 BVDs per polling station, and in addition to that, well have backups at the constituency level and also at the regional level. He expressed worry that some political parties fail to inform the EC first about their challenges with the systems put in place ahead of the election; but instead resort to the media to make their grievances public. He called for a better collaboration between the Commission and the various political parties, to ensure the elections are free, fair and transparent. It is a stakeholder collaboration. It is not just the Electoral Commission that will ensure that the elections are peaceful. Every Ghanaian, every political party has a stake in ensuring that all these things are achieved. Sometimes when we hear some of these issues, it looks a bit strange to us. We would want the political parties to collaborate with the Electoral Commission more so that if problems are identified, then we solve them as a collective. The NPP has in recent times raised a number of concerns about some of the Electoral Commissions actions ahead of the elections. Recently, the party said the Commission had printed its logo without the partys initials, as has been done for the other political parties. It also accused the EC of authorising the printing of pink sheets without serial numbers which it said was illegal. The NPPs actions appear to indicate a situation of mistrust for the EC; but the Yussif Ayuba says the Commission has been transparent and open to the parties. The Commission has been very open to all stakeholders in the electoral process. Youll realize that in addition to having IPAC meetings, the commission has even come up with walk in sessions. you dont need a prior appointment with the EC when you have a concern. You will have access to all officers who will address your concerns. Source: Citifmonline Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President John Dramani Mahama has stated that the wild election promises by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) are meant to deceive Ghanaians into acting in a manner that will help them destroy the destiny of the country. The President referred to the NPPs one community, one dam; one district, one factory and one constituency, one million dollar among other promises as wild election gimmicks intended to deceive Ghanaians to disrupt the steady growth currently happening under his administration. President Mahama stated this when he paid a courtesy call on the Overlord of the Waala Traditional Area, Naa Seidu Fuseini Pelpuo IV at his palace in Wa during his second day campaign tour of the Upper West Region. He said up-to-date, the NPP had not been able to clearly tell Ghanaians what type of dams and factories they wanted to put up in which community and in which district, and wondered why they wanted Ghanaians to vote for them base on those promises. He said it was based on that calculated move to deceive Ghanaians that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was campaigning vigorously as if it was rather the party in opposition to let the people know the truth and renew their mandate. We are travelling across the length and breadth of the country campaigning vigorously as if we are the party in opposition to let Ghanaians know the truth from deception and vote wisely for the NDC to protect the future and destiny of the nation, he emphasized. President Mahama therefore urged Ghanaians not to entrust the destiny of the country into the hands of someone who had not been tried and tested, saying doing that would jeopardize the future of the country. He expressed concern about how some people had been attacking the integrity of the Electoral Commission (EC) especially the Chairperson, and appealed to traditional rulers not to sit aloof but with open and neutral minds, offer words of wisdom and advice to such persons to ensure a peaceful election. President Mahama who was given a chieftaincy title Naapogba Kolee Naa by Naa Fuseini Pelpuo expressed his gratitude to the chiefs and people of the Wala Traditional Area for the prayers and honour done him. President Mahama also paid courtesy calls on Naa Puoure Puobe Chiir the VII and Naa Puowele Karbo III, Paramount Chiefs of Nandom and Lawra Traditional Areas respectively. 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 President John Dramani Mahama has promised to focus on building the poor road network in the Upper West Region if given another four-year mandate. He said it was unfortunate that the region had the least quota of tarred roads in the country despite its potential and contribution to the development of the nation, and gave the assurance that he was determined to reverse that trend if voted to continue the work. President Mahama made the promise while addressing a rally at Wechiau in the Wa West District on the first day of his three-day campaign tour of the Upper West Region. The President noted that even though his government had done more roads than any other government in the history of the region, it was still lacking in terms of good road network adding that he would give special attention to that if his mandate was renewed. He said his first term witnessed massive infrastructure expansion in the area of health, education, electricity and the provision of good drinking water. We have extended electricity to so many communities and indeed, Ghana is estimated to have access to more than 80 per cent in electric power, he said. President Mahama said the Government had taken Ghana from 58 per cent access to clean drinking water in 2008 to 76 per cent access in 2016. He touted his government for achieving 97 per cent in school enrolment including a gender parity ratio of 1:1 for boys and girls. He said the Government had reduced maternal mortality rate in the country and now more children were surviving beyond their fifth birthday resulting in a reduction in infant mortality. The President said Ghana had the highest life expectancy of 63 years among its peers in Africa but admitted that there was still a lot more to be done to improve on the quality of life of the people. President Mahama said he had gone round the country and the level of enthusiasm in appreciation of governments effort at providing development infrastructure gave him confidence that the NDC was going to win the December polls. He, therefore, called on supporters of the party to be calm and not give in to provocations by anybody to contribute to Ghana achieving another successful and peaceful election. Earlier President Mahama paid a courtesy call on Naa Sohimwininye Danaa Gori II and Naa Imoro Nandon Goma, the Paramount chiefs of Dorimon and Wechiau Traditional Areas, respectively. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A Brooklyn Heights park dedicated to the memory of late Beastie Boys member Adam Yauch has been defaced with swastikas and pro-Donald Trump graffiti. Yauch was Jewish, as are his surviving Beastie Boys bandmates, and the former Palmetto Playground was renamed in his honour after he died in 2012. The attack on his memorial continues an extremely worrying trend of hate crimes across America in the wake of Trumps election. New York-based screenwriter Karen Wang tweeted the below photograph, saying: Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn Heights was left defaced with ugly symbols of hate today. This cannot be the new normal! .@beastieboys Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn Heights was left defaced with ugly symbols of hate today. This cannot be the new normal! pic.twitter.com/xWjS7HLNyG Karen Wang (@kw492) November 18, 2016 Source: Pitchfork. Photo: Dimitros Kambouris / Getty. The founders of burger chain Grilld are currently in the Federal Court, where they are fighting for future ownership of the $300 million business, and by all accounts, the falling-out between the pair has been pretty ugly. Geoff Bainbridge and Simon Crowe opened the first Grilld in 2004, alongside their friend Simon McNamara, and the business has since grown to 140 stores around Australia, 80 of them directly owned by the company. The pair bought McNamara out of the business in 2011, but have since turned on each-other, with Bainbridge claiming that Crowe breached his duties as a company director with improper use of staff and resources. In turn, Crowe is seeking an order that would force Bainbridge to sell his stake in the company, saying that the pairs relationship is damaged to the point where it will be impossible for them to work together again. Per reports in Fairfax, Bainbridge was being questioned under oath by Crowes barrister Philip Crutchfield QC when the c-bombs began dropping in court. I apologise to everyone, I will spell it that you called him a c-u-n-t. What do you say? That is, you called [my client] a c-u-n-t? Crutchfield asked. I have in the past, Bainbridge replied. Justice John Middleton then chimed in to ask Bainbridge if he had, in fact, used the c-word in relation to his business partner. I have, yes, Bainbridge replied. Crowe likewise gave testimony about his strained relationship with former friend Bainbridge, saying: Your honour, I have gone through this journey now since, effectively, January 2015 and Geoff has consistently misrepresented his position He has lied through the court process. He is somebody I cannot trust and who I detest. I struggle to be in the same room with him. Theres other people in my business who are senior who know how I feel about him and many of them share the same feelings. On the opening day of the case, Justice Middleton expressed surprise that commercial people such as Crowe and Bainbridge would find it impossible to overcome their differences and work together. Crowes legal team have reportedly made an offer to Bainbridge that would allow him to remain a director of the company, and there is a chance the pair may settle the matter between themselves over the weekend. If not, the case will return to the Federal Court early next week. Source: Fairfax. Photo: Instagram. Ruby Morales-Negron (right) with her new sister, Alexis Hearst (center), and mother, Carly King. "I wanted to be in a household with someone I could call Mom," Morales-Negron said. Read more By the time Ruby Morales-Negron was 16, she had lived with four different foster families. She was so determined to find a permanent home that she was willing to leave Philadelphia. She got to know Carly King - an adoption supervisor - on road trips to mixers for eligible adoptive parents and foster children. They went to bowling alleys in Millersville, roller rinks in Lancaster. King would urge Ruby to stay optimistic as she left each awkward activity without a meaningful connection. The two talked on the car rides back to Philadelphia about what Ruby wanted for her future and the sting of being an older kid continually passed over for younger children. "It's something that has always pulled on my heartstrings," King said. "They are such sweet and loving individuals yet I would chronically see foster parents opt to adopt younger kids, watching foster kids age out, entering the world on their own, without support, and it would eat me up." On Nov. 9, two weeks before Ruby's 18th birthday, King adopted her. The two celebrated Friday in a room filled with colorful balloons and the happy shrieks of young children. Ruby was the oldest of the 20 kids honored on National Adoption Day, at an event put on by the Department of Human Services. Ruby was one of 1,100 youths awaiting adoptions in Philadelphia. Thirteen percent are over the age of 13. When young adults turn 18, they age out of the system or, in some cases, choose to receive DHS assistance until they turn 21. Many struggle to stay on their feet and become homeless. "Coming into my teen years, I knew I actually wanted a family; I wanted to be in a household with someone I could call Mom," Ruby said. "Carly was always my backup person. She was always there for me." Ruby entered the system at age 9 after her mother died and family members couldn't - or didn't - step up. She was placed into foster care, where family after family said they were happy to provide a short-term home but didn't want to adopt. In 2014, Ruby was placed in a pre-adoptive home. Things went well at first, but then the prospective mother got a new boyfriend and her attitude toward Ruby shifted. "I felt very uncomfortable," Ruby said. "She didn't believe what I was telling her; she didn't talk to me as much as you should talk to your child." On top of that, Ruby felt unwanted attention from the boyfriend. Worried it could escalate, she called Carly, whose number she had kept from those car rides. King, who works at Northeast Treatment Centers, one of the city's privately contracted social service agencies, got the call in the middle of a training session on how trauma affects a child's self-esteem. "She was in crisis mode," King said. Single and 28, King did not anticipate becoming a foster mother, but she also knew firsthand the struggles that young adults without a family face. About four years earlier, King had received a similar call. Alexis Hearst, a young woman she knew from a summer camp in Philadelphia, had lost her financial aid at college and was now homeless in Georgia. The young woman's family had stopped answering her pleas for help. King mailed her a plane ticket back to Philadelphia and took her in. Now all three women - Alexis, 22, King, 29, and Ruby - live in a three-bedroom home in Northeast Philadelphia. The girls call her "sister mom." They have matching lockets and enjoy frequent living-room dance parties, watching musicals in their pajamas, and 1 a.m. trips to Wawa. They also support each other. All three women lost their mothers at young ages. King also has gotten both girls into counseling, focused on school, and working. King knows she and her girls are lucky. She understands the often complex child-welfare system and the resources in the city to help her daughters stay on the right track. "When I hear other young people aging out of foster care, I think about Alexis trying to navigate financial aid without support and I think about Ruby. . . . How would she know how to get car insurance or change a flat tire? I'm glad that these two have family but there are so many teens out there that don't, and as a system we have to do better." In May, Ruby will graduate from CAPA and has applications in at seven colleges, most of them local. She's excited about school but not sure if she wants to live on campus. "I just moved in," she said, nestling into King. "Why would I leave so soon?" jterruso@phillynews.com 215-854-5506@juliaterruso 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. Its a cold, hard fact: The bike shop as we know it is an endangered species. Consider the statistics in the United States alone. In 2001, the number of bike shops in the states peaked at 6,259. By the time 2015 ground to a close, that number had plummeted to just 3,759. Thats 2,469 independent bike dealers that went belly upa decline of 39.4%. If shops continue to close their doors at the same rate, America will have said goodbye to half its bike shops by 2024. There are plenty of reasons why this is true. Mail order sales were the first nail in the coffin. Online sales have only accelerated that downward trajectory. Photo courtesy of PB member, crankhousebikes. Bike shops are an endangered species. Do you care? Its a cold, hard fact: The bike shop as we know it is an endangered species. Consider the statistics in the United States alone. In the past 14 years, America has lost 39.4% of its shops and if the trend continues at the same pace, is on track to have lost half its shops by 2024. Do you care? That's the question. Absolutely! My bike shop is the heart and soul of my riding community. It's a big problem. I'm concerned. I buy everything at the shop, but the writing is on the wall. I hope shops don't blink out of existence, but I have to watch my budget and that means buying both online and at the shop. Bike shops? Online retailers? They're all the same to me. Bike shops are an outdated business model. Losing any sleep over their potential demise is like getting worked up about the demise of the horse and buggy. Bike shops stopped being useful to me a long time ago. I prefer to buy online and I'm fine with them disappearing. I think bike shops are always going to be around. I'm not worried at all about their future. Responses: 16422 Faves: 4 Comments: 26 The growth in direct-to-consumer brands, such as Canyon and YT, may well be the final nail. Major bike brands, such as Giant and Trek, have seen the writing on the wall and are trying to create compromise solutions that allow consumers to shop online while still picking up their bike from a brick-and-mortar shop. How long will it be, however, before the smaller, boutique brands that have always struggled to find floor space alongside the Treks, Giants and Specializeds take a cue from Canyon and YT and also go consumer-direct? Ill answer that question myself: Not long at all.The only question is this: How do you feel about it? Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Civil rights attorney Lisa Bloom is offering to represent any electoral college elector for free if they defy their state and get into legal trouble by voting against Donald Trump. Bloom tweeted: I'll proudly represent any elector who faces legal action for voting against Trump, for free, and crowd fund defense costs. #TheResistance https://t.co/G6uhNve2f1 Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) November 18, 2016 Lisa Bloom is also a legal analyst who is frequently seen on television, and she is representing the woman who filed a civil lawsuit accusing Donald Trump of raping her when she was 13 years old. 29 states and the District of Columbia have legal control over their electors. There are no federal laws that bind electors to the popular vote. Things could get really interesting if Hillary Clinton was found to have won Michigan, not likely, and 21 electors in states that Trump won flipped their support to Hillary Clinton, even less likely, but Blooms offer demonstrates that Democrats arent giving up on this election without a fight. They are trying everything that they can think of to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office. If any group of electors is considering not voting for Trump, Lisa Blooms offer is certainly a sweetener to the deal. In this crazy election year anything is possible, so some Electoral College drama shouldnt be a surprise. It should be expected. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Now that Donald Trump has accepted the acclamation of the Russian people and agreed to be their president, actual American voters must decide what to do. There is some irony, to say the least, in seeing the party that complained about voter fraud win because the election was hacked by their allies in another country. We saw how on Tuesday, the director of the National Security Agency, Admiral Michael Rogers said that Wikileaks was a conscious effort by a nation-state to attempt to achieve a specific effect. Remarkably, that effort was highlighted by the timely interference of Republican operative and FBI director James Comey. This would be the same Comey who, charged with protecting our nation, protected it from Hillary Clinton but not Vladimir Putin by not only refusing to call out the Russians before the election but advised President Obama to not call out the Russians for undermining our democratic process. Corey Lewandowski, of course, eager to downplay the foreign connection, credits Comey. But it was not just Putin and Comey but profit-seeking Macedonian kids creating pro-Trump websites which proliferated on Facebook, influencing Americans who cant tell a well-reasoned argument from propaganda. David Corn writes in Mother Jones, There already is much smoke in the public realm: the hacking of the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and John Podesta, the chairman of Hillary Clintons campaign. Also, Russian hackers reportedly targeted state election systems in Arizona and Illinois. Coincidentally or not, the Russian deputy foreign minister said after the election that Russian government officials had conferred with members of Trumps campaign squad. (A former senior counterintelligence officer for a Western service sent memos to the FBI claiming that he had found evidence of a Russian intelligence operation to coopt and cultivate Trump.) And the DNC found evidence suggesting its Washington headquarters had been buggedbut there was no indication of who was the culprit. In his recent book, The Plot to Hack America, national security expert Malcolm Nance wrote, Russia has perfected political warfare by using cyber assets to personally attack and neutralize political opponentsAt some point Russia apparently decided to apply these tactics against the United States and so American democracy itself was hacked. The combined effect is absolutely mind-blowing. The media is telling us this is a Democratic disconnect from the electorate, a want of enthusiasm, even though Hillary Clinton won the popular vote, just short of Obamas 2012 total. But it was not voter enthusiasm or disconnect that was the problem, but rather than the Republican Party had powerful friends with a vested interest in a Donald Trump presidency. Another irony then: Donald Trump, who preaches America for Americans, won the election not because Americans, but foreigners wanted him for our president. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print While the news that Trump settled the Trump University fraud cases is great for the thousands of people he defrauded, the fact that the next President Of The United States had to spend millions to avoid a fraud trial speaks volumes about his lack of ethics. New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman said in a statement about Trumps decision to settle: In 2013, my office sued Donald Trump for swindling thousands of innocent Americans out of millions of dollars through a scheme known as Trump University. Donald Trump fought us every step of the way, filing baseless charges and fruitless appeals and refusing to settle for even modest amounts of compensation for the victims of his phony university. Today, that all changes. Todays $25 million settlement agreement is a stunning reversal by Donald Trump and a major victory for the over 6,000 victims of his fraudulent university. I am pleased that under the terms of this settlement, every victim will receive restitution and that Donald Trump will pay up to $1 million in penalties to the State of New York for violating state education laws. The victims of Trump University have waited years for todays result and I am pleased that their patienceand persistencewill be rewarded by this $25 million settlement. The good news is that the thousands of Americans who Trump cheated finally got their money back. The bad news is that the only reason that they got their money back is that the fraudster will soon President Of The United States. One gets the sense that news organizations who interested in informing the American people are going to need to assign reporters to the daily of covering Trump and his administrations corruption. The American people should be horrified that the incoming president had to spend $25 million to avoid being tried for fraud. The press has done so much already to normalize Trumps corrupt behavior that many arent batting an eye over the settlement. It bears repeating. This is not normal. Incoming presidents dont usual have to settle fraud cases before they take the oath of office. There is something very wrong here, and if the media and the American people treat Trump like a regular president, they will live to regret it. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print *The following is an opinion column by R Muse* It is a literal crying shame that the mainstream media failed to scream bloody murder over a national security story this week that deserves the highest priority: confirmed Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Little, if anything, was reported that on Tuesday last, the director of the National Security Agency (NSA), Admiral Michael Rogers, was queried about the release of hacked information during the American general election and Donald Trumps campaign. Admiral Rogers said; This was a conscious effort by a nation-state [Russia] to attempt to achieve a specific effect. This was not something that was done casually. This was not something that was done by chance. This was not a target that was selected purely arbitrarily. It is nearly impossible to imagine a more stunning statement and damning indictment coming from the head of the primary United States security agency. Of course, it should not be a revelation; Admiral Rogers statement echoed similar remarks from many other senior American officials that are not connected to the newest arm of the Republican Party and Donald J. Trump, the Federal Bureau of Investigation. What Admiral Rogers said on the most fundamental level was that an adversarial foreign government, Russia, directly intervened in the US election to obtain a desired end: to undermine Americans confidence in the American electoral process or to install the Russian oligarchs candidate Donald Trump. It was likely to achieve both of Vladimir Putins desired ends. In fact, it is no exaggeration to claim with confidence that Admiral Rogers clearly accused Vladimir Putin of meddling in the election to achieve another desired end; abolish Americas democracy with an authoritarian fascist committed to furthering Russias worldview. As no small number of political observers and commentators would agree, Admiral Rogers statement should be the kind of news worthy of bold and large front-page headlines over the course of several days and lead to a robust investigation that denies the Federal Bureau of Investigation any input or participation whatsoever. It is likely that some of the nations federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies are already, or have been, probing the cyber-attack of several Democratic political targets attributed to Donald Trumps close allies in Russia, but that is not going to produce any results; Donald Trump will soon have ultimate authority over those federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies. However, there is one agency that is not answerable, at least not yet, to a president and has the ability to launch an unrelentingly and extensive investigation that is necessary for the existence of democracy and to protect national security; if the agency is concerned about national security. There must be a full-fledged and comprehensive congressional investigation replete with televised public hearings and full release of all its findings to the American public; exactly like the phony investigations into the Benghazi attack and phony State Department email server controversy. As one of the campaign arms of the Republican Party revealed during the election, it, the FBI cannot be trusted to investigate anything; especially when it is probably still too close to the election, or too close to the Republican candidate the idiot voters elected, or too close to his inauguration. The real problem is that there is really no guarantee that the FBI, the CIA or other intelligence agencies that investigate the Russian effort to affect American politics will ever release the truth to the public. Intelligence investigations often and should remain secret for the obvious reasons; they either involve classified information or it is the purview of the Justice Department to discuss details of the investigation in public. Any law enforcement investigation to determine whether or not a crime was committed is supposed to remain secret until they produce indictments from a prosecutor. In fact, any investigative activity, particularly federal security-conscious spy type law enforcement agencies are not designed for public enlightenment or assurance. In 2016 one would add that those investigative activities are also not designed for aiding the political campaigns of Republican candidates, but for the past four years that has been the only reason Republicans in Congress have shown up to work. The American people deserve to know as much about the Trump-Russia connection as they did the Benghazi or email investigation; probably about four years worth of House investigations should suffice. This is particularly true because the public is already aware of alleged Russian hacking of The Democratic National Committee (DNC), the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta, and reportedly state election systems in Arizona and Illinois. Then there is also the issue of Russian deputy foreign minister who admitted after Putins puppet won the election that Russian government officials had conferred with members of Trumps campaign. If that is not enough damned reason for Congress to launch an investigation, it is reported that a former senior counterintelligence officer for a Western service sent memos to the FBI claiming to have discovered evidence of a Russian intelligence operation to co-opt and cultivate Trump. Add to all of that, this column reported that the DNC had to hire a security surveillance firm to sweep its offices and discovered evidence that its Washington headquarters had been bugged with listening devices. The DNC sent all relevant technical details and a report to the FBI; but it was too close to the election for James Comey to alert the public or Republicans in Congress despite there was no clear evidence the Russians were involved. However, according to national security expert Malcolm Nances recent book, The Plot to Hack America , it is more than reasonable to believe the Russians should be considered prime suspects. Mr. Nance wrote that: Russia has perfected political warfare by using cyber assets to personally attack and neutralize political opponents. At some point Russia apparently decided to apply these tactics against the United States and so American democracy itself was hacked. House Democrats, victims of the hacking of democracy have appealed to the FBI to investigate links between Trumps team and Russia, and they were joined on the Senate side by Minority Leader Harry Reid. Unbelievably, a couple of news outlets reported that there are FBI Russia-related probes targeting Trump campaign associates including adviser Carter Page and former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Both Page and Manafort naturally denied any wrongdoing and Manafort confidently assured anyone asking that there is no investigation. It is hard to know for sure if Manafort is lying, but with the Trump campaigns apparent special relationship with FBI Director Comey, not investigating anyone connected to his campaign and the Russians is believable. It may even have been a directive from the GOP establishment, Donald Trump or Vladimir Putin; no scenario should be ignored. It is why a transparent congressional investigation is necessary. There is actually one member of Congress who is publicly calling for a full-blown congressional investigation with open hearings and a comprehensive report to the public. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) called for such an inquiry on Tuesday past. Senator Graham proposed congressional hearings on Russias misadventures throughout the world, including the DNC hack. Mr. Graham said the inquiry is necessary to learn Were they involved in cyberattacks that had a political component to it in our elections? Senator Graham said it is Congress job to find out and he is willing to push the Legislative Branch of government to do its job; at least to the same extent they investigated phony issues involving Hillary Clinton. It is beyond comprehension that there is not a deafening public outcry and outrage over the increasing certainty that an adversarial foreign nation covertly interfered with an American presidential election to get their man elected. It doesnt matter which political party one identifies with, the idea that foreigners are influencing elections should raise the most profound concerns about who is actually governing America going forward. The FBI and CIA may do a diligent job of getting to the facts, but they also will do just as diligent a job of keeping those facts from the public; especially on the FBI side because it is certainly too close to something related to the Republican candidate. America is devolving into a corrupt banana republic with the election of Trump, and now the public deserves to know if Vladimir Putin helped corrupt the nations political mechanisms to install Trump as president. There are plenty of Americans who are already suspicious of their government, and although they are all racists who voted for Trump, the rest of the nation deserves a thorough investigation and reporting of the facts. If nothing else, it may prevent the entire population from doing exactly what Vladimir Putin and Trump hopes come to pass; doubt Americas democracy and completely fall victim to a dictator. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) Democratic attorneys general in at least five U.S. states have vowed to fight President-elect Donald Trump in the courts if he rolls back Obama-era regulations or adopts policies they view as infringing upon civil liberties. With Republicans controlling the White House and both chambers of Congress, the Democratic Party looks set to rely more heavily on top law officials in states they run to help keep a check on Trumps exercise of power. Any efforts by a Trump administration to weaken consumer protection or climate change policies, for example, could lead to conflict between the states and the federal government, attorney general offices in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, Massachusetts, and New York told Reuters. In some instances, that could see them asking a federal judge to block federal action nationwide. I view my role as being on the first line of defense against a Trump administration if it chooses to act in an unconstitutional fashion, said Bob Ferguson, the Democratic attorney general of Washington state. When George W. Bush was president, Democratic states forced his administration to take the first step toward regulating carbon emissions for the first time. Michael Kelly, a spokesman for Virginias attorney general, Mark Herring, said that if a Trump administration crosses the line and pursues actions that are illegal or violate the Constitution, Attorney General Herring will be ready to stand up and defend the rights of Virginians. The Trump transition team did not respond to a request seeking comment. Attorneys general are the top legal officials in the 50 states and are typically elected. After this years elections, 21 will be Democrats, in addition to the attorney general for the District of Columbia. Acting on behalf of their states, they generally have legal standing to bring lawsuits challenging federal regulations or executive actions, including those that may infringe upon civil rights. The President-elect has made a number of promises that, if implemented, would violate the Constitution or Massachusetts law, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said in a statement. If the incoming administration chooses to try to act in ways that are unconstitutional, my office will take action to protect the rights and liberties of our residents and our state, she said. SYMPATHETIC HEARING A dozen attorney general offices contacted by Reuters declined to discuss potential legal strategies before Trump takes office. Democratic states that sue might initially get a sympathetic hearing, as many federal courts are staffed with judges appointed by President Barack Obama during his eight years in office. But challengers face one major obstacle, a Supreme Court likely soon to regain its conservative majority once Trump makes an appointment to fill a vacant seat. The court is currently divided 4-4 between conservatives and liberals. Republican-controlled Texas, which took a leading role in challenging Obamas executive actions, provides a model for the Democratic attorneys general. Climate change is likely to be area of friction between Trump, who has vowed to roll back regulations aimed at cutting greenhouse gases, and Democratic states, which have supported such efforts at the federal level or enacted their own measures. The top target for Trump is Obamas Clean Power Plan, which seeks to limit carbon emissions from power plants. Amy Spitalnick, a spokeswoman for New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said his office will continue to fight to protect New Yorkers public health, property, and environment, and to lead the coalition of states defending the Clean Power Plan. Immigration policy is another potential flashpoint. Trump has said he will rescind an Obama executive order giving deportation relief to up to 4 million people and end federal funding for cities like New York and Los Angeles that give sanctuary to undocumented immigrants. A federal court blocked the Obama executive order in February 2015 after Texas and 25 other Republican states challenged it. The Supreme Court split 4-4 on the issue in June, leaving the lower courts ruling in place. On consumer protection, states can both challenge any Trump efforts to loosen regulations and ramp up their own enforcement efforts, said Doug Gansler, a Democrat who served as Marylands attorney general from 2007 to 2015. If the federal government abdicates that responsibility, the more aggressive and progressive state attorneys general will fill that vacuum, he said. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; editing by Amy Stevens and Ross Colvin) Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Hamilton cast member Brandon Victor Dixon responded directly to the president-elects claim that Mike Pence was harassed while attending the musical. The Broadway star told Trump that conversation is not harassment. Trump tweeted a fictionalized tale of how Pence was harassed and treated rudely by the cast of Hamilton: Our wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing.This should not happen! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2016 Our wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing.This should not happen! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2016 Brandon Victor Dixon addressed Trumps claim of harassment directly: @realDonaldTrump conversation is not harassment sir. And I appreciate @mike_pence for stopping to listen. Brandon Victor Dixon (@BrandonVDixon) November 19, 2016 Mr. Dixon apparently has a better hold on how free speech and conversation work than the man who will be the next President Of The United States. Dixons response was perfect. However, Trumps attack on the non-white cast of the musical combined with his plan to nominate Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) to be his Attorney General hints that non-white persons may find themselves targeted by the White House if they dare to speak out or protest against the Trump administration. The fact that one has to wonder how Trump would have responded if Pence was booed while attending an all white musical says a great deal about the seeds of racial division that Trump has already sown in the country. Dixons response to Trump was a defense of free speech that should never have to be said to the incoming President Of The United States. The fact that Brandon Victor Dixon had to respond to Trump is a very ominous sign for the fate the nations civil liberties under Trump. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print There are plenty of problems with President-elect Donald Trump selection of Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn (Ret) to be his national security advisor. As we saw yesterday, he has a reputation for being erratic and unreliable, and perhaps best of all for Trump, none too careful with facts. Remember, Flynn is the guy for whom a term was coined by senior aids over at the DIA Defense Intelligence Agency according to The Washington Post: Flynn facts for assertions that seemed questionable or inaccurate. Not the kind of adviser most of us want to have. He is also an anti-Semite and a racist, who once shared a tweet Not anymore, Jews. Not anymore and endorsed Mike Cernovich, who says diversity is code for white genocide. It turns out Flynn isnt leaving Islam out of his list of hates; he gave a speech in Dallas for ACT! for America, an anti-Muslim group, where he called Islam a cancer and a political ideology, claiming It definitely hides behind this notion of it being a religion. Right Wing Watch shared a video posted by an attendee: Islam is a political ideology. It is a political ideology. It definitely hides behind this notion of it being a religion. And I have a very, very tough time because I dont see a lot of people screaming Jesus Christ with hatchets or machetes or rifles shooting up clubs or hatcheting, literally axing families on a train, or like they just killed a couple of police officers with a machete. Its unbelievable. So we have a problem. Its like cancer. You know, Ive gone through cancer in my own life. So its like cancer. And its a like a malignant cancer, though, in this case. It has metastasized. This is an interesting charge coming from a man who follows a religion that is a political ideology hiding behind a religion. I am talking about the GOP, of course, which succumbed to the Religious Right and its bastardized form of Christianity starting back in the 60s with Goldwaters defeat. The implication here is that Islam is not a religion at all and therefore not protected by the First Amendment. The problem is that if this is true of Islam it is true of conservative Christianity. In fact, Chairman of the Republican National Committee Reince Priebus once called the GOP a religion. Priebus, like Flynn, has joined the Trump White House, in his case as chief of staff. Needless to say, with tensions so high in the Middle East, and with the US having some key Muslim allies in the region, a national security adviser who thinks of Islam as a cancer is not going to be helpful. Our nations treatment of Muslims will be about as fair and balanced as Fox News treatment of the news. Even a president as screwed up as George W. Bush was careful to stress we were not at war with Islam after 9/11. President Obama has laid the same stress on our activities in the struggle against the Islamic State and other terrorist groups. Those, believe it or not, may soon be seen as the good old days, now that we have a president-elect who says Islam hates us (beginning to look like a self-fulfilling prophecy) and a national security adviser who says Islam is a cancer and not a religion at all, and who tweeted in February that Fear of Muslims is RATIONAL. What the Republican Party has done is turn religion into an excuse for bad behavior. This was once the sort of nonsense we heard from fringe hate groups like the Family Research Council and the American Family Association. Now well be hearing it from the White House itself. Clearly, neither civil rights nor even sanity is high on the list in the brewing Trump administration. Photo: Screen capture NBC News Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print There is a Trump resistance movement building among Obama loyalists, and President Obama himself will be joining the organized push back against Trump after Inauguration Day. Politico reported on the efforts by Obama staff to build a Trump resistance. What was most interesting was the support they are getting from the current president: The president is committed to staying in touch with this group with some regularity in the months and years ahead, Obamas former campaign manager David Plouffe told OFA members on the call. In fact, Plouffe added, after the disastrous election results, Well have to do it a little more frequently. . For some, its been hard to tolerate Obamas measured tone about Trump, when they see so much at stake. He has acknowledged that hes biting his tongue to help facilitate a smooth transition, but has promised to rejoin the fight after Inauguration Day. Ive got all kinds of thoughts and ideas about it, but this isnt the best time to share them, Obama said. Point is, Im still fired up and Im still ready to go. President Obama is fulfilling his current duty of delivering a smooth transition of power to the next administration, but one he returns to being a private citizen, the soon to be former president plans to join the fight against Trump. Watching Obama campaign for Hillary Clinton, it was clear that the President was aching to take on Trump himself. Some of the most effective speeches of the entire presidential campaign came from the President and First Lady Obama. As a former president, the traditional protocol has been that Obama will not be the face of criticism against the new administration. Obama is likely to use his power to organize the resistance against Trump and to help his party rebuild its infrastructure. Obamas post-presidential activities will offer the opportunity for poetic justice. For eight years as president, Obama was obstructed by the right that resisted his every move. Now, it will be his turn to return to his grassroots and build opposition to the Trump administration. Barack Obama isnt going to stand by and let his accomplishments be undone. Obama will be joining the fight against Trump, and the fruits his labor can only serve to strengthen the Democratic Party. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Donald Trumps infrastructure plan that some Democrats said that they might be able to support is not an infrastructure bill at all. Trumps plan is not to spend government money on job-creating projects but to give tax cuts to contractors and the construction sector. Ronald A. Klain described Trumps infrastructure plan in a Washington Post op-ed: First, Trumps plan is not really an infrastructure plan. Its a tax-cut plan for utility-industry and construction-sector investors, and a massive corporate welfare plan for contractors. The Trump plan doesnt directly fund new roads, bridges, water systems or airports, as did Hillary Clintons 2016 infrastructure proposal. Instead, Trumps plan provides tax breaks to private-sector investors who back profitable construction projects. These projects (such as electrical grid modernization or energy pipeline expansion) might already be planned or even underway. Theres no requirement that the tax breaks be used for incremental or otherwise expanded construction efforts; they could all go just to fatten the pockets of investors in previously planned projects. . Second, as a result of the above, Trumps plan isnt really a jobs plan, either. Because the plan subsidizes investors, not projects; because it funds tax breaks, not bridges; because theres no requirement that the projects be otherwise unfunded, there is simply no guarantee that the plan will produce any net new hiring. Investors may simply shift capital from unsubsidized projects to subsidized ones and pocket the tax breaks on projects they would have funded anyway. Contractors have no obligation to hire new workers, or expand workers hours, to collect their $85 billion. To their credit, the plans authors dont call it a jobs plan; ironically, it is Democrats looking to align with Trump who have given it that name. They should not fool themselves. Democrats should not be fooled. In typical Republican fashion, Trump is trying to pass off a tax cut plan as a jobs bill. Trumps tax cuts dont require contractors to qualify for the savings by beginning new infrastructure. The tax cuts are going to be pocketed by construction investors, like Donald Trump for example, for investing in projects that may have nothing to do with infrastructure or the common good. Trump wants to use taxpayer funds, not to build new schools, bridges, and roads, but to redistribute national wealth upwards to investors. Liberals like Sen. Bernie Sanders need to take a hard look at what the Trump administration is passing off as infrastructure spending. What is traditionally thought of as infrastructure spending is not what the Trump administration will be proposing. President-elect Trump wants to spend a trillion of your dollars on trickle down infrastructure spending. Dont be fooled, and dont allow Democratic members of Congress to be fooled. Call write and email your Representatives and Senators and tell them that you dont want your tax dollars going to Donald Trumps infrastructure con. You are the owner of this article. The SC capital city may fine anyone setting off pyrotechnics after 11 p.m., except for New Year's Eve and Fourth of July celebrations and approved events such as Fireflies baseball games. Read moreShooting off late-night fireworks banned in Columbia Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations. Ownership of Rochester's 17-story Fontaine Towersapartment complex shifted from father to son this week in a $15.2 million deal. Fontaine Towers Limited Partnership, an ownership group led by Rochester developer Gus Chafoulias,sold the 33-year-old building to Fontaine Towers II Limited Partnership,led by his son, Andy Chafoulias. The deal closed Tuesday. Fontaine Towers has an appraised value of $16.9 million, according to the sale documents. The elder Chafoulias built the 151-unit complex at 102 Second St. SE in 1983 for an estimated $17 million. About $500,000 of the construction costs came from community development and tax increment funds, according to news reports from 1983. Fontaine Towers II, through a statement from Titan Development & Investments, reports it intends to preserve the Housing and Urban Development or HUD income program currently offered to provide inexpensive housing for the apartment complex. ADVERTISEMENT "The goal is to utilize exempt bonds and low income housing tax credits to finance substantial improvements to Fontaine Towers within the next two years," according to the statement from Titan. While Titan Acquisitionsis serving as Towers II's initial limited partner, the statement says the plan is to replace them with a low-income housing tax credit syndicator. Syndicators are intermediaries that help managing LIHTC investments. Funding for Tuesday's deal consisted of Freddie Macfinancing originated by Chicago-based commercial real estate giant Jones Lang LaSalle. Jones Lang LaSalle also is handling the sale of Rochester's IBMcampus. County dispatch channeled to Gundersen Houston County CALEDONIA Houston County will now have assistance from Gundersen Health System on the 911 dispatch system. The board approved the contract Nov. 1. Going forward, if a call about a medical emergency goes through, it will be patched through to Gundersen. Kingsland superintendent honored Fillmore County ADVERTISEMENT SPRING VALLEY Kingsland school superintendent John McDonald has been selected the Minnesota's Project Lead the Way Outstanding School Administrator at the organization's recent annual meeting on the University of Minnesota St. Paul campus. Farm equipment on the block Mower County DEXTER There will be an after-harvest auction of farm equipment Dec. 10 at Hamilton Auction Co. It will begin at 9:30 a.m. Hamilton is at 130 Minnesota Hwy. 16. Church marks 155th anniversary Wabasha County LAKE CITY St. Mark's Episcopal Church will celebrate 155 years on Dec. 3. ADVERTISEMENT The church will be decorated for Christmas, thinking of the first parishioners arriving for the first Christmas in 1861. There will be church tours, desserts, coffee, punch and iced tea. Organist Coleen Fowler will play Christmas hymns from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The church is at 110 S. Oak St. Jordan Creek tour is Nov. 26 Goodhue County RED WING A guided walking tour Nov. 26 will lead participants along the historic route of the Jordan Creek, with a collection of anecdotes and historical photographs. The group will journey to the basement of a downtown business to see the Jordan firsthand. Tours will depart from City Hall at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 6 p.m. The 6 p.m. tour will be by candlelight. Register at goodhuecountyhistory.org. Youth softball fundraiser is Dec. 2 Dodge County ADVERTISEMENT DODGE CENTER Bingo, a fundraiser for TYFSA Youth Softball, will be held at Dodge Center American Legion at 401 W Highway Street on Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. Money raised will help with purchasing equipment, supplies and many more items needed for summer softball games, and will help to reduce costs for players. Dream Closet shopping is Nov. 20 Winona County WINONA Dream Closet, a student organization at Winona State University, will host a free shopping event Nov. 20 from noon-3 p.m. in the Engagement Center in Somsen Hall. The Dream Closet team has been collecting clothing in boxes around the Winona area for this event. They have accepted men's, women's and children's clothing, shoes and accessories. Two Rochester lawmakers are vowing to fight a state board's decision to remove all Civil War art from the Governor's Reception Room in the Minnesota Capitol. Republican Sens. Dave Senjem and Carla Nelson say they are dismayed members of the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board voted to remove all the Civil War-related art from the high-profile room. The board did not specify whether that art should be placed elsewhere in the Capitol or removed altogether. "Unquestionable, the Civil War art needs to stay where it is. That is foundational art, recognizing the contributions of Minnesota toward saving the union during the Civil War," Senjem said. "To remove that history from the state Capitol is an unquestionable error." But supporters of the move, including DFL Gov. Mark Dayton, argue it is time to put new art in the Governor's Reception Room that better reflects the state's long and diverse history. On Oct. 27, Dayton wrote a letter to the Minnesota Historical Society's Executive Council urging them to move the Civil War paintings out of the ornate room. "I believe that the art in the Governor's Reception Room should be more welcoming and also more broadly representative of our state's history. It should better represent the full complexion of our state and a more varied perspective on our history, geography and culture," Dayton wrote. ADVERTISEMENT Should they stay or go? The debate comes as the $300 million-plus restoration of the Minnesota Capitol approaches completion. At issue are six paintings in the Governor's Reception Room that were commissioned by Minnesota Capitol architect Cass Gilbert. The paintings were incorporated into the 1905 building's design and are attached to the walls via molding in the reception room. Two of those portraits "Father Hennepin at the Falls of St. Anthony" and "The Treaty of Traverse des Sioux" have generated intense debate because of their depiction of Native Americans. Critics say they are historically inaccurate and offensive. Two key state panels agree those paintings should be removed from the Governor's Reception Room and placed elsewhere in the Capitol as part of a display that provides historical information about what is portrayed. But disagreement remains over what to do with the four other portraits "The Battle of Nashville," "The Fourth Minnesota Entering Vicksburg," The Second Minnesota Regiment at Missionary Ridge" and "The Battle of Gettysburg." Those paintings have been removed from the Governor's Reception Room so they could be restored. At issue is whether they should return at all. The Minnesota Historical Society's Executive Council voted last month on resolutions to return all or some of the artwork back to the reception room. Those motions failed to pass. Minnesota Historical Society spokeswoman Jessica Cohen said the board wanted to get input from the CAAP Board and the State Capitol Preservation Commission before making a decision on what to do with the art. Under state law, the historical society ultimately is responsible for works of art in the Capitol. "Our hope, our intent, is to have a decision in early December," Cohen said. On Tuesday, Lt. Gov. Tina Smith made a motion at the CAAP Board not to return the paintings to the reception area. It passed on a 5-3 vote. Nelson serves on that board but was unable to attend the meeting because she was out of town. She said she strongly disagrees with the board's decision. "Minnesotans played an integral part in the Civil War. It is an integral part of our state's history. I just think it's a travesty," she said. ADVERTISEMENT Architect Ted Lentz serves on the CAAP Board and voted in favor of removing the Civil War paintings from the reception area. Lenz, who is president of the Cass Gilbert Society, said he came to the conclusion that displaying these portraits in the Governor's Reception Room is not the best way to tell the story of the war. Instead, he would like to see them displayed elsewhere in the Capitol with accompanying historical information. He added that the Governor's Reception Room is Minnesota's living room, and it should reflect the state's entire history. "Part of the litmus test for me is can you walk into that room a seventh-grader, a fifth-grader, a college student and let them look at that and have them say, 'Yeah, this helps tell my story. This is the Minnesota I love,'" Lentz said. There will be an added cost to taxpayers if those paintings are not returned to the reception room, according to Paul Mandell, the CAAP Board's executive secretary. The state has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars restoring the paintings. They would need to be framed and glazed if they are not put up in the reception room. That would cost an estimated $25,000 per portrait. Nelson predicts the GOP-controlled Legislature is unlikely to approve funding for new art in the Governor's Reception Room. The preservation commission will weigh in next on the decision during a meeting at 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 29 on the fifth floor of the Veterans Service Building in St. Paul. Senjem serves on that commission and said he will fight against removing the Civil War paintings. This is personal for Senjem. His great-grandfather, Olaus Olson, fought in the Union Army and served at the Battle of Nashville. Senjem added, "As far as I am concerned, I will do everything I can to stop (the removal) from happening." LAKE CITY A Rochester man was hospitalized early Saturday morning after crashing his car into a sign in rural Wabasha County. Michael Matzke, 26, lost control of his vehicle just after 5 a.m. while traveling northbound on Wabasha County Road 2, north of Millville. The one-car crash resulted in non-life-threatening injuries, according to the Minnesota State Patrol report. Matzke was transports to Mayo Clinic Health System-Lake City for care. A condition update was not immediately available. The Lake City Police Department and the Wabasha County Sheriff's Department assisted at the scene. Laura Zabinski heaved a tired sigh last week before detailing how drug and alcohol abuse as a high school student led to her being sexually assaulted. It was her eighth time sharing the cautionary tale Nov. 10 in Rochester. Zabinski addressed seven classes at Mayo High School and is scheduled to speak again Dec. 15 at Century High School. However painful, Zabinski willingly is reliving those memories on a regular basis as prevention program manager with "Know the Truth," a program founded by Mn Adult & Teen Challenge. She's held the position for almost three years, yet still broke down in tears while discussing her painful journey. As a straight A student who opened her own photography business in Burnsville at age 16, Zabinski didn't fit the stereotypical profile of an addict. However, she began using drugs and alcohol at age 13 to cope with verbal and emotional abuse. She's recovered from a serious car accident to embrace her role as a public advocate, pushing for more public conversations however uncomfortable to combat the deadly rise of addiction. ADVERTISEMENT "The biggest thing is we need to start talking about it," Zabinski said after the Nov. 10 public forum at John Adams Middle School. "We can't shy away. This is a really big issue because we're all impacted by addiction one way or another. If we can change attitudes, we can start changing behaviors." National numbers suggest addiction is a rising concern among women, who are especially vulnerable to the disorder. The National Institute of Drug Abuse suggests nearly 16 million women have used illicit drugs in the past year, while women can become addicted after using smaller amounts than men. They also may be more likely to relapse. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration reports women face greater risks of alcohol abuse than men because of a variety of health factors, including weight and body composition. The National Institutes of Health said in January that women develop health disorders, including anxiety and panic attacks, more quickly than men after marijuana use, while 55 percent of barbiturate misuse was attributed to women in 2015. Additional, 4 million women reported addiction to prescription pain pills in 2015. "Changing the culture is an essential piece of lasting reforms," according to the first-ever Surgeon General report on alcohol, drugs and health titled " Facing addiction in America ." "I wish we could wave a magic wand sometimes and make everything OK, but we can't," said Sgt. Paul Wilson, supervisor of the narcotics unit at the Rochester Police Department. $7 million gambit Southeast Minnesota has seen a dramatic increase in drug- and alcohol-related issues in 2016, prompting Olmsted County Attorney Mark Ostrem to say it's "crippling the judicial and health care systems." ADVERTISEMENT From a 60 percent increase in court cases, to a huge influx of heroin and meth on the streets, to an explosion of butane honey oil labs, the examples are piling up as addiction numbers have spiked. Help soon will become more accessible in Rochester. Mn Adult & Teen Challenge is constructing a 74-bed women's facility next to its 100-bed men's facility on the Assisi Heights grounds. The $7 million complex was fully funded through donations and will cover nearly 34,000 square feet, including short-term and long-term wings. The faith-based facility has been designed to be more family-friendly than the men's facility, which reflects the hardships of addiction for young or single mothers. The living spaces will be larger with rooms for art therapy, physical fitness, a multipurpose play room and a fenced outdoor area for a more relaxed setting. "We want the kids to remember mom when they come visit, not a sterile room," said MnTC center director Tom Truszinski, noting 700 men have graduated from short-term treatment and nearly 100 more from the long-term program since opening in 2014 with graduation rates about 80 percent. "We want mom to be mom." The building represents a significant step forward for accessible care in southern Minnesota. Rochester's in-patient care is limited to 30 beds at The Gables , while Mayo Clinic offers another option at Fountain Centers in Albert Lea. Due in part to that limited availability, Regina Dawson went to Minneapolis for treatment in 2014. She says the most common conversation with other patients was how far away their support systems were located. Naturally, Dawson is among those celebrating McTC's new facility in Rochester. ADVERTISEMENT "It's going to change the community because it changes people so powerfully," said Regina, whose husband, Steve, is a Christian leader in Rochester. "It's too bad there's not one in every city because it's needed everywhere." Ostrem is eager to see McTC's new Rochester campus, but it's a tempered enthusiasm. The Surgeon General's report says 40 percent of users either aren't ready to accept help or remain in denial in part because "prejudice and discrimination have created many of the challenges that plague the substance use disorder treatment field." Still, Ostrem believes it will be a boon for the local population male and female. "There aren't enough local placements, and we find ourselves sending (addicts) out of our community or out of state," Ostrem said. "This is a structural problem, not just for Olmsted County, but across the state." Paradigm shift Zumbro Valley Health Center restarted its "Women's Way to Recovery" program in 2014 because of increasing demand for out-patient treatment options across the region. The program recently expanded in size and scope to handle an influx of clients; it now operates Monday, Wednesday and Thursday between 1 and 3 p.m. Kendra Henry, who coordinates Women's Way, says treating women can be especially tricky. She points to patients facing both addiction and mental health issues as one of the biggest challenges. This week's Surgeon General report supports Henry's theory, saying 40 percent of addicts also suffer from mental health conditions. It's possible, if not likely, that one issue led to the other. "We see a lot of co-occurring disorders," Henry said. "That can impact emotion and energy, so people tend to isolate. Also, mental health disorders can trigger a relapse. In women, it's very common to use (drugs or alcohol) to self medicate." Comprehensive addiction data for women in Olmsted County isn't available because of documentation issues, but local officials believe Zumbro Valley's numbers reflect the general population. According to ZVHC, women represent a higher percentage of outpatient visits and detox visits than ever before, up 4 and 5 percent from 2015, respectively. Additionally, 15 percent more women are enrolled in ZVHC's outpatient treatment programs in 2016 as compared to 2015. Sean Rice, development director at ZVHC, believes the public is starting to recognize mental health as a disease. He calls that an important "paradigm shift" in this perception battle. "One of the things we've seen with mental illness over the last few years is it's become more mainstream," Rice said. "People are recognizing it for what it is. If a person is diagnosed with depression, why is that any different than someone being diagnosed with heart disease? "We need to be able to discuss this so we aren't ambivalent or resistant to seeking treatment." Jesse, an African-American male enrolled at MnTC's long-term treatment facility in Rochester, says his life might have been different if his parents had been "all up in my business." Instead, the former drug dealer served multiple jail sentences before confronting his own addiction and seeking help. His troubled past prompted a frank discussion with his teenage daughter about drugs and alcohol, in hopes of preventing her from taking the same path. He says parents need to "be in their face, be on Snapchat and be in their business" even when it's uncomfortable or their child resists. While most speakers encouraged a softer approach, increased communication was a common refrain at MnTC's public forum held Nov. 10 in Rochester. That message also was repeated by Steve Dawson, of Camp Victory Ministries, whose wife, Regina, will mark two years of sobriety in January. "As hard as it is, make a stand sooner rather than late in love and grace," Dawson said. "I almost lost (my wife), and I probably would have blamed myself quite a bit for letting it get that bad. There's a fine line sometimes, but talk about it." Truszinski sits on the other end of the spectrum, encouraging his clients to embrace sobriety in hopes he can help them pick up the pieces and return home. His proudest moments are the small graduations hosted at a Rochester church before clients are sent home. "Amazing, miraculous, life changing," said Truszinski, who is eager to start helping women in 2017. "Those are the three words I would use. There is no greater joy to me than seeing little kids run into daddy's arms or seeing mothers and wives get their sons and husbands back." Review: States are killing Mississippi River MINNEAPOLIS Environmental groups in Minnesota and across the county say the federal government has refused to require states to control nutrients from farms and cities that are slowly killing the Mississippi River. Thirteen state and national environmental groups, which make up the Mississippi River Collaborative, released a comprehensive assessment of the river corridor Thursday. The review is designed to pressure the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to do more to protect the river, which the groups say has contaminated drinking water, caused fish kills, made waters unswimmable and created a 5,000-square-mile zone in the Gulf of Mexico that can no longer support aquatic life. EPA officials said in an email that the agency can't solve the problem with federal action. That's partly because much of the nutrient runoff comes from farming, which isn't subject to federal law. ADVERTISEMENT Attorney: Wetterling's killer shed 'countless tears' MINNEAPOLIS The Minnesota man who confessed to kidnapping, sexually assaulting and killing 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling has shed "countless tears" for Jacob and his family in the 27 years since his death, his lawyer says in a court filing. Danny Heinrich will be sentenced in federal court Monday on a child pornography charge that stemmed from the investigation into Jacob's disappearance. As part of his plea deal, Heinrich confessed to killing the St. Joseph boy, and prosecutors agreed not to charge him with murder. The plea deal calls for a 20-year sentence, the statutory maximum for the count. In a sentencing memo filed Thursday, defense attorney Reynaldo Aligada says nobody should feel sympathy for Heinrich, who can do or say nothing to lessen "the immeasurable pain" that he caused the Wetterling family. "Recognizing that there is nothing he can say or do to change the pain and anguish he has caused, Danny Heinrich is still hopeful that on Nov. 21, 2016, he can somehow convey how sorry he feels for the terrible crimes that he has committed," Aligada wrote. Prosecutors said no sentence can ever truly reflect the "cruel, sadistic and narcissistic" character of Heinrich, but 20 years is the maximum allowed by law. Heinrich's "conscious choice to kill this child reveals him to be a predator who placed self-preservation and his own criminal sexual desires over the innocence and life of a young boy who never had the chance to grow to be a man," they wrote. Police: Boy survives attempted hanging at day care ADVERTISEMENT MINNEAPOLIS Police say a woman tried to hang a 16-month-old boy at a Minneapolis day care then threatened to jump from a freeway overpass. Assistant Police Chief Kris Arneson says a parent arriving at the day care Friday rescued the boy, and that he is "doing fine." Arneson says the woman fled in a van, ran over a pedestrian and struck a bicyclist. Arneson says the pedestrian and bicyclist will survive. The woman later went to the Park Avenue overpass above Interstate 94 and threatened to jump, but police and passers-by stopped her. Authorities have not released the woman's name, but Arneson says the operator of the day care is the suspect. Mom sues teenage child over transgender treatment MINNEAPOLIS A Minnesota mother is suing her teenage child for transitioning from male to female without her permission. Anmarie Calgaro is also suing the 17-year-old's doctors and public health and school officials in the lawsuit filed in Minneapolis federal court Wednesday. Calgaro says in the lawsuit that her child has been treated at a Minneapolis health clinic and given medication for transgender issues without her consent. Calgaro says the St. Louis County school district, where the teen is a student, has taken away her parental rights and refused to release records to her. ADVERTISEMENT The lawsuit includes a copy of a letter of emancipation the teen obtained from a lawyer, but notes that the letter doesn't constitute a court order. Calgaro is asking the court to halt all medical services. Both the clinic and the school district declined comment. MINNEAPOLIS Patients with kidney failure need dialysis several times a week. The blood cleansing treatments keep them alive. For a typical patient covered under Medicare or Medicaid, dialysis clinics are paid about $80,000 a year. But if a patient has an individual or family plan, the payments could be nearly four times that amount. Some health insurers say the dialysis companies are scamming them, and driving up insurance premiums in the process. For-profit dialysis companies are steering patients from government health plans to commercial insurance, the insurers allege, just because it helps their bottom lines. ADVERTISEMENT But dialysis firms say patients are just deciding what's best for them. The federal government is looking into the issue, but one Minnesota insurance company, UnitedHealth Group, isn't waiting for regulators. It has sued one dialysis provider, American Renal Associates, which says the lawsuit is full of errors and baseless. Minnesota Commerce Department spokesperson Ross Corson said dialysis centers appear to be prodding patients to switch from government health plans to better paying commercial insurance. Patients don't necessarily pay more as a result, but other people who buy their own health plans do the added cost of dialysis boosts premiums $300 to $600 higher per year, Corson said. The state says dialysis patients moving into commercial health plans have boosted health costs in Minnesota's individual insurance market by an estimated $75 million or more. The federal government could be picking up that $75 million tab, Corson said, instead of health plans and their members. "Patients generally have a right to coverage under Medicare, potentially Medicaid as well, and do not need private health insurance coverage," he said. So why would a kidney failure patient who can get affordable government coverage switch to private insurance, with large monthly premiums? ADVERTISEMENT That's because they don't actually pay the premiums someone else does. Insurers say it works like this: First, the clinic encourages a dialysis patient to apply for private insurance. Then the dialysis company helps line up a charity like the American Kidney Foundation which gets its money from dialysis providers to pay the premiums. The insurers' allegation is that dialysis centers are gaming the system by paying for patients' health insurance so they'll receive much fatter payments. Patients are apparently just pawns, Corson said. "These third-party payment arrangements seem to be serving provider profits rather than patient health and well being." ST. PAUL In what is likely the first of many appeals, one of nine young men sentenced this week for his role in an ISIS conspiracy says he'll challenge his 10-year prison term. Hanad Musse, 21, filed his notice of appeal Thursday afternoon. He was one of six men who pleaded guilty to conspiring to travel to Syria to join the terrorist group. Those six received sentences this week from U.S. District Judge Michael Davis ranging from time served meaning no additional prison time to 15 years. During his sentencing hearing, Musse told the judge he was a "reckless and selfish" teenager when he got involved in the plot. Even though he knew cooperating with the government would have likely resulted in a reduced sentence, he said, he couldn't bring himself to do it because he figured he would have lost his community's support. The remaining three friends in the group were convicted of terrorism charges in June and will serve at least 30 years in prison. ADVERTISEMENT The sentences stunned many Somali-Americans in Minnesota who believe the punishment did not fit the crime. All the defendants are now in their early 20s. They plotted to leave the United States to join a brutal terrorist movement but were stopped by their parents, or in many cases, by federal agents. Davis said long sentences were needed to curb a "terror cell" in Minneapolis. At least six young men who left to fight alongside jihadi groups in Iraq or Syria in recent years are believed dead. Jamal Abdulahi, a Somali-American community activist and blogger, said the stiff punishment for some of the defendants will hamper efforts to build bridges between the community and federal authorities who prosecuted the young men. "One has to hope the judge is right about the deterrence message," Abdulahi wrote on his blog Thursday, "but the inevitable outcome is an already strained relationship between feds and community (that) will deteriorate further." ST. PAUL A state mental health task force has issued nine recommendations aimed at relieving the bottlenecks that delay Minnesotans from getting care. The panel, appointed by Gov. Mark Dayton, focused on closing well-known pinch points that make it difficult to get timely mental health treatment or leave people languishing in hospitals and jail cells. The task force urged a more comprehensive approach to treatment that includes early intervention, home visits from a mobile crisis team, and better insurance coverage for transitional services in the community. One proposed change would redefine how we think of mental health care by treating it like any other physical illness, said Emily Johnson Piper, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services and the task force chair. "Defining a continuum to include prevention and health promotion and early intervention is thinking bigger about mental health than I think we have historically," said Johnson Piper. ADVERTISEMENT The task force recommendations also suggest expanding the mental health workforce and helping people maintain their housing while they recover. Private insurers would be subject to more reviews under the plan to make sure they're adhering to mental health parity laws. Some fixes are short-term and others will likely take years to bear fruit, Johnson Piper said. The recommendations now headed to the governor and Legislature include: Creating a comprehensive mental health continuum of care. Redesigning governance of Minnesota's mental health system. Using a cultural lens to reduce mental health disparities. Developing the mental health workforce. ADVERTISEMENT Achieving parity. Promoting mental health and preventing mental illness. Achieving housing stability. Implementing short-term improvements to acute care capacity. Implementing short-term solutions to improve crisis response. ST. PAUL It's rare that a police officer faces charges in the death of a civilian. But a guilty verdict for a cop is even more rare. St. Anthony Police officer Jeronimo Yanez made his first court appearance Friday in the fatal shooting of Philando Castile during a traffic stop last summer in Falcon Heights. He's facing a second-degree manslaughter charge and two felony counts of dangerous discharge of a firearm. If the case goes before a jury, prosecutors will have to convince the 12 jurors that Yanez acted unreasonably, said Washington County attorney Pete Orput no matter what danger he might have perceived. "We're not so interested in what that cop himself was thinking, because that's a subjective belief," Orput said. "This is what would a reasonable person what would you do in those similar circumstances?" ADVERTISEMENT When Ramsey County Attorney John Choi laid out the charges during a Wednesday press conference, he said Yanez's use of deadly force was not justified and that no reasonable officer would have done the same. Choi pointed out that Yanez's partner, Officer Joseph Kauser, never laid a hand on his own service weapon. "By his actions, and his own words, officer Kauser did not see Castile make any sudden movements, and he was surprised by the gunshots," Choi said. But the question of whether Yanez acted as a "reasonable person" might not come up at all in court, said Brad Colbert, who who teaches criminal procedure at Mitchell Hamline School of Law. In considering a second-degree manslaughter charge, Colbert said, jurors will look to Minnesota law and decide whether Yanez was negligent. "You just have to show that he acted recklessly and created an unreasonable risk and caused the death," Colbert said. Castile told Yanez he was carrying a firearm. He had a permit to carry. Castile complied with Yanez's command not to reach for the gun, according to Choi. But the criminal complaint said Yanez fired anyway seven times killing Castile as his girlfriend Diamond Reynolds and her daughter watched. ADVERTISEMENT Yanez doesn't have to enter a plea at the first hearing in Ramsey County court. If he eventually pleads not guilty, he could choose to skip a jury trial altogether and let a judge decide his fate. That's exactly what three of the six Baltimore police officers charged in the 2015 death of Freddie Gray did, Georgetown University criminal law scholar Paul Butler said. "The first officer chose a jury trial. He got a hung jury. The second officer chose a judge trial. He got a 'not guilty.' And all the cops after that, they chose a judge trial," Butler said. The judge found those officers not guilty, too. Last summer, the Baltimore State's Attorney dropped charges against the remaining officers. That follows the national pattern of how unusual it is for police to be found guilty. Of the 77 cops charged with murder or manslaughter nationwide in the last dozen years, 27 have been convicted, according to Phil Stinson, an associate professor of criminology at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. The Castile case appears to be the first time in three decades that a police officer in Minnesota has been charged with killing a civilian in the line of duty and police are watching the case closely. John Lozoya with the Minnesota Latino Peace Officers Association this week urged the public to withhold judgment and let Yanez receive an impartial trial. ADVERTISEMENT Dennis Flaherty with the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association said in a statement that police are "disappointed by the charging decision" and "Officer Yanez is presumed innocent until proven guilty." But Maplewood Police Chief Paul Schnell, who's not involved in the case, said he respects Choi's decision. After all, Schnell said, it's the same system police use every day to enforce the law. Plus, prosecutors had to know they could get a conviction. "They believe that there's a reasonably high level or likelihood of success in this prosecution," Schnell said. "That's the standard that gets applied to the cases that we routinely present to them. And I trust that he and his team have made that decision based upon the evidence and based upon existing law." DALTON, Minn. The end of harvest means the beginning of work to implement Minnesota's new buffer law, and Minnesota farmers remain divided over the initiative. The law requires permanent vegetation strips to protect lakes and streams from farm field runoff. The deadline to comply is November of next year. Otter Tail County farmer Don Viger accepts the new buffer requirements. "Nobody likes to lose any acreage, but in this case, I think it's for the benefit of the soil and the water," said Viger, standing in a recently harvested corn field. One buffer next to a small, unnamed lake will cut 40 to 50 feet off the edge of one of Viger's fields. ADVERTISEMENT Viger expects to lose about 15 of the 1,400 acres he farms to buffers. But, he said, "if we don't do anything now, the waters will get polluted, and we're just trying to make the ground better, and the water better." Viger figures the acres lost to buffers are about the same as the amount of crop Canada geese eat every year. "The geese are real bad along in here and I'm hoping these buffer strips deter the geese too," he said. Viger will enroll his buffers in the federal Conservation Reserve Program. He'll get a small payment each year from the federal government for not planting crops on the land. This cornfield is one of more than 100 sites Soil and Water Conservation District crews hope to mark before snow covers the fields, and next spring will also be busy. Using aerial photos, they've identified about 1,100 parcels of land that are out of compliance with the new Minnesota buffer law. Those landowners have all received letters telling them where they need to add buffers. It's up to them to ask for help in measuring and marking the fields. For Soil and Water Conservation District technician Aaron Larsen, it's important to check every field to make sure maps are accurate. ADVERTISEMENT "Getting out in the field with these producers goes a long ways with them," Larsen said. "They can come in the office and be upset about the piece of paper. But a lot of times you change their mind when you come out here in the field and stake it off, because they're like 'Oh, that's only as far out as you're coming,' and they can physically see that line." On another Otter Tail County farm just a few miles away, Stan Overgaard is not asking for help. In fact, he challenges the whole idea of giving up farmland for state-mandated buffers. "I don't know if it's right for government to simply to come in and take it," Overgaard said. "It just doesn't seem right to me." Overgaard considers himself a conservationist. He uses university-recommended farming practices that reduce erosion and fertilizer runoff. But he wants to see data that proves this lake is polluted. "That's the troubling part to a lot of farmers. There's no science behind it," Overgaard said. "We've been brushed with a broad stroke. Saying we are all guilty." The state has not assessed the condition of a lake by Overgaard's farm, but the local watershed district has it listed as a priority for conservation buffers. "If somebody were to come out here, test the water and say, 'You know, Overgaard, that water is high in phosphates.' And then if they would look at me and say, 'You did it'. Now I'm willing to work with you," said Overgaard. ADVERTISEMENT Overgaard believes buffers on his farm will cost him thousands of dollars, because the farmland planted to buffers will have little resale value and he will lose crop production each year. He doesn't want to enroll the land in the federal Conservation Reserve Program. He wonders if there are other options to reduce runoff that won't force him to take land out of production. Overgaard says he knows several farmers who are considering simply ignoring the buffer law. Smartphones change death. When I heard that Gwen Ifill had died on Monday, I pulled out my phone and scrolled through the photo album. There were pictures of Gwen and her "NewsHour" colleague Judy Woodruff laughing uproariously together, doing little exploding fist-bumps, which I sneakily took while she was heroically covering the political conventions this year. There was a picture of her joyously driving a boat full tilt during a "NewsHour" party a few summers ago, the wind blasting into her clothes and face. There were pictures of her posing with friends of mine who had come to visit the set. Everybody who came wanted a picture with Gwen. Every reminiscence you read about Gwen will describe her smile. It was not subtle. It shone from her face like some sort of spiritual explosion. Once, during a walk through Rock Creek Park, she told me that if she didn't go to church on Sunday she felt a little flatter for the whole week. A spirit as deep and ebullient as hers needed nourishment and care, and when it came out it came out in her smile, which was totalistic and unrestrained. ADVERTISEMENT Gwen worked in a tough business, and being an African-American woman in that business brought its own hardships and scars, but Gwen's smile did not hold back. Her whole personality was the opposite of reticent, and timidity was a stranger to her. When the Ifill incandescence came at you, you were getting human connection full-bore. And you had better honor it. After the photos, I searched Monday through our email exchanges. I don't know how Gwen was with her other friends, but she'd send me short, sometimes cryptic emails every couple of weeks. Sometimes it was a compliment, sometimes a bit of gossip, sometimes it was a jokey offer to rub out someone who'd been nasty to me, and sometimes she was just the sort of friend who checks in: "For some reason you have been on my mind. Are you well?" Gwen was ebullient, as I've mentioned, but she was not soft. She was authoritative, an executive and confident. I suppose every profession has a few people like this, people who love the whole profession, who pay compliments when its standards are met and who are tough when they are not. Gwen talked a lot about her extended family, but also a lot about newsrooms and who were the great colleagues in them. I would say she was an ambitious person. She liked moderating the big debates, even though she was a bundle of nerves just before. But she was not ambitious the way some other TV people are. Gwen was adored wherever she went, but she let the adoration roll off her, without it affecting her understanding of what was real. She was ambitious for quality. She worked for low money at PBS. She worked doggedly on her programs, and whenever I did anything that diminished the "NewsHour" she let me know directly. She loved her country, too. She relentlessly promoted female and African-American journalists. She had a strong affinity for badass women of all types. She kept her journalistic distance from the Obamas, but she knew what a step it was to have an African-American president. The night before Obama's inauguration in 2009, a group of journalists met in David and Katherine Bradley's house. At the end of the evening they gathered around the piano and sang civil rights anthems and some hymns. Everybody knew the first stanza to "Amazing Grace," but only Gwen knew the last three, which she sang alone, in honor of the past labors and future promise. ADVERTISEMENT By 2012 she sensed that racial ugliness was coming out into the open. She began getting more racist reactions on social media and she moved to support her friend Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic, who was getting anti-Semitic ones. Keep your head down and keep writing, she urged Goldberg; it's what they don't want you to do. Gwen knew what was coming. These days it is normal to bash Washington, to want to "drain the swamp" and to attack the mainstream media. The populists are in and the establishment is out. But I confess, when I looked at the front of The Times website on Monday and saw a photo of Stephen K. Bannon, on leave from Breitbart as chairman and rising in power, and then underneath it a photo of Gwen, who is passing from this world, I wanted to throw up. This is not progress and this is not good news. Gwen's death merits a bit of the reaction that greeted the death of the writer Samuel Johnson centuries ago: She has left a chasm, which nobody else can fill up and which nobody has a tendency to fill. Now that Gwen is dead, who is the next best thing? There's nobody. There are many great people who will follow her example. But nobody quite reminds you of Gwen. David Brooks is a columnist for the New York Times. Dr. B Speaks! It always seems impossible until it's done. That is the way Nelson Mandela put it. His quote motivates mission-driven people to accomplish d Read moreTeacher assistants help support teachers and students to learn The ascent of Keith Ellison to the possible leadership of the Democratic Party is a fateful event. Here is a man who was an active local leader of the racist and anti-Semitic cult known as the Nation of Islam until some time past his first attempt at political office as a Democrat, yet who has never acknowledged, accounted or apologized for his activities and expressed beliefs on behalf of the cult. Rather, as I recounted in the Weekly Standard article Louis Farrakhans first congressman (2006), Ellison has explained them away with lies and deceptions. In her Jerusalem Post column The Ellison challenge, Caroline Glick builds on my research to elaborate on the meaning of Ellisons rise for any decent Democrat with eyes to see. Joel Mowbray has more to the same effect in his Daily Caller column on Ellison. I have taken a deep dive this morning into my thick file on Ellison. At the bottom I found an email from the University of Minnesota Daily opinion editor who published Ellisons columns peddling the Nation of Islam line under the name Keith Hakim in the school year 1989-90. The email is dated September 13, 2006, and was written to a friendly acquaintance of mine who was helping Ellisons Republican opponent in the election. The email reads in part: I was the U of M opinions [sic] editor who published Keith Hakim/Ellisons pieces way back when and wrote a counterpoint that dealt w/the fallout. I was in the middle of things. Its been a LONG time and I dont know if hes changed but the Keith Ellison/Hakim I knew then is completely unsuited for public office. I hope the Republican wins and Im a Democrat. Some facts about Keith from somebody who knows: * Keith promised my editors he was in the middle of a name change so they forced me to publish under that dumb pseudonym, Keith E. Hakim. Like [his unpaid] traffic tickets and taxes, I suppose he never got around to it. This seems to be a pattern with Keith: ignoring promises and obligations. The old opinion editor had moved to Florida. I followed up with a telephone interview. He told me that Ellison never said he was a Muslim, that he was the leader of the Nation of Islam on campus. My notes add: he was was the Nation of Islam rephatemonger. So far, Donald Trumps appointments are going a long way to reassure observers like me, who worried that the GOP had nominated a candidate who was not a conservative. Lets just say that anyone who puts Jeff Sessions in charge of the Department of Justice is no liberal. A less high-profile but equally stellar appointment is Trumps selection of Congressman Mike Pompeo, from Kansas, to head the CIA. Pompeo is a brilliant guy who was valedictorian of his class at West Point, spent five years as an Army officer, went to Harvard Law School, where he was a member of the Law Review, made money in business and then ran for Congress. He is an expert on military affairs and intelligence, having served on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the Subcommittee on the CIA, and the House Select Committee on the Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attack in Benghazi. He has been a strong critic of the Obama administrations feckless intelligence and security policies, and an ally of Senator Tom Cotton in opposing the inept Iran deal. Pompeo is young (52) and energetic. Like Jeff Sessions, he is a solid conservative whose nomination should reassure those who have wondered whether Trump is serious about national security. During the primary season, Trump repeatedly said that as president he would appoint the best people and they would do great things. I rolled my eyes at that: it seemed a mere evasion by a candidate who wasnt prepared to talk intelligently about the issues. But maybe Trumps mantra wasnt so dumb. If he keeps up the current quality of his appointments, he will have staffed a first-rate administration. Donald Trump has selected Michael Flynn to be his national security adviser. The selection is a natural one. Flynn was Trumps go-to guy on national security matters during the campaign. The retired Lt. General is already under attack on a number of fronts, both personal and substantive. The focus should be on substance. I dont know Flynns views on the full range of national security related topics. I agree with his line on two vital issues ISIS and Iran. His general view of the threat posed by Islam also strikes me as sound, if not always expressed with sufficient nuance. As for Russia, Flynn will continue to take fire for his recent trip to Moscow. However, as we noted here, Flynn criticized Russian foreign policy while in Moscow. Flynns recent book, discussed below, also comes down on Russia. It takes issue with the view, advanced by Trump, that Russia can be a reliable partner in the fight against ISIS in Syria. Keep this in mind as those speaking out against Flynn make him out to be pro-Putin. Critics of the Russian autocrat may end up being pleased that Trump is getting advice from Flynn. Folks who have heard Flynn speak be it at the Republican Convention, on cable news, or in person may share my impression that he isnt very articulate. Flynn probably comes across well in conversation, though. Otherwise, its unlikely that Trump would elevate him to national security adviser, however loyal Flynn has been. Indeed, its unlikely that Flynn would gotten Trumps ear to begin with. Flynns views on the all-important issue of combating radical Islam come through clearly in the book, mentioned above, that he wrote with out friend Michael Ledeen The Field of Fight: How We Can Win the Global War Against Radical Islam and Its Allies. In evaluating Flynns approach to radical Islam, his book, not his tweets or off-hand comments, should be the touchstone. Finally, when critics complain that Flynns selection is just a reward for his loyalty to Trump, think of Susan Rice, the current national security adviser. She got the job after loyally peddling the Obama-Clinton tale that the attacks in Benghazi were due to an anti-Islam video. Flynn may be loyal, but to my knowledge he never spread falsehoods on behalf of Trump. Is Flynn an ideal national security adviser? Not in my view. However, hes the voice Trump wants most to hear on national security issues. I believe that most of what Trump hears from Flynn will be sound. Forte Oil Plc, a foremost-integrated energy service provider, has successfully completed its N9 billion series one debt issue. The company in a statement to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, in Lagos said the bond was the first in the series of its proposed N50 billion-bond issuance programme. The funds raised would be used to refinance existing short-term commercial bank loan obligations and the retail outlet expansion of the company. Akin Akinfemiwa, the companys group Chief Executive Officer, was quoted by the statement as saying that the successful raising of the initial capital showed investors confidence in the firm. Mr. Akinfemiwa added that the bond offer was fully underwritten and showed the level of confidence, the investing public had in the company. This bond programme, being the first in the downstream sector, is testament to Fortes position within the downstream sector, he stated. Mr. Akinfemiwa said the bond would allow the company to actualise the vision of the board to provide value to its shareholders regardless of the economic climate. Julius Omodayo-Owotuga, Forte Oil Group Executive Director Finance and Risk, said that the bond raising would provide the necessary liquidity for the firm to realise its growth strategies and position the company for the future. The pricing of this debt instrument demonstrates the markets belief in us and the pricing would help reduce our borrowing cost and increase profitability in the short and long term, Mr. Omodayo-Owotuga said. He explained that the bonds would be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and FMDQ OTC Exchange until maturity date in 2021. Mr. Omodayo-Owotuga said that United Capital Limited served as the lead Financial Advisor/Issuing House to the transaction, while Boston Advisory Ltd., FBN Capital Ltd., Planet Capital and Vetiva Capital Management were joint Financial Advisors/issuing House. (NAN) Nigeria has promised to help improve South Sudans health sector. Nigerias Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, made the promise in Abuja Thursday at a meeting with a delegation from South Sudan on a ministerial study visit to Nigeria. Mr. Adewole told the delegation that Nigeria would deploy human and capital resources it could to assist in addressing challenges besieging the South Sudan health sector. We are willing to support you, it is our duty, it is only Africans that can develop Africa, and we have to do it he said. The Minister of Health of South Sudan, Riek GaiKok, acknowledged the vital roles Nigeria played during his countrys struggle for independence. For those who may not know, Nigeria has been supporting the course of the people of South Sudan, before its conception, the minister stated. In 1990s all the way until the birth of the new nation in 2011, Nigeria played a pivotal role in the search for just and lasting peace. Mr. GaiKok said he was optimistic that Nigeria can play a tremendous role in supporting the development of healthcare delivery in both public and private sectors of his country besieged by a bloody civil war. He, however, pleaded with his Nigerian counterpart to visit Juba, the capital of South Sudan. The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister, Muhammad Bello, has promised thorough investigation of attacks on two communities that led to the death of one person and kidnap of 10 others. Mr. Bello called for calm over the recent attacks on some villages in the territory, assuring that security agencies were on top of the situation. He gave the assurance while addressing journalists after an emergency security meeting which was attended by stakeholders of the affected communities in his office in Abuja on Friday. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that communities affected by the attacks suspected to have carried out by herdsmen are mainly in Kuje Area Council. In the attacks on Darka and Huni-Gade communities on Sunday and Thursday, respectively, a 28-year-old man, Zakariyya Nuhu, was killed, while 10 persons were kidnapped and one injured. The minister said that the FCT administration and the security agencies had been following the development in the communities and had put measures in place to tackle the problem headlong. He advised the residents not to give any ethnic coloration to the attacks because killing and kidnapping of the innocent residents were purely criminal and that the culprits would be treated as such. Mr. Bello said that the administration and the security agencies had outlined ways of handling the unpleasant situation and that all those involved would surely be arrested and prosecuted. He commiserated with the communities as well as the families of those affected in the unfortunate incidents. He called on the FCT residents to go about their normal businesses as the security agencies had been deployed to all parts of the territory, especially the affected places, to ensure the security of lives and property. He advised the residents to pass any useful information to relevant agencies nearest to them as well as to traditional and community leaders. A man the Nigerian Army said its soldiers killed as a senior militant in the restive Niger Delta, was actually a clergyman who had been kidnapped days before, PREMIUM TIMES can report today. The Army said the man, Andrew Anthony, was killed late August when soldiers raided a hideout of militants in Rivers State ahead of the formal launch of Operation Crocodile Smile. But a PREMIUM TIMES investigation showed that soldiers who went for the operation knew Mr. Anthony was a kidnap victim, yet the Army, in its official statement, circulated his photograph to the media as one of five top militants killed in the area. Mr. Anthony was abducted by gunmen outside his home at Ada George Road in Port Harcourt on August 18, this newspaper confirmed after weeks of examining the case. His family had contacted PREMIUM TIMES and requested the case be investigated. Our findings refute the Armys claim, and shed light on the complexities of militant activities in the oil-rich region. Mr. Anthony was returning to his residence after a church programme when he was attacked by gunmen, his family said. Ambassadors Glory Churches International, founded by Mr. Anthony in 2007, has over 1000 members now, with branches in Abuja and Bayelsa State. Armed men swooped on the pastor as he waited for his wife to open the gate to his residence. The assailants bundled him into the trunk of a waiting vehicle and drove off into the night. The time was about 7:00 p.m. Everything happened within seconds, his wife, Becky Anthony, told PREMIUM TIMES in an interview. I couldnt even say where they emerged from. Mr. Anthonys twin brother, John Anthony, said the family reported the matter the same night at the police divisional headquarters along Ada George Road. They also filed a complaint at the Port Harcourt field office of the State Security Service, SSS, where officials promised action. Police step in The spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Omoni Nnamdi, told PREMIUM TIMES that the command deployed its Anti-Kidnapping Unit to fish out the abductors and secure Mr. Anthonys release. Working alongside the family, the detectives established the first contact with Mr. Anthonys captors three days after. The kidnappers demanded 10 million, but the family offered 3 million. The kidnappers promised to revert after considering the offer. Then, things went silent for another three days, leaving the family wondering what might have gone wrong. Something could have happened in their hideout? No, we thought they were smarter than that, Mr. Anthony said. Police told the distraught family the prolonged silence was unusual with kidnappers. Nonetheless, the anti-kidnapping operatives remained on standby should the all-important call come in, the police spokesperson said. Meanwhile, Mr. Anthonys family members said they worked on raising their offer should their initial bid be rejected. Mr. Anthony contacted his friends for help. We decided to prepare 5 million because it could be that they were arguing about money in their hideout, Mr. Anthony. We didnt want to take any chances. More days went by, no further information still. Then on August 28, Mr. Anthony said he received a phone call from a relative who asked him to return the call immediately. Felicia Obi, his in-law, said she had seen a photo showing Mr. Anthonys body on the internet. Military raid Ms. Obi had stumbled on a story published by PREMIUM TIMES, based on a press statement distributed by the Nigerian Army. The statement and the accompanying photograph were sourced from the News Agency of Nigeria. The Nigerian Army says at least five suspected members of the Niger Delta militants group were killed in Rivers State and a large cache of arms recovered by troops involved in Exercise Crocodile Smile, which commenced on Saturday, the opening paragraph of the August 27 story said. The report was published at 7:34 p.m. Direct quotes from the Army statement, which was signed by its spokesman, Sani Usman, read: The 133 Special Forces Battalion of Nigerian Army troops have carried out a precursor operation to Exercise CROCODILE SMILE aimed at getting rid of all forms of criminal activities in the Niger Delta geo-political region of Nigeria. In the course of the operation, five militants that attacked the troops were killed in action, while numerous others were injured and 23 suspects were arrested, Mr. Usman, a colonel, said. While the statement did not mention the names of militants killed in the operation, Ms. Obi immediately recognised Mr. Anthonys body, published alongside the statement, as one of the militants. I knew him very well and was aware that the family had been looking for him since he was kidnapped, Ms. Obi told PREMIUM TIMES. Mr. Anthony, a diplomat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, said he printed the story on August 29 before driving to the Nigerian Army 2nd Brigade Headquarters at Bori Camp, Port Harcourt. Upon arrival at Bori Camp, he sought an audience with the public relations officer there, but he was told the PRO was not in the office. He requested to see the commandant but was also rebuffed, he recalled to PREMIUM TIMES. After waiting for about an hour with little progress, he contacted a friend, a senior military official, to assist. He was the one who then put me through to the commandant at the Air Force Base along Aba Road, Port Harcourt, Mr. Anthony said. When I got there, a female flying officer met me at the entrance and took me straight to see the commandant. I narrated my story and showed him the news printout; he was shocked. It was at the base that Mr. Anthony learnt for the first time that the operation was jointly carried out by the Army and the Air Force. He told me it was a joint operation by the Army and the Air Force, he said. The Air Force official followed him back to Bori Camp. Immediately, he said we should go to Bori Camp. An Army commandant said the soldiers that carried out the operation were not around, but we said well wait. Hours later, he was introduced to an officer who reportedly led the operation, who politely introduced himself and began chatting with Mr. Anthony. PREMIUM TIMES has listened to an audio recording of that conversation Mr. Anthony said he obtained discreetly, and has withheld sensitive details, including the name of the officer. He told me that when they got a tip from the SSS that kidnappers were holding people hostage in the Ogbogoro bush, they worked out an operation to drive them out, the victims brother said. In the recording, the officer could be heard giving detailed narration of the operation. On getting to that camp, they were making noise in that camp. You understand? Your brother, they tied him with his hands to the back and tied his eyes. They kept him under a tent, he was lying down when we got there, he said. Although the Army officially said its troops killed five militants, and published Mr. Anthonys photo as one of them, the officer said the man was killed by the kidnappers, not by soldiers. The Army spokesperson, Mr. Usman, did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES requests for comment. He promised to get back to us within days, but did not do so for weeks. Kidnappers haven Choba River has been a popular waterway in Port Harcourt since the 1970s when it served as a major trading and fishing route. Choba town hosts the University of Port Harcourt, established in 1977. When Port Harcourt became the centre of Nigerias petroleum business, oil and gas executives travelling through what is now the East-West Road, patronised locals of the communities along the river. One of such communities, next to Choba, is Ogbogoro. In the last decade, with rampant kidnapping in the Niger Delta, criminals who carry out abductions for ransoms, found a haven in the forests surrounding Choba and Ogbogoro. The misfortune of the communities was compounded by the withdrawal of Willbros Group, an American firm, from Choba. Willbros, which is amongst the worlds largest oil contracting firms, helped the local economy there until 2006 when it pulled out. Before then, the firm had been caught in the high-wire oil politics and militancy, and its workers were frequently abducted. It was the forest surrounding Choba and Ogbogoro that Mr. Anthony was taken to after he was abducted on August 18, his family later found out from police and other security agencies. Residents there say kidnappers regularly blindfold their victims and cruise them in the water in a loop for some time, to give the victim a false sense of their location. The Buhari administration recently ordered a military operation in the Niger Delta as militancy flared again, at some time, forcing multinationals like Shell and Chevron, to suspend activities. Searching for Mr. Anthony After obtaining from the army officer details of how and where the missing pastor could be found, Mr. Anthony went to Ogbogoro on August 31, accompanied by Samuel Mariere, a childhood friend and member of Delta State House of Assembly, from Ughelli. Also on the journey were eight other men. They arrived at 9:00 a.m. in a convoy of four SUVs to search for and possibly retrieve Mr. Anthonys remains. Although 10 of them had made the trip, they could not proceed to the forest on their own. We were made to understand that a lot of terrible activities were going on in the bush and we cannot go in without being properly armed and escorted, Mr. Anthony said. Mr. Anthony said they approached the youth in the community for support. After over two hours of negotiation, about 120 youth agreed to participate in the mission for 750, 000, Mr. Anthony said. And we gave them 500, 000 in advance payment before they followed us, he said. For several hours, they combed the forests for Mr. Anthony. The sky was clear. Most of the journey was captured in a video seen by this newspaper. Young men could be seen scouring the bush with cutlasses. As they went deeper into the forest, they saw charred bodies of unknown men lying face down. We immediately concluded that they might have been other victims whose lives had also recently been wasted in the bush, Mr. Anthony said. A few metres away, they found Mr. Anthonys corpse among a row of shacks rolled down from what appeared like a wooden bench, the decomposing body swarmed by large blowflies. They also found items used by the kidnappers, including phones, charms, heating equipment and guns. Those items were later handed to the SSS. After a few minutes, they approached the body and wrapped it in a synthetic fabric before carefully arranging it in a wooden casket. By 4:00 p.m., they returned to Ogbogoro, where they settled the youth before proceeding to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital to deposit the body. Some of the officers attached to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit who worked on case also joined at Ogbogoro. Suspects arrested Based on the evidence collected by Mr. Anthony and the team from the den, the SSS said it was able to make two arrests in connection with the abduction of Mr. Anthony, a father of three. But the familys request to have access to the detained men was denied, making it difficult to verify the claims. PREMIUM TIMES efforts to get the state director of SSS in Rivers was unsuccessful. The secret police has not named a new official to take enquiries from the public since its last spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, retired more than a year ago. Mr. Anthony was born on January 29, 1948, in Takoradi, Ghana. His father was an employee of Ghanas Post and Telecommunication Department until his retirement years ago. Mr. Anthony said they were all born in Ghana, where their younger siblings still live till today. The future clergy won a scholarship to study theology from the Church of God Mission. He launched his missionary career after graduation. His widow said she and their three children were relying on God for the future. We have no one but God, she told PREMIUM TIMES. No one but God. Mr. Anthony said he will not give up on getting the Army to take full responsibility for killing his brother if only to secure the future of his children. They rained bullets on my brother when they could see he was tied down and couldnt run, Mr. Anthony said. They then labelled him a kidnapper to justify their action and take glory in public. The Ambassadors Glory Churches International is now being run by church members. The family plans Mr. Anthonys burial for later this month. His body is expected to be moved from the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital to their home state of Bayelsa on November 26. Transcript of recorded audio Officer: We saw the body of your Mr. Anthony: My twin brother. Officer: Hes your twin brother? Mr. Anthony: Yes Officer: We went for raid, they took him to a dead bit, Im sure they kidnapped him around Ada George. These people carry out all those kidnappings around Ada George area. That camp, they kidnap people. Theres a road they follow. They enter through erm this thing and they cross water. You understand? Mr. Anthony: Hmm hmm. Officer: They just cross water with the victim. They cross the water and they keep him at the edge of the water. Nobody can access that bush until he crosses that water. So police dont go there, nobody goes there. If they take you to that camp, nobody can rescue you, you understand? Until they carry their boat and take you out by themselves. You understand? So we got the information from the SSS and they gave us the specific information about that place. You understand? So we planned operation and went. Kidnappers normally, if they kidnap a person and theyre negotiating. If you go with any force, theyll kill the victim. That one is for sure. Not even these ones that are deadly kidnappers. You understand me? When we got .We trekked for three hours from Ogbogoro community. In fact, four hours, inside the mangrove before getting to that camp. You understand? On getting to that camp, they were making noise in that camp. You understand? Your brother, they tied him with his hands from the back and tied his eyes. They kept him under a tent, he was lying down. When we got there. Immediately we surrounding the compound and wanted to enter and they heard our noise, they were shocked first and they shot him first. Mr. Anthony: They shot him? Officer: They shot him pow! pow!.Before our troops started returning fire. If he was standing, then we could say our troops fire that got him. But no, he was tied and he was on the ground. They tied his eye. If theyre shooting gun now and you lie down, theres no way gun can hit you. You understand? They shot him and they escaped. In the process, while they were running, we too shot them. Most of them our fire gave them gunshot wounds and were sure they entered the bush and they died in the bush. A planned protest by Shiites in Borno State was shelved following a threat by the police. Due to the relatively low popularity of the Shiite IMN in Borno State, the news of their proposed procession came as a surprise to most of the residents in Maiduguri, the state capital. PREMIUM TIMES had on Friday exclusively reported, quoting a source and a police document, how the police received a special intelligence report that the protest would kick-start shortly after the Friday Jumat prayer. The Borno State police command later confirmed the report on Friday, warning the Shiite group to drop the idea of the planned procession. The police commissioner, Damian Chukwu, also said that embarking on the procession was illegal because the Borno State government had issued a statement banning all kinds of procession in the state. The police claim of a ban could not be independently verified by PREMIUM TIMES. Officials of the Borno State government, who preferred to be anonymous in this report, said they were not aware of the ban on religious processions in the Boko Haram troubled state. The police chief warned the Shiites to adopt lawful means of championing their cause, and not through road processions. We just got information that the Shiite group is trying to embark on public procession in Maiduguri and the state government had already issued a statement banning that procession, he said. I want to say that we are in support of the ban because the law banning public procession without permission is still in force. We know the group will always want to carry on with the procession without even trying to seek permission. We hereby advise them to please shelve the procession in the interest of peace, he added. Mr. Chukwu warned that the police would do everything within its constitutional powers to maintain peace in the state. On Friday, the atmosphere was somewhat tense as police deployed its officers to all the strategic locations within Maiduguri. Anti-riot vehicles and armoured personnel carriers were moved to locations where it was suspected that the planned Shiite procession would take place. Heavy security presence was seen at the MaiSaje Mosque, where the police intelligence indicated the IMN might kick start their protest. The same situation was noticed at the Fodiya Centre, near a spot called Yan Nono in Bulumkutu along the Kano-Maiduguri highway. After the Jumat prayers at the MaiSaje Friday mosque, some group of young men waited to see if the protest by the Shia group would take place. One of them, who sought anonymity for security reasons, said we just want to see if truly they would begin the procession; we would have dispersed them by tagging them as Boko Haram members. The deployed police officers maintained their vigilance till evening hours when they were cork sure the planned procession would no longer hold. Efforts to contact the leader of the IMN in Borno State, identified as Malami Goroma, was unsuccessful. The Borno State government had on August 11 inaugurated a board to censor Islamic teachings in the state, as a means of curbing the radicalization of young people into extreme groups like Boko Haram. It is not clear if the censorship also covers public procession by religious groups. The police have foiled similar Shiite protests in Abuja and Kano. Mondays incident in Kano led to the death of at least nine people, the police said. The Shiites are demanding the release of their leader held without trial since December by the federal government. Nigerias main opposition party, PDP, has called for the postponement of the November 26 governorship election in Ondo State. The party based its call on the non-conclusion of a court case that was to determine its rightful candidate for the election. A Court of Appeal panel led by Justice Ibrahim Salauwa on Friday adjourned ruling indefinitely in an appeal filed by Eyitayo Jegede who seeks to be recognised as the PDP governorship candidate. Mr. Jegede seeks to upturn a Federal High Court ruling that effectively declared Jimoh Ibrahim as the rightful PDP candidate. While Mr. Jegede and incumbent governor Olusgeun Mimiko are members of the Ahmed Makarfi-led PDP, Mr. Ibrahim is of the Ali Sheriff-led faction. Justice Salauwa had said that the decision to adjourn was taken in the face of a petition written against the panel to the Chief Justice of the Federation and Chairman of the National Judicial Council alleging acts of corruption, bias and breach of oaths of office amongst others. Furthermore, the respondents had filed a motion at the Supreme Court in which the Justices of Court of Appeal Panel were named as co-respondents in their personal capacities. The Appeal Court said it will only continue with the matter after the Supreme Courts rulings expected to be heard on Tuesday. The PDP on Saturday in a statement by its spokesperson, Dayo Adeyeye, said in the light of the decision, INEC should postpone the Ondo election. We call on INEC to postpone the Election pending the determination of the suit before the Supreme Court. We make this call against the backdrop of the fact that INEC is a party to the suit before the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court and is well aware of the steps taken by certain parties to the Suit to frustrate the course of justice, PDP said. The party also said it is making the call against the backdrop of the fact that INEC postponed the Edo State gubernatorial election and recently postponed the Rivers rerun elections. INEC had mentioned insecurity as its reason for postponing both elections. Further lamenting Fridays Court of Appeal stance, PDP said the indefinite adjournment is a consequence of latest of several mischievous actions taken by Messrs Biyi Poroye, Jimoh Ibrahim and their legal team led by Mr. Ben Nwofor (SAN). These actions, ranging from unsubstantiated allegations of corruption to outright disrespect and disregard for the Justices of the Court of Appeal to disruption of Court proceedings and flagrant abuse of Court processes, are all designed to achieve one aim stall proceedings and ensure that the legitimate Candidate of the Party is prevented from contesting the November 26th, 2016 Gubernatorial Election in Ondo State. SSS invasion responsible The PDP also alleged that judges of the Court of Appeal were intimidated by the recent arrests and harassment of several judges by men of the Directorate of State Services. These actions are achieving the desired effect as judges are now compelled to refrain from furthering the course of justice by unsubstantiated allegations of corruption, the party said. The party also said it is aware that the adjournment is only a part of a much bigger plan to manipulate the election. We are aware that this is part of the plan to use the judicial process, security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rig the election in favour of the ruling party (APC) before the Election Day. We call on all well meaning Nigerians to urge the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government to desist from the use of organs of the Nigerian state as a tool with which to subvert the will of the Nigerian people. At this point, we must urge all Nigerians to hold the Federal Government, INEC, APC and the Jimoh Ibrahim group for any consequences of the dangerous games that they have chosen to play with the Nigerian people. The party called on Supreme Court judges to stand fast in the face of this existential threat to the independence of the Judiciary and democracy itself. We urge the Justices of the Supreme Court to remember the maxim Justice delayed is justice denied while determining the issues before it. INEC is yet to reply to the PDPs call but is not expected to postpone the elections due to an intra-party affair. Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday countered claims by the Nigerian government that the terrorist Boko Haram group has been defeated. Speaking in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, at the 11th Founders Day Ceremony of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), the former vice president said Boko Haram remained deadly, and that it was premature to declare that the insurgency was over. The insurgents still occupy a specific geographical space, Atiku said. They (Boko Haram) still retain the capacity for occasional deadly attacks. Many citizens in the zone still remain vulnerable and live in fear. The former vice presidents comments appeared to counter repeated claims by President Muhammadu Buhari and his information minister, Lai Mohammed, that Boko Haram had been defeated, and was no longer holding any territory in the country. In his 2016 Independence Day speech, October 1, Mr. Buhari insisted the sect was defeated in December 2015 even as the group continued its onslaught across the Northeast, launching deadly attacks and killing soldiers and civilians. But in his Saturday speech, which was emailed to PREMIUM TIMES, Atiku said it was premature for anyone to claim victory over Boko Haram at this time. Like Mr. Buhari, Atiku belongs to the ruling All Progressives Congress, a shaky political platform, whose leading members have bickered consistently since it came to power in mid 2015. We cannot say that the problem is over until every displaced person is able to return home, to the office, to the market, to the farm, and resume normal activities, the politician said. We cannot say it is over until we rebuild the schools, the churches, the hospitals, the markets, and the homes that had been destroyed. And we cannot say its over until the survivors of this insurgency receive the help they need, including psychological therapy to deal with the trauma that they have been through. I visited an IDP camp on Saturday and had the privilege of teaching a math class to some children. But the site of hundreds of children running around and unable to attend school was very gut wrenching. It still breaks my heart. So we cannot say the insurgency is over until all the displaced children return to their schools. And, as I indicated last year, it would not be enough for people to simply return to their pre-insurgency lives. We must do better than that otherwise we would only have papered over the wound without really treating it. People must return to something better, to hope, to improved schools, to improved economic opportunities, to freedom of worship and improved inter-religious harmony. Read Atikus full speech below. Protocol Let me join President Ensign and the MC in welcoming you to this years Founders Day ceremony of this university. It doesnt feel that long ago when we broke ground here for what is to be the first private university in Northern Nigeria, and the first American university in Sub-Saharan Africa. Here we are today at the 11th Founders Day of this dream we the AUN. Looking back and looking around, we have made tremendous progress. The little acorn is growing into a promising oak. But theres a lot still left to be done. As you know, the work of building a great university never really finishes. A university is a living organism. It has to keep growing; it is continuously nourished. It becomes ever more complex but also integrated, more extended, and more interesting. This past year has been particularly challenging for us and for the country. The countrys economy, which had remained weak, slid into a recession. There has been little public spending as the new government in Abuja and most state capitals try to figure out how to proceed with governance, just as oil production and revenues plummeted. And when citizens, including parents, have little income to spend, especially in the midst of uncertainty, the effect spreads to various sectors of the economy, including higher education. But it was also a year that saw significant improvements in the security situation in the North East, our catchment area. The commitment of the Federal government and the state governments in this zone, as well as the support of the governments of our neighbouring countries of Cameroon, Chad and Niger, have pushed back against the violent insurgency and improved the security of citizens in the area. The improvement in the security situation also means that some internally displaced persons have been able to return to their homes and try to resume normal lives. I would like to specially acknowledge the efforts of our security forces in making these possible. However, more still needs to be done to restore normalcy in this area. The insurgency remains. The insurgents still occupy a specific geographical space. They still retain the capacity for occasional deadly attacks. Many citizens in the zone still remain vulnerable and live in fear; and we cannot say that the problem is over until every displaced person is able to return home, to the office, to the market, to the farm, and resume normal activities. We cannot say it is over until we rebuild the schools, the churches, the hospitals, the markets, and the homes that had been destroyed. And we cannot say its over until the survivors of this insurgency receive the help they need, including psychological therapy to deal with the trauma that they have been through. I visited an IDP camp on Saturday and had the privilege of teaching a math class to some children. But the site of hundreds of children running around and unable to attend school was very gut wrenching. It still breaks my heart. So we cannot say the insurgency is over until all the displaced children return to their schools. And, as I indicated last year, it would not be enough for people to simply return to their pre-insurgency lives. We must do better than that otherwise we would only have papered over the wound without really treating it. People must return to something better, to hope, to improved schools, to improved economic opportunities, to freedom of worship and improved inter-religious harmony. People must return to the realization that it is ok not only to be different but also to learn, including so-called Western education. You see, Western education really belongs to humanity since different parts of the world contributed to that which we now call Western education and culture. In any case, nobody says we must take everything that is associated with that culture; we can take that which helps us improve our societies while ignoring that which doesnt. And we must no longer wait for socio-economic and political problems to fester for a long time before we tackle them, the way we routinely wait for small potholes on our roads to develop into huge gullies and death-traps before we try to fix them, if at all. That should be a critical lesson of this insurgency. So let us take immediate steps to put our people to work. Lets fix our roads, bridges and schools and other infrastructure. Let us expand schooling in this zone and other parts of the country. Lets expand enrolment, and hire and train highly qualified and motivated teachers who are paid well. Lets resolve to strictly enforce the law that makes primary and secondary education free and compulsory in this country so that every child stays in school until at least the age of 18. Let us expand vocational training in addition to improving our universities and polytechnics. Let us expose our youth to entrepreneurship as part of their education, to help us to really create employment and grow the economy and incomes in a sustainable way. Germany seems to offer a great example on vocation training and apprenticeship. We may want to carefully study its system to see how we can adopt elements of it for our country, our people and our economy. When we take these measures that expand educational and career opportunities for our young people, we give them hope; we give them positive things to aspire to. We must demonstrate to our youth that living is far better than dying. When we provide them these opportunities we are likely to see more of them receive the kinds of awards and honours that were bestowed on these outstanding people that were so honoured here today. But we should not stop there. Citizens are not just about jobs and incomes. We have to take measures to facilitate citizen engagement, especially the youth. Our young people have to take greater interest in public affairs. And I am not just talking about voting in elections. They should be organized and participate in debates on public policy and community service. And as a country, we have to find ways to lift up those who need help, to give voice to the voiceless, to listen to the voices of those who feel marginalized and left behind, and find ways to address their concerns. The recent Brexit referendum in the UK and the November 8 Presidential election in the US hold important lessons for us. Being established and stable democracies they had peaceful outcomes. We may not be that lucky because of the fragility of our democratic and other public institutions. To our students I say your handwork and sacrifices are worth it. You are among the privileged. So take full advantage of the opportunities you have. Education is an opportunity and remains the key that unlocks opportunities and opens new horizons. And in the contemporary world, those without education and requisite skills will have a harder time attaining social mobility. This is the world of big data, of coding, of genetic engineering, of 3D printing, of renewable energy, of artificial intelligence, of self-driving automobiles, of space tourism, of inter-connected devices (the internet of things), and of social diversity and inclusion. You have the opportunity to prepare and equip yourselves for that world so that you, your families and your country are not left behind. I sincerely thank the leadership of this University under the tireless Dr Margee Ensign. I salute the faculty and staff, all of you that make this place work. Let me also thank the Board of Trustees, under the very smart and meticulous Akin Kekere-Ekun, for its work over the past year and the preceding years. We also owe a debt of gratitude to the state and federal governments for the improved security in the environment within which AUN operates. I congratulate those honoured here today. You are truly deserving of your awards. Lets all rededicate ourselves to improving this university, this dream, and this region and our country. Thank you. President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday formally presented Rotimi Akeredolu to Ondo voters ahead of next weekends governorship election, declaring that the controversial primary that produced him was credible and transparent. The President, whose presence at the All Progressives Congress campaign rally attracted a huge crowd, appreciated the party leadership for ensuring transparency during the primary which held on September 3 in Akure. We thank the party for conducting a transparent primary election which produced the candidate, the president said. I can assure you, on Saturday we are going to win God willing. He raised the hand of Rotimi Akeredolu, urging the people of Ondo State to vote massively for him on Saturday. The presidents assertion negates the opinion of aggrieved members of the party who protested the outcome of the primary after alleging irregularities. The APC appeals committee had also invalidated the primaries, alleging irregularity. But the APC National Working Committee led by Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun ignored the appeals committee and validated Mr. Akeredolus election. The decision of the NWC created apathy among supporters of Ajayi Boroffice and Olusegun Abraham, top contenders at the primary; while another aspirant, Olusola Oke, left the party for Alliance for Democracy, AD, after the issues were unresolved. The aggrieved candidates described the choice of Mr. Akeredolu as lacking in transparency and democratic principles. A national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, who publicly expressed his displeasure over the choice of Mr. Akeredolu, failed to attend an earlier campaign rally and was not also present on Saturday along with his allies, Governors Rauf Aregbesola and Akinwumi Ambode of Osun and Lagos respectively. Mr. Tinubu and his allies in the south-west are said to be subtly backing Mr. Oke, whose recently revived Alliance for Democracy is gathering a lot of support across the state. The absence of the aggrieved south-west APC leaders did not, however, deter the attendees at the rally from rallying support for the candidate. The Chairman of the APC Governors Forum, Rochas Okorocha, while speaking at the rally, said efforts were made to stop Mr. Akeredolu from emerging as candidate, but that the primary turned out in his favour. I want to tell you that we tried to stop Akredolu from emerging as the candidate, but because Gods hand was on him, he emerged, he said. So what God has done, no one can put down. The Imo State Governor also called on the people of the state to ensure that Ondo becomes an APC state in order to attract direct developmental impact from the federal government. While trying to justify the absence of Messrs. Tinubu, Aregbesola and Ambode, the Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Abayomi Adesanya, said it was not possible to have all the 23 APC governors in Akure all at one. He claimed that Mr. Tinubu and the absentee governors were not opposed to Mr. Akeredolu. If we have the President here, we have all the party leaders already, he said. If we have the President, the Vice President, the national leader and all the 23 governors in Akure at once, then we will ground the entire country. Nothing will work and the country will be at a standstill if we have everybody here. Mr. Adesanya said he was not aware if the absentee leaders wrote or gave any reasons for their absence. The Chairman of the party, Isaac Kekemeke, on his part, said the party was united and indivisible. He assured that with that unity, the party would deliver the state to APC next week Saturday. Efforts to get formal reactions from Messrs. Tinubu and Aregbesola were not fruitful as their aides could not be reached on telephone at the time of this report. About 40 people were kidnapped by gunmen suspected to be cattle rustlers in Zamfara on Friday, the News Agency of Nigeria reports. Fridays kidnap occurs about a fortnight after over 40 people were killed in the same state by gunmen who stormed a mining site. Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara has, therefore, ordered full investigation into the circumstances that led to Fridays abduction of over 40 persons in Maru Local Government Area of the state. This is contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor, Ibrahim Dosara, and made available to newsmen in Gusau on Friday. Mr. Dosara also said that the governor had ordered an immediate investigation into the activities of the bandits in the state with a view to restoring peace in the area. Witnesses told the News Agency of Nigeria that the gunmen numbering over 100 stopped three Toyota Canters carrying passengers from Dansadau to Dankurmi and diverted the vehicles at gunpoint to an unknown destination. NAN gathered that the hoodlums took away all the passengers, except one woman who they spared alongside her three-year-old son and told her to report back what happened. The woman was said to have reported back to Dansadau that the bandits would not release the hostages until the governor released their cows numbering over 400 which were recovered from them by security men recently, within seven days. A joint security patrol had recovered the rustled cows from the criminals during which seven members of the gang were also killed near Bindin village of Maru local government. Shortly after the abduction of the villagers, a team of mobile policemen went on a rescue mission but the bandits shot and killed two of them and also went away with a third. Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muhammad Shehu, said already a joint security patrol was on trail of the bandits, assuring that they would soon be arrested. Fridays abduction occurs less than a fortnight after gunmen killed about 40 people in another village in Zamfara. PREMIUM TIMES reported how the gunmen suspected to be cattle rustlers stormed a mining site in Gidan Ardo Village of Bindin district of Maru Local Government Area. Witnesses in the area said the gunmen numbering over 70 rode into the mining site at around 3 p.m. on November 7 and shot anyone on sight, killing over 40 persons and injuring several others. (NAN) The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, says Nigeria is on the verge of being self sufficient in food production. Mr. Emefiele spoke in Isa town, Sokoto State, on Saturday when he launched the 2016 wheat planting season. The journey to make Nigeria self sufficient in food production, especially rice is being realised. This is where the country can feed itself and even have surplus for export, he said Mr. Emefiele also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his ongoing efforts to diversify the nations economy from heavy dependence on oil revenue. He further said that the president also deserved commendation for allowing the bank to initiate the Anchor Borrowers Programme. Mr. Emefiele commended Governor Aminu Tambuwal for providing adequate subsidised fertilisers and other inputs to the farmers. Mr. Tambuwal commended CBN for introducing the Anchor Borrowers Programme, saying that it had provided the needed funds to farmers in the country. He called on the Federal Government to come up with emergency plans to purchase excess grains from the farmers. He also said the massive exportation of grains from Nigeria portends great dangers to Nigerias future food security. Also, Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi extolled the programme, saying that Nigeria would be self sufficient in rice production by the end of 2016. The Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar III, also noted that the current laudable efforts of the Federal Government would lead to self sufficiency in food production. Mr. Abubakar also pointed out that this was crucial as food security was next to nothing. The Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Danbala Danju, said that the country is facing some existential threats. The population of the country is growing rapidly without corresponding increase in food production, he said. Danju, who called for the urgent repositioning of the bank, hailed President Buhari for diversifying Nigerian economy away from oil. (NAN) The Federal Government has set up an inter-agency Presidential Committee on Asset Recovery, PCAR, as part of its efforts to strengthen the on-going fight against corruption. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja when he received the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa, Mohammed Ibn Chambas. The minister who called for the support of the UN in fighting corruption said that the PCAR was set up on the recommendation of the Presidential Advisory Council Against Corruption. He said the committee headed by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo will oversee the anti-corruption agenda and coordinate asset recovery process. The minister said that the committee is coordinating the collation and categorisation of recovered asset from 2015-2016. He said it would verify the records and status of physical assets such as buildings recovered under previous administration. It would also set up the framework for management of recovered stolen asset to avoid re-looting and mismanagement of asset as was the experience in the past. According to the minister, the committee will create asset register for recovered asset to avoid a situation where former or even serving public officers carry away government asset like vehicles, computers, among others. He said the Federal Government was determined to recover all asset illicitly acquired by public officers and other politically exposed persons. Mr. Mohammed disclosed that measures were under way to enhance recovery of illegally acquired asset and they will be announced from time to time. To encourage whistle-blowers, the government is also considering an incentive framework for those who provide useful information that lead to recovery of stolen or illegally concealed public assets. Government is soliciting the support of Nigerians in Diaspora and international NGOs in the campaign for asset return from foreign governments, he said. The minister reiterated that Nigeria remained determined and focused in stemming corruption, which is part of the reasons that the country is suffering from economic recession. Just as you (UN) have supported us in the fight against insecurity in the North-East, we need your institutional, technical and diplomatic support in fighting corruption, Mr. Mohammed told the visiting UN official. Mr. Ibn Chambas commended the government for its unwavering efforts in fighting corruption and insurgency. He disclosed that the UN and other multinational agencies had scaled intervention programmes in the Boko Haram ravaged north-eastern parts of the country. The UN official noted that the upsurge in humanitarian crisis in the north-east was as a result of the success of the military in routing the insurgent groups and liberating more communities. He explained that many of the malnourished children and others in need of assistance were from communities that were hitherto under the siege of the terrorists but liberated by the military. Mr. Ibn Chambas said that a number of persons in need of humanitarian assistance in the region were not in the IDP camps alone, In addressing the crisis, Mr, Ibn Chambas said that the UN had scaled-up food programmes beyond the IDP camps, increased its personnel from 40 to 200 and deployed two helicopters for distribution of food and other supplies. (NAN) The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje has said that Shiite members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria have to recognise the authority of security officials by seeking their permission before they hold any gathering. Mr. Ganduje said this in an interview with journalists on the sideline of the third edition of the Nigeria Entrepreneurs Award in Abuja on Friday night. The governor said that members of the sect could not keep breaking the law and tampering with the rights of other citizens. As far as they continue breaking the law, the police have to come in. They cannot use they-have-the-freedom-to-do-whatever-they-want because they are crossing other peoples human rights. As far as we are concerned, they have to recognise the authority; they have to get permission. If they do not get permission, then the police will not allow them to continue the procession that they do. Mr. Gandujes remarks come a day after the U.S. government advised caution in Nigerias handling of the Shiites crisis and called for an investigation of the Kano killings. No less than nine people were confirmed dead and many others injured following a clash between members of the group and the police in Kano city on Monday. Trouble broke out around Tamburawa, on the outskirts of Kano city, after the police tried to stop the Shiite members who had embarked on the annual Arbaeen trek from Kano to Zaria. The Kano State Police Command, however, said security operatives including anti-robbery squad units only intervened as the Shiite members began attacking motorists and passersby. The Kano State Police Commissioner, Rabiu Yusuf, confirmed that one police officer was also killed. The Inspector-General of Police, Idris Ibrahim, on Wednesday, also said the police should be appreciated for the method deployed by officials of the force. Mr. Idris said that the police had a responsibility to ensure that law and order was maintained adding that the activities of the group needed to be checked. In October, Kano police banned IMN from conducting street processions ahead of the annual Ashura celebration. As part of their demands, the Shiites seek the release of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, who has been held by the federal government without trial since December when over 300 members of his group were killed by soldiers. The soldiers said the IMN members blocked a road and plotted to kill the army chief, Tukur Buratai, a claim the Shiites denied. (NAN) Nigerian security operatives have intercepted another suicide bomber who attempted to penetrate a Transit Camp of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) along Muna Garage. While suspecting the ulterior motive of the suicide bomber with his strange behaviour, the security operatives attempted to accustom him. But in his attempt to detonate the explosive device, he was gunned down by the officials PRNigeria gathered that the Transit camp is used to check and screen potential displaced people before being allowed into any of the IDP camps in Maiduguri and others in Borno State. The spokesperson of National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, in the North-East, Ibrahim Abdulkadir, confirmed that the mangled body of the suicide bomber had been evacuated. IDP camps have recently become prime targets of the Boko Haram in suicide attacks. Many of such attacks have failed and the suicide bombers killed. Suicide bombing is one of the ways the Boko Haram have used in their insurgency that has caused the death of over 20,000 people in northern Nigeria since 2009. UNICEF says presently, no fewer than 120 million people in Nigeria lack access to improved sanitation facilities, thereby exposing them to public health hazards. Kannan Nadar, UNICEFs Chief Officer in charge of Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Abuja. He said Nigeria needed an investment of N850 billion for households to construct 25 million toilets by 2025. According to him, reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target on Sanitation requires Nigeria to multiply her current efforts by fifteen. He said that Nigeria could achieve its target of meeting the National Roadmap of Ending Open defecation by 2030, if it puts policies in place to encourage behavioural change in sanitation and Hygiene. Mr. Nadar said that the agency had carried out a survey in some selected communities, and observed that there was a gap between knowledge and attitude in hygiene promotion practice. Such situation could be reduced with proper hygiene promotion messages, he said. He said 14,000 Nigerian communities have attained open defecation free status within the eight years of its intervention via the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) Programme. He noted that Nigeria was known for having sanitary inspectors, who carried out enforcement of hygiene practices. But the inspectors did not appear to have the needed encouragement; such practice should be encouraged by all, to reduce possible outbreak of preventable diseases, he said. According to him, Nigeria needs to scale up its hygiene promotion strategies to enable it become a social norm. The UNICEF official, who said that the intervention was covering 200,000 communities, stated that poor persons were 36 times more likely to defecate in the open than rich individuals due to the disproportionate distribution of wealth in the society. He challenged stakeholders to develop simple, better and cost effective messages that would enable more Nigerians change their behaviours towards hygiene promotion. However, Nigeria being a signatory to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, needed to deliberately remove barriers to sanitation and hygiene problems in the country. Ekiti has the highest number of residents, among Nigerian states, who defecate openly, two agencies have said. The UNICEF and the European Union state that two in three Ekiti residents engage in open defecation. According to a report jointly presented by the organisations at a two-day media networking and alliance building workshop on Water Sanitation and Hygiene held at Ijero Ekiti. The report stated that of the states 2.7million population, 1.8million engage in the unhygienic practice. The organisations said over 2.5 billion people lacked access to improved sanitation globally, out of which one billion were engaging in open defecation. The UNICEF/EU delegation, led by Mohsena Islam, a Water Sanitation and Hygiene specialist from UNICEF, had earlier embarked on a field trip with Ekiti Media WASH group to Asasa and Temidire Olojofi farm settlements in Aramoko Ekiti, to assess compliance with the campaign against open defecation. Mr. Mohsena disclosed that several achievements had been recorded through UNICEF/EU WASH programme in Ekiti, using Gbonyin and Ekiti West as pilot councils in advocacy for open defecation Free (ODF) and WASH. In Ekiti, an estimated number of 180,000 people are gaining access to good source of water through provision of hand pump boreholes, he said. In the same way, 29,582 people in Ekiti have gained access to safe water through rehabilitation of 65 hand pumps in Gbonyin. 965 pupils from four schools now have access to child and gender friendly water supply. We have also brought improvement to 250 towns and communities in ODF by providing ten toilets per public. We have also provided technical supports in 313 communities, for them to know various ways to build and take ownership of low cost latrines and how to repair them in case of damage. Stakeholders should continue to step up sensitization and advocacy in rural areas on the need to key into the total eradication of open defecation, to forestall breakout of diseases. Advocacy for open defecation free in Ekiti and good water sanitation is yielding results. Enforcement in the past by CLTS coordinators had failed; we now use persuasion and people are gradually changing their perception, he said. In Ogun, the State Ministry of Health disclosed that over one million residents of the state engage in open defecation. The ministry reports that the practice remains a major cause of Hepatitis, especially among children. At a one-day Health Seminar organised by the National Association of Community Health Practitioners of Nigeria (NACHPN) recently in Abeokuta. Olusola Afuape of the Department of Public Health, Ogun State Ministry of Health, explained that the figure represented 28.8 per cent of a total population of 3,751,140. He lamented that the figure kept increasing by the day, saying the development had a serious public health implications. Approximately, 1,080, 328 residents of Ogun State practice open defecation, especially in the rural areas, he said. This figure represent 28.8 percent of 3,751,140 the population, he said. Mr Afuape, a field officer and a member of the state onchocerciasis control team in the Ministry of Health, noted that open defecation contributes to the spread of the deadly Hepatitis disease, and that it accounts for the highest number of deaths of children under the ages of five. He suggested that open defecation could be eliminated if there was the political will, domestication and enforcement of sanitation laws, awareness campaigns on its health implications. He recommended more enlightenment programmes on environmental behavioural change; better sanitation solution that offers alternatives to open defecation; construction of more toilets in public places such as markets, motor parks, schools and more attention paid to water supply. Also speaking the State Chairman of the Community Health Practitioners, Donnish Oriola, emphasised the need to update the knowledge of members and improve methods. He said this would require capacity building, training and retraining so as to move with the trend in public health. Ebri Eteng, WASH Officer, UNICEF, Sokoto Field Office, said that UNICEF has planned to celebrate the World Toilet Day to ensure that everyone has access to toilet by 2030. According to Mr. Eteng, the World Toilet Day which comes up on Nov. 19, is a day to raise awareness and inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis. Today, 2.4 billion people are struggling to stay well, keep their children alive and work their way to a better future, all for the want of a toilet, he said. Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with 42 microfinance institutions and three micro-credit banks to provide affordable loans to households for the construction of sanitation facilities. The ministry`s Permanent Secretary, Rabi Jimeta, said that the partnership was also to implement the Partnership for Expanded Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH) programme in the country, which needed no fewer than N510 billion. Ms. Jimeta said the partner financial institutions would incorporate sanitation financing into their existing micro-credit portfolio and provide loans in collaboration with UNICEF and the State and Local Government agencies. NAN also recalls that the ministry recently inaugurated the PEWASH strategy to seek out ways of funding to meet the sanitation and hygiene needs in the country before 2030. She said the ministry was already partnering with UNICEF and Association of Non-Bank Microfinance Institutions of Nigeria (ANMFIN) to seek out practical ways of providing funds to meet this target. She reiterated the Federal Government`s commitment to ending open defecation in Nigeria by 2025, saying that this was possible with full implementation of the PEWASH strategy. Ms. Jimeta said there was an urgent need for a pool fund to ensure availability of cheaper loans to promote uptake of improved toilets. She noted that this step would facilitate the provision of sanitation facilities across the country and also provide means of financing for sanitation for individuals. Developing a pool fund through the generous contribution of WASH stakeholders is essential to bring dedicated financing for rural WASH sector, she said. The DFID representative, Kemi Williams, reassured of UK Governments continued support to the Federal Government in achieving its SDG targets and helping out the poorest and most vulnerable in the process. The CBN`s Deputy Director, Osita Nwanisobi, presented the lessons from existing micro, small and medium enterprise development fund and agreed to work with FMWR towards creation of the pool fund. The PEWASH programme is to contribute to improvement in public health and eradication of poverty in Nigeria through the achievement of SDGs six, especially in rural areas where access to quality water and sanitation are grossly inadequate. (NAN) Students at the American University, Yola, have developed social media strategies to help drive the campaign against religious intolerance in Nigeria. The initiative, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and Facebook, includes an #IAMaBeliever, aimed at fostering peaceful co-existence among people of diverse religious beliefs, and Beliepedia, a web application that uploads verses from the Quran and the Bible to see what they say on a particular topic. Many of the extremist views rise from religious texts and these religious beliefs are very deeply held by Nigerians. Nigerians are very religious people and it is based on these religious beliefs that people derive their extremist views, says Zamiyat Abubakar, a student at the university and one of the drivers of the campaign. We saw that to counter those views by countering those beliefs will be impossible and will be met with some aggression because people are very personal about religion. So we decided to go another way, to instead show people that they are more than just their beliefs. For decades, adherents of Nigerias two major religions Islam and Christianity have frequently engaged each other in clashes that had created a chasm between the two faiths. More than 15,700 people have been killed in inter-communal, political, and sectarian violence since Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999, according to the Human Rights Watch. In Kaduna State, for instance, a sectarian violence in 2000 killed at least 2,000 people, a clash sparked by Christian youth protesting the proposed introduction of Sharia law in the state. In 2004, a sectarian violence caused by Muslim youth protesting the Miss World beauty contest billed to hold in Nigeria left about 250 people dead. Ms. Abubakar says the #IAmABeliever campaign aims to tell people they are more than their beliefs. If you are a believer of whoever or whatever you choose to believe, if you are a believer in Christianity or Islam, you are also a friend, you are also someones mother, someones neighbour, you are also a teacher you are also a brother, you are several different things. All these different parts make up your identity. So another part of our campaign is to encourage people to honour and respect the beliefs of others same way they honour and respect their own. Basically helping people understand that everybody has different beliefs. But there is no reason for you to not be able to honour and respect those beliefs even though you might not understand them. To garner widespread appeal for both anti-extremism strategies among members of both faiths in Adamawa State, north-east Nigeria, the students sought out the endorsements of two leading religious leaders in the state Stephen Mamza, the Catholic Bishop of Yola Diocese and Dauda Bello, a respected Imam in Yola. Jacob Jacob, a lecturer at AUN, says in addition to serving as advisers to the campaign, the two religious leaders also vet the contents of the Beliepedia before they are published. We cannot ignore the religious leaders here because they are incredibly powerful, says Mr. Jacob, the Dean of School of Arts and Sciences at AUN. As a matter of fact, the questionnaires we distributed we asked the people what would it take for you to change your opinion? Most people said it will take a religious leader for them to change their opinion on this and this. Mr. Jacob said the Beliepedia is a tool created to enhance interaction and conversation between the Quran and the Bible. Essentially, for us, our intention is not so much to change religious beliefs, our intention really is to create a space for both religions to co-exist, he said. And for people to look at themselves away from their beliefs, to see beliefs as distinct from their own identities. Im a believer in Allah, in God, in anything you believe, but you are also a human being, a dad basically the intention is to create space around your belief so that people can say their identities are different from their religious beliefs. Grace Onaiwu Omogui, the mother of a former Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Ifueko Okauru, has died, her family announced Saturday. She was 82. Mrs. Omogui, teacher, lawyer and judge, passed on at a Lagos hospital Saturday following complications from multiple gunshot injuries from an armed robbery attack in Benin City, the Edo State capital, on her way from the Sapele Road branch of the Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB). According to a statement by her eldest son, Nowamagbe, Mrs Omoigui was born on December 28, 1933 and her life spanned several professional careers, starting as an educationist and former Vice Principal of Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Benin City, and later becoming a lawyer, retiring as a magistrate in the Lagos State Judiciary. Mama G, as she loved to be called, fought a gallant fight to live but the Lord decided that her time on this earth was done, the statement said. She leaves behind a legacy of love to ones neighbour regardless of cost and personal sacrifice. Even in the face of unprovoked attack, she did what she does best: rightly questioned the indefensible actions of the armed robbers as she felt it was wrong. Mum lived a transparent life through and through. She was the pillar behind the family and would do anything to preserve its good name and defend integrity. She positively touched many lives at home and at work and we believe her legacy of sacrifice, loyalty, hard work, fairness, love, integrity, the importance of family and Gods love will live on through everybody she touched. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Surveyor Daniel Aiyanyo Omoigui, her children Dr Nowamagbe and Moira Omoigui; Dr Sota and Helen Omoigui; Ifueko M Omoigui and Asishana Okauru; Eghosa and Eunice Omoigui; and Nosakhare Omoigui; and grand children, Ikponmwosa Omoigui, Ighiwiyisi Omoigui, Ayrton Omoigui, Iyegbekosa Omoigui, Izevbokun Omoigui, Grace Omoigui, Isiuwa Omoigui, Iyare Omoigui, Noe Ter Avest Omoigui, Iriagbonse Omoigui, Anni-Arie Omoigui, and Nete Okauru. We are heartbroken by this untimely loss but comforted by the understanding that this is the Lords way and our mum is resting peacefully in His bosom. Below is a profile of Mrs. Omogui as sent to PREMIUM TIMES by her family. Grace Onaiwu Omoigui (nee Elekhuoba Iyeye OGBEWE-ASEMOTA) was born at Akure, Ondo State on December 28 1933. Grace Onaiwu lost her mother Izevbokun at the early age of three years. Her early and adolescent development was therefore in the caring hands of her late good father (to whom she was much endeared to), her step mothers and her grandmother Iyeye with whom she spent a greater part of her childhood. She grew up active, dynamic, aggressive and highly motivated for success. Married on August 2, 1958 to Mr. Daniel Aiyanyo Omoigui, the retired Surveyor General of the Federation, Mrs. Omoigui has successfully combined an active working life with building a successful home. Their marriage is blessed with five children four boys and one girl, who individually have succeeded in life in their various fields of endeavour. a testimony to the strict and focused upbringing they received from their parents. Grace Onaiwu Omoigui started her working life as a Grade II teacher a product of St. Agnes College Maryland, Ikeja in December 1955. Over time, she developed herself and acquired additional qualifications which include: NCE in Chemistry/Biology (1967), BSc Education/Zoology (1974); LLB Hons (1985); BL Nigerian Law School (1986). In her first career as a teacher, Grace Onaiwu Omoigui taught in various primary, secondary modern schools in the old Western Region Benin, Okene, Ogbomosho and Ilorin. In Lagos, she taught in the Old Government School, Okesuna; Eko Boys High School, Mushin; Holy Child College, Obalende and the Federal School of Arts and Science in Victoria Island (where her students fondly referred to her as Mummy). She was posted to the Federal Government College Benin as Vice Principal in 1990 where she retired after thirty-five (35) years of Public Service on July 31 1992. In her second career as a lawyer, since her retirement from Public Service, Grace Onaiwu Omoigui practiced under experienced Senior Advocates of Nigeria Messrs A.O. Eghobamien of Benin City, Edo State and Prof A.B. Kasunmu of Lagos, Lagos State. She served as a Magistrate and Chairman of the Rent Edict Tribunal in the Lagos State Government Judiciary from where she retired a second time around as a result of attaining the statutory retiring age of sixty-five (65) years. She is currently a Director in the firm of ReStraL Ltd, and spends her time mostly providing service to her husband, children, extended family and friends in any capacity that is of benefit. Chronology of Work Experience 1956-1987 Various teaching appointments: 1956 Started teaching service in the Convent School, Benin City in January 1956. Taught all subjects in the standard six class. 1957 Appointed Head of the Secondary Modern School in Benin-City 1958 1960 Resigned to join husband in the U.K. 1960 1961 Taught in various Primary Secondary Schools in Ilorin, Okene, Ogbomosho to mention a few. Location dependent on husbands duties. 1962 1971 Taught at the following Schools/Colleges at various times: Lagos City Council School (formerly Government School), Okesuna Eko Boys High School, Mushin Holy Child College, Obalende, Lagos 1971 1974 Enrolled at the University of Lagos and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Education/Zoology 1975 Joined the Federal Public Civil Service, Federal Ministry of Education in 1975, served in Lagos State under the Universal Primary Education Scheme (Teacher Education Sector). 1976 1987 Taught Biology in the Federal School of Arts and Science at Class-teacher and later as Head of Department, Bi-lateral Agreements, Common Wealth and African Affairs 1987 1990 Officer in charge of Bi-lateral agreement between Nigerian and Common Wealth and other African countries. Helped draft a number of bilateral agreements. Represented the Federal Ministry of Education on the Nigerian delegation to India in 1988. 1990 1992 Vice Principal, Federal Government Girls College, Benin-City. Contributed to the upliftment of the School. Retired voluntarily from the Federal Civil Service after almost 35 years service on July 31, 1992. 1992 1994 Worked with Messrs A.O. Eghobamien of Benin City, Edo State and Prof A.B. Kasunmu of Lagos, Lagos State 1995- 1997 Magistrate and Chairman of the Rent Edict Tribunal in the Lagos State Government Judiciary from where she retired a second time around as a result of the statutory retiring age of sixty-five (65) years. The Nigerian Army said its newly-created 6 Division in Port Harcourt was established to organise and improve its internal security operations in four states of the Niger Delta. Kasimu Abdulkarim, the pioneer General Officer Commanding (GOC), of the Division , disclosed this to journalists on Saturday in Port Harcourt. Mr. Abdulkarim, a major general, said the military had recorded success in the war against terror and was committed to combating emerging security threats in the Niger Delta and other parts of the country. According to him, the Division will cover the armys 2 Brigade Akwa Ibom; 16 Brigade Bayelsa and 63 Brigade in Delta, respectively, with divisional headquarters in Port Harcourt. This arrangement will help to curtail activities of militants, banditry, inter-communal clashes, illegal bunkering, kidnapping, robberies, Niger Delta Avengers and pipeline vandalism prevalent in the area. Insecurity in these states negatively impacts on our national economy resulting from sabotage by criminal entities within the region. Everything must be done to protect and defend our fledgling democracy with focus to prevent insecurity in the area of our responsibility, he said. Mr. Abdulkarim said his mission was to structure and enhance the operational capability of the division and improve combat readiness of the troops. He said the task included a review of existing intelligence architecture, accountability, inclusiveness, rule of law, troops discipline and respect for human rights. The GOC said the division would work with the media and the public to promote civil-military relations with focus on improving intelligence gathering. Officers and soldiers of 6 Division must collectively evolve media management skills in the exploit of mass and social medias growing power instead of fighting it. Our personnel must be honest, trustworthy and professional in their conduct to earn public confidence in our internal security operations, he said. He urged governments and communities in the four states to cooperate with the division to enable it achieve its mandate to improve security in the region. (NAN) The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, says the agricultural initiative, Anchor Borrowers Programme, launched by the Federal Government has led to significant reduction in the price of local rice. Nkechi Osuji, the Head, Development Financing Department, CBN, Owerri Branch made the disclosure on Saturday in Owerri. She spoke at a sensitisation workshop organised by the office of Executive Assistant to Governor Rochas Okorocha on Human Capacity Development and Poverty Alleviation. The one-day event was attended by local government representatives of small holder farmers, cooperative societies, youth and women groups drawn from the 27 local government areas of Imo. Mrs. Osuji said as a result of the new agricultural initiative, a 50kg bag of local rice now sells for N13,000 in some states that have embraced the Anchor Borrowers Programme. She said that if more states join the programme, rice production would be greatly boosted. Mrs. Osuji told the participants that the CBN, Bank of Agriculture, Bank of Industry, commercial and micro-finance banks have provisions to finance agricultural activities. She advised participants to embrace the programme as it was capable of creating thousands of jobs as well as boost the overall development of the nation. Ngozi Iheancho, the Imo State Coordinator of National Directorate of Employment (NDE), who also spoke, commended the initiative and urged participants to embrace the programme. She said that NDE in the state was ready to support the programme and advised against what she called involvement of `ghost farmers in the programme. Let there be no ghost farmers and unnecessary bureaucracy in the implementation of the programme in Imo. If this programme is genuinely executed, a lot of jobs and wealth will be created in Imo, she said. Edwin Uche, the Executive Assistant to Governor Okorocha on Human Capacity Development and Poverty Alleviation, said the event was organised on order to expose farmers. Mr. Uche said the state would expose farmers to grow rice, cassava, and maize, noting that the short and long term target of the programme is to create thousands of jobs in a year. Participants who spoke, appealed to the organisers to step up action to ensure that Imo farmers key into the scheme like farmers in other states. (NAN) ATLANTIC CITY Restaurants in the Morris County borough of Madison are so happy to have Drew University students as customers that businesses offer them free lunches on orientation day. And the mayor greets them on the first day of school, Drew President MaryAnn Baenninger said at the New Jersey State League of Municipalities Conference in Atlantic City this past week. Not every municipality has the benefit of being home to a college, but Atlantic City will in 2018 when Stockton University opens a new campus in the Chelsea neighborhood as part of a public-private construction project coordinated by the Atlantic City Development Corp. City and school officials and local businesses will be tasked with trying to build relationships with students and teachers and their families. Baenninger said shes happy the benefits work both ways, and shes confident that approach can work just as well in other places. The place where students come to hang out or to spend their money, she said, is the place they need to be connected to. Brian Jackson, Stocktons chief operating officer for the Atlantic City campus, said the university has been looking in many directions for models on how to make that campus work for both the university and the city. Some of the things were looking at are purchasing programs, how we might be able to tap into local businesses for purchasing goods and services, Jackson said, adding Stockton also hopes to expand its Osprey Card program to Atlantic City merchants. All students, faculty and staff can get the prepaid cards, and at least 30 businesses in and around Stocktons longtime home in Galloway Township accept them. They range from fast-food spots to a spa, and having the cards encourages people from Stockton to spend in those businesses. Jackson hopes Atlantic City merchants will want to join the program. He added that Stockton is considering offering incentives for faculty and staff to live in New Jerseys newest college town a model that works for the University of Pennsylvania in West Philadelphia and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Plus, Stockton has scheduled its first graduation ceremony in Boardwalk Hall next May, an event that should put about 10,000 people in Atlantic City, and many of them in its restaurants and hotels, he said. Baenninger said Drew promotes Madisons local friendliness to prospective students and their families, and its a good selling point for the school. But she and Madison Mayor Bob Conley added that Drews 2,000-plus students have become much more to the town than just a source of money and business. Students from the university act as mentors to younger students in Madison and are regularly involved in programs that improve quality of life in the town. My advice would be to welcome them with open arms. Students can really be an extraordinary asset, Baenninger said. I would say dont just hang back reach out, the Drew president said. And professors tend to be very community-minded people as well. Baenninger came to Drew in 2014 and said it was a student active in the town who introduced her to Conley. That was partly because of the Chief Executive Council for Madison, an effort Conley started with the goal of bringing together leaders of the town, the university and local businesses to the benefit of all of the above. Baenninger said that close relationship helped when Drew had delays in a dorm-construction project, and the delays cut dangerously close to the start of a school year. Conference seminar to address how governor's race will affect urban issues During day two of the League of Municipalities Conference, several mayors will call upon the Our final inspection was done on a Saturday, she said not a standard work day for building inspectors. But Conley emphasized that Madison truly values having both Drew and its collection of businesses in town. As another example, after Hurricane Sandy hit New Jersey in 2012, We sent our (municipal electric utility) crews to get Drew up and running first, so they could keep the students on campus, Conley said. Plus the mayor said he saw Drew students out helping residents recover from Sandy damage in Madison and other nearby places, another way the university benefits its community beyond just contributing to the local economy. When Michelle Orr was young, she would watch her father go back and forth from his job as a Philadelphia police officer to his job at a funeral home. But it was the latter that peaked her interest. Id ask him all kinds of questions when he got home. Then I started bugging to go with him. I guess he finally just caved in and said Fine, come with me, she said. Ive loved it since I was a teenager. It was all Ive ever done. Orr now works alongside her father, Bill, at Godfrey Funeral Homes, which is owned by brother and sister Herbert and Sallie Godfrey. The brother and sister grew up in an apartment over the business in Ocean City, which has been in their family since the late 1800s, when their ancestors, the Lake brothers, opened the funeral home. In 1973, Herb and Sallie Godfreys parents opened a Palermo location. The pair is now opening a funeral home in Egg Harbor Township. Though dealing with death may seem an unusual family affair, its more than just a family trade. Its a shared love of families and the community. Sallie Godfrey said that in college, she originally studied travel and tourism. But when she came back and started working for her dad, she had a change of heart. The Godfreys laugh easily with the Orrs and John Baltz, who has worked with them for more than three decades. Its important to get along, Sallie said, but adds, We really like what we do. The Godfreys, the Orrs and Baltz are emphatic about how much they love their jobs, even though it means being on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Love for other families and the community is sometimes the core of a funeral directors passion. When asked what he loves most about his job, Lloyd Wimberg, owner of Wimberg Funeral Home in Egg Harbor City, doesnt hesitate. People, he said. Wimberg Funeral Home has been in his family for five generations, since his great-grandfather, carpenter and German immigrant Heinrich Wimberg, made a casket. His relatives separately owns the George H. Wimberg Funeral Home in Linwood. Wimberg had a revelation in college to join the family business in Egg Harbor City, a decision he was glad he made. Ive been doing this for 50 years now, he said. I just love doing it. I meet with families every day and get to know people. Wimbergs family held other roles in the community. His grandfather was Egg Harbor Citys fire chief and owned other businesses. As the funeral home passed from father to son, Wimberg said, the sons could appreciate how hard their fathers worked. Its one reason why he thinks funeral homes tend to stay in the family. I think the son always saw the father very involved in his business, he said. Daughters and mothers often break into the family trade, too. Wimberg said that after his father passed, his mother went to mortuary school in her late 50s. She loved it. She thrived in the business. She was fantastic to work with here. She was great on the phone. She had a wonderful voice, a very soothing voice, he said. His sister works with him, along with cousins. In Millville, another matriarch helped further the family tradition. Tim Shannon runs the Rocap Shannon Funeral Home side-by-side with his brother, Robert. He said though the business goes back 150 years, he imagines theyve been around longer than that. Jean G. Shannon is my mother, who is 92 years old, and 93 in January. We have not let her retire completely. Shes semiretired, he said. My mother took the business over back in the 40s, with my Uncle Ben Rocap. Thats where the Rocap Shannon came in. My grandmother and mother really were pre-womens lib. They were working in the mans world back before women really did that, he said. In 1950, he said, his mother became the first county coroner of Cumberland County. Shes instilled a good work ethic and being compassionate to families, Shannon said, noting that three of her four children went on to work in the family business. The things weve learned from our mother have been valuable business lessons and life lessons. Similar lessons were passed down to the Godfreys and Wimbergs too. Treat everyone like a friend, like you know them, said Sallie. Wimberg said funeral home owners such as Herb and Sallie Godfrey and the Shannons get the importance of putting other families first. Theyre wonderful people (the Godfreys); Timmy Shannon, hes fantastic, Wimberg said. I talk to Sallie and I go wow, she gets it. They get its (about) helping people. You gotta be a person that likes people, that enjoys talking to people and working with them, said Wimberg.Youre brought into their lives sometimes at the most difficult time in their life. Sometimes youre dealing with a family thats lost their grandfather and thats difficult, or a child, and thats the most difficult. Michelle Orr agrees that some days are harder than others, but its nice to have her dad to talk shop with at the dinner table. This job isnt always easy, she said. And we cant show that at work. Were support for the family. Were the ones they go to were their strength. At home its nice to have someone to talk to who understands the day you went through. After several generations of extending their family to families who are grieving, Shannon said hes waiting to retire until it can be passed down. My brother and I, we do not have any plans on retiring or leaving because were still waiting for maybe somebody, the grand-kids, to have an interest and want to take over the business. Were still waiting. My children have gone out and went their own way, he said. Its not something Im going to force them to do, its got to be more of a calling you want to do that. It took me until my late 20s to early 30s to make a decision. Sallie is also firm about not pressuring her own children, but that her oldest son has been considering it. Thats up to them, I dont ever want to force it on him or anything like that. If he did, great, if he doesnt? Thats fine too. If you dont like it, and youre here just because its a job, youre going to hate it, she said. Wimberg, who had no children of his own, said he hopes the business stays within his family. Some of his nephews, he said, have interest in the business. But beyond his own family, 50 years working in the funeral home has given him something unique: an even bigger family of those hes helped serve. Every morning, he said hes excited to wake up and get to work. Theres nothing like building a bond with a family, Wimberg said. It makes me feel good they welcome me into their family. Its phenomenal. Ive got the biggest family. CAPE MAY The new addition at the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center packs a wallop. The 350-ton behemoth includes a built-in computer-controlled machine gun that can hit targets more than four nautical miles away. But the Coast Guards newest cutter, the Rollin Fritch, also has sentimental meaning for 77-year-old Sioux City, Iowa, resident Donna Fritch-Fuller. The 154-foot-long ship was named in honor of her uncle, Rollin Fritch, a World War II seaman killed while manning a gun aboard the USS Callaway, defending his shipmates during a Japanese kamikaze attack. She and her older sister, Glenda Ford, remember their father crying when he got the news of Fritchs death. Our family feels very honored that he was chosen to have his name on the cutter, she said. The ship is in a class of cutters named after Coast Guard members who served heroically. The Rollin Fritch will be christened Saturday. On Friday, Petty Officer First Class Michael Henderson gave tours of the ship. Cape May will be getting two more ships identical to the Rollin Fritch. One will arrive in December, and the other is set for next year. They will aid with search-and-rescue operations and enforcing laws and treaties. By law, the Coast Guard has 11 missions, including coastal security, defense readiness, drug and migrant interdiction, aiding in navigation, ice operations and marine environmental protection. The Rollin Fritch can speed up to about 28 knots, runs on diesel fuel, and has 23 members of its crew, three officers and 20 enlisted personnel, Henderson said. But on top of its duties off the coast of New Jersey, the Rollin Fritch could also be called to assist the Navy in foreign operations.(tncms-asset)640fd8aa-adb9-11e6-814d-00163ec2aa77(/tncms-asset) The Coast Guard has been involved in every American war since 1790, Lt. Commander Krystyn Pecora said. There are Coast Guard patrol ships in the Middle East assisting the Navy right now. The U.S. bought the ship as part of a group of six for $318 million, Henderson said. The Rollin Fritch comes with a lot of firepower. It has an MK 38 MOD 2 machine gun built into the deck that can be remotely fired. It can also mount four .50-caliber machine guns around the deck. Inside, the quarters are cramped. The cutter has three showers and three bathrooms. But it also comes with modern luxuries, including DirecTV in the mess hall. On Saturday, the ship will begin its mission, after it is christened by its sponsor, Donna Fritch-Fuller. I will never get over the honor and privilege of being the sponsor of a cutter named after my uncle, she said. EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP The Golden Key Motel was demolished a year ago, but its skeleton is visible to anyone looking for it. Tiles that once lined the floor are scattered in an empty lot. There are no roof or walls, just a foundation surrounded by muted yellow phragmites. Electric wires that once lit the building dangle from telephone poles. Ten years ago Sunday, flood lights shone on a West Atlantic City drainage ditch wedged between the Atlantic City Expressway and the Black Horse Pike, behind a series of cheap motels. They revealed a mystery that investigators havent solved, that still haunts family members and brings speculation from serial killer profilers and filmmakers alike. Who killed four prostitutes, all found face down in several inches of dirty water in a ditch behind the motel, their heads facing east toward the bright lights of the Atlantic City skyline? Verner Dilts said his grandson was 18 months old when the boys mother, Molly Jean Dilts, was found dead. The child is now asking questions. All he knows is that a bad man killed her, said Dilts, 56, of Black Lick, Pennsylvania, who has taken care of Jeremiah Dilts since he was an infant. Thats the only thing I can tell him. The victims Kim Raffo, Tracy Ann Roberts, Barbara V. Breidor and Molly Jean Dilts all worked on the streets of the resort and had a history of drug abuse. Raffo, 35, was strangled. Roberts, 23, was asphyxiated. The bodies of Dilts, 20, and Breidor, 42, were too decomposed to determine a cause of death. No one has ever been arrested in their deaths, and the handling of the investigation has drawn criticism. Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Diane Ruberton said the killings remain an open and continuously active investigation that will continue until someone is convicted. The Prosecutors Office declined to provide details on the status of the investigation. Terry Oleson, a handyman from Salem County, was linked to the case years ago authorities searched his property and tested his DNA but investigators never declared him a suspect or even a person of interest in the killings. He had been staying at a motel near where the bodies were discovered. Oleson could not be reached for comment. Verner Dilts suggested investigators would have looked more thoroughly into the deaths if it was a senators kid. Theres four bodies there and no big leads, Dilts said. In 10 years, I think they should have something. He said he hasnt heard from authorities in Atlantic County for years. Ruberton said the Prosecutors Office investigates every unsolved homicide, regardless of the circumstances. The work of criminal justice cannot be contingent upon a victims station in life, Ruberton said in a statement. Egg Harbor Township police Detective Rey Theriault, who said he was there the night the bodies were found, continues to work the case. We still get tips that come in all the time, he said. We always get leads, but nothing that has been viable. But we have to follow up on every one of them. Theriault said there is an entire room at the Prosecutors Office filled with evidence and leads related to the killings. A new documentary series called The Killing Season, which debuted earlier this month on A&E, features the West Atlantic City killings prominently in two episodes that aired Saturday night. I think this is a culture of silence that has been ingrained in the Prosecutors Office for a number of years, Joshua Zeman, the shows director and executive producer, said in an interview with The Press. Zeman, who has looked into similar cases nationwide, said he found Atlantic County authorities especially tight-lipped. You have a city that is wholly dependent on tourism, and, as a result, nobody wants to talk about four sex-worker murders, he said. In 2006, Atlantic Citys gambling revenue peaked above $5 billion. Even then, at the height of the regions success, there was a place where dead bodies could lie in anonymity while traffic headed for the resort sped past. The motels The 27-room Golden Key Motel offered nightly rates of less than $20 before it was knocked down last summer along with several nearby motels as part of a plan to eventually redevelop the area. The strip of motels on the Black Horse Pike became known as a hub for prostitution, drugs and violence. There were a lot of drifter-type people who lived there. There was a lot of trouble, said Stanley Jake Glassey, former deputy mayor of Egg Harbor Township. It was terrible when it happened and not the type of publicity one wants for their town, Mayor Sonny McCullough said of the 2006 killings. As he walked down the dirt road that runs adjacent to the ditch, Glassey remembered the night authorities descended on that section of the pike. You heard nothing but sirens and more sirens, he recalled. We never had anything close to this (in West Atlantic City). The killer or killers A New Jersey-based collective of profilers, homicide detectives and medical professionals called S.T.A.L.K. Inc. put up a $25,000 reward last year for anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect in the case. I believe people have ideas and may know who this guy is, and for whatever reason they dont come forward, said John Kelly, S.T.A.L.K.s founder. The case has been mentioned alongside a number of unsolved killings involving sex workers in Long Island, New York. Kelly and Zeman have both studied the Long Island case, and neither said they thought it was the same killer. Its too easy to suggest its one superkiller or superpredator killing girls up the East Coast, Zeman said. Kelly said a case such as the West Atlantic City killings is incredibly difficult to solve because the women were prostitutes, involved with drugs, and the individual who killed them was likely a stranger. Their lifestyle doesnt justify what happened to them, but it makes it so much more difficult to track them down, Theriault said. The future A decade later, a new generation of family members has questions but no answers, just another layer of hurt. All four women were mothers. Breidor managed her mothers jewelry story in the Ocean One Mall, now called The Playground, but the venture failed when her drug addiction took hold. She left behind a 9-year-old daughter. Roberts was raised in Bear, Delaware, and left behind a 4-year-old daughter when her crack cocaine addiction worsened. Raffo was a PTA mom in Florida with two children and a husband. She left that life to come to Atlantic City. The Dilts family was watching television in western Pennsylvania when the news broke of the four women. My daughter-in-law said, That sounds like Molly, Verner Dilts said. Hunter Auslander was 12, living in a Burlington County foster home, when he heard his mother, Raffo, was killed. It happened after he fetched the newspaper one morning. My foster mom just snatched the paper out my hand, Auslander said. His mothers face was on the front page. Auslander, now 22, works 50 to 60 hours a week at a gas station in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He plans to join the Navy. He said he doesnt think his mothers death will ever be solved. Of course, I want to know, Auslander said. But even if I did know, it would still hurt. Donna Weaver contributed to this report. CAPE MAY The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Rollin Fritch marched about the ship Saturday while a very special person watched with a smile. Donna Fuller is the niece of Rollin Fritch, the man who died defending his ship against a Japanese kamikaze attack during World War II, and after whom the cutter is named. And amid the military pomp that accompanies a ships commissioning, it was the diminutive, 77-year-old lady from Iowa who spoke for Fritch family members who came to the Coast Guard training center for the ceremony. I know he is looking down with pride, Fuller said. His spirit is with this crew and all the crews that will serve in this ship. Fuller said it was a tremendous honor to sponsor the cutter on behalf of the Fritch family, which she said includes all those who serve in the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard was certainly an important part of my uncles life, Fuller said, adding all of the remaining pictures of Fritch in his uniform include a smile on his face. The Rollin Fritch is the 19th ship in a class of what will be 59 fast response cutters. Coast Guard officials said the Rolling Fritch and its sister cutters are among the most technologically advanced and seaworthy vessels in the Coast Guard fleet. Its going to be a game-changer for us, said Rear Adm. Meredith Austin, who commands the Coast Guards 5th District. The cutter will primarily serve off the Mid-Atlantic coast, she said. Its missions include search and rescue, law enforcement and upholding environmental regulations, she said. The 154-foot cutter, which weighs 350 tons, can reach speeds of about 28 knots, or slightly more than 32 mph. It has a 23-person crew. The cutter is also part of a growing number of new ships replacing other vessels, some of which, Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd, joked were old enough to collect Social Security. Those new ships were the result of discussions held by the federal government beginning in the late 1990s about how to upgrade the Coast Guard fleet, he said. While those new ships are certainly important, LoBiondo also said it takes more than just steel and electronics to keep the Coast Guard on the cutting edge. Its the men and women of the Coast Guard, he said. Thats the edge we have. Ive always said that the Coast Guard is underappreciated. Sundays commissioning ensures Fritchs services wont be forgotten. According to the Coast Guard, the 25-year-old Fritch was a gunner on the transport USS Callaway when it came under attack Jan. 8, 1945, by Japanese forces trying to break up American landings in the Philippines. A kamikaze crashed onto the starboard wing of the Callaways bridge. Fritch aggressively manned his station and continued to direct his fire toward the enemy aircraft plunging toward the ship until he and his weapon were carried away by the impact of the crash, the Coast Guard reports. Fritchs selflessness and devotion to duty exemplified the Coast Guards core values. Fritch was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, the countrys third-highest decoration for valor in combat. The crew of the Rollin Fritch will be reminded each and every day of the Fritchs sacrifice and service and will honor Fritch through their own sacrifice and service, said Adm. Paul F. Zukunft, the Coast Guards commandant. The first chapter of a rich book of history will be written, he said. For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME. Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire. Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever. Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation. View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union. Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history. Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words. HONG KONG, Nov. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CITIC-Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited ("CITIC-PRU Life"), a 50:50 equity joint venture partnership between Prudential plc in the U.K. and CITIC Limited in China, has commenced operations of its 16th branch in Anhui province. The company's expansion into the Anhui province further strengthens its footprint across the country and enhances its ability to meet the protection and savings needs of customers in one of the fastest growing regions in China. The new Anhui branch, located in the capital city of Hefei, complements CITIC-PRU Life's extensive network spanning 66 cities across 16 provinces and municipalities in China, covering the key economies of Pearl River Delta in the south, Yangtze River Delta in the east and Bohai Economic Rim in the north. Anhui is a key province of the Yangtze River Delta, and plays an important role in China's strategic "One Belt, One Road" initiative. The province has enjoyed accelerated economic development in recent years. In 2015, Gross Domestic Product of Anhui reached RMB 2.20056 trillion, up 8.7% from 2014 while per capita disposable income of urban residents increased 8.4%1. In tandem with economic growth, Anhui's insurance sector has also expanded rapidly. In 2015, Anhui recorded an annual total premium income of RMB 69.892 billion, the 13th highest in the country. This represented a 22% increase from 2014, more than twice the economic growth of the province2. Mr. Tony Wilkey, Chief Executive of Prudential Corporation Asia commented, "China is an important market to Prudential and it is our strategy to expand to enhance our network and coverage in the country, including the fast growing metropolitan Yangtze River Delta area in Eastern China. We are very excited to commence insurance operations in Anhui. This latest expansion reinforces our steadfast commitment to serve the growing protection and long-term savings needs of the Chinese population. "China offers attractive long-term opportunities with the world's largest middle class and a vastly underpenetrated life insurance market. Building on our successful partnership with CITIC, we are well-placed to leverage our scale and broad capabilities to deliver sustainable long-term growth in this country." Mr. Wilkey said. Established in 2000, CITIC-PRU Life is the first Sino-British insurance joint venture in China and has maintained a leading position amongst foreign joint venture companies in the country. With the strong support of its joint venture partners, Prudential and CITIC, CITIC-PRU Life has grown rapidly over the years and currently has branches in Guangdong, Beijing, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Hubei, Shandong, Zhejiang, Tianjin, Guangxi, Shenzhen, Fujian, Hebei, Liaoning, Shanxi, Henan and Anhui. While the company has identified the Pearl River Delta, Yangtze River Delta and the Bohai Economic Region as its pivotal development areas, it plans to continue its expansion into central and western China to achieve a country-wide coverage. CITIC-PRU Life has around 29,000 agents, 2,400 employees and one million policyholders. ABOUT PRUDENTIAL CORPORATION ASIA Prudential Corporation Asia is a business unit of Prudential plc (United Kingdom)*, comprising its life insurance operations in Asia, and its asset management business, Eastspring Investments. It is headquartered in Hong Kong. Prudential is a leading life insurer that spans 12 markets in Asia, covering Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Prudential has a robust multi-channel distribution platform providing a comprehensive range of savings, investment and protection products to meet the diverse needs of Asian families. Eastspring Investments manages investments across Asia on behalf of a wide range of retail and institutional investors. It is one of the region's largest asset managers with a presence in 10 major Asian markets plus distribution offices in the US and Europe. It has 104.9 billion (about US$140.3b) in assets under management (as at 30 June 2016), managing funds across a range of asset classes including equities and fixed income. *Prudential plc is incorporated in England and Wales, and its affiliated companies constitute one of the world's leading financial services groups. It provides insurance and financial services through its subsidiaries and affiliates throughout the world. It has been in existence for over 165 years and has 562 billion in assets under management (as at 30 June 2016). Prudential plc is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial, Inc, a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America. Prudential plc is listed on the stock exchanges of London (PRU.L), Hong Kong (2378.HK), Singapore (K6S.SG) and New York (PUK.N). 1 Anhui: The Official Website of Anhui Government http://english.ah.gov.cn 2 Hexun Insurance website http://insurance.hexun.com/2016-03-03/182540891.html Related Links https://www.prudentialcorporation-asia.com SOURCE CITIC-Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- After a long and successful career leading Clarivate Analytics and its predecessor entities, Vin Caraher today announced that he has accepted a position to be a non-executive member of the Clarivate Analytics Board of Directors and will step down from his position as CEO effective January 1, 2017. He will be succeeded by Jay Nadler who is also joining the board of the company. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160929/413983LOGO Caraher spent almost 30 years of his professional career working in different parts of the Thomson Reuters business, over 20 with the IP & Science business. "I've had the opportunity to work with incredibly talented people from around the world and witnessed the company grow into the market leader it is today," said Caraher. "I'm proud of what we've accomplished, and look forward to supporting and offering guidance to the business in my board capacity." Nadler has 30 years of experience in the information services industry and is returning to the intellectual property and science sector. Nadler has held senior executive roles at a number of other data and information-related companies, including Interactive Data, Information Holdings and MLM Information Services. As Chief Operating Officer of Interactive Data from 2010 to 2016, he led a transformation of the company, invested in its product suite, accelerated revenue growth and improved customer satisfaction. From 2000 to 2005, Nadler was a senior executive at Information Holdings, an intellectual property and science information provider that Caraher and Thomson Reuters acquired in 2004. "I'm excited to return to the IP and science industry, and honored to re-join the company now known as Clarivate Analytics. The company is well positioned to leverage its leading brands to meet the critical needs of its customers across the innovation lifecycle. I look forward to working with our customers, the talented employees at Clarivate Analytics and Vin," said Nadler. "We thank Vin for his tremendous commitment to the business and the dedication he has shown throughout his career," said Kosty Gilis, Managing Director at Onex Corporation. "We are grateful he has accepted a position on the board, providing continuity and oversight for Clarivate Analytics as it begins its journey as an independent company. We and our partners at Baring Asia are also pleased to welcome Jay to the role of CEO and look forward to working with him to help grow Clarivate Analytics together." Onex Corporation and Baring Private Equity Asia recently completed their acquisition of Clarivate Analytics from Thomson Reuters. Clarivate Analytics Clarivate Analytics accelerates the pace of innovation by providing trusted insights and analytics to customers around the world, enabling them to discover, protect and commercialize new ideas faster. Formerly the Intellectual Property and Science business of Thomson Reuters, we own and operate a collection of leading subscription-based businesses focused on scientific and academic research, patent analytics and regulatory standards, pharmaceutical and biotech intelligence, trademark protection, domain brand protection and intellectual property management. Clarivate Analytics is now an independent company with over 4,000 employees, operating in 100 countries and owns wellknown brands that include Web of Science, Cortellis, Thomson Innovation, Derwent World Patents Index, Thomson CompuMark, MarkMonitor, Thomson IP Manager and Techstreet, among others. For more information, please visit us at Clarivate.com. Related Links http://ipscience.thomsonreuters.com SOURCE Clarivate Analytics HOUSTON, Nov. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Wilberto Cortes, more popularly known as Dr. Hourglass, is redefining cosmetic surgery by using unique approaches to achieve the most revered body shape of allthe hourglass figure. With more than ten years of experience in plastic surgery, Dr. Cortes is a Board-certified plastic surgeon who runs the Dr. Hourglass practice in Houston, Texas. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161119/NY49930 Women all over the world venerate the hourglass figure, which celebrates bigger busts and curvier hips. With a smaller waist-to-hip ratio, full, perky breasts, voluptuous thighs and shapely legs, the hourglass figure comes naturally to only a few, lucky women. Majority of women rely on plastic surgery to achieve this body type, and traditional approaches like the traditional tummy tuck which only remove excess skin are not reliable and do not deliver sustainable results. Luckily, Dr. Cortes has developed a number of modern and effective cosmetic surgery techniques to make up for the shortcomings of traditional methods. Some examples of Dr. Cortes's hourglass procedures include: Hourglass tummy tuck Hourglass mommy makeover Hourglass hip procedure Hourglass liposuction Hourglass butt augmentation with fat Hourglass butt implants surgery Hourglass excisional butt lift "Achieving the hourglass shape is not only about using sophisticated surgical approaches and techniques. It also calls for a great sense of aesthetics, physical beauty, and artistry," says Dr. Cortes. "These factors make the hourglass procedures a mix of art and science. My procedures and techniques are grounded in these factors. They are refined, tested and proven." Dr. Cortes's hourglass procedures are different from traditional plastic surgery procedures. For example, with traditional buttock augmentation, the surgeon will either place an implant inside the butt or inject the patient's own surplus body fat into the buttocks. On the other hand, the hourglass buttock augmentation with fat transfer carefully distributes the fat in and around the buttocks and hips. This is where the cosmetic surgeon's artistry and sense of beauty come into action. Dr. Cortes makes sure that the fat is distributed properly so the butt can appear bigger, curvier, more shapely, and perky, in addition to slimming the waist. Dr. Hourglass believes in the continuous improvement of his approaches and honing his skills. Hundreds of patients from across the US and the world have already benefitted from his extensive experience and attention to detail. His cosmetic procedures are known for delivering impressive and long-lasting results. Half of Dr. Hourglass's patients come from the US, Europe, Africa, and South America. The hourglass body procedure has become so popular that plastic surgeons from around the world visit Dr. Cortes to master his special techniques and methods. Media Contact: Dr. Hourglass Phone: 7136362729 Email: [email protected] Related Images image1.png image2.jpg Related Links http://www.houstonbestbreasts.com http://www.babygotbutt.com Related Video https://vimeo.com/185244526 This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com SOURCE Hourglass Productions CHICAGO, Nov. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- EraseMugshots.com, the nation's leading online mugshot removal service, is pleased to announce that it has opened a second office location in Chicago to complement its existing New York City headquarters. The company's two locations will work together to support EraseMugshots.com's operations and rapidly growing customer base. EraseMugshots.com Opens Second Office in Chicago EraseMugshots.com serves everyday individuals who want to protect their online reputations. Consumers are increasingly finding that arrest records and mugshots from their past have been published online. In an age where online background searches by employers, educational institutions and social acquaintances have become the norm, these records and photographs can cause significant damage to careers and social lives. EraseMugshots.com offers a solution. EraseMugshots.com uses proprietary algorithms and a dedicated staff to locate and remove online publications of arrest records and mugshots within 72-hours. The removal is comprehensive. The images and records are deleted from the publishing website as well as the records of online search engines. Customers order these services from the comfort and privacy of their homes with no need to travel to EraseMugshots.com's offices. EraseMugshots.com attracts customers with quick, easy and high quality service. Consumers are happy to learn that they can take control of their online reputations with little effort on their part. Since its 2013 inception, EraseMugshots.com has served more than 1,750 satisfied customers nationwide and removed more than 14,000 files. The company's founder, Adam Parks, attributes the company's success to more than just its technical expertise. He points to the customer-focused approach that defines its brand as a catalyst of its growth. "We've seen a lot of growth over the past few years," said Parks. "We believe this comes from our core philosophy of getting the job done right the first time, offering the best prices in the industry, and honoring our 100% money back guarantee, which we stand behind 100%." EraseMugshots.com's staff has grown along with its customers. The company had only three employees when it launched three years ago. It now has more than 30 dedicated employees. The company's new Chicago office will help accommodate its existing employees and provide room for continued growth. The popular metropolitan location will also help the company continue to attract top talent to serve its customers. About EraseMugshots.com: EraseMugshots.com helps individuals protect their online reputations by removing prior arrest records and related images that have been published online. It serves consumers in all 50 states through its online platform located at EraseMugshots.com. Media Contact: Tyler King Phone: 866.601.6803 Email: [email protected] Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enEgV3YHGxg This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com. Video - http://youtu.be/enEgV3YHGxg SOURCE EraseMugshots.com Related Links http://erasemugshots.com WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- FMCS Director Allison Beck issued the following statement today on the announcement of a tentative agreement between Actors' Equity and the League of Off-Broadway Theatres and Producers, covering six major, nonprofit theatrical companies and about 100 commercial producers: "This tentative agreement is a great relief for theater lovers everywhere and means that the show will go on in Off-Broadway venues. The parties worked through some extremely complex issues in these lengthy and difficult negotiations. At FMCS, we are especially grateful to the representatives of Actors' Equity and the Off-Broadway League for their patience, their perseverance, and their commitment to the process of collective bargaining." "I also want to acknowledge the outstanding efforts of Javier Ramirez, FMCS Director of Field Programs and Innovation and New York-based Commissioner David Thaler," she said. "They worked around the clock, putting in many long hours, to make certain these negotiations reached a positive outcome for the parties involved." In accordance with FMCS practice and consistent with the requirements of mediator confidentiality, FMCS will have no further comment on the details of the agreement or the substance of the negotiations. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, created in 1947, is an independent U.S. government agency whose mission is to preserve and promote labor-management peace and cooperation. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 10 regional offices and more than 60 field offices, the agency provides mediation and conflict resolution services to industry, government agencies and communities. Website: www.fmcs.gov SOURCE Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Related Links http://www.fmcs.gov To activate the text-to-speech service, please first agree to the privacy policy below. Taipei, Nov. 19 (CNA) Taiwanese society needs to have multiple voices heard, Claire Wang (), the mother of a young girl who was killed in an apparently random attack in Taipei in March, said Saturday after she accepted an invitation from the government to take part in the country's judicial reform. OKLAHOMA CITY, Nov. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Local homebuilder, Taber LeBlanc, is in the business of providing shelter for people around the Oklahoma City region. But in the past few years, he has expanded his efforts to offer warmth as well. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161119/NY49929 LeBlanc's company, Homes By Taber, recently completed its annual coat drive to benefit City Rescue Mission in Oklahoma City. This year's contributions totaled than 709 coats, doubling last year's collection. The coat drive began on a small scale a few years ago, when LeBlanc, an Edmond native, heard about some foster children who not only lacked winter coats, but didn't even have blankets for their beds. He purchased new coats and bedding for the children. The experience opened his eyes to a need in the area. The City Rescue Mission helps thousands of people each year, from serving meals to providing shelter. Last year alone, they served more than two million meals. The mission provides a women's shelter, family shelter, the Bridge to Life recovery program, weekly medical clinic, and educational facility. At any given time, about 50 to 60 children live there. When the 2016 coat drive was launched, City Rescue was "home" to about 70 children. "With so many giving people in our community, there's no reason someone should go without a coat this winter," said Taber. "Every coat will make a difference in someone's life, and I'm thankful that hundreds of children and adults will be a little more comfortable because of the contributions we received." Homes By Taber's coat drive involved the employees, tradesmen, vendors, and Realtors. Donation boxes were placed in model homes at each of the company's 13 communities in Edmond, Moore, Mustang, Oklahoma City, Piedmont, and Yukon. The company raised the ante on involvement by sponsoring a contest: the Sales & Marketing team versus the Field team. The winner gets a pizza party, with the food to be served by the losing team. The tally revealed that the Sales and Marketing team prevailed, but it was a very close outcome. LeBlanc founded the Taber Cares initiative to support local charities. In addition to City Rescue Mission, the company has helped the local chapter of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Children's Tumor Foundation, March of Dimes, Boys & Girls Clubs of Oklahoma, Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, and Free to Live Animal Sanctuary. For more information on Homes By Taber and Taber Cares, contact Lindsay Haltom at (405) 509-0670 or visit www.homesbytaber.com. About Homes By Taber Homes By Taber was founded in 2000 by Taber LeBlanc, a former insurance claims adjuster who used his knowledgeand degree in Business Marketing and Business Management from Oklahoma State Universityto meet the need for a service-oriented homebuilder. He partnered with his father-in-law, John Alexander, who had more than 30 years of experience in building and development. Homes By Taber currently builds in 25 different locations around the OKC metropolitan area. Related Links Taber Cares This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com SOURCE Homes by Taber Related Links http://www.homesbytaber.com TORRANCE, Calif., Nov. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- American Honda Motor, Co., Inc. and FCA US LLC co-hosted the second installment of the "Automotive Safety Recall Best Practices Summit" on the Torrance, Calif. campus of Honda on Nov. 17-18. The summit provided another opportunity for global automakers to discuss, learn about and share best practices for improving response rates in vehicle safety recall campaigns. Automotive professionals from 19 of the world's major automakers participated in the two-day industry event. U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Recall Management Division Chief Jennifer Timian delivered opening remarks. Similar to the first summit that took place in Detroit on May 24-25, the discussions in this second gathering were presented in a roundtable format, with extensive interaction and dialogue on topics such as recall parts management and distribution, call center support and engagement, customer and dealer communication, and recall management, completion rate improvements and reporting. "Our first summit demonstrated the shared interest of automakers in finding new ways to increase recall completion rates," said Steve Center, Vice President, Product Regulatory Office at American Honda. "This second meeting gave us an opportunity to continue to work toward industry-wide collaboration with an emphasis on enhancing customer safety, trust and recall completion rates." "It is incumbent on auto makers to continually explore the most effective means to engage customers and encourage timely response to recall notices," said Mike Dahl, FCA US Head of Vehicle Safety and Regulatory Compliance. "For this reason, we invited a panel of non-automotive executives to share their perspectives on recall management and customer communication." The first Automotive Safety Recall Best Practices Summit was organized by FCA as part of the company's commitment to creating and embracing a proactive vehicle safety culture. The success of the summit led to a collaboration between FCA and American Honda that resulted in the two companies agreeing to co-host the second gathering. About American Honda Motor, Co. American Honda was established in Los Angeles, California in 1959. Today, Honda companies in North America represent a cumulative investment of more than $22 billion and employ more than 40,000 associates in the design, development, manufacture, marketing, financing and servicing of Honda and Acura automobiles, Honda powersports products and Honda power equipment products. Honda has been producing products in America for more than 35 years and currently operates 16 major manufacturing facilities in North America. In 2015, more than 99 percent of all Honda and Acura automobiles sold in the U.S. were made in North America, using domestic and globally sourced parts. About FCA US LLC FCA US LLC is a North American automaker with a new name and a long history. Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, FCA US is a member of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) family of companies. FCA US designs, engineers, manufactures and sells vehicles under the Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram and FIAT brands, as well as the SRT performance vehicle designation. The company also distributes the Alfa Romeo 4C model and Mopar products. FCA US is building upon the historic foundations of Chrysler, the innovative American automaker first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925; and Fiat, founded in Italy in 1899 by pioneering entrepreneurs, including Giovanni Agnelli. FCA, the seventh-largest automaker in the world based on total annual vehicle sales, is an international automotive group. FCA is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "FCAU" and on the Mercato Telematico Azionario under the symbol "FCA." Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100923/HONDALOGO SOURCE American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Related Links http://www.honda.com BILLERICA, Mass., Nov. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany today announced that its Massachusetts-based businesses have been named to The Boston Globe's annual "Top Places to Work" list. This award marks the second of its kind in as many months. Last month, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, ranked number 11 among the top 20 employers in the global biopharmaceutical industry by Science magazine, a leading peer-reviewed international scientific publication. "The recognition by The Boston Globe as a leading employer reflects our commitment to build a great science and technology company in the U.S., in one of the leading biotech and healthcare hubs in the world," said Udit Batra, CEO of the global life science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and Member of the Executive Board. "We place great importance on fostering an environment that engenders both creative collaboration and problem solving. It's a win-win for both our employees and customers as we work together to advance science and medicine." The Boston Globe's research partner, Workplace Dynamics, ranked 125 Massachusetts employers by analyzing employee responses to a confidential 24-question survey. The survey covered several topics including benefits, management and employee engagement. "The fact that we achieved this recognition based on the positive input of our employees is extremely meaningful, as we are always exploring ways to ensure our company is one where everyone can do their best work each and every day," said Gary Zieziula, President and Managing Director, EMD Serono. "Our employees are going above and beyond to achieve our collective mission of accelerating innovation for difficult-to-treat diseases." "We are very proud to be named as a Top Place to Work in Massachusetts, a key region for our business," said Warren Stone, Head of Research & Applied Commercial, MilliporeSigma. "We thank the employees surveyed for showing their engagement and commitment to the acceleration of science. It shows a sincere sense of connection and pride to both the community and our customers." Top Places to Work recognizes the best places to work in the state based on internal employee surveys. Employers who enter to be surveyed are placed into one of four groups: small, with 50 to 99 employees; midsize, with 100 to 249 workers; large, with 250 to 999; and largest, with 1,000 or more. In total, the Massachusetts-based businesses of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany employ approximately 2,300 people in Massachusetts. All Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany news releases are distributed by email at the same time they become available on the EMD Group website. In case you are a resident of the U.S. or Canada please go to www.emdgroup.com/subscribe to register again for your online subscription of this service as our newly introduced geo-targeting requires new links in the email. You may later change your selection or discontinue this service. About EMD Serono, Inc. EMD Serono is the biopharma business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, in the U.S. and Canada - a leading science and technology company - focused exclusively on specialty care. For more than 40 years, the business has integrated cutting-edge science, innovative products and industry-leading patient support and access programs. EMD Serono has deep expertise in neurology, fertility and endocrinology, as well as a robust pipeline of potential therapies in oncology, immuno-oncology and immunology as R&D focus areas. Today, the business has 1,200 employees around the country with commercial, clinical and research operations based in the company's home state of Massachusetts. About MilliporeSigma The life science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, which operates as MilliporeSigma in the U.S. and Canada, has 19,000 employees and 65 manufacturing sites worldwide, with a portfolio of more than 300,000 products enabling scientific discovery. Udit Batra is the global chief executive officer of MilliporeSigma. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany completed its $17 billion acquisition of Sigma-Aldrich in November 2015, creating a leader in the $125 billion global life science industry. MilliporeSigma is a leading supplier in the life science industry. With products for protein research and cell biology as well as the manufacture of chemicalbased and biopharmaceutical drugs, MilliporeSigma covers the full bioprocessing value chain. Its aim is to solve the toughest problems in the industry by collaborating with the global scientific community. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 50,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2015, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, generated sales of 12.85 billion in 66 countries. Founded in 1668, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. The company holds the global rights to the "Merck" name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161117/440965LOGO SOURCE Merck KGaA At this year's Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting, Philips will demonstrate DoseWise Portal 2.2, highlighting its new capabilities, including integration with Philips IntelliBridge Enterprise for HL7 functionality and IntelliSpace PACS . Collectively, these new features enable clinicians to access more patient information, helping them to more easily interpret patient radiation dose per exam across modalities and analyze overall cumulative exposure. Philips DoseWise Portal 2.2 integrates with key Philips health IT systems as well as third-party radiology dictation software to provide radiologists with greater patient information access and data capture for more informed decision support about dose management. DoseWise Portal 2.2 is now integrated with: IntelliSpace PACS Users may view the patient's exam radiation exposure directly from the PACS image, or by retrieving the patient's total radiation exposure exam history from the modality worklist. Users may view the patient's exam radiation exposure directly from the PACS image, or by retrieving the patient's total radiation exposure exam history from the modality worklist. IntelliBridge Enterprise Allows users to query/retrieve crucial updated patient demographics from the hospital's EMR, such as body mass index (BMI) weight and age, for use with the DoseWise Portal. Allows users to query/retrieve crucial updated patient demographics from the hospital's EMR, such as body mass index (BMI) weight and age, for use with the DoseWise Portal. Leading radiology dictation software Enables patient radiation exposure to be populated into dictation reports, saving time and helping to reduce transcription errors. "This next generation of DoseWise Portal provides clinicians with a full picture of the patient's exposure history within that institution, for enhanced decision support to ensure proper dose optimization and justification for exam ordering is accomplished right the first time," said Dominic Siewko, clinical marketing leader and former Radiation Safety Officer at Philips. "Philips is committed to providing industry-leading technology and informatics solutions for radiation dose management. The new features in DoseWise Portal promote a culture of safety in the radiology department while allowing clinicians to tap into deep analytics and actionable insights from radiation exposure data." New Integrations Enable Improved Decision-Support and Reporting DoseWise 2.2 is a multi-vendor and multi-modality solution that collects patient radiation dose data from X-ray modalities and allows for enhanced customer data analysis. In addition to expanded integration with Philips IntelliSpace PACS, IntelliBridge Enterprise and vendor neutral third-party radiology dictation software, DoseWise Portal 2.2 also includes: Expanded connectivity to Philips DoseAware products Compatibility with DoseAware and DoseAware Xtend combines patient and staff dose information into a single display for deep analytics of radiation exposure. The entire family of DoseAware products are now compatible with DoseWise Portal. Compatibility with DoseAware and DoseAware Xtend combines patient and staff dose information into a single display for deep analytics of radiation exposure. The entire family of DoseAware products are now compatible with DoseWise Portal. Customized user-friendly Analytics Package Intuitive user interface and enhanced "Chart Builder" charting and graphing functionality simplifies reporting needs and includes a customizable dashboard and popular reporting formats. Philips is showcasing DoseWise Portal 2.2 at RSNA 2016 at booth #6735 in Hall B at McCormick Place. Follow @PhilipsLiveFrom for updates throughout the event, or visit Philips' RSNA event website for more information about Philips' presence at #RSNA16. To learn more about Philips' DoseWise Portal 2.2 and the full suite of Philips' dose management solutions, please visit http://www.usa.philips.com/healthcare/product/HC895001. Ahead of RSNA 2016, join the @PhilipsHealth #RadChat16 Twitter Chat on Wednesday, November 23, 2016 at 2:00PM CET/8:00AM ET to discuss radiation dose management and the imminent EU guidelines requiring hospitals to better track and record staff radiation exposure. Ronald Tabaksblat (SVP, Image Guided Therapy) and Dominic Siewko (Clinical Marketing Leader and former Radiation Safety Officer at Philips) will be available to answer questions and share insights. [1] Product in research phase of development For further information, please contact: Kathy O'Reilly Philips Group Communications Tel.: +1 978-659-2638 E-mail: [email protected] Twitter: @kathyoreilly Alicia Cafardi Philips Group Communications Tel: + 1 412-523-9616 E-mail: [email protected] About Royal Philips Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips' health technology portfolio generated 2015 sales of EUR 16.8 billion and employs approximately 70,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161109/437599 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140122/NE50581LOGO SOURCE Royal Philips Related Links http://www.usa.philips.com WAYNE, Pa., Nov. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Ryan & Maniskas, LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed in United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on behalf of all persons or entities that purchased Treehouse Foods, Inc. (NYSE: THS) ("Treehouse" or the "Company") common shares between February 1, 2016 and November 2, 2016, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Treehouse shareholders may, no later than January 17, 2017, move the Court for appointment as a lead plaintiff of the Class. If you purchased shares of Treehouse and would like to learn more about these claims or if you wish to discuss these matters and have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights, contact Richard A. Maniskas, Esquire toll-free at (877) 316-3218 or to sign up online, visit: www.rmclasslaw.com/cases/ths. TreeHouse Foods, Inc. operates as a food and beverage manufacturer in the United States and Canada. The company operates through North American Retail Grocery, Food Away From Home, and Industrial and Export segments. The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the Company's private label business was underperforming; (2) the Company's acquisition strategy was underperforming; (3) the Company had overstated its full-year 2016 guidance; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' statements about TreeHouse's business, operations, and prospects, were false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. On November 3, 2016, the Company lowered its full-year adjusted earnings per share forecast due to underperformance of the Private Brands acquisition and over softness in the private label manufacturing business. In addition, Treehouse announced the closure of a plant and reported job cuts at one of its facilities. Lastly, Treehouse announced the resignation of its President, Chris Sliva, who had been President for less than six months, and the appointment of a new Chief Financial Officer. On this news, Treehouse's share price fell from $86.59 per share on November 2, 2016 to a closing price of $69.72 on November 3, 2016a $16.87 or a 19.48% drop. If you are a member of the class, you may, no later than January 17, 2017, request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff of the class. A lead plaintiff is a representative party that acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. In order to be appointed lead plaintiff, the Court must determine that the class member's claim is typical of the claims of other class members, and that the class member will adequately represent the class. Under certain circumstances, one or more class members may together serve as "lead plaintiff." Your ability to share in any recovery is not, however, affected by the decision whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. You may retain Ryan & Maniskas, LLP or other counsel of your choice, to serve as your counsel in this action. For more information regarding this, please contact Ryan & Maniskas, LLP (Richard A. Maniskas, Esquire) toll-free at (877) 316-3218 or by email at [email protected] or visit: www.rmclasslaw.com/cases/ths. For more information about class action cases in general or to learn more about Ryan & Maniskas, LLP, please visit our website: www.rmclasslaw.com. Ryan & Maniskas, LLP is a national shareholder litigation firm. Ryan & Maniskas, LLP is devoted to protecting the interests of individual and institutional investors in shareholder actions in state and federal courts nationwide. CONTACT: Ryan & Maniskas, LLP Richard A. Maniskas, Esquire 995 Old Eagle School Rd., Suite 311 Wayne, PA 19087 484-588-5516 877-316-3218 www.rmclasslaw.com/cases/ths [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121112/MM11729LOGO SOURCE Ryan & Maniskas, LLP Related Links http://www.rmclasslaw.com NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. ("Teva" or the "Company") (NYSE: TEVA) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, Southern District of New York, and docketed under 16-cv-08747, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired Teva securities between February 10, 2014 and November 2, 2016, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover compensable damages caused by defendants' violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. If you are a shareholder who purchased Teva securities during the Class Period, you have until January 5, 2017 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll free, ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased. [Click here to join this class action] Teva develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes generic medicines and a portfolio of specialty medicines worldwide. Teva is the largest generic drug manufacturer in the world and one of the 15 largest pharmaceutical companies worldwide. The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Teva and several of its pharmaceutical industry peers colluded to fix generic drug prices; (ii) the foregoing conduct constituted a violation of federal antitrust laws; (iii) consequently, Teva's revenues during the Class Period were in part the result of illegal conduct; and (iv) as a result of the foregoing, Teva's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On November 3, 2016, media outlets reported that U.S. prosecutors might file criminal charges by the end of 2016 against Teva and several other pharmaceutical companies for unlawfully colluding to fix generic drug prices. On this news, Teva's ADR price fell $4.13, or 9.53%, to close at $39.20 on November 3, 2016. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Florida, and Los Angeles, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP [email protected] SOURCE Pomerantz LLP Related Links http://www.pomerantzlaw.com If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Cairo, Nov 15 : An Egyptian court on Tuesday revoked the death sentence of ousted President Mohamed Morsi and ordered a retrial in a mass jailbreak case, media reported. Morsi was sentenced to death in June last year in connection with a mass jail break during the country's 2011 uprising, Xinhua news agency reported. The first President to be democratically elected after the 2011 revolt, Morsi was overthrown in a coup led by now President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in 2013. Morsi, who was immediately arrested after the coup, has received lengthy jail sentences related to other charges, including two high-profile espionage cases. Tuesday's court ruling means he will no longer be executed. The court said Morsi would be given a new trial alongside five other leaders of his now-banned Muslim Brotherhood group, whose death sentences in the same case were also quashed. Last month, a court upheld a 20-year jail sentence for Morsi over the killing of protesters in December 2012. It was the first final verdict against Morsi. Guwahati, Nov 16 : One civilian was killed and two others were injured when unidentified gunmen fired at a vehicle near a forested area in Tinsukia district of Assam on Wednesday, police reports said. "Three persons from the Pengeri tea estate were on their way in a van to collect money from the bank to pay wages to the labourers. They heard the sound of firing at a forested area and before they could understand what was happening they were being fired upon," said Tinsukia district SP MJ Mahanta. He added that the driver managed to drive the vehicle to a nearby hospital. Police said six bullets hit the vehicle that led to the death of one of the occupants and injured two others. "Police have intensified operations against the assailants," Mahant said. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has condemned the incident and asked the police to deal firmly with those involved in the crime. The Chief Minister also announced Rs 5 lakh ex gratia to the family of the deceased and free treatment to the injured. Srinagar, Nov 17 : After being suspended for over four months due to unrest, train services in the Kashmir Valley resumed partially on Thursday, officials said. The service resumed from Budgam to Srinagar after completion of necessary restoration work on damaged infrastructure and tracks. "Complete restoration of the train services between south Kashmir's Anantnag and north Kashmir's Baramulla districts will be resumed after a week," a railway official said. Railway authorities suspended the service in the Kashmir Valley as a precaution on July 9 following massive protests over the killing of militant leader Burhan Wani. New York, Nov 18 : Setting aside their campaign feuds, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley had a "good meeting" here on Thursday amid speculation that she is being considered for the job of secretary of state or other cabinet positions. "They had a good discussion, and she is very encouraged about the coming administration and the new direction it will bring to Washington," her spokesperson Rob Godfrey said after the meeting. Trump's former campaign manager Kellyanne Conway was noncommittal about a position for Haley in the Trump administration. "We're just happy to have her here for her advice and counsel and to hear about the great success story of South Carolina," she told reporters. If Republican Haley gets a cabinet job, she would be the first Indian American to ascend to that level marking a historic milestone for the community in a year that saw a political breakthrough. Democrat California Attorney General Kamala Harris became the first Indian American elected to the Senate. Three Indian Americans, Raja Krishnamoorthi from Illinois, Pramila Jayapal of Washington state, and Ro Khanna of California won seats on the House of Representatives, where they will join fellow-Democrat Ami Bera of California, who was re-elected. However, a late development cast a shadow on Haley's hopes for America's top diplomatic job. The Republican presidential candidate in 2012, Mitt Romney, was scheduled to meet Trump over the weekend. He has said that the only job he would be interested in was secretary of state, leading to new intense media speculation that he may be up for the job. Like Haley, Romney has been a vehement critic of Trump during the campaign - and in turn was hammered by Trump. While Haley said towards the end of the campaign that she would vote for Trump, although she had reservations, Romney did not take back his assertion that he would never vote for the Republican nominee. Trump, who ran a scorch earth campaign, is now reaching out to his critics in an attempt douse the flames discord he had flamed. Speculations about Trump's cabinet choices have been rapidly changing. First reports said that former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former UN Permanent Representative John Bolton were the front runners for secretary of state. Both came under criticism for their advocacy of aggressive foreign intervensions in contrast to Trump's own cautious policy. On Wednesday, when Haley's meeting with Trump was scheduled, CNN and MSNBC independently quoted unnamed sources in the Trump transition team as saying that she was being considered for the foreign policy job. Now there is mention in the media that she may be also considered for commerce secretary given her strong track record in getting foreign investment into her state. Haley is the daughter of Sikh immigrants from Amritsar district and her full name is Nimrata Nikki Randhwa Haley. She is married to Michael Haley. Fuzhou (China), Nov 18 : Olympic silver medallist P.V. Sindhu advanced to the semi-finals, while Ajay Jayaram exited in the last eight stage of the China Superseries Premier badminton tournament here on Friday. Seventh seed Sindhu moved past Chinese He Bingjiao 22-20, 21-10 in 39 minutes. The Indian will meet the winner between Japan's Akane Yamaguchi and Sung ji Hyun of South Korea. Jayaram, meanwhile, found it tough against Olympic champion Chen Long of China, who won 21-15, 21-14 in 40 minutes. Long will meet Olympic bronze medallist Viktor Axelsen, who smashed past Japanese Takuma Ueda 21-11, 21-6 in just 30 minutes. Moscow, Nov 19 : The Russian Defence Ministry on Friday criticised the US for accusations of alleged hospital bombing in Syria by Russian and Syrian government forces, saying that the airstrikes only exist in "imagination." The US State Department spokesman John Kirby told a briefing on Wednesday that Russia and the Syrian government had bombed "five hospitals and at least one mobile clinic in Syria," citing unsourced "reports of these things". Denying the accusations, Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov responded on Friday that Russia has repeatedly asked for detailed information about the alleged strikes, which Washington has so far failed to provide, Xinhua news agency reported. "It has become absolutely clear to everyone that the accusations exist only in John Kirby's imagination," Konashenkov was quoted as saying. According to Russian Defense Ministry, the country's air force has not launched airstrikes against any targets in Aleppo in the last 30 days. Mogadishu, Nov 19 : Troops from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), alongside the Somali National Army (SNA), on Friday killed six Al-Shabaab militants in an area about some 35km northeast of the southern Somali town of Kismayo and captured a location. AMISOM force spokesperson Joe Kibet told Xinhua that the joint forces took the Bula-Gadud location and recovered weapons during the operation in Lower Juba region. Kibet said that there were no casualties on their side. Militant group Al-Shabaab has been fighting against the Somali government, staging frequent attacks in the country. The joint forces have increased their operations against the militants as part of efforts to secure the ongoing elections in Somalia. New York, Nov 19 : US President-elect Donald Trump has agreed to pay $25 million to settle several lawsuits against now-defunct Trump University, New York state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said. "I am pleased that under the terms of this settlement, every victim will receive restitution and that Donald Trump will pay up to $1 million in penalties to the State of New York for violating state education laws," Schneiderman said in a statement on Friday. The agreement covers two federal class-action cases in California and a separate suit brought by the New York attorney general against the university, a for-profit entity that opened in 2004 and closed in 2010, Efe news reported. "The victims of Trump University have waited years for today's result, and I am pleased that their patience - and persistence - will be rewarded by this $25 million settlement," Schneiderman said. New York prosecutors said the university never had the necessary operating licenses and that students were bilked out of thousands of dollars. Some students paid as much as $35,000 for courses that purported to share Trump's formula for success in real estate. The settlement eliminates the prospect of the president-elect's having to appear in court. Trump, who was attacked over the university during the campaign, said before winning the Republican nomination that he was unwilling to settle the lawsuits "out of principle", insisting that many of the students were satisfied with the quality of the instruction. New York, Nov 19 : Two nephews of Venezuela's first lady were found guilty of conspiring to import 800 kg of cocaine into the US. A federal jury in New York on Friday deliberated for over five hours before convicting Efrain Antonio Campo Flores, 29, and Francisco Flores de Freitas, 30, Efe news reported. Sentencing is tentatively scheduled for March 7. The trial began on November 7, almost a year to the day after the men were arrested in Haiti and brought to New York by agents of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Prosecutors said the Venezuelans planned to ship the cocaine to the US via Honduras. Defecse attorneys, however, said the case was based on a sting operation engineered by a DEA informant who was trafficking drugs even as he was being paid by the US government. Campo Flores was raised by Venezuelan Senator Cilia Flores, a lawyer and veteran political activist who plays a major role in the administration of her husband, President Nicolas Maduro. She has not commented on their arrest and trial. Washington, Nov 19 : Retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who has been asked to serve as Donald Trump's National Security Advisor, on his Twitter accountmaligned the Muslim faith, shared fake news and interacted with far right and anti-Semitic figures. A CNN review of Flynn's Twitter account found that the retired lieutenant general, who once served as head of the Defence Intelligence Agency, tweeted routinely with members of the so-called alt-right movement -- a far right ideological group whose members primarily use social media as platform to spread their message. On 15 different occasions, Flynn tagged in his tweets alt-right figure Mike Cernovich, who regularly tweets inflammatory and unfounded conspiracy theories. Flynn urged his followers to follow Cernovich, tweeting in October, "Follow Mike @Cernovich He has a terrific book, Gorilla Mindset. Well worth the read. @realDonaldTrump will win on 8 NOV!!!", the review said. Cernovich runs a website called Danger and Play, which has pushed conspiracy theories that the Orlando Pulse shooter did not act alone and that former presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman was part of a sex cult. Flynn has also shared Islamophobic tweets and sentiments, the CNN review noted. "In next 24 hours, I dare Arab and Persian world 'leaders' to step up to the plate and declare their Islamic ideology sick and must be healed," Flynn tweeted in July of this year following the terrorist attack in Nice, France. In February, Flynn made waves when he tweeted it was rational to fear Muslims. "Fear of Muslims is rational: please forward this to others: the truth fears no questions," Flynn said with a link to a video claiming Islamophobia was rational and that Islam wanted 80 per cent of humanity enslaved or exterminated. Days before the November 8 election, Flynn tweeted a false story claiming the New York Police Department had found evidence on former US Representative Anthony Weiner's laptop "to put Hillary (Clinton) and her crew away for life". In October, Flynn retweeted a false claim that UN Agenda 21, a sustainable development programme, would create a one world church where Christianity was prohibited and that choosing nationalism was the only way to stop Clinton. In July, Flynn linked a picture to a tweet that falsely claimed Clinton was "wearing hijab in solidarity with islamic terrorists". The picture was from a 2009 trip Clinton took to Pakistan as Secretary of State. New Delhi, Nov 19 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tribute to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her birth anniversary. "Tributes to former Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi on her birth anniversary," Modi tweeted. Indira Gandhi was the only child of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. Gandhi, the only female who served as Prime Minister of the country was born on November 19, 1917 in Allahabad and served as Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms from January 1966 to March 1977 and a fourth term from January 14, 1980 until she was assassinated on October 31, 1984. Kuala Lumpur, Nov 19 : Thousands of people took to the streets in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday demanding the resignation of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, hit by allegations of involvement in a huge corruption scandal. The protest was organised by Bersih, the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections, which said at least 200,000 people will participate in the marches at five points of the capital city, before converging at one of the main city squares, Efe news reported. This it the fifth protest organised by Bersih - whose name means 'clean' in Malay - since its inception in 2010. The group consists of an alliance of organisations fighting for electoral law reforms to ensure elections in the country are free and fair. Authorities deployed around 7,000 police personnel across the protest route to prevent violent clashes between the protesters and the "red-shirts", supporters of the pro-government National Front, who had also called for a march to counter the Bersih demonstration. The protest comes a day after 10 Bersih leaders - including its head Maria Chin Abdullah and secretariat member Mandeep Singh - were arrested, as alleged by the group on social media. Meanwhile, speaking from Japan on Thursday, Najib said he would not give in to pressure from the group or tolerate any violent turn to the protest. The premier has been accused of involvement in a corruption scandal, with media reports alleging that around one billion dollars were diverted from state investment fund 1MDB into his personal bank accounts. 1MDB, created by Najib in 2009 after he became prime minister, had accumulated a debt of more than $11 billion by 2014. The premier has repeatedly denied the allegations, saying the money was a donation from the Saudi royal family, and he was absolved of all charges by the public prosecutor in January. The journey from Omaha to Bushnell is approximately 446 miles along the old Lincoln Highway. Using the old highway as my trail, the journey across Nebraska offered a window into the history, landscape and culture of this state that we call home. The last place to find a hotel in Nebraska heading west along Highway 30 was in Kimball. My last visit to Kimball was years ago when I jumped on my bicycle to participate in BRAN (Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska). The town hasnt changed. Kimball is another community named after a Union Pacific employee, along with Bushnell, which is the last town in the state heading west on the highway. The Union Pacific definitely has fingerprints along the Lincoln Highway. Kimball was also the center of what was once the site for the largest intercontinental ballistic missile base on earth. Now, it is a sleepy and quiet town in Nebraska surrounded by the beauty of the West. I love western Nebraska. It is a place where the people and the land have not forgotten who they are or where they came from. The eastern part of the United States was once a large forest from the East coast to the Midwest, and that forest connected to a tall grass prairie. For the most part, that landscape is almost completely gone and forgotten. It is the price of progress for a vision that saw opportunity to tame the land. As I drove on the Lincoln Highway, I noted how the farmland of eastern Nebraska slowly surrendered to the more arid grasslands of the West. Irrigation has changed some of the landscape, but most of it is still grassland or crops that need less moisture. In western Nebraska, the past and the present mingle together, making it a joy to explore. Not all sites of the past are still as abundant; bison have been replaced by cattle, but theres enough to present opportunities to gain insight. I saw antelope, jackrabbits, prairie chickens, fox and mule deer. Spending time with nature reconnects me to my own natural rhythm of life and puts things into a healthy perspective. The landscape of the arid rolling grassland seems to go on forever. This openness called to my inner endless spirit to live bigger. When I head west, I get giddy; it opens my heart in a way that brings deep gratitude. Bushnell is the last town heading west on Highway 30, but there was still another 10 miles to the Wyoming border to complete my commitment. At the border, I stopped at an old closed gas station that was literally split down the middle of two states. Some gas pumps were in Wyoming and some in Nebraska. The site was a leftover vestige from a time when countless vehicles traveled this road. The property owner and previous operators of the station happened to be there when I arrived. They generously gave me permission to look around and instructed me to be aware of rattlesnakes. The heyday of the gas station was before the existence of Interstate 80. The Interstate route bypassed many of the interesting places and people the Lincoln Highway connected. These places are still here some faded, some preserved and some yet to be discovered along the Lincoln Highway. The people are welcoming and nice. My trip across Nebraska gifted me with many welcoming moments; however, some are still waiting. The journey along the old Lincoln Highway was coming to an end, but I didnt want it to stop. I know in Nebraska there are more places to see, people to meet and historical gems to be discovered. But all good journeys have a beginning and an end. There will be other adventures to share with you in the future. In the meantime, get out there and explore Nebraska what we call the good life. New Delhi : Forget the "String of Pearls" theory about how China is supposedly surrounding India on the high seas. China is not just on the sea, but also on land, in air and deeply involved in the economies of all of South Asia and beyond. Two events in India's neighbourhood taking place on a single day, November 14, show the extent to which the Chinese reach has extended and is expected to grow phenomenally. They need to be taken into account by India's strategic planners. One was Pakistan's Gwadar port going operational and the other was the announcement in Dhaka that Bangladesh was getting its first-ever submarine from China. Last Monday, the first major trade cargo departed from Gwadar, marking the operationalisation of the port designed and built by China. That also marked the completion, in just about two years, of the project to feed the port under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) under the Chinese One Belt-One Road initiative. Flagging off the cargo, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the CPEC will "integrate development and commerce of various regions across Asia and Europe by increasing connectivity". He further said that it seeks "to transform Pakistan into a regional hub of trade, commerce and manufacturing by harnessing its geo-strategic location into a geo-economic advantage". Taking in the big picture, he said the CPEC "will help integrate South Asia, China and Central Asia and offer opportunities for people in this region, and investors all over the world". The CPEC is central to the Sino-Pak vision and also to the Pakistani leadership as a panacea to all the ills affecting the country and of an acute feeling of being isolated after the United States under Barack Obama and much of Europe leaned towards India. At the event, the Prime Minister was accompanied by Army Chief Gen. Raheel Sharif. Both have attributed Pakistan's current tensions with India to part of the latter's efforts to "frustrate" the CPEC. The November 14 departure of trade cargo from Gwadar marks a decisive arrival for China in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf region. From there, two ships -- Al Hussain Zanzibar and Cosco Wellington -- set sail for ports in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and the European Union. The Chinese have moved fast in Pakistan when, by contrast, there is little push on the India-Iran-Afghanistan accord to develop the Chabahar port in Iran -- less than 100 km from Gwadar -- and build a railway line that would link Chabahar to landlocked Afghanistan and thence to Central Asia. The project, with the blessings of the Obama administration, was also to get Japanese participation with the likely visit to Iran of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. But a Japanese official recently said there was no word from the promoters of Chabahar seeking any financial participation. The announcement in Dhaka about it getting its first-ever submarine from China comes a few weeks ahead of the visit to India of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, likely in the latter half of December. A range of political and economic issues are expected to be on the agenda. However, Bangladesh has for long placed its military eggs in the Chinese basket. Irrespective of the political colour of the regime in Dhaka, this has been a continuing and expanding process, making China the largest trade partner and the No. 1 supplier of military hardware to Bangladesh. Meanwhile, China's deep involvement in Myanmar is a continuing story irrespective of whether the generals rule the country or the present civil-military leadership. So is China's commitment on several projects in Nepal, including a railway line that can be extended right up to the Nepali border with Bihar. Nepal wants to maintain careful equi-distance with India and China. Similarly, Sri Lanka, under heavy debt to China, wants to compensate the latter with several projects that the Maithripala Sirisena government has held back. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in July proposed to China's Ambassador Yi Xianliang varying degrees of control over some of Sri Lanka's biggest infrastructure projects, including the Mattala International Airport and portions of the Hambantota deep-sea port, and wondered if Sri Lanka could receive some debt relief. China refused the suggestions saying it was not possible under Chinese law. But it has continued to promise "fullest cooperation" and that such deals should be conducted via investors on proper commercial terms. While China's government will not swap debt for equity, it will help clear the road for Chinese companies to take over key projects in Sri Lanka. IZP, a Chinese information technology company, has been put forward as a potential purchaser of Mattala International Airport, while COSCO is looking into expanding operations at the Hambantota deep-sea port. The fact of the matter is that India has neither the capacity, nor the political intent, to reach out to its neighbours with investments and projects. Indeed, many of the projects awarded to it have lagged behind for several reasons. That being the case, India has much more to worry and work on beyond countering the "String of Pearls". The Dragon has arrived in the Indian Ocean. (Mahendra Ved is a senior journalist and President, Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA). The article is in special arrangement with South Asia Monitor/www.southasiamonitor.org) Imphal, Nov 19 : Manipur Governor Najma Heptullah has disclosed that her proposal for flying doctors and dispensaries will be finalised by the Centre as soon as helicopter services were introduced in the state. Heptullah disclosed this on Friday at the inauguration of the first open heart surgery in Sky hospital here. She said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi informed her that the matter would be entrusted to the Ministry Of Development Of North Eastern Region (DoNER) for necessary action. In view of the remoteness of the hill districts and poor road connectivity the Centre was planning to introduce helicopter services in Manipur. The aerial service was already available in Meghalaya, Nagaland and some other Northeast states. The Governor said that poor road connectivity often hampered tribals in the hill districts from getting modern and timely medical attention. "Besides, doctors and paramedics who were from other parts of the state hardly stayed in the hospitals. This was primarily due to the absence of residential facilities," she added. She said, "First I came to know of the flying doctors and dispensaries in Australia. Doctors and paramedics are flown to remote and hard to access farms for immediate treatments there. This could be arranged for the hill people also." If need be, the patients could also be shifted to places where there were better medical facilities via aerial support, she added. Heptullah said that there were reports of increasing number of persons with heart diseases. She felt that it was due to the new unhealthy life style. Shyam Kishore of Sky hospital was performing the open heart surgeries in Manipur for the first time. Mumbai, Nov 19 : Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi says he is looking forward to sharing his thoughts at the Global Citizen Festival India (GCFI) here on Saturday. "Looking forward to sharing my thoughts at the Global Citizen Festival India in Mumbai later this evening, via video conferencing," Modi tweeted on Saturday. The gala, which is set to take place at the MMRDA grounds here on Saturday, is focused on creating an impact in areas of education, equality, and clean water and sanitation. GCFI will feature international artistes like The Vamps, Jay Z and Demi Lovato. Among Indian celebrities, Amitabh Bachchan, A.R. Rahman, Shah Rukh Khan, Freida Pinto, Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh, Katrina Kaif, Sonakshi Sinha, Parineeti Chopra, Monali Thakur and Arijit Singh will grace the event. New Delhi, Nov 19 : Congress party president Sonia Gandhi's daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has not yet given her consent to campaign in Uttar Pradesh, though the party is hopeful she will agree to their request, party Rajya Sabha MP and Uttar Pradesh Congress Campaign Committee chairman Sanjay Singh said on Saturday. "We have been requesting her to campaign for a long time now. We are hopeful that she will give her consent to campaign," Singh told IANS. "And when she gives her consent, we'll let everyone know the plan," he added. "As of now, she has not said 'yes'..But we are confident that she will agree." Asked about media reports saying that Priyanka will play a "major role" in Uttar Pradesh assembly polls next year, he said: "I am not saying it is 'incorrect or correct'." However, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar had on Friday told media: "It has been decided that she will campaign for the party in the state. She has accepted our request to campaign. Whenever we get her schedule, we will use her time accordingly." Priyanka and Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi attended the party's strategy meeting on Uttar Pradesh elections here on Friday. Priyanka had attended the party's strategy meeting on UP assembly elections in the past as well. Asked if anything has been finalised on the selection of candidates for the assembly polls in UP, Singh said: "The process is going on. Very soon we'll announce the list." "If it becomes necessary to announce anything, we will do it at that very moment," Singh said without giving further details. He also said that the next strategy meeting will be held after November 22. Asked about Congress' poll strategist Prashant Kishor's fate, Singh said that only party General Secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Ghulam Nabi Azad can comment on it. On November 21, party president Sonia Gandhi, Rahul and Priyanka will be in Allahabad to attend a photo exhibition on former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's life to mark her birth centenary celebrations. Priyanka Gandhi has so far confined her electoral campaigning to constituencies of her mother and brother Rahul Gandhi (Rae Bareli and Amethi). Congress has been out of power in Uttar Pradesh for over three decades. The party has also not won any major state assembly poll since its debacle in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. New Delhi, Nov 19 : Attacking the Centre over demonetisation, senior Congress leader and former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Saturday questioned why banks were not exchanging old currency notes if there was no shortage of new notes and those of Rs 100 denomination. "If the learned AG (Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi) is correct that there is no shortage of currency, why are banks not exchanging notes today (Saturday)?" Chidambaram tweeted. The Congress leader's remarks came a day after Rohatgi told the Supreme Court that two lakh automated teller machines, 1.25 lakh bank branches and petrol pumps were functioning, from where people could get money. The Narendra Modi government had on November 8 spiked 500 and 1,000 rupee notes to, what it said, curb black money and corruption. Chidambaram asked in another tweet: "Why are we not allowed to withdraw our money from our bank/savings accounts?" "Why are thousands of ATMs still not working?" he added. After the demonetisation, long queues have been witnessed across the country outside banks and ATMs to exchange old notes or withdraw currency. Gurugram, Nov 19 : The Sultanpur National Park in Gurugram, which was shut down as a precautionary measure in the wake of the bird flu outbreak in parts of the country, is all set to reopen on Sunday, officials said on Saturday. The park authorities claimed that no case of bird flu was reported in the park till date and it was closed only as a precautionary measure on November 5 for a week that was later extended to a fortnight. The authorities, assisted by experts from the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), were keeping a close watch on the movement of migratory and other birds. "According to reports and conditions of birds in the park, we have decided to reopen the park for visitors from Sunday (November 20)," an official said. He, however, made it clear that they will "re-examine the situation on Sunday morning before allowing bird lovers in". This was the second time in recent years that the Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary was closed due to avian flu. The park was closed for over a week in January 2015 following the death of four dozen birds, mostly Eurasian coots due to avian flu. Located on Gurugram-Farukhnagar Road, the park is home to around 250 species of birds, both resident and migratory. The birds come here from as far as Europe, Siberia and Central Asia. According to forest officials, currently there are over 11,000 birds in the park. "Experts have been keeping a close watch on the movement of avian guests to prevent an outbreak of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1), commonly known as bird flu. As of now all is well," said a senior forest officer. Though wildlife officials had not confirmed any bird death at the park before shutting it, some sources had said a few birds had died in the park leading to the decision of closing the sanctuary in November. Agartala/Aizawl/Silchar, Nov 19 : Amid the continuing cash crunch in the northeastern states in the wake of demonetisation, an ailing tribal man lost his life in Tripura on Saturday as his family did not have enough money to shift him to a hospital in the state capital. Manoranjan Debbarma, 61, was admitted on Friday to a government hospital in Kamalpur town, where doctors advised his family members to shift him to Agartala government medical college. However, his family members could not withdraw enough money as banks refused to make any exception to the set guidelines, a close relative Shyamal Debbarma told reporters. It's been 11 days since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on November 8. However the people in semi-urban, remote and rural areas the northeast India are still reeling under a cash crunch as neither banks nor ATM kiosks have enough cash to dispense. "As banks are putting mostly Rs 100 notes in ATMs, within a few hours the automated teller machines are getting empty. Otherwise, most of the ATMs and the banks have reasonable amount of currency notes with varied denominations including new Rs 2,000 notes," United Bank of India's (UBI) Chief Regional Manager and Deputy General Manager Mahendra Dohare told IANS. "The situation in the entire northeastern region is gradually improving day by day. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is also providing currency notes of varied denominations," Dohare said in Agartala. On people refusing to accept Rs 10 coins, Dohare said that people should accept the coins as these are not at all fake or duplicate. "The RBI has also asked the people to accept the coins without any doubt," he added. In Mizoram, long queues of people were seen in front of bank branches and ATM kiosks since early morning. In order to deal with the cash crunch, a section of traders in eastern Mizoram, bordering Myanmar, have asked the people to use pieces of paper as promissory currency notes to replace official currency till the situation improves. "We have to find an alternative solution as the cash crunch has hit both the sellers and buyers hard. It is not possible to trade anything unless we evolve an alternate system," P.C. Lalhmachhuana, owner of a hardware store in Khawbung semi-township (in eastern Mizoram), told reporters. "Local people are happy with the informal system. The papers bear the value of the amount and the signature of the buyers and sellers on them," Lalhmachhuana added. Several opposition parties held demonstrations in the region against the central government's move to ban high denomination notes and demanded that the crisis should be resolved immediately. In Silchar, (southern Assam), though the situation has slightly improved in the four districts in Barak Valley, huge queues of people both outside bank branches and ATM kiosks still continued. "The banks in Barak Valley have been disbursing huge number of currency notes with denominations of Rs 2,000, Rs 100, Rs 50, Rs 20 and Rs 10. Gradually, rush in the banks and the ATM booths is reducing," State Bank of India's regional manager Pradip Kumar Pal told reporters in Silchar. "After the availability of new Rs 500 notes in the banks and the ATMs the situation would improve greatly. However, the new Rs 500 notes are yet to come in the RBI's regional office in Guwahati." Visakhapatnam, Nov 19 : Angry over not being able to withdraw cash, a police constable damaged two ATMs in Andhra Pradesh. The incident occurred in Paderu in Visakhapatnam district on Friday night when the constable stood in queue at a State Bank of India ATM to withdraw cash. But by the time his turn came the machine had stopped working as it was apparently cash-dry. Irritated, the cop kicked the machine repeatedly. He left but returned a few minutes later to vent his ire on the other machine at the ATM station. Following this, bank authorities locked the ATM and handed over the CCTV footage of the incident to police for further action. New Delhi/Guwahati, Nov 19 : At least three soldiers were killed when militants fired at an army convoy in Assam's Tinsukia district early on Saturday morning. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal after the militant attack at Pengeri around 5.30 a.m. and said his ministry was closely monitoring the situation. "Spoke to Assam CM (Chief Minister Sarbananda) Sonowal who apprised me of the situation in the wake of blast in Tinsukia. The MHA is closely monitoring the situation," he said in a tweet. Defence spokesman Lt. Col. Suneet Newton earlier said the militants first triggered an improvised explosive device blast and then fired indiscriminately attacked the convoy. "The militants used AK-47, rocket-propelled grenades and other sophisticated firearms," the spokesperson added. "The injured soldiers were rushed to a local hospital, but three of them succumbed to their injuries later," Newton said. Assam Director General of Police Mukesh Sahay told IANS: "Our men are on the spot. I will go there from Dibrugarh. We can't say anything about the attack at present. The investigation is on." Tinsukia Superintendent of Police Mugdhajyoti Mahanta said the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) and an anti-talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) were behind the attack. On Wednesday, suspected militants had indulged in firing at Pengeri, killing one person and injuring two others. Abu Dhabi, Nov 19 : UAE and Canadian officials discussed bilateral ties and ways to enhance cooperation in all fields on Saturday. Mohammed Saif Hilal Al Shihi, UAE Ambassador to Canada, met Geoff Regan, Speaker of the House of Common of Canada, to discuss issues of mutual interests. Moscow, Nov 19 : At least 27 civilians were killed by Syrian opposition forces as they dispersed two demonstrations in rebel-controlled Aleppo, a Russian official said on Saturday. Around 200 residents of the Sakhour neighbourhood reportedly tried to leave the part of the city controlled by the rebel militias and enter the area under the control of government troops on Friday, Efe news quoted Russian Defence Ministry spokesman General Igor Konashenkov as saying. He said militias in the adjacent Haidariya neighbourhood opened fire on the demonstrators without prior warning. At least 17 people were killed at the site, including two teenagers, and 40 others were wounded. Later, the opposition militias killed 10 men accused of organising the protest. Panaji, Nov 19 : Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has said that if beef is part of someone's cuisine, the law should not be used to ban its consumption, adding that as the political head of the state he respected the sentiments of the minorities on the issue. He said the Bharatiya Janata Party will come around to accepting this view in the days to come, adding that the cultural and culinary habits should not be meddled with. Even the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in Goa did not contradict his views on the subject, the Chief Minister said while speaking during 'Walk the Talk', a popular talk show broadcast on Saturday by a national English news channel. "If one thing is a part of his (someone's) cuisine, I should not oppose it. Finally, it is his discretion. He is not compelling me. He is not forcing me... when it is a part of somebody's cuisine, I cannot use law against it. I will not do that," Parsekar said on the beef controversy. Asked how he tackled the beef issue as the Chief Minister of Goa, where Christian and Muslims account for more than 30 per cent of the state's population, he said it was natural for him to respect the sentiments of the minorities. "It was just natural for me. I did not tackle it in a political manner. My feeling was: We (should) respect each other's sentiments, each other's feelings," he said. Asked if the BJP should accept and acknowledge his views on tolerance vis-a-vis beef-eating at the national level, Parsekar said: "In the days to come." "My view has not been contradicted by any RSS volunteer or official (so far)," Parsekar said. The beef consumption issue gained nationwide attention after a mob lynched 52-year-old Mohammad Akhlaq and injured his son Danish after dragging them out of their home in Bishada village in Gautam Budh Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh on September 28, 2015, following rumours that they had slaughtered a cow and consumed beef. New Delhi, Nov 19 : In order to double the farmers' income by 2022, it is necessary to focus on adaptation of the latest technology and other methods to increase agricultural productivity, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Saturday. "In order to ensure future increases in agriculture output and double the farmers' income by 2022, focus should be on higher agriculture productivity especially in view of the limitation on expanding crop area," Jaitley said at the first pre-budget consultative meeting with the representatives of agriculture groups here. "It is possible by leveraging technology - especially for high yielding and resistant variety seeds - and efficient utilisation of water for irrigation, adapt latest IT to increase resilience to nature by phasing sowing, watering and harvesting among others," he said. Jaitley said that in order to increase price benefits to the farmers, it is necessary the farmers are provided timely market information. Software applications, both computer and mobile based, should be developed that link farmers to consumers, he said. He said that along with the use of latest technology to raise productivity, there is need to revisit the incentive structure of farming, focus on reducing wastages, enhance earnings and improve marketing of farm produce. "For efficient implementation of the National Agriculture Market, there is need to integrate more than 550 regulated mandis in the country by next year for which the states need to reform the agricultural produce market committee (APMC) Act," Jaitley said. Many suggestions were received from the representatives of different agriculture groups, including the need to provide sufficient funds to district cooperative banks where most of the farmers have their bank accounts, the Finance Ministry said in a statement. Other suggestions included making it mandatory for agriculture universities to start Agriculture Marketing Research Department, new schemes to bail-out farmers from debt and banks be directed to implement scheme of differential rate of interest to agriculture sector both in letter and spirit among others, it said. "Suggestions also include announcement of awards for those who do new technological innovations in agriculture sector, cold chain provision for horticulture and minor vegetables, higher allocation in budget for agriculture as 52 per cent of India's population is based on agriculture and allied sector," the statement said. The representatives of different agriculture groups present during the meeting included Swabhimani Paksha President Raju Shetti, National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) Chief Executive Satya Narayana, Venkatrao Nadagouda of Federation of Oilseeds Cooperative Growers of India, United Planters Association of South India President D. Vinod Sivappa, Cargill India Pvt. Ltd. Chairman & MD Siraj Chaudhary. Consortium of Indian Farmers Association Secretary General Bojja Dashratha Rami Reddy, Bharat Krishak Samaj Chairman Ajay Vir Jakhar, Satish Chander of Fertiliser Association of India, Kisan Foundation Chairman Y. Sivaji and Mukul Maheshwary of Agriculture Farm were also present among others. New Delhi, Nov 19 : The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Saturday called for a reduction in lending cost for leasing-out aircraft. Besides, the industry chamber suggested that lending cost for aircraft leasing be brought at par with rates that prevail in Japan and China. The recommendation was made at the two-day Aero Expo India-2016 that was organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of Civil Aviation. "It was recommended that lending costs for leasing out aircraft should be minimised and brought on par with norms that prevail in countries like Japan and China," the industry body said in a statement. "The expo concluded that leasing norms for commercial aircraft in India have improved but need to be evolved for business aviation." The industry body added that the country needs more institutions to fulfil manpower requirements of domestic civil aviation industry. New Delhi, Nov 19 : Kashmiris don't celebrate the deaths of army men because they are also humans, slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani's father has said, ruing the alleged silence of civil society in the rest of India over killings in Kashmir. "Indian intellectuals are quiet. It's true that Kashmiris are dying but India doesn't have peace either," Muzaffar Wani, a government school teacher, said in CNN-News18's Off Centre show aired on Saturday. "If army men die that's a problem and their death doesn't give us any joy. They are also humans. We are sad when our own people die but we are not happy when army men die." The senior Wani blamed the recalcitrant attitude of both the4 state and central governments for frequent bouts of violent unrest in Kashmir -- the latest was triggered by his son's killing on July 8. "Kashmir has been burning for the past 27 years and instead of dousing the fire everyone who comes here adds fuel," he said, referring to controversial government proposals of separate colonies for Kashmiri Pandits and soldiers and a ban on beef. "These (issues) act as petrol on fire." He said it was "everybody's responsibility, especially that of the Indian people, the common man who votes for the BJP or the Congress" to help douse the fire in Kashmir. Wani asserted that people in India were generally not aware of the Kashmir issue and what is happening in the valley and warned that what "happened in 2008, 2010 and now in 2016" may happen again. "We just suppress it somehow... The Kashmir issue must be solved at one go." He said people in Kashmir had hoped that "some solution would be found because the BJP has a majority and some bold action would be taken. But that hasn't happened. "The agenda of the PDP and BJP alliance government had stated there would be talks between India and Pakistan and include the Hurriyat but no talks have happened." The school teacher condemned the burning of dozens of educational institutions in the Kashmir Valley and said such acts of arson were mysterious but detrimental to the future of Kashmir. "Nobody knows who is burning schools and everybody, including me, has condemned this. I don't think kids are involved in burning schools." New Delhi, Nov 19 : President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday paid glowing tributes to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for her relentless fight against " the cowardice of perpetrators of communal violence" even as he recalled her "courage and boldness" in decision making. "She remained throughout her life, as her father had wanted, a person of the light: brave, unafraid, serene and unruffled. Indiraji despised the cowardice of perpetrators of communal violence and fought against it relentlessly," Mukherjee said delivering the Indira Gandhi Centennial Lecture here. "During her life, she rose above all divisions of religion, caste, community and creed. As a result, she was loved universally by all sections of people and across the length and breadth of our country," he added. "Indiraji's biggest strength was her connect with the common people, especially the grass-roots Congress worker," recalled Mukherjee, who was associated with the former Prime Minister and the Congress president for a long time. In this context, he said, "People found in her the promise of undaunted struggle and iron will. Demonstrating her fighting spirit, Indiraji adopted an attitude of challenge and confrontation." The President said, "For Indira Gandhi it was immaterial whether the Congress party won or lost an election, what was important was continued and uninterrupted service to the people." Referring to historical milestones in Indira's life, like the creation of Bangladesh as an independent country, Mukherjee said, "Indiraji combined bold and quick decision making with careful planning, adequate preparations and single-minded focus to liberate Bangladesh. She scripted thereby a unique chapter in the world and India's history." "She took tremendous risk given the fact that Pakistan was being supported by the United States and China. In an act of sabre rattling, the US sent its seventh fleet into the Bay of Bengal. Indiraji neither buckled under pressure from the US nor fell victim to the posturing of China. She showed that she was a leader with nerves of steel, fully equipped to lead India through any challenge," the President added. On the controversial 'Operation Bluestar' against Sikh extremists in Punjab, Mukherjee recalled how when the decision to undertake 'Operation Bluestar' was taken, she was cautioned that it would bring her the hatred of extremist elements and the anger of a large section of the Sikh community. "I remember vividly her sombre but determined words, 'I know of the consequences'. Indiraji was clear that she and the government had no other option," Mukherjee said. Kolkata, Nov 19 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Centre on Saturday of discriminating against her state by not sending Rs 500 denomination new currency notes to alleviate the sufferings of cash-strapped people. Banerjee said while the Rs 500 denomination notes had already been given to BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, Bengal has been ignored. "I have no problem if they dole out such notes to Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, but they should give the notes to Bengal also. This is discrimination," Banerjee said outside the Reserve Bank of India office here. Accompanied by party MP Derek O'Brien, Banerjee went to the RBI office, summoned its officials and wanted to know details of currency notes in their stock. She asked them to furnish the information to her on the spot while she "will wait" there. After about 40 minutes, RBI's Regional Director Rekha Warriar gave her the information. But when Warriar told Banerjee that the new Rs 500 notes had arrived only on Friday and were being dispatched to banks on Saturday, the Chief Minister remarked: "That means not a single one of them have been given to people of my state so far." "Now you are saying you are sending. But will the notes reach people after there are more deaths?" she questioned. The Chief Minister also visited parts of the Burrabazar wholesale market -- one of the largest in Asia -- and listened to the plight of the traders. "Businessmen are forced to shut down. There is no availability of money," she said. "Paid surprise visit to Asia's biggest market, Burrabazar. I went to Burrabazar market today to listen to the people. Listened to problems of hawkers, traders, mazdoors, shopkeepers, commoners. All expressed deep anguish," she tweeted. "All caste, community, creed spoke about the big problems they are facing. They are saying since last 10 days, everything is down to almost zero. Very sad situation," she said on the microblogging website. Banerjee said Burrabazar represents the entire country as its traders and businessmen have their roots in various states, especially Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Punjab. "People cannot access their savings account. This is being restricted. Is their money safe? The country wants to know," she tweeted. Earlier, interacting with mediapersons, Banerjee raised questions about the country-wide income tax raids which have accompanied the demonetisation move. "I have no objection to IT raids. I am on the side of law. But I have one query. If the notes (of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denominations) have been cancelled, how is the money being counted as legal or illegal? Valid or invalid," she said. Islamabad, Nov 19 : Pakistan on Saturday said it has shot down an unmanned Indian drone near the Line of Control. Inter-Services Public Relations, the military's media wing, chief Lt Gen Asim Bajwa tweeted that an "Indian quadcopter" was shot down at 4.45 p.m. Pakistan time, by the troops at Aagahi post in Rakhchakri sector. He said the Indian quadcopter had violated Pakistani airspace and came 60 metres inside the territory after which it was targeted by Pakistani troops, Geo News reported. Bajwa said that it fell near Agahi post and was picked up by Pakistani troops. Last year in July, the Pakistan military shot down an Indian 'spy drone' which violated the Pakistan air space along the LoC in Bhimber, Pakistan-administered Kashmir. On Friday, Pakistan said its navy had chased away an Indian submarine that had neared its territorial waters, a claim that India rejected. On Wednesday, Pakistan said that its Army killed 11 Indian soldiers as retaliation for the killing of seven of its soldiers earlier in the week. New Delhi, Nov 19 : India has been elected as the Vice Chair for 2018 and Chair for 2019 of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), an official statement said on Saturday. The Kimberley Process (KP) is an international initiative to stem the trade in conflict diamonds. In 2002, the KPCS was launched by a coalition of governments, civil society and the diamond industry in response to the role of diamonds in funding some of the most devastating civil wars in Africa. Accepting the decision of the KP, Manoj Dwivedi, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce and head of the Indian delegation to the KP Plenary Meeting said, "With all gratitude we accept the responsibility to be the Vice Chair in 2018 and the Chair in 2019. I thank European Union for their prudence and maturity in collaborating with us to reach this solution which creates goodwill and no ill will in our forum." The announcement was made at the recently held KP Plenary meeting 2016 at Dubai. Earlier, India had held the position of KP Chair in 2008. He further stated that the progression of Chairpersonship has been from Australia, a producing country to EU, a trading country, and India a manufacturing country of diamonds. "Our approach will be collaborative, democratic and transparent to take this illustrious process to a new era of digital relevance and capacity building so that there will be equitable distribution of capabilities and standards, especially amongst the African colleagues with alluvial mining in managing the KPCS and issuance of the KP certificates", Dwivedi said. New Delhi, Nov 19 : Praising the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for mentoring her, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Saturday took a veiled dig at political rivals, saying there are now leaders "willing to undermine the very foundations of national character in quest for shortcuts to greatness". Speaking at the Indira Gandhi centenary celebrations at the Vigyan Bhavan here, she said the former Prime Minister was not only her mother-in-law but also a mother, mentor and a guide to her. "Indira Gandhi was not a figure of history for me -- she was my mother-in-law. We lived under the same roof, shared joys and sorrows. It is from her that I learned about India, its culture and its values," Sonia Gandhi said. "It is from her that I imbibed my earliest political lessons. She was the Prime Minister of India, but to me she was a mother, a mentor and a friend. It was in my arms that she drew her last breath," the Congress leader recalled. "Before her (Indira Gandhi's) death, she declared, and I quote: 'Every drop of my blood will invigorate the nation'. And indeed it did," Sonia Gandhi said. "Her sacrifice in preserving a united, diverse and egalitarian India will be remembered. All the more so at a time when, in the quest for shortcuts to greatness, we find leaders willing to undermine the very foundations of our national character," she added. The Congress leader said: "Some dismissed her as weak and incapable. Others called her a tyrant. But with the trust of her countrymen, painstakingly won, and with her dedication to their cause, she went on to serve her people, sacrificing her very life." She said Indira Gandhi was an institution, a leader with the courage of conviction and nerves of steel, unflinching in the face of duty, resolute against all that was unjust. "She led our nation through the tumultuous battles of the 60s and 70s, never faltering in her dedication to the masses who gave her their complete trust," Sonia Gandhi said. "She faced economic crises, and prevailed. She managed the greatest refugee crisis in human history (in 1971). She refused to compromise on India's noble humanitarian traditions," she added. Sonia Gandhi said the then Prime Minister faced war with courage and determination, and her victory saw the triumph of democracy and the birth of a new nation, Bangladesh. "When powers that be abroad attempted to dictate terms to India, she stood up for what was right and was vindicated by history," the Congress President said. Sonia said her mother-in-law had a vision for India in the world of the 21st century. "But it was not a soulless vision that came at the cost of our pluralist diversity. She saw an India that will not follow blindly the path laid by the West. She saw it crafting its own future guided by its democratic and cultural ideals," she added. "Where others failed, she (Indira) wanted India to show the world the way. It made her mission doubly challenging, but Indira Gandhi was not a woman daunted by challenge," the Congress chief said. Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 19 : The bonhomie between arch rivals CPI-M and Congress party in Kerala against the Narendra Modi government's decision to "sideline cooperative banks" following the demonetisation move, appears to be falling apart with differences of opinion cropping up in the Congress. The Reserve Bank of India had earlier this month withdrawn the right given to the cooperative banks to accept or exchange the spiked 500 and 1,000 rupee notes. The cooperative banking sector in Kerala is a three-tier system, with about 1,600 primary cooperative banks attached to 14 district banks, which are further linked to the apex Kerala State Cooperative Bank (KSCB). Following this decision, a pall of gloom descended on the state, especially in the rural areas, where the cooperative movement is strong. On Thursday the two parties expressed their desire to work together with a special one-day assembly session called for Tuesday to discuss this issue. But on Saturday, state Congress president V.M. Sudheeran said that a joint protest cannot happen. "The CPI-M in Kerala is doing what Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done. In all those cooperatives where the CPI-M is not ruling, they are trying to use power to dissolve it. The protest should happen in Delhi and for that an all-party delegation from here should go to Delhi," said Sudheeran addressing a meeting on Saturday. Incidentally a delegation comprising former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, leader of opposition Ramesh Chennithala and their allies called on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday to express their support to the state government and would be part of any move to fight unitedly against the Centre's move to "wreck" the cooperative sector in Kerala. Adding to the confusion in the Congress party, its vice president M.M. Hassan on Saturday came out with another argument that the stand of the CPI-M towards the cooperative banks is hypocritical. "CPI-M politburo member from West Bengal, Mohammed Salim, has written to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to say that in his state black money is being deposited in cooperative banks by the Trinamool Congress. So the CPI-M should take action against Salim first. They are taking a different position here and this is nothing but double standards on the same issue," said Hassan. Chennithala, reacting to the sudden turn of events, said the party-led United Democratic Front is meeting on Sunday when a final decision would be taken. The second biggest ally in the UDF - Indian Union Muslim League -- differed with Sudheeran. IUML general secretary K.P.A. Majeed told reporters on Saturday that the main issue is that the cooperative sector will be wiped out due to demonetisation, and the need of the hour is to see that such a thing does not happen, and for that whatever needs to be done has to be done. The state unit of the BJP is up in arms against the cooperative banks in the state as the primary cooperative banks do not have to comply with the RBI guidelines when it comes to accepting deposits. The BJP has alleged that in these banks which hold deposits in excess of Rs one lakh crore, more than Rs 30,000 crore is unaccounted money of politicians from the two parties. Cairo, Nov 19 : An Egyptian court sentenced a fleeing TV anchor and supporter of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi to three years in prison for circulating anti-government false news on Saturday, media reports said. Currently working for Sharq TV, which addresses Morsi's supporters from Turkey, Nasser has been accused of "spreading false news for the purpose of disturbing general security and social peace and provoking violence against the state institutions", Xinhua news agency reported. Nasser fled to Turkey among hundreds of Morsi's supporters after the Islamist president was removed by the military in July 2013 in response to mass protests against Morsi's one-year rule and his now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group. The convicted TV presenter always denied belonging to the Brotherhood. Most of Morsi's loyalists, including the ousted president himself, are currently in custody facing various charges like inciting violence to espionage. In October, an Egyptian top court confirmed a 20-year prison sentence against President Mohamed Morsi over inciting clashes between his supporters and opponents that left 10 people dead. New Delhi, Nov 19 : Amid the travails of demonetisation, a high voter turn out was recorded on Saturday in by-polls for four parliamentary and 10 assembly seats across six states and one union territory. The polls, which come over 10 days after the government decided to demonetise 500 and 1,000 rupee currency notes, are touted to be a referendum on the BJP-led central government's move to fight corruption and black money. Barring sporadic incidents of violence and allegations of booth capturing, polling in all the parliamentary and assembly constituencies was mostly peaceful. In West Bengal more than 80 per cent of voters exercised their franchise till evening in by-polls for the two Lok Sabha constituencies of Cooch Behar and Tamluk and the assembly seat of Monteshwar. "The polling percentage till the polling ended at 5 p.m. in Cooch Behar and Tamluk was 77 per cent and 81 per cent respectively. The figure for Monteshwar was 86 per cent," said an Election Commission official. But with people still standing in the queues, the polling percentage may go up. The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) demanded repolling in Cooch Behar over alleged violence and vote loot by the ruling Trinamool Congress party. They also complained their polling agents were beaten up and stopped from entering the stations by Trinamool-backed miscreants at several places in Tamluk constituency including Haldia, Chaitanyapur and Nandigram. The Trinamool has denied the accusations. The Cooch Behar seat fell vacant after the death of Trinamool's Renuka Sinha, while Tamluk has gone to the hustings as the incumbent MP Suvendu Adhikari became a minister in Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Cabinet. In Assam's Lakhimpur Lok Sabha constituency and Baithalangso legislative assembly constituency, over 60 per cent of the around 1.7 million voters cast their votes. An official from the Chief Electoral Office said the polling remained peaceful without any untoward incident and 60.83 per cent voter turnout was recorded in both the constituencies. Five candidates are in the fray for the Lakhimpur Lok Sabha constituency and three for the Baithalangso legislative assembly constituency. The Bharatiya Janata Party had fielded party MLA Pradan Baruah for Lakhimpur Lok Sabha seat while the Congress has put up senior party member Hema Hari Pegu as its candidate in the constituency. Apart from this, the CPI fielded Amiya Kumar Handique followed by SUCI candidate Hem Kanta Miri and Independent candidate Dilip Moran. The Lakhimpur seat was vacated by Sarbananda Sonowal after he became the Assam Chief Minister. Demonetisation issues did not deter voters in three assembly constituencies of Tamil Nadu and the lone one in Puducherry in coming out in large numbers to exercise their constitutional right. According to Election Commission officials polling came to an end at 5 p.m. in all the four constituencies. While Thirupparankundram saw around 85 per cent polling, Aravakkurichi saw a turnout of around 81 per cent. However, Thanjavur recorded around 69 percent polling. In Puducherry's Nellithope constituency where Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy is contesting, the polling percentage was around 85. In Aravakkurichi, ruling AIADMK's V. Senthil Balaji is fighting against the DMK's K.C. Palanisamy while at Thirupparankundram the AIADMK's A.K. Bose is facing DMK's P. Saravanan. In Thanjavur, the AIADMK's M. Rengasamy is pitted against the DMK's Anjugam Bhoopathy. In Thirupparankundram, the by-election has been necessitated by the death of AIADMK's legislator S.S. Seenivel. While there are other parties in the fray, the contest is mainly between the AIADMK and the DMK in Tamil Nadu. In Puducherry's Nellithope, Congress leader Narayanasamy is contesting against AIADMK nominee Om Shakthi Segar. In Left ruled Tripura, over 90 per cent of the 78,400 electorate cast their votes in by-elections to the Scheduled Caste Reserved Barjala and the Khowai assembly constituencies. "Over 90 per cent voters cast their votes in the two assembly constituencies. Voting was conducted peacefully, there is not a single untoward incident reported from the two constituencies," additional chief electoral officer of Tripura Debashish Modak told IANS. The Barjala seat fell vacant after Congress legislator Jitendra Sarkar resigned on June 6 following an internal feud within the party while the Khowai seat has been vacant since the death of veteran CPI-M legislator Samir Deb Sarkar. Five candidates each are contesting from the two constituencies. In Madhya Pradesh, 61 per cent vote was recorded in Shahdol parliamentary constituency while 71 per cent voting was recorded in Nepanagar assembly constituency. The Shahdol seat fell vacant when BJP MP Dalpat Singh Paraste passed away in June. In Arunachal Pradesh, voting was held for the assembly seat of Hayuliang. Desingu Pul, wife of former Chief Minister Kalikho Pul, is contesting on a BJP ticket. Kalikho Pul committed suicide in August under mysterious conditions. Bishkek, Nov 19 : Kyrgyzstan's security services have detained a local man suspected of pretending to be the Kyrgyz president in a prank call to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, the Foreign Ministry announced on Friday. On November 2, the Ukrainian President's press office published information about a telephone conversation between Poroshenko and his Kyrgyz counterpart Almazbek Atambayev, Xinhua news agency reported. The two leaders discussed over phone urgent issues of Ukrainian-Kyrgyz relations like holding the next meeting of the joint intergovernmental commission and the problems of supply of Ukrainian products to Kyrgyzstan as a result of Russian transit restrictions against Ukrainian goods. Shortly afterwards, the Kyrgyz President's office denied that Atambayev had talked to Poroshenko. "Perhaps somebody played a trick on the Ukrainian leader," said Sapar Isakov, Chief of the Foreign Policy Department. Poroshenko's spokesman accused the Russian state security service of plotting the prank call, adding that such a trick was impossible without the participation of Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The detainee was taken into custody to ascertain the circumstances of the case, Kyrgyzstan's Foreign Ministry said in its official statement. The two sides have agreed to conduct a joint investigation of the case, according to a telephone conversation between Kyrgyzstan's foreign minister Erlan Abdyldaev and his Ukrainian counterpart Pavel Klimkin. Kolkata, Nov 19 : Stepping up the offensive against the Narendra Modi government on the demonetisation issue, West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress will take out a rally in Kolkata on November 23, the party announced here on Saturday. Similar rallies will be taken out in the districts and blocks in the subsequent two days. "Trinamool's state unit will hit the streets in protest against the note scandal," party's All India Vice President Mukul Roy told the media. The rally will start from College Square in north Kolkata and end at the Dorina Crossing about 3 km away. Ministers, parliamentarians, legislators, office-bearers and party's mass organisation representatives will be part of the rally, scheduled to start at 1 p.m. On November 24, rallies will be brought out in all the district headquarters. Block level rallies will be held the next day. Asked whether Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee, who has been in the forefront of the protests both at the national and state levels against the Modi government's decision to scrap high denomination currency notes, would be part of the Kolkata rally, Roy gave an open-ended answer. "This is a programme of the state unit of All India Trinamool Congress. She is our all India chief. She is very busy. Whether she will be part of the rally or not, depends on her," he said. Mosul, Nov 20 : Iraqi security forces on Saturday recaptured a town and two villages in south of the city of Mosul, while special forces fought heavy clashes with Islamic State (IS) terrorists as they pushed deeper into the eastern part of the city, a security source said. The army's 9th armoured Division continued their advance toward Mosul and managed to free the town of Khedhr al-Yas, which is the centre of Nimrud area in south of Mosul and nearby two villages of Qara-Shor and Kahriza, Xinhua quoted a statement from the Joint Operations Command (JOC) as saying. Nimrud area includes the archeological site of Nimrud, located some 30 km south of Mosul and freed from IS terrorists a few days ago. The ancient Assyrian ruin site of Nimrud, which was part of the IS militants' campaign of destruction against heritage sites, was founded in the 13th century B.C. and became the capital of Assyrian empire. In eastern Mosul, the commandos of the Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) continued clashes with the IS terrorists to gain more ground in Mosul and managed during the day to recapture parts of the Muharibin and Mu'alimen districts, the JOC statement said. The troops started later in the day a clearing operation in the freed areas to defuse dozens of booby-traps planted by the extremist militants, the JOC statement said. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on October 17 announced a major offensive to retake Mosul, the country's second largest city. Since then, the Iraqi security forces have inched to the eastern fringes of Mosul and made progress on other routes around the city. Charles Rutenberg Realty, Realtor Jaime Brown has launched a brand new Tampa Homestyles website to enhance the buying and selling of real estate in and around the Tampa Bay area. The new platform is designed with cutting edge features that will assist Ms. Brown's clientele as they work to sell their home or search for a new one. The new Tampa Homestyles website boasts user-friendly features like a quick and convenient search option. Right from the homepage, clients can link to information about selling their property, estimating their home's value, or searching for a home to buy. The search tool allows individuals to search for properties by neighborhood, city, address, or zip code, which gives people the opportunity to narrow down their search right from the start. Another distinctive feature of Jaime Brown's new real estate website is its slideshow capability. The property slideshow is an effective resource for both buyers and sellers as it provides high-quality images that are larger than what is typically available from other IDX providers. This means that sellers can more effectively showcase their homes and properties, and buyers can more conveniently research prospective homes online. Jaime Brown's Tampa Homestyles website features Vision IDX which offers more than outstanding slideshow functionality. This platform auto-generates listings without search criteria and also provides the capability for visitors to the site to interact directly with the realtor. Enhanced communication and an improved user experience are cornerstones of the Vision IDX platform. Other features of this system include real-time messaging, instant results, mobile optimization, advanced map searching, and automatic personalization. Clients who are buying or selling real estate will find comprehensive information about real estate listings and community pages on Jaime Brown's new website. The user experience is streamlined to include up-to-date information about communities in and around Tampa Bay. In addition, the new website features a blog that will provide visitors to the site with relevant information about Florida's real estate industry as well as Tampa-specific topics related to buying and selling real estate. The new Tampa Homestyles website is a custom site that provides real estate buyers and sellers with the advanced functionality they need to make informed decisions regarding property. Sellers should note the effective tools that allow them to better market their homes. Buyers will find all the information they need about Tampa homes and communities right at their fingertips. Buyers can take time to investigate each community as they peruse property listings. Jaime Brown of Charles Rutenberg Realty has been a successful realtor for the past decade. Her experience in the Tampa real estate market and expertise have enabled her to achieve the positive outcomes that buyers and sellers look forward to when buying or selling a home. Ms. Brown is launching her new website in order to provide her clients with the most innovative and user-friendly tools and resources available to buyers and sellers today. For more information about Jaime Brown or Tampa Homestyles, visit the website at http://tampahomestyles.com/ or contact Ms. Brown at: 1545 S. Belcher Road Clearwater, FL 33764 813-444-5885 We want our clients to feel protected and confident as we fight for their interests. It is with great pride and honor that the Top American Lawyers announces the admission into membership of Top 1% Attorney Robert T. Eglet, of Eglet Prince in Las Vegas, Nevada. Robert T. Eglet exemplifies what a Top American Lawyer stands for, including honesty, integrity, professionalism, and grit. Robert was grateful to join such a prestigious association, saying, It is an honor to be selected as a member of such an esteemed group of lawyers. No one should ever hire an attorney without first knowing that he or she is qualified. Top American Lawyers helps separate the most capable lawyers from the pack, inviting only the best into their ranks. Having my accomplishments recognized in this way gives me a great deal of satisfaction. Only the best of the best attorneys are granted membership in Top American Lawyers. Top American Lawyers vets each member via a peer review panel to determine whether or not candidates meet the requirements of such a distinguished honor. Only after a candidate has been vetted and found to meet these requirements are they allowed admission. Eglet was named National Lawyer of the Year (2010) by Lawyers USA and National Trial Lawyer of the Year (2013) by The National Trial Lawyers Association. The Nevada Justice Association has honored Eglet twice as Trial Lawyer of the Year (2005 and 2012) and he is a twice-recipient of The Badger Award (2004 and 2016), the Nevada Justice Associations most prestigious award. Eglet has obtained some of the largest personal injury verdicts in the country in 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2013, and received the National Thurgood Marshall Fighting for Justice Award in 2013 from The Association of Plaintiffs Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America. As one of the top personal injury law firms in the country, Eglet Prince has earned numerous awards for their accomplishments. The National Law Journal named Eglets firm as one of the 12 Best Plaintiffs Law Firms in the Country and one of the 50 Best Trial Firms in America. Eglet Prince is also a lifetime achievement recipient of Best Law Firms in America. They believe their client-centered approach, and commitment to honesty accounts for much of their success. We want our clients to feel protected and confident as we fight for their interests., says a representative of the firm, We care for each person we represent, providing the highest level of service possible. Robert T. Eglet has demonstrated what it takes to be a Top American Lawyer. They put forth the professional attributes necessary to be the Top 1% of Attorneys in their state and are considered among the best attorneys in America. The Top American Lawyers is proud to have Robert T. Eglet as a new member in its ranks. Eglet Prince represents personal injury victims with significant injuries, including mass torts, class actions, car and trucking accidents, and defective products and drugs. If you need a personal injury attorney in Las Vegas, you can visit their website at http://www.egletlaw.com. CSU Bakersfields Professor Luis Cabrales tests water cleanup with the OriginClear system. From Bakersfield, California to Dallas, Texas Were ready. OriginClear Inc. (OTC/QB: OCLN), a leading provider of water treatment solutions, today announced that, in a letter to shareholders, CEO Riggs Eckelberry reviewed the coming Administration's policies regarding energy and water. "Backed by both houses of Congress," wrote Eckelberry, "our President-elect favors aggressive expansion of oil and gas production. Thats well known. Whats less known, is that he intends to invest heavily in clean water." In the letter, CEO Eckelberry also highlighted recent progress in Kern County, cleaning oil and gas water for reuse in agriculture. He concluded: "Californias farmers and residents could sure use that water but only if it is absolutely clean." The full shareholder letter is now available on OriginClear's website, at http://www.originclear.com/ceos-update/president-trump-and-clean-water. About OriginClear, Inc. OriginClear is a leading provider of water treatment solutions and the developer of a breakthrough water cleanup technology serving the rapidly growing $500 billion world market. Through its wholly owned subsidiaries, OriginClear provides systems and services to treat water in a wide range of industries, such as municipal, pharmaceutical, semiconductors, industrial, and oil & gas. To rapidly grow this segment of the business, we strategically acquire profitable and well-managed water treatment companies, which allow us to expand our global market presence and technical expertise. To enable a new era of clean and socially responsible water treatment solutions, we invented Electro Water Separation, a breakthrough high-speed water cleanup technology using multi-stage electrolysis, that we license worldwide to water treatment equipment manufacturers. Water is our most valuable resource, and the mission of the "Family of OriginClear Companies" is to improve the quality of water and help return it to its original and clear condition. To learn more about OriginClear, please visit our website at http://www.originclear.com. OriginClear Safe Harbor Statement: Matters discussed in this release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this update, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "may," "intend," "expect" and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations of the Company and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with our history of losses and our need to raise additional financing, the acceptance of our products and technology in the marketplace, our ability to demonstrate the commercial viability of our products and technology and our need to increase the size of our organization. Further information on the Company's risk factors is contained in the Company's quarterly and annual reports as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, there cannot be any assurance that the Company will consummate any acquisitions. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason. It's a great way to give this month. The impact is real for families receiving these special meals. EquityBuild Finance announces it will make special donations this Thanksgiving to help underprivileged families in Chicago. In an effort to make Thanksgiving memorable and bountiful for less fortunate families in Chicago, EquityBuild Finance is donating to the well-respected charity Chicago Basket Brigade. This year Chicago Basket Brigade is set to exceed last years delivery of 1,500 food baskets to families in need. This video from the Chicago Basket Brigade shows more about what they do for the community. The donations will be made according to the special deal happening through EquityBuild Finance. Their current private mortgage notes have a return of 16% APR with a 1-point Thanksgiving bonus. Through Thanksgiving Day, EquityBuild Finance will donate an additional point to Chicago Basket Brigade for each commitment made. The Basket Brigade, founded by Shane Staats, was inspired by Tony Robbins childhood experience, growing up in a struggling family when someone knocked on his door one Thanksgiving with a basket full of food. This gesture of giving turned into an unforgettable memory for Tony and led him to share his story at his events. This charitys vision is to expand the community of volunteers so the gift of giving can grow. There are many upsetting issues and troubles in the underprivileged Chicago communities. Knowing the potential problems and complaints in these neighborhoods, the Basket Brigade supports thousands of struggling families each year at Thanksgiving to give them a sense of hope and caring community. It's a great way to give this month, said Shaun Cohen, vice president of EquityBuild. The impact is real for families receiving these special meals. Our mission at EquityBuild Finance is to lift up underprivileged communities and neighborhoods in the Chicago area. We wanted our clients to be able to be part of this giving this season, so we can lift people up together. To learn more, visit the Chicago Basket Brigade website. Also, EquityBuild is hiring and looking for talented people to join their team as they continue to expand. EquityBuild is a full-service real estate investment company designed to match qualified investors with high-yield real estate investment opportunities. Read more here. ABOUT EQUITYBUILD FINANCE: EquityBuild Finance is committed to putting its extensive knowledge and unique Operational Mastery of the real estate investing process to work for regular people, maximizing their returns and minimizing their risk at every step. By doing this EquityBuild Finance helps its investors achieve financial freedom while improving neighborhoods and providing hard-working families with nicer, safer places to live. Founded by father-son team Jerry and Shaun Cohen, this company gives people the freedom and time to pursue their passions with the people they love. EquityBuild Finance is ushering in a new era, making real estate investing more secure and reliable than ever. To find out more visit us at http://www.EquityBuild.com or http://www.EquityBuildFinance.com. Company Contact: 877-978-1916 Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Home Regional News East Evan Smoak, one of the worlds most dangerous assassins, returns in Gregg Hurwitzs second Orphan X thriller, The Nowhere Man (Minotaur, Jan.) What next? Its the question I want my readers to be asking themselves while theyre ripping through the pages of one of my thrillers. But its also the question I found myself contemplating about a year ago as I sat before my computer screen, staring at the intimidating blank screen. It had been a long damn time since Id written a series character. For a lot of years, I knew I was building up to Evan Smoak, aka Orphan X. Yanked out of a foster home at the age of 12, he was trained up in an off-the-books black program and deployed strategically to locations around the globe. At a certain point, because his moral compass was never broken, he fled the Orphan Program, blipping off the radar and emerging only to help those in desperate need under his code name: the Nowhere Man. I told Evans story andthanks to booksellers, librarians, and readershis story connected. It was the success that Id hoped it would be, and for that, I still wake up and ride a surge of gratitude to my desk every morning. But the big question that arose for me that morning as I stared at the uncooperative computer monitor was, what do I do with the guy next? One aim I set for myself when I embarked on this series was that I wanted every book to feel different. I have enormous admiration for thriller writerssuch as Lee Child, Robert Crais, Chelsea Cain, and David Baldacciwho manage to do that, who keep their fifth book in a series as fresh as the first. So I knew I wanted a different setup. In a way, I wanted to turn reader expectations on their head. I wanted to turn my own expectations on their head. A few painful hours later, it came to me. What if instead of writing a book where the Nowhere Man rescues someone, I wrote a book where the Nowhere Man is the one who needs rescuing? What if he found himself in precisely the kind of awful predicament that people called him for? Okay, easy enough to think. But how the hell do I do it? Oddly, my brain kept returning to two favorite John Fowles novels, The Collector and The Magustwo books that play with notions of captivity and control. Two stories that portray a dangerous, illicit dance between two characters who are evenly matched and equally deadly. And I thoughtwhat if someone with virtually limitless resources manages to capture Evan Smoak and knock him unconscious? This person wants something from Evan and is willing to keep him in a gilded (and armored) cage until he gets it. Thats precisely what happens. Evan wakes up in a luxurious remote chateau surrounded by guards. But none of themnobody at allrealizes who Evan in fact is, and what he is capable of. His captors believe theyve trapped Evan inside the compound. But what theyre soon to realize is theyre trapped in there with him. I have a long way to go yet with Evan Smoak. And I hope Im lucky enough to have you riding shotgun for the whole glorious ride. Witches Fly to Redhook In a world rights acquisition, Lindsey Hall at Hachettes Redhook imprint bought Louisa Morgans novel The Secret History of Witches. The book, dubbed a family saga with crossover fantasy appeal by the publisher, is slated for fall 2017. Louisa Morgan is a pseudonym for Louise Marley, who has won the Endeavour Awardwhich celebrates the work of science fiction authors based in the Pacific Northwesttwice. Marley was represented in the deal by Peter Rubie at FinePrint Literary. The book grapples with, the publisher explained, an ancient and dangerous power thats been handed down from mother to daughter since time began. It focuses on one family, with four generations of women fighting the battles of their time, deciding how far they are willing to go to protect their family, their heritage, and, ultimately, all of our futures. Maynard Gets Best at Bloomsbury Joyce Maynard sold a memoir called The Best of Us to Nancy Miller at Bloomsbury in a world English rights deal. Maynard has written such bestsellers as To Die For (which was later adapted into a film of the same name) and is known for her 1998 memoir, At Home in the World, about the period she spent as an 18-year-old living with 50-something J.D. Salinger. In her new book, Maynard documents her 2013 marriage as well as her husbands cancer diagnosis a year later. Bloomsbury said the book, which DeFiore and Companys Nicole Tourtelot sold, is about finding true love later in life, and discovering strength in the midst of great loss. The Best of Us is scheduled for fall 2017. Neuroscientist Explores Elegance at Picador Stanford University neuroscientist Patrick Houses Against Elegance was bought, at auction, by James Meader and Pronoy Sarkar at Picador. Lauren Sharp at Kuhn Projects handled the world rights agreement for House, who has written for outlets such as Slate and the New Yorker online. The book, Picador said, asks what elegance is and why we are inherently drawn to it. The elegant solution, a term often used in fields such as mathematics and engineering, is one in which a particular desired effect is achieved with the least effort. The publisher explained that House, in his book, argues that the elegant solution is often the wrong solution, especially concerning biology and the brain. Against Elegance is slated for 2019. S&S Lands U.K. Award Winner Simon & Schusters Ira Silverberg nabbed North American rights, in a preempt, to Sharlene Teos novel Ponti. The author, who hails from Singapore and is now based in the U.K., won the Deborah Rogers Writers Award for Ponti this year; the honor is given out annually in England to an unpublished author working to complete his or her first book. Emma Paterson at the U.K.-based agency Rogers, Coleridge & White Ltd. represented Teo, and said that the novel is about a 16-year-old named Szu who lives in the shadow of her mother, a once beautiful actress who now works as a hack medium performing seances with her sister. Szu meets the privileged Circe and the two form a friendship; 17 years later, while going through a painful divorce, Circe finds herself haunted by the relationship. Paterson said that the novel explores the gaping loneliness of teenagehood, the surrealness of the modern city, and the strangeness of living with and loving other people. The book, which is tentatively scheduled for 2018, has been acquired in a number of other countries, including the U.K., where Picador bought it after a heated auction. Dangerfields Funny Man Sells Memoir Jackie the Joke Man Martling sold his currently untitled memoir to Anthony Ziccardi at Post Hill Press. Ziccardi preempted North American rights to the book from Peter Steinberg at Foundry Literary + Media, and plans to publish the title in fall 2017. Martling began his career appearing in bands on Long Island before becoming a joke writer for Rodney Dangerfield. After that, he went on to an 18-year stint as a writer, and occasional on-air sidekick, on the Howard Stern Show. Cohen Debut to Gallery Gallery Books assistant editor Elana Cohen took world rights to a currently untitled debut novel by Leslie Cohen. The book follows, Gallery said, a millennial music writer prone to whimsy, and a level-headed, practical engineer. Andrew Blauner at the Blauner Books Literary Agency handled the sale for Cohen, whose proposal came with a plug from actor David Duchovny, who is also represented by Blauner; Gallery said that Duchovny declared the author to be a young Nora Ephron. The novel is planned for a 2018 publication. A revival of the independent bookstore sector has been taking place over the past few years. That resurgence can been seen in the Pacific Northwest, which even before the indie rebound was already a veritable bookstore mecca. The quirks of the regions readers and reading habits can be seen by looking at different bestsellers lists. Brian Juenemann, executive director of the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association, says that a comparison of the national indie bestseller list from the ABA with PNBAs own list points to these regional quirks: This week nine of the 10 books on our mass market are not on the national indie bestseller list. Like Dune. Its perpetually on ours, right next to 1984. Were the Dune people. Were a little bit weird. If you share something off-kilter with us, were not likely to be weirded out; were more likely to say, tell me more. Portland Powerhouse You cant talk about the PNW bookselling scene without talking about indie chain Powells Books. One of the most iconic bookstores in America, Powells, founded in 1971, continues to be a champion of indie bookselling. CEO Miriam Sontz has worked for Powells for 32 years. When she started, Powells was one store with 45 employees; now Powells has around 500 employees at six locations. Its flagship storedubbed Powells City of Booksclaims to be the largest used-and-new bookstore in the world, stocked with a million books and taking up an entire city block. The stores mix is constantly changing and being revitalized. One thing that makes Powells unique, Sontz says, is that it started off from a used-book perspective. She explains, Weve always valued the content of a book regardless of its imprint or origin. It doesnt matter if its used, remainder, or new when determining if its a good book. We treat all those titles with the same respect. I think thats different. Thats very different from most used bookstores and certainly different from a lot of new bookstores. Using feedback from its database, the chain shifts its focus and resources to whats trending or whats going to move for them. In 1990 we got our first computerized system, so every book we receive is in our system, and we have pretty good database analysis to help us better understand which sections are growing, Sontz says. But she is quick to add that theres another factor to Powells success: bookselling intuition. I dont want to underestimate this, but theres always just a combination of what you know and what you think will happen, Sontz says. Its part data analysis and part putting your finger out in the breeze and seeing which way its blowing. She believes that this unquantifiable element is one of the key reasons why indies have remained vital in the industry. Powells also got a head start selling online, starting early in 1993. Sometimes seen by consumers as an alternative to Amazon, Powells is the online version of shop local, Sontz says. More and more people are thinking about how they spend their dollars. However, Sontz adds that online sales for Powells have been pretty stagnant over the last five years. I feel like Im living in heaven, Sontz says regarding the Pacific Northwest. Its a cornucopia. Its so bountiful and its just getting better and better. Portland is also home to many smaller indies, including two childrens specialty stores: A Childrens Place Bookstore and Green Bean Books. Located in the Alberta Arts District, Green Bean Books opened in 2009. We opened in the middle of the recession, owner Jennifer Green says, and everyone said dont do it. Yet she reports that since opening the store has seen consistent sales growth. Portland ranks second to last among Americas most populous cities in households with children, but Greens neighborhood has seen an influx of younger couples moving in and having kids, Green says. This neighborhood is chock-full of kids five and younger. Despite more young people, the store has had a hard time getting its YA section to take off. Green says that its a matter of waiting for the kids in the neighborhood to be old enough. The store has 15% of its mix devoted to sidelines, Green says, including six repurposed vending machines that dispense things such as finger puppets and mustaches, creating an interactive experience for kids. Green holds that elementcreating experienceto be her stores mission. Our calendar is full of events, and were a community meeting place, which is great, Green says. Were trying to get people to come here every day. Were creating not just a bookstore, but an experience. Thats our whole goal. Its all about community. Lots of Variety in Washington Seattles Third Place Books has three locations: Lake Forest Park, Ravenna, and its newest location, Seward Park. The Lake Forest Park store is 18 years old and has 15,000 sq. ft. of bookstore with a cafe, a stage, a community room, and a common area, all located in a northern suburb of Seattle. Managing partner Robert Sindelar says that the idea for the Lake Forest Park bookstore was based on the concept of a third place. He explains, Its a gathering place, not your home, not your work, but that third place in your life. This original location has a mix of new and used books and large seating areas where groups can meet. Since the development of the initial concept, however, consumer preferences have changed. Sindelar contextualizes the development of the original store, saying, This was when it seemed like Barnes & Noble and Borders were going to take over the world. There were threats from Walmart and Costco, and there were threats from Amazon that didnt seem nearly as threatening then as they do today. But all of those factors were in play. At that time, Third Place Books was unique enough that the store, which has to be driven to, drew people from a wide geographic areaa strategy that Sindelar says worked very well up through 2008. Then the economy falls apart, gas prices almost double, this store is a store people drive to, he notes. Very few people can walk to it. And e-books launched right around that time as well. That combination of factors made a lot of indie bookstores take a hit, but it definitely took a hit to this kind of model, this indie suburban superstore. As a result, the companys two most recent stores, the ones in Seattles Ravenna and Seward Park neighborhoods, are about 3,000 sq. ft. Third Place opened the Seward Park location in June of this year, because it noticed growing density in the southern part of Seattle (Seward Park is in southeast Seattle) as housing prices elsewhere in the city have been rising dramatically. Another Washington independent with multiple locations is Village Books, which has a store in Bellingham and one in Lynden; both focus on community. In fact, Building community one book at a time is the stores tagline. And its not just a tagline, explains general manager Paul Hanson. The selling of books helps to facilitate that mission [of building community]. It drives all of our business decisions. The store has roughly 350 author events annually, in addition to which it hosts other events, without authors, that are based around community building. Village Books also has a strong partnership with the local library system. Village Books was one of the first stores to get an Espresso Book Machine, and while that machine is now gone, it helped Village Books to build its in-store publishing program. The store has its own imprint, Chuckanut Editions, which focuses on local books. Chuckanut publishes the Chuckanut Reader, a quarterly magazine that Village Books sends out to its customers, and Chuckanut is publishing its first full-color photography book, Nooksack Wanderings by Bob Kandiko, this Christmas. Suzanne Droppert took over Shotwells Bookstore in Poulsbo, Wash., in 1996. She changed the name to Liberty Bay Books, moved it across the street, and quadrupled the inventory. Then, in 2015, she opened a satellite store a half-hour away in Bremerton. People in Bremerton, a military town with a shipyard and submarine base nearby, asked for a bookstore, Droppert says. She says that, while Liberty Bays Bremerton store is doing well, itd be nice if we did a whole lot better. People in Bremerton are out of the habit of going downtown to shop, Droppert explains, because of the many shuttered storefronts in the downtowns recent history. My goal is to change peoples habits of shopping, Droppert says. Everybody is used to clicking, and to come downtown, well, its a struggle. Despite the challenges, last year was Liberty Bays best year ever, which was bizarre, Droppert says. Thats even taking out the Bremerton store. I really think that that is due to the publishers giving us authors, bringing them to our schools and communities. Being a small store, we really appreciate that. Thats how we are making up in sales. Phil Bevis of Arundel Books in Seattle says that he is impressed with the new wave of bookstore owners. They have real business plans and real experience in other fields to draw on. Theyve lined their ducks up. Im really gratified to see the general level of confidence and excitement in existing businesses and the quality of people opening new stores. One example of the new wave of bookstore owners is Danielle Hulton of Adas Technical Books and Cafe in the Capitol Hill district of Seattle. Danielle opened Adas in 2010 with her husband David Hulton. Danielle was a computer engineer for four years until she realized that she wanted a career change that would allow her to stay involved in the industry. Her idea? To open a bookstore that had a focus on making STEM available to the general population. The original iteration of the store didnt include a cafe, but Danielle realized pretty quickly that being exclusively a bookstore was not a sustainable business model. Luckily, a space became available in the same neighborhood, and, with the help of an architect, Danielle and David opened a new, design-driven version of Adas that includes a cafe in November 2013. The new store not only has the cafe, but also a kids section and a coworking space available for rent. The stores sales are split roughly down the middle between the cafe and the store. Tom Nissley, owner of Seattles Phinney Books, worked on the books team at Amazon from 20002011. But after winning money on Jeopardy!, he decided to escape the golden handcuffs of his jobnot to open a bookstore, however, but to write books. His first book, A Readers Book of Days, came out from Norton in 2013, but writing wasnt enough to sustain Nissley financially. Thats when his neighborhood bookstore came up for sale. The more he looked into the idea of opening a bookstore, the more he thought it was a good time to get into the business. That was in June 2014. Since then, Nissley has developed a bookstore that, at only 1,200 square feet, thrives on its carefully chosen selection and its ability to connect with its community. Nissley puts a lot of care into his weekly newsletter and into Phinneys unique subscription book service, Phinney by Post. What distinguishes Phinneys subscription book service from other similar services is that Phinney chooses backlist titles. I choose an obscure or underappreciated backlist title that I think people dont know, but that I love, Nissley says. Even though Nissley is new to the business, the store is up again this year, he says. Its gone kind of as wed hoped so far. Its been fun to see how a small store works, and what the value of it is and how much people appreciate it. A Tough Go in Vancouver The soaring rents in Vancouver have left the city with no indie bookstore downtown. Even Indigo closed its superstore in favor of a smaller format, Indigospirit Outlet. Vancouver is not a great place now for bookstores, Ronald Hatch of Ronsdale Press says. We used to have some really splendid bookstores here, but now we have maybe three or four for a population of a million. The change in Vancouvers bookstore environment has changed Hatchs business. The big change over the last 1520 years for us is weve lost a lot of our habitat, he says. The ecology of bookselling has really changed and driven out most of the kinds of booksellers that sustained the kind of publishing that we do and that other smaller and regionally based presses count on. That has been a huge factor, bigger than Amazon, I think, in shaping our work. Its much harder to put books in front of peoples noses. However, Mary-Ann Yazedjian, president of the B.C. Booksellers Association and manager of Book Warehouse (a division of Black Bond Books) in Vancouver, sees reasons for optimism. When Book Warehouses former owner Sharman King wanted to retire five years ago, he put his chain of indie stores up for sale. When his leases were up, if he couldnt sell, he let his stores close one by one, Yazedjian says. He got down to his last storethe flagship store on Broadway. Cathy Jesson, the owner of Black Bond Books, an indie chain with 10 locations in the suburbs, bought that last remaining location, just to keep Book Warehouse alive in Vancouver. That was five years ago, and since then Book Warehouse on Broadway has done so well that two and a half years ago Jesson opened a second Vancouver location. There are no bookstores in downtown proper, however, aside from used ones, because of the prohibitive rents. There are so many empty storefronts, its ridiculous, Yazedjian says. There doesnt seem to be any sense of landlords wanting to work with local indie businesses to make it affordable. Even though rents are high, so far Yazedjian says that Book Warehouse hasnt had problems with staffing and that sales are up across the board for both of Book Warehouses stores.It was doom and gloom about eight to 10 years ago when Amazon got really big and popular and started devaluing books like they do, Yazedjian says. That has plateaued. Area booksellers have gotten together to more actively promote local bookselling. Yazedjian also credits Authors for Indies, Canadas version of the States Indies First campaign, for helping to create awareness around supporting indie bookstores. Its a different bookselling story in Victoria. Munros Books, started by Jim Munro and his first wife, Alice Munro (yes, that one), in 1963, remains a destination. It is now located in a heritage bank building and is often named one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world. Jessica Walker, managing partner at Munros, says that, despite the fact that Jim Munro has retired, passing the store on to four longtime employees, he still owns the building, which allows Munros Books to weather economic pressures. Victoria has a number of big independent bookstores that benefit from being on the cruise-ship circuit. Walker says that summers at the store are very busy with people heading up to Alaska on cruise ships. In part were blessed with not only a really strong home community of readers and writers, but the additional bonus of a lot of tourists. Business at Munros has been steadily climbing back from the dark days of 2009, Walker says. We had a really good summer this year. In part because of the shift in the U.S. dollar in the last year or so. For Munros, the blessing of their location also has its drawbacks, mainly that shipping is slow. We have to think pretty strategically at Christmastime because we dont get books in two days. Most of the time we get them in two weeks, so the time frame for responding to demand is longer. Bumps in the Road Even though the PNW region is booming, area bookstores face challenges. The influx of tech companies has not only driven up the rent and changed the character of the regions downtowns, it has also helped to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour. Robert Sindelar of Third Place Books says that figuring out how to provide a livable wage in Seattle is a challenge. He wonders how he can ensure that his staff can afford to live near the stores. Another challenge facing stores is the cultural one of consumer habit. According to a recent report, nearly half of U.S. households have an Amazon Prime membership. That news is making some booksellers uneasy about the future of shopping. Its what Sindelar calls Prime culture. Hes amazed by how quickly society has adopted using Prime as part of everyday life: Theres a segment of our population for whom Prime has become as integrated into their lives as googling something. To suggest not using Prime is to suggest that when you launch your browser you dont use Google. If youre in the bookstore business thats scary. Sindelar struggles with how to educate his customers about the disconnect of the person who actively says, I love your bookstore, but who spend his or her book-buying dollars elsewhere. He says that customers, even regulars, come into the store and, if hes out of the book that they need, they buy it online. To them theres no disconnect there. They dont think they are being a bad customer. They feel like they are supporting me, Sindelar says. He notices that customers are willing to spend money on things that stores have in stock on that day. Otherwise, theyre going online. Operating in Amazons Shadow Amazon may loom physically near to Seattle booksellers, but it cant offer what the indies do: a unique bookstore experience. Experience is the key, Phil Bevis of Arundel Books says. He adds that chains are the same in all towns, whereas indies are unique. You can get a book anywhere. So why go into an indie store? Bevis asks. The answer is because its going to be different. That is the real reason for the upswing in the indie market right now. To be completely cliche, there is kind of the belief that, if you build it, they will come, Sindelar says. If you do it right that is. Im a huge believer that there is a thirst for and continues to be a thirst for what we provide, but you have to put it close enough to people. Some booksellers believe that there is room for online book shopping and bricks-and-mortar booksellers to exist side by side. Amazon cant ever replicate the experience that Adas Technical Books and Cafe provides, Danielle Hulton says. I think a lot of our regular customers buy from both Amazon and us and Im okay with that. I also think a lot of our customers work at Amazon, and our store speaks to those technically minded people. Its actually great. Additionally, Amazons much publicized decision to open bricks-and-mortar stores doesnt have indies sweating too much. Miriam Sontz of Powells finds it to be a form of flattery: Its an acknowledgement that theres something that goes on specifically with bookstores thats not reproducible online. She points out that for people who live in neighborhoods where indie bookstores dont exist, readers have little choice but to use Amazon.I think the leverage that Amazon has is that there are many communities that do not have that kind of alternative, Sontz says. When you dont know what youre looking for, shopping online can be extremely frustrating, she adds. Various engines have tried to tell you what you might like, and those have all been abject failures. Theres nothing like talking to a human being about the book you should read. I think that has value. I think that value is being more and more understood, just as the number of e-books selling has declined. Tom Nissley of Phinney Books says that he, too, takes Amazons decision to open bricks-and-mortar stores as a form of tribute, though he realizes that it definitely could threaten existing indie bookstores to have that kind of competition. As a former Amazon employee, he has something of an insider view. When I left Amazon they really thought that the physical book was going to be dead in five years, Nissley says. I think they are doing it for branding reasons and to get people into Prime and to sell devicesthey arent really bookstores. Nissley further notes that by making books the center of attention of the stores, at least for now, Amazon is acknowledging that physical books arent going away. Sindelar adds, Years and years ago it was just shaking your fist at Amazon or B&N or whoever deserved some fist-shaking at the time. About seven years ago or so we made a conscious decision as a company to say we cannot define ourselves in their shadow. Either what we do is unique and has purpose and people are willing to pay for itor what we do doesnt serve our communities and well have to close. Nissley agrees. As an ex-Amazon person coming into this business, the main thing I took away from that is that I dont have to compete with Amazon. Im doing something really different. Six or seven years ago it was a different story, but I think my customers are very conscious of why they are coming into my store. They are not expecting what they get from Amazon. I dont worry about competing with them. I just offer something so different. Return to the main feature. We live in gray times, the days of stark black and white far behind us. In fiction, particularly crime fiction, the means for making sense of this gray landscape so often is the lawman (or law-woman), as conflicted a label as that now may be. The cop is such a fascinating topicdirty or clean, says Juliet Grames, associate publisher at Soho Press. Were at a historical moment where a lot of Americans are experiencing the cognitive dissonance that both of these [labels] exist simultaneously, and for good reason, all over the country. Upcoming crime novels set in all corners of this country and, indeed, across the globe, reflect this uneasy state: its often those who are meant to do the protecting who end up being feared the most. Here, we take a look at whats next in graft, corruption, and brutality. But dont worry: its only fiction, right? New Yorks Not-So-Finest For Julia Dahl, who sets her Rebekah Roberts series in the Hasidic communities of New York City, the Big Apple is defined by neither the vice and grime of the not-so-distant past nor the picturesque Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty of tourists postcards. She began writing about New Yorks Hasidic communities because she was interested in their relationship with the police department, she says. There is a desire among many haredi [or ultra-Orthodox] to handle unpleasant thingschild abuse, domestic violence, mental illnessin the fold. Conviction (Minotaur, Jan. 2017) details a fictional 1992 murdera year after the Crown Heights riots in Brooklynthat leads to the potential wrongful conviction of a teenager. The effects of this possible injustice reverberate decades later for Dahls series protagonist, investigative journalist Rebekah Roberts, as sheand Dahlstudy the teen who claims he didnt do the crime and also the systemic problems that allowed for the situation to arise in the first place. Further east in Suffolk County, Long Island, retired cop Gus Murphy, who now drives a hotel van, tangles with the Russian mob in What You Break by Reed Farrel Coleman (Putnam, Feb. 2017). For the authors first Murphy installment, 2016s Where It Hurts, Coleman says that he didnt need to stretch [his] imagination, in that there was a huge corruption and brutality scandal playing out in the media in Suffolk County. Even though Coleman says that Gus isnt defined by corruption like prior series protagonists of Colemans such as Moe Prager (2014s The Hollow Girl), who is molded by the corruption of the NYPD of the 1970s and 80s, this new series still cant escape the stink of dirty cops, even if theyre not front and center. The cops might have one way of dealing with the Russian mob on paper, but its very different on the street and behind closed doors, and those are the places that Gus, no longer an official law enforcement officer, must look. In Proving Ground by Peter Blauner (Minotaur, May 2017), a veteran novelist and coexecutive producer for CBSs Blue Bloods, an NYPD detective trying to get back on her feet professionally after a demotion, courtesy of a corrupt ex-partner, gets caught up in the investigation of the murder of a civil rights attorney who spearheaded high-profile cases against the NYPD. Even though corruption is very much part of the atmosphere all my characters breathe, most peopleeven most police officerswould agree that its wrong, Blauner says. So thats not news. Which means you need to say something fresh about it every time. California Nightmare Los Angeles is a diva, and she deserves to be written in an honest, respectful way or else shell cut you, Rachel Howzell Hall says of the city where she sets her Det. Eloise Lou Norton series. A black cop working the streets she grew up in, Norton is an outlier in the ranks of crime fictions police detectives, a genre that skews heavily white. Norton, Hall says, is an LAPD homicide detective as well as a black woman who truly understands what it means to be black in a town where the police headquarters are named after a chief who was a segregationist. Deeply ingrained institutional racism, as well as a long history of police brutality and corruption, runs through Halls City of Saviors (Forge, Aug. 2017). Kristin Sevick, senior editor at Tor/Forge and Halls editor, underscores the importance of confronting subjects like those the author tackles throughout her series. Ignoring serious social issues like police corruption and brutality in a crime novel is akin to leaving social media out of a contemporary YA novel, Sevick says. You cant pretend these things dont exist, that the characters arent aware of the issues or impacted by them. Los Angeles takes a backseat in Daniel Pynes Catalina Eddy (Blue Rider, Mar. 2017), which ranges across much of Southern California over three decades. David Rosenthal, president and publisher at Blue Rider/Plume, describes Eddy as three criminal-justice novellas containing bad cops, bad prosecutors, and good cops and good prosecutors in each. Pyne, a veteran screenwriter with Miami Vice and Alcatraz on his resume, makes the whole state of California as rotten as the cops at Eddys core, and its this starkness that made the book stand out for Rosenthal. We dont edit or publish in a vacuum, he says. All books are informed by the real world. A good book is about raising ideas, challenging received opinions. Southern Discomfort Down South, the cities may be smaller but the magnitude of the crimes doesnt shrink in proportion. Its the job of crime fiction to explore crime in all of its ramifications, says Terry Shames, author of An Unsettling Crime for Samuel Craddock (Prometheus Books, Jan. 2017). Shames sets her series featuring Sheriff Craddock in the fictional Texas town of Jarrett Creek. When law enforcement is part of the problem, it presents a particularly difficult situation. Joe R. Lansdale, author of Rusty Puppy (Mulholland, Mar. 2017), set his long-running series featuring Hap Collins, who is white and straight, and Leonard Pine, who is black and gay, in his home area of East Texas because East Texas is what he knows. We are, unfortunately, famous for small-town-cop corruption, much of it racial, he says. In the latest installment of Becky Mastermans Brigid Quinn series, A Twist of the Knife (Minotaur, Mar. 2017), the ex-FBI agent leaves Arizona for her home state of Florida to help a former colleague investigate the possible wrongful conviction of a death row inmate. When she researched the setting for this latest book, Masterman discovered that, of the nearly 3,000 death row inmates in the United States, 400 of them reside in Florida, some for more than 20 years, she says. Mastermans editor, Hope Dellon, says that while she believes one of the key functions of a fiction editor is to try to help the authors imagination ring true to the reader and be as accurate to real life as possible, shes often skeptical of novels that are obviously ripped from the headlines and thinks that theres plenty of nonfiction that can address those topics directly. In Knife, she says, there is an undercurrent of corruption and incompetence that plays into the larger themes of determining guilt or innocence. Of course, as Masterman points out, None of my characters see themselves as corrupttheyre only seeking justice. Im interested in how far theyll go to get it. Trudy Nan Boyces Atlanta-based Old Bones (Putnam, Feb. 2017) touches on a theme of deeply embedded institutional racism, similar to that of Halls Los Angeles-based series. Minority issues are a part of the fabric of my city, Boyce says. Its an iconic city for coming to grips with injustice. Bones tackles issues that readers see in the news every day: violence alongside peaceful protests, and gun crime on a college campus. Boyce sets Bones around the historically black Spelman College, in the wake of protest for police reform. Just as in Los Angeles, where the LAPD headquarters bears the name of a racist former police chief, the wounds of Atlanta, and beyond, are deep. The use-of-force incidents in the media in recent years did not start with the moment an officer came in contact with the individual, Boyce says. They began centuries earlier. Elsewhere in the United States of Crime Seattle, with its inclement weather and the unusually high number of serial killers who have lived or operated near there, provides the backdrop for Edward Kays debut, At Ropes End (Crooked Lane, Jan. 2017). Kays protagonist, a forensic psychologist with a troubled past who specializes in eyewitness recall, pairs up with a cop to solve what appears to be a case of serial murder. A journalist from a cop family, Kay says that it was inevitable that [police corruption] would turn up in my writing. Since before the days of Al Capone, Chicago has had a reputation as a playground for corrupt politicians whose malefactions often spilled over into the police force. Danny Gardners self-published debut novel, A Negro and an Ofay, which Down & Out Books has picked up for publication in May 2017, tackles Chicago corruption and racial tensions in the 1950s. His biracial protagonist, a detective named Elliot Caprice, killed two crooked cops, which doesnt bode well for his reputation with the Chicago PD. Now hes working as a process server in his farming hometown, until a murder beckons him back to the job. Heading to the Southwest, James R. Scarantino makes it clear that the Santa Fe of his novels, while charming, artsy, magical, and a tourist and Hollywood favorite, is also a shockingly stratified community. His series protagonist, Det. Denise Aragon, grew up in the forgotten Santa Fe and, Scarantino says, works in both Santa Fes, and they are far more violent in reality than the tourist council wants us to know. In Compromised (Midnight Ink, Feb. 2017), Aragon wrestles with unruly witnesses, an untrustworthy judge, and the machinations of the secret powers behind Santa Fe society, including the sometimes murderous men who make things happen behind the scenes. Sometimes their schemes include turning cops dirty and, as Scarantino says, it would be writing lies to gloss over the flaws of those who wear police uniforms and perpetrate violence. Near the Arizona Navajo Reservation, Gwen Florios fictional journalist Lola Wicks confronts the threat of ecoterrorists in Reservations (Midnight Ink, Mar. 2017), the fourth in her Lola Wicks series. Florio says that the new book, as with all of her novels, deals with the truism that power corruptswhether held by police, politicians, or just ordinary people who unexpectedly find themselves vested with it. The author, who is also a journalist, believes that its the job of journalism and, sometimes, fiction, to point out when our public institutions are failing, and one of the starkest failures is when police, instead of protecting our most vulnerable citizens, abuse and prey upon them. Corruption Goes Global Norway The Fifth Element Jrgen Brekke. Minotaur, Feb. 2017 In Brekkes third Trondheim-set series installment featuring police inspector Odd Singsaker, Singsaker struggles to uncover who murdered his wife. According to Brekke, a corrupt policeman, who at the same time is a broken down, disillusioned, and nihilistic individual, helps to form the core of the story along with Singsaker, himself accused of misconduct and violent behavior. Though he sees Element as a character-driven tale, Brekke is quick to point out that police brutality is, sadly, a recurring issue even in small, democratic, and relatively peaceful societies such as [Norway]. Scotland Every Night I Dream of Hell Malcolm Mackay. Mulholland, Apr. 2017 The police force will always be, to some extent, a reflection of the society it serves, Scottish author Malcolm Mackay says, and sometimes society is a horrible, violent, prejudiced embarrassment. Even though Mackays novels deal primarily with organized crime, his Glaswegian coppers dont come off looking any better than the criminals theyre meant to be chasing. Perhaps thats because, according to Mackay, hes writing about the corruption of the people who should be fighting it, police lured into working against the very people theyre supposed to protect, out of greed or stupidity. Rather Be the Devil Ian Rankin. Little, Brown, Jan. 2017 In Edinburgh, Rankins now semiretired Det. John Rebuscelebrating 30 years on the page in 2017is king. The character, whos known for bending the rules, isnt opposed to doing whatevers necessary to get the job done, regardless of the cost. Things have changed over his three decades on the force, though. Readers like their fictional mavericks and outsiders, Rankin says. But those good old bad old days are not the ones I want to return to in the real worldI like to think that cops know they cant get away with the tricks they used to pull. The Rebus of 2017 is a far cry from the hard-drinking detective of 1987s Knots & Crosses. But he still gets results. Northern Ireland Police at the Station and They Dont Look Friendly Adrian McKinty. Seventh Street, Mar. 2017 Nothing quite says bad old days like being a cop in Belfast during the 1980s at the height of the Troubles, the setting for Adrian McKintys Sean Duffy series. When youre dealing with the RUC [Royal Ulster Constabulary], possiblyalong with the South African policethe most controversial police force in the world in the 70s and 80s, McKinty says, you cant ignore the issues of racism, sectarianism, shoot-to-kill, brutality, and corruption. And Belfast in the 1980s was such an insane Blade Runnerlike world of soldiers and police, daily riots, rain, and terrorist attacks, McKinty says. India The Third Squad V. Sanjay Kumar. Akashic, Mar. 2017 In The Third Squad, Indian author V. Sanjay Kumars novel focusing on the extrajudicial assassinations of suspected criminals that took place in Mumbai 20 years ago, it was important to Kumar not only to tell a socially relevant story but also, he says, to depict my city, my Mumbai, the one left behind by the hollow promises of neoliberalism and progress. The relationship between the police and the citizens of India is fraught, Kumar says, and petty corruption is widespread in all walks of life, including the police force. Telling individual stories can illuminate larger systemic issues, as evidenced in Squad. Ibrahim Ahmad, editorial director at Akashic, calls Squad a character study of a cop developing a sense of right and wrong in the face of systemic, wholesale corruptionalmost like an Indian Serpico. Below, more on the subject of mysteries. Down and Dirty in Detroit: PW Talks with Stephen Mack Jones Poet and playwright Jones sets his first crime novel, 'August Snow,' in a corruption-ridden Detroit. Jordan Foster is a freelance writer in Portland, Ore. She received her M.F.A. in fiction from Columbia University. There certainly is a lot on a new president-elects desk, particularly this one. Donald Trumps plate is way overflowing with real changes he needs to make, plus a lot of garbage being thrown at him from all corners of the main stream media and from his own party members. Obviously he must prioritize a list of deeds he wants to accomplish in his first 100 days, or else he may be stymied for the remainder of his presidency. Although some changes have been announced, there are lesser known changes he needs to make as well. I am not talking about the obvious Obamacare, energy, education, taxation, illegal immigration, national defense and foreign policies he must change to put the country back on the right track. Im not talking about establishing his White House governing team or replacing some 4,100 Democrat appointees, which will require enormous effort. Im talking about some less newsworthy items he should accomplish to protect our republic from those who do not understand how their own government works. Who are these diabolicals? Well, they are not the deplorables who voted for him. You see the George Soros-funded diabolicals rioting on TV daily, protesting about losing the election. But there are far worse things that can happen. Back in December 2015 I wrote a column on my predictions for 2016. One of them is scary indeed: President Obama will not be leaving office, so the general election will be moot. There will be substantial rioting and fierce fighting in our inner cities, causing a state of emergency to be declared. Under an executive order signed in March of 2012 called the National Defense Resources Preparedness Order, President Obama can implement Martial Law even in peacetime. It seems that unrest caused by the 'Occupy' movement, followed by the 'Black Lives Matter' movement, will create well-trained anti-American anarchists to participate in violent civil disobedience, triggering all the requirements for Mr. Obama to stay in power until the unrest is quelled. With Congress 'temporarily' dissolved, that wont happen soon. My closing argument was, the best approach to insure that this prediction never happens is for Congress to revisit this executive order and pass a law which controls, rather than expands, the power of the presidency. That is just good legislative business, whether this prediction could come to pass or not. I do admit it is a little over the top, but if even part of it comes true, were in for a rough ride in 2016. We better start waking up right now or our way of life may perish from this earth. Yes. Maybe I was over the top on that prediction, but it doesnt change the fact that it could happen. There are lots of these less-obvious policy changes that need president-elect priority along with the big, well-known ones. Others include addressing away from the 'hood employment, discipline and respect for authority training for our inner city youth; protect our freedom of speech by replacing the Federal Communications Commissioners with strict constitutionists; develop law which severely punishes those in government who would politicize our executive branch cabinets, agencies, commissions, etc. as happened in the current administration -- IRS, Justice, FBI, and many more; make it very clear to all that his administration will finally manage the executive branch, to include systematic reduction of spending, which hasnt been accomplished for at least 15 years. There are many more such changes that will need to be made very quickly. I suggest that the transition team establish a small office to find and propose fixes to many, if not all, of these less-important policy changes. MOUNT HOOD NATIONAL FOREST, Ore. (AP) Each year, thousands of Oregon parents hug their kids goodbye and send them tramping into the wilderness for up to a week to learn about their state's natural wonders. The Outdoor School program was groundbreaking when it started more than a half-century ago. Since then, more than 1 million children have enjoyed or endured this rite of passage at campsites scattered from Oregon's stormy coast to its towering evergreen forests to its rugged high desert. At the program's heyday, 90 percent of sixth-graders spent the week testing water samples, studying fungi and digging through topsoil. Today, just half of Oregon's 11- and 12-year-olds take part, mostly through a patchwork of grants, fundraising, parent fees and charitable donations. Caps on property taxes, plus the recent recession, have forced many school districts to scrap the program or whittle it down to just a few days. Now, backers of a statewide ballot measure want to use a slice of lottery proceeds to guarantee a week of Outdoor School for all children. If it passes, the measure would make Oregon the only state with dedicated funding for outdoor education, including students in charter, private and home schools, said Sarah Bodor, policy director for the North American Association for Environmental Education. Opponents, however, say its passage would mean deep cuts to a state agency tasked with economic development by siphoning away millions in lottery money critical to expanding Oregon business. And at least one outspoken state lawmaker worries Measure 99 would impose liberal Portland's values on children in rural Oregon where farming, mining, logging and fishing are a way of life. The push to fund Outdoor School dovetails with a national trend toward outdoor learning, Bodor said. More than two dozen states have developed environmental literacy plans as educators realize the importance of outdoor time for developing critical thinking and leadership skills, she said. "But these are really unfunded mandates and ... the outdoor component is the piece that very often gets left behind," Bodor said. Measure 99 would cover that unfunded cost by taking up to $22 million or 4 percent a quarter from the state lottery's economic development fund to send 50,000 fifth- or sixth-graders to Outdoor School each year. The Oregon State University Extension Service would dole out the money to school districts using a process that will be determined if the measure passes. Applying for the lottery funds would be voluntary, and schools, educational districts and nonprofits that already run Outdoor Schools around the state could continue to do so. To get the state funding, programs would have to meet certain criteria, including a curriculum that includes the study of plants, animals, soil and water; discussion of the role of natural resources in the state economy; and lessons on the relationship between economic growth, natural resources and conservation. "This is not a mandate it's an offer. And we wanted to make sure it was a real one, which means providing sufficient funding to cover the cost of a good, high-quality program," said Rex Burkholder, chairman of the Measure 99 campaign committee. With two weeks to go before the election, Measure 99 has no organized opposition, and polls indicate it will pass but not everyone is buying it. State Sen. Betsy Johnson, a Democrat who represents a rural district northwest of Portland, says lottery proceeds are for economic development, not camp. She worries Oregonians who remember their own Outdoor School experience will vote for the measure out of nostalgia without understanding it could hurt other programs. Economic Development for Central Oregon, a nonprofit that promotes job growth, says the money for Outdoor School would be equivalent to 70 percent of the budget for the state's economic development agency, which relies on lottery money. Efforts to bring television productions like "Grimm," ''Leverage" and "Portlandia" to Oregon could suffer as a result, it said. "It's so feel-good, it's so 'Oregon' that I just worry that people are not going to give it the level of scrutiny it deserves," Johnson said. "The assumption is Outdoor School ... will produce better citizens and good Oregonians. What's my metric to know if that really happens?" Supporters point to a Portland State University study that found students who participated in Outdoor School had improved attendance. They also highlight surveys by the Multnomah Education Service District which provides 7,000 students a year with Outdoor School that show the program boosts self-confidence and interest in math and science. At a recent five-day camp in Mount Hood National Forest, sixth-graders from Portland's Jackson Middle School seemed unaware of the politics surrounding their adventure. As a light drizzle fell, they dipped nets into a fog-cloaked pond surrounded by stands of Douglas fir trees, sketched water bugs in notebooks and tested the water's acidity and turbidity as rainbow trout jumped just a few feet away. Each child wore a "wood cookie" a cross-section of a small log emblazoned with their name and cabin assignment and decorated with beaded pins to denote their completion of field studies on plants, animals, soil and water. "It's definitely better out here," said 11-year-old Maya Herring, showing off her wood cookie festooned with beads and bling awarded by her counselor. "You can actually feel the nature. It's not just saying, 'This is what this fern looks like.' You can actually feel the fern for yourself." A Milan man filed a motion Thursday to withdraw his guilty plea to DUI charges and vacate a 12-year sentence. Dan E. Sylvester, 63, pleaded guilty June 30 in Rock Island County Circuit Court to two counts of aggravated driving under the influence, according to court documents. A third DUI charge was dismissed. Mr. Sylvester is alleged to have caused a Nov. 10, 2015, crash that seriously injured a Milan woman and her son just after midnight in the 6500 block of Airport Road in Moline. Officers say Mr. Sylvester was driving intoxicated and crossed the road's center line, striking an oncoming vehicle with Tammy Fuller, 49, and Cody Fuller, 19. The Fullers and Mr. Sylvester were hospitalized as a result of the crash Ms. Fuller's injuries have left her wheelchair-bound. She lives at a Quad-Cities rehabilitation center and is receiving treatment for her injuries. Charges allege the incident was Mr. Sylvester's fifth DUI offense. On Oct. 19, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison with one year of supervised release after his imprisonment. As part of the sentencing, it was determined Mr. Sylvester must serve at least 85 percent of his term of imprisonment. The 1960s and 1970s were a tumultuous time in Illinois history, rife with protests on a myriad of issues. Few were as heated -- or as damaging -- as the riots that surrounded the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The war in Vietnam was the main cause of the riots, though other factors fueled the angst. The assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy earlier in the year, along with lingering civil-rights issues, helped create a tinderbox among activists, who started pouring into Chicago in the days and weeks prior to the convention. That April, Chicago police had come under a barrage of criticism for their actions against race riots that turned deadly. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, whom some believe was second only to President Lyndon Baines Johnson in terms of political power, boldly declared that protesters at the convention would be controlled. As long as I am mayor, he said, there will be law and order in Chicago. Nobody is going to take over this city. Those words proved futile, but Daley was up for the challenge. He eventually established the largest military buildup in an American city since the Civil War, supplanting the 11,900-man Chicago police force with 7,500 Illinois National Guard troops, 7,500 riot-trained federal troops, hundreds of state and county police officers, a private security force at the convention site, and countless Secret Service agents. All told, the forces dwarfed the 10,000 dissidents in town by five-to-one. The dissidents were an odd mix, described by one source as a collection of young activists, radicals, protesters, hippies, and Yippies. Another said they brought the city to the edge of anarchy. Many supported the candidacy of Minnesota Sen. Eugene McCarthy and his anti-war stance. Some possessed marijuana, while others carried North Vietnamese flags; in at least one instance, dissidents attempted to insert a Viet Cong flag in the General Logan statue at Grant Park, which became one of the centers of the protests. Many marveled at the buildup of security; one protester recalled that we just couldnt quite get it through our heads that all that force was being lined up against us. At both Grant Park and Lincoln Park, protesters and police clashed frequently throughout the week. Meanwhile, the convention opened inside the International Amphitheatre on Monday, Aug. 26, which did little to stem the confrontations. Protesters barricaded themselves inside Lincoln Park, and police used tear gas to disperse them. Reporters and even some resident bystanders were attacked during the ensuing exchange. Two days later, the situation came to a head when the convention delegates voted to defeat a peace plank in the platform. At Grant Park, protesters replaced an American flag near the bandshell with a shirt that appeared either red or blood-splattered. Thousands of protesters then started moving toward the Amphitheatre, many chanting, Peace now! Peace now! Waiting for them were thousands of police, in line shoulder-to-shoulder, with nightsticks visible. The ensuing clash became the signature moment of the week. In a 17-minute confrontation that resembled a massive street riot, hundreds of protesters were beaten, while others were pushed back with tear gas. The bloody episode was captured nationally on live television, and many in the crowd chanted, The whole world is watching! Tempers also boiled inside the convention hall. In a nomination speech, Connecticut Sen. Abraham Ribicoff derided the Gestapo tactics on the streets of Chicago. On the floor, Daley appeared to respond with a profanity. Cameras also filmed numerous squabbles on the floor, and some reporters claimed they were shoved. The convention finally closed on Thursday, Aug. 29, and Hubert H. Humphrey, another Minnesota senator, left with the nomination for President. He would lose to Richard Nixon by only 500,000 votes in November. Seven of the protest leaders were tried early the next year, and they gave courtrooms circus-like atmospheres with their insolence. But Daley and the Chicago police bore the brunt of the criticism, which would haunt both Chicago and the Democratic Party for years. COLONA School board members on Thursday hired Carl Johnson as superintendent to replace the retiring Kyle Ganson next July. Mr. Johnson currently is principal at United Township High School in East Moline. He will start transitional activities in December. Also on Thursday, school board members heard the district's tentative 2016 tax levy for taxes payable next year is a 3.29 percent increase in this years proposed levy. The bond and interest levy for 2016 will be $255,419 compared to $258,929 levied in 2015. A hearing on the levy is planned Dec. 8. School board members also learned that health insurance under Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois is going up 25.83 percent. DAVENPORT This year's Festival of Trees Holiday Parade will step off as planned at 9:45 a.m. today, but how many large balloons make their way through downtown Davenport remains up in the air. Last year's parade was canceled because of predictions of 10 inches of snow and 30 miles per hour winds. This year, parade chair Mel Drucker had planned to spend Friday night again filling up balloons. A high winds advisory for Saturday changed those plans, forcing him instead to spend Friday afternoon letting volunteers know set up had been moved to 6 a.m. today less than four hours before the parade starts. That's also when the group will decide how many large balloons are airborne. The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory until 6 a.m. today, with northwest winds 15 to 20 miles per hour and gusts as high as 35 miles per hour. If the winds are calm, there will be 22 balloons in today's parade. "Having balloons held down by sandbags with these winds, it's not worth the risk," Mr. Drucker said. One large balloon will be filled with cold air and anchored on a flat bed truck, he said. Mr. Drucker said the decision is not just about keeping the balloon intact; organizers also must protect handlers and spectators. Each large balloon needs 32 people to safely carry it down the route. Medium-sized balloons require 15 to 24 handlers, while a small one can be handled by eight people. Three high school bands also have pulled out of today's parade because of weather fears. St. Ambrose University and the Metropolitan Youth Program's Drill Team still will march. The parade starts outside River Center North on 3rd Street near Pershing Avenue, turning at Ripley Street. It later turns again, onto 2nd Street and finishes just before Iowa Street. Starting at 7 a.m. today, there is no parking along the parade route until noon. Parking bans began Friday evening in the staging area from 3rd Street between Pershing Avenue and LeClaire Street and on Iowa Street from 2nd to 4th Street and continue until noon today. Parking is available at a special event discounted rate of $2 in the Harrison Street Ramp and the Redstone Ramp. The River Center Ramp also is available but at regular rates. GENESEO State Sen. Chuck Weaver, R-Peoria, on Friday said he supports key reform items Gov. Bruce Rauner is pushing in budget negotiations during the General Assembly's fall veto session. Sen. Weaver, whose 37th District includes Mercer County and most of Henry County, met with about 35 constituents at the Geneseo Community Center on Friday morning. He discussed issues involved in the state's budget impasse and solicited opinions from the group. The General Assembly began its fall veto session this week, with the work schedule cut from three to two days. That displeased Sen. Weaver, who blamed House Speaker Michael Madigan for the shortened session. "We should be here working on a budget," he said in a news release. The fall veto session is set to resume Nov. 29, leaving only a few days then remaining to pass a full budget for the remainder of the fiscal year. A six-month stopgap budget passed in late June expires Dec. 31. Accompanied by state representative-elect Daniel Swanson, R-Alpha, Sen. Weaver guided Friday's gathering through a discussion of issues involved in fixing the state's fiscal crisis and beyond that making Illinois more attractive for businesses to ramp up the tax base. He solicited responses and said he wished to make the session nonpartisan. Before it began, Sen. Weaver endorsed Gov. Rauner's key points, business-friendly reform items he would like to see before agreeing to tax increases. "I support ever item of his agenda the five key things that he's working on," Sen. Weaver said. Those items include: A property tax freeze Medical malpractice reform Term limits Workers' compensation reform to save business costs and tie injury claims to a much higher "causation" standard A "better mapping system for how we determine what district people are voting in." That last item which would take legislative redistricting out of political hands is the most important, Sen. Weaver said. "If we can fix that, we will, over time, fix the other problems," he said. He also praised Mr. Swanson who he said is "on the same page" and Savanna Mayor Tony McCombie, a Republican who unseated incumbent state Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, on Nov. 8. "I think Tony will be a star in Springfield," Sen. Weaver said. "She is a wonderful young lady who has her heart in the right place, works hard, great thinker, knows how to relate to people. "She's going to be a great asset." Today --Two Rivers United Methodist Church, 1820 5th Ave., Rock Island: noon, free meal, every Saturday. Sunday, Nov. 20 --Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Annawan: 1 p.m.; "Mother Teresa" film; Waunee Theater, 106 S. Main St., Kewanee; $10 for adults; free for kids 12 and younger; original, uncut full-length movie starring Olivia Hussey; part of the church's Ignatius Night at the Movies; 309-935-6540, 309-935-6652 or 309-314-4559. --First Presbyterian Church, 1620 1st St., W., Milan: 10 a.m.; guest speaker Leon Lagerstam, The Dispatch and Rock Island Argus Faith & Values editor; "Habakkuk-Mon: Gotta Catch 'em all," based on the third chapter of Bible book of Habakkuk, and the Pokemon craze. --St. Johns United Methodist Church, 109 E. 14 St.: 3rd Sunday at 3 concert series; featuring Davenport Chordbusters Chorus; 2 p.m., doors open; free; Bruce Wallace, 563-324-5278. --Monthly Quad Cities interparish pro-life Mass: 9 a.m.; Sacred Heart Cathedral, 422 East 10th St., Davenport. Tuesday, Nov. 22 --St. Mark's Anglican Church, 1550 7th Ave., Silvis: 5:30 p.m. "Celebrate Recovery" open meeting; continues every Tuesday, saintmarkssilvis.org/celebrate-recovery.html; for people struggling with depression, codependency, compulsive behaviors, addictions, anger, those dealing with past or current physical or sexual abuse issues, those in need of financial recovery and individuals struggling with grief or loss; child care available. --Thanksgiving Inter-Faith Service: 7 p.m., Second Baptist Church, 919 6th Ave., Rock Island; participating congregations are St. James and First Lutheran churches; St. Pius X Catholic Church; St. George Greek Orthodox; First Baptist Church; and Congregations Beth Israel at the Tri-City Jewish Center. Wednesday, Nov. 23 --First Lutheran Church, 1600 20th St., Rock Island: 7 p.m., Thanksgiving Community Worship Service; bring a nonperishable food item to donate to the Church of Peace Food Pantry. Thursday, Nov. 24 --Broadway Church, 710 23rd St., Rock Island: noon-1 p.m.; free traditional Thanksgiving dinner; dishes to pass are welcome; 309-786-2631. --Christ United Methodist Church, 3801 7th St., East Moline: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; free, annual Thanksgiving Day dinner; 309-755-2508. Sunday, Nov. 27 --RiverBend Bronze Handbell Choir Holiday Concert: 4 p.m.; St. Johns United Methodist Church, 109 E. 14th St., Davenport; free. Tuesday, Nov. 29 --Humility of Mary Housing Inc., Davenport: participating in national #GivingTuesday; learn more at givingtuesday.org; facebook.com/GivingTuesday; twitter.com/GivingTuesday; humilityofmaryhousing.com; facebook.com/hmhiowa. Sunday, Dec. 6 --Humility of Mary Center, 820 W. Central Park Ave., Davenport: 6:30-8:30 p.m., 8th annual Holiday Gift Swap presented by its Care of Earth committee; free; shop for items to re-gift; leftover items will be donated to Humility of Mary Housing and Shelter programs; homemade goodies; short film to inspire care of Earth. Saturday, Dec. 10 --Assumption Greek Orthodox Church's Philoptochos Society, 4900 Kennedy Drive, East Moline: 9 a.m.-noon, annual holiday bake sale, Church Cultural Center/Fellowship Hall; traditional ethnic dessert favorites such as Baklava, Koulourakia (butter twist cookies), Kourambiethes (powdered sugar cookies), Melomacarona (honey-dipped spice cookies), Paximathia (Greek Biscotti) and Greek Custard. Ever popular Tiropitakia (cheese puffs) and Spanakopitakia (spinach puffs), homemade bread and gift box assortment packages; place advance orders through Dec. 2 by calling Sue/Peter Lingris 309-762-0760, Celia Lubbers, 309-236-2301, or Diane Lamacki, 309-269-5536; advance order pickup times/dates are 3-6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, or 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Dec 10. Miscellaneous --Churches United of the Quad City Area received a $2,000 grant award from The Community Foundation of the Great River Bend. "What we are really designing this for is the squeezed middle, the people on average incomes who get $800-$1000 worth of tax relief," said Luxon. 2 hours ago It's no secret that the tech sector is a driving force for high-skill, high-wage job creation in the United States. Yet news stories are full of claims that these jobs provide unequal benefitstoo few women and minorities reap the gains. Rethinking what defines today's tech jobs, along with greater investment in public-private partnerships, could go a long way toward bridging the diversity gap. The current narrative surrounding tech jobs is not particularly flattering. There is a perception that tech benefits only a privileged few, offering little opportunity for the many. Congress has also taken an interest in the matter, holding frequent hearings and policy roundtables on the subject. Major tech companies like Google and Facebook perhaps unwittingly reinforce this narrative, reporting a stark lack of diversity in their tech workforce. Tech jobs as typically reported in mainstream news are narrowly defined as computer science engineering occupations found only in Silicon Valley. Little room is left for interpretationwhen someone refers to a tech job, an app developer or hardware engineer likely comes to mind, holed up in a shared workspace or corporate campus somewhere in the Bay Area. It has been a well-documented fact that relatively few of these tech jobs are filled by women, African-Americans or Hispanics. Yet this pervasive view provides an incomplete picture of tech jobs today. In reality, tech jobs can be found across the United States in virtually every industry. New York, Denver, Austin and Silicon Beach in Los Angeles are just a few tech clusters enjoying rapid growth, with jobs spanning industries such as finance, energy, healthcare and marketing. Jobs once thought of as being outside of techinstallation and repair, human resources, project management, sales and advertisingincreasingly heavily rely on tech-driven skills. That's why fostering greater tech diversity starts with rethinking what constitutes a tech job. Taking a broader view enables a more comprehensive strategy that could foster awareness and diversity, capture various skill levels and include tech employers across all pertinent industries. Some strategies are already in place to make tech more diverse and inclusive. Initiatives like the White House's TechHire, launched in 2015 to target and train young people for tech jobs, have trained thousands for careers in tech, healthcare and advanced manufacturing. Boot camps for coding are gaining traction across the country, as are corporate-sponsored hackathons and app design contests. And when Udacity, an online education provider, recently offered a new driverless car engineer credential, the program received 11,000 applications for 250 slots. These efforts are a promising start, but they are only a beginning. Behind the absence of tech diversity is a larger issue: a higher education system that emphasizes academic degrees over technical and vocational skills. There is a mismatch between the needs of employers, the skills provided by educational institutions, and the incentives for these institutions to adapt accordingly. As the pace of technological innovation and adoption rapidly increases, the imbalance will likely worsen. One oft-touted solutionmore four-year college degreesis not necessarily the answer to promoting diversity in tech jobs. Four-year degrees are expensive and often unnecessary given the skill requirements for many tech careers. Worse, such a societal requirement widens the diversity gap since four-year degrees are economically out of reach for many. Tech jobs come in many shapes and sizes, enabling alternative pathways into the workforce. That should be embraced. If policymakers want to expand opportunities, they could consider taking a different approach to tech-related education and training with public-private partnerships as the cornerstone. Such partnerships could come in many forms and include providing schools with technology, offering externships and directly providing training or scholarships. Community colleges, in particular, could play a critical role. As part of the current movement to provide enhanced student advising services, they could work with local employers to create more employer-student mentorships and apprenticeships. Such individualized attention could help keep students motivated to stay in school, and even increase notoriously low community college completion rates. Through restructuring current workforce grants and other financial aid programs, states and the federal government could provide incentives for schools to shift their resource allocation and academic priorities in this direction. States could also reward schools, particularly elementary and middle schools, for working with tech employers to promote early access and awareness to tech careers. High schools could also be compensated for developing career counseling programs that emphasize the potential value of technical and vocational job training. Finally, employers also can develop training pipelines for entry-level employees independent of any relationship with the government. In fact, programs like this already exist for management training purposes. For example, Lord & Taylor has an executive-trainee program, Enterprise a management-training program and AT&T a leadership program. It would not be much of a leap to create similar tech-training programs that could give employees an avenue to necessary skills that would be hard to obtain otherwise. If such programs were developed along with public-private partnerships, more workers could benefit from the tech jobs boom. Diana Gehlhaus Carew is an assistant policy analyst at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation and a doctoral candidate at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. She is also a senior fellow at the Progressive Policy Institute. This commentary originally appeared on The Hill on November 17, 2016. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis. A consortium of four companies has enabled Cablevision to become Argentinas first traditional operator to enter the over-the-top (OTT) arena. The telco has chosen Anevias time-shift TV and OTT solutions to support the recently-launched Cablevision Flow platform , which adds OTT features for the companys IPTV subscribers.Since 2011, a consortium including Anevia, Minerva and Verimatrix has been working with Cablevision for an IP-based service and, last year, the telco decided to launch a new platform that relied exclusively on OTT solutions. Due to growing demand, this meant not only offering subscribers multi-screen services, but also an array of time-shift TV services such as catch-up TV, replay, cloud DVR and start-over.The same consortium was then joined by Arris as the system integrator and developer of hybrid set-top boxes and, in 2015, the test platform was implemented. The service has been tested since last summer and was commercially launched last week.This success was made possible thanks to dedicated partners Verimatrix, Minerva, Arris and Anevia - teaming together to bring all their expertise and efforts to unveil Flow, the next generation TV platform offering its subscribers the most innovative viewer experience of the region, said Laurent Lafarge, CEO of Anevia . Our partnership with CVA will carry on as we will continuously propose and provide them with innovations that meet its users evolving consumption of programs. 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 Kylie Jenner threw her boyfriend Tyga a surprise birthday party Thursday and made sure to include the rapper's son, King Cairo. ADVERTISEMENT The 19-year-old "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" star enlisted the 4-year-old to help her surprise Tyga with an early 27th birthday celebration at her home in Hidden Hills, Calif. Jenner decorated her house with balloons and provided two birthday cakes for her beau. She shared a number of posts from the party on social media, including a video of Tyga arriving at the bash. "Happy early birthday @kinggoldchains," she captioned the clip on Instagram. Jenner and Tyga later jetted off on the rapper's birthday getaway. The couple are longtime friends who went public with their relationship at Jenner's 18th birthday party in August 2015. "The first year we started hanging out, everyone around him told him not to be with me. I still get comments like, 'Don't be with him.' But we're not doing it for the public -- we love each other," she said in the Oct/Nov issue of Complex. "We need to be together at all times," she admitted. "We never get mad at each other, we just figure things out." Jenner showed off her enormous promise ring and a new diamond necklace from Tyga on Snapchat earlier this month. Twenty-five years ago, in March of 1991, R.E.M. released Out of Time, the bands seventh album. On the record were hits such as Losing My Religion and cult classics such as Texarkana. The album shot to the top of not only the Billboard charts, but European charts as well. Voter guide: Race previews, what to know before you vote news With no money to buy food or pay taxes at check points, thousands of truck drivers are stranded at the Bihar-West Bengal-Assam borders. M I Khan reports. The demonetisation drive has resulted in thousands of trucks carrying perishable items being stranded at the Bihar-West Bengal-Assam borders since the last few days, officials said on Saturday. The goods in the trucks, which include vegetables, fruits, fish and eggs, are now either rotting or are in bad condition. "There is no cash with the drivers due to lack of new notes to pay taxes at the borders, and the state governments have not waived them off so far. This has badly hit transport services and affected inter-state trade," a transport department official said. Bihar Truck Owners Association president Bhanu Shekhar Singh told rediff.com that nearly 90 percent of transport business, especially trucking, has come to a stop thanks to demonetisation. "Look, we are helpless. The lack of currency notes in the denomination of 100, 50, 20, 10 and the new 500, has forced truck drivers to halt at the borders of different states. They just cannot make the entry tax payments at check points." Singh said dozens of truck owners had told him that their drivers and assistants were "starving and virtually begging to make ends meet." "The situation is no different at the international border checkpoints at Jogbani, Raxaul, Jainagar, Bhitta More and Sunhauli along the Bihar-Nepal border," he added. Singh cited the case of two truck drivers, Sultan Khan and Mukesh Yadav. While Khan, who left from Jammu with fruits for Assam last week, is stranded at the Dalkhola check post, Yadav's consignment of fish from Andhra Pradesh is on verge of total damage at the Bihar-West Bengal border. Rakesh Gupta, who owns three trucks, said his drivers managed to get diesel with the old notes but without were unable to buy food. Representative Image The currency ban has changed the lives of the people facilitating this move across India. 'Initially, crowd management was a big challenge': Bank manager R Krishna Das reports from Raipur. On the evening of November 8, Sunil Agrawal was returning from the circle office of the Punjab National Bank in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, when he received a phone call. On the other line was a relative on holiday who had been rendered penniless after the banning of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. "I immediately sensed that everyone would be facing a similar situation," says Agrawal, assistant general manager at PNB's main branch in Raipur. He called the cashier and enquired about the cash that was available in small denominations. On the morning of November 10, Agrawal left home earlier than usual. In his mind, he was already preparing for the scores of people who would visit the bank that day to exchange their old notes. Upon reaching his office, Agrawal called for a meeting with his staff. "I told them that they must deal with customers keeping themselves in their place," he says. Acting on his advice, the staff at this PNB branch ensured that all operations were handled smoothly. So seamless were their dealings with the customers that they managed to restore normalcy at the branch within a week. Agrawal himself handled a few counters when required. The longer than usual work hours forced him to order food from a nearby restaurant for the next two days. "Initially, crowd management was a big challenge for us," recalls Agrawal. "A lot of people just turned up to ask about something or the other." The situation, according to him, was brought under control within three days. "Only a few branches were crowded after the first three days. In fact, some media reports created a lot of chaos," he says. For the last few days, most of us haven't been able to go home: Cash van driver Virendra Singh Rawat reports from Lucknow. Ever since the demonetisation of high-value currency notes was announced, Pratap Singh has been a busy man. As against the 250 km he drives on most days, Singh has been clocking more than 700 km every day for the last week, scrambling to replenish ATMs that run out of cash. In addition to driving around Lucknow, Singh has also been delivering cash to districts such as Sitapur, Basti and Balrampur, which are located not far from the city. The logistics company Singh works for operates 150 such cash vans. "Usually, a driver works for eight to nine hours. For the last few days, though, most of us haven't even been able to go home. The demand for cash is so high," says Singh. The cash crunch has meant that drivers like Singh are now ferrying cash even at night, something that they don't do during the normal course. "Sometimes, we have to take a detour and travel about 200 km to deliver cash. The situation is that dire," rues Singh. So much so that his family has had to make frantic calls to his employers -- since Singh doesn't take calls while driving -- to know about his well-being in the last few days. In Singh's case, his employers have been appreciative of his efforts. "I've been getting refreshments and the company has also ensured that I'm given decent accommodation to stay the night while on the move," he says. Singh expects the situation to remain the same over the next couple of weeks. "Hopefully, it will start to ease after that." There aren't too many takers yet, but young students prefer to pay via the wallet: Tea-stall owner Manavi Kapur reports from New Delhi. In the bustling market at Sector 9, R K Puram, residents scramble around to find an ATM to withdraw cash. Greengrocers vendors expectantly look at passersby, hoping they have enough cash to buy their daily supplies. Business has slowed down since the currency ban, especially once people run out of a limited supply of low denomination notes. But Ram Pravesh, or Monu, is not worried. Sporting a Quick Response code for Paytm, a digital wallet, on the display window of his Sugreev Tea Shop, Pravesh has been quick to accept and adapt to change. "The team from Paytm visited me a couple of weeks ago, but I was not interested at the time. Luckily, I kept the business card and called them as soon as the currency ban was introduced," he says. Looking perplexed and excited in equal measures, Pravesh still marvels at the fame his shop has attracted in the last 10 days. He looks at the two men sipping cups of tea at the stall -- regular customers going by the camaraderie they share -- before he answers my questions. "There aren't too many takers yet, but young students prefer to pay via the wallet rather than cash." While he says it's too early to tell if business has improved, a simple QR code is attracting more people to his stall, if not for the tea, then out of sheer curiosity. I constantly stand outside the ATM without lunch or dinner: ATM guard Namrata Acharya reports from Kolkata. Earlier this week, at around 2 am, a small group of men got into a heated argument with the guards manning an ATM in the Dalhousie area of Kolkata. Their cause of frustration? The ATM, belonging to a public sector bank, had apparently run out of money. Soon, the crowd threatened to turn violent. Fearing for their lives, the guards hurriedly pulled down the shutters and took refuge inside. Their woes, however, did not end there. The men kept banging at the gates of the bank for the next one hour. "Earlier, the ATM was open the whole night but after that incident, we make sure we shut it down at 9 pm," says one of the guards posted at the ATM. The government's demonetisation drive has clearly left ATM guards in a sweat -- for most, managing the crowds has been a terrible hassle. "Every day, for 12 hours -- from 10 am to 10 pm -- I constantly stand outside the ATM, without having lunch or dinner," says Uttam Kumar Dey, a guard at a private sector bank in another part of Kolkata. "Customers, on the other hand, are taking out all their anger on us. We've also had to call the police a few times." Apart from dealing with public fury, guards have had to work ridiculously long hours for the last one week. "We take turns to go home. If I go home today, then it will be my colleague's turn tomorrow," explains Dey. While putting in the extra hours is not a problem for Kolkata'; security guards, they only hope that they would be paid extra for it too. IMAGE: The queue outside a bank in Mumbai. Photograph: Saahil Salvi With about 2,000 qualified engineers to service ATMs across the country, it is an uphill task to modify 220,000 machines, Nupur Anand and Anup Roy report. It is more than a week now and the banking sector is yet to recover from the government's demonetisation move. In fact, the ATM recalibration exercise has started only in the past four days and a little over 30,000 ATMs are ready for the new notes, according to people engaged in the operation. This translates into recalibration of 7,000 to 8,000 ATMs per day. Surely, the daily number will go up as the task force created under Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor S S Mundra intends to recalibrate 12,500 ATMs a day. However, that target is ambitious as the number of qualified engineers who can work on cash vending machines is limited. Also, parts of the cassettes used in ATMs of certain vendors are not available in the country and have to be imported. On top of that, sorting out the logistics is a herculean task in itself, say people engaged in the task. At the end of August 2016, scheduled commercial banks had 202,801 ATMs (both onsite and offsite). There are also some more white-label ATMs, but they are shut as banks don't have enough cash to feed even their own ATMs. Primarily, there are three major ATM providers in the country: NCR, Diebold and AGS. As per experts, these companies typically maintain one engineer per 100 to 200 ATMs. Hence, a back of the envelope calculation shows that across all these firms, there are no more than 2,000 engineers who can recalibrate ATMs. In any case, the engineers are either based in metro cities or major cities where the offices of these firms are located. According to the ATM operators, it takes at least five people to get an ATM up and running and coordinating their presence together is ending up becoming a big challenge. At any given point of time, apart from the engineer working on the recalibration, there two custodians who fill up cash in a machine. Both these custodians have half the password for the safety vault of the ATM machine and therefore both of them need to be present to load cash, and having two custodians also reduces risk of fraud. Apart from these three people working on the ATM, there has to be a security guard and a driver to ferry the cash from the currency chest to the ATMs. "It is this coming together of five people, and the travelling time required to reach an ATM, that is proving to be a logistical nightmare," said Aspy Engineer, CEO, ASDA Integrated Security Solutions, a cash risk management firm. A conservative estimate suggests that to recalibrate an ATM it can take up to three hours. And at this rate, to make more than 200,000 ATMs up and running would take weeks, if not months, say engineers. This explains why if an ATM breaks down in a semi-urban or rural area, it takes up to three days to link it up with the bank servers. And therefore, small towns could be the worst hit with this demonetisation move. Manjunath Rao, senior vice-president & head of sales, CMS Infosystems, explained that the companies will begin to face challenge as they begin to work in the semi-urban and rural areas. "Recalibration of these ATMs will be fast in the first week as the metros will be in focus, but as we begin to travel to the hinterland we will see some delay in the timeframe as the travelling time will increase and so there will be logistic issues that also need to be accounted for." In the hinterland though, banks are actively engaging micro ATMs as well as roping in banking correspondents. The Centre also said on Thursday, November 17, that money can be withdrawn swiping the cards at 2,500 petrol pumps (the scale will be ramped up to 20,000 gradually), which use State Bank of India point of sales. The total cost of recalibration could come to around Rs 200 crore (Rs 2 billion), which the banks will have to bear. To understand the math, the new recalibrated cassettes will cost Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000 a piece, and the cost of an engineer is typically Rs 2,500 for two hours, which approximately put the cost per ATM at Rs 10,000. Not enough Rs 500 notes Bankers say there are not enough new notes being supplied by the RBI, even after running its printing presses overtime. Once the ATM machines are recalibrated and enough Rs 500 notes are printed, the chaos will be under control, say bankers. It is not clear how many Rs 500 notes have been printed and the central bank is in no mood to reveal the figure either. The RBI on Friday, November 18, informed the Madras high court that details of the new Rs 500 notes could not be disclosed for security reasons. Even as top bankers assure the public that the situation will come under control in a week, bankers behind the counter at branches have a different view. For starters, the new Rs 500 notes have not been released in non-metro cities in a meaningful manner yet. Even in metro cities, the new notes are rare. Most branches just 20 km to 30 km away from metro cities have not seen the new Rs 500 rupee note as the currency chests are said to be putting metro branches on priority. A public sector bank branch manager on the outskirts of Kolkata told Business Standard that the currency chests are now dispensing soiled, old Rs 100 notes. Another big challenge is that since most of the ATMs have not been recalibrated, the banks can put only about Rs 3 lakh to Rs 4 lakh in denominations of Rs 100 as opposed to Rs 50 lakh to Rs 60 lakh that could be stored in denominations of Rs 500 to Rs 1,000. As a result of this, only 150 to 200 customers can be served, which means that even though money is being loaded, ATMs are drying up faster. Photograph: PTI Photo Boeing plans to set up an Indian factory and the aerospace ecosystem to build the Block II Super Hornet. Ajai Shukla reports from St Louis, Missouri. Following the lead of Swedish company Saab, Boeing has linked its offer to build a fighter aircraft in India with the promise of assistance in designing and building an Indian fifth-generation (Gen-5) fighter. In a presentation to the Indian media in St Louis, Missouri, where Boeing builds the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter, Boeing's Dan Gillian outlined a detailed road map from the Super Hornet to India's Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, the Gen-5 fighter that the Defence Research and Development Organisation hopes to build. Boeing's plan involves first setting up an Indian factory and the aerospace ecosystem to build the Block II Super Hornet, which will then be improved into the 'Advanced Super Hornet.' That infrastructure and design capability would give Indian designers the instruments to build the AMCA. Boeing's India chief Pratyush Kumar hardly disguises his scepticism of Saab's promise to help India in designing the AMCA. "America is the only country that has actually designed and manufactured stealthy, Gen-5 fighters," points out Kumar. "Stealth design is not a science. It is an art that is developed only after years of trial and error. Boeing has actually mastered that art while co-designing the F-35 joint strike fighter." Boeing is not in direct competition with Saab, which is pitching to build 100 to 200 single-engine fighters in India. Instead, Boeing will compete with European manufacturers, Dassault, and Eurofighter, to establish a factory that will churn out a similar number of twin-engine fighters. The Indian Air Force has already solicited interest from global aerospace vendors in the single-engine category, and a similar request is expected soon for building twin-engine fighters. Kumar claims the F/A-18E/F, which was designed in the 1990s, is a decade more contemporary than its rivals like the Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon, which started being designed in the 1980s. "The Super Hornet is sometimes confused with the older F/A-18A/B Hornet fighter, which dates back to the 1970s. While they are superficially similar, the Super Hornet's brand new design incorporates a high degree of stealth." "For America, the Super Hornet was a stepping stone to the F-35, and it can be a stepping stone to the AMCA for India," argues Kumar. Boeing's new Super Hornet factory in St Louis is churning out two Super Hornets each month for the US Navy, which will continue inducting the fighter well into the 2020s. Each of America's 9-12 aircraft carriers (the final number will depend upon President Donald Trump's defence policy) will embark four squadrons of Super Hornets until 2028, when the F-35 Lightning II starts being inducted in significant numbers. By 2028, each carrier will have one squadron of the F-35, and by 2035 there will be two squadrons each of the Super Hornet and the F-35. "But the fighter will remain in service out to the 2040s and, until then, we will be developing upgrades every two years as part of a continuous development programme," says Gillian. The first improvement on the cards is an advanced cockpit system in 2018-2019. Also being developed, even without US Navy sanction and funding, are 'conformal fuel tanks' that will extend the fighter's 1,000-km strike range by 200 km; and a more powerful and fuel-economical F-414 engine that will increase the thrust by 18 per cent. Gillian says the Super Hornet is highly regarded by the US Navy not just because it is a capable and easy-to-maintain fighter, but also because it is the cheapest to operate in the entire US fighter fleet, even cheaper than the single-engine F-16. "The US Government Accountability Office rates the F/A-18E/F as the most economical fighter to operate on a cost per hour basis," says Gillian. The challenge for Boeing will be to build a supplier chain in India, like the one that feeds into the Super Hornet line at St Louis. This consists of 800 vendors in 44 states, which employ 60,000 people. Boeing's current Super Hornet vendors in India include Bharat Electronics Ltd, which builds electrical panels. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd is building wire bundles and gun bay doors. Smaller companies are also joining the supply chain, including Rossell and SASMOS, which supply electrical equipment. IMAGE: F/A-18 Super Hornets fly over the Western Pacific Ocean. Photograph: US Navy photo One of Michelle Obamas go-to fashion designers has announced she will refuse to dress incoming First Lady Melania Trump, calling on other designers to do the same. IMAGE: The ever fashionable US First Lady to-be Melania Trump has worn designs by Gucci, Ralph Lauren and others. Sophie Theallet, whose dresses have been a fixture of Michelle Obamas wardrobe for the past eight years, said she would not continue to provide her services for the next First Family, in a statement released on Twitter on Thursday. In her statement, the French designer wrote, 'As one who celebrates and strives for diversity, individual freedom and respect for all lifestyles, I will not participate in dressing or associating in any way with the next First Lady. The rhetoric of racism, sexism and xenophobia unleashed by her husbands presidential campaign are incompatible with the shared values we live by. IMAGE: Sophie Theallet said that Melania's husband Donald Trump's rhetoric of racism, sexism and xenophobia are incompatible with the shared values we live by. Photograph: Andrew Kelly/Reuters I encourage my fellow designers to do the same. Integrity is our only true currency. During the election campaign, Melania's outfits have included designs by Ralph Lauren, Fendi, Gucci, Michael Kors and Dolce & Gabbana. All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was on Saturday shifted to a private room in a ward of Apollo Hospital in Chennai after she was admitted in the critical care unit on September 22. AIADMK spokesperson C R Saraswathy said Jayalalithaa was shifted to a ward. "We really thank God. Our honourable Chief Minister has been shifted to a ward. She has started a healthy life again," she told media persons in Chennai, adding "today is our Deepavali." AIADMK workers distributed sweets and danced outside the hospital premises, after hearing the news of Jayalalithaa being shifted to a private room in the hospital from the critical care unit. Referring to the views of Apollo Hospitals chairman P C Reddy that Jayalalithaa has recovered fully and is taking normal food, she said, "now honourable CM has been shifted to a ward. Very soon she will come home, we are very happy there are no words to express our feelings...we are so happy... we thank all the people who prayed for our Amma." Jayalalithaa was admitted to Apollo Hospitals on September 22 after she complained of fever and dehydration. She was put on a comprehensive line of treatment including antibiotics, respiratory support and passive physiotherapy. A team of doctors of Apollo, Dr Richard from a London hospital and speciality doctors from AIIMS Delhi attended on her. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday quoted lines from Nobel Laureate Bob Dylan's iconic "The times they are a-changin'", a song which had apparently become an anthem of change, to make a veiled reference to the political situation in the country in the backdrop of the demonetisation move as he addressed the Global Citizen Festival in Mumbai. "Back in 2014, I had enjoyed attending the Global Citizen Festival in the beautiful Central Park of New York. However, this time, my schedule did not permit me to come in person," Modi said in a video address to thousands of people who had gathered for the event in suburban Bandra Kurla complex. "I have had my own set of idols. But you will be perhaps more familiar with Bob Dylan, Norah Jones, Chris Martin and A R Rehman," Modi said. "So to quote from one of Dylan's transformative anthems which holds as much meaning today as it did when it was first sung in the 1960. "Come mothers and fathers, throughout the land, and don't criticise, what you can't understand. Your sons and your daughters, are beyond your command. Your old road is rapidly agin'. Please get out of the new one if you can't lend your hand, for the times they are a-changin'" Modi said, quoting Dylan's famous lines from the song released in 1964. "Elders must learn from these words of wisdom," he said. "We better get out of the way as indeed the times they are a changing," added the Prime Minister. "Artistes have often inspired generations. My dear young friends, I'm convinced we can and we will build a Swachh Bharat free of all forms of filth within one generation," he said. "You bring an energy and idealism that is unparallelled," he said, adding, "you can be the change you want". At the outset, Modi said, "I know that I stand between you and Coldplay and so will make this brief." Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was present at the festival, said, "Young India is eager to hear the Prime Minister." The Global Citizen Festival India was held at MMRDA Grounds in Bandra Kurla Complex locality and thousands of fans from across the country thronged the event. The festival featured performances by international as well as Indian celebrities. Apart from Coldplay, Jay-Z, Demi Lovato and The Vamps, Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, A R Rahman, Ranveer Singh and Katrina Kaif were among the performers. Global Citizen Festival is focused on creating an impact in areas of education, equality, and clean water and sanitation. The festival, launched in 2012, partners with the Global Poverty Project, a movement aiming to end extreme poverty by 2030. A Border Security Force jawan and a woman were injured and two houses damaged on Saturday when Pakistani troops targeted Indian posts and civilian areas along the LoC in Nowshera and Sunderbani sectors of Rajouri district with mortar bombs and small arms fire, prompting the army to give a "befitting response". The firing in Sunderbani sector is the second ceasefire violation by the Pakistani side in less than six hours. A BSF jawan was injured in the ongoing cross-border firing along the Line of Control in Rajouri, a BSF official said in the evening. A woman was injured in the firing in another incident earlier in the day. "A woman identified as Shanti Devi (55) was injured and two houses were damaged in the heavy mortar shelling by the Pakistan army in the Khamba village in the Nowshera sector," a police officer said. He said the injured lady has been shifted to the Sub District Hospital, Nowshera, for treatment. Earlier in the morning, Pakistan army resorted to ceasefire violation in the Nowshera sector and in the afternoon they started firing in the Sunderbani sector targeting Indian posts and civilian areas. "Pakistan army resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation in the Nowshera sector from 1030 hours using 120 mm mortars and small arms fire. Our army is giving a befitting response to the Pakistani fire," a defence spokesman said. "Pakistan army resorted to ceasefire violation in the Sunderbani Sector using 120 mm mortars, automatic and small arms from 1410 hrs and it is being responded to befittingly by own troops," the spokesman said. On Thursday, Pakistani army had targeted Indian posts and civilian villages along the LoC in the Pallanwala sector of the Jammu district. Pakistani troops on Tuesday targeted Indian posts with heavy firing and shelling for four hours along the LoC in Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir, forcing Indian troops to retaliate. There have been a whopping 286 incidents of firing and shelling along the LoC and International Border in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistani troops that have resulted in the death of 26 people, including 14 security personnel, since the surgical strike on terrorist launch pads in PoK on September 29. A group of United Liberation Front of Asom's Independent faction and National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang militants on Saturday ambushed an army convoy at Pengeri in upper Assam's Tinsukia district, killing three Army jawans and injuring four others seriously. The group of 15 militants attacked the army convoy early morning and damaged two vehicles killing one jawan on the spot and seriously injuring six others, a defence spokesman said. Two of the injured succumbed to their injuries on way to the hospital, he said. Tinsukia Superintendent of Police Mugdhajyoti Mahanta said the ambush was carried out with very sophisticated weapons including rocket propelled grenade, AK-47 rifles and mortars. The security personnel retaliated but the militants managed to escape and it was yet to be ascertained whether there were any casualty or injuries among the militants, Mahanta said. A huge crater was created at the site of the ambush and two vehicles -- a jeep and a Shaktiman truck -- were completely damaged. Operations have been intensified in the area with army, police and CRPF personnel surrounding the area and launching massive combing operations. Helicopters have pressed into service for the purpose, the spokesman said. Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and took stock of the situation. Sonowal briefed the home minister about the incident, the situation arising of the explosion and the steps taken to nab the culprits. "I am deeply anguished by the death of Army soldiers in a blast in Tinsukia and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured," Singh said. The Assam chief minister strongly condemned the incident and directed Director General of Police Mukesh Sahay to rush to spot and review the situation. "We condemn the incident strongly. Operations will be intensified and stern action will be taken against the militants. None will be spared," he said in Guwahati. This is the second attack by ULFA(I) at Pengeri in a span of three days. On November 16, a man was killed and two were seriously injured when a vehicle carrying new currency notes to a tea garden for payment of wages to its labourers was fired upon Indiana American Water's $22M water treatment facility up & running in Mooresville Indiana American Water recently cut the ribbon on its $22 million water treatment facility as part of the largest investment the company has ever made in Mooresville. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below This just in... Tim Schmidt, City Council member in Garner, is among seven elected city officials to be awarded the Certified Elected Municipal Official (CEMO) designation. The designation was created by the Iowa League of Cities as a way to recognize elected officials who commit to continuing their professional development while in office. Schmidt is general manager of Pritchard Auto Co.-Garner. The recognition program allows attendees to build toward the CEMO designation while receiving meaningful, informative and useful information on topics that expand the elected officials knowledge and capabilities. Participation in the program is voluntary. The CEMO designation was awarded at a ceremony at the Iowa League of Cities Annual Conference & Exhibit in Des Moines. * * * Benjamin Stark, PLS, is a licensed professional land surveyor in Iowa with WHKS & Co. in Mason City. Stark has an AAS Degree from Des Moines Area Community College. Founded in 1948, WHKS provides consulting, engineering, planning and land surveying from offices in Mason City, Ames, Rochester, Minnesota, and East Dubuque and Springfield, Illinois. * * * Abby Duregger and Heather Garza have joined Lichtsinn RV in Forest City. Duregger, administrative assistant, is a Garner-Hayfield High School graduate and attended the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. Before joining Lichtsinn RV she was a merchandising operations leader at Petco. Garza is an RV finishing and quality control lead, where she helps oversee the finishing process for all dealership vehicles. She is a WCLT High graduate and attended Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo. Before joining the Lichtsinn RV team, Garza was a 3M film applicator at CDI. Lichtsinn RV is the No. 1 dealer of Winnebago motor homes in all of North America for a single point location dealership. * * * Tirzah Wedewer, director and vice president and CFO for Security Savings Bank, was recently honored by Northwestern Financial Review as a 2016 Outstanding Woman in Banking. Each fall the publication accepts nominations for bankers who have made significant contributions to their bank, their industry and their community. Wedewer has worked in all areas of the bank with an emphasis in business development, lending, depository services and management of the holding company operations. Her grandfather, Cecil Dunn, and her father, Mike Dunn have been involved in the ownership and management of the bank since 1978. Today this involvement extends to the third generation of the Dunn family. Her brother, Nate Dunn, is F & M Bank vice president. Security Savings Bank, a division of Farmers and Merchants Savings Bank, has been in business for 117 years and serve clients in Eagle Grove, Goldfield and Clarion. * * * Jeff Kubacki has been hired as vice president information technology, chief information officer, at Winnebago Industries Inc. Kubacki previously was vice president and chief information officer at Westinghouse Electric Co., a global provider of nuclear power plant products and services. Switzerland has replied to Moscows demands for an explanation about why Swiss fighter jets flew alongside a Russian government airliner heading to Peru by saying on November 19 that the jets were making a routine check of the planes identity. The Swiss Defense Ministry said that two of its fighter jets had flown alongside the Russian plane for seven minutes over Swiss territory on November 18. It said such checks are conducted around 400 times a year to double-check the identity of planes belonging to foreign governments. Russias embassy in Switzerland said in a tweet earlier on November 19 that "[We] have expressed surprise and asked for explanations from Switzerland over the incident. The embassy sent the Swiss government a letter on November 19 emphasizing that the flight plan of the plane, which was carrying part of a Russian delegation to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima, had been submitted "well in advance." The planes flight path was not affected by the incident, and it continued on to a refueling stop in Lisbon, Portugal. At the time of the incident, the pilot of the Russian plane told the passengers not to be alarmed by the escort, which he said was a normal practice that had been agreed in advance. In Lisbon, however, the aircraft suffered a mechanical failure, forcing Russia to send another plane with spare parts to take the delegation and journalists covering the summit on to Lima. Technicians will repair the stricken aircraft and it will return to Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was flying to Lima in a separate aircraft from Sochi, was not affected by the breakdown. With reporting by Reuters, TASS, Interfax, and RIA Novosti A Russian hacker who was convicted for his leading role in one of the largest data thefts in U.S. history has been released from prison after serving most of his 12-year sentence. Vladimir Drinkman was released from a Pennsylvania jail on October 28, the U.S. Bureau of Prisons told RFE/RL. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) did not respond to an RFE/RL request for comment on whether Drinkman had been turned over for deportation, a process that can take up to several months. Drinkman's lawyer, Igor Litvak, declined to comment. RFE/RL could not immediately reach Drinkman. Drinkman was a key member of a criminal hacking group that penetrated major U.S. corporations, including Heartland Payment Systems, which at the time it was breached in 2008 was one of the biggest U.S. payment-processing firms. The Heartland attack -- the largest breach in history at the time -- cost the payment company more than $200 million in losses. Varonis, a U.S.-based cybersecurity firm, ranks the attack on Heartland among the 10 largest data breaches of all time. Chuck Brooks, a cybersecurity expert and adjunct professor at Georgetown University, said the Heartland hack was a "wake-up call" for the payments and financial industries to enhance their cyberdefenses. He said the breach led to stronger security policies, including a better understanding by CEOs and CFOs of the threats to business sustainability and reputation. "After the breach, many companies added more stringent data and security policies, including encryption, multifactor authentication, and monitoring of systems and networks," Brooks told RFE/RL. Heartland also later established the Payments Processing Information Sharing Council (PPISC), which serves as a forum for banks and payment processors to share information about breaches and compliance issues, he noted. In addition to breaking into Heartland, the hacking gang also breached Nasdaq OMX Group, 7-Eleven, JC Penney, JetBlue Airways, and others, according to prosecutors. In total, they stole the data of more than 160 million credit cards, leading to more than $300 million in damages. Greg Hunter, a Virginia-based lawyer who has represented cybercriminals from the former Soviet Union, said the Heartland case demonstrated the sophisticated evolution of Russian-speaking hackers. "This was the beginning of specialization," Hunter told RFE/RL. "Rather than an individual hacker spending a lot of time stealing credit card data and then trying to monetize it, you had guys specializing in breaching the security apparatus of a site, others selling the data." The appearance of hacker forums was critical to the phenomenon of a division of labor, he said. Hacker sites "allowed these guys to find each other and work together. A guy who breaches banks could just focus on that, knowing he could find others to either help him know what to get and how to use it, or just buy his services outright," Hunter said. Several of the most commonly used forums where hackers bought and sold stolen credit card data and traded tips included Cardplanet and Direct Connection. A Russian man, Aleksei Burkov, was extradited from Israel to the United States and later pleaded guilty in 2020 to U.S. charges related to his oversight of those forums. He was deported to Russia last year. According to U.S. court filings, Drinkman and another co-conspirator, Alexandr Kalinin, specialized in penetrating network security and gaining access to the corporate data systems. Drinkman along with a third man, Roman Kotov, also focused on mining the networks to steal valuable data. Another Russian man, Dmitry Smilyanets, then sold the stolen credit card information on forums for $10 to $50 each and distributed the proceeds of the scheme to the others, according to prosecutors. Kalinin and Kotov, both of whom are Russian citizens, are believed to still be in Russia. Drinkman was arrested in the Netherlands in June 2012 at the request of the United States, along with Smilyanets. While Smilyanets cooperated with U.S. authorities and arrived in the United States a few months after his arrest, Drinkman fought his extradition for more than a year. Ultimately, Drinkman pleaded guilty in 2015 and was sentenced to 12 years in prison, including time served since his arrest. It is one of the harshest sentences given to a Russian hacker. Drinkman served a total of 10 years and four months, or 86 percent of his sentence. U.S. federal prisoners earn credit each year for good behavior and typically serve 85 percent of their sentence. Smilyanets was sentenced to just time served, or less than six years, and currently resides in the United States, where he works as a cyberthreat intelligence analyst. He declined to comment when contacted by RFE/RL. Ukraine's first president, who helped usher in the peaceful dissolution of the Soviet Union 25 years ago, said Ukraine's leaders today must find a similarly peaceful resolution of the separatist conflict in the east. "We heeded our peoples then and signed the [dissolution] accords, and so why can't the country leaders today tap a solution consonant with the aspirations of their nations, which don't want a war?" Leonid Kravchuk said at an Atlantic Council event in Washington on November 18. While Kravchuk said the West must keep up economic pressure on Russia by maintaining sanctions until it agrees to stop its aggression in Ukraine, he added that "you will not achieve order in the world only through sanctions." Ukraine's only option in the end is to negotiate peace, he said. "We have only one prospect ahead of us, and it implies dialogue and agreements, Kravchuk said. Other prospects are nonexistent...I'm confident Ukraine has no other pathway than that of peace." Kravchuk has previously said that while he is ready to take up arms to defend his country, he believes Russia would quickly defeat Ukraine if an all-out war broke out between them. Kravchuk has also said previously that Ukraine might have to accept Russia's 2014 annexation of the Ukrainian Black Sea region of Crimea in order to regain control over territory in the east that is held by Russia-backed separatists as part of a peace settlement. "Donbas will return without fail, and we will not have to wait long," he told TASS in August. "As for Crimea, we will have to wait for a long time...Crimea was drawn into Moscow's orbit, so it is already part of the Russian federal system." In August, he called on Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to ditch the Minsk peace process sponsored by Germany and France, which has been stalled, and instead try to negotiate a settlement directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russia maintains that it is not a party to the conflict in eastern Ukraine, although Moscow provides military, political, and economic support to the separatist movements. The International Criminal Court (ICC) earlier this month determined the conflict in Ukraine to be "an international armed conflict between Ukraine and the Russian Federation." Also speaking at the Atlantic Council event, Gennady Burbulis, a close aide of the late Russian President Boris Yeltsin, who signed the 1991 agreement that dissolved the Soviet Union, said the West's harsh line against Russia has been ineffective at bringing about peace in Ukraine. Burbulis, who said the Soviet Union was doomed to fail, called for a softer, more nuanced dialogue with today's Kremlin. "There is no other way than consensus, but consensus implies a different understanding of politics, a different culture of relations, not guided by the principle, 'I am stronger and you are poorer,'" he said. Stanislav Shushkevich, who in 1991 was head of the Belarusian parliament and who also signed the agreement dissolving the Soviet Union with Yeltsin and Kravchuk, said that despite the success of the peaceful transition to a post-Soviet world back then, stubborn ethnic and territorial disputes have emerged and not all the old Soviet ways have disappeared. "A whole range of symbols of the old Soviet Union have been resurrected because the mentality of Soviet people has been preserved," he said. With reporting by AP and TASS Iraqi troops are facing stiff resistance from Islamic State (IS) militants as they push deeper into eastern Mosul, backed by aerial support from the U.S.-led international coalition. Major General Sami al-Aridi of the Iraqi special forces said on November 19 that IS militants were fighting in eastern Mosul with snipers, rocket-propelled grenades, and mortar rounds. To the west of Mosul, government-sanctioned Shiite militias took full control of the Tal Afar military airfield on November 18. Jaafar al-Husseini, a spokesman for one of the militias -- the Hezbollah Brigades -- said the clashes almost destroyed the airport but that it will be an important launching pad for the troops in their advance. The IS extremist group captured Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, in the summer of 2014. The offensive to retake the city, which was launched on October 17, is the biggest military operation in Iraq since U.S. troops left in 2011. According to the United Nations, more than 56,000 civilians have been forced from their homes since the operation began, out of nearly 1.5 million civilians living in and around Mosul. Based on reporting by Reuters and AP A Kosovar opposition activist found dead in his cell this month committed suicide and no one else was involved, a prosecutor said on November 18. Medical student Astrit Dehari's death triggered street protests after his nationalist Vetevendosje (VV) party called it murder by stangulation, accused the government of failing to protect him, and demanded an investigation. But an autopsy determined that the "blockage of the upper respiratory tract" was "self-inflicted," Kosovo authorities said. "All the evidence...shows that this case was a suicide," prosecutor Syle Hoxha said. Prosecutor Hoxha said authorities had examined all the video footage and questioned 17 people, but they had found no evidence of a crime. Dehari, 26, was arrested with five other members of the hard-line nationalist party in September on suspicion of being involved in a rocket-propelled-grenade attack on parliament. The attack was launched as lawmakers were preparing to vote on a border deal with neighboring Montenegro, a condition of getting visa-free access to the European Union. No one was injured. VV, the largest opposition party, opposes the deal, saying it hands over about 8,000 hectares of Kosovar territory to Montenegro. Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP The Pentagon has notified Congress that it plans to stop buying Russian Mi17 helicopters for Afghanistan and will start buying American helicopters. Ill never understand why the U.S. government sent taxpayer money to Russia for helicopters in Afghanistan while Russia was supporting the Assad regime in Syria and invading eastern Ukraine," said U.S. Senator Chris Murphy in announcing the decision on November 18. "When the Pentagon buys helicopters, they should be made in America, he said. The Department of Defense, after buying Russian helicopters for Afghan forces, said it will transition to buying Sikorsky Blackhawk helicopters that are made in Connecticut, Murphy's home state. Ironically, sanctions imposed on Russia by the West for its aggression in Ukraine have hampered the delivery of Russian helicopters and parts to Afghanistan in the last two years. In the face of Russias attempts to undermine our foreign policy goals in the Middle East and its continuing aggression in Ukraine, it is time that the United States end its reliance on Russian-made helicopters for operations in Afghanistan," said Representative Rosa DeLauro. "We must prioritize American manufacturers and our hardworking men and women at home, said DeLauro. With reporting by TASS Russia and Turkey will open negotiations about the possible purchase by Ankara of the advanced Russian-made S-400 air-defense system. Aleksandr Fomin, head of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, told Interfax on November 18 that an intergovernmental commission will "hold a meeting soon" to discuss a possible sale of the S-400. Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik said on November 17 that Ankara is considering purchasing the Russian system, but he also said he hoped the countrys NATO allies might offer other solutions. Turkey held talks on buying a similar air-defense system from China last year, but withdrew from the talks after NATO allies objected. The S-400 is a mobile air-defense system capable of hitting targets at a wide variety of ranges. In addition to shooting down conventional aircraft of all types, it is able to defend against ballistic and cruise missiles. Based on reporting by Interfax and dpa Several new Iowa Department of Natural Resources public hunting areas will provide multiple benefits for North Iowans. Tracts ranging from 25 to over 200 acres in Hancock, Winnebago, Worth and Wright counties will offer hunting for multiple wildlife species while also helping to reduce flooding and improve water quality, according to Clear Lake Wildlife Unit Manager TJ Herrick. He noted each new acquisition is located near existing public land, helping to form larger complexes that benefit wildlife and enhance recreational opportunities. In Hancock County DNR purchased 38 acres of floodplain grassland and timber along the Winnebago River northwest of Ventura. The former pasture was previously enrolled in a conservation easement and has undergone restoration of two oxbow wetlands and a small area of upland grasses. The tract will offer hunting opportunities for deer, turkey, waterfowl and possibly pheasant while also helping to reduce flooding and decrease sediment and nutrient delivery to the Winnebago. An adjacent private tract in a permanent conservation easement links the area to Torklesons Pits, a Hancock County Conservation Board public hunting and fishing area, creating well over a mile of contiguous protected habitat. This complex is less than a mile downstream from DNRs Gabrielson Wildlife Area and a few miles downstream from HCCBs Winnebago River Canoe Access, providing many options for paddlers. Its nice to have that greenbelt of riparian corridor connecting different public properties, Herrick said. Due to high water along the Winnebago River, boundary signage has not yet been installed on the south side of this property, Herrick noted. In Winnebago County DNR acquired two 160-acre tracts in the Harmon Lake area west of Scarville. Both were previously enrolled in conservation easements and restored to upland native grasses with pothole wetlands, offering outstanding habitat for pheasants and waterfowl. They made sense (to purchase) because they were already restored and within the complex that we already had up there, Herrick said. With pheasant numbers improving in the area over the last few seasons, Herrick said the properties have already been popular with hunters. A 25-acre addition on the east side of Joice Slough adjacent to Rice Lake in Worth County consists primarily of mature oak timber, a fairly rare commodity in North Iowa. There are already some people excited about that one, Herrick said. The timber provides excellent habitat for deer, turkey, rabbit and squirrel as well as numerous varieties of non-game birds. Some waterfowl species will nest in tree cavities and/or feed on acorns as well. Big Wall Lake southwest of Galt in Wright County features over 900 acres of publicly owned marsh. Until recently, however, there was minimal adjacent upland habitat. DNR acquired 230 acres of grassland and prairie potholes adjacent to the marsh. Previously restored and protected under a conservation easement, the area provides critical nesting habitat for pheasants, waterfowl and other ground-nesting birds while also improving water quality on the marsh. This acquisition and another pending purchase will allow DNR to close two ag drainage wells. These structures carry field tile discharge and any pollutants it might carry directly to the underlying aquifer. If I lived down in that county and pulled my drinking water from there, Id be ecstatic that these things are getting closed, Herrick said. While all of these properties are open to the public, the acquisitions may not yet be noted in published atlases or online maps. Those with questions about these or other North Iowa DNR areas can contact Herrick at 641-829-3285. DNRs interactive online hunting atlas found at http://programs.iowadnr.gov/maps/huntingatlas/default.html will likely be the first source updated to reflect the new acquisitions. The Award of Excellence was presented at the NAHRO Annual Conference in New Orleans on Oct. 16 Pictured from left: Frank Spinella, FJS Associates, William Sequino, Housing Commissioner, Tracy Johnson, EGHA Family Housing Manager, Cindy Overton, Housing Commissioner Chair, Marcia Sullivan, EGHA Executive Director, Steve Merritt, NAHRO National President, John Bohn, NAHRO Executive Director MASON CITY A sign posted by a Mason City church as a reminder of Gods unconditional love after a contentious election has been vandalized with spray paint. Again. The message outside First Congregational United Church of Christ reads: We are a sanctuary for the least, lost, gay & straight, female, MuslimFor all! Gods love wins! On Friday morning, Pastor Chuck Kelsey learned someone had sprayed red paint on the plastic sign covering over the word gay. Im so sad for people who cant get beyond hate, Kelsey said, sighing. What it is in their lives that causes them to hate so much? Everyone has a different story. Im more than willing to listen to their story, but Im not, you know, Im not willing to give in to the hate. Mason City church sign vandalized MASON CITY A Mason City church sign promoting an appearance by a gay mens chorus has been It was the second time this year that the sign outside the church at 100 First St. N.E. has been vandalized. In March, someone sprayed red paint all over a sign promoting an appearance by the Twin Cities Gay Mens Chorus. The church posted the current sign as a message of inclusiveness in the wake of last Tuesdays election. Election results dont matter to me, but the vitriolic language that occurred during the election and the promises made, if those promises are followed through with, scare the heck out of a lot of people, Kelsey said. And, so, intentionally, I was trying to figure out some way to respond to my own feelings about it but also to let people know that we are a safe place, he said. A Mason City police officer took photos of the damage. Kelsey submitted a statement for the officers report. Kelsey figures itll take $200-$300 to replace the plastic on the outside of the sign. Thats what it cost last time. He urged whoever damaged the sign to come talk to him. I would love to hear their story, as I do everybodys story, Kelsey said. And, if were going to be a community that truly can grow and do the things that a community should do, then we need to be able to talk about it. We need to be able to work past the anger and the hatred. MASON CITY Health and safety violations at a Mason City motel that had its license revoked this week allegedly include heavily soiled or stained mattresses and drapes, broken doors and locks, and holes in the floor at the top of a flight of stairs. Those violations at American Best Inn & Suites, 24 Fifth St. S.W., were listed in an inspection report by the Cerro Gordo County Health Department. Other alleged violations indicated in the report are missing outdoor lighting, a staircase handrail that had fallen off, inadequate lighting in a hallway, and litter and refuse in the grass outside the building and in storage rooms. In addition, many of the rooms inspected during an Oct. 28 visit had leaking sinks, missing handles for sinks and showers, and non-functioning valve shut-offs, according to the Health Department. The motel also was cited for missing or inadequate flooring, mold, flooding, cracked tiles and heavily soiled walls, floor and ceilings in many rooms. Ventilation fans were not working in seven occupied or unoccupied rooms, the inspection report stated. Many residents live at this facility, providing their own bedding, appliances, and maintenance, the report stated. The Oct. 28 inspection was prompted by an anonymous complaint to the county Health Department. City officials, including police officers and members of the Fire Department, accompanied the Health Department during the inspection, the report stated. The county Health Department revoked the motels license on Monday. The owners have 30 days to file a written appeal. The city has ordered all the guests to leave by Dec. 1. Robin Joines, manager of the motel, expressed her concerns to the Globe Gazette Thursday that the guests, who rely on the motel as a temporary place to stay until they can find something more permanent, will have nowhere to go.(tncms-asset)8cacd990-acf9-11e6-8279-00163ec2aa77(/tncms-asset) She said homeless shelters have a waiting list and it is difficult to find affordable housing in Mason City. Joines said the inspection report was exaggerated, and maintenance has since taken care of the issues in the occupied rooms and is now working on the unoccupied rooms. She also said police violated the rights of the guests by searching their rooms without a warrant during the inspection. Mason City Police Chief Jeff Brinkley said the officers did not search the property, but were available if the inspections personnel came across anything unusual or suspicious. The officers also verified the identities of the motels occupants for record-keeping purposes, according to Brinkley. He noted no one they encountered was wanted on any warrants. Brinkley said the police have been called to the motel in the past for a number of issues, including theft and suspicious activity. Mason City Fire Marshal Jamey Medlin said he went along on the Oct. 28 visit to do a routine fire inspection for the motel, the same as his department does for other businesses in town. He said he found nothing really major. Potential fire hazards included missing batteries in smoke alarms, candles in rooms that violated the no open flame policy, no proper cigarette disposal container outside the building, issues with drop cords, and fire extinguishers that had not been inspected, according to Medlin. He said a lawn mower was stored in one of the unoccupied rooms, noting anything that has fuel in it cant be stored inside the building. The fire department gave the motel 30 days to correct those issues, Medlin said. Ray Quayle, Mason City housing official and zoning administrator, said the owners of the motel are three doctors in the community but he did not know their names. Ace Ventures LLC is listed as the owner of the motel in Cerro Gordo County online property records. The agent for Ace Ventures LLC is listed as Aileen Prabhakaran. She is listed on the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa website as a physician with the hospitals Diabetes Center. The Globe Gazette left several messages for Prabhakaran on Thursday. A man who identified himself as her husband called the Globe and confirmed she is one of the partners but is not involved in the operation of the motel. The man declined to give his name to the Globe Gazette. A red Nissan Sentra was stolen Friday afternoon from outside Virginia Commonwealth Universitys Honors Dormitory on the 700 block of West Grace Street, according to VCU police. A student parked the car at about 2:24 p.m. Friday and briefly entered the dorm, VCU police said in an alert to students. Upon returning to the vehicle, which had 30-day temporary Virginia tags, the student saw a man enter it and drive off. The man who took the car was described as being in his late 20s and wearing a white shirt, dark pants and white sneakers. He was caught on surveillance cameras. STAFFORD The Stafford County man authorities believe killed his wife and two young daughters before taking his own life called 911 Thursday morning to report three murders and a suicide, according to a Sheriffs Office news release. He then identified himself as Lance Buckley and hung up the phone, the release stated. The Sheriffs Office on Friday identified those killed as Lance Calvin Buckley, 35; Amy Buckley, 30; Claire Buckley, 5; and Abigail Buckley, 18 months. After the 911 call at 8:41 a.m., deputies responded to the Windsor Forest home in northwestern Stafford and found four bodies on a lower floor, the news release stated. The state administrator for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond declined to confirm the causes of death Friday because he said relatives had not been notified. Detectives are continuing to investigate the incident, which the Sheriffs Office has called a domestic related murder-suicide. The Sheriffs Office has not said how the four died or what may have led to their deaths. The family lived with Lance Buckleys parents, who owned the home on Wilderness Court. It is not clear where the parents were at the time of the incident. Lance Buckley was in the news last year, when he disappeared for three days in May. After he was found unharmed at a campground near Harpers Ferry W.Va., his wife, Amy, wrote a heartfelt message on a website she had created to spread word of her husbands disappearance. She wrote that she was grateful for my precious babies, referring to her two young daughters. They are my oxygen, the reason I continued living when I faced my own personal hell thinking I might never see my husband alive again, she wrote on findlancebuckley.com, which has since been taken down. She called Lance Buckley her companion forever, best friend, and the man I love. I no longer take any day for granted because I experienced what I thought were my last days with him, Amy Buckley wrote. The healing process will take a while, but I know with your continued prayers we will emerge strong. Claire Buckley was a student at Rockhill Elementary in Stafford. In a statement, a school system spokeswoman noted that while the incident did not occur on school property, we know it can have an impact on our school community. A grief responders team was at Rockhill on Friday to help students and staff cope with the loss, the statement continued. Parents also received a letter from the school about the incident and the steps Rockhill is taking to help students. Supporting our school community is a top priority at Rockhill Elementary and all schools in SCPS, the statement concluded. Lance Buckley disappeared last year after catching a ride to Howard University in Washington, where he was enrolled in a Ph.D. program. His family thought he was graduating a few days later, but he did not. Buckleys LinkedIn page says he has a bachelors degree in biology from Brigham Young University in Idaho and five years of graduate level experience in microbiology at Howard University. The LinkedIn page states that Buckley was a teaching assistant at Howard University from August 2011 until May 2015, the month he disappeared. His position at Howard required him to give lectures, prepare laboratory exercises, and teach and assist undergraduate cell biology and immunology courses, according to the LinkedIn account. Donald Trump is headed to the White House. And according to his First 100 Days plan, environmentalists greatest fear during this election is about to come true: Our nations bedrock environmental protections are now under attack. The president-elect is a climate denier, and he has placed executives of big oil companies and other climate deniers on his transition team. One of these people is Virginias own Becky Norton Dunlop, former secretary of natural resources under Gov. George Allen, who not only had to resign from the Reagan administration for replacing career staff with political appointees, but was also rebuffed in her efforts to turn state parks and state environmental protections over to private companies. Since her days wreaking havoc on Virginias environment, Dunlop has spent most of that time working for the inside-the-beltway conservative think tank, The Heritage Foundation. Another transition team member, Mike McKenna, a current energy industry lobbyist and former director of external affairs at the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, is infamous for helping lead DEQ when it was accused in a bipartisan legislative report of coddling industrial polluters and neglecting to enforce water-quality laws, according to The Washington Post. So much for draining the swamp. Its clear just from the people hes surrounding himself with that President-elect Trump is already pursuing an anti-environmental agenda that will attempt to tear down much of the progress weve made. With an impotent Environmental Protection Agency, core safeguards that protect the Chesapeake Bay, our drinking water, and special places like Shenandoah National Park will be under constant attack. A Trump administration will also attack the strong climate legacy of the past eight years, including President Obamas signature climate effort, the Clean Power Plan, as well as an international accord to cut greenhouse gas emissions. So how then do we move forward? Strong environmental leadership at the state level is more important now than ever, and its up to Gov. Terry McAuliffe to do everything within his power to stand up to the reckless, radical and irresponsible erosion of environmental protections that are sure to come with Trump. First and foremost, McAuliffe should see through the important work on climate change he put into motion last summer with Executive Order 57, which directs his agencies to draft a state-based regulation that reduces the carbon footprint of our states fleet of power plants. Climate change is too great a threat not to make the heavy lift now when its needed most. This translates into at least a 40 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and the deployment of at least 1500 megawatts of clean solar power by 2025. Work on this plan is underway, with a final recommendation due to McAuliffe in May. Virginia cant solve the climate crisis on its own, but with federal action on climate on hiatus until at least the 2018 midterms, its up to states to lead. This makes implementing a strong carbon reduction plan in Virginia and growing our renewable energy sector even more paramount. McAuliffe needs to finish what he started, knowing the electorate is with him. Virginia rejected Trump and his regressive policies while other important swing states went his way. In the 2008, 2012 and 2016 presidential elections, as well as the 2013 gubernatorial contest, Virginia voters have embraced candidates who have run on strong environmental policies, including expanding renewable energy and addressing climate change. Nov. 8 also yielded the election to Congress of a Virginia climate champion with the victory of longtime state Sen. Don McEachin in the 4th District. This should send a signal to anyone seeking statewide office in Virginia that a strong environmental platform matters in a state on the front lines of the climate crisis. McAuliffe and his successor have a clear mandate to take meaningful action on climate and to protect our states clean water and open spaces against attacks at the federal level. Nov. 8, 2016, will no doubt go down as a dark day in the climate fight and for our environment in general. But we hopefully have brighter days ahead of us in Virginia. The 2017 gubernatorial election will be huge for the future of conservation in the commonwealth, and fortunately the electorate is clearly with us supporting clean air and water, combating climate change, and ensuring people have dignity in their lives. These should not be partisan issues. Lets hope leaders in the General Assembly and those vying for statewide office in 2017 recognize that fact. A decade ago, homebuilder Bill Stinson was looking for a site to build a new home for himself and his wife, Les Stinson. The couple considered the River Road corridor in western Henrico County, where Stinson had built homes for several subdivisions. Then he heard about a 181-acre parcel of woodland that ran along the James River in Powhatan County. The first time he visited it, the trees were so thick he couldnt see the river from a distance. And even as he walked along the rivers edge, he didnt know that the land rose dramatically above it. He discovered the rise afterwards, while studying a topographical map of the parcel. Once I saw the topo map, I knew it could be perfect, said Stinson, owner of W.L. Stinson Custom Homes Inc. The Stinsons made a successful offer on the land shortly afterward. Stinsons plans were more ambitious than merely building his own home, though. He envisioned subdividing the land and turning it into a 17-home community, to be called St. Lukes on the James. (The development takes its name from the historic St. Lukes Episcopal Church, which is located nearby on Huguenot Trail.) Ten-acre lots are the minimum in this area, and it was perfect for the homes I had been building for 30 years, Stinson said. After a career of building high-end homes in Greater Richmond, the St. Lukes community would represent the first time Stinson has served as a developer, with tasks including subdividing the land, laying out the lots and installing the road. It wasnt an unfamiliar task, though. Stinson had grown up with his father, John L. Stinson Sr., developing several neighborhoods, including Carter Oaks in western Henrico. And the developers E. Bryson Bryce Powell and James Kenneth Timmons had served as Stinsons mentors, as well. Stinson laid out five lots along the river and built a Georgian-style, 7,442-square-foot house on one of them for himself and his wife. Les is an interior decorator, so I did the outside, and she did the inside, he said. Standout features in the Stinsons house include a light-filled great room with a 20-foot ceiling and large windows that offer striking views of the river. We spend 99 percent of our time in the great room, Stinson said. Another custom-built, 8,358-square-foot house stands next to the Stinsons house on a 10-acre lot. In addition to the two riverfront houses, Stinson has sold two lots so far. Stinson was careful laying out the lots so that they all have privacy and views, said Karen Berkness, an associate broker with Joyner Fine Properties and the listing agent for St. Lukes on the James. The way he has preserved the lands beauty might be St. Lukes greatest attraction. Its gorgeous. Stinson has retired from homebuilding he finished his last client-driven project two years ago and he wont build the houses in St. Lukes. He will oversee the communitys architectural review board, though. I learned from Mr. Timmons and Bryce Powell that you have to keep quality up with tight architectural controls, he said. There are no restrictions on square footage in St. Lukes, but Berkness said she expected the houses in St. Lukes to be in the $1 million-plus range. Even as the community grows, Stinson doesnt think it will change a lot. Its just so private, he said. Even with 17 families, it will be quiet out here. _______________ DES MOINES The state Economic Development Board weighing whether to give $7 million to Mason Citys downtown redevelopment project is giving key elements of the plan a little more time to progress. The state board at its regular meeting Friday in Des Moines approved a 90-day extension for final approval of state financing for the project. The extension allows more time for the project to reach key benchmarks sought by the board. Mason City's Southbridge Mall sells for $1.5 million MASON CITY Southbridge Mall has been sold to a New York-based company specializing in mall Mason Citys $36.2 million downtown redevelopment project calls for a hotel, parking ramp, mixed-use building, music pavilion, and an ice arena and multipurpose center. The project received preliminary approval for $7 million in state financing through the states Reinvestment District program.(tncms-asset)feed65c2-a2a6-11e6-8b1d-00163ec2aa77(/tncms-asset) Before granting final approval, the state Economic Development Board wishes to see $10 million in private investment which would be achieved by secured financing for the hotel and a finalized lease for the arena and music pavilion. The new deadline extends to late January. Mason City Administrator Brent Trout briefed the state board on the project, saying the city is making progress on the lease.(tncms-asset)edc239fc-a06d-11e6-8a9d-00163ec2aa77(/tncms-asset) And the hotel developer recently told the Globe Gazette he is confident he will secure financing. Trout said if the developer is not able to secure financing, the city will explore other options, likely putting out a new request for proposals. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Voter registration and election participation records indicate more than 40 percent of the people arrested last week for blocking the travel lanes of the Downtown Expressway after Donald Trump was elected president did not vote in the election they were protesting. . Four of the 12 protesters arrested either were not registered to vote in Virginia or did not cast a ballot on Nov. 8, a review of state and local records shows. A fifth protester was not a registered Virginia voter but had registered this year to vote in Orange County, N.Y. She did not request an absentee ballot or vote at her precinct, according to the Orange registrars office. Three of the five people arrested were registered in Virginia but did not vote, and two others were not registered voters in Virginia. In addition to the protester who did not vote in her home state of New York, the other unregistered voter is a Virginia native, according to her Facebook page. Seven of the 12 protesters are registered voters in Virginia and did cast ballots on Nov. 8. They include two people who live in the counties of Chesterfield and Henrico and are registered to vote in those localities, records show. The arrested protesters ranged in age from 18 to 26 and all were of legal age to vote. Only one of the arrested protesters was 18 the minimum age required to vote and he cast a ballot, records show. Everybody in America, regardless of whether you vote or not, retains their First Amendment right to express their opinion peacefully, said Robert Holsworth, one of the states leading political analysts. And at the same time, if you endanger others while youre doing that, you also are rightfully subjected to legal penalty. (But) my sense is that you certainly have more credibility protesting the results of the election if you demonstrated that you have a stake in that election, Holsworth added. And in this instance, the fact that some of them seemed to want to protest without having a stake, is in many peoples minds going to cast doubt on their credibility. So in a way, if the act itself of sitting on a highway didnt undermine their message, not voting probably will in many peoples minds undermine the credibility of what they wanted to express. The percentage of protesters arrested in Richmond who did not vote may have been higher than the percentage of non-voting protesters arrested in Portland, Ore., who staged multiple demonstrations over several days, some erupting into violent riots. Thirty-six of the 112 people arrested in Portland, or 32 percent, were registered to vote in Oregon but did not return ballots, the Portland Oregonian newspaper reported, based on data compiled by the Multnomah County Elections Division. The data showed 31 arrested protesters, or 28 percent, did vote. But the elections division determined that another 36 of the 112 arrested protesters were not registered to vote in Oregon at the time of the Nov. 8 election. That could mean they did not vote or were registered in another state and cast their ballots there, the newspaper reported. The elections division released the results after running the names and ages of the protesters through its Oregon database and looking for matches in response to a public records request by a Portland television station. The elections division also provided the results to the Oregonian newspaper. After the names of the protesters and their charges were released by Virginia State Police and Richmond police on Nov. 10, the Richmond Times-Dispatch obtained their addresses, dates of birth and other identifying information through Richmond court records. The newspaper then checked the names against voter registration rolls and election participation records released by registrars in Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico and Fairfax counties. The 12 protesters arrested in Richmond eight of whom were Virginia Commonwealth University students were arrested late on the evening of Nov. 9, just before midnight, after they sat in the travel lanes of the Downtown Expressway, blocking traffic. They were charged with unlawful assembly and being pedestrians on an interstate One of the protesters, Mackenzie A. Werner of Richmond, called the newspaper Friday afternoon to share concerns about her safety after her name and other identifying information became public after her arrest. Werner, 21, said that after her name was first made public last week in news accounts, she began receiving threats from people posting on her Facebook page. She said one of the commenters said that I should be raped and another threatened to run me over with their car. She declined to discuss her involvement in the protest or reasons for participating in the Downtown Expressway sit-in. In the early stages of the hours-long demonstrations, Virginia State Police worked to clear a group of protesters from Interstates 64/95, where they had gathered in what the agency described as an extremely dangerous situation in which pedestrians were on a stretch of highway with ramps, blind curves and limited lighting. After entering the interstate from Belvidere Street, the protesters marched eastward, seemingly to the next exit, which is for the Richmond Coliseum area. Richmond police had sought assistance from state police to help with protesters on the interstate shortly before 10 p.m. About 40 minutes later, the pedestrians were gone from the highway and the lanes were reopened to vehicle traffic, with no arrests made. State troopers responded to these locations to guide the protesters off the interstate corridors for their safety and the motoring publics safety, state police spokesman Sgt. Stephan Vick said this week. Due to I-195s limited lighting, and blind curves and ramps, it was an extremely dangerous situation for pedestrian traffic. One group of protesters who took to the streets Nov. 10 gathered in front of the statute of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and, after they disbursed, authorities discovered that three Confederate statutes on Richmonds iconic Monument Avenue had been tagged with apparent anti-Trump graffiti. The message Your vote was a hate crime was scrawled in red spray paint on the monuments to Confederate President Jefferson Davis and oceanographer Matthew Fountaine Maury, who was a Confederate naval officer. So far, police have not made any arrests. Ten of the 12 protesters charged with blocking the Downtown Expressway are scheduled to appear in Richmond General District Court on Nov. 29. Two others are set to appear Jan. 10. In addition to Werner, the defendants are: Michael D. Stough Jr., 20, of Chesterfield; Madeline C. Lewis, 20, of Richmond; Sarah J. Camden, 25, of Richmond; Madeline L. McElgunn, 19, of Richmond; Joseph G. Forcier, 20, of Richmond; Trevor A. Clarkson, 20, of Richmond; Briana M. Collazo, 26, of Richmond; Gregory C. Robson, 22, of Henrico; Sofia R. Bugge, 23, of Richmond; Haley A. Reynolds, 22, of Richmond; and Tion D. Edmonds, 18, of Fredericksburg. MASON CITY Lions Clubs, including one in Mason City, are sponsoring puppies being raised by inmates at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility to be leader dogs for the blind. Its a fantastic program at the prison, said Bill Burdick, president of the Mason City Evening Lions Club. Club members have visited the prison several times over the past three to four years to talk to the inmates and see the puppies. Its just a fantastic day, Burdick said. Each inmate who is a puppy raiser works with a puppy for a year before it is sent to Leader Dogs for the Blind in Michigan for the next level of training. The prisoners learn patience and understanding through working with the puppies, according to Burdick. Its also a way for them to interact positively with others, he said. When inmates are out on the prison grounds walking their puppies, it serves as in invitation for other prisoners to talk to the dog and talk to the prisoner, Burdick said. He said the rate of those who raised a puppy in prison, are released and later return to prison is just about nil. Michael Jon Winters of Mason City, who is serving a 25-year sentence at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility for a 2011 second-degree kidnapping conviction, is raising a black Labrador puppy named Hope, who is sponsored by the Manson Lions Club. Winters wrote a letter to the Globe Gazette describing the experience. More than 60 puppies are being raised at the prison, and he and the other puppy raisers work with the puppies each day and teach them commands, according to Winters. Now when the dogs complete their training from Michigan, they become helpful all over the world, he wrote. I am proud in assisting them in accomplishing their mission to enhance the lives of people who are blind and visually impaired. They now call me a Puppy Raiser. The Mason City Evening Lions Club sponsors a puppy each year. The money Lions Clubs give to sponsor puppies goes toward their care, including visits to the vet, Burdick said. This summer they received a letter from the inmate who is raising the puppy they sponsored this year. The letter describes the puppy, who is named Reyna, as smart, loving and a ball of energy. The letter stated Reyna is starting to make decisions on her own, which is a good sign for a leader dog, but getting her to stop taking my shoes in her crate is a work in progress. Sheri Martin, who is in charge of the leader dog program at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility, said working with the puppies teaches the inmates to give back after taking so much. When the inmates finally have to part with their dogs, they often have tears in their eyes, according to Martin. The soft side comes out, she said. 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 Imagen Imagen Leyenda Titulo Contenido Declaracion Conjunta de los Ministros de Relaciones Exteriores y de Comercio Exterior y Turismo en el marco de la Cumbre APEC 2016 Resumen Contenido Declaracion Conjunta-027-16 Contenido APEC PERU 2016 AMM JOINT STATEMENT We, the APEC Ministers, met in Lima, Peru, on November 17 and 18, 2016 under the Chairmanship of Ambassador Ricardo Luna, Foreign Minister of Peru and Mr Eduardo Ferreyros, Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Peru. We welcome the participation of the Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the 2016 Chair of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC), the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), as well as the APEC Secretariat and the APEC Policy Support Unit (PSU). APEC 2016 PRIORITIES In 2015 in Manila, APEC Leaders were determined to take action to build inclusive economies and a better world, to fully realize the vision of a stable, integrated, and prosperous community in the Asia-Pacific. We are committed to taking concrete steps and joint actions to foster peace, stability, prosperity, economic growth and development in the region, for a sustainable Asia-Pacific partnership. In 2016, our focus is on driving quality and inclusive growth to promote human development. We have been pursuing this goal through four priorities: Strengthening Regional Economic Integration (REI) and Quality Growth, Enhancing the Regional Food Market, Towards the Modernization of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Human Capital Development. We discussed the following outcomes under these priorities: Strengthening Regional Economic Integration and Quality Growth By tackling the complex challenges that the global economy is facing, we remain committed to use all available policy tools monetary, fiscal and structural individually and collectively, to strengthen global demand and address supply constraints. Faced with rising skepticism over trade and stagnated trade growth, we reiterate our commitment to build an open economy in the Asia-Pacific featuring innovative development, interconnected growth and shared interests. We reaffirm that open trade policies are essential for sustained recovery and boosting growth for coming years. We also believe that the benefits of trade and open markets need to be communicated to the wider public more effectively, emphasizing how trade promotes innovation, employment and higher living standards, and creates opportunities for our citizens that can support inclusive growth. Against this backdrop, we commend progress made in 2016 in the APEC region in pursuing trade and investment liberalization, business facilitation and economic and technical cooperation to boost human development, inclusive growth and prosperity in the region. Highlights of this progress are as follows: Support for the Multilateral Trading System We reaffirm our commitment to strengthen the multilateral trading system and recognize the important role of international trade to job creation, and sustained economic recovery, development and prosperity. We underline our confidence in the value and centrality of the rules-based, transparent, non-discriminatory, open, and inclusive multilateral trading system embodied in the WTO. Building on the WTOs successful Bali and Nairobi Ministerial Conferences and recognizing all the elements contained in the Ministerial Declarations, we commit to continue implementing the Bali and Nairobi outcomes and advance negotiations on the remaining Doha Development Agenda issues as a matter of priority. We also note a range of issues of common interest and importance to todays economies in the Asia-Pacific region may be legitimate issues for WTO discussions. Therefore, we instruct our officials to work with a sense of urgency and solidarity with all WTO Members to set the direction together towards achieving positive and meaningful results by the next WTO Ministerial Conference in 2017 and beyond. We endorse the initiative on Progressing the WTO Ministers Decision to Eliminate Export Subsidies. We reaffirm the pledge made by our Leaders against protectionism through a standstill commitment that we recommend be extended until the end of 2020 and to roll back protectionist and trade-distorting measures, which weaken trade and slow down the progress and recovery of the international economy. In this context, we continue to support the ongoing work of the WTO and other international organizations in monitoring protectionism. We welcome the progress made by economies in notifying their acceptance of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). We call upon the remaining APEC Economies as well as other WTO Members to make their utmost efforts to submit their instruments of acceptance of the TFA by the end of the year. We recognize that WTO consistent plurilateral trade agreements with broad participation can play an important role in complementing global liberalization initiatives. In this regard, the ongoing or already concluded plurilateral agreements such as the Information Technology Agreement and its expansion, the Trade in Services Agreement, and the Environmental Goods Agreement, shall be open to all WTO members who share the objectives of such plurilateral agreements and negotiations for participation. APEC economies participating in the WTO Environmental Goods Agreement (EGA) negotiations reaffirm their aim to redouble efforts to bridge remaining gaps and conclude an ambitious, future-oriented EGA that seeks to eliminate tariffs on a broad range of environmental goods by the end of 2016, after finding effective ways to address the core concerns of participants. Furthermore, we also welcome the implementation of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) expansion and call on those who have committed to implement by July 1st 2016 to do so as soon as possible. Bogor Goals We reaffirm our commitment to achieve the Bogor Goals of free and open trade and investment in order to strengthen and deepen regional economic integration through both collective and individual efforts. We commend the completion of the 2016 Second-Term Review of APECs Progress Towards the Bogor Goals and agree to submit this report to our Leaders. We welcome the positive findings of the report, which show that in our region, relative to 1994, MFN applied tariff rates are much lower, there are more RTA/FTAs in force, more sectors are accessible to foreign investment and services trade, and indicators on socioeconomic progress, trade and investment facilitation have also improved. We encourage further work to address barriers identified in the report that prevent APEC from attaining free and open trade and investment. We reaffirm our collective and individual commitment to further promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation and to reduce or eliminate restrictions and enhance cooperation to address "behind-the-border barriers through undertakings in line with APECs work on structural reform. We welcome the First SOM Dialogue on APEC Toward 2020 and Beyond, and call on economies to continue further discussions with a view to developing a post 2020 vision for APEC. Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) We reaffirm our commitment to advance the process in a comprehensive and systematic manner towards the eventual realization of the FTAAP as a major instrument to further APECs regional economic integration agenda towards and beyond the Bogor Goals. We recall that APEC Leaders mandated a Collective Strategic Study on Issues Related to the Realization of the FTAAP, along with any Recommendations, in the Beijing Roadmap in 2014 and instructed officials to finalize the Study and report to Leaders by the end of 2016. We acknowledge the high-quality work that has gone into the Collective Strategic Study and its Executive Summary along with Recommendations concluded by the Taskforce, which is one of the most important deliverables of APEC 2016. We submit to Leaders and seek endorsement of the Study, its Executive Summary and its Recommendations. Based on these Recommendations, we instruct APEC Officials to further develop and implement the work programs in areas identified in the Studys Recommendations but not limited to them, in order to enhance economies capabilities towards the realization of the FTAAP. APEC Officials are further instructed to report on their progress at the Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting in May 2017. We value the contributions from the APEC Business Advisory Council, PECC and PSU to the FTAAP Study. We welcome APECs progress in implementing the Regional Economic Integration (REI) Capacity Building Needs Initiative (CBNI), which has contributed to the expansion of our understanding on relevant fields of FTA negotiations, and will continue to serve as a solid stepping stone for the realization of the FTAAP. We welcome the capacity building workshops that took place this year and encourage economies to propose further capacity building actions under CBNI. We welcome the results of the Information Sharing Mechanism, including the SOM Dialogue on RTAs and FTAs, the Trade Policy Dialogue on RTAs/FTAs and the annual PSU report on RTA/FTAs in the APEC region. We instruct economies to continue working towards enhancing the transparency of RTAs/FTAs in the region and instruct officials to discuss further the best practices which would improve the utilization of RTAs/FTAs in the region, especially by SMEs. We look forward to the Dialogue and Seminar regarding FTAAP next year. Quality Growth We note the importance of undertaking policies that result in the achievement of balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative, and secure growth. Hence, we reaffirm the APEC Strategy for Strengthening Quality Growth, which prioritizes institution building, social cohesion, and environmental impact, to better focus our efforts in pursuing quality growth, building upon the 2010 APEC Growth Strategy, and bearing in mind the commitments in the 2014 APEC Accord on Innovative Development, Economic Reform and Growth. We welcome the Implementation and Monitoring of the APEC Strategy for Strengthening Quality Growth at two levels: through the domestic processes of each economy and through the APEC framework. Structural Reform We acknowledge the essential role of structural reform in boosting productivity and potential output as well as narrowing the development gap and promoting innovative growth in the region. We endorse the 2016 APEC Economic Policy Report (AEPR) on Structural Reform and Services. It recommends that unilateral services structural reforms should focus on productivity and efficiency to generate inclusive economic growth, with policy frameworks that promote market-based competition to deliver productivity gains and ensure efficient supply. We instruct officials to strengthen the collaboration between Committee on Trade and Investment (CTI) and Economic Committee (EC) on services and structural reform. We look forward to the 2017 AEPR, focusing on structural reform and human capital development. We reaffirm the role of structural reform in fostering medium-term economic growth and reversing the recent slowing down in our economies, and we welcome the ongoing implementation of the Renewed APEC Agenda for Structural Reform (RAASR), which strives to stimulate balanced and sustainable growth and reduce inequality. We welcome economies' RAASR Individual Action Plans (IAP) for 2016-2020, which outline each economy's priorities for action on relevant domestic structural reforms by 2020. We strongly recommend economies' officials to work on their respective IAPs to achieve positive results by 2020, as mandated by RAASR. We welcome the progress achieved to date on the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) initiative, as well as the decision to proceed with the Second Phase of the EoDB Initiative in order to reach the 10 percent improvement goal by 2018. Services We acknowledge that services are a major contributor to productivity and growth within APEC. Improved competitiveness in services sectors as well as growth in services trade through an open and predictable environment for access to services is one of the key factors for APEC to boost its economic growth. We encourage member economies to take collective and unilateral actions including capacity building activities to promote an enabling environment for dynamic and efficient services markets. We will seek to ensure that regulations promote fair competition and the adoption of new technologies. Therefore, we welcome the finalization of the APEC Services Competitiveness Roadmap as a concrete set of actions aimed at achieving these goals and agree to submit the Roadmap to Leaders for endorsement. We further instruct our officials to undertake the necessary work to advance the objectives set out under the Roadmap, through APEC-wide and individual actions contained therein, including the development of an APEC index to measure the services regulatory environment in APEC economies, as envisaged in the Roadmap. As instructed by Leaders in the APEC Services Cooperation Framework to broaden multi-stakeholder engagement and share information and best practices on services-related policies and programs in APEC, we welcome the launch of the APEC Virtual Knowledge Center on Services. Strengthening Comprehensive Connectivity We reaffirm the importance of initiatives under the APEC Connectivity Blueprint for 2015-2025, towards a seamless and comprehensively connected and integrated Asia-Pacific region by 2025 through regional, sub-regional and domestic connectivity, including remote area connectivity. We encourage member economies to take further actions and develop additional targets to ensure the continued implementation of the APEC Connectivity Blueprint 2015-2025, under the pillars of physical, institutional and people-to-people connectivity. We commend the efforts to further monitor, review and evaluate the implementation of the Blueprint. Against the background of rapidly growing demand on infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region, we commit to promote investment with a focus on infrastructure in terms of both quantity and quality. We welcome the progress being made to ensure quality infrastructure, including the progress of the APEC Peer Review and Capacity Building on Infrastructure Development and Investment. To further advance our work, we commit to develop, maintain and renew quality infrastructure, including on ICT, energy and transport based on the important elements as demonstrated in related APEC works such as the APEC Connectivity Blueprint 2015-2025 and other individual projects, including Peer Review and Capacity Building. We acknowledge that innovative financing of infrastructure is critical to ensuring full economic growth and economic integration potential of the Asia-Pacific region, including exploring financing through public-private partnerships (PPP) and other innovative means, as well as sharing knowledge and experiences. We encourage work within the Asia-Pacific Infrastructure Partnership. We recognize a key role of ICT infrastructure in enhanced connectivity at all levels and encourage economies to develop and cooperate on more initiatives on ICT infrastructure development and innovation. We reaffirm the significance of further facilitating business travel as a way to enhance economic activities and promote people-to-people connectivity. In this regard, we are committed to further enhancing the APEC Business Travel Card scheme, in order to provide more efficient and secure travel throughout the region. Investment We acknowledge the significance of the Investment Facilitation Action Plan (IFAP) and encourage economies to report progress on the implementation of the agreed set of priority actions for 2015-2016. Moreover, we call on APEC officials to continue their efforts in implementing IFAP actions so as to contribute to a favorable investment climate in the APEC region. We welcome policy dialogues to exchange best practices on IFAPs implementation in the APEC region. We also support efforts to promote investments in infrastructure in order to improve the connectivity in the APEC Region. In the context of the APEC Strategy for Strengthening Quality Growth, it is also important to promote sustainable investment in APEC economies. Trade Facilitation We welcome the final assessment of the Supply Chain Connectivity Framework Action Plan (SCFAP). The SCFAP and its two predecessors, the APEC Trade Facilitation Action Plans (TFAP I and TFAP II), were ambitious initiatives which attest to APECs leadership in implementing trade facilitation measures. Although APEC has made considerable progress through the initiative, further gains can still be made. Therefore, we submit to Leaders for their endorsement the Suggested Framework for Phase Two of SCFAP 2017-2020 and welcome the start of implementation next year to continue to enhance supply chain connectivity and efficiency in the APEC region. We look forward to the conclusion of pilot projects and the related PSU Study on interoperable Global Data Standards (GDS) that will assess the costs and benefits of using GDS to enhance supply chain performance. We encourage officials to explore next steps for the wider use of interoperable GDS in the APEC region, based on the outcomes of the PSU Study. We instruct officials to continue the work of the APEC Alliance on Supply Chain Connectivity (A2C2) and make use of its contributions in APECs capacity building efforts, based on regular inputs from the public and private sectors. We commend the results and ongoing implementation of the other five capacity building projects and encourage officials to continue to identify key capacity building programs that align with phase two. We reaffirm the importance of carrying forward work related to the Asia-Pacific Model E-Port Network (APMEN), to advance supply chain connectivity through E-port development and collaborative efforts. In this respect, we welcome the outcomes of the activities carried out so far and encourage economies to continue participating. We look forward to the final Report on Best Practices on Critical Issues in the Asia-Pacific Region in order to pursue the Implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). Through APECs leadership in this field, we support the complete and effective implementation of the TFA as soon as possible. We commend progress on the Initiative on Single Window Systems (SWS) International Interoperability to foster the flow of goods, enhance supply chain security, reduce costs and provide quality and timely information on trade across borders. We look forward to the PSU study on key issues for implementing this Initiative. We encourage economies to begin deliberations next year on establishing pilot projects on a voluntary basis based on the outcomes of the study. We commend the APEC work done in the field of Customs Procedures noting its importance, as we continue to pursue effective and secure trade and facilitation in the region, based on the international standards developed by the World Customs Organization. We value the achievements made in implementing APEC Customs Mutual Recognition of Control, Mutual Assistance of Enforcement and Mutual Sharing of Information Strategic Framework. We welcome the increased collaboration with other fora, particularly on trade facilitation, combating illegal logging, travel facilitation and counter-terrorism issues. We encourage further work in experience exchange on the implementation of WTO TFA and promotion of customs control over cross-border E-commerce for better connectivity, further integration of regional economy and modernization of MSMEs. We encourage further efforts to strengthen our work in trade facilitation through building on existing workstreams, including on simplification of documents and procedures and transparency through the APEC Trade Repository, and encourage close coordination within APEC and its stakeholders to achieve our goals. We reaffirm the importance of information sharing along the supply chain. Especially, in light of greater consumer protection from hazardous chemicals coming down through the regional supply chains, we welcome discussions undertaken at the Chemical Dialogue on chemSHERPA and other programs that would promote sharing information on chemicals in products. Global Value Chains We recognize that integration into global value chains can lead to a wide range of benefits, such as contributing to the diversification of exports, creating new jobs or acquiring new technological capabilities in accordance with international best practices. We support progress in implementing the work streams of the APEC Strategic Blueprint for Promoting Global Value Chains Development and Cooperation. We commend the robust progress towards the completion of the APEC Trade in Value-Added (TiVA) Database by 2018. We welcome the activities made so far in implementing the Strategic Framework on Measurement of APEC TiVA under GVCs, its Action Plan and the 2016 Progress Report. We welcome the 2017-2018 Work Plan for the APEC Technical Working Group on Measurement of TiVA under GVCs. We welcome the endorsement of the Report on APEC Developing Economies Better Participation in GVCs, and encourage members to carry out the recommendations contained in the report. We also take note of the draft report of the Study on the Enhancement of Integration of Regional Value Chains in Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), and look forward to its finalization. We value the final report and outcomes of the initiative on Promoting SMEs Integration into GVCs in Major Industries, namely IT/electronics, automotive, textile, healthcare and agribusiness. We also support the initiative on SMEs Integration into Global Value Chains in Services Industries. We welcome the sectors established so far, namely software, tourism, fashion design and logistics, and encourage economies to voluntarily lead a sector and participate in the initiative. We welcome the endorsement of the scope and reporting method for the initiative on Increasing Transparency on Measures Affecting Exports, which will provide traders and other stakeholders with important market information and facilitate participation in GVCs. We encourage economies to undertake the work needed to implement this initiative and begin reporting the agreed information. We also encourage cooperation with relevant international organizations and partner institutions to draw on their expertise and knowledge for promoting GVCs development and cooperation in APEC, aiming to advance in studies and analysis required to design adequate methodologies that could help support public policies and actions in this area. Environmental Goods and Services/Green growth We welcome the recent entry into force of the Paris Agreement and commit to its ambitious and effective implementation. Our actions in these areas will protect human health and the environment, provide incentives for investments in green growth, and promote the global transformation required for a low carbon economy. We congratulate economies that have fulfilled the Leaders groundbreaking commitment to reduce applied tariffs on the APEC Environmental Goods List to five percent or less, and strongly urge those economies that have yet to fulfill this commitment to do so as soon as possible, and to update economies on the status of their implementation efforts. We welcome the completion of the PSU Survey on Regulatory Measures in Environmental Services. We look forward to further studies to build and enhance a common understanding of the roles of a wider range of services in environmental industries and businesses, as envisaged under the Environmental Services Action Plan (ESAP). We commend progress in the work of the APEC Cooperation Network on Green Supply Chain (GSCNET), including the launching of a bilingual website operated by GSCNET Tianjin Pilot Center. We welcome new member institutions which have joined the GSCNET and encourage members to nominate more institutions and experts to participate and contribute to a well-functioning GSCNET. Next Generation Trade and Investment Issues We welcome progress in implementing the Manufacturing Related Services Action Plan (MSAP), including the Implementation and Review Mechanism of the MSAP, and look forward to further exchanging views on economies' actions concerning manufacturing related services. We welcome the ongoing work of the PSU on examining key issues in promoting digital trade in APEC and look forward to the finalization of its study on this topic. We take note of the next steps to advance our work on digital trade and look forward to continue exchanging views on this topic in 2017 by undertaking capacity building, developing case studies, and identifying practices to expand and promote digital trade in the region, and to ensure all member economies participation in digital trade, taking into consideration specific economic circumstances. We note the discussion of the pathfinder initiative for a permanent customs duty moratorium on electronic transmission, including content transmitted electronically. We reaffirm the important role that APEC plays as an incubator of policies to address issues that arise in the regions dynamic business environment and encourage officials to work closely with ABAC to ensure that APECs next generation trade and investment issue remains relevant to private sector stakeholders. We welcome the APEC Initiative of Cooperation to Promote Internet Economy, as well as the TELWG Strategic Action Plan 2016-2020 and look forward to the development of the APEC Internet Economy Roadmap by the Ad Hoc Steering Group on the Internet Economy. We will collaborate to unleash the potential of internet and digital economy by promoting the adoption of emerging ICTs, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and encourage secure cross-border flows of information, while addressing the need to bridge the digital divide. We recognize the importance of the APEC Cross Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) System, a voluntary mechanism whose participants seek to expand participation, and we support enhanced cooperation in this area, including through promoting capacity building. Good Regulatory Practices and Cooperation We reaffirm the importance of creating a sound regulatory environment, advancing good regulatory practices and cooperation, promoting alignment of advertising standards and reducing the cost of doing business across the region. We welcome the progress on the implementation of the APEC Action Agenda on Advertising Standards and Practices and look forward to follow up activities to prepare a five year implementation strategy. We welcome the dissemination of best practices in Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) among interested economies to increase efficiency of legislation and provide transparency and quality of regulatory decision-making processes. We welcome the work done by the Economic Committee on regulatory improvement, including carrying out the 9th Conference on Good Regulatory Practices on the theme of building high level support for reform and international regulatory cooperation. We welcome the ARCAM Dialogue on Facilitating Trade and Investment in Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Solutions and look forward to the forthcoming report to enhance regulatory cooperation and coherence among APEC economies in this sector. We note the discussion of government procurement related issues to enhance APEC member economies understanding of opportunities and challenges in this area. We look forward to continued work on government procurement related issues. Standards and Conformance We welcome the work done by the Sub-Committee on Standards and Conformance (SCSC) to strengthen standards and conformance infrastructure, to support and promote innovation, trade facilitation and competitiveness of MSMEs as well as a quality culture in the APEC region through the exchange of experiences in standards and conformance education. We welcome the continued efforts of the Food Safety Cooperation Forum (FSCF) and its Partnership Training Institute Network (PTIN) that contribute to the enhancement of food safety systems and predictability and transparency in agriculture and food markets, facilitate international trade in the APEC region, and strengthen food safety infrastructure through behavioral science interventions that improve hand hygiene compliance. We congratulate the SCSC Wine Regulatory Forum (WRF) for fulfilling its goal to develop a consolidated voluntary APEC model wine certificate. We look forward to continued work by the WRF to promote the reduction and elimination of technical barriers on wine trade. We highlight that strengthening effective, science-based and transparent food regulatory systems is crucial to food trade facilitation. Recognizing that approaches and requirements to food safety may differ between economies or areas within them, we remain committed to seek and develop common ground for promoting strong science-based food safety systems that meet the legitimate objectives of protecting human, animal and plant life or health, whilst their application is as least trade restrictive as possible, consistent with WTO rights and obligations under agreements such as the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures. Thus, we praise food safety cross-fora co-operation and capacity building initiatives on this matter implemented in 2016. Intellectual Property Rights We endorse the APEC Best Practices in Trade Secrets Protection and Enforcement Against Misappropriation and acknowledge the importance of trade secrets as one of many essential tools that may help MSMEs to maintain their competitive standing, secure financing, and integrate themselves into global supply chains. We recognize the importance of further work to promote cooperation, protection and enforcement of intellectual property (IP) rights, in accordance with TRIPS Agreement and enhance MSMEs' capacity on IP management and commercialization for their continuous development, growth and innovation. Enhancing the Regional Food Market We recognize the importance of international trade among APEC members to increase market access in the food sector, which leads to greater food security by increasing the availability and diversity of the food supply. We call upon all WTO members to engage constructively to negotiate and make all concerted efforts to agree and adopt a permanent solution on the issue of public stockholding for food security purposes by the 11th Ministerial Conference of the WTO. Moreover, we recognize that open, transparent multilateral trade among APEC members has already led to significant food security gains in the APEC region. We are resolved in making positive efforts to address in the appropriate APEC sub-fora the outstanding issues identified in the 2016 Second-Term Review of APECs Progress towards the Bogor Goals in accordance with WTO rules. We also encourage economies to address relevant measures including non-tariff measures and non-tariff barriers. We welcome the Piura Declaration on Food Security and its annexes. These documents set clear steps forward to consider integrated economic approaches, enhance food markets and sustainably produce food in the face of challenges to food production, storage and distribution. Thus, we encourage APEC economies to participate actively in these framework initiatives and to develop the respective action plans in 2017. We welcome the multi-year APEC Program on Food Security and Climate Change. We recognize the profound impact that climate change will have on food security in every APEC economy. We welcome the establishment of the Strategic Framework on Rural-Urban Development to Strengthen Food Security and Quality Growth in APEC which recognizes the important implications of urbanization in the APEC region for food security, and the need for new, integrated economic approaches that promote food security and economic growth across the entire rural-to-urban spectrum. We highlight the importance of water as a basic element for sustainable agriculture and maintaining the natural environment, and that serious challenges are evident throughout the APEC region due to increased demand and the impact of climate change. We call on APEC economies to share their experiences on water governance for development and sustainability; as well as on its sustainable use and integrated management. Moreover, we encourage public-private partnerships to foster investment to improve water supply to populations and producers. We remain committed to the long-term goal of developing a sustainable APEC Food System to enhance food supply efficiency and improve access to food and nutrition across the Asia-Pacific region and to provide long lasting food security for our populations. We will deepen regional cooperation on food standards and improve efficiency of food trade. We reaffirm our resolve to implement the APEC Food Security Roadmap Towards 2020 and its commitments. Furthermore, we encourage economies to continue the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, noting the direct relevance of a number of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for food security. We strive to tackle food insecurity and malnutrition of vulnerable groups, and encourage contribution of the private sector in this regard. We acknowledge the important role of producers, including small scale producers in agriculture production and entrepreneurs in the food system, and support business models that promote capacity building and market access to strengthen their competitiveness in the overall food value chain. We acknowledge that connecting small-scale producers to local, regional and global markets has the potential to expand livelihood, reduce poverty, promote rural development and improve food security in the region. We value deliberations throughout 2016 on the cross-cutting issues of food security and climate change, and solutions including the use of agricultural innovation, sustainable use of resources, disaster management, agricultural technical cooperation and promotion of rural-urban development. We encourage economies to design focused, consensus-based actions to address these issues and to enhance agricultural productivity and food markets and reinforce the APEC Food System. We also encourage economies to promote investment, quality infrastructure, services and capacity building, including through the sharing of best practices, to support economic integration for the sake of food security and prosperity in the region. We note the role of the APEC Climate Center (APCC) in fostering strengthened science-based climate information systems for environmental and risk management related to food production. We also recognize the contribution of the 10th Senior Disaster Management officials on the issue of food security We encourage member economies to strengthen communication and cooperation on food loss and waste reduction strategies, share best practices and call on member economies and stakeholders to make significant efforts to reduce food waste, improve its management and educate consumers to avoid waste. We value the progress of the APEC Food Losses Multi-Year project. We note the increasing importance of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture to the regions food supply, as well as the significant challenges facing this sector. We encourage APEC economies to implement science-based measures to sustainably manage fish habitats and coastal and marine ecosystems including adapting such measures to climate change as appropriate and to cooperate to rebuild stocks, halt overfishing, and prevent, deter and eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in the region. We call for further coordination and collaboration among APEC experts in fisheries, aquaculture, and agriculture under APECs food security agenda. Modernizing Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) We welcome the 2016 SME Ministerial Statement and acknowledge the fact that the modernization of SMEs implies taking concrete steps to increase their innovation capacities. Together with other initiatives, we will focus on fostering enabling environments and policies, innovation, reinforcing access to financial means, ICT infrastructure and capacity building, enhancing the participation of SMEs in electronic commerce, and Online-to-Offline (O2O) business model in order to help them gain access to new markets, reducing technological gaps faced by SMEs, and progressively promoting a more sustainable, eco-friendly and green production. We also acknowledge that it is important for each APEC economy to promote MSMEs active participation in global value chains (GVCs) through measures to address challenges faced by MSMEs in conducting overseas business development, e.g improving infrastructure, ensuring transparency in legal systems and business practices. We welcome progress made by APEC in implementing the Boracay Action Agenda to Globalize MSMEs. We encourage economies to further reduce the costs associated with non-tariff measures (NTMs), as recognized by APEC economies through their inclusion in the Boracay Action Agenda and APEC Individual Action Plans. We further encourage economies to continue the development of initiatives that will benefit MSMEs in the region and contribute to their internationalization. We also acknowledge the importance of greater involvement of SMEs in business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) markets. We welcome the initiative to develop a Compendium on Methodologies for SMEs Internationalization in order to exchange APEC members policies, strategies and measures to achieve SMEs internationalization. We look forward to the progress of this initiative in 2017 towards contributing to the Boracay Action Agenda and the Iloilo Initiative on MSMEs Marketplace. We recognize the opportunities that the digital economy offers to MSMEs to enhance integration into global supply chains and value chains, fostering more inclusive and sustainable economic growth. We welcome the progress of the APEC Supporting Industry Initiative from the viewpoint of promoting policies for the improvement of supporting industries productivity and competitiveness, with particular focus on MSMEs, by sharing policy experiences in APEC, and instruct officials to take steps to report research outcomes to Ministers and to develop a policy guideline in 2017. We welcome the initiative to develop an APEC Strategy for Green and Sustainable MSMEs. We encourage the public-private partnership approach as a means to create an enabling environment where MSMEs can take part in green activities in a cost-effective manner, and to enhance green awareness and necessary skills of MSMEs to develop accessible green technologies. We welcome the outcomes of the third APEC Business Ethics for SMEs Forum, notably the launch of the ethical business frameworks bringing together diverse stakeholders in a new model to eliminate unethical business practices across healthcare systems. We reaffirm the commitment by APEC economies to enhance work with third party intermediaries. We also welcome the new Implementation Team envisioned for the engineering and construction sector that will foster cross-fora collaboration within APEC to strengthen infrastructure development practices. Developing Human Capital We welcome the Joint Ministerial Statement from the Sixth APEC Education Ministerial Meeting and its associated outcomes, particularly the APEC Education Strategy which will guide us to achieve inclusive and quality education and training by enhancing competencies, accelerating innovation and increasing employability. The APEC Education Strategy will help support an increase in the participation rate of disadvantaged and underrepresented groups and align education to the needs of individuals, societies, labor markets and science-technology development. We therefore encourage member economies to start implementing the APEC Education Strategy, including by setting annual goals in the 2017 HRDWG work plan. Taking into consideration the vital role of ICTs in the modern world connectivity, and understanding that bridging the digital divide can help facilitate better access to education, we encourage APEC economies to promote capacity building activities for increased digital literacy. We also welcome the development of the APEC Baseline Report on Current Education Status in the Asia Pacific region, as an important tool for enhancing mutual understanding, and learning of educational development among APEC member economies. We urge APEC officials to update this important information when necessary. We acknowledge the importance of mainstreaming human development through APEC fora. Thus, we encourage member economies to explore possible cross fora collaboration on human capital development, so as to include MSMEs, women, youth, the elderly and persons with disabilities. With a view to preparing our societies for the future world of work, we would welcome a focus on developing 21st century skills, promoting entrepreneurship and boosting employability in our students and youth, including STEM, data analytics and technical skills focusing on women and disadvantaged groups. In this regard, we are committed to strengthening our efforts to tackle youth unemployment under the APEC Framework for Youth Education, Employment and Entrepreneurship, which was adopted by the HRDWG. We welcome the outcomes of the Joint Meetings between HRDWG, PPSTI and the EC in 2016 and encourage them to continue working together to further develop human capital in the region, to contribute to the structural reform agenda, and to deepen participation in labor markets. We recognize that collaborative work in APEC will help shape and enhance the skills and competencies of people through either education or work experience. Educational processes are an essential tool that enables people to benefit throughout their lives from training, innovation, research and problem solving. We acknowledge that human capital development should focus on boosting workers skills to increase the competitiveness of enterprises through innovation in processes and productivity. We recognize that the acquisition of soft skills is just as important as technical capabilities. We recognize the importance of workplace safety and encourage APEC economies to share relevant best practices across the APEC region. OTHER SECTORAL OUTCOMES Tourism We welcome the strong commitment of the 2016 APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting (TMM) to foster an environment that allows tourism-related MSMEs to participate in global value chains to encourage inclusive growth. As the worlds largest air passenger market, we acknowledge the importance of travel and tourism as a vehicle for job creation, economic growth, sustainable development, and peace. In that sense, we welcome the APEC Travel Facilitation Initiatives (TFI) progress in facilitating and enhancing people to people connectivity. We recognize travel facilitation and air connectivity as key factors for economic and regional development and catalysts for quality growth of the tourism sector. The movement of travelers across the Asia-Pacific region for both business and tourism is key to promoting economic growth, trade, and regional economic integration. We welcome the Developing Traveler-Friendly Airports in the APEC Region and stress the importance of moving forward with efforts to develop smart traveler programs and visa facilitation agreements. We also encourage APEC economies to develop trusted traveler programs and utilize advanced information systems such as advance passenger information and passenger name record (API/PNR) in order to ensure safe, secure and efficient travel. Urbanization We acknowledge that urbanization is rapidly advancing in the Asia-Pacific region and note the need to implement sound, sustainable and people-oriented urbanization processes in order to create new opportunities and to invigorate innovative development. We note with appreciation the APEC High-Level Urbanization Forum held in Ningbo, China, and the Ningbo Initiative. We encourage APEC economies to further and deepen urbanization cooperation and enhance APEC economies urbanization quality. We take note of the project on Developing the Methodology for Measuring and Realizing the Sustainability of Cities in the APEC region. Women and the Economy On this five year anniversary of the San Francisco Declaration we reaffirm our shared vision for inclusive growth in which women are able to achieve their full economic potential and contribute to the development and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific. We welcome the APEC Women and the Economy 2016 Forum Statement that recognizes the crucial role of women in the development and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific. We underline the importance of womens contribution to economic growth with a view to achieving a more inclusive and balanced growth for the Asia-Pacific region through fostering an enabling environment for women. Recognizing our responsibility to create a society in which all women and girls are empowered and actively engaged for sustainable, inclusive and equitable economic growth, we call on economies to pursue concrete policies and innovative measures to further enhance womens economic empowerment by providing wider access and more resources for more women to engage in economic activities, and seek their greater inclusion in the regional economy as well as through the provision of equal opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship, training and education, social protection, innovation, access to international markets, leadership and decision-making at all levels. We recognize the importance of having a systematic approach to womens economic empowerment, including enhancing digital literacy of women, recognition and redistribution of unpaid care work, the elimination of gender-based violence and to advocate for mutual respect and shared responsibilities between men and women. Recognizing that enhancing womens representation in the economic sphere particularly in leadership, decision making and management will serve as a catalyst to promote economic growth, we welcome the mid-term review study and Public- Private Dialogue (PPD) of the Individual Action Plan (IAP) for the Enhancement of the Ratio of Womens Representation in Leadership project. We also welcome the initiative to conduct and share case studies of Good Practices on Gender Diversity in Corporate Leadership for Growth. We welcome the outcomes of the 2016 APEC Women in STEM Forum as a key contribution to address capacity building priorities identified under the Women and the Economy Dashboard. We welcome economies efforts to encourage adolescent girls participation in STEM fields. We welcome the conclusion of APEC Multi Year Project on Innovation for Women and Economic Development. We welcome the outcomes of the first APEC contest for women-entrepreneurs APEC Business Efficiency and Success Target Awards (APEC BEST Awards) for promoting womens entrepreneurship through spreading success stories across the APEC economies and boosting business networking, and call for continued implementation of the APEC Healthy Women, Healthy Economies Policy Toolkit. We encourage more extensive collaboration and mainstreaming of gender equality and womens economic empowerment across APEC working groups and fora, considering its nature as a cross-cutting issue. Health We welcome the outcomes and recommendations from the Sixth High-Level Meeting on Health and the Economy and efforts to explore multi-sectoral approaches to ensure the implementation of the Healthy Asia-Pacific 2020 Roadmap in support of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We welcome efforts to build more efficient and high-performing health systems, including through public-private partnerships. We encourage cross-fora collaboration to achieve the common goal of proactive investment in healthy workforces and access to healthcare. We call on APEC economies to continue to work together to enhance the evidence base for policy development, effective health interventions, improved decision-making, and impact measurement. We acknowledge the importance of the secondary use of health and medical data in accordance with relevant ethical and data privacy laws principles. We call on economies to reduce unnecessary barriers to trade and investment in the supply chain of healthcare products. We welcome APEC efforts to campaign for mental health including the development of projects under the APEC Digital Hub for Mental Health. We welcome capacity building efforts to ensure the safety and sustainability of the blood supply chain, and accelerate action on cervical cancer. We emphasize the importance for APEC economies of ensuring proper resource allocation; underscoring the importance of health in domestic budgets; making high impact investments; aligning regulatory standards and procedures, and maximizing the use of existing health infrastructure for improving health system efficiencies. Furthermore, we call on APEC economies to improve peoples health and well-being by putting in place health systems, which achieve and maintain Universal Health Coverage (UHC). We recognize the importance of strong health systems in fostering quality growth, financial inclusion, and human development and look forward to the further work planned for 2017 on ways to address the fiscal and economic impacts of ill health. The life sciences are critical to supporting quality growth, innovation and access to medical products. We reaffirm APECs goal of achieving convergence of regulatory approval procedures for medical products by 2020 and urge the Life Sciences Innovation Forum (LSIF) to continue applying its model of government, academia and industry cooperation to build capacity and policy research towards achieving this goal. We welcome the Center of Excellence pilot programs on quality standards, multi-regional clinical trials, biotherapeutics, and global data standards conducted by relevant institutions. Marine Debris Recognizing the health and environmental concerns created by the large and rapidly increasing amount of plastic litter in the ocean from land-based sources and an insufficient waste management system which is not attracting the attention of investors, we endorse the Policy and Practice Recommendations of the APEC High-Level Meeting on Overcoming Barriers to Financing Waste management Systems to Prevent Marine Litter in the Asia Pacific Region. Blue Economy We value the outcomes of the 4th APEC Blue Economy Forum and encourage economies to enhance the Forum as a vehicle of regional blue economy cooperation. We encourage the APEC Marine Sustainable Development Center to take stock of regional blue economy cooperation and through the Ocean and Fisheries Working Group (OFWG) facilitate the update of the APEC Marine Sustainable Development Report to promote regional marine sustainable development, as an important APEC contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We welcome efforts to strengthen our work in addressing and mainstreaming cross-cutting issues of ocean cooperation amongst relevant APEC fora. Emergency Preparedness As we continue to experience the economic devastation brought by disasters in our vulnerable region, we recommit our efforts to ensure our communities, businesses, and economies are prepared to recover as quickly as possible. We endorse the APEC Principles for Early Warning Systems and welcome the APEC Disaster Risk Reduction Framework Action Plan. We further encourage economies to implement the Seven Principles of Supply Chain Resilience, especially business continuity planning. We also encourage capacity building, strengthening early warning systems, and search and rescue cooperation for the resilience and livelihood of communities. Industry Dialogues We encourage economies to utilize the Chemical Dialogues best practice principles checklist during the regulatory process. We welcome the report and recommendations on reducing divergences in implementation of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals and instruct officials to report on implementation of those recommendations in 2017. We welcome efforts to streamline import certification procedures for chemicals and improve predictability and transparency. ECONOMIC AND TECHNICAL COOPERATION We remain committed to the Manila Framework on ECOTECH, and will continue to leverage ECOTECH activities to help developing economies achieve the Bogor Goals by 2020. We welcome the decision to approach capacity-building activities with strategic foresight by undertaking multi-year projects, including support for APECs work to strengthen and deepen regional economic integration and to facilitate the realization of the FTAAP. We also welcome contributions by members to the APEC Support Fund. We note with appreciation the full operation of Sub-Funds on the FTAAP/GVC, IERG, and Connectivity. We recognize the important work of the budget and management committee (BMC), through its small Working Group, and exchanges with SCE on pending issues to implement the APEC Capacity Building Policy to better support APEC economies. We look forward to the respective recommendations to be presented by 2017. We highlight the importance and appreciate the contribution of capacity building efforts for developing economies, and call for more contributions in this regard. Science, Technology and Innovation We recognize that Research and Innovation is a key driver of quality growth and human development. We encourage endeavors to use Science, Technology and Innovation, as well as STEM education, to face challenges and create opportunities in our region. We also support Research and Innovation Policy Dialogues to exchange best practices and information and to formulate science and technology policy recommendations. We congratulate the results of the 2016 APEC Science Prize for Innovation, Research and Education (ASPIRE Prize) under the theme Technologies for Food Security, and encourage cross-border research by young scientists in the Asia-Pacific region. We acknowledge the Guidelines on the Establishment, Management and Review of Endorsed APEC Centers, endorsed by PPSTI, to encourage specialized bodies to bring further valued resources and expertise to science, technology and innovation in the region. We welcome the progress of the APEC Chief Science Advisors and Equivalents (CSAE) group in formulating recommendations for science advice on emergencies, as requested in the 2015 APEC Leaders Declaration. We note the CSAE recommendations on developing human capital by investing in scientists who have a role in risk management and climate change, and the contribution of science advice to assist APEC economies to achieve the SDGs. We highlight the further cooperation between PPSTI and ABAC on a vast range of topics, including enhancing policy support to start-up incubators and accelerators, and specific projects to better engage private sectors in STI activities. Forestry and Wildlife We reaffirm APECs commitment to the 2020 aspirational goal to increase forest cover by at least 20 million hectares and we remain committed to promote sustainable forest management, conservation and rehabilitation of forests. We note this APEC aspirational goal contributes to the role of forests in achieving the SDGs, and we invite economies to consider progress towards achieving the 2020 aspirational goal. We reaffirm APECs commitment to take concrete steps to fight against illegal logging and associated trade in the region and efforts to facilitate law enforcement cooperation within and among APEC economies. In addition, we note the importance of increasing trade in legally harvested forest products. We look forward to further development in favor of trade in legally harvested forest products, and welcome member economies endeavors to pursue measures to establish effective timber traceability systems, including through strengthened government capacity. We remain committed to strengthening our efforts to combat illicit wildlife trafficking through the continued development and use of technologies, exchange of information and intelligence, best practices and enforcement responses to combat illicit trade, and reduce the supply of, transit in, and demand for illegally taken and / or traded wildlife. Energy We reaffirm our commitment towards Leaders aspirational goals to reduce aggregate energy intensity by 45 percent by 2035, to double the share of renewable energy in the APEC energy mix by 2030, and to achieve sustainable and resilient energy development within the Asia-Pacific. We commit to rationalizing and phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies which encourage wasteful consumption, while still providing essential energy services. We express our appreciation to the economies that have volunteered to undergo a voluntary inefficient fossil fuel subsidy peer review in APEC and the G20, and we encourage more economies to participate in peer review. We welcome the completion of the APEC Guideline for Quality Electric Power Infrastructure and Energy and Economic Competitiveness Report. We recognize that sustainable development, energy access, energy resilience, and energy security are critical to the shared prosperity and future of the region. We appreciate member economies efforts to create favorable conditions for trade and investment to support a diversified, flexible, and integrated natural gas market in the APEC region. We endeavor to achieve a more secure and safe energy infrastructure and reaffirm the vital importance of achieving and maintaining high levels of nuclear safety, security, and non-proliferation, worldwide. Mining We welcome the strengthening of mining collaboration during 2016 and commend the initiatives commenced with the support of the APEC Mining Sub-fund, advancing the 10 Mining Policy Principles for sustainable and inclusive growth of the mining sector. Anti-Corruption We reiterate our commitment to implement the Beijing Declaration on Fighting Corruption. In line with each economys laws and policies, we are committed to denying safe havens for corrupt officials and their proceeds of corruption. We commit to strengthen cooperation on repatriation or extradition, as appropriate. We will continue to implement the actions outlined in the APEC Course of Action on Fighting Corruption and Ensuring Transparency, Code of Conduct for Business, and Principles on the Prevention of Bribery and Enforcement of Anti-bribery Laws. We are committed to further strengthen the APEC Network of Anti-Corruption Authorities and Law Enforcement Agencies (ACT-NET) and drawing on the experiences of law enforcement by sharing best practices, and promoting cross-border cooperation, both formal and informal, to investigate and prosecute corruption and bribery cases. We will commit to highlight the importance of best practices shared on the implementation of anti-corruption and anti-bribery compliance programs designed to prevent and detect bribery, considering incentives by member economies to encourage businesses to establish effective voluntary anti-corruption programs and support for our pathfinder dialogues on fighting corruption and illicit trade. Counter-terrorism We encourage officials to continue implementing the APEC Consolidated Counter-Terrorism and Secure Trade Strategy and, in light of the threat that foreign terrorist fighter (FTF) travelers pose to the integrity of the regions transportation infrastructure, focus on the strategys call for immigration and border officials to manage the flow of bona-fide international travelers in and out of economies. We recognize that advance passenger information and passenger name record (API/PNR) systems can mitigate the FTF travel threat, and we encourage APEC member economies to use these important tools that also facilitate legitimate travel by enabling authorities to process travelers at border crossings more quickly. Disability issues We reaffirm our commitment to ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy meaningful, active and collaborative participation in the shared prosperity and advancement of the Asia-Pacific region. We value their creative potential and abilities as integral and contributing members of our society to enhance economic growth and are committed to advance equal opportunity of persons with disabilities for employment, leadership, and decision-making. Thus, we commit to implement measures including reasonable accommodation and enabling conditions to ensure equality of access to an inclusive quality education and professional and technical training, which lead to meaningful and sustainable employment opportunities. We recognize the efforts of the Group of Friends on Disability (GOFD) in actively promoting development that is inclusive of persons with disabilities. We encourage officials to take measures to promote the value of persons with disabilities as employees, investors and participants in economic development. Transportation We acknowledge the important role the transport sector plays in the interchange of goods and people between economies. We support ongoing initiatives to promote a safe, secure, efficient, resilient, and innovative transport sector. In this regard, we appreciate the work of the APEC Port Service Network (APSN) to promote connectivity in the APEC ports and related industries. We welcome recent efforts to promote road safety initiatives including in relation to heavy vehicles, encourage regional integration through promoting gateway port connectivity, promote the development of intelligent transport systems, help supply chains resume after natural disasters, build capacity amongst governments to leverage public-private partnership frameworks to expand transportation infrastructure, and support womens participation as workers in the growing Asia-Pacific transportation sector. STRENGTHENING APEC AS AN INSTITUTION We welcome officials continued efforts to strengthen the operational and institutional capabilities of the APEC Secretariat. We recognize that the Policy Support Unit continues to be a valuable and integral part of APEC, advancing key initiatives this year, such as the Ease of Doing Business, the Bogor Goals reviews, SCFAP final assessment, as well as promoting our achievements outside of APEC. Recalling the decision we made in 2012 when extending the PSU mandate, we look forward to the mid-term review of the PSU and its outcomes in 2017. We call on APEC members and fora to support the PSU in the review process. Recognizing the large number of APEC sub-fora, we welcome the ongoing discussions to streamline and right-size APEC groupings, improve accountability and communications on the part of sub-fora leaders, link project funding more closely with top APEC priorities, and enhance participation by the private sector. These actions will contribute to making APEC more relevant, effective, and accountable, and we commend further efforts towards these goals. We endorse the 2016 Senior Officials' Chair report on APEC's activities, note the APEC Secretariat Executive Director Annual Report, endorse the CTI Annual Report to Ministers, and approve the 2017 Secretariat Account Budget and corresponding level of 2017 Members Contributions. We welcome preparations for APEC 2017 in Vietnam. We recognize ABACs role in coordinating the four executive dialogues in Trade, Mining, Food and Finance this year, which provided important opportunities for Ministers and the private sector to engage on the issues. Imagen Galeria Contenido 2 Medios de Comunicacion No hay ningun vinculo favorito que mostrar. 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(ALK) is close to reaching a settlement with U.S. antitrust officials that will allow it to complete its proposed $2.6 billion acquisition of Virgin America Inc. (VA), the Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The settlement with the Justice Department's antitrust division should be announced by the end of November, the report specified. The report added that the details of the settlement couldn't be learned. Spokespeople for the airlines didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. The Justice Department declined to comment about the merger review. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News MASON CITY | A Clear Lake man has been ordered to serve up to 10 years in prison for breaking into vehicles in Mason City and stealing items from them. Jamie Lee Evenson, 29, was sentenced Wednesday to up to five years in prison each on three counts of felony third-degree burglary of a motor vehicle. Two of the sentences are to be served concurrently but consecutive to the third sentence for a total prison term of up to 10 years. He pleaded guilty to those charges this week. Two additional counts of third-degree burglary of a motor vehicle as well as one count of felony second-degree criminal mischief were dismissed. Mason City police were called to a report on Sept. 21 that someone had broken into a parked car around 7 a.m. in the 1000 block of South Illinois Avenue and then pedaled away on a bicycle. The suspect, Evenson, was later arrested in the 300 block of South Louisiana Avenue. Evenson broke the windows of four other vehicles around Mason City and stole items from them between midnight and 6 a.m., according to the police. Arleta M. Bunkofske Burlingame ALGONA Arleta M. Bunkofske Burlingame, 100, of Algona, died Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, at the Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 22, at Faith Assembly of God Church in Algona with pastors Rob and Anna Thoreson officiating. Burial will take place at Burt Township Cemetery in Burt. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday at Faith Assembly of God Church in Algona. Memorials may be made in Arletas honor to Hospice of the Heartland. Lentz Funeral Home, Algona. By SA Commercial Prop News A Constitutional Court judgement made in 2004 (in the case Mkontwana vs Nelson Mandela Municipality) has had serious widespread ramifications throughout the commercial property sector and has placed further risk on the shoulders of landlords Jason Lee, the Rawson Property Groups commercial property national head notes that in the case mentioned, the court held that the landlord was responsible for all municipality service debts run up by his tenant and this principle is now adhered to countrywide. This, said Lee, effectively makes a third party (the landlord) responsible for the debits of a main contracting player (the tenant) even though he (the landlord) did not incur the debt himself. Lee said that in his view this whole situation needs reviewing, especially in the current scenario where tenants are increasingly finding it difficult to pay both their rentals and their utilities accounts. They know only too well, he said, that they can walk away from a lease when it expires without the municipality having any way of extracting payment from them. The pressure is now transferred to the landlord and, it has to be added, to the banks which are often financing the acquisition. The landlords predicament, said Lee, is made more difficult by his being debarred by law from cutting off services to a tenant. The municipality does have the right to do this in the case of electricity bills but only does so once the bill is at a substantial level, putting the landlord at huge risk. In the case of water supplies, they are by law prevented from ever cutting those off. Sewage services and rubbish removal will also remain in place no matter how much money is owed. Just how seriously these utility bills can mount up, said Lee, is shown by the fact that he has recently seen two cases where sums of R200 000 to R500 000 had not been paid and eventually had to be met by the owner who could not otherwise sell the building. (A rates clearance certificate is mandatory before a transfer is processed.) What are the lessons that landlords can take to heart to avoid these situations? Lee says that the old rule of checking and rechecking the tenants credit and previous leasing record is now even more important than before. Then, too, in todays market the landlord simply has to get two or three months rental deposit paid prior to occupation as well as a three months utilities deposit. If this chases the tenant away (as it sometimes does) this exit may be something for which the landlord will later be grateful, said Lee. Securing big deposits gives peace of mind. Wherever possible, he added, the landlord should also install a prepaid electric meter and insist on the tenant servicing it. Quite often, said Lee, it looks draconian or suspicious to impose these sorts of conditions upfront and a landlord may be tempted to ease up on them. To do so is fatal history shows that a tenant who is given leeway time and again exploits the landlord. Be strict. New county jail halfway through construction Construction is at its halfway mark at the new county jail. The Saline County Commission toured the site Tuesday. Editor's note: John Skipper is on vacation. This column appeared in the Sept. 29, 2014, Globe Gazette. What is the difference between being a Republican and a Democrat? The historian Theodore White tackled this question 50 years ago and here is what he came up with: "The Democrats believe in government as an instrument to do things. Thus, they can promise all their client groups, with complete sincerity, that, when elected, a Democratic government will do something to help each of the groups. ... When Democrats win, they find their promises all too frequently paralyzed by Congress. ... "Republicans' largest client group, business, wants the government to do nothing to leave it alone. Other client groups, chiefly inspired by the old Protestant ethic of individual salvation, feel morally that the individual must be the master of his own destiny." Two questions come immediately to mind: Was White right, and have things changed much in the past 50 years? This year, two political scientists, Matthew Grossman and David Hopkins, are publishing a series of papers in which they try to define the differences between the two parties. They say, "The Republican Party is dominated by ideologues who are committed to small-government principles, while Democrats represent a coalition of social groups seeking public policies that favor their particular interests." In other words, things apparently haven't changed much philosophically. The two researchers also conclude that Republicans tend to be more uncompromising because they believe compromise leads to more government rather than less. A Cerro Gordo County Democrat told me the difference between the two parties is that Democrats tax and spend while Republicans just spend. Conservative columnist Cal Thomas recently wrote, "Democrats have convictions. They know what to do with power when they get it. ... Republicans seem to constantly react to the policies of Democrats or slam each other instead of making a case for the superiority of their ideas." Back in Theodore White's day there was plenty of back-room politics and shenanigans. It was considered business as usual. But there was not the bitterness and hatred that plagues today's politics. In the same year White wrote about the differences between the two parties, Congress passed the landmark Civil Rights bill not without partisan bickering, but they got it done. When Ronald Reagan was president he dealt with House Speaker Tip O'Neil. They couldn't have been further apart philosophically but they found a way to work together. The same with President Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich. Not so with President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner. The difference, I think, is that in years past, members of the other party were considered opponents. Today, they are considered enemies and they treat each other that way, at least in their public statements. And look what they have to show for it. As State Rep. Josh Byrnes of Osage said at the end of the last legislative session, "Politicians should concentrate on the next generation rather than on the next election." On a lighter note, there's this story concerning the differences between Republicans and Democrats. Suppose the public needed a box moved from Point A to Point B. Republicans would delay the project while the constitutionality of it was debated. After all, James Madison never wrote about box moving. Then there would be the question of whether moving of the box met the Christian principles of box moving. Where in the Bible does it say you can do that? Democrats would delay the project for weeks while hearings were held on the environmental impact of moving the box and whether it needed to be moved at all. And then there's the question of fairness. After all, if we move a box for some, don't we have to be able to do it for others? So the question of the day, in assessing the difference between Republicans and Democrats, is this: What do you think happened with the box? A young Samoan writer from Australia has been declared the winner of the 2016 Samoa Observer Tusitala Short Story Competition. Rowena Seutatia MacDonald took out the Australia/ New Zealand category prize of US$1,000 and then headed off the two other category winners from the Pacific Islands, Shannon Foster Yam from P.N.G. and Rachel Laulu from Samoa to win the overall prize of US$2,000. Rowenas story Whistle was described by the judges as taking the reader into the domain of intergenerational traditional beliefs especially with regard s to the spirit world with the notion of time being pivotal to the plot. The story ends with a neat twist. The Samoa category award presented by Pepe Ah Liki of Ah Liki Construction was won by Rachel Laulus entry, Tsunami Kitchen. It was also praised by the judges comments, Excellently crafted, this short story takes a singular event and explores its ripples all around the world as it impacts on one family in which several members are estranged. Shannon Foster Yams story With war club in her hands, was underpinned by the depth of Fiji-based cultural and historical research underneath it, unforgettable, said the judge. The winner of the South Pacific Association for Commonwealth Literature and Language Studies (SPACLALS) Tuli prize presented by Dr Selina Tusitala Marsh was Lineta Tamanikaiyaroi of Samoa with My Savaii lifestyle & sustainability. This award was designed to acknowledge writers who may not have the level of grammatical skill as other writers, but whose stories are as important to tell, said Dr. Marsh. As well as the customary formalities, Dr. Marsh presented her poem, 'Unity'. She was commissioned to write and perform it for the Queen, on behalf of all the Commonwealth countries on Commonwealth Observance Day earlier this year in Westminster Abbey, London The awards evening was attended by finalists, sponsors, friends and supporters of the Pacific competition which is in its second year. Chloe Faaiuaso spoke on behalf of Digicel and the sponsors, while the Keynote Address was delivered by the Chinese Ambassador His Excellency Wang Xuefeng. Closing remarks and thanks were offered by Gatoaitele Savea Sano Malifa, the Editor in Chief of the Samoa Observer. Organising Committee member Marj Moore said that in a regional competition such as this, it would not have been possible without the enthusiasm of Pacific writers and the generous support of Samoas sponsors. We are very grateful to our sponsors this year, the Chinese Embassy, Digicel, Ah Liki Construction, Business Systems Limited, National Bank of Samoa, UNDP, Samoa Stationery and Books, ANZ Bank, Ace Hardware and Samoa Builders Supplies, Samoa Spare Parts, Air New Zealand and the South Pacific Association for Commonwealth Literary and Language Studies (SPACLALS). This years finalists and winners are: Tuli winner Lineta Tamanikaiyaroi My Savaii lifestyle & sustainability Australia/New Zealand Natalia Fareti, N.Z. - Vae o Sina Catherine Padmore, Australia Sunshine on my shoulders Marisa Maepu, N.Z. The Hungry Bird Rowena Seutatia MacDonald, Australia - Whistle Category Winner Rowena Seutatia MacDonald, Australia Whistle Pacific Islands Marlene Dee Gray, P.N.G. My sons father is the village idiot Shannon Foster Yam, P.N.G. With war club in her hands Poe Mageo, American Samoa Heart between Mats Tamari Mulitalo Cheung, American Samoa The House of the Tormented Category Winner Shannon Foster Yam, P.N.G. With war club in her hands Samoa Terry Bennett Caught Fiona Collins Precious Rachel Laulu Tsunami kitchen Seiuli Seti Ah Young Beyond Mt Vaea Category Winner Rachel Laulu Tsunami kitchen 2016 Samoa Observer Tusitala Short Story Competition Winner Rowena Seutatia MacDonald, Australia - Whistle The world is full of evil people. Samoa is certainly not immune. It goes without saying therefore that where goodwill exists, there is also deceit and fraud lurking around the corner. They will strike when people are vulnerable, especially in the pursuit for material wealth. Last Sunday, a story titled Alleged conman alert was published on the front page of the Sunday Samoan. With the idea of warning unsuspecting members of the public to beware about the movements of a certain individual, the headline naturally aroused interest and worry. You see, in these challenging times, the last thing we want is another person to become a victim of such a ruthless person. So we highlighted Taupauape Losa Moafanuas story to make a point. We wanted to remind once again that there are some very, very bad people among us. Taupauape by the way was allegedly conned by a man named Soloi, also known as Faleti Fiti. He fleeced her of cash with a promise of a piece of land at Vaitoloa. Its an interesting story with a sad twist. Listen. This all started last month when this man came to where I work and asked if I wanted to buy acre of land at Vaitoloa, she explained. Now I didnt believe him at first but then he had all the information. He had Court papers and he had all these letters that say the land belongs to him. Thats why I trusted him. I asked him how much is the land but he said he will let me know once his lawyer had secured all the paper work. The following day he came again and he said that he is trying to get his N.P.F to pay for the lawyers fee. I asked him how much the fee is and he said its $2,700. He said his lawyer is giving him until Friday of that week to pay her fee otherwise she will use his land to pay for her fee. Aside from the lawyers fee he told me that he needed money to pay for his doctors report so that is able to withdraw his N.P.F. So I gave him $130. The man is persistent. The next day, he was at her office again. This time he asked her for $800 tala to pay off the lawyers bill. I gave him that $800. Whats more, my son gave him a car to use because we felt sorry for him for going around in the rain and sun to do all of these things. To cut a long story short, the man has now run off with her money and is nowhere to be found. Now Taupauape is left heartbroken and literally broke. I mean I trusted this person so much because of all the evidence that I saw in the selling of this land, she said. Now this is what gets me. How can you trust someone you dont even know? Besides, dont we live in an age where anyone can produce documents that seem legitimate if they have the right equipment? How many fake degrees and qualifications are floating around out there for example? Sadly for this woman, she has obviously learnt her lesson and she wants to warn everyone. This person is going around with documents about land getting people to buy this land. Be very careful, dont fall for it. This person is a con. I dont want what has happened to me to happen to anyone else too. Well the warning came a little late. You see the conman had already fooled another victim in the form of Eti Sapolu, of Faatoia and Lalovaea, who was conned of $10,000. He asked us for help and so I gave him a place to stay and he stayed with us for about four months until he fooled me, Sapolu explained. One day he (Faleti) said its their family faalavelave and he needed $5,000 tala. In exchange he will let me buy 5 acres of land at Vaitoloa so this $5,000 will be the starting payment for the land. I didnt trust him at first until he showed me all the documents of the land and proof that it belongs to him. So I thought why not this seems like a pretty good deal to me. Days later, Mr. Sapolu said Faleti asked him for another $5,000. He apparently insisted there was another buyer interested in the land. I gave him what he asked for, Mr. Sapolu said. Long story short, after that last conversation with him, I didnt hear from him again. Like Taupauape, Mr. Sapolu lodged a complaint with the Police. But the Police told me that I cant file a complaint because Faleti had already given a statement saying that the $10,000 was a gift for him from me, he said. I argued back and told them that I have all the documents that Faleti had given me as part of our agreement that we did but they said I still cant lodge a complaint. Again, this doesnt make sense at all. When Taupauape lodged the complaint with the Police, she was told that this man has been jailed several times for the same offense. Wind the clock back a few years, they told Mr. Sapolu that the conman had apparently beaten him to the Police with a statement claiming the money was a gift. This has got to be one of most bizarre twists ever in this story. Why would a conman suddenly make a statement to the Police that he received a gift? Arent statements reserved for victims? How can someone who received a gift be a victim? Back to the woman, if the Police knew that this man is a notorious fraudster, what is he doing mingling in the community? Why havent members of the public being warned? Why do we get the feeling that perhaps this conman is well connected? Something doesnt add up about these stories and what that is we cannot put a finger on it at this moment. What we want to say is that from where we stand, both cases could have easily been resolved with the use of common sense. Common sense tells you dont just blindly trust strangers especially smooth talking ones walking around Apia with some documents. Common sense will always tell you to check first and be absolutely sure before you commit to anything. Common sense will tell you that five acres at Vaitoloa is not just going to cost $5,000. Common sense and your first impressions will always warn you about someone. What has happened to these members of the public is sad. But we have to always remember that if its too good to be true, then it probably is. Have a peaceful Sunday Samoan, God bless! Dear Editor, Two weeks ago, the charges against the Commissioner of Police were withdrawn by an Independent prosecutor. So just who is this so called independent prosecutor that was engaged by the Attorney General to handle this case? Paul Dacre, a name we now know as the prosecutor who withdrew the charges against the Commissioner of Police. Enter his name on google and you find that he is a lawyer based in New Zealand. A little more search on the internet and you find that he was the lawyer involved in the case against John Banks, a New Zealand Member of Parliament. According to the information on the internet; John Banks won his case because the prosecutor withheld evidence that he had a duty to provide to the Court and to John Banks. The New Zealand Court of Appeal had said that the effect of the conduct of the prosecution was to mislead the court; that the prosecutions conduct was a serious error of process. John Banks won his case and also won costs against the prosecution for NZD$66,000.00. John Banks then in May this year filed a complaint against the prosecutor of his case. Some months later, Mr Dacre then comes to Samoa to be the prosecutor for the Commissioners case, instructed as Mr Dacre says, by the Attorney General. However even though he was instructed by the Attorney General, he seems to make a point to emphasise to the media in Court that he never discussed the case with the Attorney General. The question then is, who did he discuss the case with? How did he obtain the background of the case then? The police were shocked like everyone else at Court when Mr. Dacre stood up and withdrew the charges. The talk in the police is that in an earlier meeting with Mr. Dacre, he led the police to believe that he would be proceeding with the charges. There was no consulting them on the withdrawal of the charges or any issues he may have had with the evidence. So if he did not talk to the police, did he talk to the original prosecutor or the original overseas prosecutor that was first instructed for this case? The question comes, why did the Attorney General and Government fight so hard to take control of this case and give it to an overseas prosecutor? The fight to take control of this case is no secret, it supposedly resulted in the suspension of an officer of the National Prosecution Office, the setting up of a Commission of Inquiry and a review of the National Prosecution Office all with the end result of the case being taken under the control of the Attorney General, the chief legal advisor of the Government. The New Zealand Court of Appeal called a judgment by Mr. Dacre in the Banks case an error of judgment. Did this error of judgment make him the perfect candidate to take over the Commissioners prosecution and end up with withdrawal of charges? Have we just experienced another concerning error of judgment? Just saying! Failavaaoleneiepupula Samoa Re: $1million lawsuit adjourned Wow more allegations. So if the Police Commissioner was acting upon instructions by the Minister of police to arrest Mr. Suitupe why was he suspended? Given the fact that we now know there are senior members of the police force who have shown their disapproval of the P.Cs way of cleaning up the corruption and weeding out the departments under perform officers, maybe Mr. Suitupe was informed to get rid of any evidence against him or maybe the witness was threatened to change his/her statement to suit Mr. Suitupe making it look like he is innocent. This is Samoa we are talking about news travels faster than the internet, all it takes is for a non-PC supporter to inform Mr. Suitupe of a raid and we now all know the end result. Personally I think the Minister and the PC did nothing wrong while arresting Mr. Suitupe given the severity of the threat he had made against the two officials. Nicholas Henry Inu Digicel painted the Apia Township red yesterday morning. Red outfits and plenty of smiles was the order of the day when the Bigger, better network celebrated its 10th year anniversary with a Fun Day for its customers at the Sogi Recreational Park. There was something for everyone. For the kids, there were photo booths, bouncing castles, egg-spoon and wheelbarrow races, hula hoops, balloon popping competitions and more. The Chief Executive Officer, Rory Condon, told the Sunday Samoan the event was their way of saying thanks to their customers. We are in the middle of our 10th year anniversary, he said. We started in November in 2006 and when we got the team together to decide what we should do to celebrate 10 years in Samoa, we thought it has to be about the people that helped us get to where we are. We thought it cant be just about Digicel or us just cutting a cake. So we came up with the idea that we should do something for the community for our customers is the key. It is our way to really give back and say thank you. He went on to say that Digicel is known for making parties and so they came up with the Digicel Red Ofu Run and Fun Day. A lot of the times we do fun days with games for the kids but this time we thought that it will be a great opportunity to extend that and do games for the whole family, he said. This is an opportunity to that the people of Samoa for their support of Digicel in the last 10 years. We have come such a long way from basic telephones ten years ago to 3G and with LTE so its all about the future. The Company also held a prize giving for 24 students who participated in the CoderDojo IT skills programme. We started this initiative a year ago Digicel brought CoderJojo to Samoa, he said. Its a global movement of computer clubs for kids where they can learn how to code and build programmes and apps in websites and its all for free and great fun. So today marks one year anniversary of the start of that and its an opportunity to present the children with certificates and congratulate them for all their hard work. The lawyers representing the parties in the fight over the estate of the late Teariki Apai of Rarotonga submitted their final submissions in the hearing last week. The parties are battling to determine the rightful owners of the late Teariki Apais estate of more than 200 acres of prime land in Apia. At the moment, the land is occupied by churches and some prominent businesses in Matautu, Vaiala, Apia and the Sogi area. Queens Counsel, Jane Anabel, Simon James and local lawyer Ruby Drake are representing the descendants of Fuimaono Lafoia. The lawyer for the descendants of Lili and Tiresa is Mele Hunter Betham. Semi Leung Wai is the lawyer for the Public Trustee as the Administrator of the estate of the late Patu Afaese Hunter. The dispute turns on the relationship of those individuals to Teariki Apai who once held the land. The plaintiff alleges that Fuimaono Lafoia succeeded to the land by virtue of his relation to Teraiki as Tearikis son. They deny that Lili and Tiresa were Tearikis sisters. The descendants also claim that the late Teariki was married to a woman named Faalua Aumeke who lived in Falefa with their children. As the descendants of Fuimaono Lafoia they say they are now entitled to the land. The respondents alleged that Teariki had no son and that Lili and Tiresa succeeded to the land as Tearikis sisters. They say that as the descendants of Lili and Tiresa they are entitled to the land. Justice Vui Clarence Nelson presided the matter. In her final submission, Mrs. Betham argued that a family book presented as evidence for the descendants of Lafoia is questionable. She told the Court that Book B referred to Teliki from Rarotonga instead of Teariki and that no one had heard of it until recently when it surfaced. Justice Vui asked the lawyer who should the family had presented the Book to. He also made comments about how the Court can draw inference that Teliki refers to Teariki. In response, Mrs. Betham told the Judge that it would be dangerous for the Court to draw such inference. She added that the family could have presented the Book to the Public Trustee but it had suddenly surfaced. We submit that the book never came into light before because it never existed. Again, Justice Vui reminded the lawyer that she had not put it to the witnesses that the book was an implication. You cannot just stand there and make a submission when you didnt ask the question, he said. About the name Teariki and Teliki, Justice Vui pointed out that we are Samoans and we all know we interchange R with letter L. Its so common that it doesnt require a proposition, he said. We do it. Its part of our custom. Moving on to another issue, Mrs. Betham raised the point of Fuimaono Lafoia being a legal issue of the late Teariki Apai and Faalua Aumeke. She made reference to the 1908 Administration Act that the third party needs to be a legal issue of the marriage. Therefore your Honor there is no evidence provided to establish that Valeriano Lafoia was a legal issue as a result of a marriage of Teariki, said Mrs. Betham. She used the Stowers and Stowers 2012 case to draw similarity to the current case. Mrs. Betham explained that the Court of Appeal ruled on the basis that because they pair were not married therefore the children of that union were not interstate issue for the purpose of the legislation and therefore will not receive share of the state. Justice Vui reminded that the Court has not ruled in that case and is still open. Again, Mrs. Betham reiterated that she relies of her submission that if the plaintiff is successful they will still not be able to inherit the state. She argued that it has taken more than 60 years for the plaintiff to file their claim. Justice Vui pointed out that the descendants of Fuimaono did go to the Public Estate where they had rejected their claim. He also stressed that the Trust did not settle all of the estate. However, Anabel representing the plaintiff submitted that there was sufficient evidence from family history that Lafoia was the son of Teariki. She reiterated that Lafoia is more probable than not that he is the son of Teariki. Another document she made reference to is a baptism certificate of the late Teariki Apai stating that the deceased was born in Rarotonga in 1852. She said there was evidence that he had lived in Samoa and the will of Apai in relation to Samoan land. Anabel gathered that in the evidence of Tekeu Emil Framhein it was clear that Teariki left Rarotonga and was in Samoa. She pointed out that Tekeu said Teariki had no children and wife in Rarotonga. Lafoia regarded himself as the son of Teariki, she said. Lafoia was accepted by his community as the son of Teariki and others teased him of his Cook Island heritage. The Q.C. also touched on the genealogy book that was used as evidence. She said the books was family history passed from their descendants and it was reliable evidence. Moving on to lands, Anabel said while the estate was distributed amongst beneficiaries the Lelepa land remains in estate. She pointed out that another third party that is outside of proceedings hold some of the lands being transferred. Anabel argued that beneficiaries should not be building on the land because it does not belong to them. Another estate of Teariki is land at the Apia Park held by a third party whom is also members of the family, said Anabel. Justice Vui adjourned the matter until next year for his decision. A well-known bookshop in Samoa and American Samoa has opened in Auckland, but with added special products unique to the Pacific. Samoa Stationery and Books Ltd (S.S.A.B) was launched on Friday night at the newly opened Samoa House at Mangere Town Centre. Owner and chief executive, Fiti Leung Wai, says the Auckland shop will be a little different to S.S.A.B shops in Upolu, Savaii and American Samoa. Were calling S.S.A.Bs Auckland branch SeiOriana Gift Shop since well be selling a wide range of jewellery, clothes, shoes, handicrafts and Samoan books, she says. Included in such range are high-end Samoan fashion brands like Mena and Janets, which already has a huge following in New Zealand. Sei Oriana will also give the opportunity to small scale Samoan carvers, weavers, seamstresses, Elei printers and artisans to export their products to a much bigger market. Many small entrepreneurs back in Samoa cannot afford to risk exporting their products on their own, but as a large reseller, SSAB is able to help by shouldering the risk. SeiOriana will support our community back home. Hopefully Samoans in Auckland will show them some love by shopping here this Christmas and beyond. S.S.A.B has shipped a container of Samoan made products to New Zealand to stock Sei Oriana. The SSAB chain first opened its doors in Samoa in August 2008 and is among the fastest growing businesses in Samoa. It started with four employees but is now employing over 100 people in Samoa alone. The Auckland shop is its sixth branch. Fiti says that while the focus of Sei Oriana is on Samoan-made products, it will not completely stray from SSABs roots. S.S.A.B currently has an online shop where overseas customers can pay for electronics, whiteware and furniture for their families back home to collect. A Family Corner has been set up, where customers can inspect displayed whiteware, furniture and beds and pay in-store and their family in Samoa can pick them up. S.S.A.B started out first as a stationery and book store hence the name Samoa Stationery and Books Limited. I started this business because there was a need in the Samoan market for a good bookshop with cheap books as well as affordable pricing on stationery products for school kids, Fiti told the New Zealand Pacific newspaper. I always want the children of Samoa to be smart and I know that no Samoan parents would want their children to fail at education. As the business expanded to other areas such as furniture and electronics, I then decided to brand it SSAB - easier and catchy. The slogan Simply the Best was later added as we always strive to be the best at what we do at SSAB. The idea of having S.S.A.B branches around the Pacific region has always been in the back of my mind, Fiti says. I already have a branch in American Samoa and the idea of setting up shop in NZ but with a focus on products made in Samoa came from God after my round table meeting last year in NZ with key Pacific people involved with business. When I had the idea I knew that there would be many challenges but I always believe in God and having that positive drive to always push through no matter what. Fiti was inspired to launch the Auckland shop after meeting with John Key here last year, when she was awarded the prestigious New Zealand Prime Ministers Fellowship - presented for being a proficient and outstanding entrepreneur in Samoa Part of the award was the opportunity for me to meet with anyone in NZ of my choosing, Fiti says. I chose to meet with community leaders involved with business and charitable work so I can learn from them and expand my network. Fiti plans to expand - when the time is right - to other Pacific countries, as well as Australia and the United States. Dear Editor, Re: Poverty and risking customary lands Our forefathers didnt have PhDs let alone a higher education like most of the supposedly well indoctrinated, I mean educated ones we have today with the exception of Dr. Fiu and others that brought this issue of customary land to the lime light. They were wise enough to know the consequences of the wicked intentions of foreign governments and their international bankers together with our own government that devised a scheme to unlock the lock and key mechanism already in place in the constitution to protect the integrity of our customary land. Look at our P.M., he has been patrolled around the world by the UN and their financiers like a rock star making him feel important to these super power countries giving him more money we cant pay but banking on our land as a financial instrument to achieve his goals. The Torrens System is evil. Its a slavery system that was adopted by most Commonwealth nations. Regis means king, giving up your right of land ownership to the king or government. The white mans law has hidden agendas in it. Its written with double meaning and innuendos that need a lawyer to interpret it. The law of commerce and banking dealt the same way with liquid assets and fixed assets. liquid means mutable or interchangeable it can slip away from you like water, when you spill water, once its gone, its gone; while fixed assets means it cannot be removed like our land its real estate so which one would you rather have, liquid assets or fixed assets? I would prefer real estate, fixed assets, not fiat currency that has no value, the only value that has on it is the paper that is written on it. Leituala Roger B. Residents and at least one Carlsbad planning commissioner raised concerns this week about the cumulative effects of mixed-use development in the citys downtown Village, even as the panel signed off on a four-story retail and commercial project planned for the area. Boosted by a strong regional economy and encouraged by planning policies, such residential/retail developments have become increasingly popular outside traditional urban neighborhoods. The idea is to reduce pollution, cut commutes and conserve resources by allowing more people to live, work, shop and play in vibrant, pedestrian-oriented neighborhoods. But in quaint areas like downtown Carlsbad, some fear too much multistory development would be overwhelming. Advertisement I understand that we need to look at .. each one individually, Planning Commissioner Jeff Segall said, but he added the city also needs to consider what happens when so many projects approach the citys limits on height and density. The City Council will have the final say on the latest proposal 4 Plus 1 Luxury Living which would be built on Madison Avenue across an alley from a Taco Bell/KFC restaurant on the southern side of Carlsbad Village Drive. The first floor would have 1,100 square feet of retail space and a parking garage, with storage space and one apartment on the second floor, two apartments on the third floor, and one apartment on the fourth floor.A vacant single-story residential duplex on the site would be demolished. City planners said the project meets all city regulations and policies, and thus should be approved. The commission agreed by a 6-1 vote, with Commissioner Hap LHeureux opposed. He said the proposed structure feels too massive for me. Several residents said that, even though the project meets city guidelines, it is too large for the neighborhood, would increase traffic on the small adjacent alley, and simply wouldnt fit in. It is inconsistent and incompatible with the character of the Village, said resident DeeDee Trejo. She and others objected to a policy that allows the builder to pay an in-lieu fee for a portion of the required parking instead of providing all the parking on site. The city uses the fees to help pay for off-site parking, which residents said forces more cars onto streets that already have too many vehicles. Some people suggested the council delay a decision on the project until the city completes its Village-Barrio Master Plan, expected sometime next year. Also helpful would be the results of an extensive study of downtown parking thats now underway. However, city staffers said theres no moratorium on construction, and that each application needs to be considered on its individual merits. Several mixed-use projects have recently been completed or approved in the Village, including one called The Grand Madison, which calls for four stories on less than half an acre at State and Oak streets. The latest to hit the citys planning pipeline is a proposal for a four-story retail/residential building at the corner of Carlsbad Village Drive and State Street, where theres now a juice shop in converted storage container used as a temporary building. The San Diego City Councils approval of the huge One Paseo mixed-use project last year, with 608 apartments and condominiums on 24 acres in Carmel Valley, launched a referendum effort that was later withdrawn after the developer scaled back office space in the project by 42 percent, retail space by 61 percent, and lowered the tallest buildings from nine stories to six. philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @phildiehl The recent re-election of Oceanside City Treasurer Gary Ernst who died five weeks before his ballot box win could be a catalyst for shifting the position to a staff post instead of an elected one, city officials said last week. The change would require a public vote, and would mirror a system already in place in cities such as Vista, San Marcos and Solana Beach, where city finance employees perform the treasurer function. Escondido and Carlsbad still elect city treasurers. Several Oceanside City Council members said last week theyd like to explore making the switch before the 2018 election. Advertisement I know that many cities within the state have had their city treasurer folded into city staff and that is something that Im interested in investigating, said Councilman Jack Feller. The discussion emerged during Wednesdays City Council meeting when Councilmen Chuck Lowery and Jerry Kern said the city should consider changing how members of the treasurers Investment Oversight Committee are appointed. A community member suggested the city also take a look at the treasurers post and the council agreed. Kern had actively campaigned on behalf of Ernst, whose death from natural causes was announced Sept. 23 after the deadline for printing the November ballot had passed. He won re-election with 52 percent of the vote, against community activist and attorney Nadine Scott, with 48 percent. Kern argued that Scott wasnt qualified and had urged voters to support Ernst, even in death. The council now has two options for replacing Ernst: appointing a treasurer who would fill the first two years of the term, or holding a costly special election. Councilwoman Esther Sanchez said Wednesday this would mark the third time in recent years the council has appointed a treasurer. She agreed the city should consider changing the setup of that job and the city clerks job It seems to me that we ought to start talking about it early so that the public has a lot of time to react and they have the opportunity to provide input, Sanchez said. Ernst, a 61-year-old mortgage broker, had been appointed treasurer in 2010 from among eight people who applied to complete the term of Gary Felien, who had been elected to the City Council. Ernst was later elected to the treasurers post in 2012. Felien had been appointed city treasurer in 2009, after the death of longtime City Treasurer Rosemary Jones. Treasurers are typically responsible for managing the cities investment portfolios, bond payments and banking services. They also provide routine financial reports to elected officials. Oceanside is in the minority among California cities by electing its treasurer. More than 300 of the states 480 cities appoint the treasurer, according to reports from other cities that have voted on whether to switch, such as Antioch in Contra Costa County. Voters in Antioch defeated a measure in June to change the city treasurer from an elected to an appointed position. Lowery said he believes Oceansides treasurer should be a city employee, vetted through the normal hiring process. The treasurer is currently chosen based upon popularity, he said. The treasurer should be selected by going through the same process any business would use to evaluate high-level management staff. Scott, the candidate who ran against Ernst on Nov. 8, disagreed. She said the city saves money by electing a treasurer, which is a part-time job that pays about $24,000 a year in Oceanside. Electing a treasurer and city clerk also helps each office maintains their independence, Scott said. As an example, she cited Jones, credited with preventing financial turmoil in Oceanside in 1999 by refusing to sign papers that would have granted a high-risk Los Angeles investment firm power of attorney over $100 million in the citys investment portfolio. What would stop that from happening if the treasurer basically serves at the will of the council? Scott asked. Oceanside City Clerk Zack Beck declined to say whether he would prefer that his job be appointed or elected because he would be tasked with overseeing such an election. But he noted that the city is saving money by having him as a part-time clerk. The City Council voted in 2012 to make the city clerk a part-time position and cut other jobs as a part of an effort to close a $1.6 million budget shortfall. From a fiscal standpoint, the citizens of Oceanside are receiving this high level of service at an extremely affordable rate, Beck said. To provide additional context, the previous elected city clerk was full time and was paid $137,247.57 a year. Whereas, I am paid, $23,798.56 a year. The City Council is scheduled to decide Dec. 7 whether to fill the current vacancy by appointing someone or set a special election. And you thought that thing about the playgoer who tried to charge his phone onstage last year was the weirdest Broadway story youd be hearing anytime soon. The drama-within-the-drama at the musical Hamilton with Vice President-elect Mike Pence booed by fellow audience members and then addressed directly by the cast at curtain call just about burned down social media on Friday night. And the story just keeps on giving: Now Donald Trump has weighed in, not only scolding the audience for the way Pence was harassed, but demanding an apology from the shows cast for their rudeness. Advertisement The ironies and oddities abound: It seems pretty likely that Brandon Victor Dixon, who currently portrays Aaron Burr in Hamilton, was the first actor playing a vice president to address (much less gently admonish) an actual almost-vice-president from a Broadway stage. And speaking of rude words: Burr is still most famous for shooting Alexander Hamilton in a duel after Hamilton said some things that Burr, who was then the sitting vice president, didnt like. We dont really handle things like that anymore. But as the 2016 presidential campaign and the contentious aftermath of the election have shown, theres still no lack of rough and tumble in American democracy. By the (rancorous) standards of recent debate, though, the statement read onstage by Dixon as the rest of the cast stood behind him was notably mild, even diplomatic. After expressing concerns about whether the new administration would protect their rights, the statement ended with the words: We truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and work on behalf of all of us. All of us. (It should be noted that Dixon himself has hardly sought to stoke the fires of discord recently. The day after the election, he tweeted: Anyone attacking someone for voting for a non democrat or republican needs to stop immediately. Its both unproductive and flawed.) So what to make of Trumps statement, tweeted this morning along with his demand for an apology, that The Theater must always be a safe and special place? Thats true but a safe place for ideas, not so much for feelings. Theater (even the commercial Broadway variety) has long been a harbor for artists to explore uncomfortable truths. And it should go without saying that uncomfortable truths can make people, yknow uncomfortable. (And upset. And angry.) All the more so when there are strong connections to whats going on in the outside world. Such a connection popped up just a few days ago courtesy of actor George Takei, the inspiration behind the Old Globe Theatre-birthed musical Allegiance. Takei spoke out against a Trump transition team members statement last week that Japanese-American internment could serve as precedent for registering Muslims in America. The World War II-era internment of more than 100,000 Japanese-Americans was at the center of Allegiance, which closed on Broadway earlier this year but will be screened in theaters nationwide Dec. 13. Takeis own family was sent to camps; decades later the U.S. government apologized for the action and paid reparations. (Heres my earlier piece on the connections between Allegiance and Hamilton.) Hamilton is the story of a founding father and hero of the American revolution, so its no surprise that politicians would want to identify with that show. But its also performed by an ethnically diverse cast a portrayal at odds with strict historical reality but one that speaks deeply (and with a great sense of hope) to the inclusivity of the American experiment. The shows lead role also happens to be played right now by Javier Munoz, a gay man who is HIV-positive. And the LGBT community is (it should go without saying) a vibrant part of Broadway and the wider theater world. So at the same time that you have to give credit to Pence for venturing to Hamilton, you have to wonder if he really thought there was any possibility (given his history of opposing gay rights, and given the Trump/Pence tickets numerous controversial statements on race) that people would remain quiet in his presence. The idea that political figures should always be treated with deference is a quaint one but not really supported by history. (Note that in 2011, first lady Michelle Obama, who is not actually an elected official, was booed at a NASCAR race.) Alexander Hamilton himself is said to have been pelted by stones once in New York when he tried to speak in support of a trade treaty there. So yes, the booing at last nights show about him was not especially polite, and probably didnt serve to change anyones minds. Still, the sentiments that the cast expressed were both respectful and serious, and it would be a surprise (and a shame) if an apology for that were forthcoming. Theater, at its most engaged, speaks truth to power, and very soon Mike Pence will be in (to borrow from Hamilton) the room where it happens the place where life-and-death decisions stand to be made for many millions of people. He heard from a few of them in the room where Hamilton happens, and the whole drama onstage and off was about as American as it gets. Twitter: @jimhebert jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com An Escondido woman suspected of stabbing her boyfriend to death early Friday morning has been identified as Alda Garcia, 35, police said. Garcia is being held without bond at the Vista jail on murder and felony domestic violence charges. Officers responded to reports of a domestic dispute at a home on Lincoln Avenue near Broadway at 2:10 a.m. Friday, according to Escondido police Lt. Ed Varso. Entering the building, they found a man with multiple stab wounds. Advertisement The victim, whose name has not yet been released, died at Palomar Medical Center. Breaking News cprine@sduniontribune.com The number of dead trees in Californias drought-stricken forests has risen dramatically to more than 102 million in what officials described as an unparalleled ecological disaster that heightens the danger of massive wildfires and damaging erosion. Officials said they were alarmed by the increase in dead trees, which they estimated to have risen by 36 million since the governments last survey in May. The U.S. Forest Service, which performs such surveys of forest land, said Friday that 62 million trees have died this year alone. The scale of die-off in California is unprecedented in our modern history, said Randy Moore, the forester for the region of the U.S. Forest Service that includes California. Trees are dying at a rate much quicker than we thought. Advertisement Scientists say five years of drought are to blame for much of the destruction. The lack of rain has put Californias trees under considerable stress, making them more susceptible to the organisms, such as beetles, that can kill them. Unusually high temperatures have added to the trees demand for water, exacerbating an already grim situation. The majority of the dead trees are in the southern and central Sierra Nevada region, officials said, though they warned that high mortality levels are also creeping into forests in Northern California, notably Siskiyou, Modoc, Plumas and Lassen counties. Adrian Das, an ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, needs only to step outside his office in Sequoia National Park to see the extent of the damage. You look across the hillside on a side of the road, and you see a vast landscape of dead trees, he said. Its pretty startling. Das said the parts of the forest at lower elevations about 5,000 to 6,000 feet continue to get hit the hardest. In the higher elevations, it can sometimes appear as if there is no drought and the trees are much healthier. We have sugar pines here grand trees that can live for 500 years, he said. Everywhere you walk, through certain parts of these forests, at least half of these big guys are dead. Although California enjoyed a wet start to the water year in Northern California, the central and southern parts of the state remain locked in what federal officials classify as extreme and exceptional drought. This staggering and growing number of tree deaths should be concerning for everyone, said Max Gomberg, the climate and conservation manager at the State Water Resources Control Board. It helps us realize just how intense and extreme this drought has been particularly for Central and Southern California. A single year of average precipitation, which parts of the state got last year, would not end the drought or cause trees to stop dying, experts said. Even with a historic deluge this winter, Moore said, die-off would continue for at least a year or two. Dead trees create various hazards for Californians. For example, such trees are weak and can fall more easily than healthy trees. In October 2015, Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency and formed a tree-mortality task force to help mobilize additional resources for the safe removal of fallen and dying trees. In May 2016, an aerial survey of was conducted in Placerville, near the Sacramento area. Meanwhile, the U.S. Forest Service has reallocated $43 million in California this fiscal year to conduct safety-focused restoration along roads, trails and recreation sites, the agency said in a statement. Then there is the wildfire danger. California was struck this summer by a series of deadly wildfires that destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands to flee. Officials at the time said some of those fires were fueled by dead trees. When a lot of dead fuel remains on the ground, fires burn hotter and damage the soil, experts said. Whenever rain eventually arrives, the water cannot filter through the soil as easily, so it moves the top layer, creating the potential for mudslides and destroying root systems. Like a sheet of glass, said Scott McLean, a battalion chief with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Wheres that water going to go? Quickly downhill. Once fires burn through the fuel on the ground, they can climb up a ladder of dry branches and timber until they get into the crown of the tree, McLean said. And once a fire gets to the top of a tree, it can spread quickly hopping from tree to tree rather than winding more slowly across the ground. The forest service said longer, hotter fire seasons are likely to continue for years to come. Officials said this and increased development in forested areas is driving up the cost of fighting fires. Some experts, however, have questioned whether theres a correlation between high levels of dead trees and fire severity. Officials say that fire management consumed more than half of the Forest Services budget last year. A blaze in Monterey County this summer burned for months, making it one of the costliest fires to fight in U.S. Forest Service history. These dead and dying trees continue to elevate the risk of wildfire, complicate our efforts to respond safely and effectively to fires when they do occur, and pose a host of threats to life and property across California, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement. matt.stevens@latimes.com ALSO Man pleads not guilty to vandalizing Trumps Walk of Fame star Border Patrol union welcomes Trumps proposed wall as a vital tool Los Angeles couple reported missing during camping trip found safe in Mexico, police say The $25 million Trump University lawsuit settlement announced Friday came 10 days before a trial was to start and slightly more than a week after U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Miller stepped into the case as a mediator. Miller was asked by fellow federal Judge Gonzalo Curiel on Nov. 10 to see if he would want to broker a settlement in the high-profile San Diego class-action suit involving two warring sides, thousands of plaintiffs and oh, yeah President-elect Donald Trump as the main defendant. Miller is a veteran jurist who spent years on the state Superior Court bench in San Diego and is widely respected in the state and federal courts. He went on senior status in 2010 meaning he is an active federal judge but with a reduced caseload. Advertisement Lawyers on both sides praised Millers role, without going into details, as did Curiel during a hearing Friday when they discussed the settlement that canceled the looming Nov. 28 trial. He showed a very steady hand, said Jason Forge, an attorney for the plaintiffs. Miller, 72, was appointed to the federal bench in 1997 by President Bill Clinton. He had been a judge on the San Diego Superior Court for a decade, appointed by Republican Gov. George Deukmejian. On the federal bench he has presided over several high-profile cases: The Strippergate corruption case against then-San Diego City Councilmen Ralph Inzunza and Michael Zucchet, as well as Las Vegas lobbyist Lance Malone. The trial centered on campaign contributions from strip club owners. The jury convicted Zucchet, but Miller took the unusual step of acquitting him of most of the charges, concluding there was not enough evidence to support the guilty verdicts. The ruling stood up on appeal. Inzunza went to prison. A 2013 Somali terrorism case. Four Somali immigrants, including three from San Diego, were convicted of sending $8,500 in cash to the terrorist group al-Shabab. Its the only known case where information from a massive surveillance program operated by the National Security Agency that swept up telephone metadata was used. Miller sentenced the men to prison terms, but his rulings in the case about the secret surveillance program are being appealed. A 2012 wrongful death lawsuit involving a Marine jet crash into a San Diego neighborhood. Miller presided over the non-jury trial. The F/A 18-D Hornet crashed into a house in University City, killing four people. Miller awarded the survivors of those killed $17.8 million. Staff writer Kristina Davis contributed to this story. Twitter: @gregmoran greg.moran@sduniontribune.com A $25 million settlement agreement was reached Friday resolving three fraud lawsuits filed against Donald Trump and his now-defunct Trump University, averting the prospect of a messy trial for the president-elect before he transitions to the White House. The settlement covers two class-action lawsuits filed in San Diego and a third suit brought by the New York state attorney general. The deal comes more than a week after Trump was elected president and 10 days before the first of the three cases was set to go to trial. The three lawsuits allege that Trump defrauded customers into thinking they would learn real estate secrets from professors handpicked by the businessman. The students claimed they learned little and instead were mostly subject to hard-sell sales tactics urging them to spend thousands on classes. Advertisement Trump does not acknowledge or admit any liability or wrongdoing as part of the settlement. Under the terms, $21 million will be spread among the plaintiffs in the two San Diego cases, while $4 million goes to the New York case. Expenses in the cases, including the administrative tasks of notifying class members, will also be covered as part of those amounts. 1 / 11 Attorney for President-elect Donald Trump Daniel Petrocelli walks toward where he will speak at a press conference while a small group of protesters hold signs in front of him after Trump agreed to pay 25 million dollars to settle a lawsuit over Trump University. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 2 / 11 A small group of protesters, who are in support of the students that claim they were defrauded by Trump University, hold signs outside of the Edward J. Schwartz federal courthouse. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 3 / 11 Plaintiffs attorneys Jason Forge, center, Rachel Jensen, right, and Patrick Coughlin, behind Forge, leave the Edward J. Schwartz federal courthouse after the settlement was announced. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 4 / 11 Plaintiffs attorney Jason Forge talks to members of the media. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 5 / 11 Plaintiffs attorney Jason Forge, right, talks to members of the media while a group of protesters hold signs behind him. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 6 / 11 Plaintiffs attorney Patrick Coughlin talks to members of the media. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 7 / 11 Attorney for President-elect Donald Trump Daniel Petrocelli talks to members of the media while a group of protesters hold signs behind him. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 8 / 11 Attorney for President-elect Donald Trump Daniel Petrocelli talks to members of the media while a group of protesters hold signs behind him. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 9 / 11 Attorney for President-elect Donald Trump Daniel Petrocelli pauses while speaking at press conference. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 10 / 11 Attorney for President-elect Donald Trump Daniel Petrocelli talks to members of the media while a group of protesters hold signs behind him. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 11 / 11 Attorney for President-elect Donald Trump Daniel Petrocelli talks to members of the media while a group of protesters hold signs behind him. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) The plaintiffs attorneys agreed to waive their fees and work pro bono, maximizing the amount the students can recover. The attorneys wont be making money on this case. All will go to the students, said San Diego attorney Jason Forge, who represented those suing. The 7,000 or so eligible members in the class-action suits should be able to recover at least 55 percent and possibly 100 percent of the money they spent on Trump University, Forge said. Some paid up to $35,000 on elite Trump University memberships that offered a year of mentorship. Some students claimed they were encouraged to max out credit cards to pay for the instruction. Students will be very pleased to be able to pay their credit card bills and move on with their lives, said plaintiffs attorney Rachel Jensen. One of those students is Sonny Low, the 74-year-old named plaintiff from Chula Vista representing California class members in the lawsuit that was to go to trial Nov. 28. He has been paying on a $9,000 credit card debt from Trump University and now will be able to recover that money, said one of his attorneys, Patrick Coughlin. Law firm Zeldes, Haeggquist & Eck, which helped represent the plaintiffs, said in a statement that it was incredibly painful to end the legal battle now. We stand behind their claims 100 percent but there is always risk in taking a case to trial and that was particularly so here, when the defendant was poised to be the next President of the United States. In federal civil trials, a plaintiff must win a unanimous verdict to get any relief. The lawsuits dogged Trump on the campaign trail, and many times he denied the claims against him and said he would not settle the cases. He told supporters at a May rally that he would come to San Diego to testify after winning the presidency. I could have settled this case numerous times but I dont want to settle cases when were right. I dont believe in it. And when you start settling cases, you know what happens? Everybody sues you because you get known as a settler. One thing about me, I am not known as a settler, Trump said at the time. Trump attorney Daniel Petrocelli said outside court Friday as seven anti-Trump University protesters held signs behind him that he is not sure what path the case would have taken if Trump hadnt been elected, but the president-elect likes to fight when he thinks hes right. President Trump is pleased to have this case behind him so he can focus on every important issue facing this country, said Petrocelli, adding Trump has unbridled enthusiasm for the task of leading the nation. He was willing to sacrifice his personal interests to put this behind him and move forward, the lawyer said. The terms were reached in the hours before a 1:45 p.m. hearing Friday in San Diego before U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who is presiding over the two class-action lawsuits. Last week, Curiel suggested both sides meet with veteran U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Miller, who had offered his services to see if a last-minute settlement could be worked out before Lows case went to trial Nov. 28. Both sides spent all day Wednesday with Miller negotiating a deal, and on Thursday worked to include the New York Attorney Generals Office in the settlement, Petrocelli said. Word of a possible settlement began Friday morning, with news outlets quoting unnamed sources. Then, before the deal could be announced by the lawyers in San Diego, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman released a statement to the media confirming it. I am pleased that under the terms of this settlement, every victim will receive restitution and that Donald Trump will pay up to $1 million in penalties to the state of New York for violating state education laws, Schneiderman said. The victims of Trump University have waited years for todays result, and I am pleased that their patience and persistence will be rewarded by this $25-million settlement. The settlement, because it involves class-action litigation, must still be approved by the judge. Curiel said he needs to make sure it is fair, appropriate and reasonable. That will take at least a month. If the judge grants preliminary approval, then notices will go out to the class members, who can object or opt out of the agreement. Shaun Martin, a law professor at the University of San Diego School of Law, said that judges review class-action settlements with an eye on whether it is fair for all parties. It has to be in the ballpark range of what reasonable people would agree is fair, Martin said. The settlement details will be publicly filed with the court. Martin estimated the earliest date that a final settlement would be approved would be February, but the process could take longer. Once Curiel confirmed the settlement Friday, congratulations were passed around the courtroom as lawyers for both sides, as well as the judge, thanked each other and their staffs for the hard work put into the case. Forge made note of the public attacks Curiel faced for his role in the case, especially after candidate Trump accused the judge of unfair or biased rulings against him. Trump called Curiel a hater and hostile judge, saying Curiels Mexican heritage and membership in a Latino attorneys group conflicted with Trumps views on immigration and building a border wall. Outside this court, things have been pretty ugly, frankly, Forge told Curiel. Inside this court, I havent seen any hint of that. No bias shown on either side. Curiel said the settlement represents an important milestone in the lawsuits, and that he hopes it also says something about the post-election healing process this country very sorely needs. The direction the case would take was very uncertain until now. Even in the midst of last-minute settlement talks, the court was in full trial preparation mode. More than 100 prospective jurors had been summoned to jury selection on the Monday after Thanksgiving. The court had also been making plans to accommodate what would have been a large contingent of news media and citizens who would have shown up to observe the trial. And to complicate matters, days after the election Trumps attorneys filed a request asking the trial to be delayed until after the inauguration, arguing Trump would be less busy in his first 100 days in the White House than he is during the transition period. It was the request for a delay that the judge was scheduled to hear arguments on Friday when the settlement was announced. Alan Garten, the Trump Organizations general counsel, said he had no doubt Trump would have prevailed at trial. The immediate class-action case, filed in 2010, represented class members in California, Florida and New York, while the second, brought by Art Cohen in 2013, covered a nationwide class. Court documents unsealed in May revealed how Trump University employees would entice students to enroll, guiding them through the roller coaster of emotions after they express interest. Employees were told to be very aggressive during these conversations to in order to push them out of their comfort zones, the records show. Records also revealed scripts that instructors were to tell students about having dinner with Trump the night before and learning real estate secrets directly from him. In depositions, Trump could not recall the names of the instructors despite his advertising pitch that he handpicked them. Trump has repeatedly claimed a 98 percent customer satisfaction rate on internal surveys. Plaintiffs countered that students were asked to rate the product when they believed they still had more instruction to come and were reluctant to openly criticize their teachers on surveys that were not anonymous. The settlement comes a day after watchdog groups and ethics experts who served in both Republican and Democratic administrations sent a letter to Trump urging him to make a clean break from his business to avoid embroiling the presidency in litigation. He still has dozens of lawsuits concerning his business ventures looming as he prepares to be sworn into office, although none was as high-profile or immediate as the Trump University cases. One of the letters authors, Richard Painter, an ethics lawyer at the White House under President George W. Bush, said the Trump University settlement might backfire if lawyers think Trump is eager to settle to avoid court cases while president. The plaintiffs lawyers, he said, are going to smell blood in the water. Staff writers Greg Moran, Lauyren Schroeder and Kate Morrissey, and The Associated Press contributed to this report. kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @kristinadavis Grossmont College has its eye on becoming the first community college in the greater region to teach drone technology. But first it wants to gauge public interest for such a program. With that in mind, the colleges Career Technical Education division will present a free workshop on the everyday uses of the unmanned aircraft from package deliveries to aerial photography to defense applications and the potential career opportunities the new industry might offer. School officials said colleges across the nation offer classes in drone operations and manufacturing, but no community colleges in Southern California teach the programming and technology behind drone function. Advertisement With the increasing commercial use of the unmanned aircraft, the district sees a potential for job growth in the market and wants to carve out a niche for itself with a creative workforce development program. We want to teach the coding and programming, the computer language like Java that is specific to drones, said Javier Ayala, dean of career and technical education and workforce development. The workshop will feature an overview of drones, a drone demonstration and a presentation on careers in the industry by robotics designer and builder MINDS-I Robotics of Liberty Lake, Wash. Robert Gillespie, a professor in the colleges Computer Science and Information Systems program, will talk about drone programming, and how the in-flight and post-flight communication with drones will soon offer an expanding job market to software engineers and app developers. He will also discuss the technology he learned at a recent drone educators conference, including the technology it takes to control and communicate with a drone from a smartphone app. Regional Careers in Unmanned Aircraft Systems will be presented from noon to 2 p.m. Nov. 28 in at Griffin Gate in Building 60, Grossmont College, 8800 Grossmont College Drive, El Cajon. The district would like to know how many people will attend, so click here to submit an RSVP for the event. Participants can park for free in Lot 7. For more information, send email to cte.wd@gcccd.edu. This interview is the latest in an Accepted blog series featuring interviews with MBA students , offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at top MBA programs. And now for a chat with Aviv Shalgi..... Accepted: Wed like to get to know you! Where are you from? Where and what did you study as an undergrad? Aviv: Accepted: Whats your favorite non-school book? Aviv: Accepted: If you could describe yourself in 3 words, what would they be? Aviv: Accepted: Where are you currently in b-school? What year? Aviv: Accepted: Why did you choose that program? How were you a good fit? Aviv: Accepted: You previously were an officer in Israels Defense Forces. How did your work in that sector prepare you for your past work in Business, and now with your MBA program? Aviv: Accepted: Looking back at the application process, what would you say was your greatest challenge? How would you advise other international applicants who may be experiencing similar challenges? Aviv: 1. 2. 3. Accepted: Lastly, do you have any pieces of advice for those looking at applying to MBA programs? Aviv: For one-on-one guidance with your b-school application, check out our You can connect with Aviv via his LinkedIn page or by emailing him at aviv@chicagobooth.edu . Thank you Aviv for sharing your story with us, we wish you continued success!For one-on-one guidance with your b-school application, check out our MBA Application Packages Related Resources: you My name is Aviv Shalgi. I spent the last few years in Tel Aviv, but am originally from Givataim a small suburb of Tel Aviv in the center of Israel. Before my undergraduate studies, I was a Captain in Israeli Intelligence, operating satellites. Afterwards, I studied Electrical Engineering and Electronics at Tel Aviv University, only to understand in my 3rd year that Engineering is not my real passion (after working part time as a Hardware Design Engineer at Intel) which is business and innovation.Wow, thats a tough one. Ill probably go with Predictably Irrational by Dan Arieli. Its a pretty short book, goes straight to the point, and tries to explain through numerous examples of research and experiments that Prof. Arieli performed during his time in the MIT Media Lab and Duke Fuqua School of Business what we as people do totally irrationally, but keep doing persistently over and over again.Innovator, ambitious and team-player.Im currently a first-year student at the full-time program at University of Chicago Booth School of Business I had a few reasons for choosing Booth over other schools, but the leading one was definitely the people. Before applying, I spoke with a dozen of Booth alumni and more than that with current students and was astonished by the cooperation and responsiveness that they all had. Everybody I reached to replied within a few days and suggested to schedule a call with me and help me figure out if Booth was the right place for me this sense of collaboration and helping out each other, isnt something you see every day with such busy people.On top of that, Booth is one of the only schools where Tech recruiting has surpassed the recruiting for Consulting and Banking. The faculty are putting a huge emphasis on entrepreneurship and innovation, with many labs and competitions (especially the New Venture Challenge that is celebrating its 20th year this year). Even though many schools are trying to pursue this route as well, I was impressed by the fact that the faculty at Booth were able to bring in many practitioners to teach, rather than researchers and scientists. When trying to build creative, innovative and critical thinking, an experienced entrepreneur would outperform everybody else. Its one thing to talk about entrepreneurship, its totally different to practice it with entrepreneurs who had actually done it successfully (and many of them were successful several times).I believe that military service can first and foremost build your leadership skills at a very young age. As a 20-year-old officer, I was already commanding over 100 soldiers in my unit, acting not only as a commander and instructor, but also as a mentor, a psychologist and somewhat of a mom and dad for them. Thats an incredible experience that only military personnel have at such a young age.In addition, in my second role in the military, I was able to build an innovation team (some sort of a startup incubator) within my unit something that rarely happens in the military environment. It wasnt an easy road, especially in a very strict and hierarchical environment, but it taught me a lot about negotiation, persuasion and how to take one thing and turn it around to create a new product. All of these skills were extremely important for me both during my transition to Business from Engineering (4 years ago) and especially now that Ive started my MBA.I had 3 main challenges during the application process.Understanding how my background fits each of themCommunicating myself clearly in the application processOn point #1 and #2 I will elaborate in the next question, so to summarize speak with lots of current students and recent graduates (from the last 10 years or so). After speaking with over 20 people, youll be able to instantly tell if you feel that youll fit in the school or not and what culture each school is nurturing.Once youve identified the schools that you want to apply to and learned about the fit , there comes the biggest challenge of them all for an international applicant figuring out how to translate your background to words on paper that would make you stand out in general, and more specifically stand out from your international peers.I personally found that my way of answering this is similar to the question that is sometimes asked in recruiting (especially for Product Management roles) Think of me as your grandfather, explain to me how Using this method, I was able to articulate clearly to myself and then on paper what I had done in my background (especially with how tough it is to explain to non-veterans what you did in your day-to-day military service) and how my experiences have built me into the person I am today.Remember that not all of the roles are the same in your target school and that titles change between geographies, industries and even functions. A Product Manager in Amazon isnt the same role as it is at Google, let alone if you have a broader title like Business Analyst (which was my title when I worked at Consulting). So instead of assuming that the reader will know what youre talking about explain it in simple words! (And please, have your recommenders do the same dont over-complicate things keep it short and simple to understand.)As I mentioned before, speak with as many students and alumni as you can from every school. Youre more than welcome to reach out to me at my email aviv@chicagobooth.edu or on my Linkedin profile and Ill do my best to respond quickly. Moreover, try to speak with both people from your own country, but also other internationals and locals to hear different perspectives on the school. Remember, not everybody thinks the same way. Im sure all top schools are amazing, but at the end of the day, its all a matter of fit - which school would be amazing for YOU and you alone (not for other people).If you can, try to visit the school to see it for yourself . I was unable to visit the schools that Ive applied to before my application, so dont stress over it if you cant, but at least visit the schools after youve been admitted and understand where would be the best place for you, who would you connect best with and which school would help build the career you want for yourself (or better yet you think you want).Lastly, as anything in life, manage your risks. Pick a few MBA programs you think you want to apply to and that you find interesting and research all of them . If you find some that werent what you thought they were or dont feel like you would fit in, put them aside, broaden your search and add a couple of other programs to your research.Remember that even though we are all incredible people, the schools will get to know the real you just in the interview, and there is a big cut during the application process (through the essays, recommendations, etc.) so keep an open mind and apply to several programs that you liked (dont get locked up on just 1 or 2 programs, remember you dont have all the details).Good luck! This article originally appeared on blog.accepted.com Applying to a top b-school? The talented folks at Accepted have helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to their dream programs. Whether you are figuring out where apply, writing your application essays, or prepping for your interviews, we are just a call (or click) away.Contact us, and get matched up with the consultant who will help_________________ The slaying of a woman on San Franciscos Pier 14 in July allegedly at the hands of an unauthorized Mexican immigrant and convicted felon has renewed debate about sanctuary cities, places where police dont fully cooperate with federal immigration officials. The tragedy has focused attention on local law enforcement agencies, which often seek to find a balance between cooperating with federal immigration officials and building trust within the immigrant community so that victims feel comfortable reporting crimes. Officials in San Diego say the city is not a sanctuary city, debunking some misconceptions. Rather than overlooking a jail inmates immigration status, the police department says it provides that information to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Advertisement Yet the city appears on a variety of online lists of sanctuary cities, of which there are more than 200 nationwide. Some observers say that might be because police action on the street is more relaxed. Officers focus on keeping the community safe and maintaining relationships with residents rather than going after unauthorized immigrants, they say. San Diego (police) has a pretty long history of developing a balanced approach when it comes to dealing with the immigrant population. Their focus has always been community safety, said Andrew Nietor, vice chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Associations San Diego chapter. Debate over sanctuary cities increased after Kathryn Steinle, 32, was fatally shot July 1 as she took a stroll along the San Francisco Embarcadero with her father. Francisco Sanchez, 45, has been charged with her murder. Sanchez, of Texas, has been deported to Mexico five times and had been jailed in San Francisco until March. ICE authorities werent notified of his release. Steinles murder has sparked fury among groups that demand stricter enforcement, arguing that sanctuary cities encourage illegal immigration and increase crime risk. San Francisco has come under fire in particular, with critics saying Steinles murder could have been prevented had stricter policies against unauthorized immigrants been in place. The city passed its Sanctuary Ordinance in 1989, which prohibits city employees from helping ICE officials with immigration investigations or arrests unless required by federal or state law or a warrant. The ordinance is a nod to the Sanctuary Movement of the 1980s, when churches gave refuge to Central American immigrants fleeing civil wars. In San Diego County, the Sheriffs Department said it works with ICE to provide information on unauthorized immigrant inmates. Anyone booked into the county jail has their fingerprints taken. If they match those of someone in the Department of Homeland Securitys system, ICE is automatically notified, according to the sheriffs department. Its then up to ICE to determine the inmates immigration status and subsequent enforcement. When ICE wants to take custody of an inmate in the San Diego County Jail, the Sheriffs Department has provided the date, time and place of their release so that ICE can take custody of the inmate in our facility, sheriffs spokeswoman Jan Caldwell said in a statement. The department doesnt hold anyone past their release date without a warrant or court order, she said. The Sheriffs Department believes that collaboration and coordination with our federal partners is critical to our overall information led policing efforts. These efforts target the criminal elements who threaten the safety and security in our communities regardless of their country of origin. Caldwell said the department currently has an estimated 172 inmates who have notification ICE holds. ICE spokeswoman Lauren Mack said officials review cases from the Sheriffs Department. If the individual falls under enforcement priorities, ICE makes arrangements to pick that person up at the jail upon release, she said. The facility is also staffed with ICE employees who screen prisoners with an immigration history, to determine if theyre a priority, Mack said. San Diego police say they work closely under the sheriffs policy. If there are questions about an inmates immigration status, the sheriffs department is notified, according to Sgt. Lisa McKean. From there, the sheriffs department coordinates with ICE. McKean said shes unsure why San Diego is mistaken to be a sanctuary city. Because there is no legal term for a sanctuary city, its open to very broad interpretation, she said. Somehow we got lumped in with San Francisco. But while San Diego police may work with ICE in reporting unauthorized immigrant criminals, their interaction with unauthorized immigrants on the streets is more forgiving, said David FitzGerald, co-director of the Center for Comparative Immigration Studies at the University of San Diego. I think theres a lot more consensus among at least big city police chiefs and local governments when it comes to everyday interactions on the street, that they should not be routinely checking peoples documents, he said. The Chula Vista and Escondido police departments work under a similar philosophy. We cooperate with all law enforcement agencies, but we certainly dont engage in active immigration enforcement, said Capt. Lon Turner with the Chula Vista Police Department, adding that its important for the department to protect and build trust within the community. Our basis with enforcing the law doesnt revolve around immigration. Escondido police generally dont enforce immigration laws but may report prisoners who have committed serious crimes such as burglary and assault to ICE, according to Lt. Eric Skaja. tatiana.sanchez@sduniontribune.com 619-293-1380 Daniel Salomon a Scripps Research Institute physician-scientist who was widely respected for his efforts to find better ways to transplant human organs died of colon cancer on Nov. 10, according to the institute. He was 63. Dr. Salomon, who lived in Carmel Valley, battled cancer for much of the past two years. But he remained active in his research endeavors and continued to make important advancements. In March, for example, Dr. Salomon published a paper that pointed to potential ways of spotting organ rejection a persons immune system attacking transplanted tissue when theres still enough time to do something about it. Advertisement Despite improvements in organ transplant medicine in recent decades, about half of all kidney-transplant patients still lose their organ to rejection within 10 years. Dr. Salomon and his colleagues discovered that genetic profiling of kidney biopsies may be a key to catching organ rejection before its too late. They showed that acute and chronic kidney rejection, once thought to be separate diseases, are actually different parts of the same immune-system rejection process. The paper built on Dr. Salomons decades of work in unraveling the basic biology involved in organ transplantation. His studies included a landmark paper in 2009 that helped to explain key aspects of organ rejection, especially as it applies to peoples kidneys. Dr. Salomon also helped to show how microbes can contribute to organ rejection. Dan was the definition of a clinician-scientist, James Williamson, the institutes vice president for academic affairs, said Friday in a statement. Williamson recalled the interplay between Dr. Salomons work and his overall life. We actually got a major grant funded for a project that we conceived over the course of two years of discussions while surfing, he remembered. Those sessions in the waters of North County really embodied how he viewed life: It was the quality time that counts. Dr. Salomon earned a bachelors degree in chemistry at Northwestern University in Chicago in 1973, then obtained his medical degree at Chicagos Stritch-Loyola School of Medicine three years later. He went on to complete a residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and trained in nephrology and transplantation immunology at Brigham and Womens Hospital-Harvard Medical School in Boston. Dr. Salomon later served as medical director of the kidney and heart transplant programs at the University of Florida. Then he did research at the National Institutes of Health, specializing in the immunology of transplantation. He joined the faculty at Scripps Research in La Jolla in 1993, where he spent much of his time exploring aspects of transplantation involving the kidney, liver and islets. The institute said Dr. Salomon is survived by his wife, Lauren, their children Marc and Rennie his mother and his four grandchildren. gary.robbins@sduniontribune.com Port Commissioner Bob Nelson previously worked for one of the main developers of a $1.2 billion renovation at Seaport Village. U-T Watchdog checked state-mandated financial disclosure forms after learning Nelsons public-relations firm received tens of thousands of dollars in this months election from a political-action committee funded by port tenants. It turns out, Nelson has also performed unstated work for Gafcon Inc., a development firm run by Seaport San Diego partner Yehudi Gaffen. Gaffen is a principal in the group selected by the port on Nov. 8 to replace the 1980s-era Seaport Village with shops, restaurants, three hotels, an aquarium and a 480-foot observation spire. Advertisement Nelson reported Gafcon as a client in 2012, when he filed his annual statement of economic interest, a form elected and appointed officials are required to file every year to alert the public to their personal income and holdings. He said the job consisted of 10 hours of consulting work related to his expertise in public education, for billings that totaled $2,500. The service was performed in 2010 and paid for in 2011, requiring it to be disclosed in 2012, Nelson said. There is no conflict of interest between previously working for Gafcon and then voting to award the billion-dollar Seaport Village project to Gaffen and his partners, Nelson said. I have a lot closer social relationships with people I had to look in the eye and say no to back in July, said Nelson, referring to the ports decision last summer to negotiate exclusively with Gaffen and his partners before approving the deal on Election Day. I dont have a problem voting against the interests of someone who is a friend or someone with whom Ive had some past business relationship, Nelson said. If I did, the only people that could serve in public office would be introvert eunuchs. Nelsons PR agency last month reported that it was paid more than $50,000 by the San Diego County Taxpayers Association, which opposed the Measure D hotel-tax measure on the ballot. The initiative failed. According to the taxpayers group, much of the money it spent to defeat Measure D came from hotels that negotiate leases with the Port of San Diego. Port attorneys reviewed the situation and decided there was no violation of law. Nelson, a San Diego PR pro dating back to the 1970s, launched Manolatos Nelson Murphy Advertising and Public Relations in October with media relations expert Tony Manolatos and advertising professional Kelly Murphy. jeff.mcdonald@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1708 @sdutMcDonald In the aftermath of Measure As defeat, SANDAG elites are asking the question What happened? The answer is they were completely tone-deaf. They have an opportunity to learn the right lessons from this election or they will be doomed to repeat this current failure. Passing a ballot measure is typically a straightforward endeavor. Standard procedure is to work backward, starting with Election Day and the question, how many votes do we need to win? followed by, where will we get those votes? followed by what budget to I need to communicate to those voters? For the record: An earlier version of this story incorrectly referred to L.A.'s recent transportation funding ballot measure, Measure M, as Measure R. The Union-Tribune regrets the error. Election strategy should always focus on voters. Passing a ballot measure that needs a two-thirds vote is challenging, so conventional wisdom is you need to start with roughly 80 percent voter approval to stand a chance of success. That means the ballot measure must include voters top needs especially when you are asking them for a tax increase. Advertisement The elites at SANDAG and their political consultants, out of hubris, ignored this basic lesson. Measure A failed for the simple reason that it didnt reflect voter priorities. This is the byproduct of a top-down approach to governing that epitomizes SANDAGs current leadership dominated by San Diegos old guard politicians who crafted a measure supported by lobbyists and special interests but did not do anything to improve quality of life for the average person. Per SANDAGs own research over 75 percent of people commute solo to work in their cars, yet Measure A did nothing to help them. According to SANDAGs own polling 78 percent of voters wanted roadway improvements that relieve traffic congestion, yet commute times self-admittedly did not improve with Measure A. More bike paths were voters least concern, yet Measure A devoted over $500 million toward this endeavor. Is there any wonder why it failed? In addition to Measure A, there were 11 other county transportation sales tax increases across the state counties north and douth, from Humboldt to Los Angeles, all grappling with regional transportation issues. Only five out of the 12 counties which proposed a sales tax increase measure to fund transportation improvements passed them, and San Diegos Measure A performed the worst out of all 12. The other winning ballot measures, with the notable exception of Los Angeless Measure M, heavily prioritized voters actual concerns. Road and highway improvements were the main priority by percentage in Monterey Countys Measure X (85 percent), Santa Claras Measure B (50 percent), Santa Cruzs Measure C (55 percent), and Stanislauss Measure L (78 percent), in stark contrast to Measure A which put only 15 percent (!) toward roads and highways. Here is what SANDAG officials should do next: They should not rush to put another measure on the ballot for 2018. Voters passed TransNet 2 in 2004 and it lasts for 40 years. The only urgency to Measure A was to satisfy the ego of career politicians obsessed with their legacy pet projects, and listening to special interest lobbyists instead of voters. Should SANDAG decide to put another ballot measure forward it must remember that the most important thing is the voters needs not special interest pocket books and social engineering. SANDAG leaders must listen to newer members of the board, as they better understand their constituencies needs. City Council members that have the honor of representing their city on SANDAG should only support a measure which can garner majority support of their council colleagues. This would ensure true regional support instead of the support of San Diegos old guard elite. Voters desire highway and road improvements that reduce their commute time and improve quality of life. Voters want to spend time with their families instead of in traffic. If a new comprehensive plan were proposed, it would have to include voter desires; expand and improve Highways 78, 67, 56, 52 and 94 and include traffic signal synchronization to improve congestion on local roads. It should include rail and local road grade separations, major rehabilitation and reconstructions of local roads, and capital improvements that support transit-oriented development. Instead of trolley systems that few people ride and are extremely capital intensive and inflexible, SANDAG should explore environmentally friendly bus routes which can work with current infrastructure and can be adjusted easier to changing travel patterns. In other words, a laser-focused approach on what voters really want not what elites want. If leaders of our local governing body would like to win approval from taxpayers on a future transportation funding initiative, they simply need to listen outside their self-imposed bubble. Tetlow is second vice chairman of the San Diego Republican Party, which opposed Measure A. We asked transportation funding supporters and foes what they expect to happen now that county voters have rejected a half-cent sales tax to pay for future projects. See also: Measure A lost. Heres what SANDAG supporters want us to do now. San Diego County residents made their voices heard Nov. 8 at the polls, and 57 percent of them voted to support a 40-year, half-cent sales tax increase to fund transportation improvements and environmental conservation. While Measure A the San Diego County Road Repair, Transit, Traffic Relief, Safety and Water Quality Measure fell short of the two-thirds approval required to pass, it was clear that a majority of residents in the region felt it was important to invest in transportation infrastructure. The election result raises some tough questions for the 21 local elected officials who represent all the regions communities on the board of the San Diego Association of Governments which placed Measure A on the ballot: What should we as a region do now to meet the infrastructure needs we have today and into the future without the revenue that Measure A would have generated over 40 years? Advertisement With limited existing resources, how do we evolve our transportation system to fight traffic congestion, provide more mobility choices to communities around our diverse region, and meet state-mandated greenhouse gas reduction targets in the face of steady population growth? While the failure of Measure A wont directly result in cuts to existing bus and trolley services or outright abandonment of transportation projects that are already underway, many new projects, such as the proposed Trolley line from San Ysidro to Kearny Mesa, wont happen without local dollars. Dramatic expansions of the Rapid transit and the bike networks throughout the region will have to be scaled back. Some planned freeway projects, such as connectors intended to ease bottlenecks, will have to wait. And a discretionary funding stream local cities could have tapped to meet state greenhouse gas reduction mandates wont be realized. Local sales tax dollars such as those that would have been provided by Measure A are an important source of funding for transportation projects, but they are not the only source. They also draw in matching funds from the state and federal governments. Without Measure A, the San Diego region will be at a disadvantage in competing for outside dollars with other regions of the state and nation that passed transportation sales tax measures on Nov. 8. On the other hand, SANDAG will continue to fight for outside funds to pay for projects and unforeseen revenue, such as a potential major federal investment in infrastructure, could make new money available. To be in position to take advantage of opportunities in the future, we must come together and agree on a vision for our future. The public debate over Measure A highlighted a deep division in the San Diego region over what modes of transportation would best serve everyones needs and meet environmental goals. On one side are people who believe that all freeway investments are bad, and that instead the focus should be solely on expanding bike lanes, rail lines and bus routes. At the other end of the spectrum are those who feel that more investments must be made to repair and improve our freeways and local roads and less should be spent on public transit. Still others feel that new technology will provide solutions for our infrastructure needs. All are deeply entrenched in their beliefs making compromise very hard to reach. As the regional forum for decision-making, SANDAG attempted to be the consensus builder and developed what the board agreed was a balanced package of infrastructure investments in the form of Measure A. But consensus building is difficult. In the wake of the defeat of Measure A, its not going to be an easy process to bring together all the different perspectives environmentalists, labor unions, public transit advocates, Republicans and Democrats to agree on a vision for the future of transportation. But if we are going to move the region forward, we must find common ground in the months and years to come. Every four years, SANDAG updates the Regional Plan, a long-term blueprint for how the region will meet its transportation needs. By law, an updated Regional Plan must be adopted by 2019 in order for the region to be eligible for federal transportation funds. Between now and 2019, there will be many opportunities for everyone to come together to have a healthy debate on transportation needs and determine what is best for the region as a whole. Roberts is the chair of the SANDAG Board of Directors, which is composed of mayors, council members and supervisors from around the region. Roberts is also the chair of the county Board of Supervisors and a member of the Metropolitan Transit System Board of Directors. We asked transportation funding supporters and foes what they expect to happen now that county voters have rejected a half-cent sales tax to pay for future projects. See also: Measure A lost. Heres what SANDAG opponents want us to do now. This week surrogates for President-elect Donald Trump astonishingly invoked one of Americas darkest moments to lay the groundwork for one of Trumps more controversial campaign proposals, a Muslim immigrant registry. They invoked the internment of 120,000 Japanese-Americans in camps and converted horse stables following the attack on Pearl Harbor that pushed the United States into World War II. After Trumps repeated, forceful remarks during the presidential campaign, no one should be surprised to see this nation begin an uncomfortable, emotional conversation about national security and the vetting of immigrants who might pose a threat to it. But no one should accept policies that go too far, either, and any invocation of internment except to condemn it should be unwelcome in Trumps America or any presidents America. In 1944, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled such internment legal, upholding in the case of Korematsu v. United States the constitutionality of Executive Order 9066, ordering internment regardless of citizenship. Seventy years later, Justice Antonin Scalia publicly said the court was wrong to uphold internment but added, You are kidding yourself if you dont think the same thing will not happen again. Advertisement Lets be plain: It mustnt. Thursday night, George Takei, best known as Sulu on the original Star Trek and as an activist on social media, told MSNBCs Lawrence ODonnell that a Muslim registry is a prelude toward internment. Takei and his family were among those segregated from their fellow Americans in the 1940s. He inspired and starred in the short-lived Broadway play, Allegiance, which debuted at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. Takeis remarks came a day after Trump supporter Carl Higbie told Fox News that a Muslim registry would be legal and that the registration of Japanese Americans during World War II was a precedent for it. Higbie later told MSNBCs Chris Matthews, You have to register your car. Most states, like Connecticut, my own, we have to register our guns. We have to register a ton of things. People are not things. Yet Trump won, in part because of his hard lines on unauthorized immigration, a border wall and the need to certainly implement a database of Muslims, a position he later labeled extreme vetting. Now, a backpedaling Trump spokesman says Trump never advocated for such a registry and will formalize his vetting policies after the inauguration. What will it look like? Who knows, but the spokesman cited the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System, in place for nine years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. It required men 16 years or older from 25 countries all but one, North Korea, a Muslim-majority country to register upon entry to the U.S. and to check in regularly with immigration officials. It monitored more than 80,000 males but was seen as a strategic and ethical failure. President Barack Obama ended the program because of its redundancies and inefficiencies. Current refugee screening procedures involve multiple agencies and can take more than two years. Can those be improved? Everything can, and the nation is about to discuss immigration on a mass scale. This editorial board hopes thats done with dispassion and not big, cultural leaps backward. America is better than its darkest moments. Its government must prove that to its public again. Regarding Trump settles university lawsuits for $25 million (Nov. 18): No decision. No admission of guilt. No full disclosure. We get nothing and Trump skates off. Letters and commentary policy The U-T welcomes and encourages community dialogue on important public matters. Please visit this page for more details on our letters and commentaries policy. Advertisement E-mail letters@sduniontribune.com Mail: Andrew Kleske, Reader Outreach Editor San Diego Union-Tribune P.O. Box 120191 San Diego, CA 92112-0191. You can also leave a comment below Business as usual. Everything Trump adulators object to. Its already time for Trumps fans to find a new savior and Trump isnt even in office. Fame is fleeting. Maybe we should have voted for stability, experience, decency and sanity. Charlie Ballbach Santee Who will pay Trumps losses this time? Are the taxpayers going to pay the judgments on all the lawsuits Donald Trump is and will be facing regarding his sexual assault cases and other cases that will arise from his businesses? He used his foundation (other peoples donated money) to pay his fine in Florida. Will his overseas manufacturing companies get exemptions from the tariffs he promised to impose on imports? If he keeps his word on his campaign promises we will be a divided country, if not he is just a politician saying whatever to get elected. Washington, D.C. Business as usual. Bob Stewart Oceanside Want to see more letters that appear only online? Follow @UTLetters on Twitter and UTOpinion on Facebook. CriticalSquare wrote: Hi there, Thanks for the details on your background. You have an interesting profile, and your academics are quite good. Your involvement is quite diverse, however, it's unclear what your role was in each of these organizations - were you a leader? What was your impact? Further, you don't have traditional work experience since you were in a family business focusing mostly on administration, so you'll need to find ways to clarify your role and bring your skill sets to light. Finally, your career goals need to be quite more detailed. What role do you hope to have after your MBA? What type of business are you passionate about starting later in your career? This are things I would focus on. Pending the depth of some of these answers, your target schools may make sense. When will you be applying? R2? Yes, I'm planning to apply in R2.Would it be possible to have a free profile evaluation anytime soon?Please let me know U.S. Representative Duncan D. Hunter, who has retained his seat representing the 50th Congressional District, held an informal roundtable discussion with some members of the community two weeks before the election, giving them an opportunity to ask questions and voice concerns. The Republican from Alpine, one of the first members of Congress to support Donald Trump as his partys presidential nominee, is believed to be on the short list of potential cabinet members for President-elect Trumps administration. Among those positions he is being considered for are secretary or deputy secretary of defense, according to news sources. The four-term congressman served in the Marine Corps, the Marine Corps Reserve and is a member of the House Armed Services Committee. During the Oct. 24 roundtable, Hunter and his deputy chief of staff, Michael Harrison, a Ramona resident, met with about 10 chamber members and business owners at Dunkin Donuts. The meeting occurred shortly after news broke that the Department of Defense was requiring thousands of California National Guard soldiers to repay re-enlistment bonuses provided through the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to Hunter, an audit revealed that the bonuses were paid in either error or excess. However, he said, those who innocently took the payments in exchange for re-enlistment should not be burdened with repayment, but instead those who committed the fraud should be penalized. The congressman, who wrote a letter to Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter asking that the DOD stop going after the innocent soldiers, told Ramonans, Theyve already ruined hundreds of peoples lives doing this. On Oct. 26, the Pentagon announced it would suspend bonus and loan repayments from most California National Guard members. Among other topics that Ramonans brought up during the discussion were legalization of marijuana, gun laws, development costs due to environmental regulations, and state water issues. Little over two years ago, a couple of San Diego teenagers earned high school diplomas after taking every class since kindergarten via computers through an online charter school. Their stories were considered a novelty at the time. Since then, the concept of computers as classrooms has moved closer to the mainstream. More and more students have turned to computers for a chance to quickly re-take failed courses needed to graduate high school, while others enroll in classes for the first time including Advanced Placement courses not offered on their campuses. Advertisement Advances in technology and the availability of specialized curriculum have contributed to the trend, as has growing demand for a flexible education from todays students who have been dubbed digital natives. Online credit recovery courses have dramatically expanded to meet pressure to improve graduation rates a time when school districts San Diego and Los Unified among them have upped the criteria for earning a diploma to include the sequence of courses needed for admission to a UC or CSU campus. Cyber education shows no sign of slowing down, even as it raises concerns about everything from the quality of education to cheating. We all want graduation rates to improve. We have to be careful if policies are simply designed to push students too graduation, said Susan Patrick, President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Association for K-12 Online Learning . We need to ask questions: What are the outcomes we want for our students? Is there evidence of their learning? Patrick believes traditional American high schools have expanded online courses offerings, in part, to compete with alternative charter schools that have wooed students away from classroom-based districts. More than a third of charter schools in the state are online campuses, up from 21 percent eight years ago, according to the California Charter Schools Association. Neither the federal or state departments of education track enrollment in online classes, or even the number of publicly funded virtual schools that operate. Digital courses in the San Diego Unified School District have been expanded to help students meet new graduation standards. Last school year, 1,381 twelfth-graders more than one in five enrolled in an online class to make it to graduation, with about 91.5 percent of them passing the courses they had previously earned a D in or failed. All told, the district had 5,174 individual enrollments in online courses in the 2015-16 school year. Students are typically allowed to take no more than one course at a time, but in some situations students get permission to take multiple courses simultaneously. The vast majority of online course-takers are in high school, but some middle-schoolers have taken them, officials said. We keep extremely close tabs on the students and how they are doing, said David Vande Pol , San Diego Unifieds director of online learning. This is data driven. But we are trying to give the best possible blended online experience to students who also get guidance from teachers. To accommodate growing enrollment in online classes, some high schools have converted large portions of their libraries into innovation centers to house virtual classrooms. Books and other library materials have been relocated to accommodate online students who are overseen by two credentialed teachers per class. Mariah Lewis , 17, plans to make up several courses she failed as a freshman while at the same time slogging through her senior year at Morse High School. Right now Im taking ninth-grade English. I have more to take, Im not even sure how many classes I failed, said Mariah, whose grades suffered when her mother died during her freshman year. Honestly, I think these are easier because you take a pre-test and if pass, you can skip a section. But you still learn. Students skip over course sections if they score a minimum 70 percent on a pretest. The idea is to allow students to zero in on the areas where they struggle without having to repeat what they have already mastered. San Diego and Los Angeles Unified use the Edgenuity credit-recovery courses, which are approved by the University of California system. There are no limits on the number of online courses San Diego Unified students may take and re-take while in high school. Online students can work on the courses which include problems, videos and reading at school or at home.The classes do not require projects, book reports or other assignments that are the staples of classroom-based classes. Quizzes are taken on-line, but tests, which include essays, are administered and graded by teachers. Even though the UC system has certified the courses as having enough rigor to count for admission into its universities, student transcripts note which courses were taken online. Less accepting of online credit-recovery courses is the NCAA, which rarely accepts the courses from high school athletes, Van Depol said. All courses on a student athletes transcript must must be comparable in length, content and rigor to courses taught in a traditional classroom setting, according to its website. In addition, The course must have a definite time period for completion. For example, it should be clear whether the course is meant to be taken for an entire semester or during a more condensed time period. Its unclear how effective online schools are compared with traditional campuses. A 2010 U.S. Department of Education report found that more research was needed to determine the effectiveness of online education. In some cases I think the courses are more difficult because its just the student and the content, said Brandie McGill , who teaches in the Crawford High School innovation center. The distractions are gone there is no teacher talking about her personal life, no annoying students interrupting a lesson. Angela Reyes, a senior at Crawford, said she needs to re-take freshman, sophomore and junior English classes online this year in addition to passing senior English in the classroom. In order to graduate, shell need to take additional classes online. Students work at their own pace online, but Vande Pol said courses are designed to take 60 hours to complete. One credit-recovery teacher said a student last year completed 16 courses on-line courses. Depending on the student, the classes have been described as both easy and challenging. I actually do think this is hard. If these classes were not here, Id probably enroll in charter that lets you take online classes, Angela said, while taking a break from reading excerpts of Romeo and Juliet on her district-issued laptop. Online charters have fallen under scrutiny in recent months amid corruption scandals and aggressive expansion tactics that have allowed charters grow by locating satellite campuses outside their authorizing districts, a practice called illegal in an appellate court ruling issued in October. San Diego Unified does not track cheating when it comes to online classes. But teachers at Crawford and Morse said they watch students carefully. Polices vary by teacher on whether students can use Google to check the definition of words (Crawford allows it, Morse does not.) Growth in online courses in high schools follows a similar trend in higher education. Bottom line is that this generation college students and two- and three-year-olds expect to learn digitally, said Vande Pol, who oversees San Diego Unifieds online learning. But it still boils down to quality teaching nothing we offer is 100 percent online. This is a blended learning model, where we still rely on the eyeball-to-eyeball contact. maureen.magee@sduniontribune.com Twitter:@MaureenMagee Advertisement Almost two weeks after the Navy submarine San Francisco struck an undersea mountain, Dan and Vicki Ashley visited a dry dock in Guam to view the shredded bow of the boat on which their 24-year-old son died. Even in their grief, the couple marveled that a sub so badly damaged could have limped 360 miles back to port. We said: How did she survive? Why didnt she sink to the bottom? Dan Ashley said last week, reflecting on the Jan. 8, 2005, accident. I told the admiral, Well see victory when we see that submarine back in service. The impact tossed most of the San Franciscos 137 crewmen around a cramped interior filled with jagged edges. Ninety-seven were injured, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Joseph Joey Ashley who had stopped for a smoke break in the lower engine room suffered a fatal skull fracture. Four and a half years later, the San Francisco has rejoined the fleet in its new home port of San Diego. It took an unprecedented repair that involved cutting off the submarines front end and transplanting about 50 feet more than 1 million pounds of metal from the bow of a retired sister sub, the Honolulu. The price tag: $134 million to fix a boat that easily could have sunk. Its a testament to the robust design, said Capt. Brett Genoble, commander of San Diego-based Submarine Squadron 11. Its tough for me to believe you can have a more significant collision than that. The San Francisco arrived at Point Loma Naval Base in mid-April, then returned to sea for drills almost immediately. Now its back pierside while workers upgrade many of the 28-year-old warships electronics systems. Nearly all of the crew members who survived the accident have moved on to other posts or left the Navy. But Petty Officers Robert Hutson and Andrew Tillman have stayed with the San Francisco through the tragedy and reconstruction. Both extended their tours so they could return to sea with it. I just wanted to see it through, said Hutson, 34, a petty officer first class from Cleveland. He and Tillman joined the Navy in 2004 and boarded the sub at its home port in Guam in December of that year, just a few weeks before it left on the ill-fated cruise. They joined a boat that had suffered a troubled reputation because of subpar inspections before Cmdr. Kevin Mooney took over as skipper in December 2003. He came in and kind of turned the boat around, said Tillman, 29, of Augusta, Ga. It really put us on the map. As a reward, the crew earned a liberty cruise to Brisbane, Australia. The vessel departed Jan. 7, 2005, and headed full speed toward the Caroline Islands southeast of Guam. At 11:42 a.m. the following day, some of the sailors had begun to line up outside the mess deck for a lunch of hamburgers, french fries and baked beans. The duty watch had just changed, and Hutson was in the machinery room going over paperwork with a shipmate. Then the boat hit a bump. We had the first little shudder, and then a second one, Hutson said. The second hit, I said, Were in trouble. The San Francisco, cruising at 38 mph, ground to a halt, throwing Hutson several feet and slamming him against some machinery. Two officers fell in front of him. In the control room, Tillman was studying reference manuals on a computer. The impact slammed him into a nearby post as lockers flew open. At first I thought it wasnt that big a deal, Tillman said. Then I felt my head. It was bloody. The impact crushed the San Franciscos sonar dome and punched holes in the forward ballast tanks. But the inner hull, which contained the crew compartment and nuclear reactors, held fast. The crew initiated an emergency blow, which released huge amounts of high-pressure air into the ships main ballast tanks. After an agonizing pause, the boat slowly rose 525 feet to the surface. A shipmate took Tillman to the mess deck, where a corpsman and an officer with medical training set up a makeshift aid station amid the blood and debris. Food was everywhere, plates, broken dishes, Tillman said. I remember seeing people unconscious on the tables. One of them was Ashley, a sailor with West Virginia roots who was known as Cooter, after a character from televisions Dukes of Hazzard. Word quickly spread among the crew that Ashley was in rough shape. Someone plugged in a CD of Hank Williams Jr., Ashleys favorite musician. Tillman, who escaped with a mild concussion, held his shipmates hand and prayed for him. The tight quarters made it difficult to get Ashley off the boat to a helicopter that could take him to a hospital in Guam. Crewmen spent the night removing railings and lockers to clear a path to the only hatch considered safe to open. The next morning, they threaded Ashleys stretcher through small compartments and up narrow ladders, but the bridge hatch wouldnt open far enough to let it out. Some of his shipmates cursed and cried in frustration. Cooter died without regaining consciousness, 25 hours after the accident. It took two days for the San Francisco to crawl back to Guam. There, the crew and later the Ashleys first saw the astonishing damage to the ships outer hull. After patchwork repairs, the sub eventually went to the naval shipyard in Bremerton, Wash. The Navy resisted scrapping the San Francisco, commissioned in 1981, because its nuclear reactors had finished an expensive midlife refueling process less than three years earlier. The Naval Sea Systems Command instead decided to scrap the Honolulu, which was four years younger but had not been refueled. It devised the bow transplant, which involved grafting the Honolulus sonar dome and three ballast tanks onto the front of the San Francisco. Then workers painstakingly connected pipes, cables and control systems before welding the parts together. A Navy investigation into the crash showed that the San Franciscos crew and the missions shore-based planners had relied on a single set of charts commonly used by submariners that did not show the mountain. They did not consult other maps that indicated an undefined hazard in the area. Mooney and five others received reprimands or demotions. Eighteen crewmen received awards for their heroic efforts to save the boat and crew. For some sailors, the psychological wounds from the near disaster did not heal easily. It had a pretty traumatic effect, Tillman said. We had some people who thought they were OK. Then we had a drill. They heard all the alarms and theyd be a little twitchy. Like Tillman, Hutson decided to stay in the Navy. He said he felt cheated out of a trip Down Under. I want to go travel around the world, Hutson said. I want to go to Australia on a boat. The Ashleys met Tillman, Hutson and the rest of the crew in April when the Navy flew the couple to San Diego to greet the San Francisco after its voyage from the repair yard in Bremerton. I was laughing with joy, having to hide my tears because I didnt want people to see me cry, Dan Ashley said. She came in under her own power, standing tall in the water, saying, Look at me Im good as new. Standing on the pier, he knew Joey would have wanted him to be there. That sub will always be our boat, he said. But I wish my son were still on board. Steve Liewer: (619) 498-6632; steve.liewer@uniontrib.com It was a mild June day in 1981, and a Linda Vista man was having a heated argument with his neighbor over a rose bush. Minutes later, the angry Crandall Street man shot two San Diego police officers, then kept up a barrage of gunfire that held off rescuers. A police sniper ended the hourlong gunbattle by killing the shooter, but by then it was too late for officers Harry Keith Tiffany and Ronald Ebeltoft, who bled to death. Out of this tragedy and other critical incidents, STAR was born. Advertisement Nine paramedics underwent extensive training with the police tactical team and by the end of 1983 formed what was to be named Special Trauma and Rescue, known as STAR. Their mission: To provide emergency medical care in high-risk incidents. The medics wore body armor, carried guns and were part of the entry team as SWAT officers headed into danger zones. Early team members also were trained in swift-water, cliff, and Coast Guard helicopter rescues. More than three decades later, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Departments STAR program with 18 medics has become a regular part of a SWAT operation. Similar programs have been created at other fire departments around San Diego County and the nation. In todays age, its superbly valuable to have these STAR medics as we see these school shootings and other active shooters, said San Diego fire Capt. John Wood, in charge of the program for the past two years. As a citizen, when Im in need, I expect them to be there. Firefighter Perry Esquer, a 15-year STAR member after joining the team in 1987, said, The value is to put a highly trained and highly skilled paramedic into any ... environment in order to save lives. 1 / 3 SDFD Medics go through special training with SDPDs SWAT so they can work together seamlessly when the bullets are flying. They are members of STAR, the acronym for Special Tactics and Rescue. Mandatory Photo credit: John Gastaldo/U-T San Diego/Zuma Press (John Gastaldo/U-T San Diego/Zuma Press) 2 / 3 SDFD Medics go through special training with SDPDs SWAT so they can work together seamlessly when the bullets are flying. They are members of STAR, the acronym for Special Tactics and Rescue. Mandatory Photo credit: John Gastaldo/U-T San Diego/Zuma Press (John Gastaldo/U-T San Diego/Zuma Press) 3 / 3 SDFD Medics go through special training with SDPDs SWAT so they can work together seamlessly when the bullets are flying. They are members of STAR, the acronym for Special Tactics and Rescue. Mandatory Photo credit: John Gastaldo/U-T San Diego/Zuma Press (John Gastaldo/U-T San Diego/Zuma Press) Preventing deaths As firefighter/paramedics, STAR team members pull regular shifts at fire stations, going to fires, crashes and medical aid calls. But when a police SWAT team is assembled in emergency call-outs for active shooters or hostage situations, or for planned missions to serve high-risk warrants, at least two STAR medics go along. One medic may ride in an armored Bearcat inside the line of fire while the other is posted in an ambulance a block away. Sometimes they bring up the rear as the SWAT team goes inside a building where police officers, hostages or a suspect may be wounded. Mike Meoli, a San Diego firefighter/paramedic and former Navy SEAL, is the only current STAR team member there from the beginning. The Linda Vista shootout, Meoli said, was the origin of our team. Nearly an hour passed from the time the two officers were wounded and SWAT, sure the shooter was dead, knew it was safe to bring in the medics. One officer was dead by then, and the other beyond saving after he reached a hospital. Today that would be considered a preventable death, said Meoli, who has been on seven incidents countywide where law officers were killed. Now, we would form a rescue task force and snag him. The gunfire wouldnt have mattered. Officers would go in with shields and bring us in. Early tactical paramedics Training soldiers and sailors as combat medics to treat the wounded on a battlefield is commonplace, but bringing that level of trauma care to the civilian field of medicine was new in the United States in the 1970s and 80s. The Los Angeles Sheriffs Department is generally credited with being the first to train SWAT team members as tactical paramedics in 1971 and the Miami-Dade Fire Department the first fire agency with tactical medics in 1979. In San Diego at that time, the city contracted with private ambulance companies for paramedics. When the tactical medics program was created, the first members were ambulance company employees. Some had backgrounds as lifeguards or the military. The fire department took over paramedic service in 1997, hiring many of the private medics to train as firefighters. A paramedic is assigned to every engine company in the city. The STAR program has changed through the years, with medics no longer armed or going on Coast Guard rescues. Within San Diego County, the Carlsbad, El Cajon, Escondido fire departments have had teams of tactical paramedics for many years. Chula Vista is developing a more limited plan to train medics to work with SWAT. The Oceanside police and fire chiefs agreed this year to carve out about $20,000 apiece from their budgets to restart a six-medic STAR program in January. The team was dismantled about six years ago to save money. We made the determination that this is a significant public safety issue, Oceanside police SWAT Lt. Sean Marchand said. Were very excited to get them back in place. Escondidos SWAT Lt. Justin Murphy said having medics along during training has been a major asset, in case officers are injured or suffer heat exhaustion working in body armor. Heavily trained As time and budget allows, STAR medics go through the police SWAT academy to learn emergency tactics and how to handle weapons if the need arises. They take a swimming test, experience a room full of pepper spray, and practice escaping from a helicopter model dunked upside down in a pool. The medics also take part in monthly SWAT training sessions. They, in turn, teach the SWAT officers basic combat medicine, including how to tie off or bandage a wound and carry an injured person away from danger. Theyre the top medics on the job, said fire Capt. Wood. Were the insurance policy. When something happens, we need to be squared-away. Officials said the cost of sending medics to SWAT training, covering their work shifts with other medics on overtime, equipping them with bulletproof vests and helmets, even buying ammo for their target practice, doesnt come cheap. San Diego spends $80,000 to $100,000 a year on its program, Wood said. STAR medics took part in a recent academy, held at the San Diego police shooting range in Oak Park, for officers from San Diego, Carlsbad, Harbor Police and Border Patrol hoping to qualify for SWAT teams. Every officer got a trauma kit with a tourniquet, gauze pads, bandages and chest seals. Medics Brian Graddon, Cove Cowan and T.J. Keeran demonstrated how to apply each item, then had them practice over and over. Its got to be automatic, Meoli told the officers, noting that it takes just three minutes to bleed to death from a punctured femoral artery. Last year, a SWAT officer swiftly used his trauma kit tourniquet to save the life of Officer Tim Bell, who was shot four times during a struggle with a suspect inside a City Heights drainage culvert. Most of the time, the medics said, SWAT call-outs end peacefully with no injuries, and sometimes they end with mortally wounded suspect beyond help. Armed or unarmed? One issue surrounding tactical medics is whether they should be armed. Meoli said about half of the teams in the nation are armed, and half arent. El Cajons team is the only one in the county to carry handguns. Carlsbads medics carry Tasers. Most of the other teams are looking into full weapons training. Meoli said San Diegos top fire and police officials decided in the late 1980s to disarm STAR medics as a liability risk. He said he was upset with the decision at first, and still believes they should be armed, but he found he focused better on his task as a medic when he wasnt holding a pistol at the ready. In Oceanside, Marchand said he doesnt want to blur the line of responsibilities between medics and police, but a fire battalion chief said he supports arming medics in coming years after his new team gains experience. El Cajon fire Capt. Tony Aliano said his three tactical medics carry pistols for protection but have no powers of arrest. Were more integrated into the SWAT team, Aliano said. It goes beyond duty to take care of these guys. Its a brotherhood, a tight bond between the medics and the officers. Alicia Tuckers hand rested on her oxygen tank as she listened to a representative from Altai a company that produces marijuana edibles talk up a gourmet display of pot-infused bon bons at PotLuck, a medical cannabis expo. Five years ago, Tucker, a 43-year-old Temecula resident, would have scoffed at the idea of using medical marijuana. But that was before her genetic lung condition progressed to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which makes her breathing difficult. Her treatment originally included steroids, steroids and more steroids, she said. At one point, she was on 19 medications. Then a friend suggested she explore marijuana as an option. Advertisement I said, No, I grew up around that, I dont want any part of that, but they suggested I do my research, so I did, Tucker said. I talked with my husband, I talked with my family, I talked with my kids. They told me to do what I needed to do to get healthy. She started consuming the drug via edibles and the decision changed her life. Im down to six (medications) now. Thats huge, she said. Its patients like Tucker, said organizer Jonathan Ohana, that inspired him to put on Sundays event, which was held at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina. Ohana said hed often hear from medical marijuana users about the positive impact the drug has made on their lives. They also told him about their struggle to find legitimate and consistent providers. The whole goal is to connect patients who have ailments, who depend on this medicine, with the best, most preferable caretakers that can provide the most effective medicine for them, he said. Among dozens of booths, which included marijuana advocacy organizations, pot collectives, artists, weed dispensaries and delivery services, was the Southwest Patient Group, the third dispensary to be legalized in San Diego. Pearl Ayon, who helps run the dispensary with her partner, Alex Scherer, said educating users about the medicinal benefits and myths of marijuana is just as important as connecting patients with the product thats best for them. Their 3,500-square-foot retail space includes a variety of marijuana products, along with educational displays and kiosks. Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Alaska and the District of Columbia allow pot to be sold for recreational and medicinal use. An additional 19 states, including California, allow the drug to be sold only for medicinal purposes. Despite state law, selling and using marijuana is still a federal crime. One attendee, who has used pot sparingly since she first tried it as a teen, said she recently became a medical marijuana patient, in part to attend the expo. She said she spoke with her doctor about anxiety and sleeplessness, but she also wanted to be able to purchase and use marijuana legally. Over the years, the 56-year-old Coronado resident said she has felt the stigma surrounding the drug lessen, and shes excited about the prospect of legalization. Despite that, she declined to be identified. I dont like to feel like Ive been earmarked as a druggie just because I prefer to have a hit of marijuana rather than a cocktail, she said. I shouldnt have to feel bad about that. need putting knowledge into action Trading Systems that Work This post is part of our Big Brand Theory Series for MBA applicants. By Natalie Grinblatt Epstein , an accomplished Accepted consultant/editor (since 2008) and entrepreneur. Natalie is a former MBA Admissions Dean and Director at Ross, Johnson, and Carey. Related Resources: you Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/18/2016 -- Heept, an SEO company in Malaysia, proves to be one of the most reliable digital marketing companies. The company provides web development and search engine optimization services for the growth of online businesses. 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To know more about SEO Company Malaysia, please log on to: https://www.heept.com/ About Heept Heept is a SEO company that provides affordable SEO services in Malaysia. It also provides other digital services such as web development and social media marketing, especially in Facebook. Media Contact: Company Name: Heept Marketing Sdn Bhd Address: C3-3-8 Solaris Dutamas, Jalan Dutamas 1, 50480 Kuala Lumpur. Contact Number: +603-62016001 Email ID: admin@heept.com Thanksgiving is just a week away and the major stores have already rolled out most of their Black Friday 2016 deals. Game fanatics have already started comparing the best Xbox One deals being offered by the major stores including Best Buy, Microsoft, GameStop, Walmart, Target, And Costco. SWR has created a list of the best Xbox One Deals being offered for Black Friday 2016 to ease the comparison. Here's what we know about the best deals being offered so far: Black Friday 2016 Xbox One/ PS4 Deals: Microsoft And Sony's Deals Microsoft cuts top Xbox One games by 40% in Black Friday deals https://t.co/zwCTtzY20j pic.twitter.com/juWDbsoKir The Verge (@verge) November 18, 2016 A number of deals are being offered by Sony and Microsoft under the Black Friday 2016 deals. The offers also include huge discounts on Xbox One and PS4 bundles. Last year both the console manufacturers were offering their Playstation as well as Xbox One for a $349 price. This year, the Tech giants have reduced the price further to $299, leaving most of the other stores astonished. Microsoft has also offered up to 75% discount on games and add-ons in the Xbox Store under the $1 Xbox Live Gold membership. New Black Friday 2016 Xbox One Deals for the Xbox One include major game titles including "Battlefield 1", "FIFA 17" and others being offered at up to 40 percent discount. Sony Playstation Store is also celebrating its 10 years anniversary and has launched a number of major discounts on various game titles. Sony has offered up to 70 percent off on some game titles and the deals will be valid up to November 22. "Gravity Rush" is being offered for $14.99 at a 50 percent discount, whereas, "God Of War 3: Remastered" is being offered at a 60 percent discount. Various games including "Battleborn" and "Call of Duty: Black Ops 3", are available at a lower price up to November 22. Black Friday 2016 Xbox One Deals: Best Deals From Other Stores Xbox One S for $249? Yes, and more! Check it out. https://t.co/Sv5oO3SXfs Mike Ybarra (@XboxQwik) November 14, 2016 Best Buy, Walmart, and GameStop are offering a minimum $50 discount on Xbox One S bundles, this year. The deals include the Xbox One S "Minecraft" bundle for $249 in all these stores. Costco, on the other hand, is giving a $60 discount on the same bundle, which is available for purchase for $239. Target is offering a better Black Friday 2016 Xbox One Deal. The "Minecraft", as well as the "Battlefield 1" bundle, are available for $249, and they also come with an additional $40 gift card. Dell has offered the "Battlefield 1" bundle, which includes "Gears Of War 4" and a Xbox One wireless controller for $249 price. Kohl, has the best Xbox One Deal, offering the "Minecraft" Bundle for just $175, which also includes $75 Kohl's cash. Stay tuned to SWR for more updates on Black Friday 2016 Xbox One Deals. An unexplained energy burst in a remote corner of the universe has deepened the mystery around bizarre alien radio signals that astronomers have still not been able to identify. Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) are a puzzling phenomenon that flares up, and in the process release huge radio wave bursts for a split second before becoming quiet again. However, a group of researchers listening out for gamma rays has recorded an energy bang from the same point as one of these enigmatic objects, which according to the team could enable them to narrow down the origin of the difficult-to-study FRBs because of their short life. Incidentally, FRBs have been also explained as signals from extraterrestrial intelligence, something that remains a mystery just like the bursts themselves. A team of astronomers from Pennsylvania State University (PSU) has found a strong release of radiation after a radio burst with the help of NASA's Swift telescope, a spacecraft that orbits our planet and measures gamma ray bursts. According to the researching team, this is the first instance of radiation accompanying signal to an FRB, which indicates that the source can be narrowed down in the future. "Before this discovery FRBs were not seen to show emission in any other part of the [electromagnetic] spectrum besides radio, so this is the first ever detection of a non-radio counterpart to an FRB," said James DeLaunay, first author of the paper, as noted by Mail Online. "Detecting a non-radio counterpart of any kind greatly helps us narrow down what the possible source of FRBs could be." Previously, researchers thought that FRBs can emit gamma-rays in one of two ways, i.e., either a magnetar was releasing enormous magnetic flares or two neutron stars were colliding together to form a black hole. The new research has added two more possibilities, supernovae and supermassive black holes. However, none of the models can actually explain the source, and the phenomenon remains a mystery. "I am really burning to know what are the sources behind these fast radio bursts, and how do they contrive to generate them?" added astrophysicist Derek Fox from the PSU researching team. A 23-year-old man from Oregon accidentally slipped and fell into a hot spring at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. He was completely dissolved within a day due to the spring's acidic water. The man, Colin Nathaniel Scott, together with his sister went to the Yellowstone National Park and found a place to "hot pot." The officials said that they went to an unauthorized area near the Norris Geyser. Deputy Chief Ranger Lorant Veress told CNN that Scott and his sister were looking for a place wherein they could soak. Oregon mans body dissolved after fall into Yellowstone hot spring https://t.co/jZDEdvCP63 pic.twitter.com/zP5LFE7r76 KTLA (@KTLA) November 17, 2016 The tragic incident happened way back in June. The victim was then trying to test the temperature of the waters and as he leaned over to dip his forefinger he slipped and fell. He was found dead and drifting in the pool later that day. On the other hand, the officials cannot drag him. Meanwhile, a thunderstorm arrived and decided to retreat for the night. Upon returning the next day, they could not find the body of the victim anymore. Veress said that there was a significant amount of dissolving. IFL Scienec reports that the temperature of the Yellowstone's geothermal pools, ponds and geysers is about 93 degrees Celsius (199 degrees Fahrenheit). It is naturally hotter in a few meters down. The waters of the springs and geysers are acidic due to the thermal water underneath that picks up sulfuric acid and rises to the surface. Meanwhile, Ranger Veress puts emphasis that Yellowstone is wild and it has not been overly altered by people to make things a whole lot safer. He stressed that it has dangers. The officials have put more warning signs around the park. President Francois Hollande announced that all the coal-fired power plants across France will be shut down by 2023. He spoke at the annual U.N. climate change conference in Marrakech, Morocco, on Wednesday. President Hollande also praised President Barack Obama for his pursuant and work on climate change. He stated that the role played by Obama was crucial in achieving the Paris Agreement. He added that it is "irreversible." He also stated that they need carbon neutrality by 2050, and for France's part, coal will not form part of their energy mix in six to seven years' time. According to The Independent, France is already a world leader in low-carbon energy. It invested in nuclear power in the past few decades and currently obtains over 75 percent of its electricity from nuclear fission. In fact, it exports much nuclear energy to nearby nations with around 2.5 billion (approximately $3,088,500,000) each year. We have no right to gamble with the fate of future generations @UN SG Ban Ki-moon pic.twitter.com/FzyQjNlYvn COP22 (@COP22) November 15, 2016 The U.K. will shut its coal-fired power plants by 2025. In Germany, gas emissions would probably cut by as much as 95 percent by 2050, according to IFL Science. Meanwhile, China's Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin commented on what President Donald Trump statement's "global warming is a Chinese hoax to make US manufacturing less profitable." Mr. Zhenmin said that he hopes the Republican administration will continue to support the process of tackling global warming. He further said that they must expect the administration will take a right and smart decision. Likewise, China's President Xi Jinping said that China would continue its fight against global warming whatever the circumstances, although he stressed the significance of cooperation with the U.S. Five ships will sail to 115 destinations in 35 countries, with 168 departures of 57 unique itineraries. This compares to 2017's six shipsincluding the new China-bound Majestic Princessvisiting 119 destinations on 153 departures of 64 itineraries. Overnight stays are featured at 32 ports including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, St. Petersburg, Stockholm and Venice, with late evening departures from Belfast, Berlin and Oslo. Sapphire Princess makes its maiden call to the British Isles, northern Europe and the Mediterranean from Southampton, in addition to a 38-day maiden voyage between Singapore and Southampton. The ship is also scheduled for the first Princess visit to Skagen in Denmark. Plus, Sapphire Princess will operate 14-day cruises from Southampton to the western Mediterranean, with later departures from Barcelona. As part of the 'More Ashore' program, giving more time in port, a 12-day 'European Capitals' voyage aboard Pacific Princess features an overnight at Amsterdam and a late departure from Antwerp. The ship's 12- to 28-day voyages throughout the Mediterranean will visit such destinations as Croatia, Greece, Malta and Monte Carlo, with overnight stays in Venice on all 12-day cruises between Civitavecchia (Rome) and Venice. Crown Princess will operate 55 departures of 13 itineraries, including 27 destinations in the Mediterranean and Aegean. All seven-day cruises from Rome to Piraeus (Athens) stop at Salerno, Kotor, Corfu, Crete and Mykonos. The ships 11-day cruises from Barcelona to Rome visit Marseille, Florence/Pisa, Katakolon (for Olympia), Mykonos, Santorini, Kotor and Naples. The new Royal Princess 12-day round-trips from Le Havre feature overnights in Dublin on select sailings, and all cruises have a late departure from Belfast. Passengers will get an opportunity to attend the Edinburgh Military Tattoo on select eight-day Pacific Princess sailings and 12-day Royal Princess cruises, with overnights in Edinburgh on Pacific Princess. Ships returning to northern Europe are Regal Princess and Pacific Princess for 11- to 14-day Scandinavia and Russia sailings from Copenhagen or Southampton. All cruises overnight in St. Petersburg. Pacific Princess also offers Dover round-trips visiting a variety of remote northern Europe destinations in Iceland, Norway and the Shetland Islands, in addition to a special summer solstice sailing to Spitsbergen. Sales open Dec. 1. Past passengers are eligible for a special promotion when they book before Aug. 31, 2017. Captains Circle members who buy a cruise of fewer than seven days save $50 per person. The discount goes up to $100 on seven- to 20-day cruises, and to $200 on sailings longer than 20 days. The offer applies only to the first and second passengers in a stateroom. The 'Local Connections' program continues with its aim to inspire travelers by sharing the passion and pride of the line's port partners for their destination. Elements include videos of these partners sharing their thoughts, experiences and recommendations, local expert on-board speakers, new tours, partner port guides and walking maps, new port welcome and departure experiences, and an insiders guide including 'cool things' made in each port. Select itineraries can be incorporated into European Land & Sea Vacations that add a fully escorted land tour. Choices include 'Paris and the French Countryside,' 'Irelands Ring of Kerry,' 'Classic Italy' (to popular sites in Venice, Florence and Rome) and 'Imperial Treasures of Budapest, Vienna, Prague and Berlin.' Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg posted a comment to his home page last night that finally addresses the problem of fake news on his social media site. "Normally we wouldn't share specifics about our work in progress, but given the importance of these issues and the amount of interest in this topic, I want to outline some of the projects we already have underway," he wrote. The importance of and interest in the topic arose shortly after the election when journalists like New York Magazine's Max Read began faulting social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Reddit for Donald Trump's unexpected win. "The most obvious way in which Facebook enabled a Trump victory has been its inability (or refusal) to address the problem of hoax or fake news," Read wrote. "Fake news is not a problem unique to Facebook, but Facebook's enormous audience, and the mechanisms of distribution on which the site relies - i.e., the emotionally charged activity of sharing, and the show-me-more-like-this feedback loop of the news feed algorithm - makes it the only site to support a genuinely lucrative market in which shady publishers arbitrage traffic by enticing people off of Facebook and onto ad-festooned websites, using stories that are alternately made up, incorrect, exaggerated beyond all relationship to truth, or all three," Read wrote. In just the last year, nearly 140 new hoax news sites arose, reported Buzzfeed, including WorldPoliticus.com, TrumpVision365.com, USConservativeToday.com, DonaldTrumpNews.co and USADailyPolitics.com - all, oddly enough, originating from a Macedonian town of Veles. They're not the only websites of their kind. RELATED: Is Hypnosis A Complete Hoax? On Nov. 12 Zuckerberg acknowledged the presence of these and other hoax news sites on Facebook, but downplayed their influence, saying "...more than 99% of what people see on Facebook is authentic." But what people see may not influence them as much as what they share. And therein lies the problem of fakery. It likes to go viral, more so than real news. Analysis from BuzzFeed founding editor, Craig Silverman, revealed that the "... 20 top-performing false election stories from hoax sites and hyperpartisan blogs generated 8,711,000 shares, reactions and comments on Facebook." In the same time period real stories from 19 actual news sources generated a 7,367,000 shares, reactions and comments. Dozens of other sites have continued to write about the fake new problem, picking away at this post-election wound. Even President Obama called attention to it this past Thursday while visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin. He said, "Because in an age where there's so much active misinformation, and it's packaged very well, and it looks the same when you see it on a Facebook page or you turn on your television, where some overzealousness on the part of a U.S. official is equated with constant and severe repression elsewhere, if everything seems to be the same and no distinctions are made, then we won't know what to protect. We won't know what to fight for. And we can lose so much of what we've gained in terms of the kind of democratic freedoms and market-based economies and prosperity that we've come to take for granted." Finally last night at 9:30 pm, after Zuckerberg landed in Lima for the APEC Summit, he posted a response that seemed to take a different tone. "We've been working on this problem a long time and take this responsibility seriously," Zuckerberg wrote. He outlined at least seven areas the company is working on in order to reduce fake news. They are: He concluded with, "Some of these ideas will work well, and some will not. But I want you to know that we have always taken this seriously, we understand how important the issue is for our community and we are committed to getting this right." Here's the note in full: A parasitic infection that's rare in the United States now appears to be showing up more often in American travelers, thanks in part to the growing trend of ecotourism, experts say. The infection, called leishmaniasis, occurs in people in more than 90 countries around the world, including Mexico and nations in Central and South America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and southern Europe - and is spread by the bite of a tiny sand fly. (Ecotourism means traveling to natural, undisturbed areas of the world in a way that conserves the environment, according to the International Ecotourism Society.) The disease is uncommon in the United States, but in recent years, doctors have been seeing more cases in American travelers and soldiers, as well as immigrants, according to the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA). This rise led to the creation of the first ever U.S. guidelines for diagnosing and treating the illness. RELATED: 'Nightmare' Infection Found in US for First Time "Leishmaniasis is an increasingly common infection in ecotourists traveling to Central and South America," Dr. Naomi Aronson, an infectious disease specialist at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, said in a statement. In some cases, the infection affects the skin and can cause serious scarring, while in other cases, the parasite infects deeper parts of the body, and the infection can be deadly. "Timely diagnosis and treatment managed by an infectious diseases physician is vital," said Aronson, who was the lead author of the guidelines. [10 Deadly Diseases That Hopped Across Species] However, many U.S. doctors aren't very familiar with leishmaniasis in patients, so these physicians may not suspect it when making diagnoses, the IDSA said. And symptoms may not show up until months after a person was infected, which makes the diagnosis even harder. The three main forms of leishmaniasis are: Doctors who see a patient who has these symptoms should ask if the individual has traveled to areas where leishmaniasis is found, Aronson said. A number of drugs are available to treat the condition. RELATED: Is Rio's Olympic Superbug on US Beaches? Although there are no vaccines or medications to prevent leishmaniasis infection, people traveling to areas where the disease is found are advised to wear protective clothing (such as pants and long sleeves), and use insect repellants that contain DEET, as well as bed nets with insecticide. The new guidelines were published Nov. 14 in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Watch Video: Why Superbugs Thrive in Hospitals The Mongol empire was the largest contiguous land empire in history. In 1279, at the height of the empire, the territory spanned from the Pacific Ocean to Central Europe. Genghis Khan lead the Mongol army to slaughter millions of people and destroy entire cities, conquering more land in 25 years than the Romans conquered in 400. With such a powerful empire, how did Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire eventually fall? Learn More: History.com: Genghis Khan Britannica: Mongke All Empires: The Mongol Empire Any good politician needs a foil but finding a worthy opponent at City Hall can be tricky because everybodys clumped together on the far-left end of the nations political spectrum. Fights can certainly be huge, but theyre almost always about the details of liberal programs that everybody supports. How many felonies over how many years should an undocumented immigrant have on his record before we notify federal agents hes in our jails? Should we just treat homelessness as an emergency or actually declare an emergency? Body cameras should be mandatory for police officers, but when should officers be allowed to view the footage? Exactly which percentage of units should we make developers set aside as affordable? I say more than 25 percent! You say less than 25 percent! Lets take this outside. Well, City Hall leaders, now youve got a real enemy and nothing about the coming battles will deal with the details. The election of Donald Trump as president has jolted San Franciscos liberal leaders and made the little scuffles between moderates and progressives look about as significant as a heated game of go fish. Now, programs that were widely agreed upon and settled long ago are at risk. From sanctuary city status to universal health care to police reform, the fights ahead will be huge and will go to the core of San Francisco values. Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle We have principled differences in San Francisco, but theyre often about the best way to achieve desired outcomes that we all share, said Tony Winnicker, a senior adviser to Mayor Ed Lee. The Trump administration poses a very real and imminent danger to much of what we believe in, and it certainly gives us some perspective. Lee, a longtime bureaucrat not prone to grand visions or stirring speeches, has so far risen to the occasion. Shortly after the election, he released a statement saying San Francisco would continue to be a beacon of light, a city dedicated to progress. Over the next few days, he visited a mosque, attended church at Glide and held a unity ceremony at City Hall, pledging each time to defend the citys sanctuary status and fight discrimination. In his monthly question time appearance at Tuesdays Board of Supervisors meeting, he said, The federal election really did clarify for me that there is much we agree on in San Francisco and now more than ever, we need to stand as one for our citizens and values. The mayors staunchest opponents inside City Hall anyway agree. Supervisor David Campos said, We still have differences, but first things first, right? We have to be united in the fight against Trump. Campos, whose family immigrated to this country from Guatemala illegally when he was a child but who is now a U.S. citizen, said his young nephew is terrified of what a Trump presidency means. Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle A lot of kids of color are asking, What does this mean to me? What does this mean to us? And thats far more important than anything thats happening here, he said. It changes our priorities. Defending San Franciscos sanctuary city status is job one, since Trump has pledged to end sanctuary cities in his first 100 days in office by stripping them of federal funding. In San Francisco, that could amount to a devastating $1 billion a year loss in federal funding. Other immediate concerns include examining how Trumps plan to dramatically alter the federal Affordable Care Act would affect the citys Healthy San Francisco program, the countrys first universal health care program. Begun in 2007, it offers care to uninsured residents regardless of preexisting medical conditions, immigration status or employment status. At its peak, 52,000 San Franciscans were enrolled. But the Affordable Care Act has prompted many of those people to buy regular medical insurance, which is better because it covers people when they travel outside city borders. Now, there are 14,000 people enrolled in Healthy San Francisco. Dumping the Affordable Care Act, a longtime goal of Republicans in Congress, could mean the ranks of Healthy San Francisco would swell again. Colleen Chawla, deputy director of the Department of Public Health, said theres no telling how much that would cost. We are fortunate that we had all of these programs in place before there was an Affordable Care Act, and theyre still in place now and theyll continue to be available, she said. Another immediate area of concern is the citys fledgling attempt at reforming its troubled police department. After a string of police shootings of African American and Latino people, the city teamed with the U.S. Department of Justice in a new program created by President Obama called Collaborative Reform. San Francisco is one of 15 cities in the program. Federal public safety experts are working with the Police Department to improve community policing, revamp use-of-force policies and address bias in policing. Its unclear whether the program will continue under Trump, but his campaign rhetoric around law enforcement mostly focused on praising stop-and-frisk policies and bolstering law and order. In a debate during the primaries, he said, Police are among the most mistreated people in this country. From all accounts, it does not appear Donald Trump has any belief that there is work we need to do to build a bridge between communities and the police, said Suzy Loftus, president of the Police Commission. She added that the efforts will continue locally regardless of whether theres still help federally, but cautioned that Trumps rhetoric could further erode the trust between police and communities of color. Other areas City Hall will be examining in the coming months when it comes to the Trump effect are local climate change policies, how to backfill potential federal cuts to Planned Parenthood, and how to continue revamping federally funded public housing. Hillary Ronen, who won election to the Board of Supervisors on Nov. 8 and will take her seat in January shortly before Trumps inauguration, said she feels as if she will be filling an entirely different position than the one for which she campaigned. Were going to have so many fights on our hands that I wasnt anticipating, she said. Im still shell-shocked. She described City Hall as going into a defensive research stage to determine just how bad it could get. Always one to push buttons, Supervisor Aaron Peskin said he jokingly asked the city attorneys office to look into how San Francisco can secede from the country. Hes been getting a lot of mileage out of teasing that he wants to build a wall on the Daly City border and have Daly City pay for it. But jokes aside, the work is real. All 11 of us are on the same page with the mayor, he said in a sentence that has surely never appeared on these pages before. Theres nothing like a common enemy to make us focus on the big things. Heather Knight is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer who covers City Hall politics. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com, Twitter: @hknightsf Wind gusts up to 45 mph are expected to hit exposed coastal stretches of the Bay Area Saturday, part of a storm system moving into the region Friday evening that could also drop around an inch of rain throughout the weekend, forecasters said. Sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph in some areas around San Francisco and throughout the East Bay, are possible during the day Saturday according to a wind advisory issued by the National Weather Service that takes effect at 3 a.m. Saturday and lasts until 6 p.m. Wells Fargo has been rightly condemned for having created up to 2 million fake checking and credit card accounts in the names of real customers. Top executives, including former CEO John Stumpf, received tens of millions of dollars in yearly compensation based at least in part on fraudulent sales tactics, for which the bank has fired thousands of employees. But corporate suits are not the only ones reaping ill-gotten gains from misconduct that goes back years. So did millions of school, state and city workers, and retirees. The California Public Employees Retirement System, the nations largest public pension fund, is a major investor in Wells Fargo, holding 13.7 million shares, or 0.27 percent, of the San Francisco bank. Despite CalPERS reputation for making sure companies in its portfolio behave properly, the pension fund, along with regulators, missed the massive corporate-governance failings at the bank. Though the number of fraudulent accounts represented only a small portion of the banks overall revenue, Wells Fargos aggressive sales tactics in which employees are pushed to sell multiple products to the same customer have been well known in the industry ever since the company merged with Norwest in 1998. Plenty of other investors didnt seem to notice either. Its something that should have been caught by investors, regulators and other groups, said Clifford Rossi, a former managing director and chief risk officer for Citigroups consumer lending unit. It surprises me the fraud went on as long as it did. Out of CalPERS $288.9 billion portfolio, Wells Fargo is one of the funds biggest holdings. Its stake in the bank is currently $977.3 million, trailing only Apple, ExxonMobil and Microsoft, according to Bloomberg data. As a result, CalPERS owes some small part of its strong return to Wells soaring shares. From 2013 to 2015, CalPERS generated an annual return of 10.9 percent, according to the funds most recent annual report. Wells Fargos stock during that time jumped 44 percent. A spokesman for Wells Fargo and a spokeswoman for CalPERS declined to comment. We always try to make sure that the best practices are in place, that companies operate honestly, state Treasurer John Chiang said during a news conference in September in which he announced the state of California would suspend some business dealings with Wells Fargo. Chiang, who also sits on the CalPERS board of directors, wants the pension fund to pressure the bank to review its compensation practices, to appoint an independent ombudsman and to create a way for employees and whistle-blowers to anonymously report wrongdoing. Even though we benefited in the short term, we want to make sure Wells Fargo acts properly so that we have long-term community benefit, Chiang said in September, referring to his CalPERS role. A spokesman for Chiang said the board will probably not act on the requests until next year. In October, Wells split the role of chairman and CEO, satisfying one of Chiangs other demands. (Both roles were formerly held by Stumpf.) Many other institutional investors, including Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway, also have said nothing. Why the silence, stretching back years? The Los Angeles Times published a major investigation of the banks sales practices in 2013. And in 2014, at Wells Fargos annual meeting in San Antonio, a union-supported group called the Committee for Better Banks tried to present Stumpf with a petition signed by thousands of current and former employees calling for an end to aggressive sales quotas. Ideally, all investors should care about good corporate governance, said Thomas Joo, a professor of law at UC Davis who specializes in corporate governance. Institutional investors can do more than small retail investors. But how much they can do is not really clear. They have enormous portfolios and limited manpower. I dont know if its realistic for an investor to pay close attention to a holding that accounts for less than a percent of its portfolio. But CalPERS is not just any institutional investor. The fund has gained an international reputation for pushing its companies to act ethically, so much so that people coined the phrase CalPERS Effect to describe the groups influence over companies that did not want to run afoul of the fund. Proper corporate governance goes to the heart of CalPERS investment strategy. Strong governance ... increases the likelihood that companies will perform over the long-term and manage risk effectively, according to a document on CalPERS website that lists its investment principles. CalPERS may engage investee companies and external managers on their governance. Throughout its history, CalPERS has done exactly that. In 2003, CalPERS, along with other funds, called for New York Stock Exchange Chairman Richard Grasso to be fired because of his large pay package. The next year, CalPERS opposed Walt Disney CEO Michael Eisners election to Disneys board during a time of turmoil in the companys leadership. In 2006, CalPERS was one of several institutional investors that successfully sued UnitedHealth Corp. for backdating stock options, a practice that significantly boosted then-CEO William McGuires compensation. The insurance giant eventually agreed to settle the lawsuit for $895 million. CalPERS also successfully pushed Apple to elect its directors on a majority shareholder vote instead of just a plurality. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes But Wells Fargo seems to have escaped CalPERS scrutiny. Until Chiang spoke up ahead of the recent shakeup, no one at the fund had publicly expressed concern with Stumpfs dual role as CEO and chairman. The fund also did not raise objections to Stumpfs pay. Last year, Stumpf earned $19.3 million in total compensation, including a $4 million bonus and $12.5 million in stock, according to the companys proxy statement. A few weeks after federal and Los Angeles regulators fined Wells Fargo $185 million in September, Stumpf forfeited $41 million in unvested stock awards. He resigned a month later. Both federal prosecutors and the Securities Exchange Commission are reportedly investigating the company. Late Friday, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, one of the federal regulators that fined the bank in September, announced that it would require Wells Fargo to seek approval before making changes in its board of directors and senior executive officers and also before making golden parachute payments to departing executives. Responding to the developments, Wells Fargo said in a statement, This will not inhibit our ability to execute our strategy, rebuild trust and serve our customers, and continue to operate the company for the benefit of all our stakeholders. Perhaps the reason Wells Fargo escaped scrutiny from investors and regulators is that the company has performed so well over the years, said Rossi, the former Citibank executive who now teaches at the University of Marylands Robert H. Smith School of Business. The bank, which stopped its subprime lending in 2008, emerged from the Great Recession and the subprime mortgage crisis relatively unscathed, he said. When a company has a strong reputation, there is a complacency that can set in, Rossi said. Wells Fargos situation is now pushing other institutional investors to take a more active role in policing companies. San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim recently introduced a resolution to require the citys pension fund to push Wells Fargo to reform the way it compensates executives. Individuals cant fight the big banks and excessive CEO pay on our own, Kim said. But with the pension fund, we are a huge actor, and we should absolutely be exercising the voice on behalf of our workers. Kim said she wasnt clear on why the city fund hadnt pushed Wells Fargo for reform. Maybe its viewed as too political. But even though we know some companies may be good for the bottom line for pensions, I think there has to be a limit. There has to be some principles on how we invest our dollars. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Thomas Lee is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: tlee@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByTomLee A 4-year-old boy has been found safe after police say his stepfather pushed his mother out of a moving car in Union City Friday, kidnapping the child as he fled. The stepfather, Lawrence Pollard, a 31-year-old Oakland resident, was arrested on suspicion of domestic battery, assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping. and child endangerment, according to the Union City Police Department. Pollard was booked into the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, and the domestic violence victim was taken to the hospital to receive treatment for minor injuries, police said. The 4-year-old boy who was in the car when Pollard allegedly pushed his mother out and onto the street disappeared with Pollard for much of the day Friday. When he was taken into custody police did not release the time of his arrest the boy wasnt with him, and Pollard provided different accounts of where the child was, police said. Investigators, with the assistance of the Oakland Police Department, located the suspects car in the 9400 block of E Street in Oakland, police said, but there were no signs of the child. Police said Pollard eventually told them he had left his stepson with an elderly relative, where police located him, unharmed. A caller who witnessed the episode on Mission Boulevard near Tamarack Drive reported the incident around 8 a.m. Friday. Another caller reported that a man was trying to run over a woman with a car in a parking lot of Decoto Road earlier in the morning, and police said the incident involved a vehicle with a similar description. Michael Bodley is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mbodley@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @michael_bodley San Francisco law enforcement leaders addressed concerns Friday about a flurry of hate crime reports around the country in the aftermath of Donald Trumps election win, while saying the city itself had not seen an unusual number of incidents. District Attorney George Gascon joined representatives from the Police Department, the Human Rights Commission and the mayors office at a news conference to say bigotry in any form would not be tolerated in the city. The officials announced an array of telephone numbers that community members can call anonymously if they choose to report hate crimes. History can and does repeat itself, and I think we would be kidding ourselves if we think that as a nation we are incapable of committing some horrible things, Gascon said. If we dont stand up today because perhaps we are not Muslims, perhaps because were not Latinos, perhaps because we are not gay or lesbian, there will be a day when they will be coming after you and there will not be anyone to stand up for you. We as a nation and certainly in San Francisco will not tolerate hate or abuse without consequences. This is not what our community is all about. The Southern Poverty Law Center, which collected reports of hateful intimidation and harassment in the first five days after the election, said it counted at least 437 incidents. Anti-immigrant and antiblack abuse were most common, said the group, and many incidents involved direct references to the Trump campaign and its slogans. Police officials said San Francisco had not seen an uptick in reported hate crimes following the election. However, they said, total hate crimes in 2016 are up more than 10 percent from last year. Stories of bigoted attacks in San Francisco have circulated on social media, with some spurring police investigations. A Latina nanny was allegedly grabbed and shoved in Fort Mason on Monday by a man who told her through broken Spanish, No Latinos here. Police Cmdr. Greg McEachern said officers recently made an arrest in a case of racist graffiti discovered in the Bayview neighborhood Thursday night. We have to recognize that hate crimes are tremendously underreported, Gascon said. Given the current environment, there are many people who are fearful of contacting authorities, period. We cant just simply sit comfortably because perhaps the numbers arent going up as they are elsewhere in the nation and feel that we are immune to this. The fear in the community is real. Human Rights Commissioners Hala Hijazi and Susan Christian noted that some bigotry may not be criminal, but still needs to be addressed. Christian said the commission was focusing on educating youth about racism and xenophobia and combatting hate at a school level. This has been personal to me, Hijazi said. I dont even wear a hijab, but I worry about my sisters that do, my nieces and nephews in their schools. We need to stand up as one. Our Constitution starts with We the people, not We the Thomas Jefferson nation, not We the Trump nation. Gascon emphasized that individuals concerned about their immigration status need not fear reporting crimes in San Francisco. Anyone who witnesses or is the victim of a hate crime is asked to call police at (415) 575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 with SFPD at the beginning of the message. The district attorneys office has a hate crime hotline available at (415) 551-9595. To contact the Human Rights Commission, call (415) 252-2500. Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VivianHo President-elect Donald Trumps in-your-face nomination Friday of Sen. Jeff Sessions as attorney general could set the stage for one of the most fierce confirmation battles of his incoming administration. Trump lauded the Alabama Republican as a man with a world-class legal mind ... greatly admired by legal scholars and virtually anyone who knows him. But advocates of minority rights, voting rights and gay rights looked at Sessions record and shuddered. As attorney general, Sessions would be responsible for enforcing the nations civil rights laws. Thirty years ago, a Republican-controlled Senate committee rejected his nomination as a federal judge after testimony that Sessions had called a white lawyer a disgrace to his race for representing black clients and allegedly had called a black prosecutor boy. Sessions would also be responsible for enforcing the Voting Rights Act, which he has described as a piece of intrusive legislation. When the Supreme Court in 2013 struck down that laws strongest enforcement provision, which allowed the Justice Department to block new voting restrictions in states and counties with a history of discrimination, Sessions called it good news for the South. And when the court decided in 2015 that same-sex couples had the right to marry, Sessions called the ruling part of a continuing effort to secularize, by force and intimidation, a society that would not exist without religious faith. Sessions, a former U.S. attorney and Alabama attorney general elected to the Senate in 1996, was the first senator to endorse Trumps presidential candidacy. One of the Senates most conservative members, he is reported to be well-liked by colleagues in both parties and appears likely to win confirmation. But it wont happen quietly. Nothing in Sessions record indicates he is prepared to lead the nation and to lead our federal government in the protection of civil rights and minorities, said Sherrilyn Ifill, president of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Sessions is one of the most racist politicians in Congress, who has made it his lifes mission to hurt Latinos, immigrants and African Americans, said Cristobal Alex, president of the Latino Victory Fund. Maria McFarland Sanchez-Moreno, U.S. co-director of Human Rights Watch, said Trump, by nominating Sessions, is telling the most vulnerable Americans that, far from defending their rights, his new Justice Department will seek to undermine them. Kristen Clarke, president of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, called Sessions nomination polarizing and predicted it would be fiercely contested. The Senate did its job in scrutinizing Sessions judicial nomination in 1986, Clarke said, and I expect the Senate will do its job now. Several analysts predicted a rollback of the Obama administrations oversight of local police departments. The Justice Department has conducted investigations of police forces in two dozen cities, including San Francisco, which drew criticism by the department last month for the way it monitors officers use of force and trains them against bias. The Obama Justice Department has made police reform a major issue and through suits and consent decrees has had a significant effect on policing, said Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Irvine School of Law. There is little reason to believe that this will be a priority for a Trump-Sessions Justice Department. Laurie Levenson, a former assistant U.S. attorney and current professor at Loyola Law School, echoed those comments. Policing the police is likely to be a low priority. By all reports, (the Trump administrations) sights are set on apprehending terrorists and dealing with illegal immigration. I think that is where the resources will go, she said. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., now the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee that will consider Sessions nomination, issued a carefully worded statement. She recited the attorney generals wide-ranging responsibilities, in areas ranging from civil rights and immigration courts to setting standards for police interrogations, described the attorney general as the lawyer for the people, not the president, and added, While Senator Sessions and I differ on a great many issues, I am committed to a full and fair process. That process, when Sessions appears before the Judiciary Committee, will be worth watching closely, said Rory Little, a law professor at UC Hastings in San Francisco. Little was a Justice Department lawyer, starting in an organized-crime unit in President Ronald Reagans administration and eventually becoming an aide to President Bill Clintons attorney general, Janet Reno. The Democratic minority, led by Feinstein, will press Sessions for commitments to maintain the Obama administrations aggressive enforcement of civil rights laws and scrutiny of local police, Little predicted. Little said senators of both parties will also want to know how Sessions Justice Department will treat the half-dozen states, including California, that have legalized the personal use of marijuana, and others that allow medical use of the drug, which remains prohibited by federal law. The Obama administration has deferred to state marijuana policies for the past few years, and Congress by bipartisan votes has forbidden spending federal funds to interfere with state medical marijuana laws. Its a fascinating clash of conservative federalism values (for state autonomy) and liberals favoring marijuana values, Little said. Sessions, however, criticized Obamas marijuana policy at a Senate hearing in April. Good people dont smoke marijuana ... a very dangerous drug, he said. Like Trump, Sessions has also taken a hard line on immigration, opposing Obamas efforts to protect young unauthorized migrants from deportation and supporting crackdowns at the state level. The Justice Department does not directly enforce immigration laws, the province of the Department of Homeland Security, but it provides judges for the courts that rule on deportations and decides which undocumented entrants to prosecute. David Levine, a UC Hastings law professor, said he could foresee the new Justice Department prosecuting immigrants for such offenses as overstaying their visas. And rather than going after states with restrictive voter ID laws, Levine said, there may be a shift to looking for voting fraud, a favorite target of Republicans though there is little evidence of its existence . Little, Levines Hastings colleague, anticipates a cultural change in the Justice Department, just as there was when he first arrived there in the 1980s during the Reagan administration. Department employees at all levels learned that they were not going to be credited if they aggressively pursued prison civil rights suits, but would be credited for drug cases, Little recalled. Next year, he said, the department will most likely shift staff and resources from areas like civil rights to prosecutions for terrorism. In a sense, Little said, thats what the people were voting for. Trump was elected because he promised cultural change in Washington, D.C. San Francisco Chronicle wire services contributed to this report. Bob Egelko and Hamed Aleaziz are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com and haleaziz@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko and @haleaziz This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate An old-school, hard-line drug warrior emerged Friday as the Trump administrations pick for attorney general, setting off something of a mild panic attack in the countrys nascent legal cannabis industry. Republican Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions might be among the worst picks for pot law reform, critics said. Sessions would be, as far as I can tell, a nightmare on marijuana and all other drug policy, said Ethan Nadelmann, director of the Drug Policy Alliance, the nations leading drug-law reform group. Anti-marijuana activist Kevin Sabet, director of Project Smart Approaches to Marijuana, was buoyed by the news, a week after four states legalized marijuana for adults 21 and over. Its become a lot risker to be a marijuana investor and the market doesnt like risk. Right now the chances of marijuana legalization being tolerated on the federal level have fallen from the sky, Sabet said. It makes the loss in California feel like it took place a million years ago. National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws director Erik Altieri said in an email that Sessions nomination, should send a chill down the spine of the majority of Americans who support marijuana law reform, and who respect the will of voters to enact regulatory alternatives to cannabis prohibition. Sessions received a failing grade on NORMLs 2016 Congressional Report Card, released this past fall. Sabet called Sessions the most anti-marijuana person in the Senate in a number of years. Aaron Herzberg, partner and general counsel at CalCann Holdings, called Sessions in an email, the worst pick that Trump could have made for attorney general as it comes to marijuana issues, and this selection bodes very poorly for the Trump administration to adopt a marijuana-friendly policy. It appears that he is intent on rolling back policy to the 1980s and Nancy Reagans just say no on drugs days, Herzberg said. The legalization of marijuana both for medical marijuana in 28 states and recreational marijuana in eight states may be in serious jeopardy. Trump has said repeatedly on the campaign trail that marijuana policy should be left up to the states, and that he and his subordinates would respect state policies. But the industry is having trouble taking him at his word after the Sen. Sessions pick. A former attorney general and U.S. attorney from Alabama arguably the least progressive state in the nation with regard to pot policy Sen. Sessions has repeatedly made it clear he does not support the right of adults to responsibly use the drug. While most of Sessions political focus has been on border security and immigration, drug control also concerns him. In an April Senate hearing on federal marijuana policy, Sessions the chairman of two Senate subcommittees, Immigration and the National Interest and Strategic Forces said that good people do not use marijuana. In March, Sessions said in Congress during a speech on the nations opioid epidemic that he believed in the discredited gateway theory that pot use leads to abuse of harder drugs. Sessions said, It is false that marijuana use doesnt lead people to more drug use. He endorsed Reagan-era drug policies that led to the arrests of hundreds of thousands of Americans for pot. Drug use dropped dramatically when Nancy Reagan started the Just Say No program, and drug use began to steadily decrease. It is now beginning to steadily increase. You have to have leadership from Washington, he said. Sessions said legal pot is already causing a disturbance in the states that have made it legal. And he voiced opposition to a White House Memo de-prioritizing federal enforcement of marijuana trafficking laws against state-legal pot businesses. The White House should be supporting, not blocking the efforts of law enforcement to do their jobs and giving them the tools to arrest drug traffickers, Sessions said. We need to enforce our laws, and we have to make the consequences of drug trafficking a deterrent. As attorney general, Sabet said Sessions could rapidly shut down all state-legal pot regimes by sending threatening letters promising civil asset forfeitures against any pot business or landlord, as well as threaten to arrest and imprison state marijuana regulators. Forfeiture threats and intimidating regulators were common until the Obama administration in 2013 told prosecutors to ignore state-legal pot activity. In 2014, Congress de-funded the Department of Justices crackdown on medical marijuana. What they can do is simply is send letters to state regulators saying, You have 90 days to revoke licenses and close up shop, and I think they will, Sabet said. Tom Angell, a Washington, D.C. activist and founder of Marijuana Majority, said in an email that pot legalization has vastly more support than ever before, and an attack on it would be politically costly to Trump. While the choice (of Sessions) certainly isnt good news for marijuana reform, Angell said, Im still hopeful the new administration will realize that any crackdown against broadly popular laws in a growing number of states would create huge political problems they dont need and will use lots of political capital theyd be better off spending on issues the new president cares a lot more about. Most polls show heavy national support for marijuana legalization. A Gallup poll in October found 60 percent support overall, with 42 percent support among Republicans. A Pew poll in October found 57 percent support overall for pot legalization with 41 percent support among Republicans. 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 truth is, marijuana reform is much more popular with voters than most politicians are, and officials in the new administration would do well to take a careful look at the polling data on this issue before deciding what to do, Angell said. He should keep his word both because its the right thing to do and because a reversal would be a huge political misstep, said Angell. NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano said pot should be a populist no-brainer for Trump: Unfortunately, the appointment of Sen. Sessions a longtime anti-marijuana zealot will simply ... cost Washington, D.C. further respect and credibility with the ordinary American voter. While Republicans are nearly split on support for marijuana legalization, 70 percent supported respecting state marijuana laws, a CBS news poll found in April. The National Cannabis Industry Association issued a statement reiterating that voters in 28 states have passed laws taking cannabis out of the criminal market and putting it into a regulated, tax-paying system. Senator Sessions has long advocated for state sovereignty, and we look forward to working with him to ensure that states rights and voter choices on cannabis are respected, stated the associations director, Aaron Smith, in an email. In 2015, Sessions said during a Judiciary Committee hearing that he was opposed to legalization, stating, the President should never have said smoking marijuana is like smoking cigarettes. Thats the kind of message that people hear, and now we have states legalizing it and theyre already talking about re-criminalizing it. Its a mistake. Weve seen that experiment before. In 2002, Sessions said the nation must not forget the war on drugs, telling a conference of federal prosecutors the federal government should send a clear message that drug use cannot be tolerated. The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law noted in a Friday email that during Sessions failed nomination for a federal judgeship in 1986, an African American Assistant U.S. Attorney testified that Sessions had described the Ku Klux Klan as OK until I found out they smoked pot. Sessions denied the allegation. David Downs is the San Francisco Chronicles cannabis editor. Email him at ddowns@sfchronicle.com. As long as Silicon Valley and its futuristic technologies dominate our politics, were doomed to stay stuck in the past. The big story of the poisonous 2016 elections was how new digital-media tools ended up crowding out two big topics from our conversation: the present and the future. This phenomenon went beyond the controversy about fake news on Facebook; the problem wasnt just quality but excessive quantity. California and the entire country were deluged by digital tidal waves of data and information from months, years and decades ago. Many of these were dredged-up video clips or photos or records of the candidates and their families and associates. There were endless emails from old hacks and investigations, followed by all the historical echoes, endlessly debated and rehashed, which kept us refighting the Cold War, J. Edgar Hoovers FBI, the Clinton impeachment, 1980s New York real estate and 17 waves of feminism. Donald Trump and his acolytes kept offering bogus ideas that refuse to go away that President Obama wasnt born here, that vaccines cause autism, that immigrants add to crime in the United States. Because these waves never stop, those who have some interest in the truth are left to explain over and over easily verifiable truths and old history. All this record-correcting leaves no time or bandwidth for conversations about the present (What to do about the wars that have been wound down but arent over? How to take advantage of rising employment and wages to invest in infrastructure and reckon with national debt?), much less the future (How is this aging country going to make itself healthier, better educated, and more economically competitive?). With all the past crowding out any conversation about today or tomorrow, the stakes of the election were never made clear especially about how the result might affect our role in the world. All of this is bad but the really bad news is that, in four years, were likely to look back at 2016 as the good old days. Smart people in Silicon Valley say the digital-media world is growing so fast (with more people around the world going online every day), that future ill-conceived regurgitations from the past could be even more destructive to our democracy. New immersive technologies augmented reality, virtual reality will allow us to invent out of whole cloth whatever past serves our purposes, and make it impossible for our brains to separate fact from fiction. Anyone with a modicum of know-how will be able to create digital experiences of candidates saying or doing things they never said or did. This is a public health problem, as surely as an epidemic of opioid overdoses. The more political noise, the less political understanding. The more data, the less coherence. The digital age is not just the post-fact era; more dangerously, as Politico recently warned, its the post-narrative age of democracy. If you cant follow the story, its because there isnt one. There is not nearly enough thinking about how to save democracy from media. Much commentary offers the false hope that the deluge of the digital past is somehow self-correcting, that the media culture has finally hit bottom and will reform itself. The free speech folks say you can fix pernicious and inaccurate speech with more speech but more speech actually makes the problem worse. The more serious, but less common conversation, involves giving people more tools to stop the flow. Should we allow people to litigate and recover damages more easily for sins visited upon them on the Web? Do we want to regulate social media platforms more extensively? I find the most intriguing approaches economic. Is it possible to create financial consequences for constant past-sharing and tweets and Facebook posts that pollute our civic culture? Sam Lessin, a former Facebook vice president writing at the Information, suggested a tax on political coverage. If CNN, for example, wants to spend 50 percent of its time on election coverage, it should give 50 percent of its revenue to the government. That would basically say that you cant profit off the public discourse at all, wrote Lessin. We the people own it. Or we could create incentives for companies to change their designs to reduce the pollution around elections. Could our smartphones be designed to keep us from constantly picking them up? Could social media sites be reshaped to slow people down, and require them to consider or verify posts before hitting send? One suggestion: certifications for companies that agree to certain standards that encourage more limited, healthier media usage. Somehow, and soon, we need new ideas that raise the costs of deluging us with the past if the present and the future are ever again to have a fighting chance. Joe Mathews writes the Connecting California column for Zocalo Public Square. To comment, submit your letter to the editor at http:/bit.ly/SFChronicleletters. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., tried to assuage her young grandchildrens post-election blues by assuring them that more Americans voted for Hillary Clinton than for Donald Trump. Then why didnt she win? they demanded to know. As anyone who stayed awake through civics classes knows, its complicated. Its very sad for democracy, Boxer said by phone last week. I couldnt explain it to my grandchildren, as hard as I tried. The nations founding fathers had contemporary rationale for their creation of the Electoral College in 1787. There were concerns about whether the 4 million voters dispersed in 13 states along 1,000 miles of eastern seaboard would have sufficient information about candidates from distant points; there was the deference to southern states who feared domination by the North, as reflected in the notorious compromise that a non-voting slave would count as three-fifths of a person for U.S. House representation (which, of course, was linked to each states presidential electoral tally). A proposal for a direct popular vote was checked by the sentiment summed up by Alexander Hamilton in the Federalist Papers. He said the Constitution was crafted to ensure that the office of president will never fall to the lot of any man who is not in an eminent degree endowed with the requisite qualifications. Let that notion sink in, fellow Americans, as you brace for the inauguration of a president without a day of experience in elective office, a demonstrated illiteracy in domestic policy and world affairs, and serious doubts about his temperament. Clinton is the just the fifth candidate in U.S. history to prevail in the popular vote and lose a presidential election, following fellow Democrat Al Gores 2000 defeat that was decided by George W. Bushs 537-vote margin in Florida. The others were Grover Cleveland (1888, to Benjamin Harrison), Samuel Tilden (1876, to Rutherford B. Hayes) and Andrew Jackson (1824, to John Quincy Adams). (Jackson also had a plurality of electoral votes, but fell short of a majority, and the race was settled in the House of Representatives.) The convoluted Electoral College is simply indefensible in modern times. Its distortion of democracy begins with its mockery of the principle of one person, one vote. California, with 38.8 million residents, has 55 electoral votes (reflecting 53 House members, 2 senators) while Wyoming, with 584,000 residents, has three electoral votes (having been guaranteed the minimum one House member and two senators). In other words, California gets an elector for every 700,000 people; Wyoming gets one for fewer than 200,000 people. But that illustrates only one angle of the disparities of a system of 50 state elections. In recent times, the big vs. small and North vs. South contours contorted by the Electoral College have been superseded by the ultimate determination of power: a states partisan competitiveness. The focus of presidential campaigns has been all but reduced to a handful of battleground states. Wyoming is going to be ignored not so much for its size, but for its certainty to go Republican. California may have the most voters, but its Democratic dominance assures it will get far less love and money from campaigns whose fates lie in Ohio, Florida and other perennial toss-ups. So much for the tired argument that the Electoral College protects the interests of small states. In fact, the Electoral College is an equal-opportunity disenfranchiser. The electoral edge tends to swing back and forth between parties. As the South turned Republican in the post-civil rights era and the population growth shifted west, Republicans appeared poised to have an amplified advantage as far as the eye could see. But the electoral dynamic was shaken anew with Bill Clintons 1992 victory. From 1992 to 2012, Democrats consistently won states with a total of 242 of the 270 electoral votes required to win, giving Hillary Clintons camp what turned out to be the false confidence of a blue wall that would be all but impenetrable for a Republican. Trump proved otherwise in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Thus, a repeal of the Electoral College is hardly a Democratic plot. A Republican could just as easily win the popular vote and lose the election in this highly polarized nation. As one of her last acts in the Senate, Boxer last week introduced a resolution to elect future presidents by popular vote. It would require a constitutional amendment, a tall order that would need a two-thirds vote of each house of Congress, then ratification by 38 states. The system has not been altered since 1804, when the 12th Amendment called for the electors to cast separate votes for president and vice president. Before that, electors each had two votes, and the runner-up became vice president. A resolution for a direct election of the president with a runoff if no one reached a majority cleared the House in 1969, but died in the Senate. Defenders of the Electoral College suggest it offers certainty to the presidential selection process, which translates to stability for the nation. Imagine a cliffhanger like Florida 2000 on a national scale, they warn, with endless fights and conflicting counting methods and legions of lawyers challenging every step in all 50 states. Sure, there are easier ways to choose the leader of the free world. Democracy can be messy, contentious, unsettling. It doesnt guarantee that voters wont put someone without the requisite qualifications in the Oval Office. Yet its something we can all explain to a child. The person with the most votes wins. Its the democratic way. John Diaz is The San Francisco Chronicles editorial page editor. Email: jdiaz@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JohnDiazChron What does Trump say? Depends on when you asked ... Nov. 6, 2012 / Twitter Nov. 13, 2016 / 60 Minutes Im not going to change my mind just because I won. But I would rather see it where you went with simple votes. You know, you get 100 million votes and somebody else gets 90 million votes, and you win. Nov. 15, 2016 / Twitter Californias leaders may have their differences, but the past few days proved they are united on one thing: They will defend Californias values against a Trump administration. Gov. Jerry Brown responded to the presidential election results by reassuring Californians on Nov. 10 that we will protect the precious rights of our people and continue to confront the existential threat of our time devastating climate change. California will defend its people and our progress, said state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Paramount (Los Angeles County), in a joint statement on Nov. 9. We are not going to allow one election to reverse generations of progress at the height of our historic diversity, scientific advancement, economic output, and sense of global responsibility. President-elect Donald Trump has called climate change a hoax and has promised to ramp up production of fossil fuels. Meanwhile, mayors across the state including San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee defended their status as sanctuary cities for immigrants. Trump has promised to cancel federal funding for sanctuary cities nationwide, a category that includes many cities in California. Under certain circumstances, sanctuary cities policy is to not cooperate with federal immigration officials requests to turn in immigrants living in the country illegally. We have been and always have been a city of refuge, a city of sanctuary, a city of love, Lee said to the roaring cheers of a public audience at City Hall on Monday. At a time of fear for many, these rousing words are welcome. But can California leaders make good on their promises to defend California values? The short answer: It depends. Mostly, it depends on the money. Immigration is a federal prerogative, and courts across the country have held that neither states nor counties have the power to override federal immigration law. The federal government can deport who it wants, and the state cant prevent it, said Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of UC Irvines law school. States and cities can choose not to cooperate but then the question is, what kind of pressure will the federal government put on them? Hence Trumps threat to cut off federal funding. The federal government cant directly stop San Francisco from choosing to be a sanctuary city, but they can offer carrots and sticks, with things like funding, said David Levine, emeritus law professor at UC Hastings College of the Law. We get tens of millions of dollars for things like education, transportation and law enforcement. So it depends on how much money the state or the city would be willing to put into something themselves. California would be facing a similar dilemma on affordable health care. Under a Trump administration, federal support for low-income people on Medicaid might evaporate. California could still choose to keep our system going if Californians were willing to tax themselves. If that seems doubtful, given Californians poor track record on approving taxes for the things we say we care about, the state may have a rich savior on at least one issue. Billionaire environmental activist and possible gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer has pledged to spend whatever it takes to fight Trumps antienvironmental regulation agenda. Protecting Californias landmark climate change program with funding could be part of his plan. But fighting climate change, unfortunately, is going to require more than money. Of course the state can create its own pollution laws, but the problem is theres not much even a state like California could do if the U.S. pulls out of the Paris accords, said Chemerinsky. Climate change is a national and worldwide problem. The bottom line is that California can protect its values, but it will come at a cost. And on the critical issue of climate change, we still need partners. Regarding Hate crimes alleged in attacks on Latinos (Nov. 16): As a mother of a 2-year-old in San Francisco who depends on the support of a wonderful child care provider from Peru, I was shocked to read about the recent attack on a Latina nanny in Fort Mason while she was caring for two children. I am disheartened that the national wave of hate crimes and racist attacks against women, people of color and immigrants has spread to our progressive city historically a sanctuary city. Domestic workers, many of whom are immigrants, have become targets for these kinds of attacks, even while they care for young children. In this tense moment, its up to us as parents and employers to take action. I am member of Hand in Hand, a domestic employers network, and now more than ever we need to reassure the people who care for our children and families that our homes are safe for them as well. After reading about the attack, I asked the woman who cares from my child how I can support her I owe it to her and to my child. Racism and hate crimes have no place in the Bay Area. Ariana Thompson-Lastad, Berkeley An opportunist Regarding Trump Inc. in the White House (Nov. 18): Some Republican should at least try to talk Donald Trump out of trying to bring the family business close to the White House through his adult children. Otherwise, his supporters may see that he is not really one of them but simply an opportunist using a chance to advance his business, thereby tainting his administration with the possibilities of corruptions even before his term begins. Margaret Stortz, El Cerrito Funny to watch I know its wrong to relish the unhappiness of others, but this red-eyed and maniacal foaming at the mouth over the election of Donald Trump is causing me to double over in convulsive laughter. It cant be good for my soul, so, please, stop it. Pat Smith, San Francisco Ethical challenge Many Americans would have a difficult time associating Donald Trump with the word ethics. After all, he is a businessman who sometimes failed to pay workers, outsourced the manufacturing of his clothing line to foreign countries and misrepresented the type of instructors he would hire for his Trump University (now engaged in multiple litigations). Trump will always look for ways to skirt regulations concerning his financial holdings, taxes and even including family members in his administration. Sadly, our next president has long been ethically challenged. Felicia Charles, Millbrae Change the name We should now call the Electoral College the Electoral Junior High. Ray Kerr, San Francisco Trump experiment Donald Trump is great for Democrats. The liberals need to stop fighting Trump. He won, fair or unfair. Look for the positives and trust your intelligence. Let Trump lower taxes. Did that work in Kansas or Louisiana? Let Trump try and build a wall and get Mexico to pay for it; see how that works out. Give Trump the chance to bring back well-paying jobs for the uneducated white male good luck. Those jobs have been outsourced or given to robots, and even the great Trump is not going to persuade a CEO to bring back high-paying jobs (no CEO is going to risk their $20 million-a-year job by lowering profits to help Trump). Trump and his Republican Party will fail. It will hurt a lot, but this little experiment from the not-so elite and the shifting brown tide in Americas population should put the last couple of nails in the Republican coffin. Let Trump prove to all of us just how amazing he can be. Roger Lema, Hayward Federal policies Regarding Concern over denial of climate change (Letters, Nov. 18): The authors suggestions to reduce air travel, change eating habits and buy less are good but not enough to reduce damage from climate change. We must have federal, American policies to reduce climate pollution. We need policies that create jobs and improve national security by limiting water shortages, drought, famine and sea level rise. A price on carbon emissions (at the mines, wells and ports of entry only) can do this, the money from which can simultaneously lower taxes, fund infrastructure jobs and be rebated to citizens (a third to each). Support for this is growing among Congress, businesses and economists. Share this with your friends and family; your children will thank you. Richard Bailey, Novato Pelosi should stay Regarding The right leader for her party (Editorial, Nov. 17): Change just for the sake of change is not good. It would be throwing the baby out with the bathwater to replace current House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. No doubt, the GOP would love to see a change. Those of us on the progressive side of things know we need her experience, her vision and her toughness to get us through the trials ahead. Gleneda Borton, San Rafael Pelosi should go The Chronicle editorial endorses current House minority leader Nancy Pelosi to continue as leader of the Democratic Party in the House. I could not disagree more. I have a huge amount of respect for Pelosi, but, to be brief and blunt, her time is up. She has been at the helm for a long time, and she has accomplished passages of extremely wonderful bills and laws. It is time, however, for her to pass the baton and to move. I voted for Democrats top to bottom. We lost the election, and, frankly, we lost badly. We are completely out of touch with the red states, and there are a lot of them. Pelosi and the Democratic Party are out of touch. Pelosi is a lightning rod in those states where we need to make some more headway. We have to change leadership in order to be more pertinent and present in the red states. Now is the most opportune time for change. Pelosi should humbly recede and leave the leadership to someone else. Guy Vigier, Novato Unjust practice Regarding S.F. courts ignore quality-of-life citations (Nov. 14): Instead of deriding the judges who are disposing of cases that result from criminalizing poverty, Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross should be applauding these affirmative efforts to avoid the scourge of debtors prisons prevalent across the country and to reduce the annual $20.6 million the city spends to punish its poorest residents. Martin Halloran presumes that the public perceives a failure of accountability for what you have done, but what exactly is being done? Poverty is neither a choice nor a crime, and the persistent arrests and incarceration of these communities is not what I, as a member of the public, want. In fact, an arrest itself, even without further prosecution, still carries collateral consequences that make it harder to secure employment, find housing and access other necessary resources. These barriers increase the possibility that one will remain or end up homeless, and thus make them more vulnerable to the punitive ticketing and arrests that exacerbate these conditions in the first place. It would be more useful to not only call for the continued disposal of these cases in the courts but also to advocate for an end to the unjust practice of citing people for being poor. Mihal Ansik, Los Angeles Alt-right term The term Alt-right, which has appeared in several Chronicle stories and elsewhere in recent days, is apparently a typo, due, I assume, to a glitch in a spell-check program. The correct spelling is Outright, as in outright liars, outright racists, outright fascists, etc. In the interest of clarity, please correct it. Regarding S.F. courts ignore quality-of-life citations (Nov. 14): I understand the frustration Matier and Ross write about in. We all want to see the work that police do to improve our community succeed. So how do we respond when citations lead to unreasonable burdens on vulnerable populations and actually make the situation worse? Its important to keep in mind that expunging a warrant does not affect the underlying charge or associated fines the warrant simply allows police to make an arrest. For people who cant pay a fine, jail becomes the cost of poverty. And while arresting people seems like an easy approach to take, it is also a resource-intensive one that simply doesnt work. Rather than criminalizing poverty and homelessness, and blaming the most vulnerable people in our society for not being able to meet the standards we have set out of their reach, lets look at what it will take collectively to improve the quality of life for all San Francisco residents. Josh Wolf, San Francisco Policy solutions needed Regarding Thank/blame both parties plus media for Trump win (Insight, Nov. 13): Dear Robert Reich, those of us who value your insight could use more help addressing the third enabler identified in your Sunday column. That Democrats lost by abandoning the no-longer-working class is of course represented by the loss of once-blue Rust Belt states. But what would be an actionable response in policy? After all, were you not the labor secretary when Bill Clinton signed the legislation that you criticize? I am not an economist, so like most Americans, I struggle to discern implementable ideas from political sound bites. And you could help. There is one narrative that jobs lost to free trade were in the process of being lost anyway and that a re-implementation of tariffs would lower Americans standard of living further by increasing costs. This narrative suggests that the Rust Belt protest vote for Donald Trump will come to naught but still begs what response the Democrats can offer? Attacking the income of bankers a la Sens. Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren is appealing but wont put jobs back into Michigan. To protect ourselves from the Republican brand of xenophobia, sexism and culture wars we need your help with a policy solution. Brent Van Gunten, Berkeley Moving forward Understandably, there is much discourse about our recent presidential election. Imagine the bitter divide swirling around our countrys Civil War and its aftermath. Despite having every good reason to continue the hatred and distrust, we were able to reunite as one. To quote Voltaire: Life is thickly sown with thorns and I know no other remedy than to pass quickly through them. The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us. Let us strive to move our focus forward. Offer to help your neighbor, volunteer your time at a local charity or simply put your arms around a loved one and tell them how special they are. After all, we are not our government. Hoyle Kiger, Kilgore, Texas United opposition Lets drop the appeals that we should all come together to give Donald Trump a chance. He has had 50 years experience in bullying people and is good at what he does. Rather than meekly pretending he might change, why not come together in opposition, to stop him when he guts the Affordable Care Act, climate change measures and all the funds for our sanctuary city? Jeff Fadiman, Half Moon Bay Get over it As a Donald Trump supporter and longtime Chronicle subscriber, I am getting sick and tired of opening my morning paper and finding your continued whining and negative comments about our next president. If you think that this kind of reporting and coverage helps bring our country together, youre wrong. He won the election and he will be our president for four years and, should he be able to accomplish much of why he was elected, possibly eight years. You fought your battle for a year and a half, and you lost. Get over it and get on board and help bring our great country together! Ron Stanley, Alameda Confront the prejudice What can be done to protest against the dark forces that seem to have engulfed us? In this rainbow city, we can all look into our hearts, try to confront our own prejudices honestly and look each other in the eyes with more compassion. Its a start. John Yandell, San Francisco Donald Trump understood something that many Washington insiders missed. Many Americans and some naturalized citizens bristle at elected officials constantly defending the rights of non-Americans to migrate here illegally and be rewarded for breaking the law with a path to citizenship. Toward that end, and in deference to his campaign promises, Trump seems primed to deport undocumented immigrants and withhold some federal funds from sanctuary cities like San Francisco. T rump has dispensed with some of his magical thinking. For example, Trump has ditched his onetime (impossible to fulfill) promise to deport all 11 million undocumented immigrants. Now he says he would focus on 2 million or more undocumented immigrants with criminal histories. That is, his focus now is on mainstream ideas that the news media can brand as extreme only at the peril of their credibility. Trump told 60 Minutes he wants to get the people that are criminals and have criminal records, gang members, drug dealers. We have a lot of these people, probably 2 million, it could even be 3 million. We are getting them out of the country or we are going to incarcerate. Its hard to call that position extreme when it lines up with President Obamas direction to Immigration and Customs Enforcement to focus on removing undocumented immigrants with serious criminal records. Under Obama, ICEs Priority Enforcement Program has targeted convicted criminals who threaten public safety or national security. The big difference, I suspect, will be that Trump means it when he says he will deport criminal aliens, and Obama didnt really mean it. After all, if Obama truly believed in deporting criminal aliens, he would have challenged sanctuary cities like San Francisco that protected repeat offenders from ICE. In 2010, Obamas Department of Justice sued Arizona after lawmakers passed a law to allow local law enforcement to check the immigration status of those suspected of breaking state laws. A Department of Justice brief claimed a state may not establish its own immigration policy or enforce state laws in a manner that interferes with the federal immigration laws. But the Obama administration failed to challenge a 2013 San Francisco ordinance that protected Juan Francisco Lopez Sanchez from being turned over to ICE. Lopez Sanchez had been convicted of seven felonies and deported five times when San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon dropped a decades-old marijuana charge and then-Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi released Lopez Sanchez rather than hand him over to ICE, as ICE requested. Weeks later, authorities charged the Mexican national for the shooting death of city resident Kate Steinle. Lopez Sanchez has pleaded not guilty. Trump is likely to borrow from past legislation introduced by Sen. David Vitter, R-La., to pull federal funding from sanctuary cities because, Vitter argues, sanctuary cities will continue to exist until there are tangible penalties in place. What we dont know is if Trump will try to be as tough on sanctuary cities that simply shield undocumented crime victims from being reported to ICE which seems reasonable as he should be on San Francisco, with its extreme stance on defending career criminals who are in the country illegally. Californias state law also shields repeat offenders from ICE. The TRUST Act policy sends a message that people can live in America illegally and continue to break laws without having to face the consequences. The problem for the next president: If repeat offenders figure they can evade deportation by fleeing to social justice havens, then it will be harder for immigration officials to target the worst threats to public safety. There is also a principle involved here. As a lawyer for 60 years and a judge for 10, Superior Court Judge Quentin Kopp recently told me, Im a believer in the law. Thats why I dont understand accepting, much less rewarding, disregard of the law. Thats a pretty basic belief. If the cream of Washington understood that contract, then perhaps Trump would not be president-elect. Debra J. Saunders is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dsaunders@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @DebraJSaunders An imminent vacancy on the Board of Supervisors presents San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee with opportunity as well as danger as he seeks to solidify a moderate majority on the board while confronting the fact that two of his previous three appointments failed to retain their seats in the subsequent election. Lees pick will fill the seat left by either Scott Wiener or Jane Kim, who battled for termed-out state Sen. Mark Lenos position representing San Francisco and northern San Mateo County in Sacramento. With some ballots left to be counted, Wiener is leading and appears likely to hold on for the win, leaving Kim in her District Six seat. Lee will have to balance a host of factors and interests in making his decision. If Wiener wins, there will be pressure to appoint another gay representative of District Eight, which includes the Castro. Residents and political leaders might also push Lee to choose a Latino candidate since the boards two Latino supervisors are termed out. Moreover, Lee will want to select a person who both shares his ideological views and is strong enough to win election in District Eight in two years. Lees previous appointments illustrate that challenge. Last year, Julie Christensen whom Lee appointed to fill the vacancy left by District Three Supervisor David Chiu when he departed for the state assembly lost to Aaron Peskin in an election that was widely seen as a referendum on the mayor. Peskins victory gave the progressives a majority on the Board of Supervisors and put Lee in a defensive position. That majority, though, appears likely to flip to the moderates after all of the ballots are counted from this months election and Lee will want to protect that advantage. Leah Millis/The Chronicle Another of Lees appointees, Christina Olague, lost her re-election bid in 2012 to current board President London Breed. Lees only enduring supervisorial appointee has been Katy Tang, whom he appointed in 2013 to replace Carmen Chu in District Four when she left to become the citys assessor-recorder. Wiener said that if he wins the state Senate seat he has proclaimed victory, though Kim hasnt conceded Lee should fill his seat with someone who can represent the LGBT community. Wiener didnt say the person had to be gay. The District Eight seat is a legacy seat, said Wiener, who has been a popular but polarizing figure in a district that also encompasses Noe Valley, Diamond Heights and Glen Park. This is a seat of citywide and even national importance that represents the epicenter of so much of the LGBT communitys history, he said Thursday. I dont want this to be a placeholder seat. The person has to have the credibility to win re-election. Whoever is tapped could hold the position for up to 10 years, if he or she wins in 2018 and 2022. Lees decision follows a failed ballot measure, Proposition D, that would have taken away the mayors appointing power and required a special election to fill supervisorial vacancies. Lee has declined to talk about candidates he is considering, and there is no deadline for him to name someone. The mayor will start considering candidates once the election results are final, said Deirdre Hussey, Lees spokeswoman. The mayor will receive input from the community and choose someone who will represent the needs of the district with a citywide view. Lizzie Johnson and Emily Green are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: ljohnson@sfchronicle.com, egreen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LizzieJohnsonnnn @emilytgreen Opening on Board The following seven people all of them gay have been discussed as possible candidates to fill an upcoming Board of Supervisors opening: Zoe Dunning Lees newest appointment to the citys library commission, Dunning, 53, has said she would not vie for the District Eight seat. A consultant, Dunning is a retired Navy officer who helped repeal the dont ask, dont tell policy. She has served on Stanfords Pride board, which represents the campus LGBT community. Alex Randolph Randolph, 33, was elected to City College of San Franciscos Board of Trustees in November after Lee appointed him to fill an empty seat. Raised in Germany, he moved to the United States at 16, earning a bachelors degree in political science from UC Berkeley and a masters in public administration from San Francisco State University. He was an aide to former Supervisor Bevan Dufty and former Mayor Gavin Newsom, and now works for the city parks department. Randolph said he respects the process Mayor Ed Lee is going through to make the appointment. Dan Bernal A longtime aide to Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and her current chief of staff, Bernal, 46, has myriad political ties to San Francisco moderates. He is the former partner of one of Lees senior advisers, Tony Winnicker. Bernals name recognition could be a factor in winning the 2018 election. He would also check off two important boxes for Lee: Bernal is gay and Latino, with Colombian heritage. He would also be the first city supervisor to be HIV-positive. Bernal did not return calls for comment. Rebecca Prozan Prozan, 45, ran for the District Eight seat six years ago and lost to Wiener. Now Googles chief of public policy and government affairs, Prozan has publicly said she would be interested in filling the seat she once campaigned for. Dennis Richards A 21-year Castro resident, Richards, 53, was appointed to the Planning Commission by the Board of Supervisors in 2014. He is often a swing vote on that commission. He worked at Salesforce for a decade as a financial vice president, retiring in 2014. Richards has some baggage: Earlier this year, he had a meltdown on Twitter in response to a provocative post on Gawker calling on San Francisco to build more housing. Richards believes in historic preservation and managing development. He said he would love to be be appointed to the District Eight seat. Paul Henderson The mayors top adviser on public safety, Henderson, 49, has been closely involved with efforts to promote police dialogue with the African American community and reduce police shootings. Henderson spent the bulk of his career at the district attorneys office, from 1995 to 2011. In 2011, he ran a short-lived campaign for district attorney. He ran this month for an open judges seat in San Francisco Superior Court, losing to Victor Hwang. Henderson said he was flattered to be considered and discussed. Conor Johnston Chief of staff to Board of Supervisors President London Breed, Johnston, 35, is well known at City Hall but has less of a public profile than some of the other candidates. He comes from a political family: His cousin is media relations consultant P.J. Johnston and his father was the citys chief juvenile probation officer. Johnston started a biofuel company and worked at startups before joining Breeds staff. He declined to comment. Remember when Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt? Of course you do: It was in September and Brangelina was trending. That was probably the biggest thing to happen since Prince died. Or Ryan Lochte said he was held at gunpoint. Or Beyonce dropped Lemonade. Or Deflategate. Or that dress that looked blue and black or white and gold. Chances are, unless youre a dyed-purple-in-the-wool Prince fan, you only dimly remember most of those moments. And yet, at the time they were trending, you or someone you know offered thoughts, prayers and more than a few jokes about each one on social media. For the week (or day, or hour) these stories were trending, each of us was riveted. These werent just events, they were defining moments, cultural touchstones. That is, until they werent anymore. This is the never-ending cycle of trending, which has come to define how we consume and share news. The valuations of multibillion-dollar companies like Twitter and Buzzfeed rise and fall by the fluctuations of trending, as do the values of those who live and work online. If your days feel long and overstuffed despite not getting much done, you can thank trending and the way it slices your time into thinner portions of breaking news and analysis that you feel obliged to consume constantly. Whats more, there are some people whose highest aspiration is trending, and not all of them have the last name Kardashian. As Andy Warhol mightve said had he lived long enough to see The Dress, Charlie bit my finger and the Damn Daniel kid: In the future, everyone will be trending for #15minutes. Back in 2009 (several million trending cycles ago), the writer Bill Wasik illustrated this dramatic spike in attention by citing the 2003 story of Blair Hornstine, a New Jersey teen who found herself at the center of the news cycle for suing her high school over the fact that she wasnt made valedictorian and eventually losing her admission to Harvard. In his book And Then Theres This, Wasik described Hornstines pre-Facebook, pre-Twitter, pre-Buzzfeed moment of trending as one of many media pile-ons that surge and die off within a matter of months, days, even hours. If we could ask the people who had such strong opinions on Hornstine at the time (Wasik cites MSNBCs Joe Scarborough and CNNs Jeffrey Toobin among others) what they think about her now, its unlikely that her name would get a flicker of recognition. In fact, if you even remember Blair Hornstine, its probably because you are Blair Hornstine drawn to this column by a Google alert. Such is the nature of trending. For a moment, youre on the lips and fingertips of millions who love, hate or merely seem to care about you. Then Beyonce releases a single or some kid bites his brother and youre yesterdays (or five minutes agos) news. Matt Haber is a San Francisco freelance writer. Email: style@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Matthaber Strong winds and rain didnt stop several hundred demonstrators from marching through the streets of downtown San Francisco on Saturday, continuing a string of nationwide protests against President-elect Donald Trump. Standing under umbrellas and donning water-resistant jackets, crowds walked along Market Street as they have done in previous days, with new chants like Donald Trump says go back, we say fight back and Move Trump, get out the way. Get out the way Trump, get out the way. The marchers, who emerged from a peaceful noon rally at Civic Center Plaza organized by the social justice group Answer Coalition, were escorted by police officers, who directed traffic. Minor backups were reported in the area until demonstrators returned to the plaza shortly before 3 p.m. When you look at the first appointment(s) Trump has made, that represents the core of power in the new Trump administration, said Richard Becker, an activist with Answer Coalition who spoke to the crowd as his poncho rustled in the wind. What they have in store we do not yet exactly know, but we can know this: Its nothing good. Since beating Democrat Hillary Clinton in the Nov. 8 election, Trump has begun assembling his White House team, picks that critics say align with a far-right agenda, alienate many Americans and are cheered by white nationalists. Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions has been selected for attorney general, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn for national security adviser and Kansas Rep. Mike Pompeo as head of the CIA. Linda Campbell, 62, of Muir Beach held up a rainbow umbrella to keep her close-cropped gray hair from getting wet. She said she has spent years fighting for gay rights and womens rights and doesnt want the country to go backward. When she was growing up in Arkansas, she said, black and white people drank from separate water fountains. Were here because we cant believe people elected this man to represent us when he represents racism, sexism and antigay sentiment, she said. We feel powerless, but we feel there is power in coming together. Organizers of Saturdays demonstration had described the event as a way to foster solidarity amid economic inequality, poverty and an administration threatening to deny climate change, rights for immigrants, women and LGBTQ people, and all historically oppressed communities. While Trump was the focus of the activities, speakers also addressed the conflict in Syria, police brutality and the Dakota Access Pipeline. The Bay Area is among dozens of places across the country where demonstrators have protested Trump during the past week and a half. Thousands marched in San Francisco and Oakland the day after the election. The events have often disrupted traffic and shut down roads and freeways. Among the most violent demonstrations were last weeks protests in Oakland where a handful of police officers were injured in skirmishes with marchers and a 20-year-old woman was struck and injured by a Honda Element. Several downtown businesses were vandalized by splinter groups. Jenna Lyons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jlyons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JennaJourno WASHINGTON Graduates of career training programs at public colleges tend to land better paying jobs than those who attended for-profit schools, according to government data released last week. The Education Department data show average earnings of those with certificates from public schools were nearly $9,000 higher than those with for-profit certificate programs. The report also found nearly a third of for-profit students graduated from programs with median earnings below the federal minimum wage, which now stands at $7.25 an hour. Thats compared with only 14 percent in the public sector. College is the best investment a person can make in their long-term future, Education Secretary John King Jr. said as the report was released. The earnings information is an important thing for students to pay attention to as they decide what programs to pursue and where to pursue them. About 1.3 million students are enrolled in career college programs in a variety of fields from nursing, welding and culinary arts to certificate programs for auto mechanics, pharmacy technicians and dental assistants. Community colleges in particular, the report said, offered programs that outperformed similar programs at for-profit schools. The report said certificate programs at public undergraduate schools usually had more students enrolled in high-earning fields, such as nursing. Graduates of those public programs also tended to have higher incomes than grads in the same fields of study at for-profits. That was true for most of the 14 fields of study examined. A few, including culinary arts and cosmetology, had better average earnings at for-profit schools. The report didnt address why that is. The report looked at career programs at about 3,700 public and for-profit schools that are covered by the gainful employment regulations that went into effect last year soon after the troubled for-profit giant Corinthian Colleges filed for bankruptcy protection. The rules require career training programs to show that students can earn enough money after graduation to pay off their student loans. Theyre aimed at shutting down programs that make phony promises to prospective students, push them to take out government-backed loans, and then leave them with mountains of debt and sometimes worthless degrees. For far too long, some career colleges have made dubious promises about the employment prospects of their graduates, promising high salaries that rarely live up to the hype, said Undersecretary of Education Ted Mitchell. The earnings data released today shine a light on how graduates are actually faring when they enter the job market. The data reflect 2014 earnings data for students who graduated between 2008 and 2012, depending on the size and type of their program. Average annual earnings over the 14 fields of study ranged from $33,835 for nursing at the top of the list, followed by welding at $29,587, down to cosmetology at the bottom of the list with mean earnings of $14,130 per year. In January, the department plans to release student debt-to-earnings data for college career programs. If the programs dont meet the new gainful employment requirements and fail to improve, they will lose eligibility for federal student aid. More than 80 percent of students at for-profits borrow federal student loans to pay for college, compared with fewer than half of students at public schools who do the same. A secret relationship had made the two men rich: one, the head of a mail-order pharmacy, the other, an executive at a major pharmaceutical company who had promised to funnel millions of dollars to his partner in exchange for receiving millions of his own. They celebrated over email like characters in a classic Western movie with one saying that they would soon ride into the sunset together. Those were the details laid out in a complaint announced Thursday by federal prosecutors, which brought that cinematic tale to an inglorious end. The prosecutors charged the two executives Andrew Davenport, the chief executive of mail-order pharmacy Philidor Rx Services, and Gary Tanner, an executive at Valeant Pharmaceuticals International with multiple counts of fraud and conspiracy for what prosecutors described as a multimillion-dollar scheme to enrich themselves. The arrests represent the first charges in multiple state and federal investigations into Valeants business practices, including inquiries by Congress and the Securities and Exchange Commission. As the questions have mounted over the last year, shares of Valeant, a major drugmaker that was once a Wall Street darling, have fallen precipitously, putting the companys future in doubt. Valeant noted the company and its top executives had not been charged in the case, and said it was cooperating with the investigation. A lawyer for Davenport said his client intended to defend himself, and a lawyer for Tanner said his clients innocence would be demonstrated at trial. Of all the questions surrounding the company, its relationship to the small mail-order pharmacy Philidor drew perhaps the most scrutiny. In October 2015, Valeant revealed that it had bought an option to acquire Philidor in 2014 but had never disclosed that detail to investors. Several media outlets reported on a host of tactics Valeant was said to have used to steer its products through Philidor and increase sales, including altering prescriptions to specify that Valeants brand-name drug, and not a cheaper generic, be dispensed. It cut ties to Philidor that same month. According to the complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Tanner and Davenport were at the heart of this relationship. The government said the two concealed from Valeant a secret pact they had made to promote the pharmacys interests inside Valeant, including persuading Valeant to buy an option to acquire Philidor. The government contends Tanner used a secret email account, under the name Brian Wilson to communicate with Davenport. Prosecutors said Tanner and Davenport initiated their plan while Tanner was in charge of what was known at Valeant as alternative fulfillment, or the practice of using mail-order pharmacies to increase prescriptions for its brand-name drugs that otherwise might have been filled by cheaper generic alternatives. As the scheme developed, prosecutors said, Tanner resisted efforts by Valeants senior leadership to seek out relationships with Philidors competitors, and his efforts were critical in leading Valeant into the purchase-option agreement in December 2014. Philidor profited handsomely from the relationship prosecutors said it grew to an enterprise with 450 employees and tens of millions of dollars in revenue at the end of 2014 from a tiny startup in 2013. Until Philidor was shut down in January, at least 90 percent of the drugs it dispensed were sold by Valeant, the federal complaint said. Tanner also benefited from the arrangement, authorities said. According to the complaint, Davenport used a series of shell companies including one called End Game to secretly transfer a kickback payment to Tanner after the purchase-option agreement went through. According to prosecutors, about $40 million from the deal between Valeant and Philidor went to Davenport, who, they said, sent about $10 million of that to Tanner. The complaint said that Valeant officials questioned Tanner several times about whether he had any financial relationship with Philidor and that he said he did not. Howard Shapiro, a lawyer for Tanner, said his client had simply been doing his job. It was Gary Tanners job at Valeant to grow and promote Philidor, he said in a statement. He performed that job exceptionally well, greatly benefiting Valeants shareholders, and regularly communicated to his superiors what he was doing. Davenports lawyer, Jonathan Rosen, said Davenport had worked with full transparency and added, Philidor also benefited Valeant, which is why Valeant and its highly sophisticated and active management team sought to buy it. Tanner was forced out of Valeant in 2015. Davenport remained at Philidor until the company shut down. Regardless of whether Valeants top executives were aware of the arrangement between Tanner and Davenport, Valeant benefited significantly from its ties to the pharmacy, allowing it to increase sales of ailing products and obscure more significant problems with the business, said Vicki Bryan, a senior analyst with Gimme Credit, a bond research firm. She noted Valeant paid Philidor $100 million to enter into the purchase agreement, then quickly paid it $33 million more, according to the complaint. This is how much Valeant valued this relationship, right off the bat, Bryan said. When Valeant disclosed its relationship to Philidor last year, it said that the pharmacy had accounted for about 7 percent of its sales in the third quarter of 2015, or about $196 million. Beyond the relationship between Davenport and Tanner, Valeant has said in public filings that the government investigations into Philidor could include looking into whether it improperly used its ties to the pharmacy to bill third parties, such as insurers. Preet Bharara, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said at a news conference Thursday that the investigation was continuing, but he declined to discuss specifics. He would not say whether his office was looking into Valeants accounting practices. A spokesman for Bharara said the office did not have any agreements with cooperating witnesses to make public at this time. His office has tended to make cooperation agreements public when an investigation is largely complete. The criminal complaint also refers to interviews with several unnamed former Valeant executives, but does not identify any of them as cooperating witnesses. The series of negative developments over the past year have pummeled Valeants stock pushing it down to its current $17 a share from nearly $100 a share last November. Its chief executive, J. Michael Pearson, stepped down in the spring, and the problems also led to a shake-up of the board. The precipitous decline has punished a number of big hedge funds that hold large positions in Valeant firms like Pershing Square Capital Management, Paulson & Co. and ValueAct Capital Management. No hedge fund may have been hurt more than Pershing Square, the $11.6 billion firm led by investor William A. Ackman. Ackman began buying Valeant shares in early 2015, when the stock was trading around $190, and he has remained a true believer. This year, well after concerns about Valeants business dealings with Philidor became apparent, he continued to argue the company had value and secured two board seats for his firm, holding one of them himself. Just months after being forced out as the chief executive officer of Lending Club, Renaud Laplanche is starting a new venture to lend money online. Laplanches new company, Credify Finance, has filed papers in several states to create a marketplace lending site. The filings do not indicate what sort of lending Credify plans to do. The existence of Laplanches new company was reported last week by the Wall Street Journal. A representative for Laplanche had no comment on the new company. Laplanche led Lending Club to prominence in the online lending industry after founding the company in 2006. The company went public in late 2014, and by the end of 2015 it had originated over $15 billion in new loans, most of them to help people refinance their credit card debt. The companys success helped spawn an entire industry, which was seen as a threat to the basic lending business of the financial industry. But Laplanche resigned in May after an internal investigation found improprieties in how Lending Club was documenting loans. The company said at the time that Laplanche had been investing in a fund that bought Lending Club loans without telling the companys board. The company said in May that it had received a criminal subpoena from the Justice Department and it has since been questioned by other federal agencies. The scandal dented much of the enthusiasm that had surrounded the nascent online lending industry. Lending Clubs stock plunged, and it was the subject of several takeover rumors, but the company has so far remained independent. Laplanche moved to incorporate his new venture less than a month after leaving Lending Club. The company is based in downtown San Francisco, just a few blocks from the Lending Club offices. According to the filings, Laplanche is working on Credify with Jeffrey Bogan, another executive who was forced out at the Lending Club. The Journal reported that the company hopes to begin lending money in 2017 and that its compliance officer is Thomas Curran, a former official from the Treasury Department. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON Donald Trumps victory means that Republicans soon will take control of the Federal Communications Commission. That could spell the end for net neutrality regulations and other initiatives of the agencys hard-charging Democratic chairman. The regulations imposed utility-like oversight of broadband providers in an attempt to ensure the free flow of online content. President Obama and liberal activists strongly backed the tough regulations over intense objections of the industry and many Republicans including Trump. I think its an important thing to remember that taking a fast, fair and open Internet away from the public and away from those who use it to offer innovative new services to the public would be a real mistake, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler warned last week about net neutrality, his signature accomplishment since taking office three years ago. A new Republican-led FCC is expected to try to reverse the regulations. Congressional Republicans also could attempt to override the rules with legislation, an effort that stalled in 2013 because of a sure Obama veto. But it could take a while before a Republican-controlled FCC is in position to make any changes. The failure of the Senate so far to confirm Democratic Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel to a new five-year term could lead to more upheaval at the nations telecommunications regulator. The FCC now has three Democrats and two Republicans. By early next year, its possible that that all three Democrats will be gone from the commission. That would leave the two remaining Republicans short of the quorum they would need to enact or reverse regulations until replacements are nominated and confirmed, a process that could take several months. Wheeler said that he has not yet decided on a departure date. He could stay on as a commissioner until late 2018, but former chairmen rarely do that. Roseworcels term ends when Congress adjourns at the end of the year unless she is reconfirmed. Democrat Mignon Clyburn, whose second term ends in early 2018, could decide to step down as well. She has served since 2009. The presidential election results already have affected the FCCs operations. Wheeler removed all but one minor issue from the agenda for last weeks monthly commission meeting after key House and Senate Republicans publicly urged him not to consider on any controversial topics with a transfer in power looming after Trump is inaugurated as president on Jan. 20. Among the deleted items was a proposal to overhaul the market for business data services, which was opposed by AT&T and other large telecommunications companies. Certain of my colleagues identified the items on todays proposed agenda as controversial and asked that they not be considered today, Wheeler told reporters after the eight-minute meeting. I hope that this doesnt mean that these issues wont be quickly addressed after the transfer of leadership of this agency. What appears to be almost certainly dead is another controversial Wheeler proposal to open up the market for cable and satellite set-top boxes an effort the pay-TV industry strongly opposes. Trump gets to designate a new chairman after he takes office and, assuming the departure of Wheeler or Rosenworcel, that appointment will shift the FCCs majority to the Republicans. Once Republicans are in control, they could try to reverse regulations they opposed. One target could be new rules approved last month requiring high-speed Internet service providers to get customer permission before using or sharing sensitive personal data. The privacy regulations, opposed by broadband companies, passed on a partisan 3-2 vote over the objections of Republican Commissioners Mike ORielly and Ajit Pai. But the biggest target is net neutrality. In enacting the regulations by a 3-2 vote in 2015, the FCC classified broadband as a more highly regulated service under Title 2 of the telecommunications law. The classification gave the FCC more authority over broadband providers, also opening the door for the agency to enact the privacy regulations. Republicans didnt oppose the goals of net neutrality to prohibit broadband companies from slowing Internet speeds for some content such as video streams, selling faster lanes for delivering data, or otherwise discriminating against any legal online material. But they strongly objected to classifying broadband providers for the same type of regulatory oversight as conventional phone companies. Wheeler said that the classification was the difference between empty net neutrality and meaningful net neutrality backed up by stronger FCC authority. About 4 million people filed comments with the FCC when it was considering the net neutrality rules, with most asking for strong regulation. But Trump expressed his opposition at the time. Obamas attack on the Internet is another top-down power grab, he tweeted in November 2014. Its unclear who Trump would nominate to be FCC chairman and whether the new president would push to reverse the net neutrality rules. Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks and Jeffrey Eisenach, who is handling telecommunications issues for Trumps transition, did not respond to email requests for comment. But Eisenach, a telecommunications industry consultant and visiting scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute think tank, suggested last month that net neutrality could be in trouble. What I dont think a President Trump would do, and would hope he wouldnt do, is to intervene to instruct a regulatory agency how to issue a particular regulation, Eisenach said on C-SPANs The Communicators program. I think in general, taking his broader views on regulation into account, you would expect him to appoint people to the FCC who would be inclined to take a less regulatory position. For supporters of net neutrality, that signals trouble. They have been very much opposed to net neutrality and specifically the regulatory reclassification, John Bergmayer, senior counsel at digital rights group Public Knowledge, said of Republicans. I think they would try to revisit that. But he and other experts said a reversal might not be that easy. In June, a federal appellate court panel dismissed a lawsuit by AT&T, other telecom companies and industry trade groups that argued the FCC exceeded its authority in approving the regulations. So the FCC would have to conduct a thorough rule-making procedure to justify its reasons for changing course. Former Democratic FCC Commissioner Michael Copps said Republicans would risk a backlash if they take on net neutrality. I think there would be a rising up around the nation from people who were active the first time around, said Copps, a special adviser on media and democracy reform at public interest group Common Cause. Udacity, an online learning startup founded by a pioneer of self-driving cars, is finally taking the wraps off a job trial program it has worked on for the last year with 80 small companies. The program, called Blitz, provides what is essentially a brief contract assignment, much like an internship. Employers tell Udacity the skills they need, and the Mountain View company suggests a single candidate or a few. For the contract assignment, which usually lasts about three months, Udacity takes a fee worth 10 to 20 percent of the workers salary. If the person is then hired, Udacity does not collect any other fees, such as a finders fee. For small startups, a hiring decision that goes bad can be a time-consuming, costly distraction. This lets companies ease their way into hiring without the hurdle of making a commitment up front, said Sebastian Thrun, Udacitys co-founder and chairman. When Udacity started four years ago, there were predictions it could transform higher education. But in recent years it has homed in on filling the high-tech skills gap. Half a million tech jobs went unfilled last year. By 2020, there will be 1.4 million computer-science-related jobs in the U.S., and only 400,000 computer science graduates to fill them, according to government statistics and think-tank projections. The Blitz initiative and Udacitys evolution point to the role that nontraditional education organizations might play in addressing the needs of workers and employers in the fast-changing labor market for technology skills. Thrun, a former Stanford professor and Google engineer who led the companys effort in self-driving cars, said he was also trying to nudge the tech industrys hiring beyond its elite-college bias. For every Stanford graduate, there are hundreds of people without that kind of pedigree who can do just as well, he said. Udacity has 13 job-targeted courses, which it calls nanodegrees, including some to train Web developers, data analysts, machine-learning engineers and Android programmers. Three courses have just been added to cater to hot fields: artificial intelligence, virtual reality and self-driving cars. The nanodegree courses typically cost $200 a month and take three to six months to complete. They are rigorous and come with an unusual payment plan: If you complete a nanodegree course, you get half your money back. Completion rates range from 12 to 25 percent. Acquiring skills is one thing, but landing a job is another. Since Udacitys nanodegree courses began two years ago, more than 900 graduates have obtained jobs, including more than 20 workers at Google. Miraj Hassanpur, a computer science major at Cal State Sacramento, wanted to be a developer who worked with the Android operating system after he graduated in 2014. But it was hard to break in, he said. Hassanpur, 25, got a job at Accenture, a professional services company, where he worked for a year doing programming in the Java computer language for a government client. But he wanted to focus on Android, so he went to Udacity for the Android nanodegree. The degree was created by engineers at Google, where Android was largely developed. Hassanpur began his Blitz trial at a startup in Palo Alto in early 2016 and was hired in April. His compensation salary and stock is definitely better than what he made at Accenture, he said. The 22-person startup is still under wraps and will not even reveal its name. It is working on artificial intelligence technology for consumers. Hendrik Dahlkamp, a founder and the chief technology officer of this mystery company, called the Udacity program a very low-risk way of hiring someone. Youre not stuck with the person if it doesnt work out. If someone has made it through an Udacity course, he said, it is a sign that person is a self-starter. James Peterson, 22, has a high school degree and completed one year of community college. He has had minimum-wage jobs at McDonalds and Vinces Spaghetti Express, a fast-food pasta restaurant in Temecula (Riverside County). Peterson started with a couple of the free courses at Udacity, and then paid for a nanodegree course in Web development that he began in August 2015. It took him five months to complete, and $500 of his $1,000 investment was refunded. He trimmed his hours at the restaurant and spent up to 70 hours a week on the Udacity course. It was pretty difficult because I had no prior experience, Peterson said. All of my free time was on the course. Within weeks of finishing, Peterson landed a job at Einstein Industries, where he works on websites for physicians. He makes three times what he did before, and this week moved out of his fathers house and into an apartment in San Diego, near his new job. Volkswagen has broken a long-standing taboo on job cuts, conceding Friday that it needs to become more profitable to survive what could be a major shift toward electric cars. But the cuts outlined Friday were probably not deep enough to close a chronic productivity gap with Toyota and other rivals. As it seeks to recover from an emissions cheating scandal, Volkswagen said it would cut about 30,000 jobs worldwide, including 23,000 in Germany, as part of a deal with its powerful labor representatives to improve low profitability at its largest unit. Volkswagen is trying to reduce the cost of manufacturing cars that carry the VW badge, many of which are made in Germany by a workforce that effectively controls the company and has resisted job cuts. The plan would lead to savings of $3.9 billion a year, Volkswagen said Friday. The company described the plan as the most radical in its history. Herbert Diess, the Volkswagen executive in charge of VW brand cars, said the company needed to brace itself for drastic changes as the automobile industry shifted to electric vehicles. Volkswagen is far behind competitors, Diess said at a news conference in Wolfsburg, Germany, where the carmaker is based. Volkswagen has to quickly earn more money and arm itself for the change ahead. But the job cuts are relatively modest. The reductions will be phased in through 2020 using early retirement and other voluntary measures. Volkswagen agreed not to make any forced layoffs until at least 2025. The cuts will be partly offset by 9,000 new jobs related to electric car production and other new technologies. The net reduction in the German workforce would be 14,000 people, or 4 percent of the total. So the overall plan is unlikely to close Volkswagens productivity gap with Toyota. Since last year, the companies have been vying for the title of the worlds largest carmaker, but Toyota has long been more profitable. Toyota has 346,000 employees worldwide compared with 624,000 at Volkswagen. Its good that theyre doing it, Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, a professor at the University of Duisburg-Essen, said of the Volkswagen plan. Whether its enough is another question. Volkswagen makes most of its money from Audi and Porsche luxury cars. The unit that makes Volkswagen brand cars, and accounts for nearly half the sales volume, had a profit margin of 1.6 percent during the first nine months of 2016. Volkswagen said Friday that it wanted to achieve a 4 percent profit margin for Volkswagen brand cars. The companys cost problem, which goes back decades, stems in part from the extraordinary power that labor representatives have over company policy. As at all large German companies, workers hold half the seats on the companys supervisory board. But at Volkswagen, the workers have de facto control because the state of Lower Saxony owns 20 percent of the voting shares. The states two representatives on the 20-person supervisory board almost always vote with labor. In addition, a special law gives Volkswagen workers veto power over plant closings. To win worker consent for the plan, the company agreed to invest in production of battery-powered cars in Germany. Unlike some competitors, Volkswagen plans to build its own electric motors and batteries rather than to buy them from suppliers. The strategy helps to preserve jobs but is regarded by analysts as less efficient. Can they do it as efficiently as Panasonic or Samsung when theyve never done it before? Dudenhoeffer said. Volkswagen has begun promoting electric cars as it tries to rescue its reputation from the emissions scandal. The company has admitted that 11 million diesel cars, including 500,000 in the United States, were equipped with software that camouflaged emissions of poisonous and environmentally damaging nitrogen oxides that were far above legal limits. Even without the scandal, Volkswagen faces other challenges including plunging sales in Brazil and Russia. Volkswagen would also suffer if Donald Trump followed through on plans to raise trade barriers with Mexico. In September, Audi inaugurated a factory in San Jose Chiapa, in the Mexican state of Puebla, to serve the U.S. market. Volkswagen is in a difficult situation, said Bernd Osterloh, the chairman of the Volkswagen workers council. All the colleagues know that. General Motors and the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center have come up with what they call the "most extreme off-road-capable" midsize pickup. The most impressive feature about the new Colorado ZH2, announced Monday, is that it runs off clean energy, even with its reinforced interior and exterior, imposing 6 1/2-foot height and camouflage coloring. Sarah Ravani A man arrested on suspicion of spray-painting a racist epithet and symbol on the wall of a business and nearby vehicle in San Franciscos Bayview neighborhood was charged with felony vandalism with a hate crime enhancement, officials said Friday. The suspect, San Francisco resident David Chacon, 33, carried out the vandalism in the 1400 block of Egbert Avenue shortly after 4 p.m. Thursday, according to the San Francisco Police Department. Dear Abby: I am a retired airline employee, and I get passes for my friends and family. I recently provided first-class-eligible round-trip passes from San Diego to Paris to my best friend and her friend. (The fare would have cost them thousands of dollars.) The only thing I asked in return was to pick me up a menu, a print or something small that could be packed easily. They were in Paris for a month, Abby, and they totally forgot me. I am so hurt. Sometimes I want to call them and tell them how I feel. Then I think it wouldnt be a good idea. Frankly, I am angry. What is the best way to handle this? Up in the Air LIFE HACKS VIDEO: Living better by living smarter Dear Up in the Air: I dont blame you for being angry about the thoughtlessness and ingratitude they displayed. Your feelings are justified, and you should clear the air by explaining that you were hurt. You have every right to tell your friend how you feel. And the next time you are asked to give them a free ride, you have every right to just say non. Dear Abby: Im hoping you can guide me on how to handle a sticky situation with my neighbors. My 9-year-old son has befriended a kid his age. The boy is nice, and I dont mind him coming over. However, he has a younger brother the parents always send with him, and the boy is very hyper and aggressive. I work full time as a behavior specialist and deal with hyperactive children all day. The last thing I want when I come home is a hyper child I cannot parent. My son recently invited his friend to sleep over, and the parents sent both boys. How do I let them know that sometimes just the older brother is welcome without hurting their feelings? Not Wanting to Offend Dear Not Wanting: Hurting their feelings? The parents are using your invitations to the older boy as a babysitting opportunity for the younger one. I dont think it would be rude to tell them you can handle only one child at a time, and to please refrain from sending the little brother to your home unless he is specifically invited. Dear Abby: I am struggling with trust in my relationships. I havent found a faithful man in any of the relationships Ive had in the past five years, and it has made me gun shy. Now, each time I try to date, I look for any small indication that he could be cheating, which leads to jealousy and drives men away. How do I learn to trust again? Should I delete all social media? Should I just stop trying to date altogether? I am so frustrated and tired of getting hurt. Wounded in Minnesota Dear Wounded: Putting ourselves out there is risky. There can be many disappointments before a person finds the right match. (Men also become frustrated and gun shy.) Your luck might improve if you become serious less quickly and let relationships evolve without looking for commitment or signs of betrayal. If a man acts responsibly, does what he says he will and treats you with respect, give him the benefit of the doubt and the chances are your luck may change. If youre unable to do this, some sessions with a licensed professional counselor may help. At 61, Bo Derek still looks just as stunning as ever. The actress, whom's break-out movie was the 1979 hit "10," celebrates a birthday Monday and she looks simply phenomenal. SACRAMENTO Democratic U.S. Rep. Ami Bera has won his bid for a third term to represent a Sacramento-area district that national Republican leaders had targeted. Bera faced a tough challenge from Republican Scott Jones, the Sacramento County sheriff who raised his profile by criticizing President Obamas immigration policies. Election results updated Friday showed Bera widening his lead to more than two percentage points in Californias Seventh District, which has been one of the most closely watched in the nation in each election since the boundaries were drawn in 2012. Bera has eked out a narrow victory each time. Its been my honor to serve this community, first as a doctor and for these past four years as a member of Congress, Bera said in a statement. Jones said in a statement that its now nearly impossible for him to come from behind and he conceded to Bera. Although there were difficult aspects of the race, I do not regret running and am extremely proud of the campaign that we ran, Jones said. Beras father was sentenced to a year in prison in August for illegally funneling nearly $270,000 to his sons campaigns. Ami Bera wasnt charged and denied knowledge of his fathers activities, but Jones tried to tarnish him through corruption allegations. Beras victory leaves just one congressional contest too close to call. Republican Darryl Issa holds a narrow lead in the 49th District north of San Diego. Issa, a top foe of President Obama, faces a tough challenge from Doug Applegate, a personal injury attorney and retired Marine colonel. Bill Clark / Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call 2014 WASHINGTON President-elect Donald Trump has offered the CIA director job to Mike Pompeo, a hard-line Republican congressman from Kansas who heavily criticized the Iran deal, blasted Hillary Clinton over the attack on a U.S. diplomatic outpost in Libya and believes Edward Snowden is a traitor. Before starting the job, Pompeo would have to be confirmed by the Senate. One issue that could dominate a confirmation hearing is Pompeos views on using harsh interrogation techniques on detainees. Trump has backed these techniques, saying: We should go tougher than waterboarding, which simulates drowning. 1 Plane crash: An air-ambulance plane taking a patient to a Utah hospital crashed in a parking lot in Elko, Nev., killing all four people aboard. The victims of Friday nights crash were pilot Yuji Irie; medical staff members Jake Sheppard and Tiffany Urresti, 29; and patient Edward Clohesey, police said. The twin-engine American Medflight plane crashed in a mining companys parking lot near a casino and other businesses. No one on the ground was hurt. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash. 2 Death penalty: A jury recommended Saturday that a man be put to death for killing three people and wounding three others last year at a suburban Cleveland barbershop in what authorities described as a gang-related dispute. The same jury previously convicted Douglas Shine Jr., 21, of aggravated murder and dozens of other charges related to the shootings at Chalk Linez barbershop, in Warrensville Heights, and his role in killing an eyewitness. The presiding judge must now decide whether to impose the death sentence or give Shine life in prison with no chance of parole. Sentencing is set for Dec. 5. We rely on your support to make local news available to all Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2022. Donate today JOSHUA LOTT/AFP/Getty Images Designer Sophie Theallet has dressed Michelle Obama for the past eight years, but Melania Trump wont share that in common with Obama because Theallet tweeted that she will not dress the next first lady. In response to what many call racist and sexist comments by President-elect Donald Trump, Theallet shared an open letter on Twitter stating her brand stands against all discrimination and prejudice, which is reflective of the diversity she upholds in her runway shows, ad campaigns and celebrity dressings. Michael Short/Special To The Chronicle These articles and photo collections on SFGate.com and the premium SFChronicle.com got the most visits in the week ended Thursday at 10 a.m. SFChronicle.com MANILA Long-dead former Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos was buried Friday at the countrys Heroes Cemetery in a secrecy-shrouded ceremony, a move approved by President Rodrigo Duterte that infuriated supporters of the people power revolt that ousted Marcos three decades ago. Marcoss daughter, Imee, expressed relief after her fathers interment at the heavily guarded cemetery in metropolitan Manila, which she said fulfilled his last wish. Enraged pro-democracy activists, however, stressed the decades-long debate over the ex-presidents final resting place was far from over and protested across the metropolis. Bonifacio Ilagan, a left-wing activist who was detained and tortured during Marcoss rule, said the dictator was buried like a thief in the night in a stealthy fashion similar to when he suddenly placed the country under martial rule. Its very much like when he declared martial law in 1972, Ilagan said. This is so Marcos style. Marie Hilao Enriquez, a former political detainee whose sister, a fellow activist, was raped and killed by policemen, wept upon learning the news. Marcos died in the arms of his family but many Marcos-era activists remain missing after being allegedly abducted by state forces, Enriquez said at a protest. President Duterte, who gave the go-ahead for the burial, called for calm. Hopefully, both sides will exercise maximum tolerance and come to terms with the burial, Dutertes spokesman, Ernesto Abella, quoted him as saying. Marcoss widow, Imelda, who was clad in black, and her children attended the simple ceremony along with dozens of relatives and friends. A 21-gun salute by military honor troops rang out during the burial ceremony. About 2,000 protesters gathered late Friday at the site of the 1986 revolt that toppled Marcos. Some yelled, Marcos dictator, dig him up, dig him up. MANDALAY, Myanmar Shunned by Myanmars new government and its Buddhist hierarchy, a nationalist monk blamed for whipping up at times bloody anti-Muslim fervor said he feels vindicated by U.S. voters who elected Donald Trump to be president. Wirathu, a high-profile leader of the Myanmar Buddhist organization known as Ma Ba Tha, drew parallels between his views on Islam and those of the Republican president-elect. Trumps campaign was rife with anti-Muslim rhetoric and proposals that included banning Muslims from entering the country and heightening surveillance of mosques. The form his actual policies will take remains unclear. We were blamed by the world, but we are just protecting our people and country, Wirathu said. The world singled us out as narrow-minded. But as people from the country that is the grandfather of democracy and human rights elected Donald Trump, who is similar to me in prioritizing nationalism, there will be less finger-pointing from the international community. He even floated the idea of cooperating with nationalist groups in the U.S. In America, there can be organizations like us who are protecting against the dangers of Islamization. Those organizations can come to organizations in Myanmar to get suggestions or discuss, he said in an interview at his monastery in Mandalay on Nov. 12. Myanmar doesnt really need to get suggestions from other countries. But they can get ideas from Myanmar. Wirathu has been accused of inciting violence with hate-filled, anti-Islamic rhetoric in this Southeast Asian, Buddhist-majority country of about 55 million. Buddhist-led riots left more than 200 people dead in 2012 and forced hundreds of thousands more to flee their homes, most of them Muslim Rohingya in Rakhine state. Anti-Rohingya sentiment remains high in Myanmar. Members of the ethnic group are widely considered to have immigrated illegally from nearby Bangladesh, though many Rohingya families have lived in Myanmar for generations. At the same time, Wirathus influence has weakened in the past year. He threw his support behind the military-backed government ahead of elections in November 2015, only to see the former ruling party fall to Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy in a landslide. In July, a senior NLD official said Ma Ba Tha, also known as the Committee to Protect Race and Religion, was not needed. In the same month, the countrys official Buddhist clergy publicly distanced itself from the group. Scores of Rohingya and some Myanmar troops have been killed in northern Rakhine since suspected militants attacked border posts last month, killing nine police officers. Rohingya activists say innocent villagers are being killed, but the government says it is only fighting violent attackers. CAIRO The Saudi-led military coalition declared a 48-hour cease-fire in Yemen on Saturday, on the condition that Shiite rebels abide by it and allow humanitarian assistance into besieged cities, particularly Taiz. However, minutes after it went into effect, activists in Taiz said rebel shelling continued in the city while a rebel-affiliated military spokesman said there was no halt in fighting. Col. Sharaf Loqman, a military spokesman, said the fighting did not stop at any of the front lines. He said rebels support a full cessation of hostilities, but that the reality at the moment is all parties are engaged in fighting. The Saudi news agency SPA carried a statement from the coalition saying the truce would take effect at noon Yemeni time on Saturday and that it could be renewed. The coalition warned the rebels, known as Houthis, against any sort of military movement. The cease-fire comes at a time that forces loyal to the Saudi-backed, internationally recognized government have made advances in Taiz, which has been besieged by the rebels for the past year. The coalition has demanded that the Houthis send their representatives to meet with a committee based in a southern Saudi city, in order to make security and military arrangements to end rebel control over several cities in the north including the capital, Sanaa. While the coalition stressed that the cease-fire is aimed at paving the way for peace, it didnt elaborate on whether it is accepting a United Nations-brokered peace plan which sidelines President Abed-Rabbo Mansour Hadi and gives the rebels a share of power. The truce also comes two days after an earlier plan for a U.S.-brokered cease-fire faltered. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry set Thursday as the beginning of the cease-fire. The plan was immediately rejected by Hadis government, which accused Kerry of striking a unilateral deal. The coalition made no comment on Kerrys announcement. The conflict in Yemen has divided the country into rival regions with the north predominated by Shiites under rebel control while the south mostly Sunnis is under the coalitions control. The coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015 at the request of Hadi, who was forced to flee the country when the Houthis joined ranks with forces loyal to the ousted Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. In our care TODAY LINDSEY, Ona, age 79, of Helena passed away November 10, 2016. A memorial service will be at 3:00 p.m. today November 19th at Hoots Cafe & Motel, 1 mile south of White Bird, Hwy 95, White Bird, Idaho 83554. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Ona. TUESDAY SCHENCK, Donald W. Don age 99 of Helena passed away November 11, 2016. A Memorial service celebrating Dons life will be held on Tuesday, November 22, at 11:00 a.m. at Our Redeemers Lutheran Church, 3580 North Benton Ave. in Helena. A lunch reception will follow at the church, followed by interment of both Don and his wife Ethel at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery, Fort Harrison. In lieu of flowers, Memorials are suggested to the Our Redeemers Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 3580 N. Benton Avenue, Helena, Mt 59602. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Don. CECH, Theresa C. age 87, of Helena passed away November 18, 2016. The family will receive friends from 3:30 with a vigil service starting at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday November 20th at St. Mary Catholic Community, 1700 Missoula Avenue. A Funeral Mass will be 12:10 p.m. Monday, November 21st at St. Mary Catholic Community with a reception to follow in the fellowship hall of the church. The burial service will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday November 23rd at Calvary Cemetery in Livingston, MT. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Theresa. BEIRUT Doctors and nurses at a pediatric hospital in eastern Aleppo scrambled Friday to evacuate babies in incubators to safety from underground shelters after the facility in the besieged Syrian city was bombed for the second time this week. Medics and aid workers also reported a suspected attack involving toxic gas in a district on the western edge of the rebel-held area. At least 12 people, including children, were treated for breathing difficulties, said Adham Sahloul of the Syrian American Medical Society, which supports health facilities in Aleppo. Claims of toxic gas attacks are common in Syria, and reports by international inspectors have held the government responsible for using chemicals in attacks on civilians, which Damascus denies. Air strikes also hit a village in rural areas of Aleppo province, killing seven members of a family, including four children, opposition activists said. Friday was the fourth day of renewed assaults by Syrian warplanes on eastern Aleppo districts, a rebel-held enclave of 275,000 people. The onslaught began Tuesday, when Syrias ally Russia announced its own offensive on the northern rebel-controlled Idlib province and Homs province in central Syria. Since then, more than 100 people have been killed across northern Syria. Fridays air strikes in Aleppo hit a complex of four hospitals that had been attacked two days earlier. The latest strikes forced the pediatric hospital and a neighboring facility to stop operating. Now it is being bombed. ... I am sorry. ... I have to go to transfer the children, the head of the pediatric hospital wrote in a text message to the Associated Press. The doctor identified himself only by his first name of Hatem because he fears for reprisals against his family. The incubators already had been moved underground for safety, but with bombs falling all around the facility, hospital workers had to rush them to a safer place despite the danger. Hatem rushed 14 babies in incubators to another facility a 10-minute drive away while air strikes continued, he said in a later message. The city of Aleppo, once Syrias commercial hub, has been divided since 2012, with the eastern half in rebel hands and the western half controlled by government forces. ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images MOSUL, Iraq Iraqi troops faced stiff resistance Saturday from Islamic State militants as they pushed deeper into eastern Mosul, backed by aerial support from the U.S.-led international coalition, a senior military commander said. Troops moved into the Muharabeen and Ulama neighborhoods after fully liberating the adjacent Tahrir neighborhood on Friday, said Maj. Gen. Sami al-Aridi of the Iraqi special forces. Al-Aridi said militants were fighting back with snipers, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar rounds. LIMA, Peru Warning against a rush to judgment, President Obama sought Saturday to ease concerns in Latin America that President-elect Donald Trump will wipe out trade deals and create other international problems. Dont just assume the worst, he said. Wait until the administrations in place before drawing conclusions. Obama, speaking on the margins of an Asia-Pacific summit in Peru, said tensions over trade are likely under the new Trump administration and trade pacts may be modified. But he predicted that once the administration sees how the deals are working, theyll determine that its actually good both for the United States and our trading partners. Obama made his comments during a town-hall-style forum with young people after meeting with leaders of countries that joined the U.S. to negotiate a sweeping Pacific trade deal that is now in jeopardy. The president said his meetings in Peru were a good chance for leaders to review how to spur their economies. They had hoped to achieve some of those goals through the Trans-Pacific Partnership, but the agreement appears unlikely to be ratified due to opposition from Trump. Trump opposes multinational trade deals as written, saying they are harmful to U.S. workers. More for you What wall? Texas Republicans see border fencing, surveillance where Trump supporters see actual barr Obama pressed leaders of the other 11 countries in the Pacific agreement to find ways to ensure that trade agreements contribute to our shared objective of reducing inequality, according to a White House statement. The president also urged them to keep working to advance the imperiled deal. Obama supports trade deals as a way to boost U.S. exports and create American jobs. Trumps protectionist stance was on the minds of other leaders attending the economic conference. Chinese President Xi Jinping made an impassioned call against protectionism Saturday as Chinese state media blasted Trump for trade-bashing that could drag the world into deeper economic distress. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto defended his countrys trade relationship with the U.S., but took a cautious approach to Trumps pledge to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement. In the face of Trumps positioning, were now in a stage of favoring dialogue as a way to build a new agenda in our bilateral relationship, said Pena Nieto, whose country participates in NAFTA with the U.S. and Canada. Mexico, like the entire world, is about to initiate a new stage with the U.S., and in commercial terms we want to give the right value to this strategic relationship between Mexico and the U.S. Since Obama opened the final foreign trip of his presidency in Greece on Tuesday, he has tried to reassure his counterparts that the U.S. will uphold its partnerships and obligations despite the divisive rhetoric of a campaign that ended with the election of a real estate mogul and reality TV star with no political or government experience. 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Prime Minister John Key arrived in Lima Saturday morning, NZT, to attend what he said was "one of the most important" annual summits of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) grouping in his eight years in power. The APEC summit immediately follows the election as US president of Donald Trump, who campaigned against the TPP as a bad deal for American businesses and jobs. The summit represents a rare chance for all TPP's signatory country leaders to meet in one place. Trump will not be in Lima - sitting president Barack Obama will make one of his last international appearances at the APEC summit - but the mood among TPP signatory leaders this weekend is to send a strong message to the incoming US administration that the rest of the region is not giving up on trade liberalisation, even if American political appetite is lacking. "It might go ahead without the US," said Key, although that was not New Zealand's preferred position. International media are reporting that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is willing to consider a "TPP-minus-one" formula, where the US is cut from the deal, with the potential to re-enter at a later date, while the Australian trade minister, Steven Ciobo, has vocally backed an alternative APEC and China-supported initiative, known as the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP). Key said the feeling among TPP leaders, who will meet formally in Lima on Saturday local time in the margins of the APEC summit, is that "they would rather go it alone than not get there at all". While New Zealand would support that outcome if it was the only one on offer, the country had pursued TPP because it offered the prospect of open trade with both Japan and the US two of the world's largest economies, with which New Zealand has never been able to negotiate a free trade agreement. "But if we couldn't get there with the US, Japan would still be worth it," said Key of the TPP, which covers 12 Asia-Pacific countries, including Canada, Mexico, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam, Peru and Chile. However, the US was the "home of big-spending consumers" and New Zealand would continue to seek liberalised access to that market, even if it couldn't be achieved through TPP. Also in the mix is the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, a so-called 'low ambition' trade pact currently under negotiation that involves China, India and Korea - none of which are in TPP - and includes Australia and New Zealand and the ASEAN member countries, but excludes the US. New Zealand already has bilateral FTAs with China and Korea, but is struggling for progress with India. A TPP-minus-one scenario would not necessarily be straightforward as the agreement includes negotiated trade-offs in areas that the US demanded and which the remaining signatory countries may seek to exclude, opening the potential for a renegotiation of other contentious trade among remaining TPP countries. Key said it remained to be seen whether there might be a way to tweak the existing TPP to be "good enough to give a better deal" to satisfy president-elect Trump's political requirements without opening up a full renegotiation. US pharmaceutical companies were particularly unhappy with the level of patent protection granted under TPP - an issue that Australia and New Zealand fought hard to protect, in New Zealand's case, the Pharmac government drug-buying agency model. As a result of that hard line, New Zealand gained less dairy industry access than it had hoped for under TPP. Any renegotiation would open up a range of issues similar to that between many of the signatories. 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Related News: Air New Zealand issues Performance Rights Heartland announces new Director of Heartland Bank GEN - Agreements in Principle to Issue New Shares Geraldine McBride steps down from Sky Board Sky ASM 2022 South Port NZ Ltd - Results of 2022 Annual Meeting November 2nd Morning Report AIA - Auckland Airport announces executive team change South Port NZ Ltd - 2022 Annual Meeting ENS - Rights Issue Offer Document Nobody wants to end up with an empty stocking for the holidays, and an annual Independent Record publication seeks to ensure local nonprofit organizations dont have to. The IR is now accepting holiday wish lists from nonprofits and agencies in the area for publication in the Empty Stockings/Gifts From the Heart publication, which will be included in the Dec. 6 edition of the newspaper. The wish lists typically include a short blurb about the organization and the items they need, such as food, dishes, furniture, clothes, school supplies and other necessities that can be donated by the community. The Helena community typically responds to these wish lists with overwhelming support, which makes the holiday season a little brighter for the organizations and those they serve. If your organization or agency has not yet been contacted but would like to be included in this special section, email your submission to editor@helenair.com no later than Nov. 25. For more information, call IR editor Jesse Chaney at 447-4074. A Blogger, Author and a speaker! Harsh Agrawal is recognized as a leader in digital marketing and FinTech space. Fountainhead of ShoutMeLoud, and a Speaker at ASW, Hero Mindmine, Inorbit, IBM, India blockchain summit. Also, an award-winning blogger. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy BENGALURU: Sandwiches are one of the best fast-foods that contain nutrient-rich grains and seeds. Sandwiches are the quickest solution to our hunger; easy to make and time saving, on top of that delicious if prepared with right ingredients. If you are one of those sandwich lovers, here are some of the best places in India where you can relish the scrumptious Sandwiches. Hari Super Sandwich-Banglore Hari super sandwich is known for its variety of yummy sandwiches. Having been in this business for over 15 years, they have maintained their reputation in terms of quality and taste. It is astonishing to see such a small stall located in Jayanagar East able to allure so many people because of its best fastfood. So, for all the sandwich lovers, Hari Super Sandwich is a must-visit place in Bangalore. There is no seating arrangement as yet, so it is better to go early before the crowd engulfs the place, and relish the soft-layered, lip-smacking sandwiches. Read Also: Don't Miss These Top Bird Watching Spots in Goa Porsche India Launches New SUV Macan BUTTE -- The Montana Legislature will have up to 10 bills relating to marijuana to debate when it opens on Jan. 2. The bills range from a blanket negation of the medical marijuana law to reforms that would return access to medical marijuana patients who are still cut off despite the Nov. 8 passing of citizens Initiative 182. Though Montanans passed I-182 by 57 percent, a clerical error means a provision allowing providers to sell to more than three patients wont go into effect until June 30. The three-patient limit cut off 93 percent of patients when enacted in August and led to an exodus of nearly half of all patients from the program. As the law stands now, those patients will remain cut off for another eight months, giving the Legislature time to either bring access to medical marijuana into effect early or keep the current effective repeal of the program in place. Six of the bills come courtesy of Sen. Diane Sands, D-Missoula. Sands has a draft bill going through final copy edits as of Monday that would remove the three-patient limit for medical marijuana providers, allowing the dispensaries that serve most patients to afford to reopen. Sands said some of her bills are placeholders and wont be necessary depending on what happens in the Legislature. Some of her proposed bills are to regulate marijuana like other consumer goods, such as requiring pesticide labeling and including medical marijuana and electronic cigarettes in indoor clean air laws. Sen. Mary Caferro, D-Helena, also has applied to draft a revision of marijuana laws in favor of transparency and access for patients but said she does not yet have bill language. It is unclear whether the majority Republican Legislature is willing to thwart the second medical marijuana initiative passed by constituents. Republican leaders including Senate President Scott Sales of Bozeman and House Speaker Austin Knudsen of Culbertson did not respond to requests for comments regarding party plans, and Republican Party Chair Jeff Essmann, Billings, refused to comment. In the 2011 session, Republican legislators succeeded in effectively repealing medical marijuana by severely amending Essmanns SB423 reform bill with provisions that limited providers from serving more than three patients and accepting compensation for their product. The bill was challenged immediately on constitutional grounds by Jim Goetz, Bozeman, Montana Cannabis Industry Association attorney, and didnt go into effect until August of this year. State Rep. Kelly McCarthy, D-Billings, tried to get those provisions removed with four pieces of legislation in the 2013 session, but his bills died in the Republican-dominated House Human Services Committee. The committee was chaired by Rep. David Howard, R-Park City, a former clerk with the FBI and fierce critic of marijuana. This stuff is disguised as medicine, Howard said in 2013. It makes you delusional. It is psychologically addicting and physiologically addicting and absorbs your fat cells, which is the most dangerous drug there is. This is not a drug. Its a poison. Now a senator representing Carbon, Stillwater, and part of Sweetgrass counties, Howard hasnt changed his tone since the passage of I-182 and on Oct.30 began drafting legislation to generally revise laws affirming that Schedule 1 drugs are illegal in Montana. Marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug, Howard told the Standard, There isnt any Schedule 1 drug that is good for you. One of Sands proposed bills would remove marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug in Montana. Howards legislation would repeal medical marijuana in the same way as a 2011 bill passed by the House and Senate but vetoed by Gov. Brian Schweitzer. The medical marijuana program would be effectively repealed anyway by Essmanns reform bill, as Schweitzers veto of that bill could have been easily overruled by the Republican-dominated Senate and House. Howard believes that despite Montanans overwhelmingly passing citizens initiatives in support of medical marijuana in 2004 and 2016, they still dont know whats good for them. In Montana, we can bypass the legislative process and pass things that are extremely bad for Montanans, Howard said. Though most Montana Republicans have historically opposed medical marijuana, theres a generational gap between old hands and rising stars in the party. Daniel Zolnikov, a young civil libertarian Republican representing Billings House District 45, has been relatively alone among Republicans in his outspoken support for medical marijuana in Montana, outlining his stance and speaking with constituents in a post on his Facebook page in June. Medical marijuana should not be a moral decision made by the state, it should be a personal decision made between patients and their doctors. Our state law is the only thing standing between patients and help, and I'm ready and willing to work with anyone who wants to help fix the law, Zolnikov said in the post. Zolnikov said he has been working with Bridget Smith, D-Wolf Point, and the Montana Cannabis Industry Association for months to draft legislation that balances the desires of both Democrats and Republicans. Theres one group worried about it being the Wild West and another group worried about it being cut off at the knee so it doesnt work, and Im the guy in the middle who wants it to be very functional, Zolnikov said. He said he hasnt received any blowback from other Republican legislators and that some House Republicans hes spoken to are happy hes there to make sure the legislation is functional instead of a program easy to abuse or impossible to use. Zolnikov is also drafting legislation to severely reduce mandatory sentencing requirements for convicted non-violent marijuana offenders. Zolnikov said most current house representatives weren't around for the 2011 session and that Montanans shouldnt look backward to see how the 2017 Legislature will vote. I-182 steering committee member Kate Cholewa agrees and said legislators are more informed of the scientific reality and medicinal benefits of marijuana than they were in 2011. Shes confident things wont go as they did last time. We have 10,000 patients banging on the door, Cholewa said. Cholewa said the typo keeping the three-patient limit in place is a scriveners error and therefore falls under law allowing judges to amend bills, letting I-182 fully come into effect before June 30, restoring access for patients. MTCIA attorney Goetz said theyre working on something of that nature at the moment but declined to disclose further. Todd Everts, chief legal counsel for the Montana Legislative Services Division, disagrees that the error is clerical. Everts claims the error is substantive and therefore doesnt fall under the purview of scriveners-error law in the courts, only the Legislatures. When a law becomes effective has a substantive effect on the timing of the requirements, duties, and obligations imposed on individuals and entities under the law -- as reflected in the attention that this substantive error is receiving. Everts said he didnt know whether the courts would intervene but didnt rule out the possibility. Cholewa said the substantive nature of a scriveners error doesnt absolve it from change through the courts. It is a typo whether or not it is an important typo or not. The record in developing this initiative is very clear, and theres a five-year lawsuit that supports that intention as well, Cholewa said. 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. 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